Monday, November 19, 2012

Ephesians 4:10


10 He Who descended is the [very] same as He Who also has ascended high above all the heavens, that He [His presence] might fill all things (the whole universe, from the lowest to the highest).

Jesus is in control of everything. Like or or not, He is. Jesus even controls those things that we think are bad. Our Father has always controlled all things. The One Spirit of our Father has always controlled the world, from the lowest things to the highest things.

All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being. John 1:3

For it was in Him that all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [by His service, intervention] and in and for Him. And He Himself existed before all things, and in Him all things consist (cohere, are held together). Colossians 1:16-17

For in this city there actually met and plotted together against Your holy Child and Servant Jesus, Whom You consecrated by anointing, both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and peoples of Israel, To carry out all that Your hand and Your will and purpose had predestined (predetermined) should occur. Acts 4:27-28

Our Father predestined and predetermined that Herod and Pilate would do what they did. Our Father controls all things, the Holy Spirit uses the Book of Ephesians to blow free will right out if the water! 

So how do we deal with this Truth when it comes to murder, rape, sickness, and poverty? How could a loving God actually be in control of these things? 

Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and [b]tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. Romans 5:3-4

[But what of that?] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time (this present life) are not worth being compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us and for us and conferred on us! Romans 8:18

So many judge good and bad through their flesh only. Our Father judges all things through our spirit’s. Our flesh is temporary, our spirits are eternal. Bad things to the flesh often result in great things for our spirits. Death of our flesh is not an end, it is the beginning of the next step to our life’s. Tragedy, while bad, will lead us to not rely on ourselves, governments, politicians, jobs, doctors, insurances, or police. Tragedies and sufferings drive us to rely on our Father. This reliance on Him allows us to be used to help others and serve our Kingdom.

But what about the lost who do not know our Father? Just look at Lazarus in Luke 16. Lazarus had a terrible life and upon his death he was transported right to paradise. We are never by told by Jesus that Lazarus was a good man, a faithful man, or a believing man. Jesus only told us that his life was filled with sickness and poverty. People will add that Lazarus was a faithful man to this parable, but Jesus never said that he was. All we are told is that Lazarus suffered tremendously on this earth and that upon his death all of that was taken away from him. The sufferings of Lazarus’ life were in no way to be compared with the glory and prosperity that he will enjoy for all of eternity.    

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