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 11:1-3)

2. We need to understand the impact of the unseen upon the things that we see. • Hebrews 11:1-3 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 doesn’t 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 1:3-4)

12. Before the creation a triune God planned to act on our behalf • Ephesians 1:3-4- 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 14:23-26)

15. Before the creation a triune God planned to act on our behalf • John 14:23-26- 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 2:7-8)

19. Before the creation a triune God planned to act on our behalf • 1 Corinthians 2:7-8- 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 12:28)

21. Before the creation a triune God planned to act on our behalf • Hebrews 12:28 - 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 8:3-4; 144:2-3)

23. Before the creation a triune God planned to act on our behalf • Psalm 8:3-4- 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 144:2-3- 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 14:6)

26. Before the creation a triune God planned to act on our behalf • John 14:6- 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 1:1-3)

29. Before the creation a triune God planned to act on our behalf • Hebrews 1:1-3 - 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 2:16)

32. Before the creation a triune God planned to act on our behalf • 1 Corinthians 2:16 - 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 1:1, 14)

34. The triune God was personally involved in the execution of this plan • John 1:1-4 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 2:5-8)

37. The triune God was personally involved in the execution of this plan • Philippians 2:5-8- 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 1:10-11)

42. The triune God was personally involved in the execution of this plan • John 1:10-11- 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 53:3-5)

44. The triune God was personally involved in the execution of this plan • Isaiah 53:3-5- 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 50:5-7; Lk 9:51; Jn 11:16)

47. The triune God was personally involved in the execution of this plan • Isaiah 50:5-7 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 9:51 - 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 11:16- 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 5:7-9)