God's Sovereign in Our Lives

I have been an officer and currently an administrator at my work so I make alot of decisions. People are confused about "human decisions" and "God's decisions". Learning from great faiths in the Bible and Christians I learned through media and local churches, I saw that circumstances did not control them; it is their reaction to circumstances that determined what kind of people they were and most importantly, how faithful they were. They made decisions they felt it is God's will however, circumstances made them change directions. Many people forget and often try to do their own ways circumstances happens that they never stop and think. Their human minds often see doors closing when ignoring another door opening. This is the concept of Romans 8:28-29 "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." God has given us opportunities to do the Great Commission with our circumstances which means an opportunity that is defined as a providential circumstance which permits us to use to glorify God. God wants us to be busy rejoicing in the gracious prospect of all opportunities of God's will. Providential of God leads us to what I call "coincidences" in their lives which perhaps God will make sure that His wills will be done at His right time and place.

I cannot and will NOT dispute God's word how He manages this world. You can as long as your conscience permits. This is between you and God through the Holy Spirit's convictions.

God governs (controls) the world (Isa. 40:22-24), the nations (Isa. 40:15-17), and us (Proverbs 16:9).

Proverbs 20:24 A man's steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand his own way?

Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; He directs it like a watercourse wherever He pleases.

Jeremiah 10:23 I know, O LORD, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.

Jesus SAID in Matthew 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny ? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.

Acts 17:24-29 (NIV) explains PERFECTLY........ "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. 'For in Him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are His offspring.' "Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man's design and skill.

There was a THREAD about the topic of "ALL". Which also means EVERY.

All circumstances are work for heavenly good and called to His purpose. Even though we can not see the purpose for the trials we are going through, we can trust absolutely that the Lord is in control of all things.

When I serve God in my ministries and witnessing, I look for opportunities that He had lead me to. I have learned NOT to ignore His the steps He directed me. He has a purpose that I do NOT know bu I am ready when I see the opporunity. If we look in Ephesians 6:15, we are to wear the Gospel of Peace so that we will always be fully prepared to witness. Faith is to let God do His work in His way in His time and will use US as He desires. Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." The Holy Spirit KNOWS every person better than we do so just let the Holy Spirit do His work. I don't and I will not claim to KNOW everything that God knows. I cannot and will not comprehend until I get into heaven. God will work different ways in each of our lives because He knows EACH of us personally simply because He created us. I have learned to "be prepared" wherever God leads me to as Peter said in 1 Peter 3:15 "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have."

Understanding what God's will is and how to submit......


I often ask yourself, "What does God's Word say about it?" If it says anything, obey that (1 John 5:3). If it says nothing, you have freedom and do not need to fear missing God's will or sinning against Him (Romans 14:2-6, 22).

So, I follow this concept if I make decisions:Its like this, in Proverbs 21:1
The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.

Understand that wisdom, I can choose to serve God as I see fit in my heart, mind and soul however God may change my decision as He directs me to another direction. This proverbs have a HUGE impact in my life:
Proverbs 16:9
In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

Psalm 37:4 says, "Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart."

God's will is revealed in the New Testament:
Saved (1 Timothy 2:3-4; 2 Peter 3:9)
Spirit-filled (Ephesians 5:17-18)
Sanctified (1 Thessalonians 4:3-7)
Submissive (1 Peter 2:13-15)
Suffering ( Philippians 1:29; 2 Timothy 3:12)

To me, it is MY personal relationship to God that really matters that takes priority over everything else. Me as a "reconciled sinner" and God through my Mediator, Jesus Christ have established a meaningful intimate friendship. I have learned to understand that God is the deeper life and much more than "faith systems". I have learned that there have to be less of me and more of God so that my spiritual life can be deepened and I am strengthened in the knowledge of His will. I have learned that as a Christian, I must decide whether I will put my emphasis on what is important in God's will more than my will. The Holy Spirit have taught me to be humble in situations and be fruitful in bearing one another with love. My main focus is to put myself to know that God is spirit and I am to have a personal relationship in spirit and in truth. Over the years, I have learned that God is NOT not interested in making "cookie-cutter" Christians because we are not all alike. I also have learned that following Jesus Christ regardless my circumstances are full of joy that the Holy Spirit have convicted me that "lack of joy" are resulted by negative thoughts toward others. Real joy is found in the fellowship with other believers by sharing love. In my Christian life, I have learned to realize a few important things and a world of burdensome but unimportant ones that a Spirit-filled Christian must look past the superficial or temporal things and find the few that really matter because along with the essence of God's truth which we know and love.

As to expecting miracles for "my life". I have learned to rely on God's will more than my own will. This means putting my faith in the "Providence of God". Scripture clearly reminded me that that God exercises ongoing control of every detail of everything that happens in my life that “He works all things after the council of His own will,” and “that God causes all things to work together for good…” Scripture even reminded me that Christ “Upholding all things by the Word of His power” that “He is before all things and by Him all things consist.” Answers to my prayers usually come by means of providence, through acts of providence, not by expected miracles according to God's will.

Isaiah 48:17 This is what the LORD says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.

More DEEP thuughts on Sovereign of God........
People just refused to see God allow evil to happen for His Glory. An average view of the Christian life is that it means deliverance from trouble. It is deliverance in trouble, which is very different. The bad events are circumscribed by a loving providence and God promises to use them all for His ultimate good for HIS GLORY. There is a verse in the Bible that God promises that there won’t be anything so bad happen to me that I am not able to bear it. God does everything--He governs everything. Faith is accepting God's Will. There is confusion between the determined Will of God and a Christian's responsibility as a Christian. In Isaiah 55:8-9 God says, "My thoughts are completely different from yours, and my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." God is adjusting our history to His purposes. He knows what He's doing. I have to learn to trust His will, His power to do His will, and His timing to do it when the time is right--and not until then. That's the essence of real faith. God carries out His will in His perfect power and timing. People forget the Story of Job (or they refused to believe). From the Book of Job, we see that God is in complete control. Satan had neither the power nor the authority to do anything without the permission of God. It was consistent with God's nature and will for him to have allowed those things to happen to Job. The point of the story of Job is about God's Sovereign. Not really about Job. People always focus on Job more than God's sovereign. Jesus said clearly about a penny's worth of sparrows compare to us. Matthew 10:29: Are not two sparrows sold for a penny ? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. If God can control with those two sparrows, then He will do the same for His children as well. In reality, the blessings are from God, the Holy Spirit-and using that person as an instrument to do God's will and plan.

2 Corinthians 1:22 set His seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

God allows sinners to live as they pleased but God will not allow His children live as they pleased. As Christians, we are to do God's will, NOT our will. Remember, when we became saved and sealed by the Holy Spirit, Satan began his spiritual war against Christians so that they can fail so others won't become Christians. Christians are always engaged in a spiritual warfare whether you accept it or not. This is why God is placing us in HIS WILL.

Therefore, we do not have free-will unless you want to disobey Him. All He wants from me is to love Him. He simply wants me to allow Him to be in my life by transferring my will to His will. That is true discipleship. To forget my own will because God's will is BETTER.

1 Thessalonians 4:3 It is God's will that you should be sanctified (spiritual). God does not desire to destroy our wills, but to sanctify them. The primary work of Christ in redemption is to justify and sanctify believers. During the sanctification process, Christians need spiritual training which is forming spiritual fruits that we need to arm themselves spiritually to wrestle against the world, the devil and the flesh. 1 Peter 3:17-22 It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.

I realized that when I allow Him, my life is more peaceful and more enjoyable. I noticed that. Even though God will not take away my problems but He always been there for me when I am facing problems. I am still having problems but very very peaceful. Luke 14:27 James 4:7-10. John 15 is an interesting chapter and I believe this chapter have strong ties to Romans 12:1-2 and Hebrews 12. "The Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a child." (Hebrews 12:6). Are we allowing God's will in pruning us so we will bear more fruit? As a Christian, we still can have sinful desires, foolish desires, proud desires and at the same time, have godly desires. Our human heart is very selfish. Our heart is the source of our emotions, thoughts and motives. Our heart is the place of conscience. Our heart is the part of our being where we desire, deliberate, and decide. Our self-interest motives conduct even though it is part of our fallen nature, the cross is a symbol of the selfless, others-centered life of Christ.

On thing I noticed about Word of Faith is they focus on the "will of man" more than "will of God" in everything they do. "Claim it & Take it" is an act of man. As A.W. Tozer said "A selfish desire for happiness is as sinful as any other selfish desire. Its root is in the flesh which can never have any standing before God."

God governs (controls) the world (Isa. 40:22-24), the nations (Isa. 40:15-17), and us (Proverbs 16:9).

Proverbs 20:24 A man's steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand his own way?

Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.

Jeremiah 10:23 I know, O LORD, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.

Isaiah 48:17 This is what the LORD says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.

God's divine intervention BOTH WAYS. All circumstances can turn people to God. Romans 8:28-29 "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them."

I provided the verses that God "DIRECTS" with authority. You need to show me the verses to support your beliefs.

More verses:
Romans 9:18 Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden

Throughout the Bible, I can see hundreds and much more of God's divine intervention.

Some of the examples:
Jonah in flight from the will of God got swallowed by the whale.

Satan sought to kill Christ in the slaughter of the babies by Herod but God had Mary & Joseph moved elsewhere. Satan tried to stop Christ from growing up. If he could kill that baby while He was still a baby, Christ could never proclaim his Messiahship. God allowed other babies to die except for ONE.

Satan tried to have Peter try to keep Jesus from the cross but God determined that Jesus is to die on the Cross. In Matthew 16, Peter says, “Lord, don’t you do that! Don’t go to the cross!” and Jesus knew the source and said, “Get thee behind me, Satan.” Satan knew the power of the Cross and the Death Penalty by the Government which was established by God. "The authorities that exist have been established by God" (see Romans 13). How did God know that the Roman Government will use the "Cross" for their death penalty?

Satan used Judas and the Jewish leaders to kill Jesus. Satan was hoping that the Jewish people would STONE Jesus to death based on the Jewish Law and Custom. But the Jewish leaders were smart enough not to take the law into their hands and asked the Roman Government to crucify Christ.

Another good example is Pharaoh. Satan have been using Pharaoh to persecute Jewish people for years. In Exodus 9:16 "But I (God) have raised you (Pharaoh) up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." Paul confirmed this in Romans 9:17 "For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: 'I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.' "

God will take advantage of Satan's evil desires and motives to accomplish His will. The Bible clearly teaches that God knows beforehand what we will need and He will provide beforehand according to His will. God is absolutely powerful, that God is omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, that God is immutable, never changes, that God is all wise, perfectly just, holy, righteous. God is ruling all things to work together for our good and His purpose.

Proverbs 24:8 He who plots to do evil Will be called a schemer. Ephesians 6:11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. A Schemer is somone who is clever to achieve people from knowing Jesus Christ. Satan have many schemes to fool people into sinning against God. 1 Timothy 4:1The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.

Reading Book of Job and other stories like Esther revealed that God still control Satan regardless. Satan cannot mess up God's plans but God can mess up Satan's plans. For the believer all pain has meaning; all adversity is profitable. There is no question that adversity is difficult. It usually takes us by surprise and seems to strike where we are most vulnerable. To us it often appears completely senseless and irrational, but to God none of it is either senseless or irrational. He has a purpose in every pain He brings or allows in our lives. We can be sure that in some way He intends it for our profit and His glory.

God will allow many things to happen as long as they don't interfere His will and plans. God will allow Satan deceive people as God allowed Satan afflict Job. God will allow a drinker get drunk and drive... if this driver messed up and crashes, hit Christians, Christians were not at fault, neither was God's but the person who chose to drink alcohol. Over the years, I have seen God's interventions that I thought they surely could happened but didn't since God had another plan. Everything that happens in our lives (including trials) somehow fits into the plan of God. Most of the time, God allows evil to happen, other times, God divinely intervene situations when He has a plan that will Glorify Him.

One example. Corrie ten Boom was schedule to die in Nazi Camp like the rest of family did, but came out of Nazi prison alive due to clerical error through God's divine intervention. Through Corrie ten Boom, God was glorified through Corrie's ministry through many years until the day she died. Her ministry is still alive even though she is no longer with us physically but she is in heaven.

My own trials have taught me that there are God's ministries around the world. People have been suffered to create and broaden God's ministries (cf. Philippians 1:12-14 with 4:5-9). In the process of producing Christian character and enhancing our testimony to others, suffering often opens up doors for ministry we could never have imagined. Paul’s imprisonment (chained daily to Roman soldiers in his own house) resulted in the spread of the gospel within the elite imperial praetorian guard. The Apostle was undoubtedly continuing to rejoice in the Lord, but if he had been complaining, sulking, and bitter, his witness would have been zero.

The concept of the unity of all things written in the Scriptures that God will reconcile all things (i.e. sufferings) unto Himself. Truth wounds through life's experiences as well as from the Word of God. The truth resolves some difficulties and creates more difficulties. When truth speaks, there are no burdens but rather "The truth shall make you free"; that is, free from the woes, the yokes, the burdens. In the Bible, I believe that there are three kinds of burdens mentioned.

1. The burden of loving help which we are admonished to give to others: "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2) which never harmed a soul.

2. The burden of moral responsibility which no one can shift to another: "For each one should carry his own load" (Galatians 6:5) which is a source of comfort if our hearts are right.

3. The burden resulting from our fallen state, consisting of sin, fear, worry, disappointments, sorrows, remorse, bitter memories and self-accusations that are very temporal.

We suffer to develop our capacity and sympathy in comforting others (2 Cor. 1:3-5). When sufferings do not happen, people won't really understand what love really means. “Christ-like attitude”. 1 Peter 4:1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude. Then you move on to verses 7 through 11: Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Without sufferings, Pride will always gets in the way of God's glory. We suffer to keep down pride (2 Cor. 12:7). Suffering is a Process “We know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, proven character; and . . .” (Rom. 5:3-4). “Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect (mature) and complete, lacking in nothing” (Jam. 1:3-4).