The Sovereignty of God
Blanchester Church of Christ
November 7, 2004
Definition
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Sovreignty
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1)
2)
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Supreme excellence or an example of it.
Supreme power, freedom from external
control.
One that it sovereign, an autonomous
state
The Nature of God
The greatest thought the mind can think is
God
 A TRUE concept of God is basic to
Christianity because - No one’s religion
rises above his concept of God.
 We create God in our image instead of
trying to comprehend him at his level.

It is possible to know about God, but
not know God.
The point of this lesson: provide info to
help us better know the nature of God.
 Some say they can’t comprehend God.

John 10:10(KJV)
10The
thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and
to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and
that they might have it more abundantly.
Two types of Revelation from God
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Natural Revelation
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Nature
Manifestation of his mighty power
Romans 1:20(KJV)
20For
the invisible things of him from the creation of the
world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that
are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they
are without excuse:
Two types of Revelation from God
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Special Revelation
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The Bible
Many things can only be learned through special
revelation.
A cursory read of The Bible will reveal the
sovereignty of God
The Sovereignty of God
Think about Moses.
 Think about the task.
 Think about Moses’ reaction.
 Think about Moses going before Pharoah.

The Sovereignty of God
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Pharoah’s answer.
Exodus 5:2(KJV)
2And
Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his
voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let
Israel go.
 God’s answer
Exodus 3:14(KJV)
14And
- Given to Moses.
God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said,
Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent
me unto you.
I AM THAT I AM
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These 5 English words capture the essence
of the sovereignty of God.
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Moses expressed the eternality of God
From everlasting to everlasting
The Alpha and Omega
The great creator of all that is
He that is without beginning or end
God who is sovereign has sent me
I AM THAT I AM
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Further
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God does what he wants
When he wants
Where he wants
How he wants
Man will not dictate to God how something
will be done, where it shall be done, when it
shall be done, or what shall be done!
God Is Sovereign In His Power
Always was -- is now -- always shall be.
 Moses and the Red Sea -- Exodus 14:23-38
 Jericho -- Joshua 6
 Daniel -- Daniel 6: 16 - 23
 Shadrach, Meshec, Abednego -- Daniel 3
 David and Goliath -- 1 Samuel 17
 Uzzah
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God Is Sovereign In His Power
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Uzzah
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The story of the innocent bystander
Recap
David broke the commandments of God
David Broke God’s Commands
Exodus 25:12(KJV)
12And
thou shalt cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in
the four corners thereof; and two rings shall be in the one side
of it, and two rings in the other side of it.
1 Chronicles 15:2(KJV)
2Then
David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the
Levites: for them hath the LORD chosen to carry the ark of
God, and to minister unto him for ever.
God Is Sovereign In His Power
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Uzzah
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The story of the innocent bystander
Recap
David broke the commandments of God
David took things into his own hands
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Was told how to move the ark and Who was to
move it
Was not told to move it, when to move it or
where to move it to.
God Is Sovereign In His Power
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Uzzah
2 Samuel 6:6 - 7(KJV)
6And
when they came to Nachon’s threshingfloor, Uzzah put
forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the
oxen shook it. 7And the anger of the LORD was kindled
against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and
there he died by the ark of God.
God Is Sovereign In His Power
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Why did Uzzah die?
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1)
He flatly disobeyed God.
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Numbers 4:15(KJV) 15...but they shall not touch any
holy thing, lest they die...
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2)
God is sovereign in his power.
 God
will not be dictated to
 We should not presuppose that God needs our help
 God
did not NEED Uzzah to steady the Ark.
 NOBODY DICTATES TO GOD AND GETS BY
WITH IT!!!
How Do You Feel About Uzzah?
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Some think, “Why would God strike
someone down who is sincerely trying to
help?”
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This is the whole point of today’s lesson…
 God
is Sovereign
 He is in control
 He is ruler
 He is God
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God does NOT want just sincerity, he demands
obedience!
John 14:15(KJV)
15If ye love me, keep my
commandments.
Many are Sincere but Sincerely Wrong

Psalms 111:9(KJV) 9 He sent redemption unto his people:
he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and
reverend is his name.
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Matthew 23:9(KJV)9And call no man your father upon the
earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
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Hebrews 10:25(KJV) 25Not forsaking the assembling of
ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting
one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day
approaching.
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James 2:24(KJV) 24Ye see then how that by works a man
is justified, and not by faith only.
God is Sovereign in His Power
Not to minimize the importance of Faith in
salvation…
 Faith only goes beyond the sovereignty of
God
 REMEMBER
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No one dictates to God and gets by with it!
God is sovereign
 Always
has been, is now, and always will be!
God is Sovereign in His Power
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God’s sovereign power not always evident…
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Why would God allow Pharoah to be destroyed (Ex. 14 )
and let Ai run all over Israel (Josh 7)
Why would God destoy Jericho but none of the other
cities (Josh 6)
Why would he deliver Daniel from the Lion’s den (Dan
6) and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the firey
furnace (Dan 3) and yet let James die at the sword of
Herod (Acts 12:1) and John the Babtist at the sword of
Herod Antipas
Why would go allow Stephen and the apostles to be
martyrs and yet deliver Paul and Silas from death.
God is Sovereign in His Power
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God’s power is not always evident as we
think of evident but…
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These things we can be sure of
 We
do not know enough to question God
 Nothing causeless happens
 God is ruling
 God is in power
 God knows best because he is sovereign
 We shall not dictate to God and get by with it.
God is Sovereign in his
delegation of Power
Always has been, is now, and always shall be
 One of the best examples
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Korah, Dathan and Abiram
Numbers 16:12-14 (KJV) 12And Moses sent to call Dathan
and Abiram, the sons of Eliab: which said, We will not come
up: 13Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a
land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the
wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over
us? 14Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth
with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and
vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not
come up.
Korah, Dathan and Abiram
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Numbers 16:5(KJV) 5And he spake unto
Korah and unto all his company, saying,
Even to morrow the LORD will show who
are his, and who is holy; and will cause him
to come near unto him: even him whom he
hath chosen will he cause to come near unto
him.
Korah, Dathan and Abiram
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Numbers 16:30-35(KJV)30But if the LORD make a new thing, and
the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that
appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye
shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD. 31And it
came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that
the ground clave asunder that was under them:32And the earth opened
her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men
that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. 33They, 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.
34And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them:
for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also.35And there came out
a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men
that offered incense.
God is Sovereign in his
delegation of Power
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What is the lesson here?
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God will give authority to…
 Whom
he wills
 When he will
 Where he will
 and How he will
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Elders today.
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Hebrews 13:17(KJV) 17Obey them that have the rule over
you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls,
as they that must give account, that they may do it with
joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
God is Sovereign in His Creation
Imagine this world as just a thought in the
mind of an all-powerful God.
 Who was there to question God?
 He could create
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What he willed
When he willed
Where he willed
How he willed
God is Sovereign in His Creation
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Consider Job.
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Job wanted to ask God some questions
Instead, our sovereign God asked Job some
questions.
Job 38: 4 - 6
 4Where
wast thou when I laid the
foundations of the earth? declare, if thou
hast understanding. 5Who hath laid the
measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who
hath stretched the line upon it?6Whereupon
are the foundations thereof fastened? or
who laid the corner stone thereof;
Job 38:12, Job 38:16-18
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Job 38:12(KJV)12Hast thou commanded the morning
since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his
place;
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Job 38:16 - 18(KJV) 16Hast thou entered into the springs
of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?
17Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast
thou seen the doors of the shadow of death? 18Hast thou
perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest
it all.
Job’s answer -- Job 42:1-3
 1Then
Job answered the LORD, and said, 2I
know that thou canst do every thing, and
that no thought can be withholden from
thee. 3Who is he that hideth counsel without
knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I
understood not; things too wonderful for
me, which I knew not.
God is Sovereign in His Creation
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Yet God’s sovereignty in his creation is not
always evident as we think of evident
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Why would God make the rose with thorns, but
not the lily?
Why would God make some animals intelligent
and some not?
Why would God make some plants bear
delicious edible fruit, but some deadly fruit?
Why would God make 2/3 of the Earth covered
with water, and much of the rest unihabitable?
God is Sovereign in His Creation
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Because God is Sovereign in his creation.
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God and only God knows his purpose in
creation.
God is sovereign in his creation… Always has
been, is now and obviously from scripture
always will be!
God is Sovereign is Grace & Mercy
Always was, still is, and always shall be
 Grace & Mercy not the same but similar
 Cannot be spoken of as deserving
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Contradiction of terms
Here is an illustration of Grace and Mercy
God is Sovereign is Grace & Mercy
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Moses and Hezekiah
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Moses prayed to go over into the promised
land. Deut. 4:1-2
Moses learned about the sovereignty of God
Hezekiah prayed to God to extend his days.
God is Sovereign is Grace & Mercy
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Moses
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Moses wrote, “The Lord would not hear me.”
and he died
Hezekiah was answered, “I have heard thy
prayer” and 15 years was added to his life
A beuatiful exemplification of Romans 9:15
15For
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.
God is Sovereign is Grace & Mercy
Was this fair?
 It is absolute fairness -- God is sovereign
 Not always evident
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Why were the Jews chosen instead of Gentiles
Why was Ishmael cast out and not Isaac
Why was Esau deprived of his birthright and
Jacob made a vessel of honor.
Conclussion
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It is time that we understand the nature of the God whom we
serve.
If we actually believe in God, it is time that we start acting like it
It is time we understand that God demands more than sincerity,
he demands obedience.
It is time we understand no one lives wrong and dies right.
It is time to subscribe to the age old saying, “God said it, I
believe it and that settles it”
It is time to reach out and study the great word of God, stop
compromising and start realizing, “God is coming back and Boy
is he mad.”
Heb, 10: 31 “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the
living God
God’s Plan of Salvation
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Hebrews 11:6(KJV) 6But without faith it is impossible to
please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he
is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek
him.
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Luke 13:3(KJV) 3I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye
shall all likewise perish.
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Romans 10:10(KJV) 10For with the heart man believeth
unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made
unto salvation.
Acts 2:38(KJV) 38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and
be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ
for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the
Holy Ghost.
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