10 Attributes of God Lesson 2 Sovereignty

ATTRIBUTES OF GOD
Lesson 2
The SOVEREIGNTY of GOD
Ptr./Dr. JF Smith
Faith Missionary Bible Institute
jfrsmth@gmail.com [no “i” in jfrsmth]

A moment of reflection...
Now unto him [God] that is able to do
exceeding abundantly above all that we
ask or think, according to the power that
worketh in us.
Ephesians 3:20-21

Unto him be glory in the church by
Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world
without end.
Ephesians 3:20-21

In the beginning [time] God
created [energy] the heaven
[space] and earth [matter].
Genesis 1:1
Last time we saw that...

Since GOD preceded the beginning,
and since we know that He created
everything, owns everything, knows
everything, gives life to everything, and
can do the impossible, we can say that
GOD is worthy of our adoration, glory,
honor, praise – our worship.

GOD is OUTSIDE of His Creation
TIME
MATTER
SPACE
GOD
ENERGY
We also saw that...

But, He is also in and throughout it
Acts 17:28
For in him we live, and move, and have our
being

But, Jesus Christ entered His creation
•To declare [show us] the Father (John 1:18)
•To speak the truth to us (John 12:27)
•To become a compassionate High Priest (Heb
4:15-16)
•To die for our sins
•To rise again for our justification

Since GOD created everything, we can
say that He is the owner of all things.
GOD has creative rights, property rights,
ownership rights, and every other right…

Deuteronomy 10:14
Behold, the heaven and the heaven of
heavens is the LORD'S thy God, the earth
also, with all that therein is.
If you created it, it is yours…

This is GOD’s show!
He’s the BOSS!
GOD has rights over all things

Since God, created everything, knows everything,
can be everywhere at the same time, and sees
everything, He not only has the RIGHT, but He is
ABLE to control everything as He sees fit.
We may not understand it, but may we be given
grace to submit to it as Christians . . .
. . . even when the world will not.

ATTRIBUTES OF GOD
Lesson 2
The SOVEREIGNTY of GOD

Sovereignty defined . . .
● overall authority
● without external control
● not controlled by others
● absolute authority
● greatest of all

Remember from last lesson, nothing happens
outside of God’s sovereign will...
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance,
being predestinated according to the purpose of
him who worketh all things after the counsel of
his own will
Ephesians 1:11

And WHY… ?
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath
made us accepted in the beloved.
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first
trusted in Christ.
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the
redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of
his glory.
Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14

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

In other words . . .
God rules and overrules:
1. In the affairs of nature...
2. In the affairs of the nations...
3. In the affairs of mankind...
4. In the spiritual world…
5. In salvation...

After His own will...
...according to the purpose of him who worketh
all things after the counsel of his own will
Ephesians 1:11

1. In the affairs of nature...

God is over the times and seasons
And he changeth the times and the
seasons...
Daniel 2:21
Times : the years

God is over the weather
9 Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold
out of the north.
10 By the breath of God frost is given: and the
breadth of the waters is straitened.
11 …
Job 37:9-11

God is over the weather
12 And it is turned round about by his counsels:
that they may do whatsoever he commandeth
them upon the face of the world in the earth.
13 He causeth it to come, whether for correction,
or for his land, or for mercy.
Job 37:12-13

God is over the animal kingdom
Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one
of them shall not fall on the ground without your
Father.
Matthew 10:29
See also: Psalm 147:9, 104:20-22, 136:25, ...

15 The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou
givest them their meat in due season.
16 Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the
desire of every living thing.
Psalm 145:15-16

Clearly God cares about animals -- shouldn’t we?
A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast...
Proverbs 12:10

2. In the affairs of nations...
Nations : refers to politics; governments and leadership

God is over the nations
He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth
them: he enlargeth the nations, and
straiteneth them again.
Job 12:23

He is
over the
rulers of
this
world.
Rulers : leaders

King Nebuchadnezzar
Daniel Chapter 4
30 The king spake,
and said, Is not this
great Babylon, that I
have built for the
house of the kingdom
by the might of my
power, and for the
honour of my
majesty?

32 And they shall drive thee
from men, and thy dwelling
shall be with the beasts of the
field: they shall make thee to
eat grass as oxen, and seven
times shall pass over thee,
until thou know that the most
High ruleth in the kingdom of
men, and giveth it to
whomsoever he will

Daniel 4:34-37
34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar
lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine
understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the
most High, and I praised and honoured him that
liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting
dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to
generation:

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?

37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and
honour the King of heaven, all whose works are
truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in
pride he is able to abase.

… he does according to his will … and
none can stop him, or say to him, What
are you doing?
Daniel 4:35

. . . till thou know that the most High
ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth
it to whomsoever he will.
Daniel 4:25

But, sometimes, we forget...
The most powerful king on the earth
understood this. . .

But, we forget....
Sometimes, we achieve great things:
● Top honor
● Champion player
● Manager / Supervisor
● [You fill in the blank]

That’s why we ought to be more thankful for the
skills GOD has given us, AND more God-honoring
with them
6 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.
Psalm 75:6-7

Not just FOR, but ABOUT (who leads)
And why we need to be praying about
our leaders.

3. In the affairs of mankind...

All things we have God has given us...
For who maketh thee to differ from another? and
what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if
thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if
thou hadst not received it?
1 Corinthians 4:7

God has communicated the attribute of
sovereignty to us, but how often we fail...
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our
likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea,
and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all
the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon
the earth.
Genesis 1:26

How much suffering has man caused on creation. . .
Instead of taking care of God’s creation, we have abused it.

For we know that the whole creation
groaneth and travaileth in pain together
until now
Romans 8:22

Consider Job
Then Job answered the
LORD, and said, I know
that thou canst do every
thing, and that no thought
can be withholden from
thee…
Job 42:1-2

God allows evil for His purposes
And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that
he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not
forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the
presence of the LORD.
Job 1:12

A word about declaring things in faith...
● Declaring God’s Word or prayers to get what we want
(e.g. healing, to stop a trial or hardship, a new house,
a better job, etc.)
● Our faith (if I can only believe enough) becomes a
force that conflicts with the sovereignty of the Lord,
in order to grant our wishes…

What happens if I claim something in
faith …
And it doesn’t happen…?
Does it mean that I do not have enough faith?
That would be discouraging...

Our hardships or needs do not surprise GOD
Needs may be a way for God to shape us more into the
image of Christ (Ro 8:29).
Trials may be God purging us (Jo 15:2).
Suffering may be a way of God chastising us (He 11:6), or
other reason
Whatever the reason, we ought to pray with
understanding

The Lord taught us to cast our cares on Him...
Casting all your care upon him; for he
careth for you
1 Peter 5:7

The Lord taught us to bring our petitions to
Him...
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by
prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let
your requests be made known unto God.
Philippians 4:7

The Lord taught us to ask whatsoever of
Him...
And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that
the Father may be glorified in the Son
John 14:13
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask
any thing according to his will, he heareth us
1 John 5:14

The Lord taught us to wait on Him...
20 Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our
shield.
21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted
in his holy name.
22 Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we
hope in thee.
Psalm 33:20-22

BUT, He did NOT teach us to declare of
Him...
We learn humility and patience in petitioning
and waiting for the Lord

3 And not only so, but we glory in
tribulations also: knowing that tribulation
worketh patience
4 And patience, experience; and
experience, hope
Romans 5:3-4

For whatsoever things were written
aforetime were written for our learning,
that we through patience and comfort of
the scriptures might have hope.
Romans 15:4

Why didn’t Paul declare God’s promise of
healing by faith…?
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of
the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger
of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is
made perfect in weakness
2 Corinthians 12:7-9

Prayer is a demonstration of humility, trust in
and reliance upon Sovereign God
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord,
and he shall lift you up.
James 4:10

GOD is the power, not the faith/prayer alone...
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the
glory, for ever. Amen.
Matthew 6:13
We have no power of ourselves

The Lord did not teach us to declare answers to
prayer so that we can get what we think we should
have...
He taught us to come to our Heavenly Father…
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be
thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be
done, as in heaven, so in earth.
Luke 11:2

Thy will be done...
The sovereignty of God means He does what HE
chooses to do. . .
When HE chooses to do it. . .
How HE chooses to do it. . .
For HIS purposes.

Lord willing...
14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the
morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour,
that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth
away.
15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall
live, and do this, or that.
James 4:14-15

Lord willing...
But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such
rejoicing is evil.
James 4:16

Sovereign in the hearts of rulers...
The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD,
as the rivers of water: he turneth it
whithersoever he will.
Proverbs 21:1

Sovereign in the hearts of kings...
And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven
days with joy: for the Lord had made them joyful,
and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto
them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the
house of God, the God of Israel.
Ezra 6:22

Sovereign in the hearts of all people...
And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of
purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped
God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened,
that she attended unto the things which were
spoken of Paul.
Acts 16:14

You want someone to change?
PRAY that the Lord would work in their heart.
● Don’t push them
● Don’t force them
● Don’t nag them
● Don’t condemn them

4. In the spiritual world . . .

NO ONE can thwart [stop] His plans...
The LORD hath prepared his throne in the
heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
Psalm 103:19

Not even evil in high places...
Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All
power is given unto me in heaven and in
earth.
Matthew 28:18

Christ commanded Satan to leave...
10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence,
Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the
Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve
11 Then the devil leaveth him...
Matthew 4:10
Even the demons were terrified of Christ...

GOD did not tell us to . . .
● Fight the Devil one-on-one
● Command the spirits [to leave]
● Attack the spirits in Jesus’ name

True, our enemy is spiritual...
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but
against principalities, against powers, against the
rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual
wickedness in high places.
Ephesians 6:12

But, the LORD tells us...
1 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the
power of his might.
2 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able
to stand against the wiles of the devil...
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the
Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and
supplication for all saints
Ephesians 6:1-18

It’s not our fight, but GOD’s. . .
...for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into
our hands.
1 Samuel 17:47
But thou hast saved us from our enemies...
Psalm 44:7
...Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the
LORD of hosts.
Zechariah 4:6

And WHY?
That all the people of the earth may know that the
LORD is God, and that there is none else.
1 Kings 8:60
(See also Isaiah 41:20, Habakkuk 2:14, Psalm 83:18, 1 Samuel 17:4, …)

God’s sovereignty in salvation…
It is God’s will
For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom
I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on
whom I will have compassion.
Romans 9:15

GOD is NOT OBLIGED to give salvation to
anyone...

Scripture clearly says:
No man can come to me, except the Father which hath
sent me draw him:
John 6:44
And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can
come unto me, except it were given unto him of my
Father.
John 6:65

People exercise faith in Jesus Christ, in order to be
saved, out of the heart that God has given them to
believe
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good
pleasure.
Philippians 2:13
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons
of God, even to them that believe on his name: (13) Which were born, not
of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 1:12-13

We are saved by faith . . . in Jesus Christ
We are called upon to repent and believe in Jesus Christ
to be saved.
All those who come to Him, who call upon the name of
the Lord, shall be saved (John 6:37; Romans 10:13).
But this response which people are required to express
is the result of God’s sovereign saving work (John 1:12).

Even our FAITH is a GIFT of GOD...
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and
that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Ephesians 2:8

A dead man knows nothing...
And you hath he
quickened, who
were dead in
trespasses and
sins;
Ephesians 2:1

It’s about giving GOD the glory in HIS
Salvation
...let such as love thy salvation say
continually, The LORD be magnified;
Psalm 40:16

But man is still responsible...
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into
the world, and death by sin; and so death
passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Romans 5:12

But man is still responsible...
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God:
for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any
man
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his
own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and
sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
James 1:13-15

But man is still responsible to submit...
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?
Isaiah 45:9

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is
good; and what doth the LORD require
of thee, but to do justly, and to love
mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
Micah 6:8

GOD rules and overrules:
● In the affairs of nature...
● In the affairs of the nations...
● In the affairs of mankind...
● In the spiritual world…
● In salvation...

The LORD hath prepared his throne in the
heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
Psalm 103:19

5 For I know that the LORD is great, and that our
Lord is above all gods.
6 Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in
heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep
places.
Psalm 135:5-6

GOD’S sovereignty speaks of His CONTROL over
EVERYTHING
NOTHING is outside the control of GOD’S Hand:
● NOT any natural disaster
● NOT any illness or disease
● NOT wicked people or wicked rulers
● NOT any workings in the spiritual world

We can be comforted by God’s sovereignty
Even though it is mind-blowing; as believers, we
can enjoy peace, knowing that God works
EVERYTHING after His will
… that NOTHING happens outside of His rule
… that HE is in total control

There is NOTHING outside of GOD’S
sovereign CONTROL
And we know that all things work together for
good to them that love God, to them who are the
called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28

In other words, NOTHING happens to the
believer that GOD does not ALLOW
It then becomes a matter for the believer to
SUBMIT and ACCEPT GOD’s will in their lives,
and be at PEACE

REVIEW QUESTIONS
GOD rules and _________.
GOD ________ the times and seasons.
GOD is over the ______ kingdom.
overrules
changes
animal

REVIEW QUESTIONS
Not only does GOD have the RIGHT, but He is _____ to
control everything.
Nothing happens outside of GOD's _____.
GOD does whatsoever He ________ in heaven and earth.
ABLE
will
pleases

REVIEW QUESTIONS
Promotion comes from _____.
All things we have _____ has given us.
The Lord taught us to _____ our cares upon Him.
GOD
GOD
cast

REVIEW QUESTIONS
The Lord taught us to _____ our petitions to Him.
_____ will be done.
The king's _____ is in the hand of the LORD.
bring
Thy
heart

REVIEW QUESTIONS
____ power is given to Jesus Christ in heaven and in earth.
It's about giving GOD the _____ in His salvation.
There is _______ outside of GOD's sovereign control.
All
glory
nothing

And remember: Jesus Christ is ...
And he hath on his vesture and on his
thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS,
AND LORD OF LORDS.
Revelation 19:16

END of LESSON 2
The Sovereignty of GOD
NEXT:
Lesson 3
The OMNISCIENCE of GOD

10 Attributes of God Lesson 2 Sovereignty

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