March 11, 2 infinitely strong and tender truths.

Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying,

My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose, Isaiah 4610.

The word sovereignty, like the word Trinity, does not occur in the Bible.

We use it to refer to this truth, God is in ultimate control of all the world, from

the largest international intrigue to the smallest birdfall in the forest.

Here's how the Bible puts it, I am God, and there is no other.

My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose, Isaiah 469-10.

God does according to His will among the host of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth,

and none can stay His hand or say to Him, What have you done?

Daniel 435.

And He is unchangeable, and who can turn Him back, what He desires, that He does, for He will complete what He appoints for me.

Job 2313-14.

And our God is in the heavens, He does all that He pleases, Psalm 115-3.

One reason this doctrine is so precious to believers is that we know that God's great desire is to show mercy and kindness to those who trust Him.

Ephesians 27, Psalm 37-3 through 7, Proverbs 29-25.

God's sovereignty means that this design for us cannot be frustrated, it cannot fail.

Nothing, absolutely nothing, befalls those who love God and are called according to His purpose,

but what is for our deepest and highest and longest good, Romans 828, Psalm 84-11.

That is why I like to say that the mercy and the sovereignty of God are the twin pillars of my life.

They are the hope of my future, the energy of my service, the center of my theology, the bond of my marriage,

the best medicine in all my sicknesses, the remedy of all my discouragements.

...