John 13:18-14:4

The Sovereignty of God

You ever say a word so much that you just have assumptions on what it means. Sometimes you just continue to use it over and over and over and never give thought to the actual meaning of the word?

Of course you do. We all do. Thats how we end up with phrases like.

irregardless of

i could care less

supposably

could of

would of

should of

probly

SALMON

All of these are used by grown professional adults, EVEN PRESIDENTS, and they make zero sense whatsoever.

If you listen to my sermon today, i can guarantee you that I will misuse a phrase for one of these. I mean supposably i prolly could of. but irregardless i could care less.

The phrase I want us to think on today as we continue in the life of Christ in the book of John, is the phrase, the Sovereignty of God.

What does that really mean that God is sovereign. I mean, if you are a believer and have been in church for a while, you have said it many many times. And a lot of what you believe about that word is correct.

Im not here today to try and tell you that you have been wrong youre whole life on it. Maybe but probly not.

Whether or not God is sovereign is not something that is highly debated, most all Christians and Theologians believe that to be true.

What is highly debated is How God is Sovereign, What it means for him to be sovereign, and how that plays out in our lives.

I do not expect you to leave here today after 30 minutes, give or take, being an all knowing expert on the doctrine of God’s sovereignty. 1. I would need to be that first and 2. we would need more time.

But I do pray today you leave with a better understading of it then when you came as we also look in John.

As Dustin George says, not just the knowledge of sovereignty that you have on sunday at church but the knowledge you apply on thursdays at 2:00pm

Use Jasper as dsplay of sovereignty.

God’s ultimate permissive will is always in place.

The world looks at God and looks back at the world and they say. If there is a God then why do children pass away, and why do wars happen, and why is there sickness and homelessness.

They make the improper assumption that many make that because God allowed something to happen for the Glory of His kingdom, he then must have made it happen.

God’s will is that none of those things would ever happen. God’s will is that we obey and live just as he commanded, God’s will is that we love one another perfectly, but we dont.

So there are times in which he may intervene to make those things happen and there are times in our OWN choices that we step away from those things and God says ok. You will have to find out on your own and then you will see my way is better.

Now I all that we have discussed which is not small, I want you to keep in mind as we dive into this text

Jesus just washed the disciples feet. He calls them to one be cleansed by Jesus who is the only one who can clean us, and two go as he set an example and do the same and you will be blessed.

The New International Version (Chapter 13)

18 “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. (Yes, Judas was Chosen, he was chosen from the start) But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned  against me.’ s19 “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. 20 Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”( Imagine what Christ Must have felt in that moment, Judas was a real person. He was not a robot who was simply married to the plot. He had feelings and a heart and Christ could see the battle going on inside) 22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” 28 But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.

They had no idea what was taking place and what was happening. They were not expecting Judas to do what He was going to do. he was their brother who had served countless hours.

He was not just this snake we see him as.

Judas was chosen

God knew from before Judas was ever born even before King David

GODS SOVEREIGNTY IN YOUR LIFE WILL ALWAYS LEAD TO HIM BEING GLORIFIED, AND CAN ALSO LEAD TO YOUR OWN DEMISE

The New International Version (Chapter 13)

31 When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.33 “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, ( THIS IS THE KICKER THIS IS THE DIFFERENCE MAKER ITS NOT JUST LOVE PEOPLE IT IS LOVE THEM AS CHRIST DID AND THERE IS NO GREATER LOVE THAT HAS EVER BEEN HE IS THE EMBODIMENT OF LOVE ) so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”(THIS IS HOW THEY KNOW YOU, NOT YOUR RELIGION, NOT YOUR SOBRIETY BUT BY YOUR LOVE......) 36 Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?”Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”37 Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”38 Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!

2 guys who have followed Jesus and given their whole life two him 2 guys who have seen more miraculous things then you or I could imagine.

They both looked the part...

They both played the part...

They both followed Jesus and knew His teaching...

They Both Served.....

They both failed....

But only one turned back to Jesus

GODS SOVEREIGNTY IN YOUR LIFE WILL ALWAYS LEAD TO HIM BEING GLORIFIED, AND CAN ALSO LEAD TO YOUR OWN GLORIFICATION

The difference in the to is not God’s Sovereignty. it remained the same. he was sovereign. Judas was no more or no less a robot then Peter. Both made their decisions that yes God knew before the foundation of the world. His desire is that both would turn to Him but only one did.

Judas could have been forgiven and could have turned. But he disobeyed, neglected the teaches he had heard and it lead to his own damnation by his own works.

Guys I have been right and wrong and will probably continue to be in my life about the sovereignty of God, but where I sit today is this.

God is Sovereign

He is in 100% control

He knows everything that has or will happen.

He controls everything by BOTH his acting will and permissive will

He desires for everyone JUDAS HITLER YOUR WORST ENEMY AND YOURSELF to turn to Him

His Glory will not be denied either way.

You can trust it will all end to His glory and He is in control

He does not force the decisions of man but gives every opportunity through His Grace to make the choices of obedience and his glory so that you ALSO may be Glorified

The New International Version Chapter 14

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”

The WAY is Jesus