Understanding and Embracing God's Sovereignty

October 31, 2016

Understanding and Embracing God's Sovereignty

""The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all."" (Psalm 103:19)

It is our lack of understanding of this verse and its massive, overarching truth, that causes most of our problems.

SOVEREIGNTY MEANS

... absolute rule. There is no higher authority in heaven or earth. In fact, every king or president that rules on earth, every governmental authority, every authority in home or work, is under Him. He “puts down one and exalts another,” Psalms 75:7 says. “The king’s heart is like channels of water,” in God’s sovereign hand and He, “turns it wherever He desires” (Proverbs 21:1). He can use a king to prosper a land or destroy it, according to His judgments which are always perfectly righteous.

When those authorities recognize and submit to His leadership, those under their leadership prosper. Scan human history and you will see this glorious truth. Our King loves to prosper those who will trust and submit to Him.

But, when they rebel against that authority, we find all that results from rebellion. The worst of which, is to lose the providing, protecting hand of the King.

SOVEREIGNTY MEANS

... He has authority over my life. He made me and bought me back at Calvary. Twice over I belong to Him. God has the right to do whatever He desires with my life.

If suffering is in that equation, so that He would receive greater glory and His work be more fully accomplished, then I should do as the Acts Christians, i.e., rejoice in the privilege of suffering to advance the great cause that takes men from hell to heaven and death to life.

This is a hard truth to embrace because we see ourselves as the Master of our fate and the Captain of our own soul. But we are not. Even more often, we have forgotten why we are here. We have been redeemed to lead people into a Kingdom which has no end and is perfect in every way. Any way that our lives can be used to advance that eternal cause, we will one day see, is absolutely worth embracing.

SOVEREIGNTY MEANS

… it’s personal. One of the most defining moments of my life happened under a tree in Norman, Oklahoma. Faced with a rapid-fire series of the hardest experiences of my life, I was angry at God. Under that tree, crying out to Him, He reminded me that He is never the author of evil. Instead He was the One, in the midst of evil, who could “work all things together for good” if I would trust Him.

I had my hands tightly clenched, unwilling to receive what was happening. But under a cottonwood tree, I relaxed my hands and accepted the circumstances in my life.

Upon years of reflection, I realize now I was simply embracing the sovereignty of God. I am God’s possession and He has the right to do whatever He desires with my life. And, because I understand His character and His purposes, I can be the glad embracer of His sovereign rule.

SOVEREIGNTY MEANS

… we have the corresponding joy of seeing the goodness of our King. What helps us understand the seeming contradictions of His sovereignty, is to realize the nature of the God who rules us. Read the preceding verses of the this Psalm. No King could be better!

Perfect in lovingkindness, we must remember in all moments the motivations of God. Our King is not only loving, He is stunning in His kindness. Meditate on this. We can, like David, command our soul to bless the Lord as we “forget none of His benefits.”

He is God and He does whatever He pleases, but He is good and He always does what is right.

 





Also in Graceful Truth

REFLECTIONS ON SPIRITUAL AWAKENING (Part 15)
REFLECTIONS ON SPIRITUAL AWAKENING (Part 15)

March 15, 2023

This is the heart of revival, both personal and corporate. Revival intimates two things have occurred: a drifting and a return. We have wandered from Christ. Our hearts have become cold and lifeless. To be revived is to be brought back to that which is life itself. It’s not a return to a program or a discipline. It is to fall in love with Jesus all over again. It is a repentance unto Him.

Continue Reading

REFLECTIONS ON SPIRITUAL AWAKENING (Part 14)
REFLECTIONS ON SPIRITUAL AWAKENING (Part 14)

March 10, 2023

Is prayer a nice thing to do? Something we resort to when we are in a serious situation? A word to describe one of the disciplines of the Christian life? Secondary, but not really all that essential? Something we do as a segue between songs on a Sunday morning? Or is it the essence? The foundation? The fragrance that is to pervade everything for the serious follower of Jesus? The ultimate pathway to communion with God and the source of life and power for all we are and do?

Continue Reading

REFLECTIONS ON SPIRITUAL AWAKENING (Part 13)
REFLECTIONS ON SPIRITUAL AWAKENING (Part 13)

March 09, 2023

Why should we pray fervently for the blessing of a nationwide or worldwide spiritual awakening? Why should we unite (as Jonathan Edwards said) in “explicit agreement and visible union among God’s people in extraordinary prayer for a revival of religion and the advancement of Christ’s kingdom on earth?” Why should we seek to cooperate together and not tear apart the beginnings of His awakening in our nation?

Continue Reading