When Bad Boomerangs
God’s Kingdom to advance
Purpose to unfold
Vessels of honour that God can use
Human will to choose God. To choose against God
God’s perfect plan perfectly involves imperfect people.
Rebecca lied/Jacob
Joseph / too mouthy / brothers betrayed / Potifer’s wife / prison “God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors.
So it was God who sent me here, not you! And he is the one who made me an adviser to Pharaoh—the manager of his entire palace and the governor of all Egypt.” Genesis 45:7-8 NLT
Moses / wrong response / Pharaoh wrong response
David / Goliath - Goliath was the bridge that brought David from the wilderness into destiny
Jesus’ geneology
Tamar pretended to be a harlot and got pregnant by her father-in-law, Judah (Genesis 38; Matthew 1:3).
Rahab was David’s great, great grandmother who was a prostitute in Jericho. Her lies saved the lives of Israel’s two spies. In exchange, her whole family was saved. Hebrews 11:31 blatantly names Rahab “the harlot” in this chapter’s list of faith heroes. Couldn’t it just read Rahab? (Matthew 1:5; Joshua 2:1-18).
Ruth, an exceptional woman, was David’s great-grandmother. Her own family, however, were Moabites. Who were they? The Moabites were a tribe that descended from Moab, the son of Lot. Lot’s son was the product of an incestuous relationship between Lot and his oldest daughter (Gen- esis 19:37; Matthew 1:5).
Bathsheba was the woman with whom David committed adultery and whose husband David had killed after his cover-up plan failed for her inconvenient pregnancy. In Matthew 1:6, Bathsheba’s name wasn’t mentioned, but she is referred to as “her” who had been the wife of Uriah (2 Samuel 11).
Jesus / prophecies fulfilled
Acts 4:26 The kings of the earth prepared for battle; the rulers gathered together against the LORD and against his Messiah.’
Acts 4:27 “In fact, this has happened here in this very city! For Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, your holy servant, whom you anointed.
Acts 4:28 But everything they did was determined beforehand according to your will.
Acts 4:29 And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word.
Acts 4:30 Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” (NLT)
Jn 19:11
Judas (Jn 6:70-71)
Paul
“But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.” Acts 9:15 NLT
Acts 24 - 28; 2 Tim 4:16; Mat 10:16-20; Acts 27:24
How did THAT happen?
Matt 5:44 - pray for your enemies
“The Lord has made everything for his own purposes, even the wicked for a day of disaster.”
Proverbs 16:4 NLT
Rom. 8:26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.
Rom. 8:27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.
Rom. 8:28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. (NLT)
“Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.”
Ephesians 1:11 (NLT)
“But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.”
1 John 4:4 (NLT)
Rom. 10:11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” (ESV)
Spirit / He - not what, WHO
Inside you - where
Greater - Than what
Spirit in the world - Panicky, upset, angry,
3 things to magnify His Presence IN you
Word
Prayer - worship, in the Spirit, dominion
Obey / Respond