Eph. 1:11 The Counsel of God shall forever stand.

A. What is the counsel of God?

1. The counsel of God simply means He does all things by His own will or by His own decree.

a. The question must be, can God’s will or decree be changed? Psalms 33:11 “The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.”

b. Since the counsel or decrees of God cannot be changed all things God has decreed or willed will happen just as He has planed. That is called predestination and that is to determine before hand or ordain.

2. Man has assumed that somehow God’s counsel can be changed.

a. Believe me on this, not even we the child of God can change the Lord’s heart. Proverbs 19:21 “There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.”

b. We as man are in control of nothing. Job 37:12 “And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth.”

c. Isaiah 14:24 “The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:” It doesn’t sound to me as if man is in control of anything.

3. We have to understand this entire time of this world has been mapped out by God and it will all come to pass just as He has decreed.

a. Isaiah 46:10 “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:”

b. Jeremiah 4:28 “For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black: because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it.” No matter if man likes it of not.

B. Man has toyed with the counsel of God long enough.

1. The religionist of our time has done everything in their power to strip God of His decrees; it is time to fight back.

a. We bow to worship God He does not bow to worship us. Daniel 4:35 “And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?”

b. Salvation belongs to God, the church belongs to God, the kingdoms belong to God, and this entire universe belongs to God. We can change nothing. Acts 5:39 “But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.”

2. Man better think before he strikes before our Sovereign God.

a. Ministers are decreed of God, and no one, not even the Lord’s church can change what God has decreed.

b. We need to remember God works in the heart of man not with the mind of man. Acts 2:37 “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

c. Acts 8:21 “Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.”

d. Satan works the mind.

e. Man is saved when the Holy Spirit deals with his heart. Romans 10:10 “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

3. Satan can play tricks on our minds therefore we must think with our hearts and not with our minds. Colossians 3:22-23 “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: (23.) And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; “

4. Beloved, let’s not allow something Satan may put in our minds over ride what God has put in our hearts.

5. This is our commandment, 1 Peter 1:22 “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:” The word unfeigned means hypocrisy.

6. Let’s remember one thing, the counsel of God will always stand, and we are to accept it as His decree’s and not sat what doest thou.