230802 BITES: Q8 How Does God Execute His Decrees?

Q8 How does God execute His decrees? A8 God executes His decrees in the works of creation and providence (Revelation 4.11)

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

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TRANSITION

Last week we looked at the question, “What are the decrees of God?” If you remember the Decrees of God tells us that He brings about all things that happen - and the reason for that is because He is in charge!

This week we are answering the question, “How does God do that?”

How does God execute His decrees? God executes His decrees in the works of creation and providence. This is how God brings about His will, creation and providence.

DEFINITIONS - Let’s explain some of those tricky words.

Execute - to execute the decree of God is to make sure it happens. When I execute a plan, I carry it out. When I execute a plan for building legos, I build them. To carry out a plan is to execute it, to complete it or carry it out. How does God bring about or execute His decrees? God executes His decrees in the works of creation and providence

What is Creation? God’s work of making everything

Creation involves everything that we can and cannot see (that is apart from God). God creates out of nothing

Genesis 1.1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

Isaiah 40.26 “Lift up your eyes on high And see who has created these stars, The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; Because of the greatness of His vigor and the strength of His power, Not one of them is missing.”

Hebrews 11.3 “By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.”

What is Providence? God’s work in interacting with everything

Providence is God's interaction with creation and all that is in it. It involves

Preservation - keeping things safe

Colossians 1.17 “And He is before all things, And in Him all things hold together.”

Hebrews 1.3 “who is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power; who, having accomplished cleansing for sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,”

Governing - making sure Creation does what God decrees

Job 42.2 ““I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.”

Ps 33.11 “The counsel of Yahweh stands forever, The thoughts of His heart from generation to generation.”

Psalm 148.8 “Fire and hail, snow and clouds; Stormy wind, doing His word;”

SO WHAT?

God has decreed the world be created and He sustains it, He keeps it - why does that matter?

Who knows Q4? Q4 What is God? Q4 tells us God is the only eternal Spirit, holy, unchanging, good and just. Since He is all these things we can trust in Him. We can trust that He is good and just.

What is the verse for Q4? Ex 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.””

WHAT ELSE?

God is truly in charge. Since God is truly in charge do you know who isn’t? Well us for one, and we know that right? We cannot predict the weather let alone what will happen later or even make it happen. But God can and we can go to Him whenever we feel like it and talk to Him.

Who else isn’t in charge - satan isn’t in charge. The devil may have certain authority but he isn’t as powerful as God, not by a long shot. We aren’t in charge and neither is satan - only God is in charge and He is making sure that whatever happens brings to Him the most glory.

Have you trusted Jesus to be your only boss and to save you from hell? Then you can be comforted with these words from Romans 8:38–39 “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” God controls all of it

Q8 How does God execute His decrees? A8 God executes His decrees in the works of creation and providence (Revelation 4.11)

QUESTIONS

NOW WHAT?

Psalm 148 if there is time. Let’s praise Him for His goodness, for His justice

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SING TO GOD

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

#340 Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus #343 Amazing Grace #575 Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

#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.”

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

2 Tim 3:16 “All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness,”

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, 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

Deuteronomy 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,”

230726 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 “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.”

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