The Nations Rage in Vain: How God’s Sovereignty Provides Hope for a Glorious Future

 The Background (Acts 3:1-4:22)

• There is to what God is doing in the world.

 Acts 4:23-31, ESV
²³ When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴ And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, ²⁵ who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,

“‘Why did the Gentiles rage,
    and the peoples plot in vain?
²⁶ The kings of the earth set themselves,
    and the rulers were gathered together,
    against the Lord and against his Anointed’—

•  God’s sovereignty motivates us to .

²⁷ 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, ²⁸ to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.

• Cause #1 of Jesus’ death: The of the people

• Cause #2 of Jesus’ death: The of God

• God’s sovereignty extends over .

²⁹ And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, ³⁰ while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

•  We affirm both divine and human .

³¹ And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

• God has not left us on our own – He has given us His !

 for I am God, and there is no other;
    I am God, and there is none like me,
10 declaring the end from the beginning
    and from ancient times things not yet done,
saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,
    and I will accomplish all my purpose…’ (Isaiah 46:9-10, ESV)

Because God is sovereign…

• Stay .
• Stay .