3. god attributes sovereignty

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orthodoxy |ˈôrθəˌdäksē| authorized or generally accepted theory, doctrine, or practice Tuesday 22 November 2011

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Page 1: 3. god attributes sovereignty

orthodoxy |ˈôrθəˌdäksē|authorized or generally

accepted theory, doctrine, or practice

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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The Sovereigntyof God

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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sovereignty |ˈsäv(ə)rəntē|supreme power or

authority

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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He is called Adonay.2 Samuel 7:22,

"How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no

one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears."

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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Tuesday 22 November 2011

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Most Christians have a small view of God.

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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Most Christians have a small view of God.

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Most Christians have a small view of God.

Evans believes one reason for this is that Christians do not understand the sovereignty of God. He continues suggesting that in our lives God is anywhere but on the throne and this results in our spiritual weakness and lack of power.

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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“God’s sovereignty concerns his absolute rule and control over all of creation. God rules absolutely over the affairs of men. He sits on the throne of the universes as Lord. Everything that happens comes about because he either directly causes it or consciously allows it. Nothing enters into history or could ever exist outside of history that does not come under the complete control of God”

Evans

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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“God’s sovereignty concerns his absolute rule and control over all of creation. God rules absolutely over the affairs of men. He sits on the throne of the universes as Lord. Everything that happens comes about because he either directly causes it or consciously allows it. Nothing enters into history or could ever exist outside of history that does not come under the complete control of God”

Evans

God’s sovereignty involves thinking

What does it mean?

What are the consequences of believing this?

What about war, famine, poverty?

What about sickness and death?

What about the devil?

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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“God’s sovereignty concerns his absolute rule and control over all of creation. God rules absolutely over the affairs of men. He sits on the throne of the universes as Lord. Everything that happens comes about because he either directly causes it or consciously allows it. Nothing enters into history or could ever exist outside of history that does not come under the complete control of God”

Evans

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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Tuesday 22 November 2011

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God's sovereignty has immense practical importance

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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God's sovereignty has immense practical importance

...it makes Him our proper object of worship. He is the almighty, omnipotent God, the creator and sustainer of all that exists. There is none higher, none more worthy of worship and honor.

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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God's sovereignty has immense practical importance

...it makes Him our proper object of worship. He is the almighty, omnipotent God, the creator and sustainer of all that exists. There is none higher, none more worthy of worship and honor.

...it means He can be counted on, for nothing can stand against Him...for our salvation...to carry us through times of difficulty such that nothing touches us that is not in keeping with His desires for us...to keep all the promises He has made to us.

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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God's sovereignty has immense practical importance

...it makes Him our proper object of worship. He is the almighty, omnipotent God, the creator and sustainer of all that exists. There is none higher, none more worthy of worship and honor.

...it means He can be counted on, for nothing can stand against Him...for our salvation...to carry us through times of difficulty such that nothing touches us that is not in keeping with His desires for us...to keep all the promises He has made to us.

Rick Wade

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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God’s Absolute Rule

Do you want God to be sovereign?

Do you want Him to rule over you?

Are you like a rebellious teenager who wants God there to help but wants autonomy the rest of the time?

Satan started this path of thinking - encouraged Eve not to be stifled or limited by God.

Knowing God is sovereign means you realise no one is autonomous from him - he has absolute control over the universe.

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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Tuesday 22 November 2011

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1. God does what he pleases

The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;

Psalm 24:1

By virtue of this God can do whatever he wants whenever he wants

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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1.a. God rulesYou do not have the right to tell God what to do or how to do it - he made it, he chooses, and the Bible declares this to be so;

Job 23:13 - he stands alone, and who can oppose him? He does whatever he pleases.

Job 42:2 - “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

Psalm 115:3 -Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.

Isa 45:7 - I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things.

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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Eph 1:11 - In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,

Rom 11:36 - For from him and through him and for him are all things.To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Rev 19:6 - Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:

“Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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Eph 1:11 - In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,

Rom 11:36 - For from him and through him and for him are all things.To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Rev 19:6 - Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:

“Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.

Nothing escapes the rule of God

No matter what happens God is ruling

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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1.b. God decides

There is no such thing as luck - there is nothing that happens which hasn’t been through God’s hands first.

Exodus 4:11 -The LORD said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the LORD?

12 Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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1.c. Our decisions

If not one of the smallest details of our lives escapes God - do my decisions matter? I can sit back, relax and let God do it all.

This is a great tension in theology and is called an autinomy - parallel truths which run side by side and do not appear to cross each other.

One one side Sovereign God

The other side My Own Choices

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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If I choose is God in control, and if he is on control do I really need to choose?

Evans suggests it is like God having a destination that he will reach but you choose the route he takes in order to get there. He will arrive but it will be through you, over you, around you or in spite of you.

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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However, Evans notes, “when all is said and done...even the route you choose will be the one he sovereignly planned to use in order to achieve his intended purposes”

God will get where he chooses - the question is what you will look like at that time?

God has determined men and women shall praise him for all eternity - will you do it in heaven or hell?

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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1.d. Sovereignty and PrayerGod has determined what will happen but it will not happen until you ask, James 4:2,

You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.

God has determined how he will act, but he waits for us to call before he acts - we have a choice. No one can thwart his plan all we can do is cooperate with it.

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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1.e. Created for him1 Cor 8:6

...yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

It is God’s right to do with creation whatever he chooses - you were created to bring glory to God

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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God is the supreme authority. He is not subject to any power or law

which could be conceived as superior to or other than Himself. Sovereign refers to a king who has

authority over a certain land or group of people. God's sovereignty is over all the earth and all creation,

as He created all things.http://www.parentcompany.com/awareness_of_god/nog10.htm

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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2. God’s glory and will

“The sovereignty of God means the exercise of his attributes in order to maintain his glory and accomplish his will”

Evans

Men will never knock God off his throne!

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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2.a. Forever SovereignGod is omniscient - nothing he does not know, omnipotent nothing he cannot do,omnipresent, no place he doesn’t exist...

God’s attributes guarantee that he will always be sovereign - how do you revolt against a God who is all powerful? He knows every thought in your mind so you can’t outwit him...

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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2.b. A Great example

...All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”

Daniel 4

Nebuchadnezar = big head : God = sovereign

Who will come out on top?

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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2.b. A Great example

...All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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2.b. A Great example

...All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.”

Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox.

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.

At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation.

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.

At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation.

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?”

At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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2.c. Sovereignty and status

No matter how important you are, how high you climb etc. God is still sovereign.

Respect and honour people but remember God is still in control.

God is not intimidated by peoples status or reputation, or giving - we are all sinners in need of salvation

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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God is not a respecter of persons - you are who you are because God made you that way, and he gave grace to you,

“I am what I am by the grace of God” Paul

Be thankful that God uses you - but don’t get proud in that, he gave you the gifts and skills that you are using - so he gets the glory

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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Omnipotence (Power, Sovereignty)God’s omnipotence means that

God is able to do all his holy will.The word omnipotence is derived from two Latin words, omni, “all,” and potens, powerful and means all

powerfulWayne Grudem

Systematic Theology, p216

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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3. God’s sovereignty and our sin

So what of original sin - why did God allow the existence of evil - especially as he hates evil, is completely holy, and cannot sin, or even tempt others to do so.

Rom 1:8, Isa 6:3, Ps 5:4, Jn 1:13

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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1. As God works everything for his glory we have to conclude God gets more glory through the existence of evil than he would have without it. Eph 1:11-12

Some of God’s attributes show up best when seen against sin

Love - Rom 5:8

Holiness & Wrath are seen against the reality of sin - Rom 1:18, 9:22-23

Grace is seen majestically against sin - Eph 2:1-7

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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2. In allowing evil God shows that nothing and no enemy will ever be able to thwart his kingdom purposes.

This comprehensive defeating of his enemies will be the basis for great praise - Rev 19:1-6

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3. God allows evil as he does not wish to force obedience.

For man to function as God’s image bearer, he has to have the power to choose and so evil must exist. If not people would just be robots

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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3. God allows evil as he does not wish to force obedience.

For man to function as God’s image bearer, he has to have the power to choose and so evil must exist. If not people would just be robots

God does not plan, incite, authorise or approve sin. He does allow his creatures to rebel against his authority - he then overrules their actions for his sovereign purposes - in allowing this God demonstrates his greatness - Gen 50:20 -You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.Tuesday 22 November 2011

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The sovereignty of God may be defined as the exercise of His

supremacy, His infinite rule, His authority and power. Being infinitely elevated above the highest creature in authority, nature, and being, He is the Most High Lord of heaven and earth and all creation whether angels or the

heavenly hosts.http://bible.org/article/resting-god%E2%80%99s-sovereignty-proverbs-161-4

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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4. God’s sovereignty and our perspective

If you as a believer understand God’s sovereignty correctly, you will understand life properly

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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4.a. Strength

Php 4:13 (ESV) - I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Christ supplies - we are totally dependent upon him.

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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4.a. Strength

Php 4:13 (ESV) - I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Christ supplies - we are totally dependent upon him.

In tests, male horned dung beetles were able to pull 1,141 times their own body weight  -  the equivalent of a person dragging six fully-laden double decker buses.

By comparison, a leafcutter ant can lift a mere 50 times its own body weight.

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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4.b. Comfort in circumstances

Life has ups and downs - and they can change rapidly.

God’s sovereignty allows us to be sure of his love even when circumstances are not good or things seem o be going wrong.

We might not ‘get it’ but we can be sure God does.

God is the ‘god of all comfort’

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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4.c. ConfidenceThere is no luck, chance, accidents in God’s sovereignty;

“Lord you did what I thought you weren’t going to do. That’s because you want to do something else in my life...go ahead and do your thing”

Evans suggests God is making a cake in your life - some ingredients taste good on their own - others need to be mixed and baked to taste best

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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4.c. ConfidenceThere is no luck, chance, accidents in God’s sovereignty;

“Lord you did what I thought you weren’t going to do. That’s because you want to do something else in my life...go ahead and do your thing”

Evans suggests God is making a cake in your life - some ingredients taste good on their own - others need to be mixed and baked to taste best

Rom 8:28, 38-39

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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4.d. The whole picture

When you walk under the covering of God nothing can stop his plan for you - even the negative things will be made positive in God.

We might look at the small pieces of our life - God looks at the whole picture.

“You can’t change people - but you can get out of the way so that God can run over them” Evans

Fast and pray - then leave it to God

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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4.e. Sovereignty and impossibilities

Obstacles and the fact that something has never been done before are irrelevant when faced with God’s sovereignty.

Luke 1:37

The ‘most’ sinful person can be saved - Heb 7:25

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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4.e. Sovereignty and impossibilities

Obstacles and the fact that something has never been done before are irrelevant when faced with God’s sovereignty.

Luke 1:37

The ‘most’ sinful person can be saved - Heb 7:25

The confidence of Paul is shown in 2 Tim 1:12

That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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5. God’s sovereignty and worship

God’s sovereignty should draw us to worship - after all it is he who holds up the universe by the word of his power, who gives us air to breathe, who provides for us.

And, he wants to meet with us as we live and worship!

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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5.a. Giving God honour

Worship is the correct response to God’s sovereignty - after all we are thankful to get paid for working, how much more thankful should we be to God who is our provider and so much more.

In 1 Chron. 29 when David appeals for funds for the new temple to be built...and God gets the glory and worship

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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1 Chron 29:6-13

the leaders of families, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king’s work gave willingly. They gave toward the work on the temple of God five thousand talents and ten thousand darics of gold, ten thousand talents of silver, eighteen thousand talents of bronze and a hundred thousand talents of iron. Anyone who had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the temple of the LORD in the custody of Jehiel the Gershonite. The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD. David the king also rejoiced greatly.

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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David praised the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly, saying,

“Praise be to you, LORD, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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5.b. God wants your worship

Most Christians are lazy and unfaithful in their worship - they expect to be motivated by God to worship, not to motivate themselves to worship.

If someone does not do a job we call them lazy yet we are blessed to be able to worship God and can’t be bothered

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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5.b. God wants your worship

Most Christians are lazy and unfaithful in their worship - they expect to be motivated by God to worship, not to motivate themselves to worship.

If someone does not do a job we call them lazy yet we are blessed to be able to worship God and can’t be bothered

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple.

Isaiah saw through the circumstances and saw God

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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Responding to God’s sovereignty

1. Do you worship God once a week or is it a way of life? Do you only worship God when things are going well, is your worship present though all seasons of life?

2. Do you have a God given sense of his sovereignty with situations and circumstances or do you panic not realising God is in control?

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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3. Do you believe Philippians 4:13 applies to your life?

4. Are you praying and interceding for the Nebuchadnezers in your life?

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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Applying God’s sovereignty in life

“I began to reflect on Romans 8:30, where paul describes God’s sovereignty in salvation...I was overwhelmed that God knew me before I was born. The awesome implications of this truth flooded my mind. For God to see me down through time, for him to bring about my life, he had to sovereignly direct a billion countless details.

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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“God was sovereign in the immigration of my great-grandparents from Japan. He was sovereign in the mortar in WWII that exploded near my grandfather and caused him to lose his leg, sending him to the hospital where he met my mother. For God to see me, he had to see both of my parents and all the moments and days of their two lives that would lead to their marriage and my birth.

“God saw my past, present and future perfectly...I could trust him with my questions about...my future”

Joshua Harris, Dug Down Deep

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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Applying God’s sovereignty in life

He is to be the focus of our worship. All glory goes to Him. To Jesus "be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen," John said (Rev. 1:6).

God's redemptive purposes will not be thwarted. He will build His church (Matt. 16:18), and nothing can separate us from His love (Rom. 8:38-39).

Tuesday 22 November 2011

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All God has foretold will surely come to pass. He is working out His plans (Is. 42:5-9), and nothing will take away what God has for us.

Because the sovereign God is also the God of love, He can be trusted in the fullest sense, to those who love Him, the combination of His sovereignty and love makes it possible for us to truly rest, to live without fear.

He will ultimately triumph over evil. "There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Rev. 21:4).

Tuesday 22 November 2011