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. 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. New American Standard Bible Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. Though absolutely sovereign, all knowing, all wise, and everywhere present, God uses sinners to accomplish His will. The people of Israel, were backed up against the Red Sea with Pharaohs army charging at them. God doesnt need men, but God chooses to use men at times to accomplish His sovereign will. But we need to grow in faith and obedience. Do not begrudge your weakness. International Standard Version. 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). A most astonishing way of fulfilling that prophesy. The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, to test Him. To put the matter that way raises several other questions: Was Judas predestined by God to betray Jesus? But our God is mightier than any office or country. 1:8). Now and then we advance to Easter morning where we discover Gods purpose in our pain. He betrayed the Lord but ended up vindicating him. 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. Gods plan even extended to having Jesus buried in a borrowed tomb (see Isaiah 53:9). Here is my answer: He allowed Judas to betray Jesus so that Jesus could become the Savior of the world. Able to do exceedingly and abundantly using unlikely people to further His plans. And he was an exalted and successful king. It was their God, or at least the God of Moses, that just killed all the first born of Egypt. 1:22). God uses pathetic people for his glorious purposes to show his superior power. 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. But He is unique and who can turn Him?And what His soul desires, that He does. Showing us that our God can and will use anyone even though they dont know Him. I have not written a New York Times Bestseller, and no one has publicly endorsed, recommended, or vouched for me. He told Moses, Tell the sons of Israel to go forward. But how? In the time of the New Testament after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we see the expansion of Gods Covenant to include Gentile believers drawn to the Savor by the Gospel. For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? His plan in doing so was to bless all people. (see Matthew 27:5). Gods plan even extended to having Jesus buried in a borrowed tomb (see Isaiah 53:9). WebJohn 3:16. 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. . They post my sermons on the web and people listen to or watch me preach all over the world. What Jesus Wants Emphasized In His Church! A God who can bring something good out of betrayal can be trusted to accomplish his work in your life. 1:37). Were on a mission to change that. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. 16:30), when he uses you or others, delivering you from your trials, be sure to praise, thank, and give Him all the glory for sovereignly using sinners. Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Their horses also are swifter than leopards, And more fierce than evening wolves. or will we in our rebellion demonstrate the just curse of His covenant warnings? 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 total number of prophecies is well over 100. In our text, Ex. Just as He did with Pharaoh who placed no faith in the God of Israel. We see this all the way through the Bible. 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. In the beginning Satan challenged Gods right to rule. First, the people of Israel were for the most part leaderless. 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. New American Standard Bible Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. If God did the miracles without Moses, amazing things would have happened, but the people would not have known what was going on or what to do. Our prayers do not alter Gods eternal decree. Then we read this in Exodus 14:13-16: But Moses said to the people, Do not fear! God is still using unlikely people to accomplish His will on earth today. Those who look to themselves, will eventually and always reap their just punishment. He uses believers and unbelievers. Moses had great faith! 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. God sees. I, the Lord, have spoken, surely this I will do to all this evil congregation who are gathered together against Me. I think we can learn some great lessons by answering these questions. So the emphasis of the chapter is on Gods working out His purpose through ordinary people who obey Him. Often in the confusion of life, we cant see the ends, much less the means God intends for us. WebGod Can Use Unbelievers part 1: Cyrus 1. 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. 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. The fact that God ordains both the means and the ends should surely encourage us as we face our own trials. so that they might escape from the devil's snare, even though they've been held captive by him to do his will. Soon they will be raised up from that struggle to full power. The evil ones believe pridefully that their own imagined gods have blessed them. God often reveals himself in most unexpected ways. Thus they plundered the Egyptians ( Exodus 12:36 ). His purpose in creation will stand. At my own local church, and everywhere else I go, faithful men and women record my sermons in audio and sometimes video. 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. 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. 21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man. So through his death, he can have everlasting life on earth. 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. The fact that God ordains both the means and the ends should surely encourage us as we face our own trials. All four gospel writers agree that three times Pilate rendered the same verdict regarding Jesus: I find no fault in him (John 19:6 NKJV). If youd like an interesting Bible study, take a look at the trials of Jesus. 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. We might make Jim Collins proud, but God yawns at our leadership abilities. Covenant judgment was about to be poured out upon Israel. WebJohn 3:16. Even today there are those who are arrogant and have no honor for God as He reveals Himself in Scripture. His silence spoke more loudly than the foolish claims of his lying accusers. God will bring ultimate and final judgment upon all ungodliness. This week I ate lunch with a man who has recently become an acquaintance through an e-mail correspondence. We need to be reminded again and again that we are like grass disposable, temporary, fleeting, momentary. God uses pathetic people for his glorious purposes to show his superior power. I have heard the complaints of the sons of Israel, which they are making against Me. In the words of a 19th century writer, hatred, treachery and deceit will not prevail against the church of God. Be encouraged Christian, God intends to use you in all your multifaceted weakness and obscurity for his glory. 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. WebGod will never set man's will aside and use him for a good purpose without his being willing to be used. Why? This warning was made clear in the ancient covenant revealed long before through Moses in Deuteronomy 28. Even his enemies played into Gods handthough they did not know it at the time. He is working all things after the counsel of His will (Eph. The Lord can never be blamed for evil, but evil does not take p. God never does evil Himself. But as for you, your corpses will fall in this wilderness. 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.. Israel as a nation had rejected the promises of Moses and the Prophets culminating in the demand for the death of Jesus, Gods Messiah. The glory of His nature and attributes will be made known in full. We know from the sowing and reaping principle that t here will be degrees of torment in the lake of fire. That doesnt lessen his guilt, but it does increase our appreciation of Gods sovereignty over the affairs of men. And goes on to say, How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? Jump to Previous Judas professed Christ but he did not possess him, which is why he is in hell today. 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. But if anyone says to you, This is meat sacrificed to idols, do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience sake; I mean not your own conscience, but the other mans; for why is my freedom judged by anothers conscience? He has not brought us this far to cause us to fail. And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. God sovereignly saves sinners, yet, He often uses sinners to accomplish His sovereign will. But the fact of the matter is it wasnt me! We see this all the way through the Bible. 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. 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). 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 how long will they not believe in Me, despite all the signs which I have performed in their midst? Not one of these men, this evil generation, shall see the good land which I swore to give your fathers. Why would God allow his Son to suffer such indignity at the hands of one who claimed to be his friend? Two questions confront us as we consider the story of Judas: Last weeks sermon dealt with the first question. 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. When we pray, we strive to pray according to Gods will (I Jn. 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. That pagan nation was struggling against Egypt for dominance. Thats where the judgment will come from. They make a joke out of those who dare to not submit to them. There he said in 1 Corinthians 14:21, With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me, says the Lord. He directly quoted the covenant warning of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Deuteronomy. God has sinners pray and answers the prayers of sinners that are according to His will, getting glory for himself. 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. The Prophet was told to look around him and see what was going on among the nations, observe! For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. Moses was an instrument, a tool, a vessel for Gods use, and so are we all. And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. You are going to need it as we search the Scriptures to answer these two questions. Recent events may not have gone how you hoped and the signs may seem bleak. Gods Ability To Use Unlikely People Even Unbelievers. Pharaohs heart was hardened again. "Equipping and encouraging people to keep believing in Jesus", Copyright 2020 Keep Believing Ministries. We know from the sowing and reaping principle that t here will be degrees of torment in the lake of fire. But sometimes we forget that when God ordains a particular end, he also ordains the means to that end. But all of them come from the hand of the Lord. Verse Concepts. How can I believe in the goodness of God when there is so much evil in the world? Your children, however, whom you said would become a preyI will bring them in, and they will know the land which you have rejected. Many that people can plan to do much but is God that will always have the final say. God uses all those who humble themselves before the cross, boasting only in him his strength, his wisdom, his righteousness, his accomplishment. Dont mistake temporary material victories for true success. While not all became believers, many felt a strong attraction to his message. He stands behind it indirectly, but He directly stands behind good. We might be a life-hacking, productivity guru. Dont get me wrong, wisdom is important. God uses all those who humble themselves before the cross, boasting only in him his strength, his wisdom, his righteousness, his accomplishment. We pray because God is sovereign and all powerful. The manner of the judgment would be unexpected. 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. His words imply that all the torment will be tolerable. 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. 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.. 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. Gods sign of judgment was that they would hear foreign language on the streets of Jerusalem, speaking in a language they did not understand. 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 will surely judge all rebellion, secret and open. Here are some examples: Steven Lee is the Pastor of Preaching & Vision at. Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Our accomplishments do not justify our existence. 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. He was ready to die for his Master and intended to take a few of the bad guys with him. Before the Apostle Paul wrote his letter he was known as Saul. 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? 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). 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. Philippians 3:4-7 - although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. Now relax your hand! And the angel of the Lord was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. 1 John 5:14. He uses believers and unbelievers. It was a period of apostasy and violence. This could be the begging of a time of great growth for the church. Because God created all He can use anything in creation. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. Matthew 26:3-5 informs us that the leaders of the Jews were looking for an opportunity to arrest Jesus and put him to death. 17:8-13). 5:14). Because they did not believe in GodAnd did not trust in His salvation. And did not believe in His wonderful works. Suggestions? But before his salvation took place God was still using Him. Things may seem impossible, and for men, they might be impossible, but nothing is impossible with God (Lk. for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. I am the trustee of nothing more than my personal belongings. Nothing that happened to Jesus that night or later on Good Friday made sense when it happened. God promised to precede Cyrus and destroy all opposition that Cyrus would face: 'I will go before you and make the 3. An unlikely person to be used by God. 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. Believer, dont think that your faithful service to your local body of believers is insignificant or accounts for little or nothing. The Lord did it, but He did it through Moses. Literal Standard Version. I run into people in different countries or am contacted by those from different countries who have been blessed by my preaching. 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). Judas served Gods purposes even though what he did was wrong and he ended up in hell. We have one life to use, and the usefulness of that one life depends not on our rsum or even how much we know. 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. 14:16, God, who is all powerful and infinitely sovereign, 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. Why didnt God just part the Red Sea? Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening as Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. But we need to grow in faith and obedience. and they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. His plan in doing so was to bless all people. God even gave prophecy through Isaiah that this very thing would take place. 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. Why? 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. 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. Is it true that God cannot look upon sin? Because God created all He can use anything in creation. I also answer yes. They thank me for posting my sermons on the internet. 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. Many believed they were going to die and complained to Moses (Ex. WebGod Can Use Unbelievers part 1: Cyrus 1. Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife? WebThe Scripture teaches that God achieves His purpose in unbelievers. (see Acts 1:20). He fought against God and hoped to destroy the early church. He was a brilliant poet, a skillful songwriter, a genius botanist, and a first-class biologist. Sighing deeply in His spirit, He *said, Why does this generation seek for a sign? 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. Is that a contradiction? God uses pathetic people for his glorious purposes to show his superior power. God Himself said that He used Pharaoh so that His name would be known on all the earth. What an honor to serve the King of kings. 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. They all come for violence; Their faces are set like the east wind. 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. They gather captives like sand. Although God was at work in the betrayal, you couldnt see it that night. All of it happened according to Gods plan. One final point is in order. He chooses to use sinners to accomplish His sovereign will, often in ways we dont even understand. Then God, in His sovereign power and will, takes our weak and fallible service, and accomplishes His will, like parting the Red Sea. 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? Though there were still many who had remained faithful, others no longer followed the words of the Prophets. Though used by God for his purposes, the ungodly are still evil. Having all the wisdom in the world didnt guarantee fidelity. God blesses those in whom he stirs to obedience, and judges disobedience. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. He has many means to accomplish that holy purposeincluding some that are difficult to understand. God scoffs at any attempt by me or you to prove our worthiness. Through one mans treachery, Jesus proves himself a man of peacenot a man of war. Thanks for your interest! The Neo-Babylonians were dominated by Chaldean kings. God himself had foreordained every detail surrounding the death of his Son. Your children, however, whom you said would become a preyI will bring them in, and they will know the land which you have rejected. These lessons simply teach us that God can take that which is evil and use it for his own good purposes. (Bible quotations are from the New King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.). But if anyone says to you, This is meat sacrificed to idols, do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience sake; I mean not your own conscience, but the other mans; for why is my freedom judged by anothers conscience? They had been in Egypt under Egyptian task masters for 400 years. But now, the grief of the Egyptians had subsided and was replaced with anger and regret. I cant charge an exorbitant hourly fee for my time. Gods Ability To Use Unlikely People Even Unbelievers. And He *said to them, Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, Move from here to there, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.