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ACCORDING TO THE GOOD PLEASURE OF HIS WILL

Text: Ephesians 1:5
6 March 2011

(I) A DIFFICULT BUT IMPORTANT DOCTRINE

1. A difficult concept

a) Misunderstood

b) Misapplied

2. An important doctrine

a) New Testament

b) Old Testament

3. A rich Old Testament Doctrine: God’s Good Pleasure

“Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, and he shall perform all My pleasure,’
Saying to Jerusalem, ‘You shall be built.’
And to the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’ “ Isaiah 44:28

“Declaring the end from the beginning,       And from ancient times things that are not yet done,       Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,       And I will do all My pleasure,’       Calling a bird of prey from the east,       The man who executes My counsel, from a far country.       Indeed I have spoken it;       I will also bring it to pass.       I have purposed it;       I will also do it.” Isaiah 46:10-11

a) Establishing Omnipotence

b) His Omniscience

c) His sovereignty

d) His superiority over man

e) His Divine will

4. Specific focus: God’s pleasure

a) God’s choice of King Cyrus

i) Persian

ii) Before he was even born

iii) He will cause Jerusalem to be rebuilt

iv) He will cause the temple to be restored

b) God’s good pleasure

i) Beyond Israel’s comprehension

ii) Beyond human imagination and expectation

iii) God’s righteous pleasure

iv) God’s delight in declaring His will

v) God’s delight in fulfilling His will ( Isaiah 45:23 )

(II) APROPRIATE RESPONSE

1. Deeper understanding of God

“Truly You are God, who hide Yourself,       O God of Israel, the Savior!” Isaiah 45:15

2. Deeper appreciation of God’s salvation

“But Israel shall be saved by the LORD       With an everlasting salvation;       You shall not be ashamed or disgraced       Forever and ever.” Isaiah 45:17

3. Deeper faith in God

“Look to Me, and be saved,       All you ends of the earth!       For I am God, and there is no other.       I have sworn by Myself;       The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness,       And shall not return,       That to Me every knee shall bow,       Every tongue shall take an oath.” Isaiah 45:22-23