God uses the overwhelmed and disheveled mother to nurture her children into spiritual giants. One swing of his sword whacked off the ear of Malchus, servant to the High Priest. WebThe one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son. He stands behind it indirectly, but He directly stands behind good. God was rejecting their national privilege, and turning to the Gentiles to populate his Covenant Nation on Earth. 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. Rejoice that Christ is all-sufficient and always dependable. The book of proverbs also gives us insight into this. 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. When Isaiah 53:1 speaks of the future coming of the Messiah, literally it says, who would have believed the thing reported? His birth as a baby who would grow up, suffer and die was most unexpected. 13:17). 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. We might be a life-hacking, productivity guru. God doesnt need men, but God chooses to use men at times to accomplish His sovereign will. Do not begrudge your weakness. Then we read this in Exodus 14:13-16: But Moses said to the people, Do not fear! Your children, however, whom you said would become a preyI will bring them in, and they will know the land which you have rejected. 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. Jesus said to them, If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, We see, your sin remains. They had no weapons to fight Pharaohs army, no experience in war, no ability to defend themselves, and no way of escape. Many believed they were going to die and complained to Moses (Ex. If God did the miracles without Moses, amazing things would have happened, but the people would not have known what was going on or what to do. Though used of God to complete his plan, those who crucified our Lord were still personally wicked and godless in what they did. But now, I pray, let the power of the Lord be great, just as You have declared, 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., but indeed, as I live, all the earth will be filled with the glory of the. 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. At my own local church, and everywhere else I go, faithful men and women record my sermons in audio and sometimes video. Understanding God in Troubled Times God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne ( Psalm 47:8 ). The thing he values the most is dragging him down to eternal damnation. No buildings, streets, or hospitals have been named in honor of me. Being a creative, innovative or highly effective leader is insufficient. So He brought their days to an end in futility And their years in sudden terror. This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 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. As Christians, we have nothing to fear or worry about because we know that God is in control. Training for Preachers and Teachers of God's Word, Want to know what an RSS feed is and how it works? But Habakkuks confusion was not doubt. Unbelievers Are blinded by the God of this world 2 Corinthians 4:4 Verse Concepts Many that people can plan to do much but is God that will always have the final say. The Prophet was told to look around him and see what was going on among the nations, observe! Get your Bible. I cant charge an exorbitant hourly fee for my time. The unbeliever has made an exchangethe truth for a lieand the devil is happy to facilitate the swap by presenting the sinner with a wide array of lies from which to choose. He was ready to die for his Master and intended to take a few of the bad guys with him. The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, to test Him. Their end will be most awful. Though absolutely sovereign, all knowing, all wise, and everywhere present, God uses sinners to accomplish His will. It was the tech team, the web master, the secretary, or whoever posted my sermon on line. God doesnt need men, but God chooses to use men at times to accomplish His sovereign will. The story of Judas teaches us that nothing happens by accident. 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. We see this all the way through the Bible. He betrayed the Lord but ended up vindicating him. God often reveals himself in most unexpected ways. In the words of a 19th century writer, hatred, treachery and deceit will not prevail against the church of God. But as for you, your corpses will fall in this wilderness. So continue to trust in Him and you wont be disappointed. 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. 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. 46:10). for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. God wants to use those who look away from their self-sufficiency to his all-sufficiency. This New-Babylon marched through Canaan and took hostages (one of them was Daniel). Nothing will ever be able to affect Gods will. Psalm 69:25Reputation destroyed forever. In 609 Judahs King Josiah was killed in battle against Egypt. When Judas actually betrayed Jesus in the Garden, Peter immediately sprang to his defense. It even included the price Judas would receive for his act of treachery30 pieces of silver. Solomon was given a mind like no one before and like none even after him (1 Kings 3:12). 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. No, its a mystery. Here are some examples: Lesson 7 The Interpretation of Scripture, Lesson 5a Boundaries of the Doctrine of Creation, Primeval Chronology by Dr. William Henry Green, Lesson 8 Gods Special Providence & Miracles, Lesson 10 Assurance of Grace and Salvation, Lesson 2 Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience, Lesson 3 The Regulative Principle of Worship, Lesson 4a The Elements of Regulated Worship, Lesson 4b The Elements of Regulated Worship, Lesson 1 An Overview of Special Eschatology, Lesson 2 -The Great Tribulation of Matthew 24, Lesson 3 The Millennium of Revelation 20, A Guide for Small Group Bible Study Leaders, Defending the Biblical Faith by what God Shows Us, Lessons in the Westminster Shorter Catechsim, The Inspiration of the Treasured Word of God, Summary of the 45th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America, The Holy Spirit In the Ministry of the Word, The Necessity of Biblical Love in the Believers Life, Keep Your Bible Skills Sharp and Ready (part 2), Keep Your Bible Skills Sharp and Ready (Part 1). Wisdom didnt ensure obedience. When God does something completely different and unexpected (Numb. WebJohn 3:16. This is the grace of God as revealed in His merciful covenant. 6:10). At the beginning of their sojourn, Joseph was ruler of Egypt, a son of Jacob, and watched over his own. 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. It only made sense on Sunday morning when Jesus rose from the dead. I have an unimpressive family background and do not come from a long line of important people. Often in the confusion of life, we cant see the ends, much less the means God intends for us. Even those who have a very low view of Gods sovereignty, if they pray, pray because God is perfectly sovereign, otherwise prayer would be an exercise in futility. Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives. 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. And that is okay. A man who lived in a time in which only Jews served the one true God. Guiding our world whether we are able to see it or not. God didnt need to have Moses lift up his staff. Sighing deeply in His spirit, He *said, Why does this generation seek for a sign? 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! I also answer yes. even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Even Jesus cannot save a man who claims his sin is not really sinful. WebGod will never set man's will aside and use him for a good purpose without his being willing to be used. The unbeliever has made an exchangethe truth for a lieand the devil is happy to facilitate the swap by presenting the sinner with a wide array of lies from which to choose. 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. 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. But God did just that and used a sinning Gentile to begin the process of restoring Israel. Were on a mission to change that. He uses believers and unbelievers. He stands behind it indirectly, but He directly stands behind good. Israel as a nation had rejected the promises of Moses and the Prophets culminating in the demand for the death of Jesus, Gods Messiah. 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? 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. Anyone who resists God risks falling into spiritual deception (2 Peter didnt see it, he only saw the treachery of Judas. The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son. I dont have any letters after my name. We are here and gone again. 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. Because God created all He can use anything in creation. WebGod never does evil Himself. How will they preach unless they are sent? (see Matthew 27:5). He even turns wicked hearts to serve his Sovereign purpose. In those moments we often feel alone in the chaos of circumstances as life tumbles in around us. We are called to be among his faithful people. The Lord said to Moses, How long will this people spurn Me? A God who can bring something good out of betrayal can be trusted to accomplish his work in your life. God is unimpressed. 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). WebThe one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son. Grace be with you. I am not a rising star in any field, industry, or arena. God uses pathetic people for his glorious purposes to show his superior power. The fact that we cant conceive of free choice coexisting with Gods predestination simply reminds us once again that he is God and we are not. His purpose in creation will stand. Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening as Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. God is still using unlikely people to accomplish His will on earth today. Habakkuk 1:7-11, They are terrible and dreadful; Their judgment and their dignity proceed from themselves. The evil nations God was raising up to judge his rebellious people were self-centered. Often in the confusion of life, we cant see the ends, much less the means God intends for us. Though absolutely sovereign, all knowing, all wise, and everywhere present, God uses sinners to accomplish His will. This shows the mercy and compassion of God to help the Israelites. 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 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.. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. For I work a work in your days, a work which you will by no means believe, Though one were to declare it to you., Jeremiah also spoke of the same thing about which God warned Habakkuk. But sometimes we forget that when God ordains a particular end, he also ordains the means to that end. My ministry is small locally, but gigantic because of the faithful service of others. To put the matter that way raises several other questions: Was Judas predestined by God to betray Jesus? 14:11). Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife? Comments? A second reason, related to the first reason, is that God knew that by doing His miracles through Moses, Moses would then in turn give glory to God. All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Surely all the men who have seen My glory and My signs which I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet have put Me to the test these ten times and have not listened to My voice, shall by no means see the land which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who spurned Me see it. And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. 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? 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. 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. We live most of our days in Good Fridayenduring confusion, opposition, disappointment and the many tragedies of life. Gods plan even extended to having Jesus buried in a borrowed tomb (see Isaiah 53:9). 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. In fact, in one place in scripture, God said that what He was doing could not be understood even if He explained it. Other examples could be added to this list. 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. This week I ate lunch with a man who has recently become an acquaintance through an e-mail correspondence. God asks us to do things we cant do, because it makes us trust IN HIM, not ourselves. The manner of the judgment would be unexpected. I answer yes. It was all the Lord. The phrase all this refers to the betrayal, the circumstances surrounding it, and the circumstances flowing from it. I am the trustee of nothing more than my personal belongings. Philippians 3:4-7 - although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. I, the Lord, have spoken, surely this I will do to all this evil congregation who are gathered together against Me. WebGod was about to turn to the Gentiles as He judged Israel as a nation for her unbelief. 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. Thus they plundered the Egyptians ( Exodus 12:36 ). 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. In spite of all this they still sinned And did not believe in His wonderful works. To say it another way, there is a man in hell today who has been there for 2000 years even though what he did advanced Gods plan to save the world. His plan in doing so was to bless all people. 1:8). God sovereignly saves sinners, yet, He often uses sinners to accomplish His sovereign will. Pastor, Expository Preacher, Author, Trainer of Preachers and Bible Teachers. Those who look to themselves, will eventually and always reap their just punishment. The people of Israel, were backed up against the Red Sea with Pharaohs army charging at them. 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. Recent events may not have gone how you hoped and the signs may seem bleak. But God gave the command, Moses obeyed the command, and in a sense Moses divided the Sea, as the Lord commanded, and in a more ultimate sense God did the miracle and divided the Red Sea. So through his death, he can have everlasting life on earth. But he chose instead to allow himself to be arrested, knowing that this would fulfill Gods plan. Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites live in the valleys; turn tomorrow and set out to the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea.. That doesnt make us anything more in Gods eyes. They move ahead as a determined army spreading violence. They have heard that You, O. What does it mean that the righteous will live by faith (Habakkuk 2:4)? Our prayers do not alter Gods eternal decree. Two verses later, in Rom. God knew that Pharaoh would change his mind about letting the people of Israel go and that he would pursue them to bring them back to Egypt. God picks the scrawniest little girl to lead off on his kickball team. Be encouraged Christian, God intends to use you in all your multifaceted weakness and obscurity for his glory. This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask Each time Moses would perform a mighty sign to convince Pharaoh of Gods power but each time God would harden his heart. His words imply that all the torment will be tolerable. Grace be with you. Those who were rebelling against God had become apathetic. Here are five specific prophecies that were fulfilled when Judas betrayed Jesus: Psalm 41:9Close friend will betray Christ (see John 13:18). Paul, in writing to Corinth, corrected the Churchs misuse of speaking in foreign tongues. And did not believe in His wonderful works. I think we can learn some great lessons by answering these questions. His words imply that all the torment will be tolerable. God commissions the invalid retiree to uphold dozens, even hundreds of missionaries on the field. Scripture even points to the fact that God used Cyrus even though he didnt know God. but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. 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). This truth about Judas illustrates Gods control of every event in the universe. Two questions stand out: 1) Did Jesus actually descend into hell? All of these people are unlikely choices to be used by God since they didnt truly know or believe in Him. 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. (1 Corinthians 1:2629). Thanks for your interest! Psalm 109:8Replaced by another manMatthias (see Acts 1:20). Summary Were they to voluntarily all drown? WebThe Scripture teaches that God achieves His purpose in unbelievers. Now if You slay this people as one man, then the nations who have heard of Your fame will say. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. (Video #2), Lesson 2: Gods Use of the Ungodly Habakkuk 1:5-11. God will use it even if you do not understand how. The fact that God ordains both the means and the ends should surely encourage us as we face our own trials. But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. That literally means, I find no basis for any of the charges brought against this man. In modern terms, you might call it a Summary Judgment in favor of Jesus. This could be the begging of a time of great growth for the church. Soon they will be raised up from that struggle to full power. God could by-pass us and do everything himself, but He does not. Eternity will reveal how your faithful service was used by the Lord in amazing ways. "Equipping and encouraging people to keep believing in Jesus", Copyright 2020 Keep Believing Ministries. When Judas kissed Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter impulsively grabbed his sword and started swinging. Do not lament your insufficiency. God is not the author of sin, but He can use sinful men to attain an objective. 1 And Saul approved of his execution. So through his death, he can have everlasting life on earth. Wisdom alone, though, is insufficient. B) We entrust our lives to the God who cares for us. 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. At times, God enlisted non-believers to help His people through the ages. He dealt with his doubts and confusion in the right way, he turned to God, not to his own understanding. That doesnt lessen his guilt, but it does increase our appreciation of Gods sovereignty over the affairs of men. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 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. God Himself said that He used Pharaoh so that His name would be known on all the earth. From the earliest days of Jesus life we find the Jewish leaders conspiring against him. And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. The Bible says, God was well pleased through the message preached to save those who believe (I Cor. Though absolutely sovereign, all knowing, all wise, and everywhere present, God uses sinners to accomplish His will. They live as if there was no Creator, no moral law, no accountability. 2:11). 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.. Surely you shall not come into the land in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. He chooses to use sinners to accomplish His sovereign will, often in ways we dont even understand. The repentant show Gods unmerited grace to undeserving sinners, and reveal the merciful blessing and goodness of 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;read more.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. Jesus waved him off by declaring, All this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled (Matthew 26:56). Dont get me wrong, wisdom is important. 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. 1:15-16), later to be thrown in the Nile (Ex. Including those who dont believe He exists. Your children, however, whom you said would become a preyI will bring them in, and they will know the land which you have rejected. In this period of Judahs last kings, the Prophets warned of the fulfillment of this covenant promise. The terms Neo-Babylons and Chaldeans are used interchangeably for the people of that Empire. The ungodly show the futility of their rebellion, the awful penalty of sin, and the just wrath of God. 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). He has many means to accomplish that holy purposeincluding some that are difficult to understand. But as for you, your corpses will fall in this wilderness. Every evil in the world must somehow serve Gods purpose. But this much is clear: He never believed that Jesus was guilty of any crime. (see Acts 1:20). I have not been named most influential, listed as most attractive, or voted most likely to succeed. Is that a contradiction? Do not lament your insufficiency. Which is why they completely missed the Messiah when they stood right beside Him. Judas solved their problem by volunteering to betray the Lord. The mind of evil changes from bad to worse being taken in by successes in conquest. How can I believe in the goodness of God when there is so much evil in the world?
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