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Ten Scriptural Convictions - God Is Sovereign

 

Today I want to start a series on Ten Scriptural Convictions

            10 Scriptural things that we can apply to our life

                        In spite of what I say, the world says, or what religion says

            We want to know what God says is important in our lives

            We are just finishing a series on Wednesday nights that has been a tremendous blessing to me

                                    And I pray that it was for you who were there

                        But the rule we gave for the series was that we would define words based on God’s definition and

                                    Not our own or anyone else’s

We can use this same idea when it comes to

            Convictions that should be applied to and in our life

 

Acts 4:13-20 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. 14 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. 15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 16 Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. 17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. 18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

 

Here Peter and John had been confronted about preaching and doing things in the name of Jesus

 

            And Peter and John answered them and said “Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

 

            What they are saying is “is it more important to do what God says or what man says?”

            Through out all of history we have seen men and women willing to stand on biblical convictions

            Men and women that believed so strongly about a Biblical conviction that they could not be moved away from

                        that belief

            Man could not move them, physical trauma could not move them

                        Financial burdens could not move them, government could not move them

            These convictions were based on truths that they will live by or die by

            There are very few men and women today that really have convictions

                        True convictions

            They might preferences - even very strong preferences

                        But few have real Biblical convictions

            A conviction is this

 

                        It is a scriptural principle or truth that I purpose to follow whatever the cost

                                    Loss of job, loss of family, loss of friends, loss of money

                                                Loss of comfort and even loss of life

            Let me say it again

                        A conviction is a scriptural principle or truth that I purpose to follow whatever the cost

            Parents listen up for a minute

                        This includes grandmothers, grandfathers, aunts, uncles

                                    Adopted parent or even any adult that has an influence on

                                                Someone younger than themselves

            Did you know that the common idea of parents out there is that once the kids are out of the house

                        we can wash our hands of them and be done with them?

            It is our God given responsibility to teach them God given scriptural principles

                        That they can build their convictions on

            It is the parents (father and mother) responsibility number one to teach the kids

            That means you can’t just bring them to church and let it be my job

                        Or Pastor Mark’s job or Ms Cyndi or Ms Sara’s job

            It is the parents job

                        Then it is our job as a back-up if they don’t do it

            Too many parents out there today feel it is the school’s job or the churches job

                        To teach the children God’s Biblical truths and principles

 

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. 9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

 

Deuteronomy 4:9 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;

 

            If you teach your children where to walk but never teach them how to walk

                        They will never get there

            It is your job parent - grandparent to show them God’s truths

                        And they will make their choices based upon those truths

            I am not saying that we need to tell them how long there skirt should be

                        Or how long their hair should be

            But if we teach them what God says about modesty and proper view of themselves

                        They will wear the right clothes and look the way God wants them to look

 

Malachi 4:6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

 

            We have a generation of children who have turned their hearts from their parents

                        Why?

            Because the parents have taught them to do that

                        They did it from their parents

 

Proverbs 23:26  My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.

 

            Watch and be careful

                        For they will observe all of your ways

            Our responsibility is to teach them to be independent of me

                        And dependent upon God

Building a conviction in your life is like growing a tree

            It takes the right kind of seed, the right kind of balanced care

                        And the right kind of light

 

Psalms 1:1-3 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

 

            The seed - the Word of God

            The right kind of balance - teaching them to understand and study God’s Word

                        Time and care

            The right kind of light - the light of God shining through you

Remember what I said about what is a conviction

            A conviction is a scriptural principle or truth that I purpose to follow whatever the cost

Why are convictions important?

            Why are they important in your life

                        And in the life your children?

Because Biblical convictions provide a cause for a family

            When families do not have a cause based upon God’s Word

                        They will become worldly and ungodly

                                    Because children will find a cause whether you show them one or not

            A person with a cause has a motivation for living

                        A motivation for learning

                        A motivation to be disciplined

                        A motivation to sacrifice

Biblical convictions provide unity for a family

            If we have unity based upon God

                        Then it will not be severed

            Not unity in music, TV, books

                        Unity in God’s Word

Biblical convictions provide protection for a family

            God’s Word will become a guard for the world

                        And a guard towards false teachings

Today I want to give you conviction number one in our ten week series

 

Conviction number one is “God Alone Is Sovereign and the Bible is His inspired Word and the final authority in my life”

 

There is no other God but our God

            Others may say there are other gods

But understand there is only one God

            And that God is the One who I trust and worship

I didn’t make that up

            God said it

 

Exodus 20:2-3 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

 

John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God…

 

1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

 

            There is only one God

God alone is sovereign

We live in a day that society tries to make like there are many gods

            There was even a book review the other day

            One mountain - many paths

There is only one path

            The Jehovah God

Society is constantly trying to dethrone God’s Sovereignty

Sovereign means He stands alone

            He doesn’t need anyone or anything to hold Him up

 

1 Samuel 2:2 There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

 

My God doesn’t need props or braces

            He doesn’t move

            He doesn’t waver

            He doesn’t falter

            He is my Rock!

There is nothing that made Him

He is self existent

There is nothing that He doesn’t know about

            There is nothing that He doesn’t see

            There is nothing that happens that is not permitted by Him

If something happens that He doesn’t know about

            Then He wouldn’t be God

Some say that tragedies are from satan

            Well some might be - because people have allowed satan to have control I their life

            But I submit to you that God still permits it

            Some say look at what satan did to Job

Look over at

 

Job 1:7-10 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, (notice satan called God Lord - that is Jehovah in Hebrew - he knew that God is Sovereign!) and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? ( it was God’s suggestion) 9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 10

10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

 

satan still has to get permission from God

            Because God is Sovereign

Sovereign means supreme in power

            Superior to all others

Joseph was sold into slavery, put in prison and exalted in the kingdom

            What did he say to his brothers?

 

Genesis 50:19-20 … 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.

 

God is sovereign

We can get in our car and drive down the road without fear

We can get on a plane and fly to New York without fear

We can fall in love and get married and have a child without fear

            Why?

            Because God is in charge!

How did Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah go in to the fiery furnace

            Because they knew God was in Charge

            That He is Sovereign

If you don’t believe that then you are in error

            God is not on the throne in your life

With His sovereignty He gives us guidance and direction through His Word

            His Bible is the sole and final authority in our lives

It is inspired by God

            Inspired means God breathed

 

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

 

God breathed or spoke His Word

            And holy men chosen by Him wrote every jot and title that He said for them to write

We need to believe that

            And teach our children to believe that

This book is the bases for all we think about God and

            All what God wants us to do

People call me and ask me questions about what I think

            Most the time I try to give them God’s Word

            That way of they get mad - they get mad at God

People call me and tell me “Don’t you think this or that”

            Well God says this…

And since He is sovereign - in charge

            Then He can keep His Book without errors and

                        Preserved for you and I to read today

Why is that important?

            Because when bad times come and you think you are all alone

                        You have God’s holy inspired errorless Book to stand upon!

            Because when a question comes up in life about anything

                        You don’t have to worry about the answer

            Its right here in His Word!

We won’t follow the world’s view of finance, of business, of raising our children

            We have a conviction that God’s is Sovereign and His Word is our final authority

Knowing that will take a load of worries and care off of us

            Trusting in His Biblical principle no matter what the cost

                        Actually makes life easier than when we didn’t

It seems from the human perspective and the world’s perspective

            That it would be harder

            But it’s not

Have a conviction about God today

God Alone Is Sovereign

            And the Bible is His inspired Word and the final authority in my life