Summary This is the grace of God as revealed in His merciful covenant. 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. Our accomplishments do not justify our existence. 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. You truly never know God could be doing something right that we wouldnt understand even if He told us. The people of Jacob were trapped. That doesnt lessen his guilt, but it does increase our appreciation of Gods sovereignty over the affairs of men. Then we read this in Exodus 14:13-16: But Moses said to the people, Do not fear! 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. He has many means to accomplish that holy purposeincluding some that are difficult to understand. I have received no honorary doctorates. (see Matthew 27:5). 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. He does this for obvious reasons. For he sees that even wise men die;The stupid and the senseless alike perishAnd leave their wealth to others. But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive out of those men who went to spy out the land. When Judas actually betrayed Jesus in the Garden, Peter immediately sprang to his defense. 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. This is the attitude of the evil heart in all ages. 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. He betrayed the Lord but ended up vindicating him. Why? Jesus says much the same thing in his famous prayer just before Judas arrives: None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that the Scripture would be fulfilled (John17:12b). Do not lament your insufficiency. Consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. Our prayers do not alter Gods eternal decree. Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Solomon was given a mind like no one before and like none even after him (1 Kings 3:12). Here are some examples: That pagan nation was struggling against Egypt for dominance. In their very act of oppression, they unknowingly serve the glory of the Creator. WebGod never does evil Himself. I dont have any letters after my name. Having all the wisdom in the world didnt guarantee fidelity. Why would God allow his Son to suffer such indignity at the hands of one who claimed to be his friend? Embrace your weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon you to reveal Gods surpassing greatness (2 Corinthians 12:9). God could have had the earth swallow up the Amalekites. Grace be with you. 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. How does this truth apply to Judas? The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent. Then the Lord said to Moses, Why are you crying out to Me? Gods plan included the time of Jesus deathPassover, the placeJerusalem, the opposition by the Jewish leaders, and the betrayal by Judas. But My servant Caleb, because he has had a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land which he entered, and his descendants shall take possession of it. Those who were rebelling against God had become apathetic. But now, the grief of the Egyptians had subsided and was replaced with anger and regret. Verse Concepts. 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.. 1:8). Yet He was still able to accomplish His will through them. His story is unique in that he claims to be a Christian even though he has chosen a way of life that God calls an abomination. 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. 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. Suggestions? The terms Neo-Babylons and Chaldeans are used interchangeably for the people of that Empire. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! Zechariah 11:1230 pieces of silver (see Matthew 26:15). God wants to use those who look away from their self-sufficiency to his all-sufficiency. 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. (see Acts 1:20). Do not begrudge your weakness. Were they to march into the sea holding their little ones, driving their cattle, and pushing their elderly? Here are five specific prophecies that were fulfilled when Judas betrayed Jesus: Psalm 41:9Close friend will betray Christ (see John 13:18). God then raised up Moses and his brother Aaron as instruments to deliver the people of Israel from cruel bondage. What does it mean that the righteous will live by faith (Habakkuk 2:4)? He could have just caused them to drop dead. His betrayal proved that the Jewish leaders were far from innocent bystanders in the death of Christ. 4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. Because God created all He can use anything in creation. It was their God, or at least the God of Moses, that just killed all the first born of Egypt. So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires. Or see articles from other writers we feature Here. shall by no means see the land which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who spurned Me see it. Gods covenant warned from the beginning that if Israel fell into sin God would use a foreign heathen nation to bring judgment upon them. WebGod was about to turn to the Gentiles as He judged Israel as a nation for her unbelief. He has but one endto make us like Jesus. His covenant is always enforced. God himself had foreordained every detail surrounding the death of his Son. 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. At times, God enlisted non-believers to help His people through the ages. 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). Recent events may not have gone how you hoped and the signs may seem bleak. Visit Justins personal website Here. 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. God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne ( Psalm 47:8 ). In the words of a 19th century writer, hatred, treachery and deceit will not prevail against the church of God. Israel stumbled at the stumbling stone, the suffering messiah (Romans 9:31-33). Peter told the early Christians that the Scripture had to be fulfilled. He meant that the betrayal had to happen the way it did. 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. God ordains the means and the ends of life. 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. Other examples could be added to this list. This shows the mercy and compassion of God to help the Israelites. It doesnt mean everything will also go perfectly or the way we hope. And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not send her husband away. Everything was planned by God down to the tiniest detail. I am a preacher and Bible teacher. 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, the Lord, have spoken, surely this I will do to all this evil congregation who are gathered together against Me. WebGod Can Use Unbelievers part 1: Cyrus 1. Nothing that happened to Jesus that night or later on Good Friday made sense when it happened. 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. Eternity will reveal how your faithful service was used by the Lord in amazing ways. The trials that were meant to establish his guilt ended up establishing his innocence for all the world to see. 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. Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? WebGod was about to turn to the Gentiles as He judged Israel as a nation for her unbelief. I have heard the complaints of the sons of Israel, which they are making against Me. 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 see this clearly in the life of Christ. 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. But before his salvation took place God was still using Him. It becomes all the more bold in lawlessness. In our text, Ex. But among the leaders of the nation, only a few followed Christand they became secret believers for fear of persecution by their brethren. This could be the begging of a time of great growth for the church. 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. God was about to turn to the Gentiles as He judged Israel as a nation for her unbelief. Remember my imprisonment. He uses believers and unbelievers. Fourth, Gods command seemed impossible to obey. All of it happened according to Gods plan. 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. Gods Ability To Use Unlikely People Even Unbelievers. The gospel writers record many Old Testament prophecies that were fulfilled in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But we need to grow in faith and obedience. For I will work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told you.. But the fact of the matter is it wasnt me! He recognized what was evil because he believed Gods law. 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. C) We place our confidence in Gods ultimate purpose for us. 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.. I cant charge an exorbitant hourly fee for my time. 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. The Israelites and the church did face some tough times and we may too. WebGod will never set man's will aside and use him for a good purpose without his being willing to be used. I am sure God has many reasons for doing the things He does in the way and timing of His choosing, but lets consider some likely reasons He used Moses, a sinner, to be the instrument of His sovereign, miraculous work of dividing the Red Sea. First, the people of Israel were for the most part leaderless. God uses all those who humble themselves before the cross, boasting only in him his strength, his wisdom, his righteousness, his accomplishment. 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. 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. 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. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. Jesus immediately restored the ear and told Peter to put down his sword. 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. They post my sermons on the web and people listen to or watch me preach all over the world. God calls the autistic man to give the most profound articulation of his simple faith. We return now to the original question: Why did God allow Judas to betray Jesus? Be encouraged Christian, God intends to use you in all your multifaceted weakness and obscurity for his glory. Dont mistake temporary material victories for true success. It will be a most terrible judgment. Then God, in His sovereign power and will, takes our weak and fallible service, and accomplishes His will, like parting the Red Sea. This warning was made clear in the ancient covenant revealed long before through Moses in Deuteronomy 28. God uses pathetic people for his glorious purposes to show his superior power. So He brought their days to an end in futility And their years in sudden terror. If we lack wisdom, we should ask God for it (James 1:5). 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. God answered him. It was the tech team, the web master, the secretary, or whoever posted my sermon on line. But sometimes we forget that when God ordains a particular end, he also ordains the means to that end. What does it mean that God came from Teman (Habakkuk 3:3). Believer, dont think that your faithful service to your local body of believers is insignificant or accounts for little or nothing. 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. But what a privilege it is to be used by God! He chooses to use sinners to accomplish His sovereign will, often in ways we dont even understand. 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?. Click here. To put the matter that way raises several other questions: Was Judas predestined by God to betray Jesus? (Bible quotations are from the New King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.). Before the Apostle Paul wrote his letter he was known as Saul. 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. Yet, God used him to rebuild the temple and allow Jews to return to their land. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth (Isaiah 53:7). God Himself said that He used Pharaoh so that His name would be known on all the earth. Christianity is not about religion, its about a life-changing relationship with the Son of God. 14:11). In fact, in one place in scripture, God said that what He was doing could not be understood even if He explained it. It appears that between 11 PM Thursday night and 7:30 AM Friday morning, Jesus underwent six different hearingsone before Annas, two before Caiaphas, one before the Sanhedrin, and two before Pontius Pilate. 1:22). 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. 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. God uses the overwhelmed and disheveled mother to nurture her children into spiritual giants. Summary Literal Standard Version. Are we becoming more like Jesus by the power of the Spirit? They looked to themselves for their power. Get your Bible. He reminded Peter that he could call for 12 legions of angels72,000 highly trained, heavily armed members of the Angelic Defense Leagueto come to his rescue at any moment. Though there were still many who had remained faithful, others no longer followed the words of the Prophets. Pharaohs heart was hardened again. Anyone who resists God risks falling into spiritual deception (2 Strategically, this appeared to be a very unwise move, unless you are God. 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.. Gods plan even extended to having Jesus buried in a borrowed tomb (see Isaiah 53:9). God scoffs at any attempt by me or you to prove our worthiness. And that is okay. Israel as a nation had rejected the promises of Moses and the Prophets culminating in the demand for the death of Jesus, Gods Messiah. Is that a contradiction? He told Moses, Tell the sons of Israel to go forward. But how? We concluded that the Bible doesnt give us a final answer regarding why Judas betrayed Jesus Christ. 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. 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 uses all those who humble themselves before the cross, boasting only in him his strength, his wisdom, his righteousness, his accomplishment. Moses didnt have any power to divide the Red Sea. Its something we can clearly see within the pages of our Bible. Being a creative, innovative or highly effective leader is insufficient. Now if You slay this people as one man, then the nations who have heard of Your fame will say. God commissions the invalid retiree to uphold dozens, even hundreds of missionaries on the field. At times, God enlisted non-believers to help His people through the ages. 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. As we saw in the first four verses of this book, Habakkuk was confused. Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife? I am the trustee of nothing more than my personal belongings. 1:15-16), later to be thrown in the Nile (Ex. 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. Impatience and failing to trust God is never helpful. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. Did Jesus Descend Into Hell? The Bible says, God was well pleased through the message preached to save those who believe (I Cor. They thank me for posting my sermons on the internet. Their end will be most awful. 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. Sign up to join over 20,000 subscribers receiving our weekly sermon email. Their horses also are swifter than leopards, And more fierce than evening wolves. God is not finished with you yet, so dont give up on him. I am not a rising star in any field, industry, or arena. So the emphasis of the chapter is on Gods working out His purpose through ordinary people who obey Him. 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. His words imply that all the torment will be tolerable. Each time Moses would perform a mighty sign to convince Pharaoh of Gods power but each time God would harden his heart. I run into people in different countries or am contacted by those from different countries who have been blessed by my preaching. Jesus, in the Olivet Discourse, gave the parable of the sheep and the goats. One swing of his sword whacked off the ear of Malchus, servant to the High Priest. Thats where the judgment will come from. God promised to precede Cyrus and destroy all opposition that Cyrus would face: 'I will go before you and make the 3. They do whatever they want. 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. How can I believe in the goodness of God when there is so much evil in the world? He stands behind it indirectly, but He directly stands behind good. Who would have had his own beliefs and gods that contradicted much of the Bible. 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. An unlikely person to be used by God. The Prophet was told to look around him and see what was going on among the nations, observe! WebGod Can Use Unbelievers part 1: Cyrus 1. The fact that God ordains both the means and the ends should surely encourage us as we face our own trials. I find it remarkable how consistently the New Testament writers see the hand of God in the events surrounding the death of Christ. God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne ( Psalm 47:8 ). Often in the confusion of life, we cant see the ends, much less the means God intends for us. 10:14-15). The Pharisees believed they were serving God but in reality, they didnt even know Him. The sad story of Judas stands as a warning to religious people not to trust in their religion. Every evil in the world must somehow serve Gods purpose. You are going to need it as we search the Scriptures to answer these two questions. So while many American Christians worry about what will take place in the coming years I find peace in knowing that God can use even the most unlikely candidates to accomplish His will. 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. Not one of these men, this evil generation, shall see the good land which I swore to give your fathers. Our accolades cannot merit us any greatness. Egypt made his brother, Jehoiakim, the new king over the Jews. God strengthened Cyrus so that he could conquer nations and overcome opposition Thus says the Lord God to His 2. We need to be reminded again and again that we are like grass disposable, temporary, fleeting, momentary. His silence spoke more loudly than the foolish claims of his lying accusers. Though used by God for his purposes, the ungodly are still evil. Guiding our world whether we are able to see it or not. First, we see the faith of Moses. 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.. The ungodly show the futility of their rebellion, the awful penalty of sin, and the just wrath of God. But he chose instead to allow himself to be arrested, knowing that this would fulfill Gods plan. Literal Standard Version. 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. or will we in our rebellion demonstrate the just curse of His covenant warnings? Even Jesus cannot save a man who claims his sin is not really sinful. God often reveals himself in most unexpected ways. God uses pathetic people for his glorious purposes to show his superior power. And, "Who Are The Sons of God in Genesis 6? I have heard the complaints of the sons of Israel, which they are making against Me. 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. God promised to precede Cyrus and destroy all opposition that Cyrus would face: 'I will go before you and make the 3. 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. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. God is not the author of sin, but He can use sinful men to attain an objective. He uses believers and unbelievers. All rights reserved. Steven Lee is the Pastor of Preaching & Vision at. The book of proverbs also gives us insight into this.
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