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Sermon:
Agency
by Chris Cumming
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I recently had a member approach me and ask if I could do a sermon
showing how God works and thinks. Just how does He do things? How does
He work with us? In this sermon, we will answer these questions and
more as I encourage all of us to follow His lead.
Follow His lead.
Let’s begin with the verse I have been quoting the last two years that I
have been promising a full immersion.
Ephesians 1:11
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated
according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel
of his own will:
This is a key verse to our spiritual maturity and showing how God
works. God works all things after the counsel of His own will. Our
maturity comes when our natural will matches His. All we must do is
figure out what His will is. We are talking about God’s general will
here and not necessarily His specific will for all people and all
situations. Clearly, what He does in specific situations will flow from
his general will.
Let us go to the commentaries:
Of him who worketh all things - Of God,
the universal agent. The affirmation here is not merely that God
accomplishes the designs of salvation according to the counsel of his
own will, but that “he does everything.” His agency is not confined to
one thing, or to one class of objects. Every object and event is under
his control, and is in accordance with his eternal plan. The word
rendered “worketh” - energeo¯ - means to work, to be active, to
produce; Ephesians 1:20; Galatians 2:8; Philippians 2:13. A universal
agency is ascribed to him. “The same God which “worketh” all in all;” 1
Corinthians 12:6. He has an agency in causing the emotions of our
hearts. “God, who worketh in you both to Will and to do of his good
pleasure;” Philippians 2:13. He has an agency in distributing to people
their various allotments and endowments. “All these worketh that one and
the self-same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will;” 1
Corinthians 12:11. ~Barnes Notes
Quoted verses:
Ephesians 1:20
Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set
him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
Galatians 2:8
(For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the
circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)
Philippians 2:13
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good
pleasure.
1 Corinthians 12:6
And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same
God which worketh all in all.
1 Corinthians 12:11
But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to
every man severally as he will.
Continuing now in the commentary:
The agency of God is seen everywhere. Every leaf, flower, rose-bud,
spire of grass; every sun-beam, and every flash of lightning; every
cataract and every torrent, all declare his agency; and there is not an
object that we see that does not bespeak the control of an All-present
God. It would be impossible to affirm more explicitly that God’s agency
is universal, than Paul does in the passage before us. He does not
attempt to prove it. It is one of those points on which he does not deem
it necessary to pause and reason, but which may be regarded as a
conceded point in the discussion of other topics, and which may be
employed without hesitation in their illustration. Paul does not state
the “mode” in which this is done. He affirms merely the fact. He does
not say that he “compels” men, or that he overbears them by mere
physical force. His agency he affirms to be universal; but it is
undoubtedly in accordance with the nature of the object, and with the
laws which he has impressed on them.
His agency in the work of creation was absolute and entire; for there
was nothing to act on, and no established laws to be observed. Over the
mineral kingdom his control must also be entire, yet in accordance with
the laws which he has impressed on matter. The crystal and the snow are
formed by his agency; but it is in accordance with the laws which he has
been pleased to appoint. So, in the vegetable world his agency is
everywhere seen; but the lily and the rose blossom in accordance with
uniform laws, and not in an arbitrary manner. So in the animal kingdom.
God gives sensibility to the nerve, and excitability and power to the
muscle. He causes the lungs to heave, and the arteries and veins to bear
the blood along the channels of life; but it is not in an arbitrary
manner. It is in accordance with the laws which he has ordained and he
never disregards in his agency over these kingdoms.
So in his government of mind. He works everywhere. But he does it in
accordance with the laws of mind.
Let us look at the last phrase of the verse:
After the counsel of his own will - Not
by consulting his creatures, or conforming to their views, but by his
own views of what is proper and right. We are not to suppose that this
is by “mere” will, as if it were arbitrary, or that he determines
anything without good reason. The meaning is, that his purpose is
determined by what “he” views to be right, and without consulting his
creatures or conforming to their views. His dealings often seem to us to
be arbitrary. We are incapable of perceiving the reasons of what he
does. He makes those his friends who we should have supposed would have
been the last to have become Christians. He leaves those who seem to us
to be on the borders of the kingdom, and they remain unmoved and
unaffected. But we are not thence to suppose that he is arbitrary. In
every instance, we are to believe that there is a good reason for what
he does, and one which we may be permitted yet to see, and in which we
shall wholly acquiesce.
The phrase “counsel of his own will” is
remarkable. It is designed to express in the strongest manner the fact
that it is not by human counsel or advice. The word “counsel” - boule¯ -
means “a council” or “senate;” then a determination, purpose, or decree;
see Robinson’s Lexicon. Here it means that his determination was formed
by his own will, and not by human reasoning. Still, his will in the case
may not have been arbitrary. When it is said of man that he forms his
own purposes, and acts according to his own will, we are not to infer
that he acts without reason. He may have the highest and best reasons
for what he does, but he does not choose to make them known to others,
or to consult others. So, it may be of God, and so we should presume it
to be. It may be added, that we ought to have such confidence in him as
to believe that he will do all things well. The best possible evidence
that anything is done in perfect wisdom and goodness, is the fact that
God does it. When we have ascertained that, we should be satisfied that
all is right. ~Barnes Notes
What did we just learn? What are these commentaries saying?
1] God is the universal agent.
2] He does everything. Every object and event is under His control.
3] He has an agency in causing the emotions of our hearts. We just had
a sermon on this subject:
Salubrious where we talk about how emotions work and what they do.
Now we see that God is absolutely at work in our emotions. He is our
partner in those emotions. He wants us residing in positive emotions.
This means that we must give our emotional life over to Him in all
assiduity just as we put all the physical, mental and spiritual
things of our life. Is there anything in our life for which God is not
the universal agency? We must follow His lead.
4] He has an agency in distributing to people their various allotments
and endowments.
5] The agency of God is seen everywhere [Romans 1:20].
6] There is not an object that we see that does not bespeak the control
of God.
7] God is never arbitrary. We are to believe that God has an absolute
and perfect reason for everything that happens. Knowing this makes it
easy to follow His lead.
8] We must have absolute confidence that He will do all things well [perfectly].
9] The best possible evidence that anything is done in perfect wisdom
and goodness, is the fact that God does it.
10] Knowing all these things should satisfy us that all is right.
[Romans 8:28].
Now all this has been about one verse. Let us read it again:
Ephesians 1:11
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated
according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel
of his own will:
Let us look at some other verses in this chapter and ask some questions.
Does God bless us with spiritual blessings. If so, how many?
Ephesians 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed
us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Notice this about the phrase, "in heavenly places in Christ." The word
"places" is not in the original text.
Notice the commentary:
In heavenly places in Christ - The word
“places” is here understood, and is not in the original. It may mean
heavenly “places,” or heavenly “things.” The word “places” does not
express the best sense. The idea seems to be, that God has blessed us in
Christ in regard to heavenly subjects or matters.
~Barnes Notes
So, one way God blesses us; works with us is to give us all spiritual
blessings in regard to heavenly subjects or matters. As we know, these
heavenly subjects or matters include every element of salvation and our
growing in spiritual maturity. We know this, in part, from the next
verse:
Ephesians 1:4
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the
world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
There are others:
1 Thessalonians 2:12
That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom
and glory.
1 Thessalonians 5:9
For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our
Lord Jesus Christ,
2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren
beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to
salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 2:9
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a
peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath
called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
2 Peter 1:3
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain
unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called
us to glory and virtue:
Back to the questions from Ephesians 1.
What emotion comes up for God as He works all things after the
counsel of His own will?
Ephesians 1:5
Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to
himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
"The good pleasure of His will." Notice the commentary:
According to the good pleasure of his will
- the will of God is the rule of all his actions, and of all his acts of
grace and goodness; and the good pleasure of it appears in the
predestination of men to grace and glory: and from hence it is manifest,
that foreseen faith, holiness, and good works, are excluded from being
the moving cases of predestinating grace; and that it is wholly to be
resolved into the good will and pleasure of God.
~John Gill
Another question:
Does God work with us to make us accepted in Christ?
Ephesians 1:6-7
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath
made us accepted in the beloved.
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,
according to the riches of his grace;
Note: The "beloved" here is Christ.
These two verses are speaking to the Salvation Process, so using verse
5, God put us specifically into the process according to His will and
His pleasure.
So God put us into the salvation process. How does He work with us
there?
Ephesians 1:8
Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
Notice the commentary:
Wherein he hath abounded - Which he has
liberally manifested to us This grace has not been stinted and confined,
but has been liberal and abundant.
In all wisdom - That is, he has evinced
great wisdom in the plan of salvation; wisdom in so saving people as to
secure the honor of his own law, and in devising a scheme that was
eminently adapted to save people; see the notes at 1 Corinthians 1:24.
~ Barnes Notes
Quoted verse:
1 Corinthians 1:24
But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power
of God, and the wisdom of God.
Our key verse, Ephesians 1:11 says God does everything after the
counsel of His own will and I have stated that we need to know and have
the same will He has. Is there any verse in the Bible stating that God
is showing us that will?
Ephesians 1:9
Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good
pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Notice the commentary:
The mystery — God’s purpose of redemption
hidden heretofore in His counsels, but now revealed (Ephesians 6:19;
Romans 16:25; Colossians1:26-27). This “mystery” is not like the heathen
mysteries, which were imparted only to the initiated few. All Christians
are the initiated. Only unbelievers are the uninitiated.
~Jamieson, Fausset, Brown
Quoted verses:
Ephesians 6:19
And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my
mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
Romans 16:25
Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and
the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the
mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
Colossians 1:26-27
26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations,
but now is made manifest to his saints:
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this
mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Let us look at some other scriptures that speak to how God works.
Romans 12:1-2
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye
present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which
is your reasonable service.
2. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the
renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
What could be clearer? We are transformed by the renewing of our
minds. How do we renew our mind? By putting God's mind into our mind
or better stated, by immersing ourselves into His mind. Doing so will
prove to our minds that good, acceptable and perfect will of God.
I did an entire sermon on this with the title, "Your
Reasonable Service" ...a sermon about
being a living sacrifice before God.
Note: In all these scriptures
that speak to our duties in the salvation process, God has shown us that
He has given us the power to perform them and that He will lead us on
the righteous and holy path. So follow His lead.
The verse says, "acceptable unto God."
Psalm 25:4
Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.
1 John 3:3
And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he
is pure.
2 Corinthians 7:1
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse
ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting
holiness in the fear of God.
1 Corinthians 12:4-13
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which
worketh all in all.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit
withal.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the
word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing
by the same Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another
discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another
the interpretation of tongues:
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to
every man severally as he will.
12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of
that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be
Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to
drink into one Spirit.
Go back up to verse 6 and the phrase, "all in all" as in God worketh all
these things in all firstfruits. Notice the commentary:
All in all - All these operations are to
be traced to him. His agency is everywhere. It is as really seen in the
insect’s wing as in the limbs of the mammoth; as really in the humblest
violet as in the loftiest oak of the forest. All, therefore, should
regard themselves as under his direction, and should submit to his
arrangements. If people regard their endowments as the gift of God, they
will be thankful for them, and they will not be disposed to despise or
undervalue others who have been placed in a more humble condition and
rank in the church. ~Barnes Notes
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count
slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should
perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Hebrews 13:21
Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that
which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be
glory for ever and ever. Amen.
See the commentary on the phrase, "Working in you.":
Working in you - Margin, “Doing.” The
idea here is, that the only hope that they would do the will of God was,
that he would, by his own agency, cause them to do what was
well-pleasing in his sight. ~Barnes Notes
Now the commentary on the first phrase of the verse, "Make you perfect."
Make you perfect - The apostle here does
not affirm that they were then perfect, or that they would be in this
life. The word used here - καταρτιζω katartizō - means to make fully
ready; to put in full order; to make complete. The meaning here is, that
Paul prayed that God would fully endow them with whatever grace was
necessary to do his will and to keep his commandments. It is an
appropriate prayer to be offered at all times, and by all who love the
church, that God would make all his people perfectly qualified to do all
his will. ~Barnes Notes
Let’s finish with a definitive verse speaking to how God works:
Philippians 1:6
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work
in you will perform it until the
day of Jesus Christ.
So go now and continue to follow God’s lead. |
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