Lesson 7

1. This lesson will continue the series of lessons on the attributes of the Almighty God of heaven.

2. We have studied thus far (1) The Eternity of God (2) The Knowledge of God (3) The Foreknowledge of God (4) The Power of God (5) The Omnipresence of God and (6) The Holiness of God.

3. This will be composed of two awesome attributes of God.

 1. It is sad that most have such an inferior conception of God.

• The "god" of this twentieth century no more resembles the Supreme Sovereign of Holy Writ than does the dim flickering of a candle the glory of the midday sun.

• The "god" presented in most pulpits and Bible class rooms does not come close to the living God of heaven.

• Men and even Christians tend to humanize God and think that He can be moved to discard His attributes and His plans can be thwarted by man or Satan.

• God said, "Thou thoughtest that I was altogether as thyself." (Psa. 50:21).

• God's complaint against Israel is true of most in the 20th century.

• Our God is too human.

• I submit to you that our God is divine and infinite in everywhere and is not human in any way.

• I submit to you that a "god" whose plans can be thwarted is no "god" at all and should not be the object of our worship.

2. The God of the Bible and the God whom I trust is absolutely supreme.

• He is the Creator and we are the creation.

• He is the Potter and we are the clay.

• If all hell and all the inhabitants of this earth combine in revolt against Him, it would not cause Him any uneasiness and could not stop His purposes - God is omnipotent.

• From the second psalm we learn of the attempts of the kings of the earth to stop God's plan to stop the death and exaltation of Christ.

• How foolish!

• Listen to God's response. (Psa. 2:4).

3. The absolute and universal supremacy of God is plainly and positively affirmed in many scriptures. (1 Chron. 29:11, 12; 2 Chron. 20:6; Job 42:2; Psa. 115:3; Prov. 21:30).

• Inanimate matter, irrational creatures, all perform their Maker's bidding.

• At His pleasure the Red Sea divided and its waters stood up as walls (Exod. 14).

• At His pleasure the earth opened her mouth, and the guilty rebels went down alive into the pit. (Num. 16).

• When He so ordered, the sun stood still. (Josh. 1).

• To exemplify His supremacy, He made ravens carry food to Elijah. (1 Kings 17).

• He made iron to swim on top of the waters. (2 Kgs. 17).

• He made lions to be tame when Daniel was cast into the den of lions. 

• He kept the fire from burning the three Hebrews.

• Listen to what the psalmist wrote. (Psa. 135:6).

4. God's supremacy is also demonstrated in His perfect rule over the wills of men.

• It would be good for us to ponder Exodus 34:24.

• Three times in the year all the males of Israel were required to leave their homes and go up to Jerusalem.

• They lived in the midst of hostile people, who hated them for having appropriated their lands.

• What kept the Canaanites from seizing the opportunity during the absence of the men?

• It is interesting that God promised beforehand that none should so much as "desire" their lands. (Exod. 34:24).

• This certainly demonstrates the supremacy of God.

4. The absolute and universal supremacy of God is affirmed with equal plainness and positiveness in the New Testament. (Eph. 1:11; Rom. 11:36).

1. Some object to the supremacy of God by saying, "Do we not read again and again in the scripture how that men defied God, resisted His will, broke His commandments, disregarded His warnings, and turned a deaf ear to all His exhortations?"

• Certainly we do. The vast majority of men disobey God and no one, even the most devout Christians, obeys His will perfectly.

• The fact all men sin does not change the absolute supremacy of God.

• It was the will of God that men be free moral agents.

• It was the plan of God that men have the right to choose good or evil.

• It was the plan of God that men can choose to obey Him or choose to disobey Him.

• The free moral agency of man and every other counsel of God have been and always will be fulfilled to their minutest details.

1. The sovereignty of God may be defined as the exercise of His supremacy.

• God is infinitely elevated above the highest creature.

• God is subject to none, influenced by none.

• He is absolutely independent.

• None can thwart Him, none can hinder Him. (Isa. 46:10; Dan. 4:35).

• Divine sovereignty means that God is God and He is on the throne of the universe directing and working all things "after the counsel of His own will." (Eph. 1:11).

• God is over all things and He can do as He pleases.

2. Here are some questions for us to ponder about sovereignty.

• Was God under obligation to create?

• Was God under obligation to make man in His image?

• Was God under obligation to send Jesus into the world?

• Was God under obligation to guide man?

• Was God under obligation to save man?

• Was God under obligation to prepare heaven for His children?

3. The answer to each of these questions is no.

• God did all these things because it pleased Him.

• He does not need to get permission from another.

• He is the Monarch of the universe and has absolute independent authority and free from any human or angelic or devilish limitations.

1. I pray each of us are growing in our conception of the lofty and exalted God of the universe.

2. He is infinite in all His attributes including His supremacy and sovereignty.

3. Next week we will study "The Faithfulness Of God."

• "God is love." (1 Jno. 4:8).

• "God is light." (1 Jno. 1:5).

• "God is Spirit." (Jno. 4:24).

• "God is faithful." (1 Cor. 10:13).

4. I believe a detail study of God's faithfulness will enhance our appreciation of the infinite Jehovah and will encourage us to greater trust and faithfulness.