The God Equation: Evil + God = Good
Pastor Erickson teaches from Genesis 50:20 that evil plus God equals good, showing through Cain and Abel, David and Goliath, and Joseph how our perception of God shapes the outcome of hard times. He calls people to stop living as victims, to put God into their equation, and to trust him to turn what was meant for evil into good.
The message in 6 points
The God equation
Pastor Erickson reads Genesis 50:20, where Joseph tells his brothers they meant evil but God meant it for good. He calls it the God equation, evil plus God equals good, and says the message is about the power of perception.
29:48Cain and Abel
Cain worked hard and brought an offering that mattered to him, but not the blood sacrifice God was looking for. His wrong perception of what God required led to anger and the first murder, when all he had to do was change his offering.
34:22David's perception of his God
Goliath saw Israel's army as servants of Saul, and Saul's men saw themselves the same way. David saw the army of the living God, came in the name of the Lord, and knew the battle was the Lord's, with no sword in his hand.
40:24Joseph kept God in the equation
Favor brought Joseph jealousy and trouble, yet he did not care what his brothers thought. The pit, Potiphar's house and the prison each led him toward Pharaoh, because he kept looking up and kept God in his equation.
48:55Victim or victor
From Colossians, 1 Chronicles, Exodus and Psalms he shows God's greatness and strength. Each person chooses to be a victim or a victor, since evil plus complaining, self-pity or revenge equals failure, while Jesus endured the cross and we are to have his mind.
57:23Thank God for the trials
Joseph could thank his brothers because their evil made him able to save many people. He urges people to learn from their mistakes, change their perception, and come to the altar to add God to their circumstances.
1:05:15
In his words
“It's a God equation, simply evil plus God equals good. No matter what you add God to, it's gonna become good.”
“We need more opportunists in the church today. We need people that will say, I'm nothing, but I serve a God that's something.”
“It's the God equation. It's our choice. Will we be a victim or will we be a victor? That's our choice.”
Taken word for word from the video, with punctuation added.
Scripture
He reads
Genesis 50:20
20But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
King James Version.
Genesis 4:1-7
1And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. 2And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. 4And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 5But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. 6And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 7If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
King James Version.
1 Samuel 17:8
8And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.
King James Version.
1 Samuel 17:26
26And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?
King James Version.
1 Samuel 17:45-50
45Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 46This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hands. 48And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came, and drew nigh to meet David, that David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. 50So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.
King James Version.
Colossians 1:16
16For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
King James Version.
1 Chronicles 29:11
11Thine, O LORD is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.
King James Version.
Exodus 14:14
14The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
King James Version.
Psalms 28:7
7The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
King James Version.
Hebrews 12:1-3
1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
King James Version.
Philippians 2:5
5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
King James Version.
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