Abounding Grace

Pastor Ed Taylor: You see there are many times in our lives that we are overruled by God. Add this to your prayer life, would you? Thank God He overrules you. Just say it. I know you don't like it. Who does? Many times we'll see, though, God knows. We'll see it. We may not see it now, but we'll see being overruled by God is not a bad thing.

There are many times when we're overruled by God, but listen, friend, there is a many times where we must be overruled by God. That He would intervene in our lives. But see, it's God's overruling providence that we need and want.

Guest (Male): It's been well said that there must be conviction before there can be conversion. It's like the person who is seriously ill, and if he doesn't believe he's in danger, he won't accept the diagnosis and take the necessary treatment. Spiritually speaking, if the symptoms of our condition persist, it's mercy designed to push us toward treatment and healing. Find your place in 1 Samuel chapter six as we bring you Abounding Grace. Here is Pastor Ed Taylor with his message, God Does the Impossible.

Pastor Ed Taylor: Open your Bibles, would you, to 1 Samuel chapter six. We left off seeing the Ark of the Covenant being passed around the cities of the Philistines. The Philistines defeated Israel in battle, and they took it, recognizing that it represented the very presence of God.

To them, the Ark of the Covenant became a sign and a symbol that their gods, little g, were greater than the God of Israel, big G. And to the Israelites, up to this point, at this time in history, the Ark was only seen as a good luck charm, one that was taken and one that was ripped off and brought great sorrow.

To God, the Ark of the Covenant was a point of contact, a place of His presence, a place where mercy would be given. Because you know in the Ark, as we've described it before, it was just a small box, but it had a lid on the top that was known as the Mercy Seat. And it was here, once a year, that the high priest on the Day of Atonement would bring the sacrificial blood and sprinkle it on the Mercy Seat.

The term literally comes to us from the Hebrew word meaning to cover or to appease or to cleanse, cancel, or even the technical term of to make atonement for. And the Ark of the Covenant, the Mercy Seat, was the only place in the world where atonement could be made. The Mercy Seat on the Ark was symbolic, foreshadowing the coming of the ultimate sacrifice, the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.

And yet in this season of Israel's history, the Ark has been relegated just to a good luck charm. It's being passed around, causing great trouble for the Philistines. So pick up with me in verse one of chapter six. "Now the Ark of the Lord was in the country of the Philistines seven months. And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, 'What shall we do with the Ark of the Lord? Tell us how we should send it to its place.'

So they said, 'If you send away the Ark of the God of Israel, do not send it empty, but by all means, return it to Him with a trespass offering. Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why His hand is not removed from you.'" Then verse four they said, "'What is the trespass offering which we shall return to Him?' They answered, 'Five golden tumors and five golden rats, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines, for the same plague was on all of you and on all your lords.'"

We went through the various options of what the tumors could be in our study last time, so pick it up. There are some interesting theories of what they were. Verse five: "'Therefore you shall make images of your tumors and images of your rats that ravage the land, and you shall give glory to the God of Israel.'"

And by the way, those other Bible students, because the tumors or these golden things were made of tumors and rats, they would conclude that it leads more that it was something like the bubonic plague that was spread by rats, and I totally can see that. But then one of the other options, well, you can pick up the study and listen to that. But some of you remember we don't know exactly, but if you're pulling from the text, it could have been a plague-like thing with little rats running around biting you, carrying nastiness.

So here they are, make the images. "Perhaps He will lighten His hand from you and from your gods," notice little g, "and from your land. Why then do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and the Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When He did mighty things among them, did they not let the people go that they might depart? Now, therefore, make a new cart, take two milk cows which have never been yoked, and hitch the cows to the cart, and take the calves home away from them.

Then take the Ark of the Lord and set it on the cart, and put the articles of gold which you're returning to Him as a trespass offering in a chest by its side. Then send it away and let it go. And watch. If it goes up the road to its own territory, to the area of Beth Shemesh, then He has done us this great evil. But if not, then we shall know that it is not His hand that struck us, but it happened to us by chance."

Very interesting, the mindset of a person. This is what we're gaining insight to: the person that has a hardened heart toward God, a person that's resisting the judgment of God. If you've ever wondered what it's like, you'll see right here. This is what's happening to a land, a people. Calling for leaders, they are obviously under the hand of judgment of God.

He's made it very clear. He's demonstrated that already in the temple of the false god Dagon. Remember, it fell down, they put it back up, it fell down, its hands were off, its head was cut off. God was establishing to them that He is greater, He is wiser, He is stronger than any of their false gods represented by statues. And then these plagues come upon them, ravage them, and cause them great pain and sorrow.

And far from being the prize that the Philistines thought it was, the Ark of the Covenant was a source of great difficulty, great consternation. God glorified Himself in the temple of Dagon, showing how their false god was foolish with his head cut off and impotent with his hands cut off, followed by a literal judgment of these tumors, plagues, some suggest hemorrhoids.

Whatever it was, it was not good. And over a period of seven months, the lords of the Philistines had finally had enough. But here's what I find interesting. They recognize something is happening here and they've only relegated it to two options. Either God is doing it, or, you notice at the end of verse nine, it's just by chance that all these things are happening to us.

Those were their two options: either God or a fluke. They didn't fact in a third option, and that was submitting to the God that they admit, not denying Him, not trying to find a way out, but simply accepting. Where did their concepts of the God of Israel come from? Well, they knew about the history. They had facts. They mention it here. They knew about what happened with the Egyptians.

They knew about Pharaoh, all true stories. You know how some people like to come to the scriptures and go, "Oh, you know, that's all fairy tale." Well, by the time the Philistines come along in 1 Samuel, they believed that true story of God delivering the children of Israel from Egypt. They're rehearsing it. These unbelieving pagan guys are going, "We know what God did in Egypt. We know how it went down with Pharaoh, and you don't want it to go down like that with you. You remember."

It's amazing despite the facts how people will take the facts and purposely deny them for their own purposes, but it's true. So in verse two they call for the diviners, those that they looked for direction, and they got advice: "Get rid of the Ark. That's your problem. Get rid of the Ark. That's bad news. Don't you see it's bad news? It's bad news." And yet even sending it back, even giving it back, they would test God even more.

This was a pretty elaborate plan. It was set up so God would fail, if you'll notice that. The way they set this up to send the Ark back and to discern whether it was by chance or by God, they set it was a setup against God. God would have lost with their setup in their minds. They're setting it up. There's no way this could happen.

I wrote down the list. I found ten things that had to happen in order for God, I mean ten things all in order, all together, in order for God to be God. Just ten things. I don't know how many people are listening in right now and you go, "I feel the same way about God. I'm not really interested in church and I'm not really interested in Christians and I've been burned and there's hypocrites. And you know what? If this happens, then maybe I'll believe."

Well, check this out. If that's you, there are ten things right here that happened. Some are not so significant as others, but they all build together. Ten things that the Philistines said the same thing, so you're not alone if you feel that way. The Philistines felt the same way, and they want to not have a life of accountability, so they stack the cards against God.

Number one, send it away. So that was pretty easy. That's an easy one to do. Number two, send it with a trespass offering. Again, easy. Number three, make five golden tumors, which is kind of interesting. I wonder what those looked like. And five golden rats. Okay. And then with the images, give God the glory because we believe we're going to appease God, so give God the glory.

And then fifthly, make a new cart. Again, these are all things that are easy to do. Hitch two milk cows. First go find two milk cows, then hitch them together and they've never been yoked together, so it's the first time they're ever feeling a yoke. Which remember, a yoke was a wooden contraption with to it was kind of built up like handcuffs where there were two holes together but was made of wood, and you would put the animal, the oxen, in together so that you can harness their strength together.

And we get the picture in the New Testament when the Bible says, "Don't be unequally yoked," speaking of believers connecting spiritually and in relationship with unbelievers. It uses the phrase, "Don't be unequally yoked." It's the same picture where you would put two oxen of the same size, about the same age, that have worked the same amount of time together because they would go together.

You wouldn't put an ox and a donkey in the yoke because they would fight one another, or you wouldn't put an older ox with a younger ox or a larger one with a smaller one because you would want them to be as equally yoked as possible. Just like the Bible says, believers with believers. That's you single people, it's just a word from the Lord because of this little word yoke is a reminder. You just be patient.

Be patient, single one, be patient. I know it gets hard at times, I know it gets lonely, but be patient. You don't want to be unequally yoked. It will cause you pain and problems for a long, long time, if not the rest of your life. Just wait on God's perfect choice. You remember with Adam being in a place of loneliness in order for God to connect Adam with Eve, He put him to sleep. I think it's a great picture. Just go to sleep.

"What do you mean, Ed, when I wake up in the morning?" No, no, no. It just speaks of resting in the Lord. It just speaks of really truly, "Hey, go to sleep. I'll take care of it." Because when you're asleep, you're at your most vulnerable place. You're completely out of it, and really it's one of those places where you probably don't realize it, but when you're sleeping, you're really trusting in the Lord.

It might even be something you pray about before, "God, I'm going to sleep. I just want to acknowledge that I'm putting my whole life I'm trusting you while I'm sleeping. That you'll watch my back because the Bible says, God, that you never sleep or slumber. So while I'm asleep, you're still watching out for me." And so rest in the Lord.

Same with this yoke. They were to take now two milk cows. They would never work the yoke. Put them together. Then they would take the milk cows and take their calves away, but keep them in plain sight. But separate the moms from their calves. Then send the Ark away. Then watch. If it goes to Beth Shemesh, then God has done this. If not, then it happened by chance.

This elaborate scheme was designed to show God in their to prove that God was a failure. He's not involved in this. This isn't God. I know everybody's talking about the God of Egypt, the God that prevailed over Egypt, the God that prevailed, but this isn't that God. I'll prove it to you. I'll prove it to you. And then they start setting up all these elaborate schemes so that at the end you're going, "Well, I guess you're right."

It's something that we read with the Philistines doing it in ancient history. We chuckle. But I find it's a common thing that followers of Jesus do today. Christians, believers, they do the same thing. "Oh, don't tell me. I've never got two milk cows and hit their calves." No, no, no, I know. But you come across something in your life where the Bible's clear. It's not the opinion of man, it's not some pastor on the radio. It's just crystal clear.

You read it in your own devotions. You read it, you concluded, you saw it, you know God's speaking to you. It couldn't be clearer. You could call 20 people and ask them, "What do you think? What do you think?" And most and it's one of those times where all 20 go, "Man, bam, bam, bam. I'm not calling anymore. I know it took 20 people to finally tell you that's from the Lord."

But when confronted with the truth, you'll start hearing things or even saying things. "This is what the Word says, but but you don't understand. But you know, yeah, you don't get it. I know what the Bible says, but if you were in my shoes, you wouldn't." You see, God with the Philistines was looking for one thing and one thing only.

It's the same thing when God brings you to a point where the Bible's clear, but you don't want to change your life. You don't want to submit. You could go under the heavy yoke of judgment. You could face judgment after judgment. How often I've seen guys throw their whole life away for some casual encounter, sin. They throw their whole progress in their walk with Jesus away. They exchange the dinner of royalty for trash, digging in the trash can quite literally.

And you'll get the opportunity to share with them and they go, "No, no, no, I like my trash." They don't say this, but they're really saying, "I like my trash. That royalty thing and all the responsibilities and what God No, no, no, I don't." And believers do this all the time: elaborate schemes to squirm out of the will of God for your life. Justifications and reasons and excuses.

God was looking for one thing from the Philistines, and could He be looking for that same thing from you? And that is repentance. Just turn your life away from your sin. Admit. Confession and repentance go together. When you confess, you're a breath away from repentance. Confession means to say the same thing. That's what the Greek word means. In 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us, to cleanse us. If we confess our sins."

Confession and repentance. Confession is saying the same thing that God does about that in your life. Repentance is turning away from it. They're like two sides to the same coin. It's not just, "Man, I mean, it could be God." Well, forget the schemes, just submit to God. If you're even thinking that it could be God, then just submit to Him under the mighty hand of God. The Bible says if we humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, He'll lift us up.

So can I walk you through, lest you don't believe me yet? Can I walk you through a few scriptures? Let's go over to Proverbs with me. Proverbs chapter 16. This is a repetitive theme throughout the Proverbs, how careful we need to be to stay away from this. How careful we need to be with what I call and what the Bible calls the plans of man.

Start in chapter 16 with me and verse one. And we'll just do a little walk through the Proverbs. Remember, Proverbs is a book of wisdom. Wisdom's important in order to use the knowledge that you have. So it's one thing to know something, it's a whole other thing on how what to do with what you know. That's wisdom.

So it's great to have a lot of Bible knowledge, but with the Bible knowledge, we need the wisdom of God on how to use it. Otherwise, it's just a bunch of tools in the toolbox, you have no idea what to do with them. So here's the wisdom when it comes to the plans of man. Number one, verse one of chapter 16: "The preparations of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits. Verse three: Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established."

Look at verse nine: "A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps." Turn over to chapter 19, verse 21. Again, it's so easy to overcomplicate the simplicity of a relationship with Jesus with all of our ideas, with all of our thoughts, with all of our reasons, with all of our excuses, with all of our plans.

So notice with me, chapter 19, verse 21: "There are many plans in a man's heart, nevertheless, the Lord's counsel that will stand." Look at chapter 20, verse 24: "A man's steps are of the Lord; how then can a man understand his own way?" Look at chapter 21, verse 30. It says, "There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the Lord." "The horse," verse 31, "is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance is of the Lord."

In another place the Proverbs say, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof is death." If the Philistines would have humbled themselves before God and recognized the judgment of God and the mercy of God—you go, "Wait a minute, where's the mercy and the grace?" If God wanted to wipe the Philistines out at this time, you know what He would have done? Wiped the Philistines out in one spot, no problem.

But He was merciful and gracious and waiting. And instead they're scheming and planning and trying to squirm out of what is so obvious. You see, there are many times in our lives that we are overruled by God. Add this to your prayer life, would you? Thank God He overrules you. Just say it. I know you don't like it. Who does? Many times we'll see, though, God knows. We'll see it. We may not see it now, but we'll see being overruled by God is not a bad thing.

There are many times when we're overruled by God, but listen, friend, there is a many times where we must be overruled by God. That He would intervene in our lives and make a decision or allow a situation. I mean, that's what happens. We feel like we've been overruled when change comes into our lives. When change comes our way.

We've planned and we prepared. The man has made his plans, but the direction of the Lord stands. There's no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the Lord, even though we try. But things change. They didn't go according to our plan. There's a new direction, a new place, a new situation, a new people, change. In the world they say most people have a problem with change, but I would say within the realm of our relationship with the Lord, we have a problem with the will of God.

And if you're not there yet, you just haven't experienced a major overruling work of God yet that you see. "Wow, I don't like that. I don't see what you're doing right now, God. I don't know why you're allowing this, and I don't like it." But see, it's God's overruling providence that we need and want.

Guest (Male): You're listening to Abounding Grace. Today's message from Ed Taylor is called God Does the Impossible. It can be heard again at aboundinggraceradio.com. Pastor Ed, you know through the years we've certainly seen how God has used the generosity of our listeners to help us in what we do here at Abounding Grace, haven't we?

Pastor Ed Taylor: Yeah Larry, I really do want to thank everyone listening for your financial support of Abounding Grace and the various media ministries that we get to be a part of here at Calvary. It's amazing to me, truly, that this partnership is affecting so many lives. Radio primarily, podcast, YouTube, and on and on the list goes.

Thank you guys for supporting, thank you for praying, thanks for the financial support that comes in regularly. It helps to pay all the costs, but you know the Lord provides, even as God's providing for you. And so yes, we ask and we're thankful, but I also want to remind you that God will supply all of your need according to His riches in Christ Jesus.

You will see God take care of you, even as we have through the Abounding Grace ministry. 20-plus years we've been on the radio. I can't believe it. We started with a little station here in Denver on the AM dial, and a brother had just visited our church and gave enough money for one full year of radio.

So we went on and we kept repeating the same studies over and over again because the church was so young and I hadn't finished any other books of the Bible. So we kept playing the same thing over and over again. But you know what happened? God used His Word. People heard it, supported the ministry, started attending the church.

So thank you. Thank you almost seems like it's not enough, but it's what I have, and I am grateful to partner with you and to hear all the testimonies. Email me, I love reading what God is doing in your life through the systematic, simple teaching of the Bible.

Guest (Male): Thanks again, Pastor Ed. And thank you, listening friend, for your generosity. It's a blessing. And if you'd like to support Abounding Grace, it's easy to do at aboundinggraceradio.com. And when you give a donation of $25 or more to Abounding Grace, you're invited to request a copy of Bob Hoekstra's book, How to Counsel God's Way.

As the title would suggest, this book will lead you to God's way of counseling, and that looks much different than what we so often see in this world. When a friend comes to you for advice or you're faced with a dilemma in your marriage and not knowing where to turn for wisdom, How to Counsel God's Way can really be of some help to you.

We genuinely appreciate the generosity of our listeners. It helps us provide the teaching of God's Word on stations all across the nation. So thank you for standing with us. Call 877-30-GRACE, and don't forget to request How to Counsel God's Way. That's 877-30-GRACE. You can also get the book online at calvaryco.store. And then be sure to join Pastor Ed next time for more teaching from the book of 1 Samuel right here on Abounding Grace.