Episode Intro

SPEAKER_01 0:13

Hello, everybody. Welcome back to Tether, Being Connected to Jesus, where we help followers of Jesus be deeply, intentionally connect to him every single day. It's soast to get have you watched it on video or listening? We definitely appreciate having you. Thanks for coming back. Alrighty, so we are continuing in season four of our podcast here, which we're calling God is, which we're looking at the attributes of God. And so, with that, in the previous episode, we actually covered about God being faithful. And so we were able to interview our friend Alfredo Ruiz de Chavez. And that episode was so encouraging. I would encourage you to go listen to it or watch it again. And so I'll have a link on the description right here just to you know be able to go back to that episode. But other than that, yeah, we want to now introduce you to the fourth attribute of God that we're gonna be looking at in this season, which is the sovereignty of God. God is sovereign. And

Meet Josiah Franklin!

SPEAKER_01 1:09

so I invited a friend of mine that I've known for almost five years now. We used to actually be a part of the same community group that my friend Jonathan, if you remember him from the second season, he was a part of this group. And so, yeah, I'm happy to introduce my friend Josiah Franklin to Tethered. And so, Josiah, welcome to Tethered.

SPEAKER_00 1:32

Woop, whoop, whoop, whoop. I'm I'm happy to be here.

SPEAKER_01 1:35

Awesome, brother. Well, thank you for making time to come onto the podcast to speak on the sovereignty of God. But before we actually begin with that, Josiah, why don't you just tell us a little bit about yourself, maybe some three fun facts?

SPEAKER_00 1:47

Okay, I can do that, Joey. Man, first, uh, shout out you. Like you said, we we both go way back, we were in community group, and I really got to know you. So when you asked me to speak, I was honored, am honored, and I am I am excited for today. Three facts about me. Um, I don't know if you knew this, but I actually played three instruments. I I play I feature one, you know, that's my my baby, the piano, but I can also play the drums, and I also play a little bit of saxophone. I played a little bit of saxophone in college. Nice. Um also, I don't know if you knew this, but I rap. Um I have music out, one of my latest singles. I'm I'm with a couple guys, a couple artists who I really believe in um, you know, what God is doing in their lives beyond the music, after the music stops. And so God is doing some really powerful things. I have a song out called Reconciled. Uh, I go under the name of Servant Siah. You can also find my other music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, uh, YouTube Music, all the platforms that's out there, um, and it's ready for consumption, and hopefully it draws you back into the word and that relationship with God. Amen. The third fact, I dabble a little bit in poetry. Nothing too too crazy, but I I do dabble a little bit in poetry.

SPEAKER_01 3:15

Why don't you get uh if you're okay with it, why don't you give us a little sample of that if you have something in mind?

SPEAKER_00 3:20

Of uh of my rap or my poetry? Maybe both, or maybe your rap.

SPEAKER_01 3:25

Let's put it that way.

SPEAKER_00 3:28

Um, I could do that. I could do that. Gospel on my feet, you know it's peace, you know it's true. What up? We don't rock that Gucci on the belt, we bring the truth with us. When we get to Stefan, bring that weapon, we're gonna keep it tucked. Yeah, I eat my daily bread, but I feel I don't eat enough.

SPEAKER_01 3:44

Oh, that is so good. Wow, that is actually really good. Thanks for giving us a little bit of a you know preview of what your rap sounds like. So I'll go ahead and include links to your um artist profile on Spotify, Apple Music, wherever you listen to music to, dear listener and watchers. So, yeah, that way you can be able to be encouraged with you know that kind of you know material. So thanks for sharing that, Josiah.

SPEAKER_00 4:10

Yeah, man. I I appreciate you, Joey.

SPEAKER_01 4:12

Yeah, so with that, let's go ahead and actually begin talking about our topic at hand today. And so, to begin this episode, let's go ahead and just ask you this question.

Describing God's sovereignty

SPEAKER_01 4:24

What does the word sovereignty mean? How would you describe that word? And then um, lastly, what are some examples of this word used outside of scripture?

SPEAKER_00 4:37

Gotcha. So, what I like to do is I like to set the framework and I like things that are tangible and usable. So for me, it's important to give you a book definition and give you the biblical definition, and what my dad instilled in me is okay, how does that and how is that going to apply to my life in some tangible ways? So there's some big words, but for me, I gotta break them down. So hopefully that edifies you. So sovereignty can be described as this from what I kind of found, a a good biblical foundation. It means that God purposefully governs everything, and nothing happens outside his direct control or his permissive will. And so, um, one of the I I love good biblical resources. Um, this is they don't pay me, and I I doubt they pay Joey. They definitely don't. Yeah, yeah. But God questions is a great resource, and uh um one of the things that they feature when talking about sovereignty is that God is omniscient, God is omnipotent, and God is omnipresent. Right? And so those are big words, all kind of dealing with Latin origin, you know, the omni meaning all, and then the second part of the word usually describing the function. So I I'm just gonna go into it of just a little bit, and these are words that aren't necessarily found in the Bible, but that are very true characteristics, kind of like the word Trinity is not found in the Bible, but the triune nature of God is established all throughout scripture, so we can depend and trust on these characteristics as they confirm the truth found in the scriptures, right? Yes. So, with that being the case, I I look at omniscience as omni, that's the word all, but it it's meaning that God has total knowledge, right? Omnipotent, God has all power over all things at all times and all ways, and omnipresent. God is present everywhere. Not that he's necessarily in everything like some pantheistic religions believe, but that he is present everywhere, meaning transcendent. He has a way to reach us at all times and he can see at all times. So those things make up some of the wonderful characteristics that we see that we are gonna blanket today as sovereignty. God is in total control.

SPEAKER_01 7:28

Well, thank you again, Josiah, for you know, sharing about the sovereignty of God. Like, I love how you described essentially like talking about his omnipresence, his omnipotence, and then his omniscience. Like, it's just so important to know that. Um, I liked how you broke down those definitions too, because it's so easy to, you know, just see God in a what's called a deistic way, where some people will view God as like he's just this creator, but then he like steps away from his creation, is not involved. The way you defined it was definitely one of this understanding that God is ruling and reigning, but involved in everything that happens. And so really appreciate you sharing that. So maybe like for the listener that still maybe not fully comprehends this word sovereignty, because whenever I think of the word sovereignty, uh I think of like a sovereign nation. And so, like, for example, the United States is it's its own sovereign nation, meaning that you know it's the United States there's nothing above the United States, if that makes sense. So maybe like help the listener maybe understand that a little bit more.

SPEAKER_00 8:37

Yeah, that's a really good point. God often uses the things around us that can relate to us to speak to us, of course, through his word. And when you mention the United States, we can very well see that nothing controls the United States, like you were saying. It's a sovereign nation governed by a set of rules that the country put in place, right? And and the fact that the nation is sovereign is actually of great comfort. So when we use big words like sovereign, we break it down to understand that it it just means on its surface level, I think what I said was God is in control of all things. Nothing passes through his hand without him first either allowing it or being in control directly of it. So God either through his permissive will or his active putting his hand in the cookie jar and and and making things happen. He can do both, and that's what I kind of want to get in today because there's a lot of conversation about that, there's a lot that goes on, and sometimes we can get an incorrect view of God from skeptics, from atheists, or from the like of people who who ill intentional and sometimes intentionally mischaracterize God on the fact of his sovereignty. So that's what I kind of want to talk about today, so that we can correctly look through the lens of scripture and see that God He is so great and He is faithful and He is sovereign.

SPEAKER_01 10:19

Yeah, thanks for sharing that for sure.

Why God's sovereignty is important to understand

SPEAKER_01 10:22

So let's get into that actually. So let me ask you this next question to you know set up what you're about to share. Why is this particular attribute of God important for someone to understand?

SPEAKER_00 10:36

Man, when you see the sovereignty of God and you see him at work, you can't help but just I well, I can't help but just praise him and understand, it helps me understand my salvation, my salvation story, everything about the the not even everything, because our minds can't contain how good God really is. But when you start to piece together these things, it founds your doctrine, which doctrine is good for us to understand that all scripture is inspired by God, and and that inspiration leads us to correct doctrine, to correct reproof, to all the things that are helpful for us to be equipped to do the things that God wants us to. And so when we have a foundation based in God's sovereignty, we can move forward and do the things God wants us to do in full confidence.

SPEAKER_01 11:31

Amen. Amen. No, that's that's good to sh that's good to hear because it should be a comforting thing, uh, the sovereignty of God. I just remember like a pastor of mine that I had from some years ago from a church I used to go to. Um, he said that the sovereignty of God should cause us to actually praise him more because of the fact that he is in control and that he gets to dictate what happens essentially is comforting because I mean we we can't determine what uh can happen, what will happen. I mean, we can control some things. I've heard it described this way like we can only control you know the six inner circle of our lives. Like right now, I can just move this laptop screen like this, but I can't control like if my heart will stop all of a sudden.

SPEAKER_00 12:28

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 12:28

Um, because that could happen, just or like if something like a meteor, for example, were to fall out of the sky and hit this building, not saying that will happen, but you know, that's something that I can't control. But God is in absolute control and he knows what he's doing. I just think about uh for me, I just think about this verse from Jove, um, Jove 38, 25 through 35, and I got it pulled up here, and this is uh not a lengthy passage, but in the whole context of it, Jove is beginning to ask God, like, okay, why am I going through these things? Show me yourself. And then God actually shows up and begins to ask him all these diagnostic questions about where were you when the earth was laid? And so this passage here actually explains just how in control God is. And I just figured I'd read that. Who has cleft the channel for the torrents of rain and a way for the thunderbolt? To bring rain on a land where no man is, on the desert in which there is no man, to satisfy the waste and desolate land, and to make the ground sprout with grass, has the rain a father, or who has begotten the drops of dew? From those womb did the ice come forth, and who has given birth to the frost of heaven? The waters became hard like stone in the face of the deepest frozen. Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades or lose the cords of Orion? Can you lead forth the Mazaroth in their season, or can you guide the bear with its children? Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you establish the rule on the earth? Can you lift up your voice to the clouds that a flood of waters may cover you? Can you send forth lightnings that they may go and say to you, Here we are? I mean there's a lot more to that account, but essentially, like the Lord is asking Jove these questions, like, can you do these things? Yeah, I can do these things. Um, I can control the constellations. That's you know, some of these like Orion Bear refers to constellations up in the sky. But also like he can control the weather, he can even control, like, you know, the water cycles talks about ice here. It's interesting because and then even lightning in the sky. Like God is an absolute control, and I think that is a comfort to us for sure, because we we we just can't control like God controls. And so

Scripture references to show that God is sovereign

SPEAKER_01 14:58

with that, Josiah, did you actually have any scripture references to show that God is sovereign?

SPEAKER_00 15:06

Oh, you know I did. And I'm so glad you got to Job because I wanted to include Job it because I I I really take the word seriously, and so anything that we say and do as Christians, again, like I referenced 2 Timothy 3 16 through 17, all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is probable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work, right? That is the word, meaning that the word is uh Jesus even says that the scriptures are that that we cannot that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the Lord, right? Paraphrased version, but that's what he says, and he gets that from the word. So we have to understand that this word is the source. So I could get up here and talk and and all that, but of course, if if God's sovereignty is definitely found in the scriptures, and so yeah, I have some areas that we're gonna go into today. Now, prepare yourself if you've been on so far and listening, or if you're watching, just know it's about to be the good, the bad, and the ugly. I say that, I preference that it's just a title. It it does, it's all scripture is good, it's brought by inspiration of God. But I'm going to take us three places in scripture that I think is gonna help us see the direct points of God's sovereignty and how they interact between his direct will and his permissive will, right? And so the main focuses of scripture we're gonna be in today is the good, Joseph, and his brothers. The bad, the Exodus story, the ugly, Paul's encouragement to the Roman church. Hmm. Interesting topics, but yeah, that's we're we're we're gonna be found in those scriptures. Uh so yeah, I'm excited to break it down.

SPEAKER_01 17:13

Awesome.

Explain why these Scriptures are important

SPEAKER_01 17:14

Well, I'm excited to hear it, and so yeah, maybe go ahead and like share these verses and explain them.

SPEAKER_00 17:20

Okay, so what you're gonna have to do with me is hopefully um as you're listening back to this, if you're in a safe place to, you know, maybe you're listening while driving, then do it when you're home. Yeah, for sure. Um stay safe. Yes, please stay safe. But uh for those watching or for those who are listening and sitting down, man, please open your word um with me, and uh we'll find ourselves in the good, um evil repurposed for good, Genesis 50 verse 20. And so one thing I like to do is break down a little bit of context uh before I go go into the scripture directly, and you can read this for yourself. Genesis, you can really take it from the story of Joseph at this point of where we're at in Genesis, and Joseph has literally been sold into slavery by the ones that were supposed to love him, these are his brothers, and out of jealousy or whatever's in their heart, they go and sell their brother into slavery, not killing him, but basically dooming his existence. And God is repurposing his plans for not just Joseph, but for those brothers, and those brothers turn from their sins eventually, and and and literally turn from their wicked ways, and now they have been reconnected with Joseph, who they sold, and Joseph is now in a place where he can help his brothers. He's second in command in Egypt, he's been sold to people who eventually sold them to the Egyptians, and now the land has been in famine, and God, what did we read in Job? He controls the earth and the different lightning strikes and even the weather. So God basically enabled a whole earthly plague to happen, and Joseph has literally been placed in the right time and place. Not only does he get enough provision for his family, he takes care of them, but they are worried because their father has just died. They're worried that Joseph is gonna renege or recount his promise to take care of him. So they're worried at this point, and that's when we get into scripture when uh Genesis 5020, where Joseph says this to his brothers. I know all the things he did, but he said, Joseph said, But as for you, you meant evil against me. But God meant it for good in order to bring it about as it is this day. Wow. To save many people alive, to save many people alive. This is such a powerful scripture. Again, we have to be careful to not put ourselves and be like, I'm the Joseph in this situation, or I'm the brothers in this situation. But remember, all scripture points towards Jesus Christ and what he did on the cross for us. So when we look at this, we can see that although the brothers meant it for evil, we see that God has repurposed this in a very real way for these brothers who eventually become who we know as the Israelites, and He He positionally and permissively takes their sin, their evil, and He repurposes it for what later comes to the lineage of the Jews and becomes salvation for all. Wow, yeah. Isn't that so powerful?

SPEAKER_01 20:58

That is awesome. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 21:00

The good that God can and God is in control. So the I don't want us, and there's a very can be dangerous theology, can be dangerous understanding that okay, I'm just gonna sin. So uh God is gonna redirect that path. Sin has consequences. In fact, if you have not trusted in Jesus Christ as your eternal Savior, you are not saved. You are a child of the devil. Unfortunately, that's what the word says, but God doesn't leave you there. For those who repent turn from their sins and say, Jesus, his blood, his holy blood is the only thing that is necessary for my life. They will have everlasting life. And then we we learn from Jesus and his teachings. So it's it's God being able to take repentant hearts and even those who don't repent, as we'll see in the next the bad. God will work things out for his plans, right? And so that's the transition into the bad, right? The bad, the Exodus story. We're gonna be bouncing around just a little bit here. So work with me, Joey. Um, so we'll go to we'll start in Exodus 7, verses 1 through 4. We'll be right around that first part of Exodus, though. So we won't be bouncing around too much. It will all be in Exodus. So not only can God repurpose evil intentions for good according to his plans, but now we're gonna look at a situation where God hardens somebody's heart. Interesting. God steps into creation and hardens somebody's heart. That can be very jarring to some because they're like, Well, I don't have any control of what God is gonna do. So can he just damn some people to hell and just choose other people? And you get into all these theology theological debates and questions, and you you start to question God, but now I'm gonna draw us back to the word and show us some really cool things in this part that I think we're all gonna get. So we're gonna be in uh Exodus chapter 7, verses 1 through 4. And so I'm gonna read this. So the Lord said to Moses, See, I have made you as a God to Pharaoh, and Aaron, your brother, shall be your prophet. Let's stop here while I give a little bit of context. God has positionally put Moses, those same Israelites that we read from Genesis, they they dwelt in the land of Egypt for so long that they became annoying to the Egyptians who put them in slavery. And now Moses has been charged to bring them out, and there's this wicked king, or this king, we don't know that he's wicked quite yet. Well, we we kind of do because he's not listening, but you can see in scripture that the Lord is speaking directly to Moses and giving him instruction. Verse 2 The Lord says, You shall speak all that I command you, and Aaron your brother shall tell Pharaoh to send the children of Israel out of his land. We're gonna keep reading. This is important. The Lord's giving an instruction in verse three he says, and I will harden Pharaoh's heart and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh will not heed you, so that I may lay my hand on Egypt and bring my armies and my people, the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. Interesting parallel, because what we're gonna do is just go back. We're gonna tiptoe ourselves backitoes to Exodus chapter 5, 1 and 2. And so we understand that God just gave him instructions and told him what is gonna happen. Prophetically, he said, I'm gonna harden Pharaoh's heart, but we have to look that that wasn't necessarily Moses' first encounter with Pharaoh. Moses encountered Pharaoh in what we read in chapter 5, verse 1. Afterward, Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, Thus says the Lord God of Israel, let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness. And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go. I want us to see something. The Lord is speaking to Moses prophetically in chapter 7, but in chapter 5, Pharaoh has already turned his way and his back. He has already established in his heart, I don't know the Lord, nor do I want to, nor do I care about his people. He literally is stated his position. Yeah. God has already promised deliverance and he's promised to use Moses as Moses is obedient, right?

SPEAKER_03 26:24

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 26:25

Pharaoh has already established, but God has not necessarily hardened his heart. He's just said, I'm going to. Yeah. Pharaoh has already positionally placed himself in disobedience. But we're going to wrap up in a couple different sections. We're going to now go forward past chapter 7, where we started, and we're going to go to Exodus 8.15. Exodus 8.15. So now God has said, hey, okay, Pharaoh doesn't want to listen. I'm going to give him signs. Some of us are like, if God would just send me a sign from heaven, then I would believe. Well, Pharaoh had plenty of signs and did not really help his belief. So sometimes miracles aren't the answer to really getting an understanding of who God is in obeying him. But we go to Exodus 8.15 and we read after one of these plagues, I believe it's the plagues of the frogs, we see that in Exodus 8.15, but when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not heed them as the Lord had said. Then we go, let's just travel a little bit more to Exodus 8, same chapter, verse 32. And it says, After this plague, and again, this is the fourth plague, that but Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the people go. We see two times in Scripture where throughout the first four plagues, and really the fifth one kind of include, but throughout the first four plagues, Pharaoh is not listening, and two times he's hardened his own heart of his own will. Exodus 9 12. So if we keep reading to 9 12, we see that after this one, this is the plague of the livestock, um, basically the livestock dying, right? And there's something powerful here because the Lord does a lot with livestock, but we see in Exodus 9.12, we see, but the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he did not heed them just as the Lord had spoken to Moses. Interesting. So isn't that really cool? God draws back to what we read in Exodus 7:1 through 4. He told Moses how it was gonna go down. And it ended up playing that way. It ended up playing out that way, but we also see that Pharaoh was a part of the hardening of his own heart first. Now, what's really powerful about this is that because God is omniscient, that means he's all knowing. Meaning he and he can see everything, right? God is omnipresent, so he can see the depths of our heart. He knew what Pharaoh was gonna do, and Pharaoh had already established out of his mouth that he didn't know the Lord, nor did he want to. So what God did here was literally harden the heart of an already hard man. Gave him chance to repent. Because through Exodus chapter 5, all the way through to the point where God started hardening his own heart, he could have repented. In fact, in some of these plagues, he started to say, Ah, okay, I'll let you go, but then he reversed.

SPEAKER_02 30:08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 30:09

A hard and wicked heart. And what God did was say, I will give you over. You know? I will give you over in Romans, I believe. Romans 1, it talks about the direct implications of rejecting God unto your earthly death, right? That's why the gospel is so important. Knowing the truth and deciding to disobey is not only foolish, but God will use your evil purposes. And he will cast you far out. The story of Exodus is not necessarily one of victory that we read for Pharaoh. To fast forward, many of us know this story. It doesn't end up well for the Egyptians. Direct and intentional disobedience is still used, but not for the good of the people who don't love God. It's not good for them, but it is used for the people who God called, which was the Israelites, especially at that time. That even in slavery and bondage, God was working towards the freedom of and the freedom and the storyline and the fulfillment of what he said. God's gonna fulfill what he said. That's a powerful truth. God will do what he said. So his sovereignty, him being in control, means that God cannot lie. And if he said it, it's gonna come true. And there's some wonderful promises for those who love God and are called according to his purposes. Those promises, the things that God has already established, he can't lie. So the fact that he's in control of everything means something really great for us. Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_01 31:59

Amen, brother.

SPEAKER_00 32:00

So I just cross-reference a scripture, Romans 28, that that when we're called according to God's purposes and when we love him, that we are positionally, we're provided for. So why is this section the ugly? The specific scripture is, and we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose. A lot of us Christians, we use this as a great verse, and it is a great verse, and and and we use it, but it definitely has some context. So, Joey, I'm I'm wrapping up here, but if I could take time to read this scripture because it's important. Yes, I would agree. Um this scripture is important, um, and and and the reason why I want to read this is because we had to read it in context. Paul is writing to the Roman church, the Romans, right? He's writing to the Romans, but this very much impacts us. He's writing with intention, and the title, the subtitle of this this text, again, subtitles added later in time, but it helps us develop an understanding of specific portions of scripture and what the message and focus is. The focus is from suffering to glory. So it's so interesting that we read this as a passage of encouragement, and it is, but it's an encouragement through suffering. So I won't just say that, I'll read. And this is this is what Paul through the Holy Spirit says. It says verse 18, Romans 8, 18. 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 great creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to f 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. Talking about the world. But verse twenty-three says, Not only that, but we also who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly a eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope. But hope that is seen is not hope. For why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. Likewise, the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses, for we do not know what we should pray for as we ought. But the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now he who searches the hearts, hmm? Now he who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called, who who to those who are the called according to his purpose. Some really deep and powerful stuff. Yeah. And I think it's really intentional that we understand something, especially when we use verses. I I titled that section as the ugly suffering. Okay. We talked about God is in control of all things, but there's some very real conversations. Some of us have had family members, or some of us are battling cancer ourselves, some of us have been touched inappropriately at young ages, and and God, you were in control. Why did you not do anything? Some of us have had very real problems. Some of us didn't have father figures, some of us had fathers, some of us didn't. Some of us are not understanding, God, why did you allow this to happen to me? And that draws a lack of trust in God because we can we say, okay, if he's sovereign, then why did he allow this to happen to me? And we and sometimes it's not even a victim mentality. It's it's try it's to the levels that we feel hurt and pain and we don't understand. But we have to understand this that as we're reading this scripture, this is to take in light of the finish, and it's not even the finish, but it's a part of Paul's story. Who's who's writing this? The Holy Spirit is is he is guiding Paul to write this, right? So it's coming from the revelations of God, and he's given it to Paul. But if we look at how Paul, the man who wrote all the things will work together for your good, yeah, right? If you love God and I'll call according to his purpose, that same man was martyred. All but one of the apostles, the disciples who Jesus Himself chose, died in ways that the the the common human, the our flesh, they were martyred.

SPEAKER_02 37:49

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 37:50

How much more? I mean, God, you know, he loves us all, but he walked and talked and worked with those people. In fact, when he called Paul, he said, How he's gonna find out how much he has to suffer for my name's sake, right? And so, even in the suffering, God is sovereign and he is good, and that's what this this verse kind of points toward is that hey, part of the good plan for Paul was to give his life in a way that Jesus also um would sacrifice. He he put he, of course, he cannot sacrifice to the depths of Jesus, but he was willing to give his body and counted it good for the sake of the gospel. So were all the disciples. Some, Peter, who denied him, Thomas who doubted him, they gave their lives for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Yeah, right? Yeah, and so that also still contains God's sovereignty. God is still good even when we go things through things on this earth that we don't understand. Because if God doesn't in our minds make it right, or we feel like it's not right on earth, this is only part of eternity for the Christian. Yeah, there is a fulfillment that God will make all the wrongs right on earth as it is in heaven. So if it's not done on earth in this earthly time, remember, God is outside of this earthly time, space, and matter. God will fulfill every word that he said, and it will be good.

SPEAKER_01 39:29

Yeah. Thank you for sharing all that. I really enjoyed just hearing all of those scriptures because, like, I mean, the one I think about the most is the Genesis 50-20 verse that you just read there. Um, because you know, Joseph's story, like he went through all that, but the Lord ended up using that because of promises that he's made that God will always, always keep his promise no matter what. That is something that we uncovered in the episode with Caleb about the unchanging nature of God. So this just showcases like when God says something when he's in control, it's gonna happen. Like it will not like not happen, if that makes sense. And so it's like that is a comforting thing, though. Um, especially when we're in season of suffering. Like, I just love that you read that and explained the context because at the end of the day, like the Lord is gonna do all things, you know, for his purposes, for our good. Even when we're suffering, like it's so hard to see that in the moment. Uh but when we look back, the Lord just reminds us, like, I I'm I I was there for you. So that's why we can go to him in this. So I appreciate you sharing those verses, and especially the Exodus verse. That's always one that at first, like hearing about the Lord hardening Pharaoh's heart, but I mean, Pharaoh already hardened his own heart. He chose to rebel against God. I mean, so do we. And yet the Lord still chooses to save us through his son. And so let

How God's sovereignty helps one abide in Jesus

SPEAKER_01 40:57

me ask you this next question, Josiah. So, since this podcast is called Tethered, how does the sovereignty of God help us understand how he abides in us and us in him?

SPEAKER_00 41:50

God cannot fail. That's the simple answer. That's how it helps us abide to know because God is in control. Remember, you read from Job. When we read Job, he starts off not with everything, but with a lot, right? He starts off with a lot. Job starts off with a lot, but remember in the heavenly courts, the devil has to come to God and ask permission. There's a powerful truth in that. And this, I'm not even gonna take it this deep because we can get in a whole a whole rabbit hole, but I'll just say this the devil is not given the same attributes as God. He's a created being. God is above all. Yeah. How powerful he's faithful and he cannot fail. Yeah, and he has certain things in the scripture that he promised it's gonna happen.

SPEAKER_01 43:10

Yeah, amen.

SPEAKER_00 43:11

So we can abide in that knowing we're safe as can be. I would agree. Like our souls, our spirit, we're safe. Yeah, as we are found in Christ, tethered, connected, yeah, powerful truth.

SPEAKER_01 43:31

I love how you shared that. We could like safe. Like we can go to our Father and feel safe. And not only that, like he is approachable, and because he's in control, we can go to him, we can connect to him. He's already connected to us through Christ. And so I love how you said safe. And I know for some of you probably watching this, listening to this, have never heard God explain in that way before. Um, I have the f privilege of working for a campus ministry on a full-time basis, and I take students through this discipleship material called discipleship lab. And in that, um some of the ways that it describes God is that he's holy, he's a father, and he's king. And we'll cover the holiness of God in another episode, but essentially, like God is pure, God is good. Father, because he's someone that's approachable and cares for us, but king really highlights the sovereignty of God. Like he is a good king who rules his kingdom in the way that he sees fit. And knowing the character of God, him being a good God, he's gonna rule his kingdom in the way that his word describes it. Like it's gonna be with without sin. And it does it for our benefit and for his glory. And so the fact that he is in control, like the one that he gets to dictate what happens, it's always gonna be for our good. And so that's something that I really appreciate you touching on, Josiah, because it's so easy to think that God is just this distant being, but he's not. He's a good father, a good king, and he's holy and righteous. And so I appreciate you sharing those. So we're getting ready to wrap up here, but you kind of already hinted at this a little bit, but I wanted to ask you again, just because I just really think it's important to share,

The Gospel in God's sovereignty

SPEAKER_01 45:31

like to ask this, especially for you know our viewers that are watching this or listening to this, maybe for some comfort. Where do we see the gospel in the sovereignty of God?

SPEAKER_00 45:43

Yeah, Romans is such a powerful book. They are revelations from God, and as you read, you see God talk about even Israel and their part to play. But God makes a distinction in Romans 3:23. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We can look at Pharaoh and we can look, wow, he looked, look how he just hardened his heart, and look how Pharaoh is this messy, nasty guy. But we have to understand that's what sin does. And because of what Adam did in the garden, we all possess the sin nature. I think a brother of mine made it so clear yesterday to me, where it's like, that makes so much sense. Joey, have you ever like been around a kid or even you know, go back to your days as a kid, and somebody tells you, Don't do something. Like, Joey, don't touch the stove. Oh, yeah. What's the first thing you wanted to do in your flesh? I'm gonna touch the stove. Okay, and and and and in our human minds, we're just like, okay, that's just human nature, right? And that's sin nature, that is the the craving, the willingness that will drive us to sin, and we have all sinned, is what the scripture says. So rather it be Pharaoh with his hard and nasty heart, or rather it be whoever, you, me, at some point, the only way to escape that sin nature is to be born again of the Spirit, and you can only have that through a relationship that comes from a belief and a faith in Jesus Christ. Romans 10, 9 and 10 says it that if you confess your mouth and the Lord Jesus and believe that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved. And so I want to read this. Thank you for bringing me back to that. We read a powerful scripture, Romans 8 28, and there was so much before it, and I think there's a little bit after it that's gonna really bring us some peace and some hope. So we read how from suffering to glory. Watch this in verse 29, and we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called, to those who are the called according to his purpose, for whom he foreknew, he also predestined, to be conformed to the image of his son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom he predestined, these he also called, whom he called, these he also justified, and whom he justified, these he also glorified. Man, there's so much there, so much, and there's so many theological lanes that you can go down, predestination, eternal security, and all these things. But one thing that might be edifying no matter where you stand in that is to know that God doesn't make mistakes, and when you chose him, it was because of God's mercy and you responding to that. So, those of you who are on the fence, make a decision today. Because when God calls you his, he means it and his love as you read on, just read the whole chapter, but read read the whole book. But Romans is so good it says that there is nothing that can separate you from God's love. That's how much love that he has for you, that while you were yet sinners, he still died for you, meaning he made the way. You just need to be obedient. Moses was found faithful because he was obedient. God made it simple that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Isn't that such a great, gracious God who knew from the beginning of Genesis toward all the end of revelation to what we're living in now, right? He has called you, me, to do his word, which is to be found in his son, and he opened the door. Man, if you haven't accepted that invitation, you're missing out.

SPEAKER_01 50:23

Yeah, no, thank you for sharing that. That is such an encouragement, and I love that you shared the gospel because it's just important for us to know that this was his entire plan all along. Um I just think about the account in Luke 24 where you know Jesus has just risen from the dead, and there's these two men who are walking on the road to Emmaus, and you know, Jesus, you know, goes up to him and like, why does that face us? And they explain that, you know, there was this prophet named Jesus who was crucified and died, and that he did mighty works of God, and you know, Jesus begins to explain the scriptures to them, and their hearts were burning within them, because what Jesus taught them was that the prophets, the old testament, all pointed to him. He is the solution, and that is what the gospel is. Just to conclude the episode here, I actually have a couple verses to share as well on you know how the gospel just integrates with the sovereignty of God, and this is why you can have confidence in the sovereignty of God. It's Acts 2 24, uh 22 to 24, and then John chapter 13, um, specifically 17 and 18. And so I'm gonna read those real quick because I want you to just see that the sovereignty of God has everything to do with why you know the gospel took place. And so this is what it says in Acts 2, 22 to 24. Men of Israel, hear these words, this is Peter speaking. Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know. This Jesus delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, his sovereignty. You crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised them up, loosing the pangs of death because it was not possible for him to be held by it. Yeah, the pe the Pharisees, the P the Romans were responsible for actually murdering Jesus. But did you see there, like, but God allowed it to happen. It's almost like God himself killed Jesus, but I mean but at the same time, it's like but it was the men who actually did the act, but God allowed it to happen. Why? Because this was the reason why like Jesus had to die in order to make men right before him.

SPEAKER_00 53:02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 53:03

Wow. That's a powerful passage. So deep. Yeah. Now let me read you another one. This is John 13, uh 13. This is when, you know, Jesus is washing the disciples' feet and he's getting ready to have supper with the disciples during the Passover feast, and you know, he's just, you know, sharing an encouragement with them. But he begins to say, like, not all of you are clean, and so listen to this. Starting in verse 16, actually. John thirteen. Truly, truly I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do 'em. I'm not speaking of all of you. I know whom I've chosen, but the scripture will be fulfilled. He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me. I'm telling you this now before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am He. Truly, truly I say to you, whoever receives the one who s I sent receives me. And whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. And then from there Judas betrays Jesus. The scripture is fulfilled. God's sovereignty, right? Yeah. Like it was God's plan all along, even though like it was Judas who chose to betray Jesus, but God allowed it to happen so that you know the Messiah could be given over to be arrested, to be crucified. That's why we can trust in the sovereignty of God. And so here's my last question for you, Josiah, and then we'll wrap up here. What are some practical ways for a person to grow in their understanding of the sovereignty of God?

SPEAKER_00 54:45

I'm so glad you asked me that question, Joey.

Practical ways to grow in understanding God's sovereignty

SPEAKER_00 54:48

Guys, late please make sure that you are attending a faithful, local church body. Like Hebrews 10, 24, and 25 says. The most practical thing you could do is to find yourself in the midst of brothers like Joey, um, hopefully brothers like myself, um, or sisters if you're a lady, and study the word of God for yourself. Be discipled, be taught these things because a Google Google is great as an intro tool, but man, there's let me say this: there are people who read the Bible but do it with false intentions, right? And so that's not to say that God, the Holy Spirit is your teacher. Again, he teaches all the teachers so that they may help you be fruitful. But if you're like, man, there's some powerful understandings that brother Joey had, or man, uh Joey brought on this guy named Josiah, and he had some powerful, you know, ways. I've read that scripture, but I didn't I didn't necessarily get that. That comes from an abiding relationship, and a word like abiding, you know, uh sometimes Christians, especially who have been walking with Jesus for a long time, we say that like it's just easy. But we've been through some seasons and we we've been studied in the word for a while, yeah. And so, man, it can be super helpful when you commit yourself to some faithful men and women of God to commit yourself to a church faithfully and to commit yourself to Jesus and increase your prayer life. Before you read the word, it's not a bad idea to pray. Man, before you say, Holy Spirit, teach me all the things you want me to know, teach me your character, and this is my final pro tip. Pro tip, please, when you're reading the Bible, this is a great source. The only, let me say this, pro tip. This is the only source to learn about God and his character as far as direct revelations from the Lord. Yes, the Holy Spirit can can speak to you through prayer and the like, but this is where God has already written exactly about his character. So when you're reading the word, read to see how it connects to God's character and the mission and fulfillment of the gospel. That's the so when you look and you see, okay, God is dealing with this people, even when you read a book like Judges, it's hard, but you're watching the people, but what look at how God responds. Look at what God says about them, look at what God has intended, and you can do that through every book, through Genesis, through Joseph's story. The story of Joseph is not about Joseph, it is about God redeeming his people. And what he is ultimately going to do, it points toward Jesus. So if you can't read the word without connecting it to Jesus, you might need to grow a little bit. And that happens and can be taught through discipleship. And and that's why it's so important that you be around mature believers who can help you in that area and you get some good resources from some faithful men of and women of God.

SPEAKER_01 58:30

Absolutely. Thank you for those pro tips. I'm sure that will be very helpful for anyone that's watching this or listening to this podcast. And just to give you a heads up, person watching this or person listening to this, we are so honored that we get to do tettered. And it's such a blessing and a privilege to be able to do this. But we just want to let you know that we are not a replacement for the local church. We are, you know, this is more to supplement your faith. It is important for you to be a member of a healthy local church that is gospel centered, that you know has elders that can care for your soul, and also just be around believers who can sharpen you. And so I would 100% agree with what you said, Josiah. And yeah, I definitely think that's just important. I mean, I know it's important. And so, yeah, I just want you to know, like, we are not the like this podcast is not the local church, but we are definitely, you know, want to help supplement your faith, and we're honored and glad to do that. And so we praise God for that.

SPEAKER_00 59:35

Can I say this too? Yes, Joey. This is my last thing. I'm gonna get off. But God is doing some some really powerful work, and if you're like, man, I I don't know if I have a good local church, or I don't even know if I have a good mentor around me. There's some things that God is working right now that might be able to help that be more of a reality for people who are struggling, don't know where the first step should be. And so we're working on this app called Disciple Meet, um, and it should be out maybe around the time, or you'll hear about it around the time that this releases uh prayerfully. We'll see what God does. Um, but there's also some great resources. I think there's a resource called Nine Marks. Nine Marks is a big resource, yeah. A great resource to connect you to local church bodies. Yes. Um, disciple meet is working on connecting you to disciplers in those local church bodies that will push you to the local church, but also expand your network of people you can reach and touch that look like you. So there's somebody for you who in the body of Christ who can help you. And and yeah, that's some exciting stuff.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:46

Yeah, that is exciting. Yeah, have been able to, you know, stay in touch with Josiah about disciple meeting and it's gonna be a great resource for you, uh, person watching this, person listening to this. And then if you want to look into the nine marks, I actually produced an episode and re-released it actually not that long ago called Students Assembled, Remastered, that actually talk about the nine marks. And so I'll go ahead and put that in the description, right? And then that episode has timestamps so you're able to look at you know those nine marks, and so and I'll put a link to the description as well for the nine marks website. But yeah, man, brother, thank you so much for just sharing everything you did. Um, I agree. Reading your Bible, I mean I've said this before on the podcast, but if you want to hear from God audibly, I mean read your Bible out loud, and so because that is God's revealed word, and so pray and abide with him. That's he just wants you to, you know, have that relationship with him. So well, that wraps up the episode for today. And so, just like thank you so much for coming on. And so, I just wanted to just ask you if you had any final thoughts that you wanted to share with the viewer,

Final thoughts

SPEAKER_01 1:01:52

listener.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:53

Joey, I don't know who all is gonna watch this, but if it's even the one, um, maybe it's somebody who's struggling in their faith, but I don't know who it is. Maybe this gets one view, maybe it gets one million. Trust God, He's trustworthy.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:13

Yeah. Amen, brother, amen. Well, thank you, dear listener and person viewing this on video. Thank you for tuning in. And so, in the next episode, we're gonna be looking at the fifth attribute of God. And

Episode Conclusion

SPEAKER_01 1:02:27

so, this particular attribute is a very important one to discuss because it highlights an essential part of the gospel. We're gonna be actually discussing the wrath of God. And so, just to give you a heads of person viewing this, this attribute is gonna be one that's hard to sit with, but trust me, understanding that God is wrathful will help us deepen our understanding of his love. So, we're inviting a guest that's been on Tethered actually two other times, and I'm honored to have him back. And so he's the person that we're gonna be discussing this attribute of God with. So please stay tuned for that episode. And then please subscribe to the podcast. We would really appreciate that. If you like this podcast, if you enjoyed what you listened to, please go ahead and share with your friends and family. And then, of course, you can watch Tethered here on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify on video, and you can listen to Tethered on places like Amazon Music, Podcast Cast, and more. So thank you so much for watching this episode, and we appreciate you listening, watching. Have a great day, and God bless

Podcast Outro

SPEAKER_01 1:03:49

you.