Evans, Our God is Awesome - God's Sovereignty

8/7/2019 Evans, Our God is Awesome - God's Sovereignty

1/65

orthodoxy |rdks|

authorized or generallyaccepted theory, doctrine,

or practice

Monday 24 January 2011


2/65

The Sovereigntyof God



3/65

sovereignty sv()rnt

supreme power orauthority



4/65

He is called Adonay.2 Samuel 7:22,"How great you are, O

Sovereign Lord! There is noone like you, and there is

no God but you, as we haveheard with our own ears."



5/65



6/65

Most Christians have a

small view of God.



7/65


small view of God.



8/65


small view of God.

Evans believes one reason for this

is that Christians do notunderstand 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.



9/65

Gods sovereignty concerns his

absolute rule and control over all of

creation. God rules absolutely over theaffairs of men. He sits on the throne of

the universes as Lord. Everything that

happens comes about because he eitherdirectly causes it or consciously allows

it. Nothing enters into history or could

ever exist outside of history that doesnot come under the complete control of

God

Evans



10/65








God

Evans

Gods sovereignty involves thinkingWhat does it mean?

What are the consequences of

believing this?

What about war, famine, poverty?

What about sickness and death?What about the devil?



11/65








God

Evans



12/65Monday 24 January 2011


13/65

God's sovereignty has practical

importance



14/65


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.



15/65


importance




none more worthy of worship and honor....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.



16/65


importance




none more worthy of worship and honor....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.

RickWadeMonday 24 January 2011


17/65

Gods 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.



18/65Monday 24 January 2011


19/65

1. God does what he pleases

The earth is the LORDs,

and everything in it, the

world, and all who live in

it;

Psalm 24:1

By virtue of this God cando whatever he wants

whenever he wants



20/65

1.a. God rulesYou do not have the right to tell God what to do or

how to do it - he made it, he chooses, and theBible 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.Monday 24 January 2011


21/65

Eph 1:11 - In him we were also chosen,

having been predestined according to the

plan of him who works out everything inconformity 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 gloryforever! Amen.

Rev 19:6 - Then I heard what sounded like a

great multitude, like the roar of rushing watersand like loud peals of thunder, shouting:

Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.



22/65

Eph 1:11 - In him we were also chosen,

having been predestined according to the

plan of him who works out everything inconformity 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 gloryforever! Amen.

Rev 19:6 - Then I heard what sounded like a

great multitude, like the roar of rushing watersand like loud peals of thunder, shouting:

Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.

Nothing escapes the rule of

GodNo matter what happens

God is ruling



23/65

1.b. God decides

There is no such thing as luck - thereis nothing that happens which hasnt

been through Gods 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.



24/65

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



25/65

If I choose is God in control, and ifhe is on control do I really need to

choose?

Evans suggests it is like God

having a destination that he willreach 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 ofyou.



26/65

However, Evans notes, when all

is said and done...even the route

you choose will be the one hesovereignly 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 andwomen shall praise him for all

eternity - will you do it in heaven

or hell?



27/65

1.d. Sovereignty and PrayerGod has determined what will

happen but it will not happen untilyou ask, James 4:2,

You desire but do not have, so you

kill. You covet but you cannot getwhat you want, so you quarrel andfight. 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 canthwart his plan all we can do is

cooperate with it.Monday 24 January 2011


28/65

1.e. Created for him

1 Cor 8:6...yet for us there is but one God,

the Father, from whom all things

came andfor whom we live;

and there is but one Lord, Jesus

Christ, through whom all things

came and through whom we live.

It is Gods right to do withcreation whatever he chooses -

you were created to bring glory

to God



29/65

2. Gods glory and will

The sovereignty of God

means the exercise of his

attributes in order tomaintain his glory and

accomplish his will

Evans

Men will never knock

God off his throne!



30/65

2.a. Forever Sovereign

God is omniscient- nothing

he does not know,

omnipotentnothing he

cannot do,omnipresent, no

place he doesnt exist...Gods attributes guarantee

that he will always be

sovereign - how do you revolt

against a God who is allpowerful? He knows every

thought in your mind so you

cant outwit him...Monday 24 January 2011


31/65

2.b. A Great example

...All this happened to King

Nebuchadnezzar. 29Twelve

months later, as the king was

walking on the roof of theroyal 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?

Daniel 4

Nebuchadnezar = big head God = sovereign

Who will come out on top?



32/65













33/65













34/65

31 Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came

from heaven, This is what is decreed for you, KingNebuchadnezzar: 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 youuntil 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 aboutNebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away

from people and ate grass like the ox.



35/65


36/65

His body was drenched with the dew of heavenuntil 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 fromgeneration to generation.



37/65

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, myhonor and splendor were returned to me for the gloryof 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.



38/65

2.c. Sovereignty and status

No matter how important

you are, how high you climb

etc. God is still sovereign.

Respect and honour peoplebut remember God is still in

control.

God is not intimidated bypeoples status or reputation,

or giving - we are all sinners

in need of salvation



39/65

God is not a respecter of

persons - you are who you arebecause 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 dont get proud in that, he

gave you the gifts and skillsthat you are using - so he gets

the glory



40/65

3. Gods 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



41/65

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 Gods attributes show

up best when seen against sin

Love - Rom 5:8

Holiness & Wrath are seen

against the reality of sin - Rom1:18, 9:22-23

Grace is seen majestically

against sin - Eph 2:1-7Monday 24 January 2011


42/65

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 - Rev19:1-6



43/65

3. God allows evil as he

does not with to forceobedience.

For man to function as

Gods image bearer, hehas to have the power

to choose and so evil

must exist. If not people

would just be robots


G d d l i i


44/65

3. God allows evil as he

does not with to forceobedience.

For man to function as

Gods image bearer, hehas 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

does allow his creatures to

rebel against his authority -

he then overrules their

actions for his sovereign

purposes - in allowing thisGod demonstrates his

greatness - Gen 50:20 -You

intended to harm me, but

God intended it for good toaccomplish what is now

being done, the saving of

many lives.Monday 24 January 2011

4 G d i t d


45/65

4. Gods sovereignty and our

perspective

If you as a believerunderstand Gods

sovereignty correctly, you

will understand life

properly


4 St th


46/65

4.a. Strength

Php 4:13 (ESV) - I can do

all things through him whostrengthens me.

Christ supplies - we are

totally dependent upon him.


4 St th


47/65

4.a. Strength

Php 4:13 (ESV) - I can do

all things through him whostrengthens me.

Christ supplies - we are

totally dependent upon him.

In tests, male horned dung

beetles were able to pull

1,141 times their own body

weight - the equivalent ofa person dragging six fully-

laden double decker buses.

By comparison, a leafcutterant can lift a mere 50 times

its own body weight.



48/65

4.b. Comfort in circumstances

Life has ups and downs - and

they can change rapidly.

Gods sovereignty allows us to

be sure of his love even whencircumstances 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 fid


49/65

4.c. Confidence

There is no luck, chance,

accidents in Gods sovereignty;Lord you did what I thought

you werent going to do. Thats

because you want to dosomething else in my life...go

ahead and do your thing

Evans suggests God is making

a cake in your life - someingredients taste good on their

own - others need to be mixed

and baked to taste bestMonday 24 January 2011

4 C fid


50/65

4.c. Confidence

There is no luck, chance,

accidents in Gods sovereignty;Lord you did what I thought

you werent going to do. Thats

because you want to dosomething else in my life...go

ahead and do your thing

Evans suggests God is making

a cake in your life - someingredients taste good on their

own - others need to be mixed

and baked to taste best

Rom 8:28, 38-39

And we know that in all things God worksfor the good of those who love him, who

have been called according to his

purpose. I am convinced that neitherdeath nor life, neither angels nor demons,

neither the present nor the future, nor any

powers, neither height nor depth, noranything else in all creation, will be able

to separate us from the love of God that

is in Christ Jesus our Lord.Monday 24 January 2011

4.d. The whole picture


51/65

4.d. The whole picture

When you walk under the coveringof 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 cant change people - but youcan get out of the way so that God

can run over them Evans

Fast and pray - then leave it to GodMonday 24 January 2011


52/65

4.e. Sovereignty and impossibilities

Obstacles and the fact that

something has never been

done before are irrelevantwhen faced with Gods

sovereignty.

Luke 1:37The most sinful person can

be saved - Heb 7:25



53/65

4.e. Sovereignty and impossibilities

Obstacles and the fact that

something has never been

done before are irrelevantwhen faced with Gods

sovereignty.

Luke 1:37The most sinful person can

be saved - Heb 7:25

The confidence of Paul is

shown in 2 Tim 1:12

That is why I am suffering

as I am. Yet this is no causefor shame, because I know

whom I have believed, and

am convinced that he isable to guard what I have

entrusted to him until that

day.Monday 24 January 2011

5 G d i t d hi


54/65

5. Gods sovereignty and worship

Gods sovereignty should

draw us to worship - after

all it is he who holds up

the universe by the wordof 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 Gi i G d h


55/65

5.a. Giving God honour

Worship is the correct

response to Gods

sovereignty - after all we are

thankful to get paid for

working, how much morethankful 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 worshipMonday 24 January 2011


56/65

1 Chron 29:6-13

the leaders of families, the officers of the tribes of Israel,

the commanders of thousands and commanders ofhundreds, and the officials in charge of the kings 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, eighteenthousand 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 rejoicedat 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


57/65

10 David praised the LORD in the presence of the wholeassembly, 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 ofall things.In your hands are strength and powerto exalt and givestrength to all.

13 Now, our God, we give you thanks,and praise yourglorious name.



58/65


5 b God wants your worship


59/65

5.b. God wants your worship

Most Christians are lazyand unfaithful in their

worship - they expect to be

motivated by god to

worship, not to motivatethemselves to worship.

If someone does not do a

job we call them lazy yetwe are blessed to be able

to worship God and cant

be bothered


5 b God wants your worship


60/65

5.b. God wants your worship

Most Christians are lazyand unfaithful in their

worship - they expect to be

motivated by god to

worship, not to motivatethemselves to worship.

If someone does not do a

job we call them lazy yetwe are blessed to be able

to worship God and cant

be bothered

In the year that King

Uzziah died, I saw the

Lord, high and exalted,

seated on a throne; and the

train of his robe filled the

temple.

Isaiah saw through thecircumstances and saw

God


Responding to Gods


61/65

Responding to Godssovereignty

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 yourworship 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?Monday 24 January 2011


62/65

3. Do you believe Philippians

4:13 applies to your life?

4. Are you praying and

interceding for the

Nebuchadnezers in your life?


Applying Gods sovereignty in


63/65

Applying Gods sovereignty inlife

He is to be the focus of our

worship. All glory goes to Him.

To Jesus "be glory and dominion

forever and ever. Amen," Johnsaid (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).



64/65

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 Hissovereignty 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 orpain, for the old order of things has passed

away." (Rev. 21:4).



65/65

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.htmhttp://www.probe.org/site/c.fdKEIMNsEoG/b.4225033/k.5971/The_Sovereignty_of_God.htmhttp://www.probe.org/site/c.fdKEIMNsEoG/b.4225033/k.5971/The_Sovereignty_of_God.htmhttp://www.probe.org/site/c.fdKEIMNsEoG/b.4225033/k.5971/The_Sovereignty_of_God.htmhttp://www.probe.org/site/c.fdKEIMNsEoG/b.4225033/k.5971/The_Sovereignty_of_God.htmhttp://www.probe.org/site/c.fdKEIMNsEoG/b.4225033/k.5971/The_Sovereignty_of_God.htm

Date post:	09-Apr-2018
Category:	Documents
Upload:	richard
View:	215 times
Download:	0 times

Evans, Our God is Awesome - God's Sovereignty

Documents