Amen. We praise Thee, O God, for the
Son of Thy love, For Jesus who died and is now gone above. Alleluia, thine the glory. Alleluia, Amen. Alleluia, thine the glory. Revive us again. We praise thee, O God, for thy
Spirit of life who hath shown us Our Savior and scattered our
night. Hallelujah, Thine the glory,
Hallelujah, Amen. Hallelujah, Thine the glory,
Revive us again. All glory and praise to the Lamb
that was slain, who has borne all our sins and has cleansed
every stain. Alleluia, Thine the glory. Alleluia, Amen. Alleluia, Thine the glory. Revive us again. Revive us again, fill each heart
with Thy love. May each soul be recandled with
Thine from above. Alleluia, Thine the glory. Alleluia, Amen. Hallelujah, thine the glory,
revive us again. It's a real honor to have my
son and my daughter, my brother and my sister in Christ. with us this weekend, especially
my little granddaughter. Let's take our Bibles and turn
to the book of Romans chapter 12. Whenever the Spirit of God quickens
a man or a woman, makes them alive, when He imparts new life, and
He does, there is a new will, a new heart, a new spirit that
is born from above. It doesn't come into existence
before God at that time. It's always been in the person
of Christ because we were chosen in Him before the foundation
of the world. But it comes into being in life,
in this life, and in the knowledge and understanding of the one
who receives the life. They know it. at that time. It
comes into being then, not into existence before God. But whenever the Lord gives life,
you know that life. There is something that is different. They're not the same. Now, there's
a side of them that, yes, never changes. Flesh is flesh. And
it always acts like the flesh. But there's a new man. And that
man created in righteousness, created in Christ Jesus, born
from above. Sin is not. That which is born
of God, sin is not. Why? Because his seed remaineth
in him. And you go through this life,
a believer does, and they strive. They just wrestle within themselves. And that wrestling is especially
noticeable to him. He knows it. But others know
it too. There is a difference. Now last week we looked in Romans
chapter 12. We looked at the ninth verse, let
love be without dissimulation. Speaking of our love, to even
as our Lord said, love your enemies, we are to have a love for all
men. Now, I know that according to
the flesh, that's something that just can't really be grasped
hold of. Don't let your love be hypocritical. When the Lord says, love your
enemies, How is it that we looked last time at this? We realize that they are the
means in the accomplishment of God's purpose for the proving
of the saints. Remember when Shimei came to
David and started cussing him and throwing rocks at him? One
of David's right-hand men said, I'll take his head off. You realize who you're talking
to right there? I'll cut your head off. And David
said, leave him alone. The Lord sent him. The Lord said
to him, curse David. So we love even our enemies knowing
that they are in the hands of Almighty God, the means by which
God proves what God has established. How can we rest in our tribulation? How can we find peace? Well,
just as Brother Scott just said, we know that He never leaves
us, never forsakes us. Abhor that which is evil. Evil? What is evil? Evil, the
mixture or the attempted mixture of God's work and man's work
and man thinking that I am perfecting. the work of God with my efforts. Evil. Evil. Cleave to that which
is good, and none good but God. The Lord told that rich young
ruler when he asked him, he said, good master, why do you call
me good? He said, none good but God. If you call me good, you
are acknowledging. Cleave to that which is good. Cleave to Christ. to Him who
holds you. I know when we travel through
this life, this world hates that which gives honor to God, hates
Christ who is God Almighty set forth in sovereign saving grace. But I tell you, we love our enemies.
But next in verse 10, and I want to just look at just a few verses,
10 to 13, Lord willing, this morning, and I'm going to set
forth some evidences of life, evidences of true life. The Scripture
says, verse 10, Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly
kindness in honor, preferring one another. Be kindly affectioned
one to another with brotherly love." Now, the love that is
spoken of in verse 9, let love be with us. And this one in verse
10 is two different words. This word actually is the word
that we get the name of the city, Philadelphia. That's what it
means, brotherly love. Be kindly affectioned. This love,
is a love, is a word, is a commandment that is set forth to those of
the same family. Now, you know, someone in your
family, there is a love that is there and it's different.
You love our enemies. The Scripture says love your
enemies. Love those that use you. despitefully use you, persecute
you. But here's a word that has to
do with the life between two people that are found in Christ. It's a brotherly love. They love
each other for Christ's sake. They're born of the same family,
the same blood, the same death. Life, death. John 13, 35, "...by
this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, ye have
love one for another." You love each other. Brotherly love. A love within the brotherhood
of Christ because the love of Christ reigns in them. We love
each other because we love the same thing. We love each other
because of the Spirit of God that reigns in each other. We have the same object. I love
what you love. We love him. And we have an affection
we think alike. I understand we have frailties,
but I know this, the frailties I've got, I know you've got.
We love each other. Colossians 2.2. that their hearts may be comforted,
being knit together in love, unto all riches of the full assurance
of understanding, to the acknowledging of the mystery of God and of
the Father and of Christ, in whom are hid all the treasures
of wisdom and knowledge." We're here this morning and we're sitting
and we're hearing that which we love. We love Him. And we have a love for Him. I
think back on when the Lord asked Peter, Loveth thou me more than
these? And Peter said, Lord, you know,
you know, I love you. You know, I do. So we love him
and we have a brotherly love for each other. Different words.
It's a love, but there's something different about it. There's a distinction in that
word. And the only way I can describe
it is how the scriptures described it. We love him who is the source
of all love, and we love each other who has imparted himself
to us. Very distinct, very real. Galatians 6.10 says that we have
therefore opportunities. Let us do good unto all men,
especially unto them who are the household of faith. I'm telling
you, I want to be kind. I really do. I want to be kind
and considerate to those. If I see somebody and they're
in need, I would think, Mitch, that I would have a consideration
for them. But if you're in trouble, especially,
especially, do good to all men, especially them who are the household
of faith. Well, in the last part of Romans
In honor, it says, preferring one another. In honor, the value. You remember that we looked and
Scripture says, does the potter have the right out of the same
lump to make one vessel of honor worth the cost? A vessel of honor,
one that's worth the cost. What did it cost? What was the
cost of the redemption of one sinner? All of them, but what
was it of one? The blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Was it worth the cost? Absolutely. Set His face, the
Scripture says, like a flint to the cross. Why? He loved Him.
What was He going to do? He gave Himself for arms. The
Scripture says in honor, in value, esteeming, taking another's self, problems,
in honor. It's worth it. You hurt. Whatever
it takes for me, for you, it's worth it. Why? That's my brother. My son, but my brother. My brother in Christ. In honor,
esteeming, valuing, preferring others, preferring one another, taking the lead, preferring one
another, taking the lead to show respect A spirit of humility. Let me
ask you this. As the brethren, those that the
Lord Jesus Christ has eternally contained, chosen in Him, He
as the federal head, He as the rock
that Brother Scott was reading about, came and made himself of no reputation."
Who do I think I am? Made himself of no reputation.
Being found in the fashion of a man. Humble himself. Only he could truly humble himself. In me there is no humility. In me and my flesh I am nothing
but a proud arrogant rebel against God. He actually humbled himself. Now that takes God to do that. God Almighty to humble Himself. Abase Himself. Preferring My
good. Preferring My good. In brotherly love, in honor.
in esteeming, in valuing, preferring one another. The Lord Jesus Christ,
the scripture says, rose from supper, laid aside his garments,
took a towel, girded himself, poured water in a basin, began
to wash the disciples' feet. You know, the next time that
I began to think You know, whatever that is you're asking me to do,
that's just below my dignity. Let me think of this Scripture.
Let me think on this. Take the lead in esteeming the
other one to be more valuable. Why? He did. The Lord Jesus Christ showed
His provision for their walk They were clean. You know, you
read the Scriptures. They were clean everywhere. But
their feet needed to be washed every day. Not slothful. Back in Romans
12, verse 11, not slothful in business. Fervent in spirit,
serving the Lord. Now, you know, let me share something
with you. Employers and employees should show respect 100% for
each other. No doubt about that. Titus 2.9
says, Exhort servants to be obedient, subject and subordinate unto
their own masters, and to please them well, be fully agreeable.
You that are employers are you that are employees. Let me tell
you what the scripture says concerning your work ethic. I've heard men and I'll be honest
with you, I can understand this thought process because there
is no doubt in my mind that this is the way all of us by nature
would think. You try to put too much on me
and I'll tell you what I'll get, I'll get my time back. I can slow this thing down so
slow that you'll never get this job done. So don't push me. I know how we think. That's how we think. Let me tell
you what the Scripture sets forth. Exhort servants to be obedient
unto their own masters and to please them well in all things. Give a man a hundred percent. If he's paying you, give him
a hundred percent. Not answering. Not contradicting. Not purloining, embezzling. Don't steal that man's time. Don't give away to others or
keep back or reduce part of the money. Not purloining, but showing
all good fidelity, conviction of truth and honor, that they
may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things. Whatever
you do, do it as unto the Lord. If you're going to hire a man,
you pay him what he's worth. What's he worth? What's he worth?
What's he worth to you? And if you're working for somebody,
you give them everything they hired you for. If they're paying
you, you give it. You give it what it's worth.
A regenerated saint is not a thief. He's not a liar. He possesses
a new heart. And it's a heart that demands
fairness. He wants to be fair. He wants to be right. He wants
to be honorable. I don't want to cheat you. I don't want to
be mean to you. I don't. I really don't. But
you know what? That's not what the Scripture
is talking about right here. I mean, that's good advice. That
was just good advice right there. Not slothful in business. But
that's not what this is talking about. Not slothful in business
here. The word business means speed,
eagerness, and diligence. And it refers to the ministry
of Christ. It says, not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the
Lord. Lazy. Be zealous. Let me ask you this. Are you a believer? Do you believe
that Almighty God has put away your guilt? Has the Lord Jesus
Christ borne your guilt at Calvary? Has He put away your sin? Is
your iniquity pardoned? Do you believe that? If you do,
then let me say this, don't be slothful serving the Lord. If you are a bond slave of Christ, if you have had your ear bored
with all of His mercy and grace, giving yourself to Him Then for
goodness sakes, let everything else go. Let it go. What is more important than Him? Not slothful, lazy. Turn with me to Isaiah 50. Isaiah
50. The evidence of a believer is their zealous after Christ. His gospel is their gospel. His service is their service.
His business is their business. And I'm telling you, everything else is second fiddle. That to which a man gives himself,
that's what he loves. That's what he loves. Isaiah
chapter 50, verse 5. The Lord hath opened my ear.
He bored it. That's what he's talking about.
He bored it with an awl. You remember when the bond slave
would put his ear against the door post and he'd take the awl
and he'd pop the hole in it. That was a symbol. I'm your slave. I love you. I don't want to leave. I want to be where you are. I
want to hear you. I want to sit at your house. I want to sit at your table of
provision. The Lord hath opened my ear.
This is Christ speaking. I can tell you that. Under the
inspiration of this Spirit. That's the Lord. This is the
faithful servant right here. But this is the heart of every
believer. The Lord hath opened mine ear. I was not rebellious,
neither turned away my back. I gave my back to the smiters,
and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair. I hid not my face
from shame and spitting, for the Lord God will help me. Therefore
shall I not be confounded. Therefore have I set my face
like a flint, and I know I shall not be ashamed." A believer is
zealous. Not lazy. Not slow. Things that come up. A few years ago, I was doing
a little bit of painting for an institution out of New York. They told me, they said, tell
you what we're going to do for you. We're going to start setting
up art shows all over the country. We'll get you to do this, and
we'll get you to do that. We'll do this painting, and we'll pay
for everything. We'll pay for all. We'll get
you to do military prints and this, that, and the other, and
we'll have your places set up. Now, it's going to take the weekends
as the best time for us to do this. But I'm telling you, we'll
pay for it all. We'll give it all to you. What do you think first thing
went through my mind? I can't do that. I can't do that. But you'd be
famous. And you'd be a household name. You know, a household name is
not everything. In fact, it's nothing. It's nothing. You could have done that. Zealous. Whatever you give yourself
to, that's your God. That is your God. And I'll tell you this, I thank
God that He didn't allow me to do it. I'm thankful to be here
with you this morning. I'm thankful. I consider it the
highest calling that I could be sitting here, that I could
look at you, Brother Scott. Thank you. Thank you. Do I say any of that for the
honor that's due me? Oh, you're just a highly, you
ought to be highly praised, Marvin. Let me tell you something. If
you'd leave it up to me, I'd have taken it in a heartbeat.
Leave it up, leave it to me. I'd do it. I'd do it. And it was all said and done.
And I gained the whole world, Neal, and lost my soul. Not soulful in serving God. Bowing. Bowing. Ecclesiastes
9.10, Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might. For there is no work, no device,
no knowledge, No wisdom in the grave where you're going. A man takes his last breath,
and I'm going to tell you something. All of this world all of a sudden
was shown to be what it is. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. If you're convinced that you're
in Christ, That the gospel is the only message of hope for
sinners. That this life is short. And
that you're a dying man, a dying woman. And you dwell in the midst
of dying men. That's what Isaiah said. Give yourself as your servant. Is he worthy? Or is something
else worthy? What's more worthy? 2 Peter 3.14,
Be diligent that ye may be found in him in peace without spot,
without blemish. Not slothful in business. That's
what it means. Verse 12, Rejoicing in hope. You know, the older I get, the more I realize
this world just does not have any peace in it. Things that
I thought used to be so needful. Stuff that I thought would give
me some comfort, it just doesn't anymore. The stock market fluctuates
way too much. Stuff that used to smell new
doesn't smell new anymore, but it still had the payments. Things
that just seem to matter. Rejoicing in hope. You know, when the Lord Jesus
Christ sat on that thief on the cross, two men, one on either
side of Him, both of them railing for a while, and then all of
a sudden, one of them stopped. And it's as if you could just
behold the indescribable power of Almighty God. One is talking
one way just like the other. And all of a sudden, one says,
Hold it! Wait a minute. We're getting just exactly what
we deserve. I'm hanging on this cross because
I'm a thief. Lord, boy, there's a mercy of
God. Lord, when You enter into Your
Kingdom, will You remember me? Lord, You're going to enter into
a kingdom that I can't even begin to understand the depth and the
fullness and the majesty. And there You are. I know. I
know who You are. You're the Lord. You're the Master. Could it be that You could just
remember me? Just remember? I love it. He didn't even ask
him to say anything. He didn't ask him to do. He just
said, remember. How would he know whether or
not the Lord would even remember, would you? And the Lord said,
barely I say unto thee today. This guy was getting ready to
leave this world and he knew it. He knew enough about those
executions. He knew what was going to happen.
He's already there. He's hanging on that cross. And they're getting
ready. If you're not dead in a certain amount of time, we're
going to break your legs and you're not going to push yourself
up anymore. And you're going to suffocate. Today. You're going to be with
me in paradise. I'll bet you everything. that he didn't see that day the
same anymore. He believed God. He was hanging here and he said,
you know what? This is the worst that they can
do to me. This is the worst that's going to happen to me. In just
a few minutes, I'm going to be with Him. And I'll be with Him
forever. He rejoiced in hope. The Lord Jesus Christ had given
him faith. The Lord gave him faith. The
Lord of glory gave him faith by His Spirit. And he knew he
possessed it. He knew he did. Why? Because
he knows his own. He knows them by name. He calls
them by name. Scripture never even said the
name of the thief. Two thieves. Two thieves. And one of them, the Lord knew
in mercy. And when the time was right, the Lord allowed that
thief to do just exactly, Fred, what he wanted to do. He was
a thief. He was a thief. He was a thief. But do you know all things work
together for good? What did he get? Exactly what
he deserved. He was on that cross. But all
things work together for good to them that love God. He had
an appointment with the Master. And he was going to be right
there next to Him. And Almighty God allowed him exactly to do
what he did. And God showed mercy to him and
called him out of darkness. And that man rejoiced in hope.
Now, don't assume anything because there was one on the other side
that perished. And God gave him exactly what he deserved. And
he died in his sin. Rejoicing in hope. Faith is that present grace that
beholds a confident future. Christ is our hope. He is our hope of glory. Colossians
127, to whom God would make known was the riches of the glory of
this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope
of glory." Faith beheld his hope. Rejoicing in Christ. Rejoicing
in hope. Patient in tribulation. Believers are going to be tried.
Turn to 1 Peter 1. Believers are going to be tried
in this life. Believers are going to be tried. If you be without
chastisement, you're none of His. Believers are going to be
tried. Why are they tried? Why are they
tried? Because the Lord two things.
Number one, and both of them together. I can't even separate
these two. Number one, the Lord loves them.
Whom the Lord loves, He chastens. Every time Gabe's here, I always
have good, good examples. You'd ask him how many times
I spanked him when he was growing up. You know that little article
that I wrote on don't spoil the rod? It is scriptural. It is scriptural. It is scriptural.
It is scriptural. It is scriptural. It is scriptural. Children that are disobedient
to you, spank them. Spank them. Spank them. If you don't, you're disobedient
to God. You're disobedient. Now, I believe
in time out, you're disobedient. You are disobedient. And the
Lord will spank you because of disobedience. Hey, you listen
to me. I'm telling you, whom the Lord
loves, He chastens. And I'll bet you if I could get
my son to get up here right now, he wouldn't tell you anything
different than what I'm about to tell you. I never remember
a time. If I did, Gabe, I'm sorry, I
apologize. I never remember a time, number one, not telling him what
I was getting ready to spank him for. I told him what it is. Gabe, this is what you did. This
is what you did. I wouldn't spank him for a mistake,
but I would spank him for disobedience. This is why I'm going to spank
you. Secondly, I spanked him. He knew just exactly what he
was going to get. Thirdly, after I spanked him, I sat him on my
knee, or when he got big enough, I'd sit beside him, put my arm
around him, and I'd tell him, I love you. I love you. But the reason I had to spank
you is because I loved you. I'm not going to let you. I am
not going to let you get away with that. Parents, adults, other children
love to be around kids that are obedient, respectful, not unruly. Corral them. Do not let them
run rampant. One of my children got out of
hand. It is my responsibility. Corral them. They start running
around. Many times didn't have to snap
my finger. Sometimes just look at them. If you think you can't
speak with a look, they knew what I meant. If I was on the
phone, he came running through, hollering and screaming, and
I looked at him. Admit it. Patient in tribulation. 1 Peter
1. Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ
to the strangers scattered through Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia,
Asia, Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the
Father through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience
and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. Grace unto you
and peace be multiplied. Blessed be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy
hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead to an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, that
fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you who are kept by
the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed
in the last time, wherein you greatly rejoice. Though now for
a season, if need be, you are in heaviness through manifold
temptations, that the trial of your faith, being much more precious
than that of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire,
might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing
of Jesus Christ." Nothing gives a believer a greater foundation
to bear the calamities of this life and the chastisement at
the loving hand of the Master, and the future glory with Christ. My children didn't think that
I hated them. And a believer knows that the Lord does not
hate them. Why? I told them, I've loved
you with an everlasting love. David said concerning the Lord's
dealings with him, you've dealt well with me. Thank you. Continuing instant in prayer
devoted back in Romans 12, and I'll hurry. Continuing instant
in prayer. An offering up prayer. I thought of that. What's a prayer? An offering up our heart. Speaking to. It's the natural
response of the new heart to pray. Pray. One writer said, a man, a believer,
would more likely not breathe than he would not pray. He thinks
on the Lord. He prays, he beseeches. It's
fellowship. Praise. If I want to talk to
Brother Scott, I call him up. Why? I want to talk to him. I
talk to him. I love him. I respect him. I
listen to him. I reverence his opinion. A man
does the same thing. He speaks to praise. Continue
Colossians 4 in prayer and watch in the same with thanksgiving.
Devoted to prayer. Praying. The Lord Jesus Christ.
What did He do? Many times He prayed all night.
This was God. Our representative and servant
as a man. The God-man. Praying. Pray without ceasing. Luke 18, verse 1, He spake a
parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray
and not faint. Don't be exhausted in prayer. You know, we pray often in public. That's a hard thing to do. It
really is. Public prayer. I call on somebody
to pray in closing in prayer. I call on Brother Scott, Brother
Carl, different ones to pray. It is so hard because you know
everybody's listening. You want to sound honorable. And while you're trying to sound
honorable, there's pressure on you. But when you're just by
yourself, Just get honest. And lastly, verse 13, distributing
to the necessity of the saints and given to hospitality. You know, there's no greater
blessing than giving to the necessity. There's the key to it right there.
If you look at this word, giving to the necessity, to the necessity,
the requirement or the destitution is what that word actually means.
God's people are generous people. They're generous people. All
believers give. You that believe, you give to
the sustenance of this work right here. All believers do. All believers
do. They all give. All believers
give. God's people are generous. People, they're not selfish.
They're not selfish people. They're generous people. Grace
has made them that. Grace makes a man a generous
person. A person who doesn't give is
selfish, self-centered. Is that too honest? Distributing to the necessity
of the saints. I've heard that you said this.
I didn't hear you say it, I heard you said it. Look at Brother
Scott, he's going to listen to me right. If God gets a hold
of a man's wallet, I mean of his heart, he got his wallet. A man's heart is generous, giving
to the necessity of the saints. But the key word there is the
necessity. The Scripture sets forth that
God's people are generous when they behold the destitution of
another. The Scripture says, and I want
to clarify what I'm about to say because let me tell you something.
Laziness is not an excuse for men to take up the slack. 2 Thessalonians 3.10 For even when
we were with you, this we commanded you, that if man would not work,
neither should he eat." If a man is attempting to push
a rock up a hill, I'll help him. If I see you pushing, nearly
if you're trying to get something done. If a man's trying, but
if he's sitting under a tree, waiting for somebody to come
along and push it up the hill for him, let it sit there. Just let it sit. Distributing,
the Scripture says, to the necessity, the need. Now there's times that
I've seen people get in a situation and there providentially they
were doing all they could do. There's providence, there's some
that's here. And I've been in the same situation too. And I
thank you for those that's helped me. Somebody finds himself in
a point of destitution and they're trying, they're working, they're
striving. They're not lazy. Help them. Help them. If you have the means
to help them and you know it, you know the need. Brother Clay
Curtis, here four or five weeks ago, a young man goes up to New
Jersey, got a group of people up there, and started having
seizures. I know Clay Curtis. I've been
knowing Clay Curtis for years. Clay Curtis, he's not amazed,
he's not slothful. He studies, he's doing all he
can do. He's doing what he can. He got
sick in a hospital. Thirty-one or thirty-two seizures. And this church would have the
means to help a brother and wouldn't do it? No. No. Why? We are bound. We are bound to
help him. Giving to the necessity, the
need of others. and given to hospitality. Believers receive with joy those,
especially those of the household of faith. Now, I do understand. I understand. I mean, you know,
if I don't know you, I'm going to use some common sense. I don't
know who you are. I don't trust you. You've proven
yourself to be unfaithful. And I'm not going to put my family
in jeopardy. But you take someone and they're
coming and they come here, you open your home. Your home, Carl,
is their believer's home. A couple comes up from Florida
last week. Carl and I blew the opening.
Why wouldn't they? And they always receive a blessing.
Hospital. Christ's body loves Christ's
body. They're together. Not all of
us. We're all members of the same
body. Now, I know we're not all the same member. Scripture says,
can the hand say to the ear, because I'm not an ear, I'm not
part of the body? I understand. But I'm telling you, we're all
of the same body. We're all His body. And we love
each other. And believers come together in
hospitality and give of themselves to one another. Why? Because
they love Christ. They love Him. They love His
body. The love of the brethren is what
I entitled this. The love of the brethren. Loving
one another is God, for Christ's sake, loved you.