In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth...all things that we see, and all things that we do not see, everything was created by our Lord. He upholds everything that exists. This truth is called the sovereignty of God, and on this Lord's Day, the sermon addresses this fundamental truth: our Lord reigns.
R.C. Sproul once wrote, “If there is one single molecule in this universe running around loose, totally free of God’s sovereignty, then we have no guarantee that a single promise of God will ever be fulfilled.” Years later, John Piper picked up on this idea when he was diagnosed with cancer and wrote an article titled, “No Maverick Cells in Me: My Deepest Hope During Cancer.”
The truth that both Sproul and Piper are expressing is the truth that our fundamental hope in life is that God is in control. This is immensely helpful in our current crisis with the virus known as COVID-19. To phrase this a different way, no virus is outside of God's control, and part of the journey of faith is continuing to trust that our God is directing events in life for our good and His glory.
In the sermon, we go over four of the most comprehensive passages related to the sovereignty of God. These passages highlight that truth that He is Lord.
Lamentations 3:37-38 Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come?
Ephesians 1:11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Romans 11:33-36 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! "For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?" For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
These passages all have in common the theme that our God, the Most High, orders all things according to the counsel of His will. At least three of these passages highlight the expression "all things." There is not a more comprehensive expression of Lordship than to say that our God ordains "all things." And just to make sure we get it, Paul summarizes this truth by saying, "For from him and through him and to him are all things."
You can watch the service and listen to the sermon here. I pray your faith is encouraged on this Lord's Day as we remind ourselves that there is nothing outside of God's plan.