God Use Sinners

It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. The former, however, preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can add to the distress of my chains. What then is the issue? Just this: that in every way, whether by false motives or true, Christ is preached. And in this I rejoice. (Philippians 1:15-18b BSB)

By faith Rahab the prostitute wasn't killed with the disobedient because she welcomed the spies in peace. What more can I say? I would run out of time if I told you about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. (Hebrews 11:31-32 CEB)

God use sinners to do His will. He used Rahab, Jephthah and Samson. God also use unbelievers like Jeroboam II to save Israel. He even spoke through unbelievers like Balaam. He has no other choice. All men are sinners.

As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." (Romans 3:10-12 NIV)

All have turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. (Psalm 14:3 Psalm 53:3 BSB)

Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins. (Ecclesiastes 7:20 NIV)

Who can say, "I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin"? (Proverbs 20:9 BSB, CSB)

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8 ESV)

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption (ἀπολυτρώσεως) that is in Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:23-24 CSB)

And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 8:30 ESV)

American Imperialist or Chinese Communist

By faith Rahab the prostitute wasn't killed with the disobedient because she welcomed the spies in peace. What more can I say? I would run out of time if I told you about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. (Hebrews 11:31-32 CEB)

"He may be a son of a bitch, but he's our son of a bitch."
Franklin D. Roosevelt on Nicaraguan dictator Anastasio Somoza, 32nd president of US (1882 - 1945)

"I don't care if the cat is black or white, so long as it catches mice, it is a good cat. (不管黑猫白猫，能捉到老鼠就是好猫。)"
Deng Xiaoping in a speech at the Communist Youth League conference in July 1962

Here are two quotations, one from an American imperialist, another from a Chinese communist. In this crooked world where good can be found in bad and bad can be found in good, which quotation is more in line with Biblical principle?

And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 8:30 ESV)

Christians and Politics

Jesus said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they marveled at him. (Mark 12:17 KJV)

Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. (Romans 13:1 NLT)

Should Christians be involved in politics? Jesus Christ and the apostles did not speak about the political issues of their day. They told their followers to obey the government of the day. Does it mean that Christians cannot be involved in politics?

Definitely not! Christians are the light of the world and salt of the earth. It is the job of the Christians to apply the Word to the world and to speak up against the injustices of the world. Look at Christian activist such as William Wilberforce who fought against slavery in Great Britain. If not for Christians like him, we may still have slavery today.

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. (Matthew 5:13-14 KJV)

But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:29 ESV)

Then why did the apostles not lead a crusade against slavery?

For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a brief time, so that you might get him back permanently, no longer as a slave, but more than a slave - as a dearly loved brother. (Philemon 1:15-16a CSB)

We have to remember that the apostles were laying the foundation of the church. They had the task of writing the New Testament.

Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. (Ephesians 2:19-20 BSB)

Was Jesus Political?

Was Jesus political? The following two articles answered this question from different perspective:
Did Jesus Get Involved in the Contemporary Politics in Israel?
Was Jesus Political? (the surprising truth about Jesus' politics)

Then Herod, when he realized that he had been outwitted by the wise men, flew into a rage. He gave orders to massacre all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, in keeping with the time he had learned from the wise men. (Matthew 2:16 CSB)

After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark 1:14-15 CSB)

He said to them, "The Scriptures declare, 'My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,' but you have turned it into a den of thieves." (Mark 11:17 NIV)

Then the chief priests and Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and said, "What are we to do? This man is performing many signs. If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation." (John 11:47-48 BSB)

The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God." (John 19:7 ESV)

Was Jesus political? Ultimately, He was. That is why He came and His purpose was to set up the Kingdom of God. Christianity is a disruptive religion. It is dangerous.

David's Son Builds the Temple

Then Solomon said, "My father, David, wanted to build this Temple to honor the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. But the Lord told him, 'You wanted to build the Temple to honor my name. Your intention is good, but you are not the one to do it. One of your own sons will build the Temple to honor me.' (1 Kings 8:17-19 NLT)

God promised David that his son will build the temple. And God kept His promise in more than one way.

Jesus answered, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it up in three days." (John 2:19 CSB)

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16 KJV)

Four Characteristics of a Revival

"The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit." (John 3:8 NASB77)

Genuine revival is a work of the Holy Spirit, not something generated by men using preaching, evangelistic methodologies or campaigns. This interesting article, "Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down" An essay on some aspects of the history of revival FEBRUARY 17, 2023 | MICHAEL A. G. HAYKIN, spoke of the history of revival. Here I would like to quote their four characteristics of revival.

QUOTE
Four characteristics of revival
Yet, for all this, there are some recurring characteristics in all revivals, whatever their historical setting and whoever the leadership involved. Let us look at a number of these characteristics as they occur in the following definition of revival by the Australian historian Stuart Piggin.

Revival is a sovereign work of God the Father, consisting of a powerful intensification by Jesus of the Holy Spirit's normal activity of testifying to the Saviour, accentuating the doctrines of grace, and convicting, converting, regenerating, sanctifying and empowering large numbers of people at the same time, and is therefore a community experience.

In what follows we focus on three marks of genuine revival that Piggin notes in this definition and add a fourth that comes from observations made by Jonathan Edwards, whom Piggin - following Martyn Lloyd-Jones - describes in his book as "the church's theologian of revival par excellence."

1. Revival is a work of God in which God takes the initiative and presences himself in power and glory.
2. In times of revival, according to Jonathan Edwards, the Spirit primarily uses the Word of God to powerfully impact people.
3. Revival is a powerful intensification by Jesus of the Holy Spirit's normal activity of convicting, converting, regenerating, sanctifying and empowering.
4. Revival involves also a powerful intensification of the Holy Spirit's normal activity of testifying to the Saviour - in other words, revival is a Christ-centred event.

UNQUOTE

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything the Father has is mine. This is why I told you that he takes from what is mine and will declare it to you. (John 16:13-15 CSB)

Since I found this article in Facebook, I will also add some comments by the one who posted the article, Joel Arnold, on the lack of theology of revival in the New Testament epistles.

QUOTE
Matthew Walker:
What is the difference between revival and walking in the Spirit? Why doesn't Paul pray for it in any of his prayers? Why is there no theology of revival in the NT epistles? (Maybe there's something close to it in Galatians as Paul calls the people back from potential apostasy?)

Joel Arnold:
I've tended to have the same concerns. My preset is to be reserved and wait for the clarity of time with things like the big recent event. The Haykin article was helpful to me by giving a pretty careful, thoughtful survey.
I'm thinking things through. There are a couple of events where OT kings or prophets were able to see a distinguishable, mass-conversion event. There are also some events like that in Acts thought it's harder because the period is transitional. It's not a slam dunk, but I don't think I can dismiss the possibility that transformation might come in punctuated, dramatic ways at certain rare historical junctures.
My core test for a purported revival would be whether it leads people towards careful attention to Scripture and Christ; also whether we begin seeing genuine, practical spiritual fruit that remains. Emotional outpourings have to be secondary to that.
I think your observations are helpful. This is why my preset is caution. I don't think we're supposed to live as though revival is our hope. The bulk of spiritual transformation is going to happen the slow, hard, pedestrian way. We ought to buckle down and work hard at it, then be delighted if God does something more dramatic that bears the marks of genuine salvation.
UNQUOTE

Solomon Expected Israel to Be Exiled

"If they sin against you - and who has never sinned? - you might become angry with them and let their enemies conquer them and take them captive to their land far away or near. But in that land of exile, they might turn to you in repentance and pray, 'We have sinned, done evil, and acted wickedly.' If they turn to you with their whole heart and soul in the land of their enemies and pray toward the land you gave to their ancestors - toward this city you have chosen, and toward this Temple I have built to honor your name -  then hear their prayers and their petition from heaven where you live, and uphold their cause. Forgive your people who have sinned against you. Forgive all the offenses they have committed against you. Make their captors merciful to them, for they are your people - your special possession - whom you brought out of the iron-smelting furnace of Egypt. (1 Kings 8:46-51 NLT)

Even Solomon thought that Israel might be exiled because he knew about the prophecy of Moses.

Israel's History Pre-Written By God

When all these things happen to you - the blessings and curses I have set before you - and you come to your senses while you are in all the nations where the Lord your God has driven you, and you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and all your soul by doing everything I am commanding you today, then he will restore your fortunes, have compassion on you, and gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you. Even if your exiles are at the farthest horizon, he will gather you and bring you back from there. The Lord your God will bring you into the land your ancestors possessed, and you will take possession of it. He will cause you to prosper and multiply you more than he did your ancestors. The Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the hearts of your descendants, and you will love him with all your heart and all your soul so that you will live. The Lord your God will put all these curses on your enemies who hate and persecute you. Then you will again obey him and follow all his commands I am commanding you today. The Lord your God will make you prosper abundantly in all the work of your hands, your offspring, the offspring of your livestock, and the produce of your land. Indeed, the Lord will again delight in your prosperity, as he delighted in that of your ancestors, when you obey the Lord your God by keeping his commands and statutes that are written in this book of the law and return to him with all your heart and all your soul. (Deuteronomy 30:1-10 CSB)

God said that Israel will experience all the curses and blessings in Deuteronomy 28. Then they will come to their senses and return to God. Today, we are so fortunate to live in the era when this prophecy is fulfilled and Israel is restored back to the promised land.

Anybody can write a book and claim to be a prophet. Only God and create a nation and pre-write their history. Israel is the proof of God's existence.

Moreover, the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: "Have you not noticed what these people are saying: 'The LORD has rejected the two families He had chosen'? So they despise My people and no longer regard them as a nation. This is what the LORD says: If I have not established My covenant with the day and the night and the fixed order of heaven and earth, then I would also reject the descendants of Jacob and of My servant David, so as not to take from his descendants rulers over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For I will restore them from captivity and will have compassion on them." (Jeremiah 33:23-26 BSB)