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Ask Pastor John

Why Does God’s Sovereignty Make Some Ambitious and Others Apathetic?

Ask Pastor John

Desiring God

John Piper, Religion & Spirituality/christianity, Desiring God, Theology, 163859, Ask, Christianity, Religion & Spirituality, Pastor, Questions

4.94.1K Ratings

🗓️ 8 November 2017

⏱️ 12 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Why do some hear of God’s sovereignty and run into the mission field with confidence, while others passively say, “What will be will be”?

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Well, about a month ago, in Episode 1105, we talked about the absolute sovereignty of God.

0:09.9

The God is finally and decisively in control of everything, from the farthest galaxy to

0:15.5

the smallest subatomic particle and to all the actions of human beings.

0:20.9

And we talked about how this transforms our daily lives.

0:25.1

That was in Episode 1105.

0:28.0

But what if all the same theology works in the other direction?

0:32.0

While the absolute sovereignty of God over all things seems to make some believers more

0:35.1

energetic, ambitious, and determined to reach the nations with the gospel, the same sovereignty

0:40.2

also seems to make other believers more apathetic, withdrawn, and passive when it comes to gospel

0:45.8

mission.

0:47.1

So what explains this difference?

0:48.7

It's a question today from a listener named Brian who seems to find himself more and

0:52.7

more indifferent in his life.

0:54.5

He writes this, Pastor John, I need your help.

0:57.3

The deeper I think I understand God's sovereignty, the more it seems to fuel my own personal

1:02.0

apathy.

1:03.7

What is wrong with me?

1:05.9

Brian, let me sketch four kinds of responses to the sovereignty of God and you see where

1:16.1

you might fit in.

1:17.5

Now, then I'll tell you why.

1:19.3

I'm doing this.

1:20.9

This might help answer the problem.

...

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