How Can a Man Understand
Scripture: Proverbs 20:24Devotional Series: Sovereignty and Prayer
Teaching: Sovereignty and Prayer pt. 2 (SUN_AM 2024-11-24) by Pastor Star R Scott
Proverbs 20:24 says, “Man's goings are of the Lord; how can a man then understand his own way?” Or let’s say it another way: the Lord’s ways are higher than our ways. Amen? Any time prayer is initiated in us, it’s falling short because we don’t know the beginning to the end. So, as we’ll rest and wait on the Lord, He will let us know then when it’s time to bind or loose, to turn over to Satan or to pray for deliverance. In our prayers, as we’re standing and believing God to bring healing into our bodies because we know it’s His covenant promise, we also, at the same time we’re believing for deliverance and healing, we’re doing what? In everything we’re giving thanks, for this is the will of God. So, in the midst of this suffering, in the midst of trials, we count it all joy, He says. I heard somebody say one time, “If sickness brings glory to God, then why do you want to get healed and steal God’s glory?” They say that mocking the doctrine of divine healing. But the reality is what I just stated to you. It is God’s will to heal us, but in the midst of us being healed or delivered we give God thanks in everything, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning us; amen? That’s why we can count it all joy when we fall into diverse temptations, knowing this, that the trying of our faith is working Christlikeness, God’s character in us, patience. That’s why faith is able to make all these declarations of the promises of God, and we don’t understand what’s going on at all. But we declare what His Word says, because this Word is what? John 17, truth. This is the truth. I don’t understand it; this is the truth. I don’t feel it; this is the truth! I don’t see it; “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence, the proof, of things not seen,” praise God.
So, we say what God says, and then we rest. We just rest. How long? Til God’s sovereignty manifests itself, because He has a plan. We’ll look at a couple of Scripture verses, some examples, as we look at this, but so often, for instance, you know, peril—we’re facing different perils, and the apostle talked about those things that he faced in his life and all of these perils and trials and beatings and all of these different aspects. But Paul had that same understanding that Jesus articulated. Paul understood the sovereignty of God. Paul was very aware that they could not take his life one moment before God allowed it to happen. Do you find yourself resting in that today? Now, I know what happens in our natural mind sometimes. “Well, you know, it’s—we’ve got to do everything we can to preserve ourselves”—so we’re going to eat all these special foods and do all of these exercises and different things. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with that, but none of that is going to determine the day you die. You say, “Well, it might. God could have factored that in.” Then you’re going to have to explain a lot of these old fat, drunk, smoking, fat people who are living to be a hundred years old.
We can’t contribute anything there any more than we can contribute to our righteousness (amen?) or to our own faith. I’ve just kind of trusted preservatives to preserve me. But really, just trusting in the Lord; amen? Now, that doesn’t mean we’re to be tempted, like Jesus was on the pinnacle, and jump off the pinnacle at the admonition of the devil. “If You want to show that God’s for You, jump off the pinnacle and let the angels come and bear You up.” Aren’t you thankful the angels of God will bear us up lest we dash our foot against a stone? How many cars has God kept from running into you? And it’s getting worse. You know, that guy the other day—texting on his cell phone, reading a magazine, and shaving. Thank God for our angels. But Jesus said we’re not to tempt the Lord our God; amen? So, we don’t live presumptuous lives. We don’t walk around living and tempting God through foolishness. But there is a day appointed. It’s just amazing.
So, we say what God says, and then we rest. We just rest. How long? Til God’s sovereignty manifests itself, because He has a plan. We’ll look at a couple of Scripture verses, some examples, as we look at this, but so often, for instance, you know, peril—we’re facing different perils, and the apostle talked about those things that he faced in his life and all of these perils and trials and beatings and all of these different aspects. But Paul had that same understanding that Jesus articulated. Paul understood the sovereignty of God. Paul was very aware that they could not take his life one moment before God allowed it to happen. Do you find yourself resting in that today? Now, I know what happens in our natural mind sometimes. “Well, you know, it’s—we’ve got to do everything we can to preserve ourselves”—so we’re going to eat all these special foods and do all of these exercises and different things. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with that, but none of that is going to determine the day you die. You say, “Well, it might. God could have factored that in.” Then you’re going to have to explain a lot of these old fat, drunk, smoking, fat people who are living to be a hundred years old.
We can’t contribute anything there any more than we can contribute to our righteousness (amen?) or to our own faith. I’ve just kind of trusted preservatives to preserve me. But really, just trusting in the Lord; amen? Now, that doesn’t mean we’re to be tempted, like Jesus was on the pinnacle, and jump off the pinnacle at the admonition of the devil. “If You want to show that God’s for You, jump off the pinnacle and let the angels come and bear You up.” Aren’t you thankful the angels of God will bear us up lest we dash our foot against a stone? How many cars has God kept from running into you? And it’s getting worse. You know, that guy the other day—texting on his cell phone, reading a magazine, and shaving. Thank God for our angels. But Jesus said we’re not to tempt the Lord our God; amen? So, we don’t live presumptuous lives. We don’t walk around living and tempting God through foolishness. But there is a day appointed. It’s just amazing.