Encouraging Words

Understanding God Part Eight - Sovereignty

The term sovereign is defined by Webster as “supreme power, freedom from external control”.

Remember that the attributes of God are as a fine tapestry, each attribute being a different color to complete the human concept of the Devine Essence. It’s indeed most beautiful.

God is Sovereign. He is the SOVEREIGN of sovereigns in this earth; as all earthly sovereigns will answer to Him. He is also the KING of Kings and LORD of Lords. His position is the highest of all. He Transcends all earthly and cosmic positions.

We have all seen leaders who acquire much power only to be corrupted by that power. How does the old saying go? “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” (From Sir John Dalberg-Acton, 8th Baronet, 1837 to 1869.)

However, God is not subject to such a feeble human frailty. His Sovereignty is Holy and Pure, intertwined with His Love, Grace, Mercy, Goodness, Transcendence, and Infinity.

He is Sovereign because He is Creator. Psalm 24:1 “The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.” Do you remember the third day of creation when God made the dry land to appear? The first and second day of creation the earth was covered with water. See Genesis 1. Also, Revelation 4:11 “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.”

He is Sovereign because the purpose of man revolves around His Sovereignty. Ecclesiastes 12:13b “…Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” The word ‘fear’ implies ‘reverence’. Additionally, in Mark 12:30 Jesus said “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”

Further, The LORD God Jehovah is Sovereign because of His redemption plan for man. No other King, no other Lord, no other authority over man has offered such love and goodness for the betterment of the man.

God demonstrated redemption when He called Noah and his family into the ark while God destroyed the earth. God further showed mercy when He called His people, Israel, from Egyptian bondage. King David is speaking in First Chronicles 17:21 “And what one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem (from Egypt) to be his own people, to make thee a name of greatness and terribleness, by driving out nations (In the Promised Land) from before thy people, whom thou hast redeemed out of Egypt?

God demonstrated the greatest redemption when He gave His only Son Jesus for our sins. A favorite verse of man is John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

The one thing that gives God the greatest joy and pleasure is when another soul accepts the free gift of salvation. It’s this salvation that allows God to look upon us as sanctified and justified, holy and sinless before Almighty God. Luke 15:10 “Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” And there is more in Luke 15:7a “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth…”

Just imagine, the Sovereign of the universe, Creator of all things, and the Ruler of all things, has the compassion and love and power to be aware of the life of each person on this earth. Psalm 139:14 and 16 “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.” David is saying that God knows you even before you are born.

Finally, a word from Isaiah. Isaiah 40:17-18 “All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity. To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?” Continuing in Isaiah 40:25 “To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.”

Our Sovereign God has asked the question…How will you respond?

See you in church. ---Bro. Louis