Let's take our Bibles and turn
with me to the book of Hebrews. Hebrews chapter nine. I'm going to be in Hebrews and
look at a verse or two out of Isaiah, but I want to read something
in Hebrews. I want to turn to Hebrews chapter
nine. Hebrews chapter nine. And I'd like to read verses 24
to 28. For Christ is not entered into
the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the
true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence
of God for us. Nor yet that he should offer
himself often as the high priest entereth into the holy place
every year with blood of others. For then must he often have suffered
since the foundation of the world. But now once in the end of the
world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of
himself. And as it is appointed unto men
once to die, but after this, the judgment. We all acknowledge that we're
going to die. That's a common agreement. You know, we speak of those who
have passed. We talk about those that we've
loved and they're gone. We've read their obituaries.
When they die, we go and we pay our respects. And knowing the
surety of that truth, that once a soul leaves this world, there's
no returning to this place as things have
been. It's just, when we die, and we
know we're gonna die, I mean, we've seen it, we've seen people
die, people just like us that were born in this world and they
died. You know, knowing that truth,
that we're gonna die, Now listen to me for a few minutes. Realizing
that we're going to die. We've seen it. Don't you think it would be good
for us to contemplate that which God has to say is going to happen
after we die? Now just stop now and just quit
thinking about other things and what we're going to do after
a while. I got you, I got you for just about 30 minutes, 30,
35 minutes, I got you. Now listen to what I'm saying.
Now we all need to listen to this. Once a man dies, once a woman
dies, the way they die is how they're gonna be forever. Now
listen, now forever's a long time. That's a long time. It was recorded. in Luke 16,
that there was a rich man and he died. And the scripture says
concerning that rich man that left this world without Christ,
he lifted up his eyes in hell, being in torment. Now, you know,
that ought to make an impression on us. Here was, this was an
eyewitness. That was a conversation that
went on. He died, and another fellow died. His name was Lazarus.
And he laid outside this rich man's door every day, eating
the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. The dogs came
and licked his wounds. Now listen, that really happened.
It wasn't a parable. The Lord didn't say it was a
parable. It had a man's name in it, and
this is what happened. And this fella lifted up his
eyes out of hell. Now he died without Christ. Now
that ought to stop us just a minute. Wait a minute, wait a minute.
I'm gonna die too. And if it happened to him, if
I die like he died, what am I gonna do? What's gonna happen to me?
Well, I can tell you what's gonna happen. This fella, had a conversation
with the Lord while he was in hell. He said, Father Abraham, I'm
tormented in these flames. Would you allow Lazarus to dip
his finger? Now this guy's gonna be here
forever. He's gonna be eternally in hell. And all he wanted was
to have Lazarus, who he wouldn't have given the time of day before. That stinking beggar out there,
he ain't gonna tell how long it's been since he had a bath. Would you let him dip his finger
in some water and just touch my tongue? That's all I'm asking. And Father Abraham said in Luke
16, 26, between us and you, there's a great gulf fixed, so that they
which would pass from hence to you cannot, neither can they
pass to us that would come from thence." Father Abraham said,
no, no. No, the way you die, that's the
way you're gonna be forever. Now, how did he get there? All
right, just turn with me now to Isaiah 28. How did he get
there? Isaiah chapter 28. Look at verse 15. All right, let's read 14. I'll
read 14 and 15, then I'm gonna read verse 18. Look, Isaiah 28,
14. Wherefore, hear the word of the
Lord, ye scornful men. And who are those? Those that
think well of themselves and have contempt for that which
is good. Right, scornful men. He's going
for men that rule this people, which is in Jerusalem, because
you have said, we've made a covenant with death, and with hell are
we at agreement. When the overflowing scourge
shall pass through, it shall not come unto us. We made lies
our refuge. Under falsehood have we hid ourselves. Look at verse 18. And your covenant
with death shall be disannulled. and your agreement with hell
shall not stand. When the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then
you shall be trodden down by it. How did that fella get to
be found in hell? Well, here's what scripture says.
Because ye have said, Isaiah 28, 15, because you've said,
because you've said, now let me tell ya, what the scornful
man's gonna say. That man that's arguing, he's
got contempt for that which is right and good. Let me tell you
what he said. He said, oh, you never said that. You didn't say that. But according
to the word of the Lord, by man's thoughts, by man's actions, this
is exactly what he said. This is what God says they said.
is what you said in your heart, because you have said, because you've said, we made
a covenant with death and with hell we are at agreement. Because
you said, trusting in your own self-righteous works, thinking
that you've done something, either you've done something that you
know, is worthy of God's acceptance, or you think, well, I'm really
not as bad as other men are, therefore, I'm not gonna be deserving
of being found in hell, I can tell you that. I ain't that bad. I ain't Hitler. I ain't never murdered anybody. Hell yeah, you have. Yes, you
have. Never committed adultery. Yes,
you have. Because you said, I've made an agreement, I made a covenant
with death. What does that mean? I, by my free will decision,
by my works, by my baptism, by walking down the aisle, by talking
to preachers, I have made an agreement with
death not to destroy me. I've made an agreement with death and I've made an agreement with
hell to not eternally bind me in torment like that fella that
lifted up his eyes out of hell. I've already got that settled.
I've made an agreement with death and hell and I'm good. The overflowing scourge, oh,
I believe that God's gonna be just, and I believe there's gonna
be a day of judgment. I do believe that, but I tell
you what, whenever it comes through, the overflowing scourge, it won't
come to me. We've made lies our refuge. Whose lies? Death and hell is lying to you. We've made lies. Oh, you've exhibited
it by trusting them, but I'm telling you, death and hell lies,
I won't really get you. How do I know that? What did
Satan say? What did Satan say to Eve? Have
God said, did God say that? You're not gonna die. Death and
hell will lie to you. You've made lies your refuge. You think that you've entered
into a covenant with hell and death, and you're in agreement. When I leave this world, they
promised me they're not gonna hurt you. The Lord said in verse 18, your
covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement
with hell is not gonna stand. When the overflowing scourge
shall pass through, then you shall be trodden down by it. It will happen. Now listen to
me. I'm telling you right now, this message right here is gonna
come up again in the day of judgment. God's word is not It's going
to return to him void. What I'm telling you is what
God had to say, not because I'm preaching it, because whose word
it is. It's going to come up. Books
are going to be open. And on December the 24th, 2023,
you were sitting in a place where I sent my word and you wouldn't
hear it. It's coming up again. I'm telling
you right now. It's the truth. Now let's hear the truth of what
God has to say. Verse 16, 18 of Isaiah 28. Therefore, thus saith the Lord
God, behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation, a stone, a tried
stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation. He that believeth
shall not make haste. Judgment also will I lay to the
line, and righteousness to the plummet. and the hail shall sweep
away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the
hiding places. God Almighty has established
the surety of man's eternal salvation according to God's will, and
not man's, according to God's will. Eternal life is in one
person the only foundation upon which
a sinful sinner's hope is found. God is a consuming fire and I
promise you judgment is coming. Scripture said over in Hebrews
chapter nine, after this, judgment, after this. Men and women will leave this
world and leaving this world without Christ, I'm gonna tell
you something, you know what? Immediately, when a man or woman leaves this
world and lifts up their eyes out of hell, they're gonna realize
one thing. God truly is sovereign. Everybody
in hell knows it. They know it. God is God. Life eternal for a people of
God's choosing was settled according to the covenant of God's grace
before the world began. I'll read 2 Timothy 1.9. I've
read it before, I'm gonna read it again. Now listen, when all
of this was settled, I'm telling you right now, nothing, nothing,
2 Timothy 1.9, nothing starts in time with God. Everything
is eternal. 2 Timothy 1.9, listen, who has
saved us and called us with a holy calling,
not according to our works, but according to his own purpose
and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world
began. I'm gonna tell you when Almighty
God saved his people, Before the foundation of the world,
it's established. Salvation is eternal. Who has
saved us, at any time he calls us and tells
us that which was given us in Christ Jesus. Nothing's ever
been added to the Lord. It's just manifest in time. It's
eternal. This life was established according
to God's distinguishing love. That love which he has the right
to give or withhold. Jacob have I loved, Esau have
I hated. Is there unrighteousness with
God? Paul says, God forbid. Who art thou, old man, that replies
against God? His love, turn with me to Deuteronomy,
hold your place in Isaiah, turn to Deuteronomy 7. His love was
not shown, contrary to foolish thoughts, because God looked
down and saw some that would choose him, therefore he chose
them. That would make God's will predicated on man's will. That
would make God deciding to do something that he saw man would
do. That's not so. Deuteronomy 7, verse 6 to 8,
listen to this. For thou art an holy people unto
the Lord thy God. The Lord thy God hath chosen
thee to be a special people unto himself above all people that
are upon the face of the earth. The Lord did not set his love
upon you nor choose you because you were more in number than
any people, for ye were the fewest of all people, but because the
Lord loved you and because he would keep the oath which he
had sworn unto your fathers, as the Lord brought you out with
a mighty hand and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen from
the hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. You'll say, well, that's
just talking about Israel back then. No, Israel's a type, a
picture. God's elect. God Almighty shows
mercy on his people because he chose to. It's amazing to me that we don't have any problem with
a husband loving his wife. You know which woman in this
congregation here I'm in love with? And right over there. Now, I like and fellowship with
you ladies and that, but I love her. I love her. You don't have
a problem with that, do you? With me having distinguishing
love for her? Why do we have a problem with
God having a distinguishing love for his wife? But he's the bride
of Christ. Why? He has the right. The love
of God toward unworthy sinners is the foundation upon which
man's salvation is laid, his love, his love. The Lord of glory,
according to his infinite mercy and wisdom, to be just and to
justify his people, that is the foundation upon which we find
all of our hope built on the foundation of Christ, for God
so, I just quoted this, so loved, he loved, he loved this world,
this world of his people, this world of mankind, this world
of his elect that he gave. And this stone, this tried stone,
this approved stone, this accepted, this trusted stone, according
to the eternal eye of Almighty God was seen, the scripture says,
to have laid down his life to be slain before the foundation
of the world. God Almighty has everlastingly
beheld the foundation and the surety upon which his people
are delivered, rescued. And having established everlastingly
the foundation of himself, the stone, has been laid, his people
delivered and rescued and saved in him, the Father manifested
this truth. This way right here, this is
how he does it. No other way has God been pleased
to manifest this truth. God will have mercy and compassion
on whomsoever he will. He's got the right to. And he's
gonna tell people by sending preachers. Whosoever shall call
upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How are they gonna
be saved whom they've not heard? And how are they gonna hear without
a preacher? How are they gonna preach unless they be sent? God
has been pleased to take frail creatures of dirt, dirt, and
impart a treasure into them. Some of them he's called to preach
the gospel and give it a heart. We're gonna sit and study these
scriptures and find out what does God have to say and tell
people about it. This message of the gospel is
declared Be all of grace, for by grace are you saved through
faith, and not of yourselves. Listen to this, it's the gift
of God. Man thinks he earns it by exhibiting his works, his
chores, his will. Salvation is by gift, gift. If I give you something because
I want to, I'm not asking you to earn it. I want to give it
to you. I want to give it to you. And our boast is in the Lord,
and not in ourselves. By grace are you saved through
faith in that not of yourself, a gift of God. Not of works,
lest any man should boast. What did David say? Psalm 34,
two. My soul shall make her boast
in the Lord. Listen, the Lord has promised
concerning those that he's been everlastingly pleased to save,
deliver from wrath. Isaiah 28, 60, he that believeth
shall not make haste. What does that mean? The apostle
Paul was moved by the spirit of God to give us an explanation
of what it means to not make haste. Romans 9, 33, as it is
written, behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone to those that
believe not. Not to God's people, but to those.
a rock of offense for some, an occasion of stumbling, and whosoever
believeth on him by faith, entrusting themselves, their soul unto him.
Here's what Paul said when Isaiah said they shall not make haste.
Paul said this is what it means. They shall not be ashamed. They're
not gonna be ashamed. They're not gonna be put to shame.
They're not gonna be deceived. They're not gonna be disappointed.
Brethren, we have a sure foundation. and those by the grace of God's
been given a heart to believe him, casting themselves upon
him, they have this assurance. Turn to Hebrews 6, 17. I'm gonna
wrap this up. Hebrews 6, 17. Hebrews chapter six, verse 17,
18. Wherein God, Hebrews six, wherein
God willing more abundantly, Now listen to what's being said. I'm going to start that verse
over. Now listen to what's being said. Wherein God, willing more
abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of
his counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable
things in which it was impossible for God to lie, We might have
strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the
hope set before us. Two immutable things. I started to name this message,
two immutable things. Number one, in closing, who did
the Lord write that to? He said, I'm writing this to
the heirs of promise. to those who had no part in making
themselves heirs. You, everybody here came from
our parents. What part did you play in being
born into your family? You didn't have anything to do
with that. You didn't choose it, you didn't decide to, no. You were born into your family
because you were born into your family. God's pleasure, God's
will. And you were heirs to whatever
your parents had, whatever they had. When they passed, you were
the heirs. Why? Because of birth, because
of birth into that family. So the heirs of promise are those
who had no part in making themselves heirs. They were chosen of God
and born of God. They're God's people. They're
people of God's choosing. And when was that promise, when
was that promise made? I said that was the last one.
This would be. Titus chapter one. Titus one,
verse one and two. Titus, Thessalonians, Timothy,
Titus. Titus 1, 1 and 2, Paul, a servant
of God and apostle of Jesus Christ according to the faith of God's
elect and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness
in hope of eternal life, which God that cannot buy promised
before the world began. God Almighty has given the heirs
of promise Two immutable things. Two immutable things. That means they cannot change. They do not change. They've given him his word. He's
given him his word. His word. And he's established it by an
oath. He said, because I can swear
by no greater, I swear by myself. These immutable things, his fixed
purpose, his word cannot change. And his oath, he said, I make
this promise to be based on me. I'm God, and there's none else
Brethren, we have his word and we've got his oath of himself. Now these two immutable things.
Paul was moved to say we fled for refuge. I was rewriting, re-rewriting,
re-rewriting this message. And I got to thinking this morning,
about fleeing for a refuge, and I could not help. I got to thinking
about that woman, that Syrophoenician woman, that came to the Lord, and she
cast herself upon him, and she said, she said, Lord, my daughter's
sick. Possessed with the devil, she's
got sick. There's something about her.
The Lord said, It's not meat. It's not fit for me to give the
children bread and dogs. That woman, she said, you're
right. I agree with you. But even the
dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the master's table. I'm
in trouble. Disciple says, send her away.
She's bothering us. Lord said to that woman, woman,
great is your faith. She laid hold. She wasn't leaving. Scripture says, one cried out
and said, though he slayed me, I'm going to trust him. Though
he slayed me, I'm going to trust him. I ain't going nowhere. Lord,
you can kill me right here, but there's no place else to go.
Brethren, after this, the judgment, may God grant mercy, give us
a heart to cast ourselves upon the mercy and grace of God for
his glory and our good.