We are called to Invite everyone, everywhere, into a transforming relationship with Jesus every day.
Start Here: God is Sovereign.
November 10, 2024 / NewLife Church MIAre we pursuing God intentionally, or are we just casually considering Him?
Jeremiah 29:13
“You will seek Me and find Me
when you seek Me with all your heart.”
How many of us like feeling in control?
Where does my need for control come from?
- My discomfort with
- My desire for
- My fear of the
Control is actually a human instinct.
As followers of Christ, we’re invited to trust not in our own strength but in God’s power and sovereignty—a truth that can be challenging to embrace when we’ve spent our lives valuing control as a source of comfort.
THE GOD JESUS KNOWS IS .
Psalm 115:3:
“Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.”
Daniel 4:35
“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?’”
Isaiah 46:9-10
“‘I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’”
God is/has supreme authority over things.
To understand God’s Sovereignty, we have to believe God is .
The sovereignty of God invites us into a of trust, not a for control.
LIFE OF JOB
Job 42:2
“I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted”
God’s Sovereignty Over the
Acts 17:26
“From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.”
“The sovereignty of God is a sweet pillow to rest your head upon.”
-Charles Spurgeon
The Sovereignty of God in
Ephesians 1:4-5
“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love, he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.”
God’s sovereignty in salvation means that it is not by our or merit but by His grace and purpose.
How do we live with Confidence in God’s Sovereignty?
Let go of !
Romans 8:28
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Every detail of our lives, every person we meet, and every opportunity or obstacle is under His .
When Jesus speaks about God’s sovereignty, He invites us into a different narrative.
Matthew 6:25-34 New International Version
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Jesus challenges our for control by reminding us that God, not us, is the ultimate provider.
Matthew 10:29-31 – Jesus says, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.”
Jesus shows us that God is in control of even the details.
Matthew 11:25-27
“I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children.”
Jesus shows us that even our understanding of God is under His .
What narratives are keeping us from surrendering to the God who is sovereign?
The Narrative of Self-
You have heard it said:
To be successful, we must rely on ourselves
John 15:5
“Apart from me, you can do nothing.”
The Narrative of
You have heard it said:
“If I don’t control it, something will go wrong.”
2 Timothy 1:7
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
The Narrative of Hurt
You have heard it said:
“You must remain in control to avoid being hurt again.”
Psalm 34:18
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted.”
The Narrative of
You have heard it said:
“If I do everything right, God will bless me.”
Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
What if we trusted that God is not only powerful but also deeply good and loving and that His purposes for us are better than anything we could plan?
SHIFT YOUR FOCUS