God doesnt need men, but God chooses to use men at times to accomplish His sovereign will. 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. 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. Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Though used by God for his purposes, the ungodly are still evil. Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. We need to be reminded again and again that we are like grass disposable, temporary, fleeting, momentary. We are saved by living faith in the Son of Godnot by outward religious observance. Before the Apostle Paul wrote his letter he was known as Saul. 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. For I work a work in your days, a work which you will by no means believe, Though one were to declare it to you., Jeremiah also spoke of the same thing about which God warned Habakkuk. His plan in doing so was to bless all people. According to the number of days which you spied out the land, forty days, for every day you shall bear your guilt a year, even forty years, and you will know My opposition. But through the lens of the New Testament, he is seen as a wicked man. Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites live in the valleys; turn tomorrow and set out to the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea. The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who are grumbling against Me? When God does something completely different and unexpected (Numb. This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask 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! This is the grace of God as revealed in His merciful covenant. One final point is in order. They gather captives like sand. Embrace your weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon you to reveal Gods surpassing greatness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Assyria had fallen when Nineveh, its capitol, was destroyed in 612 BC. We live most of our days in Good Fridayenduring confusion, opposition, disappointment and the many tragedies of life. But Habakkuks confusion was not doubt. Paul used this verse from Habakkuk to warn the foolish despisers of the gospel. 4:5). 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. WebGod was about to turn to the Gentiles as He judged Israel as a nation for her unbelief. By his treachery he established the very cause he set out to destroy. He sent His son to pay a most costly price for the sin of His people, for those who trust in Him. Philippians 3:4-7 - although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. 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. 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. Even his enemies played into Gods handthough they did not know it at the time. God was revealing that He was going to use this ungodly power for judgment upon his own straying people. In the eyes of the Jews, Saul would be seen as a warrior of the faith. I was not a cum laude graduate. This week I ate lunch with a man who has recently become an acquaintance through an e-mail correspondence. God even gave prophecy through Isaiah that this very thing would take place. He is working all things after the counsel of His will (Eph. The people of Israel, were backed up against the Red Sea with Pharaohs army charging at them. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Although God was at work in the betrayal, you couldnt see it that night. 21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man. This is the attitude of the evil heart in all ages. During this period, foreign powers invaded Israel again and again, and inside the nation known as Gods people, evil and immorality raged. 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? 2:11). God will bring ultimate and final judgment upon all ungodliness. And how long will they not believe in Me, despite all the signs which I have performed in their midst? 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). 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. God is not the author of sin, but He can use sinful men to attain an objective. Moses was a by-product of the Egyptians attempts to hinder Gods blessing upon them, was placed in pitch covered basket and set adrift in the Nile, but rescued, weened by his own mother, adopted into Pharaohs house, and educated in all the learning of Egypt (Acts 7:22). 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. We are called to be among his faithful people. 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. Jesus immediately restored the ear and told Peter to put down his sword. 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. In the beginning Satan challenged Gods right to rule. Remember my imprisonment. Zechariah 11:1230 pieces of silver (see Matthew 26:15). Even Jesus cannot save a man who claims his sin is not really sinful. 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. 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. It doesnt mean everything will also go perfectly or the way we hope. Will we show forth Gods glory in our obedience and in our receiving of His covenant blessing? God uses pathetic people for his glorious purposes to show his superior power. We might make Jim Collins proud, but God yawns at our leadership abilities. We turn now to consider how the sin of Judas served many good purposesnone of which were seen that night and none of which diminish his true moral guilt. And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. At my own local church, and everywhere else I go, faithful men and women record my sermons in audio and sometimes video. And that is okay. Pastor, Expository Preacher, Author, Trainer of Preachers and Bible Teachers. And it is just like God to ask us to do hard things, things that seem impossible, that we know in our hearts we cant do. The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, to test Him. All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But He does according to His will in the host of heaven, will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. That pagan nation was struggling against Egypt for dominance. WebGod never does evil Himself. What Jesus Wants Emphasized In His Church! 12:35-36). But as for you, your corpses will fall in this wilderness. 1 John 5:14. But they feared to do it during the Feast of Unleavened Bread because of the crowds that thronged Jerusalem. God promised to precede Cyrus and destroy all opposition that Cyrus would face: 'I will go before you and make the 3. Thanks for your interest! (see Acts 1:20). 4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. The terms Neo-Babylons and Chaldeans are used interchangeably for the people of that Empire. Everything fits into Gods plan. 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. The Lord did it, but He did it through Moses. WebThe Scripture teaches that God achieves His purpose in unbelievers. Though absolutely sovereign, all knowing, all wise, and everywhere present, God uses sinners to accomplish His will. 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. 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. 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. Jesus said the unbelievers failed to give him food, drink, nurse him in His sickness, or visit Him in prison. God uses all those who humble themselves before the cross, boasting only in him his strength, his wisdom, his righteousness, his accomplishment. 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. 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. A) We bow in submission before the mysterious ways of God. Nothing that happened to Jesus that night or later on Good Friday made sense when it happened. But He is unique and who can turn Him?And what His soul desires, that He does. Nothing will ever be able to affect Gods will. The Pharisees believed they were serving God but in reality, they didnt even know Him. Unbelievers Are blinded by the God of this world 2 Corinthians 4:4 Verse Concepts 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. WebGod will never set man's will aside and use him for a good purpose without his being willing to be used. 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?. God uses all those who humble themselves before the cross, boasting only in him his strength, his wisdom, his righteousness, his accomplishment. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. God strengthened Cyrus so that he could conquer nations and overcome opposition Thus says the Lord God to His 2. But what a privilege it is to be used by God! God has the amazing ability to do things that simply do not make sense to mankind. 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). 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.. Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Because God created all He can use anything in creation. That doesnt make us anything more in Gods eyes. (Video #2), Lesson 2: Gods Use of the Ungodly Habakkuk 1:5-11. 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. Though absolutely sovereign, all knowing, all wise, and everywhere present, God uses sinners to accomplish His will. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. They looked to themselves for their power. 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. It becomes all the more bold in lawlessness. Why would God allow his Son to suffer such indignity at the hands of one who claimed to be his friend? 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 chooses the custodian with a heavy accent to share the gospel and save lives. The gospel writers record many Old Testament prophecies that were fulfilled in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
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