SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 4/1/2013
9:17 AM
My Worship Time Focus: A Sovereign
God
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference:
Studies in Proverbs
Message of the
verses: We will continue looking at
the last chapter in Warren Wiersbe’s commentary on the book of Proverbs by
looking at the next aspect of “This Is Our God,” which is His sovereignty.
A Sovereign God
Isn’t it wonderful to get up in the morning knowing
that the sun will rise as a specific time and will set at a specific time, that
the high tides will come in when they are suppose to and go out when they are
suppose to. Things like these happen
because of a Sovereign God who is in control of all things. Dr. A. T. Pierson puts it this way “History
is His story,” and because God is sovereign history is His story. Let us look at Proverbs 16:4 “The LORD works
out everything for his own ends—even the wicked for a day of disaster.” Then we will look at Proverbs 19:21 “Many are
the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” An as a Christian believer I can also look at
Colossians 1:16, “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and
on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or
authorities-all things have been created through Him and for Him.” This verse gives me confidence that not only
God create all things but is in control of all things.
In his commentary on this subject of God’s Sovereignty
Dr. Wiersbe quotes Charles H. Spurgeon from a sermon that he gave on Feb. 4,
1866 in which he states “No doctrine in the whole Word of God has more excited
the hatred of mankind than the truth of the absolute sovereignty of God. The fact that ‘the Lord reigneth’ is
indisputable, and it is this fact that arouses the utmost opposition of the
unrenewed human heart.” I suppose we
should ask the question why this statement is true. One of the things that comes to my mind when
I think about this is the theory of evolution and the reason why this comes to
my mind is because I believe that Satan is behind evolution and one of the
reasons is when a person believes in evolution and not what the Bible reaches
about creation they are accountable to no one.
Another thing that I think about goes back to the first sin that mankind
every committed and the reason why it was committed. I believe that Eve though that God was
cheating her by holding back something from her, and what that was that He was
holding back was telling her about evil.
Once her and Adam sinned everything changed for them and for us too
because sin is rebellion against God.
When we sin against God we are saying that He is not in charge and I can
do whatever I want to do, I don’t care that He is sovereign.
God’s sovereignty does not destroy human responsibility
and then turn humans into robots as some would say. “To man belong the plans of the heart, but
from the LORD comes the reply of the tongue (Pr. 16:1).” Proverbs 16:33 states “The lot is cast into
the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.” Verse nine of Proverbs sixteen: “A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD
directs his steps.” Dr. Wiersbe writes “God
expects us to study, think, weigh possibilities, and make decisions, but we dare
not ‘lean on our own understanding’ Pr. 3:5).
God promises to give wisdom to those who ask (James 1:5) and to direct
those are willing to obey (Pr. 3:5-6).”
I have already mentioned that God is the creator of all
things and He is sovereign in nature. 19 The LORD by wisdom founded the earth, By
understanding He established the heavens. 20
By His knowledge the deeps were broken up And the skies drip with dew
(Pr. 3:19-20).” Pr. 8:22-31 “22 ¶ "The LORD possessed me at the beginning
of His way, Before His works of old. 23
"From everlasting I was established, From the beginning, from the
earliest times of the earth. 24 "When there were no depths I was brought
forth, When there were no springs abounding with water. 25 "Before the mountains were settled,
Before the hills I was brought forth; 26
While He had not yet made the earth and the fields, Nor the first dust
of the world. 27 "When He
established the heavens, I was there, When He inscribed a circle on the face of
the deep, 28 When He made firm the skies
above, When the springs of the deep became fixed, 29 When He set for the sea its boundary So that
the water would not transgress His command, When He marked out the foundations
of the earth; 30 Then I was beside Him,
as a master workman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him,
31 Rejoicing in the world, His earth,
And having my delight in the sons of men.”
Pr. 30:4 “Who has ascended into heaven and descended? Who has gathered
the wind in His fists? Who has wrapped the waters in His garment? Who has
established all the ends of the earth? What is His name or His son’s name?
Surely you know!” (Sounds a bit like
something Job said.)
God is also sovereign in history: “22 ¶
So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, "Men of
Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. 23 "For while I was passing through and
examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this
inscription, ’TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this
I proclaim to you. 24 "The God who
made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does
not dwell in temples made with hands; 25
nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He
Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; 26 and He made from one man every nation of
mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed
times and the boundaries of their habitation, 27 that they would seek God, if perhaps they
might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;
28 for in Him we live and move and
exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ’For we also are His children’
(Acts 17:22-28).” Daniel 4:17, 34-35 “"This
sentence is by the decree of the angelic watchers And the decision is a command
of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High is ruler
over the realm of mankind, And bestows it on whom He wishes And sets over it
the lowliest of men." 34 ¶ "But at the end of that period, I,
Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and
I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever; For His
dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom endures from generation to
generation. 35 "All the inhabitants
of the earth are accounted as nothing, But He does according to His will in the
host of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can ward off His
hand Or say to Him, ’What have You done?’”
Pr. 1:15 “"By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice.” Pr. 21:1 “The king’s heart is in the hand of
the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.” Pr. 21:30 “There is no wisdom or
understanding Or counsel against the LORD.”
Dr. Wiersbe writes “Keep in mind that the God who decrees
the end—His purposes—also decrees the means to the end. If He determines to overthrow Pharaoh and
deliver Israel from Egypt, He also decrees that Moses and Aaron go to Egypt to confront
Pharaoh. If He purposes to bring Israel
into the Promised Land, He also decrees that Joshua shall be trained to lead
them. If He purposes to win lost souls,
He also decrees that a witness will share the Gospel. ‘An how shall they hear without a
preacher? And how shall they preach
unless they are sent?’ (Romans. 10:14-15, NKJV).”
I have heard from different people that if you truly
believe that God is sovereign then why do you go out and witness to the lost if
God is going to save them any way. My
answer has always been I do this because the Bible teaches me to do it. I am truly amazed that God will use me in
doing something like telling others about how they can change their eternal
address from going to hell to going to heaven.
I truly believe that God does give His children Divine Appointments, as
this has happened to me on different occasions. This is the Sovereign Lord
accomplishing His will in my life and allowing me to be a part of telling
others about how to be saved. God is on
His throne and He controls all things and for that I am glade beyond
belief. Romans 8:28 states “And we know
that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to
those who are called according to His purpose.”
Dr. Wiersbe speaking about our role in telling others about Jesus Christ
states “Our task is to obey and share the message; His responsibility is to
save those who believe.”
A part of God’s Sovereignty is knowing what is going on
in the world He created, knowing the thoughts of people’s minds, knowing their
actions and deeds. “For the ways of a
man are before the eyes of the LORD, And He watches all his paths (Pr. 5:21).” Proverbs 15:3 “The eyes of the LORD are in
every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good.” Pr. 21:2 “Every way of a man is right in his
own eyes, But the LORD
weighs the hearts.” Pr. 24:12 “If you say, "But we knew nothing
about this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who
guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he
has done?”
Dr. Wiersbe concludes this portion of his commentary on the
Sovereign God by writing “It’s encouraging to know that ‘the Lord reigns’ (Ps.
93:1) and that His righteous purposes will be fulfilled. Let’s be sure that we’re walking with Him on
the path of life, surrendered to His will and seeking to honor His name.”
Spiritual meaning
for my life today: I trust that God
is both Sovereign and Just along with being love, and because of this I can
trust Him to work in my life so that I can bring honor and glory to my Lord who
took my place on the cross.
My Steps of Faith for Today:
I
like the last statement Dr. Wiersbe made for my steps of faith for today:
Memory verses for the
week: Psalm 32:7-9
7 You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble;
You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah. 8 I will instruct you and teach you in the
way which you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. 9 Do not be like the horse or the mule which
have no understanding, whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in
check, otherwise they will not come near
you.
Answer to Yesterday’s Bible
Question: “Reuben” (Gen. 35:23)
Today’s Bible
Question: “Where were the Levites and
Priests required to live during their period of temple services?”
Answer in tomorrow’s SD.
4/1/2013 11:21 AM
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