god uses unbelievers to accomplish his will

Two questions stand out: 1) Did Jesus actually descend into hell? Believer, dont think that your faithful service to your local body of believers is insignificant or accounts for little or nothing. Two questions confront us as we consider the story of Judas: Last weeks sermon dealt with the first question. 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. 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. 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. They heap judgment on themselves. The way to heaven is only Jesus and Jesus only.. Get your Bible. When Judas actually betrayed Jesus in the Garden, Peter immediately sprang to his defense. They deride every stronghold, For they heap up earthen mounds and seize it. Remember my imprisonment. How does this truth apply to Judas? Herod the Great tried to kill him in Bethlehem. In the eyes of the Jews, Saul would be seen as a warrior of the faith. No, its a mystery. Because God created all He can use anything in creation. He could have rained fire and brimstone down on them. Grace be with you. This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask He has many means to accomplish that holy purposeincluding some that are difficult to understand. This is a true mystery, which we may explain in various ways but will never fully understand. Dont mistake temporary material victories for true success. 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. But we learn that over time a new Pharaoh arose who did not know Joseph or respect what Joseph had done (Ex. Judas solved their problem by volunteering to betray the Lord. 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. 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. God will surely judge all rebellion, secret and open. Causing him to not let the people go. A most astonishing way of fulfilling that prophesy. They move ahead as a determined army spreading violence. WebGod was about to turn to the Gentiles as He judged Israel as a nation for her unbelief. Nothing that happened to Jesus that night or later on Good Friday made sense when it happened. So the emphasis of the chapter is on Gods working out His purpose through ordinary people who obey Him. WebGod will never set man's will aside and use him for a good purpose without his being willing to be used. Your children, however, whom you said would become a preyI will bring them in, and they will know the land which you have rejected. By his treachery he established the very cause he set out to destroy. 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. 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.. The people of Jacob were trapped. The Lord can never be blamed for evil, but evil does not take p. God never does evil Himself. This brings us face to face with the doctrine of Gods providence, which means, A) God has a plan that includes everything that happens in the universe, and, B) Gods plan extends to the tiniest details of life, and. They post my sermons on the web and people listen to or watch me preach all over the world. The Lord did it, but He did it through Moses. 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. and they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. WebJohn 3:16. During our conversationwhich lasted two hours and was both cordial and very frankI told him that his religion could not save him. At first he ordered the Israelite babies to be killed at birth by the midwives (Ex. God used this unlikely group of people to accomplish His greatest work and they had no idea. God uses pathetic people for his glorious purposes to show his superior power. It was a period of apostasy and violence. Tell the sons of Israel to go forward. This week I ate lunch with a man who has recently become an acquaintance through an e-mail correspondence. 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. In spite of all this they still sinned And did not believe in His wonderful works. WebGod Can Use Unbelievers part 1: Cyrus 1. 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. . Assyria had fallen when Nineveh, its capitol, was destroyed in 612 BC. Gods Prophet Jeremiah warned of Gods judgment. For this reason God purposefully led the wondering multitude to a place where there was no possible way of escape from Pharaoh and his army, humanly speaking. 1 And Saul approved of his execution. Gods plan even extended to having Jesus buried in a borrowed tomb (see Isaiah 53:9). Wisdom didnt ensure obedience. He told the people that Pharaohs army would be wiped out, though he did not know how. God could by-pass us and do everything himself, but He does not. 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. I am a preacher and Bible teacher. Then God, in His sovereign power and will, takes our weak and fallible service, and accomplishes His will, like parting the Red Sea. Were they to voluntarily all drown? So the emphasis of the chapter is on Gods working out His purpose through ordinary people who obey Him. 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! (Bible quotations are from the New King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.). He dealt with his doubts and confusion in the right way, he turned to God, not to his own understanding. 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. 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. These lessons simply teach us that God can take that which is evil and use it for his own good purposes. Do not begrudge your weakness. 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. 1:22). God picks the scrawniest little girl to lead off on his kickball team. Which caused the church to grow rapidly. 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. He does this for obvious reasons. 4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. His purpose in creation will stand. Yet He was still able to accomplish His will through them. You have entered an incorrect email address! God is not the author of sin, but He can use sinful men to attain an objective. They looked to themselves for their power. God has the amazing ability to do things that simply do not make sense to mankind. Though Israel was many, only the remnant will be saved (Romans 9:27). We have one life to use, and the usefulness of that one life depends not on our rsum or even how much we know. He had great trust in the truth of God. Other examples could be added to this list. My ministry is small locally, but gigantic because of the faithful service of others. Habakkuk 1:5, Look among the nations and watch Be utterly astounded! The fact that God ordains both the means and the ends should surely encourage us as we face our own trials. 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). As they plotted how to murder Jesus they had no idea they were accomplishing Gods will. God will use it even if you do not understand how. At the beginning of their sojourn, Joseph was ruler of Egypt, a son of Jacob, and watched over his own. God was revealing that He was going to use this ungodly power for judgment upon his own straying people. Israel stumbled at the stumbling stone, the suffering messiah (Romans 9:31-33). 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. We need to remember that God uses the foolish. He was a brilliant poet, a skillful songwriter, a genius botanist, and a first-class biologist. 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. And that is okay. Those who turn in humble trust to the Lord, who rest in His work of redemption, who seek to walk in his ways, and who turn in humble repentance when they fail, will receive His righteousness, and blessing forever. A God who can bring something good out of betrayal can be trusted to accomplish his work in your life. The glory of His nature and attributes will be made known in full. Judas didnt know it, and neither did the disciples, but Gods fingerprints were all over his act of betrayal. But the Jews who disbelieved stirred up the minds of the Gentiles and embittered them against the brethren. What does it mean that God came from Teman (Habakkuk 3:3). They scoff at kings, And princes are scorned by them. God scoffs at any attempt by me or you to prove our worthiness. 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. 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. Our accolades cannot merit us any greatness. God was about to turn to the Gentiles as He judged Israel as a nation for her unbelief. Just as He did with Pharaoh who placed no faith in the God of Israel. 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. Be encouraged Christian, God intends to use you in all your multifaceted weakness and obscurity for his glory. We should never presume to say to an unbeliever, God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. We cant know that. 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. Comments? WebGod was about to turn to the Gentiles as He judged Israel as a nation for her unbelief. 12:35-36). 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! Psalm 69:25Reputation destroyed forever. 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. He stands behind it indirectly, but He directly stands behind good. I was not a cum laude graduate. That literally means, I find no basis for any of the charges brought against this man. In modern terms, you might call it a Summary Judgment in favor of Jesus. We pray because God is sovereign and all powerful. 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? Who would have had his own beliefs and gods that contradicted much of the Bible. First, the people of Israel were for the most part leaderless. Though used by God for his purposes, the ungodly are still evil. The fact that God ordains both the means and the ends should surely encourage us as we face our own trials. The trials that were meant to establish his guilt ended up establishing his innocence for all the world to see. Thats generally the way life is for all of us. Why did a holy God allow such evil to continue? Those who look to themselves, will eventually and always reap their just punishment. That doesnt lessen his guilt, but it does increase our appreciation of Gods sovereignty over the affairs of men. Our prayers aline us with Gods eternal decree. We when we dont know if something is Gods will, we pray, Yet not my will but yours be done (Mt. Because God created all He can use anything in creation. Including those who dont believe He exists. 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. When they offered him 30 pieces of silver, he readily accepted even though that was the going price for a slave. Guiding our world whether we are able to see it or not. Even his enemies played into Gods handthough they did not know it at the time. Unbelievers Are blinded by the God of this world 2 Corinthians 4:4 Verse Concepts In the providence of God, the betrayal by Judas actually advanced Gods purpose in the world. Gods Ability To Use Unlikely People Even Unbelievers. Remember my imprisonment. Even Jesus cannot save a man who claims his sin is not really sinful. We might make Jim Collins proud, but God yawns at our leadership abilities. Though used of God to complete his plan, those who crucified our Lord were still personally wicked and godless in what they did. If your rsum is sparse, your intellect feeble, your skills unimpressive, and your wisdom just average, fret not. 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. 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?. We might be a life-hacking, productivity guru. 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. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. 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. When Judas kissed Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter impulsively grabbed his sword and started swinging. Egypt and the Neo-Babylonians were competing for world dominance. I have not written a New York Times Bestseller, and no one has publicly endorsed, recommended, or vouched for me. We know from the sowing and reaping principle that t here will be degrees of torment in the lake of fire. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. WebJohn 3:16. 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. Judas served Gods purposes even though what he did was wrong and he ended up in hell. 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. During this period, foreign powers invaded Israel again and again, and inside the nation known as Gods people, evil and immorality raged. Our accomplishments do not justify our existence. WebThe Scripture teaches that God achieves His purpose in unbelievers. And how will they hear without a preacher? Thats where the judgment will come from. Here is my answer: He allowed Judas to betray Jesus so that Jesus could become the Savior of the world. God promised to precede Cyrus and destroy all opposition that Cyrus would face: 'I will go before you and make the 3. It even included the price Judas would receive for his act of treachery30 pieces of silver. They make a joke out of those who dare to not submit to them. Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? We know from the sowing and reaping principle that t here will be degrees of torment in the lake of fire. 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. Psalm 109:8Replaced by another manMatthias (see Acts 1:20). If we lack wisdom, we should ask God for it (James 1:5). Providence means that God is in charge of the entire universe at all times and nothing happens outside his control. 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? 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. From the earliest days of Jesus life we find the Jewish leaders conspiring against him. To put the matter that way raises several other questions: Was Judas predestined by God to betray Jesus? Rejoice that Christ is all-sufficient and always dependable. Everything else in the story fits into Gods plan: The crown of thorns, the scourging, the trials, Pilates testimony, his verdict of death, a man to help carry the cross, the place of deathGolgotha, and the moment of death3 PM, the time when the Passover lambs were sacrificed at the Temple. For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? When we do that we become His instruments to accomplish His sovereign will. Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Each time Moses would perform a mighty sign to convince Pharaoh of Gods power but each time God would harden his heart. His covenant is always enforced. The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, to test Him. 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. I sit on no boards. 5:14). 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. 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. This New-Babylon marched through Canaan and took hostages (one of them was Daniel). As the persecution he inflicted was just the jump-start the early church needed to start taking the Gospel to the rest of the world. 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. Zechariah 11:1230 pieces of silver (see Matthew 26:15). His words imply that all the torment will be tolerable. Christianity is not about religion, its about a life-changing relationship with the Son of God. 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. Jesus said the unbelievers failed to give him food, drink, nurse him in His sickness, or visit Him in prison. While not all became believers, many felt a strong attraction to his message. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. God 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. Their horses also are swifter than leopards, And more fierce than evening wolves. Summary Moses had great faith! He uses believers and unbelievers. He fought against God and hoped to destroy the early church. But as for you, your corpses will fall in this wilderness. Here are five specific prophecies that were fulfilled when Judas betrayed Jesus: Psalm 41:9Close friend will betray Christ (see John 13:18). We are saved by living faith in the Son of Godnot by outward religious observance. The Israelites and the church did face some tough times and we may too. 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. Even those who dont believe and even speak against. One swing of his sword whacked off the ear of Malchus, servant to the High Priest. 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. It can be fairly said that the common people by and large respected Jesus and responded positively to his message. The phrase all this refers to the betrayal, the circumstances surrounding it, and the circumstances flowing from it. 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. Things may seem impossible, and for men, they might be impossible, but nothing is impossible with God (Lk. God asks us to do things we cant do, because it makes us trust IN HIM, not ourselves. God ordains the means and the ends of life. 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. 1:8). (see Acts 1:20). This seems to be one of the reasons God had Moses lift up his staff and hands to divide the Red Sea. In our text, Ex. WebJohn 3:16. But all of them come from the hand of the Lord. Because God does miracles by His own power. 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. He has but one endto make us like Jesus. In spite of all this they still sinnedAnd did not believe in His wonderful works. Thus they plundered the Egyptians ( Exodus 12:36 ). Just as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things! (Rom. 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. 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. Wisdom alone, though, is insufficient. The manner of the judgment would be unexpected. 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. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. At times, God enlisted non-believers to help His people through the ages. C) God uses all eventsgood and badto accomplish his purposes. When God desires to save someone, He raises up Christians to preach the gospel. Amen. Paul, in writing to Corinth, corrected the Churchs misuse of speaking in foreign tongues. Jesus waved him off by declaring, All this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled (Matthew 26:56). I cant charge an exorbitant hourly fee for my time. We live most of our days in Good Fridayenduring confusion, opposition, disappointment and the many tragedies of life. 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.. 14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him. Verse Concepts. Covenant judgment was about to be poured out upon Israel. In this wilderness they shall be destroyed, and there they will die. 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 Lord. 46:10). The 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. 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. But sometimes we forget that when God ordains a particular end, he also ordains the means to that end. In this period of Judahs last kings, the Prophets warned of the fulfillment of this covenant promise. Did Jesus Descend Into Hell? 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. 17:8-13). Suggestions? Though absolutely sovereign, all knowing, all wise, and everywhere present, God uses sinners to accomplish His will. In Jeremiah 13:20 it said, Lift up your eyes and see Those who come from the north . Jeremiah 25:32 says, Behold, disaster shall go forth From nation to nation, And a great whirlwind shall be raised up From the farthest parts of the earth., Habakkuk 1:6, For indeed I am raising up the Chaldeans, A bitter and hasty nation Which marches through the breadth of the earth, To possess dwelling places that are not theirs.. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. One final point is in order. In those moments we often feel alone in the chaos of circumstances as life tumbles in around us. 21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man. Their end will be most awful. Which is why they completely missed the Messiah when they stood right beside Him. (Video #2), Lesson 2: Gods Use of the Ungodly Habakkuk 1:5-11. Anyone who resists God risks falling into spiritual deception (2 God strengthened Cyrus so that he could conquer nations and overcome opposition Thus says the Lord God to His 2. The purpose of www.drivennails.com is to help train expository preachers in sermon construction and delivery, to train inductive Bible study writers and teachers, and to edify the saints with the Word of God. 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.. 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. For I will work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told you.. so that they might escape from the devil's snare, even though they've been held captive by him to do his will. "Equipping and encouraging people to keep believing in Jesus", Copyright 2020 Keep Believing Ministries. Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. In fact, in one place in scripture, God said that what He was doing could not be understood even if He explained it. WebGod never does evil Himself. in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. In many cases without them even realizing that they were being used by God. 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. God uses pathetic people for his glorious purposes to show his superior power. God wanted the people of Israel to look to Moses as their God appointed human leader and deliverer. (see Matthew 27:5). 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, shall by no means see the land which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who spurned Me see it. Because God is utterly unimpressed by my rsum. His words imply that all the torment will be tolerable. 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. Though absolutely sovereign, all knowing, all wise, and everywhere present, God uses sinners to accomplish His will. The evil nations God was raising up to judge his rebellious people were self-centered. The evil ones believe pridefully that their own imagined gods have blessed them. 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. God has already determined the end from the beginning (Isa. 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? Do not begrudge your weakness. (1 Corinthians 1:2629). When Moses spoke these words to all the sons of Israel, the people mourned greatly.

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