God’s Sovereignty Over Our Words

Text: Romans 11:33-36

Place Preached - (Mississauga International Baptist Church)

Date Preached - (10/21/01)

Introduction:   

Christ Is King!!!

Does it make any difference in your life?

Socially/Financially/Spiritually????

What is the great difference in the life of a believer? 

A: Christ And Nothing Else!

He is absolutely sovereign!!

What has this got to do with my speech?

Only when I submit to God, to His perfect will and purpose for my life, will I begin to speak as He has purposed.

How thoroughly does God control your life? Thoughts? Actions? Speech?

There is a battle for sovereignty going on in our hearts.  The battle’s outcome is continually being revealed in how we spend our time, our money, how we act, think and speak.

I. Understanding God’s Sovereignty

What does it mean?

A. His unchallenged rule of the universe

Daniel 4:34-35  And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:

35  And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

B. He rules over all things for the church

Ephesians 1:20-22  Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

21  Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

22  And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

23  Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

So much of our talk expresses envy toward others who seem to have it easier than we do.

Do we not believe that God is active in every moment, circumstance and relationship of our lives?

God has us just where we need to be so that His PURPOSES for us and His PROMISES to us may come to pass.

C. God rules over the specific details of our lives

Acts 17:26  And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

Romans 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

The “Things” in our lives are tools for accomplishing His work in us.

D. God rules every aspect of our Salvation

Ephesians 1:12  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

This is true from the very moment He first opened our spiritual eyes.

E. God rules over circumstances for our sanctification

Cf. Romans 8:28-29; James 1:2-4; I Peter 1:3-9

When we complain about the problems and pressures in our lives, we are essentially grumbling in the face of God.

Our circumstances tell us not that God has forgotten us, but that He has remembered us and will not leave us until His work is complete.

God is not focused on the “success” of my day, but on the godliness of my character.

F. God rules over relationships for our sanctification

SEE Eph. 2:14-16, 19-22; 4:16; I Cor. 12:12-13, 18-20, & 27

ILLUS: A Critical Member

Whatever evil they mean is not nearly as important as the good God is trying to do in all of this!!

G. God rules over all things for His glory

Ephesians 1:5-6  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

1. Our words should bring to God the glory He deserves.

2. Our words should bring redemptive good into the lives of the people He has placed around us.

II. Following the King for all the Wrong Reasons.

SEE John 6:25-36

Our talk reveals the true loves of our hearts!

A. Whose Dream? Which Bread?

If you had to write down your dream for your life, what would you write?

“If only………….”

“If I just had………………….”

“All I want is…………………………..”

What kind of Messiah do you want Jesus to be in your life?

The multitude had their bellies filled.  Their pursuit of Christ was born out of love for self, and what they could get out of Him!

Do we see Christ as the one who can meet our deepest heart needs, or as the most efficient delivery system for our selfish dreams?

B. Physical Bread & Spiritual Deception

This is a core struggle of the Christian life.

Cf. Matt. 4:1-11 – Satan’s deceptive and tempting message to Christ.

There are four subtle lies in the enemy’s temptation.

1. Physical things are permanent.

1 John 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

2. Physical bread is the only bread.

Luke 12:20  But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

3. Human success is defined by the amount of physical bread you possess.

“He who dies with the most toys wins”

Luke 12:15  And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

4. Life is found in physical bread.

Many believers are functionally feeding on the world’s bread and not Christ.

Our entire life is determined by which bread we choose.

C. Whose Dream? Christ’s or Yours?

Our dream – A personal and present paradise.

Home/Children/Spouse/Church/Friends/Boss/Job

Are you struggling with what God has given you?

LU & R I Peter 1:3-5, 6-9

Trials are sent because God’s desire is to produce a genuine faith in us, which is greater, fuller, and deeper than anything we have previously known!!

Trials should not cause us to doubt the love of the king, they should convince us of it.

D. Recognizing the Signs

Cars, Homes, Possessions, Family, Friends, Church, Employment is not the abundant life.

The abundant life is Jesus Christ!!

John 6:47-48  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

48  I am that bread of life.

He is the only Bread worth living for!

There is only one spiritual Bread – Jesus Christ!!

E. Disillusioned Disciples

The conclusion: There were three responses (v.66-71)

           a.  The disciples who turned back (v.66-67)

           b.  The disciple who believed Jesus was the Christ (v.68-69)

           c.  The disciple who betrayed Christ (v.70-71)

To the degree that you have based your life on something other than the Lord, to that degree God’s love and the hope of the Gospel will not comfort you.

F. What happens when the Dream is Gone?

Habakkuk 3:17-19  Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:

18  Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

19  The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

You can pursue your dream or you can pursue the Lord’s dream for you.

Whose dream are you seeking?

Conclusion:     (Review)

Your Dreams & Your Talk

How can we tell what is really ruling our hearts?  Ask yourself these questions:

1. What happens to my prayers and my talk about God when I don’t get what I want?

2. How do I speak to others when they tend to stand in the way of my dream?

3. What happens to my talk when circumstances are difficult and unpleasant?

4. What happens to my talk when I see others blessed while I struggle?

5. How much do my prayers focus on the deeper heart changes that God is working within me?

6. How much does my talk express a spirit of thankfulness and contentment?

7. Do my words encourage others to put their trust and rest in the Lord?

8. How often is grumbling and complaining a regular part of my everyday conversation?

9. Does my speech evidence gentleness, kindness, and patience?

10. Is my communication infected with demanding, critical, impatient, accusatory or demanding words?

11. What happens to my talk when others sin against me?

12. What happens when my prayers are not answered as I would expect?

As I seek to humbly answer these questions, what dreams of my heart are revealed? What do I do with them?