When God determines where we will end up, he also determines how we will get there. But we need to grow in faith and obedience. Pastor, Expository Preacher, Author, Trainer of Preachers and Bible Teachers. Though there were still many who had remained faithful, others no longer followed the words of the Prophets. A man who lived in a time in which only Jews served the one true God. Thats where the judgment will come from. When God does something completely different and unexpected (Numb. God sometimes use evil to accomplish His plans (Habakkuk Often in the confusion of life, we cant see the ends, much less the means God intends for us. Having all the wisdom in the world didnt guarantee fidelity. But through the lens of the New Testament, he is seen as a wicked man. Wisdom didnt guard him against a wandering heart. Is that a contradiction? "Equipping and encouraging people to keep believing in Jesus", Copyright 2020 Keep Believing Ministries. Gods sign of judgment was that they would hear foreign language on the streets of Jerusalem, speaking in a language they did not understand. Fit to be Used 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. Also, be sure to stop by our prayer wall. Moses had great faith! During his ministry his greatest opposition came from the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the scribes and the teachers of the Law. How will they preach unless they are sent? Philippians 3:4-7 - although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. Causing a sacrifice to take place that would open salvation up to all people. Or see articles from other writers we feature Here. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. First, the people of Israel were for the most part leaderless. No buildings, streets, or hospitals have been named in honor of me. 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. Because God created all He can use anything in creation. 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). God uses pathetic people for his glorious purposes to show his superior power. The mind of evil changes from bad to worse being taken in by successes in conquest. Their horses also are swifter than leopards, And more fierce than evening wolves. Why? If so, did he have a choice? 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. He may for a time use the ungodly to bring deserved chastising upon the hypocrites among His own people, and to show his uncompromising wrath upon those left to what we all deserve aside from the work of his grace. C) We place our confidence in Gods ultimate purpose for us. Often in the confusion of life, we cant see the ends, much less the means God intends for us. Gods Ability To Use Unlikely People Even Unbelievers. Because God created all He can use anything in creation. He fought against God and hoped to destroy the early church. The greater the pain, the harder it is to see Gods fingerprints. I am a preacher and Bible teacher. Scripture even points to the fact that God used Cyrus even though he didnt know God. He uses believers and unbelievers. Nothing that happened to Jesus that night or later on Good Friday made sense when it happened. Summary In this period of Judahs last kings, the Prophets warned of the fulfillment of this covenant promise. We live most of our days in Good Fridayenduring confusion, opposition, disappointment and the many tragedies of life. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. Even his enemies played into Gods handthough they did not know it at the time. 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. Zechariah 11:1230 pieces of silver (see Matthew 26:15). But Habakkuks confusion was not doubt. They were evil cowards who hated the Son of God but feared a popular uprising if they tried to arrest him. 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.. God is unimpressed. This warning was made clear in the ancient covenant revealed long before through Moses in Deuteronomy 28. In the beginning Satan challenged Gods right to rule. 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. 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. If we lack wisdom, we should ask God for it (James 1:5). When they offered him 30 pieces of silver, he readily accepted even though that was the going price for a slave. 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 those moments we often feel alone in the chaos of circumstances as life tumbles in around us. God use non-believers to help His people Our accolades cannot merit us any greatness. 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. Though used of God to complete his plan, those who crucified our Lord were still personally wicked and godless in what they did. God is not the author of sin, but He can use sinful men to attain an objective. The Neo-Babylonians were dominated by Chaldean kings. We when we dont know if something is Gods will, we pray, Yet not my will but yours be done (Mt. Jesus immediately restored the ear and told Peter to put down his sword. Then we read this in Exodus 14:13-16: But Moses said to the people, Do not fear! Thanks for your interest! And he was an exalted and successful king. His plan in doing so was to bless all people. Two questions stand out: 1) Did Jesus actually descend into hell? Were they to voluntarily all drown? Here are five specific prophecies that were fulfilled when Judas betrayed Jesus: Psalm 41:9Close friend will betray Christ (see John 13:18). 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. WebThe Scripture teaches that God achieves His purpose in unbelievers. Nothing is ever left to chance with God. 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? Wisdom didnt ensure obedience. 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 used this unlikely group of people to accomplish His greatest work and they had no idea. The glory of His nature and attributes will be made known in full. WebThe Scripture teaches that God achieves His purpose in unbelievers. How can I believe in the goodness of God when there is so much evil in the world? 4:5). 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. As they plotted how to murder Jesus they had no idea they were accomplishing Gods will. How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who are grumbling against Me? Their chargers charge ahead; Their cavalry comes from afar; They fly as the eagle that hastens to eat. The Israelites and the church did face some tough times and we may too. In fact, in one place in scripture, God said that what He was doing could not be understood even if He explained it. A most astonishing way of fulfilling that prophesy. 6:10). We pray because we believe God, because we want to trust in God, praise God, ask God for things we cant do ourselves. It forces us to live by faith, which is how He wants us to live all the time because it gives Him glory. 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. All rights reserved. Moses didnt have any power to bring the ten plagues upon Egypt either. God strengthened Cyrus so that he could conquer nations and overcome opposition Thus says the Lord God to His 2. He betrayed the Lord but ended up vindicating him. 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. They heap judgment on themselves. In spite of all this they still sinned And did not believe in His wonderful works. International Standard Version. Herod the Great tried to kill him in Bethlehem. He could have just caused them to drop dead. 10:14-15). 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. It can be fairly said that the common people by and large respected Jesus and responded positively to his message. God calls the autistic man to give the most profound articulation of his simple faith. They have heard that You, O Lord, are in the midst of this people, for You, O Lord, are seen eye to eye, while Your cloud stands over them; and You go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night. 14:11). The thing he values the most is dragging him down to eternal damnation. 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. Thus they plundered the Egyptians ( Exodus 12:36 ). God may ordain to use their wickedness, but this does not make it morally right. All of it happened according to Gods plan. Gods plan even extended to having Jesus buried in a borrowed tomb (see Isaiah 53:9). All of these people are unlikely choices to be used by God since they didnt truly know or believe in Him. But He is unique and who can turn Him?And what His soul desires, that He does. 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. We see this all the way through the Bible. But they feared to do it during the Feast of Unleavened Bread because of the crowds that thronged Jerusalem. 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. In such a manner Judas served Gods purposes through his wicked act of betrayal. At times, God enlisted non-believers to help His people through the ages. He stands behind it indirectly, but He directly stands behind good. 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. He was ready to die for his Master and intended to take a few of the bad guys with him. 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. But now, the grief of the Egyptians had subsided and was replaced with anger and regret. When Moses spoke these words to all the sons of Israel, the people mourned greatly. Visit Justins personal website Here. 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? Philippians 3:4-7 - although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. 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. 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. 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. The evil nations God was raising up to judge his rebellious people were self-centered. WebGod Can Use Unbelievers part 1: Cyrus 1. WebGod Can Use Unbelievers part 1: Cyrus 1. Just as He did with Pharaoh who placed no faith in the God of Israel. Stating that the plans of men are many but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. 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. God It becomes all the more bold in lawlessness. The Prophet was told to look around him and see what was going on among the nations, observe! It was their God, or at least the God of Moses, that just killed all the first born of Egypt. Including those who dont believe He exists. A) We bow in submission before the mysterious ways of God. God is not finished with you yet, so dont give up on him. 1 John 5:14. Solomon was given a mind like no one before and like none even after him (1 Kings 3:12). For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? I might preach to 100 people on Sunday morning in my own little church, but I preach to thousands over the internet. 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. God uses pathetic people for his glorious purposes to show his superior power. WebGod was about to turn to the Gentiles as He judged Israel as a nation for her unbelief. God has the amazing ability to do things that simply do not make sense to mankind. Get your Bible. B) We entrust our lives to the God who cares for us. They wanted him dead and used Judas as a convenient means to that ugly end. Believer, dont think that your faithful service to your local body of believers is insignificant or accounts for little or nothing. (see Matthew 27:5). WebJohn 3:16. 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. 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. Today, the weapons of force have improved, yet all the more they take whatever they want, and give only when it serves their purpose. God strengthened Cyrus so that he could conquer nations and overcome opposition Thus says the Lord God to His 2. God Uses Summary From the earliest days of Jesus life we find the Jewish leaders conspiring against him. but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. God asks us to do things we cant do, because it makes us trust IN HIM, not ourselves. 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?. and be astounded! by Bob Burridge 2013, 2015 And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not send her husband away. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. Now if You slay this people as one man, then the nations who have heard of Your fame will say. Solomon was DaVinci, Einstein, Bach, Jordan, Augustus, and Shakespeare rolled into one superior man. The Bible says, God was well pleased through the message preached to save those who believe (I Cor. Many believed they were going to die and complained to Moses (Ex. 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. God will deal with them according to his plan, but first, He will use them for His own covenant judgment. Peter didnt see it, he only saw the treachery of Judas. Fourth, Gods command seemed impossible to obey. He uses believers and unbelievers. In the eyes of the Jews, Saul would be seen as a warrior of the faith. 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! I cant charge an exorbitant hourly fee for my time. Judas professed Christ but he did not possess him, which is why he is in hell today. Later Pilate gave in to pressure and ordered Jesus crucified. What an honor to serve the King of kings. Impatience and failing to trust God is never helpful. Showing us that our God can and will use anyone even though they dont know Him. Questions? (see Acts 1:20). 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. We see this clearly in the life of Christ. In fact, in one place in scripture, God said that what He was doing could not be understood even if He explained it. Other examples could be added to this list. God will use it even if you do not understand how. 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. The story of Judas teaches us that nothing happens by accident. Were they to march into the sea holding their little ones, driving their cattle, and pushing their elderly? Judas served Gods purposes even though what he did was wrong and he ended up in hell. He stands behind it indirectly, but He directly stands behind good. Thus they plundered the Egyptians ( Exodus 12:36 ). And how will they hear without a preacher? Why would God allow his Son to suffer such indignity at the hands of one who claimed to be his friend? Do you merely profess Christ and trust in your religious habits to save you, or do you possess Christ in your heart by faith? This truth about Judas illustrates Gods control of every event in the universe. 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? We concluded that the Bible doesnt give us a final answer regarding why Judas betrayed Jesus Christ. I run into people in different countries or am contacted by those from different countries who have been blessed by my preaching. The very first verse my daughter ever memorized was Isaiah 40:8, The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. It seemed like an odd one to begin with, but now in retrospect it might have been the best one. Because they did not believe in GodAnd did not trust in His salvation. God Can Use Unbelievers part 1: Cyrus This is a true mystery, which we may explain in various ways but will never fully understand. 1 John 5:14. God uses all those who humble themselves before the cross, boasting only in him his strength, his wisdom, his righteousness, his accomplishment. The fact that God ordains both the means and the ends should surely encourage us as we face our own trials. verses about Unbelievers God has the amazing ability to do things that simply do not make sense to mankind. Why bother praying to a God who isnt? 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. Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. They deride every stronghold, For they heap up earthen mounds and seize it. God uses all those who humble themselves before the cross, boasting only in him his strength, his wisdom, his righteousness, his accomplishment. One final point is in order. These lessons simply teach us that God can take that which is evil and use it for his own good purposes. 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. Their end will be most awful. Moses was sent by the Lord multiple times to Pharaoh asking for the release of the Hebrews. That pagan nation was struggling against Egypt for dominance. Even today there are those who are arrogant and have no honor for God as He reveals Himself in Scripture. God use unbelievers to accomplish his will 2) If Jesus did descend into hell, why? The repentant show Gods unmerited grace to undeserving sinners, and reveal the merciful blessing and goodness of God. Gods Prophet Jeremiah warned of Gods judgment. 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. 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?. The new Pharaoh saw the Israelites as a plague in the land. I have heard the complaints of the sons of Israel, which they are making against Me. The gospel writers record many Old Testament prophecies that were fulfilled in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 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. 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. 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. We might be a life-hacking, productivity guru. Guiding our world whether we are able to see it or not. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. Those who were rebelling against God had become apathetic. 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).

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