That gum it gave. I thought a lot about, over the
last day or so, how would I start this message? I was glad when they said unto
me, let's go to the house of the Lord. What a joy and a privilege
to be able to be here. I look around, I've said this before.
There's so many of you here. You guys and gals have grown
up and I've known for so many years You know, Eddie Baker was
about that big when I met him and grew up. So many that the
Lord has blessed me to be able to know and to fellowship with
and to thank God for. And I thank God for you. Like Gabe said, I tell people,
Gabe and I talk one to five times a day. We just have the precious joy
to be able to fellowship, not just father-son, I'm talking
about brethren, and for that I'm thankful. For those of you
that are here from Katie, I'm glad you're here with me, for
those of are watching this live streaming from Katie. I'm glad
that the Lord blessed me to be able to be brethren with you,
associate with you. I'm just thankful. Started off, had a set of notes,
and here's my notes. Here's the backside of my notes. I just have a few things that
I wanna try to say, try to sum up what it's been for me to be able
to have the privilege, to be able to stand and try my best,
be able to express through the scriptures the joy, of knowing
Christ. I've entitled this message, Divine
Harmony in Sufferings. And my text, if you want to turn
with me, if you're still where David was, just turn over, maybe
a page, maybe not. Just keep looking on that page,
it may be right there. Romans chapter 8, verse 28. Romans 8, 28. And we know that all things work together
for good. Them that love God. to them who are the called according
to His purpose. The Apostle Paul was moved to
say at the beginning of this scripture, and we know. We know. Now let me ask you something. How do we know these things and
we No. I don't want, especially at the
stage that I'm at, I wanna know, I wanna know. I can't go, Angus, on speculation. I can't do that. And we know The only way I know anything
is that the Lord said it. Somebody would say, is that enough? Beloved, that's all I got. That's
all I got. I don't have anything else. 2 Timothy 3, 16, 17 says this,
all scripture is given by inspiration of God
and is profitable. It's advantageous, that's what
it means, it's profitable. It's to our advantage. All scripture
is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine Dave, why do we preach what we
preach? God said it. For you that know
Him, that's enough, ain't it? That's enough. That's enough.
God said it. You might say, prove it to me. No, I can't prove it to you.
I can tell you what the Lord said. You gonna rest your soul
on what This book says, yes I do. This is God's word and I'm gonna
rest my soul on this. I'm gonna take one day, by God's
good pleasure, I'm gonna take my last breath and I know according
to these scriptures I'm gonna meet God. I gotta have some hope. Here's
what I got. The Lord said it. All Scripture given by inspiration
of God is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and
instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be throughly
furnished unto all good works. It's enough. It's enough. All because of the prophet Scriptures,
because of the advantage of the Scriptures. There's some things
that we know, and we know them by faith. We believe them by
faith. Faith, a substance of things
that are hoped for, the evidence of of things not seen. There's some things that we know
that are not seen. We don't see them. But we believe
them. We rest assured. Let me tell you something that
I know by faith. And you that know it, you know
this by faith too. John 3 16 says, for God so loved the world. And I know how that scripture's
taken out of context, I know that. Obi, people say God loves
everybody. No, the scripture didn't say
that. God so loves, and I want you
to look this up. If you don't believe me, just
look it up. You know what that means right there? God so loved
the world. The world right there means the
human race. God loved the human race. Not everybody born into the human
race, because I know the scripture says, Jacob have I loved, Esau
have I hated. So I know this. I know it doesn't
mean everybody, but I know it means somebody. but according to the scriptures
the book of genesis the scripture says that this human race fell
in Adam's transgression. I know that. How do you know
that? The scripture says so. That's how I'm going to prove
it. I'm not going to prove it by any other way, I'm just going
to tell you this is what God said. Romans 3.23 says this, for all
have sinned and come short of the glory of God. I know that. I believe that. I know that. I know this by faith. I can't
look around and look in your heart and see this. I can't see
that, but I'll tell you what I can see. I can see what these
scriptures says. I know God loves the human race.
And I know that everybody in this human race fell in Adam.
I know that. I know that by scripture. But I can tell you this is another
thing that I know. And I only know this according to God's
Word. That Almighty God has eternally
purposed that though we all fell in Adam's transgression I know
this, that Almighty God has purposed that He's going to save some
out of it. I know that for a fact. How do you know? Because God
said it. Can you prove it? Yes, I can.
Yes, I can. How are you going to prove it?
God said it. That's enough. I want you to just hold your place
there. Just turn with me. I'm going to show you how Ephesians
Ephesians chapter one. Ephesians chapter one. Here's my proof right here. Ephesians
one verses three to twelve. Blessed be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with all spiritual
blessings heavenly places in Christ, according as He hath
chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should
be holy and without blame before Him in love." How do you know
that's so? God said it. By faith, I believe
that. having predestinated us under
the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself according to
the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of
his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved, in
whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of
sins, according to the riches of his grace, wherein he hath
abounded toward us in all wisdom, prudence, having made known unto
us the mystery of his will." Isn't that amazing? God would be pleased to tell
somebody the mystery of his will. How in the world would we know
that if the Lord didn't tell us? How am I going to know what
the mystery of his will is? chosen to show mercy to somebody
that was born in trespasses and sin, and would take those who are
in themselves so unworthy, unworthy, and show mercy. Why? because it pleased Him, that in the dispensation of the
fullness of times He might gather together in one all things in
Christ, both which are in heaven, which are on earth, and whom
we also have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated for the purpose
of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own
will, that we should be for the praise of his glory we first
trusted in Christ. Now I believe that. There's some
things that I know and by faith I believe, I believe. And I have one thing, I have
one thing that God's been pleased to give me. in these things that
he's taught us I have his word and every believer's got his
word on these things and they believe them and they trust him
and they rest in him oh but there's something that
the Lord has been pleased to teach me so little about blessed me to understand and
see something by faith but to be able to experience it too. To experience it. Experience
it. Now, I've never looked. I've never been able to look
into the portals of heaven. I've never seen the book of life.
I've got God's word on that, I've never seen it. But I got
His word on that. There's a book of life. They
said, explain it to me. I said, I can't explain that
to you. There's a book of life. Is it
a real book? It's a book of life. How do I
know? God said it's written in the
book of life. God having elect, God said so. But there's some things that
I've been blessed and some of you have been blessed to know
not only according to God's word, which is enough, but there's
some things that he's blessed us also to know by experience. Experience. Last night, Sammy and I were
sitting, I love war movies. I love war movies, I just like
them. I like that. Though I've been in the service,
I've never seen combat. I've never seen combat. I never,
but some of you that are here may have. And you know there's
a big difference in watching a war movie and actually being
in the field. being in combat it's just a little
bit something you pick up being in the fight itself experience
I believe I believe it happens if you've ever been in the fight
then you know then you know you know by experience well I want
you to look at this scripture right here with me again And I want us to realize that
by God's grace, that we know something by experience. And then you know it, you know
it in your heart before because God said it. But if he allows
you the privilege to be able to experience something, then
you know it then you see it a little bit more just a little bit more
clearly if that's correct english i don't know if it is anglicized
but you get it you get it you get it back where we started
romans 8 28 and we know that all things Now those that are here from
Katie, they've heard this before. That's okay, I'll say it again. Whatever we happen to go through,
now if it happens to fall in these trials and problems and
troubles and anxieties, if it happens to fall under the category
of all things, if it happens to fall there. And we know that all things work
together for good to them that love God, to them who are the
called according to His purpose. All things these trials, these tribulations
all things hold your place there and I want you to take it and
turn to 2nd Corinthians 2nd Corinthians chapter 12 2nd Corinthians 12 there's some things that we go
through that if you'd asked me if I would have chosen to go
through anything, any trials or tribulations, well, let me
tell you what I'd tell you. No, I'd rather not. I'd rather
just, you know, Lord be pleased to just teach me that. That'd
be okay. If I don't have to go through
any trouble, I don't want any trouble. But that's not all the
way it is, Bear. That's not the way it is. 2 Corinthians chapter 12, the
Apostle Paul was moved to say this, it's not expedient for
me doubtless to glory, I will come to visions and revelations
of the Lord. I knew a man. I love the way
the Apostle writes this. He's writing about himself. But he says it in such a way
that He's not going to say anything to bring attention to himself.
I'd just rather not talk about me. I'd just rather not, to be
honest with you. Somebody says, you're just saying that. No,
I'm not either. No, I'm not. He said, I knew a man in Christ
about 14 years ago, whether in the body I cannot tell, whether
out of the body I cannot tell, God knoweth. Such a one caught
up. in the third heaven, I knew a
man, such a man, whether in the body or out of the body, I cannot
tell, God knoweth, how he was caught up into paradise and heard
unspeakable words, which is not lawful for a man to utter. What
do you mean by that? I just don't know how to say
it. I don't have the words, I don't have the ability, the knowledge,
I just don't know how. of such in one will I glory,
yet not I, but in mine infirmities. For though I would desire the
glory, I shall not be a fool." Boy, that, oh. I tell you, Dave, you was talking
about that old flesh just then. Man, there's a battle going on
in it. I say the truth, but now I forbear,
lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth
in me, to be that he heareth of me. And lest I should be exalted
above measure through the abundance of the revelations that was given
to me of thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet
me. Let me tell you something. And again, I mean this. I'm just
trying to be honest with you. There's nothing that will remind
you of the grace of God, remind you of the frailty of this flesh.
There's nothing that will remind you of that like being made to
see by the grace of God how weak you really are. I got some of my kids here, and
when we were all growing up together and things like that, these kids
thought that their dad was 10 feet tall and bully-proof. You
got a problem, call dad, he can take care of it. He knows the
guy. Call dad, he'll fix it. Kids. I'm not 10 feet tall. I'm not
bulletproof. Paul said, lest I should be exalted
above measure through the abundance of the revelations that was given
to me of thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet
me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the
Lord thrice, that he might depart from me. That he might depart
from me. You know what the Lord said? My grace is sufficient for thee. For my strength is made perfect. and weakness. Most gladly, therefore,
will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may
rest upon me. Therefore, I take pleasure in
infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions,
in distresses. For Christ's sake, for when I
am weak, then am I strong. You don't really realize how
weak you are. You can be sitting here one moment
thinking, this is all good, I'm good. And the next moment, they
can be rolling you out in a wheelchair and you never knew what hit you. And it's good. It's good. God's people shall be made to
remember all the sufficiency of God's grace. God's people
will thank God for it. They'll bless his holy name.
Lord, thank you that you didn't leave me to me. Thank you that
you did not leave me to my foolish thinking. Thank you that you did not leave
me to think that I got this. I don't have it. I'm standing
here and I know it, I know it. I'm aware of it. Gabe told me
yesterday, and I appreciate that so much. Thank God for my kids. You thank
God for yours, I know. But I think, And he told me yesterday,
he said, now, Dad, look, and I think he's being so sensitive
to me. These kids, I love them, you
know. I see them here, I, you know, it's all the responsibility
to take care of them, and now here they are taking care of
me, and I love it. I love it, I just, yeah. And
he told me, he said, Dad, Now listen, if you don't feel, I
said, I appreciate that, Gabe. I promise you, when I say this,
I want to, and I'll do by God's grace the best I can. I said,
I want to, to be able to just express to the people my thanks
unto God to tell the Lord, Lord, thank you. Thank you that You
didn't leave me to me. Thank you that you gave me a
heart to remember. Remember. Like I said before,
some things we know by faith. We have no sight, no physical
sight of it, of the sufficiency of God's grace. But there's some
things that the Lord allows us the privilege to go through. and the privilege to be able
to be made to remember. To remember. Let me close with
this. Turn with me to Genesis chapter
32. Oh, I just... Some of these scriptures now
that just so... I believed them before. I know
I did. Genesis chapter 32. Verse 24
is where I'm going to start. Genesis 32, 24,
Jacob was left alone. You that know him, aren't you
thankful that God would show you that you were Jacob, a supplanter,
a trickster, a liar, a cheat? I know that. I know that. David,
I hate to keep using you for an example, but you, man, I appreciate
that message. That's the way it is, buddy.
With Jacob's. Vessels of God's mercy. Jacob
have I loved. Jacob, that huckster. Verse 24, Jacob was left alone. and there wrestled a man with
him until the breaking of the day." I was looking at that the
other day. That wrestling right there. You
want to know where the spiritual wrestling is of a believer? They see those two natures that
old Dave was talking about. They see them. You that know
them, you know what I'm talking about. There's a wrestling going
on. There's a fight going on. When he saw that he prevailed
not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh, and the
hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint as he wrestled with
him. And he said that, and the Lord,
the angel, the angel of the Lord covenant, said, let me go, for
the day breaketh. And he said, this is Jacob talking
now, the Lord was one, the angel of the Lord, the messenger of
God's covenant mercies. He said to Jacob, let me go,
you that know him. Do you want to let him go? Do you want to? Yeah, he want
to. He said, let me go the day break.
And he said, I will not let thee go except thou bless me. Lord, I can't, Lord. I can't. Let me go. I can't. I can't. because he keeps us by the power
of God. That's the reason we don't. Oh,
he puts that desire in our heart. Where do you want to go? You
know, when Peter said, Lord, where are we going to go? You
have the words of eternal life. Where am I going? And he said unto him, verse 27,
what is thy name? And he said, Jacob. I'm telling you now, somebody
said, now you're telling me that you laid claim to, somebody call
you a Jacob, a Huckster, a Trickster? Yeah, that's a name that you'll
hang on to? I know that's my name by nature,
I know it is. what a blessing too, to be called
a Jacob. You know Christ Jesus came into
this world to save sinners, Jacob's. And he said, thy name shall be
called no more Jacob, but Israel, for as a prince hast thou power
with God and with men has prevailed. And Jacob asked him and said,
Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it
that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. And
Jacob called the name of the place Peniel. For I have seen
God face to face, and my life is preserved. And he passed over
Penuel, and the sun rose upon him And this part right here,
I think about what a blessing. And he halted upon his thigh.
And therefore the children of Israel, eat not of the sinew
which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh unto this
day because he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew
that shrank. Jacob was by the grace of God
allowed to Meet God, see God, God blessed him. Let me go, Jacob said, I'm not
gonna let you go unless you bless me. And the Lord blessed him. Touched the hollow of his thigh.
And Jacob went the rest of his life, halting. You that know
him, let me tell you the blessing of sufferings. The blessing of
sufferings is that you're going to remember. You're going to
remember, lest we forget. Lord, don't let me forget. Lord,
don't let me forget. He won't. You know, these light
afflictions, these things are just, these are for a moment. He's a moment, he's a moment.
We're just here for a minute or two, just light, in the light
of eternity, all but the blessing. And Paul, like all God's people,
if you be without chastisement, you're none of his. We shall
go through this life, people say, not have to suffer, no water. Walter Groover told Betty one
time, she told me or Walter, somebody told me, I don't know
who told me. Said, I wish I didn't have to go through all these
sufferings. That was Walter that said that. And Betty said, Walter,
that's just not the way it is. He knew that too. He just had
to have her remind him, that's all. That's just not the way
it is. This life is a life of just trials
and tribulations and sufferings, we're gonna be reminded constantly
of our frailty and our flesh is good. David said it's good
that I've been afflicted, that I can learn of your statutes.
I pray that this be a help to you. I just thank God that he
allowed me the privilege just to share my heart with you for
a moment. I pray that it was honoring unto
the Lord. I pray that God take us, teach
us, bless and keep us, which he promised he'd do, to the day
of redemption, salvation, for his glory and our good.