SPELLING EDITED Cc-25. THE SOVEREIGNTY OF ALMIGHTY GOD!
IS GOD IN TOTAL AND COMPLETE CONTROL of EVERYTHING that HAPPENS?
Undoubtedly the Bible teaches that Almighty God is in fact sovereign, which means that he is the highest authority of all things. To say this another way, God created all things and he makes the rules. ....HOWEVER.... The word of God does NOT teach that God is sovereign in the way that many of us have been taught by some theologians and scholars, who then taught the leaders and pastors of our church denomination. And one of these teachings coming out of most every church denomination is that “God is God and he WILL do whatever he pleases.” Remember that Satan always mixes a little truth to his lies and doctrines of devils. Many who are in authority in the church who have been taught by these theologians just merely keep on repeating what they have heard without searching the word of God to see if what they have been taught is the TRUTH. Contrary to the mainstream teaching on the sovereignty of God it is clear to see from the scriptures that God has CHOSEN to place certain LIMITS upon himself. So while there is some truth to the teaching that God can do anything he pleases to do this teaching can be misleading. You have more than likely heard people say things like, “NOTHING is impossible with God, and God can do anything he desires, when and where he so chooses.” But you see, while God may be ABLE and capable of doing anything, HE SIMPLY WILL NOT do certain things! And the reason being is because he has chosen of his own will to speak his will to us through his word to set certain PARAMETERS in place. These parameters that God chose to place upon himself define God’s character as who is is and what he is NOT. For instance, one example that is readily and easily to be seen is the fact that God CANNOT LIE. It is not that God does not have the ability to lie if he so chose to lie, but RATHER that God has made the CHOICE to NEVER LIE. Therefore the Almighty God limited himself by his own CHOOSING to NEVER LIE. So then, by God limiting himself never to lie, it has become IMPOSSIBLE for God to LIE. The Bible tells us in Hebrews 6:17,18 that it is completely IMPOSSIBLE for God to lie.
Hebrews 6:17,18.
“Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the IMMUTABILITY of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: that by two immutable things in which it was IMPOSSIBLE for God to LIE, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope that is set before us.”
The word “immutable” means UNCHANGEABLE, unchanging, or not being able to be changed. God's word is not susceptible to change. And neither is there a shadow of turning with God. The Bibles teaches us that he is a God that changes NOT. Whatever God has spoken in his word he will do. So God AND his word will not change. Psalm 119:89-91 says this about God's word being forever SETTLED in heaven.
Psalm 119:89-91.
“FOREVER, O Lord, you word is SETTLED in heaven. Your FAITHFULNESS is unto ALL generations: you have established the earth and it abides. They continue this day according to your ORDINANCES: FOR ALL YOUR SERVANTS.”
The word “settle” means to put into order, to arrange or fix DEFINITELY as desired. It also means to reach a decision or to determine. In other words, God reached a decision and determined in his mind how he desired things to be and then spoke forth his word forever settling that matter of the desire of his will or intent. God places great emphasis on his FAITHFULNESS and his word is a representation to us, his servants, of God's integrity. God's faithfulness to his word is his highest priority. One might say that God is HONOR BOUND to his word. God will not do anything that is contrary to his word. Nor will God do anything that goes against his nature or character.
Look at Psalm 138:2.
“I will worship toward your holy temple, and praise your name for your loving kindness and for your truth: for you have MAGNIFIED your word ABOVE all your name.”
In order to fully understand the sovereignty of God one must come to this knowledge of the truth that God has reached a decision and has determined to MAGNIFY his WORD even ABOVE his very own name. Now think about this for a moment in relation to God's ability to do anything compared alongside of God's WILL and desire, that which pleases him or brings him pleasure. Think about how FAITHFUL God has to be in order to perform his word to the letter, even when it breaks his heart to do so and goes completely against what he truly desires and WILLS. Now I know those wheels are turning in your mind trying to process all of this, but hang in there with me and I will show you what I mean by saying God has CHOSEN to LIMIT himself by his OWN word.
Some have argued that, “God is God and he will do whatever he pleases, because either God is Sovereign or he isn't. And who are we to argue with God if he CHOOSES to do this or to do that?”
Well no one wants to speak against the sovereignty of God so everyone remains silent when they hear such teaching. They know that God is sovereign, but many also know deep inside that something is not quite right when they are dogmatically taught that God is sovereign in order to support a teaching that they know does NOT agree with the whole word of God. You see my dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ, those who teach the doctrine called Calvinism, which teaches that nothing happens that God did not preordain to happen, use the theological seminary version of the sovereignty of God to try and support their teaching that everything that happens God predestined it to happen. And when Christians hear them say that God sovereign and he can do whatever he pleases then some blindly accept the false teaching of Calvinism based upon the theological seminary version of the sovereignty of God. They do not realize that there is a sound Biblical teaching on the sovereignty of God that exposes the errors of the theological seminary version of the sovereignty of God. You see I also believe that God is sovereign, BUT I just cannot accept all the garbage that I have heard through the years from those who have ignorantly taught that God sends tragedy, sickness, and disease upon people, because they say that God is God and he is in control and he can do anything he desires. Yes I agree and know that God is in control. BUT I also firmly believe that the word of God teaches us that God has chosen to DELEGATE or ENTRUST some of his authority or control to mankind. In other words, Almighty God has given us a will to choose and make choices, to BELIEVE his word, or to not believe his word. To me it is perfectly clear that God did not create man as a mindless puppet or robot to be controlled in every aspect of life and have absolutely no say in ANY matter. This kind of teaching comes from the god of this present world system, as the saying goes, whatever will be will be. Those who believe this theology just simple allow Satan have his way in their lives and then they BLAME God for all the bad things that happen to them. In other words, according as some teach, if God chooses to send a storm and wipe out your home, then you are just to accept this as being God's WILL, because God is sovereign and therefore God is in control, which to some means that God therefore caused the storm. Again, some Christians, who are known as Calvinist, believe and teach that NOTHING happens without God's authorship. And they go on to explain their teaching of the sovereignty of God by saying things like, “now we may not understand why these bad things have happened but we must trust God because he sees the whole picture and he knows what is best for us.” Then they try and bring comfort to you by saying things like, “there must certainly be a purpose for God destroying your home but we just don't know what it is yet. Maybe God wants to teach you something...blah, blah, blah...???” No, no, no, a thousand times no, the Bible clearly does not teach this type of BLAMING God for everything that happens because this “theological VIEW” of teaching on the sovereignty of God clearly goes COMPLETELY against the nature and character of God and his word which teaches us God’s sound Biblical sovereignty. The Bible itself teaches that God has given MAN authority in the earth. Jesus demonstrated this authority that God gave to him when he REBUKED the storm.
Please read Mark 4:37.
“And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38. And he (Jesus) was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awoke him, Master, care you not that we perish. 39. And he arose, and REBUKED the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a calm. And Jesus said unto them, 40. Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have NO FAITH?”
Listen to what Jesus said in verse 40. “Why are YOU so FEARFUL? HOW IS IT that YOU have NO FAITH?”
How or why is it that most Christians do not have FAITH to take the authority that they have been given and REBUKE the “STORMS” that come against them? Well, one of the main reasons is that many have been TAUGHT the word of God incorrectly. You see, this wrong seminary theological VIEW of the Sovereignty of God has birthed the false doctrine of Calvinism which wrongly teaches that God has created all the evil in the world and thus it is God alone who causes all the violent storms in the world. The Bible itself says that FAITH comes by HEARING and hearing or more precisely hearing rightly and understanding the TRUTH that comes ONLY by the WORD of God. A person cannot believe what he or she has not heard and has come to understand through experience of one of the five physical senses of the human body. Some Christians stay or remain in their ignorance or lack of understanding the TRUTH only as a result of not being taught correctly. Thus they wrongly REASON within themselves questions like, “Why did God send the storm?”. The truth of the matter is that God did NOT send the storm. The storm was caused by our adversary, the devil, also called Satan our ENEMY. This is what the WHOLE word of God teaches. I want you to read some verses of scripture for me first and then I will explain why it was impossible for God to send storms and every evil imaginable upon his creation whom he loves and desires to be saved.
Please read Matthew 12:25,26.
“And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, EVERY kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand; 26. And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand?”
Now we know that in this passage of scripture and the rest of God’s word that Jesus is referring to Satan sending a sickness or disease upon someone whom then Jesus heals through the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him. And then we see that Jesus is being falsely ACCUSED by the scribes and Pharisees of turning around and casting that same sickness out of the sick man by the power of Satan. Then we see Jesus defending himself and the true character of Almighty God the Father by saying that if this were true, then Satan's kingdom is DIVIDED and will come to destruction. BUT the TRUTH that Jesus taught here in this passage of scripture still stands true in any situation and in every kingdom including the kingdom of Almighty God.
EVERY KINGDOM DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF WILL NOT STAND!
Therefore I wish to illustrate to you something with this TRUTH of God's word found here in this passage of scripture that will carry over to nearly every aspect of your life. Get a hold of this TRUTH and you will no longer simply roll over and let whatever happens to just happen. You will no longer be ignorant of one of Satan's devices which is to BLAME God for everything bad that happens in your life.
IF SO BE that Almighty God sends storms and sickness and disease upon people as some INTERPRET God’s word to mean. Then this would also mean that Jesus went AGAINST God’s supposed WILL when he cast out the devil causing the sickness and disease. And when Jesus rebuked the storm that is supposedly God’s WILL then Jesus again went against the supposed WILL of Almighty God the Father. And IF SO BE that the Calvinism or predeterminism version or theory of the sovereignty of God is true then that would mean that GOD'S KINGDOM WOULD BE DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF AND THEREFORE WILL BE DESTROYED.
However, the Bible itself teaches that God's kingdom will abide forever. Therefore it remains that God does NOT send or ALLOW disastrous storms to destroy without cause. The word of TRUTH teaches us that Satan is the destroyer, who comes not but for to steal, kill, and destroy. And it is Satan who does these evil things to mankind and then some Christians BLAME God for all the bad things that happen in the world due to their lack of understanding of God’s word. So then, when Satan brings bad things their way then they NOT knowing and understanding that they themselves have been given ALL AUTHORITY over the enemy to rebuke and resist these “storms of life” that come against them from Satan. Even the world because of these false teachings of Christians call storms an ACT of God. And in the same way some Christians BLAME God when they are oppressed by the Devil with sickness and disease being ignorant of God word.
Jesus teaches us in John 10:10 that he came so that we might have life and a more abundant life in this present world and that it is Satan who is the cause of all the evil in the world.
John 10:10.
“The THIEF comes not but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy, (BUT) I am come that they might have life; and that they might have it more ABUNDANTLY.”
However, this abundant life, which is freedom from sin, freedom from sickness, freedom from disease, freedom from tragedy, and freedom from ALL the WORKS of Satan the Devil does NOT come to us like ripe cherries falling off a tree into our laps automatically. Let me ask you this question. Were you SAVED automatically, without you having to do nothing? Absolutely not! It was an act of your OWN WILL to CHOOSE to accept Jesus as your savior and then to follow on in his steps to obey the teachings of Jesus. So likewise, in order to walk in the freedom from the works of Satan, we have to first BELIEVE the word of TRUTH of the WHOLE word of God that is preached to us. Then we have to RECEIVE God’s truth down in our hearts by FAITH and then act upon God's word before we will receive all the BENEFITS of salvation that are already freely given to all of mankind. Yes, there is more to salvation than just the forgiveness of your sins.
Please read Psalm 103:1,2.
“Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2. Bless the Lord, o my soul, and FORGET NOT ALL his BENEFITS.”
The blessings of the Lord are his benefits to us. And Deuteronomy tells us that sickness and disease are a CURSE and not a blessing. And the word of God also teaches us that through Jesus we have been redeemed from the CURSE of the law, which includes EVERY sickness and disease. But again, we must appropriate these benefits of living free from sickness and disease by FAITH. For the word of God teaches that without FAITH it is IMPOSSIBLE to PLEASE God. Now some may argue that it was God himself who ordained those curses. Yes, he did but this does NOT mean that it is God’s WILL that his people of Israel to break his commandments and thus SUFFER those curses. It was NOT God’s WILL for Adam and Eve to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. God ordained such a hash punishment for simply disobey him to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil so that he could us that same punishment on his ENEMY Satan and the fallen angels. Please read the study “UNDERSTANDING WHY?” for a deeper understanding of why evil things happen to good people. So what PLEASES God? Well, anything that happens according to his WILL pleases God. So how do we know God's will? Basically, God's WORD is his will for ALL of mankind. And some of the things that the Bible teaches us is that God desires for us to live our lives TOTALLY FREE from ALL sickness and disease. God also desires and commands us to live free from sin. These things are God's will and desire for all of mankind but it is up to us, as in, it is up to each individual person, to make the CHOICE to believe God's word and appropriate ALL of his BENEFITS.
So again, yes, God is sovereign BUT God is not sovereign in the way that most of us have been taught by our church denomination. God gave the earth to mankind and then gave mankind the authority and dominion over all the earth to subdue. In other words, man was at one time before his fall the god of this world in which we live. But when man listened to the lies the enemy, Satan, then the authority that man once had was DELIVERED or transferred to Satan, who then became the god of this present world system. Everything I just said here can be supported by scripture and I have done so is some of the other studies such as “JESUS THE SON OF MAN”. So if you desire a deeper understanding of how to do the same works that Jesus did while he was on the earth in the days of his flesh please read the study “Jesus the Son of man!”. But for now, here are a few scriptures.
Psalm 115:16.
“The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's, BUT the earth has he GIVEN to the children of men.”
Then in Genesis 1:28 we are told that God Gave mankind DOMINION over every living creature that moves upon the earth.
Genesis 1:28.
“And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.”
Is Satan alive? Then take DOMINION over him.
Then in Psalm 82:6 God says.
“I have said, YOU are gods; and all of you are children of the Most High.”
In its simplest definition the word or term “god” is a TITLE that means having authority and power to rule. And the word “God”, as in, “The Almighty God” means having the HIGHEST or SUPREME authority power to rule over ALL. Now by no means is this all the the word “God, god, theos” means but for the purpose of making it easier to understand that God himself has called us gods I chose to use the simplest form of defining the Greek word “theos” and the Hebrew word “elohim”. Keep in mind that the term “God” is a TILE and does not mean that others who are called by the TITLE God are one and the self same being as THE Almighty God who alone is the Father.
Jesus this verse in Psalm 82:6 in John 10:34,35.
“Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, you are gods ? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken:”
Luke 4:6 tells us this about man's authority being delivered to Satan when Satan TEMPTS Jesus.
Luke 4:6.
“And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give unto you, and all the glory of them: for (of BECAUSE) that is DELIVERED unto me; and whosoever I will I give it.”
Now if all the power and authority that was given to mankind was not delivered over to Satan then these temptations of Jesus would be a LIE. But it is impossible for God to lie and therefore these temptations of Jesus were indeed real and true temptation and thus all the power that Satan has was delivered or transfered over to him to become the god of this present world. We read about Satan as the god of this world in 2 Corinthians 4:4 says this about Satan being the god of this world.
2 Corinthians 4:4.
“In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which BELIEVE NOT, lest (for fear that) the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should SHINE unto them .”
Can you not see my dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ, that Satan does not want you to know the TRUTH of God's word because he knows you will be set free from sin, sickness and disease which he binds and oppresses upon mankind including some believers when you come to the knowledge of the TRUTH? Can you not see that this false church seminary theological VIEW of the sovereignty of God that teaches Calvinism is a doctrine of devils to KEEP you bound by Satan? You see FAITH is the means, as in, the ONLY means by which we are can be saved. And likewise FAITH is the ONLY means by which we will OVERCOME sin and walk free from sickness and disease. Now Jesus purchased back our authority which the devil has stolen from mankind BUT it is up to each individual person to accept the truth from the WHOLE of God's word and then apply them to their own individual lives by FAITH. Remember that faith COMES, grows, and increases in intensity and strength by hearing. And TRUE hearing or true sound Biblical understanding comes ONLY from the word of God, as in, the WHOLE word of God and not by verses taken out of their context. True faith, the kind of God faith that will make you free does not come by the REASONING of man. So get into the word for yourself and study to show yourself approved unto God. I cannot do this for you. You will only grow by desiring the sincere milk of the God's word. And the word of God can only be PROVEN by you being a doing of the word and not a hearer only. So stand upon the word of God and start walking in your authority. For a deeper understanding of "WHAT DOES BEING SAVED TRULY MEAN","BIBLE MEANING OF FAITH", and "THE POWER AND AUTHORITY OF THE BELIEVER". Please read these powerful in depth studies in God’s word of truth.
For now let us return to the topic at hand, which is the sovereignty of God as in, the sound BIBLICAL sovereignty of God as opposed to the theological mainstream church denomination view. Again, yes, God is sovereign, BUT God has NOT predestined our every move and every decision we make. Some Christians falsely teach “that humanity is so depraved that mankind cannot make a righteous choice so God has to choose for us and then DRAG us to make HIS choice”. I go into this subject of being the so-called CHOSEN or the ELECT of God whom God supposedly chose to be saved before the foundation of the world in the study of "PREDESTINATION: WHAT does the BIBLE SAY?". So then, if you desire a deeper understanding on the sound Biblical meaning of predestination please read that study.
Now as for PROPHECY that is the written word of God for anyone to read and therefore can be readily known by all of mankind when and if they choose to read the Bible for themselves is indeed set in stone so to speak and it will happen just the way God says it will happen. But as far as each and every decision that each and every man, woman, and child makes each and every moment are not DIRECTLY controlled by God or by Satan. What I mean by this is that God's Spirit woos and draws us in the direction that pleases God, and the adversary tempts and entices mankind to do evil and all that opposes God. For a simple word picture to illustrate this sound Biblical truth is much like the cartoon we watched when we were little where a little angel sat upon one shoulder whispering in one ear of a cartoon character while upon the other shoulder is a little devil whispering in the other ear. The truth of the whole matter all comes down to WHOSE voice are you going to listen to and OBEY?
Please read Romans 16:14-18.
“For sin shall NOT have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace. 15. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16. Know you not, that to whom YOU yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? (So WHO is in CONTROL here? Is it YOU, God or Satan? WHO is doing the YIELDING? Is God forcing you to yield to obey the voice of Satan? Did God predestine you to yield yourself to OBEY Satan? Some may argue that we inherited the so-called sin nature from Adam and it is our nature to sin but this verse here and many other verse prove beyond any shadow of a doubt the the so-called original sin doctrine is also a doctrine of devils. Please read the study “THE FALSE DOCTRINE OF ORIGINAL SIN!”) 17. But God be thanked, (and NOT God be BLAMED for predestining you to sin by given you a sin nature, NO! A thousand times no. God is to be THANKED for giving us the power and the authority to overcome sin and be made free from ALL the works of the Devil) that you were the servants of sin, BUT you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. (that shall make you FREE if so be that you CONTINUE in the TRUTH. God has made it possible for YOU to be in control of your OWN destiny by making the RIGHT choices with your OWN FREE will.) 18. Being then made free from sin, you became the servants of righteousness.”
So yes, the PROPHECIES or written word of God are foreordained and will come to pass or be fulfilled without fail according as God has SPOKEN those SPECIFIC prophecies. God is completely sovereign in THAT respect of performing his word of PROPHECY and nothing or no one can alter or change what God has ordained in his PROPHETIC word.
Now this brings us to some of the hard scriptures that seem to dictate the God controls every aspect of everyones life.
In Genesis 45:5 Joseph says to his brothers.
“Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that you sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.”
Yes it is true that God directed the path of Joseph, BUT it is also true that this was prophesied beforehand in the WORD of God. In Genesis 37:5-11 Joseph had a dream were his brothers, father, and mother bow down to him for he has become ruler over them. In verse 6 Joseph speaks forth his dream to his brethren, thus prophesying his own destiny. Also please keep in mind that the scriptures speak of God’s Messiah in types and shadows and these verse are just one of the many hidden PROPHECIES of Jesus. Now obviously this was God's intended purpose, otherwise God would not have given Joseph the dream. I do believe that the Bible teaches the sovereignty of God to reach to the areas where God CALLS certain individuals to fulfill different purposes to bring about his ultimate PLAN of SALVATION for mankind but the person involved knows that God is with him or her leading them in the direction that they should go. You see my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, when Joseph was thrown into the pit by his brothers he did not simply say or believe that this was God's WILL for his life. For me, I personally believe that Joseph kept that DREAM that God gave to him in his heart where he had seen in the dream of his brothers bowing down to him. I believe that Joseph kept this dream God gave to hem in the front of his mind and was believing God that he would be deliver from that pit. And therefore by Joseph trust in the dream that God gave to him God put it in the heart of his brothers to take him out of the pit and sell him to some travelers. Again I am sure that Joseph kept believing God that he would be delivered because of the DREAM that God gave to him. I am sure that at times Joseph may have doubted his dream but in the end he came back to his FAITH in God. Now we are not told every single detail in the life of Joseph aa to all of what he felt and prayed but we can see throughout the Bible that God is moved by FAITH and God moved in the life of Joseph who again was a figure or shadow pointing to Jesus. God will use his word to guide us. God will use his Spirit to guide us. God will use dreams and visions to guide us. And at times God will use his angels to appear to us to guide us. And of course God uses his disciples to guide us. But remember that Jesus said IF you CONTINUE in MY word THEN are you my disciples indeed. Jesus did not say we are his disciple if we continue in the theologies and philosophies of me. So then, those Christians who CLAIM that God uses tragedies and sickness and disease to guide and teach us are going beyond the word of God by reading into the scriptures their own philosophies, theories and reasonings. The truth of the matter is that Satan saw to thwart God's plan by killing Joseph just as he had Jesus killed but God made a way of escape and delivered Joseph from the pit and every other plot of the enemy to destroy God's plan just as God delivered Jesus from the pit.
Most of the misdirected teaching of the sovereignty of God comes from the Old Testament where everything is accredited or attributed to God. You see my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, they did not have the word of God as you and I have today and therefore they simply did not know of the adversary, the devil. Most every Christians owns their own Bible that has not only all the books of the Old Testament all together in one book but also has the New Testament which brings light and true understanding to the Old Testament. But during the Old testament times the word of God was written down on separate scrolls and like today most of the children of Israel only heard a very small part of a scroll read to them one day a week. They did not have a copy of their own to read anytime they desired. And like today they only heard what was TAUGHT TO them by the leaders of the synagogues. So if their Rabbis BLAMED God for everything then so did they because that wa what they were taught. And this wrong teaching is revealed to us in the book of Job where Job himself BLAMES God for all his troubles.
Look at Job 13:15.
“Though he (God) slay me, yet will I trust in him:...”
You see, Job is WRONGLY accusing and blaming God for all this trouble that he is going through because he lack the knowledge of the TRUTH which obviously was not taught to him. The TRUTH of the matter is that it is Satan who is the one that was responsible for all of Job's affliction, and NOT God. Yet, Job BLAMED God for his troubles simply because he did not KNOW that it was Satan who was doing all of this to him.
Look at Job 2:7.
“So SATAN went forth from the presence of the Lord and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to his crown.”
Remember Satan comes not but for to steal your health and finances, and to kill and to destroy your crops, plants, flowers, livestock, pets, and anything else he can, including you and your family if you let him.
DON'T BE DECEIVED! YOU HAVE AUTHORITY OVER THE ENEMY, SO STAND IN YOUR AUTHORITY AND BEGIN TAKING BACK WHAT THE ADVERSARY HAS STOLEN, OR IS TRYING TO STEAL.
Quit focusing on all you do not understand in God's word and begin with what you know to be the TRUTH without fail from the cear, plain, simple verses in God’s word. The simple basic truth of God’s word is that God is LOVE. Think about this. Would you do some of these things to your family that some people FALSELY blame God for doing? Absolutely NOT! So how much greater is God's love and goodness than your own love and goodness? Are you better than God? Is your love better than God’s love? Is your goodness better that the goodness of God? The Bibles teaches the God IS LOVE, and only the Father is wholly GOOD. God is pure, holy, and just. It is this fact that God is JUST that has caused him to receive the wrongful blame for the things that the enemy has done without striking back to defend his name. For a deeper understanding of what I mean by this please read "UNDERSTANDING WHY?"
For now please read Matthew 13:24-30.
“...The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed GOOD seed in his field; 25. BUT while MEN slept, his ENEMY came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 26. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 27. So the servants of the household came and said unto him, Sir, did not you sow GOOD send in your field? From whence then has it tares? 28. He said unto them, An ENEMY has done this. (NOT God has done this but rather God’s ENEMY Satan has done this) The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 29. But he said, Nay; lest while you gather up the tares, you root up also the wheat with them. 30. Let them both grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather you together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.” First I want you to notice that ONLY GOOD seed was at first planted and, then by the secrecy and cover of the night or darkness the ENEMY came in unaware and sowed tares or the BAD SEED. Jesus goes on and interprets this parable in verses 36 through 42.
Please read Matthew 13:36-42.
“Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house; and his disciples came unto him, saying, declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. 37. He answered and said unto them, He that sows the GOOD seed is the Son of man; 38. The field is the world; the GOOD seed are the children of the kingdom; BUT the tares are the children of the wicked one (Satan, the devil); 39. The ENEMY that sowed is the DEVIL (Satan); the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. 40. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 41. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that OFFEND, and them which do INIQUITY; 42. And shall cast them into the furnace of fire; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
The phrase “ all things that OFFEND” here means things that CAUSE sin, a stumbling block or an OBSTACLE. You see, the ENEMY places OBSTACLES in the way of mankind to thwart God's INTENDED purpose for ALL of mankind. God does not CONTROL every single circumstance and predestine some men to be saved and some men to be destroyed in the lake of fire as some have FALSELY have taught some of you. But rather God created all of mankind for his GOOD pleasure. The Bible itself teaches us that God is NOT WILLING that any man should perish, but that ALL of mankind should come to the knowledge of truth and be saved. But you see God does not always get his way, his good pleasure, his intended will because he himself has CHOSEN to exalt his WORD even above his very own name. And because God is so FAITHFUL to his word it has caused him great pain and sorrow at times.
Please read Genesis 6:6.
“And it REPENTED the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it GRIEVED him at his HEART.”
You see God created all things GOOD, but then man was deceived by the ENEMY and sinned. So where did this enemy come from? If God created all things, then did God create himself an ENEMY? Even simple logic can not make sense of God creating himself an enemy that would cause God GRIEF. I answer these questions in the study called UNDERSTANDING WHY? But for now just know that God creates all things GOOD and that sin was found in Lucifer as he exalted himself with pride, who later became known as Satan, which mean adversary or the ENEMY of God.
One of the biggest arguments for this misguided teaching on the sovereignty of God is that “GOD is GOD and he will do as he PLEASES.” So I did an in depth study on what pleases God and what displeases God. This study will help you further understand the God's sovereignty according to the TRUTH of his word as opposed to the man-made philosophical view of the sovereignty of God that teaches Calvinism. For a deep understanding on this subject please read the study entitled "WHAT IS GOD'S WILL?"
DO NOT BE DECEIVED!
SEARCH THE WORD OF GOD DAILY TO SEE IF THOSE THINGS YOU ARE BEING TAUGHT ARE FIRMLY BASED UPON THE WHOLE WORD OF GOD.
STUDY TO SHOW YOURSELF APPROVED OF GOD RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH.
Yes, once again God is sovereign BUT NOT in the way most have been taught. There can be no ENEMY of an all WISE God fighting against God if so be that God preordained everything that happens. And there is indeed an OPPOSING ENEMY that seeks only to destroy the goodness of God. And God is faithful to his word and therefore God will NOT go against what he has already spoken. For a deeper understanding on this subject please read the study entitled "UNDERSTANDING WHY?"
Now if so be that God were sovereign in the WAY that Calvinism or predeterminism teaches the sovereignty of God then God would be ALL KNOWING and thus know everything before it happens, when it will happen and how it will happen. But there are some verses in the Bible that have thoroughly convince me that God is NOT omniscient or all knowing of every detail even when it has already happened. Please consider God SEARCHING the heart in order to KNOW what is in the heart. Yes there are verses that say that God know our heart but there are also verse that say that God SEARCHES the heart. Why the need to SEARCH for something you are supposed to already know according to the doctrines of men? Please read Jeremiah 17:9,10.
“The heart (of the wicked according to the context) is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 10. I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”
Proverbs 20:27.
“The spirit of man is the CANDLE of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.”
Why does God need a candle or a light to see what is in the inwards parts of man that he searches out if so be God preordained all things before the foundation of the world. Why does God need to SEARCH to see if he already knows everything? We does he need eyes everywhere to see both good and evil?
Proverbs 15:3.
“The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.”
The reason to me is quite obvious as the why the eyes of Yahweh are everywhere and that reason is that God is not all knowing in the WAY that many of us have been taught. Yes, God does indeed know the end FROM the beginning because God PROPHESIED the end FROM the beginning, But this does not mean that God prophesied every last detail of every thought you will think, every word you will speak, every decision you will make. That INTERPRETATION is READ INTO the scriptures and not taken out from the scriptures.
Please consider God giving the children of Israel test to SEE IF they will keep his law or not keep his law.
Exodus 16:4.
“Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.”
Some obeyed and some did not obey but God did not KNOW WHO would obey and who would not obey. What about the test God gave to Abraham to SEE IF Abraham would obey him?
“And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. 10. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. 11. And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. 12. And he said, Lay not your hand upon the lad, neither do you anything unto him: for (or BECAUSE) NOW I KNOW that you fear God, SEEING you have not withheld your son, your only son from me. 13. And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. 14. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen. 15. And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, (so the angle is speaking FOR Yahweh both times. In other words, when the angel spoke in verse 12 he was speaking the words of Yahweh himself saying, “Lay not your hand upon the lad, neither do you anything unto him: for (or BECAUSE) NOW I KNOW that you fear God, SEEING you have not withheld your son, your only son from me.” And Yahweh spoke a second time.) 16. And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because you have DONE this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son: 17. That in blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and your seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18. And in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because you have obeyed MY voice.”
Again, God is indeed all knowing CONCERNING the things he has PROPHESIED in his word because God will DO what he said he will do. But this kind of sound Biblical all knowing God is NOT what some in the mainstream church denominations teach. There seems to be SOME Calvinistic or predeterministic teaching in many mainstream church denominations that wrong teach that knows knows every detail of your life before it happens. Now I am not too concerned about God knowing every detail of my life. That is NOT what I am writing this study in God’s word. The problem begins when Christians like Calvinist ABUSE the know of God by CLAIMING that God foreordained every thought and every action of every person and there is NOTHING they can do to change their so-called predestined destiny. In other words, they CLAIM that God not only knew that a specific man was going to rape your daughter but God also ORDAINED that rape of your daughter. That kind of teaching is Satanic in my own opinion and goes against the true nature and character of Almighty God. My prayer is that God will open their eyes to the truth of his WHOLE word and they will come out of Calvinism and predeterminism to teach the truth of God’s love and mercy. Here is one more verse where God says, let us go down to SEE IF it is like the cries I amd hearing and then ai will KNOW.
Please read Genesis 18:20,21.
“And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; 21. I will go down now, and SEE WHETHER they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and IF NOT, I WILL KNOW.”
This does NOT sound like the all knowing God that is being taught is the mainstream church denominations. Certainly AFTER God SEARCHES out a matter of the heart THEN God does indeed know our hearts. But to ME, it is in error to say that God knows everything that every person will do and not do before he created mankind. To me, that kind of all knowing God is read into the scriptures and not out of the scriptures. And like all false teachings there is a little true mixed with error because the WHOLE word of God was not considered when forming the all knowing sovereign God of the mainstream church denominations.
Thanks for reading and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the truth of the WHOLE word of Almighty God.
Your in Christ Jesus, Always and Forever, Mark. RETURN TO HOMEPAGE at |
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