Sunday, June 9, 2013
Truly Sovereign
"The God who made the world and everything
in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does
not live in temples built by hands.
And he is not served by human hands, as if he
needed anything, because he himself gives all
men life and breath and everything else."
Acts 17:24-25
***************
Some believe that God is not really in control of everything;
that he created the world, but now just sits back and watches and
reacts to things that happen.
They believe that God passively takes in information, and has
no plan or purpose or will.
Is that what the Bible teaches about God?
HE IS THE CREATOR
"He sits enthroned above the circle
or the earth, and its people are like
grasshoppers.
He stretches out the heavens like a
canopy, and spreads them out like a
tent to live in.
He brings princes to naught and reduces
the rulers of this world to nothing.
No sooner are they planted,
no sooner are they sown,
no sooner do they take root in the ground,
than he blows on them and they wither,
and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.
'To whom will you compare me?
Or who is my equal?' says the Holy One.
Lift your eyes and look to the heavens:
Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one,
and calls them each by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,
not one of them is missing.
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom."
Isaiah 40:22-26,28
GOD WORKS EVERYTHING FOR HIS PURPOSE
" ... according to the plan of him who works out
everything in conformity with the purpose of
his will ..."
Ephesians 1:11b
God has a plan and a purpose and a will for everything.
A doubter asks the question,
"If God is sovereign,
why pray?"
A wise man responds,
"If God is NOT sovereign,
why pray?"
If God doesn't control the weather, why pray for rain during a drought?
If God doesn't control storms, why pray for safety in the midst of one?
God does control the rain.
"[God told Noah], 'Seven days from now I
will send rain on the earth for forty days
and forty nights, and I will wipe from the
face of the earth every living creature I
have made."
Genesis 7:4
God wiped out every creature, except Noah and his family, because of sin.
He had a purpose for the calamity.
He controls the storms.
"He (Jesus) got up and rebuked the wind
and the raging waters; the storm subsided,
and all was calm."
Luke 8:24
Jesus demonstrated his power and authority by calming the storm.
Everything that happens, good or bad, happens for a reason - to bring
glory to God. God doesn't allow anything to happen for no reason. He has a
purpose for everything that occurs.
Even bad things have a reason. If a murder is committed, there is a reason,
even though we may not understand it or know why it happened.
If it happens without a purpose, then it's just senseless violence, that has no
reason.
These thing do occur every day. Does it make sense that God allows them
to happen for no reason? I think not.
"The LORD works out everything for his
own ends ..."
Proverbs 16:4
GOD WORKS EVERYTHING FOR GOOD FOR HIS PEOPLE
"And we know that in all things God
works for the good of those who love
him, who have been called according
to his purpose."
Romans 8:28
If God is not sovereign, then how can he make all things work together
for good for those who love him, who are called to salvation, according to his purpose?
He IS sovereign and does what he pleases, but he is holy and righteous, and will
never do anything against his nature.
"The LORD does whatever pleases him,
in the heavens and on the earth, in the
seas and all their depths."
Psalm 135:6
GOD DETERMINES WHERE PEOPLE WILL LIVE AND HOW LONG
THEY SHOULD LIVE
"From one man he made every nation
of men, that they should inhabit the
whole earth; and he determined the
times set for them and the exact places
where they should live."
Acts 17:26
GOD APPOINTS THOSE HE CALLS NOT TO WRATH, BUT TO ETERNAL
LIFE
" For God did not appoint us (his people)
to suffer wrath, but to receive salvation
through our Lord Jesus Christ."
1 Thessalonians 5:9
" ... and all who were appointed for eternal
life believed."
Acts 13:48b
"But we ought always to thank God for you,
brothers loved by the Lord, because from
the beginning God chose you to be saved
through the sanctifying work of the Spirit
and through belief in the truth."
He called you to this through our gospel,
that you might share in the glory of our
Lord Jesus Christ."
2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
GOD MAKES THE FINAL DECISION, NOT MAN
"In his heart a man plans his course,
but the LORD determines his steps."
Proverbs 16:9
"The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the LORD."
Proverbs 16:33
"Many are the plans in a man's heart,
but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails."
Proverbs 19:21
ALL CREATION BELONGS TO GOD
"The earth is the LORD's and everything
in it, the world and all who live in it;
for he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the waters."
Psalm 24:1-2
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