God Is Sovereign

PSALM 115:3 NKJ 3 But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases.

PSALM 135:6 NKJ 6 Whatever the Lord pleases He does, In heaven and in earth, In the seas and in all deep places. Spray Oils Manufacturer

In order to understand the sovereignty of God, we need to know what sovereignty means. Sovereign means one who exercises supreme authority, and has freedom from external control. One who is sovereign is above everything and can do as they please.

In the beginning there was only God. He was sovereign and could do as He pleased. He could have done, or said, anything. He could have created man or not created man. No one could, or did, force Him to say, or do, anything. Whatever He said and did -- He chose to say and do. Stamping Drawing Oil

Because God was never forced to say anything, He never said anything that was not His will. So anything God did not desire to happen, was simply never spoken by Him.

Unlike us, God does not grow in knowledge and wisdom. Today we may wish we had made a different decision yesterday because we have gained new knowledge. But this never happens with God. He already knows everything. So whatever He has spoken, He will never have any reason to change His mind about. Anti Static Coning Oil

So in the beginning there was a sovereign God. Then He began to say things. No one forced God to say anything. By His own choice He freely gave His Word. After He had spoken He was no longer free to do just anything. Because unless He acted in line with His Word He would become a liar. He could still do anything He pleased, but if it was not in agreement with what He had already said, then He would become a liar -- which is against His very nature.

For example, after the flood in Genesis 7 God promised never to destroy the earth with another world-wide flood. What if He did? God would then become a liar because He already said He would never do that again. Drawing Oil Manufacturer

If God ever told one lie He would come under the dominion of the father of liars, the devil (John 8:44). So, God always obeys His own Word (not because He is forced to, but because it is still His will.)

God was sovereign and He did as He pleased. The Bible lets us know the choices He made, so we can know God's will. He gave it to us so we would have a strong foundation. So we can know where we stand -- and stand up like men and women of God against the devil -- which makes our Father happy. EDM Oil

SAY THIS: God is sovereign, but He will never be a liar, so I know He will keep His Word.

A Devotion

Does God Choose When We Die?

HEBREWS 9:27 KJV 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Many have misunderstood Hebrews 9:27. It does not say that God has set a certain time for each person to die. It only says that each person will die, and then be judged.

Some people believe there is a pre-determined date God has chosen for them to die. 

They don't think they have anything to do with when they will die, but that it is strictly determined by "fate."  High Temperature Grease

But the Bible gives us a different picture.

The Bible tells us things we can do that will shorten our lives, or lengthen them. For example, honoring our parents.

EPHESIANS 6:2-3 NKJ 2 "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise: 3 "that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth."

According to the Bible, what we say with our tongue also affects how long we live.

PROVERBS 18:21 NKJ 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

This says death is in the power, or the control, of our tongue. So the words we speak have an effect on how long we will live.

DEUTERONOMY 30:19 NKJ 19 "I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;

God said we should choose between life and death. That is certainly not the same as God saying, "I have already decided when you will die and there is nothing you can do about it!"

PHILIPPIANS 1:21-23 NKJ 21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Spray Oils Manufacturer

Paul, who wrote Philippians, obviously believed he had some choice as to whether to stay here or die. We have the same choice.

Even if God may know when we will die, that does not mean He chooses it or causes it.

 This may be difficult for us to understand, because we are bound by time. But just because we do not understand something, does not mean it can't be true. God knows more than we do! God knows the future, but He still allows us to make choices. 

Somehow, not being restricted to time like we are, God knows what will happen in the future, without robbing us of our freedom to make choices.

God did not create humanity to be His puppets, robots, or slaves. We have a God-given right to make choices.

Nowhere in the Bible does it say that God has picked out a date for each person to die. So for us to say that would be adding to what the Bible has said.

SAY THIS: God has given me the right and the responsibility to make the right choices.

A Devotion  Apple Tree Spray Oil

  

"a merry heart doeth good like a medicine" Prov 17:22

God Is Dependable

With His Word God gave us a firm foundation to base our life on. Something absolutely unchanging. Something God Himself will never change. So we can be certain about God's will. If we want to know God's will, we only need to see what He said in His Word, the Bible.

PSALM 138:2b NLT 2 I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness; for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name. Apple Tree Spray Oil

The integrity of God is wrapped up in His Word; if He did not keep His Word He would be a liar -- and that will never happen!

PSALM 89:34 NLT 34 No, I will not break my covenant; I will not take back a single word I said.

God will not change the words He has spoken. God will never break His Word. God will always do what He said He will do.

NUMBERS 23:19 NLT 19 God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through? Oil Manufacturer in India

God never lies! He is always alert, making sure every word He has spoken is fulfilled.

JEREMIAH 1:12 NIV 12 The LORD said to me, "You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled."

MARK 13:31 NIV 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

God's Word is more dependable than the stars in the sky and the ground you stand on. That will all eventually be changed, but God will never change any word He has spoken.

2 TIMOTHY 2:13 NLT 13 If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is. Special Fluids

No matter what, God is faithful to keep His Word because He cannot deny who He is -- the Truth (John 14:6). To do anything other than what He said He would do, would make Him a liar. God is not a liar!

SAY THIS: God's Word is more dependable than anything I can see or touch.

A Devotion Metal Stamping Drawing Oil

  
"a merry heart doeth good like a medicine" Prov 17:22

How Much Does God Love You?

Only God can answer this question. Fortunately, we have a book available where we can find out what God thinks: the Bible.

(What a wonderful thought that is! We can read and know what GOD thinks! Don't let yourself be robbed of this great privilege by being too busy.) Anti Rust Oil

PSALM 103:13 NIV 13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

One way we can begin to get an inkling of God's love for us is to know what it is like to have our own children. Psalm 103:13 tells us that the same deep feelings a parent has for their child, are also present in God toward us. The word in this verse means much more than "compassion." It is a very deep feeling -- hard to express in words. This is what God feels for you! High Temperature Grease

(You may wonder why. I may wonder why God would feel that way about you or me. All I can say is: parents can think their own children are really special, even though others may think they are quite normal!)

Another way we can judge how much God loves us is by what He was willing to go through to redeem us and have us in His family. A lot! Anti Static Coning Oil

We are familiar with John 3:16, but often being familiar with something keeps us from grasping it as fully and clearly as we should. Think about it: God so loved the dirty, rotten, rebellious world of people -- even those who hated Him -- that He decided to suffer the punishment that justice demanded so they could go free.

God loves you -- no matter who you are -- no matter what you have done. He loves you more than you can imagine or understand.

God loves you more than He loves Himself. That is proven by the fact that He put your interest and your feelings ahead of His own, choosing to suffer so you could go free. Engine Oils

How can anyone not love and worship such a Being as our wonderful God?

SAY THIS: God loves me. God loves me. God loves me.

A Devotion