Tag Archives: Get into God’s Word

A Sovereign God??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #191

28 Wednesday Feb 2024

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Father's Love, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Amazing Grace, Glory of God, Glory To God, God Is In Charge, God Still Reigns, God's Time, God's ways are not our ways, God's Wisdom, Gratitude, Sovereignty

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A Sovereign God??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #191

 

“And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude,

and as the voice of many waters,

and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying,

Alleluia:

for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

7 Let us be glad

and rejoice,

and give honour to him…”. Revelation 19:6-7a

I watched a movie on television recently, one that I had seen before and remembered it being a good flick; but this time I was watching intently (rather than between tasks) and it struck me how something seemingly innocent, was a direct challenge to what I know that scripture teaches.  What’s that, you might ask?  Well the movie’s main characters had opposite outlooks, one who believed that some unknown cosmic force ordered circumstances, while the other said that it was random chance, which science or mathematical probabilities could often explain.  Well, my friends, this is just not biblical, true, or acceptable to those who believe in Almighty God, Jesus The Son, and The Holy Spirit.

Scripture is replete with direct statements of God’s total sovereign control; and while this isn’t something that most people think about, it is the absolute foundation of our faith.  It is one of the things that brings me hope, comfort and insight into the things happening around us.  I have taught the Book of The Revelation on numerous occasions, in depth, teaching people that they can understand much of this great book (and yes there are some things that were even hidden from John; and note that this is THE Revelation—no “s”).  And like the familiar adage, “How do you eat an elephant?”, we know of course, the answer comes, “ONE Bite at a time!”  And that is how you must approach all of scripture but particularly the Book of The Revelation (and if you’ll read the title, you’ll see it’s The Revelation OF JESUS, not the revelation of specific events as such, or even the horrific things that are held in check at this time but will come in God’s time!  It is the revealing of God’s plan for His Son’s victorious coming, to judge and rule this present world in person, and eternity after that (and there is an “after that”).

Because God IS in charge, we as believers can stand confident in God’s total sovereignty in all things.  So I simply want to give you some food for thought today as you face life and its trials where ever you are!  You can depend upon God’s almighty hand at work not only in His own, but in all things!  Let’s peruse some passages of scripture in this regard, and I pray will help you to “withstand in the evil day” (See Ephesians 6:10-19).  And just on a side note, if you read my posts on Facebook there is a simple text post, but also a link to the Bible Ballistics website where it is printed with scripture in color as well as in a grammatical diagram of sorts, to help clarify our understanding (I think it’s helpful).

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities:

for we know not what we should pray for

as we ought:

but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us

with groanings which cannot be uttered.

27 And he that searcheth the hearts

knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit,

because he maketh intercession for the saints

according to the will of God.

28 And we know that all things

work together for good

to them that love God,

to them who are the called

according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow,

he also did predestinate

to be conformed to the image of his Son,

that he might be the firstborn

among many brethren.

30 Moreover whom he did predestinate,

them he also called:

and whom he called,

them he also justified:

and whom he justified,

them he also glorified.

31 What shall we then say to these things?

If God be for us,

who can be against us?”  Romans 8:26-31

When we learn to walk in the peace, and trust in God’s sovereign control, the confidence we find is unequaled; I can testify to God’s faithful provision and care in the midst of some of life’s greatest heartaches, for I know who IS in control!  HE has never failed me, and HE won’t!  And just a note on the big, scary “predestination” subject, it is used here of our state IN Jesus, not how we got saved.  I have no intention of trying to explain God’s foreknowledge and how that works out in humankind.  I will simply say that we must let scripture say what scripture says, and the same Word of God that talks about “predestination”, “election”, and “choosing”, also says clearly that “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved”. (See Romans 10:13, John 3:15-16) We humans have an affinity for making what is simple for God, hard for people to understand.  So for today, we’ll just leave this discussion for another day.

Let’s peruse some passages that confirm God’s total control over all things.  I pray that you will find comfort, peace, and even some answers to question that may have plagued you.  God loves you and has things in control—even though on our human side of things they are totally askew; God still does “Reign”!

“Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering,

and come before him:

worship the LORD

in the beauty of holiness.

30 Fear before him,

all the earth:

the world also shall be stable,

that it be not moved.

31 Let the heavens be glad,

and let the earth rejoice:

and let men say among the nations,

The LORD reigneth.”  1 Chronicles 16:29-31

And a word from Isaiah:

“Therefore my people shall know my name:

therefore they shall know in that day

that I am he that doth speak:

behold, it is I.

7 How beautiful upon the mountains

are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings,

that publisheth peace;

that bringeth good tidings of good,

that publisheth salvation;

that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!”   Isaiah 52:6-7

Just a few of the many references from the Psalmists also help:

“The LORD reigneth,

he is clothed with majesty;

the LORD is clothed with strength,

wherewith he hath girded himself:

the world also is stablished,

that it cannot be moved.

2 Thy throne is established of old:

thou art from everlasting.” Psalm 93:1-2

“The LORD reigneth;

let the earth rejoice;

let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.”   Psalm 97:1

“O worship the LORD

in the beauty of holiness:

fear before him,

all the earth.

10 Say among the heathen that

the LORD reigneth:

the world also shall be established

that it shall not be moved:

he shall judge the people righteously.”  Psalm 96:9-10

Now, two final passages from the Psalms.  One a reference to God’s sovereignty, the other a picture of what our response ought to be:

“The LORD reigneth;

let the people tremble:

he sitteth between the cherubims;

let the earth be moved.

2 The LORD is great in Zion;

and he is high above all the people.

3 Let them praise thy great and terrible name;

for it is holy.”  Psalm 99:1-3

“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD,

all ye lands.

2 Serve the LORD with gladness:

come before his presence with singing.

3 Know ye that the LORD he is God:

it is he that hath made us,

and not we ourselves;

we are his people,

and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,

 and into his courts with praise:

be thankful unto him,

and bless his name.

5 For the LORD is good;

his mercy is everlasting;

and his truth

endureth to all generations.”  Psalm 100:1-5

Amen and Amen!!!

Searchlight Of HIS WORD??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 17 No. 24

04 Monday Oct 2021

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, God's Faithfulness, God's Judgment, God's measure isn't ours, God's ways are not our ways, The Things of God, The Word, The Word Or The World?

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 17 No. 24  Searchlight Of HIS WORD???

 

I would like to challenge us today to examine our lives in light of what God’s Word says we are to ‘be’ and ‘do’.  We are bombarded with so much conflicting information and choices, that it is imperative that we know what God says.  I am truly weary of misinformation which some proclaim to be God’s Word, and people just take it as truth; and while God’s Word is truth not everything that is attributed to God, or His Word is actually from God’s Word.  Please, understand that we MUST get into God’s Word for ourselves, so that we will KNOW what God has said for ourselves, only then can we truly judge our lives and behavior by God’s standard instead of the world’s!

“Search me,

O God,

and know

my heart:

try me,

and know my thoughts:

24 And see if there be any wicked way

in me,

and lead me

in the way everlasting.”  Psalm 139:23-24

We are to seek God’s favor not man’s, and the Psalmist knew that we must open ourselves up for God’s searchlight of truth; and while it is often (almost always) somewhat painful—it is always a work of God’s grace, love, and purification of His own, for our good and HIS glory!

“Hearken unto me,

ye that know righteousness,

the people

in whose heart is my law;

fear ye not

the reproach of men,

neither be ye afraid

of their revilings.”  Isaiah 51:7

Paul often shared the import of examining our own lives according to God’s Word and standard, may we heed his advice!

“Wherefore whosoever shall eat

this bread,

and drink

this cup of the Lord,

unworthily,

shall be guilty

of the body

and blood of the Lord.

28 But let a man examine himself,

and so let him eat of that bread,

and drink of that cup…

…. 31 For if we would judge ourselves,

we should not be judged.

32 But when we are judged,

we are chastened of the Lord,

that we should not be condemned

with the world.”  Portions of 1 Corinthians 11:27-32

Hebrews gives us one of the clearest messages about how God views our life choice, and how urgent it is that we don’t fail to receive truth and obey it, for God will act and discipline His own, for their good and HIS glory!  I encourage us to ponder the truths contained in this message!

“And ye have forgotten

the exhortation which speaketh unto you

as unto children,

My son,

despise not thou the chastening

of the Lord,

nor faint when thou art rebuked

of him:

6 For whom the Lord loveth

he chasteneth,

and scourgeth

every son whom he receiveth.

7 If ye endure chastening,

God dealeth with you as with sons;

for what son is he

whom the father chasteneth not?

8 But if ye be without chastisement,

whereof all are partakers,

then are ye bastards,

and not sons.

9 Furthermore

we have had fathers of our flesh

which corrected us,

and we gave them reverence:

shall we not much rather

be in subjection unto the Father of spirits,

and live?

10 For they verily for a few days

chastened us

after their own pleasure;

but he for our profit,

that we might be partakers

of his holiness.

11 Now no chastening for the present

seemeth to be joyous,

but grievous:

nevertheless afterward

it yieldeth the peaceable fruit

of righteousness

 unto them which are exercised

thereby.”   Hebrews 12:5-11

Not a passage that we hear very often, but it is God’s Word and we need to not only heed it, but also take note of what God is doing in our lives—especially when HE is correcting us (even if we say ‘ouch’!).  And just FYI, the words in this passage from Hebrews 12, ‘chasten’ and ‘chastise’, are forms of a word that means “child training”, which includes all those lessons that are necessary to help a child learn and grow to maturity!  How many of us are ‘growing’?  How many of us are ‘mature’ users of God’s Word, those who are “approved unto God”?

“Study to shew thyself approved

unto God,

a workman

that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing

the word of truth.”  2 Timothy 2:15

And Paul also told Timothy that God’s Word and the study of it is ever profitable—and that is true for us today as well.  What are we doing about it?  And FYI, ‘perfect’ in this passage simply means ‘mature’ not sinless!  And there is also an implication that we need to keep in mind, if we are called to be “rightly dividing the word of truth”, it implies that we can (as many today do) “wrongly divide” God’s Word! We must let The Word say what it says, and heed and obey it!

“All scripture is given

by inspiration of God,

and is profitable

for doctrine,

for reproof,

for correction,

for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God

may be perfect,

thoroughly furnished

unto all good works.”  2 Timothy 3:16-17

Oh, that we would dive into the word of God like we do into our favorite sport, or novel, TV program, or other pleasures. Which can cause us to neglect God’s Word and HIS very presence (oh, Father forgive me for the neglect that marks so many of my days, may I draw near to Thee to hear Your voice and heed Your direction in my life?)!  Oh, may we remember the declaration of the Psalmist:

“The steps of a good man

are ordered by the LORD:

and he delighteth

in his way.

24 Though he fall,

he shall not be utterly cast down:

for the LORD upholdeth him

with his hand.”  Psalm 37:23-24

May our cry be:

“Order my steps

in thy word:

and let not any iniquity

have dominion over me.”  Psalm 119:133

May we truly pursue the face of God and His holiness in all we are (to be more like Jesus every day) and all we do—for what we ‘do’ comes out of our heart and reveals who/what we ‘are’!  May our heart pursue steps that HE is ordering, for us, day by day!  (See Hebrews 12:1-3)

“And Jesus said,

Are ye also yet without understanding?

17 Do not ye yet understand,

that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth

goeth into the belly,

and is cast out into the draught?

18 But those things which proceed

out of the mouth

come forth from the heart;

and they defile the man.

19 For out of the heart proceed

evil thoughts,

murders,

adulteries,

fornications,

thefts,

false witness,

blasphemies:

20 These are the things which defile a man:

but to eat with unwashen hands

defileth not a man.”   Matthew 15:16-20

And again, Jesus said:

“Either make the tree good,

and his fruit good;

or else make the tree corrupt,

and his fruit corrupt:

for the tree is known by his fruit.

34 O generation of vipers,

how can ye,

being evil,

speak good things?

for out of the abundance of the heart

the mouth speaketh.

35 A good man

out of the good treasure of the heart

bringeth forth good things:

and an evil man

out of the evil treasure

bringeth forth evil things.”   Matthew 12:33-35

And one last thing to measure by: a question for us all, “What’s in my heart?  The love of God, and Word of God, or not?”   Remember what’s hidden in the heart will come out in word and deed!  What will HIS searchlight find in my/your heart?  God’s light is true!  Am I?

“With my whole heart

have I sought thee:

O let me not wander

from thy commandments.

11 Thy word

have I hid in mine heart,

that I might not sin

against thee.”  Psalm 119:10-11

What’s hiding in my heart?  In yours?

Amen and Amen!!!