THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD:  KINGSHIP & LORDSHIP

Romans 13:1-5 & 1 Samuel 2:6-8

 

INTRODUCTION:

 

      A.  Last week we learned that God is Sovereign.

            1.  That means God has absolute right to run the universe in any way he sees fit to His eternal glory!

            2.  None has the right to tell God what is right or wrong; what He should or should not do; how He should or should not do something; or conclude He is unjust or evil in His actions.

 

      B.  Scriptures affirms God’s sovereignty over and over again.

            1.  Ephes. 1:11 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:

          2.  Psalm 24:1 The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

          3.  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? (Parable of the House Holder and His Servants)

 

    C.  Of course you already know this, so this evening I want to get a little more specific.

          1.  When we speak in generalities is it is easy to find loopholes in which to hide or make excuses for ourselves or God.

          2.  I want to look at two specific areas in which God is sovereign

                a.  The area of nations and governmental authority which we will call Kingship

                b.  And in the area of civil authority which we will call Lordship

          3.  As sovereign, God is both King and Lord!

 

PRAY

 

We will begin this evening by looking at God as

 

I.   THE SOVEREIGN KING, Romans 13:1-5 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 5Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

 

      A.  From this passage we can ascertain a number of things that are relevant to our life style today, but first I want you to see just how much this idea of God’s sovereignty over nations and rulers permeates Scriptures.

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

          2.  Psalm 22:28 For the kingdom is the Lord's: and he is the governor among the nations.

          3.  Acts 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

          4.  Our God is sovereign over nations and governments!

 

    B.  As we come back to our focal passage for this point please note 4 things

          1.  First, God has ordained the powers that be!

                a.  That includes our president, presidential cabinet, Senate, House, State governor, and other elected officials.

                b.   We do not have to like them, but we must respect them in their official capacity.

          2.  Second, We are to be subject to those powers – this means we are to obey them and the laws that are in place

                a. There is one caveat to this – if a government or governmental official over steps his area of authority and proclaims that which is against God’s law, the Christian is to stand on God’s law!

                b.  Example:  Abortion

                      -  Abortion is a law of choice, we chose not to have them and we are not to become judge by blowing up clinics.

                      -  However, if the government demanded abortions, as in China, we are to say “no” and stand for righteousness sake.

          3.  Third, Governments are established to promote good and restrain evil – I know this is not how it happens all the time, but remember God is sovereign:  Nero was the king in Rome at the time of this writing.

                -  If we submit to the government we will do well, if not we can expect to be punished.

          4.  Fourth, Therefore we are to be subject to the powers that be for wraths sake, but also for conscience sake.

 

    C.  We do not have the mind of God, nor do we fully understand His purposes – we must trust in His wisdom.

          1.  God is all powerful, knowing and seeing

          2.  Nothing alludes His watchful eye

          3.  Governments who do not stand for His glory and honor will be judged

                -  God judged Israel with Babylon for not submitting to His rule, and then He judged Babylon for not bearing the staff of judgment in accordance with God’s righteousness.

 

    D.  One last note – we live in a nation where we have the freedom to participate in our government.

          1.  We are to take part in the government as God allows and the powers that be promote.

          2.  This is why we should stand for prayer, family, Jesus Christ as we now have the opportunity.

          3.  These freedoms do not just happen, therefore we must be involved in accordance with biblical guidelines!

 

So we have learned that God’s sovereignty is seen in government – He rules them: nations and kings (national leaders) are ordained by God, are under His watchful eye and will be judged according to His word.

 

A second area of sovereignty we must recognize is that of

 

II.  THE SOVEREIGN LORD, 1 Samuel 2:6-8 The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. 7The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. 8He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and he hath set the world upon them.

 

      A.  Just as God is sovereign in the realm of nations and governments, He is sovereign in the lives of people, individually.

            1.  There is much in life that we would like to think that we have control over, but in fact do not.

            2.  Many of these are listed in the passage above:

                  a.  God kills or makes alive

                        1)  Eccles. 8:8 states, There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war;…

                        2)  We thank doctors for their work in “extending” life, but it is really God who gives life.

                  b.  God brings people to the grave or raises them up

                        1)  Literally we see this in the N.T.

                        2)  Not so literally, we see it in the bring of life again:  One who has died (their heart has stopped) is brought back to life with the use of defibrillator

                        3)  IF this was the sole reason for life – it would be universal, but its not – God determines

                  c.  God makes the poor and the rich

                        1)  If riches came by the power of man – all men would be rich

                        2)  God empowers some to gain riches, others he does not.

                  d.  God lifts some people up and others He takes down

            3.  Folks, we have to come to grips with the fact that God is in charge of our lives.

 

      B.  God’s word has a lot to say concerning His sovereignty in the civil realm

            1.  God has planned our days

                  a.  David wrote in Psalm 139:16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them. (NASB)

                  b.  Jeremiah saw this as he penned Jer 10:23 O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

            2.  Success and failure come from him:  Psalm 75:6-7 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

            3.  God gives us our talents and abilities: with this in mind Paul asks the Corinthians, 1 Cor. 4:7 For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?  (NASB)

 

      C.  God even gives us the opportunity and willingness to be saved – we don’t do it on our own – we can’t do it on our own

            1.  John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

            2.  We do not develop faith on our own God provides it:  Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

            3.  With God doing the drawing and providing the faith necessary for salvation He enables us to call upon Him for salvation

 

      D.  God is sovereign in Civil authority!

 

III.      GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY CAN RAISE QUESTIONS?

     

      A.  Often lessons on God’s sovereignty raise a lot of questions; questions like

            1.  If God has it all planned out – what’s my part?

            2.  Where is the line between God’s sovereignty and man’s (my) free will.

            3.  If God is in control How can I change anything (why should I pray, for instance?)

 

      B.  I must admit that I do not know, other than to say we have to trust in God and His word.

            1.  God says that we have a will to chose between good and bad; right and wrong; sin and righteousness – and we are responsible for our choices

            2.  God tells us to pray – prayer changes things (check out 2 Kings 20:1-6)

            3.  Maybe this will help you:

                  a.  Charles Hodge, a noted theologian, wrote, “The authority of God is limited by nothing outside of Himself, but it is controlled, in all its manifestations, by his infinite perfections.”

                  b.  In other words, God’s sovereignty is always in line with his attributes:  power, knowledge, presence, love, mercy, grace, righteousness, truth, holiness, and justice.

            4.  We trust in God because He is God!

 

CONCLUSION:

 

      A.  The sovereignty of God as King and Lord should bring us hope

            1.  God is in charge – and we know the end of the story.

            2.  We trust in Him because we know He is in charge.

 

      B.  The sovereignty of God as King and Lord should bring us peace

            1.  We don’t have to worry about the future or our future

            2.  We trust in God to work things out

 

      C.  Remember these words from the apostle Paul:  Romans 8:28-30 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. {28} For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. {29} Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.