He was ready to die for his Master and intended to take a few of the bad guys with him. 21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man. When God does something completely different and unexpected (Numb. This week were looking at the other side of the equation. God sometimes use evil to accomplish His plans (Habakkuk Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. Moses had great faith! Solomon was given a mind like no one before and like none even after him (1 Kings 3:12). Thats generally the way life is for all of us. 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. 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. . God 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. Jump to Previous But this much is clear: He never believed that Jesus was guilty of any crime. We know from the sowing and reaping principle that t here will be degrees of torment in the lake of fire. The new king was deposed after three months. 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. I am a preacher and Bible teacher. He does this for obvious reasons. In their very act of oppression, they unknowingly serve the glory of the Creator. We concluded that the Bible doesnt give us a final answer regarding why Judas betrayed Jesus Christ. But through the lens of the New Testament, he is seen as a wicked man. Jesus responded to the false testimony by saying nothing at all. Get your Bible. It only made sense on Sunday morning when Jesus rose from the dead. Solomon was DaVinci, Einstein, Bach, Jordan, Augustus, and Shakespeare rolled into one superior man. If so, did he have a choice? God then raised up Moses and his brother Aaron as instruments to deliver the people of Israel from cruel bondage. He reminded Peter that he could call for 12 legions of angels72,000 highly trained, heavily armed members of the Angelic Defense Leagueto come to his rescue at any moment. God use unbelievers to accomplish his will For he sees that even wise men die;The stupid and the senseless alike perishAnd leave their wealth to others. 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. Literal Standard Version. Pentecost was a sign to the unbelieving of Israel that they had broken the covenant and stood deserving of Gods judgment and wrath. Yet, God used him to rebuild the temple and allow Jews to return to their land. 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? He fought against God and hoped to destroy the early church. Yet He was still able to accomplish His will through them. Because God created all He can use anything in creation. Because God does miracles by His own power. Though used of God to complete his plan, those who crucified our Lord were still personally wicked and godless in what they did. Eternity will reveal how your faithful service was used by the Lord in amazing ways. 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. Judas professed Christ but he did not possess him, which is why he is in hell today. Through one mans treachery, Jesus proves himself a man of peacenot a man of war. It appears that between 11 PM Thursday night and 7:30 AM Friday morning, Jesus underwent six different hearingsone before Annas, two before Caiaphas, one before the Sanhedrin, and two before Pontius Pilate. His And that is okay. Because God created all He can use anything in creation. 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. Summary We need to be reminded again and again that we are like grass disposable, temporary, fleeting, momentary. Believer, dont think that your faithful service to your local body of believers is insignificant or accounts for little or nothing. When we dont see the ungodly punished immediately, or when they seem to be successful in their evil ways, we should not assume that God is beaten or is pleased to turn His head. They sweep through like the strong winds from the East gathering up captives that number like the grains of sand. God Do not lament your insufficiency. He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will. Second, the proper response to any trial or danger is to not fear but stand by and see the salvation of the Lord. How many times do we fret and worry and then see the Lord deliver us and realize that all of our anxiety and fretting was for naught, that it accomplished nothing, but was an expression of our sinful doubt? 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. God even gave prophecy through Isaiah that this very thing would take place. These lessons simply teach us that God can take that which is evil and use it for his own good purposes. Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 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. His plan in doing so was to bless all people. They do whatever they want. Lest he misunderstand, I also told him that going to Calvary Memorial Church cannot save anyoneor help save anyone. WebGod Can Use Unbelievers part 1: Cyrus 1. They have no respect for the leaders of other nations. Im not a founder, innovator, CEO, or visionary of any company. Their chargers charge ahead; Their cavalry comes from afar; They fly as the eagle that hastens to eat. At times, God enlisted non-believers to help His people through the ages. Everyday Apostolic 2019 | All Rights Reserved, Gods Ability To Use Unlikely People Even Unbelievers, Canceling Church On Christmas Removes Christ From Christmas, Great Resources On Baptism In The Name Of Jesus, A Diluted Christianity: Oneness, Trinitarian, Or Is It All Just Irrelevant, Youre Not David Pastor Raymond Woodward, The Walking Bible Pastor Raymond Woodward, Wait On The Lord by James Wilson NAYC 2019, If I Shout/Lets Testify Medley FAC Sanctuary Choir. Do not lament your insufficiency. He was a brilliant poet, a skillful songwriter, a genius botanist, and a first-class biologist. That doesnt lessen his guilt, but it does increase our appreciation of Gods sovereignty over the affairs of men. God Uses As for you, 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. Even today there are those who are arrogant and have no honor for God as He reveals Himself in Scripture. It even included the price Judas would receive for his act of treachery30 pieces of silver. I might preach to 100 people on Sunday morning in my own little church, but I preach to thousands over the internet. 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). Before the Apostle Paul wrote his letter he was known as Saul. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth (Isaiah 53:7). Gods Ability To Use Unlikely People Even Unbelievers. Summary But what a privilege it is to be used by God! 4:5). The greater the pain, the harder it is to see Gods fingerprints. Sighing deeply in His spirit, He *said, Why does this generation seek for a sign? God Uses I cant charge an exorbitant hourly fee for my time. That is what moving forward would require, or so it seemed. in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. But it does mean everything will happen as God sees fit. your corpses will fall in this wilderness, even all your numbered men, according to your complete number from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against Me. I also answer yes. Anyone who resists God risks falling into spiritual deception (2 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? God strengthened Cyrus so that he could conquer nations and overcome opposition Thus says the Lord God to His 2. Paul used this verse from Habakkuk to warn the foolish despisers of the gospel. 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. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! 1:15-16), later to be thrown in the Nile (Ex. Everything else in the story fits into Gods plan: The crown of thorns, the scourging, the trials, Pilates testimony, his verdict of death, a man to help carry the cross, the place of deathGolgotha, and the moment of death3 PM, the time when the Passover lambs were sacrificed at the Temple. God uses the overwhelmed and disheveled mother to nurture her children into spiritual giants. 2:11). Moses didnt have any power to divide the Red Sea. 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. I sit on no boards. Gods Ability To Use Unlikely People Even Unbelievers. As we saw in the first four verses of this book, Habakkuk was confused. I think we can learn some great lessons by answering these questions. You truly never know God could be doing something right that we wouldnt understand even if He told us. Jesus Sends Out the They deride every stronghold, For they heap up earthen mounds and seize it. When Moses spoke these words to all the sons of Israel, the people mourned greatly. Be encouraged, child of God. He even turns wicked hearts to serve his Sovereign purpose. WebJohn 3:16. Grace be with you. Those who look to themselves, will eventually and always reap their just punishment. 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. Psalm 69:25Reputation destroyed forever. 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. (Bible quotations are from the New King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.). In Acts 13:41 he said, Behold, you despisers, Marvel and perish! He didnt accept evil apathetically, he was appalled by it. Though absolutely sovereign, all knowing, all wise, and everywhere present, God uses sinners to accomplish His will. First, the people of Israel were for the most part leaderless. Nothing will ever be able to affect Gods will. The Lord even tells Moses to do it, divide it! God doesnt need men, but God chooses to use men at times to accomplish His sovereign will. Though Israel was many, only the remnant will be saved (Romans 9:27). Paul, in writing to Corinth, corrected the Churchs misuse of speaking in foreign tongues. Just as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things! (Rom. Judas didnt know itand doesnt get any credit for itbut his dastardly deed actually fulfilled predictions given by the Holy Spirit hundreds of years before he was born. The Israelites and the church did face some tough times and we may too. He has not brought us this far to cause us to fail. The manner of the judgment would be unexpected. 46:10). In 605 Egypt was defeated by the Neo-Babylonians at Carchemish. They live as if there was no Creator, no moral law, no accountability. The Bible says, God was well pleased through the message preached to save those who believe (I Cor. Judas served Gods purposes even though what he did was wrong and he ended up in hell. In fact, in one place in scripture, God said that what He was doing could not be understood even if He explained it. 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. But he chose instead to allow himself to be arrested, knowing that this would fulfill Gods plan. Finally, they suborned perjury by putting forward false witnesses who produced contradictory testimony. Here are some examples: God Judas solved their problem by volunteering to betray the Lord. Often in the confusion of life, we cant see the ends, much less the means God intends for us. Tell the sons of Israel to go forward. 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. When we do that we become His instruments to accomplish His sovereign will. Your children, however, whom you said would become a preyI will bring them in, and they will know the land which you have rejected. We are here and gone again. Because God created all He can use anything in creation. Yet both declare His awesome glory. Grace be with you. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. The articles posted on this website are here to provide information about the Bible and specific topics related to the Reformed Faith along with it's application in our daily thoughts and activities. They were the ones who asked for valuables from the people of Egypt, who were so fearful and stricken with grief that they gave the departing Israelites their riches, literally paying the Jews to leave Egypt (Ex. A God who can bring something good out of betrayal can be trusted to accomplish his work in your life. WebGod never does evil Himself. so that they might escape from the devil's snare, even though they've been held captive by him to do his will. 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. Because they did not believe in GodAnd did not trust in His salvation. God has sinners pray and answers the prayers of sinners that are according to His will, getting glory for himself. Training for Preachers and Teachers of God's Word, Want to know what an RSS feed is and how it works? God has the amazing ability to do things that simply do not make sense to mankind. This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask He sent His son to pay a most costly price for the sin of His people, for those who trust in Him. In 609 Judahs King Josiah was killed in battle against Egypt. But before his salvation took place God was still using Him. They all come for violence; Their faces are set like the east wind. To put the matter that way raises several other questions: Was Judas predestined by God to betray Jesus? 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. 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. Habakkuk 1:7-11, They are terrible and dreadful; Their judgment and their dignity proceed from themselves. WebGod will never set man's will aside and use him for a good purpose without his being willing to be used. God promised to precede Cyrus and destroy all opposition that Cyrus would face: 'I will go before you and make the 3. He wants us to trust in Him, to rely on Him, to cry out to Him, and then give Him glory for delivering us. Say to them, As I live, says the Lord, just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will surely do to you; your corpses will fall in this wilderness, even all your numbered men, according to your complete number from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against Me. Were they to march into the sea holding their little ones, driving their cattle, and pushing their elderly? We see this clearly in the life of Christ. Sighing deeply in His spirit, He *said, Why does this generation seek for a sign? Israel as a nation had rejected the promises of Moses and the Prophets culminating in the demand for the death of Jesus, Gods Messiah. Egypt and the Neo-Babylonians were competing for world dominance. Thus they plundered the Egyptians ( Exodus 12:36 ). He has but one endto make us like Jesus. God sometimes use evil to accomplish His plans (Habakkuk He betrayed the Lord but ended up vindicating him. God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne ( Psalm 47:8 ). The Lord can never be blamed for evil, but evil does not take p. God never does evil Himself. Why did a holy God allow such evil to continue? In the words of a 19th century writer, hatred, treachery and deceit will not prevail against the church of God. Summary And Jesus said, For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind. Those of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, We are not blind too, are we? Jesus said to them, If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, We see, your sin remains. As a place to begin, consider three verses dealing with Judas. Literal Standard Version. 1 John 5:14. Christianity is not about religion, its about a life-changing relationship with the Son of God. Thus they plundered the Egyptians ( Exodus 12:36 ). God use non-believers to help His people 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. Providence means that God is in charge of the entire universe at all times and nothing happens outside his control. God All rights reserved. Jump to Previous 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). God is unimpressed. It was the tech team, the web master, the secretary, or whoever posted my sermon on line. Remember my imprisonment. Sign up to join over 20,000 subscribers receiving our weekly sermon email. But He is unique and who can turn Him?And what His soul desires, that He does. They had no weapons to fight Pharaohs army, no experience in war, no ability to defend themselves, and no way of escape. They intend to be their own god. Two questions stand out: 1) Did Jesus actually descend into hell? Bible Hub 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. 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. Fit to be Used They mock authority and law, and believe that might makes right. They still look to their own strength and ability as if they were divine and answer to no authority above their own. Though used by God for his purposes, the ungodly are still evil. Moses didnt have any power to bring the ten plagues upon Egypt either. We turn now to consider how the sin of Judas served many good purposesnone of which were seen that night and none of which diminish his true moral guilt.
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