He stands behind it indirectly, but He directly stands behind good. 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. Do not begrudge your weakness. 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. I run into people in different countries or am contacted by those from different countries who have been blessed by my preaching. Will we show forth Gods glory in our obedience and in our receiving of His covenant blessing? 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. God often reveals himself in most unexpected ways. 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. In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives.
God We all understand that God intended that Jesus would die for the sins of the world. God is not finished with you yet, so dont give up on him. 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. The Lord said to Moses, How long will this people spurn Me? God doesnt need men, but God chooses to use men at times to accomplish His sovereign will. Until that man turns from his sinwhich in his case means acknowledging his behavior as sinand runs to the Cross of Christ he cannot be saved. They do whatever they want. 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. 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. 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. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. His betrayal proved that the Jewish leaders were far from innocent bystanders in the death of Christ. Unbelievers Are blinded by the God of this world 2 Corinthians 4:4 Verse Concepts Yet He was still able to accomplish His will through them. Able to do exceedingly and abundantly using unlikely people to further His plans. God has the amazing ability to do things that simply do not make sense to mankind.
Does God Accomplish His Purpose in Our Jesus responded to the false testimony by saying nothing at all. This New-Babylon marched through Canaan and took hostages (one of them was Daniel). (Bible quotations are from the New King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.). Visit Justins personal website Here. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.. and be astounded! 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. When Judas actually betrayed Jesus in the Garden, Peter immediately sprang to his defense. However, he had Aaron and Hur hold up Moses arms and had Joshua lead the armies of Israel. 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. Peter didnt see it, he only saw the treachery of Judas. Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation., Truth Of God Is denied by Unbelievers, the Truth of God Is denied by Unbelievers, Unbelievers Are blinded by the God of this world, Unbelievers Will be classed with outbreaking sinners in eternity, Unbelievers Their lifetime spent in vanity, Unbelievers Shall be judged by God's word in the last day, Will be classed with outbreaking sinners in eternity, Shall be judged by God's word in the last day. We are saved by living faith in the Son of Godnot by outward religious observance.
His 1 John 5:14. Soon they will be raised up from that struggle to full power. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. The trials that were meant to establish his guilt ended up establishing his innocence for all the world to see. But we learn that over time a new Pharaoh arose who did not know Joseph or respect what Joseph had done (Ex. Paul, in writing to Corinth, corrected the Churchs misuse of speaking in foreign tongues. Wisdom didnt ensure obedience. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. 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. WebGod Can Use Unbelievers part 1: Cyrus 1. The new king was deposed after three months. Summary Did Jesus Descend Into Hell? They have heard that You, O. 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.. 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. But he chose instead to allow himself to be arrested, knowing that this would fulfill Gods plan. We should never presume to say to an unbeliever, God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. We cant know that. Here are some examples: God has the amazing ability to do things that simply do not make sense to mankind. Steven Lee is the Pastor of Preaching & Vision at. 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. The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, to test Him. Yet, Solomon turned away from God (1 Kings 11:4, 912). Is it true that God cannot look upon sin? Judas solved their problem by volunteering to betray the Lord. 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 your rsum is sparse, your intellect feeble, your skills unimpressive, and your wisdom just average, fret not. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. WebGod never does evil Himself. 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. 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. Psalm 69:25Reputation destroyed forever. At times, God enlisted non-believers to help His people through the ages. Then God, in His sovereign power and will, takes our weak and fallible service, and accomplishes His will, like parting the Red Sea. Two questions confront us as we consider the story of Judas: Last weeks sermon dealt with the first question. If so, did he have a choice? He fought against God and hoped to destroy the early church. At times, God enlisted non-believers to help His people through the ages. It becomes all the more bold in lawlessness. Two verses later, in Rom. Their end will be most awful. Impatience and failing to trust God is never helpful. Because God created all He can use anything in creation. Thanks for your interest! 28:49, The LORD will bring a nation against you from afar, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flies, a nation whose language you will not understand. But what they do is not going to bring them true blessing. Even those who dont believe and even speak against. 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. 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. God has the amazing ability to do things that simply do not make sense to mankind.
Why does God allow deception 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). During this period, foreign powers invaded Israel again and again, and inside the nation known as Gods people, evil and immorality raged. They intend to be their own god. He used sinners to accomplish His sovereign will. 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. 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.
Does God Accomplish His Purpose in Our 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. The new Pharaoh saw the Israelites as a plague in the land.
Fit to be Used 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 even turns wicked hearts to serve his Sovereign purpose. 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. Jesus point is clear, The King will answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.. Later Pilate gave in to pressure and ordered Jesus crucified. I dont speak on any circuits, have given no TED talks, and have been the keynote speaker less than once. They live as if there was no Creator, no moral law, no accountability. Summary Gods plan even extended to having Jesus buried in a borrowed tomb (see Isaiah 53:9). 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. I dont have any letters after my name. Every evil in the world must somehow serve Gods purpose. ", Writing & Teaching Inductive Bible Studies. He stands behind it indirectly, but He directly stands behind good.
God use unbelievers to accomplish his will God uses all those who humble themselves before the cross, boasting only in him his strength, his wisdom, his righteousness, his accomplishment. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. The coming of Messiah was unexpected. The fact that God ordains both the means and the ends should surely encourage us as we face our own trials. Even today there are those who are arrogant and have no honor for God as He reveals Himself in Scripture. 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. His silence spoke more loudly than the foolish claims of his lying accusers. 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. Rejoice that Christ is all-sufficient and always dependable. 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. When they offered him 30 pieces of silver, he readily accepted even though that was the going price for a slave. Also, be sure to stop by our prayer wall. When Moses spoke these words to all the sons of Israel, the people mourned greatly. WebGod Can Use Unbelievers part 1: Cyrus 1. I also answer yes. WebGod never does evil Himself.
Jesus Sends Out the And how long will they not believe in Me, despite all the signs which I have performed in their midst? Eternity will reveal how your faithful service was used by the Lord in amazing ways. 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. I didnt attend an Ivy League school. I find it remarkable how consistently the New Testament writers see the hand of God in the events surrounding the death of Christ.
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. 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. But as for you, your corpses will fall in this wilderness. 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. Jesus immediately restored the ear and told Peter to put down his sword. 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). 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. 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. God scoffs at any attempt by me or you to prove our worthiness. 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. 46:10). This warning was made clear in the ancient covenant revealed long before through Moses in Deuteronomy 28. Are we becoming more like Jesus by the power of the Spirit? The Lord did it, but He did it through Moses. Grace be with you. His words imply that all the torment will be tolerable. They make a joke out of those who dare to not submit to them. I have received no honorary doctorates. Tell the sons of Israel to go forward. There are so many amazing things in these few verses. 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. Do not begrudge your weakness. Why bother praying to a God who isnt? Holman Old Testament Commentary: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah by Trent Butler. His plan in doing so was to bless all people. 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. The way of the wicked is like darkness;They do not know over what they stumble. Showing us that our God can and will use anyone even though they dont know Him. He didnt accept evil apathetically, he was appalled by it. 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.. Their horses also are swifter than leopards, And more fierce than evening wolves. Why tell Moses to lift up his staff and stretch out his hand over the see and be the instrument God would use to divide the sea? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? Solomon was given a mind like no one before and like none even after him (1 Kings 3:12). How will they preach unless they are sent? Though Israel was many, only the remnant will be saved (Romans 9:27). A prophecy we can imagine would have seemed quite improbable to those who heard. He was a brilliant poet, a skillful songwriter, a genius botanist, and a first-class biologist. Here are five specific prophecies that were fulfilled when Judas betrayed Jesus: Psalm 41:9Close friend will betray Christ (see John 13:18). Many believed they were going to die and complained to Moses (Ex. These lessons simply teach us that God can take that which is evil and use it for his own good purposes. The gospel writers record many Old Testament prophecies that were fulfilled in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Joseph made Egypt phenomenally wealthy during the years of the famine.
God Uses God strengthened Cyrus so that he could conquer nations and overcome opposition Thus says the Lord God to His 2. B) We entrust our lives to the God who cares for us. God calls the autistic man to give the most profound articulation of his simple faith. He chooses to use sinners to accomplish His sovereign will, often in ways we dont even understand. 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. Here is my answer: He allowed Judas to betray Jesus so that Jesus could become the Savior of the world. They will be held guilty. God may ordain to use their wickedness, but this does not make it morally right. Moses give the Israelites specific instruction and visible representation from the invisible 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. When we dont see the ungodly punished immediately, or when they seem to be successful in their evil ways, we should not assume that God is beaten or is pleased to turn His head. I sit on no boards. But most of the time we wont see it fully until we finally arrive in heaven. Now and then we advance to Easter morning where we discover Gods purpose in our pain. When God determines where we will end up, he also determines how we will get there. Because God created all He can use anything in creation.
God Uses God He is working all things after the counsel of His will (Eph. Remember my imprisonment. It was all the Lord. 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. For I will work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told you.. Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? It is only as we look back that we see clearly that God was there all along, working behind the scenes for our good and his glory. When we do that we become His instruments to accomplish His sovereign will. 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. Get your Bible. God promised to precede Cyrus and destroy all opposition that Cyrus would face: 'I will go before you and make the 3. Thats where the judgment will come from. Though absolutely sovereign, all knowing, all wise, and everywhere present, God uses sinners to accomplish His will. The terms Neo-Babylons and Chaldeans are used interchangeably for the people of that Empire. 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. We know from the sowing and reaping principle that t here will be degrees of torment in the lake of fire. Verse Concepts. 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. 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. How beautiful! This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask But what a privilege it is to be used by God! Nothing will ever be able to affect Gods will. They sweep through like the strong winds from the East gathering up captives that number like the grains of sand. 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). Scripture even points to the fact that God used Cyrus even though he didnt know God. This could be the begging of a time of great growth for the church. 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. WebThe Scripture teaches that God achieves His purpose in unbelievers.
God use unbelievers to accomplish his will God is not the author of sin, but He can use sinful men to attain an objective.
God Compared to you or me, King Solomon had it all wisdom, wealth, fame, power. So through his death, he can have everlasting life on earth. But we need to grow in faith and obedience. At times, God enlisted non-believers to help His people through the ages. He recognized what was evil because he believed Gods law. God himself had foreordained every detail surrounding the death of his Son. WebGod will never set man's will aside and use him for a good purpose without his being willing to be used. Literal Standard Version. 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.
God Uses Many People to Accomplish His Purposes Covenant judgment was about to be poured out upon Israel. Solomon was DaVinci, Einstein, Bach, Jordan, Augustus, and Shakespeare rolled into one superior man. For he sees that even wise men die;The stupid and the senseless alike perishAnd leave their wealth to others. If youd like an interesting Bible study, take a look at the trials of Jesus. Were they to march into the sea holding their little ones, driving their cattle, and pushing their elderly? Gods plan even extended to having Jesus buried in a borrowed tomb (see Isaiah 53:9). Why? God is unimpressed.
God use non-believers to help His people 10:14-15). I cant charge an exorbitant hourly fee for my time.
It will be a most terrible judgment. God chooses the custodian with a heavy accent to share the gospel and save lives. Click here. 55:8-9). There is no better example of Gods providence at work through the actions of a sinful man. even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. At my own local church, and everywhere else I go, faithful men and women record my sermons in audio and sometimes video. He sent His son to pay a most costly price for the sin of His people, for those who trust in Him. Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife? You truly never know God could be doing something right that we wouldnt understand even if He told us. But they feared to do it during the Feast of Unleavened Bread because of the crowds that thronged Jerusalem. Being a creative, innovative or highly effective leader is insufficient. The thing he values the most is dragging him down to eternal damnation. Here are the two great texts to keep in mind regarding Gods providence and our own personal experience: The first is the famous statement by Joseph to his brothers in Genesis 50:20, You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good. The second comes from the familiar words of Romans 8:28, And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. These verses teach us that God is able to take the worst things that happen in life and turn them for our good and his glory. A complete answer is impossible for who has known the mind of the Lord (Isa. It even included the price Judas would receive for his act of treachery30 pieces of silver. 4:5).
Does God Accomplish His Purpose in Our