God is absolutely sovereign. That means that nothing happens without His say so. No one and no “thing” can happen without God knowing. But it means more than that. It means that everything that does happen, God, allows to happen. This then is where a lot of confusion comes in because of sloppy doctrine. It sounds like this “God is love and will do only good” or “God will never punish” or “God will never test you” or “God wants you to only have prosperity”. What a load of nonsense and to people who actually believe that I have this to say. You do not know your God friend! So for today we will look at what the bible actually teaches about this doctrine and then you can maybe, by the grace of God make a better decision on what you believe.
First of all, if God does not punish, test or put you through hard times in your life then what is there to fear? The bible is absolutely clear that we need to fear God.
Deut 6
24 And the LORD commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day.
Psalm 25
12 Who is the man that fears the LORD? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses.
The bible says that our God is a consuming fire and it is Him we should fear above all and above men
Deut 4
24 For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
Hebrews 12
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
29 For our God is a consuming fire.
Matthew 10
28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Now that we have established that we should fear God the question is why? Why should we fear God if He does not punish strike or test? To answer that we have to dig a little deeper into the bible and not only rely on what lukewarm churches and pastors are preaching as to not lose members. Remember God stays the same, He never changes and never will. That means what He said in the Old Testament still rings true today and will forevermore. Jesus said:
Matthew 5
18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
God stays the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Hebrews 13
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Malachi 3
5 And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness Against sorcerers, Against adulterers, Against perjurers, Against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans, And against those who turn away an alien — Because they do not fear Me,” Says the LORD of hosts.
6 ” For I am the LORD, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.
Dear friend if we are to believe that God is absolutely sovereign then surely we have to realize that it is God that sends punishment and bad situations for testing. Too often we blame Satan for situations in our life. Thereby ascribing Satan more power than he has. I am sure Satan does not mind taking the blame because it makes him seem all-powerful when in fact it was God that send the situation or tragedy. Sure Satan does come only to steal kill and destroy but he does so with permission from God. God allows it only for the purpose of testing. Friend if you can’t be tested you can’t be trusted. How can we be sure of this? This is what Jesus said on the matter when He spoke to Peter. He said that Satan has requested permission to test him and the other disciples. See he can do nothing without permission.
Luke 22
31 “Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has asked permission to sift all of you like wheat,
32 but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail. When you have come back, you must strengthen your brothers.”
Another example of this is in the book of Job. God is pleased with Job but as always Satan intervenes and accuses Job before God. He says that the only reason Job loves God is because God blesses Him. To test Job God gives permission to Satan to strike Job. Actually, there was a hedge of protection around Job and only after God allowed it or removed the hedge could Satan do anything to Job.
Job 1
9 So Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing?
10 Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.
11 But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”
12 And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
Do you see the sovereignty of God? If we say or believe anything less than that we make God less than what He is. Then God is not all-powerful or omniscient or omnipresent. There is nothing that is out of the hands of God. Nothing surprises God and God certainly does not have a backup plan just in case His first plan does not work. No God knows the beginning from the end, He was at the beginning just as He is here right now at the same time. Just as He is at the end, at the same time. He will never have been, no, He simply is! That’s why when Moses asked His name He simply said “I am”. Another instance where we can see the sovereignty of God is in 2 Samuel 24 and 1 Chronicles 21. Many unbelievers and believers alike consider this instance as a contradiction in the bible. But in fact it serves as powerful proof of the sovereignty of God. You see in those two books of the Old Testament we have a copy of a story. So they both speak of the same story or history of what happened in the history of King David.
2 Samuel 24
1 And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.
2 For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people.
1 Chronicles 21
1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.
2 And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beer- sheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it.
So just to recap the story, David counts Israel and God punishes Isreal. God gave David three choices concerning punishment and David chose pestilence. 70 000 people die that day in Israel. So who is it that inspired or led David to do such a thing? In Samuel, it says God did but in Chronicles it says Satan did. The answer is clear and there is no contradiction. God became angry with the nation of Israel and used David the King to do something so that He could punish them. God simply gave the order and Satan followed it because God is absolutely sovereign and when He speaks the mountains move and waters stand still!
In the prophets we also learn about the sovereignty of God by His own words.
Isaiah 45
5 I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:
6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.
7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
Wow isn’t that interesting. God created evil? Could that be right? Absolutely! But here’s the thing that you need to realize. You will notice that God says He forms the light but he creates the darkness. If you remember our previous studies we saw that God forms the spirit(permanent) in man but creates the flesh(temporary). Also, Jacob, he created(Temporary) but Israel He formed(permanent)(Isaiah 43:1) You see the Light is permanent or eternal and we know Him. His name is Jesus! The darkness is temporary and we also know him. His name is Rahab the satan.
John 1
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.
Luke 2
32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”
But why exactly would God then make evil and darkness? What could possibly be the purpose of darkness? Jesus said that unless a seed falls in the ground and dies it cannot bear fruit. That seed when it goes in the ground is in total darkness and in that total darkness it dies. It seems to vanish in the darkness and end but in actual fact it germinates and starts growing a new life. So out of the darkness the seed grows. You see for us to gain the permanent or eternal(Spirit) we first have to put off the temporary. We die to soul and flesh.
John 12
24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.
25 He who loves his life(soul) will lose it, and he who hates his life(soul) in this world will keep it for eternal life.
26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.
Let’s continue in the prophets and what the Lord said concerning His sovereignty.
Isaiah 10
12 Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Lord has performed all His work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, that He will say, “I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his haughty looks.”
13 For he says: ” By the strength of my hand I have done it, And by my wisdom, for I am prudent; Also I have removed the boundaries of the people, And have robbed their treasuries; So I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man.
14 My hand has found like a nest the riches of the people, And as one gathers eggs that are left, I have gathered all the earth; And there was no one who moved his wing, Nor opened his mouth with even a peep.”
15 Shall the ax boast itself against him who chops with it? Or shall the saw exalt itself against him who saws with it? As if a rod could wield itself against those who lift it up, Or as if a staff could lift up, as if it were not wood!
16 Therefore the Lord, the Lord of hosts, Will send leanness among his fat ones; And under his glory He will kindle a burning Like the burning of a fire.
17 So the Light of Israel will be for a fire, And his Holy One for a flame; It will burn and devour His thorns and his briers in one day.
18 And it will consume the glory of his forest and of his fruitful field, Both soul and body; And they will be as when a sick man wastes away.
19 Then the rest of the trees of his forest Will be so few in number That a child may write them.
This is such an amazing passage of scripture. The Lord makes it clear that it is He that chops with the ax. The king of Assyria is just the ax but it is the Lord that uses it. It is also interesting that we see the Light here again and what the light will do. The Light, or the Holy One, will be a flame that will devour thorns and briers. It “the Light” will consume both soul and body which again speaks of dying to self in soul and flesh. No wonder Jesus said take up your cross or die. That is the only way to follow Him.
Amos 3
3 Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?
4 Will a lion roar in the forest, when he has no prey? Will a young lion cry out of his den, if he has caught nothing?
5 Will a bird fall into a snare on the earth, where there is no trap for it? Will a snare spring up from the earth, if it has caught nothing at all?
6 If a trumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid? If there is calamity in a city, will not the LORD have done it?
7 Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.
8 A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken! Who can but prophesy?
The Lord makes it clear that if there is a calamity, He has done it! Dear friend, don’t be fooled by a seeker-friendly church system, that says goodly things because they want to tickle your ears to come back or give them money. Rather know your God, He is a consuming fire!
Isaiah 54
16 ” Behold, I have created the blacksmith Who blows the coals in the fire, Who brings forth an instrument for his work; And I have created the spoiler to destroy.
17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the LORD.
So often today verse 17 of the passage above is quoted but never verse 16. God makes it clear it is He created(temporary) the blacksmith and it is God that blows the coals. It is God that sends the spoiler but if we are led by the Spirit of God and not flesh then no weapon formed against us will prosper.
Romans 8
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
Let us remember who it is that we serve. It is the creator of heaven and earth, who spoke and things came into being. It is not a God who lives in a church building that is happy to see you on Sundays. No we serve the living God the King of all. The God that when He shows His face the heavens and the earth flee.
Revelation 20
11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.
Revelation 1
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Till next time
God bless
Recent Comments