WHERE IS GOD? THE EVIL TEXTS
WHERE IS GOD?
MAKING SENSE OF FAITH DURING A PANDEMIC
During times of crisis ALL of humanity is faced with “God” questions.
Where is God in this pandemic?
Did God cause the novel coronavirus?
Is God being passive-aggressive to allow it to happen?
If God is loving WHY doesn’t He intervene?
Is the pandemic an act of God’s judgment?
Is there anything humans/believers can do?
Can we expect special protection during these times?
Will prayer motivate God?
What does God feel towards human suffering?
All of these questions often hang with no more resolution, stopping at the question marks. During this amazing series we will look at philosophical and theological ideas that help us make sense of God, returning us to wholehearted intimacy with God, ourselves and those around us. Join us as we explore the peace of God in times of crisis.
____________________
ARE GOD’S PROMISES RELIABLE?
2 CORINTHIANS 1:20 KJV For all the PROMISES of God in CHRIST [are] YEA, and in him AMEN, unto the glory of God by us.
PSALM 33:18-20 KJV Behold, the eye of the LORD [is] upon them… that hope in his MERCY; 19 … to keep them alive in FAMINE. 20 …he [is] our HELP and our SHIELD.
EXODUS 23:25 NKJV And I will take SICKNESS AWAY from the MIDST of you.
PSALM 91:10-11, 14-16 NKJV NO EVIL shall befall you, nor shall any PLAGUE come NEAR YOUR DWELLING; 11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. ... 15 I [will be] with him in TROUBLE; I will DELIVER HIM and honor him. 16 With LONG LIFE I will satisfy him, and show him My SALVATION."
____________________
WHERE IS GOD?
MAKING SENSE OF FAITH DURING A PANDEMIC
BUT WHAT ABOUT…
??????????
____________________
FAITH
ALWAYS STOPS AT THE
???????
____________________
INTERPRETING GOD - DIFFICULT TEXTS
ISAIAH 45:7 KJV I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and CREATE EVIL: I the LORD do all these [things].
AMOS 3:6 KJV Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be EVIL in a city, and the LORD hath not DONE [IT]?
1 SAMUEL 16:14 KJV But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an EVIL SPIRIT FROM THE LORD troubled him.
____________________
DOES GOD…
CREATE
DO
SEND
EVIL
??????????
____________________
WHAT DOES EVIL LOOK LIKE?
Plagues (Viruses)
Physical Weakness
Infertility
Accidents
Death
Financial Need
Famines
Oppressive Labor
Hating Work/Labor
Sexual Assault
Harassment
No Justice
Fear For Safety
Hard Heartedness
Seared Conscience
Mental Disorders
Anxiety Disorders
Depression
Fear & Confusion
Faulty Cognition
Addictions
Divorce
Broken Families
Child Abductions
Kidnappings
Perpetration
Shame & Guilt
Embarrassment
Humiliation
Regrets
Hiding & Inferiority
Isolation
Rejection
Victimization
Exploitation
Oppression
Cynicism
“Life Is Hard”
Etc.
ANYTHING THAT LACKS PURE GOODNESS!
____________________
GOD IS ALL GOOD
1 JOHN 4:8 NKJV He who does not love does not know God, for GOD IS LOVE.
GOD IS ALL PURE
PSALM 99:9 NKJV Exalt the LORD our God, And worship at His holy hill; For the LORD our GOD [IS] HOLY.
____________________
EVIL IS ANYTHING THAT LACKS GOODNESS
ONLY ONE GOD
ALL EXISTENCE COMES FROM GOD
GOD IS LOVE/GOOD
EVIL IS THE OPPOSITE OF GOOD
ANYTHING NOT GOOD IS EVIL
EVIL IS THE ABSENCE OF GOOD
____________________
DOES GOD…
CREATE, DO, OR SEND
EVIL
??????????
____________________
HOW TO INTERPRET GOD – WEEK 1
COMPARE WITH JESUS
OVERLAY REDEMPTION AGAINST EVIL
REMEMBER PERMISSIVE VERBS
INTEGRATE CREATION’S PROCESS LAWS
ACTIVATE AUTHORITY THROUGH REDEMPTION
____________________
INTERPRETING GOD – DEEPER DIVE
ISAIAH 45:7 KJV I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and CREATE EVIL: I the LORD do all these [things].
AMOS 3:6 KJV Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be EVIL in a city, and the LORD hath not DONE [IT]?
1 SAMUEL 16:14 KJV But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an EVIL SPIRIT FROM THE LORD troubled him.
____________________
DOES GOD CREATE, DO OR SEND EVIL?
JAMES 1:13-14 KJV Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with EVIL, neither does He tempt any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own...
1 CORINTHIANS 14:33 NKJV For God is not [THE AUTHOR] OF CONFUSION…
ROMANS 5:12 NKJV Therefore, just as THROUGH ONE MAN SIN ENTERED the world, and DEATH THROUGH SIN, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.
____________________
DEEP DIVE IN DIFFICULT TEXTS – CREATE EVIL
ISAIAH 45:7 KJV I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and CREATE EVIL: I the LORD do all these [things].
1 JOHN 1:5 NKJV This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that GOD IS LIGHT and IN HIM IS NO DARKNESS AT ALL.
____________________
DEEP DIVE IN DIFFICULT TEXTS – LORD DONE IT
AMOS 3:6 KJV Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be EVIL in a city, and the LORD hath not DONE [IT]?
HEBREW FIGURES OF SPEECH
PERMISSIVE HEBREW VERBS
DECLARATION CONCERNING IT - FORETELLING AS TO BE DONE
MATTHEW 16:19 NCV [Jesus said] I will give you the KEYS of the kingdom of heaven; the things YOU DON’T ALLOW on earth will be the things that God does not allow, and the things YOU ALLOW on earth will be the things that God allows.
____________________
DEEP DIVE IN DIFFICULT TEXTS – EVIL SPIRIT
1 SAMUEL 16:14 KJV But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an EVIL SPIRIT FROM THE LORD troubled him.
HEBREW FIGURES OF SPEECH
PERMISSIVE HEBREW VERBS
DECLARATION CONCERNING IT - FORETELLING AS TO BE DONE
____________________
ACTIVATE GOD’S PROMISES
PSALM 33:18-20 KJV Behold, the eye of the LORD [is] upon them… that hope in his MERCY; 19 … to keep them alive in FAMINE. 20 …he [is] our HELP and our SHIELD.
EXODUS 23:25 NKJV And I will take SICKNESS AWAY from the MIDST of you.
PSALM 91:10-11, 14-16 NKJV NO EVIL shall befall you, nor shall any PLAGUE come NEAR YOUR DWELLING; 11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. ... 15 I [will be] with him in TROUBLE; I will DELIVER HIM and honor him. 16 With LONG LIFE I will satisfy him, and show him My SALVATION."
____________________
HOW TO ACTIVATE GOD’S PROMISES
2 CORINTHIANS 4:13 NKJV And since we have the same SPIRIT OF FAITH, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," WE ALSO BELIEVE AND THEREFORE SPEAK…
JAMES 2:18, 26 NKJV … show me your faith without your works (activations), and I will show you my FAITH by MY WORKS (ACTIVATIONS)… 26 …FAITH without WORKS (ACTIVATIONS) is DEAD also.
_________________________________________________________________
DECLARATIONS
FACING PRESSURE
I am of God and have overcome him (satan). For greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world. (I John 4:4)
FACING PRESSURE
I am far from oppression and fear does not come near me. (Isaiah 54:14)
FACING PRESSURE
No weapon formed against me will prosper, for my righteousness is of the Lord. But whatever I do will prosper for I’m like a tree that’s planted by the rivers of water (Isaiah 54;17; Psalm 1:3)
PEACE
The peace of God which passes all understanding keeps my heart and my mind through Christ Jesus. And things which are good, and pure, and perfect, and lovely, and of good report, I think on these things. (Philippians 4:7-8)
REACH POTENTIAL
The Lord will perfect that which concerns me. (Psalm 138:8)
GAINING WISDOM
I am a new creation in Christ, I am His workmanship created in Christ Jesus. Therefore I have the mind of Christ and the wisdom of God is formed within me. (II Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:10; I Corinthians 2:16)
FREEDOM/GUILT
And I, having received the gift of righteousness do reign as a king in life by Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:17)
FREEDOM DARK
I am delivered from the power of darkness and I am translated into the kingdom of His dear Son. (Colossians 1:13)
REDEEMED KIDS
Great is the peace of my children for they are taught of the Lord. (Isaiah 54:13)
PROTECTION
No evil will befall me neither shall any plague come near my dwelling. For the Lord has given His angels charge over me and they keep me in all my ways, and in my pathway is life and there is no death. (Psalm 91:10-11; Proverbs 12:28)
SECURE DECISIONS
I do follow the good shepherd and I know His voice and the voice of a stranger I will not follow. (John 10:4-5)
SECURE DECISIONS
The Lord enlarges my steps and establishes my thoughts. Therefore I will make healthy Holy Spirit-led decisions. (Psalm 18:36; Proverbs 16:3)
RESTORATION
The Lord redeems my life from destruction and crowns me with tender mercies. The Lord satisfies my mouth with good things. My steps are ordered by the Lord. Even if I were to fall down, He upholds me with his hand. (Ps 103:4; Ps 37:23-24)
SUCCESS AND PROSPERITY
The Lord makes my way prosperous and gives me good success. Jesus has redeemed me from the curse of sin and given me the grace (power in human weakness) to have unlimited available resources. (Joshua 1:8; Gal 3:13; 2 Cor 8:7)
GOD’S FAVOR
The Lord has given me favor with God and man. I execute authority over my calling and future. The free favors of God are profusely abounding in my life. I am at the right place at the right time with the right people. People of power are stirred and predisposed to give me special advantages and preferential treatment. I reek with, and am crowned with, the abundance of God’s free favors over my life. Incredible things happen to me every day that other people don’t have happen in a lifetime. (Pr 3:4; Luke 4:19; Pr 8:5)
DECLARATIONS DOWNLOAD
https://app.box.com/v/declare