Text: Genesis 50:19-20

19 And Joseph said unto them, 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.  

Tuesday, 9^th April 2024

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS SOVEREIGN 

Text: Genesis 50:19-20

Memory verse: Job 42:1-2 Then Job answered the LORD, and said, 2 I know that thou canst do everything, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.

God is sovereign. This means He rules the universe and is in control of what He has created. He possesses full authority to carry out His perfect plans and eternal purposes. There is no place you could go in all creation that is not under the sovereign control of God. Job acknowledged this reality when he spoke of God's power to do anything he desired. He also expressed the fact that no purpose of God could be thwarted. The plans of God are perfect and will be carried out in full accordance with His divine will.

A practical example of this can be found in the account of Joseph's life in the book of Genesis. Joseph was loved deeply by his father, Jacob. Joseph's brothers grew jealous of the favouritism he was often shown by their father, so they sold him into slavery, and told their father he had been killed. Joseph ended up in Egypt where, through a series of divinely orchestrated events, he ruled the country and became second in authority only to Pharaoh.

The Lord revealed that there would be great famine in the world, so Joseph helped prepare the Egyptians so they would not die of starvation. People from other nations, including Joseph's family, also came to Egypt for food, and during that time, Joseph revealed to his brothers that God had foreordained the chain of events that took place in his life for their benefit and for the benefit of the world. Even though they treated Joseph with malice, the sovereign God who is Lord of heaven and earth meant it for the good of millions of people.

But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

If God is sovereign, why is there sin and suffering in this world? And if a sovereign God would allow sin and suffering to be present in this world, does their presence mean that He is not good?

CGDS Hymn 9; SS&S 577:

I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR

1. I need Thee every hour,

Most gracious Lord;

No tender voice like Thine

Can peace afford.

Refrain

I need Thee, oh, I need Thee ;

Every hour I need Thee ;

Oh, bless me now, my Saviour !

I come to Thee.

2. I need Thee every hour,

Stay Thou near by ;

Temptations lose their power

When Thou art nigh.

3. I need Thee every hour,

In joy or pain ;

Come quickly and abide,

Or life is vain.

4. I need Thee every hour ;

Teach me Thy will ;

And Thy rich promises

In me fulfil.

5. I need Thee every hour,

Most Holy One :

Oh, make me Thine indeed,

Thou blessed Son.

   Prayers:

1.  Holy Spirit, reign as the sovereign king in all matters concerning me.

2.  LORD God Almighty, reign in all my affairs as the sovereign God and give me the kingdom as you promised me in Your words, in Jesus’ name. Amen.    

3.  Pray for others in this regard.