Okay, let's turn back to 2 Timothy
chapter 1. 2 Timothy chapter 1. One verse is our text. It's verse
12. Let's read verses 8 to 12. 2 Timothy 1 verse 8 says, 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 with an 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." The
title of this message is, I AM PERSUADED. And what that means
is, I have been persuaded. Verse 9 says, Who hath saved
us and called us with a 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. Verse 12 says, For the witch
cause I also suffer these things. Nevertheless, I'm 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. The things that I have committed. Mankind is born into this world
dead. No he's not. He's born alive. No. He's born dead. Spiritually dead. He lives and
he moves. But the eternal life of God is
not in him. I am now persuaded of that. I am. The average person cannot believe
that. By God's grace, I'm persuaded
of that. I'm convinced. You are too, aren't you? People who are outside of Jesus
Christ, people who make no profession of the Lord Jesus Christ, as
I watch them breathe air and eat food, and drive their car,
I am convinced that spiritually they are dead men walking. I was born into this world dead
in my trespasses and sins. I am persuaded of that. I believe
that with all my heart. I really do. Turn with me to
John 5. John chapter 5 verse 21 says,
For as the Father raises up the dead and quickeneth them, even
so the Son quickeneth whom He will. Verse 25 says, Verily,
verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the
dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that
hear shall live." Turn to Ephesians chapter 2. Ephesians 2 verse 5 says, even
when we were dead, dead in sins, hath quickened
us together with Christ. By grace are you saved. Go to
Colossians chapter 2. Colossians chapter 2 verse 13
says, And you being dead, dead in your sins and the uncircumcision
of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven
you all trespasses. Every man and woman that is born
into this world is born dead. Why? It's because Ezekiel 18 says,
the soul that sinneth, it shall die. That's why. Psalm 51 verse
five says, in sin did my mother conceive me. We start out in this world, dead
sinners. What a way to start. Dead. Are you convinced of that? Are you convinced of that? Turn
to John 16. John 16 verse 7 says, I tell you the truth, it is expedient
for you that I go away. For if I go not away, the Comforter,"
and that's the Holy Spirit, "...will not come unto you. But if I depart,
I will send Him unto you. And when He is come, He will
reprove," and that word means convince, "...the world of sin." Their sin. And of righteousness. His righteousness. And of judgment. That's the punishment for sin. When My Holy Spirit comes to
them, they will be persuaded. Well, I have wonderful news. I am very personally thankful
to say I have been persuaded. I am persuaded. He has persuaded
me. I am persuaded that in me that
is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing. You cannot convince me
otherwise. When I was a younger person,
a younger believer, I believed I was a sinner. I really did. But not like I do now. Not like I do now. And I'm persuaded
of the fact that if the Lord tarries and He allows me to grow
old, I don't believe I'm a sinner now like I will believe it then.
I'm persuaded of that. I know that if the Lord Jesus
Christ doesn't have mercy on me, there is no hope for me." Are you persuaded of that? Really? Do you believe God is going to save
you? Well, I hope so. That's my hope. I want to believe that. I do. I am persuaded that He is able. I am persuaded of His righteousness. I know that He's able and will
save all that the Father gave Him. And if the Father gave me to
Him, Him, then I'm going to be saved. I
am persuaded of that. I know whom I have believed. I believe in a man who is God. And I am persuaded that there
is only one. One way. One God. One mediator, the Lord Jesus
Christ. I'm persuaded of that. He said, all who come unto me,
I will in no wise cast out. So I'm going to cling to that
for dear life. I'm going to cling to that for
dear life. That's all I've got. Christ is all I have. Christ is all I need. 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. Now there are a few places in
the scripture that has the phrase, I am persuaded. One of them is in Romans 8. So
let's turn over there. Romans chapter 8. Verse 38 is where it's located. For I am persuaded. Now all I want to do for the
next few minutes, I started preparing this before I found out that
the masses were coming. And after that, I thought, oh
no, I'm going to have to preach to Bob and I'm going to have
to preach to Dale. And I thought Eric was going
to be here and my flesh started creeping in and I thought, nope,
this is the message. And it's a simple message. Okay. All I want to do for the next
few minutes is tell you what I believe. That's all I want
to do. Tell you what I'm persuaded of. We're going to go through Romans
8. Look at verse 1. It says, There is therefore now
no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. I believe that. What? Gone? Done? Yes. I believe that. When Christ died, He paid it
all? Yes. What makes you say that? I know
whom I have believed. and am persuaded that He is able. That's what makes me say that. Let me tell you something else
that through His Word, hearing this Word preached to me all
my life, I'm persuaded of. Verse 11 says, If the Spirit of Him that raised
up Jesus from the dead dwell in you. He that raised up Christ
from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit
that dwelleth in you." What does that mean? Well, hold your place
here and go to Job chapter 19. Job chapter 19, look at verse
23. He says, Oh, that my words were
now written. Oh, that they were printed in
a book. Job had no idea that the Spirit of God was writing
the book. That they were graven with an
iron pen and led in the rock forever. Did you know that the
words that God used this poor man to write will never return
void, never fail. They're led in the rock forever. Verse 25, for I know, Job is
persuaded. I know that my Redeemer liveth
and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. And though after my skin worms
destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God, whom I
shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another. though my reins be consumed within
me." And the marginal reference on that last phrase is this,
my reins within me are consumed with earnest desire for that
day. Whom I shall see for myself and
mine eyes shall behold and not another, my reins within me are
consumed with earnest desire for that day. I am convinced that if the Spirit
of Him that raised up my Lord dwells in me, I, Gabe Stoniker,
am going to get to see my God face to face, whom mine eyes
shall behold, and not another." I'm persuaded of that. Mine eyes, these eyes. And though
worms are going to destroy these eyes, these eyes are going to
get to see my God. I don't know how, but I believe
it. If I'm in Christ, there's no
condemnation. When He died, He condemned my
sin for me. If He raises me up, I'm going
to get to see Him face to face. Now let's look at this next one.
Back to Romans 8. Verse 16 says, The Spirit itself
beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. And if children, then heirs,
heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. I used to be his enemy, now I'm
his child. I believe that. Go to Galatians
chapter 4. Galatians chapter 4 verse 6 says, And because you
are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your
hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a
servant, but a son. And if a son than an heir of
God through Christ. I believe that if His Spirit
has entered inside me, it is crying out to the Father, have
a Father. And that makes me no more a servant,
but His Son. His Son. Now if I am His Son, if we are
His children, then there are some things I'm persuaded of.
Now if I'm not His son, then I don't know. But if we are His
children, then there are some things I am persuaded of. Let's
go back to Romans 8. Romans 8 verse 28 says, 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. Genesis 1.1,
Psalm 23.1, John 3.16, Romans 8.28. Probably one of the most well-known
verses in the Bible by the whole world. But do you know what? I believe
it. I really do. I don't care what you're going
through. I don't care. If you're in Christ, If He's condemned your sin, if
you've been made to be a child of God, joined together with
Christ, I don't care what you're going through. Our Lord is just
pouring good all over you. Pouring good. I don't care what
you're going through. I don't care what it appears
to be. I don't care how bleak it looks.
I don't care how dark the glass is. You are being showered with
good. I believe that. I'm persuaded. Now let me show you this. Verse
29 says, For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be
conformed to the image of His Son. Figuratively? Nope. Literally. Literally. If He foreknew me, And if He predestinated me, then I will be conformed to look
like, act like, walk like, talk like, be just
like Jesus Christ. I believe that. I look at this old sinful flesh
and my first reaction is, it can't be. That cannot be. My mind is vile. My heart is vile. My flesh is
vile. And then the Lord in grace reminds
me through His Word that He is able. With man it's impossible. With God, all things are possible. It's almost impossible just to
imagine it. I cannot fathom that, but I believe
it. I really do. All right, now look
at verse 30. Moreover, whom He did predestinate,
them He also called. and whom He called, them He also
justified. And whom He justified, them He
also glorified." Brother Henry loves to sing that song, Oh That
Will Be Glory For Me. I want to read it to you, okay? When all my labors and trials
are o'er, and I am safe on that beautiful shore, Just to be near
the dear Lord I adore, will through the ages be glory for me. That's all I need. When by the gift of His infinite
grace, I am accorded in heaven a place, just to be there and
to look on His face, will through the ages be glory for me. Friends will be there I have
loved long ago. Joy like a river around me will
flow. Yet just a smile from my Savior
I know. Will through the ages be glory
for me. Oh, that will be glory for me. Glory for me, glory for
me. When by His grace I shall look
on His face. That'll be glory. my glorification. I am persuaded of that. Verse 31 says, what shall we
then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be
against us? I need that personally more now
than I ever have in my life. If God be for us, who can be
against us? Turn with me to Isaiah 41. Isaiah 41, look at verse 10. Fear thou not, for I am with
thee. Be not dismayed, for I am thy
God. I will strengthen thee. Yea,
I will help thee. Yea, I will uphold thee with
the right hand of my righteousness. Behold, all they that were incensed
against thee shall be ashamed and confounded. They shall be
as nothing, and they that strive with thee shall perish. Thou
shalt seek them and shalt not find them, even them that contend
with thee. They that war against thee shall
be as nothing and as a thing of naught, for I the Lord thy
God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, fear not, I
will help Fear not thou worm Jacob, and you men of Israel. I will help thee, saith the Lord,
and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel." You know, I believe
Him. I really do. Now, I'm persuaded of this too.
If God be against us, then who can be for us? But if God be for us, nobody
can be against us. Nobody. Alright, let's go back
to Romans 8 and look at the next thing I'm persuaded of. Romans 8 verse 32 says, He that spared not His own Son,
but delivered Him up for us all, How shall He not with Him also
freely give us all things? Now, what is this life? Really,
when the Lord allows us to enter into what glory will be life,
what is this life? The things in this life, what
is money? Somebody's going to say, well,
it's a lot if you don't have it. But if you belong to Him and
you don't have it, are you persuaded that He'll provide it for you
when you need it? Are you persuaded that all things
in this earth and in heaven belong to Him? Are you persuaded that
He knows all things? Are you persuaded that He knows
what things you have need of? The things we need to sustain
us in this life and the things we need to inherit eternal life. He knows. Don Fortner's daughter,
Faith, married a guy named Doug. And after their wedding, Don
handed Doug a set of keys. And he told Doug, he said, this
is a key to my house. This one's the key to my car.
This one's the key to my garage. Any tools that I have in there,
you get what you need. And Doug said, really? Whatever
I need? And Don said, son, I gave you
my daughter. You don't think I'd give you
a wrench? Verse 32 says, He that spared
not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all,
how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? I really believe that. I really
do. Verse 33 says, Who shall lay
anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifies. I am persuaded that no matter
what evil sin I commit for the rest of my life, not one drop of it will be charged
to my account. It does not excuse it. I am sorry
for that sin. But I'm persuaded that whatever
evil sin I commit for the rest of this life, not one drop of
it is going to be charged to my account because God justified
me. And He is able to keep that which
I have committed, all those sins that I committed unto Him, against
that day. What makes me so persuaded of
that? What causes me to be so sure? Verse 34 says, it is Christ
that died. This is no mere man we're talking
about. This is the Christ of God because
it was him. That's why I'm so persuaded. Verse 34 says, who is he that
condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather
that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who
also maketh intercession for us. I believe that our God walked out of his own grave. I really do. I believe he really died. Not figuratively, literally. And I believe that he went to
battle with death. I believe he went on the offense
against death. And I believe he won. I really do. I believe at the appointed time
after the third day of battle, as our Lord's beautiful, precious,
holy body rests in peace. I believe after the third day
of battle, he put his sword in his sheath and he reentered his
body and he opened his beautiful eyes. And knowing it was finished,
he stood up And he gloriously, victoriously walked out of his
own grave, telling all of his people, you don't have to worry
about death anymore. I took care of death. Death has been conquered. Are you persuaded of that? Do you believe that? than your believer. Go ahead, Tracy. By the work of God's gracious
Spirit, I'm persuaded that Christ died, that He is risen again,
and that He right now is even at the right hand of God making
intercession for us. Here's what I believe, okay? As I walk through the rest of
my life in my sin, my Lord is seated right next to His Father
saying, I paid for that one. That one's already been taken
care of. That one was charged to my account. Justified. Oh, blessed thought. Sanctified, salvation wrought. Thy blood hath pardon bought
for me, and glorified I too shall be. He ever liveth to make intercession
for them." I believe that. All right, let me show you one
more thing. I'm happy to be persuaded of. Romans 8 verse 35 says, who
shall separate us from the love of Christ? If He foreknew us,
and predestinated us, and called us, and justified us, and glorified
us, if God be for us, nothing can separate us from
the love of Christ. Nothing. I can't even separate
myself. Verse 35 says, Who shall separate
us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress,
or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, for thy sake
we are killed all the day long. We are accounted as sheep for
the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are
more than conquerors through him that loved us, for I am persuaded. that neither death, nor life,
nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present,
nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature
shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is
in Christ Jesus our Lord." Nothing shall be able. I am persuaded
that He is able, He alone, to keep that which I have committed
unto Him against that day. You're persuaded of that too,
aren't you? May the Lord persuade us all.
Persuade us all. My faith may not be as strong
Tomorrow as it is today, or today as it was yesterday, but I am
persuaded that He is able. I can't persuade myself of too
much of anything, but I am persuaded that He is able. I pray the Lord
would persuade us all. Let's stand together.