The Sovereignty of God - God's Plan and Purpose will Prevail

Years ago my father worked for a plumbing and heating company that contracted to install the plumbing and heating systems in large commercial buildings. Whenever his company would start a new "job" the foreman would give my dad a huge pile of blueprints that would show exact details of how the plumbing and heating systems were to be installed. I can remember how Dad would spread them out all over on the living room floor and study them; there would be pages and pages of these dark blue papers with white lines and illustrations. In the evenings he would spend hours looking over the "plans" and then get up early in the morning and go off to work, where he and the other workers would implement the exact layout of all the configurations of the plumbing and heating system as indicated in the blueprints.

Blueprints are a reproduction of the technical drawings that show every aspect that goes into the construction of a building and which documents every measurement, every beam, board, pipe, elbow, faucet, drain, rivet, hanger, sink, toilet, hot water heater, etc. etc. right down to the smallest bolts, screws and washers. 

Blueprints can also be called "plans" and everything in the plan is spelled out as to the correct measurements, the layout, the materials and exactly how many pieces will be needed of each item, and even a timetable of when certain things need to be done. 

The contractors, construction workers, plumbers and pipe fitters constantly consult the blueprints of whatever area they are working on to ensure that they are implementing the details exactly as shown and illustrated in the blueprints. 

The construction of the whole building, including its heating and plumbing systems, have been worked out beforehand by the architects and engineers; and all the workers have to do; is to do their part and do it according to the instructions in the blueprints.

God our Father and Jesus Christ have put together a "Plan" most likely drawn up in eons past when they conceived and designed every detail that would go into the building of a spiritual Family. They are the two members of the Elohim who created all things, and creators need to have plans that outline and detail what they want to create. 

The Bible tells us that they created the heavens and the earth and the whole universe but the pinnacle of their building efforts involve the sublime creation of spirit beings who are being made into their image and who will make up the spiritual Family of God. 

How much more then a mere physical building, would their Plan for such spirit beings need to be perfectly thought out and then implemented in the most meticulous fashion. This plan calls for the completion of the character development of men and women who would eventually be made in the same image as their Creator in righteousness and holiness.

If men can put together designs of every aspect of a building on a piece of paper that show every detail that must go into the construction of a school or a hospital and have it come together in perfect functionality (if built according to that plan), then think about what God is capable of! Every detail of every part of what God is creating is already well thought out beforehand and He is in the process of making sure that everything comes together perfectly and according to His perfect time table.

We would be grossly mistaken if we thought that God is not really that involved with His creation; that He just lets things happen according to chance or man's whims and then just reacts to make things work out. But God does have a plan and His plan, of course, is perfect; it is far greater and more involved than a construction job, and the Plan of God is incredibly mind boggling!

The culmination of God's creation was to create man, which is what chapters 1 and 2 of Genesis are all about. First God is creating a PHYSICAL creation; it is a model somewhat like a pre-fab that is a forerunner of His SPIRITUAL creation. The physical creation is the environment for His most important work, creating a spiritual Family that He wants to share eternity with! 

We find the blueprint for this marvelous and ongoing creation of mankind in the pages of the Bible, which is His whole Word. And when we read about God's Plan for mankind and how He has figured everything out in advance and that nothing is going to deter Him from accomplishing His goal; it helps to build our faith all the more that God is SOVEREIGN over ALL and that we can trust Him to bring about all that He says will happen and that He is MIGHTY enough to make every detail come to pass.

Jesus Christ is the head of the body (the Ekklesia) and under the authority of His Father He plays the most important part in the Plan of God. But, also, every other part of His body is very much important in terms of the preparing, molding, fashioning of that particular part. These "parts" include all the faithful saints and prophets from the past; and presently it includes you and me if we are among those God is calling to be a part of His Family at this time. God has chosen for each of His children what part they are to be in the Family He is creating and He is allowing enough time for them to be totally prepared to fulfill their part. 

And just as a set of blueprints of a building spell out all the details and complexities that need to go into the construction of that building, so God is orchestrating and bringing about the events that He deems necessary in building godly character into the ones who will make up His divine Family. God has an awesome goal in mind and He has a perfect plan for building a family; He is not going allow anything to prevent the completion of what He has purposed from the "foundation of the world".

1st Peter 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

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: 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: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

David extols God in Psalm 139 about the wondrous ways in which God formed his body in his mother's womb and that God is marvelous in all His works that go into creating a physical person. God uses that physical creation to then continue the spiritual development during that person's lifetime. If that person has been called and responds by applying Christ's sacrifice to his sins and then goes on to overcome his sins and human nature, he will someday be resurrected into a spiritual being. 

David seems to be applying his exuberant praise of how he is fearfully and wonderfully made to the physical creation, but this can also serve as a metaphor that portrays the wonder and marvel we can have regarding the creation of what God is doing on a spiritual plane! 

When we are finally made into spiritual bodies, that too will be wonderful and marvelous beyond imagination. Just as David said that he was made in secret in the hidden areas of the earth (the womb) so the purpose of what God is doing spiritually is hidden from most of humanity at this time.

Psalm 139:14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. 15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. 17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! 18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

God has wonderful plans for His faithful children, those He is calling and who are responding to His call by obeying Him and seeking to be like Him in every way. He already knows what the goal is that He expects for them to achieve. God is our Sovereign Lord and it gives us much comfort and assurance once we understand this concept.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

A godly parent ideally has great plans for his beloved child, and he wants his child to become like him, to take on virtuous characteristics and to grow up to be a responsible, God-fearing adult. The parent has great hopes for his offspring that they would accomplish certain things in life. This is how God is and He desires that His children take after Him in His righteousness and that they will also want to enter into His work of bringing the rest of humanity into His Family.

But at this present time, God in His sovereign wisdom has granted just a small portion of mankind to come to understand the deep secrets of this Plan.

Mark 4:11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

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,

Jesus told His disciples that even the prophets of old did not fully know all of the things that Jesus was revealing to the disciples at that time and that they were blessed to be given this new understanding of the Plan of God. Jesus, while he was with them on earth, was teaching them deep spiritual things of God that would later become the teachings in the New Testament that have been recorded for all who would later become His disciples. And we too are blessed if we are willing to "hear" Jesus' words.

Matthew 13:16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

In Acts 15 when the apostles came together to settle their dispute over circumcision, James gave the summary of what they had concluded and then said this in regard to God's Plan and Purpose that God is fulfilling and how He knows all things:

Acts 15:13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: 14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. 15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: 17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. 18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

This is an incredible, amazing statement! If we can just get out minds wrapped around what the apostle James is saying that affirms what is revealed in so many other passages in the Bible about the SOVEREIGNTY of God. If we can begin to understand this concept, we are incredibly blessed just as Jesus taught His disciples as He was explaining the meaning of His parables: "But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear." Do we really grasp what God inspired James to say here in Acts 15? that God knows beforehand everything that He is going to do and everything that was going to happen during the first 6000 years of man, the Millennium, the Great Fall Harvest of Humanity and then beyond into eternity!

It has been estimated that in man's history there has been approximately 50-80 billion people who have been born and lived during that time period. It is incomprehensible that God knows every one of them and He knows what has happened in each individual's life and He has an ultimate plan for each if they are willing to repent of their wicked ways and embrace His ways for the rest of eternity.

And in spite of the fact that man has free moral agency, God has orchestrated every one of His prophecies to come about perfectly and He knows how to bring about certain events that will happen; right on time. This is beyond our comprehension just as we cannot fully understand yet how Beings can have existed for all of eternity, having no beginning. This is when we need to walk in faith knowing that there are some things that are just too hard for us to understand at this time.

Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

We as human beings make many mistakes, we start out as sinners and we make bad decisions and may even lose our way for a time that make it appear that we have deviated from God's Plan. But Paul tells us in Romans 28 that God can "make all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28) 

How does He do that? No one really knows but it puts us in a state of awe and then helps to build our faith that God is indeed Sovereign and that He is all powerful to bring about what He wants in spite of our failures, if we repent and turn back to Him when we go in the wrong direction. Then God uses our failures for good to help us in learning lessons.

Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

God tells us through His prophet, Isaiah, that He [God] declares the end from the beginning and that His purpose for what is to be and that what He has planned will come about no matter what.

Isaiah 46:10 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:

God says He will do all His pleasure which means that God is the one who is in charge and He will allow to happen only what He wants to happen.

We make our plans in life and most of the time things just do not turn out the way we would have them turn out. How many of us have had our whole world pulled out from under us by situations that we just had no control over and then wondered "why is this happening to me?" But once we understand that God is Sovereign, we come to the realization that all that has taken place in our lives has occurred to bring us to the place where God wants us. 

God allows what He wants to happen and the events are part of what His plan and purpose is for us. The reality of it all, is that God is in the process of getting us prepared for what He wants us to be in His future Kingdom. 

God, in essence, is preparing His (collective) bride and He also tells us in Isaiah 55 that His thoughts are not our thoughts, neither are our ways His ways. He prepares His bride in ways that may seem really difficult and not according to what the members of the bride may think should be happening in most cases. Only God knows what is truly best for His people and what they need to achieve His standard of Holiness.

Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

God is in the process of sanctifying and cleansing His called-out and He will do it in ways that may mystify us at times. It's all about what God wants and not necessarily what we want! Except we do want the same end result if we are one of His children. Its just that the way of becoming righteous and holy may be different than what we had originally thought in our limited human thinking.

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

The Meaning of "Sovereign"

"Sovereign" is a word that many may find hard to define adequately especially for those who live in the modern western nations who have not had the experience of living under a dictatorial one-man ruler. Our culture tends to stress democratic rule, self reliance, the majority rules, etc.

The King James Bible does not have a specific Hebrew or Greek word for "sovereign" but other Bible translations do insert the word sometimes before God's name denoting "all powerful" or "all mighty". i.e. "Sovereign Lord", "Sovereign God".

The online Free Dictionary defines "sovereign" as: a monarch or other supreme  ruler, a person who  has sovereign power or authority, having supreme rank,  power,  or authority,  supreme; preeminent;  indisputable: sovereign power;  a sovereign right, greatest in degree; utmost or extreme; being above all  others in character, importance, excellence, etc.

A Greek word that comes close to the same meaning as sovereign is despotés (Strong's #1203) and means: (from posis, "husband") - properly, an authority figure ("master") who exercises complete jurisdiction (wields unrestricted power), implies someone exercising "unrestricted power and absolute domination, confessing no limitations or restraints" (R. Trench, 96) (HELPS Word-studies)

The Greek word for "king" is basileus (Strong's #935) Definition: a king, ruler, but in some passages clearly to be translated: emperor, a king (sovereign); often referring to Christ who is "the King of kings" (Rev 19:16), i.e. the King over the Kingdom of the heavens (God). As the King, Jesus Christ has unqualified jurisdiction over all creation - also being God the Creator. (cf. Jn 1:1-3,49). See 932 (basileia). (HELPS Word-studies)

The Biblical definition of the concept of "the Sovereignty of God" can be derived from how it is used in Scripture; it means that God, as the ruler of the Universe, has the right to do whatever He wants. Further, He is in complete control over everything that happens, He knows all things and nothing can thwart His plans for what He wants to happen.

We have many passages in the Bible that support the fact that a Sovereign God is sovereign over all. Among them are:

Psalm 115:3 But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

Daniel 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

Romans 9:20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

Many atheists and unbelievers have difficulty with the concept of an Almighty God who is sovereign over all things; they often demand to know from those who say they are Christians "if God is in total control of all things, then why does He allow so much evil and suffering in the world?"

The mainstream Christian's typical answer is that "the human mind cannot grasp why God allows evil; instead, we are called to have faith in God's goodness and love."

The fact is, that those who are called of God, who keep His commandments and know the "mysteries of the kingdom of God" can give an answer to the atheist's question for God has revealed it to those who are called; they can understand why God does not eliminate evil and suffering from the world during this time.

God has provided us with His "blueprints" of His plan as revealed in the pages of the Bible of what He is doing to bring mankind into His Family. A major component in the process is allowing humanity to go their own way for a while so that they reap the consequences of sin during their limited lifetimes. 

At the appointed time, whenever God will open their eyes to His truth, they will be able to make an informed decision based on the comparison of a life of sin to what a life of righteousness produces. 

In the end, most men and women will prefer the ways of God and not the ways of Satan and after experiencing a lifetime of the misery that way brings. God's Plan includes many phases in the time-line of man's development and ultimately all who have ever lived will have their chance to sincerely repent and become a member of His Family.

"But What About the Free Will of Man?"

God, in His sovereignty, allows free will and that fact is very obvious from what we experience in the here and now, and from the accounts of men and women whose lives are recorded in Scripture. God does not want robots as members of the God Family nor as leaders in His Kingdom. He gives everyone the freedom to accept or reject His love, and to either accept or reject the chance to live with Him for all eternity. It is each person's choice.

God desires to have children that have come to have the mind of God, who think as He thinks and who enthusiastically CHOOSE to live by all of His ways because they have come to the point of total conviction that His ways are the BEST ways. They are therefore repelled by the idea of ever reverting back to sinful human nature ever again.

But while God's people are in the process of learning these principles we sometimes fail to live up to God's laws and make bad choices in our pilgrimage to the Promised Land that may bring about certain consequences. However, in God's supreme sovereignty He can work with man's sinful choices to turn lives around. We see examples of this in multiple Scriptures, from David's sin with Bathsheba and Uriah, to the destructive behavior of Paul before God struck him down and converted him; and there are many other examples. 

When we come to recognize this concept of Gods Sovereignty, we begin to see that the whole Bible is about all kinds of events that show that it is God who calls the shots; He is the one who is in control and is orchestrating things and events that we cannot see as of yet. God is at this time orchestrating end time prophecies behind the scenes that are unclear at present, but when it is time, He will bring all the unseen pieces together and everything will come to pass just as He has foretold in the many pages of the Bible.

Even though man has free will, this is what God has to say about His plan and purpose that He is carrying out:

Proverbs 19:21 There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.

Job 42:1 Then Job answered the Lord, and said, 2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. [and that no thought or purpose of Yours can be restrained or thwarted. - AMP version]

Isaiah 14: 26 This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations. 27 For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?

In John 17, Jesus prayed to His Father and said that it was His will that those the Father had given to Him would some day behold His glory. 

Through the apostle Peter, God tells us that He is not willing that any should perish but it is His desire that ALL should come to sincere repentance. 

But in order for all mankind to have a chance to choose God, it will involve much patience [longsuffering] on the part of God, for it will take 7000 years to bring about the Firstfruits and then 7000 more years to accomplish God's goal for all the rest who eventually will be resurrected and given their chance to come to repentance.

John 17:24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

2nd 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.

Who is Sovereign Ruler in Our Lives?

So the question that God presents to all of us who make up the Ekklesia at this time is "Who will you allow to rule in your life?" Who is it that we look to as our ultimate authority?

God is very patient, loving and gracious but He makes it perfectly clear that He expects His children to look to Him as the Sovereign Ruler over their lives and they are commanded to have no other gods (idols) before Him. He also commands His followers that they are to seek FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness; that we are to obey Him rather than men.

This is the hard test we all face today as we come down to the very end of the age, for over the centuries the church has strayed in this area big time. From the time of the original apostles in the first century we read of how the writers of the New Testament Scripture had to contend with false teachers and the heresy that they were bringing into the church. Imposters were infiltrating the Ekklesia who were bringing in false doctrines, were misleading the brethren and beguiling them to put their faith in them, rather than to obey what God plainly teaches in His Word.

Jude was one who was very concerned about what was happening and he wrote of this very thing. Here are the opening verses to his letter but the rest of his epistle is good to read and study in the light of what has happened to the church down through the ages and has progressively gotten worse as we approach the end time. 

The underlying theme of Jude is that we must "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." and to be on alert that there are those who are very skillful at turning the brethren away from God's truth and from zealous wholehearted obedience to the whole Word of God.

Jude 1:1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: 2 Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied. 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

These warnings were not just for the first-century Christians of that day, but were recorded as admonitions to all of God's people throughout all ages. God, through His apostles, included these warnings as part of His Word because He knew what would happen in these ends times and that His people would need to heed these warnings to avoid being ensnared by men who would bring in false teachings and seduce them to turn away from sound doctrine. 

In 1st Timothy 4, Paul warns that in the end times there will be unscrupulous men that will promote the doctrines of Satan and not the sound doctrines of Scripture.

1st Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

Paul warns the men of Asia in Acts 20 that as soon as he leaves that wolves would enter among the brethren and try to divert them from the truth to follow them.

Acts 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

Then when advising Timothy, Paul tells him that this kind of problem will only get worse as time goes by.

2nd Timothy 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

And in the end time church this has happened probably more than most of us realize and this is why we have so many problems and why we have departed from teaching sound doctrines in the Ekklesia today.

Paul in his epistle to the Thessalonians tells us flat out there would be a falling away in God's church.

2nd Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

God holds each of us responsible if we should ever put men before Him who deceive and mislead us to turn from Him. Part of the problem is because of exactly what Jesus said would happen.

Matthew 13:14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

COG leaders and ministers have applied this passage to others outside the church of God but this is also an indictment of some of those who say that they are members or perhaps even leaders of the Ekklesia. In Matthew 25 Jesus talks about the ten virgins and how they all fell asleep just before the return of Christ. (Matthew 25:1-12) 

Why is this happening? Because we have failed to submit to the Sovereignty of our Lord and Savior and instead went running after men and their false traditions. Yes, it is true that Satan has deceived the whole world, but God's people have been given His Word which contains God's Plan and Purpose; we have been given God's Holy Spirit that opens our eyes to His truth and enables us to resist Satan's deception if we will only allow God's Spirit to lead and guide us and to ask to be filled daily with it.

God expects us to do what it takes to not allow ourselves to be led astray; He gives us many warnings throughout all the Scriptures; He tells us how we are to avoid deception and guard His precious truth and how to avoid those that would influence us. 

He does not consider us free of blame if we are allowing ourselves to be duped by false teachers! In Genesis 3 God puts the blame of Adam and Eve's rebellion exactly where it belonged, on all three participants, Adam, Eve and Satan. But for members of the Ekklesia especially, they need to understand to whom much is given, much will be required, for we have God's written Word which is specifically written for those who have made the covenant with God and have received the Holy Spirit.

Luke 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

The Bible was written for the most part for those God is calling out to be His followers. We, then, are no better than Adam and Eve for God had spoken to them in advance and told them that they could eat of any tree in the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 

We too have been given, through God's Word, all the things we need to know to enter into a covenant relationship with Him, to keep His commandments and to seek out the true doctrines of God. He then holds us responsible for doing as He clearly teaches us. 

We have so much less excuse than Adam and Eve for blaming the devil because God's Word reveals to us Satan's deceptions and how we can overcome his lies by believing in the truth as outlined in the Holy Bible. 

As the called-out who have been given so many spiritual tools to help us to overcome, we all must squarely face our responsibility of choosing whom we will serve. Will it be our Father in heaven and His Son? or will we follow deceived men and their false traditions just because they seem important and are esteemed the leaders? (and perhaps even threatening us with scorn and disciplinary action?) God is watching us to see who will be sovereign in our life and who it is we will give our total allegiance.

The State of the Church Now and in Recent History

Our pastors and teachers can help, encourage and teach the members how to have a relationship with God and direct them to the true teachings contained in His Word, but no one can be a savior to anyone else: that is Christ's job!

There is a proverbial saying and it is so true: "you can lead a horse to water but you cannot make him drink" when it comes to teaching others. And if we are spiritually asleep and refuse to wake up to what is really happening because we refuse to do the necessary work of proving what we are being taught and studying our Bibles to see what it has to say, then no one else can help us (or save us).

As we saw earlier, God is Sovereign and He knew exactly what would happen in the end times and how the church would fall away from the truth. Why is the church so scattered in these end times? And why does it seem like there are so many schisms and problems in the Church of God in our recent history? Because God allowed it to happen to shake us from our complacency and it is also part of our training in overcoming and learning how to be godly, loyal leaders and priests for God in His Kingdom! 

It was not Satan that blew the Worldwide Church of God apart, he has not that power. Perhaps he was used as an instrument but it was God that did the scattering just as He promised He would do to physical Israel if they transgressed and went after their idols.

Nehemiah 1:7 We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses. 8 Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:

But then God says in the very next verse; just as He is saying to us, the spiritual Israel, that if we repent and return to Him, He will accept us back. And that is exactly what God is calling us to do in these last days! We may only have a short time left to be able to fully turn back to God and restore the truths that have been lost and to regain and then hold on firmly to the sound doctrines as they were given to His prophets and apostles.

Nehemiah 1:9 But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there.

Malachi 3:7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?

Was it Satan that scattered us? Does Satan have power over God to bring his causes to fruition outside of God's will? No, Satan has no power whatsoever; it was God that scattered us and He did it for a good reason. It is because we had turned from God to put our trust in a church leader who became an icon that we were taught that we must look to for our authority even over God's own Word. 

Over the past 50 - 60 years or so, the church members have been indoctrinated with the Primacy of Peter doctrine and to this day it is still a major stumbling block to many in the church. 

The Primacy of Peter philosophy is also called the Nicolaitan doctrine in Revelation 2 and it is about having a ministerial hierarchy that comes between the regular members and their God. This principle, that exalts leaders in the church, is still being propagated by the ministers who were taught and trained by Herbert W. Armstrong. 

This doctrine is so insidious for it forms the basis of then refusing to even look into the Word of God to see if what the ministers or what HWA taught is true or not.

This is a huge stumbling block still at this time for it closes the mind to even consider that God may be opening doors to see that we were in error about many things; and then lead us into deeper and more comprehensive understanding of His precepts, doctrine, prophecies and the deeper spiritual meaning of certain things. (Please study chapter 12 of the book of Daniel, especially verses 4 and 9.)

With the Doctrine of the Nicolaitans firmly entrenched in the members' minds, the corporate groups that command such strict adherence to this philosophy are locked into stagnation and have not been able to grow or receive new understanding! 

The people fear that they will exhibit rebellion to the authority of their higher-ups who are only men, yet who teach that to rebel against them is to rebel against God for they believe that it is God who made them the authoritative rulers over other brethren.

What does God clearly say in His word about looking to men who teach us that we must obey them rather then obeying the clear ordinances and holding on to the sound doctrines that are taught in God's Word?

1st Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

Acts 5:29 ...we must obey God rather than men.

Why Is the Ekklesia So Scattered at This Time?

To many of us, it does appear that the church leaders have caused most of the problems, by bullying the brethren and causing division in the COG's; but could it be because we came to worship our leaders and allowed them to lead us astray, that God then used them to scatter us and cause division among all the different groups? Whenever we look to idols rather than God, God will eventually use those very idols to teach us certain lessons: that the things we look to as our gods are after all not God and only idols that cannot save us.

But even though the leaders have abused the flock and have caused the scattering, the good news is that God in His Sovereignty is going to gather His people and bring them back, at least the ones that learn their lesson and return to Him. 

This could very well be after we have hit bottom and come to see that it was we, ourselves, that caused God to do what He had to do to the church in these end times. This will also include the tribulation that will be meant to correct us and bring us to look to His Sovereignty and to no other gods ever again. 

In the following verses, the first two say that the pastors scattered the sheep of God's pasture, but in verse 3 God indicates that it was really He who drove the sheep into all of the countries where they have been scattered. Even though the leaders helped to scatter the sheep, God in His Sovereignty allowed it to happen to bring about His ultimate Purpose!

Jeremiah 23:1 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord. 2 Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord. 3 And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. 4 And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the Lord.

We Are Called to Pass Our Tests Just as Those of By-Gone Years

We have been and are currently being severely tested just as the early church members were tested by the persecution of the Jewish leaders of their day and then down throughout all history by many others in the last 2000 years of the church's history right up until our day. 

What is throwing us off is the fact that instead of being beaten and persecuted to death as were so many of our brethren of the past, we in our modern western society have lived in the most prosperous, civilly govern nations in the history of mankind. As a result, we have for the most part been tested and tempted in Materialism that has permeated these end times rather than the threat of life and limb as our forefathers were. 

Many of us have become accustomed to being members of a prosperous church and being able to freely practice our faith in this country. At the same time we have lived the good life with so many extra enjoyments and opportunities for social events without that much hindrance from the society in which we live.

In our recent history, even the church itself lived extravagantly and taught the members that this was our right as God's children, i.e. the costly, elaborate buildings in Pasadena, the huge campuses, summer camps and luxuriant feast sites that were built during the WCG days.

God had to take all those things away from us to teach us that there is so much more to being committed to following Him other then social events, summer camps, impressive opera houses, extravagant mansions, worldwide (tourist-type) feast sites; not that there is anything inherently wrong with these things, but these kinds of things did get us accustomed to thinking we were entitled to such luxuries because we were the "Church of God" and "we had God's Truth", and it was "because of God's blessing us for having the truth". 

But over time we showed God by our thinking and by our behavior what our real priorities were. We came to put these things first over being zealous for Him and His commandments, over observing the Sabbath day properly and the keeping of His correct holy days and new moons as He determined.  These material things came to mean more to us than the spiritual things of God. 

Even though we have lost most of the material things, this mind-set is still very much engrained into our hearts and so we still look to our leaders to provide us with what we imagine as "blessings" that we enjoyed in by-gone days. We have been conditioned to think that the groups and their leaders owe us this kind of lifestyle.

This is so obvious in the large corporate groups that have the authoritarian leaders who keep spending and building; and yet their members tolerate them, will not call them to account and will not move on. 

This brings to mind this passage that depicts the fact that when ancient Israel received the national consequences for their transgressions and idols, instead of turning to God and repenting of their transgression that brought on the consequences in the first place; they stoically and stubbornly resolved that they would build even bigger, grander edifices to show how strong and powerful they were. "We cannot be defeated (even though we are living far from God and his commandments)" type of mentality. 

Isaiah 9:10 The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.11 Therefore the Lord shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies together; 12 The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. 13 For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the Lord of hosts.

Brethren, this is still happening in the Church of God (Please see Revelation 3:14-19). Instead of turning to God and admitting that we were wrong, that we are still wrong in many areas; so many of the Ekklesia refuse to admit that our leaders have misled us, that we are exalting them and their corporate entities, that the ministers are teaching false doctrine and that we have been following idols of men for many, many years.

Instead we say "The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars." We say: "we are scattered because of what the Tkaches did but we will become even stronger and we will prove that it was those other factors that brought about our downfall and not our own transgressions; for we have all the truth and we have no need to be corrected and to grow in more righteousness and understanding."

It is time to wake up and ask God to lead us into all truth including the truth of what happened in the past that we need to repent of now; rather than trying to replicate the things that the past leaders promoted as being proof that we were God's people.

And now as the tribulation is fast approaching, the persecution, bullying and dis-fellowships are becoming more frequent, more and more pressure is being applied to those who are standing up to the corrupt ministers who care nothing for the truth of what God teaches; but rather are still promoting their false calendar and traditions as taught years ago even though they have been proven to be false. 

The best way we can overcome them is to repent of following them and then just walk away from them and refuse to support them anymore, even if it means we have to stand alone and perhaps not have anyone to fellowship with or to meet with on the Sabbaths and Holy Days.

God is looking for those who are strong in the faith and will take a stand for what is right. These are the ones who are willing to withstand this kind of pressure, who refuse to follow those who refuse to wholeheartedly follow Jesus Christ, even if it means we are ostracized for wanting to obey God rather than men.

Last week I quoted Jeremiah about how Jeremiah complained about how hard it was in the face of his detractors and those who were making it difficult for him; and God told him that it was going to get much harder. 

For us too, it is still relatively possible to freely exercise our faithfulness to God; we are not being threatened with death and torture in our western nations at this point. Let us turn back to God and His Word while it is possible to do so for our liberties in this nation are rapidly disappearing.

Jeremiah 12:55 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?

So far, most of us have not had to put our lives and limbs on the line in order to stay faithful to God, but the time is coming when some will have to. We know this is true for it is prophesied to happen in many places in the Bible.

Daniel 12:7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. 8 And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? 9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. 10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

Now is the Time to Return to God and to His Sovereignty Over Us

NOW is the time for us to diligently seek God and show by our words and actions who we truly look to as our Sovereign Ruler and Master. Do we follow God no matter what others may say or do? or are we still following after men and their organizations without giving much thought as to what they teach and what kind of examples they present; perhaps not really caring as long as our needs for fellowship and acceptance among our peers are being met. 

Many in the church still feel that as long as they are a member of some particular COG group that they are okay and don't really need to study to show themselves approved; and that is exactly what they have been taught.

If God is the Supreme Ruler over the whole universe and over all beings including the heavenly host and all mankind, do we see Him as our Ruler and does He have the highest authority in our lives?

Or do we in reality give that prerogative to men? God wants to see and we will be tested as to who we give our total allegiance to. It is only through Jesus that we have any hope of entering into eternal life. 

If we allow men to come between us and talk us into turning away to follow after them and their false traditions, we will lose our crowns, meaning we will loose our opportunity to be accounted worthy to be in the first resurrection.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

All others who want to teach us are only helpers and should be guiding us to zealously look to Christ as our Savior and to glorify Him, ONLY, in obedience and reverence. The "church" can only do so much for us. Only Christ is our Mediator and High Priest and it is only through forgiveness of and obedience to Him that we can be saved and have eternal life.

We have much instruction in God's Word as to how we are to view those that have been given responsibilities to lead and to teach.  Yes, we are to respect them and honor them and follow them as they follow Christ, but never put them before God or let them lead us astray. And if they should ever abuse us we are to avoid them (and run from them).

2nd Corinthians 1:24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

1st Peter 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

1st Thessalonians 5:12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. 14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

2nd Timothy 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

Matthew 23:8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. 10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.

Judges 8:23 And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the Lord shall rule over you.

Paul counseled Timothy and warned him of how men will be in these last days; even men who claim that they are servants of God but who do not show the fruits of being men of God.

2nd Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

What can we do to safeguard that we are under God's Sovereignty and not following men? We must love the truth above all else! proving that we love God's truth by being willing to live it no matter what.

2nd Thessalonians 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

Revelation 2:2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

If We Do His Commandments, God Will Give Us More Understanding

We must be willing to obey what we already know to be in God's will for us and then God promises that He will lead us into even more understanding of His truth. 

Many people seem to want to know what God's plan is for their lives, but they overlook the fact that His ways are already clearly delineated throughout His Word, but then they still refuse to obey what it says. 

God is very clear about many, many aspects of His will and if we do not obey the things that God has shown us clearly already, then why would we think He would reveal any further information regarding His Plan for our lives? Obedience is an important first step and obeying what we have already have come to see as God's righteousness proves to God that we do love the truth.

Psalm 111:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

God has revealed to us His Plan and Purpose, He has given us His blueprints which is the Bible. There is no higher calling than what God has called us to: a chance to enter into a personal covenant relationship with Him for all eternity. 

There is nothing more valuable in this life that could ever be more important than what God gives to His faithful people. How much do we value this wonderful gift and opportunity to become fashioned into His image and to live eternally with Him as one of His leaders in His Kingdom?

It is our responsibility to take what He has given, make the very best use of it to grow in understanding and then guard it with all our being from ever letting our calling slip from us. 

The only way to navigate the Christian life successfully is to do as God instructs in His blueprints of "how to live a Godly life"; and if we have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit we have been given divine empowerment to do as He instructs. 

We have our blueprints, let us be constantly referring back to them to see how we are to implement the guidelines that have been clearly shown to us. To do this, we absolutely need to believe that we are part of His Plan and that He is with us the entire way, helping us to attain to the goal He has set before us.

We must keep believing always that His Word carries the greatest authority in the universe and that He is SOVEREIGN over all including every detail of our lives. It is Jesus Christ who is the greatest Apostle and is our High Priest; it is He who we owe everything we are and everything that we have to Him, including our loyalty, obedience and worship as such.

Hebrews 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

Jesus Christ is our High Priest and soon to be King of kings over all the earth and He is able to bring about all His Father's plans for us if we are yielding ourselves to that Plan.

Isaiah 46:9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,10 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: 11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.12 Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness: 13 I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Proverbs 19:21 There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand [prevail].

We as humans may make many plans for ourselves as to what we will do, nevertheless, it is what God purposes for us and that is what will PREVAIL, IF we look to Him as our Sovereign Lord and Savior and refuse to hold any other "god" in that position (including men or leaders who demand blind allegiance) .

Constance