sov·​er·​eign·​ty

The sovereignty of God is an attribute that most Christians would not deny or debate. That God is sovereign is a basic tenant of the theology of God yet do we truly understand how it relates to our relationship with Him and how we live out our Christian life? For me, I had a “theological head knowledge” but it took years for it to become personal for me. 

Sovereignty can be secularly defined as a: supreme power especially over a body politic;                 b: the freedom from external control; and c: controlling influence. As it applies to God, it simply means that God has supreme authority and does not need any external input. Do we really believe this? Does He have supreme authority over us?

It could be argued that He relinquished dominion over the earth to mankind to subdue it. And Satan is permitted to have limited influence over some things on earth. Think of the story of Job for instance and the evil in today’s culture for example. But apart from that, God is the only all-knowing omniscient, ever present all-powerful One. Yet this knowledge sometimes evades us in practical living.

For me, it happened when my only sibling died of cancer, 19 years after my formal “theological” training. We had continually and earnestly prayed in faith, believing for her healing that never came. Embracing my wife in our grief as the funeral director removed her lifeless body from our home we said this to God: “God, You’re going to have to explain this to us.” The response didn’t come immediately but it did come to me soon after. In one of those rare moments when I heard God speak although not audibly, “I don’t have to explain this to you, I am the Sovereign God!” Wow! My theological knowledge became real on that day.

Throughout my ministry I have fellowshipped with brothers and sisters from various theological views about divine healing. I believe in divine healing. I experienced a medically verified supernatural healing as a child. (I hope to detail that experience in a future blog.” I KNOW that God can heal but I also know that He doesn’t ALWAYS heal in this life. My sister was completely healed and entered heaven with a.painless, cancerless body! 

I am now facing the most challenging physical challenge of my life. Many people are praying for me around the world. I hear from people who are actively praying and it overwhelms me. It is impossible for me to express my gratitude. My prayer is still for another supernatural healing. But the revelation God gave me 29 years ago remains as true today as it was then. God is Sovereign and does not owe me an explanation. But I owe Him my life, my trust, and my all. It’s totally in His hands.  

There are many people who are in a worse situation than I am. Some of you may be in that category. I often feel a bit guilty receiving so much love and concern from people like you when I know others are worse off. The truth of God’s sovereignty is true for you too. But it cannot only be a theological attribute of God; it needs to be a relatable truth for you and all of us to live by. If you haven’t already, make sure that He is your true Sovereign Lord in everything.

“I surrender all/All to Him I owe.”