Willing to Show His Power: Romans 9:22-14
Published on Facebook, September 7, 2010
By Bud Powell
“What if God, willing to show
his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the
vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 23 And that he might make known the
riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto
glory, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the
Gentiles?” (Ro 9:22-24)
How plain can it be? If you won't
believe Paul in Romans 9, maybe you will hear Moses, if you can get the sinful,
rebellious thoughts out of your heart. So you cannot understand how a
loving God could do this? Because He is God and doesn't have to satisfy your
sinful ravings. "Our God is in the heavens. He hath done
whatsover He hath pleased." Ps. 115
Who is the LORD?
Where would God find a worthy opponent to use
to reveal His power and glory? None could stand in his own strength
against God, for there is no power but of God. So God must raise him up
and strengthen and harden his heart to stand against Him. Don't say
'"Poor Pharaoh. He didn't have a chance." God raised him
up from sinful Adam's stock just for that purpose.
If you reject it because you cannot
understand it, beware. God doesn't exist to satisfy your sinful ravings
and rantings. We live by the word of God, not by the sparks kindled by
our own sinful minds. Follow your pea brain if you must, but remember
that God said: "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many
wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: “But God hath chosen the foolish things of
the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the
world to confound the things which are mighty;28 And base things of the
world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which
are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his
presence." 1Cor. 1.
Remember this the next time that you hear
some fool ranting and raving against the Bible and the Christian faith.
Remember Pharoah. God has made all the weapons and empowers them.
No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper. Isaiah 54:16,17.
Amen and Amen
Hear the Word of God by Moses:
“And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou
goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh,
which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not
let the people go. Ex. 4:21. This was at the Burning Bush and
before Pharaoh ever heard of Moses. Anybody that says that God hardened
Pharaoh's heart because Pharaoh hardened his heart has either not read Exodus
chapters 2-10, read them with a biased mind, or is lying to you. Pharaoh
never had a soft heart. He was born with a hard heart because of Adam's
sin. God just chose one of Adam's corrupt offspring and fattened him up
for His own pleasure. Beware that you harden not your hearts against the
Lord, for He may be using you for the same purpose. God resists the proud
but gives grace to the humble. Humility is a sign of the gift of grace
and never claims that it earned it. Israel's hearts were as hard as
Pharaoh's by nature as the account in the wilderness shows. Grace alone
gives a tender heart toward God.”
“And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have
made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.2
Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak
unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land.3 And I
will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land
of Egypt.4 But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand
upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel,
out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.5 And the Egyptians shall
know that I am the LORD, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring
out the children of Israel from among them.” Exodus 7:1-5
“And he hardened Pharaoh’s heart, that he
hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.” Ex. 7:13
“And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh,
and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had spoken unto Moses.”
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Rise up early
in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD
God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.14 For I
will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants,
and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all
the earth.15 For now I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee
and thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the
earth.16 And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to show
in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the
earth.17 As yet exaltest thou thyself against my people, that thou wilt
not let them go?” [Exodus 9:12-16]
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto
Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I
might shew these my signs before him:2 And that thou mayest tell in the
ears of thy son, and of thy son’s son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and
my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the LORD.”
--Exodus 10:1,2
Blessed be the name of the Lord.
Ps 99:1 “The LORD reigneth; let the
people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved.”
Ps 114:7 “Tremble, thou earth, at the
presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob;”
