THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD Devotion #6 of 17

"For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and He is the governor among the nations" (Psalm 22:28); "For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods" (Psalm 95:3); "One God and Father of all, Who is above all, and through all, and in you all" (Ephesians 4:6); "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created" (Revelation 4:11).

IN THE MATTER OF DELUSION

With the widespread religious delusion around us, it is vital that we perceive the sovereignty God correctly. Do deceivers operate independently of God's control. Is the government of heaven inactive where these beguilers dominate? The Spirit informs us that even the deceiver belongs to God; i.e.; his purposes will ultimately serve God rather than himself. DECEIVED AND DECEIVER ARE HIS. (Job 12:16) "To him belong strength and victory; both deceived and deceiver are His." This does not give license, as it were, to deceivers. It does mean they do not operate apart from His Sovereignty. He will use them to bring "strong delusion" to those who refused to receive a "love of the truth" (2 Thess 2:11). But they will have no power over those who live by faith. GOD CHOSE DELUSIONS ERRONEOUSLY CREDITED TO OTHERS. (Isa. 66:4) "4 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not." The NIV uses the words "harsh treatment" instead of "delusions." In this case, the "harsh treatment" involved being drawn to things that displeased God. They did not listen to God, so He would direct what they would listen to--and it would not be good. Were it not for a sovereign God, there would be no hope of any of us deciphering the complicated theological views that daily confront us. On their own, men and women cannot match wits with the devil. if you doiubt that, consider Eve. God, and God alone, can enable us to "know all things," particularly regarding conflicting doctrines (1 John 2:20-27). However, there is a reason for the presence of delusion, religious error, and factions. One reason for religious heresy is provided, and it is arresting to consider it. "For there must be also heresies [factions, NAS] among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you" (1 Cor. 11:19). That certainly is plain enough for faith to grasp! The thought is that flawed hearts gravitate to flawed doctrines, and pure hearts take hold of "sound doctrine." If God is not sovereign, we are shut up to hopeless confusion by the morass of "strange doctrines" (Heb.13:9) that are hurled at us. BUT HE IS SOVEREIGN, praise the Lord! That is why it is written, "They that are of God hear the words of God" (John 8:47)," and again, "the sheep follow Him; for they know His voice, and a stranger they will not follow" (John 10:4-5). God's dealings with Israel provide an excellent example of this truth. They would confront false prophets, and were thus warned about them. God did not allow them to speculate about WHY false teachers existed. He provided the reason for their presence, and warned them to conduct themselves accordingly. (Deut. 13:1-3) "If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a miraculous sign or wonder, and if the sign or wonder of which he has spoken takes place, and he says, 'Let us follow other gods' (gods you have not known) "and let us worship them, you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. THE LORD YOUR GOD IS TESTING YOU TO FIND OUT WHETHER YOU LOVE HIM WITH ALL OF YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL." Admittedly, this conflicts sharply with stereotyped theology--but that is of no consequence. "Let God be true, and every man a liar!" (Rom 3:4). You must acknowledge, this places a whole new slant on the divers and strange doctrines that are being perpetrated in our time. No person of God likes them, and every man of God will oppose and expose them, according to his understanding and ability. Notwithstanding, they are a gathering point for those whose hearts are not right toward the Lord. Such individuals are known only to the Lord, and it is not within our prerogatives to judge such things.

-- TOMORROW: PROCLAMATIONS OF JESUS --