It's good to see you this morning.
Let's begin by taking our Bibles and turn with me to the book
of Proverbs. Let's look in Proverbs first
this morning. Proverbs chapter 14. I would like to read verses 25
and 26. Proverbs 14. Verse 25, the scripture says, A true witness
delivereth souls, but a deceitful witness speaketh lies. In the fear of the Lord is strong
confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge. Let's pray together. Our Father, this morning we thank
you for the blessed privilege to be able to meet together. Lord, we realize that it is by
your grace that on this side of the grave were able to sit
under the gospel. I pray that you would bless the
word today. Lord, we are needy people and
we need help. Lord, I pray that you might bless
our hearts to worship truly for Christ's sake. Amen. Without a doubt, Man born in Adam is a fallen creature. Now here's the only thing that
can be said about every man and every woman that's born into
this world, born in Adam. They're dead spiritually. There's no life. There's no love
for God. There's no hunger after the gospel.
They're dead. If that man, if that woman is
going to have any hope, any hope, any hope of eternal life, eternal
security, he must be delivered from the power of darkness, the
power of death, And he must be translated into the kingdom of
God's dear Son. Now I want you to notice that
what was said just then is something that absolutely he cannot do
for himself. Men born in Adam are unable The
Scripture sets forth. And this is the only basis that
we have. What does God Almighty have to
say? A true witness. I looked that word true up. It
means stable. A stable witness. A true witness,
stable. Delivereth. It means he snatches
away, this is this, without fail. I like that. A true witness delivereth,
snatches away and back without failure. Souls. He delivereth. You know what we've said about
that ETH on the end of it? Present progressive. He delivereth. He delivers and delivers and
delivers. I had a need. And every man,
every woman born has a need. I have a need, first of all,
to be delivered out of spiritual darkness initially. I need for
the Lord to call me out of darkness. I need for Almighty God to cross
my path and deliver me. I need for Him to snatch me just
like He snatched Saul of Tarsus. Was Saul looking for God? No.
No, sir. No, sir. No man, no woman that
Almighty God ever crosses their path, no one was ever looking
for God. People say, well, I was seeking
the Lord. The Scripture says you weren't. No man seeks after
God. If any man, any woman seeks after
God, I'll tell you what, Almighty God has already sought them out.
Has already called them out of darkness. Has already given them
faith to believe. with regeneration, with new life,
faith is given. The moment God Almighty calls
a man or woman out of darkness, that's when they have faith.
Prior to that, they didn't have faith. They didn't have life. Faith is given by God Almighty. I needed for the Lord to deliver
me. to snatch me out of darkness. And I need for Him to deliver
me now, right now. I need for Almighty God to keep
me daily. I need for Him to cleanse me
by the washing of His Word right now. Oh, the presence of sin. that I know, that I am not in
bondage to. Not sin that is present in a
believer. It does not rule. It has been
beheaded. I will remove that heart of stone. I've said before, we need to
be reminded. You say, well, if the Lord says He's going to remove
the heart of stone and give a heart of flesh, Why am I like I am? It's because the presence of
sin is still there. But it has been beheaded. It
doesn't rule. It wars against, it strives against
that new man that is within. But it does not rule. I need
to be delivered. And in that day, I need for Him
to deliver me. In the moment of my death, In
the moment of His second coming, when I leave this world, whether
it be physically dying, or whether it is in the day of His second
return, I need for Him to deliver me. I need for Him to keep me.
A true witness, a stable witness, delivereth, snatches away without
failure, souls. Now, I know this when it comes
to a true witness. A true witness. A stable witness. There's only one. There is only
one. It is the Lord Jesus Christ,
Revelation 3.14, unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans,
write these things, saith the Amen. The faithful and true witness. The non-concealing, true witness. The beginning of the creation
of God. The Lord Jesus Christ is the
one trustworthy, stable, truthful witness. He alone, as God, man, mediator,
is the witness to God's people. He is God's prophet. He is the prophet, the revealer
by His Holy Spirit of God's everlasting covenant of grace. He alone declares
the will of the Father. No one knows that which Almighty
God has set forth except Him who delivers souls. True witness. He delivers souls on purpose.
He delivers souls forever. Oh, that Almighty God might deliver
souls today. There's not one of us here that
doesn't need deliverance right now. We're sitting right here. There's
some that are sitting here today that I'm convinced. Almighty
God's called out of darkness. There's some that I'm sure the
Lord's never called out of darkness. But there's not one that doesn't
need deliverance. I need deliverance right now. If the Lord has shown
mercy to me, I need deliverance right now from the wavering of
the thoughts of my mind, my heart. I cannot, I cannot not sin. And it grieves me. How many? Boy, I tell you what, wouldn't
it be embarrassing if we had to give a show of hands and I'd
be the first one to raise mine. How many of us right now, this
morning, have already wandered in our minds, come back and just
saying, now where was I? I don't even remember what he
just said. We need this day. Oh, in the wisdom of God, Almighty
God has been pleased by the foolishness of preaching. I've said before,
not foolish preaching, but the foolishness, what the world calls
foolishness. But this gospel, the gospel of
God's free grace, the gospel that honors God, the gospel that
exalts the Lord Jesus Christ, that sets forth God's purpose
and God's will, is there any other message of deliverance? The Spirit of God blesses. But
I do know this concerning Him who is the true witness. Almighty
God has been pleased to call men out of darkness as preachers,
true witnesses, ambassadors for Christ. The Apostle Paul says
in 2 Corinthians 5.20, as though God did beseech you by us, When I stop and realize the responsibility
of this pulpit, that I stand before men and women that are dying,
we're going to die. We're going to leave this world.
And in that moment, we're going to have to face Almighty God. And men that take this pulpit
lightly, that's why I cannot, I cannot allow someone that I
don't know, that I don't trust, I cannot allow them to stand
in this pulpit. You men that read, I trust you. Brother Gary, I trust you. Neil,
I trust you. Faithful witnesses, men called
of God, taught the truth of the gospel of God's grace that faithfully
set forth the glorious gospel of our Lord. It set forth that
God has a people everlastingly loved. They are witnesses. They beseech you as God did beseech
you. That there was no other message
than the message that Almighty God has set forth. Faithful men. Paul said to Timothy in 2 Timothy
2 that shall be able to teach others. But a deceitful witness speaketh lies. Deceitful. Liars. not witnesses of the grace of
our God, that do not set forth the Lord Jesus Christ as God's
Messiah, God's Anointed. These men, Ephesians 4.14 says,
they lie in wait to deceive. They speaketh lies, a deceptive
thing. Actually, I looked this up, it's
talking about lies, that deceptive thing. It says concerning that
word, a lie, it's figuratively an idol. An idol. When they speak a lie, what they're
doing is they're actually setting forth an idol. that Almighty God has not given
a heart to know the truth. The truth. When I say the truth,
you've heard this, I'm not going to tell you anything that you've
never heard before. The truth. Man is totally depraved. Almighty
God, Ephesians 1, has absolutely chosen to show mercy. He chose
a people. out of every nation and kindred
and tribe and tongue. God said that. The Lord Jesus
Christ went to the cross, particular redemption. He bore their guilt. He was made what they are. He
hung on that cross. The Scripture sets forth that
He was made sin. He who knew no sin. And he died
for God's elect. And he put away their guilt. The Scripture says that the Spirit
of God shall irresistibly. Can a man or woman that Almighty
God has purposed to save, can they resist God? No. No. No. No. Thy people shall be willing in
the day of thy power. All that the Father giveth me
shall come to me. And those that come to Him, are
they going to be kept? Absolutely. Kept by the power
of God through faith. Can they be lost? No. No. If they could, they would. They
quit. But they can't. Now, if I can back that up with
Scripture, and I can, I'm telling you, anyone that preaches a message
that refutes, any man that preaches a message that sets forth that
a man is left up to his will and his decision whether or not
he's going to be saved, that's a lie. That's a deceptive lie. And actually what it is, it's
an idol. It's an idol set up. And men here, I need to be delivered. I need God to keep me right now.
And help me right now. Lord, keep my mind right now.
Robert Hawker said concerning an idol, he said, it's everything
which men set up in their hearts to regard. And to tend to the
lessening of their reverence of Almighty God. An idol. Anything that a man or woman
sets up, and what it does, is it draws their attention. It
draws their heart. It draws their eye. That's what
I want. And I'll let him go by the wayside. He'll be second fiddle. This
idol is what I want. I'll take this. We must hear
of the true and living God. The One who by faith, by God's
grace, is held to through the preaching of the gospel, whereby
God Almighty delivereth souls. Thanks be unto Him. If I can
say, He's delivered me. Lord, deliver me. And Lord, in
that day, deliver me. Lord, in the hour of my passing,
I'm a helpless creature. And I know it. I know it. I need Him. I desperately need
Him. By the grace of God, He's shown
me something of my frailty. I must have wisdom Himself. Give unto me, Ephesians 1.17,
the spirit of wisdom and revelation and the knowledge of Him. I desire
that He would unite my heart to fear His name, to reverence
Him. Lord, keep me from just coming
to services. And just sitting here for a few
minutes. Maybe it won't be too much longer.
Maybe I will have done my duty for this week. Unite my heart
to fear your name. Why? Because in verse 26, in
the fear of the Lord is strong confidence. And his children
shall have a place of refuge. Boy, I tell you, that's a marvelous
promise. In the fear, in the reverence
of the Lord, His strong confidence is what it means. It's a bold
trust. Bold trust. Listen to Job's words. Job 13,
18, Behold now, I have ordered my cause, I know that I shall
be justified. Boy, what a statement. I know. I know. I've ordered my cause. Because he had ordered his cause.
He said, I know. Faith. We've been looking at
that. glorious grace on Winsden Heights
there in Hebrews. The faith. The substance of things
hoped for. It's the evidence of things if
not seen. I know this. I know this world
is fleeting. I know that. I know just a few
more set in signs. It's going to be over for me.
And you. But to know, Job said, I've ordered
my cause. What do you mean, Job? You've
ordered your cause. He said, I've set my cause in
order and have left myself, my cause, my soul with Him. I trust Him. I trust Him. I know this. I've quoted this
Scripture so many times, and the reason I do is because it
passes my mind so many times. Lord, if you marked iniquity, Lord, if you marked iniquity,
if you would charge me with every discrepancy, with every failing,
with every falter, with every sin, Lord, if you charge me,
if you mark me with that, Oh, thank You that by Your marvelous
grace that You look upon me in the Lord Jesus Christ. Lord,
thank You that You don't consider me in myself. Lord, look on me
in my substitute. Look on me in my mediator. Look
on me in my advocate. Lord, help me. Lord, keep me. I've ordered my cause, and I
know that I shall be justified. I believe Him. Lord, help my
unbelief. According to Your Word, Lord,
all that cometh, He that cometh to me, Lord, I want to come right
now. Lord, I need to come again right
now. I've told you so many times before, I need to hear that.
Don't look back. Somebody say, well, I know that
I'm a Christian because back years ago, that's too far back.
That's too far back. Are you coming right now? Today
is the day of salvation. Are you coming right now? Well,
I came when I was 14. All kinds of numbers, all kinds
of ages, all kinds of circumstances. I've this, I've that. What I
want to know is right now, do you need Him to deliver you? Do you need Him to snatch you
away and keep you? Lord, if you don't hold me, I'll
not be held. Lord, you don't snatch me away. I'll not be kept. I've ordered
my cause. I shall be justified. Man, the
joy, the hope, the peace, when I can hear the gospel of God's
free grace. And in my heart, by the grace
of God, knowing that I place no confidence whatsoever in my
flesh, and I can say this with confidence, Lord, being found
in You, I'm holy. Lord, being found in You, there's
no charges laid to my cause, laid to my account. Is sin there? Yes, it is. Do
I excuse it? No, I don't. It grieves me. Every believer I know is grieved
over what they are. But for a believer, are they
charged with it? No. Do they see it? Do they feel it? Do they hate
it? Yes, sir! Oh, wretched man that I am! But
I have laid my cost, ordered my cost, laid it at His feet.
Lord, according to Your Word, and this is all I've got. This
is all I've got. I don't have any faithfulness
in myself. I know that. I know just enough about myself. I know better than that. Lord,
according to Your Word, There is therefore now no condemnation
to them that be in Christ Jesus. And Lord, that settles my heart.
And I'm thankful. In the fear of the Lord is strong
confidence. And here's the last statement
we'll close. And His children shall. They do. They have had. They had since the foundation
of the world. That Almighty God purposed. He put them in Christ, who is
their refuge. He kept them in Christ, who is
their refuge. And by His grace and power, they
shall have a place of refuge. Psalm 46 warned, God is my refuge
and my strength. A very present help in trouble. I love you. And I enjoy the fellowship with
you. I thank God that He's allowed me the privilege to be here.
But we are not each other's refuge. Almighty God is our refuge. Almighty God is our stay. When every other refuge is swept
away, we shall have a place of refuge. Turn with me. Isaiah 28. I want you to just
look at this. Oh, how wonderful it is to look
upon God's Word. Let our eyes look on His Word.
I can read it, but look at it. Isaiah 28, 16 and 17. Therefore thus saith the Lord
God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation of stone, tritestone,
that is, a proven 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 place, that is the false hiding place. Those that fear God, reverence
Him. Those that by the grace of God
possess faith that respects Him, that's silent before Him. that lay hold of him by faith,
who is the sinner's only refuge. They've got hope. By the grace
of God, we have a shelter in the time of storm. I've got a storm that goes on in me all
the time. But by God's grace, that He would
give me a faith that He's going to keep. I think about that Scripture
whenever Peter was so bold. He was, Lord, if everybody else fails
You, You depend on me. I'm willing to go to prison for
you. I'll tell you better than that, Lord. I'm willing to die
for you." And the Lord, in His infinite
mercy and grace, told that bragger, He said, Peter, Satan hath desired
to have you sift his wheat, but I've prayed for you. that your
faith fail not. Lord, pray for me. Lord, as my advocate,
as my great high priest who ever liveth to make intercession for
me, prayin' for me. Lord, you that have promised
that you'll never leave me and you'll never forsake me, Lord,
my heart is drawn to you. Say, Lord, would you never leave
me or forsake me? Lord, I'm asking what you've
said. Lord, you alone who are my refuge. Lord, would you be
my refuge? Would you teach me today? Would
you help me today? For Christ's sake, amen.