Striving With Sovereignty

Ron Dunn STRIVING WITH SOVEREIGNTY Text: Is. 45:1-12INTRO: Man has recurring tendency to ANTICIPATE GOD-- preconceived idea as to how God       should save, deliver, etc. Often those who are longing for God, praying, expecting, miss       God altogether when He comes in unexpected ways. We look for a dramatic sign in the       sky and He works through the steady course of events; for the fire or earthquake and He       speaks in the still small voice We look for a KING ON A THRONE and He comes as a       baby in a stable.       WE WANT TO BE DELIVERED OUR WAY... Some had rather say in bondage than       accept God's way of release. The method of deliverance becomes more important than       the deliverance itself.       WE STRIVE WITH THE LORD-complain, contend, quarrel, find fault, stubborn       rebellion.       WE PRAY FOR REVIVAL-then God shows us the way, and we reject it; finances,       harmony, marriage saved. If we knew what revival would mean, we'd stop praying for it.       OUR PROBLEM: We're seeing God from the wrong angle. From where we're standing       we can't see Him clearly, the vision is blurred. We can't quite make Him out.       OUR NEED: To stand in the proper place for the right vision of God. WHAT IS THAT       PLACE? As a Potsherd, a piece of clay.       Potsherd: Just one of the millions of fragments of broken earthenware. A vivid       expression of human insignificance.       ARE YOU THERE? Then you're ready to see god AS HE IS. WE SEE FROM THIS       POSITION THAT HE IS:I. THE LORD WHO DOES ALL THINGS. vv. 7, 8,12   Here are the list of ordinary things He does. ALL IN A DAYS WORK! Make the earth   create man upon it; stretch the heavens with His hands; appoint all the hosts their proper   place and sphere... WHO WOULD EVEN DREAM OF ADVISING ONE WHO IS   CAPABLE OF HANDLING ISSUES OF SUCH DIMENSIONS? ANSWER: We Would!Striving, Page 1   A statement of ABSOLUTE SOVEREIGNTY -- the prophet doesn't shrink from it-- even   though it is incomprehensible. He didn't worry about God's reputation... STAGGERING   CONCLUSIONS.   1. He is ALONE in His Sovereignly. With great and repeated emphasis..."I am God..no      one else." There is no one else to look to, pray to, blame or criticize. He is the      SOURCE, the CAUSE, the ORIGIN, the BEGINNING, the SOLUTION TO      EVERY MYSTERY, the ANSWER TO EVERY QUESTION.   2. He is ABSOLUTE in His Sovereientv. vs. 5ff Good and evil, light and darkness... men      want the light but not the darkness.. Even pagan Cyrus is His Annointed--an evil man.      Illustration of Joseph and his brethren. "It was not YOU, BUT GOD..."      Isaiah 53: "It pleased the Lord to bruise Him. HE hath put Him to grief..."II. THE LORD WHO HAS THE RIGHT TO DO ALL THINGS. v. 9    God is not just a big buddy!    1. This DEMANDS Our SILENCE. v. 9, 10, 11 Who are we to argue, to find       fault..."You're all thumbs..." We both advise and criticize.       Hab. 2 "I will stand in my watch and see what He will say to me..."    2. This DEMANDS Our SUBMISSION. v. I lb "And ye shall commit to Me the work of       My hand" NAS       This is brought out by the image of the Potter and the Clay.       (1) We must submit to the Potter's PURPOSE. He has one. Eph. 2:10       (2) We must submit to the Potter's PLAN...His way of accomplishing that purpose, the           shape of the vessel, how fast the wheel spins. Jer. 18 "...He made it again another           vessel AS SEEMED GOOD TO THE POTTER TO MAKE IT."       (3) We must submit to the Potter's PRESSURE No other way to shape the clay, to           accomplish His purpose and plan.III. THE LORD WHO DOES ALL THINGS RIGHT. v. 13     Regardless of the route He takes, He always reaches His destination.. .the promise fulfilled.     Abraham and Issac, Gideon, etc.     1. He Does It for Our Good. v. 13, Heb. 11:6, Ultimate, spiritual good.Striving, Page 2     2. He Does It for His Glory ... and there's never any conflict of interests between our good        and His glory. vs. 3, 4, 5, 6-- THE ONE GRAND THEME IS "I Am God... no one else.        Other Gods are NO GODS.        To this present hour that is what God is wanting to demonstrate to mankind...He gets        glory by making His enemies His servants. HE WILL ALWAYS TAKE THE ROUTE        THAT BRINGS HIM THE GREATEST GLORY.        WHY DO WE STRIVE? We are more interested in good than GLORY and we don't        even know what is GOOD!Striving, Page 3