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Chapter 20

God’s Plans for His People

1. General
   1. God Has Plans and Purposes for His People
      • God has plans and purposes for his people
      • God’s plans and purposes include work for his people to do
      • God’s plans and purposes are not dependent upon a person’s background
      • Further examples of God appointing people to a specific role
      • In spite of his people’s troubles, God will fulfill his plans and purposes for them
      • God may actually use his people’s troubles in fulfilling his purposes for them . . .
      • . . . God may even initiate seemingly bad things to fulfill his purposes for his people
      • Note: The plans of God’s people are subject to his will
   2. God Works through His People (I): General
      • God works through his people
      • God works through his people in the spreading of the gospel
      • God purifies his people, making them holy, to do his work . . .
      • . . . God effectively makes them priests, to serve him
      • God sends his people to do his work . . .
      • . . . and God moves his people to do his work
      • God works with his people, helping them
      • God makes it possible for his people to do the work
   3. God Works through His People (II): Empowerment
      • God empowers his people to do his work
      • God equips his people for the work . . .
      • . . . Jesus Christ gave authority to his disciples and other followers for God’s work
      • God strengthens his people for the work
      • God helps and empowers them to do his work even if they feel inadequate . . .
      • . . . God’s power works through his people in their weaknesses
      • God’s power for his people is great
      • Note: The empowerment to perform miracles
   4. God Guides His People
      • God guides his people . . .
      • . . . God leads his people
      • God guides his people always
      • God guides his people in difficult circumstances
      • God commands and directs his people in doing his work
      • Examples of divine guidance through dreams and visions

2. God’s Plans for Israel
   1. Return to the Land
      • God will gather the remnant of exiled Israel from the nations and bring them home
      • God will aid them on the journey home and the nations also will assist
      • Judah and Israel will be reunited in the land – and share in God’s blessings
      • The people of Israel will possess the land – forever
   2. Physical Renewal
      • Israel will be physically restored
      • The land will be blessed and fruitful
      • Israel’s population will be markedly increased, taking up more area
      • Joy will accompany God’s renewal of Israel . . .
      • . . . Israel’s sorrow will be no more
   3. Deliverance and Everlasting Peace
      • God will save Israel
      • God will take vengeance on those who persecute Israel
      • Siege, suffering and deliverance of Jerusalem – followed by judgment on its attackers
      • Israel will defeat its enemies
      • Israel will greatly rejoice in God’s salvation
      • God will protect and care for Israel
      • The Davidic Messiah will reign over Israel
      • The Messiah will rule forever over Israel, in righteousness and peace
      • Israel will have peace – and no fear – forever . . .
      • . . . Never again will Israel be invaded or destroyed
   4. Spiritual Renewal
      • God will cleanse Israel of all impurities and sin . . .
      • . . . and God will forgive the people’s sins
      • Israel will be holy
      • Israel will be righteous
      • The people of Israel will be given God’s Spirit
      • The people of Israel will be given spiritual understanding
   5. A Renewed Relationship with God
      • Israel will turn to God
      • Israel will worship God – and trust in him
      • Israel will be devoted to God
      • God will be as a husband to Israel, renewing his relationship with her
      • The people of Israel will be God’s people and he will be their God
      • God will dwell in Jerusalem, living among his people forever
      • Note: References to a temple of God in Jerusalem in the future
   6. Exaltation and Glorification
      • Israel will be dominant among the nations, who will serve it
      • The nations will know and acknowledge God’s presence in and care of Israel
      • The nations will come to Jerusalem to worship God . . .
      • . . . and nations will be established with Israel as God’s people
      • The nations will bring their wealth to Jerusalem, as the city of God
      • God himself will exceedingly bless Israel
      • God will glorify Israel
      • Israel’s glory will primarily be God, with the glory of his presence
      • Israel’s renewal will bring God glory
      • Note: Israel will have no more shame

 ➜Major headings in: 20. God’s Plans for His People (and all of Unit D)

Pray for persecuted Christians