The Activity Of A Sovereign God
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Introduction
Introduction
During initial construction on the Golden Gate Bridge, no safety devices were used and 23 men fell to their deaths.
For the final part of the project, however, a large net was used as a safety precaution.
At least 10 men fell into it and were saved from certain death.
Even more interesting, however, is the fact that 25% more work was accomplished after the net was installed.
Why?
Because the men had the assurance of their safety, and they were free to wholeheartedly serve the project.
http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/s/security_eternal.htm. Accessed 8/6/21.
Safety and security increase productivity.
When we are safe and secure, we work more effectively.
What David describes here in Psalm 23 at the beginning of verse 5 is someone who is safe.
In this safety is seen the sovereignty of our God.
This year we are examining Psalm 23 in our communion services.
Today we will look at just the beginning of verse 5.
If you have never been with us for a communion service, we do things differently.
There will be a time of teaching followed by a song, then more teaching etc.
Our goal is to make communion Sunday unique.
We have set this day apart to remember and celebrate the person and work of Jesus Christ.
In Psalm 23 verse 5a we learn a principle.
Principle:
God is sovereign over the affairs of our lives.
Guidance:
Today we learn three lessons about the sovereignty of God.
Outcome:
Knowing the sovereignty of God builds faith and brings security.
3 lessons about the sovereignty of God.
Lesson #1…
1. A Sovereign God Provides
1. A Sovereign God Provides
The first 4 words of verse 5 make the following statement.
“You prepare a table.”
These four words present us with two important ideas about God’s provision.
Here is the first.
Provision must be recognized.
Provision must be recognized.
When we finish reading v. 5 we realize that this table is in the presence of the enemy!
Might not seem like provision.
Philippians 4:19 says
Philippians 4:19
19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Paul tells us how God will supply (according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus), and he tells us that God will supply.
What Paul does not tell us is when God will supply nor where.
David tells us here in Ps. 23 that God prepares a table in the presence of our enemies.
We get so caught up wanting God to supply our needs when and where we want.
But that is not what He promises.
In 1 Timothy 6:8 Paul writes.
1 Timothy 6:8
8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
God provides our needs. He does so at His sovereign discretion.
God’s idea of our needs and our idea may differ.
We must learn to see God’s provision for what it is.
James 1:17
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
Everything good comes from God.
Though His provision may not be when or where we think or want, His provision always comes.
We must learn to recognize God’s provision.
That brings us to the second important idea.
Provision must be accepted.
Provision must be accepted.
God has prepared a table for us.
We just need to see it for what it is.
Once we know His provision, we must sit at the table and partake.
David writes that God prepares a table.
Prepare – ערך (ʿrk) lay out, set in rows; get ready, set out in order; confront, assess. to arrange v. — to put into a proper or systematic order. Verb, Qal, second person, masculine, singular +- yiqtol (imperfect), active, preterite.
Prepare – ערך (ʿrk)
This implies knowledge and intention.
There is a level of care present here.
God cares for us and has provided exactly what we need.
This word translated “table” is sometimes used metaphorically to refer to God’s provision.
I don’t think David is leaving behind the imagery of the sheep and shepherd.
He is simply giving a picture of how God provides.
God’s provision is careful and intentional.
However, He will not force us to eat.
When sheep are led to a pasture, they must choose to fill themselves with the food and drink.
When God provides, we must choose to partake of what He has provided.
He is the source of all provision.
Let’s go back to two verses we looked at earlier.
19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Who supplies our need?
God does.
Provision comes from Him.
What does this mean?
Only look to God to provide your needs.
Looking anywhere else will lead only to disappointment.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
Good and perfect gifts come from where? Above!
From who? the Father!
Our loving heavenly Father sovereignly supplies our every need.
When we are in need, we must turn to Him.
Trust His sovereign provision.
Recognize it for what it is and accept it.
Sing with me verse 1 of
“Victory In Jesus” (v. 1)
God is sovereign.
We trust His sovereign provision.
Lesson #1. A Sovereign God Provides.
Lesson #2…
2. A Sovereign God Is Personal
2. A Sovereign God Is Personal
We just looked at the first 4 words of this verse. You prepare a table.
Here are the next two words. “before me.”
We noted previously that in v. 4 David switches the tone of the Psalm and now speaks personally.
This provision, this table that God has prepared, is for David specifically.
One of the great truths of the Christian faith is that we serve a personal God.
What does it mean that God is personal?
It means a lot of things, let’s simply look at two.
First of all, it means that…
He cares
He cares
We already learned that when God provides for us He lays out the table carefully and intentionally.
Here is how I picture it.
God has a table prepared for you and me.
The table He has prepared is the perfect one for us.
The kitchen table of your dreams.
With the plates, cups, and silverware you always picture.
As each course of the meal comes out, it is your dream meal.
Everything is laid out perfectly for you.
Why?
Because God cares.
When we know that God cares, we trust Him more.
1 Peter 5:7 says this
1 Peter 5:7
7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
God cares!
This isn’t stated as a possibility but as an absolute certainty!
God cares for you!
Christ died for you!
Yes, He died for everyone collectively. That is true.
But.
Jesus Christ died for you personally.
If you were the only sinner in existence, Christ would still have died for you!
He cares.
The fact that He is a personal God means something else.
Secondly…
He values
He values
Scripture reveals that we have been made in the image of God.
Part of our value as human beings comes from this reality.
Scripture also reveals that God loves us.
Jn. 3.16 for God so loved!
Eph. 2.4 He is rich in mercy and loves us with a great love!
Rom. 5.8 He demonstrates His love by sending Christ to die for us while we were sinners!
We have value!
Matthew 10:29-31 says this.
Matthew 10:29-31
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.
30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
You are more valuable than many sparrows!
Sparrows were cheap!
Yet God knows their exact number.
Our hair falls out all the time!
Yet God knows how many hairs are on my head at this exact moment.
We are valuable to God.
Our struggle to believe our value indicates our lack of faith.
Matthew 6:30 says.
Matthew 6:30
30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
God is going to take care of us, we just have to trust Him.
He cares, He values.
He is a personal God.
He knows everything about you and me and He chooses to love us anyway.
Our value doesn’t come from man made identity or personal achievement.
We have been given value by God.
Accept His sovereign love and care.
When we fail to believe that Christ has purchased us and made us holy, righteous, and pure, we treat our own opinions as if they had more value than God’s.
God has declared us righteous. Believe it.
God has made us holy. Act like it.
God has washed us clean. Delight in that purity.
Sing with me verse 2 of.
“Victory In Jesus” (v. 2)
Our personal God brings healing, and victory.
3 lessons about the sovereignty of God.
Lesson #1. A Sovereign God Provides.
Lesson #2. A Sovereign God Is Personal
Lesson #3…
3. A Sovereign God Protects
3. A Sovereign God Protects
Here are the final six words we will consider this morning.
“in the presence of my enemies”
This sounds like the most unlikely place to prepare a table.
The idea of this word “presence” is face to face.
God prepares a table before us when we are face to face with our enemies.
That may not sound like protection.
So we have to ask.
How does God protect?
Two ways. First…
Through victory
Through victory
What we have to understand here is that if God is preparing a table before us and our enemies are present, that must mean that God is sovereign over our enemies!
Ancient custom of having enemies present at dinner.
Demonstration of victory over them.
In our picture for this message we have the sheep by a cliff, God protects!
Our enemies can sit across the table from us and we can be in complete safety!
Why?
Psalm 4:8
8 I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
We are safe in the presence of the King!
Our God is the one who prepares the table.
With Him there, it doesn’t matter who sits across from us.
In 2 Corinthians 2:14 Paul writes
2 Corinthians 2:14
14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
He always leads us in triumph.
What have we been singing about all morning? There is victory in Jesus!
Our enemies are present because God has willed it.
He is in control.
He is sovereign over our enemies.
He prepares a table for us in the presence of our enemies.
This means He has a purpose for the presence of our enemies!
He has defeated them.
That is how He protects us.
Secondly. He protects…
Through endurance
Through endurance
Notice that the enemies are still present.
They may be defeated, but they are still present.
God does not remove our enemies.
God gives us the ability to endure them.
Psalm 28:8
8 The Lord is their strength, And He is the saving refuge of His anointed.
When we take refuge in the Lord, He always protects and preserves us.
A shield gives us the ability to endure the attacks of the enemy.
That’s exactly what Ephesians 6 tells us when we are told to take up the shield of faith.
With that shield we are able to “quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.”
1 Peter 5:8-9 says this.
1 Peter 5:8-9
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
We have an enemy! He is like a roaring lion seeking to devour us!
So what do we do?
We resist him, steadfast in the faith.
Resistance requires endurance.
It is a continual action.
Keep on resisting him.
Warren Wiersbe writes
Be Worshipful In the Fold—Certainty (v. 5)
The Lord doesn’t always remove the dangers from our lives, but He does help us to overcome them and not be paralyzed by fear.
Endure as you depend on Christ.
That is the only way we are ever able to endure.
We endure as we depend on Christ.
Part of the strength to endure comes through the assurance that we will spend eternity with Jesus.
Think about that in connection with this verse.
In the presence of our enemies we take refuge in the presence of our Father.
He is still there!
Even in the presence of our enemies, God is with us.
We know that one day we will be with Christ forever, we can endure the temporary trials of this life.
Sing with me verse 3 of
“Victory In Jesus” (v. 3)
Turn with me to 1 Corinthians 11:23-32
This is a time for believers to remember the price that was paid. To be reminded of the penalty of sin. Taking part of communion does not save you. This is simply a way for us to be reminded of what Christ has done. If you know the Lord as savior this morning, please join us in bread and juice as we remember Jesus Christ. These are only symbols, they represent the body and blood of our Savior. Examination – verses 26-32
OBSERVANCE OF COMMUNION
OBSERVANCE OF COMMUNION
1 Corinthians 11:23-32
The Bread (His Body) vv. 23-24 “I Need Thee Every Hour” (chorus only)
I need Thee O I need Thee
Every hour I need Thee
O bless me now my Savior
I come to Thee
The Cup (His Blood) v. 25 “My Faith Has Found A Resting Place” (chorus only)
I need no other argument
I need no other plea
It is enough that Jesus died
And that He died for me
Conclusion
Conclusion
God is in control.
The sovereignty of God does not remove personal responsibility.
The sovereignty of God gives us confidence and safety.
Why?
Because Scripture reveals that we serve a good, loving, kind, and gracious God.
Scripture makes us this promise in Romans 8:28.
Romans 8:28
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Psalm 95:7 reveals that we are His people and the sheep of His hand.
Our loving heavenly Father leads His sheep beside still waters and in green pastures!
He restores us, and even in the valley of the shadow of death, He is with us!
Because the Lord is our Shepherd, we shall not want.
He provides.
Do we recognize and accept His provision?
He is personal.
Do we feel His care and know our value in Christ?
He protects.
Are we walking with endurance in the victory of Christ?
What commitment do you need to make today?
Do it right now.
COMMITMENT:
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Trust the sovereign provision of God.
He will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory, by Christ Jesus.
If you don’t know Jesus, trust Him today.
Accept the sovereign love and care of God.
We can cast our cares on Him because He cares for us.
Depend on Christ and endure whatever comes.
He will shelter, protect, and guide.
Bottom Line:
Our security is in Jesus. Therefore, trust Him.