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But as for you, your corpses will fall in this wilderness. God could have had the earth swallow up the Amalekites. WebWhat if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 1 Peter 2:8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. So the emphasis of the chapter is on Gods working out His purpose through ordinary people who obey Him. God sees. Though used by God for his purposes, the ungodly are still evil. Solomon was DaVinci, Einstein, Bach, Jordan, Augustus, and Shakespeare rolled into one superior man. And how will they hear without a preacher? WebGod Can Use Unbelievers part 1: Cyrus 1. The ungodly show the futility of their rebellion, the awful penalty of sin, and the just wrath of God. All rights reserved. Gods Ability To Use Unlikely People Even Unbelievers. He chooses to use sinners to accomplish His sovereign will, often in ways we dont even understand. The Pharisees believed they were serving God but in reality, they didnt even know Him. The new king was deposed after three months. He clings to his sin like a drowning man to an iron life preserver. Just as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things! (Rom. Eternity will reveal how your faithful service was used by the Lord in amazing ways. WebGod Can Use Unbelievers part 1: Cyrus 1. also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,But He does according to His will in the host of heavenAnd among the inhabitants of earth;And no one can ward off His handOr say to Him, What have You done?. Why bother praying to a God who isnt? The Prophet Habakkuk wrote during the troubled times before Judahs captivity. He mustered his army and went after the Jews in hot pursuit. and they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. He sent His son to pay a most costly price for the sin of His people, for those who trust in Him. Matthew 26:3-5 informs us that the leaders of the Jews were looking for an opportunity to arrest Jesus and put him to death. The gospels writers emphasize that although the Jewish leaders earnestly sought for witnesses who could testify against Christ, they found no one willing to come forward. Philippians 3:4-7 - although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If your rsum is sparse, your intellect feeble, your skills unimpressive, and your wisdom just average, fret not. So the emphasis of the chapter is on Gods working out His purpose through ordinary people who obey Him. Wisdom didnt guard him against a wandering heart. The Lord said to Moses, How long will this people spurn Me? When you find yourself in a tight spot and you cant see any way of deliverance, have faith in God, obey His Word, and wait for the salvation of the Lord. so that they might escape from the devil's snare, even though they've been held captive by him to do his will. Will we show forth Gods glory in our obedience and in our receiving of His covenant blessing? We see the same thing after the Israelites cross the Red Sea and are attacked by the Amalekites (Ex. God has the amazing ability to do things that simply do not make sense to mankind. God then raised up Moses and his brother Aaron as instruments to deliver the people of Israel from cruel bondage. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. Moses was sent by the Lord multiple times to Pharaoh asking for the release of the Hebrews. These lessons simply teach us that God can take that which is evil and use it for his own good purposes. Though there were still many who had remained faithful, others no longer followed the words of the Prophets. Though absolutely sovereign, all knowing, all wise, and everywhere present, God uses sinners to accomplish His will. But Habakkuks confusion was not doubt. And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. The fact that God ordains both the means and the ends should surely encourage us as we face our own trials. He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. 10 people that God used to accomplish his purposes I. Paul: The one with a shameful past and challenging present (4:18) Colossians 4:18 - I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my imprisonment. 2:11). Habakkuk 1:5, Look among the nations and watch Be utterly astounded! God promised to precede Cyrus and destroy all opposition that Cyrus would face: 'I will go before you and make the 3. That pagan nation was struggling against Egypt for dominance. The manner of the judgment would be unexpected. God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne ( Psalm 47:8 ). Gods plan included the time of Jesus deathPassover, the placeJerusalem, the opposition by the Jewish leaders, and the betrayal by Judas. They had been in Egypt under Egyptian task masters for 400 years. WebJohn 3:16. This seems to be one of the reasons God had Moses lift up his staff and hands to divide the Red Sea. Were on a mission to change that. A most astonishing way of fulfilling that prophesy. God uses all those who humble themselves before the cross, boasting only in him his strength, his wisdom, his righteousness, his accomplishment. Fifth, and the point I want to focus on, is that the Lord tells Moses, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land. I find this very interesting and encouraging. When he went before Pilate, the Roman governor received an urgent message from his wife: Dont have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him (Matthew 27:19). 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 28 who says of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, saying of Jerusalem, She shall be built,, and of the temple, Your foundation shall be laid. . Comments? Consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. Grace be with you. God was about to turn to the Gentiles as He judged Israel as a nation for her unbelief. So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires. Eventually, Pharaoh decided to use the Jews for slave labor. Unbelievers Are blinded by the God of this world 2 Corinthians 4:4 Verse Concepts God uses all those who humble themselves before the cross, boasting only in him his strength, his wisdom, his righteousness, his accomplishment. so that they might escape from the devil's snare, even though they've been held captive by him to do his will. Lest he misunderstand, I also told him that going to Calvary Memorial Church cannot save anyoneor help save anyone. Dont mistake temporary material victories for true success. What Jesus Wants Emphasized In His Church! To put the matter that way raises several other questions: Was Judas predestined by God to betray Jesus? 16 But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth. Do not lament your insufficiency. One of the most remarkable things about the Scriptures is how they preserve for us what we regard as our highest dignity, which is the right to exercise our own will. We concluded that the Bible doesnt give us a final answer regarding why Judas betrayed Jesus Christ. It is a warning to Israel that if they should break Gods covenant, calamity will come upon them revealing the wrath of the offended God. But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you. Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife? It is not our responsibility to determine how God will use us, but it is our responsibility to be faithful to obey the Word of God. Do not begrudge your weakness. And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed (Genesis 12: 3). WebGod also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will. Here are some examples: (see Acts 1:20). In Acts 1:16 Peter declared that the Scripture had to be fulfilled. He meant that the Old Testament predictions (he cites Psalm 69:25 and Psalm 109:8) regarding Judas were bound to come true. Jesus point is clear, The King will answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.. Do you merely profess Christ and trust in your religious habits to save you, or do you possess Christ in your heart by faith? What does it mean that the righteous will live by faith (Habakkuk 2:4)? We should never presume to say to an unbeliever, God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. We cant know that. Romans 8:28 says, For those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. All things includes both good and bad things. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. Impatience and failing to trust God is never helpful. It even included the price Judas would receive for his act of treachery30 pieces of silver. They were in an impossible situation with no way out. Be encouraged, child of God. This doesnt erase tragedy or transform heartache, but it gives us a divine perspective on the hard times of life that enables us to keep on going when wed rather give up and quit. Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation., Truth Of God Is denied by Unbelievers, the Truth of God Is denied by Unbelievers, Unbelievers Are blinded by the God of this world, Unbelievers Will be classed with outbreaking sinners in eternity, Unbelievers Their lifetime spent in vanity, Unbelievers Shall be judged by God's word in the last day, Will be classed with outbreaking sinners in eternity, Shall be judged by God's word in the last day. We know from the sowing and reaping principle that t here will be degrees of torment in the lake of fire. The Lord can never be blamed for evil, but evil does not take p. God never does evil Himself. They scoff at kings, And princes are scorned by them. They live as if there was no Creator, no moral law, no accountability. For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. International Standard Version. Before the Apostle Paul wrote his letter he was known as Saul. He told Moses, Tell the sons of Israel to go forward. But how? I am the trustee of nothing more than my personal belongings. But we learn that over time a new Pharaoh arose who did not know Joseph or respect what Joseph had done (Ex. Causing a sacrifice to take place that would open salvation up to all people. He stands behind it indirectly, but He directly stands behind good. You do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He sent. Israel stumbled at the stumbling stone, the suffering messiah (Romans 9:31-33). Be encouraged Christian, God intends to use you in all your multifaceted weakness and obscurity for his glory. God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will. I have an unimpressive family background and do not come from a long line of important people. C) We place our confidence in Gods ultimate purpose for us. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Two questions stand out: 1) Did Jesus actually descend into hell? But to the rest I say, not the Lord, that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he must not divorce her. But we need to grow in faith and obedience. In 609 Judahs King Josiah was killed in battle against Egypt. Herod the Great tried to kill him in Bethlehem. 10:17 Paul writes, So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ. When we preach the gospel to someone and they come to saving faith, we dont boast that we have saved them but that God has saved them, though we were the instruments of Gods saving work. Paul also made this clear in Romans 9-11. Nothing that happened to Jesus that night or later on Good Friday made sense when it happened. We are here and gone again. God has the amazing ability to do things that simply do not make sense to mankind. For God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son for those who believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.. I have heard the complaints of the sons of Israel, which they are making against Me. Believer, dont think that your faithful service to your local body of believers is insignificant or accounts for little or nothing. We might be a life-hacking, productivity guru. The greater the pain, the harder it is to see Gods fingerprints. At times, God enlisted non-believers to help His people through the ages. Gods Prophet Jeremiah warned of Gods judgment. Were they to voluntarily all drown? God was revealing that He was going to use this ungodly power for judgment upon his own straying people. Gods plan even extended to having Jesus buried in a borrowed tomb (see Isaiah 53:9). Finally, they suborned perjury by putting forward false witnesses who produced contradictory testimony. Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! At times, God enlisted non-believers to help His people through the ages. It only made sense on Sunday morning when Jesus rose from the dead. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. WebAnd then they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the Devil, who had caught them and made them obey his will. Visit Justins personal website Here. Showing us that our God can and will use anyone even though they dont know Him. Do not begrudge your weakness. We need to remember that God uses the foolish. New American Standard Bible Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. God asks us to do things we cant do, because it makes us trust IN HIM, not ourselves. God Himself said that He used Pharaoh so that His name would be known on all the earth. His plan in doing so was to bless all people. He used sinners to accomplish His sovereign will. 28:36, The LORD will bring you and the king whom you set over you to a nation which neither you nor your fathers have known, and there you shall serve other gods wood and stone. But now, the grief of the Egyptians had subsided and was replaced with anger and regret. In Jeremiah 13:20 it said, Lift up your eyes and see Those who come from the north . Jeremiah 25:32 says, Behold, disaster shall go forth From nation to nation, And a great whirlwind shall be raised up From the farthest parts of the earth., Habakkuk 1:6, For indeed I am raising up the Chaldeans, A bitter and hasty nation Which marches through the breadth of the earth, To possess dwelling places that are not theirs.. Because God is utterly unimpressed by my rsum. If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience sake. They post my sermons on the web and people listen to or watch me preach all over the world. The very first verse my daughter ever memorized was Isaiah 40:8, The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. It seemed like an odd one to begin with, but now in retrospect it might have been the best one. They gather captives like sand. God is not finished with you yet, so dont give up on him. He even turns wicked hearts to serve his Sovereign purpose. God chooses the custodian with a heavy accent to share the gospel and save lives. A) We bow in submission before the mysterious ways of God. It can be fairly said that the common people by and large respected Jesus and responded positively to his message. The new Pharaoh saw the Israelites as a plague in the land. Though absolutely sovereign, all knowing, all wise, and everywhere present, God uses sinners to accomplish His will. 1:8). We might make Jim Collins proud, but God yawns at our leadership abilities. 1 And Saul approved of his execution. After God redeemed Israel from Egypt through a series of ten miraculous plagues, he had Moses lead the people of Israel out of Egypt near the shore of the Red Sea. He stands behind it indirectly, but He directly stands behind good. That doesnt make us anything more in Gods eyes. Although Judas appears to be acting solely on his own initiative, it is clear that his betrayal fits into a larger pattern of eventsone that is orchestrated by the unseen hand of the Living God. Amen. God will surely judge all rebellion, secret and open. Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening as Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. But God did just that and used a sinning Gentile to begin the process of restoring Israel. No, its a mystery. In the eyes of the Jews, Saul would be seen as a warrior of the faith. 16:30), when he uses you or others, delivering you from your trials, be sure to praise, thank, and give Him all the glory for sovereignly using sinners. God wants to use those who look away from their self-sufficiency to his all-sufficiency. A man who lived in a time in which only Jews served the one true God. Anyone who resists God risks falling into spiritual deception (2 It was the tech team, the web master, the secretary, or whoever posted my sermon on line. Its something we can clearly see within the pages of our Bible. But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive out of those men who went to spy out the land. So He brought their days to an end in futility And their years in sudden terror. Now if You slay this people as one man, then the nations who have heard of Your fame will say,read more.Because the Lord could not bring this people into the land which He promised them by oath, therefore He slaughtered them in the wilderness. But now, I pray, let the power of the Lord be great, just as You have declared, The Lord is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generations. Pardon, I pray, the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of Your lovingkindness, just as You also have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now. So the Lord said, I have pardoned them according to your word; but indeed, as I live, all the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord.