Is God Sovereign Over Suffering? 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. God's Sovereignty Over Suffering. Adversity with its accompanying emotional pain comes in many forms. Sovereign over the nations. Ten Aspects of God’s Sovereignty over Suffering and Satan’s Hand in It. However, in its most basic sense, having zeal (or being zealous) means feeling very deeply about something. Sermon over Genesis 44, 45 & 50 given my Jake Axon at City Church youth on 3/11/20. . It also means that they will not tolerate good, but will persecute it—which is what Peter’s readers were experiencing to a significant degree and what we are increasingly experiencing today. Indeed, we’re about to enter into another amazing passage. Likewise if God’s can redeem the suffering and evil of the cross, then what suffering and evil is irredeemable? We’re in the third week of a four week series on the life of Joseph and how to follow God when He seems absent. In him, sovereignty and goodness meet, and we rest assured that when suffering comes, it comes from his wise and gracious hand. So they are without excuse.”. The first issue raised by Peter is the fact that Christians—especially suffering Christians who mean to glorify God and minister to the unbelievers around them—ought to be zealous in all aspects of our Christ-following, especially in doing good. If God is sovereign over the suffering and evil of the cross, what suffering and evil can He not be sovereign over? But what about now? Psalm 81:10-12 I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. He is good. “If there is one maverick molecule in all the universe, then God is not sovereign. God remains completely sovereign over our salvation – it is all his work – and because of that he will never let us go; indeed nothing will be able to separate us from his love in Christ Jesus. Anyone who lacked or disagreed with that knowledge would likely brand her a fool. In light of these things, consider again 1 Peter 3:13, “Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?”. I really could have titled this sermon, “12 Essential Perspectives for Faithful Christian Suffering”. Our God works “all things” according to the counsel of His will (Eph.1.11). For More information, you can visit Breath of Life's website here: https: […], I was absolutely thrilled to have my very favorite guest I've ever had on the program join me once again. Isaiah 40.15-17 states, “Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales; behold, he takes up the coastlands like fine dust. 135:6; Prov. - I can’t wait to see everyone again. INTRODUCTION Yes it's later in the day, but the recording is better than streaming with a phone while we wait for our "real" equipment to come in! Because God is sovereign, he remains in control even in the face of evil, suffering and injustice. Is God sovereign over suffering? Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; 16 yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. This extremely pervasive and dangerous pyramid scheme has swept not just the country, but the globe. Knowledge of her underlying belief in the vulnerability of government is the key that unlocks the fullest meaning of her articles. Description Details Reviews (0) Description. And they are so true. — Tulips & Honey Hub | Talmidimblogging, How We Got Our Bible: Introduction – Part 1, Breaking Away From ARC Churches with Kristin Everett – Part 3, Through the Narrow: When our Children Don’t Believe – By Gina Cook, Tulips & Honey: Episode 81 - Breaking Away From ARC Churches with Kristin Everett - Part 3, Breath of Life: The Righteous Shall Live by Faith - Galatians 3:10-14. He identifies the purpose of Christ’s suffering as the demonstration of God’s glory by grace and concludes that suffering exists for the revealing of grace. That when these things happen, God is sovereign over it. Pastor Casey Cease kicks off our summer series in 1 Peter preaching that God empowers and sustains our perseverance even through suffering. The Bible describes heaven in glorious terms—a place where there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. What Peter alludes to, other biblical authors make explicit. With that, let’s consider the first three of the major issues of 1 Peter 3:13-17. Suffering and thriving are utilized by God for his glory and our good. ( Log Out /  If God’s people are to suffer well, then, we are to be people of deep, deep feelings. You can trust him. -Welcome the visitor who is watching for the first time. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Sin is evil enough to produce unparalleled disgust. Application: Calling others to repentance is a good invitation (core to the gospel message) as long as we don’t connect their repentance with relief from suffering. And again, it seems that although Peter knew that evil doers are all around, he had the expectation that their conscience, given to them as God’s image-bearers, would keep them from doing harm to people who do good. “Guidance, like all God's acts of blessing under the covenant of grace, is a sovereign act. In this passage Peter subtly acknowledges that the conscience is powerful, but not infallible. If God isn’t sovereign over all (including Satan and death and suffering and pain) than God isn’t sovereign at all. One of the surest ways to know that your emotions are truly pleasing to God is by determining whether or not they are directly attached to a doctrine of the faith. The great aim of Satan is to prevent and weaken and, if possible, destroy faith. This is one example of something found throughout the bible: the call to deep emotions as an essential part of following Jesus. Peter understands God to be infinitely glorious, the one thing for which our souls long and were made and can be satisfied by, and the greatest need and reward of all mankind. But what about now? But for those who, like Peter, have seen and savored God’s glory, who have experienced by God’s grace that God is greater than we could ever imagine, his instructions are the only things that make sense. There is a deep emotive nature to mature Christ-following, God has given an evil-binding conscience to all mankind, and thirdly, it is one of the most severe expressions of God’s judgment when the conscience fails. James clearly says that God had a purpose in it all: Yes it's later in the day, but the recording is better than streaming with a phone while we wait for our "real" equipment to come in! 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. It means being the ultimate source of all power, authority, and everything that exists. After Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery and he experienced great suffering at the hands of the Egyptians, he said to his brothers, "It was not you who sent me here, but God." Play Save. In this passage alone we see that God is sovereign to direct, protect, bless, instruct, and shame. The list goes on and on. And so, Grace, as you encounter trials of various kinds, remember that God is benevolently sovereign over all things, God’s glory is the aim of all things, and one of the main ways that God has given you and I to express our understanding of and belief in both is by sharing them with the unbelievers around us. And we can say the same about our sufferings because Scripture is clear that God is sovereign over all things. When that happens, Christians should expect to suffer for doing good. And if God is not sovereign, He is not God at all.” R.C. 16:33). They are found in 3:13-14a. Evil and suffering exist. If God is good and in control, why does He allow unjust suffering to occur to righteous people? Tulips & Honey: Episode 79 - Breaking Away From ARC Churches with Kristin Everett Part 1, Cross Talk Podcast: Episode 1 - Our Journey into and out of Charismatic Chaos, Tulips & Honey: Episode 78 - Chalk Talking False Prophecies with(the One and Only) Justin Hereford, Tulips & Honey: Episode 77 - Darwin, The Human Race, & Creation with Dr. Jeanson. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. The Deep Emotive Side of Mature Christ-Following Cross Talk Podcast: Episode 3 - We're Married, Now What? Without knowing about and sharing in her belief that the government is about to collapse, we’d likely label her as nutty and extreme. God is growing our faith in the midst of our trials. James clearly says that God had a purpose in it all: If you are a guest, turn to Jesus and you will find forgiveness and help. Sunday, March 29, 2020 Sovereign Over Suffering #8 Pre-Sermon Notes: - We love you and miss you. What about life in a world that is full of fear and far from glorious? The evil-binding role of the unbeliever’s conscience (3:13). In my own stories of suffering, the most comforting thought––above God sees or God cares––is God ordained this. That is precisely how Peter uses the term in our passage for this morning (see also Titus 2:14). 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake…”. View all posts by lnhereford, Wow I pray many people would hear this podcast given that Christians do suffer in life and also because of the prevalent bad theology of the Prosperity Gospel, Looking forward to this podcast. 1 Peter 3:13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? God allows humans to use the free will he has given us. The reality of human volition (and human accountability) sets the maximum boundary for God’s sovereign control over the universe, which is to say there is a point at which God chooses to allow things that He does not directly cause. The fact that God is sovereign means He is entirely beyond the power of any other influence—He cannot be “stopped” or overcome in any way, shape, or form. Sunrise Church Worship June 21, 2020! this is the subject of Piper's first chapter in the book. This sermon is titled The Righteous Shall Live by Faith.For More information, you can visit Breath of Life's website here: https://breathoflifecommunitychurchreformed.simdif.comTheir Facebook Page here: https://www.facebook.com/Breath-of-Life-Community-Church […], Today on Cross Talk Pastor Edward Rameriz from Breath of Life church in San Antonio TX, alongside his co-hosted and lovely wife Sandi, discuss what a believer can expect after the wedding.For More information, you can visit Breath of Life's website here: https://breathoflifecommunitychurchreformed.simdif.comTheir Facebook Page here: https://www.facebook […], Kristin and I will be doing a third, and final, part of this series to wrap things up and answer the questions we've had sent in. 1 Peter 3:13-17 / June 11, 2017 / David VanAcker. God is sovereign over all things. 42 But God turned away and gave them over to worship the host of heaven…. I love those verses and I love sharing them. First regarding God’s sovereignty, I have seen within the Bible lots of evidence that God is in control. 45:7). Like Job says, “The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away” (Job 1:21). Is God Sovereign in My Suffering? If God is sovereign over suffering, God must therefore have a purpose in suffering. - We want to make sure you get connected to others. The Extent of God’s Sovereignty. Most commonly it refers to the Jewish leaders who “have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge” (Romans 10:2). Peter is certain that God desires our evangelism even more than our short-term justice. And yes, God is good, always good. God is even sovereign over suffering. Cross Talk Podcast: Episode 2 - Dating VS Courting What Does the Bible Say? Peter introduces this idea in the beginning of 3:14, “Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 13:1; Heb. It happens—God gives people over to their sin—when his patience leads not to repentance but to presumption, pride, and greater wickedness. Should you find your appetite for sin increasing rather than decreasing, run fast to Jesus and hope in grace. FBC Pastor's Talk Episode 12 - Our God is Sovereign over Suffering Part 1 Faith Bible Church. Sunrise Church Worship June 21, 2020! I believe that God is completely sovereign over all things - even over our suffering. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. God is the "sovereign Lord of all by an incontestable right [as the] creator . The answer, of course, is none. God’s Sovereignty over Satan’s Delegated World Rule. Is God Sovereign Over Suffering? God intends to teach us about his Son’s sufficiency, power, and grace, and he often works through suffering to do it. If we don’t understand this Peter’s words will seem ridiculous. We will not want any of this, much less live according to it, if not for the grace of God in Christ. I believe that God is completely sovereign over all things - even over our suffering. God Is Sovereign Over Worship = The Regulative Principle Of Worship = Calvinism In Worship (and Refuting Heretical Arminianism In … I am a Christian, wife, mother, podcaster and homeschooler currently traveling the United States with my loving husband and darling daughter! When people can go on sinning without conviction that means that the Spirit is not in them and that God has removed his grace of conscience from them. He has power and authority over nature, earthly kings, history, angels, and demons. To deny that, is to deny reality of the fact that we live in a fallen world and Christians are not … At the time of Jesus, there was even a political/religious party among the Jews who had determined to free Israel from Roman rule by any means (even sinful means) and at any cost (even their own lives). Is There Anything You’d Withhold From God? 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