What things shall befall me there
Introduction:
One of the greatest adventures of being a Christian is the adventure itself. The life of a Christian is very exciting because God has established great plans and purposes for you before you were even born.
Example -
Isaiah prohesied of a ruler 250 years before it happened, he even named him...
This is the foreknowledge of God, He foreknew of your salvation, your destiny and your choices, but yet you are still in control of the response. It’s like a chess game, that you know what to do three or moves ahead. We’ll the mind of God knows generations later the moves of man.
Rom 11:1-5
1 I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
2 God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying,
3 "Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life"?
4 But what does the divine response say to him? "I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal."
5 Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
With limited knowledge, Elijah felt he was the only one left, but God had already reserved 7000 who have not bowed. The point to this is that God Foreknew, so he for-prepared.
Our purpose of life is defined this way -
Esth 4:13-14
13 Then Mordecai told them to answer Esther: "Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews.
14 "For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"
Our life is filled with opportunities, but these are opportunities that God has for-prepared. I don’t want to be a church that watched these opportunities from a distance. God Foreknew that you will be and so will the opportunity and you might only cross paths ONCE.
Esther got the revelation of her purpose, she probley thought that her advancement in the secular kingdom was due to her beauty or talents, but in reality it was the plan of God to get her in the place of opportunity.
Why is your business thriving, Why do your live good? do you find yourself makings lots? Opportunity!
To Foreknow - is only to foresee. With the foreseeing of God He will set up objects in place, generations ahead, hoping that the SUBJECTS would respond. God moves around the objects, but will not FORCE the subjects. It is God’s attribute of "All Knowing" Been there! Done that! In every span of time!
Can we change the foreknowledge of God? No! Because He see’s the future of two choices, He sees the outcome of Obedience and the outcome of disobedience.
Jimmy Joe Lewis - We are free to choose what we desire, but we lose control of the consequences either way. We set things in motion beyond our control.
Example -
Gal 1:15-16
15 But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased
16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, NIV
V.15 and V.16 - (to reveal his Son in me) that’s the foreknowledge of God - The rest is our hopeful response.
Another Example -
2 Chr 7:14
14 "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (NKJ)
What is involved in your circle of life? It is called "Such a time as this".
The Life attidude of Paul in a nutshell -
Acts 20:22-24
22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God
Another Translations -
Acts 20:22-24
22 "And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.
23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.
24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-- the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace. (NIV)
We are to obey God, regardless of clarification
We are to obey God, regardless of the warnings of Man
We are to obey God, regardless of the outcome that awaits
Doing things right is good! But doing the right thing is better!
