- Nov 17, 2018
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Hello Family of God,
I will be focusing on the Absolute Sovereignty of Almighty God; how all Christians are to understand its purpose in Creation according to His unchanging Nature, and the Eternal consequences of willful rebellion and rejection against the Most High. My message will consist of:
I. Resistance and willful rebellion against the Sovereignty of God.
II. Absolute Faith and Trust in God is connected to understanding God's Sovereignty.
III. The Sovereignty of God over the the knowledge and wisdom of conscious creatures (His Omniscience).
IV. The Sovereignty of God in the midst of the suffering of His people.
V. The Sovereignty of God over the forces of evil.
VI. The Condemnation of Christ-rejecters.
VII. The hardening of the hearts of the lost/unbelievers and the death of innocent people.
VIII. Closing remarks.
Where do doubts stem from? The root of doubt proceeds from the heart of those who do not fully plumb the depths of God's Sovereignty. Just knowing that God is in control over all affairs does not mean that all will be well in the life of a Christian; there may be challenges which may impede us during our lives here on Earth, but if our desires are first and foremost the pursuit of storing up treasures in Heaven, then we can have an Immovable assurance and Trust in our Heavenly Father and God, that He will make best use of them (e.g., "opposition to our faith, loss of temporal blessings, death of loved ones, and even our sins"; cf. Matt. 6:33-34; 1 Cor. 15:58; 2 Cor. 4:17; Col. 1:26-29).
Doing the Will of God here on Earth as it ought to be done in Heaven is the first step towards understanding God's plan for our lives, and He is the one who is in control over all circumstances we will experience. A heart with a passion for the future Hope which awaits all faithful Christians is to be a priority; for this removes all anxiety and increases our Trust in God's Sovereignty and the strength He imparts to us when much needed (Phil. 4:13; 2 Thess. 2:16-17; 2 Tim. 2:10; 1 Pet. 5:10). We are to set our affections and exigencies towards the righteousness of God before we can grasp a basic understanding concerning His Will for us (Matt. 6:10), that way, we can have Joy in the midst of persecution, fiery ordeals, etc; and gain a better understanding of how God's Sovereignty is at work in our lives (Ps.126:5; Prov. 10:28; Rom. 14:17; 1 Thess. 2:20; Heb. 12:2; Jas. 1:2-4; 1 Pet. 1:8; 4:12-13; Rev.12:12; et al).
Christians need to first understand the unchanging Nature of God and His Will in their lives through the knowledge of what He delights in: He delights that His children delight in Him, and this begins with having [the mind of Christ] and to continually "abide" in Him as their source of provision in order to live "life" as intended by Him (i.e., "spiritual union"; cf. Rom. 13:14; Gal. 3:27; Phil. 2:5-8; 3:8-10; 2 Tim. 3:16-17). What godly characteristics did Christ have? He only did the things which PLEASED His Father; and His examples are to be followed, as we walk in:
[RESISTANCE AND WILLFUL REBELLION AGAINST THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD]:
The tragedy of all tragedies are the apostates who fall by the wayside because of their lack of self-control, falling into the snares of self-gratifying lusts, carnality, profane appetites for things which are ungodly; and these are causational to the spiritual ruin of one's soul: these are in stark contrast to what Christians are to take pleasure in, and what God desires to fulfill in the lives of His people who share in what He delights in (cf. Ps. 37:4-5; Matt. 6:24,33; Jn. 12:25; Jas. 4:4; 2 Pet. 1:4; 1 Jn. 2:15-17; Rev. 3:17). The punishment towards those who knew the Gospel and willfully abandoned its Truth will experience the Wrath of God to a greater degree than those who have never heard it (Mk. 6:11; 12:40; Lk. 12:47-48; Jn 19:11; Heb. 10:29-31). Deliberate rebellion against the Sovereign of all Potentates is the highest form of sin, especially when the Loving-Kindness, Mercy, and Righteous Justice of the Most Holy God are held in contempt by the ungodly (Isa. 63:10; Rom. 8:7; 13:2; 2 Thess. 2:9-12; Jude 14-15).
[ABSOLUTE FAITH TRUST IN GOD IS CONNECTED TO UNDERSTANDING GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY]:
"And [ALL the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as NOTHING]: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and [NONE CAN STAY HIS HAND, OR SAY UNTO HIM, WHAT DOEST THOU?]" (Daniel 4:35)
"And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for [WHATSOEVER IS NOT OF FAITH IS SIN]." (Romans 14:23)
I do understand that times can be daunting when things don't go as planned according to how we would normally expect them to, especially when things shift from joyous moments to all hell suddenly breaking loose when we least expect it. God's perfect timing and waiting on Him to make your paths straight can never be fully understood at times until what God has accomplished what needed to be done comes to fruition; then can you look back at those events which were questionable to you and learn what God has taught you, so that your Trust and Faith in Him may continue to flourish as a tree and its plenitude of fruits during harvest, deeply rooted and planted by living waters, whose source is the Sovereign Throne of God (Ps. 1:1-3; Prov. 3:5-6; Jer. 17:8; Jn. 15:1-5; 2 Pet. 1:5-8; Rev. 22:1).
"If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and [it shall be done unto you]." (John 15:7)
[THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD OVER THE KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM OF CONSCIOUS CREATURES (HIS OMNISCIENCE]:
Since the dawn of science, men and women in academia have attempted to explain away certain miraculous events found in Scripture with science: such as the Creation of the world in 6 literal days, and they do this by reinterpreting them to suit their theoretical findings through their research (e.g., the worldwide flood in the days of Noah, parting of the red sea, etc.), and if all else fails in their studies, they will then pass it off as a myth. This demonstrates that even "Christian" scientists do not fully Trust what the Bible literally says when the context clearly suggests that it does (cf. Ps. 12:6; 18:30; 40:4; 118:8; Prov. 30:5; Jer. 17:5-6; Rom. 3:4; 2 Cor. 5:7).
The Bible says that the entire Earth will be renovated upon the arrival of Christ when He comes to set up His Kingdom and Sovereignly Rule over all the nations of the world. The topography of the entire Earth will consist of the mountains being made low, the deserts blossoming with flowing rivers, and the seas dissipate to give way for more geographical areas to accommodate the rapid increase of the world's population during the 1,000 reign of our Lord. Now how would these scientists theorize how this could occur? Because they refuse to submit to the Veracity of Scripture and God's [Supernatural power to do miracles] (i.e., "events in which the laws of nature cannot explain their cause"), their "findings" results in foolish and absurd reasoning through explanations that are preposterous in the Eternal mind of God (cf. Job 5:12-13; Isa. 29:14; Jer. 8:9; 1 Cor. 1:19; 3:19).
[THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD IN THE MIDST OF THE SUFFERING OF HIS PEOPLE]:
There is an ENTIRE CHAPTER (Job 38) in which God (who is not "obligated" to answer Job) rebukes Job for questioning His Sovereign Decree. One would think that after God answered Job with that many rhetorical questions, that Christians would learn a valuable lesson from this; apparently this is NOT the case, as this continues to this very day by those who have the audacity to question the plans and purposes of Almighty God. Job felt forsaken by God, but later came to realize that God had not abandoned him during the anguish he experienced (Job 29:5). Not all of life's mental and physical pain can be explained away by deductive reasoning from the mind of finite man; it is God alone who decides whether or not He will reveal the cause of our ordeals, and we are to faithfully submit to His Sovereignty and Wisdom by avoiding sin in the Fear of the Lord (cf. Deut. 29:29; Ps. 111:10; Prov. 1:7; 9:10; Eccles. 12:13-14).
"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (Romans 8:18)
The Apostle Paul obviously learned quite a bit from Job, but even he continued to press on by pleading with the Lord (Jesus Christ) to remove the thorn in his flesh (lit., "a stake for the flesh" 2 Cor. 12:7-9). This messenger of Satan (Grk. angelos satana), and all other forms in which evil can take are subject to the Sovereignty of God; but we see here that the Lord granted permission for this to occur to keep Paul from being conceited, and with Peter in that he may be [strengthened] and [aware] regarding the schemes of Satan when he crosses paths with him in the road ahead; none of this would have been fulfilled had not the Lord granted permission to Satan to have a go at him (cf. Matt. 8:29; 16:22; 1 Kgs. 22:21-22; Mk. 1:27; Lk. 22:31-32; 1 Pet. 5:8-9).
"[BE SOBER, BE VIGILANT]; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom [RESIST STEDFAST IN THE FAITH], knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world." (1 Peter 5:8-9)
[THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD OVER THE FORCES OF EVIL]:
"Remember the former things of old: for [I am God, and THERE IS NONE ELSE; I am God, and THERE IS NONE LIKE ME], Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, [I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it]." (Isaiah 46:9-11)
"The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil." (Proverbs 16:4)
"He that committeth sin is of the devil; for [THE DEVIL SINNETH FROM THE BEGINNING]. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." (1 John 3:8)
"But the very hairs of your head are all numbered." (Matthew 10:30)
I will be focusing on the Absolute Sovereignty of Almighty God; how all Christians are to understand its purpose in Creation according to His unchanging Nature, and the Eternal consequences of willful rebellion and rejection against the Most High. My message will consist of:
I. Resistance and willful rebellion against the Sovereignty of God.
II. Absolute Faith and Trust in God is connected to understanding God's Sovereignty.
III. The Sovereignty of God over the the knowledge and wisdom of conscious creatures (His Omniscience).
IV. The Sovereignty of God in the midst of the suffering of His people.
V. The Sovereignty of God over the forces of evil.
VI. The Condemnation of Christ-rejecters.
VII. The hardening of the hearts of the lost/unbelievers and the death of innocent people.
VIII. Closing remarks.
Where do doubts stem from? The root of doubt proceeds from the heart of those who do not fully plumb the depths of God's Sovereignty. Just knowing that God is in control over all affairs does not mean that all will be well in the life of a Christian; there may be challenges which may impede us during our lives here on Earth, but if our desires are first and foremost the pursuit of storing up treasures in Heaven, then we can have an Immovable assurance and Trust in our Heavenly Father and God, that He will make best use of them (e.g., "opposition to our faith, loss of temporal blessings, death of loved ones, and even our sins"; cf. Matt. 6:33-34; 1 Cor. 15:58; 2 Cor. 4:17; Col. 1:26-29).
Doing the Will of God here on Earth as it ought to be done in Heaven is the first step towards understanding God's plan for our lives, and He is the one who is in control over all circumstances we will experience. A heart with a passion for the future Hope which awaits all faithful Christians is to be a priority; for this removes all anxiety and increases our Trust in God's Sovereignty and the strength He imparts to us when much needed (Phil. 4:13; 2 Thess. 2:16-17; 2 Tim. 2:10; 1 Pet. 5:10). We are to set our affections and exigencies towards the righteousness of God before we can grasp a basic understanding concerning His Will for us (Matt. 6:10), that way, we can have Joy in the midst of persecution, fiery ordeals, etc; and gain a better understanding of how God's Sovereignty is at work in our lives (Ps.126:5; Prov. 10:28; Rom. 14:17; 1 Thess. 2:20; Heb. 12:2; Jas. 1:2-4; 1 Pet. 1:8; 4:12-13; Rev.12:12; et al).
Christians need to first understand the unchanging Nature of God and His Will in their lives through the knowledge of what He delights in: He delights that His children delight in Him, and this begins with having [the mind of Christ] and to continually "abide" in Him as their source of provision in order to live "life" as intended by Him (i.e., "spiritual union"; cf. Rom. 13:14; Gal. 3:27; Phil. 2:5-8; 3:8-10; 2 Tim. 3:16-17). What godly characteristics did Christ have? He only did the things which PLEASED His Father; and His examples are to be followed, as we walk in:
- Holiness: (Jn. 17:15-18; Eph. 1:4; Col. 3:12; 2 Tim. 1:8-9; 1 Thess. 4:3; Heb. 12:14; Jas. 1:27; 1 Pet. 1:15-16)
- Godliness: (1 Cor. 6:19-20; 1 Tim. 2:1-2; 4:7-8; 6:5-6,17-19; 2 Pet. 3:11)
- Purity: (Ps. 51:10; Matt. 5:8; 2 Cor. 11:2; Col. 3:5; Tit. 1:15; Jas. 4:8; 2 Pet. 3:14; 1 Jn. 3:2-3)
- Without Hypocrisy: (Prov. 12:22; Matt. 7:24; Lk. 6:31; Rom. 9:1; 2 Cor. 8:21; Eph. 6:5-8; Col. 3:23; 1 Tim. 1:5; Tit. 2:7-8; Heb. 13:18; 1 Pet. 2:12; 3:16)
- Truth and its Application: (Ps. 25:5; Jn. 4:23; 8:31-32; 17:17; 1 Cor. 5:7-8; Eph. 4:15; 1 Jn. 1:6; 3:18; 5:20; 3 Jn. 1:3-4)
- Divine Love: (Jn. 13:31-35; 17:26; 1 Cor. 13:4-8; Gal. 5:14,22; Eph. 5:2; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 1 Jn. 3:18; 4:7-10,16)
- Unwavering Trust in Our Heavenly Father, or a Faith that never fails: (Josh. 1:9; Ps. 37:5; Isa. 26:3; Matt. 6:25; Eph. 3:17-19; Phil. 4:6-7; Heb. 11:6)
- Humility: (Ps. 51:17; Matt. 5:3; 23:12; Rom. 12:10; 1 Cor. 15:9; Gal. 5:13; Eph. 5:21; 1 Tim. 1:15; 1 Pet. 5:5)
- Obedience: (1 Sam. 5:22; Eccles. 12:13; Jn. 14:15,21-23; Acts 5:29; Rom. 6:16; 2 Cor. 10:5; Col. 2:6-7; Heb. 5:8; 10:35-38; 1 Jn. 2:3; 3:22)
- Repentance [Does NOT apply to Jesus Christ]: (Prov. 28:13; Isa. 55:6-7; Matt. 3:8; 9:13; Lk. 13:3; Acts 17:30; 2 Cor. 7:10; 1 Jn. 1:9; Rev. 3:19)
[RESISTANCE AND WILLFUL REBELLION AGAINST THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD]:
The tragedy of all tragedies are the apostates who fall by the wayside because of their lack of self-control, falling into the snares of self-gratifying lusts, carnality, profane appetites for things which are ungodly; and these are causational to the spiritual ruin of one's soul: these are in stark contrast to what Christians are to take pleasure in, and what God desires to fulfill in the lives of His people who share in what He delights in (cf. Ps. 37:4-5; Matt. 6:24,33; Jn. 12:25; Jas. 4:4; 2 Pet. 1:4; 1 Jn. 2:15-17; Rev. 3:17). The punishment towards those who knew the Gospel and willfully abandoned its Truth will experience the Wrath of God to a greater degree than those who have never heard it (Mk. 6:11; 12:40; Lk. 12:47-48; Jn 19:11; Heb. 10:29-31). Deliberate rebellion against the Sovereign of all Potentates is the highest form of sin, especially when the Loving-Kindness, Mercy, and Righteous Justice of the Most Holy God are held in contempt by the ungodly (Isa. 63:10; Rom. 8:7; 13:2; 2 Thess. 2:9-12; Jude 14-15).
[ABSOLUTE FAITH TRUST IN GOD IS CONNECTED TO UNDERSTANDING GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY]:
"And [ALL the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as NOTHING]: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and [NONE CAN STAY HIS HAND, OR SAY UNTO HIM, WHAT DOEST THOU?]" (Daniel 4:35)
"And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for [WHATSOEVER IS NOT OF FAITH IS SIN]." (Romans 14:23)
I do understand that times can be daunting when things don't go as planned according to how we would normally expect them to, especially when things shift from joyous moments to all hell suddenly breaking loose when we least expect it. God's perfect timing and waiting on Him to make your paths straight can never be fully understood at times until what God has accomplished what needed to be done comes to fruition; then can you look back at those events which were questionable to you and learn what God has taught you, so that your Trust and Faith in Him may continue to flourish as a tree and its plenitude of fruits during harvest, deeply rooted and planted by living waters, whose source is the Sovereign Throne of God (Ps. 1:1-3; Prov. 3:5-6; Jer. 17:8; Jn. 15:1-5; 2 Pet. 1:5-8; Rev. 22:1).
"If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and [it shall be done unto you]." (John 15:7)
[THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD OVER THE KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM OF CONSCIOUS CREATURES (HIS OMNISCIENCE]:
Since the dawn of science, men and women in academia have attempted to explain away certain miraculous events found in Scripture with science: such as the Creation of the world in 6 literal days, and they do this by reinterpreting them to suit their theoretical findings through their research (e.g., the worldwide flood in the days of Noah, parting of the red sea, etc.), and if all else fails in their studies, they will then pass it off as a myth. This demonstrates that even "Christian" scientists do not fully Trust what the Bible literally says when the context clearly suggests that it does (cf. Ps. 12:6; 18:30; 40:4; 118:8; Prov. 30:5; Jer. 17:5-6; Rom. 3:4; 2 Cor. 5:7).
The Bible says that the entire Earth will be renovated upon the arrival of Christ when He comes to set up His Kingdom and Sovereignly Rule over all the nations of the world. The topography of the entire Earth will consist of the mountains being made low, the deserts blossoming with flowing rivers, and the seas dissipate to give way for more geographical areas to accommodate the rapid increase of the world's population during the 1,000 reign of our Lord. Now how would these scientists theorize how this could occur? Because they refuse to submit to the Veracity of Scripture and God's [Supernatural power to do miracles] (i.e., "events in which the laws of nature cannot explain their cause"), their "findings" results in foolish and absurd reasoning through explanations that are preposterous in the Eternal mind of God (cf. Job 5:12-13; Isa. 29:14; Jer. 8:9; 1 Cor. 1:19; 3:19).
[THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD IN THE MIDST OF THE SUFFERING OF HIS PEOPLE]:
There is an ENTIRE CHAPTER (Job 38) in which God (who is not "obligated" to answer Job) rebukes Job for questioning His Sovereign Decree. One would think that after God answered Job with that many rhetorical questions, that Christians would learn a valuable lesson from this; apparently this is NOT the case, as this continues to this very day by those who have the audacity to question the plans and purposes of Almighty God. Job felt forsaken by God, but later came to realize that God had not abandoned him during the anguish he experienced (Job 29:5). Not all of life's mental and physical pain can be explained away by deductive reasoning from the mind of finite man; it is God alone who decides whether or not He will reveal the cause of our ordeals, and we are to faithfully submit to His Sovereignty and Wisdom by avoiding sin in the Fear of the Lord (cf. Deut. 29:29; Ps. 111:10; Prov. 1:7; 9:10; Eccles. 12:13-14).
"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (Romans 8:18)
The Apostle Paul obviously learned quite a bit from Job, but even he continued to press on by pleading with the Lord (Jesus Christ) to remove the thorn in his flesh (lit., "a stake for the flesh" 2 Cor. 12:7-9). This messenger of Satan (Grk. angelos satana), and all other forms in which evil can take are subject to the Sovereignty of God; but we see here that the Lord granted permission for this to occur to keep Paul from being conceited, and with Peter in that he may be [strengthened] and [aware] regarding the schemes of Satan when he crosses paths with him in the road ahead; none of this would have been fulfilled had not the Lord granted permission to Satan to have a go at him (cf. Matt. 8:29; 16:22; 1 Kgs. 22:21-22; Mk. 1:27; Lk. 22:31-32; 1 Pet. 5:8-9).
"[BE SOBER, BE VIGILANT]; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom [RESIST STEDFAST IN THE FAITH], knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world." (1 Peter 5:8-9)
[THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD OVER THE FORCES OF EVIL]:
"Remember the former things of old: for [I am God, and THERE IS NONE ELSE; I am God, and THERE IS NONE LIKE ME], Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, [I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it]." (Isaiah 46:9-11)
"The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil." (Proverbs 16:4)
"He that committeth sin is of the devil; for [THE DEVIL SINNETH FROM THE BEGINNING]. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." (1 John 3:8)
"But the very hairs of your head are all numbered." (Matthew 10:30)