PREDESTINATION 2

"BRING all who claim me as their God, FOR I HAVE MADE THEM FOR MY GLORY. It was I who created them.’ ”
Isaiah 43:7 (NLT)

• There were some other heathens which God did choose to do or fulfil one purpose or another in His overall redemption programme for mankind on planet Earth.

• He chose Nebuchadnezzar the King of Babylon as an instrument to be used for the chastisement of the Israelites, His people, who rebelled against His Word (Jeremiah 27:5-8).
• He also chose Cyrus, the King of Persia, to make the proclamation of the rebuilding of His Temple in Jerusalem: "I WILL RAISE UP CYRUS TO FULFILL MY RIGHTEOUS PURPOSE, AND I WILL GUIDE HIS ACTIONS. HE WILL RESTORE MY CITY AND FREE MY CAPTIVE PEOPLE—WITHOUT SEEKING A REWARD! I, THE LORD OF HEAVEN'S ARMIES, HAVE SPOKEN!” (Isaiah 45:13 NLT).
  READ: 2 Chronicles 36:22,23; Ezra 1:1-4,7-11
• King Darius who was after Cyrus, in his own time or regime, ordered or commanded that the project of the rebuilding of the temple should be financed from the government purse (Ezra 6:6-12).

• The three heathen Kings have been shared or talked about here:
a. One was raised by God in order to show or demonstrate His power, and the destruction of him, that is, pharaoh.
b. Whilst Nebuchadnezzar was raised by God, As a rod to be used for the chastisement or discipline of His people, the Israelites. Although, Nebuchadnezzar also was later dealt with (Jeremiah 50:9,10).
c. And the third one, Cyrus, was raised by God, to be used for the rebuilding of His Temple in Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 36:22,23; Ezra 1:1-3).

• God did use each of them based on the conditions of their hearts.

• God further said this on Cyrus that He, God, relates and chooses him even though Cyrus did not know Him. But this could not have been without the condition of his heart; he must have had a good Heart before he could be chosen for the assignment:
  2 THIS IS WHAT THE LORD SAYS: “I WILL GO BEFORE YOU, CYRUS, AND LEVEL THE MOUNTAINS. I will smash down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. 3 AND I WILL GIVE YOU TREASURES HIDDEN IN THE DARKNESS—SECRET RICHES. I will do this so you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name. 4 “AND WHY HAVE I CALLED YOU FOR THIS WORK? WHY DID I CALL YOU BY NAME WHEN YOU DID NOT KNOW ME? IT IS FOR THE SAKE OF JACOB MY SERVANT, ISRAEL MY CHOSEN ONE. 5 I AM THE LORD; THERE IS NO OTHER GOD. I HAVE EQUIPPED YOU FOR BATTLE, THOUGH YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW ME" (Isaiah 45:2-5 NLT).

• We can deduce here, God chooses and preplans things, based on His knowing, His foreknowledge, of what each individual person, either a believer or an unbeliever, would turn out to be.

• God knows those who would want to serve Him, and follow Him, and be inclined to do good, in their journeys on Earth; and those who would not. Thus, He predestined each individual's life on that basis.

• God is not partial nor wicked (Romans 2:11). God works with the heart of each person. He knows all things and the intents of the heart of all Men—humans: “AS FOR YOU, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, AND SERVE HIM WITH A LOYAL HEART AND WITH A WILLING MIND; FOR THE LORD SEARCHES ALL HEARTS AND UNDERSTANDS ALL THE INTENT OF THE THOUGHTS. IF YOU SEEK HIM, HE WILL BE FOUND BY YOU; BUT IF YOU FORSAKE HIM, HE WILL CAST YOU OFF FOREVER" (1 Chronicles 28:9 NKJV).

• God knows the people with a right heart who can be used for good purposes, even among the unbelievers; and also knows those with evil hearts who can be permitted and be allowed to be used for evil purposes: "THE LORD HAS MADE EVERYTHING FOR ITS PURPOSE, EVEN THE WICKED FOR THE DAY OF TROUBLE" (Proverbs 16:4 ESV).
• Such with evil hearts are used for the chastisement of His children who are rebellious. God allows any nation under His wrath to be governed or ruled by a leader with a corrupt and wicked heart. Because of the Sin of such Nation—the rebellion and corruption of the people there.
• A rebellious Nation is usually given a tyrannical leader to discipline and chastise them.
• A complacent Nation, or people, who is heading towards apostasy and destruction, could also be given a tyrannical leader; to straighten them out.
• Such a tyrannical leader is always given or permitted to get to the government, that the people there might come to their senses and run back to Him—God: "WHEN THE RAM'S HORN BLOWS A WARNING, SHOULDN'T THE PEOPLE BE ALARMED? DOES DISASTER COME TO A CITY UNLESS THE LORD HAS PLANNED IT?" (Amos 3:6 NLT).

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.

• Should there be any ailment in your body, I declare your healing now in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
• Whatever is not of God that is working against your health and wellness, such is rebuked and uprooted completely in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. And the Affliction will never rise again in Jesus' name.
  Peace!
  TO BE CONTINUED

STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. Ask that He will write your name in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).

• If you took the steps As highlighted above, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!