Gods plan even extended to having Jesus buried in a borrowed tomb (see Isaiah 53:9). 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. 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. 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). God was rejecting their national privilege, and turning to the Gentiles to populate his Covenant Nation on Earth. And he was an exalted and successful king. 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. Unbelievers Are blinded by the God of this world 2 Corinthians 4:4 Verse Concepts 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. This could be the begging of a time of great growth for the church. How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who are grumbling against Me? God even gave prophecy through Isaiah that this very thing would take place. Do you merely profess Christ and trust in your religious habits to save you, or do you possess Christ in your heart by faith? So through his death, he can have everlasting life on earth. WebThe Scripture teaches that God achieves His purpose in unbelievers. 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. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. But among the leaders of the nation, only a few followed Christand they became secret believers for fear of persecution by their brethren. so that they might escape from the devil's snare, even though they've been held captive by him to do his will. Moses give the Israelites specific instruction and visible representation from the invisible God. Who would have had his own beliefs and gods that contradicted much of the Bible. So He brought their days to an end in futility And their years in sudden terror. And, "Who Are The Sons of God in Genesis 6? 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. And goes on to say, How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? God doesnt need men, but God chooses to use men at times to accomplish His sovereign will. Why did a holy God allow such evil to continue? Many believed they were going to die and complained to Moses (Ex. WebThe Scripture teaches that God achieves His purpose in unbelievers. If we lack wisdom, we should ask God for it (James 1:5). Gods plan even extended to having Jesus buried in a borrowed tomb (see Isaiah 53:9). When Judas kissed Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter impulsively grabbed his sword and started swinging. First, the people of Israel were for the most part leaderless. God was revealing that He was going to use this ungodly power for judgment upon his own straying people. We see this all the way through the Bible. God is not the author of sin, but He can use sinful men to attain an objective. They wanted him dead and used Judas as a convenient means to that ugly end. Jesus said the unbelievers failed to give him food, drink, nurse him in His sickness, or visit Him in prison. 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. . Tell the sons of Israel to go forward. 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. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. Those who look to themselves, will eventually and always reap their just punishment. 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. Do not lament your insufficiency. Which caused the church to grow rapidly. It is a mighty nation, It is an ancient nation, A nation whose language you do not know, Nor can you understand what they say. . If so, did he have a choice? But the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the market place, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and attacking the house of Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the people. Though used by God for his purposes, the ungodly are still evil. He has but one endto make us like Jesus. God used this unlikely group of people to accomplish His greatest work and they had no idea. Being a creative, innovative or highly effective leader is insufficient. Were on a mission to change that. I might preach to 100 people on Sunday morning in my own little church, but I preach to thousands over the internet. As Christians, we have nothing to fear or worry about because we know that God is in control. Jesus responded to the false testimony by saying nothing at all. God didnt want to lead the people around the Red Sea by the way of the Philistines knowing they might get scared and run back to Egypt (Ex. When God determines where we will end up, he also determines how we will get there. Often in the confusion of life, we cant see the ends, much less the means God intends for us. The repentant show Gods unmerited grace to undeserving sinners, and reveal the merciful blessing and goodness of God. Assyria had fallen when Nineveh, its capitol, was destroyed in 612 BC. He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will. Dont get me wrong, wisdom is important. Paul also made this clear in Romans 9-11. That is what moving forward would require, or so it seemed. Zechariah 11:1230 pieces of silver (see Matthew 26:15). All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But He does according to His will in the host of heaven, will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. They sweep through like the strong winds from the East gathering up captives that number like the grains of sand. Literal Standard Version. This week I ate lunch with a man who has recently become an acquaintance through an e-mail correspondence. In the beginning Satan challenged Gods right to rule. He used sinners to accomplish His sovereign will. Sign up to join over 20,000 subscribers receiving our weekly sermon email. Suggestions? The book of proverbs also gives us insight into this. God answered him. Jesus, in the Olivet Discourse, gave the parable of the sheep and the goats. Other examples could be added to this list. 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. 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. the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers. They had no weapons to fight Pharaohs army, no experience in war, no ability to defend themselves, and no way of escape. 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. Things may seem impossible, and for men, they might be impossible, but nothing is impossible with God (Lk. 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. We need to be reminded again and again that we are like grass disposable, temporary, fleeting, momentary. How does this truth apply to Judas? Though absolutely sovereign, all knowing, all wise, and everywhere present, God uses sinners to accomplish His will. Strategically, this appeared to be a very unwise move, unless you are God. 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. 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. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! 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. The Lord can never be blamed for evil, but evil does not take p. God never does evil Himself. Verse Concepts. 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. 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. Gods plan included the time of Jesus deathPassover, the placeJerusalem, the opposition by the Jewish leaders, and the betrayal by Judas. Why would God allow his Son to suffer such indignity at the hands of one who claimed to be his friend? God has the amazing ability to do things that simply do not make sense to mankind. He dealt with his doubts and confusion in the right way, he turned to God, not to his own understanding. But the fact of the matter is it wasnt me! We see this all the way through the Bible. He even turns wicked hearts to serve his Sovereign purpose. From the earliest days of Jesus life we find the Jewish leaders conspiring against him. 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. Not one of these men, this evil generation, shall see the good land which I swore to give your fathers. Grace be with you. 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. Gods Ability To Use Unlikely People Even Unbelievers. 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. But it does mean everything will happen as God sees fit. The Lord did it, but He did it through Moses. Judas professed Christ but he did not possess him, which is why he is in hell today. Now relax your hand! And the angel of the Lord was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. In the healthiest churches, we find a holy conspiracy between pastors who gladly care for the sheep, and sheep who do what they can so that the pastors might serve joyfully. He has not brought us this far to cause us to fail. The evil nations God was raising up to judge his rebellious people were self-centered. 1:8). The new Pharaoh saw the Israelites as a plague in the land. Everything fits into Gods plan. The evil ones believe pridefully that their own imagined gods have blessed them. Thus they plundered the Egyptians ( Exodus 12:36 ). A complete answer is impossible for who has known the mind of the Lord (Isa. We see the same thing after the Israelites cross the Red Sea and are attacked by the Amalekites (Ex. But we need to grow in faith and obedience. Because God created all He can use anything in creation. The unbelievers, become confused, not remembering ever having the opportunity to serve Jesus. Egypt and the Neo-Babylonians were competing for world dominance. "Equipping and encouraging people to keep believing in Jesus", Copyright 2020 Keep Believing Ministries. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. His son Jehoahaz became king. This is the grace of God as revealed in His merciful covenant. Egypt made his brother, Jehoiakim, the new king over the Jews. It was their God, or at least the God of Moses, that just killed all the first born of Egypt. Its something we can clearly see within the pages of our Bible. For I will work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told you.. His words imply that all the torment will be tolerable. God Himself said that He used Pharaoh so that His name would be known on all the earth. How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? Jump to Previous Gods Ability To Use Unlikely People Even Unbelievers. He recognized what was evil because he believed Gods law. Later Pilate gave in to pressure and ordered Jesus crucified. Their chargers charge ahead; Their cavalry comes from afar; They fly as the eagle that hastens to eat. Do not begrudge your weakness. Habakkuk 1:5, Look among the nations and watch Be utterly astounded! We need to remember that God uses the foolish. And that is okay. For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? The Lord can never be blamed for evil, but evil does not take p. God never does evil Himself. As a place to begin, consider three verses dealing with Judas. 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. I didnt attend an Ivy League school. (see Acts 1:20). Psalm 109:8Replaced by another manMatthias (see Acts 1:20). 1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: 2 Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Thus they plundered the Egyptians ( Exodus 12:36 ). This is the attitude of the evil heart in all ages. 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. 1:22). Israel stumbled at the stumbling stone, the suffering messiah (Romans 9:31-33). It was the tech team, the web master, the secretary, or whoever posted my sermon on line. Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives. It only made sense on Sunday morning when Jesus rose from the dead. The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, to test Him. If youd like an interesting Bible study, take a look at the trials of Jesus. 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. Pastor, Expository Preacher, Author, Trainer of Preachers and Bible Teachers. All four gospel writers agree that three times Pilate rendered the same verdict regarding Jesus: I find no fault in him (John 19:6 NKJV). God strengthened Cyrus so that he could conquer nations and overcome opposition Thus says the Lord God to His 2. He uses believers and unbelievers. The thing he values the most is dragging him down to eternal damnation. The fact that God ordains both the means and the ends should surely encourage us as we face our own trials. 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 is still using unlikely people to accomplish His will on earth today. God strengthened Cyrus so that he could conquer nations and overcome opposition Thus says the Lord God to His 2. 14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him. Able to do exceedingly and abundantly using unlikely people to further His plans. Gods covenant warned from the beginning that if Israel fell into sin God would use a foreign heathen nation to bring judgment upon them. Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? God uses all those who humble themselves before the cross, boasting only in him his strength, his wisdom, his righteousness, his accomplishment. Those who were rebelling against God had become apathetic. WebJohn 3:16. And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not send her husband away. WebGod will never set man's will aside and use him for a good purpose without his being willing to be used. In fact, in one place in scripture, God said that what He was doing could not be understood even if He explained it. but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. He wants us to trust in Him, to rely on Him, to cry out to Him, and then give Him glory for delivering us. But our God is mightier than any office or country. 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. Jesus said to them, If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, We see, your sin remains. Soon they will be raised up from that struggle to full power. and be astounded! He sent His son to pay a most costly price for the sin of His people, for those who trust in Him. 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. WebJohn 3:16. Really, its just fine. 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. He could have just caused them to drop dead. Often in the confusion of life, we cant see the ends, much less the means God intends for us. Then we read this in Exodus 14:13-16: But Moses said to the people, Do not fear! He uses believers and unbelievers. But sometimes we forget that when God ordains a particular end, he also ordains the means to that end. Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. 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.read more.Yet if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave; the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us to peace. 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. 1:37). 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. 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 picks the scrawniest little girl to lead off on his kickball team. 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. Even Jesus cannot save a man who claims his sin is not really sinful. They deride every stronghold, For they heap up earthen mounds and seize it. The gospel writers record many Old Testament prophecies that were fulfilled in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. They were afraid. Many that people can plan to do much but is God that will always have the final say. Jesus says much the same thing in his famous prayer just before Judas arrives: None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that the Scripture would be fulfilled (John17:12b). Solomon was DaVinci, Einstein, Bach, Jordan, Augustus, and Shakespeare rolled into one superior man. He told the people that Pharaohs army would be wiped out, though he did not know how. As the persecution he inflicted was just the jump-start the early church needed to start taking the Gospel to the rest of the world. By his treachery he established the very cause he set out to destroy. That doesnt make us anything more in Gods eyes. 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?. 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. 2) If Jesus did descend into hell, why? The story of Judas teaches us that nothing happens by accident. 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). Even his enemies played into Gods handthough they did not know it at the time. They intend to be their own god. Psalm 69:25Reputation destroyed forever. When we do that we become His instruments to accomplish His sovereign will. I have an unimpressive family background and do not come from a long line of important people. We might be a life-hacking, productivity guru. God uses the overwhelmed and disheveled mother to nurture her children into spiritual giants. You are going to need it as we search the Scriptures to answer these two questions. 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. Does God sometimes use evil to accomplish His plans (Habakkuk 1:5-11)? God uses all those who humble themselves before the cross, boasting only in him his strength, his wisdom, his righteousness, his accomplishment. Nothing that happened to Jesus that night or later on Good Friday made sense when it happened. God will bring ultimate and final judgment upon all ungodliness. A prophecy we can imagine would have seemed quite improbable to those who heard. Because they did not believe in GodAnd did not trust in His salvation. God promised to precede Cyrus and destroy all opposition that Cyrus would face: 'I will go before you and make the 3. 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. So the emphasis of the chapter is on Gods working out His purpose through ordinary people who obey Him. When Moses spoke these words to all the sons of Israel, the people mourned greatly. This was Moses advice to the people of Israel when facing the imminent threat of death, and it is true for us as well when facing any trial. Is that a contradiction? so that they might escape from the devil's snare, even though they've been held captive by him to do his will. ", Writing & Teaching Inductive Bible Studies. An unlikely person to be used by God. God ordains the means and the ends of life. Our prayers do not alter Gods eternal decree. Nothing is ever left to chance with God. He does this for obvious reasons. The Neo-Babylonians were dominated by Chaldean kings. A third reason God had Moses raise his staff and hands before dividing the Red Sea is that God delights to use sinners to accomplish His sovereign will. In spite of all this they still sinnedAnd did not believe in His wonderful works. I answer yes. Do not lament your insufficiency. Visit Justins personal website Here. God chooses the custodian with a heavy accent to share the gospel and save lives. But God did just that and used a sinning Gentile to begin the process of restoring Israel. Though Israel was many, only the remnant will be saved (Romans 9:27). 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. God promised to precede Cyrus and destroy all opposition that Cyrus would face: 'I will go before you and make the 3. God sees. Thats generally the way life is for all of us. The ungodly show the futility of their rebellion, the awful penalty of sin, and the just wrath of God. 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. And it is just like God to ask us to do hard things, things that seem impossible, that we know in our hearts we cant do. He mustered his army and went after the Jews in hot pursuit. God is unimpressed. (Video #2), Lesson 2: Gods Use of the Ungodly Habakkuk 1:5-11. 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.. The Lord said to Moses, How long will this people spurn Me? The new king was deposed after three months. Jump to Previous Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife? Because God created all He can use anything in creation. But the Jews who disbelieved stirred up the minds of the Gentiles and embittered them against the brethren. During our conversationwhich lasted two hours and was both cordial and very frankI told him that his religion could not save him. 4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. Covenant judgment was about to be poured out upon Israel. In the words of a 19th century writer, hatred, treachery and deceit will not prevail against the church of God. God will use it even if you do not understand how. 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. 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. Were they to march into the sea holding their little ones, driving their cattle, and pushing their elderly? 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. Until finally it came to the Red Sea where the Egyptian army was destroyed and the tale spread across the world to the glory of God. 2:11). 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 pray because we believe God, because we want to trust in God, praise God, ask God for things we cant do ourselves. He is working all things after the counsel of His will (Eph. But he chose instead to allow himself to be arrested, knowing that this would fulfill Gods plan. The Prophet Habakkuk wrote during the troubled times before Judahs captivity. 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. What does it mean that God came from Teman (Habakkuk 3:3). God uses pathetic people for his glorious purposes to show his superior power. Remember my imprisonment. They thank me for posting my sermons on the internet. But we can find hope in knowing that God is in control, He works all things for our God, and no suffering we face know will even be able to cast a shadow on the glory we will receive in Heaven. This week were looking at the other side of the equation. Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? God is not finished with you yet, so dont give up on him. Your children, however, whom you said would become a preyI will bring them in, and they will know the land which you have rejected. Pentecost was a sign to the unbelieving of Israel that they had broken the covenant and stood deserving of Gods judgment and wrath.

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