The Sovereignty of God John 3:27 Robert Pitts – 7/23/2011 Upper Springs Ministries.org
John 3:27 John answered and said, "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. This verse defies all of manâ€&#x;s thoughts of independence. Americans tend to think the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights overrules Godâ€&#x;s law. The rest of the world hold similar views.
Scriptures affirm that God is on His Throne. He directs all things by His Word.
Psalms 135:6 “Whatever the LORD pleases He does, In heaven and in earth, In the seas and in all deep places.�
Romans 11:36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
The Lord had one plan from before the foundations of the earth. Ephesians 1:11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, Acts 15:18 "Known to God from eternity are all His works.�
John 17:24 "Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world., Matthew 25:34 "Then the King will say to those on His right hand, „Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
1 Peter 1:20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Nothing happens by accident.
Whose in control? The Lord is in total control, no exceptions.
Psalms 115:3 But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases. Proverbs 16:4 The LORD has made all for Himself, Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom.
That God reigns in Heaven once was conceded, but today it is more and more denied. Man‟s wisdom denies God‟s reigns on earth. Man‟s wisdom says God is not the Creator Man‟s wisdom says God is not in control Only natural laws prevail
James 3:15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.
When God is removed from His Creation, Chaos is rampant Scenes of confusion on every side Suicide
Murder Deceit Abortion Fear
Sin is rampant Adultery
Hatred/Anger Theft Abuse Emotional Physical Sexual
Sin becomes the norm among men. 2 Timothy 3:13
But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. Luke 21:26 “Menâ€&#x;s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken.
In the religious realm After 20 centuries, Christ is still despised & rejected by men In most pulpits, Christ is dishonored by a watered down gospel Most churches are dying Almost no one is making disciples Godâ€&#x;s people are bewildered, powerless & captive
helpless,
The cause: walking by sight & not by faith 2 Corinthians 5:7
For we walk by faith, not by sight. Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Other results of walking by sight & not by faith Jude 1:8 Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. Speaking evil of such as: President, Congressmen, Mayors, Law enforcement, Preachers, Deacons, Teachers and neighbors
Problems caused by evil speaking: Disrespect for civil authority
Decay of parental authority Disregard for Godâ€&#x;s Word Irreverence and no respect Lawlessness of every despicable sort Self will
Self centeredness
As authority of Godâ€&#x;s Sovereignty is fading into background we begin to see in society: Consciences seared A total disregard for any authority
Not only will people do evil, but encourage others to do the same People will not enter in to Godâ€&#x;s Kingdom themselves nor will they allow others to enter
To change things we must start with God & move toward man, not the opposite, because everything begins with God and ends with God. John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Hebrews 1:10 And: "You, LORD, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
Psalms 102:25 Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. 2 Peter 3:5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, Trying to work back toward God will seem fruitless
All of our spiritual problems begin with our lack of faith. Faith endures and overcomes: Disappointments Hardships Heartaches Loneliness
When we become occupied by anything other than God, we have neither rest for our hearts or peace of mind.
If we are motivated or swayed by opinions & views of men, we have no rest or peace Luke 14:26 "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. God has to be number one in our lives.
Man of faith
vs.
Faithless man
Believer
Un - Believer
Spiritual minded
Carnal minded
Uses God‟s standards Uses world standards Says not my will, but Says only I — Me — Thy will My Fellowships daily with the Lord
Forgets about God until trouble arises
We must remember Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. To become all that Jesus died for us to be, we must believe and expect great things from a Great God.
To do this, we must first know Who God and His Son, Jesus Christ is. Secondly, we must know who we are in Christ.