Free Will - A More Exhaustive Look

The elet have been chosen to serve. Not every Christian is one of Gods elect, but every Christian is loved by God, called by God to serve the body in one way or another. This is what God said about Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
In order to be called to service you need to be saved, at least in this period of time After Death

I think that I understand what you're saying, but it doesn't resonate with me and what I have studied within the Bible.

I have a few question for you
How old is the earth? Do you believe that the dinosaurs lived on earth,

It is a study that you will not find in most churches today. You have to understand Peters teaching of the 3 earth ages. Glad to get into it with you but a lot of people will call it crazy. Most Christians will tell you the earth is only 6 to 7 thousand years old and some that the dinosaurs were on the ark.

I hear you, but I have to be honest with you when you began speaking about reincarnation. I don't find that to be something that is Promised to anyone. It may have happened with Elijah to John the Baptist, but other than that . . . I don't see it. That said, I appreciate your offerings.

Back to the concept of "free will" . . .

FreeGrace2 said:
Every verse that states the purpose of election is about service. There are NO verses that show election being to salvation.
Since you admit that "every Christian is called by God to serve the body in one way or another", that is election to service.

Not necessarily. Judas Iscariot was chosen by Jesus. John 6:70,71.

What do you mean by "After Death"?

Sorry Jesus death. If you are or are not one of Gods elect you still must be born again. As I said we have a very good exampel of one of Gods elect in Paul.

FreeGrace2 said:
Every verse that states the purpose of election is about service. There are NO verses that show election being to salvation.

Since you admit that "every Christian is called by God to serve the body in one way or another", that is election to service.
Huh??

All humans need to be born again. Sadly, many will not be.

In EVERY example of election where the purpose is stated, it is about service. And Paul clearly emphasized that he was a SERVANT of Christ.

Day 146 of the timeline, chronological reading plan, we find that David says one of the most remarkable things. In fact, we should all be familiar with the below verse, considering that your church pastor has quoted it many times:

Psalm 139:16 NIV - "Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."

So, is this "hyper Calvinism"? Is it really unreasonable that any person might hold the idea that free will is, at minimum, limited? Each day of our lives have been determined or they have not. Scripture, here, is either correct or it is false. Or, perhaps this is an individual case for king David, the Father of Christ. Or, another option would be that we, as in "world Scholars," have somehow misinterpreted the Holy Scriptures. It is true that some translations do not clearly mention how each day of David's life was pre-recorded. Nonetheless, many translations do, in fact, describe Psalm 139:16 in this way.

Most people do not want to believe that the Lord has determined our lives. Christians of modern-day need to claim that they are in charge of their decisions and actions, but there are simply far too many verses, such as the passage above, that indicate that this line of thought cannot be True.

Below, God, Himself takes full responsibility that king David would be crushing fortified cities. This means that David’s future was determined; after all, he would become the “Father of Christ,” and there is no way that this element of the Lord’s Plan would go unfulfilled.

2 Kings 19:25 NIV - "Have you not heard? Long ago I ordained it. In days of old I planned it; now I have brought it to pass, that you have turned fortified cities into piles of stone."

I gave you a good exampel of what they will do in these end times in Luke 21.
Amos 8:10
New Living Translation
I will turn your celebrations into times of mourning and your singing into weeping. You will wear funeral clothes and shave your heads to show your sorrow— as if your only son had died. How very bitter that day will be!

English Standard Version
I will turn your feasts into mourning and all your songs into lamentation; I will bring sackcloth on every waist and baldness on every head; I will make it like the mourning for an only son and the end of it like a bitter day.

Berean Study Bible
I will turn your feasts into mourning and all your songs into lamentation. I will cause everyone to wear sackcloth and every head to be shaved. I will make it like a time of mourning for an only son, and its outcome like a bitter day.

King James Bible
And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day.
Verse 11
New International Version
“The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign LORD, “when I will send a famine through the land— not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD.

New Living Translation
“The time is surely coming,” says the Sovereign LORD, “when I will send a famine on the land— not a famine of bread or water but of hearing the words of the LORD.

English Standard Version
“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord GOD, “when I will send a famine on the land— not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD.

Berean Study Bible
Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord GOD, when I will send a famine on the land—not a famine of bread or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD.

King James Bible
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:
Verse 12.
New International Version
People will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the LORD, but they will not find it.

New Living Translation
People will stagger from sea to sea and wander from border to border searching for the word of the LORD, but they will not find it.

English Standard Version
They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, to seek the word of the LORD, but they shall not find it.

Berean Study Bible
People will stagger from sea to sea and roam from north to east, seeking the word of the LORD, but they will not find it.

King James Bible
And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.
Verse 13
New International Version
“In that day “the lovely young women and strong young men will faint because of thirst.

New Living Translation
Beautiful girls and strong young men will grow faint in that day, thirsting for the LORD’s word.

English Standard Version
“In that day the lovely virgins and the young men shall faint for thirst.

Berean Study Bible
In that day the lovely young women—the young men as well—will faint from thirst.

King James Bible
In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst.
This is some of what they will preaching and teaching

FreeGrace Here is some of the other things they will be teaching and preaching.
Mark 13:14
New International Version
“When you see ‘the abomination that causes desolation’ standing where it does not belong—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

New Living Translation
“The day is coming when you will see the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing where he should not be.” (Reader, pay attention!) “Then those in Judea must flee to the hills.

English Standard Version
“But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

Berean Study Bible
So when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

Berean Literal Bible
And when you see the abomination of the desolation, standing where it should not (the one reading, let him understand), then those in Judea, let them flee to the mountains;

King James Bible
But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:
This next question is asked in all sincerity; Do you understand the abomination of the desolation, spoken of by the prohet Danial?
I know that a lot of church do not teach this or Mark 13:28-31
Mark 13:28-31 KJV
28Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near: 29So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. 30Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done. 31Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

Again verses copied from Biblehub.com

we covered these verses in the start but I thought it good to put them in again.

2nd Peter 3

5.But they deliberately overlook the fact that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water, 6through which the world of that time perished in the flood. 7And by that same word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men

The Day of The Lord
(Zephaniah 1:7–18; Malachi 4:1–6; 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11)

8Beloved, do not let this one thing escape your notice: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.c 9The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.10But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyedd by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness 12as you anticipate and hasten the coming of the day of God, when the heavens will be destroyed by fire and the elements will melt in the heat. 13But in keeping with God’s promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

Ephesians 1:4

New Living translation: Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.

Berean Study Bible: For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love

King James Version: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

We do have one very good example of one of Gods elect in the New Testament. Paul the writer of most of the new testament. It was his will to kill and destroy the Christians; God had chose him for something special He did not have a choice. As we get closer to the end of this earth age and the time of the Antichrist we will see Gods elect at work. I want to add something Gods elect are not super Christians, they are not people that will never make a mistake and I will bet that they are not some super preacher. Luke 21 gives us a good picture of what I thank Gods elect are here to do in the end time.

12But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. 13And it shall turn to you for a testimony. 14Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: 15For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. 16And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. 17And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. 18But there shall not an hair of your head perish. 19In your patience possess ye your souls.

This is when the unforgivable sin can accrue. Those offered up are not to thank about what to say. It is the Holy Spirit that is to speak through you. Verse 15 For I (Jesus) will give you a mouth and wisdom (it is not our wisdom but God's) What are you going to do with that mouth and wisdom? You are going to put you adversaries (that includes Satan) in there place. They are not going to be able to gainsay (Webster: to declare to be untrue or invalid) nor resist you. If you have the honor of being one of those chosen for this job you have nothing to fear. Verse 18. But there shall not a hair of your head parish. (This is a promise from God, you do not have to worry) The reword comes in Verse 19. In your patience possess ye your souls. Notice souls there will be more than 1 person delivered up.



Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

proorizó: to predetermine, foreordain

Definition: to predetermine, foreordain
Usage: I foreordain, predetermine, mark out beforehand.

You must understand that predestination is for a small percentage of Christians.

Here is an example: Jeremiah 1:5 New Living Translation
“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”
English Standard Version
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
Berean Study Bible
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
King James Bible
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.


1The oracle of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.2“I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob 3 but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.”4If Edom says, “We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins,” the Lord of hosts says, “They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called ‘the wicked country,’ and ‘the people with whom the Lord is angry forever.’ ”5 Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, “Great is the Lord beyond the border of Israel!”
—Malachi 1:1-5

Romans 9:

13As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

14What shall we say then?Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.15For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

Paul makes it clear that God is not unfair,or unrighteous: He know from what happened in the first earth age that Esau had no regrade for his heritage.

What about the majority of people on the earth today are we left out? God forbid No that is not said anywhere in God's word.

Biblehub.com 2 Peter 3:9

English Standard Version
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Berean Study Bible
The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.
Berean Literal Bible
The Lord does not delay the promise, as some esteem slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but all to come to repentance.
King James Bible
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Ephesians 1:6"To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved:"

The "Beloved" is Christ, the first fruits, and first born to the Heavenly kingdom of God. "Eternal life" is to be saved for the eternity, and this is the simplest of all Christian teachings.

This is what John 3:16 is all about: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believe in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life." This was, and is a promise from God to each of us. When you set your mind to the things of God, and do those things that are right and just by His Word, than the things that do are pure, for you automatically repent of those things that are unjust when they come to your mind, and they are forgiven and take from you.

However many it seems plan to do evil and wrong from the start, for what ever they do it seems that they are in trouble from the start, for it is the way of our thinking within our minds.

When you follow the ways of our Father, the Spirit of God leads us when we claim this promise of the Lord for our lives. This promise is acquired by our faith in God, which is acted upon with our confidence, when it can't be seen. But when you take that promise from God and act on it, you make that promise visible and it shows your belief.

Titus 1:3"But hath in due times manifested His Word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;"

Here we see both offices, the office of the Godhead, the office of the Savior. "Which is committed unto me", is the commission of all apostles of Christ, to bring His Word to those that need to hear the preaching of the love of God. The gospel of the Savior that is taught is the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, that all the promises of God are fulfilled in Christ. Jesus Christ fulfilled all of the Scripture from Genesis to Revelation, the full volume of the book, all of the plan of God. These promises are manifested in your life as your like your life, and yes even into the eternity.

In that Titus was a Gentile, within this we see that Titus was protected by God's promises made to the elect. When Titus accepted that knowledge of Christ, that Christ become everything to him and for him in not only this life but for eternity. That that is pure is pure to all.

Titus 1:4"To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour."

Paul is pointing out here that Titus was his convert in the the faith in Jesus Christ. Here again we go from the Godhead to Christ the Savior. Of course the Grace, mercy and peace comes from the Holy Spirit that amplifies the office of Savior. It all relies on your common faith, common to all people that believe on His name, and Jesus saving power. When Christ touches your heart, and you feel the warmth of the Holy Spirit, that is a miracle. That warmth was paid for and bought by the blood of Jesus Christ, and it is a supernatural touch from the living God.

This is a good place to stop Paul will be telling Titus how to set up the churches. That is a good study, and we will see that churches today could take a lesson from this.

Titus 1:5"For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:"

For this cause: For this very reason I (Paul by the order of God) left you in Crete that you should set in order the things that are wanting(wanting #3007 Greek to fail or be absent be destitute (wanting), lack.) Sense these were new churches (and this is my opinion) they were lacking these things and not in some sort of turmoil. You (Titus) set in order (make right) the things that are wrong, lacking or just need to be set up. I want you to appoint elders in every city just as I have appointed you. This was a very important Job Titus was given. He had not been a christian all that long. God had put him in that place at that time to do that job for Him.

Titus 1:6"If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot our unruly."

This means that the person under consideration for the position of Elder or Bishop must not only be in control of himself, but also have his family under control and faithful to God's Word.

Titus 1:7"For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;"

The Bishop must not be someone that flies of the handle when things are not going right, but he must be someone that can maintain self control under all conditions. Of course to be under a strong character of self control, he or she must not be given over to strong drink, and a slave to the spirits. Yes I did use he or she.(Just one example Deborah 4th Judge of Israel called “The mother of Israel” Judges 4&5. There are many others.) He must not be one that gets his control by strong physical action, or doing the work of the Lord for money. Sure the man that fills the position of Bishop must be paid for his work that is given over to serving the church, but the money must not be the prime reason for his services.

Titus 1:8"But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;"

The Bishop must be a man that gets along with others and the people of the congregation love to be around him. He must be a sincere person in every word that he speaks. When this man or woman says something, the congregation can count on it being true, and in accordance with God's Word. His decisions must be just, having considered all sides, without giving partiality to the rich over the poor, nor to race, and he must have a lot of patience. This then requires a pretty big and smart man. This doesn't mean that the Bishop can be angry, but when his anger comes it is a righteous indignation, anger for the cause of Christ, and in the defense of God's instructions.

Titus 1:9"Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort, and to convince the gainsayers."

This is where the rubber meets the road. Verses 6-8 talk about personal corrector this verse is setting the standard for the spiritual life. Who would have taught this Bishop? Paul ant that is the standards that should hold true today.

There is no rapture

2nd Thessalonians 2. 1Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,2That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.3Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 5Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.8And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:9Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,10And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.11And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

There is no eternal salvation

Romans 3:23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;24Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:25Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;26To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

2nd Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.5And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;7And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.8For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.9But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.10Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:11For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Matthew 25.

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

1Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.28Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

29For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

We could keep going on and on the parable of the seed that fell on the hard path, in the rocks, in the weeds that did not grow or sprang up quickly but were chocked out by the cares of this world.

Matthew 25.

The sheep and the goats.

41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

These people thought that they were serving God but what happened to them. They were sent away.

The list of false teaching in the churches today compared to what the Paul and the others taught or night and day difference.

I will pick this up later

Day 149 of the timeline, chronological reading plan, we find king David, the "Father" of Christ writing the following remarkable statement:

Psalm 37:23-24 WEB - "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he should fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand."

What is so interesting about this description of Mind Control is that it isn't specific to any one person, but to all "good men." This means that all of God's Elect are under the ordered Power and Control of God. We shouldn't argue this point, for what else can it mean to have our steps ordered by something other than ourselves? How can a "good man" say that he is in control of his life . . . his very thoughts, if the Bible is clearly and most obviously saying that his steps are, in fact, controlled and ordered by God Himself? In fact, when we read of these two verses, how can we not think of an Almighty God who has us all living in some sort of physical simulation? Are not the Plans of God pre-written upon a Heavenly Scroll . . . the outline of all things that have happened and all that will happen? It seems that we are literally a simulation in process, but in a physical world. We are not in a computer environment but in a physical, worldly environment. To get out of this physical simulation, we must first die.

It seems that this is the fourth prayer of David where He asks the Lord to take control of either himself or his enemies. And as I have said before, isn’t this an odd form of prayer, particularly if “you” don’t believe in free will? If free will does not exist, why would king David, four times now, ask that God take control of his thoughts and actions?

PSA 119:035-39 - Tanakh: - “Lead me in the path of your commandments, for that is my concern. Turn my heart to your decrees and not to love of gain. Avert my eyes from seeing falsehood; by your ways preserve me. Fulfill your promise to your servant, which is for those who worship you. Remove the taunt that I dread, for your rules are good.”

Didn’t we just read that the “good steps of a man are ordered by God”? And what about all of these other things that David has been saying (that we have just covered)?

• “Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed”
• “The LORD will work out his plans for my life”
• “Again the anger of the LORD was aroused against Israel, and He moved David against them to say, “Go, number Israel and Judah.”
• “God who will fulfill his purpose for me”
• “Leave him alone; let him curse, for the LORD has told him to”
• “Confuse them, Lord, and frustrate their plans”
• “O LORD, let Ahithophel give Absalom foolish advice”
• “Create in me a clean heart, O God and uphold me with a willing spirit”
• “God said: “I will cause your own household to rebel against you”
• “I am dumb, I do not speak up, for it is your doing”

Here, in Psalms 119, it is evident that David is asking that the Lord would change the way that he thinks. As David asks that he be Led into the path of the Lord’s commandments, he confirms the True meaning of this notion in the next verse when he asks that God would Turn (or change his Heart) towards obedience rather than desiring the gain of virtually anything worldly. And isn’t this what Ezekiel tells us the Lord will do for His Elect?

Ezekiel 11:19-20 NLT – “And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart, so they will obey my decrees and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God.”

It seems (at least to me) that David is showing us the Work of his Son, Jesus, and that is the Work of Circumcising Hearts SO THAT a person (the reader) will obey. David is offering himself as an example to those who read the Bible of what [we] should be asking from the Lord. As we approach the Door of God, when we Ask, Seek, and Knock, our purpose is to gain this “Turning,” of which David writes.

Question: Are “you” asking the Lord to change your heart? Are you asking the Lord that He would remove your heart of stone and give you a tender, responsive Heart of flesh SO THAT you would obey?

What seems to be so essential to understand is that we cannot pray this prayer or ask of these things until the Lord has Enabled His Elect to do so. Therefore, we can know that we are of the Holy Elect when we ask for these things, for we will have literally been Enabled to do so. So again, the question remains the same: Are you of the Holy Elect, and have you been Enabled to ask the Lord for Circumcision of Heart?

We THINK that these things are done by and through our own sense of “free will,” but are they?

Proverbs 21:30 NIV - "There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD."

How can any human being say that they are in full control of themselves (or possess True free will), which nearly every human would assert, yet the above passage remains true?

Is there an Eternal Plan and Purpose or not?

Ephesians 3:10-11 KJV - 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly [places] might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord . . ."

When did the Eternal Purpose, or Plan begin? Did it at least begin in Genesis chapter 3?

Genesis 3:22-24 NLT - "Then the LORD God said, "Look, the human beings have become like us, knowing both good and evil. What if they reach out, take fruit from the tree of life, and eat it? Then they will live forever!" So the LORD God banished them from the Garden of Eden, and he sent Adam out to cultivate the ground from which he had been made. After sending them out, the LORD God stationed mighty cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden. And he placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life."

Jesus is the Tree of Life who grants Eternal Life, and this is why Adam and Eve were banned from the Garden, for they, and the rest of humanity, would need to wait thousands of years for the Day of Christ to pay the penalty for their sins. Paul confirms this Plan:

Romans 3:25-26 NLT - "For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus."

This Eternal Plan began at least in their first days of humanity, therefore, any plans that humans might possess cannot and will not succeed against the Lord. And if this is True, how can we say that we are free to do whatever we desire if our plans do not outweigh the Holy and Eternal Plans of God?

Here, on Day 180 of the timeline, chronological reading plan, we find a rather interesting set of text that not only defies the will of humans, but we find that God will cause lying and be the generating cause of the murder of king Ahab. Again, who will entice king Ahab? Who will cause this murder? God authorizes a lying Spirit to lie to the prophets so that they, in turn, would lie to the king. The result? The death of king Ahab.

So, we find another image of God in Heaven, surrounded by those whom He has also created, His Heavenly Angels and Servants. Although this Scripture set doesn't outline the Mysterious Plan of God, it [does] show the State of Heaven and how things were operating. Note that God is not standing by as a witness to what is happening; instead, He is making things happen at the moment just as He said He would. God orchestrates; He does not predict based upon His ability to see the end; instead, He has written the beginning, the middle, and the ending and is in the process of making all of His Plans come into fruition and place. God does not report what He sees; instead, He creates what He has already envisioned, and He does so on a global basis. He alone sets up rulers and authorities so as to meet His Glorious Plan.

Daniel 2:21 KJV – "And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding . . ."

1 Kings 22:19-25 KJV – "And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left. And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner. And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so. Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee. But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee? And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see in that day, when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself."

So, all the Host of Heaven were gathered around the Lord on His right and left. Thus, God encourages one of the Spirits to entice Ahab into attacking Ramoth Gilead, leading to his death. There was discussion among the Spirits, and one came forward, stood before the Lord, and said, "I will entice him." The Spirit said that he would be a "lying Spirit" in the mouths of all Ahab's prophets. (Note that verse 23 says that "the Lord put a lying Spirit into their mouths," but it was one of God's Spirits who did this, so we see that these Spirits are perhaps equated to the Lord. And based upon the language, this Spirit could be the Lord Himself.)

Though it may disgust some, which is that there are people (such as me) who believe that the Lord causes such calamity, I indeed ask . . . "Why?"

Isaiah 45:7 NKJV – "I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the LORD, do all these things."

Earlier today, I asked if there was an Eternal Plan and Purpose. Of course, there is no answer. For some illogical reason, today's modern-day "Christian" denies the Power and control of God so that they, the individual, can retain as much power and control over their lives as possible. After all, if it is determined that the Lord causes us to obey, follow His decrees, Love Him with all our heart, soul and mind, what does it mean if we do not obey, follow His decrees, Love Him with all of our heart, soul and mind? That's right; it means that the person who desires ultimate control over themselves can continue to believe that they are a True and Saved Christian, though their life does not reflect an actual Christian in the least of senses.

If we retain control, we can still consider ourselves Saved, though we do not embody the life of a True Christian. But if we believe that God controls His Holy Elect, then we are forced to look at ourselves and admit . . . "Obviously, I am not saved, for it is True that I do not reflect the Glory of God more and more."

2 Corinthians 3:18 NLT – "So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord--who is the Spirit--makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image."

I deny any sense of control over my life, for I've never had it. I've tried to control my life, but the more I had attempted to control it, the more grief-stricken I had become. I was finally forced to admit that Christ had purchased my life, that I was no longer my own. I had to admit that my life was under the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit. I had to finally conclude that God was causing so much calamity in my life so that I could see the very Power and control that He held over it . . . and me.

And so, like king David, I, too, continue to ask that the Lord control every moment of my life, for if left up to me, I would have died a long, long time ago from reckless living.

Day 191 of the timeline, chronological reading plan, offers us bits of incredible information regarding the sense of "free will" for Israel. In this set of Scripture, we find God telling the newly Cleansed Isaiah to say the following to "Israel":

• Listen, but do not understand
• Watch closely but learn nothing

The Lord adds the following commands:

• Harden their hearts
• Plug their ears
• Shut their eyes

Isaiah 6:8-13 NLT – "Then I heard the Lord asking, "Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?" I said, "Here I am. Send me." And he said, "Yes, go, and say to this people, 'Listen carefully, but do not understand. Watch closely, but learn nothing.' Harden the hearts of these people. Plug their ears and shut their eyes. That way, they will not see with their eyes, nor hear with their ears, nor understand with their hearts and turn to me for healing." Then I said, "Lord, how long will this go on?" And he replied, "Until their towns are empty, their houses are deserted, and the whole country is a wasteland; until the LORD has sent everyone away, and the entire land of Israel lies deserted. If even a tenth--a remnant--survive, it will be invaded again and burned. But as a terebinth or oak tree leaves a stump when it is cut down, so Israel's stump will be a holy seed."

It is clear that there is a Holy Purpose to these demands from God (below). And is this Purpose and Plan not what I have been asking us to recognize as we read the Bible in a timeline, chronological manner? There is, in fact, a Plan that the Lord is executing . . . a Plan that the Lord is causing to take place, for Isaiah asks God how long the eyes and ears of "Israel" will be kept shut so that they cannot see, hear, and understand. In this Plan, God intends to clean house and reduce Israel to a "Holy Seed." What Seed? God reduces the corrupt vine of Israel to be returned to the Incorruptible Seed . . . a Pure, Holy, and Righteous Seed that is once again and no longer made corrupt through adultery/prostitution with the Seven Nations, the Canaanites, Hittites, etc.

Where is the free will of these people? Obviously and clearly, this sense of free will has been stripped of an entire nation, less those whose Spiritual Eyes and Ears have been made to Spiritually See and Hear.

Again, how do "you" know that "your" eyes and ears have not been opened so that you can See and Hear the Truth when given to you? Is this not the Purpose of Christ?

John 9:39 NLT – "Then Jesus told him, "I entered this world to render judgment--to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind."

Since we now realize that this is the Purpose and Plan of Christ, do you recall when your eyes were opened? Do you remember when your ears were opened? Do you recall when your life began to Transform? Do you have a Transformation story to tell? Or is it possible that your Spiritual Eyes and Ears remain closed?