Things To Think On

Q: What does the Bible say about salvation?

The Bible teaches that salvation is God reproducing the character of Christ in us, primarily through grace and faith. Salvation, as described in the Scriptures, is not merely a human effort but rather a divine act where God transforms individuals into new creations in Christ. Ephesians 2 emphasizes that we are saved by grace through faith—this salvation is entirely God's gift and not based on our works, ensuring that no one can boast about their efforts. This divine salvation process means we come to know and embody the character of Jesus Christ, who is our all in salvation.

Q: How do we know God's truth is absolute?

God's truth is absolute because He is true to His character as revealed in Scripture. The certainty of God's truth is founded on His character, which is consistent and unchanging. As stated in 1 John 5:20, we are assured that 'we know Him who is true,' emphasizing that God cannot lie and is faithful to His word. This means His promises, including judgment and grace, reflect His absolute moral nature. Throughout Scripture, God's attributes are confirmed through various testaments, showing that His character and the fulfillment of His promises affirm the reality of His truth.

Q: Why is the doctrine of election important for Christians?

The doctrine of election underscores God's sovereignty and grace in the salvation of believers. The doctrine of election is critical for understanding the nature of salvation and God's sovereignty. It reveals that God, in His mercy, chooses whom He will save, emphasizing that salvation is ultimately an act of God's will, not human merit. Ephesians 1:4-5 describes how believers are chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, reaffirming that our salvation rests completely on God's plan and purpose. This understanding provides profound assurance to Christians, confirming that our standing in grace is secure because it is grounded in God's eternal choice.

Q: What does Philippians 4:8 teach about thinking?

Philippians 4:8 encourages believers to focus their thoughts on whatever is true, honorable, just, and pure. In Philippians 4:8, Paul instructs believers to think on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report. This directive is a call to cultivate a mindset that reflects the character of Christ, helping Christians to filter their thoughts through the lens of biblical truth and virtue. The emphasis is on intentional thinking, which nurtures spiritual health and aligns our hearts and minds with God's nature. Focusing on these virtues aids in manifesting the fruit of the Spirit in our lives and fosters a community characterized by love and righteousness.

Q: Why is grace essential in the Christian faith?

Grace is essential because it is the unmerited favor of God that enables salvation and empowers believers to live righteously. Grace is fundamental to the Christian faith as it signifies God’s unearned favor toward sinful humanity. Through grace, believers are not only saved but are also transformed to live according to God's will. Ephesians 2:8-9 explicitly states that by grace we are saved, ensuring that no works can earn salvation. Furthermore, grace empowers Christians to embody the character of Christ in their daily lives, enabling them to overcome sin and perform good works that glorify God. As such, understanding and experiencing grace is vital for spiritual growth and assurance in one's relationship with God.

All right, Philippians chapter
four. I like what Ralph Barnard said
one time. Ralph Barnard who was a true evangelist who traveled
all over this country, not a tele-evangelist like these crooks on TV, but
he was a true evangelist. He traveled all over preaching
the truth. And he said this about salvation.
He said, salvation is God Almighty reproducing the character of
Jesus Christ in a human being. Salvation is God Almighty reproducing
the character of Jesus Christ And that's basically, that's
what the Scripture says, is that there are new creatures in Christ. It says in Ephesians 2 that we're
saved by grace, through faith. That's not what it says. Oh,
that's a gift from God. Not of works lest any man should
boast. Not of anybody doing anything.
It's what Jesus Christ did for where it is worth. Anybody say
this is because Jesus Christ did the work of salvation, or
His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good work. All right? And so the passage
we're going to look at tonight, we're going to look at verse
8. Let's see. Let's look at 4, verse 8. And like all of the Scripture,
this speaks of Christ. All of these things it tells
us to think on are descriptions of the Lord Jesus Christ. It's
like Paul said in chapter 3 of Colossians. He says, if you then
be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where
Christ sits on the right hand of God. Set your affection, your
mind, on things above. Now that is Christ. That's your
affection. Think on these things. And salvation
is to look to Christ. Salvation is to come to know
Jesus Christ as being all your salvation. Salvation is to know
Him. And that's the way we're saved.
We're saved by looking to Him. When He said, look unto Me, it
means to say, I am God. Isn't that right? And the way
He keeps us, the way He preserves us is by looking to Him. The
way He keeps our mind, our thoughts, is by looking to Him. Your mind,
your thoughts, will be kept as if you're looking to Him. So
we're going to look at this, we're going to see how these things speak
of Christ, see the descriptions of Christ. We need to see Him. And then we'll look at a practical
All right, what's the Philippians 4 verse 8? All right, it says,
Finally, brethren, and these are truly the dying words of
a dying man. The apostle was in prison when
he wrote this, and he was beheaded not too long after this. Beheaded
for preaching the gospel. So it says, Finally, brethren,
and that is in conclusion. His parting words were, in summary,
of all that he said before, timely brethren, whatsoever things are
true. Whatsoever things are? On and
on it goes. Think on it. Whatsoever things are true. Now I want you to turn to 1 John
chapter 5. 1 John. You'll find it just a
little bit before the book of Revelation. 1 John, John's first
epistle, chapter 5. What sort of things are true,
think on these things. Listen, as you turn to 1 John,
let me read four verses of the Scripture from the Revelation.
Alright? In Revelation, listen to this. In Revelation 3 it says this,
these things say he that is holy, he that is truthful. He that is truthful. Listen to this, Revelation 15,
just and true are thy ways, thou king of saints. I like that title,
king of saints. Revelation 16, listen to this,
true and righteous are thy judgments. Listen to this, Revelation 19
speaks of someone who's riding on a white horse. He's riding
on a white horse and it says, He that sat upon this horse is
called, this is the same, faithful and true. He's true. So he says, think on these things,
things that are true. What things? He is true. Look at 1 John 5, verse 20. 1
John 5, verse 20. We know that the Son of God has
come and has given us an understanding that we may know Him. That is
true. and that we are in Him that is
true, even in His Son, Jesus Christ. This is the true God
and eternal life. See, God is true. Christ is true. The Holy Spirit is true. They're
true to their character. Listen carefully. God, Christ,
the Holy Spirit, these three are one. true to their character,
true to their worth. All right? God is true to His
character. Have you heard or have you read
in the Scriptures where there is that hail? Most people don't like to think
on that. It is a difficult subject to think on. But do you know
the Lord Jesus Christ spoke about it more than anyone? And there is an angel. You know
why? It's true. You know why I know that? Because
God is told that. It's true. Because God is true to His character.
He will punish the sinner. He's told that. God is true to
His character. Have you heard of the doctrine
of election in the Church? Huh? Of God choosing whom He
will? Have you heard that in the Church?
Well, you can't read the Church without seeing it somewhere. It is true. You don't mind? Because
God is sovereign. He's truly a character. God is
absolutely sovereign over all things. He said, not can I do
with my own what I will. Yes. He saves when He wills it. He passes by when He wills it. That makes Him good. He's truly
a character. Alright. Do you hear of mercy? Huh? I mean, mercy is not a man
or woman not getting what they do deserve. God spared him somehow. Do you hear that? And do you
hear that mercy endured forever? What's true? So God's truth is
great. Let's just wake up. Once he had
mercy, that's okay. Do you hear grace? Undeserved favor? I mean, God
gives you men and women, giving them what they don't deserve. Giving them what somebody else
did, what Christ did, they absolutely charged it to their account.
It's true. God's truth is there. Love? You hear, love has never failed.
God's love has never failed. He said, I have loved them more
than ever last year, love, which is true, because God's truth
is there. Have you ever heard the statement,
Or have you ever saw a deal where a magazine acquired some sort,
that they're advertising some special on sale, and you think,
well, that sounds too good to be true? And it probably is. He said he'd get so much for
it. He's pretty. If you ever receive a phone call,
you know it's pretty. You just want this. It's all
pretty. Well, it sounds too good to be true. Well, it is. It is. They say all men are liars. Well,
you know. If you know the least things concerning
our God, God is too good to be wrong. Think about it. His mercy endures forever. He's
too good for that nonsense. He said, I give unto them eternal
life, and they'll never perish. That's my next point. He proved
His word. God proved His word. Christ over and over again, and
John the Gospel used to say this. Used to say it. I said, I did
that last night. He didn't used to say it. He
still says it. But Christ says this, barely, barely. That word there means of truth,
of truth, or truly, truly. I say to you, everything he says
is truth. Why? Because he said it. Because
he's the truth. He cannot lie. He cannot lie. He's truth. Everything he says
is truth, all right? He's true in his word. He says
this, all that the Father has given me shall come to me. Well, they don't. Yes. He said,
All the Father's love of thee shall be done to thee. And he
said, And all that cometh of thee, he that cometh to me, I
will give him a life's rest. Not for ignorance, ever. At any moment. That's what makes
God so true. He's true. He says, I give unto
you, man, eternal. I give. He says, I give. I give
eternal life. I give unto them eternal life
and let it go. See, he's too good, huh? He's too
good for that knowledge. He's truly worthy. I say it's
only a sign. And in chapter 9, verse 9, it
says that God's history is written. I say it's only him who is true. And practically speaking, Think
on things that are true, true reports, true words. Do you remember
that three-fold rule for routine? I mean, we all hear
lots of things about people in a really just way. And my pastor
gave this three-fold rule that's good. It's a good thing to think
about. before we even hear something,
let alone repeat it. Concerning someone, number one,
is it true? When we hear something, say about
someone, idol, whatever, is it true? Let's get to the bottom
of it. That'll usually end it right
there, now. Is it true? Second one, is it time? He's a kind. Right in here it
is. He means God. God interferes.
He's a kind. Thirdly, it's necessary. What good is this living life?
Is there any good in heaven? Is there any good here? Is there
any good in my good? Here it is. Come on. I'll put
an end to all that. What sort of things are true?
Think on these things. Truth in opposition. Love rejoices
in the All right, let's look at the next half. It says, finally,
rather than whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are
honest. Honest. Webster's Dictionary. Webster's Dictionary defines
honest, or honesty, as this, and this what? Listen very carefully.
Honest means worthy of honor. Characterized by integrity, fairness,
straightforwardness in conduct, thought, speech, upright, just,
trustworthy, truthful, sincere, free from problems, God-conscious. Who's that? Do you know of anybody In our
generation, I like that. That's Christ. That's Christ
alone. He's characterized by His patriotism. He's worthy of honor. He's straightforward
in His conduct, in His thoughts, in His speech. He said, oh, He
said, my worries are true. Straightforward. All my words,
He said, are in truth. There is nothing forward or perverse
in Him. Or perplexing. He's trustworthy. Trustworthy. You can trust somebody
that's honest. You can trust them with all that
you own, can't you? You find someone that's honest,
well you can trust them with everything you own. Who's that? Christ and Christ alone. He alone. You know, we don't have a hard
time finding anybody in this day that fits this deal somewhat. Now, we can look to the highest
office in our life. Our rulers. You know, honesty
and politics just don't mix, do they? I really don't think
a man can be totally honest with the electorate for the first
time. I mean, I think he has to make
too many promises in order to continue. Well, I tell you who's
holding the highest office. I tell you who rules over the
universe. He's sitting on the throne right now, and even the
king's heart's in the hands of the board, and he's promised. And he wasn't late to his position.
We don't make him more. Now he's honest. Now what about the judges? What
about a judge? Our Supreme Court is supposed
to be the highest point of appeal. Those men and women who sit on
that court are supposed to be, you know, just free from bigotry
or prejudice or unbiased in their opinions and have, you know,
just better than average discernment. I'll tell you who the judge and
what the judge is. The judge of the earth. Every time, concerning everyone
and every circumstance, it's right because he does it. Though
we don't understand it, though we question it, though we think
it's wrong, it's right because he's right, because he knows.
What about lawyers? Everybody in here likes the fact
that lawyers, if their words don't go together, then we have
advocacy. John says, verse 2, we have an advocate, we have
a lawyer, and he's totally honest. He doesn't look for loopholes
in the law. He fulfills every document. All right, what about preachers?
Well, that's even funnier than lawyers do. An honest preacher? That's going to get you by a
pretty good time. Scripture says he was a preacher of righteousness.
It says Christ came and he was a true preacher. He looked me in the face and
told me just what to do. I'm not looking for anything
from anybody except just have this. Just what God's word says,
there's no one dearer to me except the glory of God and the good
of Him. So you can believe Him and you
can trust Him. Well, in practical and application
of this, we want to be like Him. I want
to be like Him. I want to be as honest as He
is. So we're to stand in an honest
and straightforward and aboveboard fashion, upright, no guile. Do you remember what the Lord
said about Nathanael? That's an amazing portion. Nathanael, whom the Lord chose
as an apostle, says Nathanael was filled when he found Nathanael
and brought him. And the Lord said about Nathanael,
He said, Behold, there is nature like unto which no man hath.
I wonder what that said about him. No doubt. Honest. So be honest. That's what it
means to be Christ-like. Christ-like. 2 Corinthians 13
says, I pray to God that you do no evil, but do that which
is honest. Look at the next thing. Whatsoever
things are just, You looking at it? What's everything
true? What's everything honest? Christ
is true. He's honest. What's everything
just? Now turn over to Isaiah chapter
4. Isaiah chapter 4. The word just. The word just means equitable. That's the true meaning of the
word just. All right? I'm not trying to impress you
with what I know. We don't know a lot. But I know this much. I know it just to see this. It
means equitable. Equitable. It means to, to, to... All right? The Scriptures talks about our
iniquities. I know we've all heard that word,
iniquity. What's that? Break that word
in half. It means we're untrue. Scripture
talks about all that comes short of the glory of God. Romans 3.19 says, what sort of
things do all saints say to them that are under the law of their
mouth, that we stop and all the world is guilty? We don't measure
up. to God's holy law, to God's standard
of perfection. And here, look here at Isaiah
chapter 40. Do you remember the story of
our Lord riding on the wall? His handwriting on the wall?
And it says to the king, you're weighed in the balances and found
one. Remember that? Thou art weighed
in the balances and found on him. The people, every one of
us in here, has been weighed in the balances of God's love
and love, and found on him. Like him. We don't measure up. It's standard truth. And it must
be perfect. We must be perfect. Look here
at Isaiah 40, all right? Verse 15, it says, Behold, Isaiah
40, verse 15, Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and
are counted as a small dust of the balance. Verse 17, All nations
before him, that is God, are as nothing. They're counted away
or measured to him less than nothing. Fairly. All right, here
is the balance. Everyone has seen It's not like
a scale that we stand on today. In the old days, you used to
have balances where they put weights and measures, you know,
on one side and then they'd weigh something up to until it equaled
the weights and the measures, all right? All right, here's
God holding the scale of justice. That's what that woman who's
supposed to represent justice, that's what she's holding, a
scale in her hand, right? And if you'll notice the picture,
it's black. That's what justice and fairness
is supposed to be about. All right? Here's God holding
it all, and it's weighty. Weighty or light. It's a lot. It's strict. It's demanded. Every job and family must be
paid. All right? Put us on the scale.
Dust, you know, it's about putting dust on the table. Dust doesn't
weigh anything. That's what it says here, doesn't
it? It says you can put them all on the scale. But every human
being that's ever been born, put them on the scale and it
doesn't even tip the scale. You understand? It doesn't even
weigh anything. It doesn't even matter. Way in
the Bible says you don't have to want it. All right? You remember
the illustration of the zeros? A bunch of zeros, and no matter
how many zeros you have, it's a zero. All right, how then? How then are we going to measure
up? We're going to measure up to God's law. It must be perfect,
isn't it? Who shall ascend unto the holy
hill of the Lord? He, that plain hand and pure
heart. Perfect. There's none righteous no more,
there's none just. Scripture says it's not just
man on earth, it's man on earth. That's what Scripture says. Then how can we be just before
God? Huh? We wait and fast all day. If somebody puts us on a hammer,
somebody lays something. I'm talking about the Lord, Jesus
Christ. Somebody in the military, huh? He stretched on stage. And they were jealous. You see that? Very simple illustration. Look over here, chapter 45. This
is what it says here. Chapter 45. You got it? We quoted this just a moment
ago. Chapter 45, verse 21, says this,
on down, To the end there it says, there's no God else beside
me, I'm just God and Savior. And verse 24, here it is, shall
one say in the Lord, have I righteousness and strength. Verse 25, in the
Lord, the Lord Jesus Christ, the law of the seed of Israel. See that? What's everything is
just. And you know He's just in His dealings with us. That's
what it means. Fair? He gives whatever is deserved. He sure does. He does what he
likes. He's just. He's just. Well, and we need to be like
him in our character, in our dignity. Don't we? Just, equitable,
fair. Everyone do them what you like.
Look at the next thing in Philippians 4. Look at the next thing. It
says, What sort of things are pure? What sort of things are
pure? And like the word honesty, I've
had a hard time finding anything in our generation that's pure.
It's not beautiful. This is a vile, unclaimed, and
filthy, sexual sin called what we believe in. And you don't have to really,
really, don't have to look very far to turn on the TV or open
the magazine, you just, you feel it and you cry. Impure. Can you say in all honesty,
let's be honest, can you say in all honesty, I'm unclean? My thoughts, are your thoughts
pure? in the pure. That describes this
world, it describes man's thoughts and ways, all together the scripture
says guiltless. For the Lord Jesus Christ, holy. And I wish I could describe Him
as guiltless. The Lord Jesus Christ is pure
as the sun. Holy, clean, pure. thinking pure
thoughts. I thought about this, and it's
just really unthinkable, that the Lord Jesus Christ, as a man,
Christ as a man, never thought one impure thought. Not one. Ever. I mean never. He never thought
one impure thought. He knew no sin, because he knew
no sin. Satan tempted him and said
he's bound to let it in. There's nothing to appease him,
there's nothing to tempt him with. That's impossible. Not with God. With man, it is
impossible. That's the reason that's a God-man
through Christ. He's a God-man. With man, that's
impossible. Think on this now. He said, what's
everything to the pure? Think on these things. He who knew no sin was made sin. For us, that we might be made
the righteousness of God. In other words, this is the cross.
This is what took place, well, really before the cross. It says,
God hath laid on him the iniquity, the sin. God has made sin. He will make sin. It's not just like he carried
our sin, but he was made to say it. It's like when God looked
at man, he saw sin. All the sin of God's people,
in him. That's the reason in the garden,
before he went to the cross, he sweat great drops of blood.
Because it was so repulsive and it was only a pure pain. That's
when he cried out to the Father, I'm going to die out here. If
you don't let this cup pass from me right now, I'm going to die before I meet
the cross. And the main sin is Jesus. And
the closest, listen to this, this is going to be the closest
to it, but it's the best illustration I can give of what Jesus Christ
had to do for the world. It would be like me taking my daughter, In order to save John Sheehan,
I'm taking my daughter to inner city
in some hellhole, a crack house, and turning her over to everybody
to do with her. She has never been exposed. Does that recoil? Does your nature
recoil at the very thought of that? Christ is pure, spotless,
holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sin, knew no sin, thought
no sin, did no sin, God made no sin. Why? Because... The idea of death, we like death.
He said, I don't recall that. I don't think there's a chance
of that. I should think on his behalf. That might be, you reckon, it
would be a detriment, or it would be a restraint for That's what it took for the way
I see it. God making His Son to be sin
for us. Not us turning over a new leaf,
us doing the best we can, it's not good enough. It's God making
Him sin. God making Christ to be blessed
with that. And then I came down to this
cesspool of sin, of made sin, and God saw Him on the cross
and butchered His, butchered Him. Heal his son. He pleads the Lord for his intrusions. God heal him. Being with God, He's free from
all sin. He gave me His righteousness,
He gave me His purity. When God sees me, He sees what
Christ did, He sees His purity. Now, explain that, I can't with
that impurity. Impurity, think all this stuff. Well, and practically speaking,
Lord, remove from me the impurity of God. Give me the mind to cry. Let's
look at the next word. What sort of things are lovely? What sort of things are lovely? Webster in Dictionary describes
lovely. And I'm thankful for Brother
Webster. I believe he was a believer. But he describes lovely as love
because of beauty, refined moral quality, pleasing, someone who's
pleased. Is that not the order you describe?
Scripture calls them all together, but everything back. It's lovely. We've thought about this before. the loveliest qualities in someone
you love. Think of the most lovable traits
in someone that you love. Think of the most endearing qualities
in a certain person. A winsome smile. We have, as I've said so many
times in this congregation, who, if you look at them, they all
smile, and I appreciate that so much. I don't know if anybody
like me needs that, needs somebody like that. But they have such
a winsome smile. If you look at them, you've got
to smile. If you take the most winsome smile, you take the most
lovely countenance. There's some people who have
just a pleasing countenance, don't they? Huh? Brother Tom Hardy, he's just
a man, he just has a... Stephen, I said, how about Stephen?
He said, he looked on the counter and said, he's like, like an angel. He loved the counter. He'd take
the swing of his horse. Some of you may have got a call
on the phone. This is sweetest of all. Like an angel, you know. None of this is sweetest of all. You think you're most tender-hearted,
but some people are just more tender-hearted. Take all of those traits, those
qualities, and multiply them one million times, and you might
come close to Jesus Christ. He's going to smile at us. One
of these days we're going to see him smile. And his smile
will dispel all good. Forever, I say. Forever. Let
me know when we're going to meet him and have fun. He's smiling. His countenance, the scripture
says, is a sun that shines in the sky. The sun that was at
the coldest day in the wintertime, and walked outside with the sun
shining, it warms you to death. It's countless, because that's
the sun. His voice, sweetest voice ever
heard. Scripture says, the psalm says,
charms the spirit. That's the Lord Jesus Christ.
He took all of those lovely traits and multiplied them infinitely. That's the Lord Jesus Christ.
And practically speaking, let us think lovely thoughts toward
each other. Loving thoughts toward one another.
Put away thoughts of malice and anger and wrath. Provoke to God.
Look the next day. Whatsoever of good report. Whatsoever is of good report. What's another word for good
report? Somebody say that. Another word for good news. Good news. Somebody said something. Gospel! That's right. How many
times? Good. All right, everybody. What's
another word for good news? Gospel. That's what the word
means. Good news. Good news. Well, what sort of things are
good or wrong? So what is the gospel? It's a person. Good news is a
person. Christ is the gospel. Christ
is the testimony of God. Good report. This is the record,
John said. This is the record. He that hath
the Son hath life. He that hath not the Son hath
not life. But he that hath the Son hath
life. This is the record. This is the
report. This is the good news. In Him is life. Life. When God said that, here's the
good report, here's the good news, here's the record, here's
the testimony. When God said this to Moses, God said, I'm
going to make my goodness a passion for you. Here again. The goodness of God right there.
He made it. How about a man came up to Christ and went and said,
good master, he said, wait a minute. He called me good, he's done
good to God. But you say, well, because I
do. I don't know. Now, we're going to make a dispassion for
you here in Christ's name. God said, I will make, I'll proclaim
the name of the Lord before what you're in. The Lord. Jesus Christ. God said, I will be merciful.
Will God be merciful? Yes. There it stands. How do
I know God will show mercy? By faith and Christ. Mercy is not a doctrine. It's
personal. You say, can't God be merciful?
Yes. Here's the substance. He's going
to switch places with us. How do I know God won't give
me hell? Because right there He is. There's
Christ. There's the substance. He's going
to put the light on it all for us, stabilize it. God said, I will be gracious.
How do I know God will be gracious? Right there, there He is. Jesus
Christ. The King. The unspeakable King. He's a good boy. He is the goodness. Christ is the goodness. He is
the mercy. The love of God. How do I know
God loves Him? Right there He stands. Greater
love has no end. Christ is the goodness of God
personified. And, you know, with the good
news in mind, no report can be too bad. That's what you need
to think on. Think on Him. With the good news in mind. You
remember what Scott Richardson said about it? You remember Brother
Scott's quote? And Scott's no stranger to trouble. Crossed a child, suffered from
cancer. God said, no, I never heard any
bad news since I heard of it. Now listen to this. Listen to
Romans 8.28, which is pride not only to God's people, but it
does apply. Oh, it does apply. Romans 8.28.
I know you can quote it. But the people, the first three
words are one point. It says, and we know. And we know that all things,
A-O-L, my son, my S-O-N, A-O-L, and we know that all things work
together to form one. All of that? I heard one of these
televangelists stand up one time and say, that's just not so. I heard him. He said that. He
said, that's just not so. He said, I know a man who was
a preacher in the gospel. And he thought, and he came down
with cancer, and he died. And so he said, so that's just
not so. I don't care if that man says
it or not. God said it, and he knew it. How do we know all things
work together for good? Because he's true. Because he's just. Because he's
honest. Because he's too good to do anything
wrong. He's too kind to do anything unkind. And we know that all
things, God's all men, we just can't see the end. Don't know
the God of all his works from the beginning. Brother Scott,
same one, said this. Same man. Who steals something? Well, some
of you know what he said. He said, if you knew all that
God knew, if you knew all that God knew, you'd order your life
just exactly the way God ordered it. He wouldn't change a thing. He wouldn't change a thing. He's too good. And we know that
all things work together for good. Now here's the key. The
man that loves God is the cause for his purpose. Now if you love
this God, who does all things, who kills, who makes alive, who
wounds, who heals, who makes rich, who makes poor, who brings
down, who raises up, who does what he will, who he will, who
chooses, who he makes, that's the God you love. And those that
love that guy, you know. You know, all of that. What you got
to do is put that to them. If nobody will see the end of
that, what's going to happen to this? It's going to be...
It's going to get to them. You just don't believe
that this is going to be good. Alright, what's everything
to do? Well, look at the next couple of things here in our
quiz. Is there any virtue, is there any virtue of witness and
witnessry? Define the virtue of this man witness. Excellent. Behold the man, as Pilate said
when he looked at Christ. Behold the man. There never has
been a man like Christ. Behold Him. Think on Him. Man
gonna be a man, be like Christ. Gonna be like whoever. Be like Him. Think on Him. The excellencies of the knowledge
of Christ Jesus. And praise is the real praise. There's not much worth praising
today in our world. There's just not much, no one,
no thing worthy of praise, nothing laudable or commendable that
I see in our generation. No one. I was talking to one
of the brethren the other day, and I said, can you name me one
person in our day who would qualify as a role model? And you think of someone who
qualifies as a real believer, a hero of the people. Somebody
like a believer, or you know, someone of that stature. There'll be any praise, there's
none here, but I'll tell you where there is. He who is worthy
of praise. The law of the Lord. Come in
to the Lord. In fact, he deserves all praise,
honor, and glory. And, practically speaking, let
us think on that which is praiseworthy in our breath. And let us pray
to God instead of our own. Alright, so look at Christ. Think
on these things. And here's a good way to remember
these things. These things... See, if you think on Him, it's
a... it's a... It's a deterrent, a
stimulant, really, if you think on Him. See, we can't control
our thoughts, can we? We can't control our thoughts. It's impossible. We can't. But
here's the thing about it, the more you look to Him, the more
your mind focuses on Him, the better you'll be on this thing. The more desire you have for
him, the less desire you have for yourself, the less contented
and so forth. That's just good, good advice. Now, he said, look on the bed,
and be certain that you can. Without me to do that, I'm your
friend. I'm your help. Look at that. Think on the things above. Here's
a good way to remember these words, all right? You want to
remember these words? You want to think of them through eight
words, huh? Well, God's true. And honest as He is. God is true. Honest as He is. And He's just,
He's just pure love, my friend. That's what He is. He's true,
not honest. And He's just pure love, my friend. What's
the difference between virtue and sin? You remember that, can't
you? It'll help. It'll help that you
remember these things, and as you remember them, thank Him
who is this thing. Alright, stand with me now. Our Heavenly Father, we thank
You for this Word. Thank You for Him. The Word may
flesh and dwell among us. We see in Him all we need, all
our health, our hope, our strength, our salvation. Thank you. We
thank you for being true to us. We thank you for that you're
just, honest. We thank you that you're who
you are. And you're all together loved
by us. We want you to be more so. So keep yourself ever before
our eyes. And in that way, we turn our
eyes away from this foul work. That is our prayer in Christ's
name. Amen.

Things To Think On

What does the Bible say about salvation?

How do we know God's truth is absolute?

Why is the doctrine of election important for Christians?

What does Philippians 4:8 teach about thinking?

Why is grace essential in the Christian faith?

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Things To Think On

What does the Bible say about salvation?

How do we know God's truth is absolute?

Why is the doctrine of election important for Christians?

What does Philippians 4:8 teach about thinking?

Why is grace essential in the Christian faith?

Sermon Transcript

About Paul Mahan

Comments

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