God is Sovereign
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
I have said this before, but will say it again because it bears repeating, but the truth is, your beliefs determine your behavior. And again to illustrate, Sunday I was packing up to go home and on my desk was a paycheck dated for the 15th. Friday, I deposited the check, and today, sometime, I will sit down and make sure the bills for the second half of the month are paid.
Now, our bills are in line with our paychecks. Our house is not a multi million dollar home, our cars are from 2011 and 2013, respectively. We even keep our heat set on 69, not 73.
Why do I say all this? I do because there are things we believe. I believe that the money in our church’s account is sufficient to cover the check. I believe that the check is rightfully deposited, and that when I deposit that money, that is what we have to live on. And when we sat down and thought about a mortgage, when we looked at a car, all of that was predicated on this belief that this is the lifestyle we could afford with the money we make.
If I did not believe this truth about math, about economics, about whatever I am talking about, I would have done something different. I might be up here with my McD’s shirt, ready to clock in at noon, I might be in the nicest home in the slate belt, ready to have it foreclosed on me because I couldn’t make the payments. I might be walking home because my rolls-royce has been repossessed while I was here, because I couldn’t afford the payments.
Your belief determines your behavior. That is why it is so important that we believe the right things about God. Ultimately we will order our lives according to those beliefs.
One of the things we need to believe rightly about God is His sovereignty. God is absolute sovereign in all he does, in all his actions, in all of who he is. According to Charles Hodge in his book on Systematic Theology,
“Sovereignty is not a property of the divine nature, but a prerogative arising out of the perfections of the Supreme Being. If God be a Spirit, and therefore a person, infinite, eternal, and immutable in his being and perfections, the Creator and Preserver of the universe, He is of right its absolute sovereign.”
In other words, if God is truly God, we must believe that he is absolutely sovereign. Let’s get into this and first of all, let’s define what sovereignty is.
I. Sovereignty Defined.
I. Sovereignty Defined.
Understanding Theology, Volume One Introduction
Sovereignty of God: God’s right and power to do whatever he pleases with everyone at any time
Look again at our text here this morning.
Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.
Think about those words. Our God is in the heavens. He does all that he pleases. He does whatever he wants, whenever he wants, however he wants. He and he alone has the absolute right to do whatever, whenever and however he wants to. He is sovereign.
James Montgomery Boice states it this way when He says, He has absolute authority and rule over his creation. In order to be sovereign, God must also be all-knowing, all-powerful and absolutely free. If he were limited in any one of these areas, he would not be entirely sovereign. Yet the sovereignty of God is greater than any one of the attributes which it contains. Others may seem more important to us—love, for instance. But a little thought will show that the exercise of any of these attributes is made possible only by the sovereignty of God. God might love, for example, but if he were not sovereign, circumstances could thwart his love, making it useless to us. It is the same with God’s justice. God may desire to establish justice among human beings, but if he were not sovereign, justice could be frustrated and injustice prevail.
Boice, J. M. (1986). Foundations of the Christian faith: a comprehensive & readable theology (p. 117). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
Look at and listen to some of the verses that show the sovereignty of God.
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.
Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.
The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm!
Do you hear those words? You rule, yours is the kingdom, I am God. I am exalted among the nations and in all the earth. The divine sovereignty of God is a central theme throughout the Bible. God delegates authority, establishes kings and kingdoms, and brings to ruin any king or kingdom that fail to submit to his authority. The Bible presents Yahweh as the Creator God, with a sovereign right to rule over all creation.
Crutchfield, J. A. (2014). Divine Sovereignty. D. Mangum, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, & R. Hurst (Eds.), Lexham Theological Wordbook. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
The question is, do we believe this truth? Do we believe that God is God, and God don’t ever change. The old song we used to sing, states it
I know God is God, and God don't ever change,
I know God is God and He always will be God.
He's God on the platform, He's God back at the door,
He's God in the amen corner, He's God all over the floor.
He's God when the lightning flashes, He's God when the thunder roll,
He's God way up in heaven, He's God way down in my soul.
He's God on the ocean, He's God on the Sea,
He's God all over creation, He's God all over me.
He's God in the Father, He's God in the Son,
He's God in the Holy Ghost, He's God all three and one.
He was God at the river of Jordan, He was God when Adam fell,
He's God way up in heaven, He's God that saves from hell.
So we have a definition of sovereignty and then we have demonstrations of sovereignty at work in the Scriptures.
II. Sovereignty Demonstrated.
II. Sovereignty Demonstrated.
There are three areas in which sovereignty is emphasized in the Scriptures. Creation, the rule of God over human history, and the work of redemption, the way that God alone provides salvation for mankind. These three ways show how God is sovereignly working in the affairs of human history.
A. God’s Sovereignty in creation.
A. God’s Sovereignty in creation.
Genesis 1 tells us that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And, each day God created, God formed and fashioned each thing, God placed the stars in the sky in their appointed places, God created the oceans and dry lands in their appointed places, God has been active in the work of creation.
We talked about that last week when we discussed how creation reveals God’s glory, but consider how God rules and reigns over creation. Look at what happened when Moses led the people of Israel to the banks of the Red Sea. God ordered the seas to part and they parted. Or Joshua at the banks of the Jericho river. Consider the fact that Joshua prayed and the sun stood still while the battle raged in Joshua 10. Or consider the story of Mark 4.
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.”
And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him.
And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.
But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”
And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”
And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
Who is this that even the wind and sea obey him? You realize how awesome it is that the winds and waves are subject to anyone, but this is the reality of the sovereign God. We joke that meteorologists are the only ones who can constantly fail at their jobs and be promoted, but think about how difficult it is to predict the weather. And yet, God controls it all.
God is sovereign in creation and
B. God’s Sovereignty in Human History.
B. God’s Sovereignty in Human History.
Not only is God sovereign in human history, but we also see his sovereignty in human history. The Bible teaches and affirms that God rules human history according to his Divine plan and purposes. Whether it is the events of our everyday lives or the world shaping events of kingdoms and authorities, God is ruling over all of them.
Consider the life of Samson
Samson went down to Timnah, and at Timnah he saw one of the daughters of the Philistines.
Then he came up and told his father and mother, “I saw one of the daughters of the Philistines at Timnah. Now get her for me as my wife.”
But his father and mother said to him, “Is there not a woman among the daughters of your relatives, or among all our people, that you must go to take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?” But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for she is right in my eyes.”
His father and mother did not know that it was from the Lord, for he was seeking an opportunity against the Philistines. At that time the Philistines ruled over Israel.
or
The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.
We can also consider how God is over control of the nations. Look at
For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations.
or
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.
all of these verses prove that God is in control, whether it is our lives in the here and now, or our national affairs, even world affairs. God is in control.
God is in control over nature, He is in control over human history, and He is in control over redemptive history.
C. God’s Sovereignty in Redemptive History.
C. God’s Sovereignty in Redemptive History.
That is, the work of redemption has been established by God, before the foundation of the world, and has been and is being accomplished throughout all of this world.
and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,
and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
now, admittedly, this raises some questions for us. How does God allow storms to destroy, nature to destroy lives and homes and property and all that happens through nature? Why do we have a virus claiming many lives, leaving many sick and perhaps permanently affected? Why does God allow evil leaders, whether in our own land, or leaders such as Chavez and Maduro in Venezuala, or the horrible despots in China and North Korea? Why is it that some hear the Gospel and are saved, while others hear the Gospel and reject it and wind up in eternity without God?
But we must understand that the sovereignty of God and the free will of man are not contradictory beliefs. Man’s will is free in that he makes willing choices that have actual consequences. Yet man’s will is not morally neutral; rather, it is in bondage to sin, and without divine grace he chooses freely and consistently to reject God (Rom. 3:10–11; Eph. 2:1–3; 2 Tim. 2:25–26). Scripture affirms both divine sovereignty and man’s willing activity. Pharaoh’s rise to power was entirely in accordance with his own will; it was also entirely by the hand of God (Exod. 9:16). The crucifixion of Christ was fully the free act of sinful men, and at the same time fully the purpose of God (Acts 2:23; 4:27–28).
Pearce, T. P. (2003). Sovereignty of God. In C. Brand, C. Draper, A. England, S. Bond, E. R. Clendenen, & T. C. Butler (Eds.), Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (p. 1523). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
Nor does this negate human responsibility. Though God is sovereign, man is still accountable to God for his actions (Rom. 2:5–11; 3:19). The relationship between these two concepts is mysterious but not contradictory.
Pearce, T. P. (2003). Sovereignty of God. In C. Brand, C. Draper, A. England, S. Bond, E. R. Clendenen, & T. C. Butler (Eds.), Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (p. 1523). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
This leads me to my third and final point which is
III. Sovereignty Displayed.
III. Sovereignty Displayed.
A. Divine Sovereignty does not negate human responsibility.
A. Divine Sovereignty does not negate human responsibility.
That’s the point I was making. Even though god is sovereign, I still have a responsibility for my life. I go back to my paycheck and recognize that I have an obligation to live within my means. Also, the church provides a sum of money that is deposited every month into a retirement account, so that one day I can sit on the beach and drink iced tea. But I also need to prepare, understanding that that day may never come. I might not live that long.
The biggest responsibility you have to secure your eternal salvation. If you have not accepted Christ, you need to do so today.
B. Divine Sovereignty gives me a different perspective on current affairs.
B. Divine Sovereignty gives me a different perspective on current affairs.
We are living in a world where you are either thinking the country is over, or perhaps there is a second chance, depending on who you voted for. But as believers, we have to trust in the sovereignty of God, that God does indeed set up rulers and kingdoms and he also takes them down.
Can I just be honest with you? We have made an idol of our country. We have put all of our hopes in this land and we need to realize that it is not about saving America, it is rather about a king who rules over all the nations. Out job has to be not pushing an American agenda, but rather the kingdom of God. And yes, that might wind me in jail in the future. But it seems like the Apostle Paul did a lot of good in jail.
The word of the Lord came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month,
“Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I am about to shake the heavens and the earth,
and to overthrow the throne of kingdoms. I am about to destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations, and overthrow the chariots and their riders. And the horses and their riders shall go down, every one by the sword of his brother.
Divine sovereignty does not negate my responsibility, it gives me a different perspective on current affairs, and finally, it
C. Divine Sovereignty causes me to trust completely in our good God.
C. Divine Sovereignty causes me to trust completely in our good God.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah