Go with me now to Hebrews 13
again. Hebrews 13. Read with me one verse. Hebrews 13, verse
8. Jesus Christ, the same yesterday
and today and forever. Scripture declares that that
same Jesus the Christ who walked this earth two thousand years
ago is the same. today and forever. It's the same. The one who came
into this earth, born king. King, reigning, ruling, controlling
everywhere he went. Things, people, Did His bidding. He reigned. He ruled. Sovereign. Reigning. Ruling. Controlling
everything from the wind and the water, the men and devils. It's the same today. The same
One reigning and ruling the wind, the water, men and devils today
and forever. The same. And in the revelation
that Brother Gabe read to us, he said to John, whom he appeared
to, revealed himself to, he said this in verses 17 and 18. John saw him. He said he fell
at his feet dead. And he says, he laid his right
hand on me and said, fear not. You see, the fear of the Lord
is the beginning of wisdom. The Lord said to this man who
feared, fear not. And then he said this, I am. I am. They said to him one time, who
are you? He said the same that I said
in the beginning. When? to Moses on the mount. I am. Who's sending me? Tell him I am. I am the first
and the last. He said, I am he that liveth. He said, I was dead and behold,
I'm alive forevermore. Amen. Aren't you glad? Amen. And he said, I have the
keys of hell and death. When we talk about the fear of
the Lord, what do men fear more than anything else? Death. Jesus Christ said, I have the
keys. This is the God in whose hands
our breath is. Young people. We're trying to declare who this
is. He's got to reveal himself. It's
called the revelation of Jesus Christ. He's got to make himself
known. What we're told to do is preach.
Declare Him. Right? But He's got to do it.
He's got to show us we're in His hands. To do it as He pleases. They didn't know Him then. They
don't know Him now. But He's the same. He's the same. The same Lord Jesus Christ. Thankfully. The One who has the keys of hell
and death. Thankfully, the one who says,
I kill, I make a lot, I wound, I heal. The one in whose hands
our breath is and all our ways. Thankfully, he doesn't change. Thankfully, he said, I delight
to show mercy. I'm ready to pardon. Thankfully,
he's the same. yesterday, today, and forever.
You know, when you're young, you want things to change, don't
you? You delight in change. Look, the world is changing. Well, not really. But the older
you get, the more you want things to not change. In fact, you want
to take things back a few years, the old paths, the good ways.
to a better time or whatever. Old days. Not change. Well, change
and decay in all around us. Oh, thou that changest not, abide
with me. And me indeed. Luke chapter 7. Go over there. Here's the story
of our unchanging Lord. Luke chapter 7. You know how
we know, how His people know that Christ lives. He said, I
am alive. I'm alive. How we know that He
lives and reigns and rules over all is He's still working the
same miracles that He did before. He's the same yesterday. He's
still doing the exact same thing that He did before. today and
will continue to do. He's still performing the same
miracles that he did on this earth today as he did yesterday. God's people hear his voice.
Yes, they do. They see his hand in everything. They sure do. And what we hope
is that he'll reveal himself to someone else. Jesus Christ
is the same. He's the same Lord who is still
forgiving sins. And we start with that because
it's the greatest news you'll ever hear. You know
why? Because we're a bunch of sinners. And that hell and death he's
talking about, that belongs to sinners. That's the do of sinners. But this Christ is still forgiving
sin. All manner of sin. There is a
woman here in chapter 7. Look at verse 36. One of the
Pharisees desired him and he would eat with him. He went into
the Pharisee's house, sat down to meet. Behold, a woman in the
city which was a sinner. Everybody knew it. She knew it. She knew it more than anybody.
Life has been nothing but sin. She knew it. She came to the
Lord, verse 38, stood at His feet, behind Him weeping, and
began, and as she fell at His feet, began to wash His feet
with tears and wipe them with the hairs of her head. Has anybody
in here cried such tears over your own sinfulness? That's why
she's crying. and kissed his feet." She came
to the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh, how beautiful are
the feet of them that bring glad tidings of great joy. What joy? What brings a sinner
the most joy? What's the sweetest sound that
a sinner can ever hear? What's the sweetest word like
good news from a far country to a guilty sinner? Good news. Look at it. Down in verse 47. In verse 48, the Lord said unto
her, Thy sins are forgiven. Right then and there, the Lord
Jesus Christ freely, frankly, completely, and forever Put away
her sin. There is therefore now no condemnation. Right then and there. There was
nothing that could be laid to her charge. No condemnation. Completely. With a word. With a powerful word. Forgave
all her sin. All matters. She was the chief
of sinners. He said, no more. Justified freely from all things. Oh my, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Is there a sinner in here? From the worst harlot in the
street to a thief, a dying thief on the cross, a murderer, the
Lord Jesus Christ came into this world to save sinners. That's
why we begin with that. He's the same. and forever. I believe he's going to save
a sinner in here soon if he hadn't already started to work, because
the gospel is still being prayed. If it were not so, he wouldn't
be praying. Peter at Pentecost says, God
proved him to be the Christ by miracle, signs, and wonders.
And the greatest miracle of all, here's what I'm trying to show
you, is that the greatest miracle of all that only Jesus Christ
can perform is to put away sin. This is the great work. You remember
when the man was lame of the palsy? Remember? Hadn't walked
all his life, born crippled. They let him down in the bed
before the Lord. You remember the first thing
the Lord said to him? You remember the first thing? Everybody thought,
well, if he can give this man legs, oh, that would be a miracle. Yes, it would. Yes, it would. But he's going to end up crippled
when he gets 75. If he gets 80, he's going to
be bedridden again. And it ain't going to last. Okay? But the first thing the Lord
said to that man, the greatest thing that man could have said,
And the greatest miracle the Lord performed is He said, Son,
thy sins be forgiven. Only God can do that. If there's
no sin, there's no death. If there's no sin, there's no
hell. There's no judgment, no condemnation. With a word, gone. The Lord say unto my soul, my
mind. Same yesterday, today, and forever. If you had asked that woman the
greatest day of her life, she would say, the day the Lord said
to me, thy sins be forgiven. The reason this right now is
just not shouting ground for us is that we forgot the pit
from which we were digging. He makes harlots holy. He makes harlots holy. The same Lord is still preaching
the gospel. Chapter 8, still preaching the
gospel throughout the world. It's His voice, though He sends
men. Verses 1 through 3, it came to pass afterward He went through
the cities and villages preaching. Preaching. People can't stand
preachers, can they? I can't stand most of them because
they're not true preachers. I love, dearly, true preachers.
I esteem them higher than any man on this earth. I really do.
True preachers. Like Scott and this man. Oh,
yes. Angels. That's what the Lord
calls them in the Revelation. Angels. Well, but the rest of
these fellows are impostors and so forth. The Lord was a preacher. Jesus Christ was a preacher.
He said, I came to preach. Boy, how that elevates this position,
doesn't it? Preach. I came to preach. Preaching. Please God, by the foolishness
of preaching. And he came preaching to show
the glad tidings of the kingdom of God, and twelve were with
him. Twelve were with him. In chapter 9, verses 1 through
6, he says he called twelve disciples, gave them power and authority
over all devils to cure diseases, sent them out to preach, verse
2, in the kingdom of God and heal the sick. He's still doing
that today through men. Yes. He still has men that he
called. Men that he has given great power
to. What's the power? It's not in
the men. It's in the gospel. This is the
power of God. This gospel still casts out devils
and heals the sick. Yes, it does. It's the only thing
that will. And there's still men. And He sends it. Sends it
through these men. Men though they be, yet God's
still speaking through them. Calling out His people. Back
in chapter 8, verse 2, it says, certain women which have been
healed of evil spirits and infirmities. He's still healing certain women. That's his elect. Scriptures
are very clear. It talks about a certain man
here, a certain woman, a certain this and that and the other.
His elect. He's calling out his people.
Certain women were healed. of evil spirits." Any women in
here been healed of evil spirit? And in Permutis, that's flesh. Mary, look at the wide range. Mary Magdalene, out of whom went
seven devils, and Joanna, the wife of Chuzzah Herod Stewart.
From a harlot on the street to Herod Stewart. High and low,
rich and poor, young and old, male and female, it doesn't matter,
Jew and Gentile. He's still preaching the same
gospel. The one thing that will bring the high low and the low
high, the gospel. He's still doing it. The same.
How I know he lives. How I know is he's still preaching
this gospel. I still hear it. I still hear
his voice with power. I do. Not in myself, but in others. I hear people. Hopefully you
do. I still hear them. I know it's
the same. Yesterday, today, and forever. He's still calling out his subject.
Verse 4 here, chapter 8, says, Much people were gathered and
were come to him. Came to him. He's still calling
people to him, to himself. Still calling people to himself.
And yet the same Lord is still hiding himself from others and
revealing himself to some. Verses 8 through 10. It says
the Lord preached this parable of the sower, and some fell on
good ground, sprang up, bear fruit a hundredfold. And when
he said these things, he cried, the Lord cried, he that hath
ears to hear, let him hear. Well, folks, everybody in here
has ears, don't they? Have they not all heard? Yes, barely. The sound has gone
throughout the world. But have they heard? Gabe read
there in Revelation 1, blessed are they that have the words.
Blessed are they that read the Word. Read the Word. What a blessing to have this
Bible. There's one in every hospital drawer. My, my. I've been reading about Martin
Luther. The Lord used him to translate the Scripture so everybody
could have one. Brother Ed, there was one and
it was chained up in a monastery and nobody could read it. And
Luther prized that above life itself. And he said, by God's
grace, I'm going to make it so everybody will have a copy of
it. Thank the Lord. Oh, blessed are they that read. Do they? Nah. Oh, blessed are
they who hear. How many people are really hearing
God's Word today? Hearing a man stand up just declaring
God's Word. That's it. That's all he's trying
to do is declare what God... How many people are hearing this?
A few. Are you? But more important, the blessing
of the day that keep, that lay hold of. They have it, they read
it, they hear it, they lay hold of it. How blessed. Oh, he said,
he that hath ears to hear, let him hear. His disciple says,
what does this mean? What does this mean? His disciple
said that, Lord, tell us what this means. We're not content
with just passing by and letting it slip. Tell us what it means."
He said, oh, it's given to you. He said, it's given to you. It's
hid from the wise and prudent how blessed you are. It's given
to you to know the mysteries. It's given to you to have a desire
to know the mysteries. It's given to you that him that
hath more will be given. Him that hath not, he'll be taken
away, even that which he hath. He's the same. He's still hiding
these things. Still hiding these things from
people. Do you still are amazed that
people don't believe the truth when it's so clear? But no, He's
the same. It's the same. The truth is the
same. He said it's hidden. It's a revelation. Oh, let's not take that for granted.
Let us not take this for granted. Oh, my. Same. Yesterday, today,
and forever. I'm still receiving it. Oh, thanks
the Lord who doesn't change. He's the same Lord who's commanding
the wind and the waves. Now here in chapter 8, you remember
this story, don't you? The disciples, he's told them
in verse 22, a certain day, a certain day came and the Lord's infinite
purpose and schedule. The Lord had ordered, known unto
God all His works from the beginning. All right? And He came to this
earth and did certain things at certain days and certain hours
that He had predetermined before the world began. It's the same.
He's the same. You know what's going to happen
today? No, you don't know what's going
to happen. I don't either. But He does. Why? Because He purposed
it. He's the same. A certain day,
He said, let's get in a ship and cross the other side. The
disciples didn't have a clue where He was going. They didn't
have a clue. Why? Why? They didn't ask Him. But the Lord, you see, had a
predetermined meeting with one man in a cemetery across the
lake. Alright? A certain day came.
Would to God this would be the certain day that one of these
dead ones would hear His voice. There is a certain day. Anyway,
he came and they got in this ship and as they sailed, verse
23, he fell asleep. Oh my. It came down a storm of
wind on the lake. What made this wind happen, this
storm? Where did it come from? You know
that one that's in the ship asleep? He raised the storm. He said, I don't believe that.
Wait, you'll see. All right? And they were filled
with water and they were in jeopardy. And they came to Him and awoke
Him and said, Master, Master, we perish. And then He arose,
wiped the sleep out of His eyes. A man. He's a man. He's asleep. It's amazing, isn't
it? That's amazing. That's amazing. Asleep. I don't understand that. But He was. All right? Walked
to the bow of the ship, and these men who had seen lots of storms
before, they thought, this is it. It's all over. Fill it full
of water, the ship. And that man named Jesus walked
out on the bow of that ship and told the ocean, told the wind,
stop blowing, and told the water, lie down. It's like a farm pond. He's the same today. The same. The same. People contribute. You notice the heavens still
declare His glory. The firmament still showeth His
handiwork. Day unto day others speak. There's no language where
His voice is not heard. He's still commanding the wind
and the wave. Tornadoes go where they will.
Lightning strikes where he wills it to. They say lightning won't
strike in the same place twice. That's not true. If he says so, it will. Lightning
struck a tree within 50 feet of our house a year or two ago. Struck a big poplar tree. Went
down under the ground. I was inside watching all this.
Went down under the ground. Came out in the middle of my
garage. Busted the concrete out. Pow! Sounded like a cannon going
off. Okay? Last, when was it? Spring? Lightning, my neighbor's
house is 50 feet away from me. Struck and destroyed her house.
Boom! Right there in my backyard. Why
not my house? I'm lucky. Huh? He's the same. Yesterday, today,
and forever. He's ordering the winds and the
waves. All things. Elements. They all do His bidding.
Men and devils do His bidding. He's the King. He's the King
of kings. Like the rivers of water, He
turneth it whatsoever He will. The wills, the hearts, the minds
of men. I was going to read to you in
Job where the Lord said, Gird up your loins and I'll demand of thee." And then he
began to tell, can you speak with such power? Can you clothe
yourself with light? Can you catch a whale with a
hook? It's the same yesterday, today and forever. This same
Jesus Christ is still casting out devils. He's commanding the
devils. Look at chapter 8 here of Luke. You know, modern man calls this
by different names. But what it is, you know, possession
is possession. Addiction, being captive to something,
is a possession. Whatever we're bound by, we're
a captivity to it, aren't we? Modern man calls it addictions
and disorders and alternative lifestyles and this and that
and the other. Scriptures calls it demon possession. And there
were many. Mary Magdalene had seven, it
says, that went out of her. The Lord cast out. I read recently
one in five adults is on some kind of behavioral medicine. Four out of five are on alcohol
or drugs. Captivity. Scripture says we're
on captivity to Satan. That's what it said. That's what
the Scripture said. Modern man calls it some kind
of, you know, disorder. There's one freedom. It's the
one who must lead captivity. Captivity is the same. He's the
same. What he did more than anything
else back then was cast out devils. Cast out devils. Look at chapter
8, verse 26. He got over to the other side,
you know, they went through that storm which he purposed. to show
His power and glory over the wind and the wave. And then He
came to this country of the Gadarenes, and when He went forth to land,
verse 27, there met Him a man out of the city. A certain man. A certain man on a certain day. This is the same Lord. And this is what I say. Man,
oh man, I hope, I wish, I pray for that certain day when the
Lord There are certain individuals that I hope and pray to, Lord,
Lord, bring that. I want to see that day where
you confront them. A certain man who had devils
a long time, wearing no clothes and a boat and platoons. You
know, that describes everybody. You know that? That describes
everybody by nature. Had devils a long time. That's
what we're saying here. We're either led by the Holy
Spirit or who? Or what? There's no gray area
here. Is there? We're either led by
the Spirit of God or another spirit. It can't be both. And I tell you, there's only
one who is stronger than anything and everybody. Yesterday. Today. Forever. Devil's a long time. Says he
was naked. You know, man is the only creature
born naked. Only creature on this earth born
without some kind of protective covering. He's got to be covered or he'll
die. He's got to have some clothes
put on him or he'll die. You take any other animal, any
animal, born with hair, born with covering, a horse is up
in a few hours, isn't he? Running. That's his protection. He's got a natural protection
that God gives him. Man is completely, totally dependent,
vulnerable, naked. Why? Why do we need covering? Sin. Before sin, we didn't need clothing. When sin came, God be covered. Born naked. All things are naked
and open before the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. But
men and women cover themselves with fig leaves. I've got myself covered. I've
turned over a new leaf. Adam. God sees through that. My, my. There's only one thing
that will cover you. A skin. A seamless robe. A bloody covering. The robe of
Christ's righteousness. The only thing. Naked and living
in the tombs. living in the tombs, dead man
living among the dead, having a big time, whooping and hollering.
Stephen, he's running around whooping and hollering, having
a big old time. Thinks he's having fun. Oh, thank God Jesus Christ came
by. Thankfully, he came. The Lord
commanded him in verse 29, commanded the unclean spirit to come out
of the man. Commanded it. Al has given commandment to Satan.
Commanded him. Well, what happened? Verse 28,
he saw he cried out and fell down before him. When the Lord
gives command, you'll come. When you hear His voice, like
John, you'll follow His feet. You'll cry out. When the Lord
calls, you'll call. Oh, Lord. That's why we call
on Him. Lord, call such and such. Call. Call me. Call me. Well, look at verse 28. It says this
man wanted nothing to do with the Son of God. He said in verse
28, What have I to do with Thee, Jesus, Thou Son of God, Most
High? I beseech Thee, torment me not. This is a man, isn't it, who's
a captive young person. Anybody. Doesn't want anything
to do with this. Doesn't want anything to do with
Christ. That's a person who's led captive
of the devil. What's that got to do with me?
Oh my, you remember? Got the keys to hell and death.
You remember that? I'm not interested. You can't be indifferent. Nobody
can be indifferent. What's that got to do with me?
He said, torment me not. I remember a time when it was
torment to me to sit and listen to the gospel. I remember that.
It was torment. Now that's a person who's captive
of the devil. Torment. Torment. How long do I have to listen
to this? This is torment. Do you know what it takes to
turn a fellow from being tormented by the gospel to can't wait to
hear it? Jesus Christ, the same, yesterday,
today, and forever. Look down at verse 36. They came out to see what was
done. They found this man of whom the devils were departed,
sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and it is right mine. And the Lord was getting back
in the boat in a little while. And this man begged him, brother
Ron, he begged him, I want to go with you. Please, do not leave
me. I've got to stay with you. Leave
me. Don't leave me. There's nowhere
I'd rather be than with you. Just before this, he said, leave
me alone. And now he says, don't leave
me alone. What's it going to take? For
a young man, a young woman, an old man or an old woman who says,
I don't want that. I don't need that. What's that
got to do with me? To turn them from saying, I've
got to have that. Oh. From being tormented to being
blessed. What's it going to take? Jesus
Christ. The same. Yesterday. Just like this fellow. I was no different than this
fellow. Today. And forever. Forever. My, my. The Lord said in prayer,
And the same Lord is still raising dead people, young people. Down
in verse 41, there came a man named Jairus, a ruler of the
synagogue. He fell down at Jesus' feet and
besought Him, begged Him that He would come to his house. My,
my. Lord Jesus Christ. come to my
house." The Lord be in the house. If
the gospel is in the house like Obed-Edom, the Lord will bless
it. There is no greater blessing
than the Lord being in the house. The Lord would you come to my
house. He said he had one daughter.
I know what that is like to have one daughter. She was twelve
years of age. That's a crucial time in the
life of a young person. They're turning into a young
lady. Most girls were married back
then, about 13 or 14. Crucial time. Entering womanhood. She lay a dying. And if the Lord doesn't raise
our daughters, they'll die. It won't look like it. They'll
be out in the world. Have the world by its tail. Just, you know, maybe even successful
and beautiful and this and that and the other. Damn. Oh Lord, please. I have one daughter. I have one daughter. Please do
something. He's the same yesterday, today,
and forever. Did he do it? Did he do it? Will he answer the cry of one
man concerning one young daughter? Will he? Yes. Yes, he will. Yes, he will. I'm here to tell you, he will.
He will. Didn't seem like it, though,
did it? Remember the story of Jairus? He thought that the people
thronged the Lord. Another woman came along, more
needy than he. And Jairus thought, Jairus, Jairus,
Jairus, he thought, he's forgot about me. And I don't blame him. That's what he thought. I don't
deserve for him to hear me. Why should he do anything for
my daughter? Huh? She doesn't deserve it. I don't
deserve it. Why should he? He forgot about her. He's the
same. He's not going to save my son,
is he? He's not going to save my daughter,
is he? He's just not going to do it. He's forgot about me,
hasn't he? What's our hope? He's the same. Yesterday, today. He hadn't forgot about Jairus.
He had other things to attend to. But he's arranging the whole
thing. He's arranging the whole thing. Yes, he is. In the meantime,
in the meantime, there was a woman with an issue. An issue of blood. Had it twelve years. Came to
him. Spent all her living upon positions
of no value. I think this woman is kind of
like a person in religion. Got an issue. You know where
our issue is? in the blood. It's called sin. And there's
not one earthly physician that can do anything about it. And
you spend all you will, you spend all you will in the religion
of this world with Dr. Feelgood, with Dr. Walkenow,
with Dr. Dedicate, Dr. Join-A-Church,
Dr. This-If-You-Will-Be-No-Better,
you'll only be worse and poorer. But if by God's grace you can
just touch the hem of his garment, be brought to Jesus Christ and
see, it's just, I can just have a thread of faith. Just touch
one bell or one pomegranate, that's what was on to him. I'll be made whole once he was. Gone. Twelve years. Gone. Gone. Issued. He's the same. He's still healing women of their
religion. Still pointing them to Him. My,
my. What's it going to take to make
a religious woman know that she's got an issue she's dying from?
What's it going to take? The same person. Well, what about
that girl? What about that girl? Look down
in chapter 8. Verse 49, while he yet spake,
there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying,
Your daughter is dead. Don't trouble the master. I bet
that person didn't have a daughter. You know what? I bet that person
didn't have a daughter, an only daughter. Don't trouble him.
Don't trouble him. You don't have a dying daughter,
do you? Be like that importunate widow.
You remember that importunate widow? She said, Would not quit
until he answered her. She said, Your daughter is dead.
When Jesus heard it, he answered them and said, Fear not, believe
only. What a verse. Believe only, and she shall be
made whole. And they wept. They bewailed
her. This sounds real emotional to
young people and sounds real sentimental and all that, and
I'm not trying to be dramatic, but you might be surprised how
many people are weeping over you. Wailing. Lord, do something. Please. Thank God the Lord says she's
not dead, she's sleeping. They laughed at it. And he came
and he put them all out. Verse 54, look at it, every eye.
He put them all out. When the Lord Jesus Christ deals
with somebody, he's going to deal with them. Even though he speaks through
a preacher, that person will feel like the Lord himself is
speaking straight to them. I remember it distinctly. I remember
it so well. My preacher was preaching. And
I thought I was the only person in there. And the Lord was dealing with
me. And He took her by the hand and
He called and said, Maid, rise. Live. And her spirit came. She arose straightway. First
thing, what happened? Give her something to eat. She's
hungry. She's thirsty. She has life. No interest before she was dead. Now she hungers and thirsts.
What did this? Who did this? Jesus Christ. The
same. Yesterday. Today. And forever. And forever. Thank the Lord He
doesn't change. Thank the Lord the gospel is
still the power of God. You know, we haven't seen this
in a while here. A little while. But the Lord
is doing this in other places. In Crossville, Tennessee, not
long ago, they had a meeting. And several men preached. The
Lord used that preaching down there to rest the hearts and
the minds of several young people. You're talking about a joyful
time. Oh, my. No more joyful, I guess, rather
than maybe a husband or a father, a mother and wife. But buddy,
the Lord spares young people from this untoward generation.
This evil world. Oh, that's shouting ground. That's shouting ground, boy. Put the yoke on them. And they
love to have it so. Oh, man! You love to see that? He's the same. I'm waiting on
that certain day. Maybe the seed was sown today.
Let's hope for it. Pray for it. Pray for it. OK? Pray for it. All right, Brother
Gabe, you come. It's all right. This is a test. This is a test. Okay. It's.