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Sermon Overview

It is tempting to think that God is not in control, or that He is aloof, and gives no say regarding human affairs.

"Where is GOD?" "Why would He allow such calamity?" These are questions that many may have on their minds. But for those of us who believe, we know that God is Sovereign above all else. Nothing slips past Him. He rules the earth in perfect wisdom, and causes all things to happen for His divine purpose.

So why do we pray? Because He is sovereign.

Dr. Ed Pilapil Jr. Senior Pastor

Notes

The book of Isaiah reveals God’s sovereignty, justice, and mercy to Israel. 

“Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’; (Isaiah 46:9-10).

God supremely rules the universe, He controls everything, and orders everything. The doctrine of God’s sovereignty gives comfort. But it also offends.

The offended feels discomfort in the idea of having no control. Humans feel the need to be in control. If anyone takes that away, then it would be troubling. The pride of man hates to trust someone else concerning their future. 

Their motto, whether they know it or not, comes from Invictus, a self-exalting poem by William Ernest Henly, which concludes with, “I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.” 

Out of the night that covers me,   
  Black as the Pit from pole to pole,   
I thank whatever gods may be   
  For my unconquerable soul.   

In the fell clutch of circumstance 
  I have not winced nor cried aloud.   
Under the bludgeonings of chance   
  My head is bloody, but unbowed.   

Beyond this place of wrath and tears   
  Looms but the Horror of the shade, 
And yet the menace of the years   
  Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.   

It matters not how strait the gate,   
  How charged with punishments the scroll,   
I am the master of my fate:
  I am the captain of my soul.

But no, Mr. Henly, and everyone who adheres to this poem, you are not the master of your fate, and you are not the captain of your soul. Like every human, you are like the mist, a vapor that disappears. There is One who is the Master of our destinies, the Creator of the universe.

What is the connection of God’s sovereignty to prayer? Well, everything. If God is not sovereign, then why bother praying. Praying would be a waste of time. But if God is sovereign, and He is, then He controls the universe. So why pray? Because God is sovereign. 

“Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,” (Isaiah 46:9)

God’s sovereignty entails that He is above all, more powerful than all, and more knowledgeable than all. Who is like Him? No one. Who can compare to Him? No one. He is a class by Himself, high above all creation. So why pray? Because He controls it all.

Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’; (Isaiah 46:10)

God’s sovereignty means that He ordains and foreknows everything from start to end, and He purposed events from long ago. His sovereignty declares that His purpose will happen no matter what. So why pray when His purpose will happen anyway? Because He commands us to pray. Can He do it on His own? Absolutely. Does He need us? Frankly, no, He doesn’t need us. But He granted us the privilege to be involved in the process. 

“That men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun
That there is no one besides Me.
I am the Lord, and there is no other,
The One forming light and creating darkness,
Causing well-being and creating calamity;
I am the Lord who does all these.” (Isaiah 45:6-7)

Mortal men must grasp that there is no one besides Him. He made both light and darkness, and God causes both well-being and calamity. So why pray when we are in a dark place in our lives? So why pray when we find ourselves amid a calamity? Because He is the One who can bring light into our lives. And because He is the One who can cease a catastrophe and cause well-being.

We need to stop creating concepts about God that ALL of Scripture does not support. It is wrong to choose parts of Scripture that we prefer and ignore the rest. We cannot focus on one attribute of God then ignore the others. 

God shows mercy, yes. But God also reveals His wrath. God gives grace, but He also bestows justice. God lifts one but puts down another. God is love, but God is also holy, holy, holy. God may bless us for His purpose. Yet make us go through suffering to test our faith. God gives life, but He also takes life.

So who do we pray to when things look well? Who do we pray to when things look bad? Who do we pray to so we may receive mercy because of our sins? The sovereign God, no one else.

The human ego feels that God is not fair. How come He chooses and purposes, instead of us? If you think that way, then please adjust your view of fairness. Because fairness is this. Sinners must pay for their crimes. Every sin is a crime worthy of eternal damnation. 

If God were to exercise fairness, then we shall all be damned for eternity. No one will enter His rest. The saying is true that those who end up in hell deserve it, but those who end up in heaven don’t deserve it. They entered His rest because of His mercy, not because of His fairness. So who do we ask for mercy? To whom do we bow down and ask forgiveness? No one else except the sovereign God.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts.'“ (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Our finite minds cannot fathom His wisdom, but we know that it is great beyond measure. So even though we possess little understanding on why things happen, we pray and keep on praying. We learn to trust on the One whose thoughts are higher than ours, and whose ways surpass our understanding.

If we are among loyal friends and family,   
  Or discover a betrayal by someone near,   
If we experience swift justice,   
 Or if we fall victim to the unjust,   

If we are blessed with abundance, 
  Or fall into shame and poverty,   
If all seems well and good,   
  Or everything falls apart,   

If joy seems to abound beyond measure,   
  Or if deep despair grips our hearts, 
If we find the path that gives us purpose,   
  Or lost our way in the woods,   

Who do we seek for wisdom?   
  Who do we ask for greater grace?   
Who do we trust despite the suffering?
  The sovereign God. None other.