We've been looking at words of
comfort. In Isaiah 40, verses one through
first couple of verses there, it says, comfort ye, comfort
ye my people, saith the Lord. And the prophet cries out, how
shall I comfort them? Tell them their warfare is accomplished. That's our comfort. We've been looking at different
words that give comfort. You'll recall we spoke of the
word purged recently. How much comfort that gives us
knowing that all of our salvation from beginning to end was purged
The Lord purged our sins from us. Purged us, washed them right
out. Burned the infirmity out of us with fire. Kind of like
purifying gold. Another word that brings comfort
to God's people is election. We appreciate that God has chosen
us because we know, we know that we would have never chosen him. John Reeves, before the Lord
called me out of darkness, was running around thinking I was
just fine. Weren't you? Didn't you think
you were just fine? I wasn't having any troubles
until the Lord convicted me that I'm a sinner. And when he convicted me that
I was a sinner, I began to see the graciousness of our Lord
in saving anybody. Brother Gabe Stoniker recently
brought a message titled, Why Would God Save Me? I think about
that all the time. Why would God save me? What is
there in John? Nothing. That's what. Absolutely
nothing. Yet, God chose me. And this is why I love that word
election. God chose me in his son before the worlds were created. That's so good. There's another
word that kind of goes right along with election. It's the
word reserved. means the same thing, except
for there's a little more power to that word than there is in
election. God chose, there's power in that. But the word reserved means kept. This should really bring some
comfort to anyone who's fighting with the sin that's in their
flesh. Anybody who gets up in the morning
and looks in the mirror and says, why would God, why would he save
anything like me? Why? He's reserved a people unto
himself. He keeps us through that, that's
the power of that word, reserved. He's reserved us, he's kept us.
He's not gonna let us go. Nothing can separate us from
the love of God that is in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Folks,
those are powerful words. Those are powerful words that
bring comfort to us. Look here with me, if you would,
in the 11th chapter of Romans. Chapter 11. And while you're
turning there, Let me say this, some may say
that we speak too much about our sin. Some say, why are you
always hounding on that, John? Why, preacher? Why are you always
putting your sinfulness out there like you're proud of it or something?
I'm not proud of any of it. I have no pride in what I am
before God. You know who has pride in what
they are before God? Those who think they have a righteousness
of their own. That's who. Those who were like
John Reeves, before the Lord showed me how deep my sin goes.
I'm not such a bad guy. I help the poor. OK, so I don't
go to church on Sundays. OK, so I say a few words that
I shouldn't say. But I'm not a bad guy. I have
some righteousness of my own. or then there's those that are
even worse. I do go to church on Sundays.
Therefore, I am righteous. I got in the waters of baptism,
therefore I'm righteous. I don't cuss. I don't drink. I was telling my son, who does
not know the Lord, and I pray for him, just like that psalm that we
read in scripture reading. I pray the Lord may someday call
him. I know he will if he belongs
to him. I have no doubt that if he belongs to the Lord, the
Lord will call him sometime, even if it's just before his
death. Do you realize that thief on the cross next to the Lord,
the one that the Lord said, today you will be with me in paradise? He lived his whole life not knowing
the Lord. There's hope. There's hope for
our loved ones. Why do I always have to put my sinfulness
out there like I'm proud of it or something? Folks, my sin plagues
me. The last thing I ever want anyone
in this world to think is that John Reeves is holier than thou. Does your sin plague you? The
psalmist, the man after God's own heart, he puts it this way,
he says, in Psalm 51.3, for I acknowledge my transgression and my sin is
ever before me. In 1 John 1 verse 9, it says
this, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive
us of our sins. When it says, if we confess our
sins, it doesn't mean we go over and get in a box with another
man and tell him, well, I've done this, I've done that, I've
done this. The Lord knows what you've done. He knows everything. If He didn't know everything,
you wouldn't be Lord. But we confess what we are. What
we are before you, Lord. I know I'm nothing but a worm,
Lord. And I know it because you revealed
it to me. You know, He doesn't do that
to everybody. There was a whole bunch of people here yesterday
who were holier than thou, who go to churches right down the
street from us here. If we confess our sins, He is faithful
and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all I need it. I need being cleansed. Not just once, but over and over
and over again. I need the blood of Christ because
my blood can't do anything. Do you? Do you need the blood
of Christ? Do you need one who has true
faith? One who has true faith, is one
who came to save sinners. Is your faith in Him, the one
who came to save sinners? Not in anything that you have
done, but in Him alone. When you think of our Lord, do
you see a brazen serpent up on a pole? Do you see the brazen
serpent and look to Him for your salvation? Look to Him for every
part of it. Not just this little part over
here or that little part over there which makes us happy or
which we desire for, but all of it from Him. I'm nothing without
Him. I have no salvation in this flesh
other than what He has given me. One who has true faith, has true
faith in who He is. There's a man who I've shared
with some who is struggling with his faith a great deal. And he
says, I just don't feel like, I just don't feel like I have
a love for God. I don't, I just don't feel like
I believe like I should. I said, do you believe he's God
Almighty in the flesh? Oh yes, I believe that. It's not how much you believe,
it's who you believe in. It's what is the object of your
faith. You see, his object of his faith
was how much he had, instead of being who it is that he has
it in. One who has true faith has faith
in the works that he has accomplished. Did God save his people? Do you
believe it? Or do you believe that he tried
to save them and he's waiting for them to do something? Folks, the true and living God
has never tried to do anything. He does what he has purposed
to do, or we would be foolish in calling him God. True faith is faith in where
Our Lord is today. There's no doubt in my mind that
God Almighty has risen from the dead. There's no doubt in my
mind that Jesus Christ the Lord sits on His throne this very
moment, making intercession for us, reserving me, keeping Oh, if
he's not keeping me, I'm in big trouble. I'm in big, big trouble. But the Lord says, I have reserved. One who has this true faith will,
as long as they walk this earth, shiver at what this flesh is
before a thrice holy God. We see our faults as plain as
the day. Because of that, we see His mercy
and His grace like a diamond on a black sheet. You know, if
you stare at that diamond long enough, that blackness kind of
fades away and all you see is the diamond. Comfort ye. Comfort ye, my people,
saith your God. Speak comfortably to Jerusalem. the people of God, the bride
of Christ, and cry unto her that her warfare is accomplished,
that her iniquity is pardoned, for she hath received of the
Lord's hand double for all her sins. Double the grace, double
the mercy. Blesses your heart, doesn't it,
Polly? God is merciful. Oh, how thankful we are that
God is merciful and gracious. He could easily just toss us
aside and create something better. Yet by his grace, he has chosen,
chosen to reserve a people. Folks, our sins are great, but
there is one greater than all our sin. His name is Jesus, for
he shall save his people. This is my story. a story I love
to tell, a story of the one from glory who gave himself for me. Let's begin at verse 13 of chapter
10, Romans chapter 10. Look at what it says in verse
13, if you would, with me. For whosoever shall call upon
the name of the Lord shall be saved. Saved from what? Pastor, why do you always have
to put our sin out before us? Why do you always have to dangle
that out before us before you bring the message? We've got
to know, folks. We've got to remember what we
are before God. You know how easy it is to hit
a ball down the middle of a fairway and say, wow, look. Look what
I did. Don't tell me it's not easy.
I do that accidentally. I do that. I take the credit
for stuff I shouldn't take. We had a great day yesterday.
You know why? Because Christ determined it
to be a good day. We're saved from what? We're
saved from our sin. Isn't that interesting? You gotta
know a little more about what it is you're being saved from.
Today we have a prevented medicine, but the most part we don't speak
a physician unless we need one. Ouch. I did that. Look at verse 14
with me. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have
not believed? How shall they believe in Him
in whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without
a preacher? How are you going to call upon
the true and living God if all you've heard about is a Jesus
who is trying but can't get it done? Look at verses 15 and 16. And how shall they preach except
they be sent? As it is written, how beautiful
are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring
glad tidings of good things. But here comes a warning. But
they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah saith, Lord,
who hath believed our report? Who believed yesterday? I know
of three others that were in service yesterday, three others who believe, who
profess and believe, and all three of them are sitting here
today. Not all will hear the truth of
God. Not all hear with ears of the
heart. You see how that magnifies the
grace of God? That could be you and I as well. This undeserving man who stands
before you is amazed that God would be gracious to me and save
me. Don't you feel like that? Doesn't
that grab a hold of you? that God would save a wretch
like me? Many will go a way that seems
right to men, and that is the way of destruction. It seems
right to the natural man to say that I have a free will, but
God says this, so then it is not of him that
willeth, nor of him that runneth, but
of God that showeth mercy. Look at verse 17. So then faith
cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Brother Marvin
Stoniker, when we were out there in Fairmont, West Virginia. I'd never been to his church,
met some wonderful people, absolutely wonderful. He got up, and it
was his conference, he had one speaker, John Chapman. Wonderful man, good speaker.
And he said this, he said, he quoted this scripture. He said,
so then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. And he goes, It's my turn to
listen and grow in faith. I got to sit there and listen
to John preach two messages as well. It was great. I got to
sit and listen to David Edmondson preach a message. Oh, it was
so good. Us preachers, we don't get to hear other preachers other
than recordings, and it's not the same. It's just not the same. Standing and watching a person
in their body language is way better than just listening of
a recorded message and hearing. Oh, faith cometh by hearing. This is what strengthens our
faith. Coming together and hearing about salvation is of the Lord. Hearing about Jesus Christ and
him crucified for his people. But only those, only those who
have been born again, quickened, as the word of God says in Ephesians
2 verse 1, given life will hear these words of truth. Look now,
if you would, with me at verses 18 through 21. But I say, no, that's verse 19. Yo, no, it is, it is verse 18. But I say, have they not heard
Yes, verily their sound went out into all the earth, and their
words into the ends of the world. But I say, did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke
you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish
nation I will anger you. But Isaias is very bold and saith,
I have found them that sought me not. That's Christ. He found John
when John was not even looking for him. What, had he lost John? No, he knew exactly where he
was the whole time. John was the one that was lost. And I was found of them that
sought me not, I was made manifest unto them that ask not after
me, but to Israel he saith all day long I have stretched forth
my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people. Chapter 11, verse one. I say
then, hath God cast away his people? God forbid, for I am
also an Israelite from the seed of Abraham of the tribe of Benjamin.
God hath not cast away his people, which he foreknew. What ye not
with the scripture sayeth to Elijah, how that he maketh intercession
to God against Israel, saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets,
and dig down thine altars, I am left alone, and they seek my
life, but what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved. There's that word. Who reserved
it? God did. Well, if God's reserved
something to himself, is he not going to have them? That's why the Lord can say with
confidence, all that the Father giveth me might. Come, no, that's
not what it says. It says, shall come to me. All that the Father giveth me
shall come to me, and him that cometh to me I will in no wise
cast out. He has reserved to himself 7,000 men who have not bowed the knee
to the image of Baal. Whoa, wait a minute. Are we not all dead in trespasses
and sin when we come into this world? Are we not all walking
according to the prince of the air, the power of this world?
Are we all not lost in degradation and sin when we come into this
world? When did I not bow the knee to
Baal? I'll tell you when, in my Savior,
the Lord Jesus, and in him alone. If God were to look at this flesh
today and not see his son, he would see the truth about what
I am, about who I bend the knee to. Yesterday, the message that
I brought before the folks, which was very brief, very short, I
said this, I said, if Vincent, the young man who died, who we're
here to remember, if he had one message that he could send back
to any of you here today, it would be this, that every knee
shall bow to Christ. Will it bow today? Or will it
bow when you go through that doormark death? 7,000 he had reserved. That's just
a picture. You know what the number seven
is? It kind of refers to? For those
who are smarter than me by a long, long ways, people have kind of
figured out through the scriptures what some numbers mean. You know,
like seven is the day of completion, took seven days to create the
earth and all the creation, seven days, perfection. The number
six, coming short of perfection, that's the mark of the beast. Our Lord has reserved the perfect
amount to himself. No man can number. Notice our Lord speaks of this
in a past tense. He says, I have reserved. He has reserved 7,000 unto himself. This is a word that gives great
comfort to this bankrupt sinner that stands before you. God has
reserved a people unto himself. That means that he's put them
aside. They will not go as natural men
will go. They've been reserved in his
son, the Lord Jesus. How? What has kept them? If all have sinned and come short
of his glory, how have they been reserved? Listen to these words
from Numbers 23, 21. He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob. Neither hath he seen perverseness
in Israel. The Lord his God is with him,
and the shout of a king is among them. Psalms 2511, for thy name's
sake, O Lord, pardon my iniquity, for it is great. Familiar words you might know
of Isaiah 53, beginning at verse two, For he shall grow up before
him as a tender plant and as a root out of dry ground. He
has no form nor comeliness. And when he shall see him, there
is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected
of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we
hid it as a word, our faces from him. He was despised and we esteemed
him not. Surely he had borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows, yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten
of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace
was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed. Oh, we like sheep
have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way, and
the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. How? How were we purged? How were
we reserved? We were reserved in Christ, and
the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He tells us in Jeremiah 33, 8,
and I will cleanse them from all their iniquity whereby they
have sinned against me and I will pardon all their iniquity whereby
they have sinned and whereby they have transgressed against
me. Hold your place there in Romans
chapter 11 if you would and turn over to Ephesians 1. If all have sinned against our
Maker, how were a people seen not as bending their knee to
Baal? How are our sins, our iniquities
hidden from God who sees all things and knows all things?
Isn't that a mystery? How can God forget? He who knows
everything before it even happens. How can He forget? Look at verse 7. of Ephesians
chapter 1, in whom we have redemption through
his blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches
of his grace. Oh, how wonderful that word is. His grace, that's how. God becoming a man, God manifesting
himself in the flesh to be bone of our bone and flesh of our
flesh is by grace. A body that thou hast prepared
is by grace. That very body that was prepared
going to the cross and laying down His life for us is by grace. I love grace. Look at verse 4
through 9 over at chapter 2. But God, who is rich in mercy
for His great love wherewith He loved us, even even when we
were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ by grace
ye are saved, and hath raised us up together to make us sit
together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages
to come, he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness
towards us through Christ Jesus. For by grace ye are saved through
faith, And if not of yourselves, it is a gift of God, not of works,
lest man should boast. Grace, the diamond on the black
sheet, on the black sheet, the good news, the comfort of the
word. We were reserved in grace. By God's grace, we were chosen
in his son before the world was. By God's grace, Christ laid down
his life, taking all of our iniquity upon himself, shedding his own
blood for our cause, standing in our stead as our scapegoat,
our substitute. By his grace, we are made righteous
in him as though we had never sinned. By His grace, God's grace,
our iniquities are seen no more. Look again back in our text at
Romans chapter 6, I mean Romans chapter 11. Look at verses 4 through 6 of
Romans chapter 11. But what saith the answer of
God unto him? I have reserved to myself 7,000
men who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so,
then, at this present time, there is a remnant." Now, I want to
stop right there. You know what a remnant is? In
the old days, they would put a cuff on your pant leg or your
shirt leg or something. And underneath, underneath, roll
that up and look at that little, you see where the thread is right
there? That little teeny strip that
sticks out past the thread, that's the remnant. There was a remnant here yesterday.
Every seat had somebody sitting in it. Now I don't know how many in
this room may be chosen of God and may be saved of God someday.
Maybe all of them. But I know there was a remnant
who heard the word of God and praised him for it when it was
preached. Go on. Even so, then, this present
time also there is a remnant according to the election of
grace. And if by grace, then it is no more of works, otherwise
grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it
is no more grace, otherwise work is no more work. What then? Israel hath not obtained That
which he seeketh, for but the election hath obtained it, and
the rest were blinded, according as it is written, God hath given
them the spirit of slumber, that they should not see, and ears
that they should not hear unto this day. Folks, the fact that
you hear God's word today is by His grace. Those who have true faith of
God put all of our trust in the works of our Savior, in His grace. Are you working your way to heaven?
If so, then you're doomed. Come unto me, our Lord says,
all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. This must have been yours on
the printer, because it's not part of my notes. Amen? I thought I had another
page of notes to go through, and I'm like, wait a minute,
that's not part of my notes. Amen? Can we all say amen to
come unto me, our Lord said. Put your works aside. Look to
the Lord Jesus. And let me tell you something. When you're walking on water
and you begin to sink, because you're looking down at the water
saying, wow, look at me. Did you see that? I just hit
that ball right down the middle of the fairway. And you begin
to sink. And the next several balls go
off into the woods like they're going to do. The Lord Jesus is the one who
grabbed ahold of you. and kept you and reserved you
until the day of his coming. Amen. Stand with me if you would. It's good to be back. I'm thankful
to have you folks. I missed you all very much.