For the past couple of weeks, we’ve been looking at some of the attributes of God; trying to better understand what God is like. So far, we’ve considered God’s goodness and His wisdom. This morning we’re going to look at what the Bible has to say about His power. After all, what good would it do us to have a God who loves us and knows what’s best for us, but doesn’t have the ability to do anything about it? What we’re going to find is that God’s might, God’s power are infinite, limitless, and inexhaustible. He does whatever He pleases, whenever He pleases, however He pleases. And we’re going to see what a great difference it can make for us to understand and live by that truth.
God is sovereign over governments and nations
Let’s start with the big picture. The Bible teaches that God is sovereign over all the governments of the earth. Monarchies, dictatorships, democracies; every country from India to Norway to Singapore, every world leader from Bill Clinton to Vladimir Putin to Queen Elizabeth; each and every one of them, without exception, is under the sovereign power and authority of God. When you open the paper and you read about things that are happening all over the world, the Bible tells us that God is in control, God is sovereign over everything and everyone in that paper.
For example, you may have seen something in the news recently about the so-called "Millennium Summit". Over 150 heads of state gathered this week at the United Nations in New York, the largest meeting of world leaders in history. The Bible tells us that every world leader in this photo, and every nation represented by these leaders, is under the sovereign hand of God.
"The Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes." - Daniel 4:17 (NIV)
"His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. . . . 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 4:34-35 (NIV)
"For dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations." - Psalm 22:28 (NIV)
"[God’s] power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come."
- Ephesians 1:19-21 (NIV)
God is sovereign over the nations. God is sovereign over all political structures, from nations to states to counties to cities. God is sovereign over the United States Congress and the Westlake School Board. He is sovereign over the Ohio Legislature and the Bay Village City Council. He is the authority over all authorities. Not only is God sovereign over governments, He is sovereign over governors. He installs the leaders he chooses (Daniel 4:17). He raises up leaders and brings them down. He installs them and removes them, at His pleasure. Whether they are brought into power by a democratic election, an armed coup, a popular revolt, a civil war, or by any other means, God ultimately controls who is in charge in every nation, every state, and every city in the world.
· Does that mean the best people always win? No. Sometimes the worst people win. But what it does means is that God’s plans always succeed. All the time these leaders are carrying out their little plans, they are advancing God’s purposes. They may be trying to do the right thing, they may not care whether they are doing right, or they may be actively opposing what is right. It doesn’t matter. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, willingly or unwillingly, they always end up accomplishing what God had been planning all along. God oversees their works so that they always end up just where He wanted them.
How does that happen? How is it that these people, these leaders, can make free choices without being coerced in any way, and yet always end up doing what God intended? I don’t know. But listen to this:
[Review the story of Joseph] "But Joseph said to them, ’Don’t be afraid. . . You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.’" - Genesis 50:19-20 (NIV)
"This man [Jesus Christ] was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross." - Acts 2:23 (NIV)
Joseph and his brothers certainly didn’t intend to help carry out God’s plan. All they wanted to do was get rid of their brother permanently. Their intentions were anything but good. Nevertheless, their actions ended up accomplishing God’s purpose. And the people who crucified Jesus certainly had no intention of helping God out. Yet this verse tells us that the death of Christ took place according to "God’s set purpose." He planned it, and they freely chose to do it, even though they had not intention of doing the right thing.
God is superintending history so that even the plans of ungodly leaders will ultimately end up accomplishing God’s purposes. In a way that we cannot understand, God is fulfilling His good, wise, perfect will through men who in many cases have no desire to cooperate with him. Clinton or Khaddafi, Saddam Hussein or Tony Blair, it doesn’t matter. All of them are under the sovereign hand of God, fulfilling His purposes.
· What does that mean to us? Why should we care that God is sovereign over the nations?
* First, what is true of presidents and nations is true of us. God is in control of our circumstances; He’s sovereign over the events of our lives. Even if others intend to harm you or mistreat you, ultimately God’s purpose will be accomplished. Their purpose toward you may be evil, but God’s overriding purpose in it will be good.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him." - Romans 8:28 (NIV)
Because God is powerful, He is able to work good in all things, even when those things are not good in themselves. We don’t live in a random universe , where bad things just happen for no reason. We aren’t the victims of bad luck or bad karma. Everything that comes into our lives has a purpose, a good purpose, if we belong to God through Christ.
I know that it’s one thing to stand up here and read the verses, it’s another to believe that God is really in control when the bottom is falling out of your world. Here’s the key: when you’re in the midst of some apparently random and purposeless suffering - a sudden illness, an injury, a financial setback, a family crisis - don’t try to understand how this is going to work out for good. People always try to do that, but God does not promise us complete understanding. Do you think that Joseph anticipated some day becoming Prime Minister of Egypt? Of course not. He simply put His trust in God that his circumstances would turn out for the best. You need to trust in God, even though you can’t see how it’s all going to work out. That’s the essence of faith.
Knowing this gives great peace and comfort. Trying to understand doesn’t give peace. Demanding answers from God doesn’t calm our hearts. But trusting in God, relying on His promises, believing that He is going to bring good out of the most difficult circumstances; that brings peace and comfort. [Example: telling children, "It’s too hard to explain."]
* Second, it motivates us to pray. If God is in control, then it makes sense to pray, because we’re talking to the one who has the power to make changes. Lobbyists give hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions to Senators and Congressmen ever election cycle. Why? Because they think they can buy votes? Perhaps. But in most cases, I think they’re buying access. They want to know that when an issue comes up that they care about, they will be able to get an audience. They want to ensure that their phone calls will get returned. They want the opportunity to make their case directly to the one who has the power to make the change they desire. But we can do better than that. We can go directly to the highest authority, the one who’s really in charge, God himself. When we pray, we are talking to the One who has more power than anyone else.
* Third, the knowledge of God’s sovereignty gives us security and confidence, knowing that no one can do anything to us without God’s consent.. All power comes from God, and is under His control.
"Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?" Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. - John 19:10-11 (NIV)
Jesus acknowledges that Pilate has the power to sentence him to death, and to carry out the sentence. Pilate has the power to do him harm. But Pilate only has that power by God’s permission. In the same way, no one can harm us unless God allows it as a part of His good, and perfect, and wise, and loving will for us. [Example of Job: Satan must get permission to afflict God’s people. Even Satan is on a leash.]
God is worthy of our trust
Let’s consider one more verse:
"Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you." - Jeremiah 32:17 (NIV)
Nothing is too hard for God. What does that mean?
· First, God is powerful enough to care for us. He can provide for our needs . He can protect us from harm. He can supply what we lack - physically, emotionally, spiritually. His resources are unlimited.
· Second, God is able to keep his promises. Have you ever made a promise you were unable to keep? I hate making a promise to my children and not being able to keep it. But sometimes, as much as I want to, I can’t. When that happens, I feel terrible. But that never happens with God. There is no such thing as an unexpected contingency; and his power and resources are infinite. He always comes through. That’s important, because as followers of Christ, we’re banking on a lot of promises. We’re looking forward to a resurrection. We’re counting on God’s promise to forgive our sins and give us eternal life. We’re looking forward to heaven. All of those depend on God’s ability to keep his promises. His power ensures that He will be able to do so.
· Third, God is powerful enough to change us, and to change our lives. God is able to turn our lives around. What do the verses say? "Nothing" is too hard for God. God can repair things that appear to be broken beyond hope: broken marriages, broken relationships, broken dreams. God can heal us where we’ve been wounded. He can bring forgiveness where there is only anger and bitterness. He can bring repentance where there is only hardness and stubbornness. He can cure addiction and self-destructive patterns of behavior. He can give us freedom from our slavery to sin.
God is worthy of our trust. He’s worthy of our confidence. We can rely on Him to keep His promises.
Conclusion
Whose power and strength are you trusting in this morning? Your own? A lot of people are trusting in themselves. Maybe you’ve been burned by trusting others. You’ve decided that you’ll be strong, not depend on anyone else. But you can’t be strong enough. Sooner or later, something will come along that is too much even for you. Maybe you’re trusting in someone else’s strength and power. A husband or wife. A parent. A boss. A mentor or personal guru. All of those may work for a time, but ultimately they all fail. Only God is worthy of our ultimate trust and confidence.
The Bible teaches that the one who trusts in his own power and ability to please God cannot be saved. It teaches that our guilt is so great, and our power so inadequate, that we cannot ever do enough good things to outweigh our sin. The only way we can be forgiven is to stop trusting in ourselves and start trusting in Jesus Christ. We have to give up trying to be good enough for God and accept the forgiveness He offers in Christ. We have to rely on Jesus Christ’s work on our behalf, his death which paid the penalty for our sin. We have to quit relying on ourselves and start relying on Him. I invite you to place your trust in Him this morning.
(For an .rtf file of this and other sermons, see www.journeychurchonline.org/messages.htm)
