Loopholes In the Great Controversy? Part 2
Great Controversy • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 7 viewsWhy are some prayers seemingly unanswered? And, how does prayer impact the great controversy?
Notes
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Ben Patterson in his book entitled, “The Grand Essentials of Work and Worship,” tells the story of an S-4 submarine that was rammed by a ship off the coast of Massachusetts. It sank immediately. The entire crew was trapped in a prison house of death. Every effort was made to rescue the crew, but all ultimately failed. Near the end of the ordeal, a deep-sea diver, who was doing everything in his power to find a way for the crew’s release, thought he heard a tapping on the steel wall of the sunken sub. He placed his helmet up against the side of the vessel and he realized it was the Morse Code. He attached himself to the side and he spelled out in his mind the message being tapped from within: “Is…there…any…hope?”
If God is good, why doesn't He...
If God is good, why doesn't He...
Why doesn’t he...
answer my prayers?
heal me?
save my child?
give food to the starving people?
stop the war
prevent abuse...
etc.
John the Baptist
locked in prison
awaiting execution
began to wonder
if Jesus was Messiah
why didn’t Jesus rescue him?
Foundations of the War
Foundations of the War
Last Sermon
quick refresher
Lucifer rebels
convinces 1/3 of angels
kicked out of heaven
goes to earth
Why rebel?
disbelief in God.
distrust God.
distrust law.
distrust government.
Slanderous accusations...
Satan is accuser:
And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.
and...
It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven.
Accuser of God and People
spreading lies.
Why did God allow evil?
Why did God allow evil?
Tell parable of Wheat and Tares
Man plants seed.
Enemy plants weeds.
Servants ask.
“Did you plant good seed?”
“What should we do?”
... So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest...
The tears had to continue
growing along with the wheat.
Why?
So that the character of
each could be fully seen.
God cultivates His wheat.
Satan brings lies to earth.
Grows his weeds.
Repeating his lies.
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.
He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”
Satan implies:
God wasn't trustworthy
(a benevolent God).
But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.”
Satan says:
God is a liar...
Satan’s Level of Power
Satan’s Level of Power
Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
It appears
the victory of the war in heaven
Satan was removed
from the heavenly council.
We know that
Satan was not fully defeated.
He thrives on earth.
How was war won?
Satan could not tell lies
at heavenly council anymore.
But He still tries.
Glimpse of the war:
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.”
This is heavenly council.
Satan appears.
God inquires his authority.
Satan claims
King of earth.
At the fall of Adam
Satan usurped his position.
Another example:
Satan tempting Jesus...
He says:
and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will.
Satan claims
authority of earth.
Final example:
I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me...
and
Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.
Jesus calls him
“Ruler of this world”
The fact that a war exists
between Creator and creatures
proves that in some way
God has allowed it to occur
giving some power to
those creatures.
For example:
The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia,
Prince of Persia = Satan.
Satan withstood God,
fighting to prevent
Daniels prayer
for 3 weeks.
God has given him.
significant level of power!
Rules of Engagement
Rules of Engagement
Rules of engagement refer to the orders issued by a competent military authority that delineate when, where, how, and against whom military force may be used.
Like on earth
there are rules
in the GC...
God Won’t Lie
God Won’t Lie
… it is impossible for God to lie...
Satan can
lie
deceive
manipulate
manufacture.
God will not.
For this reason
God must keep
all His promises.
Free Will
Free Will
God has prevented himself
from any action that
will remove free will.
Proselytizing is Allowed
Proselytizing is Allowed
Satan is allowed
to recruit followers
to join his kingdom of darkness.
(and visa versa).
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
Individuals can
switching sides.
Timeline
Timeline
Demons from demonic
speak to Jesus:
And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?”
and...
Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”
Satan has
limited time.
(Presumably,
(limited in other ways)...
Space / Opportunities.
God is still ultimately in charge
God is still ultimately in charge
God is the one
who sets the bounds
of the great war.
Therefore,
the creator is
ultimately in charge
of all outcomes.
Examples of Rules
Examples of Rules
And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”
Jesus can’t turn rocks into bread.
It would be sin.
Why?
Have you been tempted
to do that?
NO!!
Jesus can’t
break this rule
of engagement.
What rule?
While on earth
Jesus could not use
supernatural power to
make life easier than
rest of our lives...
Why?
accusation of Satan.
God’s law is broken.
Unnecessary.
Impossible for creatures to obey.
One reason Jesus’ incarnation
prove humanity
could obey the law.
But he couldn’t have
special advantage over us.
Example of Job
Example of Job
Previously cited:
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.”
Heavenly tribunal.
What happens?
And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?”
Why would God,
bring up Job?
Satan’s accusation:
God’s law/government broken
nobody is righteous.
Look at Job,
You claim to own earth.
But...
Job is not following
He is righteous...
Following my law/government.
Satan calls foul:
Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.”
Satan says:
“You claim Job is righteous...
“He is not...
“He only obeys...
“because you protect and bless him!”
Satan suggest test:
remove blessings
remove protection
He will reject you.
God agrees to test:
And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
Couple of details
God does not attack
(Satan does).
God allows public scrutiny
of His ways
and His judgments.
Final result of test?
God is right.
... In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
Summary
Summary
"In some sense"
All things are possible
And not all things are possible
No breaking rules...
Example:
Jesus prayer:
... “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
Was it possible?
Yes and No.
Yes,
Christ could have quit.
No,
God made promise to save.
We could not be saved
without Christ’s death.
Are all things are possible?
not all,
not with rules of engagement.
This leads us to
profound truth:
God Doesn’t Always Get What He Wants
God Doesn’t Always Get What He Wants
Example:
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
What does God want?
everyone to be saved...
Will that happen?
No!
Why not?
Rules of Engagement
“Free Will”
Creatures may choose
rebellion
death.
Peckham calls this:
God’s Ideal Will vs. His Remedial Will
God’s Ideal Will vs. His Remedial Will
THE LORD'S WILL
A farmer is out working his fence line near the road when he sees a neighbor from a few farms down walking toward him with a cow. "Where are you headed with that cow?" the farmer asks.
"I'm heading into town to sell it," comes the neighbor's reply.
"You mean, if it's the Lord's will, you are going to sell it," corrects the farmer.
"Well," says the neighbor, now feeling a little perturbed by the rebuke. "I don't much reckon the Lord has anything to do with it. I bought her, I raised her, I milk her, and now I'm gonna sell her, and nobody is going to stop me from doing it."
"Oh, alright," says the farmer, and off down the road goes the neighbor with his cow.
About twenty minutes later here comes the neighbor back the other way, only now his clothes are ripped, his eye is black and he is missing a few teeth. "What happened to you?" asks the farmer.
"Well, the neighbor replies, I got a few miles down the road and some guys jumped me, beat me up, and stole my cow."
"Oh no," says the farmer, "what are you going to do now?"
"Well," comes the reply. "I'm going home to bandage up my wounds...if it's the Lord's will!"
God’s Ideal Will:
Everyone to be saved
Everyone to be healed
Rebellion to end now
Sin to end
Harmony and Peace
Because of war,
Satan must
example his government
example his law
example his “love”.
Evidence must show
Satan’s accusations false.
Satan’s government fails.
Unfortunately,
our world is partly
evidence of Satan’s failure.
To some degree,
God must allow
Pain
Suffering
evil
wickedness
to rule on earth.
God’s Remedial Will:
Help were possible.
Help in ways that:
don’t brake rules
don’t prove Satan right.
Appeal
Appeal
Remember:
God may permit things
that are not His ideal will...
But that does not mean
he condones evil.
Trust God’s Love,
through broken world.
Next Sermon,
specific examples
Prayer and Healing.
Why do some prayers
seem to go unanswered
while other similar petitioners
receive great miracles?
Sermon After,
if cross solved sin problem
why are we still here?
Final part(s)
How to Last Day Events
bring resolution to the war?
