BE ESTABLISHED IN RIGHTEOUSNESS (Part 3)

Dearly Beloved,

BE ESTABLISHED IN RIGHTEOUSNESS (Part 3)

“See, it is I who created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work. And it is I who have created the destroyer to work havoc; no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you” (Isaiah 54:16-17a NIV).

“Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling” (Psalm 91:9-10 NKJV).

The sovereignty of God is the thrust of this part. God is the Creator of the heavens and the earth, and everything in them. The creation story in Genesis 1 confirms this, and the Psalmist asserted, “The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters” (24:1-2 NIV). He was the one that created everyone on earth. Initially, everything that He created including man was good (Genesis 1:31). However, the fall of man recorded in Genesis 3 distorted the good creation of God, and “the LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time” (Genesis 6:5 NIV). In spite of this, God never disowns His creation. The fact still remains that He was, and still is, the Creator. This is what He was reminding His people in Isaiah 54:16. He does have the power to restrain the evils.

People that God created are using other created things for bad purposes. They are using these created things and their thoughts and ability to do evil most of the time. This has made some people to wonder if God really exists, or blame Him if He does exist for these evils. The focus of this message is not to discuss the problem of evil. Rather, this message is about the sovereignty of God over all these evils and the fact that such evils will not prevail over His people. No matter what man does to harm God’s people, it shall not overcome them. In fact, God’s people will triumph over such evil at the end of the day.

The world is full of evils perpetrated by evil men that God originally created to be good. In spite of this, if you are established in righteousness, no evil will befall you (cf Psalm 91:9-10). Even if any evil befalls you, it shall not prevail over you. You will triumph over every evil and evil one in Jesus’ name. Amen.

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).