Sovereign New Years! The Path to Happiness...

I am thankful for 2020

Proverbs 16

Proverbs 16:1–9 ESV

1 The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. 2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. 3 Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. 4 The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble. 5 Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished. 6 By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil. 7 When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. 8 Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice. 9 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

The God of Charles Spurgeon

Charles Spurgeon says this about the Sovereignty of God: (Divine Sovereignty)

There is no attribute of God more comforting to his children than the doctrine of Divine Sovereignty. Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe troubles, they believe that Sovereignty hath ordained their afflictions, that Sovereignty overrules them, and that Sovereignty will sanctify them all. There is nothing for which the children of God ought more earnestly to contend than the dominion of their Master over all creation—the kingship of God over all the works of his own hands—the throne of God, and his right to sit upon that throne.

But it is God upon the throne that we love to preach. It is God upon his throne whom we trust. It is God upon his throne of whom we have been singing this morning; and it is God upon his throne of whom we shall speak in this discourse.

Life cannot be lived without an acknowledgement of God’s sovereignty

Prov 16:1-9 - the Lord, the Lord - 8 times in 9 verses!

The Lord answers, the Lord the Lord makes, the Lord establishes, He examines, evaluates,

With that in mind, how should we live in 2021?

Seeking

Proverbs 16:16 ESV

16 How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

Humble

Proverbs 16:18 ESV

18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Trusting

Proverbs 16:20 ESV

20 Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.

Obedient

Proverbs 16:25 ESV

25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

Where is Jesus in all of this?

He is the way that leads to life

He is the one more precious than gold or silver

He is the one that we must come to in faith, in humility and not pride, He is the one we must trust in.

Proverbs 16:33 ESV

33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.

The end of the chapter...

There is no chance, there is no good luck or bad luck, there is no good or bad karma

There are actions and consequences, there are choices and decisions, there are opportunities and there are wasted opportunities, there is the reaping and the sowing.

How will you live in 2021?