#GOFAMINTDailyDevotion Sun. 7/8/2016

06 August 2016

by admin
(0) Comments

7/8/2016 LESSON 10

ISRAEL FINALLY TURNS BACK TO GOD

Quarter’s Theme: BASIC CHRISTIAN DOCTRINES

Unit 3 – Israel And Believers’ Benefits From The Book Of Romans (Lessons 10-12)

Suggested Hymns: G.H.B. 16, 306

Devotional Reading: ROM. 11:17-22

Topic For Adults

GOD’S GIFT AND CALLING ARE IRREVOCABLE

Topic For Youths

YOU CAN WALK IN COVENANT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

Topic For Intermediates

DON’T GIVE UP ON THE SALVATION OF YOUR LOVED ONES

Scripture Lesson

ACTS 17:10-12; ROM. 11:2-5, 25-36; 1 COR. 1:18-25; JER. 23:3-6; MICAH 7:18-20

(STEWARDSHIP AND ACCOUNTABILITY MONTH)

MEMORY VERSE

And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob. (Rom. 11:26) NKJV

DAILY DEVOTIONAL READING

Sun. 7/8/2016

The Unsearchable Wisdom Of God

Rom. 11:33-36

The infinite wisdom of God is demonstrated in the salvation program which He executed. It is now clear that none can out-smart God. If the principalities and powers had known that God will pay man’s penalty for sin by the death of Jesus on the cross, they would have ensured that He was not killed. Too late for them; the salvation plan has been put in place and cannot be reversed. Unfortunately, many still consider the message of the cross as foolishness. That is the avenue that God has consecrated to bring salvation to man. He does not need man’s counsel or approval concerning the matter. Salvation is made accessible to both the rich and the poor, to both the learned and the un-learned, to men of all race and colour. He has also used the unbelief of the chosen nation to an advantage – to open the door of salvation to other nations that were not seeking Him.

Point of Emphasis: How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!

Prayer Point: We worship You, God, for Your immeasurable wisdom and understanding.

BACKGROUND

From generation to generation the Jews have rejected the salvation God offers to
man through the death of Jesus on the cross. One would have thought that the Jews spurning the gospel for centuries would have made God cast them off eternally. Yet the nation still occupies an important position in the agenda of God. There is an end-time program for the salvation of the Jews.

NOTE ON THE TEXTS NOTES ON THE TEXT

PART 1: REJECTION OF ISRAEL NOT TOTAL (ROM. 11:2-5; ACTS 17:10-12)

The early church focussed on winning the Jews to Christ. The disciples did not preach to Gentiles until God gave a vision to Peter. Later Paul was commissioned to preach to the Gentiles. Even then, any place he got to, he started his preaching in the Jewish synagogue. Though many of the Jews rejected the gospel, a small fraction was convinced and followed Christ. To the present time, there is always a small fraction of Jews that believe in the Lord. Majority however, reject the gospel message and thereby count themselves out of God’s salvation agenda. The few Jews in every generation, who believe in Jesus, belong to the remnant God uses to preserve the covenant made with Abraham. The rejection of the Jews because of their unbelief is therefore not total.

When a Christian finds himself standing alone in defence of the truth, he is likely to think that he is the only child of God. But like the case of Elijah confronting Jezebel, there will still be some other children of God being preserved by God for His work. Do not give up when you are alone in defence of the gospel, do not get discouraged. On the other hand, a Christian who is being tempted to sin may be thinking that since everyone around him is doing the same thing, that God will lower His standard to accommodate their sin. The truth is, not everyone is falling into the trap of sin. God always has a remnant who hold on to righteousness no matter the cost. Be a part of that remnant.

PART 2: REJECTION OF ISRAEL NOT FOREVER (ROM. 11:25-26; JER. 23:3-6; MICAH 7: 18-20)

God’s agenda for the end-time Israel is going to feature prominently. At that time God will remove from the Jews the spirit of stupor which has made it difficult for them to understand that Jesus is the Messiah. They will mourn when they come to realise that they got their Messiah crucified. They will then turn to Him in faith; and will then be saved. The covenants which God made with Abraham and David are everlasting covenants that cannot be broken; hence He cannot cast away the descendants permanently. The Jews will turn en masse to Jesus and take Him to be their Saviour.

The turning of the Jews to accept Jesus will occur just after “the fullness of the Gentiles has come in”, that is just after the window of opportunity of salvation for the Gentiles has been closed. If there is a time for this window to be closed, no one should procrastinate giving his life to Christ. Only God knows when that opportunity will no longer be given. Do not delay your decision to come to Christ, for tomorrow may be too late.

PART 3: GOD’S WISDOM IN SALVATION AGENDA (ROM. 11:33-36; 1 COR. 1:18-25)

Each day brings millions of people closer to an eternity without God and without hope. To avoid the hopeless eternity, God devised the plan that Jesus should die to pay the penalty for the sin which separates man from God. All He demands is just for man to put his trust in the finished work of salvation. However, to many people the program looks so foolish. In their wisdom, they reject God’s provision for their salvation. God in His unsearchable wisdom has chosen a method, which appears foolish, to redeem man from a God-less eternity which will be filled with sorrow and regret. God’s wisdom is very far beyond the wisdom of the wisest person; incomparably greater.

It is not just in His salvation plan that God has demonstrated His wisdom. We often silently question Him concerning the experiences He makes us to pass through. It is only those who cooperate with Him that are able to look back after passing through those experiences to acknowledge that God knows what He is doing and that it is in wisdom that He has subjected us to those experiences. Are you facing some situations where what God is asking you to do looks foolish? Trust Him that He is infinitely wise and will take you through safely.

CONCLUSION

God is committed to walking with you in a covenant relationship. He keeps covenants, just like He has kept covenant with the descendants of Abraham for millennia. Though the Jews reject the Saviour, yet God will not cast them off completely. He still holds them dear to His heart. If you walk closely with God in covenant relationship, your descendants also can enjoy the favour He shows to them who love Him.

QUESTIONS

How is it true that Israel’s rejection of God is not total?
What should a Christian do when he or she finds himself or herself alone in the defense of the gospel?
When will the Jews turn to accept Jesus?
What is God expecting man to do to get saved?
Why do some people find it difficult to accept the gospel of Christ?