A most astonishing way of fulfilling that prophesy. The repentant show Gods unmerited grace to undeserving sinners, and reveal the merciful blessing and goodness of God. Second, the proper response to any trial or danger is to not fear but stand by and see the salvation of the Lord. How many times do we fret and worry and then see the Lord deliver us and realize that all of our anxiety and fretting was for naught, that it accomplished nothing, but was an expression of our sinful doubt? Also, be sure to stop by our prayer wall. In spite of all this they still sinnedAnd did not believe in His wonderful works. He uses believers and unbelievers. 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. Joseph made Egypt phenomenally wealthy during the years of the famine. 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. Even those who dont believe and even speak against. 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. How will they preach unless they are sent? Bible Hub So through his death, he can have everlasting life on earth. God uses all those who humble themselves before the cross, boasting only in him his strength, his wisdom, his righteousness, his accomplishment. We should never presume to say to an unbeliever, God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. We cant know that. WebGod was about to turn to the Gentiles as He judged Israel as a nation for her unbelief. The Israelites and the church did face some tough times and we may too. In the providence of God, the betrayal by Judas actually advanced Gods purpose in the world. 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. 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. Here is my answer: He allowed Judas to betray Jesus so that Jesus could become the Savior 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. God used this unlikely group of people to accomplish His greatest work and they had no idea. God Uses Stating that the plans of men are many but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. Including those who dont believe He exists. God uses pathetic people for his glorious purposes to show his superior power. 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. And did not believe in His wonderful works. It can be fairly said that the common people by and large respected Jesus and responded positively to his message. God Uses 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.. WebGod Can Use Unbelievers part 1: Cyrus 1. The new Pharaoh saw the Israelites as a plague in the land. Jesus Sends Out the God chooses the custodian with a heavy accent to share the gospel and save lives. 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. 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 fact, in one place in scripture, God said that what He was doing could not be understood even if He explained it. 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. so that they might escape from the devil's snare, even though they've been held captive by him to do his will. Their horses also are swifter than leopards, And more fierce than evening wolves. That leads me to ask a simple question: Are you a professor or a possessor? Egypt and the Neo-Babylonians were competing for world dominance. Unbelievers Are blinded by the God of this world 2 Corinthians 4:4 Verse Concepts Yet, Solomon turned away from God (1 Kings 11:4, 912). God Himself said that He used Pharaoh so that His name would be known on all the earth. As for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land. Philippians 3:4-7 - although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. As they plotted how to murder Jesus they had no idea they were accomplishing Gods will. 1:15-16), later to be thrown in the Nile (Ex. 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 stands behind it indirectly, but He directly stands behind good. This truth about Judas illustrates Gods control of every event in the universe. It forces us to live by faith, which is how He wants us to live all the time because it gives Him glory. Anyone who resists God risks falling into spiritual deception (2 However, he had Aaron and Hur hold up Moses arms and had Joshua lead the armies of Israel. So the emphasis of the chapter is on Gods working out His purpose through ordinary people who obey Him. Consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. Jesus is truly the lamb without blemish who died for the sins of the world (John 1:29). Prayer is one of the means God uses to accomplish His sovereign will and get glory for himself. 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). They will be held guilty. We when we dont know if something is Gods will, we pray, Yet not my will but yours be done (Mt. 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. Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! Though Israel was many, only the remnant will be saved (Romans 9:27). I cant charge an exorbitant hourly fee for my time. I answer yes. But the Jews who disbelieved stirred up the minds of the Gentiles and embittered them against the brethren. 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. 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. But through the lens of the New Testament, he is seen as a wicked man. Verse Concepts. But as for you, your corpses will fall in this wilderness. We live most of our days in Good Fridayenduring confusion, opposition, disappointment and the many tragedies of life. 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.. He stands behind it indirectly, but He directly stands behind good. Summary 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. International Standard Version. I am the trustee of nothing more than my personal belongings. Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Paul, in writing to Corinth, corrected the Churchs misuse of speaking in foreign tongues. The Lord can never be blamed for evil, but evil does not take p. God never does evil Himself. 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. Habakkuk 1:7-11, They are terrible and dreadful; Their judgment and their dignity proceed from themselves. I, the Lord, have spoken, surely this I will do to all this evil congregation who are gathered together against Me. His Two questions stand out: 1) Did Jesus actually descend into hell? In those moments we often feel alone in the chaos of circumstances as life tumbles in around us. Though absolutely sovereign, all knowing, all wise, and everywhere present, God uses sinners to accomplish His will. He was a brilliant poet, a skillful songwriter, a genius botanist, and a first-class biologist. 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?. A prophecy we can imagine would have seemed quite improbable to those who heard. A God who can bring something good out of betrayal can be trusted to accomplish his work in your life. It doesnt matter if you have theology degrees or mothered a dozen healthy, happy children or started several 501(c)3s to feed the poor and end trafficking. In the beginning Satan challenged Gods right to rule. even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Then his mind changes, and he transgresses; He commits offense, Ascribing this power to his god.. Do not lament your insufficiency. In many cases without them even realizing that they were being used by God. Will we show forth Gods glory in our obedience and in our receiving of His covenant blessing? Thus they plundered the Egyptians ( Exodus 12:36 ). I have received no honorary doctorates. God use non-believers to help His people Sighing deeply in His spirit, He *said, Why does this generation seek for a sign? 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). Click here. The evil ones believe pridefully that their own imagined gods have blessed them. When God does something completely different and unexpected (Numb. Not one of these men, this evil generation, shall see the good land which I swore to give your fathers. Gods Prophet Jeremiah warned of Gods judgment. Do not lament your insufficiency. 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. 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. When Moses spoke these words to all the sons of Israel, the people mourned greatly. No, its a mystery. For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? 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. 12:35-36). 17:8-13). Then God, in His sovereign power and will, takes our weak and fallible service, and accomplishes His will, like parting the Red Sea. Eventually, Pharaoh decided to use the Jews for slave labor. For who resists His will?, For He says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.. Comments? This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask God uses pathetic people for his glorious purposes to show his superior power. Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife? We return now to the original question: Why did God allow Judas to betray Jesus? Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; Immediately the boys father cried out and said, I do believe; help my unbelief.. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. God doesnt need men, but God chooses to use men at times to accomplish His sovereign will. Why would God allow his Son to suffer such indignity at the hands of one who claimed to be his friend? C) We place our confidence in Gods ultimate purpose for us. 14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him. Jesus waved him off by declaring, All this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled (Matthew 26:56). God Works His Will A nation would come to judge them speaking in a language they did not understand (Deuteronomy 28:49). God Works His Will One final point is in order. As a place to begin, consider three verses dealing with Judas. 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. 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. This week I ate lunch with a man who has recently become an acquaintance through an e-mail correspondence. (see Matthew 27:5). The new king was deposed after three months. During our conversationwhich lasted two hours and was both cordial and very frankI told him that his religion could not save him. God Uses Many People to Accomplish His Purposes We know from the sowing and reaping principle that t here will be degrees of torment in the lake of fire. The fact that God ordains both the means and the ends should surely encourage us as we face our own trials.

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