That quote is appealing, sounds right to the average Joe, right?

• Is it biblical?

• Is it true?

• Is the limitless power of the universe at our disposal?

• Does God require our permission to do anything?

• Do we live in a universe where control over the invisible and visible is in the hands of the human will?

No, no, no, and no.

The Serpent’s lie in the Garden of Eden was bad enough:

“you will be ‘like’ God.”

The assertion that God requires one’s permission to act on behalf of any matter is a flawed belief that suggests the individual possesses godlike qualities.
This belief is not in line with the reality that God is the ultimate authority and we are subject to His command.

It is important to understand that God is the creator and sustainer of the universe, and we are mere mortals who are dependent on His mercy and grace.
To suggest that God requires our permission to act on any matter is to place ourselves in a position of authority over God.
This is a dangerous belief that can lead to arrogance and a false sense of power. It is important to recognize that we are not in control of the universe, and that God is the one who is ultimately in charge.

Furthermore, the idea that we have the power to grant permission to God is not supported by any religious text or tradition.

We recognize that God’s wisdom and knowledge far surpasses our own, and that His plans are always for our ultimate good.

• Are we the ones holding the reigns?

• His power is restrained by us?

God is in control and holds ultimate authority over all things. We are called to submit to His will and trust in His guidance. The idea that we hold the reins in our relationship with God is dangerous and heretical. We are completely dependent on God for our existence, salvation, and destiny. Our role is to respond in faith and obedience to His call, surrendering our desires and trusting in His plan. Humble submission to God’s will is the foundation of our faith and the key to a fulfilling relationship with Him.

The Bible teaches that God is the One who loves and pursues us, not the other way around. We are the ones who arerequired’s love and forgiveness. To suggest that God needs something from us is to turn the whole relationship upside down.

Our flesh always tries to control and manipulate things, including our relationship with God. We want to be in control, and we don’t like the idea of God having any power over us.

• Is God a divine genie, ‘an all-powerful wish grantor, He lets us pretend to be His keeper’?

Every believer I’ve ever met makes the claim ‘God can do anything”… yet,  He may only do ‘anything’ when we “permit” Him?

God limits Himself to our passions.
Where is God’s Power in that?

2 Tim 3:5 says that some will have a form (aspect, presentation, material) of Godliness but reject IT’S POWER. God’s Spirit is Power.

Serious Question:

When did you allow God to form you in your mother’s womb?

What about someone who has cancer?

Is it not going into remission because they haven’t permitted God to heal their cancer?

As if God’s hands are tied until we bags of flesh give Him the “GO”?

To add: There isn’t a single story of Christ ever asking anyone for permission to ACT; quite the opposite.

Scripturally:

God doesn’t need our permission.
We are invited by Him to willingly consent to His plans, but He’s not limited by our desires.
When the Creator of everything – visible and invisible – invites a person to consent to His plans, that person WILL consent to His plans, willingly.

Just like when God commands you to breathe His breath into your lungs, He doesn’t ask you for permission, and you aren’t feeling dictated to or controlled by Him doing so either, right?

The clay has no right over the Potter. But the Potter has ALL RIGHTS over the clay.

Scripture:

BY Him, ALL THINGS were created, in heaven & on earth, visible & invisible, thrones, dominions, rulers, authorities—ALL THINGS were created through Him & FOR HIM.”

Colossians 1:16

WHATEVER THE LORD PLEASES, HE DOES,
In heaven, earth, in the seas & in all deeps.”

Psalm 135:6

Our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases.

Psalm 115:3

It is *God* who works in you to will & to act on behalf of His good purpose.”

Philippians 2:13

Even if you go and fight bravely in battle, God will make you stumble before the enemy, for God has power to help and power to overthrow.”

2 Chronicles 25:8

God says: Even from Eternity I am He,
And there is NONE who can deliver out of MY hand; I ACT & WHO CAN REVERSE IT?

Isaiah 43:13

The life of every living thing is in God’s hand, as well as the breath of all mankind.

Job 12:10

It does not depend on man’s desire or effort but on God’s mercy.

Romans 9:16

“Not death or life, or angels or rulers, or things present or things to come, or powers,  heights, depth, nor anything else in all creation, can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:37‭-‬39 

This includes our own will, does it not?

All who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God— children born not of blood, nor of the DESIRE OR WILL of man, but born of God.

John 1:12‭-‬13

“And you were DEAD in the trespasses and sins”

Eph 2:3, Col 2:13

DEAD means spiritually dead.

How can the spiritually dead make the spiritual decision to live? In the same way, a physically dead person can make the physical decision to live. He can’t. He’s dead…

ONLY an outside force can bring the dead to life,  & ONLY One WILL have that power… The dead don’t choose life. How can they?

“There’s no one who understands, no one who seeks God……”

Romans 3:11

If we could understand and seek by our will, we would not desperately need the Holy Spirit to intercede as we do, nor would Jesus’ death be of any purpose.

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you. I appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will remain—so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.

John 15:16

Did Jesus’ Apostles have a choice? NO. Jesus says, NO!

For God has put it into their hearts to carry out His purpose by uniting to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.

Revelation 17:17

The Holy Spirit, how does HE work?

As it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear heard, no heart imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit…
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of man except his own spirit within him?
So too, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
We have NOT received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may UNDERSTAND what God has FREELY GIVEN US. &
this is what we speak, NOT in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing SPIRITUAL TRUTHS in spiritual words…
The NATURAL MAN does NOT accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he CANNOT UNDERSTAND THEM, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyone’s judgment. “For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:9‭-‬16

Paul’s warning is very clear about false doctrines, they appeal to the human will and recoil at the idea of having to relinquish control:

Paul :

“Let him who boasts boast only in the Lord.”It’s not the one who commends himself who’s approved, but the one whom the Lord commends….I am afraid, just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your SIMPLE and pure devotion to Christ. ( The Simplicity of Christ is enough) For if someone comes & proclaims a Jesus other than the One we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the One you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you put up with it way too easily….
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions….
If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is forever worthy of praise, knows that I am not lying. I will boast about such a man, but I will not boast about myself, except in my weaknesses.

2 Corinthians 11:3‭-‬4,13‭-‬15,30‭-‬3. 10:17‭-‬18 12:5