August 12, 2012
Evening Service

Paul revealed to us this morning in Romans chapter 9 that though he was the apostle ordained to minister to the Gentiles; his heart ached for the restoration of his Jewish brethren.  His desire was so great that he even offered himself to be accursed for them.

 

Paul more than any other of the New Testament writers, all led by the Holy Spirit, was unafraid to tackle the difficult subjects.  There are some subjects that require a deep level of faith to understand and to accept.   

 

2Pe 3:15-16 And think of the long-suffering of our Lord as salvation (as our beloved brother Paul also has written to you according to the wisdom given to him  (16)  as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable pervert, as also they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction).

 

We as Christians need to understand that sometimes we must simply say, “I don’t understand” and place it on the altar for another day.  We must be able to trust God for the revelation at the time we need it.  Our walk is a journey (or a process).

 

The sovereignty of God is one of those difficult subjects.  We all want to understand why things happen and process them on our level.  Tonight I want to look at a couple of places in the OT where God revealed to us His righteous sovereignty. 

 

 

 Rom 9:15  For He said to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion."

·         This was quoted from Exodus 33.

·         Read Exodus 33:8-23.

 

Rom 9:19-21  You will then say to me, Why does He yet find fault? For who has resisted His will?  (20)  No, but, O man, who are you who replies against God? Shall the thing formed say to Him who formed it, Why have you made me this way?  (21)  Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel to honor and another to dishonor?

·          Read Jeremiah 18:1-6

·         Job 38-40:2

 

Pro 3:5-7 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  (6)  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.  (7)  Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.

·         What wonderful advice Solomon gives us here.  Do not lean on our own understanding, but trust Him.  We are incapable of understanding all of God’s ways or motives

·         We cannot, however, use this as an excuse to not read and study God’s Word.

 

2Ti 2:15 Study earnestly to present yourself approved to God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.

 

Mat 7:7-8  Ask and it shall be given to you; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you.  (8)  For each one who asks receives; and he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, it shall be opened.