The Sovereignty of God

A precious brother recently posed a question to me with regards to the Sovereignty of God and how that played out in the salvation of men.

The question revolved around the doctrine of Divine Election vs Non-Election and which was in fact correct as a doctrine.

Paul, I believe, faced the same question from the Jews, who believed that they were the chosen of God by Divine Election and were in covenant with God, and that the heathen were therefore not ordained unto salvation.

John the Baptist, in proclaiming The Kingdom to come, put a puncture into that wheel …

“And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham,” John 3:9.

Paul, saw something else, far greater in significance when challenged by the Jews with this same question regarding the heathen and his ministry, as relating to this same issue.

And just by the way, this was the central issue of this question. It was a matter of being a Jew or not being a Jew.

Today it has been broadened beyond these boundaries to include people who were never under discussion in the first place!

Paul bypassed the argument completely, and presented a entire new perspective for both sides to consider.

His perspective was,

“Who are you to reason, to question or to decide on behalf of God? How could you suppose that you could decide or choose what God will or will not do.
 
He is Sovereign and therefore, in being God, and in being beyond the reason and the thoughts of man — what man would chose what He should do?
 
He has the power of a Sovereign will to act as HE chooses and desires.”

Paul wanted to emphasise the fact that man and God lived in two different universes when it came to man’s ability to question God or to decide for Him!

He wanted us to understand that God is God, and not a man, and that we may not presume to choose for Him or to reason what we would expect to be fair or unfair for Him to do — He is Sovereign!

He is in a place where no one else can co-exist by reason of being equal to instruct Him!

Paul chooses to ask the question –

“What IF?” (Not making it a fact, but asking), “what if” God had chosen that it should be so? Who would have the power to disagree?

“You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who can resist His will?” But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?

WHAT IF God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory,” Romans 9:19-23.

Paul then takes us beyond the argument and presents man with a far greater and more important principle to consider —

• Do not presume to play God!

• Do not presume that you may choose for Him.
• Leave Him to rule and do not interfere.
• Keep yourself to your life and walk with Him and let others do the same.
• Do not presume to judge on His behalf or to decide what you think He will decide when it comes to matters that He Alone has the answers to, and has the Sovereign Authority to decide over!
• Live your life in Him, be led of His Spirit.
• Love all (even your enemies), as far as it is possible for you, live in peace with all men, and leave judgement to the One Who has the Authority to judge!

 

~ Johann van der Hoven

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Johann van der Hoven has been in service of The LORD since 1991 and has hosted numerous mass revival meetings. The Holy Spirit is announcing a NEW SOUND from Heaven beginning in 2020 — The Sound of His Glory being poured out!
For more info please see: www.sonsofsovereignty.com

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