", Writing & Teaching Inductive Bible Studies. I find it remarkable how consistently the New Testament writers see the hand of God in the events surrounding the death of Christ. 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 was about to turn to the Gentiles as He judged Israel as a nation for her unbelief. Grace be with you. In the beginning Satan challenged Gods right to rule. But God did just that and used a sinning Gentile to begin the process of restoring Israel. How beautiful! 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). Being a creative, innovative or highly effective leader is insufficient. 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. 1:15-16), later to be thrown in the Nile (Ex. What an honor to serve the King of kings. 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. 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. I have an unimpressive family background and do not come from a long line of important people. They were in an impossible situation with no way out. It was all the Lord. When they offered him 30 pieces of silver, he readily accepted even though that was the going price for a slave. At the beginning of their sojourn, Joseph was ruler of Egypt, a son of Jacob, and watched over his own. Then God, in His sovereign power and will, takes our weak and fallible service, and accomplishes His will, like parting the Red Sea. Finally, they suborned perjury by putting forward false witnesses who produced contradictory testimony. so that they might escape from the devil's snare, even though they've been held captive by him to do his will. WebGod will never set man's will aside and use him for a good purpose without his being willing to be used. Summary The fact that God ordains both the means and the ends should surely encourage us as we face our own trials. In this wilderness they shall be destroyed, and there they will die. 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 Lord. The Neo-Babylonians were dominated by Chaldean kings. God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne ( Psalm 47:8 ). This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask Here is my answer: He allowed Judas to betray Jesus so that Jesus could become the Savior of the world. How can I believe in the goodness of God when there is so much evil in the world? Anyone who resists God risks falling into spiritual deception (2 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 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! Gods covenant warned from the beginning that if Israel fell into sin God would use a foreign heathen nation to bring judgment upon them. I have not written a New York Times Bestseller, and no one has publicly endorsed, recommended, or vouched for me. WebGod never does evil Himself. Remember my imprisonment. You will say to me then, Why does He still find fault? 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. 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. He uses believers and unbelievers. And did not believe in His wonderful works. Here are some examples: Gods Prophet Jeremiah warned of Gods judgment. He dealt with his doubts and confusion in the right way, he turned to God, not to his own understanding. This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask The purpose of www.drivennails.com is to help train expository preachers in sermon construction and delivery, to train inductive Bible study writers and teachers, and to edify the saints with the Word of God. He had great trust in the truth of God. 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). 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.. Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.. The coming of Messiah was unexpected. Though absolutely sovereign, all knowing, all wise, and everywhere present, God uses sinners to accomplish His will. WebGod never does evil Himself. Pentecost was a sign to the unbelieving of Israel that they had broken the covenant and stood deserving of Gods judgment and wrath. Often in the confusion of life, we cant see the ends, much less the means God intends for us. 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. WebGod was about to turn to the Gentiles as He judged Israel as a nation for her unbelief. They were evil cowards who hated the Son of God but feared a popular uprising if they tried to arrest him. Moses was an instrument, a tool, a vessel for Gods use, and so are we all. 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. 12:35-36). His plan in doing so was to bless all people. God wants to use those who look away from their self-sufficiency to his all-sufficiency. In the beginning Satan challenged Gods right to rule. He betrayed the Lord but ended up vindicating him. In fact, in one place in scripture, God said that what He was doing could not be understood even if He explained it. WebGod Can Use Unbelievers part 1: Cyrus 1. This New-Babylon marched through Canaan and took hostages (one of them was Daniel). Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives. 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. God ordains the means and the ends of life. Soon they will be raised up from that struggle to full power. I am not a rising star in any field, industry, or arena. Herod the Great tried to kill him in Bethlehem. Egypt made his brother, Jehoiakim, the new king over the Jews. We know from the sowing and reaping principle that t here will be degrees of torment in the lake of fire. When the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord relented from the calamity and said to the angel who destroyed the people, It is enough! Amen. 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. God is not finished with you yet, so dont give up on him. Which caused the church to grow rapidly. Gods plan even extended to having Jesus buried in a borrowed tomb (see Isaiah 53:9). They do whatever they want. Moses didnt have any power to bring the ten plagues upon Egypt either. The Prophet was told to look around him and see what was going on among the nations, observe! 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. Judas solved their problem by volunteering to betray the Lord. Remember my imprisonment. Were they to voluntarily all drown? 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. God uses all those who humble themselves before the cross, boasting only in him his strength, his wisdom, his righteousness, his accomplishment. The Pharisees believed they were serving God but in reality, they didnt even know Him. But Habakkuks confusion was not doubt. Eventually, Pharaoh decided to use the Jews for slave labor. 1:21). I run into people in different countries or am contacted by those from different countries who have been blessed by my preaching. 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. As far as Pilate was concerned, he was ordering an innocent man put to deathwhich is why he tried to wash his hands of the whole affair. Impatience and failing to trust God is never helpful. also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,But He does according to His will in the host of heavenAnd among the inhabitants of earth;And no one can ward off His handOr say to Him, What have You done?. In spite of all this they still sinnedAnd did not believe in His wonderful works. Is that a contradiction? 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. Gods Ability To Use Unlikely People Even Unbelievers. 1 John 5:14. WebJohn 3:16. 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. Covenant judgment was about to be poured out upon Israel. 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. He told the people that Pharaohs army would be wiped out, though he did not know how. And how long will they not believe in Me, despite all the signs which I have performed in their midst? They had no weapons to fight Pharaohs army, no experience in war, no ability to defend themselves, and no way of escape. Gods Ability To Use Unlikely People Even Unbelievers. 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. He has but one endto make us like Jesus. 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. How does this truth apply to Judas? They live as if there was no Creator, no moral law, no accountability. Im not a founder, innovator, CEO, or visionary of any company. Also, be sure to stop by our prayer wall. Habakkuk learned that the material success of the ungodly is not a reliable measure of their true success. Jesus immediately restored the ear and told Peter to put down his sword. The gospel writers record many Old Testament prophecies that were fulfilled in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 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). At times, God enlisted non-believers to help His people through the ages. Here are some examples: But our God is mightier than any office or country. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. God uses all those who humble themselves before the cross, boasting only in him his strength, his wisdom, his righteousness, his accomplishment. 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. It was the tech team, the web master, the secretary, or whoever posted my sermon on line. For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? In fact, in one place in scripture, God said that what He was doing could not be understood even if He explained it. No, its a mystery. 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. Wisdom alone, though, is insufficient. 5:14). 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. At times, God enlisted non-believers to help His people through the ages. Do not begrudge your weakness. If your rsum is sparse, your intellect feeble, your skills unimpressive, and your wisdom just average, fret not. Each time Moses would perform a mighty sign to convince Pharaoh of Gods power but each time God would harden his heart. But the fact of the matter is it wasnt me! The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, to test Him. How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who are grumbling against Me? Lest he misunderstand, I also told him that going to Calvary Memorial Church cannot save anyoneor help save anyone. They had been in Egypt under Egyptian task masters for 400 years. 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. While not all became believers, many felt a strong attraction to his message. Gods sign of judgment was that they would hear foreign language on the streets of Jerusalem, speaking in a language they did not understand. 13:17). 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. God will surely judge all rebellion, secret and open. I am the trustee of nothing more than my personal belongings. To put the matter that way raises several other questions: Was Judas predestined by God to betray Jesus? An unlikely person to be used by God. But this much is clear: He never believed that Jesus was guilty of any crime. They wanted him dead and used Judas as a convenient means to that ugly end. 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?
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