Chocolate Cake

Romans 8:28

Anush JohnSometimes its possible to miss the chocolate in

the cake

Criteria for the promise:

1. God calls us.

The external call

Acts 17:30. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.

The internal or effective call

 

Adapted from Wayne A. Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House, 2004), 692–693.

External (Gospel) Call

Internal (Effective) Call

General Particular (Individual)

External Internal

Rejected Effective

The call is based on the eternal purpose of God.

Isaiah 14:24 The LORD Almighty has sworn, "Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will happen.

Criteria for the promise:

1. God calls us.

2. We love Him.

Everything that we do toward god is based on our love for Him

The verb (“work”) and the participial phrase (“those who love him”) are in the present tense.

God is continually at work in our lives, and we should be constantly in love with Him.

1 Corinthians 2:9

However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him.

Now, the Promise…

All things work together for good.

What is “good”?

What does the bible say is “good”?

It is conformity to the likeness of Christ.

It is note-worthy that the Almighty didn’t act high and mighty. The Holy One wasn’t holier-than-thou. The One who knew it all wasn’t a know-it-all. The One who made the stars didn’t keep his head in them. The One who owns all the stuff of earth never strutted it. …His purpose was not to show off but to show up. He went to great pains to be as human as the guy down the street. He didn’t need to study but still went to the synagogue. He had no need for income but still worked in the workshop.

He had known the fellowship of angels and heard the harps of heaven, yet still went to parties thrown by tax collectors. And upon his shoulders rested the challenge of redeeming creation, but still took time to walk ninety miles from Jericho to Cana to go to a wedding. They called him a blasphemer, but they never called him a braggart. They accused him of heresy, but never arrogance. He was branded as a radical but never called unapproachable.

– Max Lucado, When God Whispers Your Name

All things work together for good.

work together: This is a compound word in the present active indicative. Literally means “all things continue to work in cooperation with one another for the good.”

anushdoc@gmail.com

God, in his infinite wisdom, knew that you needed that experience that you hated going through.

All things work together for good.

3 levels of discipline.

Level 1: Retributive – always sinning.

Level 2: Preventive - inclining to sin.

Level 3: Educative – inclining to God.

Whom God will use greatly, he will hurt deeply. - AW Tozer

God causes

Saturday morning jumped out of bed and put on my best suitGot in my car and raced like a jet, all the way to youKnocked on your door with heart in my handTo ask you a question'Cause I know that you're an old fashioned man

Can I have your daughter for the rest of my life? (Say yes, say yes)'Cause I need to knowYou say I'll never get your blessing till the day I dieTough luck my friend but the answer is no!

Why you gotta be so rude?Don't you know I'm human tooWhy you gotta be so rudeI'm gonna marry her anyway(Marry that girl) Marry her anyway(Marry that girl) Yeah no matter what you say(Marry that girl) And we'll be a family.

- Magic!, Rude, Don’t Kill the Magic

What is the sovereignty of God?

(It is)... the supremacy of God, the kingship of God, the god-hood of God. To say that God is sovereign is to declare that God is God, … that He is the Most High, doing according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth, so that none can stay His hand … (Dan. 4:35).

To say that God is sovereign is to declare that He is the Almighty, the Possessor of all power in heaven and earth, so that none can defeat His counsels, thwart His purpose, or resist His will (Ps. 115:3).

To say that God is sovereign is to declare that He is “The Governor among the nations” (Ps. 22:28), setting up kingdoms, overthrowing empires, and determining the course of dynasties as pleases Him best.

To say that God is sovereign is to declare that He is “the King of kings, and Lord of lords” (1 Tim. 6:15).

Such is the God of the Bible. AW Pink, The Sovereignty of God

Small Group QuestionsHow does the knowledge of the Sovereignty of God

affect Our view of the past Our view of the present Our view of the future

What level of Discipline are you at?

Since God won’t discipline more than is necessary and discipline is imperative for a believer, how difficult is it to ask God to discipline you?

Can you ask God to discipline you so that you are more useful for him?