He clings to his sin like a drowning man to an iron life preserver. I have an unimpressive family background and do not come from a long line of important people. Even his enemies played into Gods handthough they did not know it at the time. It doesnt matter if you have theology degrees or mothered a dozen healthy, happy children or started several 501(c)3s to feed the poor and end trafficking. The book of proverbs also gives us insight into this. I believe that t he Lord is here suggesting that the eternal torment that unbelievers will experience will be on a scale from more tolerable to less tolerable. They were in an impossible situation with no way out. ", Writing & Teaching Inductive Bible Studies. WebGod was about to turn to the Gentiles as He judged Israel as a nation for her unbelief. God has sinners pray and answers the prayers of sinners that are according to His will, getting glory for himself. 14:16, God, who is all powerful and infinitely sovereign, 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. Why didnt God just part the Red Sea? He wants us to trust in Him, to rely on Him, to cry out to Him, and then give Him glory for delivering us. Having all the wisdom in the world didnt guarantee fidelity. Isaiah 28:11 warned, For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people. Jeremiah 5:15 said, Behold, I will bring a nation against you from afar, O house of Israel, says the LORD. When they offered him 30 pieces of silver, he readily accepted even though that was the going price for a slave. Though absolutely sovereign, all knowing, all wise, and everywhere present, God uses sinners to accomplish His will. This week I ate lunch with a man who has recently become an acquaintance through an e-mail correspondence. God ordains the means and the ends of life. Thanks for your interest! So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe. God can use anyone and anything. God uses all those who humble themselves before the cross, boasting only in him his strength, his wisdom, his righteousness, his accomplishment. God was revealing that He was going to use this ungodly power for judgment upon his own straying people. Anxiety, worry, anger, never help remedy the situation, they are emotions that compound our trials and betray that in our hearts we dont believe God, dont trust God, and dont think He is good. We see this all the way through the Bible. When God determines where we will end up, he also determines how we will get there. God has the amazing ability to do things that simply do not make sense to mankind. Because God does miracles by His own power. Able to do exceedingly and abundantly using unlikely people to further His plans. He recognized what was evil because he believed Gods law. God was rejecting their national privilege, and turning to the Gentiles to populate his Covenant Nation on Earth. 5:14). God calls the autistic man to give the most profound articulation of his simple faith. He told the people that Pharaohs army would be wiped out, though he did not know how. He betrayed the Lord but ended up vindicating him. The trials that were meant to establish his guilt ended up establishing his innocence for all the world to see. What Jesus Wants Emphasized In His Church! The coming of Messiah was unexpected. That doesnt lessen his guilt, but it does increase our appreciation of Gods sovereignty over the affairs of men. Until that man turns from his sinwhich in his case means acknowledging his behavior as sinand runs to the Cross of Christ he cannot be saved. So through his death, he can have everlasting life on earth. Jump to Previous Those who look to themselves, will eventually and always reap their just punishment. And He *said to them, Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, Move from here to there, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. They heap judgment on themselves. Our accolades cannot merit us any greatness. I am a preacher and Bible teacher. Summary So while many American Christians worry about what will take place in the coming years I find peace in knowing that God can use even the most unlikely candidates to accomplish His will. Literal Standard Version. I have heard the complaints of the sons of Israel, which they are making against Me. His covenant is always enforced. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. In 609 Judahs King Josiah was killed in battle against Egypt. Zechariah 11:1230 pieces of silver (see Matthew 26:15). But the fact of the matter is it wasnt me! We see the same thing after the Israelites cross the Red Sea and are attacked by the Amalekites (Ex. God asks us to do things we cant do, because it makes us trust IN HIM, not ourselves. Is that a contradiction? His son Jehoahaz became king. He is the preeminent insider who knew Jesus as well as anyone has ever known himyet in the end never really knew him at all. Its okay to be a nobody, if in all you do, you serve Somebody. Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad? Anyone who resists God risks falling into spiritual deception (2 In Acts 13:41 he said, Behold, you despisers, Marvel and perish! I am sure God has many reasons for doing the things He does in the way and timing of His choosing, but lets consider some likely reasons He used Moses, a sinner, to be the instrument of His sovereign, miraculous work of dividing the Red Sea. Steven Lee is the Pastor of Preaching & Vision at. How will they preach unless they are sent? But we need to grow in faith and obedience. As for the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land and who returned and made all the congregation grumble against him by bringing out a bad report concerning the land, even those men who brought out the very bad report of the land died by a plague before the. The terms Neo-Babylons and Chaldeans are used interchangeably for the people of that Empire. They had fast horses and were more fierce (more alert, fierce, and sharp) than the hungry wolves that come out to hunt in the evening. Sign up to join over 20,000 subscribers receiving our weekly sermon email. Embrace your weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon you to reveal Gods surpassing greatness (2 Corinthians 12:9). 1 John 5:14. 1 And Saul approved of his execution. Your sons shall be shepherds for forty years in the wilderness, and they will suffer for your unfaithfulness, until your corpses lie in the wilderness. As they plotted how to murder Jesus they had no idea they were accomplishing Gods will. According to the number of days which you spied out the land, forty days, for every day you shall bear your guilt a year, even forty years, and you will know My opposition. 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. WebGod Can Use Unbelievers part 1: Cyrus 1. Fourth, Gods command seemed impossible to obey. Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. International Standard Version. Then the Lord heard the sound of your words, and He was angry and took an oath, saying, Not one of these men, this evil generation, shall see the good land which I swore to give your fathers. At times, God enlisted non-believers to help His people through the ages. 14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him. The sad story of Judas stands as a warning to religious people not to trust in their religion. Yet, God used him to rebuild the temple and allow Jews to return to their land. God doesnt need men, but God chooses to use men at times to accomplish His sovereign will. I didnt attend an Ivy League school. 46:10). (see Acts 1:20). (see Matthew 27:5). 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. This is a true mystery, which we may explain in various ways but will never fully understand. Email Jack. A God who can bring something good out of betrayal can be trusted to accomplish his work in your life. You truly never know God could be doing something right that we wouldnt understand even if He told us. The unbelievers, become confused, not remembering ever having the opportunity to serve Jesus. Now if You slay this people as one man, then the nations who have heard of Your fame will say. Is it true that God cannot look upon sin? A) We bow in submission before the mysterious ways of God. The phrase all this refers to the betrayal, the circumstances surrounding it, and the circumstances flowing from it. In the beginning Satan challenged Gods right to rule. Your children, however, whom you said would become a preyI will bring them in, and they will know the land which you have rejected. Summary Israel as a nation had rejected the promises of Moses and the Prophets culminating in the demand for the death of Jesus, Gods Messiah. The gospel writers record many Old Testament prophecies that were fulfilled in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. They probably said things like, See, God isnt doing anything no body ever gets punished, it cant be very serious. They had forgotten the longsuffering of the True God who made all things, and who rules as King over all kings. This week were looking at the other side of the equation. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband; for otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy. So the emphasis of the chapter is on Gods working out His purpose through ordinary people who obey Him. A most astonishing way of fulfilling that prophesy. During our conversationwhich lasted two hours and was both cordial and very frankI told him that his religion could not save him. Gods Prophet Jeremiah warned of Gods judgment. In fact, in one place in scripture, God said that what He was doing could not be understood even if He explained it. In their very act of oppression, they unknowingly serve the glory of the Creator. WebJohn 3:16. International Standard Version. My ministry is small locally, but gigantic because of the faithful service of others. Even today there are those who are arrogant and have no honor for God as He reveals Himself in Scripture. Going to church wont make you a Christian any more than sleeping in a garage makes you a caror going to a donut shop makes you a cop. Those who turn in humble trust to the Lord, who rest in His work of redemption, who seek to walk in his ways, and who turn in humble repentance when they fail, will receive His righteousness, and blessing forever. 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. 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. He stands behind it indirectly, but He directly stands behind good. He was a brilliant poet, a skillful songwriter, a genius botanist, and a first-class biologist. 2) If Jesus did descend into hell, why? Judas professed Christ but he did not possess him, which is why he is in hell today. Third, it is necessary for us to remain silent, to not fret, grumble, or complain, while we wait for the Lord to deliver us from whatever trial we are suffering. Joseph made Egypt phenomenally wealthy during the years of the famine. In those moments we often feel alone in the chaos of circumstances as life tumbles in around us. No, its a mystery. But My servant Caleb, because he has had a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land which he entered, and his descendants shall take possession of it. We should never presume to say to an unbeliever, God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. We cant know that. And, "Who Are The Sons of God in Genesis 6? but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. He uses believers and unbelievers. God has the amazing ability to do things that simply do not make sense to mankind. In the process, we will also find an answer to a third question, Who are the sons of God in Gen. 6? If you like solving mysteries, you will love this, "Churches are going apostate inside their comfortable church buildings! God promised to precede Cyrus and destroy all opposition that Cyrus would face: 'I will go before you and make the 3. He stands behind it indirectly, but He directly stands behind good. For this reason God purposefully led the wondering multitude to a place where there was no possible way of escape from Pharaoh and his army, humanly speaking. Get your Bible. Moses didnt have any power to divide the Red Sea. 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. Though absolutely sovereign, all knowing, all wise, and everywhere present, God uses sinners to accomplish His will. We live most of our days in Good Fridayenduring confusion, opposition, disappointment and the many tragedies of life. Their horses also are swifter than leopards, And more fierce than evening wolves. He has many means to accomplish that holy purposeincluding some that are difficult to understand. In the time of the New Testament after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we see the expansion of Gods Covenant to include Gentile believers drawn to the Savor by the Gospel. The new Pharaoh saw the Israelites as a plague in the land. 12:35-36). I answer yes. They move ahead as a determined army spreading violence. God had not yet told Moses what He was going to do, but Moses knew the Lord did not redeem the Israelites from Egypt to have them slaughtered. WebGod was about to turn to the Gentiles as He judged Israel as a nation for her unbelief. It will be a most terrible judgment. God will bring ultimate and final judgment upon all ungodliness. This brings us face to face with the doctrine of Gods providence, which means, A) God has a plan that includes everything that happens in the universe, and, B) Gods plan extends to the tiniest details of life, and. The way of the wicked is like darkness;They do not know over what they stumble. But Moses said to the Lord, Then the Egyptians will hear of it, for by Your strength You brought up this people from their midst, and they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife? One swing of his sword whacked off the ear of Malchus, servant to the High Priest. Other examples could be added to this list. Who would have had his own beliefs and gods that contradicted much of the Bible. 4:5). We know from the sowing and reaping principle that t here will be degrees of torment in the lake of fire. Do not begrudge your weakness. In Acts 2 God poured out His Holy Spirit on the disciples who spoke on the streets of Jerusalem in the languages of the Gentiles who were present. We all understand that God intended that Jesus would die for the sins of the world. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. If not, we have reason to question whether our faith is real. He stands behind it indirectly, but He directly stands behind good. Gods plan even extended to having Jesus buried in a borrowed tomb (see Isaiah 53:9). For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? This is the attitude of the evil heart in all ages. We see this all the way through the Bible. This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask Jesus said to them, If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, We see, your sin remains. They wanted him dead and used Judas as a convenient means to that ugly end. 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. But as for you, your corpses will fall in this wilderness. Many believed they were going to die and complained to Moses (Ex. God will use it even if you do not understand how. C) God uses all eventsgood and badto accomplish his purposes. I find it remarkable how consistently the New Testament writers see the hand of God in the events surrounding the death of Christ. Two questions stand out: 1) Did Jesus actually descend into hell? Why did a holy God allow such evil to continue? 1 John 5:14. I am not a rising star in any field, industry, or arena. Soon they will be raised up from that struggle to full power. That pagan nation was struggling against Egypt for dominance. 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. When we reach a dead end in our own resources, God can part the sea of the impossible and get us through, but I digress. But Habakkuks confusion was not doubt. Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife? even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. He uses believers and unbelievers. Amen. Suggestions? Things may seem impossible, and for men, they might be impossible, but nothing is impossible with God (Lk. But we need to grow in faith and obedience. How beautiful! Also, be sure to stop by our prayer wall. They thank me for posting my sermons on the internet. When we pray, we strive to pray according to Gods will (I Jn. Covenant judgment was about to be poured out upon Israel. But they feared to do it during the Feast of Unleavened Bread because of the crowds that thronged Jerusalem. 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. Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. Prayer is one of the means God uses to accomplish His sovereign will and get glory for himself. And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. Because God created all He can use anything in creation. At my own local church, and everywhere else I go, faithful men and women record my sermons in audio and sometimes video. Though used by God for his purposes, the ungodly are still evil. 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. In such a manner Judas served Gods purposes through his wicked act of betrayal. God commissions the invalid retiree to uphold dozens, even hundreds of missionaries on the field. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. However, he had Aaron and Hur hold up Moses arms and had Joshua lead the armies of Israel. In spite of all this they still sinnedAnd did not believe in His wonderful works. God is not finished with you yet, so dont give up on him. 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. God uses pathetic people for his glorious purposes to show his superior power. The manner of the judgment would be unexpected. Jesus responded to the false testimony by saying nothing at all. Do not begrudge your weakness.

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