Last Sunday, Ron spoke on God's sovereignty and human responsibility. Click HERE to listen to the sermon.

“Sovereignty” produces in our hearts security, hope, restfulness, and courage because we learn that even when we are not faithful - He remains faithful; and that no matter how dire the circumstances, God is still in control and fully able to accomplish his plans.

But there are some pitfalls that we can easily slip into and get off track with regard to God's sovereignty.  If we are not paying attention we can easily lose our way. (Like coming up the N57 to Pasadena from OC and if we're not careful, we end up on the E 60 to Riverside!)

We can get off track in these areas:

• prayer - thinking that we don't need to pray or that our prayers don't matter or aren't effective
• sharing our faith - believing that it doesn't matter if we do or don't
• obeying God's commands- not understanding the importance God places on obedience

And so, instead of the wonderful truth of God’s sovereignty filling our hearts with faith to act, faith to obey, we find our hearts growing dull and beginning to coast and the adventure of trusting God is gone.

God’s sovereignty does not negate human responsibility.

• It does not take away the necessity of our obedience.
• It doesn’t take away from the urgency or the importance of our obedience.
• It doesn’t take away from the genuineness of our obedience.
• It doesn’t negate the responsibility of the hearer.

The three things we learn from Esther:

1. Esther speaks up (even though it's risky)
2. Esther speaks the truth
3. God remains in control

Walk it Out:

• What areas are you tempted to drift in regarding God's sovereignty? Do you find yourself just resigned instead of full of faith? How would you gauge your prayer life? Sharing your faith? Your obedience level?
• What steps do you need to take to pray, share and obey in the areas you haven't been?
• What difficult conversations are you avoiding because you are afraid of the outcome?
• How could you apply this message to your friendships? your marriage? your parenting? your relationships at work or school?