IS EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS THE WILL OF GOD? (1 OF 4)
by Steve Jones
Scripture: Isaiah 14:27
This content is part of a series.
Is Everything That Happens the Will of God? (1 of 4)
Series: The Will of God and Suffering
Steve Jones
Isaiah 14:27
Introduction: What I want to do for the next four Sundays is talk about the will of God, especially as it relates to suffering. That is naturally on my mind because of what we've been through but it's obviously a relevant subject to all of us because suffering is part of the human condition. Our family was certainly not the only family to experience grief, or sadness or loss this past year. Inevitably, questions come to mind such as ''why did this happen?'' or ''Was this part of God's plan?'' ''Was this the will of God?'' ''Was there a reason for this to happen?''
Today, let's look at three different aspects of God's will and then the implications for suffering.
I. GOD PERFORMS -- God's desire and God's decision
Isaiah 14:27 ''For the Lord of hosts has planned, and who can frustrate it? And as for His stretched-out hand, who can turn it back?''
Some events occur because God wants them to happen AND He CAUSES them to happen. It doesn't depend upon anything, or anyone, else.
EXAMPLE: It's like the president's executive orders. He doesn't go through congress. He has a pen and a phone. It's unilateral. He wants it to happen and he causes it to happen. But unlike the president's executive orders, God's executive orders cannot be undone. What does God cause to happen?
1) The first example is the creation itself.
Revelation 4:11 ''You created all things and because of Your will they existed, and were created.''
Did God ask your permission to create the universe? No? Me neither.
The next significant event after the creation was the Fall of man, the sin of Adam and Eve, which God did not cause to happen. Once it did happen, or rather, once God foreknew that it would happen, we have the second example of this category of ''God performs.''
2) The work of redemption through the incarnate Son of God, Jesus Christ. Redemp ...
Series: The Will of God and Suffering
Steve Jones
Isaiah 14:27
Introduction: What I want to do for the next four Sundays is talk about the will of God, especially as it relates to suffering. That is naturally on my mind because of what we've been through but it's obviously a relevant subject to all of us because suffering is part of the human condition. Our family was certainly not the only family to experience grief, or sadness or loss this past year. Inevitably, questions come to mind such as ''why did this happen?'' or ''Was this part of God's plan?'' ''Was this the will of God?'' ''Was there a reason for this to happen?''
Today, let's look at three different aspects of God's will and then the implications for suffering.
I. GOD PERFORMS -- God's desire and God's decision
Isaiah 14:27 ''For the Lord of hosts has planned, and who can frustrate it? And as for His stretched-out hand, who can turn it back?''
Some events occur because God wants them to happen AND He CAUSES them to happen. It doesn't depend upon anything, or anyone, else.
EXAMPLE: It's like the president's executive orders. He doesn't go through congress. He has a pen and a phone. It's unilateral. He wants it to happen and he causes it to happen. But unlike the president's executive orders, God's executive orders cannot be undone. What does God cause to happen?
1) The first example is the creation itself.
Revelation 4:11 ''You created all things and because of Your will they existed, and were created.''
Did God ask your permission to create the universe? No? Me neither.
The next significant event after the creation was the Fall of man, the sin of Adam and Eve, which God did not cause to happen. Once it did happen, or rather, once God foreknew that it would happen, we have the second example of this category of ''God performs.''
2) The work of redemption through the incarnate Son of God, Jesus Christ. Redemp ...
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