Thank you, Houston. Everybody
got quiet after you quit playing. Y'all missed it if you didn't
didn't get a chance to hear Houston playing. Thank you. Good morning. Lord blessed us last night and
our hope and prayer is that he'd be pleased to do it again this
morning. It's good to see everybody here. Chris preached a message from
about John the Baptist and the prophecy relating to John's ministry
is found in Isaiah chapter 40. if you'd like to turn with me
there, Isaiah chapter 40. Verse 3, the voice of him that
crieth in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make
straight in the desert, a highway for our God. Now the imagery
that the Lord's giving us here is a work crew that's responsible
for moving all the impediments off the road so that people can
get to the temple to worship God. And one of the responsibilities
that gospel preachers have is to point to Christ, behold the
Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world, but also
to remove the rocks and the fallen trees and all the other things
that would hinder us from coming to Christ. It's ironic to me that the very
things that religion tells us is the means to Christ are the
impediments that gospel preachers are to get out of the road. If
you listen to man-made religion, they will tell you that the means
to Christ is a decision that you make according to your free
will. That's a rock. That's a fallen tree. Preacher,
don't give me anything. Don't tell me that it's based
on my decision. That hinders me from getting to Christ. False
religion will tell you that your works are either the means to
your salvation or they are the proof of it. That's an impediment
in the road. Get out of the way. When the
Gospels preach, these things are removed. The man-made religion
would tell me that knowledge is the means to salvation. This is a faithful saying and
worthy of all acceptation. Christ Jesus came into the world
to save sinners of whom I'm chief. There's only two things you need
to know. Number one, you're a sinner. Number two, Christ is the only
Savior. And then man-made religion will
put experience as a means to salvation. You need to nail it
down. You need to remember when you
had this feeling, when you had this experience. That's an impediment.
Don't point me to an experience. So when the Lord tells the prophet,
make way, the highway, Get those impediments out of the way. The
very thing that man tells you is the means to salvation. If
you ever hear the gospel, you'll know that those are the things
that need to be gotten out of the way. I'm so thankful for
these two brothers who have come to prepare the way of the Lord
and make straight in the desert a highway for our God. And I
trust that the Lord will clear the road and give us faith to
come. Let's bow together for a word
of prayer. Our Heavenly Father, we're thankful that once again
you've brought us to this place. You've promised, Lord, that where
two or three are gathered together in thy name, there you would
meet in the midst of them. We see you walking among the
candlesticks. You said that you would inhabit
the praise of your people. Oh, Lord, how desperate we are
that you would be pleased this morning to fulfill these promises
in our hearts, that you would make yourself known to us, that
the call of the gospel would be made clear and that the impediments
would be removed and that our sight would be set on Christ. We ask it in His name. Amen. Brother Tom. Number 42. Number 42, let's stand
together. 42. All hail the power of Jesus'
name. Let angels prostrate fall. Bring forth the royal diadem
and crown him Lord of all. Bring forth the royal diadem
and crown him Lord of all. Ye chosen seed of Israel's race,
ye ransomed from the fall. Hail Him who saves you by His
grace, and crown Him Lord of all. Hail Him who saved you by
His grace, and crown Him Lord of all. Let every kindred, every
tribe, on this celestial ball, To Him all majesty ascribe, and
crown Him Lord of all. To him all majesty ascribe, and
crown him Lord of all. O that with yonder sacred throng
we at his feet may fall, we'll join the everlasting throng and
crown him Lord of all. Please be seated. We're going
to sing a hymn from this spiral gospel hymns hymn book. They
should be there at the pew in front of you. Number 23, pass
me not. Number 23. Ask me not, O gracious Father,
Sinful, wretched though I be, Though you might in truth condemn
me, Let your mercy fall on me. Love of God so everlasting, Christ
so rich and free, grace of God so strong and saving, magnify
them all in me. Pass me not, O blessed Savior. Let me hear your gracious call. I'm a guilty, helpless sinner. Savior, at your feet I fall. Love of God so everlasting, blood
of Christ so rich and free. Grace of God so strong and saving,
magnify them all in me. Pass me not, O mighty Spirit. You can cause the dead to live. Speak the word of saving power. Give me faith and make me live. Love of God so everlasting, Blood
of Christ so rich and free, Grace of God so strong and saving,
Magnify them all in me. Pass me not a poor lost sinner. If you will, you can save me. Reach down with your hand of
mercy. Saving others, Lord, save me. Love of God so everlasting, Blood
of Christ so rich and free, Grace of God so strong and saving,
Magnify them all in me. I stood beside a dying bed Where
lay a man with aching head He was waiting for God to call I marked his smile, t'was sweet
as May, and as his spirit passed away, he whispered cries I saw that missionary go To island
sand and Greenland snow For he heard his master's call For life he counted dear Midst
wants and perils he owed no fear For he knew that Christ is all
Christ is all Christ is all in all I dreamed
that holy time had fled And earth and sea gave up their dead And
a fire Dissolve this ball I saw the church's ransom thrown I
heard the burden of their song They were singing, crying Christ is all, He's all in all
Christ is all in all So come to Christ, oh come today ? And spirits say ? The bride repeats
the call ? For he will cleanse your guilty stains ? His love
will soothe your weary bones For Christ is all in all. Christ is all. Yes, He's all. One time a man said to a preacher, if Christ is all you have, is
that enough? And the preacher replied, it
is if he's all you got. Would you turn with me to Luke
chapter 22? Verse 39, "...and He came out and went
as He was wont." It's a place He frequented with His disciples.
"...to the Mount of Olives, and His disciples also followed Him. And when He was at the place, He said unto them, Pray that
you enter not into temptation.' And he was withdrawn from them
about a stone's cast, and kneeled down and prayed, saying, Father,
if thou be willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but
thine be done. And there appeared an angel unto
him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony, he prayed more earnestly. And his sweat was as it were
great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose up from prayer
and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow. And he said unto them, why sleep
ye? Rise and pray, lest you enter
into temptation. And while he yet spake, behold,
a multitude. And he that was called Judas,
one of the 12, went before them and drew near unto Jesus to kiss
him. The betrayal. A verse of scripture that seems
very appropriate to me before I bring this message is where
David said in Psalm 73, 22, so foolish was I and ignorant, so
foolish, so ignorant, I was as a beast before thee. And I hope it's not all mock
humility. I'm sure a lot of it is, but
I hope it's not all mock humility when I say that's the way I feel
entering this passage of scripture. I know ahead of time that I'm
going to fail. In presenting this as it ought
to be presented because it's impossible for anybody to present
this as it ought to be presented. But we're going to try to consider
the Lord in the garden of Gethsemane. At the beginning of the Lord's
public ministry in Luke chapter four, after he preached in Nazareth,
when the sermon was over, the scripture says they were filled
with wrath when they heard these things. And they rose him up. They rose up to a hill with the
Lord, carrying the Lord, and they were going to cast him off
of a cliff headlong to destroy him. But they couldn't do it.
Why? Because his hour was not yet
come. Two times we read where they
attempted to arrest the Lord Jesus Christ, but they couldn't
do it because his hour, his hour was not yet come. There was a special hour that
the Lord had lived for 33 years. that He was waiting to take place. His hour. He said in Luke chapter 12 verse
50, I have a baptism to be baptized with and how is my soul straightened
until it be accomplished. Now He had already gone through
water baptism. He wasn't talking about water
baptism. He was talking about a baptism
that was awaiting him. He said in John chapter 12, verse
27, shortly before this hour, now is my soul troubled and what
shall I say? Father saved me from this hour,
but for this cause came I into this hour. He said in His great
high priestly prayer for His people, Father, the hour is come. Glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son
also might glorify Thee. Now in our text, verse 39 of
Luke chapter 22, the hour has come. It's here. And he came out and went as he
was want, something that he had done quite frequently with his
disciples. You know, the Lord didn't have
a home. You're going to go home tonight and lay down and get
your house. He didn't have that. He would
sleep outdoors very often. And he came as he was one to
the Mount of Olives and his disciples also followed him. Now we know from the other accounts
that he took three of his disciples into the inner part of the garden
and left eight of the disciples at the gate. There was a special
three, Peter, James, and John. And I've tried to put myself
in the other apostle's place, and I thought, would you be jealous?
Yeah. Yeah, I would. I have no question
about it. You know, in this very chapter,
right before this took place, they were all having an argument
over which one would be the greatest. And I'm sure they felt left out.
I would have felt left out. But it's called fallen human
nature. That's what we're dealing with,
fallen human nature. But at any rate, He took Peter
and James and John with him, verse 40. And when he was at
the place, he said unto them, pray that you entered not into
temptation. Now, isn't that always an appropriate
prayer? What will happen to you if you're
tempted? You're going to fight it off. You're going to defeat it. The only hope me and you have
is that we're not tempted. If we're tempted, I know what's
going to take place. Didn't the Lord teach us to pray
daily lead us not into temptation. I don't want to be tempted because
I know what happens if I am Lord. put a wall around me, and prevent
me from being tempted." What an appropriate prayer. How important at all times. Verse 41, And he was withdrawn from them
about a stone's cast, and kneeled down and prayed. Now in Matthew's account, he
said, tarry you here and watch with me. And he began to be sorrowful. And this was the Lord Jesus Christ.
This is he who is all mighty. This is he who is holy. This is he who said, I do always
those things that pleased the father. He began to be sorrowful. He said, my soul is exceeding
sorrowful, even unto death. Mark's account says amazed and
terrified, struck with sorrow. And this is the Lord Jesus. This
isn't like me or you being like this. This is altogether different. This is the eternal Son of God,
stricken with sorrow and grief. Verse 41 and verse 42, And He was withdrawn
from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down and prayed,
saying, If thou be willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but
thine be done. Remove this cup. Question. What was in the cup? The Lord was given a glimpse
of this cup and he was overwhelmed. What was in the cup? Let's look
at Mark's account of this for a moment. You're going to see
that he prayed this same prayer three times. Mark chapter 14. beginning in verse 32. And they
came to a place which was named Gethsemane. And he saith to his
disciples, sit ye here while I shall pray. And he taketh with
him Peter and James and John and began to be sore amazed. and to be very heavy and sayeth
unto them, my soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death, tarry
ye here and watch. And he went forward a little
and fell on the ground and prayed that if it were possible, the
hour might pass from him. And he said, Allah, my father,
all things are possible unto thee, take away this cup from
me. Nevertheless, not what I will,
but what thou wilt. And he cometh and findeth him
sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? Couldst
thou not watch one hour? Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter
into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, or
willing, but the flesh is weak. And again he went away, and prayed,
and spake the same words. And when he returned, he found
them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy, neither wist
they what to answer him. And he cometh the third time.
You see, he prayed this same prayer three times. Now, remember who this is. It's
not somebody like me or you. This is the Son of God praying
this prayer three times. Now, go back to our text in Luke
22, verse 43. And there appeared an angel unto
him from heaven, strengthening him. Now he was about to die right
then. Something that he saw in that
cup was killing him and he was about to die. right then. And an angel came to strengthen
him, to uphold him for this mighty task, which he was getting ready
to do, to drink that cup. He had to drink that cup. But at this time, the Lord, his
father, gives him a view of that cup, and it was about to kill
him right then. Verse 44 and being in an agony. Do you see why I say that? I
know that I'm going to fail in bringing this message. Who can
understand this? Who can enter into this? Who
can grasp this? The agony. of the Son of God. And being in agony, he prayed
more earnestly. How does he do that? And his sweat was, as it were,
great drops of blood falling to the ground. The writer to
the Hebrews said, who in the days of his flesh, when he had
offered up prayers and supplications with strong cryings and tears
unto him that was able to save him from death, and he was heard
in that he feared. Though he were a son, yet learned
he obedience through the things he suffered. He was under such
stress that he sweat blood and those
bloody tears of sweat fell to the ground. I've read of explanations for
this, that this could indeed happen physically. And I don't
remember how they went, but I don't need to read a medical explanation
to know that it happened. He sweat great drops of blood. Verse 45, And when He rose up
from prayer and was come to His disciples, He found them sleeping
for sorrow. You know, that's just appropriate,
isn't it? The disciples are asleep at this time. You see, they're
not going to help Him out. They're not going to help Him
out. They're sleeping while He's doing this, and he said unto
them, why sleep ye? Rise and pray, lest you enter
into temptation. Now, there are many instances
of martyrs facing death courageously. without fear. You know the song
you all just sang, one of the verses, I saw the martyr at the
stake, the flames could not his courage shake, nor death his
soul appall. I asked him whence his strength
was given. He looked triumphantly to heaven
and he said that Christ is all. There are men who have burned
in the flames, praising God the whole time. You see, they had
God's presence. If you have God's presence, if
you have God's blessing, if you have God's favor, do you care
what happens to you? Not really. Not if you're a believer. Content with beholding his face
by all to his pleasure reside no changes of season or place
could make any change in my mind When blessed with a sense of
his love a palace a toy would appear And prisons would palaces
prove if Jesus would dwell with me there. You see, they had his
presence. And if I know that I have his
presence, if I know that I have his favor, whatever happens,
it's okay. It's okay. God's on the throne
and whatever he does is best. And if I'm burning at the stake,
it's best. What a blessing to have his presence. But the Lord
didn't have His presence. The Lord didn't have His blessing.
The Lord didn't have His favor. Now the cup that He asked three
times to be removed, what was in it? What was in it? Now, I've always just assumed,
and I've assumed right, the wrath of God. The wrath of God. There's something
else I don't really understand. The torments of an eternal hell,
the wrath of God, the power of His wrath. God's holy. His wrath is a holy wrath. It's
part of his character. There wouldn't be God if there
were not such a thing as the wrath of God. And our Lord was
looking at the wrath head on. But what causes wrath? What causes death? One answer, sin. The sins of God's elect. The sin you committed this morning. The sin that you'll commit this
afternoon. The vileness of your heart. The
sins and the sin. All of the sins of God's elect
were placed in this cup. And this is what he was called
upon to drink, so you and I will not experience the wrath of God. And when he saw the content of
this cup, he about died right then. And this is the Son of God. Now, the reason you and I cannot
enter into this is because sin does not really bother us that
much. We're used to it. We were born sinners. We're desensitized. We're hardened. It doesn't shock us the way it
should. We're fine with it. Oh, we talk. Oh, I wish I hadn't. We forget
it quick enough. But here is the one man who sees
sin as God sees it. Nobody else like this. And when he saw The content of
that cup, it was going to kill him right away. And an angel
was to be sent to strengthen him that he might drink the cup
dry. He who knew no sin was made to
know sin. much more intimately than you
or I could ever experience because of His holy nature. He who knew
no sin came to know it because He was made sin. So that He said, Innumerable
evils have compassed me about, mine iniquities." He didn't say
Todd's iniquities. He said, mine iniquities have
taken hold upon me so that I'm not able to look up. They're
more than the hairs of my head. Therefore, my heart faileth me. Our iniquity was made to meet
on Him. And he no longer was to have
his father's favor. This began in Gethsemane. He
was no longer had his father's presence. He no longer. He didn't
have his father. He didn't have his father. He
was forsaken. Why? Sin. That's the only reason. Sin. We're considering something we
cannot understand, the soul sufferings of the Lord Jesus Christ because
of sin. Now, there was a movie that came
out some years ago, Mel Gibson was the director of it, it was
called The Passion of Christ. The Passion of Christ. And in
this movie, I didn't go see it, I wouldn't go see that. Because
I know what's going on behind something like that. They were
trying to make the physical sufferings of Christ so real that you would
feel such guilt that you'd have to believe on Him because of
all His physical sufferings that He suffered. And who could describe
His physical suffering? I certainly can. Being nailed
to a cross. But they were nothing compared
to His soul sufferings. When thou shalt make His soul
an offering for sin. Now in the Hebrew, that word
offering for sin is only one word, and it's translated quite
often sin. When thou shalt make his soul
sin, when thou shalt make his soul guiltiness, when thou shalt
make his soul trespass. See why I'm saying I don't know
what I'm talking about. When I'm talking about this, I'm just
sitting here thinking you beast. You're talking about things that
are a bit like David said, such things are too wonderful for
me. They're high. I can't attain to them, but I
can believe them. You know, as far as that goes,
I don't understand anything I preach. I just believe it. Well, there's
something wrong with that. No, there's not. Do you understand
how God can be one God and three distinct persons? Of course you
can't understand that. Do you believe it? Yes, you do.
Do you understand how Christ can be made sin? No. Do you believe
he was? Yes. Yes. The gospel is a message,
not so much to be understood, but to be believed. And if you
can understand it, there just isn't that much to it. Isn't
that so? Something I can grasp. There's
just not that much to it. The gospel is something to be
believed and received. And what I'm talking about is
something to be believed. Understood? No. But believed
and received? Absolutely. This is the sinner's
only hope. What we're talking about right
now, Christ drinking that cup. You see, the scripture says he
bore our sins in his own body on the tree. And when he drank
that cup, the cup of our sins. Turn with me for a moment to
the book of Lamentations. Now, the next time you read the
book of Lamentations, Remember to read every word as the words
of Christ Himself. Every word is Christ speaking. When He says, I am the man that
has seen affliction, it wasn't Jeremiah. It was the Lord Jesus
Christ. Now here in Lamentations chapter
1, Look at the last phrase of verse
11. See, O Lord, and consider, for
I am become vile. Did you ever become vile? No, you were born that way. Is it nothing to you, all ye
that pass by, behold and see if there be any sorrow, like
unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath
afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger. Is that Jeremiah
speaking? No, no. This is the Lord Jesus
Christ. From above hath he sent fire
into my bones, and it prevaileth against him. He hath spread a
net for my feet. He hath turned me back. He hath
made me desolate and faint all the day. The yoke of my transgression."
Now look what he calls my transgressions. He calls them mine. He calls
them mine. He took my sin and my sorrow
and made it His very own. He bore the burden to Calvary
and suffered and died alone. The yoke of my transgressions
is bound by His hand. They are wreathed and come upon
my neck. He hath made my strength to fall. The Lord hath delivered
me into their hands from whom I am not able to rise up." With regard to the suffering
of Christ. And I, like I said, I don't know
what I'm talking about, but I know this. He had a capacity for suffering
that you and I don't have. Sin for you to be made sin. Well, you already are. It wouldn't
be that big a deal, would it? You're as bad as you can be right
now. When his Holy soul was made sin. The thought of drinking that
cup was killing him, but he had to
drink it. The angel came and strengthened
him so he would be able to drink that cup. Now, I think it is
remarkable to think that the Lord prayed three times. If it'd be possible. Let this
cup pass from me, if it be possible. Now the Lord knew it wasn't possible.
He was the lamb slain from the foundation of the world. And
yet he says, if you are willing, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless,
not my will, but thine be done. Now here we have the Lord having
a human will, and a divine will. Well, there's something else
I don't understand. The Lord had a human will and a divine
will. And the human will was subject
to the divine will. But you know, this is an encouragement
for us to pray. Lord, if you're willing, let
this happen. If you're willing, let this take
place. If you're willing, nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done. Turn to John 18. When Jesus had spoken these words,
verse one, he went forth with his disciples over the brook
Kidron, which was a garden, which, where was a garden? I'm talking
about the garden of Gethsemane, into the which he entered and
his disciples. And we've read about what took
place in that garden. And now he has left the garden
and Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place, for Jesus
oft times resorted thither with his disciples, Judas then, having
received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and the
Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.
Jesus, therefore, knowing all things that should come upon
him, went forth and said unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am. You'll notice the he's in italics. You remember when God said to
Moses, I am that I am. The name of God. Whom seek ye? Jesus of Nazareth, I am. And they fell backwards. You know, the Lord is letting
them know at this time, I'm not a victim. I'm not in your hands. You're in mine. And I can do
with you whatever I'm pleased to do because I am. I am in absolute
sovereign control over this event. They went backwards. You know,
as you go on reading, somebody, there's Peter, Peter tried to
cut the head off the high priest's servant, cut his ear. And why didn't the Romans at
that time come upon him and kill him for doing that? I know why. They were scared to death. They
knew this. Whoever this is, he's very powerful. He's not like anybody we've ever
been around. Verse 6, as soon as they'd said unto them, as
soon as he had said unto them, I am, they went backward and
fell to the ground. Then asked he again, whom seek
ye? I'd love to think of, I'd like
to heard the way they said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered, I've told you
that I am. If therefore you seek me, let
these go their way. And listen, beloved, that was
not a request. That was a command. You know,
the Lord never makes requests. Everything he says is a commandment.
Let these go their way. You see, he said, I came down
from heaven not to do my own will, but the will of him that
sent me. And this is the will of him that
sent me that of everyone, which he had given me, I should lose
nothing, but raise it up again at the last day. Now you're taking
me, they go. Substitution. Substitution. Verse 9, that the saying might
be fulfilled which he spake of them which thou gavest me, have
I lost none? You know, He's a successful Savior. If you have Him representing
you, you're saved. Nothing else seems to be said. Verse 10, then Simon Peter, having
a sword, drew it and smote the high priest's servant, cut off
his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.
And we know from the other accounts that the Lord put his ear back
on. Miraculous healing. That was
his last physical miracle. The Lord put his ear back on.
Verse 11, then said Jesus unto Peter, put up thy sword into
the sheath, the cup, which my father had given me,
shall I not drink it? No more saying, if you're willing, let this cup
pass away. He says the cup, which my father
had given me, Shall I not drink it? You see. His enemies said he saved others
himself. He cannot save. Truer words were
never spoken. You know, His enemy said, His
blood be on us and our children. Amen. May His blood be upon me
and upon my children and everybody I know. The cup which my father
hath given me to drink, shall I not drink it? You see, it was
not possible because this is ours. He's the lamb slain from
the foundation of the world. And he was going to drink this
cup dry all of the sins of God's elect. And I, yes, all the sins of God's elect,
all my sins, all my sins. Now, how can you know if he did
this for you? I need to say this. How can you know you're somebody
he died for? Believing that Christ died for
your sins is not faith. Believing that Christ is the
son of God is faith. And if you believe he's the son
of God, he died for your sins. I guarantee you. If you believe you're a sinner,
he died for your sins. Now I'm asking you two things.
Do you believe he's the son of God? Do you believe you're a
sinner? If you do, I guarantee you, your sins were in that cup
that he drank dry. Now here is the glorious thing
about him drinking this cup. Where are the sins? They're gone. There no more? You know why you're
told to reckon yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin? Because
you are dead indeed unto sin. It is gone. You have no sin. Because he drank that cup. The cup. Take a look inside. What's left in it? Nothing. Amen. He, the Father, shall see the
travail of His soul and shall be satisfied. For by His knowledge,
My righteous servant shall justify many. For He shall bear their
iniquities." I am so thankful. That was a blessing to my soul,
Todd. Thank you, brother. Let's stand together. Brother
Tom is going to come and lead us. Number 125. Number 125. I hear the Savior say, Thy strength
indeed is small. Child of weakness, watch and
pray. Find in me thine all in all. Jesus paid it all. All to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it clean.