What Hath God Wrought!

 

 

 

“Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!”

Numbers 23:23

Introduction:

  1. Balaam spoke the words above to Balak, telling him nothing could stop God’s very great blessings.
  2. The full context is found in Number 23:18-24, which describes certain blessing and favor on Israel.
  3. Balak could mark his calendar from this time, for their success would be – What hath God wrought!
  4. The words are no question at all – the words are a powerful exclamation as to the great work of God.
  5. The words deserve an exclamation …. for Israel taking Canaan … but God in Christ did much more!
  6. The gifts and calling of God in Jesus Christ are without repentance by eternal decree (Rom 11:29).
  7. He does not see iniquity or perversity in us, for He has forgotten our sins and clothed us with Christ.
  8. There is no enchantment or divination against Gentiles, the church of God, for Jesus defeated Satan.
  9. The most powerful foe, though weak in comparison, has been openly exposed at the cross of Jesus.
  10. What hath God wrought! At Jesus Christ’s birth! His ministry! His death! Resurrection! Ascension!

Names Written in Heaven

(Luke 10:17-20)

  1. Seventy gospel preachers returned celebrating their power over devils (Lu 9:1; 10:1).
  2. Jesus declared He had observed their effect on Satan’s kingdom by their ministries.
  3. He gave them greater power through Him to walk over all the power of Satan’s realm.
  4. There are many examples in the gospels and Acts, even Philip at Samaria (Ac 8:5-12).
  5. However … He warned … their names written in heaven was cause for far greater joy.
  6. The Bible states plainly our names in that book are by His eternal choice and crucial.
  7. What hath God wrought! Ordinary men with power over devils and written in heaven!
  8. Key observation … God and Jesus Christ fully know exactly what they have given us.
  9. Key observation … God and Jesus Christ fully perceive our joy, zeal, and priorities.
  10. Key observation … God and Jesus Christ fully expect us to have proper priorities.
  11. Lesson … do you fully grasp what God has wrought for you … and serve Him for it?
  12. What makes you happy, motivates you, captures your passion, or thrills you? Beware!
  13. You should boast of the great things He has done for you (Ps 34:1-3; Mark 5:19-20)!

Ultimate Love by Giving His Son

(I John 3:16; 4:9-10; John 3:16; Rom 5:6-8; 8:32)

  1. No one else has loved you in any meaningful way in comparison to this ultimate love.
  2. There is a connected conclusion that we therefore ought to love the brethren likewise.
  3. The love of the infinitely holy God for depraved rebel enemies is an incredible thing.

Unsearchable Riches

(Eph 3:8)

  1. God filled our hearts and minds when we considered the riches of His grace in Christ.
  2. Even Paul valued the riches in light of his chosen position to preach it to the Gentiles.
  3. In case you have forgotten His riches.

Unspeakable Gift

(II Cor 9:15)

  1. God’s gift of His Son Jesus and all involved is truly unspeakable – ineffably sublime.
  2. The use of this inspired clause here was to motivate proper giving by the Corinthians.

Great Mystery of Godliness

(I Tim 3:16)

  1. The six-fold blessing of Christ covers His birth to ascension and blessings all around.
  2. This glorious saying of Christ is to motivate the church to uphold and defend the truth.
  3. For more about the fabulous gospel.

Six Things Determined

(Dan 9:24-27)

  1. Daniel prophesied 483 years from Cyrus’ command to the anointing of the Messiah.
  2. The six things that Messiah would do are incredibly great and deserve glorious praise.

Joy Unspeakable

(I Pet 1:8)

  1. Faith in the return of Jesus Christ is able to produce such joy even in those suffering.
  2. What is the discernible evidence in your life of unspeakable joy and great glory?

Behold – Adoptive Love

(I John 3:1-3)

  1. John clearly identified this cap-stone of salvation requesting particular attention to it.
  2. A proper recognition of this incredible blessing and privilege should change your life.
  3. For more about adoptions as God’s sons.
  4. For more about predestinated adoption.

Accepted in the Beloved

(Eph 1:6)

  1. The issue on Judgment Day is God’s acceptance of us, not our acceptance of Christ.
  2. From this foundation blessing in Christ, Paul pressed Ephesus to walk well (Ep 4:1-3).
  3. For more about accepted and adopted.

Imputation or Representation

(Rom 5:12-19; I Cor 15:22)

  1. Why do babies die? Because Adam’s sin was imputed to them as their representative.
  2. How do we avoid the terrible curse of original sin? By the Second Adam’s obedience!
  3. For many more details of this glorious contrast.

One Man Mediator Found

(Rev 5:1-5; I Tim 2:5)

  1. John wept because no man could be found anywhere to open the book of the covenant.
  2. God raised up the Lion of Judah, David’s Root, to open the book and loose its seals.

Virgin Birth

(Is 7:14; 9:6-7 Jer 31:22; Matt 1:18; Luke 1:28-35; 2:8-14)

  1. Consider this glorious sign that God gave to Israel of a virgin-born, God in the flesh.
  2. His names and everlasting kingdom on the throne of David would be by God’s zeal!

Tree of Life Restored

(Rev 2:7; 22:2,14)

  1. Our first parents rejected the tree of life and then were kept from it (Genesis 3:22-24).
  2. God sent Jesus Christ to recover free access to it from which we shall eat in heaven.

Kings and Priests

(Rev 1:6; 5:10)

  1. The loftiest title on earth, no matter how great you are, is nothing in comparison here.
  2. Let us live like we are reigning with Christ, and we should offer acceptable sacrifices.
  3. In case you want more about your offices.

Inner Circle in Heaven

(Rev 5:11-14)

  1. God sits on His throne in heaven with Christ next to Him and us in Christ’s throne.
  2. Outside us are our servants the angels; outside them are all creatures in the universe.
  3. In case you need details of this great work.

Mock Death and Grave

(I Cor 15:51-57)

  1. God has so demolished the claim of death on us that we can mock it in joyful victory.
  2. But the context holds the inevitable and consequential claim to our abundant labors.
  3. For more of resurrection in I Cor 15.

Devil Defeated

(Col 2:15; Heb 2:14; Jas 4:7; II Pet 2:4; I Jn 3:8; Jude 1:6; Rev 12:9-10)

  1. He defeated our first parents in Eden, but the Seed of the woman returned the favor!
  2. So thorough is the victory that we can stand in God’s might and force Satan to flee.
  3. About the Stronger Man.

Satan Trampled

(Luke 10:19; Acts 19:13-20; Rom 16:20; Eph 6:10-20; Rev 20:1-3)

  1. The Man Christ Jesus so thoroughly defeated Satan that we can and will defeat him.
  2. The devils know perfectly well Jesus is coming to torment them in hell (Matt 8:29).
  3. The Triumph of Jesus Christ.

Eternal Inheritance

(Rom 8:17-19; I Pet 1:3-5; Rev 21:7)

  1. We are joint-heirs with Jesus Christ of glory that transcends all earthly comparisons.
  2. The only evidence that we have of such a will and testament is walking by the Spirit.
  3. For Redemption and Inheritance.

Body Resurrection & Glorification

(Phil 3:20-21; Rom 8:17-23,29-30)

  1. Your vile body, decaying as you listen or read, will be glorified by His great power.
  2. He simply asks us to give these corrupt bodies a living sacrifice to Him (Rom 12:1-2).
  3. Creation Groaning.

New Heaven and Earth

(II Pet 3:10-14)

  1. The whole creation groans and travails under the burden and pain of corruption by sin.
  2. But God shall do a great work of melting it all with fervent heat to make a new one.

Not One Lost or Plucked Out

(John 6:39; 10:28-29; Rom 8:35-39)

  1. God by Jesus Christ absolutely secured eternal life for all His children without loss.
  2. With such a guarantee by our Surety, we should be unhindered by fear to serve Him.

Gift of the Holy Ghost

(Acts 2:33; John 7:39; Rom 5:5; 8:15; Gal 4:6)

  1. Jesus Christ obtained spoils for His great victory – the presence of God Himself in us.
  2. If we grasp this work and gift, we will not grieve or quench (Eph 4:30; I Thess 5:19).

Saved By Childbearing

(I Tim 2:15; Gen 3:15; Jer 31:22)

  1. What God cursed because of the devil’s victory over Eve turned to be her salvation!
  2. The evidence of women thus saved are continuing in faith, charity, holiness, sobriety.

Angels Are Impressed

(I Pet 1:12; Eph 3:10)

  1. They announced His birth, attended Him in His ministry, and received Him to heaven.
  2. God planned salvation to show them His great wisdom, and they desire to look into it.

Judge Angels

(I Cor 6:1-3)

  1. How can this juxtaposition of authority, glory, power be made but by God in Christ!
  2. If we shall thus judge angels, surely we can gently and wisely work out least things.

Rich to Poor to Rich

(II Cor 8:9)

  1. God’s grace through Jesus Christ was for Him to become poor to make poor you rich.
  2. This incredibly merciful transaction or trade for us should cause us to do it for others.

Gentiles Are David’s Tabernacle

(Acts 15:16; Rom 15:8-12; Eph 2:11-22; 3:1-8)

  1. The kingdom of David, God’s church at its best under the O.T., is now of us Gentiles.
  2. We Gentiles, undeserving and grafted in, owe humility and faith (Romans 11:17-22).

Life Trumps Death

(Rom 5:10; 8:34; Heb 7:25)

  1. God did a great work by the death of Jesus Christ, but even more by His life above!
  2. Do you understand that Jesus sits next to the Judge of all to guarantee your salvation?

You Need a Lawyer

(I Tim 2:5; Job 9:33; I John 2:1)

  1. You are condemned by Adam, by your own sins, and by your wicked, sinful nature.
  2. God appointed His only begotten Son as your lawyer and to pay the penalty of death!
  3. For your need of a Lawyer.

Revelation 2-3 Gifts

(Rev 2:7,11,17,26-28; 3:5,12,21)

  1. Jesus Christ promised the seven churches of Asia great, special gifts for overcoming.
  2. The offered or promised gifts were to motivate them to overcome this world for Him.

Unknown Blessings

(I Cor 2:9)

  1. Man has not seen, nor heard, nor imagined the things God has prepared for His sons.
  2. But God has revealed them to us by His Spirit by the words of revelation (I Cor 2:13).

Women Honored

(Matt 1:3,5-6; Mark 16:9)

  1. The genealogy of Jesus Christ has four women – Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba.
  2. Our resurrected Lord appeared first – before the apostles – to Mary Magdalene. Glory!

Conclusion:

  1. How can we measure salvation? … Wisdom … Power … Perpetuity … Person … Security? Glory!
  2. It is altogether unsearchable and unspeakable (Ep 3:8; II Co 9:15). Truly… What hath God wrought!
  3. Paul reasoned logically and powerfully that we owe much service for Christ’s death (II Cor 5:14-15).
  4. Jesus warned the Sardis church their works were not perfect before God (Rev 3:1-6; 2:1-5; 3:14-22).
  5. Paul was bound to give thanks for the Thessalonians; what of them for themselves (II Thes 2:13-14)?
  6. We should boast in God for all He has done for us, as the Gadarene did (Ps 34:1-3; Mark 5:19-20).

For Further Study:

  1. Sermon Outline: Unsearchable Riches of Christ.
  2. Sermon Outline: Facets of Salvation.
  3. Sermon Outline: The Glory of the Cross.
  4. Sermon Outline: The Glory of the Cross.
  5. Sermon Outline: Great Mystery of Godliness.
  6. Sermon Outline: Great Things of God.
  7. Sermon Outline: What a Word Is This!
  8. Sermon Outline: Six Things Determined.
  9. Sermon Outline: He Is Altogether Lovely.