Site Index
Site Index
"Insights" from the New Testament Greek
By Bob Jones, Northside Bible Church, Jacksonville Florida
God has no "unfulfilled desires" - the SOVEREIGNTY of God
"Sovereign" means absolute control and rulership. Our God is a Sovereign God who decreed His whole plan before the first creature was created! I DO NOT FIND ANYWHERE IN SCRIPTURE THAT OUR GOD HAS ANY UNFULFILLED DESIRES.
Eph 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 (boule = decree) OF HIS OWN WILL (thelo = desires). God's DECREE, what He has stated will happen throughout history, arises from His DESIRES. What God has decreed is what God has desired from His WILL, or what He wants.
The Scripture states that God either causes or consciously and purposefully allows every action and reaction in His Perfect Plan. God is NOT the author of sin, but God allows sin to occur from human and angelic volition, when it fits His purposes.
The Scriptures teach that God is in complete control of His creation and that no action can occur, from Satan or man, unless it fits God's perfect will and plan.
God has revealed at least three reasons for His perfect plan:
To glorify Himself: Isa. 43:7, 1 Cor. 1:27-29, Rev. 4:11.
To demonstrate His many faceted wisdom to men and angels: Eph. 3:9-11, 1 Pet. 1:12.
To bring many new sons into glory Heb. 2:10.
The following verses are a few among many that state what we mean when we talk about the sovereignty of God:
Isa 14:24 The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely AS I HAVE THOUGHT, SO SHALL IT COME TO PASS; AND AS I HAVE PURPOSED, [SO] SHALL IT STAND.
Rev 4:10&11 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, THOU ART WORTHY, O LORD, TO RECEIVE GLORY AND HONOUR AND POWER: FOR THOU HAST CREATED ALL THINGS, AND FOR THY PLEASURE THEY ARE AND WERE CREATED.
Isa 55:11 So shall MY WORD be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but IT SHALL ACCOMPLISH THAT WHICH I PLEASE, AND IT SHALL PROSPER [IN THE THING] WHERETO I SENT IT.
Prov 16:4 THE LORD HATH MADE ALL [THINGS] FOR HIMSELF: YEA, EVEN THE WICKED FOR THE DAY OF EVIL.
Psa 65:4 Blessed [is the man whom] thou CHOOSEST, AND CAUSEST TO APPROACH [UNTO THEE, that] he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, [even] of thy holy temple.
Rev 1:18 Jesus has the keys of death and Hell. No one on this planet can die except when Jesus consciously "turns the key" causing or allowing it to happen. No one can go to Hell unless Jesus has shown them enough information about God to say to them "you have no excuse", and "turn the key". See also Rom 1:18-20.
GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY OVER SATAN:
Rev he is already defeated and doomed.
The Book of Job
GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE NATIONS:
Rom 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. FOR THERE IS NO POWER (exousia = authority) BUT OF GOD: THE POWERS (exousia) THAT BE ARE ORDAINED OF GOD.
Dan 4:35 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?
Prov 21:1 God is in charge of the rulers of this earth, and makes sure that they do His will.
Rom 9:17 Pharaohs rebellion was used by God to glorify Himself and make His power known throughout the world.
Acts 17:26 God even ordained the boundaries of the nations.
GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE WHOLE CREATION:
Psa 148:8 God uses fire, hail, and bad weather to fulfill His will.
Eze 13:11-13 God uses weather to discipline the nations.
Psa 147:8 and 15&16 God causes rain, clouds, snow, and even causes the grass to grow.
Job 28:24-28 God has even decreed where every lightening bolt will strike.
Ex 4:11 God says that He is even in charge of birth defects.
Matt 10:29 Not even a sparrow can die without the express will purpose and design of Almighty God.
Isa. 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil (evil = Hebrew "calamities") . I the Lord do all these things.
Prov 16:7 God can even make our enemies to be at peace with us.
Psa 75:6&7 Our promotions ultimately come from God.
It should be a great comfort to us to know that there are no "accidents" in the Christian life, but that every detail of our lives was carefully thought through by Almighty God before it was allowed to become part of God’s plan. Even the "trouble" God allows us to get into, and the deeds of the very Devil himself can be used by God in a positive way to glorify Himself and bless His people!
In Genesis 50:20, we find an excellent illustration, where Joseph’s brothers meant evil to him when they threw him in the pit, but God meant it unto much good!
It is also good to know that God has the power to bring about all the promises of the Bible in our lives when we stay in fellowship and seek to live by His Word.
1 Pet 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
Bob Jones