#2 WHEN IT BOILS DOWN? TRUSTING A SOVEREIGN GOD! PART #2
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
I know procrastination is a prison that brings me much trouble, a lot of fear and many tears. I absolutely know I should free myself from procrastination, it fact I believe I will do that tomorrow!
DO WE UNDERSTAND THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD? YOU HAVE TWO CHOICES: FEAR VS. FAITH. YOU DECIDE? WHEN IT ALL BOILS DOWN: WHAT REALLY MATTERS, THE CONCLUSION? WHAT IS THE MAIN THING? IN WHAT DO WE INVEST? WHAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE? THE FINAL WORD?
Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
TODAY MANY THINK GOD IS SANTA CLAUS, WE JUST MAKE OUR WISH LIST AND GOD IS OBLIGATED TO GIVE ME, GIVE ME. SEEMS WE SEARCHING FOR OZ? A UTOPIA?
THE ALTAR has been eliminated from many churches. We buy a tool to tell us if the music is too loud? We have ego issues who gets the loudest microphone? People sleep through the sermons because they were up all night watching movies they have seen before. We worship worship then we praise praise… All the while we seem to bypass GOD and His word? Perhaps COMMON SENSE “AIN’T TO COMMON ANY MORE?” We must never forget GOD IS SOVEREIGN!
Seems the QUESTION has become: GOD’S WILL OR WHAT I THINK? HOW CAN GOD’S WILL NOT ALIGN WITH MY WILL? WHERE IS THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE SOVEREIGN WILL OF GOD?
GOD IS SOVEREIGN --- GOD ‘S SOVEREIGNTY CALLS FOR US TO HAVE FAITH AND COME INTO SUBMISSION AND TRUST. BY TRUSTING AND SUBMITTING TO HIS PLAN WE COME TO WORSHIP HIM IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH.
1 Corinthians 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
1 Corinthians 9:27 (MSG) I’m staying alert and in top condition. I'm not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.
What is Sovereign? to possess power, have authority, potentate, unlimited power, greatest, exalted… God is the ultimate source of power.
The bottom line is: GOD IS IN ABSOLUTE CONTROL. Nothing happens outside of God’s influence and authority. God is above all. He is omnipotent, he is the alpha and omega. God is the glue that holds the universe together. God is omnipresent. The question boils down to: DO I TRUST GOD’S PLAN?
Let us remember from part #1, that King Herod’s desire to be popular caused him to PUT TO DEATH PREACHER JAMES. This so pleased the Jews, Herod had Peter arrested and put in jail awaiting Peter’s execution.
GOD IS SOVEREIGN AND HE NEVER OWES US AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHAT IS GOING ON …
COME LET US MAKE SOME OBSERVATIONS ABOUT GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY BY LOOKING AT HOW SOME BIBLICAL CHARACTERS FACED PRISON.
HEROD WAS AN EVIL KING. This really pleased the JEWS in his kingdom. This helped established HEROD’S RULE, it worked so well HEROD THOUGHT: I WILL KILL SOME MORE PREACHERS TO PLEASE THE PEOPLE. PETER, ARREST AND THROWN INTO PRISON. This made the people happy and if the people are happy, King Herod is happy. Herod planned on killing Peter! IT WAS HOLIDAY SEASON so Herod delayed KILLING PETER. So Herod had 16 soldiers arrest and guard Peter until his EXECUTION.
THE CHURCH WAS CALLED TO SERIOUS PRAYER… around the clock the people prayed. They had just lost the ministry of James. They don’t want to dig the grave for another preacher. So they prayed.
AN ANGEL COMES, TELLS PETER PUT ON YOUR CLOTHES AND SHOES… THE DOOR OPENS AND PETER GOES TO THE PRAYER MEETING. PETER HAD A COMPLETE, TOTAL TRUST IN THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD. PETER KNEW ABOUT JAMES, PETER KNEW HE WAS NEXT? Peter was sleeping? PETER WAS DELIVERED! God is sovereign.
SO GOD’S SOVEREIGN PLAN FOR JAIL BREAKS IS SENDING AN ANGEL AND OPENING THE DOOR TO RELEASING THE PRISONER? WELL, HOLD ON A MINUTE, GOD DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK THE WAY YOU EXPECT HIM TOO… LET US TALK TO PAUL…
Paul and Silas: Two good preachers were hated by the people and those that was in power. The Jewish people did not like the preachers? But they really did not like the messages the preachers were preaching. So we come to another junction with the SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD. God allowed PAUL and SILAS TO BE BEATEN AND MISTREATED. Could God have stopped this? Sure he could have…
Remember hot water reveals what we really are. The same hot water that melts butter, hardens and egg and brings out the taste of tea. PRISONS, JAILS, STORMS, TRIALS WILL REVEAL YOU REALITY.
WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING AT MIDNIGHT WHILE LOCKED IN A PRISON? PETER SLEPT? PAUL AND SILAS WERE SINGING AND PRAISING GOD? DO WE UNDERSTAND THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD THAT ALLOWS GOOD MEN TO GOD TO PRISON?
Could God intervened for Paul and Silas? Why go to prison? There are others in prison that heard the messages and songs of Paul and Silas. Seems the two preachers had a captivated crowd. The other prisoners were going any place.
So does God send an angel to come in and say get dressed, get your shoes on? Open the door by itself?
Acts 16:23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: 24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. 25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
NO! GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY SENDS A ROCK AND ROLL CONTEST… THEIR SINGING AND PRAISES HAD GOD TAPPING HIS FEET SO HARD THERE WAS AN EARTHQUAKE THAT SHOOK THE VERY FOUNDATION OF THE PRISON. Everyone‘s bands were loosed… THE DOORS WERE OPENED… GOD KNOWS HOW TO MOVE! GOD KNOWS WHEN TO MOVE… PRAISE SEEMS TO MOVE GOD.
Seems best to me, Preachers don’t have to go to prison? Just let them preach?
GOD IN IS SOVEREIGNTY ALLOWED JAMES TO BE KILLED BY HEROD. BUT IN GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY SENT AN ANGEL THAT SURPRISED PETER AND HE THOUGHT HE WAS DREAMING TO RELEASE PETER. BUT IN THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD PAUL WAS RELEASED BY AN EARTHQUAKE.
SUDDENLY? JUST WHEN JOSEPH’S DREAMS WERE DASHED BY PROBLEMS AND HARD TIME, HIS GOD DREAM SEEMED HOPELESS…. THE PRISON BARS COULD NOT STOP GOD’S PLANS.
In the Sovereignty of God: Joseph was in a well, in a slave train, on the sale’s block, and a slave in Potiphar’s house and in prison… TO BE FORGOTTEN TWO YEARS MORE…
Genesis 41:9 Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day:
In one day the SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD DELIVERED JOSEPH AND HIS DREAM CAME TRUE… SUDDENLY? Suddenly? 17 years?
Genesis 41:14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.
JOSEPH KNEW IT WAS GOD! GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY AND GOD’S TIMING!
Genesis 41:16 And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
GOD IS GOD! JOSEPH HAD LEARNED TRUST THE PLAN OF GOD. GOD DELIVERS IN HIS TIME, IN HIS PLACE… BE FAITHFUL.
Genesis 50:19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? 20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. 21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.
JESUS SAYS: TELL JOHN WHAT YOU SAW, BUT TELL HIM A DIRECT MESSAGE FROM ME:
THERE IS ONE MORE LESSON WE HAVE TO LEARN ABOUT THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD… IT MIGHT BE THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON FROM PRISON ABOUT THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD: NEVER FORGET THE JOHN THE BAPTIST PRISON STORY…
Luke 7:19 And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? 20 When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
21 And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight. 22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to the poor the gospel is preached. 23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
JOHN THERE IS A GREAT LESSON: BLESSED IS HE THAT IS NOT OFFENDED IN ME….
Mark 6:26 And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her. 27 And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison, 28 And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.
AS A YOUNG BOY, I HAD A REAL MENTAL PROBLEM WITH JOHN THE BAPTIST’S DEATH, HE CAME OUT OF JAIL, YES HE GOT OUT--- HEAD FIRST, MANY TEARS.
WHY JOHN? WHY? I KNOW GOD IS SOVEREIGN?
You know John the Baptist’s sin? He preached against SEXUAL SIN? His message made John a public enemy? Why? I had been in deep study about this? God, why did John have to die in this way? A public disgrace? Like a criminal? I had a dream and in my dream I saw John on a witness stand. I told him I thought it was mean, he had to die a sad death. John looked at me and said: I HEARD WHAT JESUS SAID: JESUS TOLD ME BLESSED IS HE WHOSOEVER SHALL NOT BE OFFENDED IN ME! I heard the message. GOD IS SOVEREIGN, I TRUST HIM. JOHN LOOKED AT ME AND SAID I TOLD YOU THE ANSWER, NOW LISTEN TO ME…
John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
Thank you John the Baptist. Thank you for teaching me THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD IS GOD DOES WHAT IS BEST.
CONCLUSION: God is sovereign… He works as He pleases. God need not explain Himself to you. This is Part # 2: WHEN IT BOILS DOWN? TRUSTING A SOVEREIGN GOD! We study how we can never understand or explain GOD! God is sovereign the conclusion of the whole matter is to fear God and by faith trust His plan. God’s plan is the best! Ask James? Ask Peter? Paul? Job? Joseph? TRUST GOD! FEAR HIM AND PRESS FORWARD.
His servant Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
This is part #2 of a two part series. (Please, pass this on, it is important to learn.)
