Turn with me to 2 Corinthians
chapter 9. 2 Corinthians chapter 9. A three word truth. One little phrase. got stuck in my heart this week,
and I want to declare it from the word for our comfort, and
I pray that the Lord will really bless this to us. That three-word
truth is in verse eight. 2 Corinthians 9, verse eight
says, God is able. God is able. We live in a false,
lying, religious world today where people say that God is
trying to do something. And they say that God is wanting
to do something. But that's not so. That's wrong. That's not what God's Word says. God Almighty has never tried
to do anything. God Almighty has never wanted
to do anything. Think about that. He has never
wanted to do anything. The word want in the scripture
means lack. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall
not want, I shall not lack. If somebody wants to do something,
it means he or she is not currently doing it. Wants to, but not doing
it. There's a desire, but there's
a lack in fulfilling that desire. And not one time has that ever
been the case with our God. Not one time. Our God has never
wanted to do anything. Job 42 says, I know thou canst
do everything. Genesis 18 says, is anything
too hard for the Lord? Matthew 19 says, with God, all
things are possible. And in the scripture saying that,
it's not saying God will decide what he wants to do along the
way. He will see how things go and
then however he wants to handle it, that's what he'll do. It's
not saying that at all. Acts 15 says, known unto God
were all his works from the beginning, everything he would do. Everything God has done, everything
God is doing, everything that God will ever do, it was all
finished and set in stone in the mind, will, and purpose of
God before the foundation of this world. Everything. Everything. And that's why we know he is
able to carry it all out. Everything that he has purposed
to do, it was all set in stone before the foundation of the
world. That's what faith causes a child of God to believe. God
is able. That's when we talk about faith,
that's what it is. That's what faith causes a child
of God to believe. God is able because it was all
set in stone before the foundation of the world. He's able. Romans 4 says, Abraham was strong
in faith. God-given faith. Faith is not
of ourselves, it's the gift of God. And it says, Abraham was
strong in faith. How was he strong in faith? It
says, being fully persuaded that what God had promised, he was
able also to perform. There is nothing that I love
better than hearing a man say, whatever God has said, that's
what's going to be done. Period. That's what faith believes. Whatever
God has promised, that's what's going to be done. He's able to
perform it. Now, I want this to be a word
of comfort for believers, but for a word of warning to this
world of unbelievers, I want to show you, let me begin with
showing you two scriptures, okay? Turn to Daniel 4. Daniel 4, we're learning these
verses well. We've turned here a lot recently.
That's a good thing. After Nebuchadnezzar was brought
down, God brought him down because of the pride of his heart before
God. That man had so much pride before
God. After he was brought down, verse
34 says, And at the end of the days, I,
Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding
returned unto me. And I blessed the Most High,
and I praised and honored him that liveth forever. whose dominion
is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation
to generation. That means he rules everything
all the time. That's what it means. Verse 35,
and all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing. and he doeth according to his
will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the
earth, and none can stay his hand or say unto him, What doest
thou? At the same time, my reason returned
unto me, and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honor and brightness
returned unto me, and my counselors and my Lord sought unto me, and
I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added
unto me. The Lord restored me. That's
what he's saying. Verse 37, now I, Nebuchadnezzar,
praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all whose works
are truth, and his ways judgment, and those that walk in pride,
he is able to abase. That's the first word of warning
to every proud soul on this earth. Pride doesn't exist anywhere
more greatly than in religion. Religion is the most proud thing
this world has ever known. And that's the word of warning
to this world. He is able to abase. He's able
to abase. He said in Luke 18, everyone
that exalted himself to God for God. Yeah, God, look at me. Look
at what I've done. Shall be amazed. And he's able
to do it. We live in such a proud world.
Our Lord said, vengeance is mine and I will repay. And he's able
to do it. That's the warning. He's able
to do it. We need to humble ourselves.
We need to bow to the sovereign authority of the one who's able.
The only God that there is, Jesus Christ, the Lord of lords, the
King of kings. Turn with me to Matthew 10. Matthew 10, verse 27. Our Lord said, what I tell you
in darkness that speak ye in light and what you hear in the
ear that preach ye upon the halftops and fear not them which kill
the body but are not able to kill the soul. but rather fear
him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Most people do not believe that
God is gonna punish sin by casting men and women into hell. That's
a forgotten belief anymore. But we need to be warned. This
world needs to be warned. We need to kiss the son lest
he be angry. We need to bow before Him. We
need to cry out for mercy. And if we do, if we do bow, and
if we do cry out for mercy, we need to have the comfort of knowing
that we have received mercy. If we do cry out for mercy, we
need the comfort of realizing that that's the evidence of receiving
mercy. Only recipients of God's mercy
kiss the sun. And when we say kiss the son,
we mean his feet. Only recipients of God's mercy
do that. Only recipients of God's mercy
bow the knee to Christ truly. Only God's true people humble
themselves before him. And if that's us, then This word
now is to us, okay? Those were a couple of scriptures
of warning to this unbelieving world. Here are some scriptures
of comfort for God's people. I pray the Lord will really make
this a comfort to us. Go to 2 Corinthians 9 again. Second Corinthians 9 verse 8
says, and God is able to make all grace
abound toward you, that you always having all sufficiency in all
things may abound to every good work. Are you at all worried? and fearful, wondering if you
are going to be included in God's favor. Does anybody here ever
worry about that? Do you ever wonder, am I going
to be included in God's favor? Well, verse eight says, God is
able to make all grace abound toward you. And I read that and
I quote that to every person here. God's grace is able. God is able to make all grace
abound toward you. Yes, you. God is able to supply
you with everything you need spiritually and physically. Sometimes what we want is not
what we need. You know that? Sometimes what
we want is not what's best for us. Our God is going to give
to us what's best for us. And he is able and he's willing
to do that. He's able to give, he's able
to give freely. I pray this word will increase
our faith. I pray it'll increase our faith.
God is able to make all grace abound toward you. Look with me at Ephesians 3. Ephesians 3 verse 20, it says,
now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above
all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in
us, unto him be glory in the church By Christ Jesus throughout
all ages, world without end, amen. Our God is able to do exceeding
abundantly above. Not only can we, as his chosen
people in Christ, expect great things from him. You know, our
Lord told that lunatic, you go tell how great things the Lord
has done for you. And can't we all say that? The
Lord has done great things for us. Look at what he spared us
from, look at what he supplied us with. But not only can we
expect great things from him, for Christ's sake, we can expect
exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think because he's able to do it. We
have every reason to trust him. We're going to go through this
life and we're going to have all kinds of problems and all kinds
of issues, all kinds of fears. You have anything you're afraid
of? You have anything coming up that you're afraid of? Anything
around the corner you're afraid of? We have every reason to trust
him. Every reason to trust his providence
concerning us. every outcome of every situation,
every desire that we have for his glory, for our good. Let
a believer live a little while and he or she will tell you from
experience, he's able, he's able. Just let a believer live a little
while and he'll tell you God is able.
Wait on him, trust him, look to him. Turn to Philippians chapter
three. Verse 20 says, For our conversation is in heaven,
from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
who shall change our vile body. And what's amazing is he's able
to do that. And I can't wait. who shall change our vile body
that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according
to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things
unto himself. That is what I want. Let me tell
you what my desire is, and I mean this with all of my heart, all
right? This is what I want. I want the Lord to subdue me
and I want the Lord to subdue you. My prayer and my blessing
would be that God would subdue every soul in this building,
every soul in this town. I pray that God would subdue
men and women, boys and girls. Subdue means to bring to a willing
submission to his authority. That's what it means. It doesn't
just mean that he reigns over us and we're under him. He already
does that. We already are. If he subdues us, it means he
will bring us to a willing submission and a willing desire for his
authority. Not only will he reign over us,
we will cry, Lord, please reign over us. Reign over me. Be of good cheer. He's able.
He's able. I feel like I'm speaking things
that are just above me. He's able. I wonder, do I even
have the faith to say what I'm saying. He's able. He can take
all those children in those classrooms back there and subdue every one
of them. He's able. Lord, give me faith
to believe that. Turn with me to 2 Timothy 1.
2 Timothy 1 verse 8, Be not thou
therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner,
but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the
power of God, who hath saved us and called us within 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, but is now made manifest by the appearing of
our Savior, Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death and hath
brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher
of the Gentiles, for the which cause I also suffer these things. Nevertheless, I am not ashamed,
for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able." to keep that which I have committed
unto him against that day. He is able to keep everything
that his people have committed unto him against that day. What
day? What day is he talking about?
He's talking about the day of judgment. What have God's people committed
unto him against that day? Listen to this. See if you can
enter into this. See if this will bless your heart. God's
people have committed their sin to him. All my sin was committed
to him. God's people have committed their
condemnation to him. Do you know that I must suffer
condemnation? Do you know that? Well, the good
news is I did suffer condemnation on the cross of Calvary. God
couldn't set me free. God couldn't let me go. God's people have committed all
of their punishment to Him. All of my punishment was committed to Him. God's people
have committed their death to him. It is appointed unto man
once to die. That's where I died. You say,
well, you're still gonna lay this body down one day. Yeah,
but our Lord said he's not dead, he's sleeping. He that lives
and believes in me will never die. That's where I died. Once,
it's over. God's people have committed their
resurrection to him. I want to live. I want to rise
from that death." I did in Him. He said, I am the resurrection.
God's people have committed eternal life, all of their eternal life
to Him. Every bit of that is in His hands
and He's able. He's able to keep it for us.
Go with me to Hebrews 2. I'm almost finished here. Hebrews
2. Hebrews 2 verse 16. For verily he took not on him
the nature of angels, but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his
brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things
pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For
in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to
succor them that are tempted. Because he endured the very sufferings
and the infirmities of his people. That's so amazing to me to think
about everything that I suffer from. All of these infirmities,
all of these physical infirmities and all of these mental infirmities,
can you imagine what he suffered? I mean, does anybody have any idea
how bad I am? Does anybody have any idea how
bad you are? Think about just how bad it would
be if anybody here had to suffer all of the sin and infirmity
of just everybody in this room. He endured all of the sufferings
and all of the infirmities of all of his people and that's
why he's able to comfort me and you. He is so able to comfort
us. He is able to sit right beside
us, holding our hands, saying, fear not, I will help thee. Get in a place where you need
some comfort. Just get in a place where you truly need some comfort
and see. He's able. Get in a place where
you're at the end of your rope, that's it, I got nowhere else
to go, and then you, Like Psalm 107, you know, and then they
cry, finally, then they cry unto the Lord. He's able. He's so able to comfort
us. Look at Hebrews 7. Hebrews 7, verse 24, it says, But this man, speaking of Christ,
because he continueth forever, he has an unchangeable priesthood,
wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost. that come unto God by him, seeing
he ever liveth to make intercession for them." Our Lord Jesus Christ
is able to save to the uttermost. You ever feel like you're at
the uttermost? Like I'm so far out now. I'm just so far gone now. He's able to save to the uttermost.
He's able to save to the deepest, darkest. You know, we were there
in Daniel four a minute ago. That's where Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace. And they told Nebuchadnezzar,
we are not going to bow down to your golden image because
our God is able to deliver us. That's why we're not going to
do it. It's because he is able to deliver us. And he did. He delivered them. And after
he delivered them, they knew not only is he able, he's willing. That's a good thing to know.
We know he's able, but after we pass through the fire, we
also know he's willing. He's able and he's willing, and
every saved child of God knows that same thing to be true from
experience. He's willing and able to save
to the uttermost, no matter how bad the condition is. Last one,
Jude chapter one. There's only one chapter in Jude,
Jude one. I don't have a favorite. I almost
said this one's my favorite, but I don't have a favorite,
but I like this one a lot. Jude 1 verse 24. Now unto him that is able. To keep you from falling. and
to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. To the only
wise God, our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion, and power,
both now and ever. Amen. Try to tell a child of
God that he or she had better watch it. You'd better watch
it now, or you're going to lose your salvation. Try to tell a child of God, if
you're not careful now, you're going to cause yourself to lose
your salvation. That child of God will say, no,
I won't. Thank God. No, I won't. Not if
I'm in the hands of my savior. I won't. I may not be able to keep myself.
I can tell you this. I can't keep myself. I can't
keep myself. I have probably 30 more seconds
in this message. I can't keep myself till the
end of the message. But He's able to keep me. And if He's the one keeping me,
I'm going nowhere. I'm not going anywhere. If He holds me up, I will never
fall. And if He keeps me, He will present me faultless
before the presence of His glory. I cannot wait. It's this is a
tough one to get a hold of. He is able to present, you know,
these vile bodies that we just read about. He's able to present
by the time we get. He shows us here they are, Father,
everyone, not one of them is lost. Every soul standing there
will be faultless. Faultless. Look at him, what do you see?
The father says, I see Christ. Faultless. He's able to keep
us faultless, never to be defiled ever again. Never again. Verse
25 says, to the only wise God, our savior, be glory and majesty,
dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen. I pray that
it'll be a comfort to our hearts.