IF YOU DO WHATEVER YOU WILL; REMEMBER SO DOES GOD
YOUR WORLD OF OPTIONS ARE WITHIN "HIS" WORLD
“…If the LORD WILL we shall live and do this,
or that….” (James 4:16 KJV).
*
I will talk about the human will, in this
chapter, as a gift of choice God has given every human being on earth. The
established Christian doctrine (Calvinism, Reformed Theology, etc.) says every
human being has the FREE will to choose God or not. Others believe that people,
based on the notion of an “enslaved” WILL, cannot choose God, without his help.
I am not in the position to debate these topics nor do I want to.
However, I am interested in exploring the
human will in relationship with God’s SOVEREIGN will. People all over the world
make choices on a daily basis. In the daily life of making choices people
appear to FREELY make then without any outside forces, or influences, or
limitations. Of course, within the law and within ethical boundaries, people
happily choose whatever their heart desires. “FREE” will right?
“FREE” will says that people can do
whatever their hearts desire to the degree nobody, nothing, no one; not even
God; can stop them. People “FREELY” make choices. Your “FREE” will, however, is
limited by your ability, your available options, and your personal power.
Most believers know this scripture: “…it
is God who worketh in you, both to WILL and
to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13 KJV). “…To WILL and to DO…” implies that God’s Holy Spirit
wields so much indwelling glorious power it can empower the human will to choose ways that will
give God pleasure. In addition, his indwelling Spirit can also enable human behavior to miraculously choose ways that please God. “…NOW UNTO HIM THAT IS “ABLE” TO
DO exceeding
abundantly above all that we ask or think, according
to the power that worketh in us…” (Ephesians 3:20 KJV).
The Holy Spirit’s WORK
in you is NEVER forceful, but honorable. God’s indwelling presence can become a POWERFUL, SOVEREIGN, WORK of the Holy Spirit that can EMPOWER the human will and human actions. “…both to will and to
do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13 KJV).
God's does the Work of the Holy Spirit "IN" and "THROUGH" you and he does the SOVEREIGN WORK in "HIS" world.
GOD IS SOVEREIGN and “…he does whatever pleases him…”
(Psalms 115:3 NIV). AND “All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He (God) does as he pleases (not
mankind) with
the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back his hand
or say to him: “What have you done?” (Daniel 4 NLT).
“…Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none
else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from
the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying,
My counsel shall
stand, and I will do all my pleasure…”
(Isaiah 46:9-10 KJV). “…Remember the
things I have done in the past.
For I alone am God! I am God, and
there is none like me. Only I can tell you the future before
it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for
I do whatever I wish…”
(Isaiah 46: 9-10 NLT).
God’s Sovereignty
informs you that HE is in supreme control over all things, events, and people
at all times. “….Declaring the end from
the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done…”
(Isaiah 46:9-10 KJV). “…. Only I can tell
you the future before it even happens. …”
(Isaiah 46: 9-10 NLT).
God is the sovereign
ruler and authority over everything and everybody. It is God’s sovereign “WILL”
that is ultimately FREE to do as it pleases. “…[God]…does whatever PLEASES HIM…”
(Psalms 115:3 NIV). “…He does
as HE PLEASES with
…the peoples of the earth.
NO ONE can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have
you done?” (Daniel 4 NLT).
Because the whole world
and everyone in that world belongs to God he has the right to bring about his own
purposes and desires as He pleases. “…THE EARTH is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and THEY that dwell therein…”
(Psalm 24:1 KJV). “…for the world is mine,
and the fulness thereof…” (Psalm 50:12 KJV). “…for ALL
that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine…” (1 Chronicles 29:11 KJV).
God, not man, is in
COMPLETE control and absolutely nothing happens without his permission or apart
from his will. “...ALL THINGS work together for good to them that
love God, to them who are the called ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE…” (ROMANS 8:28 KJV).
God in his SOVEREIGNTY
says “…Everything I PLAN will come to pass, for I DO whatever I WISH…”
(Isaiah 46: 9-10 NLT). In this verse God declares His Sovereignty over life’s
course of events.
And God also declares
his sovereign, indwelling presence can powerfully enable the human will and empower human
actions. “…it is God who worketh in you, both to WILL and to do of His good
pleasure”
(Philippians 2:13 KJV). “…To WILL and to DO…”
(Philippians 2:13 KJV).
Therefore, God and God
ALONE “…does
whatever pleases him…”
(Psalms 115:3 NIV). “…He does
as he pleases with
…the PEOPLES of the earth.
NO ONE can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have
you done?” (Daniel 4 NLT).
The Sovereign God says, “…My counsel (WORD) shall stand, and I WILL DO “ALL”
MY PLEASURE…” (Isaiah
46:10 KJV).
In other words, God IS SOVEREIGN over the people, situations, and circumstances in "HIS" world. “…He does WHATEVER pleases him…”
(Psalms 115:3 NIV).
If the truth is
realized, all mankind can truly say: “…If the Lord
will, [I] shall live,
and do this, or that...” (James 4:16 KJV).
Mankind has FREE will in his small arena of the world, but that world is within God's world. God’s FREE will is a reminder that is it God who has
true SOVEREIGNTY to do what he pleases and not mankind. “…He (God) does as he pleases (not mankind) with
…the PEOPLES of the earth.
NO ONE can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have
you done?” (Daniel 4 NLT).
God’s Sovereignty is
without dispute. His Sovereignty is NOT restrained or limited by human will. “…He does whatever pleases HIM…”
(Psalms 115:3 NIV). “…My counsel (WORD)…
SHALL stand, and I WILL DO all my pleasure…” (Isaiah 46:10 KJV). “…NO ONE can hold back [MY]… hand or say to
[ME]: “What have you done?” (Daniel 4 NLT).
Again, God does
whatever HE wills or desires with COMPLETE Sovereignty over HIS world and no one can stop Him. “…NO ONE can hold back [MY]… hand or say to
[ME]: “What have you done?” (Daniel 4 NLT).
The human will is NOT
sovereign over what God chooses to do with HIS "WILL." “…I will do all MY
pleasure…” (Isaiah
46:10 KJV). “…NO ONE can hold
back [MY]… hand or say to [ME]: “What have you done?” (Daniel
4 NLT).
When the “…peoples of the earth…” come up against
God’s Sovereignty over HIS WORLD, it can impact the “freedom” of
the human will. “…How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like
the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say
is, “If the Lord
wants us to, we will live and do this or that. Otherwise you are
boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil”
(James 4:15-16 NLT).
God’s sovereignty over HIS WORLD has in the past, does in the present, and will in the future prevent
or alter the options from which the human will can choose. In reality all
people can truly say: “…If the Lord
will, [I] SHALL (will)...” (James 4:16
KJV).
Remember this story? “I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home
in my palace, contented and prosperous. I had a dream that made
me afraid. So I commanded that all the wise men of
Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me, but they could not
interpret it for me. Finally, Daniel came into my
presence and I told him the dream.
“This
is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar (another
name for Daniel),
tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it
for me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”
Belteshazzar
answered, “My lord…The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top
touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, with beautiful leaves
and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the wild animals,
and having nesting places in its branches for the birds— Your Majesty, you are that
tree!
You
have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the
sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth. “Your Majesty saw
a holy one, a messenger, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Cut down the tree
and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass
of the field, while its roots remain in the ground.
Let
him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live with the wild animals,
until seven times pass by for him.’ “This is the interpretation, Your Majesty,
and this is the
decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild
animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven.
Seven
times (years) will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is
sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes. The
command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom
will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules.
Therefore,
Your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being
kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue.”
All
this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.
Twelve months later,
as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said, “Is not this the great Babylon “I” have built as the royal residence, by “my” mighty power and for the glory of “my” majesty?”
Even
as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven,
“This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority
has been taken from you. You
will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will
eat grass like the ox.
Seven times (years) will pass
by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign
over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.” Immediately
what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled.
He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. His body
was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an
eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.
At the end of that
time, I,
Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored
and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation.
All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he
pleases with
the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back his hand or say
to him: “What have you done?”
At
the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned
to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I
was restored to my throne and became even greater than before.
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar,
praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything
he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride (self-will) he is able to humble…” (Daniel
4 NIV).
King Nebuchadnezzar
learned human will was NOT sovereign over GOD'S WORLD. Only God is
truly sovereign. Nebuchadnezzar’s human will was prideful and God is against
the proud. “…God OPPOSES the proud
…” (James 4:6 NLT). “…everyone who exalts himself will be humbled…”
(Luke 18:14 ASV).
How did God demonstrate his sovereignty? “…AS
THE KING WAS WALKING on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, HE SAID “Is not this the great Babylon “I” have built
as the royal residence, by “my” mighty power and for the glory of “my” majesty?”
(Daniel 4 NIV).
“THIS IS WHAT THE LORD SAYS:
“Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in
their power, or the rich boast in their riches. But those who wish to boast should boast in
this alone: that they truly know me and understand that
I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing
love and who brings justice and righteousness to the
earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the Lord,
have spoken!”
(Jeremiah 9:23-24 NLT). “….apart from Me, you can do
nothing…” (John 15:5 NIV).
Thus, the truth is: “…If the Lord will, [I] shall live, and do this, or that...”
(James 4:16 KJV). He told Israel:
“….Do not forget that [it was God that]… led
you through ... He gave you water …He fed you…. He did all this so you
would never
say to yourself, ‘I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.’
Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who
gives you power to be successful ...”
(Deuteronomy 8:17-17 NLT).
The human “will” was
bestowed upon mankind as a gift from God. “…What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is
from God, why
boast as though it were not a gift?”
(1 Corinthians 4:7 NLT). “…If the Lord will, [You] shall live, and do this, or that...”
(James 4:16 KJV)
“…It is God who worketh in you, both to WILL and to DO of His good
pleasure…”
(Philippians 2:13 KJV). King Nebuchadnezzar’s prideful
will was altered by changes God decided to make in HIS WORLD. “…At
the end of that time, I,
Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward
heaven…. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him
who lives forever… Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the
King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his
ways are just. And those who walk in
pride HE IS ABLE to humble…” (Daniel 4 NIV).
Nebuchadnezzar said: “…those who walk in pride (self-will) he (God)… is “ABLE”
to humble…” (Daniel 4
NIV). “…NOW UNTO HIM THAT IS “ABLE” to do… ACCORDING
to the power that worketh in us…” (Ephesians 3:20 KJV).
Nebuchadnezzar had FREE
will, but God had SOVEREIGN will. God changed HIS WORLD
which resulted in a “…renewing of [the]…
mind…” and the transformation of Nebuchadnezzar’s behavior (Romans 12:2). “…Be transformed by the renewing of your mind….”
(Romans 12:2 KJV).
God’s sovereign changes enabled King Nebuchadnezzar to choose to humble himself. “…he
(GOD) IS ABLE to humble…” (Daniel 4 NIV).
God gives man the
freedom to choose among the many options available to them within their "little" piece of the world. However, God speaks about two important options: “… I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life…”
(Deuteronomy 30:19) OR “…Choose
you
this day whom ye will serve….” (Joshua 24:15 KJV).
Nebuchadnezzar FREELY
chose to do whatever he wanted to do, including walking in his prideful human
will. God also FREELY chose to do whatever he wanted to do in HIS WORLD, and he warned Nebuchadnezzar so he could choose to adjust to the changes God was going to make. “…Therefore, Your Majesty (Nebuchadnezzar), be
pleased to accept my advice: Renounce
your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the
oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue…”
Nebuchadnezzar
willingly chose NOT to follow the advice of the Lord through Daniel. People
ignore God’s gospel message and because he doesn’t act readily against their
sins; they continue to do wrong. “…Because
sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily …the
HEART of the sons of men is fully set in them to [continue to]… do evil….”
(Ecclesiastes 8:11 KJV).
When you are not immediately punished for
doing wrong; God is not giving you permission to continue to do wrong, but an
opportunity to get it RIGHT with HIM. “…Don't
you see how wonderfully kind …God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you?
Can't you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?”
(Romans 2:4 NLT).
“…The
Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient
for YOUR SAKE. He does not
want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent…” (2 Peter 3:
9 NLT). “…The LORD, The LORD God,
merciful and gracious, longsuffering,
and abundant in goodness and truth…” (Exodus 34:6 KJV). “…But you, Lord, are a compassionate and
gracious God, slow
to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness…” (Psalm 86:16
NIV).
Nebuchadnezzar ignored
the opportunity to get himself right with God BEFORE God made the changes to HIS WORLD. “….Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the
royal palace of Babylon, he said, “Is not this the great Babylon “I” have built as the royal residence, by “my” mighty power and for the glory of “my” majesty?”
Like Nebuchadnezzar
many of God’s people are NOT listening to him and have no respect for his
Sovereignty. “…But
my people would not listen to me.
They kept doing whatever they wanted, following
the stubborn desires of their evil hearts…” (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT).
Nevertheless, God is Sovereign. Twelve
months later, “… a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your
royal authority has been taken from you. You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox…”
Nebuchadnezzar’s FREE
human will had no precedence over God’s SOVEREIGN will as demonstrated in the changes that followed. The King hadn’t listened to the Sovereign God. God
gives man FREEDOM to make choices within his piece of the world, but man's piece of the world is WITHIN God's entire world. You have options because God gives them to you, but he can also take them away“…The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away…” Job 1:20-22 NASB).
As God forewarned the king; he made some changes and Nebuchadnezzar’s available options were radically
altered: “…He (Nebuchadnezzar) was driven away from people and ate grass like
the ox. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like
the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird….”
When Nebuchadnezzar’s FREE
human will and its prideful choices came up against God’s SOVEREIGN will and
God’s holy choices; God’s will RULED. ONLY God“…does whatever pleases HIM…”
(Psalms 115:3 NIV).
As the story goes: “…At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward
heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then
I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His
dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom
endures from generation to generation.
All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he
pleases with
the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back his hand or say
to him: “What have you done?”
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar,
praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything
he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride (self-will) he is able to humble…” (Daniel
4 NIV).
Nebuchadnezzar’s human
will chose to continue to be prideful, but God is against the proud. Therefore,
God in his sovereignty enabled the King to RENEW
his mind. “….And those who walk in pride (self-will) HE
IS ABLE to humble… NO
ONE can hold back his hand…” (Daniel
4 NIV).
Further, God, in his
sovereignty enabled the King to TRANSFORM
his behavior. “…NOW UNTO
HIM THAT IS ABLE to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask
or think, according to the power that
worketh in us…” (Ephesians 3:20 KJV).
Nebuchadnezzar’s story gives
credence to God’s sovereignty over his world as well as everything and everybody in it. The lesson is
clear: “…If the Lord will, [YOU] shall live, and do this, or that...”
(James 4:16 KJV). “….HE IS ABLE to humble (YOU)… [and]...NO ONE can hold
back his hand…” (Daniel
4 NIV). “…NOW UNTO HIM THAT IS ABLE to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask
or think, according to the power that
worketh in us…” (Ephesians 3:20 KJV).
The Sovereign God,
alone, can change HIS WORLD as he pleases and “…NO
ONE can hold back his hand…” (Daniel
4 NIV).
Nebuchadnezzar was
warned through a prophetic word from God to DO RIGHT, but he did not LISTEN.
Many of God’s people today are NOT listening to the prophetic Holy Bible or to God’s
anointed leaders, but eventually, in this life, you will have to answer to God.
“…whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap….”
(Galatians 6:7 KJV). “….For
he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption…”
(Galatians 6:8 KJV).
“…But
my people would not listen to me.
They kept doing whatever they wanted, following
the stubborn desires of their evil hearts. They went backward instead of forward” (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT).
“But the people replied, “Don’t waste your breath. We will continue to live as we want to, stubbornly following our
own evil desires” (JEREMIAH 18:12 NLT).
God is Sovereign and
POWERFULLY CONTROLS his world to the degree it can impact the so-call FREEDOM of the human will. “….HE IS ABLE… [and]…NO
ONE can hold back his hand…” (Daniel
4 NIV). “…the things which are impossible
with men are
possible with God…” (Luke 18:27 KJV). “….I am
the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing
too hard for me?”
(Jeremiah 32:27 KJV). “…NOW UNTO HIM THAT IS
ABLE to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us…”
(Ephesians 3:20 KJV).
“…Be transformed by the renewing of your mind….” (Romans 12:2 KJV).
Jesus said, “…not My
will, but Yours be done…"
(Luke 22:42-43 NIV). ). Jesus
came to do God’s will. “…I seek NOT mine own
will…” and submitted to His will. “…but THE
WILL of the Father which hath sent me...”
(John 6:38 KJV). “…For I have come down from heaven NOT TO DO MY WILL
BUT to do THE WILL of him who
sent me…” (John 6:38 NIV).
Jesus had FREE human will too, and like
YOU and many believer’s today; he did not have to follow God’s sovereign, holy will. However, Jesus said, “… I lay
down my life... No one
takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. …” (John 10:17-18 KJV).
Thus, “…be transformed by the renewing of your mind….”
(Romans 12:2 KJV). “…Be conformed to the image of his Son…”
ROMANS 8:29 KJV). “..Let this
mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus…” (Philippians
2:5 KJV). “…not
My will, but Yours be done…" (Luke 22:42-43 NIV).
IF YOU CAN DO AS YOU WILL IN "YOUR" WORLD; DON'T GET UPSET WHEN GOD DOES AS HE WILLS WITH "HIS" WORLD.
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