How Can We Rest In The Sovereignty Of God?

Standing Firm: Knowing Your Father Session 8

Introduction:

A. W. Pink: “Deny that God is governing matter, deny that He is ‘upholding all things by the word of His power,’ and all sense of security is gone!”

Elyse Fitzpatrick: “In recent years, there has been a general consensus that theology – or a systematic study of God – is not really relevant or important…. For instance, some people feel that what one believes isn’t really important just so long as there is some sort of belief in some sort of god…. Everyone has a theological perspective; everyone has a belief system…. The question is not whether you have a set of beliefs about God that governs your view of life, but whether those beliefs are based on truth. One question you can ask yourself is this: Will my beliefs stand the test of real life before the real God? Do your beliefs calm your fears, soothe your conscience, direct and motivate you in the face of the kinds of troubles we just read about? It’s usually not until we face an insurmountable difficulty that we realize that our house might be built on something less that the reinforced concrete of biblical truth.” (Overcoming Fear, Worry and Anxiety, Harvest House, 2001, pp. 125-126)

I . How Is God’s Sovereignty Defined?

The basic meaning of sovereignty means “principal, chief supreme”

A.W. Pink: “The sovereignty of God. What do we mean by this expression? We mean the supremacy of God, the kingship of God, the godhood of God. To say that God is sovereign is to declare that God is God.” (The Sovereignty of God, Baker Book House, 1930/1984, p. 19)

A. W. Tozer: “God’s sovereignty is the attribute by which He rules His entire creation, and to be sovereign God must be all-knowing, all-powerful, and absolutely free.” (The Knowledge Of The Holy, p. 115)

F. H. Klooster: “The biblical teaching that God is king, supreme ruler, and lawgiver of the entire

universe.” (“Sovereignty of God”, Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, ed. Walter Elwell, p. 1038)

Jerry Bridges: “He does whatever pleases Him and determines whether we can do what we have planned…. No creature, person, or empire can either thwart His will or act outside of the bounds of His will.” (Trusting God Even When Life Hurts, NavPress, 1988, p. 36)

John S. Feinberg: “Divine sovereignty can be defined as God’s power of absolute self-

determination. This, of course, needs explanation and amplification. God has this power in virtue of his ability to deliberate and make choices, as opposed to others deciding for him. Moreover, self-determination means that God does his own actions, and that they are in accord with his choices.” (No One Like Him: The Doctrine Of God, Crossway Books, 2001, p. 294)

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Steve Lawson: “The sovereignty of God is His absolute reign over all the works of His hands. It is His undisputed right to govern all that He has made. Divine sovereignty is the unhindered, free-exercise of His throne rights to rule over all.” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snuZksxWNhs)

Charles H. Spurgeon: “There is no attribute of God more comforting to his children than the doctrine of Divine Sovereignty. Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe troubles, they believe that Sovereignty hath ordained their afflictions, that Sovereignty overrules them, and that Sovereignty will sanctify them all. There is nothing for which the children of God ought more earnestly to contend than the dominion of their Master over all creation—the kingship of God over all the works of his own hands—the throne of God, and his right to sit upon that throne.” (http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0077.php)

Psalm 135:5-6 For I know that the LORD is great, and our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the LORD pleases He does, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deep places. A. Absolute Ascendancy: God Is Supreme Over Any Other Being Or Thing (cf. 1 Tim 6:15)

Psalm 135:5 For I know that the LORD is great, and our Lord is above all gods

If God is not sovereign, then He is not God If there is a power greater than God, God is not God

L.S. Chafer: “He yields to no other power, authority or glory, and is not subject to any absolute greater than Himself.”

Abraham Kuyper: “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence

over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry: ‘Mine!’”

John Feinberg: “Divine sovereignty or God’s sovereign will is closely related to divine omnipotence. Whereas omnipotence tells how much and which powers God has, sovereignty clarifies the extent to which God uses those powers. This is significant, because God could possess all the powers a being with his nature could have and yet never exercise them or do so only occasionally. Moreover, God might constantly use his powers over everything except human free will, or it could be that he created our universe and then decided not to intervene in it at all, not even in the natural events that occur. The attribute of divine sovereignty clarifies which of these suppositions, if any, is correct.”

… “This notion of divine sovereignty means, of course, that God is the ultimate, final, and complete authority over everything and everyone. Whatever happens stems from his decisions and control. God’s sovereign will is also free, for nobody forces him to do anything, and whatever he does is in accord with his own purposes and wishes.” (No One Like Him, p. 294)

1. Biblical Tributes Proclaim His Superiority

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1 Timothy 6:15 He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords

ie/ The most important political question in my mind is not who will govern California, but who governs the Governor of California.

Daniel 4:17 That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whomever He

will, and sets over it the lowest of men. Psalm 22:28 For the kingdom is the LORD’s, and He rules over the nations.

1 Chronicles 29:11 Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and You are exalted as head over all.

2. Biblical Titles Proclaim His Superiority

El Elyon (God Most High)

o Gen 14 - Chedorlaomer, king of Edom, took Sodom & Gomorrah in a battle of 4 kings over 5, also kidnapped Lot, the nephew of Abraham in the process. Abram performed daring rescue attempt in a great battle. Melchizedek (friendly king and priest ) provides food for Abram’s troops and acknowledges El Elyon.

o Gen 14:18-20 - El Elyon is described as the strongest of the strong

Genesis 4:19 Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth

o emphasizes the strength & sovereignty of God who enabled Abram to have

victory o Q: Where are we weak? When God makes our weaknesses His strength, we

have the Strongest of the Strong perfecting our weaknesses.

Adonai Yahweh (Sovereign Lord)

o Genesis 15:1-2 - Abraham’s fear of going childless is calmed by God o Abram responds to LORD GOD (Adonai Yahweh) o Abram requests adopting a son (Eliezer) but God promises his own son

through own wife (v.4) o Adonai - means Sovereign Lord or Master

- in singular form it means lord, master, owner - can designate a relationship between men (ie/ master and slave) - in plural form it means “MAJESTY” for He is Lord of lords and King of kings - Abraham put His confidence in God as the Sovereign Lord having a master plan in his life

Q: Do you entrust your life to His master plan?

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El Shaddai (God Almighty)

o 99 year old Abraham is discouraged that he does not have son through Sarah o It has been 13 years since Ishmael was born through Hagar, his maid o So God speaks to Abraham:

Genesis 17:1 “I am Almighty God (El Shaddai); walk before Me and be blameless” o “Shaddai” is related to a word that means “mountain” and gives picture of the

king on a mountain that is the mightiest of all

o IE/ The child’s game “King of the Mountain” where the winner does not get knocked off.

o El Shaddai, according to one theologian, is the name by which God appears

to the patriarchs to give comfort and confirmation - for example here in Gen 17 in relation with Covenant given to Abr.

B. Absolute Autonomy: God Is Absolutely Free To Do Whatever He Wishes

Psalm 135:6a Whatever the LORD pleases He does Psalm 115:3 But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases. Isaiah 46:10 My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.

God is not bound by natural law, space, or time

God is free to act in any way He pleases except in a way that contradicts His nature ie/ can’t create a rock to big for Him to carry ie/ not sin - contrary to righteousness & holiness ie/ Rom 3:24 “being justified freely by His grace”

freely = without a cause the fact salvation is free not only describes the nature of the gift but also of

the Giver

“As our sovereign Lord, He does always as He pleases, only as He pleases, and all that He pleases.” (Steven Lawson, Made In Our Image, p. 92)

Acts 4:28 To do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done

God wrote the book – we live it out

ie/ George Lucas wrote 9 parts to Star Wars – he knows the outcome, we don’t, because he wrote the book

God wrote the book of human history – from Creation to New Heavens/Earth from creation of Adam to the eternal damnation of Satan

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C. Absolute Authority: God Is In Total Control Of Every Aspect Of The Universe

Psalm 135:6b in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deep places

o Nothing happens outside of God’s command

Psalm 103:19 The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, And His sovereignty rules over all. (NASB)

God’s sovereignty possesses absolute rule

Charles Ryrie: “A sovereign could be a dictator (God is not), or a sovereign could abdicate the use of his powers (God has not). Ultimately God is in complete control of all things, though He may choose to let certain events happen according to natural laws which He has ordained.” (Basic Theology,

Q: Are there not many galaxies in outer space? Then why don’t we call it a “multi-verse”? Because everything is included in one UNI-verse which falls into the hand of the sovereign God.

A.W. Tozer in Knowledge Of The Holy : “God’s sovereignty is the attribute by which He rules His entire creation, and to be sovereign, God must be all-knowing, all-powerful, and absolutely free. The reasons are these: Were there even one datum of knowledge, however small, unknown to God, His rule would break down at that point. To be Lord over all the creation, He must possess all knowledge. And were God lacking one infinitesimal modicum of power, that lack would end His reign and undo His kingdom; that one stray atom of power would belong to someone else and God would be a limited ruler and hence not sovereign. Furthermore, His sovereignty requires that He be absolutely free, which means simply that He must be free to do whatever He will to do anywhere at any time to carry out His eternal purpose in every single detail without interference. Were He less than free He must be less than sovereign.”

J.I. Packer, Evangelism & The Sovereignty Of God points out that all Christians believe in God’s sovereignty in salvation, even if some try to deny it: “Two facts show this. 1) In the first place, you give God thanks for your conversion. Now why do you do that? Because you know in your heart that God was entirely responsible for it. You did not save yourself; he saved you…2) There is a second way in which you acknowledge that God is sovereign in salvation. You pray for the conversion of others…You ask God to work in them everything necessary for their salvation. So our thanksgivings and intercessions prove that we believe in divine sovereignty. On our feet we may have arguments about it, but on our knees we are all agreed.”

II. How Is God’s Sovereignty Demonstrated?

A. Presiding Precedence – Let Him Reign

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1. God’s Reign Is Permanent (Psalm 2) Psalm 2 1 Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing?

2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,

3 “Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us.” 4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The LORD shall hold them in derision. 5 Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure: 6 “Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion.”

Kingship of Christ - mocks other kings in derision

ie/ Presidents change every 4-8 years, kings in a lifetime or overthrow 2. God’s Reign Is Absolute

ie/ At the time of Christ birth, the emperor was Caesar Augustus o “August” = supreme authority - authority even over moral life of Rome o but only God is “August”

John Feinberg: “Whereas omnipotence tells how much and which powers God has, sovereignty clarifies the extent to which God uses those powers.” (No One Like Him, p. 294)

3. God’s Reign Demands Obedience B. Protective Preservation – Let Him Sustain

Our concept of preservation is to smoke it, salt it, sulphurize it or freeze it o beef jerky, canned foods, smoked salmon or frozen food o yet even preserved food gets rotten o when God preserves - it’s absolute

1. God Not Only Creates The Universe, But Also Sustains It Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

“Create” = Hebr. Barah which instills a legato vs. a staccato sense for creation o not create and leave it alone o contrast to Deism (T. Jefferson) - God created earth but left it alone o “Sustenance” gives sense that God is still personally involved in His creation

ie/ parenting goes beyond just the creative process

2. God Maintains The Existence, Property And Power Of Everything He Created Colossians 1:17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

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“hold together” or “consist” is a form of sunistami which means “to place together, to stand together, to cohere”

God uses all glue God is the glue which holds the universe together

He keeps planets in orbit He keeps sun in place (any closer or farther - we’d burn or freeze) He feeds sparrows & lillies of field He keeps body functioning God’s involvement involves whole universe

3. God Alone Is The Author Of Our Being. Man Is Merely An Agent Of Being, Not

The Author. (Acts 17:28) Key Issue: CAUSALITY

R.C. Sproul: “If anything exists then something/someone must have the power of being within itself or nothing would be”.

o Man does not have the power of being within himself

Acts 17 – Paul addresses Athenians at Areopagus on the Unknown God o The Greeks worshipped many gods and had an unknown God just in case

they missed one o Paul described this unknown God

Acts 17:28 For in Him we live and move and have our being

o God alone is the author of being o God is ultimate Author o Jerry Bridges in Pursuit of Holiness: “Nothing exists of its own inherent

power of being. Nothing in creation stands or acts independently of the Lord’s will.”

4. His Very Word Sustains His Creation

Hebrews 1:3 “And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power.”

Through His sovereign decree, the electrons rotate properly around the proton and neutrons

Through His sovereign decree, the molecules in the papal bonds of the timber which holds the roof over our head stay in place

At His Word the universe was created; at His Word the universe is sustained

Let God preserve & sustain you

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Psalm 36:6 “O Lord, You preserve man and beast.”

Nehemiah 9:6 You alone are the LORD; You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and everything on it, the seas and all that is in them, and You preserve them all. The host of heaven worships You. Proverbs 2:8 He guards the paths of justice, and preserves the way of His saints.

C. Purposeful Providence – Let Him Aim

pro = before video = to see (ie/ Veni, Vidi, Vici – Julius Caesar - I came, I saw, I conquered)

o basically means “Foreseeing”

ie/ Concept of Spectator o I yell at TV during football & basketball games but I can’t change the outcome o God is more than a Spectator - He is ultimately and intimately involved with His

creation

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Providence is God’s continuing rule over all events so that everything works out according to His purpose

Henry Thiessen: “Providence means that continuous activity of God whereby He makes all the events of the physical, mental, and moral realms work out his purpose, and this purpose is nothing short of the original design of God in creation.” (Systematic Theology)

Louis Berkhof: “… that continued exercise of the divine energy whereby the Creator preserves all his creatures, is operative in all that comes to pass in the world, and directs all things to their appointed end.” (Systematic Theology, p. 166)

Westminster Larger Catechism: “God’s works of providence are his most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures; ordering them, and all their actions, to his own glory.” (18)

Westminster Confession of Faith: “God, the great Creator of all things doth uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things, from the greatest even to the least, by His most wise and holy providence, according to His infallible foreknowledge, and the free immutable counsel of His own will, to the praise of the glory of His wisdom, power, justice, goodness, and mercy.” (5.1)

Benjamin Wirt Farley: “The conviction that God, in his goodness and power, preserves, accompanies, and directs the entire universe.” (The Providence Of God, Baker, 1988, p. 16)

1. God’s Providence Is Expressed Through Decrees (God’s Purposes)

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“Decrees” = Gr. dogma

“The decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.” (Westminster Shorter Catechism, Q.7)

“The act by which God established the certainty of what He has planned, or predetermined.” (Dwight Pentecost, p. 137)

Isaiah 46:10-11 “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.’ Calling a bird of prey from the east, the man who executes My counsel, from a far country. Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it.”

ie/ My proposal to Daisy: will, plan, do

St. Augustine “Nothing happens, unless the Omnipotent wills it to happen. He either permits it to happen, or He brings it about Himself.”

His decrees extend to all parts of His creation. The Scriptures say more about God’s work in providence of creation than it does about creating His creation.

His decrees extend to all nation

ie/ politics - Hitler, Stalin, Clinton, Bush, Obama, Trump, communism, democracy, monarchy, poverty, famine, bull market, bear market

Job 22:28 “You will also declare a thing, and it will be established for you.”

Daniel 4:34-35 – Nebuchadnezzar: “For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, “’What have You done?’”

o “the inhabitants…are…as nothing” – man makes no impact on God’s will o “no one can ward off His hand” - God’s will cannot be thwarted

Deuteronomy 32:39 “Now see that I, even I, am He, and there is no God

besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand.”

o “life & death” – scope or spectrum of control – even death

o Bruce Ware: “Life and death, wounding and healing, is to establish the extremes

of life over which God has complete control….This passage does not say that God merely attempts as best he can to use the death and wounding brought

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about by others (which things he cannot, without destroying freedom, stop free creatures from doing) while he himself brings life and healing.” (Whatever Happ, p. 114)

“no God besides Me” – God is unique and not impacted by anyone or anything (impassible)

“nor is there any who can deliver from My hand” – God’s will is uninfluenced

Psalm 135:6 “Whatever the LORD pleases He does, in heaven and in earth”

- God is supremely superior and does as He pleases, not affected by man’s will

Luke 22:22 “And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed.”

Acts 2:23 “Being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God”

Romans 9:18-20 “Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. You will say to me then, ‘Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will? But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, Why have you made me like this?’”

- no one resists the will of God - Open Theists make it sound like God’s will is resistible - God’s glory is at stake (Rom 9:22) - God chooses who will be vessels of mercy and wrath (22-23)

Romans 9:22-23 “What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory.”

Proverbs 16:4 “The Lord has made all for Himself, Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom.”

Ephesians 1:11 “In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will”

** Westminster Shorter Catechism states a decree as “His eternal purpose, according to the counsel of His will, whereby, for His own glory, He hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.” * St. Augustine “Nothing happens, unless the Omnipotent wills it to happen. He either permits it to happen, or He brings it about Himself.”

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His decrees extend to all parts of His creation. The Scriptures say more about God’s work in providence of creation than it does about creating His creation.

Matthew 6:10 “Your will be done”

This is not a combination of God and man’s will, but God’s alone Romans 8:28 - all things work for good acc. to His purpose

His decrees extend to birth, career, death, sickness, promotion, unemployment, etc. 2. God’s Purpose Is Focused On His Glory

Isaiah 48:11 For My own sake, for My own sake, I will do it; For how should My name be profaned? And I will not give My glory to another.

Romans 11:36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Jonathan Edwards: “God’s sovereignty has ever appeared to me a great part of his glory. It has often been my delight to approach God, and adore him as a sovereign God.”

D. Pre-Planned Predestination – Let Him Reveal His Plan

Predestination: God’s sovereign act of predetermining (pre-planning) our destination

“Predestine” = Gr. proorizo = to mark out, appoint, determine beforehand o Lit. “to decide upon beforehand” (BAG) o Pro = beforehand o Orizo = limit, boundary

We get “horizon” from this word – outer limits of what we can see o Eng. “fore-ordination” – pre-determined

“He predetermines His purpose, His goal, His aim, and His end in creation, and then God brings into existence that program which will fulfill His purpose and aim.” (J. Dwight Pentecost, Things Which Become Sound Doctrine, p. 136-137)

1. God’s Sovereignty In Creation

Psalm 33:6-9 6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host. 7 He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap; he puts the deeps in storehouses. 8 Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him! 9 For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.

God had no one urging Him, consulting Him or assisting Him

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2. God’s Sovereignty In History Psalm 33:10-12 10 The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. 11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations. 12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,

the people whom he has chosen as his heritage! Isaiah 46:8-11 8 “Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, 9 remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ 11 calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.

Cyrus, ruler of Persia, is the bird of prey from the east He was a sinful unbelieving king, yet he was controlled by God like a trained

animal

God advanced Cyrus in power with the Babylonian captivity of the Jews

Daniel 11:36 “Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, he shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done.”

Gods decree is superior to what Nebuchadnezzar can do

Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.

The heart represents man’s inner-self – the mind, will and emotions

Even unbelieving kings were bent to the will of God

Revelation 17:17 for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.

Even in the last days, God will control the hearts of the wicked rulers in bringing out His ultimate end plan.

Q: How does this comfort us in light of the Presidential election?

Romans 8:28-30 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 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. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

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a. God’s Sovereignty For Our Future (Romans 8:28)

1) God’s Plan Is Total, Not Partial – “And we know that all things”

1 Corinthians 13:12 “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.”

ie/ pieces of a jigsaw puzzle

ie/ God author’s our life story – He wrote the beginning and the end

2) God’s Plan Is His Work, Not Ours – “work together”

“work together” = “interacting and converging together” (Moo, Romans)

sunergeo – we get “synergism” from that word

3) God’s Plan Is For Good, Not Evil – “for good”

God can use bad situations to bring about good

ie/ Paul’s thorn in the flesh – not a good thing – affliction of Satan o ask 3x remove o God answer – My grace is sufficient for you

ie/ Job – lost possessions, livestock, loved ones, and own health Job 23:10 “You know the way that I take and when You have tested me, I shall come forth as gold.”

ie/ Why go through cancer or stroke? where’s the good in that

2 Cor 4:16-17 “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.”

ie/ Puritan Thomas Watson “A sick-bed often teaches more than a sermon”

4) God’s Plan Is Good For Genuine Believers, Not Everyone – “to those

who love God”

- not for everybody in the world, but to those who love Christ - we can only love God because He loved us first

- unbelievers don’t love God, only genuine believers do

5) God’s Plan Is Purposeful, Not Random – “to those who are called according to His purpose”

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“call” = not a general invitation (ie/ telephone company calls everyone to buy into their long distance rate), but an effectual call

ie/ general invitation – let everyone know there’s a wedding here at church and you’re all invited

But the effectual call – there is a wedding, it’s invitation only, but if you’re invited – we’re sending the limousine to pick you up, we’re clothing you in white tuxedo, and we’re feeding you a great banquet

You say yes, God makes it work

“purpose” – contents of the steps or link of salvation and sanctification in vv.29-30

o His eternal purpose

b. Five Foundations From The Past (29-30)

some theologians call this “The Golden Chain”

1) His Foreknowledge – He Chose To Love Us (29a)

o Promise Of Love: Before you were created, God chose to love you in His foreknowledge.

o We do not need to fear losing God’s love because He chose to love us not based on who or what we are, but because of His sovereign choice.

2) His Predestination – He Conceived His Plan For Us (29b)

o Promise Of Guidance: If you are foreknown, you are predestined. o We do not need to fear our life spinning directionless and out of

control because God has purposed a plan for our life.

3) His Calling – He Called Us To Himself (30a)

o Promise Of Enablement: If you are predestined, you are called. o We do not need to be concerned about our lack of ability to be

religious because God enables us to believe in Him.

4) His Justification – He Corrected Us In His Righteousness (30b)

o Promise Of Forgiveness: If you are called, you are justified. o We do not need to be concerned about making up for our sins to get to

heaven because God has made us perfectly righteous through the Lord Jesus.

5) His Glorification – He Will Change Us To His Likeness (30c)

o Promise Of Security: If you are justified, you will be glorified.

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o We do not need to fear losing our salvation because God has guaranteed that believers will be glorified in heaven.

R.C. Sproul: “If there is one single molecule in this universe running around loose, totally free of God’s sovereignty, then we have no guarantee that a single promise of God will ever be fulfilled.” (Chosen By God, Tyndale, 1987, pp. 26-27)

If God lost control of one atom, He could lose control of all of history.

Sproul: “For want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of the shoe the horse was lost; for want of the horse the rider was lost; for want of the rider the battle was lost.” (ibid, p. 27)

But God cannot lose control of a particle because He is absolutely sovereign!

3. God’s Sovereignty In Salvation

Ephesians 1:4-5 Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.

a. Election: God Unconditionally Chooses Those To Be Holy Before Him

4just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love

ie/ On 11/2/48, Harry Truman defeated Gov. Thomas Dewey for president of US. It was a great upset win for Truman (almost as surprising as Stanford’s NCAA basketball tourney loss yesterday). The Chicago Tribune was so sure of Dewey’s victory, that they ran the headline for the morning paper declaring Dewey as the winner.

Election results can be quite surprising, shocking and controversial Just ask Florida and Hillary! Divine election can get controversial and shocking as well.

Warren Wiersbe: “Try to explain election, and you may lose your mind, but explain it away and you will lose your soul.”

Old Testament word for “elect” = Heb. bachar – picking or choosing from a large group

o God chose Israel to be His covenant nation (Dt 4:37; 1 Kings 3:8; Isa 44:1; 45:4; Acts 13:17; Rom 9:1-5)

o God chose individuals for specific purposes (Moses – Ps 106:23; Aaron – Ps 105:26; David – 1 Sam 16:7-12)

New Testament word “to elect” = Gr. eklego = to call out, choose o 22x in the NT

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o Jesus chose the 12 disciples (Lk 6:13) o The proud guests chose the best rooms at the wedding feast (Lk 14:7) o The disciples asked for God’s choice of the 2 disciples nominated to

replace Judas (Acts 1:24) o 7 men were chosen to care for the Greek widows (Acts 6:5)

freely = not constrained, but God’s total freedom to choose according to His

purpose

2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 “God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Corinthians 1:27 “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty”

1 Thessalonians 1:4 “Knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God”

1 Peter 1:2 “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied

1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

He chose the foolish, weak, base, things that are not

Election is “the eternal act of God whereby He, in His sovereign good

pleasure, and on account of no foreseen merit in them, chooses a certain number of men to be the recipients of special grace and of eternal salvation.” (L. Berkhoff, Systematic Theology)

“The unchangeable purpose of God whereby, before the foundation of the

world, out of the whole human race which had fallen by its own fault out of its original integrity into sin and ruin, He has, according to the most free good pleasure of His will, out of mere grace, chosen in Christ to salvation a certain number of specific men, neither better nor more worthy than others, but with them involved in a common misery.” (The Canons of Dort, 1.7, 1619, Netherlands)

1) The Planner: The Selection Of Election – God

“He chose us in Him” a) The Selector – God Has Self-Satisfying Interests

“He” = God the Father

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o God chose us by Himself for Himself o God is always the grammatical subject for the verb “to elect” o He chooses, we are chosen o Man doesn’t elect God, God elects us

Who chose who?

Ie/ Often when people share their testimony of salvation, they might give more credit to themselves in choosing God than they give to God for choosing them. Ie/ Commentator Leon Morris tells a story of “an old lady traveling with her granddaughter in a crowded train. There was no seat for them, so of necessity they stood. When the train stopped at a station and some people got off, the granddaughter and other passengers insisted that the old lady take one of the vacant seats. Though she protested, they took no notice and gently pushed her into it. It was not until the train got moving again that she was able to say to her granddaughter, ‘But dear, that was our stop!’ Even with the best intentions in the world, we so often go astray.” (Reflections on the Letter to the Ephesians, p. 16)

o Folks don’t always comprehend that God did it all for us.

Hoehner: “God chose with great personal interest rather than a random impersonal choice.” (Ephesians, pp. 175-176)

God did not choose us by: o Throwing darts at a name list o Closing His eyes and pointing a finger on a page of

names o Playing hammer, rock, scissors o Using the Magic 8 Ball

Those are all impersonal means. God’s choice is intensely personal. He chose to love us.

Ie/ You chose your spouse to be devoted to him/her.

God chose us to love us! b) The Selecting – God Has Several Choices

“chose” – exelexato (ἐκλέγομαι)– aorist middle indicative of

eklego – indicates God chose us in His own interest, for Himself - reflexive verb – He chooses for Himself

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The context implies a larger group from which we have been chosen.

o God selected us from among the whole human race o “choose” implies options o the purpose of being holy and faultless contrasts those

who have not been chosen (unholy and sinful)

ie/ Daisy had several choices of interested suitors – it’s special to me that she chose me.

Hoehner: “There is no indication of any dislike towards those

not chosen. It is not a rejection with disdain. The choice of Levi for the priesthood does not imply anything negative about the other tribes. Furthermore, nowhere is election contrasted with reprobation. It speaks only of those who are chosen and nothing of those not chosen.” (Ephesians, p. 175)

Because God chose Israel and not Egypt, China or Babylon, is not because He hated Egypt, China or Babylon. But Israel had a special privilege and purpose to be a blessing to the rest of the nations.

“God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” God did not choose some to be saved to hate those He didn’t

choose.

Ie/ At the buffet, you leave a lot of food you might have liked, but you had a special purpose for the food you chose on your plate.

Some theologians espouse a “double predestination” where God chose some for heaven and chose the rest for hell. The Bible doesn’t teach that – though this might seem a logical assumption to some. The idea is that God chose specific individuals unconditionally, out of His mercy, and passed over those He did not choose.

c) The Selection – God Has Specific Targets

“us” = believers

Context: v. 1 – Paul is addressing the saints in Ephesus and the faithful in Christ

Some theologians think that God chose the whole world – and then some resulted in faith according to their will. This is not evident in the text.

God specifically chooses “us” – the believers. d) The Sender – God Sent A Special Deliverer (His Son)

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“in Him” – salvation is always through Jesus Christ

We were chosen in relation to the redemptive work of Christ on the cross.

Some have suggested that we were chosen because God foreknew that we would place our faith in Christ. This is the thinking of those who place a greater emphasis on the free will of man over the sovereignty of God (Arminians). But this is not what this passage conveys.

God chose us in connection with Christ. We have no responsibility in the process of election.

We have no value, in and of ourselves. We only have value because Christ paid for our sin’s penalty, added unto us His righteousness and presented us to God the Father.

2) The Period: The Projection Of Election – Eternity Past

“before the foundation of the world”

pro katabolees kosmou – “from all eternity” (Reinecker, Linguistic Key To The Greek New Testament, p. 521) o pro – before o katabolees – lit. to throw down o “The verb is used of ‘throwing down’ seed in the ground (sowing),

of ‘throwing down’ seed in a female (conception), or of the notion of giving birth to a new idea (person’s thought). It is used of stones being thrown down for the foundation or the starting point of a buildling.” (Hoehner, p. 177)

Q: How does the fact of election before we are born impact how much credit one can take for their own salvation?

a) Unconditional Election: Because Election Was Done Before

Creation, Election Is Not Based On Who We Are Or What We Have Done

There is a debate over how God elected in evangelical churches today. We won’t go into detail – though I have left detailed arguments on my notes to be put on the website.

Conditional Election – God elected us because He foreknew who would accept Him.

Unconditional Election – God elected some to be saved

solely out of His grace.

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2 Thessalonians 2:13 “God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation.”

2 Timothy 1:9 “Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began”

John Calvin: “The very time of election shows it to be free; for what could we have deserved, or in what did our merit consist, before the world was made?” (Commentary on Ephesians, p. 125)

b) Sovereign Election: Because Election Was Done Before

Creation, Election Is Based Solely On God’s Sovereign Election

Romans 9:11-12 “(For the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), it was said to her, ‘The older shall serve the younger.’"

Before Jacob & Esau were born and did good or evil, they If salvation was based on something good in an individual (like

faith), this comes close to salvation based on works (Eph 2:9)

This is good news for us, because some of think that we are too sinful or horrible to be chosen by God.

God chose us before we could do good and evil. So it does not matter what is in our past, our resume or our

closet.

We are chosen by His mercy.

Romans 9:14-16 “What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! For He says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.’ So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.”

You may not have the desire to believe – it’s not your will, it’s God’s will for you to be chosen.

You may wonder how much you have to do to get to heaven – it is not of “him who runs” – but God’s mercy

The Catholic church has added human works to Christ’s atonement – the Pope can’t be positive that he’s going to heaven. How will you know if you’ve done enough of the sacraments to get to heaven? It’s not about what you do. “Nor

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of him who runs” tells us to stop running and let God carry you all the way.

3) The Purpose: The Direction Of Election – Holiness, Blamelessness & Love “that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love”

“should” - einai – present infinitive – expresses purposes

Romans 8:29 – purpose is for us to be conformed to the image of Christ Jesus

III. How Do We Understand God’s Sovereignty With Man’s Responsibility?

ie/ Did you hear about the ultra-Calvinist who fell down a flight of stairs, picked himself up and

said “Thank God, I’m glad that’s over with.”?

ie/ Geisler recounts seeing a placard at a Presbyterian Church – “We believe in predestination, but drive carefully because you may hit a Presbyterian!”

ie/ The story is told of a group of theologians who were discussing the tension between

predestination and free will. Things became so heated that the group broke up into two opposing factions. But one man, not knowing which to join, stood for a moment trying to decide. At last he joined the predestination group. “Who sent you here?” they asked. “No one sent me,” he replied. “I came of my own free will.” “Free will!” they exclaimed. “You can’t join us! You belong with the other group!” So he followed their orders and went to the other clique. There someone asked, “When did you decide to join us?” The young man replied, “Well, I didn’t really decide—I was sent here.” “Sent here!” they shouted. “You can’t join us unless you have decided by your own free will!” (Today In The Word, August, 1989, p. 35)

Q: If God predestined man’s salvation, then is man responsible for his belief or disbelief? “Sovereignty must never obliterate free will, and free will must never dilute sovereignty.”

(Charles Ryrie, Basic Theology)

New Word: Concurrence - the relationship between Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility that separates the actions between God and man yet draws them together in parallel in the direction of God’s foreordained destiny.

ie/ I used to walk to the swim pool (my job for 6 years in HS/college) on the railroad tracks. The

tracks are separate, yet parallel heading in the same direction. When you ahead, you see them come together, but you don’t see them together in immediate situation.

IE/ In Job 1, Satan approached the throne of God to challenge God about Job. God gave permission to test Job but not take life. The next thing we see is the Sabaens (nomadic bedouins) stole Job’s cattle & killed his servant.

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o Q: Did the Sabaens act on their own selfish greed? Yes o Q: Were they part of God’s plan? Yes o Job’s wife told Job to curse God & die - she was a free moral agent as were his 3 not so

friendly friends o God was never out of control

1) Satan had to ask for permission 2) Satan was limited in what he could do IE/ Joseph to brothers:

Genesis 45:8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God” Genesis 50:20 “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

“Sovereignty and free will. Is it one or the other, or is it both one and the other? The Bible says

both.” (Geisler, p. 37) A. The Cross Is Sovereignly Planned And Freely Chosen

Sovereignly Planned Acts 2:23 “By God’s set purpose and foreknowledge”

Freely Chosen

John 10:17-18 “I lay down my life – only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.”

B. Stumbling Over Christ Is Sovereignly Planned And Freely Chosen

Peter included both concepts in one sentence

1 Peter 2:8 “They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.”

C. Conspiracy Against Christ Is Sovereignly Planned And Freely Chosen

Acts 4:27 “Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what you power and will had decided beforehand should happen”

D. Rejection Of Christ Is Sovereignly Planned And Freely Chosen

1 Peter 2:8 “They stumble because they disobey the message – which is also what they were destined for.”

E. Salvation Is Sovereignly Planned And Freely Chosen

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John 6:37 “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.”

“gives” = predestination “whoever” = free will

Realize that under God teaches both divine sovereignty and human responsibility and that reconciling the two probably will not be achieved in this lifetime.

ie/ In KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY, A.W. Tozer attempts to reconcile the seemingly contradictory beliefs of God’s sovereignty and man’s free will: “An ocean liner leaves New York bound for Liverpool. Its destination has been determined by proper authorities. Nothing can change it. This is at least a faint picture of sovereignty. “On board the liner are scores of passengers. These are not in chains, neither are their activities determined for them by decree. They are completely free to move about as they will. They eat, sleep, play, lounge about on the deck, read, talk, altogether as they please; but all the while the great liner is carrying them steadily onward toward a predetermined port. “Both freedom and sovereignty are present here, and they do not contradict. So it is, I believe, with man’s freedom and the sovereignty of God. The mighty liner of God’s sovereign design keeps its steady course over the sea of history.”

ie/ C.S. Lewis - God In The Dock writes: “In ‘Hamlet’ a branch breaks and Ophelia is drowned. Did she die because the branch broke or because Shakespeare wanted her to die at that point in the play? Either - both - whichever you prefer. The alternative suggested by the question is not a real alternative at all - once you have grasped Shakespeare is making the whole play.”

IV. How Is God’s Sovereignty Defied?

A. Dethroning The Sovereign

“The conception of Deity which prevails most widely today, even among those who profess to give heed to the Scriptures, is a miserable caricature, a blasphemous travesty of the Truth. The God of the twentieth century is a helpless, effeminate being who commands the respect of no really thoughtful man. The God of the popular mind is the creation of a maudlin (sappy, over-emotional) sentimentality. The God of many a present-day pulpit is an object of pity rather than of awe-inspiring reverence.” (A. W. Pink in 1930, The Sovereignty Of God, p. 20)

Ie/ Steve Lawson (Made In Our Image, p. 91ff) relates a question once posed to

Napoleon Bonaparte: “Is God on the side of France?” o The arrogant military conqueror replied “God is on the side that has the heaviest

artillery” o Napoleon was really stating that it doesn’t matter what God wills, but what he wills o But in 1815, Napoleon got trampled in Waterloo by the British & Russian armies in

Belgium, despite Napoleon’s superior artillery o This defeat changed Napoleon’s view of life, history and God

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o The humbled dictator now quoted Thomas a Kempis saying “Man proposes, but God disposes.”

Ie/ Nebuchadnezzar – a once proud ruler – became crazy as God humbled him. After his humbling, the formerly haughty king gave a tribute to the sovereign God:

Daniel 4:34-35 For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, “What have You done?”

These powerful men needed to be humbled before the fact that God is the Most powerful

God – the Lord of lords and King of Kings. B. Manipulating God’s Will

Manipulation: Taking matters into our own hands and taking matter out of God’s Hands.

Jacob - Genesis 25:20-26 Esau = “hairy” Jacob = 2nd born, hand on heel Jacob = “grabber” or “heel tripper”

Genesis 25:23 “Two nations are in your womb, two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, and the older shall serve the younger.”

1. Scheming For Prominence

Genesis 25 29 Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. 30 And Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.” Therefore his name was called Edom. 31 But Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright as of this day.” 32 And Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?” 33 Then Jacob said, “Swear to me as of this day.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

Prominence: occupation, title, achievement Exploit: he knew brother’s weakness and took advantage of it

2. Scheming For Approval

Genesis 27 5 Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt game and to bring it. 6 So Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son, saying, “Indeed I heard your father speak to Esau your brother, saying, 7 ‘Bring me game and make savory food for me, that I may eat it and bless you in the presence of the LORD before my death.’ 8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to what I command you. 9 Go now to the flock and bring me from there two choice kids of the goats, and I will make savory food from them for your father, such as he loves. 10 Then

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you shall take it to your father, that he may eat it, and that he may bless you before his death.”

Approval: father’s blessing Exploit: parents’ weakness

3. Learning Sovereignty Through A Ladder

Genesis 28:12-17 12 Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 And behold, the LORD stood above it and said: “I am the LORD God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. 14 Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. 15 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.” 16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.” 17 And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!”

God is the authority God is accessible

4. Learning Sovereignty Through A Wrestler

Genesis 32:24-32 24 Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. 25 Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. 26 And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” 27 So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.” 28 And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.” And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there. 30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” 31 Just as he crossed over Penuel the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the children of Israel do not eat the muscle that shrank, which is on the hip socket, because He touched the socket of Jacob’s hip in the muscle that shrank.

C. Assigning Results To Another Power

Chance o Chance describes mathematical probability o Chance is not an entity – it is descriptive, not a thing o Chance has no power to produce or create anything – it has no causal power

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Good or bad luck Fate Feng Shui Horoscopes Fortune Teller Good or bad karma Random occurrences

Deuteronomy 18:9-14 9 “When you come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer 11 or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, 12 for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD. And because of these abominations the LORD your God is driving them out before you. 13 You shall be blameless before the LORD your God, 14 for these nations, which you are about to dispossess, listen to fortune-tellers and to diviners. But as for you, the LORD your God has not allowed you to do this.

V. If God Is Sovereign, Why Do We Worry?

Terrorism

Economy Earthquakes, Tsunamis, Hurricanes

Ie/ The late, great preacher Henry Ward Beecher told this story of a young man who was applying for a job in a New England factory many decades ago. Asking for the owner, he found himself in the presence of a nervous, fidgety man who looked hopeless. "The only vacancy here" he told the applicant, "is a vice-presidency. The man that takes the job must shoulder all my cares."

"That's a tough job" said the applicant. "What's the salary?" "I'll pay you ten thousand a year if you will really take over all my worries." "Where is the ten thousand coming from?" asked the applicant, suspiciously. "That my friend," replied the owner "is your first worry."

Worry is one of our greatest foes of the day o a few years ago, Time magazine informed us that Americans swallow 7 tons of sleeping

pills every day to help deal with our worries o alcoholism o ulcers o stress

Les Carter, in his book Mind Over Emotions, lists some causes for worry:

o Overemphasis on responsibilities perfection stimulates greater worry over needless details

o Unrealistic ideals Always concerned on how things “ought” to be Not flexible

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o Excessive fear o A fragile ego

The worrier assumes he/she is too incompetent to cope with problems Either become too controlling or too dependent

o Letting feelings fester

Matthew 6:25 (NLT) "So I tell you, don't worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food, drink, and clothes. Doesn't life consist of more than food and clothing?“

People in Jesus' day had more reason to worry than we do today:

o we might think it was easier to live 2000 years ago than today, but I don't think so o most of the people in the ancient world lived like members of the third world

countries today o laborers were paid every day because they needed the money to live the next day o they had no safety net - no unemployment insurance, no pensions, no retirement

funds, no severance pay, no guaranteed salary - just pay per day o the average citizen in Palestine paid at least 40% of his wages in taxes o sure it's difficult today - but it was super tough back then o Yet Jesus tells us not to worry

A. What Is Worry?

“Worry” is an anxiety caused by fearing what can not be controlled

“Worry is the anxious care that comes from assuming a responsibility which we are incapable of discharging.” (Dwight Pentecost, Man’s Problem, God’s Answer)

“Worry is concern about something that one can do nothing about and that he cannot even

be sure about.” (Jay Adams, What To Do About Worry)

Lou Priolo: “Worry is a good emotion (concern) focused on the wrong day.” (“The Anxiety Journal: Helping People Overcome Worry,” The Journal of Modern Ministry, Volume One, Issue One, http://jofmm.com/; http://loupriolo.com/id19_what_s_got_you_down_.htm)

There is a correlation between fearing the future and a lack of faith in God

If we firmly believe God is in control, there would be no need to fear the future As long as God is out of the picture, there will be worry and anxiety

Augustine describes the “restlessness” of those outside of God when he wrote: “Thou hast made us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless until they find rest in Thee.”

“Worry” comes from the Anglo-Saxon root meaning "to strangle or give pain"

Luke 8:14 “Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.”

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o Les Carter, in Mind Over Emotions defines "Worry is a choking, harmful emotion that can sap one's energy and strength. Worry is a feeling of uneasiness, apprehension, and distress, usually about something impending or anticipated in the future."

o it's related to fear o it's related to mistrust o it's related to pessimism o it's also translated - "being anxious" so it is related to anxiety

B. When Does A Genuine Concern Become A Sinful Worry?

Lou Priolo: “Worry is the acceptable sin. Everybody does it-so how can it be that bad? Counselees often use terms to describe this problem that help them feel less culpable-words such as, nervousness, apprehension, distress, or uneasiness. But God calls it sin.”

1. When God Tells Us Not To Worry And We Still Persist

Philippians 4:6 “be anxious for nothing” Matthew 6:34 “Do not worry about tomorrow.”

2. When Worry Precludes Exercising Faith

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Matthew 6:28-30 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

3. When Worry Erases Grace

Priolo: “Worry is anticipating future suffering without anticipating the grace God has promised to those who suffer.”

2 Corinthians 12:8-9 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

C. How Do I Overcome Worry?

1. Put Away The Distraction Of Worry: Evaluate & Eradicate (Matthew 6:25-32)

a. Worrying Is Needless (25)

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25“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink;

nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?

IE/ Norman Wright, in his book Living Beyond Worry And Anger gives us a breakdown on the things we worry about:

40% of the things we worry about never happen 30% of the things we worry about are in the past 12% are needless worries about our health 10% of the things we worry about are petty, miscellaneous worries

8% of the things we worry about are legitimate concerns

Corrie ten Boom: “Worry is an old man with bended head, carrying a load of feathers which he thinks are lead.”

She understood that worry is about things that aren’t really there

Mark Twain: “I’m an old man and I’ve known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened.”

b. Worrying Is Senseless (26)

26“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your

heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

Luke 12:6 “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God.”

Logic: if God cares for the birds of the air and feeds them, how much more important are you than a bunch of 2 for a quarter sparrows

Romans 8:32 "He who did not spare his own Son but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also graciously give us all things?"

c. Worrying Is Useless (27)

27“Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

A cubit is equal to 18 inches

Jesus was also probably inferring that we can not add years to our life as well. In fact, we’ve probably lost more years to worry and gained none in the process.

Vance Havner: “Worry is like a rocking chair; it will give you something to do, but it won't get you anywhere.”

William Hendrickson in his Commentary on Matthew wrote "A man may worry himself to death; [but] he cannot worry himself into a longer span of life."

d. Worrying Is Faithless (28-32)

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28“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they

neither toil nor spin; 29“and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30“Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is

thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32“For after

all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

These particular flowers are wild. They need no particular tending. Yet they are so beautiful that they are compared to the splendor of the richest king Israel ever had - Solomon.

v. 30 tells us that the flowers are only going to end up in the oven for fuel The housewives in Palestine would gather up these dried flowers to put in

their ovens to bake bread

so don’t worry about: food, drink or clothing – our basic necessities

Martin Luther: “I have one preacher that I love better than any other on earth; it is my little tame robin, who preaches to me daily. I put crumbs upon my windowsill, especially at night. He hops onto the windowsill when he wants his supply, and takes as much as he desires to satisfy his need. From thence he always hops to a little tree close by and lifts up his voice to God and sings his carols of praise and gratitude, tucks his little head under his wing and goes fast to sleep, and leaves tomorrow to look after itself. He is the best preacher that I have on earth.”

2. Resist Tomorrow's Fears, Manage Today's Problems (34)

Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

This proverbial remark "Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." simply tells us "We have enough problems to manage today. Don't worry about tomorrow."

James 4:13-15 13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”

Albert Einstein: "I never think of the future. It comes soon enough."

Psalm 95:7 "Today, if you will hear His voice"

IE/ There was a farmer who, while drawing water from his well, wondered what would happen if his well went dry. Before long his wondering turned to worrying. Soon he couldn't enjoy the water he had because of his concern that he might not have any for the next day.

Milton Berle once joked "If you want to test your memory, try to remember the

things that worried you yesterday."

31

3. Cast your burdens on the Lord – God is SOVEREIGN 1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

Psalm 55:22 “Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.”

Elyse Fitzpatrick: “God’s sovereignty is the only safe harbor when we’re assailed by the sins of fear, doubt, and worry.” (Overcoming Fear, Worry, and Anxiety, p. 128)

IE/ Clovis Chappell in his book Questions Jesus Asked shared this pertinent story: "In the early years of aviation, a pilot was making a flight around the world. After about two hours after his last landing for a fuel stop, he heard a noise on the plane that he recognized as the gnawing of a rat. While on the ground, a rat probably crawled up the plane. He started to worry - for all he knew it could be gnawing on a vital cable or control of the plane. He was two hours from the last landing field and two hours from the next landing field.

Then he remembered that the rat is a rodent. It is not made for high altitude, but to live on the ground and under the ground. So he began to climb. He ascended one thousand feet, then another, until he was more than 20,000 feet high. The gnawing ceased. Two hours later, the pilot landed the plane and found the rat dead.

**Worry is a rodent. It gnaws away at us when our focus is here on earth. When we lift our cares up to God, worry cannot survive.

Conclusion

Spurgeon on his sermon on Mt 20:15 - “There is no attribute more comforting to His children than

that of God’s Sovereignty. Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe trials, they believe that Sovereignty will sanctify them all. There is nothing for which the children ought more earnestly to contend than the doctrine of their Master over all creation - the Kingship of God over all the works of His own hands - the Throne of God and His right to sit upon that Throne. On the other hand, there is no doctrine more hated by worldling...Men will allow God to be everywhere except on His throne...When God ascends to His throne, His creatures then gnash their teeth...But it is God upon the throne that we love to preach. It is God upon His throne whom we trust.”

Discussion

1. What worries you most? How can you be reminded of God’s sovereignty when you struggle

with worry? 2. How can we recognize God’s sovereignty in a disability or a disappointment? 3. How could you counsel someone who fears the power of the devil, demons and evil people to

be greater than God’s sovereignty? 4. How does God’s sovereignty counter our perspectives of chance, good or bad luck, fate, feng

shui, horoscopes, good or bad karma or random occurrences?