Sovereign Lord, Loving Father, Steadfast Friend

Posted by: dhkrause | May 13, 2018

Sovereign Lord, Loving Father, Steadfast Friend

Romans 8_28

The God we serve is our Sovereign Lord, Loving Father and Steadfast Friend.

Let us examine and take to heart all three of these relationships:

(1) He is our Sovereign Lord
(2) He is our Loving Father
(3) He is our Steadfast friend.

1. He is our Sovereign Lord

God makes all things work together for good who love Him. He calls us according to His purpose, and He leads us forth into new life, increasingly reflecting more of Jesus.

Romans 8 (NKJV)
²⁸And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. ²⁹For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Jesus speaks about God’s sovereign care for His people in Luke 12. Even when we encounter setbacks or suffer loss, He is there, and He is mighty to save, heal and restore.

Luke 12 (NKJV)
⁶“Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. ⁷But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

The beloved hymn, “His Eye is on the Sparrow” was inspired by this verse:

His Eye is on the Sparrow

His Eye is on the Sparrow

Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Refrain
I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Refrain

2. He is our Loving Father

Every good and perfect gift comes from Him.

James 1_17

James 1
¹⁶Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. ¹⁷Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. ¹⁸Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

God’s greatest gift is eternal and abundant life through Jesus Christ, His Son:

John 3
¹⁶For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ¹⁷For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Paul asks in Romans 8:32, “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”

3. He is our Steadfast Friend

There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. This is what Jesus did for all who believe in him. We are not only servants, but he calls us friends.

John 15_13

John 15
¹²This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. ¹³Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. ¹⁴You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.

God wants us to know Him as both servants and friends. Pastor Robert Morris writes,

“God invites us into a true friendship with Him. We should keep in mind the greatness of the Person to whom we’re talking and relating. However, Jesus also clearly says, “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:15) …”

“God speaks to people. He spoke to people in the Bible, and He still speaks today. God spoke in many different ways in the Scriptures. He speaks to people because He cares about them. God constantly speaks to people, always inviting them to draw a step closer to Him. He speaks to us today because the Holy Spirit indwells us. Jesus says that the Holy Spirit will speak to us and tell us what He hears (John 16).”
(Frequency Study Guide – Tune in, Hear God, Gateway Press, 2017, p.20)

John 16_13

God still speaks to people, more than ever, as Jesus promised in John 16:

John 16 (NKJV)
¹²“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. ¹³However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. ¹⁴He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. ¹⁵All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

The God who created the heavens and the earth wants to be friends with you and me, not only to guide and comfort, but to be intimate friends forever. The song,
“My Redeemer Lives”, sung by Nicole C. Mullen, fervently conveys this same message.

Who taught the sun where to stand in the morning?
And who told the ocean you can only come this far?
And who showed the moon where to hide till evening?
Whose words alone can catch a falling star?

Well I know my Redeemer lives, I know my Redeemer lives
All of creation testifies, This life within me cries,
I know my Redeemer lives

He lives, my Redeemer lives
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
He lives, I know, I know He lives,
I spoke with Him this morning!
He lives, The tomb is empty!
He lives, He Lives! I’m going to tell everybody!

He invites us to be with Him every day, as friend with friend: Matthew 11_28-30