sovereignty Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Focal Point Ministries

The Preparation of Moses

June 16, 2025February 7, 2021 Acts 7:17-22

We have every reason to fully trust in God’s good promises, knowing how he has faithfully worked and is providentially working to deliver on them all.

Circumstances

June 16, 2025October 15, 2020 by Mike Fabarez

The biblical account of the devastating turn of events in Job’s life and his subsequent restoration is a reminder to us of just how little we actually know about the various happenings that take place in our lives. We are ignorant of many of the spiritual battles and divine purposes which affect the circumstances of our lives. We are often like Job and his friends who, without any

Life’s Detours

June 16, 2025April 2, 2020 by Mike Fabarez

We all experience life’s detours—those unexpected twists and turns which disappoint and frustrate us because they’ve disrupted our well-laid plans. When the next one comes our way, let’s be careful how we respond. If the disappointment turns into anger and bitterness, then we know we’ve clearly lost sight of one of the central tenets of biblical Christianity—namely, that God is sovereign. Of course this is not some kind of fatalism that gives us license to

Praying for Courage

June 16, 2025March 8, 2020 Acts 4:23-31

We must draw together with other Christians to find strength as we ask our sovereign God to grant us courage and boldness in our evangelism.

Does Prayer Change God’s Mind?

March 3, 2020March 1, 2020 by Mike Fabarez

The Bible tells us that God is sovereign and that nothing happens unless he decrees it (Lam. 3:37; Prov. 16:33; Amos 3:6), and yet we are told to pray (1 Thess.5:17; Lk. 18:1). How do we reconcile these two seemingly incongruous concepts? Pastor Mike takes a biblical look at prayer and does it change God’s mind?

Unfazed by Sovereign Challenges

June 16, 2025September 22, 2019 Acts 1:15-20

In the work of reaching people with the gospel we should expect painful betrayals and apostasies, but we should never lose heart, knowing God is working through us to advance his kingdom just as he planned.

Purpose Fulfilled

June 16, 2025July 21, 2019 Psalm 138

We should boldly, confidently, and prayerfully trust God is working out a good plan in utilizing our lives in a specific way for his glory regardless of how daunting the opposition might be.

Life In Perspective

June 16, 2025May 12, 2019 Psalm 33

In light of our utter dependence and inherent weakness as human beings we should enthusiastically and thoughtfully give credit to our gracious God for his kind and sovereign provision in our lives.

Provision & Planning

June 16, 2025July 23, 2018 Luke 22:35-38

Christ expects us to prudently plan and wisely prepare for life’s eventuality while fully and fearlessly trusting in God’s sovereign and loving oversight of our lives

God's Good Plan

June 16, 2025June 3, 2018 Luke 22:1-6

We must remember and wholeheartedly affirm God’s good management of all things in history, in life, and the future, confident that all things work together for good.

The Unbreakable Promises

June 20, 2025May 13, 2018 Luke 21:29-33

We can and should be completely assured of God’s promises regarding the future and our own future because of his impeccable trustworthiness and his perfect fidelity to all that he has said.

Grateful for the Gift Repentance

June 16, 2025November 13, 2016 Luke 15:14-19

Christians need be extremely grateful for the way God planned, orchestrated, and empowered our turning from sin and our calling out to him to be forgiven.

Rejoicing in a God Who Saves

June 16, 2025October 30, 2016 Luke 15:8-10

Understanding something of God’s greatness and our sin, we should always be joyfully and humbly thankful that the Triune God would seek and save us.

Trusting An Invincible Savior

June 16, 2025June 12, 2016 Luke 13:31-33

Just as we can trust that nothing could ever defeat God’s intentions in Christ to purchase our redemption, we should in turn be fearless in pursuing God’s prescriptive plans and purposes for our lives.

Cultivating Biblical Optimism

June 16, 2025May 22, 2016 Luke 13:18-21

We must be confident and optimistic about God’s indomitable plans to use us, the gospel, and his Church to build Christ’s kingdom which will be filled with all sorts of people from every part of the world.

Questions & Answers 2015-Part 1

July 3, 2025July 18, 2015 Various

Pastor Mike answers questions on the Bible, God and Christianity Questions from Part 1: 1. Explain what praying in more detail looks like (in the case of praying for Revival). 2. When do you give up praying for the lost? 3. How can we be born in the image of God if we are sinners? …

When Our Expectations Aren’t Met

June 16, 2025November 9, 2014 Luke 9:21-22, 43-45

God is sovereign, always working out his good plans, in, through, and around our lives – our call is to trust him even when those plans surprise us with unexpected turns and painful experiences.

Confident in His Power to Sustain

June 16, 2025September 7, 2014 Luke 8:22-25

Christ possesses all authority and all power over all things, yet for now, before he exercises that authority at the coming kingdom, we must learn to trust him implicitly amid a variety of troubles.

Our Struggle to Say "Any Time"

June 16, 2025November 10, 2013 Exodus 2-4

We must be flexible with God’s sovereign timing in our lives because he knows when everything is ready for us to make the impact he desires.

Christmas on a Budget

June 16, 2025December 16, 2012 Luke 2:1-12

We must learn to revel in the eternal and transcendent blessings that are ours as God’s kids, even when we lack the comforts and conveniences this world has to offer.

John: God's Leader in Training

June 16, 2025November 18, 2012 Luke 1:13-17, 66, 80

We should recognize and celebrate God’s sovereign plans and the strategic preparation of his enlisted servants from their conception onward.

The Creator Knows You

June 16, 2025August 5, 2012 Psalm 139

While unfair attacks and injustice may temporarily assail us, we must reaffirm that God is neither unaware, unconcerned, nor uninvolved in every detail of our lives.

Extending the Gospel with Passion & Sincerity

June 16, 2025August 1, 2010 Romans 9:30-33

God’s sovereignty over salvation does not in any way mitigate our responsibility to passionately & persuasively present the gospel message to all types of people.

Exploring the Riches of Unearned Forgiveness

June 16, 2025July 25, 2010 Romans 9:25-29

It is critically important to always keep God’s amazingly gracious character in view when we consider the nature of his decision to save undeserving sinners like us.

Perspectives on Fairness, Justice & Grace

June 16, 2025July 18, 2010 Romans 9:19-24

We should humbly affirm God’s right to do as he chooses regarding the dispensing of his justice toward some sinners and the demonstration of his mercy toward others.

Grappling with God’s Choices

June 16, 2025July 11, 2010 Romans 9:1-18

Because God is working to collect his chosen people we can be expectant & confident in our evangelism knowing that those he’s appointed to eternal life will be saved.

Looking for the Good When Things Go Bad

June 16, 2025June 13, 2010 Romans 8:28-30

Life can be tough sometimes, but we trust in a God who is not ignorant of our suffering. Pastor Mike explores one response when life gets tough.

Praying Through the Pain

June 16, 2025June 6, 2010 Romans 8:26-27

Though our prayers are imperfect & limited, we are greatly helped by prayer amid trials & prolonged difficulties because the Holy Spirit actively intercedes for our good.

Making Sense of the Bad in "The Good Book"

June 16, 2025January 25, 2009 Romans 3:5-8

Sin is a terribly bad even though God uses it for good – that’s why we should work to run from temptation without any rationalization or excuses.

The Decrees & Sovereignty of God

June 16, 2025December 11, 2008 Various

We must humbly accept and gladly affirm that God is perfectly and ultimately sovereign over all people and all things for all time.