Our God is Awesome, Tony Evans - God's sovereignty

orthodoxy |ˈôrθəˌdäksē|
authorized or generally
accepted theory, doctrine,
or practice

Monday 24 January 2011

The Sovereignty
of God


sovereignty
supreme power or
authority


He is called Adonay.
2 Samuel 7:22,
"How great you are, O
Sovereign Lord! There is no
one like you, and there is
no God but you, as we have
heard with our own ears."


Most Christians have a
small view of God.


Most Christians have a
small view of God.

Evans believes one reason for this
is that Christians do not
understand the sovereignty of
God. He continues suggesting
that in our lives God is anywhere
but on the throne and this results
in our spiritual weakness and lack
of power.


“God’s sovereignty concerns his
absolute rule and control over all of
creation. God rules absolutely over the
affairs of men. He sits on the throne of
the universes as Lord. Everything that
happens comes about because he either
directly causes it or consciously allows
it. Nothing enters into history or could
ever exist outside of history that does
not come under the complete control of
God”
Evans


“God’s sovereignty concerns his
absolutesovereignty involves thinking
God’s rule and control over all of
creation. God rules absolutely over the
What does it mean?
affairs of men. He sits on the throne of
the universes as Lord. Everything that of
What are the consequences
happens comes about because he this? either
believing
directly causes it or consciously allows
What about war, famine, poverty?
it. Nothing enters into history or could
ever exist outside of historyand does
What about sickness that death?
not come under the complete control of
God” What about the devil?
Evans


God's sovereignty has immense practical
importance


importance
...it makes Him our proper object of worship. He is
the almighty, omnipotent God, the creator and
sustainer of all that exists. There is none higher,
none more worthy of worship and honor.


importance
...it means He can be counted on, for nothing can
stand against Him...for our salvation...to carry us
through times of difﬁculty such that nothing touches
us that is not in keeping with His desires for us...to
keep all the promises He has made to us.


importance
...it means He can be counted on, for nothing can
stand against Him...for our salvation...to carry us
through times of difﬁculty such that nothing touches
us that is not in keeping with His desires for us...to
keep all the promises He has made to us.
Rick Wade


God’s Absolute Rule
Do you want God to be sovereign?
Do you want Him to rule over you?
Are you like a rebellious teenager who
wants God there to help but wants
autonomy the rest of the time?
Satan started this path of thinking -
encouraged Eve not to be stiﬂed or
limited by God.
Knowing God is sovereign means you
realise no one is autonomous from him -
he has absolute control over the universe.


1. God does what he pleases
The earth is the LORD’s,
and everything in it, the
world, and all who live in
it;
Psalm 24:1
By virtue of this God can
do whatever he wants
whenever he wants

1.a. God rules
You do not have the right to tell God what to do or
how to do it - he made it, he chooses, and the
Bible declares this to be so;
Job 23:13 - he stands alone, and who can oppose
him? He does whatever he pleases.
Job 42:2 - “I know that you can do all things; no
purpose of yours can be thwarted.
Psalm 115:3 -Our God is in heaven; he does
whatever pleases him.
Isa 45:7 - I form the light and create darkness, I
bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD,
do all these things.

Eph 1:11 - In him we were also chosen,
having been predestined according to the
plan of him who works out everything in
conformity with the purpose of his will,
Rom 11:36 - For from him and through him
and for him are all things.To him be the glory
forever! Amen.
Rev 19:6 - Then I heard what sounded like a
great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters
and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
“Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.

Eph 1:11 - In him we were also chosen,
having been predestined according to the
plan of him who works out everything in
Nothing escapes the rule
conformity with the purpose of his will, of
God him be the glory
Rom 11:36 - For from him and through him
and for him are all things.To
No matter what happens
forever! Amen.
Rev 19:6 - Then I heard what sounded like a
God the roar of rushing waters
great multitude, like
is ruling
and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
“Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.

1.b. God decides
There is no such thing as luck - there
is nothing that happens which hasn’t
been through God’s hands ﬁrst.
Exodus 4:11 -The LORD said to him,
“Who gave human beings their
mouths? Who makes them deaf or
mute? Who gives them sight or
makes them blind? Is it not I, the
LORD?
12 Now go; I will help you speak and
will teach you what to say.”


1.c. Our decisions
If not one of the smallest details of
our lives escapes God - do my
decisions matter? I can sit back,
relax and let God do it all.
This is a great tension in theology
and is called an autinomy - parallel
truths which run side by side and do
not appear to cross each other.
One one side Sovereign God
The other side My Own Choices


If I choose is God in control, and if
he is on control do I really need to
choose?
Evans suggests it is like God
having a destination that he will
reach but you choose the route he
takes in order to get there. He will
arrive but it will be through you,
over you, around you or in spite of
you.


However, Evans notes, “when all
is said and done...even the route
you choose will be the one he
sovereignly planned to use in
order to achieve his intended
purposes”
God will get where he chooses -
the question is what you will look
like at that time?
God has determined men and
women shall praise him for all
eternity - will you do it in heaven
or hell?


1.d. Sovereignty and Prayer
God has determined what will
happen but it will not happen until
you ask, James 4:2,
You desire but do not have, so you
kill. You covet but you cannot get
what you want, so you quarrel and
ﬁght. You do not have because you
do not ask God.
God has determined how he will act,
but he waits for us to call before he
acts - we have a choice. No one can
thwart his plan all we can do is
cooperate with it.

1.e. Created for him
1 Cor 8:6
...yet for us there is but one God,
the Father, from whom all things
came and for whom we live;
and there is but one Lord, Jesus
Christ, through whom all things
came and through whom we live.
It is God’s right to do with
creation whatever he chooses -
you were created to bring glory
to God

2. God’s glory and will

“The sovereignty of God
means the exercise of his
attributes in order to
maintain his glory and
accomplish his will”
Evans
Men will never knock
God off his throne!


2.a. Forever Sovereign
God is omniscient - nothing
he does not know,
omnipotent nothing he
cannot do,omnipresent, no
place he doesn’t exist...
God’s attributes guarantee
that he will always be
sovereign - how do you revolt
against a God who is all
powerful? He knows every
thought in your mind so you
can’t outwit him...

2.b. A Great example
Daniel 4
Nebuchadnezar = bigKing God = sovereign
head
...All this happened to
Who will come out on top?
Nebuchadnezzar. 29Twelve
months later, as the king was
walking on the roof of the
royal palace of Babylon, 30
he said, “Is not this the great
Babylon I have built as the
royal residence, by my
mighty power and for the
glory of my majesty?”


2.b. A Great example

...All this happened to King
Nebuchadnezzar. 29Twelve
months later, as the king was
walking on the roof of the
royal palace of Babylon, 30
he said, “Is not this the great
Babylon I have built as the
royal residence, by my
mighty power and for the
glory of my majesty?”


31 Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came
from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King
Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been
taken from you. 32 You will be driven away from
people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat
grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you
until you acknowledge that the Most High is
sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them
to anyone he wishes.”
33 Immediately what had been said about
Nebuchadnezzar was fulﬁlled. He was driven away
from people and ate grass like the ox.


His body was drenched with the dew of heaven
until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and
his nails like the claws of a bird.
34 At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar,
raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was
restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored
and gloriﬁed him who lives forever. His dominion is
an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from
generation to generation.


35 All the peoples of the earth are regarded as
nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of
heaven and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What
have you done?”
36 At the same time that my sanity was restored, my
honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory
of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me
out, and I was restored to my throne and became
even greater than before. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar,
praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven,
because everything he does is right and all his ways
are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to
humble.


2.c. Sovereignty and status

No matter how important
you are, how high you climb
etc. God is still sovereign.
Respect and honour people
but remember God is still in
control.
God is not intimidated by
peoples status or reputation,
or giving - we are all sinners
in need of salvation


God is not a respecter of
persons - you are who you are
because God made you that
way, and he gave grace to you,
“I am what I am by the grace of
God” Paul
Be thankful that God uses you
- but don’t get proud in that, he
gave you the gifts and skills
that you are using - so he gets
the glory


3. God’s sovereignty and our sin

So what of original sin -
why did God allow the
existence of evil -
especially as he hates
evil, is completely holy,
and cannot sin, or even
tempt others to do so.
Rom 1:8, Isa 6:3, Ps 5:4,
Jn 1:13


1. As God works everything for
his glory we have to conclude
god gets more glory through the
existence of evil than he would
have without it. Eph 1:11-12
Some of God’s attributes show
up best when seen against sin
Love - Rom 5:8
Holiness & Wrath are seen
against the reality of sin - Rom
1:18, 9:22-23
Grace is seen majestically
against sin - Eph 2:1-7

2. In allowing evil God
shows that nothing and
no enemy will ever be
able to thwart his
kingdom purposes.
This comprehensive
defeating of his enemies
will be the basis for
great praise - Rev
19:1-6


3. God allows evil as he
does not with to force
obedience.
For man to function as
God’s image bearer, he
has to have the power
to choose and so evil
must exist. If not people
would just be robots


God does not plan, incite,
authorise or approve sin. He
doesGod allows evil as he
3. allow his creatures to
rebel against histo force -
does not with authority
heobedience.
then overrules their
actions for to function as
For man his sovereign
purposes - in allowing he
God’s image bearer, this
God demonstrates his
has to have the power
greatness - Gen 50:20 -You
to choose and so evil
intended to harm me, but
must exist. If not people
God intended it robots to
would just be for good
accomplish what is now
being done, the saving of
many lives.

4. God’s sovereignty and our
perspective

If you as a believer
understand God’s
sovereignty correctly, you
will understand life
properly


4.a. Strength

Php 4:13 (ESV) - I can do
all things through him who
strengthens me.
Christ supplies - we are
totally dependent upon him.


4.a. Strength

In tests, male horned dung
beetles were able to pull
Php 4:13 (ESV) - own body
1,141 times their I can do
all things through him who
weight - the equivalent of
strengthens me. six fully-
a person dragging
Christ double decker are
laden supplies - we buses.
totally dependent upon him.
By comparison, a leafcutter
ant can lift a mere 50 times
its own body weight.


4.b. Comfort in circumstances

Life has ups and downs - and
they can change rapidly.
God’s sovereignty allows us to
be sure of his love even when
circumstances are not good or
things seem o be going
wrong.
We might not ‘get it’ but we
can be sure God does.
God is the ‘god of all comfort’

4.c. Conﬁdence
There is no luck, chance,
accidents in God’s sovereignty;
“Lord you did what I thought
you weren’t going to do. That’s
because you want to do
something else in my life...go
ahead and do your thing”
Evans suggests God is making
a cake in your life - some
ingredients taste good on their
own - others need to be mixed
and baked to taste best

4.c. Conﬁdence
There is8:28, 38-39
Rom no luck, chance,
accidents inknow that in all things God works
And we God’s sovereignty;
“Lord the did what I those who love him, who
for you good of thought
you weren’t going to do. That’s
have been called according to his
because you want to do
purpose. I am convinced that neither
something else in my life...go
ahead and do life, neither angels nor demons,
death nor your thing”
neither the present nor the future, nor any
Evans suggests God is making
powers, neither height nor depth, nor
a cake in your life - some
anything else in all creation, will be able
ingredients taste good on their
own - others need to be mixedlove of God that
to separate us from the
and baked to taste best
is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

4.d. The whole picture

When you walk under the covering
of God nothing can stop his plan
for you - even the negative things
will be made positive in God.
We might look at the small pieces
of our life - God looks at the whole
picture.
“You can’t change people - but you
can get out of the way so that God
can run over them” Evans
Fast and pray - then leave it to God

4.e. Sovereignty and impossibilities

Obstacles and the fact that
something has never been
done before are irrelevant
when faced with God’s
sovereignty.
Luke 1:37
The ‘most’ sinful person can
be saved - Heb 7:25


4.e. Sovereignty and impossibilities

The conﬁdence of Paul is
shown in 2and the fact that
Obstacles Tim 1:12
something hasam suffering
That is why I never been
done before are irrelevant
as I am. Yet this is no cause
when faced with God’sI know
for shame, because
sovereignty.
whom I have believed, and
Luke 1:37
am convinced that he is
The ‘most’ sinful person can
able to guard what I have
be saved - Heb 7:25
entrusted to him until that
day.

5. God’s sovereignty and worship

God’s sovereignty should
draw us to worship - after
all it is he who holds up
the universe by the word
of his power, who gives
us air to breathe, who
provides for us.
And, he wants to meet
with us as we live and
worship!


5.a. Giving God honour
Worship is the correct
response to God’s
sovereignty - after all we are
thankful to get paid for
working, how much more
thankful should we be to God
who is our provider and so
much more.
In 1 Chron. 29 when David
appeals for funds for the new
temple to be built...and God
gets the glory and worship

1 Chron 29:6-13
the leaders of families, the officers of the tribes of Israel,
the commanders of thousands and commanders of
hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king’s work
gave willingly. 7 They gave toward the work on the
temple of God five thousand talents and ten thousand
darics of gold, ten thousand talents of silver, eighteen
thousand talents of bronze and a hundred thousand
talents of iron. 8 Anyone who had precious stones gave
them to the treasury of the temple of the LORD in the
custody of Jehiel the Gershonite. 9 The people rejoiced
at the willing response of their leaders, for they had
given freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD. David the
king also rejoiced greatly.


10 David praised the LORD in the presence of the whole
assembly, saying,
   “Praise be to you, LORD, the God of our father Israel,
   from everlasting to everlasting.
11 Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power
   and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
   for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head
over all.
12 Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of
all things.
In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give
strength to all.
13 Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your
glorious name.

5.b. God wants your worship

Most Christians are lazy
and unfaithful in their
worship - they expect to be
motivated by god to
worship, not to motivate
themselves to worship.
If someone does not do a
job we call them lazy yet
we are blessed to be able
to worship God and can’t
be bothered

5.b. God wants your worship

Most Christians are lazy
In the year that King
and unfaithful in their
Uzziah - they expect
worshipdied, I saw theto be
Lord, high and exalted,
motivated by god to
worship, notthrone; and the
seated on a to motivate
themselvesrobe ﬁlled the
train of his to worship.
temple.
If someone does not do a
job wesaw through the
Isaiah call them lazy yet
we are blessed and saw
circumstances to be able
to worship God and can’t
God
be bothered

Responding to God’s
sovereignty
1. Do you worship God once a
week or is it a way of life? Do
you only worship God when
things are going well, is your
worship present though all
seasons of life?
2. Do you have a God given
sense of his sovereignty with
situations and circumstances
or do you panic not realising
God is in control?

3. Do you believe Philippians
4:13 applies to your life?
4. Are you praying and
interceding for the
Nebuchadnezers in your life?


Applying God’s sovereignty in
life
He is to be the focus of our
worship. All glory goes to Him.
To Jesus "be glory and dominion
forever and ever. Amen," John
said (Rev. 1:6).
God's redemptive purposes will
not be thwarted. He will build
His church (Matt. 16:18), and
nothing can separate us from
His love (Rom. 8:38-39).


All God has foretold will surely come to pass.
He is working out His plans (Is. 42:5-9), and
nothing will take away what God has for us.
Because the sovereign God is also the God of
love, He can be trusted in the fullest sense, to
those who love Him, the combination of His
sovereignty and love makes it possible for us to
truly rest, to live without fear.
He will ultimately triumph over evil. "There will
be no more death or mourning or crying or
pain, for the old order of things has passed
away." (Rev. 21:4).


These points are extracted from an original
much more detailed article here: http://
www.probe.org/site/c.fdKEIMNsEoG/b.
4225033/k.5971/The_Sovereignty_of_God.htm


Our God is Awesome, Tony Evans - God's sovereignty

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