Good morning,
Rosh Hashanah’s religious services focus on the concept of G-d’s sovereignty. God does rule in the affairs of men. Today we will look at the sovereignty of God.
GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY means that He is the Supreme Ruler who immanently and personally rules over all the affairs of the universe—and this includes our personal lives both as individuals and as a local body of believers. God’s sovereignty is a place of rest for the child of God.
A. GOD REIGNEST OVERALL (1 CHRON 29:11-12) V12
Thine, O Lord is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all.12 Both riches and honor come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.
B. THE WORLD IS GOD’S (PSM 50:10-12)
For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.11 I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.12 If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.
C. GOD CREATED (GEN 1:1) V1
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
D. GOD CHOOSES ISRAEL DOES WHAT HE PLEASES (PSM 135:4-6)
For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.5 For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.6 Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.
E. GOD IN CONTROL (1 SAM 2:6-9)
The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.7 The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and he hath set the world upon them.9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
F. GOD CONTROLS RULERS (PSM 75:6-7) V7
For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.7 But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.
G. GOD DOES HIS PLEASURE (IS 46:9-10)
Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
H. CAN NOT FLEE FROM GOD (PSM 139:7-10) V10
Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
I. GOD’S WORD WILL NOT RETURN VOID (IS 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.
J. GOD REIGNS OVER DEATH (JOHN 5:21)
For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
K. GOD ‘S COUNSEL (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 of his own will:
These verses show why God has the right to rule in our lives. Please meditate on these verses and allow God to speak to you. You might be surprised what you learn.
God has given each one of us a free will to make choices. He has given us His precepts in the Bible to guide us through this life. We choose to follow God by faith or rebel against God and serve Satan. Satan is the enemy of God. There are consequences for following or rebelling against God. God rules over both Godly believers and wicked unbelievers.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com