Tag: sovereignty of God

How Can I Know the Bible is Really True?

Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O Lord, according to thy lovingkindness.  Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever. Psalm 119: 159-160

Throughout the book of Daniel, we have seen God miraculously protect and preserve the nation of Israel throughout the years of captivity. There was always a remnant of faithful believers such as Daniel who fervently worshiped God and prayed for the people. It had been throughout centuries that the people of Israel would waiver; often, rebellious and stiff necked toward God. With pride filled arrogance, they would seek after their own desires. There had been great leaders such as Hezekiah and Josiah who would lead the nation into revival; only, for the people to shortly thereafter, turn once more to idle worship under a new corrupt leader. Whom we choose to be a leader for our nation is also of grave importance. If we choose  corrupt leaders, we will become a corrupt nation.

Also, throughout the book of Daniel we have seen God reveal future events to His servant Daniel. Each revelation came with increasing detail concerning the events that would occur over the coming years. I am certain that this was an act of Grace by Almighty God, not to reveal more than Daniel was prepared to handle. So, it is that we have now come to Chapter 11 of Daniel. This revelation came in the third year of Cyrus, King of Persia. This would have been 537 B.C. Daniel wrote down these prophecies long before their occurrences; yet, with great detail as we can now look back at history and confirm.

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How to Know Hope When Facing Trials in the World

Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him. And now will I shew thee the truth. Daniel 11:1-2

The messenger of God is standing before Daniel prepared to give Daniel a detailed account of events that are to come for the nation of Israel. The future includes years of tribulation and sorrow. There will be moments of severe distress for the nation before the time when God establishes His Kingdom on earth. The messenger begins with: 1. God is in control and 2. I will show you truth.

 

When heartbreak, trials, suffering, uncertainty all are before us; we need to know that very same message. We need to know that God is in Control and He will tell us truth. God has never said, “Everything is going to be easy here on earth. Follow me! I will give to you: health, wealth and success.” No, quite the contrary, He has said,

“In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. I Peter 4:12-13

Throughout my life, I have learned to hold tight to these two truths with all my heart and soul.

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Can The Prayer of One Make a Difference in The World?

And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father. At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God… These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:22-27, 33

On the previous post we came to the close of the book of Hebrews and my plan was to next turn to the book of Daniel. I still believe that it is an urgent time in our nation to be called out to stand for faith and prayer. For that reason, I do believe that Daniel will be just such a call. Yet, as I study this great book of the old testament; I recognize my own limitations and my need for God to reveal His wisdom and His truth. I need to be enlightened and guided that I might be a light as well. It is there that I turn back to these words of Jesus in John 16 before I begin this great task.

prayer-compressor

Many people try to use these words in John 16 to be proof that we may ask for wealth, prosperity and freedom from all trials in the name of Jesus with certainty to gain all those things. Yet, you see God is Sovereign and realizes that if those are my desires; perhaps, I fail to recognize that my greatest joy is in Him. If I am too focused on counterfeit joys; I might never know true joy as can only be discovered in Him. It is a matter of the heart.

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How to See Sin through the Eyes of God

 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory… As he saith …I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.  Romans 9:22-25

Before we move on to the next era in my life’s search for love, I feel I must linger for a moment more on the subject of sin. If God is Sovereign over my life; then, how does He respond to my sin? Has He allowed my sin? Couldn’t He have stopped me? That is what I pleaded for?  Then why did He not stop me? Why did He not stop Peter from denying Christ? He told Him that it would happen. Peter pleaded “no.” Yet, instead of stopping Peter from sinning; Jesus prayed for Peter, “that thy (Peter’s) faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren”  (Luke 22:32).

What Satan Means For Evil

Then the question that comes to mind is “Does God then ordain sin? After all He is Sovereign, didn’t He ordain the crucifixion of Christ which was the worst atrocity of sin ever enacted by mankind?” Yet, the answer is clearly “No!” God is not the author of sin; yet, God holds His hand steady—withdrawing for a moment His Immediate Judgement so that the ultimate result will still be His Glory displayed and the good of the Beloved. Complex, difficult thought; however, please let me present my feeble attempt to explain as best as my human brain can comprehend. So, let’s dive in to try to answer this question. This can transform your Christian walk to one of Joyous Victory in Christ.  I wish I had known this way back then.

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One Order Broken and God’s Grace Displayed To the World

One Order Broken and God’s Grace Displayed To the World

 

 

Throughout the Gospel of John it is reported over and over that his greatest desire is so that you will know the truth so that you might believe and receive Grace upon Grace. John saw the awe, the wonder and the beauty of God’s Grace toward man. He was amazed by how God fulfilled every Old Testament scripture that foretold of Jesus. John longed for his people to realize that truth. After Jesus had died on the cross, John stood and watched alongside Mary, the mother of Jesus. Then, what happened immediately next John saw as an amazing portrait of both God’s Sovereignty and God’s Grace to the world. He saw this as so important that he swears to its truth and its power to make you believe. What was so astonishing about this and why did John see it as so powerful a truth?

Sovereignty and grace

Let’s read the scripture first. “31 The Jewish leaders didn’t want the victims hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath at that, for it was the Passover), so they asked Pilate to order the legs of the men broken to hasten death; then their bodies could be taken down.32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus; 33 but when they came to him, they saw that he was dead already, so they didn’t break his. 34 However, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and blood and water flowed out. 35 I saw all this myself and have given an accurate report so that you also can believe.[a] 36-37 The soldiers did this in fulfillment of the Scripture that says, “Not one of his bones shall be broken,” and, “They shall look on him whom they pierced” (John 19).

So what was so amazing about all this?

5 AMAZING TRUTHS

1. GOD IS SOVEREIGN OVER ALL. The Roman soldier had been given a direct order to break the legs. Perhaps the Jewish priests had considered the scripture that “bone would be broken” and of certain they knew that an appropriate sacrificial lamb had to have no broken limbs. Was that part of their desire here? Had they wanted to prove that Jesus for certain was not the sacrificial lamb? Yet, the roman soldier when he looked upon Jesus; did not break His legs. That was a direct disobedience and would not have been in character for a soldier; except that God’s Sovereign Will interceded and the Soldier pierced the side of Jesus where blood and water poured forth. Without knowing a word of Jewish scripture, the roman soldier was fulfilling the Scripture concerning Jesus. Think about it. That is Amazing!!

2. GOD’S PROMISES ARE TRUE. In Zechariah 12, God yet foretells that one day Jerusalem will mourn for “whom they have pierced.” Jesus in every way was God’s Word made alive and visible. Every promise of Grace fulfilled. “4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53).

3. UNDENIABLE PROOF OF HIS DEATH—this was an undeniable proof of the death of Christ, so that the miracle of His resurrection could not be questioned either.

4. REDEMPTION’S GRACE FLOWED FORTH: The blood of Christ poured forth from his side as most likely the sword pierced his heart. “Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen” (Revelations 1)

5. LIVING WATER POURED FORTH. For all who come to the fountain of living water, we are promised that He will satisfy our thirst. Life Abundant and Rich can be found in Christ.

CONCLUSION: God’s Sovereignty caused even an Unbelieving Roman Soldier to disobey his order so that every scripture could be fulfilled. Isn’t that amazing? More Amazing is that He loved me so much that He took upon Himself all my sin, my shame, and my sorrow so that I might find redemption and life abounding with Joy in Him!! Do you know Him? Do you believe in Him?

The Song I chose for you today is: Oh my Soul Arise

photo is by permission https://unsplash.com/jonathanbean  I added the words.

Living Bible (TLB) The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2016

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post.  I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.