WHEN GOD EXERCISED HIS WILL - PART 2

FRIDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2023

Due to the vastness of my exposition, I will try my best to contain the relevant details of part two to minimal length, in this very article.

Reference: James 1:18 New American Standard Bible (NASB) "In the exercise of His will He gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures."

Many Christians respond to the gospel with their own limited ideas and perspectives. Undoubtedly, this is why you notice that some denominations in Christendom are more advanced and meticulous than others, in dividing the Word of truth rightly (2nd Timothy 2:15 NLT). However, there is such a thing as revelation knowledge which I personally define as the hidden mind of God behind specific Scriptures, significantly coloured by the profound influence and far-reaching enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, according to Colossians 2:10 (NKJV). In fact, that Scripture actually said, "But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God." Simply put, they are part of the realities God reveals through His Spirit.

Therefore, if we want to dig deep into God's Kingdom mysteries, which has the precise route to the greater heights where God is taking us, firstly, we need to transform the way we think about the Word and it starts by setting our minds on deep things above. In line with my exhortation, Colossians 3:1-2 (NLT) says, "Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honour at God's right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth." In other words, you have to become absolutely vigilant about what you allow into your mind and what you choose to dwell on. In short, you must settle it in your heart, as a Christian, that heavenly realities will become your obsession, otherwise you can't afford to travel far in the realm of God's depth, because the Word of God is vast in revelation, meaning that not all the "logos" you see at face value, is all there is. There are logos with high-denomination face value.

Just like we are considering the depth of James 1:18 which says, "In the exercise of His will He gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures," its worthy of notice to acknowledge that God excellently exercised His will, in order to bring us forth by the Word of truth. Put in another way, there was no single lie about it; our firm foundation is truth. Our new life in Christ was given birth by the Word of truth. Having willed it, He processed our conception by the Word of truth. Zero wonder 1 Peter 1:23 reads, "Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever" (NKJV).

To explain further, John 1:12-13 (NKJV) says, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." That means, by the will of God, exercised by God Himself. Beloved, the highest perception of this truth is communicated in the Greek mind. In its rendering, "the will of God" means "Thelema Theos", and when its God exercising His will, it comes across as a willing effect of divine events, programmed to accomplish purposes of lasting or eternal value.

For instance, in the old Testament, in His letter to the Exiles, prophet Jeremiah said, "This is what the Lord says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfil my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile" (Jeremiah 29:10-14).

Now watch this: If you carefully study this passage of the Scripture, which conveys Jeremiah's statement, you'll understand that the content of His prophesy was the will of God, which He planned to exercise on behalf of the entire nation of Israel, who was in captivity at the time of prophesy. 70 years later, after Jeremiah had made the prophetic utterances, God fulfilled the promise by exercising His will according to the dictates. Due to the length of my exposition in this particular article, stay tuned for part 3. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Proverbs 16:4; Job 42:2; 1 Corinthians 1:21; Ephesians 1:9.

Guided Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, I thank you for saving me, by exercising your perfect will through the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. I acknowledge that my salvation was actualised by the implanted Word, which is potently at work in me now, because I believe that Jesus is my Saviour and Lord. Hence, I appreciate your goodness oftentimes, as I continually function by the force of eternal truth, in Jesus' Name, Amen!