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The$Miracle$and$the$Mystery$#1$
The$Plan$of$the$Ages$
September$4th$and$7th,$2016$
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A"lot"is"happening"in"the"world"right"now."We"are"all"trying"to"
get"a"handle"on"what"is"happening"in"America"and"around"the"
world."
The"end"times"is"a"very"interesting"subject"to"many.""
I"want"to"back"up"and"take"a"wide>screen"look"at"what"God"has"
planned"and"what"he"is"doing."
What"in"the"world"is"God"doing."
In"order"to"do"that"we"are"going"to"have"to"look"at"eternity"to"
eternity"in"order"to"understand"the"present"time"and"where"we"
fit"in"the"big"picture."
Psalm"90"NLT"
2
Before the mountains were born,
before you gave birth to the earth and the world,
from beginning to end, you are God. 1
>From"eternity"to"eternity"God"is"God."
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1
"Tyndale"House"Publishers."(2013)."Holy%Bible:%New%Living%Translation"(Ps"90:2)."Carol"Stream,"IL:"
Tyndale"House"Publishers."
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>What"he"is"doing"is"bigger"than"this"planet."
>This"planet"is"part"of"it"but"it"is"bigger"than"earth."
>We"are"going"to"finish"up"talking"about"the"end"times."
>In"order"to"understand"the"end>times"properly"we"need"to"see"
the"big"picture."
1.!What$happened$before$earth$and$mankind?$
>God"is"eternal."
>This"planet"was"formed"out"of"eternity."
>When"this"age"is"done…it"goes"back"into"eternity."
>Earth"and"all"that"has"happened"and"will"happen"is"but"a"small"
slice"of"what"happened"before"and"what"will"happen"afterward."
>In"order"to"understand"the"end"of"all"things,"we"have"to"start"
with"the"beginning"of"all"things."
>There"was"a"specific"mission"God"had"in"mind"for"this"planet."
•! Before"earth"God"created"angels"to"serve."They"aren’t"his"
children;"they"are"created"beings."
•! Before"earth"there"was"a"rebellion.""
•! Lucifer,"the"light"bearer,"led"a"rebellion"because"of"his"
pride"and"1/3"of"the"angels"followed"him."
Revelation"12"NLT"
7
Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought
against the dragon and his angels. 8 And the dragon lost the
battle, and he and his angels were forced out of heaven. 9 This
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great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan,
the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the
earth with all his angels. 2
•! Rebellion"and"sin"didn’t"start"in"the"Garden"of"Eden,"it"
spread"there"from"the"heavenly"war."
•! We"see"satan"tempting"Adam"and"Eve"in"the"garden."
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2.!God’s$Mercy$Masterplan$
>How"was"God"to"react"to"this"uprising?"
>When"someone"rises"up"against"you"it"is"natural"to"want"to"
strike"back."
>If"a"general"leads"a"coo"it"is"natural"to"want"to"catch"him"and"
punish"him."
>The"North"Korean"dictator"just"killed"someone"for"falling"
asleep"in"his"message."
>God"had"2"options:"
1>Wipe"out"the"devil"and"his"followers"and"their"memories."
>It"is"like"the"commercial"for"Vick’s"Vapor"Rub"when"the"little"
preschool"girl"looks"at"her"sick"brother"and"says"VAPORIZE"HIM."
2>Put"in"motion"a"plan"to"use"this"evil"for"good."
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2
"Tyndale"House"Publishers."(2013)."Holy%Bible:%New%Living%Translation"(Re"12:7–9)."Carol"Stream,"IL:"
Tyndale"House"Publishers."
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>God"is"a"good"steward"and"he"uses"everything"for"good….he"
makes"bad"things"good"things"because"he"is"God"and"he"can."
>His"plan"was"to"let"mercy"triumph."
James"2"NIV"
Mercy triumphs over judgment! 3
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Romans"12"NIV"
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 4!
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>God"wasn’t"responding"to"the"devil’s"rebellion."
>You"can"force"God"to"respond"with"evil."
>He"overcomes"evil"with"good."
Ephesians"1"NIV"
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be
holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to
be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance
with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious
grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In
him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness
of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he
lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he
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3
"The%Holy%Bible:%New%International%Version."(1984)."(Jas"2:13–14)."Grand"Rapids,"MI:"Zondervan."
4
"The%Holy%Bible:%New%International%Version."(1984)."(Ro"12:21)."Grand"Rapids,"MI:"Zondervan."
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made known to us the mystery of his will according to his
good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into
effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to
bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one
head, even Christ. 5!
Revelation"13"NIV"
All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose
names have not been written in the book of life belonging to
the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.6
-God’s response was not a reaction but a TRAP.
-Corinthians said he never would have fell for it if he had
known.
-God is a great chess player….don’t take the easy pawn, he is
aiming at your king.
-What if God is so wise he is able to use the devil’s best punch
to knock him out.
-How wise is our God?
Romans 9 NIV
What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power
known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—
prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the
riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5
!The%Holy%Bible:%New%International%Version.!(1984).!(Eph!1:3–10).!Grand!Rapids,!MI:!Zondervan.!
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!The%Holy%Bible:%New%International%Version.!(1984).!(Re!13:8).!Grand!Rapids,!MI:!Zondervan.!
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prepared in advance for glory— even us, whom he also called,
not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?7
-What if God wasn’t surprised but he knew before he created
anything this would happen.
-You can’t outfox the fox.
-The fall wasn’t a surprise.
-The cross wasn’t a surprise. Jesus agreed to it before he ever
showed up in Bethlehem.
3.!The!Eternal!Purpose!Revealed!
Ephesians!1!NIV!
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be
holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be
adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with
his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace,
which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we
have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in
accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on
us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to
us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure,
which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the
times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in
heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. 8
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7
!The%Holy%Bible:%New%International%Version.!(1984).!(Ro!9:22–24).!Grand!Rapids,!MI:!Zondervan.!
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!The%Holy%Bible:%New%International%Version.!(1984).!(Eph!1:4–10).!Grand!Rapids,!MI:!Zondervan.!
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-He always planned it but in his patience he didn’t act until it
was time….when the times reached their fulfillment.
Ephesians 3 NLT
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Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he
graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the
endless treasures available to them in Christ. 9 I was chosen to
explain to everyone* this mysterious plan that God, the Creator
of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.
10
God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display
his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and
authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was his eternal plan,
which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord. 9
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EThe!NIV!calls!it!the!“ETERNAL!PURPOSE”.!
EIt!is!the!big!picture.!
EIt!is!the!reason!you!exist!here!but!also!in!the!ages!to!come.!
Ephesians!2!NIV!
And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in
the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the
coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his
grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.10
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*!3:9!Some!manuscripts!do!not!include!to%everyone.!
9
!Tyndale!House!Publishers.!(2013).!Holy%Bible:%New%Living%Translation!(Eph!3:8–11).!Carol!Stream,!IL:!
Tyndale!House!Publishers.!
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!The%Holy%Bible:%New%International%Version.!(1984).!(Eph!2:6–7).!Grand!Rapids,!MI:!Zondervan.!
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ESo!what!is!the!eternal!purpose?!
•! Your!purpose!in!this!life!is!to!be!born!again!and!follow!
Jesus.!
EThe!more!you!see!the!truth!about!Jesus,!the!more!you!behold!
him,…..the!more!you!reflect!him.!
EChrist!in!You!is!the!hope!of!glory.!
EThis!age!is!about!what!God!is!doing!IN!YOU.!
EYou!are!being!transformed!as!your!mind!is!renewed!and!you!
are!conformed!more!and!more!into!his!image.!
EYou!are!to!be!like!Jesus!when!you!grow!up.!
Ephesians!4!NIV!
until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of
the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole
measure of the fullness of Christ. 11
EWHAT!WOULD!JESUS!DO!IS!A!GOOD!STANDARD.!
EYou!have!a!purpose!on!planet!earth.!
EWe!need!you!to!grow!up!and!find!your!place.!
ESOMEONE!SAID!OUR!PURPOSE!IS!BETWEEN:!
•! WHAT!MAKES!YOU!TICK?!
•! WHAT!MAKES!YOUR!TICKED?!
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!The%Holy%Bible:%New%International%Version.!(1984).!(Eph!4:13).!Grand!Rapids,!MI:!Zondervan.!
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EIn!other!words,!what!do!you!love!and!what!do!you!hate!and!
have!to!change?!
EWhen!you!are!in!your!place,!we!all!benefit.!
Ephesians!4!NLT!
16
He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part
does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that
the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. 12
-You are special.
-You have a special work.
-You have this treasure in an earthen vessel.
-You are a treasure chest.
-Go through the growth track and find your place.
EXAMPLE WITH TAMMY’S POEM
•! Your!eternal!purpose!is!about!what!God!will!do!through!
you.!
EHis!eternal!purpose!is!to!reveal!himself!THROUGH!YOU!to!
heavenly!beings.!
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!Tyndale!House!Publishers.!(2013).!Holy%Bible:%New%Living%Translation!(Eph!4:15–16).!Carol!Stream,!IL:!
Tyndale!House!Publishers.!
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Ephesians!3!NLT!
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God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his
wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and
authorities in the heavenly places.
Romans 9 NIV
What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power
known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—
prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the
riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he
prepared in advance for glory— even us, whom he also called,
not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?13
EGod!wants!to!reveal!his!mercy!TO!YOU!but!also!THROUGH!
YOU.!
EYour!life!and!salvation!are!an!eternal!testimony!of!how!God!
took!a!mess!and!redeemed!it.!
Tell!this!story.!
Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer
thought it scarcely worth his while to waste much time on the old violin,
but held it up with a smile; "What am I bidden, good folks," he cried,
"Who'll start the bidding for me?" "A dollar, a dollar"; then two!" "Only
two? Two dollars, and who'll make it three? Three dollars, once; three
dollars twice; going for three.." But no, from the room, far back, a
gray-haired man came forward and picked up the bow; Then, wiping the dust
from the old violin, and tightening the loose strings, he played a melody
pure and sweet as caroling angel sings.
The music ceased, and the auctioneer, with a voice that was quiet and low,
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!The%Holy%Bible:%New%International%Version.!(1984).!(Ro!9:22–24).!Grand!Rapids,!MI:!Zondervan.!
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said; "What am I bid for the old violin?" And he held it up with the bow.
A thousand dollars, and who'll make it two? Two thousand! And who'll make
it three? Three thousand, once, three thousand, twice, and going and
gone," said he. The people cheered, but some of them cried, "We do not
quite understnad what changed its worth." Swift came the reply: "The touch
of a master's hand."
And many a man with life out of tune, and battered and scarred with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd, much like the old violin, A
"mess of pottage," a glass of wine; a game - and he travels on. "He is
going" once, and "going twice, He's going and almost gone." But the Master
comes, and the foolish crowd never can quite understand the worth of a soul
and the change that's wrought by the touch of the Master's hand.
Myra 'Brooks' Welch
Kindly contributed by:
S. Simons
EIt!is!like!the!antique!roadshow….a!piece!of!junk!is!worth!
hundreds!of!thousands.!
EA!pet!rock!is!worthless!except!it!is!worth!what!someone!is!
willingto!pay!for!it.!
YOUR!WORTH!IS!DETERMINED!BY!THE!PRICE!PAID!TO!GET!YOUE
THE!LIFE!OF!THE!SON!OF!GOD.!
YOUR!PURPOSE!IS!DETERMINED!BY!THE!MERCY!THAT!WAS!
SHOWN!TO!YOU!TO!TRANSFORM!YOU!AND!MAKE!YOU!INTO!
SOMETHING!INCREDIBLE.!
1!Peter!1!NLT!
And now this Good News has been announced to you by those
who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from
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heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly
watching these things happen. 14
GOD’S WORK IN YOU AMAZES THE ANGELS.
SPIRITUAL BEINGS WILL LEARN ABOUT GOD BY
SEEING WHAT HE ACCOMPLISHED IN YOUR LIFE.
-That is the eternal purpose.
-That is the foundation for next week.!
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!Tyndale!House!Publishers.!(2013).!Holy%Bible:%New%Living%Translation!(1!Pe!1:12).!Carol!Stream,!IL:!
Tyndale!House!Publishers.!