Seeking Jesus First - June 17, 2023
The Kingdom of God - Part Two
Just how much sovereignty does God exercise over the earth and the people on it?
A sovereign makes the rules that govern a kingdom…
There is no example of a sovereign in the earth who controls every choice of those he reigns over. People either choose to align with the sovereigns rule or not. Those who align have the blessing and favor of the sovereign. Those who do not align with the sovereigns rule live under the threat of condemnation and being judged and punished.
Even with a nation like China with their facial recognition cameras in every public place and social credit scoring that denies entry or automatically charges fines and debits people’s accounts, they cannot control the heart of their people and there will still be those who find ways around compliance.
A person can live their whole life without aligning with the sovereign. There are consequences to rejecting alignment. They will live their whole life under the threat of condemnation. They may never get caught or judged in their lifetime by the authority and power of their king. But they will live under a cloud, trying not to get caught. They will live with worry and doubt and fear and suspicion. “The wicked flee when no one pursues, But the righteous are bold as a lion.” (Proverbs 28:1, NKJV)
What is the benefit in believing that God controls every aspect of everyone’s lives?
What does it benefit me to think that if God wants me to do something, He will make me do it? How does that make my relationship with God stronger or better?
How does it make my worship or obedience something that God will reward? God does reward obedience, doesn’t He?
How would God see any value in me doing what He wants me to do? Why give me a command to do something if He is controlling what I do? Where is the intimacy with God found and why is it necessary if I am a robot? God enjoys spending time with us, doesn’t He?
If God is only outside of time without emotion or compassion towards me as an individual, how could John 3:16 be true? God is with us and in us, isn’t He? God is love, right?
It is definitely fine for us to be on different pages about the sovereignty of God. If you believe that God is in control of every aspect of every life, then He is the one who made me to think like I do and He will change me if He decides to. We don’t have to get out of unity over it. We can still walk in the love of God with each other.
So, how much sovereignty does God exercise over the earth and over our daily thoughts, words, and actions? Jesus is definitely the High King of heaven and earth. He has definitely set the rules by which heaven and earth operate.
“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore 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.” (Matthew 28:18–20, NKJV)
“who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,” (Hebrews 1:3, NKJV)
Kings rule by decree. Jesus is the King of kings. Jesus upholds all things by the word of His power or the power of His decrees.
Justice is declared by the decree of Jesus.
Mercy is decreed by the words of Jesus.
Jesus is the judge, prince and king of the earth.
Earth is under His jurisdiction.
“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate. Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength. By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice.” (Proverbs 8:13–15, NKJV)
“This decision is by the decree of the watchers, And the sentence by the word of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, Gives it to whomever He will, And sets over it the lowest of men.’ “This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare its interpretation, since all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, for the Spirit of the Holy God is in you.” (Daniel 4:17–18, NKJV)
“The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.” (Psalm 24:1, NKJV)
“The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s; But the earth He has given to the children of men.” (Psalm 115:16, NKJV)
God owns the earth. God’s decrees established the earth. The natural laws, gravity, seedtime and harvest, etc. were established by God. His word, rules the earth, but He gives authority over the earth to men. God allows the will of man to be done in the earth.
God sets up kings to decree justice in the earth. He gives the earth to whomever He wills. He lets men rule the earth - even the lowest of men.
Why would God do that? Because He has a desire that He wants to complete. He will give authority to a man who will work toward that desire. There are times when people pursue wickedness and they eventually get wicked rulers. Sometimes, the lowest of men will do wicked things and hurt people. This is a form of chastisement and correction. Rulers are supposed to exercise the sword of justice against the wicked, but when the rulers are wicked the sword is moved against others according to the wicked ruler’s whims and desires.
But when people rise up who desire the will of God more than the will of man, they will decree His decrees over the earth. Righteousness will become their desire. Love will become their motivation. Faith will be their victory over the world. They will receive the authority of God to decree the decrees of God. And because the earth was created by the decrees of God and the earth is upheld by the word of God, the earth will respond to their decrees. When God’s sons believe and decree the decrees of God, the world begins its prophesied transformation.
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.
(Romans 8, NKJV)
“If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.” (2 Timothy 2:12, NKJV) This causes the world to come into alignment with The Sovereign King of kings and more and more of His favor and will manifest for all to see.