Emphasize the importance of obedience, submission, and recognizing God's sovereignty in our lives, as demonstrated through the story of Balaam and his encounter with the angel of the Lord.
Good morning, Church family! Today, we're going to dive into a story from the Old Testament that speaks to us about God's sovereignty in our lives, the power of obedience, and the blessing of being used by God.
As A.W. Tozer once said, "Outside of the will of God, there's nothing I want. Inside the will of God, there's nothing I fear." When we submit ourselves to God's will, He can use us in amazing ways.
Now, let's turn to the book of Numbers, chapter 22, verses 22 to 34:
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As we delve into this passage, let's take a moment to pray and ask God to speak to our hearts today.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word and for the lessons it teaches us. As we study this story of Balaam and his encounter with Your angel, may You open our hearts and minds to understand the importance of obedience, submission, and Your sovereignty in our lives. Help us to align our will with Yours, so that we may be used by You for Your glory. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
God's sovereignty in our lives is the understanding that God is in complete control of everything that happens in our lives, and that He works all things together for our good and His glory. This concept is beautifully illustrated in the story of Balaam and his encounter with the angel of the Lord. As we explore this idea, we will see how God's sovereignty manifests in various aspects of our lives.
Firstly, let's consider how God's sovereignty is evident in the circumstances of our lives. In the story of Balaam, we see that God was in control of the entire situation. He allowed Balaam to go with the Moabite officials, but He was also the one who sent the angel to oppose him. God was orchestrating the events in Balaam's life to accomplish His divine purposes.
Similarly, in our lives, God is in control of every situation we face, whether it be a challenging trial or a joyful blessing. He uses these circumstances to shape us, grow us, and ultimately bring glory to His name. When we recognize God's sovereignty in our circumstances, we can trust that He is working all things together for our good, even when we don't understand why certain things are happening.
Secondly, God's sovereignty is also evident in the decisions we make. In the story of Balaam, we see that God allowed Balaam to make the choice to go with the Moabite officials, but He also intervened in a powerful way to redirect Balaam's path. This demonstrates that while God gives us the freedom to make choices, He is ultimately in control of the outcomes.
Our decisions, whether wise or foolish, are never outside of God's sovereign plan. As believers, this should give us great comfort and assurance, knowing that even when we make mistakes, God can still use our decisions to accomplish His purposes. It also serves as a reminder that we should seek God's guidance and wisdom in every decision we make, trusting that He knows what is best for us.
A third aspect of God's sovereignty in our lives is seen in our obedience to Him. In the story of Balaam, we see that God used Balaam's donkey to get his attention and ultimately bring him to a place of obedience. Balaam's encounter with the angel of the Lord was a powerful reminder that God is in control and that obedience to His will is of utmost importance.
In our lives, God often uses various means to bring us to a place of obedience, whether it be through the conviction of the Holy Spirit, the counsel of godly friends, or even through unexpected circumstances. When we submit to God's sovereignty and obey His commands, we position ourselves to be used by Him in powerful ways.
Fourthly, God's sovereignty in our lives is also evident in the way He uses us for His purposes. In the story of Balaam, we see that God ultimately used Balaam to bless the Israelites, despite his initial reluctance and disobedience. This demonstrates that God can use anyone, even those who may seem unworthy or unqualified, to accomplish His purposes.
In our lives, when we submit to God's sovereignty and make ourselves available to be used by Him, we can be confident that He will work through us in ways that bring glory to His name and further His kingdom.
As we consider these various aspects of God's sovereignty in our lives, it's important to remember that this truth is not meant to make us passive or complacent. Rather, it should motivate us to actively seek God's will and align our lives with His purposes. When we recognize that God is in control of every aspect of our lives, we can trust Him more fully and submit to His leading with greater confidence.
Obedience to God's will is a crucial aspect of our walk with Him ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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