Even his enemies played into Gods handthough they did not know it at the time. 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. This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask God Will Use Even You This warning was made clear in the ancient covenant revealed long before through Moses in Deuteronomy 28. 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. 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. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. First, we see the faith of Moses. In the providence of God, the betrayal by Judas actually advanced Gods purpose in the world. Guiding our world whether we are able to see it or not. 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. The terms Neo-Babylons and Chaldeans are used interchangeably for the people of that Empire. The Prophet Habakkuk wrote during the troubled times before Judahs captivity. The Pharisees believed they were serving God but in reality, they didnt even know Him. The sheep representing believers who did Gods will and the goats representing unbelievers who do not do Gods will. Click here. Another unlikely person used by God was King Cyrus of Persia. All of it happened according to Gods plan. The fact that God ordains both the means and the ends should surely encourage us as we face our own trials. Although God was at work in the betrayal, you couldnt see it that night. (see Matthew 27:5). The evil nations God was raising up to judge his rebellious people were self-centered. Do not lament your insufficiency. Sighing deeply in His spirit, He *said, Why does this generation seek for a sign? WebGod will never set man's will aside and use him for a good purpose without his being willing to be used. Comments? They gather captives like sand. We might make Jim Collins proud, but God yawns at our leadership abilities. Egypt and the Neo-Babylonians were competing for world dominance. I might preach to 100 people on Sunday morning in my own little church, but I preach to thousands over the internet. To put the matter that way raises several other questions: Was Judas predestined by God to betray Jesus? But sometimes we forget that when God ordains a particular end, he also ordains the means to that end. He wants us to trust in Him, to rely on Him, to cry out to Him, and then give Him glory for delivering us. and be astounded! This truth about Judas illustrates Gods control of every event in the universe. Things may seem impossible, and for men, they might be impossible, but nothing is impossible with God (Lk. 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. 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. He does this for obvious reasons. God is not the author of sin, but He can use sinful men to attain an objective. This doesnt erase tragedy or transform heartache, but it gives us a divine perspective on the hard times of life that enables us to keep on going when wed rather give up and quit. The total number of prophecies is well over 100. 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. We all understand that God intended that Jesus would die for the sins of the world. God was about to turn to the Gentiles as He judged Israel as a nation for her unbelief. 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 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. They thank me for posting my sermons on the internet. 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). 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. Rejoice that Christ is all-sufficient and always dependable. This New-Babylon marched through Canaan and took hostages (one of them was Daniel). He uses believers and unbelievers. 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. One swing of his sword whacked off the ear of Malchus, servant to the High Priest. But we learn that over time a new Pharaoh arose who did not know Joseph or respect what Joseph had done (Ex. Compared to you or me, King Solomon had it all wisdom, wealth, fame, power. Grace be with you. God Can Use Unbelievers part 1: Cyrus But as for you, your corpses will fall in this wilderness. 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. In the words of a 19th century writer, hatred, treachery and deceit will not prevail against the church of God. Their horses also are swifter than leopards, And more fierce than evening wolves. God Works His Will He uses believers and unbelievers. That leads me to ask a simple question: Are you a professor or a possessor? 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. We live most of our days in Good Fridayenduring confusion, opposition, disappointment and the many tragedies of life. For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? His silence spoke more loudly than the foolish claims of his lying accusers. God He stands behind it indirectly, but He directly stands behind good. Being a creative, innovative or highly effective leader is insufficient. We know from the sowing and reaping principle that t here will be degrees of torment in the lake of fire. God use non-believers to help His people Their end will be most awful. God Can Use Unbelievers part 1: Cyrus Those who look to themselves, will eventually and always reap their just punishment. WebJohn 3:16. Did Jesus Descend Into Hell? 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. Embrace your weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon you to reveal Gods surpassing greatness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Everything fits into Gods plan. I cant charge an exorbitant hourly fee for my time. Anyone who resists God risks falling into spiritual deception (2 Now if You slay this people as one man, then the nations who have heard of Your fame will say,read more.Because the Lord could not bring this people into the land which He promised them by oath, therefore He slaughtered them in the wilderness. But now, I pray, let the power of the Lord be great, just as You have declared, The Lord is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generations. 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. So the Lord said, I have pardoned them according to your word; but indeed, as I live, all the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord. Here we see that when believers are doing the will of God, obeying the Word of God, and serving even the least of the Saints, they are Gods instruments, doing Jesus will, ministering to Jesus people, His body, His bride. 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. 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. In our text, Ex. Do not lament your insufficiency. 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. Joseph made Egypt phenomenally wealthy during the years of the famine. 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. The Lord can never be blamed for evil, but evil does not take p. God never does evil Himself. God will deal with them according to his plan, but first, He will use them for His own covenant judgment. 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. Now if You slay this people as one man, then the nations who have heard of Your fame will say. The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, to test Him. The mind of evil changes from bad to worse being taken in by successes in conquest. New American Standard Bible Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.. His 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who are grumbling against Me? He fought against God and hoped to destroy the early church. Yet both declare His awesome glory. Im not a founder, innovator, CEO, or visionary of any company. Often in the confusion of life, we cant see the ends, much less the means God intends for us. Gods plan even extended to having Jesus buried in a borrowed tomb (see Isaiah 53:9). Habakkuk 1:7-11, They are terrible and dreadful; Their judgment and their dignity proceed from themselves. His purpose in creation will stand. Eternity will reveal how your faithful service was used by the Lord in amazing ways. Zechariah 11:1230 pieces of silver (see Matthew 26:15). WebThe Scripture teaches that God achieves His purpose in unbelievers. Peter didnt see it, he only saw the treachery of Judas. If we lack wisdom, we should ask God for it (James 1:5). Our accolades cannot merit us any greatness. 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. Other examples could be added to this list. 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. 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 answer yes. Do not begrudge your weakness. God Will Use Even You In many cases without them even realizing that they were being used by God. 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. If not, we have reason to question whether our faith is real. 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?. It was the tech team, the web master, the secretary, or whoever posted my sermon on line. Are we becoming more like Jesus by the power of the Spirit? Moses didnt have any power to divide the Red Sea. 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. 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! They were evil cowards who hated the Son of God but feared a popular uprising if they tried to arrest him. God They have no respect for the leaders of other nations. Herod the Great tried to kill him in Bethlehem. Jesus is truly the lamb without blemish who died for the sins of the world (John 1:29). 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. Because God created all He can use anything in creation. The Lord said to Moses, How long will this people spurn Me? We are saved by living faith in the Son of Godnot by outward religious observance. And goes on to say, How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? WebGod Can Use Unbelievers part 1: Cyrus 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.. New American Standard Bible Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. Because they did not believe in GodAnd did not trust in His salvation. For this reason God purposefully led the wondering multitude to a place where there was no possible way of escape from Pharaoh and his army, humanly speaking.



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