Prayer Service 4-17-24

Supplication

William Castaldi (Phillips’ Friend): Sepsis

Kathleen Icenhower: Arterial Blockages

The Family of Dan Larsen and in their bereavement

The Family of Glen Carver in their bereavement

Jim Tierney (Trey’s Uncle): Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma

Keith Rogers: Recovery from Infection

Tammy Orr (Ashlyn’s Grandma): Colon Cancer

Luke Thacker: Second Cancer Diagnosis

Becky Morris: Significant health concerns.

Hope Sanders (Jason): Liver Disease

Amber Benton: Ongoing Recovery and Transitions

Iva Lee, Allen, Tony, Ty, Little Amber

Andrew Herrington and Family

Protection and Growth for All our Marriages and Families

Protection and Restoration of the Nuclear Family in the West.

Protection for the Western Church from Spiritual Deception

Repentance for compromising denominations and local churches

That the Lord would keep us (GFBC) from deceit and compromise

Doctrines of Grace

Unconditional Election

We’ll begin with this definition from GotQuestions.org

God, before the foundation of the world, chose to make certain individuals the objects of His unmerited favor or special grace (Mark 13:20; Ephesians 1:4-5; Revelation 13:8; Revelation 17:8).

These individuals from every tribe, tongue and nation were chosen by God for adoption, not because of anything they would do but because of His sovereign will (Romans 9:11-13; Romans 9:16; Romans 10:20; 1 Corinthians 1:27-29; 2 Timothy 1:9).

God could have chosen to save all men (He certainly has the power and authority to do so), and He could have chosen to save no one (He is under no obligation to save anyone).

He instead chose to save some and leave others to the consequences of their sin (Exodus 33:19; Deuteronomy 7:6-7; Romans 9:10-24; Acts 13:48; 1 Peter 2:8). — Got Questions.org

-We’ve been studying this doctrine categorically:

1. A Chosen People

2. Election NOT Based on Foreseen Responses

3. Election Precedes Salvation.

4. God’s Mercy is His Sovereign Prerogative

5. God’s Absolute Sovereignty

The doctrine of election is but a part of the much broader biblical doctrine of God’s absolute sovereignty.

The Scriptures teach not only that God predestined certain individuals to eternal life, but that all events, both small and great, come about as the result of God’s eternal decree.

The Lord God rules over heaven and earth with absolute control; nothing comes to pass apart from His eternal purpose. — Steele, Thomas, and Quinn

1 Chronicles 29:11–12 (ESV)

11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.

12 Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.

After the Lord rebuked Job for questioning His fairness:

Job 42:1–2 (ESV)

1 Then Job answered the Lord and said:

2 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

2 Assertions:

He is able to accomplish anything He wants

No one/nothing can prevent Him from doing so

Psalm 115:2–3 (ESV)

2 Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”

3 Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.

Psalm 135:5–6 (ESV)

5 For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.

6 Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.

-In the Context of Judgment:

Isaiah 14:24–27 (ESV)

24 The Lord of hosts has sworn: “As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand,

25 that I will break the Assyrian in my land, and on my mountains trample him underfoot; and his yoke shall depart from them, and his burden from their shoulder.”

26 This is the purpose that is purposed concerning the whole earth, and this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations.

27 For the Lord of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back?

Isaiah 46:9–11 (ESV)

9 remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me,

10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’

11 calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country...

(Cyrus, the Persian King)

(Whom God would use to destroy the pride of Babylon)

...I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.

Isaiah 55:8–11 (ESV)

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,

11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

Jeremiah 32:17 (ESV)

17 ‘Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.

Daniel 4:34–35 (ESV)

34 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;

35 all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”

-His Sovereignty extends to salvation:

Matthew 19:16–26 (ESV)

16 And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?”

17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” . . .

20 The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?”

21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven.

24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”

26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

The Absolute Sovereignty of God...

His UNCONDITIONAL Election unto salvation...

…is the only hope a fallen sinner has!

Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs (Election: God Chooses His Own)

The doctrine of election . . . is a pastoral doctrine, brought in to help Christians see how great is the grace that saves them, and to move them to humility, confidence, joy, praise, faithfulness, and holiness in response.

It is the family secret of the children of God. We do not know who else he has chosen among those who do not yet believe, nor why it was his good pleasure to choose us in particular.

What we do know is, first, that had we not been chosen for life we would not be believers now, . . . and, second, that as elect believers we may rely on God to finish in us the good work that he started (1 Cor. 1:8–9; Phil. 1:6; 1 Thess. 5:23–24; 2 Tim. 1:12; 4:18).

Knowledge of one’s election thus brings comfort and joy.

Ought to humble us

Ought to fill our hearts with...

Gratitude

Adoration

Let’s voice those things now!