MIDWEEK BIBLE STUDY
THE BIBLE STUDY SERIES
The Chronological Method of Bible Study
Tuesday in the Truth
October 23, 2012
Tying up the Loose Ends of Genesis 1 – 11, III
Wednesday in the Word
October 24, 2012
Tying up the Loose Ends of Genesis 1 – 11, III
(The Providence of God)
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE WORD
- What exactly was God doing before He revealed His creations?
- The Bible dates who God is.
- The Bible gives a revelation of what God has already done.
- The Bible is our course of study of God’s finished work in eternity past.
INTRODUCTION
- God existed in eternity past.
- Genesis 1:1
- “In the beginning” refers to a period called the dateless past or eternity past.
- “In the beginning” refers to the beginning of time not God. In other words, time had a beginning, but before time there was God.
- “In the beginning” is the beginning of the measurement of time.
- “In the beginning” severs eternity. God split eternity and called it time. Time has a shelf life unlike eternity.
- Jeremiah 1:4-10
- Man consists of three parts: spirit, soul and body.
- God is intimately acquainted with our spirits in eternity past (before He introduced time).
- Your life will complete a 360 degree turn: you begin in eternity as a spirit with God; the first 180 degrees will bring you into time to live out a life span in time; the next 180 degrees ceases time and will bring you back to eternity where you originated. How you live in eternity is determined by what you do in time.
- God has already worked out all the details of your life in eternity past.
- Your path and provisions in life [in time] have already been ordered by God in [eternity past].
- You must release your faith to receive what has already been arranged for you in eternity past.
- Also in eternity past, God has given every man an assignment [in time].
- Man consists of three parts: spirit, soul and body.
- Genesis 1:1
- Scriptural references to the activity of God in eternity past
- Acts 15:18
- Ephesians 3:8
- Colossians 1:18
- Hebrews 1:10
- Specific activities of God in eternity past…
- God was fellow-shipping and planning [for every man] with His son, Jesus Christ.
- God was creating the universe.
- He was identifying and providing for those He knew would choose Him (known as the doctrine of election).
- He was planning and providing for the Church.
- He was preparing for the Kingdom.
- He was planning for the Savior.
- I Peter 1:18-20
- An arrangement is made for a Savior before the first man is ever created [to sin]!!!!!
- God created a devil (or problem) for Himself to establish a solution or plan for believers when the devil or problems arise in our lives.
- Faith is agreeing with eternity past rather than the circumstances in time.
- Romans 4:17-18
- In eternity past, God had already made Abram a father of many nations.
- God has already blessed you in eternity past; consequently, the devil cannot curse you when you agree or align with God.
- God has already finished everyday of your life in the dateless past.
- God has worked out every answer to every problem [in time] in eternity past. In other words, He has made a way of escape for every temptation [in time]. (Scripture reference – I Corinthians 10:13)
- Romans 4:17-18
- I. The providence of God
- Providence defined…foresight; making provisions beforehand
- Because God made man His partner, God must have man’s participation which is faith and agreement in order to bring His intended and preplanned will to past for man’s good.
- I Corinthians 1:9
- Jeremiah 29:11
- As laborers and rulers of the earth, we will either agree with Satan or with what God has arranged in eternity past.
- Your confessions will identify your choice of partners. Your faith-filled confessions (agreeing with the dateless past) bring you into collaboration with your co-laborer, God.
- A day is already arranged on God’s calendar for you to receive ALL the “good and perfect gifts” purchased by the Father.
© 2012 George Matthews Ministries