“The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, And His SOVEREIGNTY (malkûwth: royal power, dominion) rules OVERALL.” (Psa. 103:19 NASB)
The sovereignty of God is one of those theological ideas that causes some significant challenges in the lives of believers. The idea that “God is in control” seems like it honors God because many MISTAKENLY THINK that ABSOLUTE CONTROL OVER EVERYTHING AT EVERY MOMENT is a fundamental requirement for God to be God. Plus, it can be comforting because it shifts responsibility for what people do and don’t do ON TO GOD, along with the consequences of those choices. “Our God is in heaven; He does whatever pleases Him.” (Psa. 115:3)
If that is the case, why should we pray? Let’s look at what God said when He made man, “God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; LET THEM HAVE DOMINION (râdâh: to rule, prevail against) over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, OVER ALL THE EARTH and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; HAVE DOMINION over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and OVER EVERY LIVING THING that moves on the earth.” (Gen. 1:26-28) From the beginning God gave US dominion…but we gave it up to Satan…
Man gave up that dominion when he sinned and Satan then took it for himself, “The god of this world (the devil) has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe.” (2 Corin. 4:4) But, when Jesus was crucified He got that dominion back for man, “Jesus came and spoke to His disciples, “ALL AUTHORITY HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME in heaven and on earth. GO THEREFORE (in that authority) and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Matt. 28:18-20)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham