We need to understand the impact of the unseen upon the things that we see.

1
We need to understand the impact of the unseen
upon the things that we see.

• The Bible tells us that the greater reality is
  found in the unseen. (Heb 111-3)

2
We need to understand the impact of the unseen
upon the things that we see.

• Hebrews 111-3 Now faith is the substance of
  things hoped for, the evidence of things not
  seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good
  testimony. 3 By faith we understand that the
  worlds were framed by the word of God, so that
  the things which are seen were not made of things
  which are visible.

3
We need to understand the impact of the unseen
upon the things that we see.

• Years ago a Christian professor met an expert in
  the origins of the universe and heard him lecture.

4
We need to understand the impact of the unseen
upon the things that we see.

• Years ago a Christian professor met an expert in
  the origins of the universe and heard him
  lecture.
• Without a doubt this man in his brilliance gave
  several possibilities as to the origins of the
  universe.

5
We need to understand the impact of the unseen
upon the things that we see.

• As the Christian heard the lecture he thought
  this man really doesnt know and I do! Why? We
  have heard from one who was there!

6
We need to understand the impact of the unseen
upon the things that we see.

• The Bible has much to say about things that
  happened before the universe even existed!

7
We need to understand the impact of the unseen
upon the things that we see.

• The Bible has much to say about things that
  happened before the universe even existed!
• These things have great impact over everyday life
  for us.

8
We need to understand the impact of the unseen
upon the things that we see.

• The Bible has much to say about things that
  happened before the universe even existed!
• These things have great impact over everyday life
  for us.
• More importantly we can understand the temporary
  purpose of this universe and the eternal
  existence each of us will experience.

9
We need to understand the impact of the unseen
upon the things that we see.

• The Bible has much to say about things that
  happened before the universe even existed!
• These things have great impact over everyday life
  for us.
• More importantly we can understand the temporary
  purpose of this universe and the eternal
  existence each of us will experience.
• We will learn much about the character of the God
  we serve in this study.

10
Before the creation a triune God planned to act
on our behalf

• There was a plan from a triune God that involved
  each person of the Godhead.

11
Before the creation a triune God planned to act
on our behalf

• There was a plan from a triune God that involved
  each person of the Godhead.
• God the Father was author of the plan. (Eph
  13-4)

12
Before the creation a triune God planned to act
on our behalf

• Ephesians 13-4 - Blessed be the God and Father
  of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with
  every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places
  in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before
  the foundation of the world, that we should be
  holy and without blame before Him in love,

13
Before the creation a triune God planned to act
on our behalf

• Jesus was to be slain according to the plan.

14
Before the creation a triune God planned to act
on our behalf

• Jesus was to be slain according to the plan.
• The Holy Spirit was to reveal the plan once for
  all. (Jn 1423-26)

15
Before the creation a triune God planned to act
on our behalf

• John 1423-26 - Jesus answered and said to him,
  "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word and My
  Father will love him, and We will come to him and
  make Our home with him. 24 "He who does not love
  Me does not keep My words and the word which you
  hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me.

16
Before the creation a triune God planned to act
on our behalf

• 25 " These things I have spoken to you while
  being present with you. 26 "But the Helper, the
  Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My
  name, He will teach you all things, and bring to
  your remembrance all things that I said to you.

17
Before the creation a triune God planned to act
on our behalf

• The shows the incredible wisdom of God in a
  perfect plan.

18
Before the creation a triune God planned to act
on our behalf

• The shows the incredible wisdom of God in a
  perfect plan.
• Satan and his forces had no chance. (1 Cor 27-8)

19
Before the creation a triune God planned to act
on our behalf

• 1 Corinthians 27-8 - But we speak the wisdom of
  God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God
  ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which
  none of the rulers of this age knew for had they
  known, they would not have crucified the Lord of
  glory.

20
Before the creation a triune God planned to act
on our behalf

• This gives us great assurance that we have
  committed ourselves to a God who will never fail
  us. (Heb 1228)

21
Before the creation a triune God planned to act
on our behalf

• Hebrews 1228 - Therefore, since we are receiving
  a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have
  grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with
  reverence and godly fear.

22
Before the creation a triune God planned to act
on our behalf

• We actually hold a central place in the plan of
  God! (Psa 83-4 1442-3)

23
Before the creation a triune God planned to act
on our behalf

• Psalm 83-4 - When I consider Your heavens, the
  work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars,
  which You have ordained, 4 What is man that You
  are mindful of him, And the son of man that You
  visit him?

24
Before the creation a triune God planned to act
on our behalf

• Psalm 1442-3 - My lovingkindness and my
  fortress, My high tower and my deliverer, My
  shield and the One in whom I take refuge, Who
  subdues my people under me. 3 LORD, what is man,
  that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of
  man, that You are mindful of him?

25
Before the creation a triune God planned to act
on our behalf

• This is a plan we cannot in our right minds
  refuse. There will be no other way to be saved!
  (Jn 146)

26
Before the creation a triune God planned to act
on our behalf

• John 146 - Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the
  truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father
  except through Me.

27
Before the creation a triune God planned to act
on our behalf

• We should be both humbled and awed that God has
  acted and spoken.

28
Before the creation a triune God planned to act
on our behalf

• We should be both humbled and awed that God has
  acted and spoken.
• If you think Christians are too radical then
  look at who has spoken to them! (Heb 11-3)

29
Before the creation a triune God planned to act
on our behalf

• Hebrews 11-3 - God, who at various times and in
  various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by
  the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to
  us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all
  things, through whom also He made the worlds

30
Before the creation a triune God planned to act
on our behalf

• 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the
  express image of His person, and upholding all
  things by the word of His power, when He had by
  Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right
  hand of the Majesty on high,

31
Before the creation a triune God planned to act
on our behalf

• Do you realize that we have been given the mind
  of Christ? (1 Cor 216)

32
Before the creation a triune God planned to act
on our behalf

• 1 Corinthians 216 - For "who has known the mind
  of the LORD that he may instruct Him?" But we
  have the mind of Christ.

33
The triune God was personally involved in the
execution of this plan

• God planned to become man! (Jn 11, 14)

34
The triune God was personally involved in the
execution of this plan

• John 11-4 In the beginning was the Word, and
  the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2
  He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things
  were made through Him, and without Him nothing
  was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and
  the life was the light of men.

35
The triune God was personally involved in the
execution of this plan

• This concept is mind boggling! How can this be?

36
The triune God was personally involved in the
execution of this plan

• Jesus, the Son of God, willingly limited His
  powers and experienced His life as a man. Words
  cannot describe the sacrifice involved in this.
  (Phil 25-8)

37
The triune God was personally involved in the
execution of this plan

• Philippians 25-8 - Let this mind be in you which
  was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the
  form of God, did not consider it robbery to be
  equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no
  reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and
  coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found
  in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and
  became obedient to the point of death, even the
  death of the cross.

38
The triune God was personally involved in the
execution of this plan

• How could one endure such a change? We can
  understand why prayer was so dear to our Lord.

39
The triune God was personally involved in the
execution of this plan

• How could one endure such a change? We can
  understand why prayer was so dear to our Lord.
• He was exposed to prideful, sinful men and never
  once acted in self-interest and pride.

40
The triune God was personally involved in the
execution of this plan

• How could one endure such a change? We can
  understand why prayer was so dear to our Lord.
• He was exposed to prideful, sinful men and never
  once acted in self-interest and pride.
• We would have wanted to jump up and down saying
  Do you know who you are talking to!

41
The triune God was personally involved in the
execution of this plan

• Imagine the infinite powers of God and then
  seeing men coming to Jesus and laughing at him
  and rejecting Him. (Jn 110-11)

42
The triune God was personally involved in the
execution of this plan

• John 110-11 - He was in the world, and the world
  was made through Him, and the world did not know
  Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not
  receive Him.

43
The triune God was personally involved in the
execution of this plan

• God became man to be known as a suffering
  servant. (Isa 533-5)

44
The triune God was personally involved in the
execution of this plan

• Isaiah 533-5 - He is despised and rejected by
  men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
  And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him He
  was despised, and we did not esteem Him. 4
  Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our
  sorrows Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by
  God, and afflicted.

45
The triune God was personally involved in the
execution of this plan

• 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He
  was bruised for our iniquities The chastisement
  for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we
  are healed.

46
The triune God was personally involved in the
execution of this plan

• He did this for his ear and his heart was
  dedicated to fulfilling a plan to save us. (Isa
  505-7 Lk 951 Jn 1116)

47
The triune God was personally involved in the
execution of this plan

• Isaiah 505-7 5 The Lord GOD has opened My ear
  And I was not rebellious, Nor did I turn away. 6
  I gave My back to those who struck Me, And My
  cheeks to those who plucked out the beard I did
  not hide My face from shame and spitting. 7 "
  For the Lord GOD will help Me Therefore I will
  not be disgraced Therefore I have set My face
  like a flint, And I know that I will not be
  ashamed.

48
The triune God was personally involved in the
execution of this plan

• Luke 951 - Now it came to pass, when the time
  had come for Him to be received up, that He
  steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem,

49
The triune God was personally involved in the
execution of this plan

• John 1116 - Then Thomas, who is called the Twin,
  said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go,
  that we may die with Him.

50
The triune God was personally involved in the
execution of this plan

• Our Lord felt the full force of temptation and
  suffering. (Heb 57-9)

51
The triune God was personally involved in the
execution of this plan

• Hebrews 57-9 - who, in the days of His flesh,
  when He had offered up prayers and supplications,
  with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able
  to save Him from death, and was heard because of
  His godly fear, 8 though He was a Son, yet He
  learned obedience by the things which He
  suffered. 9 And having been perfected, He became
  the author of eternal salvation to all who obey
  Him,

52
The triune God was personally involved in the
execution of this plan

• Why suffer like this? He wanted to show us the
  way.

53
The triune God was personally involved in the
execution of this plan

• Why suffer like this? He wanted to show us the
  way.
• Salvation is free but very costly. The costs were
  known from the foundation of the world. (1 Pt
  120)

54
The triune God was personally involved in the
execution of this plan

• 1 Peter 120 - He indeed was foreordained before
  the foundation of the world, but was manifest in
  these last times for you

55
The triune God was personally involved in the
execution of this plan

• A living faith is not an aimless wander or
  accommodating the religions of men.

56
The triune God was personally involved in the
execution of this plan

• A living faith is not an aimless wander or
  accommodating the religions of men.
• We cannot stop short of a complete commitment to
  this plan that puts us at odds with the world!
  (Heb 122-4)

57
The triune God was personally involved in the
execution of this plan

• Hebrews 122-4 - looking unto Jesus, the author
  and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that
  was set before Him endured the cross, despising
  the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of
  the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who
  endured such hostility from sinners against
  Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in
  your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to
  bloodshed, striving against sin.

58
Jesus revealed a glory that awaits us by faith

• Ultimately we must learn that the unseen world is
  permanent and this world will not last.
  (1 Jn 217)

59
Jesus revealed a glory that awaits us by faith

• 1 John 217 - And the world is passing away, and
  the lust of it but he who does the will of God
  abides forever.

60
Jesus revealed a glory that awaits us by faith

• Jesus wanted us to see Him reject the advantages
  of this world for a future, greater glory. (Jn
  1631-33)

61
Jesus revealed a glory that awaits us by faith

• John 1631-33 - Jesus answered them, "Do you now
  believe? 32 "Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has
  now come, that you will be scattered, each to his
  own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not
  alone, because the Father is with Me. 33 "These
  things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may
  have peace. In the world you will have
  tribulation but be of good cheer, I have
  overcome the world.

62
Jesus revealed a glory that awaits us by faith

• He wanted them to know that God the Father had
  prepared a place for them. (Jn 141-4)

63
Jesus revealed a glory that awaits us by faith

• John 141-4 "Let not your heart be troubled you
  believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 "In My
  Father's house are many mansions if it were not
  so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a
  place for you. 3 "And if I go and prepare a
  place for you, I will come again and receive you
  to Myself that where I am, there you may be
  also. 4 "And where I go you know, and the way
  you know.

64
Jesus revealed a glory that awaits us by faith

• Jesus personally used this knowledge to complete
  His race on earth. (Jn 174-5)

65
Jesus revealed a glory that awaits us by faith

• John 174-5 - "I have glorified You on the earth.
  I have finished the work which You have given Me
  to do. 5 "And now, O Father, glorify Me together
  with Yourself, with the glory which I had with
  You before the world was.

66
Jesus revealed a glory that awaits us by faith

• The knowledge of that glory gave Jesus great
  motivation to complete the terrible finish!
  This was the joy that was set before Him. (Heb
  122)

67
Jesus revealed a glory that awaits us by faith

• Hebrews 122 - looking unto Jesus, the author and
  finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was
  set before Him endured the cross, despising the
  shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the
  throne of God.

68
Jesus revealed a glory that awaits us by faith

• That joy was much more than being a self-centered
  joy.

69
Jesus revealed a glory that awaits us by faith

• That joy was much more than being a self-centered
  joy.
• What do you do when you see something of great
  glory? You want to share that with those you love.

70
Jesus revealed a glory that awaits us by faith

• That joy was much more than being a self-centered
  joy.
• What do you do when you see something of great
  glory? You want to share that with those you
  love.
• The God of the universe one day wants to show us
  something! THINK! (Jn 1724)

71
Jesus revealed a glory that awaits us by faith

• John 1724 - "Father, I desire that they also
  whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that
  they may behold My glory which You have given Me
  for You loved Me before the foundation of the
  world.

72
What do we learn from the actions of a triune God?

• Subjection is the path of faith.

73
What do we learn from the actions of a triune God?

• Subjection is the path of faith.
• We put ourselves completely under the direction
  of Christ. (Mt 2818-20)

74
What do we learn from the actions of a triune God?

• Matthew 2818-20 - And Jesus came and spoke to
  them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me
  in heaven and on earth. 19 "Go therefore and
  make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them
  in the name of the Father and of the Son and of
  the Holy Spirit, 20 "teaching them to observe
  all things that I have commanded you and lo, I
  am with you always, even to the end of the age."
  Amen.

75
What do we learn from the actions of a triune God?

• We put ourselves under others. (1 Cor 113 Heb
  1317)

76
What do we learn from the actions of a triune God?

• 1 Corinthians 113 - But I want you to know that
  the head of every man is Christ, the head of
  woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

77
What do we learn from the actions of a triune God?

• Hebrews 1317 - Obey those who rule over you,
  and be submissive, for they watch out for your
  souls, as those who must give account. Let them
  do so with joy and not with grief, for that would
  be unprofitable for you.

78
What do we learn from the actions of a triune God?

• Our culture hates these concepts, but the Lords
  way was hated when He walked the earth.

79
What do we learn from the actions of a triune God?

• Our culture hates these concepts, but the Lords
  way was hated when He walked the earth.
• Our God understands and is patient and
  longsuffering. (James 510-11)

80
What do we learn from the actions of a triune God?

• James 510-11 - My brethren, take the prophets,
  who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example
  of suffering and patience. 11 Indeed we count
  them blessed who endure. You have heard of the
  perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by
  the Lord -- that the Lord is very compassionate
  and merciful.

81
What do we learn from the actions of a triune God?

• Our God will let us be tested and suffer.

82
What do we learn from the actions of a triune God?

• Here is where He molds us and draws us closer to
  Him. (James 12-5)

83
What do we learn from the actions of a triune God?

• James 12-5 - My brethren, count it all joy
  when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing
  that the testing of your faith produces patience.
  4 But let patience have its perfect work, that
  you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
  5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of
  God, who gives to all liberally and without
  reproach, and it will be given to him.

84
What do we learn from the actions of a triune God?

• Let us stir up our minds to see the unseen! (1 Pt
  113-14)

85
What do we learn from the actions of a triune God?

• 1 Peter 113-14 - Therefore gird up the loins of
  your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully
  upon the grace that is to be brought to you at
  the revelation of Jesus Christ 14 as obedient
  children, not conforming yourselves to the former
  lusts, as in your ignorance

86
What do we learn from the actions of a triune God?

• Have you noticed 2 things that often go together?
  One who has a strong confidence in the glory
  of God lives a life that often experiences
  suffering!

87
What do we learn from the actions of a triune God?

• Have you noticed 2 things that often go together?
  One who has a strong confidence in the glory
  of God lives a life that often experiences
  suffering!
• If the eye would have no tears then the soul
  would have no rainbow.

88
What do we learn from the actions of a triune God?

• What can we do to better see the unseen?