Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem
The Names and Titles of God (The Blessed and Holy Potentate)
1 Timothy 6:15
15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
King James Version
________________________
My friend Skip is reading this right now, so I hope he doesn't mind my talking about him in this thread. (It's for a Good Cause, namely the Advancement of the Kingdom of God, so I don't think he will mind!). Recently, this dear friend, who was instrumental in my own Salvation, sent me a HUGE book. It is 700 pages about the Providence of God. God's Providence has been one of the major themes of this Thread in the fourteen years of its run. Since I get through the Bible several times a year and have read Moby Dick nine times, 700 pages is a piece of cake...LOL...especially if it's about the Providence of God! (I am currently also reading a 500-page novel that involves the Siege of Masada. Did I ever mention to you how much I LOVE to read?)
I have had so many wonderful experiences with God's Providence that I've lost count. I have, however, learned not to fear deprivation, as God has always come through for me in the most miraculous ways. Sometimes, however, I get so wrapped up in God's Providence that I forget the the other side of this attribute of Omniscience, His Sovereignty. People sometimes mix these two things up, but they are different. Both attributes come under the banner of God's Omniscience, Omnipotence, and Omnipresence. Both require that He knows the End From the Beginning, and the Beginning from the End. Both require that He is above and beyond the Time-Space Continuum, and can transcend it because He created it in the first place. Both require His Omnipotence, so that He can make things happen which can't be explained away by natural forces. Here's where they differ: Providence is what God does. Sovereignty is Who God is.
We have had many Names so far that talk about Providence:
Jehovah Jireh...The LORD Provides
Jehovah Rapha...The LORD Who Heals
Jehovah Tsidkenu...The LORD Who Sanctifies,
My Defender, My Rock, My Hiding Place, My Shepherd, My Strong Tower,
and so on.
Today's verse is about Sovereignty. The verse is from Paul's Letter to Timothy, a young pastor with roots in Greek Culture. We sometimes call Ancient Greece the "Cradle of Democracy", and many of our Constitutional Values come from that time. I don't know how Timothy felt about Sovereignty, but Paul gives a good account of it in his letter.
The word "Potentate" is translated in other versions as "Ruler", Sovereign", and, later in the verse, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. It is his His Indisputable Right to Do Whatever He Wants.
That kind of Power would be unacceptable in a human, because we are fallen creatures who can be very selfish. We all have a degree of sovereignty within ourselves, but it is easily violated by outside forces. Countries have sovereignty, but it is only as strong as it's defenses. When you own your own home, you have sovereignty, but only within the laws, ordinances, and zoning regulations of your community. All human sovereignty is limited by our humanity.
God, on the other hand, is Sovereign with a Capital "S". His decisions are Always His, and they are Always Right. They are Always Wise and Always Just.
God's Sovereignty would be a frightening thing, except that He is LOVE. That Sovereignty, motivated by Love, Becomes Providence. (I'm getting into this book!).
Here are some links:
Providence.
The Dovekeepers (Novel)
(I love big books and I can not lie.)
Come and Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.
For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. (Mark 4:22)
God Bless America.
Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.
Hallelujah and Amen
ML/LTOS