The Ultimate Intention

By DeVern F. Fromke

Scores of pastors and leaders testify: “THIS CHANGED MY LIFE AND MINISTRY.”

The author considers these critical questions:

In the beginning, before God created Adam (mankind), what was His original purpose and plan for him?

What could have happened in the Garden of Eden if Adam had not sinned and God’s redemptive plan had not become necessary?

We know that when God created Adam he received natural life, but how did God plan for Adam to receive Divine (uncreated life)? What is the difference between God’s creating and begetting work?

It is evident that God has given the Cross a central place in His redemptive working; what is the difference between the work of the Cross and the way of the Cross?

Since God, in the fullness of time, will put on display His Divine masterpiece before all the universe, how can we fully cooperate with him if we do not understand His Ultimate Intention?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hauraki Publishing
• Release date: Oct 21, 2016
• ISBN: 9781787201217

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Text originally published in 1962 under the same title.

© Pickle Partners Publishing 2016, all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means, electrical, mechanical or otherwise without the written permission of the copyright holder.

Publisher’s Note

Although in most cases we have retained the Author’s original spelling and grammar to authentically reproduce the work of the Author and the original intent of such material, some additional notes and clarifications have been added for the modern reader’s benefit.

We have also made every effort to include all maps and illustrations of the original edition the limitations of formatting do not allow of including larger maps, we will upload as many of these maps as possible.

THE ULTIMATE INTENTION

BY

DEVERN FROMKE

Includes Group Study Guide

Father, help me to

understand your...

ULTIMATE INTENTION

"...become a minister by appointment given to me for you from God, to accomplish THE DIVINE INTENTION, the secret hidden from the ages, and from the nations, but now made manifest to His saints by whom God has decided to publish amongst the heathen what is the wealth of that mystery of the rectification which Christ is to you—the hope of the rectification-which we proclaim; warning every man, and teaching every person in a perfect philosophy, so that we may present each one perfect in Christ; to which object I vigorously strive with His mighty energy working in me"

(Col. 1:25-29, F. Fenton).

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS 5

INTRODUCTION... 7

DEDICATION 9

1—...HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND 10

2—THE PROPER STARTING POINT 15

3—ONE ULTIMATE THEME 19

4—LIVING FOR THE WHOLE 23

5—TO A NEW CENTER 27

6—ALL THINGS ARE NEW 30

7—A DIVINE RECTIFICATION 34

8—ULTIMATE INTENTION FOR MAN 38

9—THE FATHER’S PLAN UNFOLDS 42

10—THE CALL TO IMPOSSIBLE LIVING 47

11—REDEMPTION IS INCORPORATED 52

12—WHAT THE CROSS REALIZED FOR GOD 56

13—TO LIVE BY THE LIFE OF ANOTHER 61

14—THE WAY OF THE CROSS 66

15—THE CROSS IN THREE DIMENSIONS 72

16—LEARN THESE DISTINCTIONS 75

17—RUNNING THE RACE TO REACH THE GOAL 80

18—JOY—THE MARK OF MATURITY 85

19—LIVING UNDER A NEW GOVERNMENT 89

20—CAPTIVITY TURNED 93

21—THE CHALLENGE IS MADE 97

22—THE PLANTING AND THE HARVEST 102

23—THE GLORY OF SONSHIP 109

24—THE PRESSING ISSUE OF THIS HOUR 114

25—LOVE IN RIGHT ORDER 120

26—GLORIOUS ULTIMATE REVELATION 125

27—THE DIVINE INTENTION IS REALIZED 131

28—ULTIMATE DEDICATION 135

A FINAL WORD ABOUT... 138

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 140

APPENDIX 141

Added Material For Chapter One 141

Added Material For Chapter Two 145

Added Material For Chapter Three 146

Added Material For Chapter Four 147

Added Material For Chapter Five 148

Added Material For Chapter Seven 149

STUDY GUIDE 152

1—Father, help me to understand 152

2—The proper starting point 152

3—One Ultimate Theme 153

4—Living for the whole 154

5—To a new center 155

6—All Things Are new 157

7—A Divine rectification 158

8—Ultimate Intention For Man 159

9—The Father’s plan Unfolds 160

10—The Call To Impossible Living 161

11—Redemption Is Incorporated 163

12—What The Cross Realized For God 164

13—To Live by The Life of Anther 165

14—The Way Of The Cross 166

15—The Cross in Three Dimensions 167

16—Learn these Distinctions 168

17—Running The Race To Reach The Goal 170

18—The Mark of Maturity 171

19—Living Under a new Government 173

20—Captivity Turned 174

21—The Challenge Is Made 175

22—The Planting and the Harvest 177

23—The Glory of Sonship 179

24—The Pressing Issue of this Hour 180

25—Love in Right Order 182

26—The Glorious Ultimate Revelation 183

27—The Divine Intention is realized 184

28—Ultimate Dedication 185

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 186

REQUEST FROM THE PUBLISHER 187

INTRODUCTION...

THROUGHOUT THE WORLD today there is the echo and re-echo of revolution. Surely this is evidence of the crisis hour in which we live. A new day is on the horizon. We are now in the night—a time of political, social, religious and philosophical shaking. Everything that can be shaken is being shaken. We can expect this shaking to increase in tempo and momentum until only that which is unshakable remains. But we need not be alarmed, for God has determined to build anew on His SURE FOUNDATION—a foundation which cannot be shaken.

For this reason I believe it is time for a revolutionary note to be sounded in the Church. You will recognize in this Book such a note. Here is a challenge to reconsider some of the basic concepts which presently hold sway in evangelical circles.

Careful observation will disclose that the philosophical appeal of our current evangelistic endeavor is essentially selfish. The Church extends an offer that consists primarily of a hope of gain and a fear of loss for the individual—this suggests a "get" way of life! The fundamental of our invitation is for man to come to our church and get something for himself. Even our deeper life conferences are usually promoted on a man-centered level, which suggests participants may obtain Christian victory and more profound blessings for their own heart satisfaction. It has become difficult for our generation to understand the real meaning of sacrifice, and the poured-out life is considered visionary. The rugged Pauline altar to which the great Apostle called men to come, suffer, and die has been replaced by the invitation to come to the altar and relieve your suffering. Our twentieth century altars are plush and comfortable. One approaches them to get and not to give.

Are we past the point of revival; have we gone beyond the possibility of repair through reformation? Christianity must experience a vital revolution! The only solution to the problem of the Church today is a destruction of the philosophy that is ruining it, and the introduction of another theme, a true goal, the real touchstone, one that is ultimate and final in every sense. Let me ask, is there a new frontier of truth in the Bible that must be discovered to furnish the supreme challenge to the lives of old and young alike? Is there a hitherto unpenetrated spiritual barrier waiting for a breakthrough in our generation? Is there an unveiling of truth with power to bring lives to a dedication to God so as to fulfill His purpose in a measure and to a depth that no existing philosophy, either religious or political, at present is able to do? Let the reader of these pages decide for himself.

This book will unfold God’s Word in a brand-new light. There are keys herein that can unlock the truth and bring divine transformation and power to the inner life. I say "can," but I do not guarantee such experience. The great spiritual work in any life is God’s to do. It is His sovereign prerogative.

To the readers, I recommend slow and careful study of the entire text. Evaluate and properly apply the meaning of words newly used in connection with divine relationships. Revolution is neither cheap nor simple. You are in for the inner battle of your life. May God give His people grace to apprehend this great truth.

When Galileo’s discovery finally and authentically gave the earth a new center, it caused the greatest scientific revolution that had ever been known. The writings of centuries had to be adjusted in order for this truth to become the basis for mathematical and astronomical fact. Thus, it may be with much in our religious libraries when the facts of this book have gripped human lives.

FOR MANY MONTHS, we used THE ULTIMATE INTENTION as a text in our midweek services at Lovers Lane Church. Among our dear people are those who are emerging into a purpose and philosophy of life that is wholly God-centered. Further, we have initiated what (to my knowledge) is almost an unprecedented thing: our church ministering to other pastors. God has given us the ministry of sharing this truth by sending the book to the clergy of our denomination. After months of receiving their grateful response, we are even more confirmed in our conviction that this is the message for our day. It simply must be shared with all who are honestly ‘sick’ of the status quo and are reaching out to God for Himself.

Surely in keeping with the message of the book, it is the significant fact that SURE FOUNDATION is dedicated to making these books available in quantities to all, that the truth might reach the entire Body of Christ. It is my prayer that each reader will not only be divinely taught, but be so utterly caught in the reading of these pages and the embracing of its truth that it will precipitate a chain reaction reaching around the world and continuing until He comes!

—H. J. Stanley

DEDICATION

To my dear wife, Juanita, who has

loyally, patiently, and faithfully

participated with me as we have together

shared these truths throughout the world...

and

...to that special company of overcomers

—who have been caught by this God-centered emphasis and

in utter abandonment to our Lord,

who join in His ultimate dedication

as we have portrayed it

in the closing chapter—

this book is prayerfully dedicated.

1—...HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND

IT IS IMPERATIVE that we recognize what is the deepest gnawing within the human breast. Adequate answers to the purpose and meaning of life must be found. We must recognize that man can only be a saint or a sinner by choice, but he is first an inquiring philosopher by nature. Because this is so very important, let us ask God for His help: Father...

...HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND

LITTLE BILLY had been at his father’s heels all afternoon. With each new project his father picked up, Billy’s inquiring mind kept asking,

Daddy, why?

Daddy, what is that?

Daddy, where did they make this?

Daddy, how does that work?

Then it happened! Billy’s father got completely exhausted by the continued barrage of questions. He broke in,

Billy, if you don’t stop asking...

But he caught himself, as he saw the hurt and puzzled look on Billy’s face, who then burst in...

But Daddy, if I don’t ask questions, how will I ever find out the things I need to know?

That was enough to touch any father’s heart. As though God were speaking, he suddenly realized what a precious opportunity he was missing to shape this young mind.

Billy, will you forgive me? I get so caught up in my working. I forgot that God has made you with a mind that needs answer. In fact, He has made all of us to have the deepest questions, and longing to know all about God, and to understand His best intention for our lives. Billy, why don’t we pray, and we’ll ask God to help me to help you.

Two heads bowed, and two hearts agreed in asking:

"Father, You see both of us, right now. Billy is so full of questions. He needs to have some answers. He is like millions of others who have questions in their heart. Please, Father, will You help me to understand so I can help him?

Sometimes, Father, I sense You have the same problem with me that I have with Billy. Some things I ask of You are difficult for me to understand at my present level of comprehension. Then I think I hear You saying, ‘Sometimes, My son, you can’t find My answers (My Will) by asking or searching, but You will see them unfold in the process of living’.

There were tears in Billy’s eyes as he whispered,

Daddy, I know I can trust God to help you to help me.

And his father responded,

Yes, Son, keep asking your questions, and...God our Father will help both of us to understand!

In writing this, I am keenly aware that I have actually been God’s little Billy—so full of questions. Perhaps, above all else, this has driven me to produce this book. And, as I look back, I can see how many spiritual fathers God has used in my life. One who had the most profound effect has said:

There is no attribute of man’s personality more evident and universally recognized among men than this sense of purpose and of divine destiny (C. A. Jones).

Just as every mother is disappointed if her child never asks the question why, so God must be concerned when men attempt to stifle the built-in philosophical urge which He has put within every breast. Take the philosopher out of man and he ceases to be the one God created. In other words, destroy his sense of destiny and purpose and he soon becomes nothing more than a beast.

Therefore, it is imperative that we direct every believer to develop a truly God-centered philosophy of life—this means we must see all things as properly related to God and His ultimate intention. Alas, not only the worldling, but even the believer attempts to interpret all things as they primarily relate to himself. And then he is amazed when he cannot avoid the paradoxes or contradictions which seem to nullify his attempts to see life steadily and see it whole.

It was the intention of God our Father that all men might find the answers to life’s deepest enigmas. It was because of this imperative need in man that Jesus Christ brought a philosophy from God to us, as well as righteousness, and purity and redemption (1 Cor. 1:30, Ferrar Fenton’s translation). Why did He do this? So that He might become the answer to man’s greatest questions and problems, and fully rectify him to fulfill the Divine Intention.

WE MUST ASK AGAIN...

ONE MORNING a professor stood before his class and tried this experiment. All twenty-seven students observed him as he carefully made two dots on a sheet of white paper and then drew a line between them Then, he asked each student to respond,

Explain to me what you see?

The variety of answers were both interesting and amazing as every student gave a slightly different insight in describing what each saw. But there was a general agreement—two black dots connected with a black line. Finally, the professor asked,

But don’t any of you see the white paper I wrote on?

Of course, they were all chagrinned! The white paper had been there first, before anything was drawn on it, but they had been distracted by what had been sketched on it afterwards.

Perhaps, this will help illustrate one of our concerns in this writing. It is important for us to recognize God’s before and His after. Let us go back in time—back into God’s heart before He began creating anything, back before redemption was even necessary. Let us go back to the blue-print stage of His planning. What was God’s intention then, before He began any of His activity on earth or in heaven?

When we start reading in Genesis, "in the beginning, we see God’s creative work. But the Apostle Paul takes us back before the foundation (beginning) of the world." What was God’s deep desire and intention in that great before? What was on the white paper sheet of His heart before He began creating the universe?

Too often we become pre-occupied with what is written on the paper. We see man’s failure in sin, the rebellion and insurrection of the angelic realm. What we often call the Fall has become so central that we have almost forgotten there was a glorious before in God’s planning, which is really more important than what took place after.

But there is a reason for this pre-occupation! Adam not only turned to his own way and took down the human race with him but a deep blindness also developed, a hidden warp in his mind which kept him pre-occupied with himself—with his needs and personal welfare. Like a blight, man-centeredness prevails without exception on all of Adam’s family. Here, then, is one of our concerns in this writing: How do we expose man’s pre-occupation with the after marks, the black dots and black lines of his self-centered condition? How do we make man aware of being "alive unto God" and appreciate the before thoughts, the ultimate intention on the white paper of God’s heart and mind? In other words, what has God planned before! God will help us to understand, but we must ask again by praying:

"Father, we can hardly recognize our blindness, our self-absorption, our pre-occupation with sin and the Fall, until You bring Your light. ‘In Your light we shall see light.’ Only then can You rectify us to Yourself and Your original purpose. Forgive us! Even in all our attempts at spiritual development, we have been more pre-occupied with what it would bring to us, rather than what it would bring to You. As we go through the pages of this book, give us the spirit of perception, but even more—give us the willingness to walk in all the light we receive."

LET US ASK OUR FATHER AGAIN...

AT THE CLOSING meeting of a conference years ago, our host announced to my wife and me:

Tomorrow, I want to take you out to see one of the most amazing Gardens here on the North Island of New Zealand.

"Since our arrival, every hour had been filled. So it would be a delightful break to get away from the crowds that attended each meeting.

I want you to see this, he quickly added, from the air. So I’m going to borrow a plane from one of my friends.

But we would much prefer just walking, or driving through the gardens, I interjected, because we often take the jet airliners, and avoid riding in small planes, except when necessary.

No, he insisted. It is important that you get an air-view of this in order to really appreciate its beauty.

It was obvious that he was determined to take us to see this panoramic view from the air. So I conceded.

The next morning the weather was perfect for flying. We were soon looking down upon the most breathtaking view of flowers of every delicate shade. Here were acres and acres of blooming color, designed with water pools, and constructed with paths that led to benches. We recognize the handiwork of man, but only God could produce such glory and brilliant display of color. I pondered the brilliant mind of man that planned this on paper before it became a reality. Then the pilot commented:

In your book, THE ULTIMATE INTENTION, you wrote about the imperative need for seeing everything from God’s viewpoint. Your messages this week have emphasized how we must start with God and interpret everything as it relates to Him and His purpose and plan. The reason I wanted you to see this panoramic view from the air was to reinforce your conviction on how important it is see from the divine perspective.

But that’s not all, he continued. "You have also explained how the Father has chosen His Son, the Lord Jesus, to be His Centerpiece in the universe. Everything the Father purposed is centered in His Son, and is done through the Son, for the Son, and unto the Son.

Right now, we are flying over the centerpiece of this garden. See how all the paths are like spokes of a wheel, how each plot of flowers with its special color forms a part of the concentric circle, how each complex of water pools forms another concentric circle. See how every part focuses toward the monument as the centerpiece. Surely, what that monumental centerpiece is to this garden is what our Lord Jesus Christ is to our Father’s Garden of the universe.

My wife and I agreed with Him. It was one of the most awesome sights we had ever beheld—seeing it from above was imperative.

But there is another lesson for us. What we see of the Father’s purpose for His Son can be wonderful. Yet it will remain mere knowledge (gnosis) until we have the full knowledge (epi-gnosis), which reveals why the Father has chosen for Him to be the Centerpiece. This is the central theme of our writing—why has the Father given such pre-eminence to His Son? Why does the Father turn our attention to the Lord Jesus and the corporate Body of which He is the Head? Why does God’s enemy seek to destroy anyone who abandons himself to bring this pleasure to the Father?

Surely, this is what Paul meant when he wrote, ...in the fullness of times He might gather together in one [head up/sum up] all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and...on earth (Eph. 1-10).

So, above all, we need to pray for this fuller knowledge:

"Father, most of us have recognized how You delight to make Your Son the Center of all things. But we have not really understood why! To know what You are doing is one thing; to know why You are doing it is another—and this is what we need to understand.

"We pray with Paul, that ‘...the Father of glory may give us the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the full-knowledge of Him....’ Father as we begin the chapters of this book, will You lead us into a spiritual seeing that will be utterly life-changing. This is our prayer! Amen!"

2—THE PROPER STARTING POINT

AS WE discover what it means to live in His eternal outlook, and view the parts as they are related to the whole, we shall see how imperative it is to have...

THE PROPER STARTING POINT

HOW SHALL WE PICTURE IT—the fact that most often our conceptions are wrong because we start at the wrong place? Too often human history has been interpreted from the Fall. If this is the starting point (D on the blackboard), it is natural that all history would have a redemptive coloring. God’s purpose is then seen in the light of man’s need for redemption. Of course, the need for redemption must not be minimized, but neither should it become the overshadowing truth.

It is often made to seem that man appeared on the stage of time just so he could be saved. Thus, it seems man becomes important in God’s purpose only in his Fall. Consequently, God’s chief work is seen as redemptive.

We cringe at the thought, and deep within we are sure there must have been some better purpose. Yet if we start with man and his Fall, we seem to be carried along in a conception which makes man and his restoration to be central. Because our controlling conception was born from the wrong starting point—man and his Fall—we can but end with man and his restoration.

But there are others, sensing this danger, who have started with man—God’s commission to Adam, Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth, and subdue it (Gen. 1:28). From this starting point (C on the blackboard), all history is interpreted with a governmental or kingdom purpose centered in man. Since man was created to rule, he sees everything as colored by this conception. The kingdom becomes the central theme.

Then there are those who have realized the need for starting with God instead of with man. So they have started where God starts in Genesis 1:1—with God as Creator. From this starting point (point B), the resulting scheme and purpose of God has an architectural or sovereign coloring. But while allowing for a God-centered approach, this doesn’t fully answer the purpose in His creation nor describe His sovereignty.

We wonder if there is not a more ultimate starting point which will solve the enigma of life and purpose? Suddenly we recognize why the Apostle Paul always started back in the heart of the eternal Father before the foundation of the world. Paul always started with God’s vital, or self-sharing, Fatherhood. (See point A on blackboard). It was not with the Father’s varied activities, nor with His wondrous attributes that Paul started; it was with the Person, who He chiefly is—the Father. Thus, God’s vital Fatherhood is seen to be the controlling and ultimate factor which determines all His activities.

From this (ultimate) starting point, looking out from His Paternal eyes, we see all that the Father purposed as His ultimate intention or eternal goal. Everything takes on full meaning when it has a paternal coloring. We understand why He has done all He has. New light breaks on the future. What would a Father desire,