But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it,...

But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” (Romans 9:20)

If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God? (Acts 11:17)

God Says

Man Thinks

Suddenly a prophet approached Ahab king of Israel, saying, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand today, and you shall know that I am the LORD.’” (1 Kgs. 20:13)

And the prophet came to the king of Israel and said to him, “Go, strengthen yourself; take note, and see what you should do, for in the spring of the year the king of Syria will come up against you.” (1 Kgs. 20:22)

Then a man of God came and spoke to the king of Israel, and said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Because the Syrians have said, “The LORD is God of the hills, but He is not God of the valleys,” therefore I will deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD.’” (1 Kgs. 20:28)

So they wore sackcloth around their waists and put ropes around their heads, and came to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben-Hadad says, ‘Please let me live.’” And he said, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.” Now the men were watching closely to see whether any sign of mercy would come from him; and they quickly grasped at this word and said, “Your brother Ben-Hadad.” So he said, “Go, bring him.” Then Ben-Hadad came out to him; and he had him come up into the chariot. So Ben-Hadad said to him, “The cities which my father took from your father I will restore; and you may set up marketplaces for yourself in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.” Then Ahab said, “I will send you away with this treaty.” So he made a treaty with him and sent him away. (1 Kgs. 20:32-34)

Then he said to him, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Because you have let slip out of your hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore your life shall go for his life, and your people for his people.’” (1 Kgs. 20:42)

God Said Destroy

Ahab Kept Alive

Now a certain man drew a bow at random, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. So he said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am wounded.” (1 Kgs. 22:34)

Do You Really Want To Argue With God?

Now the LORD sent you on a mission, and said, “Go, and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.” Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? (1 Sam. 15:18-19)

So Samuel said to him, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you.” (1 Sam. 15:28)

God Said Destroy Amalekites

Saul Spared Agag & Spoils


And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean.” But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, “Indeed, I said to myself, ‘He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.’ Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. (2 Kgs. 5:10-12)

God Said Dip 7 Times in Jordan

But Naaman Thought…


When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” (Luke 5:4-5 )

Jesus Said Fish Nevertheless, At Your Word…

And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. (Lk. 5:6-7)

God Says BaptismSaves

Man Says Baptism Unnecessary

And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord. (Acts 22:16)

Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you… (1 Pet.3:21)


In flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thess. 1:8)

God Built OnlyOne Church

Man Thinks More Is Better

I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. (Matt. 16:18)

There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling. (Eph. 4:4)


For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. (Eph. 5:23)

God Says AssembleWith the Saints

Man Ignores God’s Will

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. (Heb. 10:25)

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (Matt. 6:33)


For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins…It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Heb.10:26, 31)

God Says Sing

Man Would Rather Use Instruments

Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. (Eph. 5:19)

…I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. (1 Cor. 14:15)


And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus… (Col. 3:17)

And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” (Matt. 7:23)

God Says Edify

Man Likes Entertainment Better

How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. (1 Cor. 14:26)


And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus… (Col. 3:17)

Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. (1 Cor.11:17)

God Says Teach

Man Says Minister to Their Needs

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:15-16)


And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself. (John 12:32)

God Says Love

Man Disbelieves & Remembers

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. (1 Pet. 1:22)

[Love] is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Cor. 13:5-7)


If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? (1 Jn. 4:20)

God Says ForgivePenitent Brother

Man Refuses to Forgive & Pouts

Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, “I repent,” you shall forgive him. (Lk. 17:3-4)


And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers…So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses. (Matt. 18:34-35)

God Says Mark &Avoid False Teacher

Man: “What is a false teacher?”

Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. (Rom. 16:17)

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. (Eph. 5:11)


And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him! (Luke 12:4-5)

Seek the LORD while He may be found,

Call upon Him while He is near.

Let the wicked forsake his way,

And the unrighteous man his thoughts;

Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him;

And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

So are My ways higher than your ways,

And My thoughts than your thoughts.”

(Isaiah 55:6-9)

Examples of ConversionPreaching Believed Repented Confessed Baptized Saved

Pentecost

Acts 2:14-41

Repented

V. 37-38

Baptized

V. 38:41

Remission of Sins

V. 38-47

Samaria

Acts 8:5-13

Believed

V. 12

Baptized

V. 12-13

Eunuch

Acts 8:35-39

Believed

V. 36-37

Confessed

V. 37

Baptized

V. 38

Rejoiced

V. 39

Saul

Acts 9:17-18

Baptized

V. 18

Sins Washed Away

Acts 22:16

Cornelius

Acts 10:34-48

Believed

V. 43

Baptized

V. 48

Remission of Sins

V. 43

The Jailor

Acts 16:30-33

Believed

V. 31

Washed Stripes

Baptized

V. 33

Lydia

Acts 16:13

Attended

V. 14

Baptized

V. 15

Corinthians

Acts 18:8

Believed

V. 8

Baptized

V. 8

Rom. 10:14-17 Heb. 11:6 Lk. 13:3 Rom. 10:10 Gal. 3:27 2 Tim. 2:10

God Says WithdrawFrom the Disorderly

Man Doesn’t See How It Will Work

But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner--not even to eat with such a person. (1 Cor. 5:11)

But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. (2 Thess. 3:6)


But the cowardly, unbelieving…and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. (Rev. 21:8)

But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it,...

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