The Providence (Sovereignty) of God

Selected Scripture

INTRODUCTION: OUR GOD REIGNS

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

sov·er·eign [sov-rin, sov-er-in, suhv-] noun 1. a monarch; a king, queen, or other supreme ruler. 2. a person who has sovereign power or authority. 3. a group or body of persons or a state having sovereign authority. adjective 5. belonging to or characteristic of a sovereign or sovereignty; royal. 6. having supreme rank, power, or authority. excellence, etc.

7. supreme; preeminent; indisputable: a sovereign right. 8. greatest in degree; utmost or extreme. 9. being above all others in character, importance, excellence, etc.

sov·er·eign·ty [sov-rin-tee, suhv-] noun, plural -ties. 1. the quality or state of being sovereign. 2. the status, dominion, power, or authority of a sovereign; royalty. 3. rightful status, independence, or prerogative.

Psalm 93:1The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty; The LORD has clothed and girded Himself with strength; Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved.

Psalm 99:1The LORD reigns, let the peoples tremble; He is enthroned above the cherubim, let the earth shake!

Revelation 19:6Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, “ Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.

I. GOD’S SOVEREIGN WILL

I. GOD’S SOVEREIGN WILL

A. The Truth of God’s Sovereign Will

1. God’s sovereign preservation

God keeps all created things existing and maintaining the properties with which he created them.

Wayne Grudem

Hebrews 1:3

Colossians 1:17

I. GOD’S SOVEREIGN WILL

A. The Truth of God’s Sovereign Will1. God’s sovereign preservation

2. God’s sovereign will

God cooperates with created things in every action, directing their distinctive properties to cause them to act as they do.

Wayne Grudem

Ephesians 1:11also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,

a. Inanimate Creation Psalm 135:5-7

(Job 37:6ff)

b. Animals Psalm 104:24-30

c. Random eventsProverbs 16:33The lot is cast in the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD.

d. Events caused by God and creatures

e. Government Daniel 2:21aIt is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and established kings…

f. Every aspect of our lives i. our days, Psalm 139:16 ii. our occupation, Jeremiah 1:4, 5 iii. our steps, Jeremiah 10:23 iv. our successes, 1 Chronicles 29:10-13 v. our possessions, 1 Corinthians 4:7

vi. our plans, Proverbs 16:9The mind of a man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.

vii. what we say, Proverbs 16:1The plans of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.

ix. our children, Psalm 127:3Behold, children are a gift of the LOrD, The fruit of the womb is a reward.x. our salvation, Ephesians 1:4just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.

I. GOD’S SOVEREIGN WILLA. The Truth of God’s Sovereign Will

B. The Trouble We Have With God’s Sovereign Will

I. GOD’S SOVEREIGN WILLA. The Truth of God’s Sovereign Will

B. The Trouble We Have With God’s Sovereign Will

C. Reconciling God’s Sovereign Will With the Reality of Evil

C. Reconciling God’s Sovereign Will With the Reality of Evil

1. Know the truth

C. Reconciling God’s Sovereign Will With the Reality of Evil

1. Know the truth

2. Know when to stop talking

CONCLUSION: TENSION THAT LEADS TO TRUST

Ephesians 1:11also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,

Philippians 2:12, 13So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

I. GOD’S SOVEREIGN WILL

II. GOD’S SOVEREIGN PURPOSES

The Providence (Sovereignty) of God

Selected Scripture

INTRODUCTION: Our God Reigns

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

sov·er·eign [sov-rin, sov-er-in, suhv-] noun

1. a monarch; a king, queen, or other supreme ruler. 2. a person who has sovereign power or authority. 3. having supreme rank, power, or authority. excellence, etc.

God cooperates with created things in every action, directing their distinctive properties to cause them to act as they do.

Wayne Grudem

1. Salvation, Ephesians 1:5

Ephesians 1:5He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will.

1. Salvation, Ephesians 1:5

2.Sanctification, Philippians 2:12, 13

Philippians 2:12, 13…work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

1. Salvation, Ephesians 1:5

2.Sanctification, Philippians 2:12, 13

3.Mundane Events, James 4:13-15

1. Salvation, Ephesians 1:5

2.Sanctification, Philippians 2:12, 13

3.Mundane Events, James 4:13-15

4. Events described as “bad” or “evil”

Job 2:10But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity? In all this, Job did not sin with his lips.

Genesis 45:5-7Now don’t be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life…God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance.

Genesis 50:19, 20But Joseph said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.’”

Ephesians 1:11also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,

Job 42:2I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.

If you don’t have a firm grasp of the Sovereignty of God before bad times come, bad times will inform your theology instead of letting your theology inform your bad times. Scott Carlson

II. GOD’S SOVEREIGN PURPOSES

II. GOD’S SOVEREIGN PURPOSES

A. TO BRING UNBELIEVERS TO AN END OF THEMSELVES.

Psalm 107

B. TO BRING BLESSINGS AND MATURITY TO THE LIVES OF BELIEVERS.

B. TO BRING BLESSINGS AND MATURITY TO THE LIVES OF BELIEVERS.

Romans 8:28-30

1. The Believer’s Good

B. TO BRING BLESSINGS AND MATURITY TO THE LIVES OF BELIEVERS.

Romans 8:28-30

1.The Believer’s Good2. The Believer’s Growth

Hebrews 12:5-6…My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by Him; for those whom the Lord loves, He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives.

B. TO BRING BLESSINGS AND MATURITY TO THE LIVES OF BELIEVERS.

Romans 8:28-30

1.The Believer’s Good2.The Believer’s Growth3. The Believer’s Glorification,

Romans 8:18

C. FOR HIS OWN REASONS

C. FOR HIS OWN REASONS

1.For His Glory, Isaiah 48:11

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

Isaiah 42:8I am the LORD, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, nor My praise to graven images.

C. FOR HIS OWN REASONS

1.For His Glory, Isaiah 48:112.For His Pleasure, Psalm 115:3,

135:6, Philippians 2:12, 13

Psalm 115:3But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases.

Psalm 135:6Whatever the LORD pleases, He does, In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps.

Philippians 2:13for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

C. FOR HIS OWN REASONS

1.For His Glory, Isaiah 48:112.For His Pleasure, Psalm 115:3,

135:6, Philippians 2:12, 133. To Know Him Better

Isaiah 66:7-9Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she gave birth to a boy.Who has heard of such a thing? Who has seen such things?...Shall I not bring to the point of birth and not give delivery?” says the LORD.

CONCLUSION: Why the Sovereignty of God is special to me…1. It helps me pray

CONCLUSION: Why the Sovereignty of God is special to me…1. It helps me pray2.It helps me trust Him

CONCLUSION: Why the Sovereignty of God is special to me…1. It helps me pray2.It helps me trust Him3. It teaches me that life is not about me , Job 13:15