Suffering for the Sake of the Body - Lesson 2

God's Sovereignty Over Suffering (pt 2)

7. God’s Sovereignty over Satan’s Use of Animals (and Plants)

Revelation 12:9

And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

Jonah 1:17

And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights.

Jonah 2:10

Then the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah up onto the dry land.

Jonah 4:6

So the LORD God appointed a plant and it grew up over Jonah to be a shade over his head to deliver him from his discomfort

Jonah 4:7

But God appointed a worm when dawn came the next day and it attacked the plant and it withered.

8. God’s Sovereignty over Satan’s Temptations to Sin

Judas

Acts 2:23 - This Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.

Luke 22:3-4 - And Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot, belonging to the number of the twelve. And he went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers how he might betray Him to them.

Acts 4:27-28 - For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur.

Simon Peter

Luke 22:31-32 - Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.

9. God’s Sovereignty over Satan’s Mind-blinding Power

2 Corinthians 4:4

In whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

2 Corinthians 4:6

For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

Romans 11:25

For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery – so that you will not be wise in your own estimation – that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

Acts 26:18

[Christ sends Paul] to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the authority of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.

10. God’s Sovereignty over Satan’s Spiritual Captivity

2 Timothy 2:24-26

The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.

The Final Removal of Satan Altogether

Matthew 25:41

Then He will also say to those on His left, “Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels . . .”

Revelation 20:10

And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

God’s General Sovereignty over All Things

Ephesians 1:11

We have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will.

Daniel 4:34-35

But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever . . . All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, but He does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth; and no one can ward off His hand or say to Him, “What have You done?”

Isaiah 46:9-10

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 . . .”

Lamentations 3:37-38

Who is there who speaks and it comes to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both good and ill go forth?

Amos 3:6

If a trumpet is blown in a city will not the people tremble? If a calamity occurs in a city has not the LORD done it?

Ecclesiastes 7:14

In the day of prosperity be happy, but in the day of adversity consider – God has made the one as well as the other so that man will not discover anything that will be after him.

Genesis 50:20

As for you, you meant evil against me, God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.

Proverbs 16:9

The mind of man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.

Proverbs 20:24

Man's steps are ordained by the LORD, how then can man understand his way?

Jeremiah 10:23

I know, O LORD, that a man's way is not in himself, nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps.

Proverbs 16:33

The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.

Proverbs 19:21

Many plans are in a man's heart, but the counsel of the LORD will stand.

Deuteronomy 29:2-4

And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them, "You have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh and all his servants and all his land; the great trials which your eyes have seen, those great signs and wonders. Yet to this day the LORD has not given you a heart to know, nor eyes to see, nor ears to hear.”

Lamentations 3:32-33

For if He causes grief, then He will have compassion according to His abundant lovingkindness. For He does not afflict willingly or grieve the sons of men.

Revelation 17:16-17

And the ten horns which you saw, and the beast, these will hate the harlot and will make her desolate and naked, and will eat her flesh and will burn her up with fire. For God has put it in their hearts to execute His purpose by having a common purpose, and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God will be fulfilled.