“Will Saul threaten the city because of my presence?”
“Will they deliver me to him?” – God answered “Yes” to all four.
But NONE of these events actually occurred!
Significance: Foreknowledge does not necessitate predestination.
The theological point: That which never happens can be foreknown by God but NOT predestined simply because the event NEVER HAPPENED.
The fact that God foresaw an event does not require that the event WILL happen.
It may become anACTUAL event or just a POSSIBILITY.
Predestination and Foreknowledge are separable.
God may foreknow AND predestine an event which doesn’t necessarily include the decisions to yet be made by those He has granted the gift of FREEWILL.
The final outcome of the event may be sovereignly ordained but the MEANS to that end may or may not be ordained.
Implications:
This is the way God has decided His rule over human affairs will work.
Has significance in understanding the “FALL” and the presence of all evil in general.
God is GOOD and never evil.
There is no biblical reason to assert that God is a factor in the evil of the world.
There is no biblical reason to argue that God predestined the “Fall” even though He foreknew it.
There is no biblical support for the idea that God has factored in all evil acts in history in order to bring about His “Grand Plan” for the universe.
God doesn’t need the rape of a child or a holocaust so that some greater good may come from it.
EVIL is a perversion of God’s good gift of freewill.
EVil arises from the choices made by imperfect beings – human and divine.
Freewill in the hands of imperfect beings, human or divine, means that they can opt for their own authority in place of God’
Heaven and Earth are separate but CONNECTED realms.
Sadly, BOTH of God’s household have experienced rebellion resulting in a protracted war against God’s original intention.
Good News! – God is fully committed to preserve what He began.
Philippians 1:6 – “God is the one who began this good work in you and I am certain He won’t stop before it is complete on the day that Christ Jesus returns.”
Our heavenly Father, MAY THE GLORY OF YOUR NAME BE THE CENTER ON WHICH OUR LIFE TURNS. May your Holy Spirit come upon us and cleanse us. Manifest your kingdom on earth. Luke 11:2
John 17:26
Jesus’s LIFE PURPOSE WAS TO MAKE KNOWN THE NAME, THE CHARACTER AND THE WILL OF GOD TO HIS DISCIPLES.
Luke 11:1-4
OUR FATHER -Family -intimate relationship – acknowledging God’s authority – His protection, His care, His love is ours. All that He is- is ours – all His expressions are functions – every aspect of what is His is ours.
WHO ART IN HEAVEN-Where is heaven? In the heavens and here and in our hearts.
HALLOWED BE THY NAME- Worshiping and bowing in reverence before the Holy Father. Surrender. All of his Names indicate His character. First and foremost, He is Holy. – His empowering grace for us.
THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE, ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN- We are in agreement with your desire for Your Kingdom to rule and reign. Your will is best.
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD… We ask for provision for the day, physical and spiritual. We ask specifically for again indicative of the intimate family relationship.
FORGIVE US AS WE FORGIVE OTHERS-Be specific – Confess, repent, and move back into grace. Help us with this and that. Help me with this and that.
LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION – Keep us making good decisions and remain on the narrow path in this and that.
DELIVER US FROM EVIL – deliver us from the snare of the fowler. Ps 91:3 says Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler. Father, help us to uncover the subtle plans of the enemy.
MODEL – OUTLINE FOR EXPANSION. JH
God’s power alone can change things and bring heaven’s rule (HIS kingdom) INSTEAD, and the honor and the glory for PRAYER’S ANSWERS ARE HIS.
THE PRAYING IS OURS TO DO.
ALL KINGDOM MINISTRY BEGINS WITH, IS SUSTAINED BY, AND WILL TRIUMPH THROUGH PRAYER. JH
Without the intervention of God’s kingdom rule through prayer, Earth’s circumstances will succumb to inevitable consequences. Earthly scenes of need MUST be penetrated by God’s “will here, as in heaven.”
INTERCESSION. WE REPLACE AND DISPLACE powers, principalities, rulers of darkness and their evil intentions, and man’s base, evil fleshly inclinations. WE MUST PRAY-
HERE IT IS IN THE PASSION VERSION-Luke 11:1-4 “Would you teach us a model prayer that we can pray, just like John did for his disciples?” 2 So Jesus taught them this prayer: “OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, MAY THE GLORY OF YOUR NAME BE THE CENTER ON WHICH OUR LIFE TURNS. May your Holy Spirit come upon us and cleanse us. Manifest your kingdom on earth. 3 And give us our needed bread for the coming day. 4 Forgive our sins as we ourselves release forgiveness to those who have wronged us. And rescue us every time we face tribulations.”
PERSISTENCE BROUGHT THE DESIRED OUTCOME.
He instructs us to ask and keep on asking persistently; Seek and keep on seeking persistently; Knock and keep on knocking persistently and the door will OPEN.
