THE SOVEREIGN LORD
I am sure every Believer understands what I mean when I speak of the MASSIVE GULF BETWEEN INFORMATION AND REVELATION. It is only when we have had that 18 inch drop from head to heart that we have an ANCHOR that we can embrace in the midst of every trial and testing and that we can be VICTORS & NOT VICTIMS.
I am of course speaking of the awesome truth of the SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD, that our God is OMNISCIENT, that he is all seeing and knowing. That NOTHING can come our way unless it is with God’s permission and blessing. I believe the only exception to that is when we do not “walk in the light of God’s Word and our conscience (deliberately walk in disobedience) (I John1:7) and can be a target from the evil one. Otherwise like Job the enemy CANNOT TOUCH US UNLESS IT IS WITH GOD’S PERMISSION. We think we have so much more understanding and experience because we are under the New Covenant, but listen to the words of Job, if ever there was someone who needed the revelation of God’s Sovereignty it was him. Job 23: 10-12 AMP But He knows the way that I take [He has concern for it, appreciates, and pays attention to it]. When He has tried me, I shall come forth as refined gold [pure and luminous].
My foot has held fast to His steps; His ways have I kept and not turned aside.
I have not gone back from the commandment of His lips; I have esteemed and treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.
Job knew that God was in control, he knew that if he responded and not reacted to all that he was going through, the end result would be that he “shall come forth as pure gold”. Job highlights some of the ways he was responding.
- He WALKED in obedience to God’s commands v.11
2. He had clearly HEARD God SPEAK TO HIM, (it was a RHEMA word to him) and he “treasured” God’s Word even more than natural food v.12
What was the end result of Job’s response and obedience Job 42: 12-13 AMP And the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys.
He had also seven sons and three daughters.
The Psalmist in Psalm 1:6 AMP reminds us: For the Lord knows and is fully acquainted with the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly [those living outside God’s will] shall perish (end in ruin and come to nought). The MESSAGE expresses it this way: God charts the road you take, the road they take is Skid Row.
Oh how we need a revelation when we don’t know what is happening, or where we are going, that GOD CHARTS THE ROAD amen.
I wrote a blog recently on David’s Psalm 139, and again this truth is highlighted in verses 1-4 AMP You have searched me [thoroughly] and have known me.
You know my downsitting and my uprising; You understand my thought afar off.
You sift and search out my path and my lying down, and You are acquainted with all my ways.
For there is not a word in my tongue [still unuttered], but, behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. You have beset me and shut me in—behind and before, and You have laid Your hand upon me.
Your [infinite] knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high above me, I cannot reach it.
Here David tells us:
- God sees and knows what is in the deepest recesses of our heart v.1
- He knows intimately all that we are going through v.2
- He knows EVERY THOUGHT we think (even before we think them) v.2
- He knows EVERY WORD we say (even before we say them) v.4
- God puts a hedge around us v.5
- It is so hard to comprehend and take in, these awesome truths v.6
Listen to the MESSAGE :God, investigate my life;
get all the facts firsthand.
I’m an open book to you;
even from a distance, you know what I’m thinking.
You know when I leave and when I get back;
I’m never out of your sight.
You know everything I’m going to say
before I start the first sentence.
I look behind me and you’re there,
then up ahead and you’re there, too—
your reassuring presence, coming and going.
This is too much, too wonderful—
I can’t take it all in!
The Apostle Paul sure had a revelation on this truth as we read in Romans 8:28-29 AMP We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.
For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was aware and loved beforehand], He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the firstborn among many brethren.
The MESSAGE verses 27-29 says: He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him.
We “oldies know that the KJV simply says ALL THINGS (without exception) WORK FOR OUR GOOD, echoing Job’s words, “I shall come forth as gold”.
Let us pray for each other regularly, that we will continually have that 18 inch drop, I seem to need to be reminded often that God is in control, and NOTHING COMES MY WAY, UNLESS IT IS WITH HIS PERMISSION. Our God always has the bigger picture, and wants to use these often apparent negative situations for our spiritual good not only now but that we will take it with us into eternity. May every situation we face be a STEPPING STONE not a stumbling block, AMEN
