“Behold, the LORD is riding on a swift cloud and comes to Egypt; and the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence, and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them” (Isaiah 19:1 ESV). “They will inquire of the idols and the sorcerers, and the mediums and the necromancers; and I will give over the Egyptians into the hand of a hard master, and a fierce king will rule over them, declares the Lord GOD of hosts.” (Isaiah 19:3–4 ESV).
Egypt’s ultimate trust was in their idols and the ultimate result was oppression. Where is your ultimate trust? Does that trust lead you in to freedom or oppression? The interesting thing about idols is that you can inquire of them for wisdom and direction, but they don’t answer. Where do you go for wisdom, insight and direction?
“The way to fight sin in our lives is to battle our bent toward unbelief. We are prone to drift away from a hearty confidence in who Christ is, what he has done for us, and all the promises that are sure because of Christ. We must never let go of the blood and righteousness of Christ as the ground of our right standing with God and guarantee of all God’s promises.”
“There are church-attending people who believe they are saved because they once prayed to receive Jesus, not realizing that the genuineness of that experience is proved by endurance: “The one who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:13).
“Nobody wants a God who declines to deal with evil. They just want a God who declines to deal with *their* evil.” -Greg Gilbert (@greggilbert 8/13/2011)
Desiring God is doing a series of brief interviews with various teachers called “Theology Refresh.” Jerry Rankin just completed one on the Great Commission.
“And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” (Romans 8:30 ESV)
This is the golden chain of salvation – there are no fingerprints of man on it. It is all of God.
“The LORD of hosts has sworn: “As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand, that I will break the Assyrian in my land, and on my mountains trample him underfoot; and his yoke shall depart from them, and his burden from their shoulder.”
This is the purpose that is purposed concerning the whole earth, and this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations. For the LORD of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back?” (Isaiah 14:24–27 ESV)
Nothing can thwart the sovereign will of God – not even the most powerful force on the planet. Nothing is can challenge the power of the Almighty. His will comes to pass 100% of the time. Nothing takes Him by surprise.
The Gospel Centered Life 