GOD’S RULE OVER THE NATIONS
Trusting God by Jerry Bridges • Sermon • Submitted
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· 10 viewsWe can trust the plans of God because of the sovereignty of God.
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God is in control of all nations, shaping events and decisions to fulfill His purposes.
God is in control of all nations, shaping events and decisions to fulfill His purposes.
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
The ESV Study Bible Chapter 1
Who works all things according to the counsel of his will is best understood to mean that every single event that occurs is in some sense predestined by God.
The ESV Study Bible Chapter 1
Paul and the other biblical writers never blame God for them (cf. Rom. 5:12; 2 Tim. 4:14; also Job 1:21–22). Rather, they see the doctrine of God’s sovereignty as a means of comfort and assurance (cf. Rom. 8:28–30), confident that evil will not triumph, and that God’s good plans for his people will be fulfilled. How God’s sovereignty and human responsibility work together in the world is a mystery no one can fully understand.
The ESV Study Bible Chapter 1
God uses human means to fulfill what he has ordained.
Bridges, Jerry. Trusting God (p. 259). The Navigators. Kindle Edition.
As we trace the sovereignty of God through the Bible, one of the most frequent references to it concerns His sovereignty over nations and governments.
The fact that God is sovereign over our rulers is usually not evident to us as we view their decisions and actions on a human plane. For the most part, governmental officials and legislative bodies do their work quite apart from any intent to carry out the will of God. We see this amply demonstrated in the life and death of Jesus Christ. Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken. This required Joseph and Mary to go to the town of Bethlehem to register at just the right time for the Messiah to be born in Bethlehem in fulfillment of Micah’s prophecy (see ). Caesar certainly did not intend to be an instrument to fulfill any Jewish prophecy, yet that is exactly what he was. We should likewise see in those affairs reported in our daily paper the sovereign hand of God just as much as we see it in the Bible.
Bridges, Jerry. Trusting God (p. 259). The Navigators. Kindle Edition.
Bridges, Jerry. Trusting God (p. 259). The Navigators. Kindle Edition.
Bridges, Jerry. Trusting God (pp. 259-260). The Navigators. Kindle Edition.
The Scriptures teach the following specific truths about the sovereignty of God over the nations:
God in His sovereignty has established government for the good of all people—believers as well as unbelievers (see ).
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.
God determines who rules in those governments (see ).
The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.’
God determines the timing of each leader’s rule (see ).
who brings princes to nothing,
and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness.
Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown,
scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth,
when he blows on them, and they wither,
and the tempest carries them off like stubble.
God controls the decisions that rulers make (see ).
The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the Lord.
God rules in the victories and defeats between nations on the battlefield (see ).
Bridges, Jerry. Trusting God (p. 259). The Navigators. Kindle Edition.
The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but the victory belongs to the Lord.
God sometimes causes government leaders or officials officials to make foolish decisions in order to bring judgment upon a nation. We should take more seriously our responsibility to pray for the leaders of our government that they will make wise decisions. Although we may suspect that some of the more disastrous decisions are evidence of God’s judgment, we do not know that. We do know God has instructed us to pray for leaders. Our duty, then, is to pray for wise decisions, but to trust God when foolish and harmful decisions are made. As we look around the world today, what do we see? We see over one-half of the world’s population living in countries whose governments are hostile to the gospel, where missionaries are not allowed, and where national Christians are severely hindered from proclaiming Christ. As we look at these conditions we must also look at the sovereignty of God and at His promises. He has promised to redeem people from every nation, and He has commanded us to make disciples of all nations. We must, then, trust God by praying. Some will go to those nations as God opens doors, but all of us must pray. We must learn to trust God, not only in the adverse circumstances of our individual lives, but also in the adverse circumstances of the church as a whole. God is sovereign over the nations. He is sovereign over the officials of our own government in all their actions as they affect us directly. He is sovereign over the officials of government in lands where our brothers and sisters in Christ suffer for their faith in Him. And He is sovereign over the nations where every attempt is made to stamp out true Christianity. In all of these areas, we can and must trust God.
Bridges, Jerry. Trusting God (pp. 260-261). The Navigators. Kindle Edition.
Developing Trust
Developing Trust
1. There are many events that took place during the life of Jesus that show how government officials, acting freely, fulfilled the purposes of God.
1. There are many events that took place during the life of Jesus that show how government officials, acting freely, fulfilled the purposes of God.
So, lets take a look at some scripture and see if we can find it.
Bridges, Jerry. Trusting God (p. 261). The Navigators. Kindle Edition.
Bridges, Jerry. Trusting God (p. 261). The Navigators. Kindle Edition.
Bridges, Jerry. Trusting God (pp. 261-262). The Navigators. Kindle Edition.
Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt
When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called my son.
atth
(cf. )
Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:
“A voice was heard in Ramah,
weeping and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”
Bridges, Jerry. Trusting God (p. 262). The Navigators. Kindle Edition.
Thus says the Lord:
“A voice is heard in Ramah,
lamentation and bitter weeping.
Rachel is weeping for her children;
she refuses to be comforted for her children,
because they are no more.”
Jeremiah
And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.
-23
But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
(cf. )
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
Bridges, Jerry. Trusting God (p. 262). The Navigators. Kindle Edition.
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
from ancient days.
for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.
He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53:
Isaiah was written over 700 years before the crucifixion of Jesus.
2. What truths are taught about governments and rulers in the following verses?
2. What truths are taught about governments and rulers in the following verses?
The heart of man plans his way,
but the Lord establishes his steps.
The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the Lord.
Proverbs
,
The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but the victory belongs to the Lord.
,
It is he who sits above the circle of the earth,
and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers;
who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;
who brings princes to nothing,
and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness.
Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown,
scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth,
when he blows on them, and they wither,
and the tempest carries them off like stubble.
The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.’
Bridges, Jerry. Trusting God (p. 262). The Navigators. Kindle Edition.
While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.”
Daniel 4:33
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.
3. What responsibilities do we have toward our government?
3. What responsibilities do we have toward our government?
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Bridges, Jerry. Trusting God (p. 263). The Navigators. Kindle Edition.
1 Timothy
4. What is promised in the following verses?
4. What is promised in the following verses?
Matthew 28:
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
Bridges, Jerry. Trusting God (p. 265). The Navigators. Kindle Edition.
Revelation 7
What are your general thoughts about the present world situation?
What are your general thoughts about the present world situation?
Can you/we trust God regardless of the current political environment?
Can you/we trust God regardless of the current political environment?
Bridges, Jerry. Trusting God (pp. 265-266). The Navigators. Kindle Edition.
Psalms
The king is not saved by his great army;
a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
The war horse is a false hope for salvation,
and by its great might it cannot rescue.