DONE 230726 BITES: Q7 What Are the Decrees of God

Q7 What are the decrees of God? A7 The decrees of God are His eternal purpose according to the counsel of His own will, whereby - for His own glory - He has foreordained whatever comes to pass (Romans 11.36)

(10) Rehash - Ask if anyone can say any of the verses

Have you ever heard someone ask, “Who’s in charge around here?” What does that mean?

Who is in charge?

Between you and your siblings who is in charge? - who has final say in what movies you watch or where the bed is located in the bedroom, “Is it your big brother or sister?”

In your home who is in charge? The person in charge is likely both your parents - but your father probably has the final say

Who has final say here in the state of Oregon - the Governor Tina Kotek, if someone is in prison the Governor can overturn the sentence or commute the sentence and release the prisoner

What about in America? The President, President Biden can do the same thing, he has power to, in an emergency start a war or respond to an attack. He has final say in many things like new laws

Well, what about the whole world, or rather the universe? Who is in charge? Who has final say? It might be good to push them to understand how far the Sovereignty of God goes. Does God establish where rivers flow? What about where rain falls? The shape of every snowflake and the bloom of every flower? How much does God control?

How does He know how He should do all these things? How does He know how to keep Saturn’s rings right where He wants them?

Isaiah 55:8–9 ““For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares Yahweh. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.”

How long has He known how to do these things?

Isaiah 46.10 “Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My counsel will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’,”

Can anyone prevent God from doing what He has decided to do?

Isaiah 14.26-27 ““This is the counsel that is counseled against the whole earth; and this is the hand that is stretched out against all the nations. “For Yahweh of hosts has counseled, and who can thwart it? And as for His stretched-out hand, who can turn it back?””

What about hard things, like earthquakes and famines and tornadoes - is God in charge of those things too?

Isaiah 45.7 “The One forming light and creating darkness, Producing peace and creating calamity; I am Yahweh who does all these.”

Did God know in advance about the hardest things? Sin, how He would have to send His Son to pay for it - absolutely, and He allowed it to happen because He orchestrated it so that it would end well - in His ultimate glory

Context Peter and John released after healing the sick man Acts 4:23–31 | 23 So when they were released, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, “O Master, it is You who MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM, 25 who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said, ‘WHY DID THE GENTILES RAGE, AND THE PEOPLES DEVISE VAIN THINGS? 26 ‘THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND, AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS CHRIST.’ 27 “For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur. 29 “And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your slaves may speak Your word with all confidence, 30 while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders happen through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed earnestly, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with confidence.

Does anything surprise God?

Matt 10.29 ““Are not two sparrows sold for an assarion? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.”

Why does God decide to do things this way? - He knows what will bring Himself the most glory

Romans 11:33-36 “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE REPAID TO HIM? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.”

(?) Questions

(5) Sing 2 Songs

#54 My Tribute #184 Thy Word #185 Jesus Loves Me #270 Joy to the World

#340 Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus #343 Amazing Grace #576 The Steadfast Love of the Lord

#586 He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands #708 Behold, What Manner of Love

#745 Rejoice in the Lord Always

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230607: Q1 What is the purpose of people? A1 The purpose of people is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever!

Psalm 37.4 “Delight yourself in Yahweh; And He will give you the desires of your heart.”

Philippians 4.20 “Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

230614: Q2 Where does God explain His purpose for people? A2 God Explains His Purpose For People In Scripture.

Ps 19.7-11 “The law of Yahweh is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of Yahweh is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of Yahweh are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of Yahweh is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of Yahweh is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of Yahweh are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, even more than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them Your slave is warned; In keeping them there is great reward.”

2 Tim 3.15-17 “and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be equipped, having been thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

230621: Q3 What do the Scriptures teach? A3 The Scriptures teach what people are to believe and do

John 3.16 ““For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

Luke 10.27 “And he answered and said, “YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.””

230628 Q4 What is God? A4 God is the only eternal Spirit, wholly holy, unchanging and entirely good and just

John 4.24 ““God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.””

Exodus 34.6-7 “Then Yahweh passed by in front of him and called out, “Yahweh, Yahweh God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression, and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.””

230705 Q5 How Many Gods Are There? A5 There is only one God

Deut 6.4 ““Hear, O Israel! Yahweh is our God, Yahweh is one!”

230716 Q6 How Many Persons in the Godhead? A6 There are three persons in the Godhead, Father, Son and Spirit. These three are one God; same in essence, equal in power and glory

Matthew 28:19 ““Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,”

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