"THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS" Chapter Two by Mark Copeland

                "THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS"

                              Chapter Two

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To examine what is revealed about the "man of sin" whom the Lord 
   will destroy at His coming

2) To consider how those who do not have a love for the truth are 
   setting themselves up to be deceived by the man of sin

3) To discern why God will send a strong delusion to some that they 
   will believe a lie

SUMMARY

Evidently Paul received word that some of the Thessalonians had the
impression that the day of Christ had come, that is, it was near at
hand.  To reassure them such was not the case, he reminds them of those
things he had told them while he was still with them.  That is, Christ
will not come until the falling away occurs, and the man of sin is 
revealed (1-3).  Paul then describes this man of sin and explains that 
he is currently hindered from being revealed.  When that which 
restrains him is removed, the man of sin will become apparent, whom the
Lord will destroy with His coming (4-8).  The coming of the lawless one
is further described, whose coming will be according to the working 
with Satan.  With all power, signs, and lying wonders, he will deceive 
those who do not have a love for the truth.  Indeed, God will also send
a strong delusion to those who do not love the truth, that they might 
believe the lie and be condemned for taking pleasure in unrighteousness
instead of believing the truth (9-12).

As for the Thessalonians themselves, Paul is ever thankful that God has
chosen them for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and 
belief in the truth, having called them by the gospel to obtain the 
glory of the Lord Jesus Christ (13-14).  He therefore exhorts them to 
stand fast and hold to the traditions taught by word or epistle, and 
prays that Jesus and God the Father will comfort their hearts and 
establish them in every good word and work (15-17).

OUTLINE

I. ENLIGHTENMENT ABOUT THE COMING OF THE LORD (1-12)

   A. DO NOT BE TROUBLED (1-2)
      1. Concerning the coming of the Lord, and our gathering to Him
         (1)
      2. By false reports, as though the day of Christ has come (2)

   B. THE APOSTASY MUST COME FIRST (3-12)
      1. The Day of Christ will not come until...
         a. A falling away comes first (3a)
         b. The man of sin (lawlessness) is revealed (3-4)
            1) The son of perdition (3c)
            2) Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called
               God and that is worshipped (4a)
            3) He sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself 
               that he is God (4b)
         -- As Paul told them while he was with them (5)
      2. The man of sin is being restrained (6-7)
         a. They knew what it was that was restraining him (6a)
         b. He will be revealed in his own time (6b)
         c. The mystery of lawlessness is already at work (7a)
         d. But the one who restrains will do so until taken out of the
            way (7b)
      3. When the lawless one is revealed (8-12)
         a. The Lord will...
            1) Consume him with the breath of His mouth (8a)
            2) Destroy him with the brightness of His coming (8b)
         b. The coming of the lawless one...
            1) Will be according to the working of Satan (9a)
            2) With all power, signs, and lying wonders (9b)
            3) With all unrighteous deception among those who perish
               (10a)
               a) Because they did not receive the love of the truth
                  (10b)
               b) That they might be saved (10c)
         c. For this reason...
            1) God will send them a strong delusion (11a)
               a) That they should believe the lie (11b)
               b) That they may be condemned (12a)
            2) Because they did not believe the truth but had pleasure
               in unrighteousness (12b)

II. STEADFASTNESS ENCOURAGED (13-17)

   A. THANKSGIVING AND A CALL TO STEADFASTNESS (13-15)
      1. Bound always to give thanks to God (13a)
         a. Who from the beginning chose them for salvation (13b)
            1) Through sanctification by the Spirit (13c)
            2) And belief in the truth (13d)
         b. To which He called them (14a)
            1) By the gospel (14b)
            2) For the obtaining of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ
               (14c)
      2. Stand fast and hold the traditions which they were taught
         (15a)
         a. Whether by word (15b)
         b. Or by his epistle (15c)

   B. PAUL'S PRAYER FOR THE THESSALONIANS (16-17)
      1. May the Lord Jesus Himself, and our God and Father (16a)
         a. Who loved us (16b)
         b. Who has given us... (16c)
            1) Everlasting consolation
            2) Good hope by grace
      2. Comfort your hearts (17a)
      3. Establish you in every good word and work (17b)

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - Enlightenment about the coming of the Lord (1-12)
   - Steadfastness encouraged (13-17)

2) What two related things does Paul now address them? (1)
   - The coming of our Lord Jesus Christ
   - Our gathering together to Him

3) About what did he not want them to be troubled? (2)
   - As though the day of Christ had come

4) What two things must happen before that Day comes? (3)
   - The falling away
   - The man of sin is revealed

5) List the various descriptions of the "man of sin" (3a-4)
   - The son of perdition
   - Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or 
     that is worshipped
   - He sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is
     God

6) Had Paul told the Thessalonians of these things before? (5)
   - Yes

7) Did they know what was restraining the "man of sin" from being
   revealed? (6)
   - Yes

8) What was already at work at the time Paul wrote the Thessalonians?
   (7)
   - The mystery of lawlessness

9) How long would the one who restrains do so? (7)
   - Until he is taken out of the way

10) What will the Lord do to the lawless one? (8)
   - He will consume him with the breath of His mouth
   - He will destroy him with the brightness of His coming

11) According to what will the coming of the lawless one be?  What will
    accompany his coming? (9-10)
   - According to the working of Satan
   - All power, signs and lying wonders; with unrighteous deception

12) Who will be deceived by this lawless one?  Why? (10)
   - Those who perish
   - Because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they 
     might be saved

13) What will God therefore send? (11)
   - A strong delusion

14) What two purposes does Paul give for God doing this? (11-12)
   - That they should believe the lie
   - That they may be condemned

15) Who is it that will suffer such things? (12)
   - Those who did not believe the truth, but had pleasure in 
     unrighteousness

16) How did God choose to save the Thessalonians? (13)
   - Through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth

17) How did God call them?  For what purpose? (14)
   - He called them by the gospel
   - For the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ

18) What two exhortations does Paul give them? (15)
   - Stand fast
   - Hold to the traditions which they were taught, whether by word or
     epistle

19) What two things does Paul mention that God and Jesus has given to
    us? (16)
   - Everlasting consolation
   - Good hope

20) For what does Paul pray that Jesus and God will do for the 
    Thessalonians? (17)
   - Comfort their hearts
   - Establish them in every good word and work

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2016

 

"THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS" Chapter Two by Mark Copeland

                "THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS"

                              Chapter Two

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To examine what is revealed about the "man of sin" whom the Lord 
   will destroy at His coming

2) To consider how those who do not have a love for the truth are 
   setting themselves up to be deceived by the man of sin

3) To discern why God will send a strong delusion to some that they 
   will believe a lie

SUMMARY

Evidently Paul received word that some of the Thessalonians had the
impression that the day of Christ had come, that is, it was near at
hand.  To reassure them such was not the case, he reminds them of those
things he had told them while he was still with them.  That is, Christ
will not come until the falling away occurs, and the man of sin is 
revealed (1-3).  Paul then describes this man of sin and explains that 
he is currently hindered from being revealed.  When that which 
restrains him is removed, the man of sin will become apparent, whom the
Lord will destroy with His coming (4-8).  The coming of the lawless one
is further described, whose coming will be according to the working 
with Satan.  With all power, signs, and lying wonders, he will deceive 
those who do not have a love for the truth.  Indeed, God will also send
a strong delusion to those who do not love the truth, that they might 
believe the lie and be condemned for taking pleasure in unrighteousness
instead of believing the truth (9-12).

As for the Thessalonians themselves, Paul is ever thankful that God has
chosen them for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and 
belief in the truth, having called them by the gospel to obtain the 
glory of the Lord Jesus Christ (13-14).  He therefore exhorts them to 
stand fast and hold to the traditions taught by word or epistle, and 
prays that Jesus and God the Father will comfort their hearts and 
establish them in every good word and work (15-17).

OUTLINE

I. ENLIGHTENMENT ABOUT THE COMING OF THE LORD (1-12)

   A. DO NOT BE TROUBLED (1-2)
      1. Concerning the coming of the Lord, and our gathering to Him
         (1)
      2. By false reports, as though the day of Christ has come (2)

   B. THE APOSTASY MUST COME FIRST (3-12)
      1. The Day of Christ will not come until...
         a. A falling away comes first (3a)
         b. The man of sin (lawlessness) is revealed (3-4)
            1) The son of perdition (3c)
            2) Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called
               God and that is worshipped (4a)
            3) He sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself 
               that he is God (4b)
         -- As Paul told them while he was with them (5)
      2. The man of sin is being restrained (6-7)
         a. They knew what it was that was restraining him (6a)
         b. He will be revealed in his own time (6b)
         c. The mystery of lawlessness is already at work (7a)
         d. But the one who restrains will do so until taken out of the
            way (7b)
      3. When the lawless one is revealed (8-12)
         a. The Lord will...
            1) Consume him with the breath of His mouth (8a)
            2) Destroy him with the brightness of His coming (8b)
         b. The coming of the lawless one...
            1) Will be according to the working of Satan (9a)
            2) With all power, signs, and lying wonders (9b)
            3) With all unrighteous deception among those who perish
               (10a)
               a) Because they did not receive the love of the truth
                  (10b)
               b) That they might be saved (10c)
         c. For this reason...
            1) God will send them a strong delusion (11a)
               a) That they should believe the lie (11b)
               b) That they may be condemned (12a)
            2) Because they did not believe the truth but had pleasure
               in unrighteousness (12b)

II. STEADFASTNESS ENCOURAGED (13-17)

   A. THANKSGIVING AND A CALL TO STEADFASTNESS (13-15)
      1. Bound always to give thanks to God (13a)
         a. Who from the beginning chose them for salvation (13b)
            1) Through sanctification by the Spirit (13c)
            2) And belief in the truth (13d)
         b. To which He called them (14a)
            1) By the gospel (14b)
            2) For the obtaining of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ
               (14c)
      2. Stand fast and hold the traditions which they were taught
         (15a)
         a. Whether by word (15b)
         b. Or by his epistle (15c)

   B. PAUL'S PRAYER FOR THE THESSALONIANS (16-17)
      1. May the Lord Jesus Himself, and our God and Father (16a)
         a. Who loved us (16b)
         b. Who has given us... (16c)
            1) Everlasting consolation
            2) Good hope by grace
      2. Comfort your hearts (17a)
      3. Establish you in every good word and work (17b)

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - Enlightenment about the coming of the Lord (1-12)
   - Steadfastness encouraged (13-17)

2) What two related things does Paul now address them? (1)
   - The coming of our Lord Jesus Christ
   - Our gathering together to Him

3) About what did he not want them to be troubled? (2)
   - As though the day of Christ had come

4) What two things must happen before that Day comes? (3)
   - The falling away
   - The man of sin is revealed

5) List the various descriptions of the "man of sin" (3a-4)
   - The son of perdition
   - Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or 
     that is worshipped
   - He sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is
     God

6) Had Paul told the Thessalonians of these things before? (5)
   - Yes

7) Did they know what was restraining the "man of sin" from being
   revealed? (6)
   - Yes

8) What was already at work at the time Paul wrote the Thessalonians?
   (7)
   - The mystery of lawlessness

9) How long would the one who restrains do so? (7)
   - Until he is taken out of the way

10) What will the Lord do to the lawless one? (8)
   - He will consume him with the breath of His mouth
   - He will destroy him with the brightness of His coming

11) According to what will the coming of the lawless one be?  What will
    accompany his coming? (9-10)
   - According to the working of Satan
   - All power, signs and lying wonders; with unrighteous deception

12) Who will be deceived by this lawless one?  Why? (10)
   - Those who perish
   - Because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they 
     might be saved

13) What will God therefore send? (11)
   - A strong delusion

14) What two purposes does Paul give for God doing this? (11-12)
   - That they should believe the lie
   - That they may be condemned

15) Who is it that will suffer such things? (12)
   - Those who did not believe the truth, but had pleasure in 
     unrighteousness

16) How did God choose to save the Thessalonians? (13)
   - Through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth

17) How did God call them?  For what purpose? (14)
   - He called them by the gospel
   - For the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ

18) What two exhortations does Paul give them? (15)
   - Stand fast
   - Hold to the traditions which they were taught, whether by word or
     epistle

19) What two things does Paul mention that God and Jesus has given to
    us? (16)
   - Everlasting consolation
   - Good hope

20) For what does Paul pray that Jesus and God will do for the 
    Thessalonians? (17)
   - Comfort their hearts
   - Establish them in every good word and work

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2016

 

"THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS" Chapter Three by Mark Copeland

                "THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS"

                             Chapter Three

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To notice the importance of prayer in spreading the Word and in
   assisting the spiritual development of brethren

2) To examine the purpose and methodology of discipline in a local
   congregation

SUMMARY

In this last chapter we first find Paul soliciting prayer in his
behalf, that the word of the Lord might have free course and be 
glorified, and that he might be delivered from unreasonable and wicked
men (1-2).  Confident in the Lord to establish and guard them from the
evil one, he is also confident that they will do the things he commands
them (3-4).  He follows with a prayer that the Lord direct their hearts
into the love of God and into the patience of Christ (5).

One last item needs to be discussed, and that is the need for
disciplinary action towards those who are walking disorderly and not
according to the tradition received from Paul.  Reminding them of his
own example of laboring night and day while with him, he charges that 
if anyone will not work, neither should he eat (6-10).  Paul had heard
there were members who had stopped working, and had become busybodies.
He exhorts such members to work in quietness and eat their own bread.  
If they do not, the others are to note such persons and not keep 
company with them, that they may be ashamed.  Such disciplinary action
was to be administered in a brotherly way, not as toward an enemy 
(11-15).

Paul closes his second epistle to the Thessalonians by first asking 
that the Lord of peace give them peace always in every way (16).  He 
then offers a salutation in his own handwriting as a sign of
authorship, followed with a prayer that the grace of the Lord be with
them all (17-18).

OUTLINE

I. A REQUEST FOR PRAYER, AND A PRAYER FOR THEM (1-5)

   A. PAUL REQUESTS THEIR PRAYERS (1-2)
      1. That the word of the Lord may have free course and be 
         glorified, as it was in their case (1)
      2. That Paul and his companions be delivered from unreasonable
         and wicked men, for not all are believers (2)
   
   B. AN EXPRESSION OF CONFIDENCE (3-4)
      1. In the faithfulness of the Lord (3)
         a. Who would establish them (3a)
         b. Who would guard them from the evil one (3b)
      2. In them (4)
         a. That they do the things he commands them (4a)
         b. That they will do the things he commands them (4b)

   C. A PRAYER FOR THEM (5)
      1. That the Lord direct their hearts (5a)
      2. Into the love of God and the patience of Christ (5b)

II. A CHARGE TO DISCIPLINE THE DISORDERLY (3:6-15)

   A. WITHDRAW FROM THOSE WHO ARE DISORDERLY (6-9)
      1. Commanded in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (6a)
      2. To be administered toward those...
         a. Who do not walk according to apostolic tradition (6b)
         b. Who do not follow apostolic example (7a)
            1) For Paul was not disorderly among them (7b)
            2) For Paul was not a burden to them, but gave them an
               example (8-9)

   B. ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO WILL NOT WORK (10-12)
      1. They had been commanded:  If anyone will not work, neither
         shall he eat (10)
      2. Yet there were some not working at all, but were busybodies
         (11)
      3. Such are commanded and exhorted to work in quietness and eat
         their own bread (12)

   C. SUMMATION CONCERNING CHURCH DISCIPLINE (13-15)
      1. Do not grow weary in doing good (13)
      2. For those who do not obey the apostolic teaching in this 
         epistle... (14a)
         a. Note that person (14b)
         b. Do not keep company with him (14c)
         -- That he may be ashamed (14d)
      3. Count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother (15)

III. CONCLUDING REMARKS (16-18)

   A. ANOTHER PRAYER IN THEIR BEHALF (16)
      1. May the Lord of peace give them peace always in every way
         (16a)
      2. May the Lord be with them all (16b)

   B. A CONFIRMATION OF HIS AUTHORSHIP (17)
      1. His own salutation with his own hand (17a)
      2. As he writes in every epistle (17b)

   C. FINAL BENEDICTION (18)
      1. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with them all
      2. Amen (so be it)

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - A request for prayer, and a prayer for them (1-5)
   - A charge to discipline the disorderly (6-15)
   - Concluding remarks (16-18)

2) For what two things does Paul ask them to pray in his behalf? (1-2)
   - That the word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified
   - That he might be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men

3) In what way is the Lord faithful, or trustworthy? (3)
   - He will establish them and guard them from the evil one

4) What confidence did Paul have in the Thessalonians? (4)
   - That they both do and will do the things he commands them

5) What did Paul ask the Lord to do for the Thessalonians? (5)
   - To direct their hearts into the love of God and into the patience
     of Christ

6) What did Paul command them to do?  In whose name? (6)
   - To withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not 
     according to the tradition received from Paul
   - In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ

7) What example did Paul himself set while he was with them? (7-9)
   - Worked with labor and toil night and day, so as not to be a burden
     to any of them

8) What had Paul commanded them, even when he was with them? (10)
   - If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat

9) What had Paul heard was going on among the brethren at Thessalonica?
   (11)
   - That some were walking disorderly, not working at all, but were
     busybodies

10) What did Paul command and exhort such busybodies to do? (12)
   - To work in quietness and eat their own bread

11) What did Paul exhort the rest of the brethren to do? (13)
   - To not grow weary in doing good

12) What did Paul charge them to do if anyone did not obey his word in
    this epistle? (14)
   - To note that person
   - To not keep company with him

13) What is the reason for such disciplinary action? (14)
   - That he may be ashamed

14) What final instructions does Paul give in regards to such 
    disciplinary action? (15)
   - Do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother

15) For what does Paul pray in behalf of the Thessalonians? (16)
   - May the Lord of peace Himself give them peace always in every way
   - May the Lord be with them all

16) What served as a sign of Paul's authorship of this epistle? (17)
   - His salutation with his own handwriting

17) What is Paul's final benediction to his beloved Thessalonians? (18)
   - The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.  Amen.

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2016

 

The Will Of God by Allan Turner

http://allanturner.com/ss02.html

The Will Of God

by Allan Turner

If God is truly the Sovereign Ruler of the universe, then is it not true that whatever happens is the will of God? A young baby dies of cancer or a young mother or father is seriously injured in an automobile accident and this is said to be God’s will. We pray earnestly for a fellow Christian’s recovery from a serious illness and in closing our prayer we say, “Not our will but Thine be done.” But, recovery does not take place and death occurs. Has God’s will really been done? Invariably, at funerals, if one listens to what is being said to the bereaved, one will be heard saying, “It is God’s will.” Are these things truly God’s will, and if so, in what sense?

The expression Sovereign Ruler is exactly equivalent to Absolute Lord or Sole Ruler. Sovereignty is equal to lordship, lordship is equal to ownership, ownership is equal to control. Consequently, it cannot be denied that if God is Sovereign Ruler then nothing escapes His sovereignty—everything that happens is ultimately the will of God. Repelled by the thought of a loving God being responsible for the death of the innocent and those we love, many have concluded that God is not yet Sovereign Ruler of the universe. Unlike now, one day, they say, God’s will will be done in all things. Sympathetic as we are to their reasons for coming to this conclusion, we are nevertheless convinced that those who hold this position are terribly wrong. Biblically, the sovereignty of God is not open for debate. If God is not sovereign, He is simply not God. Therefore, when we answer “yes” to the question, “Is it true that whatever happens is the will of God?,” we must make sure that those who hear us understand our answer is not an unqualified “yes.” Failing to do so would be theologically misleading and personally devastating. My “yes” is qualified by the fact that there are at least three different senses in which the “will of God” is used in the Bible. When we understand the different ways in which this term is used, then we can understand how God is not personally and directly responsible for the many things people want to credit or discredit Him with, even though everything that happens ultimately falls within His sovereignty.

God’s Decretive Will

There are things that God decrees to happen. These things He causes to happen by His own omnipotence. These can be described as God’s decretive will. A biblical description of God’s decretive will is found in Psalms 33:11, which says: “The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart from generation to generation,” and again in Isaiah 14:27, which says: “For the Lord of hosts has planned, and who can frustrate it? And as for His stretched-out hand, who can turn it back?”

It was God’s decretive will that was at work in the redemption of mankind in His Son Jesus (Acts 2:23; 4:28; Colossians 1:4). What God purposes cannot be thwarted. For example, in Romans 8:28-30, God has decreed that He will justify and one day glorify certain foreknown individuals (viz., “whosoever will”) on the basis of a foreordained Christ (Acts 2:23; I Peter 1:19,20) a foreordained gospel plan (I Corinthians 2:7) and a foreordained life (Ephesians 2:10). With this fact firmly established, the apostle Paul joyously affirms, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). In like manner, the doctrine of the resurrection rests firmly on God’s decretive will. In John 6:40, Jesus said: “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” Again, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

God’s Preceptive Will

But there is a second way in which the “will of God” is used in the Bible. This has to do not with what God purposed to do Himself but with what He desires for man to do. This can be described as God’s preceptive will and is primarily concerned with man’s obedience to His word or precepts. The writer of Hebrews speaks of the “will of God” in this sense when he writes: “For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise” (Hebrews 10:36). In was in this sense that the Lord used the expression in Matthew 7:21: “Not every who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” When Jesus said “the will of My Father,” he was speaking of God’s precepts, statutes, or commandments. Consequently, it is in connection with God’s preceptive will—not His decretive will—that man is commanded to “work out [his] own salvation with fear  and trembling” (Philippians 2:12).

Furthermore, it is in connection with God’s preceptive will that we understand that the Lord is “longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (II Peter 3:9). Actually, God’s desire (will) for the salvation of all men is reflected many places in His word (cf. I Timothy 2:4; Luke 7:30; Matthew 23:37), but such must be kept distinct from God’s decretive will. A failure to make such a distinction will cause one to land squarely within the Calvinist camp.

God’s Permissive Will

There is a third sense in which the “will of God” is used in the Scriptures. It can be described as God’s permissive will. Perhaps it is with God’s permissive will that men have the most trouble. In this category are to be found all those things which God neither purposes nor desires, but which he allows man in his freedom to bring about. There is a sense in which this third category is related to the second, God’s preceptive will. With a strict use of the word “permissive,” it can be seen that man’s response to God’s desire or preceptive will is not decreed or purposed by Him and is, therefore, permitted. In other words, God does not make someone obey His laws; in the strictest sense, He permits one to do so.

But that which makes this third category different from the second is not the presence of God’s permission, but the absence of a stated desire on God’s part that these events or circumstances should happen. In this category are events God neither purposed nor desired, but, nevertheless, permits, including some things that are clearly contrary to His stated desire (will), such as man’s sins. Therefore, when, in Jeremiah 19:5, God said: “They have also built the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings to Baal, which I did not command or speak, nor did it come into my mind,” He made it plain that it was not His will they were doing, decreed or preceptive. In other words, it was not the mind (will) of God that they should do such a thing. Nevertheless, the Lord permitted His people to exercise their free wills and do those things clearly contrary to His counsel (will). Things such as this are within the “will of God” only in the sense that He permits them to happen (cf. Acts 17:24-30; 14:16; Romans 1:18-32).

God’s permissive will allows both bad and good things to occur. It is used by Paul in this latter sense in I Corinthians 16:7, when he writes: “For I do not wish to see you now on the way; but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits.” Again, he uses it this way when, in Acts 18:21, he writes: “I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, God willing.” The writer of Hebrews put it this way: “And this we will do if God permits” (Hebrews 6:3).

Sometimes, of course, the Lord does not will (permit) something to happen that His creatures desire to happen. As Sovereign, He has the perfect right to do so. For example, in Acts 16:7, Luke writes: “After they had come to Mysia they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.” And in James 4:13-15, the height of man’s prideful arrogance is manifested by one who does not take into consideration that his desires might be superseded by the Sovereign Ruler of the universe.

Control Not Causation

Some (Calvinists, for instance) have thought that the key to sovereignty is causation. This is wrong! The key to sovereignty is ultimate control. Through His absolute foreknowledge of every plan of man’s heart, and through His absolute ability (omnipotence) to either permit or prevent any particular plan man may have, God maintains complete control (sovereignty) over His creation. The power to prevent means that God ultimately has the final word in everything that happens. To deny this is to deny the sovereignty of God!

It is true, then, that whatever happens is God’s will. Everything that happens falls within the sovereign will of God in one sense or another. But, it is absolutely crucial to understand that there are three different senses in which this may be true: 1) Sometimes a thing occurs because God decides it will happen, and then He makes it happen. This we have called God’s decretive will and it seems to be limited mostly to His working out the “scheme of redemption.” 2) Sometimes a thing occurs because God desires it and man decides of his own free will to do what God desires. This we have identified as God’s preceptive will and has to do with God’s commandments or precepts. 3) Sometimes a thing occurs because of the agency of an individual or group of individuals and God permits it to happen. We have called this God’s permissive will. Included in this category are sinful or careless acts like murder or the death of one caused by the actions of a drunken driver. Even tragedies that occur through the natural processes would fit in this category. All three of these categories can be classified as “God’s will,” but only the first category is God’s will in any causative sense. And even though God is Sovereign Ruler of the universe, categories two and three remind us that we must allow Sovereign Ruler to respect the integrity of the freedom He has granted to His creation. We must learn to trust His wisdom in knowing what good can be drawn from the tragic episodes He permits to take place in category three.

Finally, the Christian has the assurance of God’s special providence which compelled the apostle Paul to say: “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” (Romans 8:28). And again, in Romans 8:31, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Does God Have An Individual Will For Each Person’s Life?

Those who ask this question assume an individual, specific will for every person. They assume that God has an ideal, detailed blueprint already drawn up for each person’s life. They assume that for any decision we face there is a specific choice (in the most restrictive sense) that God wants us to make. This applies to the school we should attend, the occupation we should choose, and the specific individual God wants us to marry. In his book, Knowing God’s Will—And Doing It!, J. Grant Howard, Jr. expressed it this way: “Scripture teaches us that God has a predetermined plan for every life. It is that which will happen. It is inevitable, unconditional, immutable, irresistible, comprehensive, and purposeful. It is also, for the most part, unpredictable. It includes everything—even sin and suffering. It involves everything—even human responsibility and human decisions.” A good summary of this view is given by Garry Friesen in his book Decision Making & the Will of God: “God’s individual will is that ideal, detailed life-plan which God has uniquely designed for each believer. This life-plan encompasses every decision we make and is the basis of God’s daily guidance. This guidance is given through the indwelling Holy Spirit who progressively reveals God’s life-plan to the heart of the individual believer....”

Although this view is very popular, we are convinced that the idea of an individual, specific will of God for every detail of a person’s life is not taught in God’s Word. The Calvinists and other determinists argue that the Bible is filled with examples of individuals for whom God had a specific plan, such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, John the Baptist, Paul, et al. But each of these examples was highly unusual and was related to God’s working out of His plan of salvation for fallen mankind, that is, the Scheme of Redemption. Furthermore, the specific plan that God had for each of these individuals was revealed to them by special revelation and, therefore, cannot be seen as normative for ordinary believers.

Those who affirm God’s individual will for each person usually cite passages like Psalms 32:8; Proverbs 3:5,6; Isaiah 30:20,21; Colossians 1:9 and 4:12; Romans 12:1,2; Ephesians 2:10 and 5:15-17. But when these passages are considered in their context, a much stronger case can be made for these passages in terms of God’s preceptive or moral will (which we have already discussed at some length) and not His decretive will.

Being Led By The Spirit

But someone will say, “How about being ‘led by the Spirit?’” In Romans 8:14, the Scriptures say, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God,” and in Galatians 5:18, it says, “But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under law.” The Calvinist thinks the Holy Spirit influences him through some mysterious inward guidance. The Bible does not teach such a doctrine—these two passages included—and we are firmly convinced that when one begins to listen to some inner voice, he is headed for trouble. In fact, Romans 8:26,27 doesn’t say anything about the Holy Spirit speaking to us. What it says is: “...the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Being led by the Spirit of God has to do with one’s obedience to God’s Word (i.e., God’s preceptive or moral will), which is the “sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17). Being led by the Spirit in a direct way, like was promised to the apostles (John 16:12-14), was never intended to be understood as being avail able to all Christians. In other words, direct guidance by God’s Holy Spirit was promised specifically to the Lord’s apostles, not Christians in general, and was for the specific purpose of revealing the Bible, not for inner guidance for all Christians (cf. Ephesians 3:3-5).

We find it ironic that those who are waiting to know God’s will for themselves through some inner guidance or miracle apart from the Word are the very ones who miss God’s will for their lives by not obeying His preceptive or moral will. I have personally taught the gospel to those caught up in this deceptive doctrine and have had them tell me that if God wanted them to be baptized for the remission of sins, He would have told them directly through a direct operation of the Holy Spirit. As they erroneously wait for a direct revelation of God’s decretive will, they fail to obey His preceptive will. Therefore, as one can see, this is a most damnable doctrine!

But, in rejecting such a doctrine, one must not jump to another equally extreme position which says that knowing the will of God is irrelevant to daily decision making. The will of God (particularly His preceptive will as revealed in the Scriptures) is always applicable to our daily lives. God’s Word is to be the reference point for our decision making. This means that the most sophisticated technique for knowing the will of God in our lives is found in II Timothy 3:16, which says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God might be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” In other words, whatever God instructs us to do in His Word, either through commands or general principles, is His will for our lives. this means that if God wants us to do it, then it is in the book! Thus, when the question is asked, “How can I know God’s will for my life?,” we can answer, “Look in the Bible.”

Not As Many “Thou Shalts” And “Thou Shalt Nots” As You Might Think

Additionally, and contrary to what a lot of people think, God’s preceptive will for man has very few “thou shalts” and “thou shalt nots.” Most of what God would have us do is learned from principles taught in His Word. This is why Bible study is so important. If we are not thoroughly familiar with God’s Word, then we will not know the principles that allow us to make the right decisions in our lives. For instance: When we are familiar with the sanctity of life ethic taught throughout the Bible, we are able to make the right decisions concerning the many pressing issues of our day, namely, abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment, etc. In times past, God’s people perished because they were ignorant of His Word (cf. Hosea 4:1), and the same thing can happen to us today.

Neither Required Nor Forbidden

But, and this is very important, many of the decisions we face every day are neither required nor forbidden by God’s preceptive will. The key to understanding this point is to be found in the idea that it is not our task to know if a particular decision is God’s will, but rather if it is within God’s will. For example: In I Timothy 5:8, the inspired apostle wrote, “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” This is God’s preceptive will and it requires, among other things, that a parent provide nourishing food for his/her children, and as long as this general principle is met, the specific decision of whether to have liver and onions or steak and green beans for dinner does not really matter to God. Whether one eats in the kitchen or the dining room, or whether the beans are fresh or frozen, or whether one has a hamburger for breakfast, lunch or dinner, does not matter to God. Once again, as long as the general requirements of this passage are being met, God is not really concerned about the specific choices that are made. Understanding this point can be liberating for those who have thought God wanted them to make a specific choice in every circumstance.

To be pleasing to God, everything we do must fall within His preceptive will (cf. Colossians 3:17), even those things that are not specifically required by it, such as matters of opinion and indifference. For instance, we have the right (i.e., it falls within God’s will) to eat or not eat meat; but, and this is terribly important, we have no right to bind either of these on anyone else (Romans 14:1-13). Likewise, we have the right (i.e., it falls within the umbrella of God’s preceptive will) to send our children to a public or private school; but we have no right to bind either of these on someone else. Furthermore, we have the right (i.e., God grants permission) to marry within or outside of our own race; but we have no right to bind our personal convictions in this matter on another person. There are, of course, many other things that could be listed here, but you see the point, do you not?

Is It Possible To Interpret Providence?

Is it possible to know the will of God in and through circumstances that take place in this life? We believe the answer to this question is an emphatic “No.” When an event takes place, we have no way of knowing whether it falls within the decretive or permissive will of God. In a previous article, we defined God’s decretive will as that which God desires and makes happen and His permissive will as that which originates apart from His desire but He permits because of man’s free will, etc. In other words, an event can happen because God wants it to happen and causes it to happen or it may happen for various other reasons. Consequently, an event cannot communicate a message apart from special revelation. In addition, we have no way of knowing whether an event has taken place because of God general providence for all creation or as a result of His special providence concerning the church of Christ.

Many erroneously think that every thing that happens is God’s decretive or purposive will. These folks are clearly wrong. Others, many of them members of the church of Christ, believe they can interpret God’s will or providence by certain events that take place in their lives or the lives of others. For instance, a good man prospers and a bad man suffers hardship. Some are convinced that god is blessing the good man and punishing the bad man. But, is this really the case? What happens when a good man suffers and a bad man prospers? If the book of Job teaches us anything, it teaches us that circumstances or events, apart from revelation, cannot convey God’s decretive will. Job was not suffering because he was an evil man, as his friends surmised - he was suffering because he was a good man. Job’s friends, and even Job himself, had fallen victim of what has been called the “Gamaliel fallacy,” after the false principle offered by Gamaliel in Acts 5:38,39, “And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it - lest you even be found to fight against God.” Although what Gamaliel said is ultimately true (i.e., in the end, God’s cause will be vindicated), it certainly does not translate into very practical advice. For instance, the Roman Catholic church, with its universal bishop, is an apostate church that has existed in its present form since A.D. 606. Does this mean that God is blessing Catholicism? Of course not. Many other false religions seem to be enjoying great success, according to the way the world counts success. Does this mean that they too are being blessed by God? Again, of course not. Worldly success is not necessarily a sign of God’s blessing. John the baptizer’s ministry did not end in success, according to the world’s standards, and neither did the ministries of the apostles. But, we know they were successful in the sight of God. Therefore, from our finite perspective, we must see Gamaliel’s pronouncement as the fallacy it really is.

Does this mean that it is inappropriate for a Christian to entertain his own private speculation about God’s providential care and certain events that seem to point in the general direction of that providential care? No, we do not believe such to be wrong, but we do believe that even in one’s own private speculation one must be very careful about thinking a certain event or set of circumstances definitely means that God has done this or that or wants this or that to happen. This kind of carefulness was exhibited by Mordecai when he said to Esther, “Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14). Mordecai’s statement was not an indication of his lack of faith in God’s providential care for the Jews. In the same verse, he advised Esther that if she did not help, “deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place.” It appeared to Mordecai that Esther was in the right place at the right time and therefore the hand of God might have been providentially involved in her being queen, but without special revelation he could not definitely know. Let us all learn to be as wise as Mordecai, and as trusting. Mordecai, based upon the promises God had made to His people, was willing to trust God for deliverance.

We can all recount the marvelous things that have happened to us in our lifetimes that we believe were providential. But, we do not preach about these things from the pulpit as proof of God’s special providential care for His children. What we preach from the pulpit is Romans 8:28, “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are called according to His purpose.” In other words,  because of God’s special providential care for us, every circumstance or event that happens to us will have either a good purpose or a good result, so long as we continue to love and obey Him. How do we know this? The Bible—God’s preceptive will—tells us so!

Consequently, our faith in God and His promise relieve us of the burden of trying to figure out whether a particular event happened because of God’s decretive or permissive will, and directs us to a thorough study of His preceptive will.

May God continue to bless you as you study His word.

Who, what, how by Gary Rose

I am a Christian because of Jesus Christ. He has shown me a better way; the true way of God from the Bible. In and of myself, I am no different than any ordinary un-saved individual. But with the help of God, I aspire to consider and practice those things God would have me to do. Sometimes I fail, but as I repent and return to the path, I find love and encouragement unlike anything in the world. Many years ago, a fellow worker (Eugene Searcy) gave me a copy of the Bible. While reading it, I asked myself- "Could I really change from a life that relished sin"? The answer was a resounding, YES!!! Thinking led to Christ and then to obedience to God's ways. Thinking changes us!! We do not have to stay in a sinful lifestyle!!!.

Consider something the Apostle Paul wrote...

Philippians, Chapter 4 (WEB)

 ⁸  Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think about these things.

Jesus said:

Matthew, Chapter 5 (WEB)

  ¹ Seeing the multitudes, he went up onto the mountain. When he had sat down, his disciples came to him.  ² He opened his mouth and taught them, saying, 
  ³  “Blessed are the poor in spirit, 
for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. 
  ⁴  Blessed are those who mourn, 
for they shall be comforted. 
  ⁵  Blessed are the gentle, 
for they shall inherit the earth. 
  ⁶  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, 
for they shall be filled. 
  ⁷  Blessed are the merciful, 
for they shall obtain mercy. 
  ⁸  Blessed are the pure in heart, 
for they shall see God. 
  ⁹  Blessed are the peacemakers, 
for they shall be called children of God. 
  ¹⁰  Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, 
for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. 

  ¹¹  “Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake.   ¹² Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 

  ¹³  “You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will it be salted? It is then good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men.   ¹⁴  You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden.   ¹⁵ Neither do you light a lamp, and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house.   ¹⁶ Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. 

Now, ask yourself- Can I really change from a life that relishes sin? Life is not about how you see a volume in a glass right now, but rather- How you can see the world as God would have you to see it and what you will do with that knowledge!!!  

THINK!!!!

Bible Reading July 19 by Gary Rose

Bible Reading July 19 (WEB)

July 19

1 Chronicles 19-21

1Ch 19:1 It happened after this, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his place.

1Ch 19:2 David said, I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me. So David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him.

1Ch 19:3 But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, Do you think that David honors your father, in that he has sent comforters to you? Haven't his servants come to you to search, to overthrow, and to spy out the land?

1Ch 19:4 So Hanun took David's servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.

1Ch 19:5 Then there went certain persons, and told David how the men were served. He sent to meet them; for the men were greatly ashamed. The king said, Stay at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return.

1Ch 19:6 When the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent one thousand talents of silver to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, and out of Arammaacah, and out of Zobah.

1Ch 19:7 So they hired them thirty-two thousand chariots, and the king of Maacah and his people, who came and encamped before Medeba. The children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to battle.

1Ch 19:8 When David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the army of the mighty men.

1Ch 19:9 The children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the gate of the city: and the kings who had come were by themselves in the field.

1Ch 19:10 Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians.

1Ch 19:11 The rest of the people he committed into the hand of Abishai his brother; and they put themselves in array against the children of Ammon.

1Ch 19:12 He said, If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the children of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you.

1Ch 19:13 Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people, and for the cities of our God: and Yahweh do that which seems him good.

1Ch 19:14 So Joab and the people who were with him drew near before the Syrians to the battle; and they fled before him.

1Ch 19:15 When the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians had fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.

1Ch 19:16 When the Syrians saw that they were defeated by Israel, they sent messengers, and drew forth the Syrians who were beyond the River, with Shophach the captain of the army of Hadadezer at their head.

1Ch 19:17 It was told David; and he gathered all Israel together, and passed over the Jordan, and came on them, and set the battle in array against them. So when David had put the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him.

1Ch 19:18 The Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed of the Syrians the men of seven thousand chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach the captain of the army.

1Ch 19:19 When the servants of Hadadezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with David, and served him: neither would the Syrians help the children of Ammon any more.

1Ch 20:1 It happened, at the time of the return of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that Joab led forth the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem. Joab struck Rabbah, and overthrew it.

1Ch 20:2 David took the crown of their king from off his head, and found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there were precious stones in it; and it was set on David's head: and he brought forth the spoil of the city, exceeding much.

1Ch 20:3 He brought forth the people who were therein, and cutthem with saws, and with iron picks, and with axes. David did so to all the cities of the children of Ammon. David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

1Ch 20:4 It happened after this, that there arose war at Gezer with the Philistines: then Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Sippai, of the sons of the giant; and they were subdued.

1Ch 20:5 There was again war with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.

1Ch 20:6 There was again war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, whose fingers and toes were twenty-four, six on each hand, and six on each foot; and he also was born to the giant.

1Ch 20:7 When he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea David's brother killed him.

1Ch 20:8 These were born to the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

1Ch 21:1 Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.

1Ch 21:2 David said to Joab and to the princes of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring me word, that I may know the sum of them.

1Ch 21:3 Joab said, Yahweh make his people a hundred times as many as they are: but, my lord the king, aren't they all my lord's servants? Why does my lord require this thing? Why will he be a cause of guilt to Israel?

1Ch 21:4 Nevertheless the king's word prevailed against Joab. Therefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.

1Ch 21:5 Joab gave up the sum of the numbering of the people to David. All those of Israel were one million one hundred thousand men who drew sword: and in Judah were four hundred seventy thousand men who drew sword.

1Ch 21:6 But he didn't count Levi and Benjamin among them; for the king's word was abominable to Joab.

1Ch 21:7 God was displeased with this thing; therefore he struck Israel.

1Ch 21:8 David said to God, I have sinned greatly, in that I have done this thing: but now, put away, I beg you, the iniquity of your servant; for I have done very foolishly.

1Ch 21:9 Yahweh spoke to Gad, David's seer, saying,

1Ch 21:10 Go and speak to David, saying, Thus says Yahweh, I offer you three things: choose one of them, that I may do it to you.

1Ch 21:11 So Gad came to David, and said to him, Thus says Yahweh, Take your choice:

1Ch 21:12 either three years of famine; or three months to be consumed before your foes, while the sword of your enemies overtakes you; or else three days the sword of Yahweh, even pestilence in the land, and the angel of Yahweh destroying throughout all the borders of Israel. Now therefore consider what answer I shall return to him who sent me.

1Ch 21:13 David said to Gad, I am in distress. Let me fall, I pray, into the hand of Yahweh; for very great are his mercies: and let me not fall into the hand of man.

1Ch 21:14 So Yahweh sent a pestilence on Israel; and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men.

1Ch 21:15 God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was about to destroy, Yahweh saw, and he relented of the disaster, and said to the destroying angel, It is enough; now stay your hand. The angel of Yahweh was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

1Ch 21:16 David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of Yahweh standing between earth and the sky, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell on their faces.

1Ch 21:17 David said to God, Isn't it I who commanded the people to be numbered? It is even I who have sinned and done very wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand, O Yahweh my God, be against me, and against my father's house; but not against your people, that they should be plagued.

1Ch 21:18 Then the angel of Yahweh commanded Gad to tell David, that David should go up, and raise an altar to Yahweh in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

1Ch 21:19 David went up at the saying of Gad, which he spoke in the name of Yahweh.

1Ch 21:20 Ornan turned back, and saw the angel; and his four sons who were with him hid themselves. Now Ornan was threshing wheat.

1Ch 21:21 As David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshing floor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground.

1Ch 21:22 Then David said to Ornan, Give me the place of this threshing floor, that I may build thereon an altar to Yahweh: for the full price you shall give it to me, that the plague may be stopped from afflicting the people.

1Ch 21:23 Ornan said to David, Take it for yourself, and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes: behold, I give youthe oxen for burnt offerings, and the threshing instruments for wood, and the wheat for the meal offering; I give it all.

1Ch 21:24 King David said to Ornan, No; but I will most certainly buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is yours for Yahweh, nor offer a burnt offering without cost.

1Ch 21:25 So David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred shekels of gold by weight.

1Ch 21:26 David built there an altar to Yahweh, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called on Yahweh; and he answered him from the sky by fire on the altar of burnt offering.

1Ch 21:27 Yahweh commanded the angel; and he put up his sword again into its sheath.

1Ch 21:28 At that time, when David saw that Yahweh had answered him in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there.

1Ch 21:29 For the tabernacle of Yahweh, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt offering, were at that time in the high place at Gibeon.

1Ch 21:30 But David couldn't go before it to inquire of God; for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of Yahweh.

Jul. 18, 19

Acts 12

Act 12:1 Now about that time, Herod the king stretched out his hands to oppress some of the assembly.

Act 12:2 He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.

Act 12:3 When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This was during the days of unleavened bread.

Act 12:4 When he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover.

Act 12:5 Peter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him.

Act 12:6 The same night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Guards in front of the door kept the prison.

Act 12:7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side, and woke him up, saying, "Stand up quickly!" His chains fell off from his hands.

Act 12:8 The angel said to him, "Get dressed and put on your sandals." He did so. He said to him, "Put on your cloak, and follow me."

Act 12:9 And he went out and followed him. He didn't know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he saw a vision.

Act 12:10 When they were past the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went out, and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.

Act 12:11 When Peter had come to himself, he said, "Now I truly know that the Lord has sent out his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from everything the Jewish people were expecting."

Act 12:12 Thinking about that, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.

Act 12:13 When Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer.

Act 12:14 When she recognized Peter's voice, she didn't open the gate for joy, but ran in, and reported that Peter was standing in front of the gate.

Act 12:15 They said to her, "You are crazy!" But she insisted that it was so. They said, "It is his angel."

Act 12:16 But Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him, and were amazed.

Act 12:17 But he, beckoning to them with his hand to be silent, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, "Tell these things to James, and to the brothers." Then he departed, and went to another place.

Act 12:18 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter.

Act 12:19 When Herod had sought for him, and didn't find him, he examined the guards, and commanded that they should be put to death. He went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.

Act 12:20 Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus, the king's personal aide, their friend, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king's country for food.

Act 12:21 On an appointed day, Herod dressed himself in royal clothing, sat on the throne, and gave a speech to them.

Act 12:22 The people shouted, "The voice of a god, and not of a man!"

Act 12:23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he didn't give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.

Act 12:24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.

Act 12:25 Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their service, also taking with them John whose surname was Mark.