God’s Not Guilty
God is a Good God-God is omniscient-omnipresent-omnipotent
But He gave us free choice and dominion
I. The Belief in the Sovereignty of God is the Worst Doctrine
A. James 4:7 – “Submit to God, resist (actively fight against) the devil, and he will flee from you.”
1. It is our responsibility to submit to God and to resist the devil.
B. Religion’s definition of sovereign is a faith-killer.
1. Sovereign (real definition)= First in rank, order or authority; independent
2. Religion has wrongly taught that “sovereign” means that God is absolutely in control and that nothing happens without God’s initiation or permission. Therefore, everything that happens is God’s will (even sickness, death, divorce, etc.).
C. God does not control when a person dies
1. John 10:10a “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.”
2. Hebrews 2:14 – Satan has the power of death.
Hebrews 2:14 (AMP)
14 Since, therefore, [these His] children share in flesh and blood [in the physical nature of human beings], He [Himself] in a similar manner partook of the same [nature], that by [going through] death He might bring to nought and make of no effect him who had the power of death—that is, the devil—
3. Romans 5:12 - Death is because of sin.
Romans 5:12 (KJV)
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
4. II Peter 3:9 – It is not God’s will for ANY person to perish.
2 Peter 3:9 (AMP)
9 The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people's conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance.
D. Religion’s teaching of the sovereignty of God makes us passive in resisting the devil.
II. Tribulation – James 1:1-13
James 1:1-13 (AMP)
1 JAMES, A servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes scattered abroad [among the Gentiles in the dispersion]: Greetings (rejoice)!
2 Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations.
3 Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.
4 But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.
5 If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him.
6 Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind.
7 For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything [he asks for] from the Lord,
8 [For being as he is] a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute), [he is] unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything [he thinks, feels, decides].
9 Let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his elevation [as a Christian, called to the true riches and to be an heir of God],
10 And the rich [person ought to glory] in being humbled [by being shown his human frailty], because like the flower of the grass he will pass away.
11 For the sun comes up with a scorching heat and parches the grass; its flower falls off and its beauty fades away. Even so will the rich man wither and die in the midst of his pursuits.
12 Blessed (happy, to be envied) is the man who is patient under trial and stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive [the victor's] crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him.
13 Let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted from God; for God is incapable of being tempted by [what is] evil and He Himself tempts no one.
A. Problems, disasters, sickness, etc. are not blessings from God.
1. Mark 4:15 – In the parable of the sower, we find that problems come to choke the Word that was sown in your heart.
Mark 4:15 (KJV)
15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
2. If problems perfected you, then those who suffer the most would be the most perfected, which is not true.
3. II Timothy 3:16-17 – The Word of God is what perfects us.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT2)
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.
17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
4. God does not control evil. He does not use tragedy in your life to teach you something.
a. We can read the Word, learn it, and apply it, and live as Kingdom Heirs the way God intended.
b. Or, we can learn natural lessons via “redneck lessons” and live as the world lives.
B. Tribulations are not from God, but they can be used as an opportunity to learn and grow.
1. James 1:13-14 “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man: But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.”
C. Patience is faith over a prolonged period of time.
1. Romans 15:4 – Patience comes through the Word.
Romans 15:4 (KJV)
4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
2. If tribulation gave us patience, then those who suffer the most would also be the most patient, which is not so.
D. Patience (enduring tribulations successfully) perfects you, not the tribulations themselves.
III. Resist the Devil – God Gave US DOMINION – USE IT
A. Satan cannot do anything to you without your cooperation, but if you think that tribulation is sent from God, you will not resist Satan when tribulation comes.
1. Recognize the devil’s tactics, resist him (not wavering), and he will flee from you.
B. Ephesians 4:26-28 (I want to have 17-32!) but Ephesians 4:26 – Get angry at the devil for bringing problems into your life and fight against him. Do not become passive.
Ephesians 4:26-28 (KJV) (This really needs to be in context of the chapter!)
26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
27 Neither give place to the devil.
28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
C. Proverbs 8:13 – Hate evil.
Proverbs 8:13 (AMP)
13 The reverent fear and worshipful awe of the Lord [includes] the hatred of evil; pride, arrogance, the evil way, and perverted and twisted speech I hate.
D. Do not confuse what is from God and what is from Satan.
1. James 1:17a – “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.”
2. John 10:10a – “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.”
3. God is GOOD!!!!
4. The devil is BAD!!!!!
E. Matt 11:12 – Jesus said – The violent take it by force.
Matthew 11:12 (KJV)
12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
F. John 16:33 – Jesus said “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
IV. The Misuse and Misunderstanding of Romans 8:28
A. Romans 8:28 – “And (this means that it has to be taken with the previous verses) we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”
B. It doesn’t say all things are from God.
1. Sickness is not from God – “By His stripes we were healed”
2. Death is not from God – Romans 5:12 “Death is because of (Adam’s) sin”
Romans 5:12 (KJV)
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
3. Divorce is not from God – “God is love, He commands us to love”
4. Earthquakes, tornadoes, and hurricanes are not from God – Matt 24:4-14 is a start, there are also other verses in OT. We’ll talk about them some other time.
V. There are conditions placed on Romans 8:28
A. Making intercession – Romans 8:26-27
1. Let the Spirit intercede in your life.
2. There is a form of intercession that is nothing but groanings
Romans 8:26-28 (KJV)
26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
B. Love God – Romans 8:28
1. Mark 12:30 Jesus said “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”
C. Called according to His purpose – Romans 8:28
1. 1 John 3:8b – “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”
2. Jesus came and gave us back the dominion that was given to Adam and Eve in the garden, which they gave to Satan.
3. Matt 11:12 – Jesus said “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.”
4. “Resist” means to actively fight against!
5. If you believe that problems and sickness come from God, you will become passive.
6. God doesn’t bring tragedy into your life to bring you closer to Him.
VI. Our Responsibility
A. It is our responsibility to decide:
1. Is this God? (You have to know the Word to know)
2. Is this the flesh? (You have to know the Word to know)
3. Is this the devil? (You have to know the Word to know)
B. God does not judge believers; our judgement was placed on the cross with Jesus.
1. God’s final judgement can come upon unbeliever’s, but it is rare.
C. We were given free will, and with that comes the ability to make decisions that can have tangible consequences. Some things are neither caused by God nor Satan.
D. We need to take responsibility for our own actions.
Comments