In each blog, I often reference many different topics that I've already covered (or will soon cover), and maybe you've missed. Please review my blogs to read more...
CLICK HERE! for an index to previous blogs.
___________________________
Milton G. Henschel, prior director of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society -Jehovah's Witnesses...
He had this to say with regards to the plan and purpose of God:
"His [Jehovah's] supremacy has been challenged by Satan, who caused the rebellion in Eden and who puts the integrity of all men to the test. God's primary purpose is the vindication of this supremacy."
Wow... are you kidding me?! This is the kind of nonsense these people are filling our heads with.
[1] Satan challenges God?
[2] There was a rebellion in Eden?
[3] Man's integrity is being tested?
[4] The primary purpose of our very existence is the vindication of God's Supremacy?
_________________________
[1] Satan challenges God?
chal-lenge, noun [1] a call to take part in a contest or competition, especially a duel [2] a task or situation that tests someone's abilities [3] an attempt to win a contest or championship in a sport.
First of all Milton G. Henschel, Satan cowers in the presence of God - he doesn't challenge God in any way, shape, or form!
God created Satan -
Job 26:13 ... His hand has formed [created] the crooked serpent [Satan].
Isa 54:16 ... I [God] have created the waster [Satan] to destroy.
Even Satan KNOWS who he answers to... Satan, himself, is smart enough to realize he wouldn't possibly dream of challenging God and I would assume he grins at your speaking on his behalf!
[2] There was a rebellion in Eden?
re-bel-lion, noun [1] an act of violent or open resistance to an established government or ruler [2] the action or process of resisting authority, control, or convention.
Satan did not cause a rebellion.
The "cause" of any such "rebellion", if that's the word Milton G. Henschel really wants to use (see definition above)... was God Himself!
It was God who created EVIL:
Isa 45:5-7 I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no god beside me: I girded you... there is NONE beside me... I make peace AND create EVIL: I the LORD do ALL these things.
It was God who created and placed the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in the center of the Garden intending that man eat thereof!
Just for the record - "EVIL"
Just for the record... let it be known that the word translated "evil" in Isaiah 45:7 is the Hebrew word [H7451 - ra].
Some will say this verse should read "... and create calamity".
The Hebrew word for "calamity" is the Hebrew word [H343 - ade] which means "misfortune, misery, or ruin, calamity".
The Hebrew word ra means "bad or evil".
It is the same word used for the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil [H7451 - ra]."
It was not the tree of the knowledge of "good and calamity".
Did Jacob really mean to say, "a calamitous beast" had devoured his son? (Gen 37:33)?
Did Israel really "do calamity in the sight of God" by worshiping Balaam, or did they do evil? (Jdg 3:7).
The Hebrew ra means "bad or evil" and it is used over 400 times to represent bad or evil - NOT calamity.
God created ra- EVIL.
Furthermore God used evil and continues to use evil against His creatures every day! You're witnessing one form of "ra" in the quote from Milton G. Henschel above.
There was no "rebellion"... it was HIS PLAN for man to be carnal from the beginning!
[3] Man's integrity is being tested?
Man has NO integrity... man has NEVER had integrity!
in-teg-ri-ty, noun [1] the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness [2] the state of being whole and undivided.
Is that how God designed man according to Scripture Milton G. Henschel?
No.
Adam didn't "fall" from Grace:
Rom 8:20 For the creature was made subject [subordinate, obedient] to vanity [G3153 - mataiotes, moral depravity], not willingly, but by reason of Him Who has subjected the same in hope...
How many more verses do you want Milton G. Henschel?
Will one, or two suffice for now?
Rom 3:10-12 As it is written, There is NONE righteous, NO, NOT ONE: There is NONE that understands, there is NONE that seeks after God.
They are ALL gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is NONE that does good, NO, NOT ONE.
[4] The primary purpose of our very existence is the vindication of God's Supremacy?
vin-di-ca-tion, noun [1] the action of clearing someone of blame or suspicion. [2] proof that someone or something is right, reasonable, or justified.
Since when, in what Scripture, in who's world, in which universe, to whom, does God need to vindicate Himself Milton G. Henschel?!
Rom 11:33-35 O the depth of the riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His Judgments, and His ways past finding out! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counsellor? Or who has first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed [repaid] unto Him again?
God answers to NONE!!
Col 1:16-17 For by Him were ALL things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers [Yes! Milton G. Henschel - this includes SATAN]: ALL things were created BY HIM, and FOR HIM: And HE is before ALL things, and by Him ALL things consist.
Has this guy even opened his Bible?!
Maybe Milton G. Henschel is reading from the same bible as Hagee, Kennedy, DeVries, or Jack Hyles, etc., etc.?
Oops... I forgot - Jehovah's Witnesses prefer their own translation published by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society... they even appropriately named it the New World Translation.
Well Milton G. Henschel, if this is what your New World Translation teaches, you can burn it, right along with your quote above!
_______________________
Wow... I got a little fired up there for a second!
But... I didn't bring this up just to pick on poor, little, un-Scriptural Milton G. Henschel or Jehovah's Witnesses.
I brought it up to point out this God-demeaning, God-weakening, God-defying, God-thwarting attitude of this world!
It's either illiteracy (at best), or it's outright belligerence and intentional deceit by these "ministers of righteousness"!
2 Cor 11:14-15 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore, it is no great thing if his [Satan's] ministers ALSO be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
It sure sounds to me like Milton G. Henschel has more faith in man and Satan's abilities than he does of Almighty God! So, I won't come right out and say it, but you can decide for yourself which team Milton G. Henschel is a minister for.
Mat 24:4-5 And, answering, Jesus said to them, "Beware that no one should be deceiving you." For MANY shall be coming IN MY NAME, saying, 'I [Jesus] AM the Christ!' and shall be deceiving MANY."
Have no doubt... there are MANY that claim to come in the Name of Jesus - they even boldly proclaim that Jesus IS the Christ! You can find them on corners in almost every town in America!
What does it say? They shall DECEIVE MANY! They've done a pretty good job of deceiving it so far!
It is this very attitude... almost a defiant "fist-shaking" to the face of Almighty God in which we find ourselves getting into trouble.
Until we realize just exactly who we are, in relation to God - we'll never grow Spiritually!
It truly is as simple as: He is the Potter - we are the clay.
That's why it's so important that I drive this home... you can't let others tell you what Scripture says - including me! Dig in yourselves... ask God to give you wisdom... He is faithful.
Jas 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to ALL men liberally, and upbraids not [He won't express disapproval]; and IT SHALL BE GIVEN HIM.
What a glorious promise!
Moving on now...
Invisible Hand
How does God move in our lives without us seeing, or perceiving (internally or externally) His orchestration?
In other words, how are our decisions - how is our "will" free from any causality in our perception?
My argument is that God does indeed "cause" things that are not perceived by man to influence our choices.
Here's a small example:
We finally score some tickets to a Notre Dame football game! Man, oh man! We finally get to go! We got some great tickets on the 50-yard line, and the whole family is excited to head to the big game! We can hardly contain ourselves all week, waiting for Saturday to roll around! You can almost SMELL the anticipation!
Saturday morning comes, and bang! None of us want to go to the game now!
What happened?
Major blizzard, blinding snow, freezing temperatures, traffic accidents on the news all morning... all of the sudden - NONE of us want to go to the game.
"Let's stay home and watch the game on TV next to our nice warm fire!"
God didn't force us to be excited about going to ND Stadium, and God didn't force us to decide to stay home in front of the TV instead.
Maybe we would've been killed in a horrible car accident, or who knows? God changed our minds without us realizing that He was protecting us from disaster!
Get it?
Now, that's a simple example that most would shrug off as "mother nature"... nothing out of the ordinary.
As we'll soon see, God does indeed work just like this, often using much harsher and more painful means... but He does work like this to CAUSE men to take the actions that God desires.
And, FYI... God does indeed control the weather... not "mother nature":
Psa 135:6-7 Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did He in heaven, AND in earth, in the seas, and ALL deep places. He CAUSES the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; He MAKES lightnings for the rain; He BRINGS the wind out of His treasuries.
God "causes", "makes", and "brings" into existence the manifestations of natures power! Nothing happens without a CAUSE.
God IS that CAUSE in every situation... including catastrophic "acts of God"! At least our insurance companies seem to get it! You'll find "acts of God" in your insurance policy to this day!
Perfect Choreography
ALL that has been, and is, and will be, has been planned and choreographed by God... right down to the molecular movement of the last atom.
If it weren't - this universe as we know it would cease to exist.
Out of God came everything in the universe, and it came by way of Jesus. Everything came out of God and through Jesus.
I've mentioned this verse before, but it's worth repeating now:
Col 1:15-17 Who [Jesus] is the Image of the Invisible God [The Father], the Firstborn of EVERY creature [G2937 - kristis, original formation, creation]: For by Him [Jesus] were ALL things [any, every, the whole] created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible [seen and unseen powers], whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: ALL things were created by Him, and for Him: And He is before [above] ALL things, and by Him ALL things consist [G4921 - sunistao, set together, have their cohesion].
Without Jesus, the "ALL things" mentioned above would not exist, let alone would not "have cohesion".
God is presently working, or operating ALL that exists.
1 Cor 12:6 ... it is the same God which works [G1754 - energeo, to be active] ALL in ALL.
Did you notice that little Greek word above?
Does it remind you of our English word "energy"?
It should... [G1754 - energeo], "being at work" is where we get the English word "energy" from.
God IS the "energy" of this universe! The "energy" of the ALL in ALL!
How does He provide this "energy"?
Eph 1:11 ...Who works [G1754 - energeo] ALL THINGS after the counsel of His OWN will.
His "energy" also provides for us individually:
Act 17:28 For in Him we LIVE, and MOVE, and have our BEING [G2027 - esmen, 'we ARE'- we exist] ...
All energy, all matter, all creation, and all humans are of God.
Jer 10:23 O LORD, I know that the way of man is NOT in himself: it is not in man that walks to direct his steps.
King of Assyria
Ok... you must be thinking "finally"!
I mentioned at the end of Part 3 that I would show you a Scriptural example of God telling us directly that He uses people to accomplish His will - without those people knowing that it is God who is directing them.
They think that they, themselves, are making the decisions without any other outside influence.
Isa 10:5-17 O Assyrian, the rod of Mine anger, and the staff in their hand is Mine indignation. I WILL SEND him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I GIVE HIM A CHARGE, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.
Howbeit he means not so, NEITHER does his heart think so [he doesn't realize]; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few. For he says, Are not my princes altogether kings?
Is not Calno as Carchemish? Is not Hamath as Arpad? Is not Samaria as Damascus?
As My hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria; Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols? Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed HIS WHOLE WORK [at the hands of the Assyrians] upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks.
For he [king of Assyria] says, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and [I] have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man: and my hand has found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathers eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and THERE WAS NONE that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped.
Shall the axe [king of Assyria] boast itself against Him [God] that hews therewith? Or shall the saw [king of Assyria] magnify itself against Him [God] that shakes it? As if the rod [king of Assyria] should shake itself against them that lift it up [God], or as if the staff [king of Assyria] should lift up itself, as if it were no wood.
Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory he shall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire. And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and His Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day.
I don't think that I really need to drone on about this passage. It seems pretty self-explanatory to me.
It's a perfect example of God filling in the "whys" and "wherefores" of how it was Him operating through the king of Assyria to punish Israel without the king even realizing that God was using him. You can read how the king did nothing but boast of "his" grand achievements!
It's the same method God uses today... with all kings of this earth, the presidents, heads of corporations, heads of households, and all humanity.
Pro 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: He turns it whithersoever He will.
God "... works ALL according to the counsel of His own will".
Just like the king of Assyria, "not so is all humanity thinking in THEIR heart".
They either don't believe that God is using them, or they REFUSE to believe God is using them:
Ecc 3:11 He has made EVERY THING beautiful IN HIS TIME: also He has set the world in their heart, so that NO MAN can find out the work that God makes from the beginning to the end.
Pro 20:24 Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
ALL is of God - He IS our energy... He IS the energy behind the entirety of this universe...
It is not our will, our desires, that direct our paths... it is HIS WILL... and HIS WILL, will be accomplished:
Isa 55:11 So shall My Word be that goes forth out of My Mouth: it shall NOT return unto Me void, but it SHALL accomplish that which I please, and it SHALL prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Isa 46:10-11 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, MY COUNSEL SHALL STAND, and I will do ALL My pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executes my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also DO IT.
He is the Potter - we are but His clay. The sooner we realize this, the sooner we will find Truth.
Yes! God WILL save all of His pots:
Rom 2:11 For there is no partiality with God.
___________________________
Long enough for today I guess. More later....
Some of these excerpts are from my personal notes copied from 30+ years of studying... some of these notes are direct copies of various sources - I do not claim to have authored every word of this... it's just a mass collection I've tucked away over the years for my own personal studies... I didn't consider a bibliography at the time I directly copied small excerpts from various authors. Also, any emphasis (underlines, bold text, all CAPS, etc.) noted above was only meant to capture my personal attention as I studied...
CLICK HERE! for an index to previous blogs.
___________________________
Milton G. Henschel, prior director of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society -Jehovah's Witnesses...
He had this to say with regards to the plan and purpose of God:
"His [Jehovah's] supremacy has been challenged by Satan, who caused the rebellion in Eden and who puts the integrity of all men to the test. God's primary purpose is the vindication of this supremacy."
Wow... are you kidding me?! This is the kind of nonsense these people are filling our heads with.
[1] Satan challenges God?
[2] There was a rebellion in Eden?
[3] Man's integrity is being tested?
[4] The primary purpose of our very existence is the vindication of God's Supremacy?
_________________________
[1] Satan challenges God?
chal-lenge, noun [1] a call to take part in a contest or competition, especially a duel [2] a task or situation that tests someone's abilities [3] an attempt to win a contest or championship in a sport.
First of all Milton G. Henschel, Satan cowers in the presence of God - he doesn't challenge God in any way, shape, or form!
God created Satan -
Job 26:13 ... His hand has formed [created] the crooked serpent [Satan].
Isa 54:16 ... I [God] have created the waster [Satan] to destroy.
Even Satan KNOWS who he answers to... Satan, himself, is smart enough to realize he wouldn't possibly dream of challenging God and I would assume he grins at your speaking on his behalf!
[2] There was a rebellion in Eden?
re-bel-lion, noun [1] an act of violent or open resistance to an established government or ruler [2] the action or process of resisting authority, control, or convention.
Satan did not cause a rebellion.
The "cause" of any such "rebellion", if that's the word Milton G. Henschel really wants to use (see definition above)... was God Himself!
It was God who created EVIL:
Isa 45:5-7 I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no god beside me: I girded you... there is NONE beside me... I make peace AND create EVIL: I the LORD do ALL these things.
It was God who created and placed the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in the center of the Garden intending that man eat thereof!
Just for the record - "EVIL"
Just for the record... let it be known that the word translated "evil" in Isaiah 45:7 is the Hebrew word [H7451 - ra].
Some will say this verse should read "... and create calamity".
The Hebrew word for "calamity" is the Hebrew word [H343 - ade] which means "misfortune, misery, or ruin, calamity".
The Hebrew word ra means "bad or evil".
It is the same word used for the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil [H7451 - ra]."
It was not the tree of the knowledge of "good and calamity".
Did Jacob really mean to say, "a calamitous beast" had devoured his son? (Gen 37:33)?
Did Israel really "do calamity in the sight of God" by worshiping Balaam, or did they do evil? (Jdg 3:7).
The Hebrew ra means "bad or evil" and it is used over 400 times to represent bad or evil - NOT calamity.
God created ra- EVIL.
Furthermore God used evil and continues to use evil against His creatures every day! You're witnessing one form of "ra" in the quote from Milton G. Henschel above.
There was no "rebellion"... it was HIS PLAN for man to be carnal from the beginning!
[3] Man's integrity is being tested?
Man has NO integrity... man has NEVER had integrity!
in-teg-ri-ty, noun [1] the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness [2] the state of being whole and undivided.
Is that how God designed man according to Scripture Milton G. Henschel?
No.
Adam didn't "fall" from Grace:
Rom 8:20 For the creature was made subject [subordinate, obedient] to vanity [G3153 - mataiotes, moral depravity], not willingly, but by reason of Him Who has subjected the same in hope...
How many more verses do you want Milton G. Henschel?
Will one, or two suffice for now?
Rom 3:10-12 As it is written, There is NONE righteous, NO, NOT ONE: There is NONE that understands, there is NONE that seeks after God.
They are ALL gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is NONE that does good, NO, NOT ONE.
[4] The primary purpose of our very existence is the vindication of God's Supremacy?
vin-di-ca-tion, noun [1] the action of clearing someone of blame or suspicion. [2] proof that someone or something is right, reasonable, or justified.
Since when, in what Scripture, in who's world, in which universe, to whom, does God need to vindicate Himself Milton G. Henschel?!
Rom 11:33-35 O the depth of the riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His Judgments, and His ways past finding out! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counsellor? Or who has first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed [repaid] unto Him again?
God answers to NONE!!
Col 1:16-17 For by Him were ALL things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers [Yes! Milton G. Henschel - this includes SATAN]: ALL things were created BY HIM, and FOR HIM: And HE is before ALL things, and by Him ALL things consist.
Has this guy even opened his Bible?!
Maybe Milton G. Henschel is reading from the same bible as Hagee, Kennedy, DeVries, or Jack Hyles, etc., etc.?
Oops... I forgot - Jehovah's Witnesses prefer their own translation published by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society... they even appropriately named it the New World Translation.
Well Milton G. Henschel, if this is what your New World Translation teaches, you can burn it, right along with your quote above!
_______________________
Wow... I got a little fired up there for a second!
But... I didn't bring this up just to pick on poor, little, un-Scriptural Milton G. Henschel or Jehovah's Witnesses.
I brought it up to point out this God-demeaning, God-weakening, God-defying, God-thwarting attitude of this world!
It's either illiteracy (at best), or it's outright belligerence and intentional deceit by these "ministers of righteousness"!
2 Cor 11:14-15 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore, it is no great thing if his [Satan's] ministers ALSO be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
It sure sounds to me like Milton G. Henschel has more faith in man and Satan's abilities than he does of Almighty God! So, I won't come right out and say it, but you can decide for yourself which team Milton G. Henschel is a minister for.
Mat 24:4-5 And, answering, Jesus said to them, "Beware that no one should be deceiving you." For MANY shall be coming IN MY NAME, saying, 'I [Jesus] AM the Christ!' and shall be deceiving MANY."
Have no doubt... there are MANY that claim to come in the Name of Jesus - they even boldly proclaim that Jesus IS the Christ! You can find them on corners in almost every town in America!
What does it say? They shall DECEIVE MANY! They've done a pretty good job of deceiving it so far!
It is this very attitude... almost a defiant "fist-shaking" to the face of Almighty God in which we find ourselves getting into trouble.
Until we realize just exactly who we are, in relation to God - we'll never grow Spiritually!
It truly is as simple as: He is the Potter - we are the clay.
That's why it's so important that I drive this home... you can't let others tell you what Scripture says - including me! Dig in yourselves... ask God to give you wisdom... He is faithful.
Jas 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to ALL men liberally, and upbraids not [He won't express disapproval]; and IT SHALL BE GIVEN HIM.
What a glorious promise!
Moving on now...
Invisible Hand
How does God move in our lives without us seeing, or perceiving (internally or externally) His orchestration?
In other words, how are our decisions - how is our "will" free from any causality in our perception?
My argument is that God does indeed "cause" things that are not perceived by man to influence our choices.
Here's a small example:
We finally score some tickets to a Notre Dame football game! Man, oh man! We finally get to go! We got some great tickets on the 50-yard line, and the whole family is excited to head to the big game! We can hardly contain ourselves all week, waiting for Saturday to roll around! You can almost SMELL the anticipation!
Saturday morning comes, and bang! None of us want to go to the game now!
What happened?
Major blizzard, blinding snow, freezing temperatures, traffic accidents on the news all morning... all of the sudden - NONE of us want to go to the game.
"Let's stay home and watch the game on TV next to our nice warm fire!"
God didn't force us to be excited about going to ND Stadium, and God didn't force us to decide to stay home in front of the TV instead.
Maybe we would've been killed in a horrible car accident, or who knows? God changed our minds without us realizing that He was protecting us from disaster!
Get it?
Now, that's a simple example that most would shrug off as "mother nature"... nothing out of the ordinary.
As we'll soon see, God does indeed work just like this, often using much harsher and more painful means... but He does work like this to CAUSE men to take the actions that God desires.
And, FYI... God does indeed control the weather... not "mother nature":
Psa 135:6-7 Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did He in heaven, AND in earth, in the seas, and ALL deep places. He CAUSES the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; He MAKES lightnings for the rain; He BRINGS the wind out of His treasuries.
God "causes", "makes", and "brings" into existence the manifestations of natures power! Nothing happens without a CAUSE.
God IS that CAUSE in every situation... including catastrophic "acts of God"! At least our insurance companies seem to get it! You'll find "acts of God" in your insurance policy to this day!
Perfect Choreography
ALL that has been, and is, and will be, has been planned and choreographed by God... right down to the molecular movement of the last atom.
If it weren't - this universe as we know it would cease to exist.
Out of God came everything in the universe, and it came by way of Jesus. Everything came out of God and through Jesus.
I've mentioned this verse before, but it's worth repeating now:
Col 1:15-17 Who [Jesus] is the Image of the Invisible God [The Father], the Firstborn of EVERY creature [G2937 - kristis, original formation, creation]: For by Him [Jesus] were ALL things [any, every, the whole] created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible [seen and unseen powers], whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: ALL things were created by Him, and for Him: And He is before [above] ALL things, and by Him ALL things consist [G4921 - sunistao, set together, have their cohesion].
Without Jesus, the "ALL things" mentioned above would not exist, let alone would not "have cohesion".
God is presently working, or operating ALL that exists.
1 Cor 12:6 ... it is the same God which works [G1754 - energeo, to be active] ALL in ALL.
Did you notice that little Greek word above?
Does it remind you of our English word "energy"?
It should... [G1754 - energeo], "being at work" is where we get the English word "energy" from.
God IS the "energy" of this universe! The "energy" of the ALL in ALL!
How does He provide this "energy"?
Eph 1:11 ...Who works [G1754 - energeo] ALL THINGS after the counsel of His OWN will.
His "energy" also provides for us individually:
Act 17:28 For in Him we LIVE, and MOVE, and have our BEING [G2027 - esmen, 'we ARE'- we exist] ...
All energy, all matter, all creation, and all humans are of God.
Jer 10:23 O LORD, I know that the way of man is NOT in himself: it is not in man that walks to direct his steps.
King of Assyria
Ok... you must be thinking "finally"!
I mentioned at the end of Part 3 that I would show you a Scriptural example of God telling us directly that He uses people to accomplish His will - without those people knowing that it is God who is directing them.
They think that they, themselves, are making the decisions without any other outside influence.
Isa 10:5-17 O Assyrian, the rod of Mine anger, and the staff in their hand is Mine indignation. I WILL SEND him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I GIVE HIM A CHARGE, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.
Howbeit he means not so, NEITHER does his heart think so [he doesn't realize]; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few. For he says, Are not my princes altogether kings?
Is not Calno as Carchemish? Is not Hamath as Arpad? Is not Samaria as Damascus?
As My hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria; Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols? Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed HIS WHOLE WORK [at the hands of the Assyrians] upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks.
For he [king of Assyria] says, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and [I] have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man: and my hand has found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathers eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and THERE WAS NONE that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped.
Shall the axe [king of Assyria] boast itself against Him [God] that hews therewith? Or shall the saw [king of Assyria] magnify itself against Him [God] that shakes it? As if the rod [king of Assyria] should shake itself against them that lift it up [God], or as if the staff [king of Assyria] should lift up itself, as if it were no wood.
Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory he shall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire. And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and His Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day.
I don't think that I really need to drone on about this passage. It seems pretty self-explanatory to me.
It's a perfect example of God filling in the "whys" and "wherefores" of how it was Him operating through the king of Assyria to punish Israel without the king even realizing that God was using him. You can read how the king did nothing but boast of "his" grand achievements!
It's the same method God uses today... with all kings of this earth, the presidents, heads of corporations, heads of households, and all humanity.
Pro 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: He turns it whithersoever He will.
God "... works ALL according to the counsel of His own will".
Just like the king of Assyria, "not so is all humanity thinking in THEIR heart".
They either don't believe that God is using them, or they REFUSE to believe God is using them:
Ecc 3:11 He has made EVERY THING beautiful IN HIS TIME: also He has set the world in their heart, so that NO MAN can find out the work that God makes from the beginning to the end.
Pro 20:24 Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
ALL is of God - He IS our energy... He IS the energy behind the entirety of this universe...
It is not our will, our desires, that direct our paths... it is HIS WILL... and HIS WILL, will be accomplished:
Isa 55:11 So shall My Word be that goes forth out of My Mouth: it shall NOT return unto Me void, but it SHALL accomplish that which I please, and it SHALL prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Isa 46:10-11 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, MY COUNSEL SHALL STAND, and I will do ALL My pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executes my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also DO IT.
He is the Potter - we are but His clay. The sooner we realize this, the sooner we will find Truth.
Yes! God WILL save all of His pots:
Rom 2:11 For there is no partiality with God.
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Long enough for today I guess. More later....
Some of these excerpts are from my personal notes copied from 30+ years of studying... some of these notes are direct copies of various sources - I do not claim to have authored every word of this... it's just a mass collection I've tucked away over the years for my own personal studies... I didn't consider a bibliography at the time I directly copied small excerpts from various authors. Also, any emphasis (underlines, bold text, all CAPS, etc.) noted above was only meant to capture my personal attention as I studied...
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