Virtual Service August 28, 2022
IN GOD WE TRUST? – PART 2
IN GOD WE TRUST? PART 1–REVIEW
God is completely sovereign
God is infinite in wisdom
God is perfect in love
“God in His love always wills what is best for us. In His wisdom He always knows what is best for us. In His sovereignty He has the power to bring it about.” (Bridges “Is God Really In Control”)
Sovereign: Psalm 103:19 The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all
Sovereign over nature:
Job 37:3,6 He unleashes His lightning beneath the whole heaven and sends it to the ends of the earth… He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour’.
Sovereign over our physical being:
Exodus 4:11 The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord?”
Sovereign over our circumstances:
Lamentations 3:37-38 Who can command things to happen without the Lord’s permission? Does not the Most High send both calamity and good? (NLT)
“Nothing, therefore, happens unless the Omnipotent wills it to happen: He either permits it to happen, or He brings it about Himself.” (St Augustine)
WHY?
Why, Lord, do You stand far off? (Ps 10)
Why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from saving me? (Ps 22)
Why do You hide Your face and forget our misery? (Ps 44)
GOD’S WISDOM
Wisdom: good judgement, the ability to develop the best course of action, or the best response to a given situation.
Isaiah 55:8-9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
Romans 11:33-34 Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand His decisions and His ways! For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give Him advice? (NLT)
Ephesians 1:7-8 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight (ESV)
GOD’S LOVE
Isaiah 54:10 “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet My unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor My covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you
1 John 3:1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
GOD’S PURPOSE
“God in His love always wills what is best for us. In His wisdom He always knows what is best for us. In His sovereignty He has the power to bring it about.” (Bridges “Is God Really In Control”)
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
John 16:33
1 Thessalonians 3:3
James 1:2 Consider it all joy whenever you face trials of many kinds…
James 1:3-4 …because you know that the testing of your faith (troubles, trials) produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Romans 5:3-4 but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Romans 8:28-29 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose…
…For (because) those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
Philippians 1:6 being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
IN GOD WE TRUST
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Philippians 4:12-13 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.
2 Corinthians 12:9 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”
Psalm 91:1-2 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
Romans 8:35,37 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword…No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us…
IN GOD WE TRUST
…For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39