The Counsel of God

“The Counsel of God”: Is it Glorious or just a good Lifetime Channel movie?

Certain verses in John’s 12th Gospel chapter causes even the greatest of Gospel theologians to ponder silently while scratching their heads for lifetimes.  Most of God’s men would happily skip over such subjects… and their congregations would be none the wiser.  However, the subject of “the decrees of God” is not a subject that binds but rather a subject that sets free.

Definition: Decree –noun

1. a formal and authoritative order, esp. one having the force of law: a presidential decree.

2. Law . a judicial decision or order.

3. Theology . one of the eternal purposes of god, by which events are foreordained.

Perhaps the simplest illustration that has been introduced to me concerning the foreknowledge of God used time to illustrate the difference between the mind of God and the mind of man:

Man thinks of time in increments: Millenniums, centuries, decades, years, months, days, hours, minutes and seconds.  God, however, does not think of time in increments but rather a single event- fluid and without any breaks.  It’s a beautiful picture of covenant.

For this reason Isaiah wrote chapter 46:9-10.  Please turn as we read together.

Having this understanding also allows us to see more clearly God’s statement, “…I am that I am…” Ex. 3:14.

What does all this mean?  It means that everything God does has already been done in the mind of God and nothing can or will change it. “For I [am] the LORD, I change not;” Mal. 3:6

A simple illustration might be that of the difference between vows made long before the wedding and the same vows made at the wedding. The vows are the same but don’t take effect until the wedding day.  The only difference being, what things God decrees, counsels or sets in order will not change or be prevented.

Case in point:

John 12:37-41 tells of God doing the unthinkable.  He closed the door of opportunity for certain people to receive the message of the Gospel.  Let’s read together.

The question has to be asked, “Why would God do such a thing?”  The answer is found in verse 41 (read).  When Isaiah saw the glory of God, in all its splendor, he thought immediately of those whom God would open the eyes of and considered them to be glorious examples of grace.  In fact, if everyone on the planet is to be redeemed, the grace of God is not glorious but rather a good Lifetime Channel story.

Unfortunately for us (but fortunate to the glory of God) not every person will go to Heaven. So, who will go to Heaven?  John 6:34-40 gives us the answer.

Conflict Resolution

Conflict Resolution

Isaiah 53:7

(Teacher copy)

Corporate Challenge:

Can you think of a time when your Christianity made the difference in the way you handled conflict?  (Be ready to discuss at the end of the lesson.)

When you became a Christian, perhaps the first thing you noticed, in the way of change, was the way you were expected to handle conflict.  Before, you were expected to be: 1) Law abiding, 2) Respectful and 3) Willing to fight it out to the bitter end (i.e. never back down).  However, upon taking upon yourself the name of Christ, you were suddenly expected to be Godly as well.  By the raising of hands, has anyone had their faith in Christ thrown in your face when facing conflict?

Avoiding Conflict

It’s commonly agreed that avoiding conflict is not realistic nor is it spiritual.  Can anyone tell why avoiding conflict is not spiritual?  The Bible is full of conflict. In fact, from the first story (Adam and Eve) to the last (Judgment of man), conflict is what makes the Bible relevant. It was conflict that brought about the need for a Savior, and in coming to earth, the Savior lived in constant conflict.  However, the theme of the Bible is not conflict, but rather, the resolving of conflict. This is why conflict is not to be avoided… we are given tools to help us resolve all conflict.

Therefore, the way a Christian is to avoid conflict isn’t to avoid it at all, but handle it Biblically.  NOTE: any resolving of conflict that isn’t Biblical is sin, and often a offers a greater consiquence than the actually conflict.  Which is to say, the handling of any conflict should be done to resolve the conflict, not make it worse.

Hearts and Sleeves

Perhaps the problem isn’t always the offender as much as the offended.  While we should never provoke others to wrath, we should equally not be so easily offended.  How do we do this?  Follow these principles:

1)    Never go into a situation ready to fight but rather to fix. (Retaliation vs. Restoration)

2)    Be ready to give others the benefit of the doubt. (Paranoia vs Practical)

3)    Don’t be so concerned about getting hurt. (Risk vs. Reward)

Scripture Time:  Turn and be ready to discuss:

Proverbs 14:29 and James 1:19

Matt. 7:12

Luke 6:29

Matt. 5:41

Corporate Challenge

Conflict Resolution

Isaiah 53:7

(student copy)

Corporate Challenge:

Can you think of a time when your Christianity made the difference in the way you handled conflict?  (Be ready to discuss at the end of the lesson.)

When you became a Christian, perhaps the first thing you noticed, in the way of change, was the way you were expected to handle conflict.  Before, you were expected to be: 1) Law abiding, 2) Respectful and 3) Willing to fight it out to the bitter end (i.e. never back down).  However, upon taking upon yourself the name of Christ, you were suddenly expected to be _________ as well.  By the raising of hands, has anyone had their faith in Christ thrown in your face when facing conflict?

Avoiding Conflict

It’s commonly agreed that avoiding conflict is not ___________ nor is it ____________  Can anyone tell why avoiding conflict is not spiritual?  The Bible is full of conflict. In fact, from the first story (Adam and Eve) to the last (Judgment of man), conflict is what makes the Bible ___________ It was conflict that brought about the need for a Savior, and in coming to earth, the Savior lived in constant conflict.  However, the theme of the Bible is not conflict, but rather, the ____________ of conflict. This is why conflict is not to be avoided… we are given __________ to help us resolve all conflict.

Therefore, the way a Christian is to avoid conflict isn’t to avoid it at all, but handle it Biblically.  NOTE: any resolving of conflict that isn’t Biblical is sin, and often a offers a greater consiquence than the actually conflict.  Which is to say, the handling of any conflict should be done to resolve the conflict, not make it worse.

Hearts and Sleeves

Perhaps the problem isn’t always the ___________ as much as the ___________.  While we should never provoke others to wrath, we should equally not be so easily offended.  How do we do this?  Follow these principles:

1.   Never go into a situation ready to ________but rather to ____. (Retaliation vs. Restoration)

2.    Be ready to give others the benefit of the doubt. (Paranoia vs Practical)

3.    Don’t be so concerned about getting hurt. (Risk vs. Reward)

Scripture Time:  Turn and be ready to discuss:

Proverbs 14:29 and James 1:19

Matt. 7:12

Luke 6:29

Matt. 5:41

Corporate Challenge

Worth

Worth!

Like the willingness of a deported soldier, no word or gift could qualify as an equivalent return for the price that Jesus paid on the cross for our sins.  And yet, for that sacrifice to go unnoticed would be a disgrace to the price paid.

Could a man actually repay Christ for His gift of eternal salvation?  No- however, the life that we live for Him declares His worth to us as thankful and humble recipients of heavens greatest gift.

We get a glimpse of this evidence of worth from Romans 12:1.  Will someone please turn there and read loudly?  The word “reasonable” seems to have a double emphasis: if you are “able” to do a thing, that should be “reason” enough to do it.  The shear fact that God has made it possible for us to do a thing doesn’t necessarily mean that it is ours to do. However, it certainly does qualify us to pray about God’s will concerning that thing.  It’s amazing how so many can walk directly passed an open door to glorify God (with full capability of doing so) and never consider that door to have been opened for them.

When Judas betrayed Jesus, he did so for an amount.  33 pieces of silver was that the worth of Christ in the heart of Judas.  It seems that everyone has an amount.  If we had asked Judas 3 years earlier of the value of his relationship with God’s Son, I’m confident he would have laughed at such an amount.  However, his heart could not lie or be deceived.  In fact, the worth of Christ in the heart of Judas could be registered in a dollar amount.  Going around the room, what price would you put on the worth of Christ?

I’m sad to report that each of us daily place an amount on the worth of our Lord in our hearts: 

• Our disobedience to tell others of Christ’s great sacrifice equates to the worth we hold for that sacrifice.  In other words, whatever excuse we use to not tell others the Gospel- is valued greater than the gift of the Gospel itself.
• Our excuse to not take on ministry, that is an open door opportunity, is the value that we have placed in our hearts concerning ministry.
• Whatever excuse we use to end our service for the Lord, when put on a scale, is heavier than our view of the One who gave everything… without excuse!
• Our excuse to not repent of sin is the worth we put on our relationship with Christ.

Matt. 27 is the horrible telling of the governor’s judgment of Christ as he gives them the choice of setting free either Jesus, the King of the Jews or Barabbas, a murderer and thief.  Verses 21 and 22 tell of the worth of Christ as seen in the hearts of those forcing the hand of Pilate: “The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.  Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.”

It’s easy for us to say that we would never do such a thing.  However, we do it everyday: Laziness, failure to pray, failure to give, failure to take joy in God… the list is endless.

Listen to the words of Paul as he made comparison of everything that would seek to devalue Christ in his life.  Phil. 3:8, “Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency (Worth) of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ,”  In short, I suppose we can know the worth of Christ in our heart by the value placed on this world.  May we repent today of loving ourselves too much.  For in the end, any excuse to not serve God is our excuse to love ourselves more than Him.

Worth!

Like the willingness of a deported soldier, no word or gift could qualify as an _____________ return for the price that Jesus paid on the cross for our sins.  And yet, for that sacrifice to go unnoticed would be a disgrace to the price paid.

Could a man actually repay Christ for His gift of eternal salvation?  No- however, the life that we live for Him declares His worth to us as ___________ and _________ recipients of heavens greatest gift.

We get a glimpse of this evidence of worth from Romans 12:1.  Will someone please turn there and read loudly?  The word “reasonable” seems to have a double emphasis: if you are ________ to do a thing, that should be __________ enough to do it.  The shear fact that God has made it possible for us to do a thing doesn’t necessarily mean that it is ours to do. However, it certainly does qualify us to pray about God’s will concerning that thing.  It’s amazing how so many can walk directly passed an open door to glorify God (with full capability of doing so) and never consider that door to have been opened for them.

When Judas betrayed Jesus, he did so for an amount.  33 pieces of silver was that the worth of Christ in the heart of Judas.  It seems that everyone has an amount.  If we had asked Judas 3 years earlier of the value of his relationship with God’s Son, I’m confident he would have laughed at such an amount.  However, his heart could not lie or be deceived.  In fact, the worth of Christ in the heart of Judas could be registered in a dollar amount.  Going around the room, what price would you put on the worth of Christ?

I’m sad to report that each of us daily place an amount on the worth of our Lord in our hearts: 

• Our disobedience to tell others of Christ’s great sacrifice equates to the worth we hold for that sacrifice.  In other words, whatever excuse we use to not tell others the Gospel- is valued greater than the gift of the Gospel itself.
• Our excuse to not take on ministry, that is an open door opportunity, is the value that we have placed in our hearts concerning ministry.
• Whatever excuse we use to end our service for the Lord, when put on a scale, is heavier than our view of the One who gave everything… without excuse!
• Our excuse to not repent of sin is the worth we put on our relationship with Christ.

Matt. 27 is the horrible telling of the governor’s judgment of Christ as he gives them the choice of setting free either Jesus, the King of the Jews or Barabbas, a murderer and thief.  Verses 21 and 22 tell of the worth of Christ as seen in the hearts of those forcing the hand of Pilate: “The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.  Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.”

It’s easy for us to say that we would never do such a thing.  However, we do it everyday: Laziness, failure to pray, failure to give, failure to take joy in God… the list is endless.

Listen to the words of Paul as he made comparison of everything that would seek to devalue Christ in his life.  Phil. 3:8, “Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency  (__________) of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ,”  In short, I suppose we can know the worth of Christ in our heart by the value placed on this world.  May we repent today of loving ourselves too much.  For in the end, any excuse to not serve God is our excuse to love ourselves more than Him.

God, In Space and Time

God In Space and Time

John 9:1-4

(Teachers Copy)

Corporate Challenge:

If time and space were not in your equation, in what ways would your life change?

Intro:

What would it look like if our God who is not constrained by space and time found Himself dealing with geographical boundaries and deadlines?  The answer: He would look like Jesus.

Walking in the sandals of men meant dealing with many of the same limitations as you and I do today.  This is seen clearly in the story of the blind man in verses 1-4.  Our example of how God incarnate handled Himself on a deadline is made clear as He addressed the disciples in verse 4, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” Here we see clearly the mind of God in time.

Knowing that His departure time was nearing, Jesus made good use of the time allotted Him by the Father’s will.  God, the Father, did in fact have a will for His Son, Jesus Christ, which was fulfilled by Christ’s spirit of obedience to all that His Father deemed as His to accomplish.  And with all that was His, Christ performed flawlessly as our example.  What is it that we see as being of necessity if ever we are to perform in the same manner?

First, Christ had an understanding that time was of the essence- without losing site of the Father’s will for His life on earth.  Remember, everything about the incarnation of God on earth was purposed to supply His people, both then and now, with His commission for our lives.  And yet, there was a sovereign-filtered urgency that directed the works of God in the flesh.  In other words, while the urgency- due to time- was there, His spirit of composure allowed Him the where-with-all to both perform miracles on the go- and yet take time with His disciples to teach them along the way.

It’s important to understand that while time created urgency, the Lord’s teachings would not be constrained by time. Had Jesus merely hurried about performing miracles- without education, the Great Commission would be limited to 2 measures rather than 3.  We are, in fact, commanded to (1) make disciples, (2) covenant them to the church and (3) disciple them through the teachings of Christ.  This would not be possible had He not taught the disciples along the way.

Secondly, there was an understanding in the mind of Christ that legacies are built while living in time- but live on in infamy; therefore what is done in time must be done in such a way that what is made of His works (by men) after He was gone would not be tainted by those men.  In other words, while time creates our sense urgency it should not create fallacy.  Jesus knew that men would seek to defile the works of His miracles and teachings even long after He went to be with His Father in glory.  Therefore, everything He did on earth was done with a spirit of excellence.

Christ was the perfect incarnation of God- without error.  His words were spoken without the possibility of honored perversion.  His miracles were performed without possibility of relapse.  And as we see in this text, every minute of His time on earth was utilized to perfection.  May we see this as our example of how to live the Christ centered life- in time.  Today, we are the light of the world- through the Spirit of our Lord.  May men see our good works and glorify God- even the way we utilize the time that God has given to every man.

Corporate Challenge

God In Space and Time

John 9:1-4

(Student Copy)

Corporate Challenge:

If time and space were not in your equation, in what ways would your life change?

Intro:

What would it look like if our God who is not constrained by space and time found Himself dealing with geographical boundaries and deadlines?  The answer: He would look like Jesus.

Walking in the sandals of men meant dealing with many of the same ____________ as you and I do today.  This is seen clearly in the story of the blind man in verses 1-4.  Our example of how God incarnate handled Himself on a deadline is made clear as He addressed the disciples in verse 4, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” Here we see clearly the mind of God in time.

Knowing that His departure time was nearing, Jesus made good use of the time allotted Him by the Father’s _______.  God, the Father, did in fact have a will for His Son, Jesus Christ, which was fulfilled by Christ’s _________ of _____________ to all that His Father deemed as His to accomplish.  And with all that was His, Christ performed flawlessly as our example.  What is it that we see as being of necessity if ever we are to perform in the same manner?

First, Christ had an understanding that time was of the essence- without losing site of the Father’s will for His life on earth.  Remember, everything about the incarnation of God on earth was purposed to supply His people, both then and now, with His _____________ for our lives.  And yet, there was a _____________-____________ urgency that directed the works of God in the flesh.  In other words, while the urgency- due to time- was there, His spirit of ____________ allowed Him the where-with-all to both perform miracles on the go- and yet take time with His disciples to teach them along the way.

It’s important to understand that while time created urgency, the Lord’s teachings would not be constrained by time. Had Jesus merely hurried about performing miracles- without education, the Great Commission would be limited to 2 measures rather than 3.  We are, in fact, commanded to (1) make disciples, (2) covenant them to the church and (3) disciple them through the teachings of Christ.  This would not be possible had He not taught the disciples along the way.

Secondly, there was an understanding in the mind of Christ that ______________ are built while living in time- but live on in infamy; therefore what is done in time must be done in such a way that what is made of His works (by men) after He was gone would not be tainted by those men.  In other words, while time creates our sense urgency it should not create fallacy.  Jesus knew that men would seek to defile the works of His miracles and teachings even long after He went to be with His Father in glory.  Therefore, everything He did on earth was done with a __________ of _______________.

Christ was the perfect incarnation of God- without error.  His words were spoken without the possibility of _____________ perversion.  His miracles were performed without possibility of _____________.  And as we see in this text, every minute of His time on earth was utilized to perfection.  May we see this as our example of how to live the Christ centered life- in time.  Today, we are the light of the world- through the Spirit of our Lord.  May men see our good works and glorify God- even the way we utilize the time that God has given to every man.

Corporate Challenge