All right, go with me to Luke
chapter 9. Luke's gospel chapter 9. This chapter is very long. It is 62 verses, and we are in
verse 11 after five or six weeks. But that's all right. You know,
there's great mercy and peace, comfort to be had in one line
of God's Word. One word, if the Lord blesses
it. That's one way we know this is
God's Word, is the depth of it, the wisdom of it, the glory of
it, in one line. Just one line, one word. Look. Look. The whole Bible, It's his
word, it's a hymn book. Psalm 72 is all about hymn, wasn't
it? My, what a blessing that was.
Hymn, it's all about hymn. Did David know hymn? It's obvious
David knew Christ, that whole psalm. This whole Bible is about
hymn, especially the gospels. Every line, every story is his
words, his works about hymn. Salvation, as John quoted. is
to know him. This is life eternal, that they
might know him. And peace and comfort and joy
and just security is to know him better. To grow in the grace
and the knowledge of him. The disciples were with him for
three and a half years. And they were still afraid at times weren't
they? And they went through some things
like on the the stormy sea and the ship, we all would have feared
for our lives. They did. And he came to them
and he said, Oh, we have little faith. Why? Why don't you believe? So he knows, but still, he made
them go through those things and all of his people go through
things. And if we just knew him better, We wouldn't fear so much,
you know? We'd have more comfort. But this
is the eternal life, to know Him. And salvation is to be found
in Him. And if you're in Christ, like
that Ark of Noah, more secure is no one in it. Verse 10, if you heard this,
either in person or over whatever, Mitchler, that was a blessing. The apostles, they returned.
And remember, John's disciples came back so sad. The apostles were so happy. And
that's us, up and down. They told him all that they'd
done. He took them, went aside privately
in a desert place, a deserted place where just no one else
was, him and them. And that's what we're doing right
now. That's what the Lord is saying.
Two or three, you gather together in my name. I'm going to be right
there. And he shows us wondrous things,
wonderful things. He steals us. He comforts us,
his people. I just imagine, don't you, John,
that Noah, for at least the first six months, was trying to steal
his sons and their wives. That boat's rocking. And, you
know, the waves are crashing. That water is not going to touch
us. We have God's Word on it. Don't
you think he was doing that? And he was doing it for himself.
No, it's just a man. I'm just a man of light passion.
This is for me as much as it is for you. This is where I get
my comfort. Like Paul said, who's weak and
I'm not weak. And I'm comforted by the same
comfort you're comforted. And the Lord takes us aside.
And that's not my text. It's the next verse. Verse 11, the people, when they
knew it, they followed him. And he received them. And he
spake unto them of the kingdom of God. And he healed them that
had need of him. The people. What people? Who
was it that heard about him and went where he was? All kinds
of people. Male, female, old, young, rich, poor, high, low,
lawyers, laborers. They heard. They knew it. They
found out where he was, and that's where they went. A whole kind of people. Our Lord
has a people out of every nation, kindred, tongue, under heaven. Isn't he merciful? Isn't he gracious? But mostly they were common people. Scripture says that the common
people heard him gladly. the poor and needy. We're going
to see here in a minute how he healed all that need of healing. Mostly the poor and needy. Common
people. Sinners is what they were. Publican
party. They hurt him badly. But they knew it. It says they
knew where he was, that he was in Bethsaida. How'd they know?
Somebody told them. They heard. They heard. They
heard that Jesus Christ, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of
David, they heard that he's in Bethsaida. Right now, with twelve
of his disciples, the Lord Jesus Christ is in Bethsaida. And they
say they went. I don't know where they were,
how far they were, but they had to get there. They heard he's
there, that's where I'm going, so-and-so has leprosy. That's
where I'm going. Want to go with me? Now, I've
heard. Have you heard? I've heard that
a virgin conceived and bore a son, and his name is Immanuel. God
with us. I've heard that God came down
to this earth, haven't you? I've heard it said, it written,
that a child is born, but the son is given, and his name is
called Wonderful and Counselor, Mighty God. Everlasting Father,
the Prince of Peace, government's on His shoulder. He reigns and
rules over all. I've heard that God came to this
earth and walked this earth and spoke to some people and went
back, and now He's seated on the circle of the earth, reigning. I've heard that. You know why
I believe it? Do you? Faith comes by hearing. Wonderful. Counselor. I need
a counselor. His name is called Wonderful. I need a counselor. A mighty God. Oh, we need God
right now. Word. Everlasting Father. Prince of Peace. I need peace,
don't you? And I've heard it said, Moses
said, that a great prophet was the Lord that raised up Micah
unto me. Him shall you follow. Capital P. That is the prophet
of God, the prophet to end all prophets, the prophet, the priest,
and the king. I need somebody like the woman
at the well to tell me all things, don't you? There's too many false
prophets out there. I've heard that God's final,
last, ultimate chief prophet, of whom the prophets bore witness,
came to this earth, and he told us all things. I need to know
to allay my fears. I need to hear him who's declared
the end from the beginning. That's Jesus Christ, don't you? Priests, I'm a sinner. Oh, I
need somebody to confess my sins to, not only that we'll hear
them, but to put them away. Go into the Holy of Holies with
my sin, with the blood, and put them away. That's Jesus Christ.
King, I need a king. Our present rulers don't know
what to do, do they? They don't know what to do either.
They're scared themselves, aren't they? I need a king of kings. I need a king in whose hand the
breath and the heart of the kings of this world is in, doing whatsoever
he will. Don't you? Brethren, we've got
one. We've always had one. God said,
I have set my king on the holy hill of Zion. And I've heard
all that. And bless God. Bless your hearts. I believe, don't you? Like those men, the woman at
the well came out and told those men, this is a crisis. They said,
we're not going to believe it until we hear it ourselves. So
they did. They came. They heard where he
was. She said, he's right there at the well. He's still there.
So what'd they do? They went. They needed to hear
what she heard. And they heard, John. And I have,
too. We've all heard him from the
same family. I'll be taught of God, and great
shall be the peace. They come to Christ in great
peace. That's what we're doing here.
That's what we're doing. It says in verse 11, the people,
when they knew it, or where he was, they followed him. They
followed him. Now, a lot of these people were
poor and needy, poor and needy, poor and needy. John, don't you
love when this happens? I prepared this message, I've
been looking at it for a long time, three or four days ago,
and I've been reading, just reading through the Psalms for my own
enjoyment, OK? This morning's Psalm was Psalm
72. I mean, that's where I was come to. Did you know how many
times it talked about the needy, the needy, the needy? Let's go
back there with me. I was just thrilled as he was
reading that. This is confirmation of who he
is and who he came for. Me, what I am, poor and needy. David said he was poor and needy. But David was rich. But he didn't feel rich spiritually,
in faith. It says in verse 4, he shall
judge the poor or the people, he shall save the children of
the needy. Verse 12, he shall deliver the
needy when he crieth, the poor also, him that hath no helper.
He'll spare the poor and the needy, he'll save the souls of
the needy. We're going to go on to see everyone
that hath need. They heard, they came, and he
spoke. He received them, he spoke to
them, and brethren, he gave them what they needed. They followed
him. They followed him. Like a dog,
it's master. They followed him. Like a sheep,
it's shepherd. Like a son, it's father. Revelation 14 says this about
God's people. Listen to it. Revelation 14. It says, These are they which
follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. They were redeemed
from among men. They were without fault before
the throne. They follow him. These are they that follow the
Lamb wherever he goeth. Our Lord has sent his gospel
in this place and that place, and God's people hear his voice
and they follow him. That's what Christ said. My sheep
hear my voice, and I know them, I bought them, I came for them,
all that the Father hath given to me shall come to me, and they
follow me. And they'll have great peace.
And God has a fold in kings poor, has a fold in pharaohs, has a
fold in Luke Caney as a little foal, little flocks here and
there, and they had followed him where he is, and that's where
they are. That's where they want to be.
Followers. Where he was, these people wanted
to be. How about you? What he said,
they wanted to hear. What he did, they needed it. Do you remember this? Do you
remember this? They followed him. Do you remember
this? Ruth said to Naomi. And what Ruth said to Naomi is
what every believer says to the Lord Jesus Christ. When Naomi said to Ruth, who
was a Moabite, a heathen woman who didn't know God, but God
had chosen her. Oh, think of the providence in
her. Think of the heartache. Think of the trouble. Think of
everything she went through. Why? To bring her to Boaz, her
kinsman-redeemer. It was no accident. It was all
on purpose to bring her to her husband and her redeemer. And
that's that one. All right, so Naomi said, and
there were two of them, weren't there? Like Jacob and Esau. Like Abel and Cain and Abel.
Ruth and Orpah. All right, Orpah went back to
her people and her gods. I'm not going to walk all the
way to Bethlehem. What's there? There's nothing
there for me. So she went back to her gods. And Naomi said to
Ruth, she said, well, you go after your sister. Go on back
there. Go back. She said, I can't. Listen to what she said. Don't
entreat me not to leave you. This is what God's people say
to Christ. Oh, return from following after me. Lord, don't, don't
shoo me away, please. I just want to follow you. Wherever
you go, wherever you go, I'll go. Where you lodge, I'll lodge.
I want to abide with you. You told me to abide in you.
Can I just, can I just abide? Like, remember Ruth Cain, where
Boaz was, lying down. She just uncovered his feet and
snuggled up. Just let me stay right here.
Cover me. Your people are my people. Your
God's my God. Where you die, I'll die. Don't
you want to believe that you're crucified with Christ? Buried? Were you buried? Don't you believe
that we were buried with Him and we confess Him and believers
back to Him? All do that really believe. They do. Just don't
entreat me not to leave from following you. He doesn't. He won't. Anybody who wants to
follow him can. Follow him. You know what it
means to follow? It means to believe. It means
to trust. It means to follow. Not go ahead. That's where we get in trouble
in. We need to follow him. We need to believe him. We need
to hear him. People, all of them, that follow Him. Now, brothers
and sisters, we know that not all these people were believers,
but God wrote this as a picture of all who do follow Him in sincerity
and in truth. His people, they all follow Him.
It's like there are many today who claim to be followers, but
they're not. God knows. But this is what I'm trying to
bring out, though. These people, all these people,
they believed Him, they admired Him, they needed Him, so they
followed Him. Why are we here? Our Lord said,
where two or three are gathered, that's where I am. So if you
believe Him, if you admire Him, if you need Him, you want to
be where He is. These people left home, they
left family, they left friends. Did they have to go to work that
day? That wasn't the one thing needful,
their job, here in Him was. They left everyone and everything
else for what? Him. They all said, I need Him. And they quit listening to others.
Like, don't you love that story of Pilgrim's Progress Christian? He's leaving the city of destruction. Why would he want to stay there?
He knows there's no continuing city. He's looking for the celestial
one. So he's running out of that city
and people are hollering, stay, stay, stay. Why? No, no, no. Don't you stay. Go with me. Flee the wrath to come. So he put his fingers in his
ears to quit listening to all the to voices, and all he could
cry while he was looking, life, life, eternal life, and ran out
of that place. But he had a burden on his back and a need in his heart. And
the evangelist, he'd heard from the preacher, you go through
that wicked gate and you'll see a cross and someone hanging on
it, and you're burdened And you trust him and he'll get you all
the way to the celestial city. He is the way. So he did it. And he left everyone putting
his fingers in his ears. I'm not going to listen to anybody.
I've got to have Christ. Brothers and sisters, if you've
heard his voice, follow him. Believe him. Do you hear me? I'm talking to myself. Trust
Him implicitly. Oh, but, but, but you're not
leading His. You don't know what tomorrow
may bring, but here's what He says. Follow Me. I know where
I'm going. I know where I'm taking you.
Gonna be through some stormy seas. They all, Brother John,
passed through the Red Sea. All of them. They all made it. You need not fear. If you're
following Him, you need not fear. Now, if you're in the lead, if
you're out front, fear. But you need not fear. If we're
truly following Him, we will not fear. He cannot fall. If you're following Him, you
cannot fall. The closer you follow Him, the safer you are. Now, let me take that back. The
more secure is no one ever. But the safer you'll feel. Yeah,
I caught myself on that. We're not safe because we follow
Him. We're safe because He leads us. He guides us. He has us in
His hands. But you'll feel safer. You'll
feel more peace in red. The closer you follow, the safer
you'll feel anyway. The closer you follow, the more
comfort you'll feel, the more peace you'll have. Follow him.
That means stay close. It means listen. It means hear
him, heed him, do what he says. Do what he says. Peace, peace,
peace. Our Lord kept saying that. Peace, peace, peace, peace. The
closer they were, that's the reason John... The beloved disciple,
he referred to himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved. John
didn't want to leave his side, did he? John was always, wherever
the Lord was, John was always leaning on him. Why? It was kind
of like a dog snuggled up. Like I said, I see Mac all the
time in the truck with Chip. They're like two lovers, you
know. He's right, Chip's right beside him. You love that dog,
don't you? He loves you. He trusts you.
Listen, you're his master. And I had a dog, a Wagner. I loved him. I bought him. I
taught him. And one of the first things I
taught him was heal. Stay close. Don't run off. Why? You'll get in trouble. Stay close. Heal. And I taught
him that, and he would. He'd just, if I'd say heal, I'd
step in and he'd stop. I'd step in and he'd stop. I'd
back up and he'd follow me. Implicitly. He loved me. He trusted me. I never hurt him. I did take a rod to him. But
he knew I, he learned. Okay? And he, he, he would heal. He would follow me. very carefully,
and I'd tell him, don't run off now. Don't run off. So he followed
me. And boy, we had some good times.
We had good times. Took him everywhere. I took him
in the truck. Dogs love trucks, don't they?
I love dogs. Not all dogs. I love that dog. One time, he got on the seat
of a deer or something. I saw one. And Maggie took off. I wasn't around. But I just figured
it out when it was all over. He ran off and he was gone for
two weeks. I didn't know where he was. I
found out later he was taken captive. Somebody took him in. Taken captive. It was not his
owner. He'd run off chasing something.
He didn't need him. He chased it and went after it.
And somebody took him in. Well, I went looking for him
without a reward, a bounty, a ransom. And I went looking for him. I was not going to stop looking
until I found him. My lost dog. My runaway dog. John, I found him. He didn't find me. I found him. Oh, my. Was it a happy reunion? I paid a ransom. Shouldn't have,
mind I would, but I did. Paid a ransom. Just glad to get
him back. And Buddy, from that day forward,
he didn't want to leave the property. He's waiting outside. He knew,
I run off and it's nothing but captivity. It's nothing but fear. Can you imagine what he's thinking?
He doesn't know anything. He's thinking it's all, all is
lost. What have I done? And that's me. That's you at
times. If you've heard his voice, brothers
and sisters, don't listen to strangers. They're liars. Our Lord cannot
lie. Trust me, you see. Simon and
Andrew, they were fishermen. They were businessmen, Simon
and Andrew, weren't they? Fairly successful, James and
John. Fairly successful. They had boats
and nets and servants. Their father was in the business.
It was a big enough fishing business to support two or three families. Peter and Andrew had a house
and wife and probably children in that interest. Never mentioned
them. You know they did. They'd be
in their thirties or forties and all of them. Did they have
wives and children? Sure they did. Why don't they
mention them? That's not their life. Christ is. They never mention
Him, I read. Did they love Him? Surely did,
if they had. They loved Christ more. And they wanted people
not to know about their children. They wanted people to know their
Savior. But anyway, our Lord came by
the a shore that day, a sea of Galilee, and there's Simon and
Andrew out there, and he says two words, follow me. That's all he said. And he turned
and walked off. There's a scripture that says
where the word of a king is, there's power. You see, this is the Jesus Christ
of the Bible, the Scripture. All power is given unto him in
heaven and earth. He doesn't ask people anything. He tells them. He gives the command. He's given
commandment to save me. This is the Jesus Christ of Scripture. He's not standing outside hoping
you'll let him in. He's on the inside. You're on
the outside. And we're hoping he'll let us
in. And when he gives the command, come in. You follow him. And
not until then. So he said, follow me. What'd
they do? They dropped everything and everyone. Simon Peter. You
know, later on, he was going to take on everybody that came
into that garden. Gruff, you know. And nobody's
going to tell him what to do. Nobody's going to... He's going
to take on the whole clean house, you know. This rabbi, this Cain
Bison, follow me, put the word. Simon dropped everything. Homes, families, jobs, follow
me. They left all, they left everything
and everyone to follow him. James and John, the same. Matthew, publican, money was
his life. He was a tax collector. It was
his life. He took his work home with him.
That's what you do, don't you, Margaret? You can't get away
from it. People call it, even your friends. What should I do?
What should I do? He dropped all that money sitting
on that table. He's responsible. Look at all that money. I don't
need that. I need food and rain, that's
it. I need him. So for three and a half years,
they followed him. They heard his voice, the voice
of authority. They saw something of his sovereign
power. And every day, the more they
followed him, John, the more they saw, the more they heard,
the more they believed, the greater they trusted. The more they saw
of him, the more they wanted to see of him. The more they
heard of him, the more they wanted to hear of him. Remember Lazarus was sick and
dying of some deadly disease, and Thomas? They didn't know
what they were getting into. They didn't know where they were
going or what they were going to catch. But Thomas says, let's just go
die with Him. Why? They heard Christ and followed
Him and seen His glory and they're not afraid. As long as they're
with Him, following Him, they're not afraid. Brethren, they were surrounded
by sickness. I told someone recently, trying to allay their fears,
that all the disciples, everybody had everything, came to the Lord.
Leprosy, a deadly disease. They came to the Lord and He
healed them. And that's what they argued with. Well, He healed
them. And He will heal you. What He gives you, He'll take
it away. Please. They were surrounded by sicknesses.
Would you think they were afraid? Sure they were. That's a leper. Look, it's a leper. Yeah, and
you are too. That's the disease we've got
to worry about, isn't it? That's the one everybody's dead
and dying from, that nobody seems to care about. Sin. That's why all this is happening. Right? But bless God, He's shown
us that. He's healed us of that disease.
There ain't no other disease we've got to worry about. I'm not making this up. I'm not
just preaching. I'm telling you the truth. That's
what Scott used to say. I ain't just preaching. I'm telling
the truth. I know preachers get carried away and all that. They were surrounded by danger.
Were they safe? More secure as no one ever than
the loved ones of the Savior. They were surrounded by danger.
Constantly, they went through stormy seas. Were they safe? Were they more safe at home than
they were in that ship tossed and turned? No! Don't holler at just nine of
us. Yes, holler! Brother Mack, may
the Lord get this through my thick head. Take the hammer of
thy word and work on this hard head of mine, this hard heart.
Break it wide open and pour in this oil and wine." They were poor and needy. They
left everything. Did he provide for them? Oh,
we're going to lose our jobs. This is our vocation. Right here. Follow him. He has never, nobody,
David said, I have I've been young, I now am old, I've never
seen the righteous forsaken or his seed begging bread. Not miss
one meal. Food and rain. Did they get hungry? Did they
get thirsty? Sure they did. Did they have where to get their
food? Eat that only. One time, it's
the next story in Luke 9 if we ever get to it. Five loaves and
two fishes. That ain't enough. You just don't believe Him at
all, do you? I just don't believe Him at all. I don't have enough.
There's not enough to meet my needs. Where'd you get that? Where'd you get those fish? Just
two fish. Where'd you get them? Well, I
caught them. No, you didn't. I didn't, did
you? I grew the fish. I showed you
before. You put your net down and fish
all night long and I'll catch a thing. And you get whatever
I say to get you have whatever I give you. Please. Did they need to pay the taxes?
They didn't have any jobs. Margaret, you're just there,
Margaret, you're a tax woman. They need to pay their taxes.
How am I going to pay my taxes? They went to the Lord, how am
I going to pay my taxes? He said, go catch Have you ever had needs
provided for you so miraculously you thought, I can't believe
that that was paid for. I can't believe it. Brother John
Chapman years ago got laid off from his job and he was laid
off for a long time. He told me, he said, I still
don't understand to this day, but I was laid off about two
years and we paid off our mortgage. Paid it off. It didn't work. Jesus Christ, the same yesterday,
today, and forever. They followed him. Were they
worried about their families? Was Simon Peter worried about
his wife and children at home? Who's taking care of them? The
same one that gave them to him. They were worried about the future. And the Lord told them, this
world's future looks bleak, isn't it? He told them, Luke 21, Matthew
24, He told them. This world is perishing, and
not a hair of your head will perish. Believe me now, trust
me. In your patience, possess your
souls. Why? How? What do you mean? I
possess you. I'm your husband. You're my bride. I came for you. I died for you.
I laid down my life for you. I'll never leave you or forsake
you. I'll provide for you. I love you. I will not. You may
leave me. I will not leave you. You may
want to divorce me. I will not give you a ready divorce. I will not. I give you eternal
life and you will never perish. Be a little bit in need, a little
bit in want, yeah, but I'll provide it every time. Up, down, yes. I'm not. I'm the same. Trust
me. They didn't know where they were
going. They never knew, from one moment
to the next, where he was leading them. And it didn't make sense. Quite
often, they'd get in the ship and pass over on the other side,
and he'd do something, and he'd say, let's get back in the ship
and go back. They'd look at each other. Now
where are we going? Now where are we going? Just follow him. You don't know, don't worry about
tomorrow, he said. You don't know what a day may
bring forth. Sufficient for that day is the trouble, but sufficient
is your Savior to bring you through it. As thy day is so shall thy
strength be. Trust me. Is this good counsel? There is no other counsel. They
followed him. You listen to him, you follow
him. Don't follow people who don't
know the Lord. Don't follow them. They don't know the truth. Fool
says no God. Fool says there's nothing to
this. Wise men says everything to this. Fear of the Lord is
the beginning of wisdom. Follow him. No one has ever followed Jesus
Christ who didn't end up in glory. And one last display of that
is a thief on a cross of all the people. And our Lord showed
his divine power and his great love and mercy and grace to the
worst sinner on earth. And his power while hanging on
that cross in his own agony, one worthless vile sinner looked
to him and said, Would you remember me? And he said, I today. You'll
be with me in paradise. You look to me, you're going
to end up in glory. And that's a good word, isn't
it? Look. That's how we start. Look. Looking unto Jesus. Author
and the what? Finisher. He gave it to you,
you finish it. He wrote the book, he's the beginning,
he's the end. He is the book. What is it? Exceeding
precious promises to God's people. Whole story about God's people
dying in the garden, Going through the wilderness and ended up in
glory. How? Jesus Christ. It's a good book. It's a good story. It's good
news. Happily ever after. And this
ain't no fairytale. This is no cunningly devised
fable, Peter said. We saw him. We heard him. We
were with him. And you and I have a more sure
word of prophecy. Whereunto we do well to take
heed and quit listening to everybody else. This is our king. He's our king. And he said, look,
man, old man, look at this, verse 11. It said, They followed him,
and he received them. Here came an old worthless republican,
and nobody liked him. He started following Christ.
Did I follow you? Yeah. Sure, come on. Lord, that fella,
we don't need that fella. No, but he needs me. And he received them. This man receiveth
sinners. What's he need with me? Nothing. That's not why he came, because
he needed anybody. He came for those who need him. He received
them. And he spake unto them. That's what I need. That's what
you need. That's what we need. We need him to speak to us, to
me. I need him to speak to me. We hear so many sermons, don't
we? I need to hear him speak to me. I've preached to some
people, still preach to some people, but I don't think they've
heard from him. They've just heard me. And I pray, I hope
and pray that they'll hear from him. They need to hear him. And he said that my sheep hear
my voice. He's pleased by the foolishness
of preaching that our Lord said to the disciples, go. If they
hear you, they're going to hear from me. That's the way they're
going to hear from me. If they won't hear you, they're
not going to hear from me. But bless God, they do. And I told
you my story. My pastor, my father, my dad,
I grew up with and under, and it's just my dad. It's just my
dad. It was the Lord speaking to them.
I didn't think of Him as my Father at all. It was the Lord speaking
to them. And He spoke to them. Who? The poor and needy. Spoke unto
them of what? The Kingdom of God. Spoke unto
them of the Kingdom of God. Now the world, this is what the
world is talking about right now. They are of the world, they
speak of the world, and the world hears them. I can see plainly,
and you can see plainly, that this world is perishing. This
world's in trouble. This world's in darkness. I need
to hear about another world. I need to hear about this other
kingdom, don't you? I need to be comforted. I need
to be assured. I need to know something about
the kingdom that never ends, and the one who reigns and rules
over all kings. So that's what he spoke to them
about. And he kept telling them, whoever it was that followed
him, this kingdom is perishing. All of them have. Every kingdom
of man has come and gone. The Medes, the Persians, the
Chaldeans, the Babylonians, the Romans, the Greeks, they've all
come and gone. And this one will too, won't
it? His kingdom shall not fail. It's
a kingdom of which the Lord Jesus Christ is the King, reigning
and ruling And this is why He came to this earth. He's bringing
His subjects into this kingdom. I can't see it. His kingdom is
there. It's an unseen kingdom. Can't
see Him. He's there already. He's manipulating,
reigning, ruling over the kingdoms of men, giving it to whomsoever
He will. Set it up over the vilest of
men. That's the King of kings. Well, I want to hear about that.
Because all this, you know, These kingdoms of men are wicked, all
about me, evil. And God said, He writes over
every kingdom, and it's all for one purpose, to gather together
in one, even in Christ, His elect into His eternal kingdom. And
then when the last elect is brought into his fold, He's coming. And brethren, good news. This
is good news, okay? This is good news. No more sin,
no more sorrow, no more fear, no more pain, no more suffering,
no more death. Joy unspeakable, full of glory. Are you enjoying what you're
hearing right now? You ain't heard nothing yet. You know,
when Paul died, when he was stoned, and went to the heaven of heavens.
You know what he came back and said? He didn't say, I saw things.
He said, I heard things. I heard things that I cannot
put into words. It's impossible to utter. Joy
unspeakable, full of glory. I heard a people singing from
the top of their lungs. A people that had gone through
great tribulation. People that had wept all night
long until they had no more power to weep. Now they're singing
at the top of their lungs. That's what this is all about.
That's what everything on the tough side of this earth is all
about. To bring His people into this
kingdom. Everything. No accidents. Like everything the Lord brought
His disciples through was to show them His glory. And then that one final act where
He was hanging on that cross, they thought it's over. They
should have believed him, John. It was over. It was over. What's over? The power of darkness. The captivity of sin. The laws
against him. He ended it. He blotted out the
handwriting of the wars against him. Now, nothing's against him.
Nothing! He rose from the grave. See?
Peace. Fear not. You don't die of something,
but he that liveth and believeth in thee shall never die. Do you believe this? Why do we
believe that? The next message is from 1 Corinthians
15, because Christ arose and he liveth and ever liveth. Right
now, this is preaching of the kingdom, preaching of a king,
an everlasting kingdom. That's in his hands, the people. And it says in our text, closing,
"...and healed them that had need of healing." I ought to
devote a whole message to that right there. Key words, need. Sin has brought every sickness
upon this world. Sin. We're poor, needy sinners is
what we are. And as said, if Christ has done
that, and that great work of Calvary's tree for us, we need not fear anything. Every one that has his true need
of sins forgiven, sins put away, let's see their real need. Everyone that sees their real
need of a savior, of a righteousness, of a salvation, of a redeemer,
of a Christ, of a great high priest, of a lamb, we have one. And he sends his word and he
heals us, he shows us that he himself is the balm of Gilead.
He himself is the serpent on the pole. Everyone that didn't
look are healed. It's all good, don't you? Stand
with me.