Does God really have a plan for the world?

The world we live in: Crisis and chaos Economic meltdown Wars Civil unrest Disasters Suffering

Crisis and chaos

Economic meltdown

Wars

Civil unrest

Disasters

Suffering

How can there be a God? Would he allow such a situation to continue? Is he in control of what’s going on in the world.. Or not? Is any sort of plan being worked out in the chaos we see around us?

Would he allow such a situation to continue?

Is he in control of what’s going on in the world.. Or not?

Is any sort of plan being worked out in the chaos we see around us?

There is a God God is in control God does have a plan

God’s plan for the world What is the plan? What does it mean to you and me? How does the world we live in today demonstrate that plan? Are we ready?

What is the plan?

What does it mean to you and me?

How does the world we live in today demonstrate that plan?

Are we ready?

God’s plan for the world Numbers 14 v 21 God will fill this earth with his glory

The plan repeated throughout the Bible Psalm 72:19 (ESV) Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory ! Amen and Amen! Isaiah 11:9 They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. Habakkuk 2:14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

Psalm 72:19 (ESV)

Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory ! Amen and Amen!

Isaiah 11:9

They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain;

for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

Habakkuk 2:14

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

What is God’s glory? Power, light, majesty Also his character Moses said to God: “Please, show me your glory ” God’s answer “I will make all my goodness pass before you” (Exodus 33 v 18-19) Exodus 34 v 5-7 God’s glory is his character – merciful, gracious, longsuffering, good, true, forgiving sins but not clearing the guilty God will one day fill the earth with people who reflect this character of his

Power, light, majesty

Also his character

Moses said to God: “Please, show me your glory ”

God’s answer “I will make all my goodness pass before you” (Exodus 33 v 18-19)

Exodus 34 v 5-7

God’s glory is his character – merciful, gracious, longsuffering, good, true, forgiving sins but not clearing the guilty

God will one day fill the earth with people who reflect this character of his

How does this relate to you and me? God offers us the opportunity to be a part of this future glory God will bring about this future by sending his Son, Jesus Christ back to the earth to be king over God’s kingdom The Lord’s prayer: “ Thy kingdom come , Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” This is a prayer for the time to arrive when God’s glory will fill the earth And we can have an everlasting place in it, thanks to the work of Jesus Christ

God offers us the opportunity to be a part of this future glory

God will bring about this future by sending his Son, Jesus Christ back to the earth to be king over God’s kingdom

The Lord’s prayer: “ Thy kingdom come , Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”

This is a prayer for the time to arrive when God’s glory will fill the earth

And we can have an everlasting place in it, thanks to the work of Jesus Christ

God’s plan = world filled with his glory Current situation = chaos and crisis How do we fit these together? Today’s apparent chaos is a sign that God IS in control and that his plan IS being brought to fruition

God is in control Daniel 4:17 (ESV) - a statement from God to emperor Nebuchadnezzar: The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.' Therefore God can foretell what is going to happen In the future: prophecy

Daniel 4:17 (ESV) - a statement from God to emperor Nebuchadnezzar:

The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.'

God foretells the society we live in 2 Timothy 3 v 1-5 Selfish Lovers of money Proud Arrogant Abusive Disobedient to parents Ungrateful Unholy Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God These are the LAST DAYS – before God’s kingdom comes

2 Timothy 3 v 1-5

Selfish

Lovers of money

Proud

Arrogant

Abusive

Disobedient to parents

Ungrateful

Unholy

Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God

These are the LAST DAYS – before God’s kingdom comes

God foretells the society we live in 2 Peter 3:3-4 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, " Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation." When did you last hear someone profess Belief in the return of Jesus?

2 Peter 3:3-4

knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, " Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation."

Why does God allow this behaviour? 2 Peter 3:9-10 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 . But the day of the Lord will come like a thief…. Despite God’s forewarnings in the Bible: Many people will still be caught out

2 Peter 3:9-10

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 . But the day of the Lord will come like a thief….

Jesus foretells a chaotic world before his return Matthew 24 v3 – ‘what will be the sign of your coming?’ v6-8: wars, ethnic violence, famine, earthquakes, disease – this is just the beginning v21-22 – trouble like never before Luke 21 v 25-26 – “ on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world .” Today’s world

Matthew 24

v3 – ‘what will be the sign of your coming?’

v6-8: wars, ethnic violence, famine, earthquakes, disease – this is just the beginning

v21-22 – trouble like never before

Luke 21 v 25-26 – “ on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world .”

What does tomorrow hold? Jeremiah 25 Jeremiah takes a cup of wine to ambassadors of all nations It symbolises God’s judgement on them v15-26 Starting from Jerusalem outwards, all nations on earth eventually drink v27-29 The effect of the wine is to make them war with each other The trouble starts at Jerusalem

Jeremiah 25

Jeremiah takes a cup of wine to ambassadors of all nations

It symbolises God’s judgement on them

v15-26

Starting from Jerusalem outwards, all nations on earth eventually drink

v27-29

The effect of the wine is to make them war with each other

The trouble starts at Jerusalem

More detail about warfare that centres on Jerusalem Zechariah 12 v 1-2 Jerusalem is a ‘cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding people’ Israel and Jerusalem will be attacked and besieged by their enemies v3 The fight for Jerusalem will only cause more trouble for those involved

Zechariah 12 v 1-2

Jerusalem is a ‘cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding people’

Israel and Jerusalem will be attacked and besieged by their enemies

v3

The fight for Jerusalem will only cause more trouble for those involved

More detail still of the crisis to come Zechariah 14 v 1-2 ‘ The Day of the Lord’ Jerusalem will be attacked by all nations The city will be overrun and atrocities will take place Half the city deported as prisoners of war – which half?

Zechariah 14 v 1-2

‘ The Day of the Lord’

Jerusalem will be attacked by all nations

The city will be overrun and atrocities will take place

Half the city deported as prisoners of war – which half?

Then God will intervene Zechariah 14 v 3-4 ‘ His feet’ on the Mount of Olives is the return of Jesus Acts 1:11 (ESV) – Jesus ascends from the Mount of Olives "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven ."

Zechariah 14 v 3-4

‘ His feet’ on the Mount of Olives is the return of Jesus

Acts 1:11 (ESV) – Jesus ascends from the Mount of Olives

"Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven ."

Jesus will come back, as God foretold To set up God’s Kingdom These events are heralded by many signs: Breakdown in society and its values (2 Timothy 3) Lack of belief in what the Bible teaches (2 Peter 3) World full of crises – natural and man-made (Matthew 24) Perplexity and fear of what is coming next (Matthew 24) The final strand will be nations going to war against Israel

Breakdown in society and its values (2 Timothy 3)

Lack of belief in what the Bible teaches (2 Peter 3)

World full of crises – natural and man-made (Matthew 24)

Perplexity and fear of what is coming next (Matthew 24)

The final strand will be nations going to war against Israel

Does God really have a plan for the world? Yes! The outwardly chaotic state of our world shows that God’s plan is near completion

Jesus gives the same message Luke 21:25-28 (ESV) "And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place , straighten up and raise your heads , because your redemption is drawing near."

Luke 21:25-28 (ESV)

"And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

Now when these things begin to take place , straighten up and raise your heads , because your redemption is drawing near."

GREAT NEWS! So long as we are ready

Mark 13 v 32-36 "But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake . For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake - for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the cock crows, or in the morning - lest he come suddenly and find you asleep .”

"But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake . For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake - for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the cock crows, or in the morning - lest he come suddenly and find you asleep .”

You can see God’s plan being fulfilled all around you Are you responding by following his Son now……. So that you will have a part in God’s eternal plan for the earth?