What Ought to Be Our Attitude Toward the Sovereignty of God?
A.W. Pink emphasizes the importance of recognizing God's sovereignty as the basis of true worship and the key to a right attitude toward God.
A.W. Pink emphasizes that true worship stems from recognizing God's sovereignty, which reflects His greatness and goodness. He explains that God's sovereignty is not tyrannical but is exercised with infinite wisdom and righteousness, leading to a proper attitude of godly fear, implicit obedience, and submission. Understanding that God's will is ultimately good transforms fear into joy, prompting believers to worship and bow before Him. Pink encourages believers to acknowledge God as their Father, fostering a heart of adoration and acceptance of His divine will. The essence of our attitude should be one of reverence and trust in God's perfect plan.
Text
It has been well said that "true worship is based upon recognized greatness, and greatness is superlatively seen in Sovereignty, and at no other footstool will men really worship." In the presence of the Divine King upon His throne even the seraphim 'veil their faces.' Divine sovereignty is not the sovereignty of a tyrannical Despot, but the exercised pleasure of One who is infinitely wise and good! Because God is infinitely wise He cannot err, and because He is infinitely righteous He will not do wrong. Here then is the preciousness of this truth. The mere fact itself that God's will is irresistible and irreversible fills me with fear, but once I realize that God wills only that which is good.
My heart is made to rejoice.
Here then is the final answer to the question (concerning our attitude toward God's sovereignty)--What ought to be our attitude toward the sovereignty of God? The becoming attitude for us to take is that of godly fear, implicit obedience, and unreserved resignation and submission. But not only so: the recognition of the sovereignty of God, and the realization that the Sovereign Himself is my Father, ought to overwhelm the heart and cause me to bow before Him in adoring worship. At all times I must say, "Even so, Father, for so it seemeth good in Thy sight."
Sermon Outline
- The Basis of True Worship points: - Recognized greatness of God's sovereignty - True worship is based on this recognition
- The Nature of God's Sovereignty points: - Not tyrannical, but wise and good - God's will is irresistible and irreversible
- The Attitude Toward God's Sovereignty points: - Godly fear - Implicit obedience - Unreserved resignation and submission
- The Response to God's Sovereignty points: - Adoring worship - Implicit trust in God's goodness
Key Quotes
“True worship is based upon recognized greatness, and greatness is superlatively seen in Sovereignty, and at no other footstool will men really worship.” — A.W. Pink
“Because God is infinitely wise He cannot err, and because He is infinitely righteous He will not do wrong.” — A.W. Pink
“Even so, Father, for so it seemeth good in Thy sight.” — A.W. Pink
Application Points
- We should respond to God's sovereignty with godly fear, implicit obedience, and unreserved resignation and submission.
- Recognizing God's sovereignty should lead us to adoring worship and implicit trust in His goodness.
- We should say 'Even so, Father, for so it seemeth good in Thy sight' in all circumstances.