THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD. INTRO.: A. Read text: Exodus 5:1-9. B. Regarding the text: 1. Hebrews are in Egyptian bondage. 1) Vs. 1: God said, Let MY people go 2) Vs. 2: Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord that I should obey HIS voice? 2. This has been the mind-set of rulers of earthly kingdoms down through the ages. 1) 2 Chro. 32:15 Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand? C. Today is no different: 1. We live in a time of great uncertainty... 1) Turmoil & Terrorism fill our news. 2. It is easy to be filled with anxiety... 1) What does the future hold? 2) Will things get better, or only worse? 3. What attitude should the Christian have in such times? 1) Should we fear the future? 2) Shall we worry for our well-being? D. Our study will deal with The Sovereignty of God! 1. Question: Is it important to recognize the sovereignty of God? 1) Our world would quickly change if men would recognize The Sovereignty of God! I. DEFINE SOVEREIGNTY. A. The word sovereign is not found in scripture. 1. However, the principle is clearly seen. 2. Sovereignty = Supreme in power; possessing supreme dominion; as a sovereign ruler of the universe. FULL authority! 3. Sovereignty of God --- His absolute right to do all things according to his own good pleasure. 1) Dan. 4:25 the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men
2) Dan. 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? 3) 1Tim. 6:15 the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords a. Potentate translated AUTHORITY in Acts 8:27 a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians. B. God s sovereignty means that He has FULL authority AND the ability to enforce that authority. 2 II. WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? A. Understand: Men will not accept God s Word until they recognize His sovereignty! 1. Pharaoh did not. It took TWELVE plagues to change his mind! 2. I pray our nation does not have to see such before they recognize God as the Supreme Ruler! B. The whole earth declares God s sovereignty. 1. Genesis 1:1 (Declares His sovereignty!) 2. Psalm 24:1 The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. 3. Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. 4. Psa. 33:6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. 5. Psa. 100:3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. C. God s sovereignty is seen in the prophets. (Meaning God is in control Thus SOVEREIGN!) 1. Isaiah prophesied God s judgment upon nations: 1) Babylon: Isa. 13-14. 2) Assyria: Isa. 14. 3) Moab: Isa. 15-16. 4) Damascus: Isa. 17. 5) Ethiopia and Cush: Isa. 18.
6) Egypt: Isa. 19. 7) Edom and Arabia: Isa. 21. 8) Jerusalem: Isa. 22. 9) Tyre: Isa. 23. 10) When God speaks it will be done: Isa. 46:9-10 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure. 2. The captivity of God s people demonstrates His sovereignty! 1) Jer. 22:25 And I will give thee into the hand of them that seek thy life, and into the hand of them whose face thou fearest, even into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of the Chaldeans. 3. The release also demonstrates His sovereignty. 1) Number of years held captive. (Seventy: Jer. 25:11-13) 2) The king who would release them. (Cyrus: Isa. 44:28) 3 III. RESULTS WHEN GOD S SOVEREIGNTY IS DISMISSED? A. No religious boundaries. 1. Judges 17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes. 2. Pro. 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise. 3. Pro. 30:12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. 4. Gal. 4:8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. B. No standard for morality. 1. Rom. 1:20-32. 1) Vs. 21, 26-27. 2) Leviticus 18:22-23: Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion. 2. Rom. 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to
do those things which are not convenient. 1) The ASV says, " they refused to have God in their knowledge." 2) Men who want to please themselves will reject God, since he condemns what they want most to do; and men who reject God will sooner or later give themselves over to doing such things as are identified in this passage (1:18-32). C. Evolution prevails. 1. Men must dismiss God in order to believe in evolution! 1) The very premise of evolution THERE IS NO SUPERNATURAL POWER! 2. However CREATION is more logical than evolution. D. Value of LIFE becomes unimportant! 1. Abortion is accepted because life has lost its meaning. 1) When does life begin??? (Man vs. God) a. Job 3:3 Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived. b. Exodus 21:22-23. (a) If a woman with child is harmed and she lose the child the one who hurt her causing the child to die is to be put to death. c. God hates Pro. 6:17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood. 2. Murder becomes a normal occurrence. 3. Etc.! 4 IV. THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD GIVES COMFORT AND ASSURANCE. A. Who is in control? 1. All things exist and continue because He allows it. 1) Psa. 66:7 He ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves. 2) Psa. 78:26 He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind.
3) Jer. 10:12 He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion. B. His promises are sure. 1. Note: 1) Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; 2) 2 Pet. 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2. What does this mean to mankind? 1) Man sinned. Gen. 3! 2) God made a promise: (Gen. 3:15 On who would take away sin.) 3) BY GOD S POWER It came to pass. a. Without GOD S SOVERIGNTY man is without hope. C. We are in good hands. 1. Isa. 41:13 For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. 2. 2 Tim. 4:17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me V. CONCLUSION: A. Many do not care. Many just want to do what pleases the flesh. 1. 1 John 2:15-17. 2. John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 3. 2 Tim. 4:3-4. B. However, the Great God above is still in control. 1. His words brought things into existence. 2. His word will usher in the end of the world. 3. His word will judge all men. 1) The believer will be saved. 2) The unbeliever will be eternally lost. 4. What is the difference in the two? 1) The believer honors the SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD! 5
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