#Sovereignty of God

[walkswithmyfather]

Psalm 27:1‭-‬14 (AMP). “The Lord is my light and my salvation— Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the refuge and fortress of my life— Whom shall I dread? When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. Though an army encamp against me, My heart will not fear; Though war arise against me, Even in this I am confident. One thing I have asked of the Lord, and that I will seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, To gaze upon the beauty [the delightful loveliness and majestic grandeur] of the Lord And to meditate in His temple. For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock. And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me, In His tent I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord. Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; Be gracious and compassionate to me and answer me. When You said, “Seek My face [in prayer, require My presence as your greatest need],” my heart said to You, “Your face, O Lord, I will seek [on the authority of Your word].” Do not hide Your face from me, Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not abandon me nor leave me, O God of my salvation! Although my father and my mother have abandoned me, Yet the Lord will take me up [adopt me as His child]. Teach me Your way, O Lord, And lead me on a level path Because of my enemies [who lie in wait]. Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries, For false witnesses have come against me; They breathe out violence. I would have despaired had I not believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living.Wait for and confidently expect the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for and confidently expect the Lord.”

“Equipped for the Valley” By In Touch Ministries:

“God's Word builds the foundation we need for withstanding life’s storms.”“It is tough to remember everything we learn from the Bible, but the more we retain, the more wisdom we’ll be able to recall during tough times. And toward that end, writing can become a powerful tool in our spiritual walk. Putting words on paper etches wisdom deeper into the heart and mind, which helps build a solid biblical foundation.Consider King David, who wrote many of the psalms. He had a consistent habit of recording truths about God. As a result, he was equipped for hardship. In yesterday’s psalm, for example, David said that he did not fear evil (Psalm 23:4). What did he have to be scared of when the One who controls everything was on his side (Ps. 27:1)? How could he be stifled by anxiety while in the Spirit’s comforting presence (Psalm 34:4)? David held God to His promises, but he had to know those assurances in order to rely on them.Writing is not necessary for our walk with God, but when we’re struggling, it can help us remember valuable truths— such as the fact that God is upholding us (Isaiah 41:10) and our hardship has purpose (Romans 5:3). As we recall these spiritual realities, our faith is strengthened. Then we can face subsequent challenges with a more solid foundation of trust.”

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

by H.B. Charles Jr | A friend who is a budding preacher wrote me for advice about what to do when you lose your sense of discipline and devotion. It’s a real issue. There are times in ministry when your spiritual vitality is strong, but there are also times when your devotional life is...

[kdmiller55]

Pride Goes Before the Fall

1 In the eleventh year, in the third month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his multitude: “Whom are you like in your greatness? 3     Behold, Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches and forest shade,     and of towering height,     its top among the clouds. 4 The waters nourished it;     the deep…

[dwuerch-blog]

A New Day for America

Yesterday’s headlines were: Donald J. Trump Wins Presidency — to Become the 47th President of the United States.” May we pray for President Trump and other elected officials to seek God’s wisdom and to lead with biblical priorities and servants’ hearts. May we pray for God to use our leaders to unify our nation and to protect them from evil and to empower them for good (1 Timothy 2:1–2). We are…

[mindfulldsliving]

The Impact of Calvinism on Modern Christianity

When we think about Reformed Theology and Calvinism, a common perception emerges that these beliefs are simply extensions of Pauline Christianity. Critics argue they introduce a false gospel, one that diverges from the teachings of Christ Himself.

Apologetics Unveiled: Dissecting Reformed Theology and the Calvinist Doctrine When we think about Reformed Theology and Calvinism, a common perception emerges that these beliefs are simply extensions of Pauline Christianity. Critics argue they introduce a false gospel, one that diverges from the teachings of Christ Himself. We aim to explore these claims and understand their implications for our…

[fearlesswriterblog]

God Protects the Gospel Message

If you want to be encouraged in your witness, especially when times are difficult and you are facing opposition, the story in Acts 5 will uplift your spirit and re-energized you! Acts 5:12-16 tell us that the apostles were continuing to spread the good news that Jesus is the Christ! As evidence of the power of the Holy Spirit within them through faith in Jesus, they were able to heal many and…

[pastorkevinc]

What Is In A Day?

What Is In A Day? This morning, the day is new. We look at the day ahead and ask, “What is in a day?” What lies ahead of us this day? None of us know. I spoke with a friend yesterday, and he had no idea the events of his day until they happened. Total surprise how his day went from one thing to another unexpectedly. Sometimes, we do know what we believe is generally going to happen, but, of…

[pastordin]

Praying Through Psalms: Psalm 8 - Marveling at God's Majestic Creation

Praying Through Psalms: Psalm 8 – Marveling at God’s Majestic Creation Praying Through Psalms: Psalm 8 Introduction Thank you for joining us in praying through Psalm 8. This psalm brings us into a place of awe and worship for God’s majestic creation and His mindful care for humanity. Let’s explore Psalm 8 together, marveling at God’s works and recognizing our responsibilities as stewards of…

[tmarshconnors]

"People in awe never complain that church is boring."

Robert Charles Sproul was an American Reformed theologian and ordained pastor in the Presbyterian Church in America. He was the founder and chairman of Ligonier Ministries and could be heard daily on the Renewing Your Mind radio broadcast in the United States and internationally. 

Born: 13 February 1939, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Died: 14 December 2017 (age 78 years), Altamonte Springs, Florida, United States

Founder of Ligonier Ministries: R.C. Sproul founded Ligonier Ministries in 1971, originally as a study center for college and seminary students. It has since grown into a global multimedia ministry offering books, teaching series, conferences, and an online academy.

Prolific Author and Speaker: Sproul authored over 100 books and numerous articles on theology, philosophy, and Christian living. Some of his most influential works include "The Holiness of God," "Chosen by God," and "Essential Truths of the Christian Faith."

Educator and Theologian: He served as a professor at various theological seminaries and was known for his ability to make complex theological concepts accessible to laypeople. He held degrees from Westminster College, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, and the Free University of Amsterdam.

Reformed Theology Advocate: Sproul was a prominent voice in the Reformed tradition, emphasizing the sovereignty of God, the authority of Scripture, and the doctrines of grace. He was instrumental in popularizing Reformed theology among a broader evangelical audience.

Broadcaster and Media Presence: His teaching series, "Renewing Your Mind," became a well-known radio program that continues to broadcast daily, providing theological education to a wide audience. Sproul's lectures and sermons are also widely available online and have been influential in spreading his teachings.

[kingdomassociate]

He is clothed with majesty

The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty; The LORD is clothed, He has girded Himself with strength.Surely the world is established, so that it cannot be moved. Your throne is established from of old; You are from everlasting.The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; The floods lift up their waves. The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, than…

[andrewpcannon]

What About Human Responsibility?

Jesus has so far affirmed Pharisee soteriology. God first loves an individual. In response to God’s love, the individual cares to keep God’s Law. If a person keeps God’s Law, that person is righteous. God’s love is what brought the person into righteousness (i.e. saved the person). When the person kept the Law, that was evidence that he had been made righteous by God. This is the soteriological…

[walkswithmyfather]

Psalm 103:19. “The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, And His sovereignty rules over all.”

Genesis 39:2. “The LORD was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian.”

Genesis 39:21. “But the LORD was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer.”

“Piece by Piece” By Charles F. Stanley:  “We may not see the big picture of our life, but God does.”

“Does it sometimes feel as though your life is a mess of scattered puzzle pieces? Each situation seems to be an isolated event with no connection to what happened previously or what could occur in the future. Some pieces are beautiful moments of joy and blessing, but others are dark and painful. Perhaps you wonder why God allows these events or why He doesn’t intervene and relieve your suffering.

We can’t see what the picture will be once the puzzle is assembled, but God knows exactly how to fit everything together. When our situations look hopeless, this is our comfort: that a holy, perfect, all-knowing God is sovereign over everything in our life (Psalm 103:19). Nothing is random or meaningless when we belong to Him.

The story of Joseph is a great example of God’s omnipotent hand working in and through every situation (Gen. 37, 39-50). And by reading it, we learn four essential truths about the Lord and His sovereignty.

God is always with us. Joseph was hated by his 10 older brothers because he was the favorite son. When an opportunity arose to get rid of him, they sold him to a caravan of traders and told their father he’d been killed by a wild animal. This dramatic turn of events could easily have caused Joseph to feel forgotten by God. But throughout his various trials, one thing was constant—“The Lord was with Joseph” (Genesis 39:2, Genesis 39:21). 

Like him, we never walk through any situation alone. At the moment of our salvation, the Holy Spirit comes to live within us and seals us as God’s children (Ephesians 1:13). He’s with us in every circumstance whether we feel His presence or not. This is a truth we can count on because the Lord always keeps His word.

God has a purpose for everything. Joseph was only 17 when his ordeal began, and it didn’t end until he was 30. That’s 13 years of unexplained hardship and suffering, but the Lord knew exactly what was required to prepare Joseph for his future role as governor of Egypt, a position that made him second in authority to Pharaoh. 

What seemed like random and unfair events were the very things the Lord orchestrated to achieve His purpose. He used a father’s favoritism and brothers’ hatred to move Joseph from Canaan to Egypt. As a slave and prisoner, Joseph learned the skills required to wisely rule over a prosperous and powerful nation. God used Pharaoh’s dream and its interpretation not only to rescue His servant from prison but also to provide enough food to preserve a nation and save Joseph’s family from starvation. 

Although the events you experience may not be as dramatic as these, the principle still holds true. The Lord has a divine objective for everything that happens in your life. He’s promised to cause all things to work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). You may not see a reason for what He’s doing in your life right now, but you can know this: His purpose is superior to any challenge you face.

God’s perspective is eternal and omniscient. When Joseph looked back at all the difficult events of his life, he assured his brothers of the Lord’s sovereign hand at work—even in their mistreatment of him. (See Genesis 50:20.) But what Joseph couldn’t see was God’s eternal purpose being worked out. Ultimately the hope for all humanity was tied up in these events because Jesus Christ was a descendant of that little group of Hebrews who were transplanted to Egypt and sustained by Joseph.

God is working awesome things of eternal value in our lives, but we can’t always understand, because our perspective is limited. The apostle Paul tells us that “momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison” (2 Corinthians 4:17). When the troubles of this life weigh us down, we need to shift our focus from the temporal to the eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18). 

God’s timing is perfect. Perhaps the most difficult part of Joseph’s troubles was their duration. At one point, after correctly interpreting the cupbearer’s dream, Joseph saw a glimmer of hope and asked to be remembered to Pharaoh. But after two long years, he was still a prisoner. 

Why did God delay Joseph’s release just when he’d begun to hope again? Haven’t we all wondered that at one time or another? It looked as if the Lord was about to intervene, but then nothing happened. It’s easier to bear pain if we know the end is near, but when trials seem endless, we must rely on the wisdom of God’s timing. He knows exactly what He wants to achieve in our life and how long it will take. 

Instead of wrangling with the Lord over which pieces should be in the puzzle, let’s learn to accept that He alone knows how all the events of our life fit together. We can trust Him to choose the right pieces, even the dark ones, and place each one exactly where it needs to be, according to His good purpose.”

[Adapted from the sermon “Walking Through Dark Valleys” by Charles F. Stanley]

[themoabmercury]

Well, they haven't, uh, come down; so, what does that tell you?

The worst of it is that some of you people think, just because Trump said the names of your deity, that Trump himself is holy.

[kdmiller55]

No Match for the Almighty

5 If thieves came to you,     if plunderers came by night—     how you have been destroyed!—     would they not steal only enough for themselves? If grape gatherers came to you,     would they not leave gleanings? 6 How Esau has been pillaged,     his treasures sought out! 7 All your allies have driven you to your border;     those at peace with you have deceived you; they have prevailed against…

[agungrichardelvonscestmavie]

_"Kepahitan bangkit dalam hati kita ketika kita tidak percaya dengan kedaulatan Allah bagi hidup kita."_ ~ Jerry Bridges

[hadesoftheladies]

anti-abortionists and pro choicers like me can agree on one thing: whoever creates the life can destroy the life. only the former have the male-self-insert god character who metaphysically acts as the one "knitting" the fetus in the womb, while those who observe the world as-is without invoking yahwhist lore rightfully attribute that ability to the woman.