god uses unbelievers to accomplish his will god uses unbelievers to accomplish his will

We see this all the way through the Bible. So continue to trust in Him and you wont be disappointed. Gods Ability To Use Unlikely People Even Unbelievers. 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 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. (Bible quotations are from the New King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.). God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne ( Psalm 47:8 ). C) God uses all eventsgood and badto accomplish his purposes. It can be fairly said that the common people by and large respected Jesus and responded positively to his message. We might be a life-hacking, productivity guru. C) We place our confidence in Gods ultimate purpose for us. Scripture even points to the fact that God used Cyrus even though he didnt know God. God is unimpressed by our collection of readers, likes, retweets, friends, connections, or admirers. Your children, however, whom you said would become a preyI will bring them in, and they will know the land which you have rejected. Just as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things! (Rom. During our conversationwhich lasted two hours and was both cordial and very frankI told him that his religion could not save him. WebGod was about to turn to the Gentiles as He judged Israel as a nation for her unbelief. In the eyes of the Jews, Saul would be seen as a warrior of the faith. Verse Concepts. 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. Fifth, and the point I want to focus on, is that the Lord tells Moses, 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. I find this very interesting and encouraging. 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. God Himself said that He used Pharaoh so that His name would be known on all the earth. 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. Lest he misunderstand, I also told him that going to Calvary Memorial Church cannot save anyoneor help save anyone. But He is unique and who can turn Him?And what His soul desires, that He does. They thank me for posting my sermons on the internet. The Lord even tells Moses to do it, divide it! God doesnt need men, but God chooses to use men at times to accomplish His sovereign will. 1:15-16), later to be thrown in the Nile (Ex. The Bible says, God was well pleased through the message preached to save those who believe (I Cor. Thats where the judgment will come from. Though absolutely sovereign, all knowing, all wise, and everywhere present, God uses sinners to accomplish His will. Paul, in writing to Corinth, corrected the Churchs misuse of speaking in foreign tongues. God will surely judge all rebellion, secret and open. Zechariah 11:13Judas would give the money back. Thus they plundered the Egyptians ( Exodus 12:36 ). In the beginning Satan challenged Gods right to rule. The unbelievers, become confused, not remembering ever having the opportunity to serve Jesus. Egypt made his brother, Jehoiakim, the new king over the Jews. The fact that God ordains both the means and the ends should surely encourage us as we face our own trials. Why? Literal Standard Version. He betrayed the Lord but ended up vindicating him. These lessons simply teach us that God can take that which is evil and use it for his own good purposes. 1:21). You do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He sent. Anyone who resists God risks falling into spiritual deception (2 That leads me to ask a simple question: Are you a professor or a possessor? 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. God often reveals himself in most unexpected ways. A lesson worth considering, but not the main lesson I want to focus on, is that God often put us into situations where only He can deliver us. Often in the confusion of life, we cant see the ends, much less the means God intends for us. I find it remarkable how consistently the New Testament writers see the hand of God in the events surrounding the death of Christ. They were in an impossible situation with no way out. The book of proverbs also gives us insight into this. But as for you, your corpses will fall in this wilderness. When we pray, we strive to pray according to Gods will (I Jn. 28:36, The LORD will bring you and the king whom you set over you to a nation which neither you nor your fathers have known, and there you shall serve other gods wood and stone. Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? 4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. The Pharisees believed they were serving God but in reality, they didnt even know Him. Yet He was still able to accomplish His will through them. 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. What an honor to serve the King of kings. 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. 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 concluded that the Bible doesnt give us a final answer regarding why Judas betrayed Jesus Christ. WebThe Scripture teaches that God achieves His purpose in unbelievers. Jesus said the unbelievers failed to give him food, drink, nurse him in His sickness, or visit Him in prison. I might preach to 100 people on Sunday morning in my own little church, but I preach to thousands over the internet. Sign up to join over 20,000 subscribers receiving our weekly sermon email. Nothing is ever left to chance with God. God will deal with them according to his plan, but first, He will use them for His own covenant judgment. Romans 8:28 says, For those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. All things includes both good and bad things. I have not been named most influential, listed as most attractive, or voted most likely to succeed. All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. 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. 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. 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. You are going to need it as we search the Scriptures to answer these two questions. Judas didnt know itand doesnt get any credit for itbut his dastardly deed actually fulfilled predictions given by the Holy Spirit hundreds of years before he was born. Here are some examples: So through his death, he can have everlasting life on earth. I am the trustee of nothing more than my personal belongings. The new king was deposed after three months. We when we dont know if something is Gods will, we pray, Yet not my will but yours be done (Mt. Zechariah 11:1230 pieces of silver (see Matthew 26:15). Jesus is truly the lamb without blemish who died for the sins of the world (John 1:29). God has the amazing ability to do things that simply do not make sense to mankind. WebGod never does evil Himself. We live most of our days in Good Fridayenduring confusion, opposition, disappointment and the many tragedies of life. They deride every stronghold, For they heap up earthen mounds and seize it. God promised to precede Cyrus and destroy all opposition that Cyrus would face: 'I will go before you and make the 3. Recent events may not have gone how you hoped and the signs may seem bleak. 1:8). He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. God was rejecting their national privilege, and turning to the Gentiles to populate his Covenant Nation on Earth. Who would have had his own beliefs and gods that contradicted much of the Bible. Because God created all He can use anything in creation. 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. He clings to his sin like a drowning man to an iron life preserver. Our accomplishments do not justify our existence. Training for Preachers and Teachers of God's Word, Want to know what an RSS feed is and how it works? 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! The thing he values the most is dragging him down to eternal damnation. 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?. Jump to Previous The people of Israel, were backed up against the Red Sea with Pharaohs army charging at them. God has sinners pray and answers the prayers of sinners that are according to His will, getting glory for himself. We see this all the way through the Bible. But he chose instead to allow himself to be arrested, knowing that this would fulfill Gods plan. 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. by Bob Burridge 2013, 2015 Also, be sure to stop by our prayer wall. 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. 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. Everything fits into Gods plan. He is working all things after the counsel of His will (Eph. They probably said things like, See, God isnt doing anything no body ever gets punished, it cant be very serious. They had forgotten the longsuffering of the True God who made all things, and who rules as King over all kings. In Acts 1:16 Peter declared that the Scripture had to be fulfilled. He meant that the Old Testament predictions (he cites Psalm 69:25 and Psalm 109:8) regarding Judas were bound to come true. In 605 Egypt was defeated by the Neo-Babylonians at Carchemish. The greater the pain, the harder it is to see Gods fingerprints. 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. Because they did not believe in GodAnd did not trust in His salvation. So through his death, he can have everlasting life on earth. Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? They have no respect for the leaders of other nations. 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. and be astounded! A God who can bring something good out of betrayal can be trusted to accomplish his work in your life. 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. 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. Why would God allow his Son to suffer such indignity at the hands of one who claimed to be his friend? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife? Things may seem impossible, and for men, they might be impossible, but nothing is impossible with God (Lk. 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.read more.Yet if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave; the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us to peace. 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. That pagan nation was struggling against Egypt for dominance. We all understand that God intended that Jesus would die for the sins of the world. God uses pathetic people for his glorious purposes to show his superior power. Really, its just fine. I run into people in different countries or am contacted by those from different countries who have been blessed by my preaching. They had fast horses and were more fierce (more alert, fierce, and sharp) than the hungry wolves that come out to hunt in the evening. The repentant show Gods unmerited grace to undeserving sinners, and reveal the merciful blessing and goodness of God. 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.. He could have rained fire and brimstone down on them. 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. Were they to voluntarily all drown? The coming of Messiah was unexpected. They all come for violence; Their faces are set like the east wind. 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. They looked to themselves for their power. In their very act of oppression, they unknowingly serve the glory of the Creator. Showing us that our God can and will use anyone even though they dont know Him. We need to be reminded again and again that we are like grass disposable, temporary, fleeting, momentary. Even Jesus cannot save a man who claims his sin is not really sinful. He could have just caused them to drop dead. WebJohn 3:16. I have not written a New York Times Bestseller, and no one has publicly endorsed, recommended, or vouched for me. We see the same thing after the Israelites cross the Red Sea and are attacked by the Amalekites (Ex. 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. Other examples could be added to this list. 4:5). So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires. 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. Because God does miracles by His own power. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. God commissions the invalid retiree to uphold dozens, even hundreds of missionaries on the field. Do not lament your insufficiency. 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. 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. 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. We see this all the way through the Bible. Nothing that happened to Jesus that night or later on Good Friday made sense when it happened. He wants us to trust in Him, to rely on Him, to cry out to Him, and then give Him glory for delivering us. Those who were rebelling against God had become apathetic. 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.. In fact, in one place in scripture, God said that what He was doing could not be understood even if He explained it. Often in the confusion of life, we cant see the ends, much less the means God intends for us. We know from the sowing and reaping principle that t here will be degrees of torment in the lake of fire. 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 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. In fact, in one place in scripture, God said that what He was doing could not be understood even if He explained it. The Lord can never be blamed for evil, but evil does not take p. God never does evil Himself. Paul used this verse from Habakkuk to warn the foolish despisers of the gospel. God is still using unlikely people to accomplish His will on earth today. They wanted him dead and used Judas as a convenient means to that ugly end. A man who lived in a time in which only Jews served the one true God. Remember my imprisonment. 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. . Though absolutely sovereign, all knowing, all wise, and everywhere present, God uses sinners to accomplish His will. He told Moses, Tell the sons of Israel to go forward. But how? so that they might escape from the devil's snare, even though they've been held captive by him to do his will. God promised to precede Cyrus and destroy all opposition that Cyrus would face: 'I will go before you and make the 3. We have one life to use, and the usefulness of that one life depends not on our rsum or even how much we know. Their chargers charge ahead; Their cavalry comes from afar; They fly as the eagle that hastens to eat. 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. 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. Are we becoming more like Jesus by the power of the Spirit? Gods Ability To Use Unlikely People Even Unbelievers. Moses had great faith! Assyria had fallen when Nineveh, its capitol, was destroyed in 612 BC. They live as if there was no Creator, no moral law, no accountability. It was their God, or at least the God of Moses, that just killed all the first born of Egypt. He uses believers and unbelievers. As with the raising of Moses hands by Aaron and Hurt, sharing the gospel, or praying, God delights in and receives glory for himself, when we submit to His will, live by faith, and obey His Word. But sometimes we forget that when God ordains a particular end, he also ordains the means to that end. Here are five specific prophecies that were fulfilled when Judas betrayed Jesus: Psalm 41:9Close friend will betray Christ (see John 13:18). 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. Did Jesus Descend Into Hell? Jump to Previous Herod the Great tried to kill him in Bethlehem. God himself had foreordained every detail surrounding the death of his Son. Moses was sent by the Lord multiple times to Pharaoh asking for the release of the Hebrews. This is the attitude of the evil heart in all ages. 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. And he was an exalted and successful king. Habakkuk learned that the material success of the ungodly is not a reliable measure of their true success. ", Writing & Teaching Inductive Bible Studies. But all of them come from the hand of the Lord. Through one mans treachery, Jesus proves himself a man of peacenot a man of war. We know from the sowing and reaping principle that t here will be degrees of torment in the lake of fire. Which caused the church to grow rapidly. God calls the autistic man to give the most profound articulation of his simple faith. His words imply that all the torment will be tolerable. God strengthened Cyrus so that he could conquer nations and overcome opposition Thus says the Lord God to His 2.