I'm gonna ask you to take your
Bibles and turn with me to the book of Proverbs, chapter 28,
Proverbs 28. I was especially struck this morning. Got up, trying to go over my
notes. With the realization of a preacher called of God. The scripture says that we're
going to have to give account and pray that we might do it
with joy and not with sorrow. I don't understand what all that
means, but I know that the scripture declares that I'm called to preach
the gospel I'm to seek the Lord's face and direction and stand
before a people that have come to be comforted. I'm encouraged
by the scriptures, Isaiah 40 verse 1 to comfort my people. You comfort my people. And I
pray this morning. And I'm gonna ask you, right
now, I want you to pray for me. I need, I need, I need you to
pray for me. That's what Paul the Apostle
said, pray for us. Pray for us. I pray that God
give me clarity of thought, bring back to my memory the things
that I've studied and sought God for, and I pray that I might
do this totally. for the Lord's glory and for
the good of his people. Proverbs 28. I want to look at
one verse, verse 20. The scripture says, a faithful
man shall abound with blessings. He that maketh haste to be rich
shall not be innocent or unpunished. Now, according to the scriptures,
a faithful man, and I'm just going to go ahead and say this,
a faithful man before God and men, faithful, faithful in all
areas, faithful, faithful man is one found to
be according to the interpretation of the word faithful, one that
is grounded in fidelity, one who is fixed in firmness and
steadfastness, firm in word and thought, in action, before God
and men. He's faithful. That man, the
scripture says, shall abound. He is going to be found to have
abundance with blessings. He's going to
abound with blessings, praise. The praise of God and the praise
of men. But he that maketh haste to be
rich, the one that is pressing, He's pressing to gain the riches
of this world, the riches of the praise of man, the riches,
or if he's hasting or pressing to gain riches before God on
both sides. One that's faithful before God
and man or one that's hasting or pressing hastening to gain
riches for himself, by himself, that man shall not be innocent. He's not going to be without
punishment. Now, I want to know what this
is really saying. I want to know what it means.
I don't want to read it and think I know what it means. I want
to know what it means because It's talking about somebody either
receiving blessings of God and men, or on the other hand, not
being innocent before God and man. Now we all know concerning
the scriptures, and therefore we're gonna readily admit this
part, that men, men and women, mankind, Born in Adam, now listen
to this, is not faithful. He's not faithful. Now, turn
over, hold your place right here. Turn with me to 2 Timothy 3.
2 Timothy 3. I had these verses one to five
is what I'm gonna look at. 2 Timothy 3. verses one to five,
and I was going to, at first I was going to just read this
passage of scripture, but I thought, no, I'm going to take every word
of this and I'm not going to go into depth, I'm just going
to tell you what every word means according to a good concordance. 2 Timothy 3. The Apostle Paul,
writing under the inspiration of God's Spirit, says, This know
also that in the last days, and these last days now were from
the time of the Lord's ascension back into heaven. He came into
this world in the fullness of time, and he ascended back. Now, we've been in the last days
since then, but we're in them right now. That in the last days,
perilous times shall come. Perilous. What do they mean?
Hard to take. Troublesome. For men shall be
lovers of themselves. Here's the interpretation. Too
intent on one's own interest. Covetous. Loving, especially
money, but glory, self-glory, they're going to be covetous.
Boasters, what does that mean? Empty pretenders, proud, showing oneself above
others and being conspicuous, clearly visible. Blasphemers,
that is slanderers, speaking evil, reproachful and abusive. disobedient to parents, not compliant,
unthankful, ungracious, unpleasing, unholy, wicked, not showing respect
for God. Verse 3 says, without natural
affection, unsociable is what the word means. Truce breakers cannot be persuaded
to enter into a covenant implacable or relentless, unstoppable. False accusers is what it means. Well, the margin says make baits,
that is, one that excites contentions and quarrels, one that is prone
to slander, accusing falsely, incontinent, without self-control,
intemperate, that is, given to excess, fierce, not tame, savage,
Verse four says, traitors, a betrayer like Judas. Heady, that is rash, reckless,
headstrong, high-minded, that is blinded with pride or conceit,
lifted up with pride. Lovers of pleasure more than
lovers of God. taken up with sensual pleasures
or vain amusements. And then verse five, here's one
that just really got me. Having a form of godliness, but
denying the power thereof from such turn away. I just wrote this down. resembling, having a form of
godliness, resembling reverence. And that is having a form of
godliness, being content to possess merely the head knowledge of
the gospel. They're clear on the doctrine
of grace. They're clear on that. Got five
points, got them all down. Able to talk high. but denying
the power that they speak of when it comes to consistency
in walk, because the heart is void of the power of the spirit. They know five points of Calvinism.
They got that part down. They got that. They got that.
Satisfied with that. Well, I know five points of Calvinism.
I've said before, Demons know five points of Calvin. Demons
know that man's totally depraved. And that God has unconditionally,
no condition in men, unconditionally elected a people. Limited atonement. The scripture declares that Christ
died for the sheep. Irresistible grace. When God
calls, they're coming. They're coming. And preservation
of the saints. God's gonna keep his people.
They know that. But I'm gonna tell you something, there's no
heart left for it. Having a form of godliness, but denying the
power thereof. And then scripture says, for
such, turn away. Don't cater to them. Oh, may
the Lord have mercy upon us. Well, back in Proverbs, Proverbs
chapter 28. knowing what the scripture says
about man. So when it comes to judging a
man, looking at a man, those born in Adam, concerning faithfulness,
I just read what scripture says, that this is the way it's gonna
be in the last time. And all of us are like that.
We might as well just admit it. You know somebody said, well,
you'll not find me like that. Yes, we are. We've got an old
man about it, and that old man's never changed. So when it comes
to looking at men, finding a faithful man, one that is continually,
in word, in thought, in deed, never deviating in steadfastness
in truth, in faith, there's none righteous. But having considered the impossibility
of finding a faithful man in and of this world, one who has
only one principle, one that has one principle, being found
faithful, faithful to God and faithful to man, one who would
rather be found poor naturally or spiritually, than to be found
rich by trying to make himself gain either temporal or eternal
blessings. There's only one that fits the
description of faithful, faithful, faithful, the Lord Jesus Christ. There's only one. Therefore,
you tell me about him who is faithful. I want to be found
in Him. I want to be represented by Him.
I want Him to answer for me. I want Him to deal with my sin. I want Him to put it away. I
want Him to robe me in His righteousness and hold me and keep me and bring
me to glory and let me be found eternally with Him. And don't tell me what I can
do in order to earn it. Because I already know better.
I already read 2 Timothy 3, 1 to 5. I've already read it. And
I know what's gonna happen to me if I'm left to me. I don't
wanna go back in time and try to figure out a time that I was
found faithful or a time that I walked down the aisle or a
time that I got baptized. Don't tell me about that anymore.
Because I'm getting older. And Ben, I'm gonna die. and I'm gonna stand before God.
And when I stand before God, the only thing that's gonna matter
is what God said, not what man says. Whatever man
says, if I can't back it up with these scriptures right here,
it's not even worth hearing. The Lord Jesus Christ, he alone
was found faithful, faithful. In the eternal eye, turn back
to Proverbs. I'm not gonna read all of them,
but I'm just gonna read Proverbs 8, 28 to 30. We've read that
so many times, but it's so worthy to be heard, especially right
now. Before he was ever made flesh,
he was found faithful. Proverbs 8, 28 to 30, when he
established the clouds above, when he strengthened the fountains
of the deep, when he gave to the sea his decree that the water
should not pass his commandment, when he appointed the foundations
of the earth, then I was by him. Here is the Lord Jesus Christ
speaking concerning his Father. I was with him. I was daily his delight, rejoicing
always. before him. He was faithful. You say he was faithful before
he came into this world? He was faithful before he was
made flesh. He is, he is. He's never changed. There was just a point in time
when he took upon himself the form of sinful flesh. But he's
always been, he's always been. He's the eternal son The eternal
surety. So he was faithful before he
was made flesh. But then in time, he was born
of a virgin. The spirit of God moved upon
Mary. She had not known her husband,
her husband to be. She didn't know Joseph sexually. She didn't know him, he didn't
know her. She was a virgin. and the Spirit of God moved upon
her. And the scripture says that this
holy thing was found to be in the womb of a virgin. God had moved upon a woman who
had never known a man, and Christ was placed inside her womb. embryo, and he came in this world
just like all of us did. Grew in her womb for nine months,
and when it came time for her delivery, she had a baby. He was born just like he made
himself likened to his brethren in all points. You say, well,
he didn't come in this world like we do. Yes, he did. He came
into this world And for the years before he was ever announced
by John the Baptist, the forerunner, he was faithful. I want you to
turn to Luke 2. Hold your plate. Turn back to
Luke 2, Luke chapter 2. He was faithful. He was faithful
before he was ever made flesh. He was faithful eternally. But
when he came into this world, for he was openly declared to
be the Messiah. He was growing just like we are,
growing. Look at Luke 2, verses 41 to
52. Luke 2, 41. Now his parents went
to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover, and when
he was 12 years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom
of the feast, and when they had fulfilled the days, As they returned,
the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem, and Joseph and
his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have
been in the company, went a day's journey, and they sought him
among the kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not,
they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him, and came to pass
him. After three days, they found him in the temple, sitting in
the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them
questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding
and answers. And when they saw him, they were
amazed. And his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus
dealt with us? Behold, thy father and I have
sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is
it that you sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about
my father's business? And they understood not the saying
which he spake unto them. And he went down with them, and
came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them. But his mother kept
all these things, all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased
in wisdom and stature, that is age, and in favor with God and
man, before he was ever revealed to be the Messiah. He was found
at 12 years old, sitting there being about his father's business. And his mother asked him, what
are you doing? He said, I'm doing what I'm called to do, sent to
do. And they didn't understand it.
But his mama thought on it, mused on it. He was found faithful
eternally before. He was found faithful. after
his birth. And in the days of his humiliation,
after John the Baptist said, behold, the Lamb of God, there
he is right there, that's him. It was time for him to be revealed.
He was shown to be who he is, openly. And this was his, this
was his, his declaration of his calling, John 8, 29. He that sent me is with me. The
Father hath not left me alone, for I do always, always those
things that please him. This is what I do. He said to
his disciples, after they had gone to get him something to
eat when he was there at the well in Sychar, John 4, he said,
my meat, my food, this is what I feast on. My meat is to do
the will of him that sent me, and finish the work. And I know
that his faithfulness was acknowledged not only by his own declaration,
but the scripture says his faithfulness was declared from heaven. Matthew
3, 17, at the Lord's baptism. And lo, a voice from heaven saying,
this is my beloved son. whom I'm well pleased. Then on
the Mount of Transfiguration, a voice was heard again. This
is my beloved Son, whom I'm well pleased. Hear ye Him. The Spirit of God gave witness
on the Isle of Patmos through the Apostle John, who was said
to write, this is the Spirit of God giving witness to his
faithfulness. God cannot lie. The Lord said
it concerning his faithfulness, the Father said it, and this
is what the Spirit moved John to say. Unto the angel of the
church of the Laodiceans write, These things saith the Amen. The faithful and true witness,
the beginning of the creation of God. So a faithful, back in
Proverbs 28, 20, a faithful man, Faithful man, and there's only
one. I mean, we can try to throw some accolades on ourselves and
say, well, I've been faithful. Listen, when it comes to God's
standard, and that's the only standard that matters. The rest
of it don't matter. What I say, you say, that don't
matter. What God says, that word's gonna stand. A faithful man,
one is faithful to God, one is faithful to men, shall abound
with blessing. Blessing. He's going to abound
with the blessing of God. I just read where the Father
blessed him. The Spirit blessed him. And the
Lord declared his faithfulness himself. Going to abound with
the blessing of God and the blessing and praise of men. Psalm 911
says this. Seem praise to the Lord, which
dwelleth in Zion, in the church, in the bride. Declare among the
people his doing. You know what we're trying to
do this morning, in agreement with God's word. We've come here
and we want to bless the Lord. Lord, thank you. Thank you that
these scriptures declare that there's one that's faithful.
And the Lord, God, the Father from heaven said, you hear Him.
You hear Him. Hear what He said. The scripture
says, He is praised in the heart of His own. Psalm 103, verse
1. Bless the Lord, O my soul. And all that is within me, bless
His holy name. I want you to turn with me in
closing to Revelation 7. Revelation 7, verse 9. Revelation
7, verse 9. I'm telling you, he that is faithful,
a faithful man, the scripture says, a faithful man shall abound
with blessings. The Father who has blessed him
always blesses. But what about his people? How
long are they going to bless him? Look at Revelation 7, verse
9 to 12. After this, I beheld in law a
great multitude, which no man could number. Now here's the
Apostle John under the inspiration of God's Spirit, and God has
shown him what shall be, the way things will be. After this, I beheld, and lo,
a great multitude which no man could number, of all nations,
and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne,
and before the Lamb clothed with white robes and palms in their
hands, and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our
God, which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the
angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders,
and four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and
worship God saying, amen. Blessing and glory and wisdom
and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be unto our God
forever and ever. Amen. Brethren, a faithful man, and again, not
in any of us, in ourselves, but in Christ, a faithful man. I've got a little word of comfort,
I'm gonna leave with you, and then I'm gonna hush. A faithful man shall abound with
blessing, but he that maketh haste to be
rich, he's that's pressing, anxious to be rich before God, trying
to establish his own righteousness, based on his own work or his
own self-righteousness, he's not going to be innocent. He's
not innocent before God, but rather he's guilty. He's guilty. One is trying to make and establish
his own righteousness by what he does. He's taken up. He's not innocent
because he's guilty of prideful deception and envy. The glory of God belongs to God
alone. Jonah 2.9 says this, salvation
is of the Lord. Now let me ask you something.
Where does that leave me or you? When it comes to salvation, where
does that leave me or you? If salvation is of the Lord,
what does that mean? That means that God Almighty, by whom salvation is established,
procured, given, is of the Lord. God Almighty has mercy on whomsoever
He will have mercy. That's what Scripture says. Who
said that? God said it. Who did He say it to? Moses.
Show me your glory. cause all my goodness to pass
before you. You're going to see the glory
of Christ and I'll have mercy on whom I'll have mercy. I'll
have compassion on whom I'll have compassion. God almighty
established before the foundation of the world a people that he
was going to show mercy. And what he does in time, he
gets them under the sound of gospel, the gospel. And I've said this so many times,
the gospel is not an offer. I'm not offering, I'm offering.
The Spirit of God declares, and God Almighty blesses that message
when He pleases it and gives His people a new heart. And they
believe it, and you know what they do? They bless the Lord,
and they don't have any confidence in themselves. And they say this,
I was saved by grace, and I knew it through faith, and it was
not of myself. It was the gift of God. A faithful
man, faithful man. He's gonna abound in blessing.
May the Lord bless this to our hearts for Christ's sake. Amen.
All right, let's take a quick break.