Oh Sovereign Lord!
All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?”
Daniel 4:35
Dear Friends, Is God up in heaven wondering what went wrong in the earth, constantly fretting over what mankind will do next, or is he truly in absolute control over nature and history. I suggest the latter, but let’s take a look at what the bible has to say concerning the Sovereignty of God. The word “sovereign” is used 303 times in the bible and always refers to the Most High God, ruler of heaven and earth and the Creator of the same. Just think how ridiculous it would be to say that God created the universe, but he is not in control of what takes place in it. Well the truth is God not only controls nature and history, but he literally sustains the entire universe by his power, and orders the events of his entire creation to accomplish his purposes and plans.
Sovereign- supreme in power, possessing absolute dominion and authority
The bible says that God is Sovereign. He possesses absolute dominion and authority over all things.
He created all things:(Gen 1:1,Ex 20:11,Isa 40:26,28,Jer 32:17, John 1:1-3, Acts 17:24, Col 1:16-17, Heb 1:2,Rev 10:6)
Revelation 4:11-“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”
He possesses all things:(Exodus 9:29,19:5,Duet 10:14,1 Chr 29:11,Job 41:11, Psalms 24:1,89:11)
1 Chronicles 29:11-“Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.”
He controls nature:(Ex 9:23, Job 37:1-13, Psalm 147:16-18,148:8, Jer 14:22, Mark 4:38-41, Revelation 16:1-9, 16:17-21)
Amos 4:13-“He who forms the mountains, creates the wind, and reveals his thoughts to man, he who turns dawn to darkness, and treads the high places of the earth the LORD God Almighty is his name.”
He holds the power of life and death-(Gen 2:7, Job 14:5, Psalm 104:29, Isaiah 42:5, Daniel 5:23, John 11:25-27, 11:43-44, Acts 17:25)
Job 34:14-15-“If it were his intention and he withdrew his spirit and breath, all mankind would perish together and man would return to the dust.”
He arranges the circumstances of history according to his purpose and plan–
(Psalm 33:11,Ecc 7:13,Isaiah 23:9,25:1,46:11,Job 12:7-25,Lam 3:37,Pr 19:21,Acts 4:27-28,Romans 8:29-30,9:22)
Ephesians 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:”
He has made all things for his purpose and plan and Glory-(Proverbs 16:4,Exodus 9:16,Isaiah 43:7,21,54:16,Acts 17:24-31,Romans 11:33-36,Rev 4:11)
Proverbs 16:4-“The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.”
Dear Friends, what an awesome God we serve. Who can fathom his plan? So as we have seen that God is definitely “the Most High above all the earth”, let us ask this fundamental question. Have you surrendered your will to him? Have you set apart Christ Jesus as Lord in your heart. Do you do his bidding? More than that, do you love him? Jesus said, “If you love me you will obey my commands”. Friends, he is the Lord, but have we allowed him to be Lord over us. You see one of the marvelous things he has done in creation is given us the ability to make free choices. The question is, will we live by the dictates of our own will? Or will we bow unto our only Sovereign and Lord? Consider this verse;
Phillipians 2:12-13-“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed– not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence– continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”
Friends I urge you today to consider the circumstances of your life as if they were specifically ordered by God, because they were. If you truly belong to him, he is accomplishing his purpose in you, and your perfect obedience will result in his highest glory, and your life will be a demonstration of his loving power and grace to a dying world. Friends, let us worship him with reverence and awe, let us offer ourselves as living sacrifices to the Great King, that we may obtain his praise, to the Glory of his kingdom. His is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory forever. Amen!
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”
Hebrews 12:28-29
