Saturday, July 19, 2014

How God Works His Will in the Ungodly


Please read the entire text. I will wind up with some wisdom about prayer.

First of all, let's describe the ungodly. It is generally accepted that anyone walking in sin is considered "ungodly." My contention is that even Christians can be considered ungodly. How? There could be a sin that they hold on to. Any sin is ungodly. When someone isn't walking in agape love and forgiveness that is also ungodly. You'll find that God deals with the ungodly sinner and the ungodly Christian the same way. And, it either leads to their destruction or their salvation.
First of all, in Nehemiah's day God worked through the ungodly ruler because of what that ruler saw in Nehemiah's life. Even though Nehemiah was a captive in a foreign land, he walked in Godly love and obedience to the ruler. Nehemiah CHOSE to walk in love in an unlovely situation and gained favor with the king. The king provided the nation of Israel with all that they needed to rebuild their city.
Next,in the book of Exodus, we find the statement (Ex. 9:12) "God hardened Pharaoh's heart." Many of you would think, "Why would God MAKE someone sin and then destroy him for it?" That in itself would prove God to be a tyrant and not a righteous and loving God.
Here's what God did. He knew Pharaoh's heart just like he knows mine and yours. So, in today's vernacular you could say about God, "He knew which button to push." God didn't take over Pharaoh's heart, mind and soul and force him to do anything. Instead, He set circumstances in front of Pharaoh and let him make his own evil choices. He still does that to the ungodly sinner and Christian today.
When the God of Pharaoh's slaves showed Himself stronger and wiser than Pharaoh's gods, Pharaoh gave in to his anger. After all, Pharaoh's pride was at stake. The God of the Hebrews was making him look like the fool he really was. His pride, his arrogance and his anger drove him to making some very regrettable mistakes that led to his downfall.
God works the same way with Christians. He knows your "button" and He'll push it time and time again to show you your sin in an effort to get you to repent. If you persist in your ungodliness, it will lead you to your destruction also.

Prayer. It is a life changing, world shaping tool given to us by our Sovereign God. We should daily be praying for the rulers of this world. The United States is sadly in need of prayer. BUT, don't give up hope when it looks like the enemy is unstoppable. Pharaoh and his army SEEMED unstoppable. It only LOOKED like they had the upper hand and it only LOOKED like God's people were doomed.
But, Saints, continue to pray for our nation that God will send revival and change it's course. Pray for the rulers of the world by praying the way Jesus taught in Matt 6:10-"Let Thy kingdom come and Thy will be done." As we pray for His sovereign will to be accomplished, we should praise Him even when it LOOKS like things have turned to the worse. Keep your heart right and throw the devil for a loop by praising God in these adverse circumstances.
The children of Israel thought they were doomed in every circumstance as God was bringing them to victory one step at a time. Moses kept going back to God not to complain but to ask Him, "What do you want me to do next."
       HERE'S THE PUNCH LINE---GET THIS IF YOU DON'T GET ANYTHING ELSE
Moses was not shaken by what just happened or by what it looked like. That had nothing to do with his faith in God. His only concern was keeping his heart right and the avenue between him and God open. Instead of being concerned about what JUST NOW happened, Moses was more concerned about what is JUST ABOUT to happen. He made himself available, kept his heart right and obeyed God's instructions when they were given.
Let's continue to pray for our nation and the world. "God, let Your kingdom come and let Your will be done. Do whatever You need to do and tell me what I need to do next." Make yourself available. Keep your heart right no matter what somebody else does. Be ready to obey God's next instruction instead of your own anger and pride.

No comments:

Post a Comment

You Were Created for this Battle

Eph. 6:12--For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against powers, against the world forces of this darkness, a...