ONLY GOD'S KNOWLEDGE, ONLY GOD'S CHOICE, ONLY GOD'S WAY
Pastor Johnson’s message came from Job 38:1-11, Job 40:2, Job 42:2-6, Romans 9:16-24, and Galatians 1:6-11. The subject was “Only God’s Knowledge, Only God’s Choice, and Only God’s Way” with the following subtopics:
“GOD SPEAKS KNOWLEDGE”
Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Now gird up your loins like a man, and I will ask you, and you instruct me! Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you know and have understanding. Who determined the measurements of the earth, if you know? Or who stretched the line on it? On what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Or who enclosed the sea with doors when it burst forth and went out of the womb; when I made the clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band, and marked for it my boundary and set bars and doors, and said, this far you shall come, but no farther; and here your proud waves shall stop? Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? Or will you yield? Do you-God’s critic-have the answers?> Then Job replied to God: I am nothing-how could I ever find the answers? I lay my hand upon my mouth in silence. I have said too much already.
“THEN JOB REPLIED TO GOD”
I know that you can do anything and that no one can stop you. You ask who it is who has so foolishly denied your providence. It is I. I was talking about things I knew nothing about and did not understand things far too wonderful for me. You said, Listen and I will speak? Let me put the questions to you? See if you can answer them! But now I say, I had heard about you before, but now I have seen you, and I loathe myself and repent in dust and ashes.
“GOD’S CHOICE”:
So then God’s choice is not dependent on human will, nor on human effort, but on God who shows mercy whomever He chooses-it is His sovereign gift. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, I raised you up for this very purpose, to display my power in dealing with you, and so that my name would be proclaimed in all the earth. So then, He has mercy on whom He will, and He hardens whom He will. You will say to me then, why does He still blame me for sinning? For who has resisted his will and purpose? On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God and dares to defy Him? Will the thing which is formed say to him who formed it, why have you made me like this? Does the potter not have the right over the clay, to make from the same lump one object for honorable use and another for common use? What if God, although willing to show His wrath and to make His power known, has tolerated with great patience the objects of his wrath prepared for destruction? And what if He has done so to make known the riches of His glory to the objects of His mercy, which He has prepared beforehand for glory, including us, whom he also called, not only from among the Jews, but also from among the Gentiles?
“NO OTHER WAY”
I am amazed that you are turning away so soon from God who, in his love and mercy, invited you to share the eternal life he gives through Christ; yo0u are already following a different “way to heaven” which really doesn’t go to heaven at all. For there is no other way than the one we showed you; you are being fooled by those who twist and change the truth concerning Christ. Let God’s curses fall on anyone, including myself, who preaches any other way to be saved than the one we told you about; yes, if an angel comes from heaven and preaches any other message, let him be forever cursed. I will say it again: if anyone preaches any other gospel than the one you welcomed, let God’s curse fall upon him. You can see that I am not trying to please you by sweet talk and flattery; no, I am trying to please God. If I were still trying to please men I could not be Christ’s servant. Dear friends, I solemnly swear that the way to heaven that I preach is not based on some mere human whim or dream.
Read the scriptures and be blessed!