Who controls the weather, the hearts of rulers, the sun and moon, and every atom in the universe? God does. This is what we call sovereignty. God has absolute and undisputed authority over all things. This truth is foundational to everything we believe as Christians. For this reason, there is a plethora of Scripture we could turn to. If you read 1 Timothy 6:15, Ephesians 1:11, Acts 4:24-28, Daniel 4:34-35, and Romans 11:36, then you will discover God’s absolute authority. I encourage you to read through these verses and see this awesome truth for yourself.
First, we see God’s sovereignty in the act of creation. He spoke all things into existence with the breath of His mouth. Acts 4:24 records a prayer of the church that says, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them.” God is sovereign because He is the Creator of all things. The universe is His masterpiece. Therefore, everything belongs to God. He didn’t create the earth and then let it be. He actively rules His creation with complete control.
In 1 Timothy 6:15, Paul says that God is “the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords.” The term “sovereign” refers to a ruler in a high position. How high is God’s position? Paul says He is the Ruler of rulers. He governs all kings and lords. No one is higher than God. He is completely sovereign. By its purest definition, this term can only refer to God. No one else is truly sovereign. No one can act by his own will except God. As Romans 11:36 says, “For from him and through him and to him are all things.” We can do nothing outside of God’s sovereignty.
When we look at verses about God’s sovereignty, we see a repeated phrase that explains this even further. Ephesians 1:11 says, “Having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.” Then Daniel 4:35 says, “He does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, ‘What have you done?’” Acts 4:28 also hints at this phrase. The truth is God works all things according to the counsel of His will. This means that God does what God wants. As Daniel said, “None can stay his hand.” Nobody can thwart God’s plan or defy His control. Everything in life is under the power of God. And for this reason, His dominion is everlasting, and His kingdom endures forever. The kings of the earth rise and fall, but God reigns forever. He is sovereign.
This truth is life-changing for those who can grasp it. We already mentioned the prayer of the early church in Acts 4. The context of this prayer was that the chief priests and elders of Israel strictly warned and even threatened the apostles to stop preaching in the name of Jesus. Some of the most powerful and influential rulers of the day were threatening this small group of Christians. Their families, reputations, and even their lives were at stake. But how did they respond? They praised God because He is sovereign. They understood that nothing happens by accident. Even the evil deeds of men are used by God for His glory and our good (Acts 4:26-28). They asked God for boldness to preach His Word and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Lord sovereignly equipped them to continue their mission. So the church grew and spread across the world.
When Christians trust the sovereignty of God, great things happen. Sadly, in our depraved world, we do everything we can to be free. All we want is to do what we want. We work so we can buy what we want. We rest so we can continue to do what we want. It’s all about me. But God’s sovereignty makes this a foolish endeavor. God is our Lord whether we like it or not. He is our King whether we serve Him or not. But thankfully, when we surrender our lives to Him, He blesses us beyond comparison. His will brings true freedom. So don’t fight God’s sovereignty. Embrace it. Rest in the fact that God is always, totally, and completely in control.