Gods covenant warned from the beginning that if Israel fell into sin God would use a foreign heathen nation to bring judgment upon them. 55:8-9). We need to be reminded again and again that we are like grass disposable, temporary, fleeting, momentary. The unbelievers, become confused, not remembering ever having the opportunity to serve Jesus. Why did a holy God allow such evil to continue? Eventually, Pharaoh decided to use the Jews for slave labor. It doesnt mean everything will also go perfectly or the way we hope. He has not brought us this far to cause us to fail. Those who look to themselves, will eventually and always reap their just punishment. 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 can use even you even me. Christianity is not about religion, its about a life-changing relationship with the Son of God. But through the lens of the New Testament, he is seen as a wicked man. One final point is in order. But if anyone says to you, This is meat sacrificed to idols, do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience sake; I mean not your own conscience, but the other mans; for why is my freedom judged by anothers conscience? 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. Does God Accomplish His Purpose in Our Habakkuk learned that the material success of the ungodly is not a reliable measure of their true success. There is no better example of Gods providence at work through the actions of a sinful man. 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. By his treachery he established the very cause he set out to destroy. Will we show forth Gods glory in our obedience and in our receiving of His covenant blessing? They were in an impossible situation with no way out. Im not a founder, innovator, CEO, or visionary of any company. WebGod will never set man's will aside and use him for a good purpose without his being willing to be used. There are so many amazing things in these few verses. 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. God is not the author of sin, but He can use sinful men to attain an objective. Jesus, in the Olivet Discourse, gave the parable of the sheep and the goats. 14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him. I also answer yes. Does God Accomplish His Purpose in Our 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). Jump to Previous 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. I didnt attend an Ivy League school. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. Yet, Solomon turned away from God (1 Kings 11:4, 912). God Uses Fit to be Used Email Jack. These lessons simply teach us that God can take that which is evil and use it for his own good purposes. If so, did he have a choice? 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. WebGod was about to turn to the Gentiles as He judged Israel as a nation for her unbelief. Do not begrudge your weakness. Click here. 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. The sheep representing believers who did Gods will and the goats representing unbelievers who do not do Gods will. When God desires to save someone, He raises up Christians to preach the gospel. Amen. But He is unique and who can turn Him?And what His soul desires, that He does. In spite of our slownessand even sinGod will bless and use us to fulfill His purpose of blessing all nations through Christ, because of our relationship to the Father through the Son. God strengthened Cyrus so that he could conquer nations and overcome opposition Thus says the Lord God to His 2. God wanted the people of Israel to look to Moses as their God appointed human leader and deliverer. 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. 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. His words imply that all the torment will be tolerable. But all of them come from the hand of the Lord. Pastor, Expository Preacher, Author, Trainer of Preachers and Bible Teachers. 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). Stating that the plans of men are many but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. We know from the sowing and reaping principle that t here will be degrees of torment in the lake of fire. Get your Bible. God chooses the custodian with a heavy accent to share the gospel and save lives. The gospel writers record many Old Testament prophecies that were fulfilled in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 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. 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. This is the attitude of the evil heart in all ages. A complete answer is impossible for who has known the mind of the Lord (Isa. 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. In heaven, each mans praise will come to him from God, and God will be glorified for sovereignly using sinners for His good purposes (I Cor. 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. But before his salvation took place God was still using Him. Do not lament your insufficiency. God Unbelievers Are blinded by the God of this world 2 Corinthians 4:4 Verse Concepts In the eyes of the Jews, Saul would be seen as a warrior of the faith. 28:36, The LORD will bring you and the king whom you set over you to a nation which neither you nor your fathers have known, and there you shall serve other gods wood and stone. In spite of all this they still sinned And did not believe in His wonderful works. It forces us to live by faith, which is how He wants us to live all the time because it gives Him glory. They sweep through like the strong winds from the East gathering up captives that number like the grains of sand. 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. Lest he misunderstand, I also told him that going to Calvary Memorial Church cannot save anyoneor help save anyone. 1:15-16), later to be thrown in the Nile (Ex. His plan in doing so was to bless all people. But we need to grow in faith and obedience. God use unbelievers to accomplish his will Jump to Previous And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. Dont mistake temporary material victories for true success. Soon they will be raised up from that struggle to full power. But we need to grow in faith and obedience. He stands behind it indirectly, but He directly stands behind good. God uses all those who humble themselves before the cross, boasting only in him his strength, his wisdom, his righteousness, his accomplishment. Acts 2:23 tells us that Jesus was delivered up, by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death. 1:21). God has the amazing ability to do things that simply do not make sense to mankind. God sometimes use evil to accomplish His plans (Habakkuk The repentant show Gods unmerited grace to undeserving sinners, and reveal the merciful blessing and goodness of God. 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 ordains the means and the ends of life. God often reveals himself in most unexpected ways. He wants us to trust in Him, to rely on Him, to cry out to Him, and then give Him glory for delivering us. As with the raising of Moses hands by Aaron and Hurt, sharing the gospel, or praying, God delights in and receives glory for himself, when we submit to His will, live by faith, and obey His Word. Holman Old Testament Commentary: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah by Trent Butler. Now relax your hand! And the angel of the Lord was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. 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. For he sees that even wise men die;The stupid and the senseless alike perishAnd leave their wealth to others. The Lord can never be blamed for evil, but evil does not take p. God never does evil Himself. Summary Everything fits into Gods plan. I dont speak on any circuits, have given no TED talks, and have been the keynote speaker less than once. 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). Yet, God used him to rebuild the temple and allow Jews to return to their land. The Lord did it, but He did it through Moses. I find it remarkable how consistently the New Testament writers see the hand of God in the events surrounding the death of Christ. WebThe Scripture teaches that God achieves His purpose in unbelievers. 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. God Uses The fact that God ordains both the means and the ends should surely encourage us as we face our own trials. Because God does miracles by His own power. 28:25, The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies; you shall go out one way against them and flee seven ways before them; and you shall become troublesome to all the kingdoms of the earth. Grace be with you. If your rsum is sparse, your intellect feeble, your skills unimpressive, and your wisdom just average, fret not. This week were looking at the other side of the equation. We pray because God is sovereign and all powerful. We see this all the way through the Bible. The total number of prophecies is well over 100. All of these people are unlikely choices to be used by God since they didnt truly know or believe in Him. 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. God sees. 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. Philippians 3:4-7 - although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. Two verses later, in Rom. This seems to be one of the reasons God had Moses lift up his staff and hands to divide the Red Sea. But the Jews who disbelieved stirred up the minds of the Gentiles and embittered them against the brethren. Though absolutely sovereign, all knowing, all wise, and everywhere present, God uses sinners to accomplish His will. or will we in our rebellion demonstrate the just curse of His covenant warnings? Today, the weapons of force have improved, yet all the more they take whatever they want, and give only when it serves their purpose. I have received no honorary doctorates. It was the tech team, the web master, the secretary, or whoever posted my sermon on line. In the beginning Satan challenged Gods right to rule. A lesson worth considering, but not the main lesson I want to focus on, is that God often put us into situations where only He can deliver us. God promised to precede Cyrus and destroy all opposition that Cyrus would face: 'I will go before you and make the 3. How will they preach unless they are sent? Their horses also are swifter than leopards, And more fierce than evening wolves. They heap judgment on themselves. Showing us that our God can and will use anyone even though they dont know Him. He stands behind it indirectly, but He directly stands behind good. 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. verses about Unbelievers 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. ", Writing & Teaching Inductive Bible Studies. Our accolades cannot merit us any greatness. 1:8). God has the amazing ability to do things that simply do not make sense to mankind. In fact, in one place in scripture, God said that what He was doing could not be understood even if He explained it. 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. Sighing deeply in His spirit, He *said, Why does this generation seek for a sign? 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. Eternity will reveal how your faithful service was used by the Lord in amazing ways. Our accomplishments do not justify our existence. He told the people that Pharaohs army would be wiped out, though he did not know how. From the earliest days of Jesus life we find the Jewish leaders conspiring against him. But if anyone says to you, This is meat sacrificed to idols, do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience sake; I mean not your own conscience, but the other mans; for why is my freedom judged by anothers conscience? He mustered his army and went after the Jews in hot pursuit. When God does something completely different and unexpected (Numb. God The Pharisees believed they were serving God but in reality, they didnt even know Him. This New-Babylon marched through Canaan and took hostages (one of them was Daniel). But they feared to do it during the Feast of Unleavened Bread because of the crowds that thronged Jerusalem. We see this clearly in the life of Christ. They will be held guilty. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. I am a preacher and Bible teacher. Jesus immediately restored the ear and told Peter to put down his sword. Joseph made Egypt phenomenally wealthy during the years of the famine. Those who read my words are in many different situations: May I repeat what I just said: He has not brought us this far to cause us to fail. Those who were rebelling against God had become apathetic. 1:37). Gods Prophet Jeremiah warned of Gods judgment. 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. He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will. Fourth, Gods command seemed impossible to obey. 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. The Lord can never be blamed for evil, but evil does not take p. God never does evil Himself. 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. Why bother praying to a God who isnt? We know from the sowing and reaping principle that t here will be degrees of torment in the lake of fire.