Tag: God’s Sovereignty

Am I Really Free?

Dr. J.D. WilkinsLeave a comment

Knowing the Truth of God’s Sovereignty

I was having a conversation this week with a friend about God’s Sovereignty. The idea in question was “Do I choose Jesus, or does Jesus choose me?” These are exactly the kind of questions which tickle my mind with excitement. Here’s my short, one-word answer. “Yes”. The Scripture to support this answer is Ephesians 1:3-4 “Blessed be the God and Father of our LORD Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.”

The wording of this verse is extremely rich with nuance which some eyes never see. People just read the words. But look closely at verse 3. There we find:

  • the Blessed ONE which is God the Father
  • who is also the ONE which sends the blessings
  • then the blessed ones, all Christ-followers
  • the blessings, all things spiritual
  • the location of the blessing, heaven
  • and the Agent of the blessing, Jesus the LORD

Wow! All that in one verse. Talk about word-smithing, the apostle Paul knew how to communicate! But a true Christ-follower needs to nail down all this information solidly in their hearts and minds for verse 4 to have full impact.

God created mankind with freewill, beginning with Adam and Eve. God the Father, the Creator, gave the first couple only one command. HE told them not to eat the fruit of a certain tree in the Garden (was it really an apple? how do you know?) God the Father expected them to choose to obey Him. He also told them what would happen if they didn’t. “…for on the day that you eat it you will certainly die.” There was a blessing in obedience, and a curse associated with choosing to disobey. But both of the first humans had the free will to choose.

Did that change when they left the Garden?

No. Here are just a few verses to demonstrate God the Father continues giving people a choice to serve Him, or serve themselves.

Deuteronomy 30:19 (Moses speaking for God to the Israelites)
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have placed before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants…

Joshua 24:15 (at the end of his life)
If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served, which were beyond the Euphrates River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Matthew 23:37 (implies the people in Jerusalem had a choice)
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who have been sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings… and you were unwilling.

Acts 4:11-12 (Peter talking to the people in Jerusalem at Pentecost 50 days later)
He is the STONE which was rejected by you, the Builders, but which became the Chief Cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved.

YES! You really are free… to CHOOSE for Yourself

However, you should also know, the choice you make comes with ramifications. Making the wrong choice doesn’t free you from the unexpected consequences or the unintended results of your own choice. While making the right choice brings ultimate freedom which Jesus defined this way.

John 8:31-32
So, Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

So… does God choose us, or do we choose God?

Yes! From eternity past God has intended all along to give you the choice to believe in Him and become part of God’s family right here, and right now. The added benefit being eternal life and never being separated from God again. He chooses you! Now it’s up to you.

If you choose to believe in the claims of Jesus… that He gave His life for yours so that you could say yes to God’s grace, then you can become a part of God’s family today! He’s made His choice, now it’s up to you!

Want to know more?

If you want to know more about how to choose God, send me an email and we can chat privately about it. I’d love to hear from you!

There’s a Good Reason

Dr. J.D. WilkinsLeave a comment

Knowing the Truth of God’s Sovereignty

Agreeing with the title of this article takes a certain amount of perspective. Which is sometimes hard to have when a person finds themselves in the throes of uncertainty, pain, or loss. When a loved one is lying in a hospital bed, when your sports season is over because you have a torn ACL, when the money runs out, when you hear those words you thought you’d never hear, “we’re finished”… it is hard to believe from any context, that there’s a “good” reason.

And yet, believing that there is a good reason depends mostly on which foundations a person builds their life. If there are no absolutes, if everything is relative and subjective, a person may wander in and out of happiness like some meandering river that follows the contours of the earth on a path of least resistance, making its way ever so slowly to a lake or the ocean. Sea level is the farthest the river can go. Its existence will be swallowed up by the vastness of the ocean. Where the waves are endlessly pulled and pushed, governed by the moon’s gravitation producing low tides and high tides.

There’s a good reason for these tides.

The power of the moon results in the oceans bulging on the side of the earth that faces this orb in our sky, as well on the opposite side. Then as the earth rotates different land masses pass through these ocean bulges resulting in the cycle of low tides and high tides. These tides shape coastal ecosystems creating habitats for species both under and above the water. They are also instrumental in nutrient distribution and the movement of sediment which support marine food networks. These tides drive breeding patterns, life cycles and migrations, not just for fish, but for birds and mammals as well.

Even in this description we see good reasons for events that might otherwise seem indiscriminate and meaningless. Simply sitting on a beach watching the endless repetitions of wave after wave while peaceful to some, may be senseless to others.

Some perspective.

The apostle Paul tells us that if we are “in” Christ Jesus, we are no longer condemned. Condemned to what? We are bound as humans to be negative, sinful people. God says do it one way, and we say, “I’ll do it my own way.” Doing things the human way often leads to bad choices, resulting in unexpected results, and unintended consequences.

However, in Romans 8 Paul gives us the definitive discourse of what happens when we build out lives on the solid foundation of the promises of Jesus. As adopted sons and daughters we are able to know God the Father and can actually call out to him “Abba! Father!” when life seems so uncertain. Paul says that whatever situations we face, whatever trouble or sense of loss, whatever suffering, that all combined over a lifetime the sum total cannot be compared with the glory of Jesus revealed in us. In Christ we have God the Holy Spirit who intercedes when we can’t even utter the words, “Father…”

So What’s the Good Reason?

Paul asks that same question, “What then shall we say to these things?” It’s a rhetorical question. The apostle’s question says, “You should know this answer by now. But since you don’t I’ll tell you again.” Then he follows with three more rhetorical questions.

“If God is for us, who is against us?” “Who will bring charges against God’s elect?” “Who will separate us from the love of Christ?”

As if to hammer this whole foundational truth “There’s a Good Reason” into our hearts by sheer force of words, Paul concludes chapter 8 of his letter to the church in Rome this way.

Romans 8:35-39

Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or doubt, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? … But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor another created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The good reason, the best reason perhaps, is knowing that whatever situation we face, whatever loss or persecution for our faith, not one single event or person will ever separate us from God’s love. We are His children. He sees our pain and suffering and He is moved by it. He delights in our joyful celebration of life. He desires for us to know He is still in control of all that happens to us, and He isn’t going anywhere. He will see us through it all.

Knowing this frees me from the condemnation of always wanting to know “Why?” Knowing this allows me to live freely in the midst of my human limitations, failures, pain, and losses. Knowing this brings joy in the midst of sadness, smiles instead of frowns of despair. Knowing this allows me to love those who would kill me, and pray for them urgently. Knowing this and living on this foundational truth, brings great glory to Jesus. By glorifying Jesus, I bring glory to God.

Now, that’s a good reason!

A Unique Name of God

Dr. J.D. WilkinsLeave a comment

Knowing the Truth of God’s Sovereignty

Since last time, I wonder if you have thought about your favorite name of God revealed in Scripture.

Here are the primary, or most used, main names of God in Scripture:

  • Yahweh (LORD) — God’s personal, covenant name meaning “I AM” or “Self-Existent One”
    (Exodus 3:14).
  • Elohim (God) — A majestic plural name emphasizing God’s power and creativity
    (Genesis 1:1).
  • Adonai (Lord, Master) — Highlights God’s authority and lordship
    (Psalm 110:1).
  • El Shaddai (God Almighty) — Focuses on God’s all-sufficiency and strength
    (Genesis 17:1).
  • Jehovah Jireh (The LORD Will Provide) — God as provider
    Genesis 22:14).
  • Jehovah Rapha (The LORD Who Heals) — God as healer
    (Exodus 15:26).
  • El Elyon (Most High God) — God’s supreme sovereignty
    (Genesis 14:18).
  • Abba (Father) — Intimate, personal name used by Jesus for God
    (Mark 14:36).

There is another name however I stumbled upon in those ancient days of Seminary where I studied the works of great evangelists, preachers, and teachers from the past. Charles Haddon Spurgeon as an English Particular Baptist preacher from England, preached a sermon in 1863 with the title “The Jealous God.” It’s worth a read, and you can probably find it online. That day at the Metropolitan Tabernacle in Elephant and Castle, London, which opened for worship in 1650 and originally seated 6,000 people, Spurgeon’s text was Exodus 34:14.

“-for you shall not worship any other god, because the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.”

Does this verse take your breath away. It should.

Jealousy

Today this word carries a lot of baggage with it. Often used in a negative connotation, it refers to thoughts or feelings of insecurity or fear. It implies a concern over the lack of certain possessions or relationships. It may present itself in demonstrations such as fits of anger, resentment, inadequacy, helplessness or disgust.

However, there is a second way to see the word, not conforming to most of current societies thoughts. Jealousy also means “close vigilance.” Seen in biblical text with the Greek word (zelos) it means “tolerating no unfaithfulness.” See where I’m going with this?

The Jealous God

Exodus 34 discusses the replacing of the original stone tables which God had carved with His own finger (Exodus 31:18) which Moses broke in Exodus 32:19 as a burst of outrage at the people’s sin. What’s interesting in chapter 34 is that God is speaking these actual words, they are not original to Moses own thoughts and recollections.

Imagine it. God has descended from the cloud at the top of Mount Sinai. He passes in front of Moses and began speaking in verse 6 and didn’t stop until verse 26, then told Moses to write it all down. It took 40 days and 40 nights where Moses worked the stones to restore the Ten Commandments.

What exactly is God Jealous of?

  1. God is Jealous of His deity.
  2. God is Jealous of His Sovereignty.
  3. God is Jealous of His Glory.

It’s clear His name should rightly be called Jealous, because He says “You shall have no other god except me. I alone am God.” All other would-be deities are fake news. They mean nothing, they are nothing.

It is also clear His name should rightly be called Jealous, because just as Joshua warned the Israelites, “You will not be able to serve the LORD, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your wrongdoing or your sins iIf you abandon the LORD and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and destroy you after He has done good to you.” Joshua 24:19-20.

And finally, it is clear His name should rightly be called Jealous, because He says, “I am the LORD, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, nor My praise to idols.”

Today

Oh, that’s just ancient Old Testament history stuff. The year is 2026, and things have changed. Right? Wrong! Scripture teaches that “Jesus Christ (GOD the Son) is “the same yesterday and today and forever.” The irrefutable truth is that God is still Jealous today. Jealous that we revere Him as God, the ONLY God. Jealous that we align our wills with His Sovereignty. Jealous that we not try to rob God of the glory He alone deserves, by attributing the things of God as outdated, or irrelevant today.

The Sovereignty of God can be seen in all of the names listed at the beginning of this article. We’ll examine this more in a future article.

Next Time…

Have you ever wondered why good things, prosperity, success, and wealth come to evil people while true believers lack many of these same things? Do bad things happen to Good people and good things happen for Evil people? How does God’s Sovereignty fit into all this?

Buckle up. We are diving deeper into the pool by discussing God’s absolute authority over…. well, you’ll see!

God’s Will

Dr. J.D. Wilkins4 Comments

Knowing God’s will seems a daunting task to say the least. Paul the apostle said to the good folks at Corinth, “Who has known the mind of the LORD, that he will instruct Him? (I’m leaving off the good part of that verse for a moment, but we will come back to it). 1 Corinthians 2:16

I’ve known some folks during my life who thought they knew what was best for me. They often told me what clothes to wear, how to cut my hair (I wish I now had some hair to cut). Well-wishers I’m sure, they would suggest I change the way I think, or feel, or behave, to match their own preferences about the human existence. I even had a good friend who would intentionally, but playfully say, “Speaking officially for God…” then proceed to correct my mistakes according to the good Dr. S.P.H.

Perhaps as we begin this journey it would be good to remind one another, me to you, and you to me, what Jesus spoke to the crowds one day about how we should pray. But first, let’s remember the specific words he used, “Pray, then, in this way.” Many teachers and preachers have ascribed to the idea that this is some kind of magical or mystical prayer, which when recited verbatim obligates God in some way to hear their prayers for anything else they might desire. I am not so naive, and I don’t want you to be either. He spoke this introduction as a way to clarify his previous maxim. Listen again to what he said before this instruction.

“And when you are praying, do not use thoughtless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6:7-8) In such a simplistic way the Master is telling the crowd, God is all-knowing, all-seeing, all-aware of everything about you. Meaningless repetitions does not sway Him or His will.

So Jesus, the Master, gives us a MODEL of how to pray.

Acknowledge Him, revere His name.
Ask for His kingdom, and His will right now, right here, wherever here is.
Ask only for what we need today.
Forgive people.
Keep us from temptation.

Five simple thoughts of how true Christ-Followers are supposed to order their lives. But let’s just focus on the one critical verse in the model, verse 10 in Matthew chapter 6.

“… (Father)…Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

In it’s essence, the one praying must understand the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-aware attributes of God’s nature in order to align the prayer’s will with the will of God. You see, Jesus knew something these early listeners didn’t, so He was breaking new ground with them. He was teaching them to think outside the box of their normal conventional Hebraic thinking that had been compromised by local pagan practices. Pray it loud, and use as many words as you can possibly utter, and maybe God will hear you. Jesus was telling them that God was tired of His own people not really understanding the nature of dialogue with their own Father.

They all knew the ancient scriptures passed down in both oral and written ways. For instance these are just a few things they already knew about God their Father.

Ancient Teachings

Nehemiah 9:6
You alone are the LORD. You created the heavens, the highest heavens with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to all things, and the host of heaven worships You.

Isaiah 45:5
I am the LORD, and there is no other; besides ME there is no God. I will gird you, though you have not known ME.

Isaiah 40:26
Raise your eyes on high and see who has created these stars, the ONE who brings out their multitude by number, He calls them by name. Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, not one of them is missing.

Yes, all those Jewish listeners knew the scriptures by heart. They heard these truths from the rabbis teaching endlessly in schools and synagogues, “Beit Kneset” or “house of gathering.” They were so familiar with the words that when God the Son came right up next to them on the hillside that day, they still didn’t recognize Him as Messiah.

Where do we go from here?

The Master went slowly with those who should have recognized Him but didn’t. He taught them what the elders of the Hebrew faith should have been teaching but weren’t. How to have a meaningful dialogue with the Creator of the Universe. So, I’m going to take this lesson to heart for this study. I’m going to go slowly. I may suggest you examine some things that may be uncomfortable. I long for and hope to make these truths, perhaps revelations to some, interesting and not boring.

I started this introduction with the Apostle Paul addressing the Church in Corinth. “”Who has known the mind of the LORD, that he will instruct Him?” Now let’s look at the good part. The last part of this verse says:

“But we have the mind of Christ.”

What Jesus was communicating to the Hebrew people on the mountain that day is, “I’m right here, let’s talk about what is important to you.” He didn’t say it that way, that’s my own interpretation. I truly believe He was suggesting to those who really needed to hear it that God cared about them more than they could possibly imagine. The same message is true today.

The beauty of God the Father’s plan, in sending God the Son to earth, was to open an endless communication agency for all mankind to the Creator. In Jesus’ actions, His death and resurrection, His teachings, His healings, His forgiveness and His grace, God the Father was saying “See, I’m right here. And I care more than you could possibly ever understand.”

The Mind of Christ

The “understanding” of what Jesus was teaching then and now is for those who are “In Christ.” The “world” referred to in Scripture, are those folks who have never believed nor trusted in the free gift of Grace offered in Jesus. These folks often go on about their lives not believing there is a God, or if there is, that He doesn’t care about them personally. It is for certain a sad and miserable existence.

“But God…”, I love those words.

Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

But God… in fact, does want us to know exactly how to communicate with him. That’s why Jesus gave this model prayer to the Hebrews… but also to us. NOT as a mantra. Not as a magical incantation. Not as some mystical process of existentialism. What a great word huh? No, Jesus gave us this prayer as a model because this is how Jesus always prayed, and always lived while on earth.

Think about it. Remember it. Do it.

Acknowledge Him, revere His name.
Ask for His kingdom, and His will right now, right here, wherever here is.
Ask only for what we need today.
Forgive people.
Keep us from temptation.

This is the Mind of Christ. This is the Will of God… to align my will to His. Not His will to mine.

Next time…

How does the image above reflect the Sovereignty of God?
Having the Mind of Christ will help us see this image differently….