The Landmark of The Sovereignty Of God

 Temple Baptist Church - 2-25-2024

1 Chronicles 29:10-13

 

Introduction:  When mentioning the sovereignty of God, because of the Calvinistic Movement of our day, I always give an opening disclaimer.  We totally reject the damnable heresy of Calvinism, also called Reformed Theology.  Theology has never need reformation!  Theo – God  logy – knowledge or study of.

 

A.  God is ABSOLUTELY SOVEREIGN!!  He does what He desires, when He desires, where He desires.  He answers to nothing or no man.

 

1.  God stands alone, the pinnacle of all existence, self-existing (Jehovah God – LORD), all powerful (omnipotent), all knowing (omniscient),  everywhere present (omnipresent), creator of all things, ruler of all things, sustainer of all things, He needs nothing, and He needs nobody!

 

2.  God is Absolutely Sovereign:   completely, entirely, totally, utterly sovereign!  HE TRULY STANDS ALONE! 

 

3.  God has no comparison. God has no competition. 

 

B.  The word “sovereignty” or “sovereign” is not found in your Bible, but neither are the words “trinity” or “rapture” found there either.  Since the word “sovereignty” is not a bible word, let us look at its definition for clarification:

 

Sovereignty – Free from all external control; reigning or royal authority; the dominion of a monarch, the complete authority to govern a state; exclusive in right to control one’s thoughts and actions; autonomous; greatest in status, authority, and power; supreme; exceptional in quality.

 

C.  The doctrine of the “Sovereignty of God” is one of both the least understood and the most misunderstood.  Many believe that things happen by chance instead of through divine providence.  I do not believe in luck.  I believe in the providence of an all-knowing, thrice holy God!

 

D.  Sovereignty is a doctrine that we have allowed the Calvinists to “hold hostage.”  Every time I use the word, I feel that we must give a disclaimer concerning Calvinism. 

 

E.  By the sovereignty of God, it is to be understood that—as Creator of all things both visible and invisible—God is both owner or and ruler over all things. There are many verses in the Bible that show God’s absolute sovereignty and I have listed some for you if you receive or want to receive this sermon in print.

 

Deuteronomy 32:39  See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.

 

1 Chronicles 29:11  Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.

 

Psalms 115:3  But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

 

Isaiah 45:9  Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?

 

Ezekiel 18:4  Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

 

Daniel 4:35  And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

 

Matthew 6:13  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

 

Matthew 20:15  Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?

 

Romans 9:20  Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

 

Colossians 1:16  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

 

Revelation 4:11  Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

 

F.  Because God is sovereign:

 

1.  He Requires No Counsel - Romans 11:34  For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

 

2.  He Seeks No Advice - 1 Corinthians 2:16  For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

 

3.  He Lacks No Wisdom - James 1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

 

4.  He Asks No Permission – Job 33:13  Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.

 

5.  He Answers To No Man - Romans 9:20  Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

 

G.  In our text, 1 Chronicles 29:10-13, for this morning, we have another Full Mention Principle of Bible Interpretation.  If there had been no other of the afore mentioned verses in the Bible, THESE VERSES SAY IT ALL.

 

1.  Verses 10.  God is Sovereign in His Person.  “Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.”

 

1 Timothy 6:15-16  Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;  (16)  Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

 

There was none before Him, there will be none after Him, and there is none like Him! You cannot do anything about Him.  You cannot change Him.  You cannot circumvent Him.  You cannot ignore Him.  And you had better not die without Him!

 

2.  Verse 11.  God is Sovereign in His Power.  “Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty”

 

Matthew 28:18  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

 

3.  Verse 11.  God is Sovereign in His Possession.  “for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine;”

 

Colossians 1:15-16  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:  (16)  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

 

4.  Verse 11.  God is Sovereign in His Position.  “thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all”

 

1 Timothy 1:17  Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

 

5.  Verse 12.  God is Sovereign in His Performance.  “Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.”  

 

Psalms 75:6-7  For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.  (7)  But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

 

6.  Verse 13.  God is Sovereign in His Praise.  “Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.”

 

Revelation 4:9-11  And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,  (10)  The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,  (11)  Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

The Sovereignty Of God

 Temple Baptist Church - 1-31-2021

1 Chronicles 29:10-13

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  God is absolutely Sovereign.  The words “absolutely” and “sovereign” are synonyms instead of our usual oxymorons that I use that are antonyms.  My word processor tried to remove absolutely but I did not allow.  God is ABSOLUTELY SOVEREIGN!!  He does what He desires to do anytime He desires to do it!

 

B.  The word “sovereignty” or “sovereign” is not found in your Bible but neither are the words “trinity” or “rapture” found there either.  Since the word “sovereignty” is not a bible word, let us look at its definition for clarification:

 

Sovereignty – Free from all external control; reigning or royal authority; the dominion of a monarch, the complete authority to govern a state; exclusive in right to control one’s thoughts and actions; autonomous; greatest in status, authority, and power; supreme; exceptional in quality.

 

C.  The doctrine of the “Sovereignty of God” is one of both the least understood and the most misunderstood.  Many believe that things happen per chance instead of through divine providence.  I do not believe in luck.  I believe in the providence of an all-knowing, thrice holy God!

 

D.  Sovereignty is a doctrine that we have allowed the Calvinists to “hold hostage.”  Every time we use the word, we feel that we must give a disclaimer concerning Calvinism. 

 

E.  By the sovereignty of God, it is to be understood that—as Creator of all things both visible and invisible—God is both owner or and ruler over all things. There are many verses in the Bible that show God’s absolute sovereignty and I have listed some for you if you receive or want to receive this sermon in print.

 

Deuteronomy 32:39  See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.

 

1 Chronicles 29:11  Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.

 

Psalms 115:3  But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

 

Isaiah 45:9  Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?

 

Ezekiel 18:4  Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

 

Daniel 4:35  And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

 

Matthew 6:13  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

 

Matthew 20:15  Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?

 

Romans 9:20  Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

 

Colossians 1:16  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

 

Revelation 4:11  Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

 

F.  Because God is sovereign:

 

1.  He Requires No Counsel - Romans 11:34  For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

 

2.  He Seeks No Advice - 1 Corinthians 2:16  For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

 

3.  He Lacks No Wisdom - James 1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

 

4.  He Asks No Permission – Job 33:13  Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.

 

5.  He Answers To No Man - Romans 9:20  Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

 

G.  In our text for this morning, we have another Full Mention Principle of Bible Interpretation.  If there had been no other of the afore mentioned verses in the Bible, these verses have said it all.

 

1.  Verses 10.  God is Sovereign in His Person.  “Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.”

 

 

1 Timothy 6:15-16  Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;  (16)  Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

 

There was none before Him, there will be none after Him, and there is none like Him! You cannot do anything about Him.  You cannot change Him.  You cannot circumvent Him.  You cannot ignore Him.  And you had better not die without Him!

 

2.  Verse 11.  God is Sovereign in His Power.  “Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty”

 

Matthew 28:18  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

 

3.  Verse 11.  God is Sovereign in His Possession.  “for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine;”

 

Colossians 1:15-16  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:  (16)  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

 

4.  Verse 11.  God is Sovereign in His Position.  “thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all”

 

1 Timothy 1:17  Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

 

5.  Verse 12.  God is Sovereign in His Performance.  “Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.”  

 

Psalms 75:6-7  For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.  (7)  But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

 

6.  Verse 13.  God is Sovereign in His Praise.  “Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.”

 

Revelation 4:9-11  And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,  (10)  The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,  (11)  Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

The Goodness And Severity Of God

Temple Baptist Church - 1-13-2019

Romans 11:11-24

Introduction: 

A.  Verse 11 – The Nation of Israel rejected Christ and the Gospel was then preached to the Gentiles.  As the Nation of Israel slumbers, the Church of the Living God grows.

B.  The diminishing of the Jews became the riches of the Gentiles.  We are saved tonight because of the graciousness of God.

C.  Verse 11 – the rise of the Church stimulated jealousy in Israel. 

D.  Verse 14 – “Emulation” – to excite or stimulate to rivalry.  Through the mercy and wisdom of God, the diminishing spiritually of Israel has been a blessing to the world.

1.  The Establishment of the Church, the body of Christ.  Verse 11 – “through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles.”

2.  The Enrichment of the world.  Verse 12 – “the riches of the Gentiles.”  We have prospered because of the dispersion of the Jew.  Look at the science that they have brought to us; look at the riches they have brought to us.

3.  The Establishment of the Nation of Israel.  Verse 11 – “for to provoke them to jealousy.”  Jealousy will show someone where their true love lies and bring them back to where they belong.  Jews are now returning to the Promised Land through the help of the Gentile nations

E.  Verse 15 – National Regeneration of Israel. “what shall the receiving of them be.”  Ezekiel, chapter 37, “The Valley of the Dry Bones.”

F.  Verse 16 – National Re-consecration.  “For if the firstfruit be holy, the lumpis also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.”  Israel will once again turn to God in true holiness, not outward Phariseeism. 

G.  Verses 16, 32 – National Reconstruction.  “for God is able to graff them in again.”  Israel is one of the most powerful nations on earth.

1.  Most people only see one side of God.

            a.  Some only see His goodness. (normally these are liberal thinkers)

                        1)  All will be in Heaven one day.

                        2)  There is no literal burning Hell.

            b.  Some only see His severity.  (normally these are pharisaical thinkers)

1)  They do not understand God’s love.

                        2)  They do not understand God’s grace.

                        3)  They do not understand God’s longsuffering.

2.  An individual needs a proper perspective of God.

a.  God is good - 1 Chronicles 16:34  O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.

1)  God Is Good Because Of His Mercy (Mercy is not getting what you deserve) - Lamentations 3:22-23  It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

2)  God Is Good Because Of His Love - Romans 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

3)  God Is Good Because Of His Grace (Grace is getting what you do not deserve) - Ephesians 2:7  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

4)  God Is Good Because Of His Longsuffering - Romans 2:4  Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

2 Peter 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:15  And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

b.  God is severe - Hebrews 10:31  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.  Hebrews 12:29  For our God is a consuming fire.

1)  The Flood - Genesis 6:7  And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

2)  Sodom and Gomorrah - Genesis 19:24  Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;

3)  Nadab and Abihu - Leviticus 10:1-2  And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.  And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

4)  Korah - Numbers 16:31-34  And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them:  And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that [appertained] unto Korah, and all their goods.  They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.   And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also.

5)  Mt. Ebal and Mr. Gerizim - Deuteronomy 11:26-27  Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;  A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day:

6)  Ananias and Sapphira - Acts 5:5, 10  And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.

7)  The list could go on – 1 Corinthians 10:6-12  Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.  Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.  Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.  Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.  Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

1.  God Is Good To The Nation That Fears Him.

Psalms 33:12  Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

Psalms 144:15  Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.

    God Is Severe To The Nation That Rejects Him.

Psalms 9:17  The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.

Deuteronomy 29:28  And the LORD rooted them out of their land in anger, and in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as it is this day.

2.  God Is Good To The Saint That Fears Him.

Psalms 34:7  The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

Psalms 111:5  He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.

Psalms 147:11  The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.

   

     God Is Severe To The Saint That Refuses To Serve Him.

Hebrews 10:26-31  For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,  But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.  He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:  Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?  For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

1 Corinthians 5:5  To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

1 Corinthians 11:30  For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

3.  God Is Good To The Sinner That Accepts His Salvation.

John 5:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Psalms 40:2-3  He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.  And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

    God Is Severe To The Sinner That Rejects His Salvation.

Revelation 14:10  The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

Proverbs 1:24-29  Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;  But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:  I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;  When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.  Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:  For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:

Romans 2:9  Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;