A Way Of Escape

Q: What does the Bible say about temptation and trials?

The Bible teaches that temptations are common to all believers, and God is faithful to provide a way to escape them (1 Corinthians 10:13). In 1 Corinthians 10:13, the Apostle Paul writes, 'There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man.' This indicates that every believer faces challenges that are shared among humanity, emphasizing the universality of trials. Importantly, we are reminded that 'God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape.' This assures believers that God has a sovereign plan in every trial and that He provides a means to endure and overcome them. Trials serve not only as tests of faith but also as opportunities for spiritual growth and reliance on God's strength.

Q: How do we know God provides a way of escape from trials?

God's promise of providence assures believers that He provides a means to withstand every trial (1 Corinthians 10:13). The assurance of a way of escape from trials is grounded in the character of God as faithful. In 1 Corinthians 10:13, Paul proclaims that 'God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able.' This underscores God's omniscience and His intimate knowledge of each believer's limits. The promise signifies that whatever trial a believer faces is within their capacity to endure, and crucially, God ensures that with every trial there is also a designated escape route. This divine provision is not merely a matter of avoiding difficulties but involves empowering believers to grow through their struggles, demonstrating God's sovereignty and care in their lives.

Q: Why is Christ considered the way of escape?

Christ is the ultimate way of escape, providing redemption and rest to those burdened by trials (John 14:6). In the sermon, the preacher emphasizes that Christ is the way to escape from tribulations, citing His words in John 14:6 where He declares, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life.' This statement encapsulates the nature of Jesus as the sole means by which believers can find refuge and strength amidst their struggles. Just as cities of refuge provided safety for those accused of a crime, Christ receives those who are weary and heavy laden. He invites us to come to Him for relief from the burdens of sin, trials, and tribulations, symbolizing His role as our shelter and source of strength in times of need.

Q: How can believers find strength during difficult times?

Believers find strength through God's Word, which is essential for spiritual nourishment (Psalm 119:105). The sermon highlights the significance of God's Word as a source of strength and guidance during trials. Psalm 119:105 states, 'Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.' This imagery illustrates how Scripture provides direction and illumination in times of darkness and uncertainty. By meditating on and applying God's Word, believers can draw strength, encouragement, and hope as they navigate their difficulties. Moreover, reliance on Scripture fosters faith and equips believers to stand firm in the face of adversity, reminding them of God's promises and His faithfulness to see them through.

Q: Why is it important for Christians to count their blessings?

Counting blessings helps Christians maintain perspective and gratitude, diminishing the weight of trials (Psalm 103). The principle of counting blessings is rooted in the acknowledgment of God's goodness in believers' lives. In Psalm 103, David encourages the faithful to 'Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.' By focusing on God's past faithfulness and the rich blessings bestowed upon them, believers cultivate a spirit of gratitude that shapes their outlook amid trials and tribulations. This perspective helps believers recognize that their trials are temporary and often light when contrasted with the abundance of God's grace and mercy in their lives. Such an attitude not only uplifts the spirit but also fosters resilience in the face of challenges.

Good words to that hymn. Thank you. I had a good word. Break thou
the bread of life, dear Lord, to me, as thou didst break the
loaves beside the sea." Remember when he said, children,
do you have any meat? And they said, no. He said, well,
I do. It's already prepared, coming
down. And I have a meal prepared for
you tonight. All you have to do is open your mouth. open your
mouth and he says she Mary and left Mary wrote this he says
show me the truth concealed within my word. And in my book revealed
I see the law that him. All right first Corinthians nine
first Corinthians chapter ten. First Corinthians chapter ten,
I hope you have a Bible with you. If not, look on your neighbor's
Bible, the one beside you. All I endeavor to do here is
to speak from this book, just expound upon what God has already
said, just repeat what he has already said. Like the scripture
says, line upon line, line upon line, precept upon precept, precept
upon precept, and it says it again the same way, line upon
line, line upon line, and so on. Repeating, repeating, and
all I want to do is to repeat what God has already said. I
don't want to try to tell you something new. I want to give
you what is old, as old as God, the Word of God. I don't want
to tell you what I think or what modern philosophy thinks. I'm
not the least bit interested in what modern man thinks. I'm
not trying to tell you what's something new, but I want us
to look at that Word which has been written before the world
began. First Corinthians ten, look at
verse thirteen. First Corinthians ten, verse
thirteen. And this is written to believers.
Verse one says, moreover brethren. And when it says brethren, it
means believers. That's what he said in first
Corinthians one. He says it's written to the church
and to them that are sanctified in Christ, called to be saints
with all in every place that call upon the name of the Lord
Jesus Christ. Talking to a believer. Brethren,
verse thirteen he says to God's people, he says, there hath no
temptation taken you, but such as is common to man. The word temptation there is
trial. There is no trial taken you or you have not been beset
with any trial, but such as is common or moderate or common
or everyday occurrences to man. But God is faithful, who will
not suffer you to be tempted or tried above or more than you
are able, but will with the temptation or with the trial also make a
way to escape, that you may be able to bear this trial. That's a good verse. I like that. Says there's no trial or temptation
taking you over taking you but such as is common to man. Mankind
has been around for several thousand years now. Not trillions like
they say. Monkeys may have but man has. Mankind has been around for a
long time and there have been literally millions upon millions
of men and women. You don't have one particular
problem that has been peculiar to you and you only. No one has
a particular or peculiar problem that is theirs alone that no
one else has ever had. That's what this is saying. It's
common. There have been 142 billion people
with the same problem you've had or are having. Billions before you have had
the very same problem. And many are having the very
same problems now. No matter what it be. It may
be, and there are too many and various to go into. So you need
to know that you're not the only one with the problems you're
having. And to the believer now, to the
child of God, you need to know this, too. That whatever problems
you're having, God Almighty ordained them. That's what Romans 828 said.
That's what it said. We know that all things. A double and all things work
together are working together for good to them that love God
with a cold. According to his purpose all
things are working together according to God's sovereign eternal purpose
which he purposed in Christ Jesus before the world began everything
in the life of every believer is ordained by God Almighty everything. Even trial. They don't come from
the devil. They don't come from the devil.
He has no power except what God allows him to do. Read Job chapter
one and two and you'll find that So this comes from God, these
tribes. You believers, it comes from
God, your father. Your father. He's not everyone's
father, but to the believer he is indeed a heavenly father,
and he is the one who has decreed for these things to come to pass,
to come and to pass. This too shall pass, all things. So your problems Your trials
are not unusual and not peculiar to you and you only. Other people
have had the very same trials. Roberta, a woman some two thousand
years ago, had the very exact same problem you have, whatever
they may be, the very same thing. Your fears, your worries, your
temptations, your depressions, your anxieties, your sins, They're
common to many and ordered by God. You need to know that. And it says here, there's no
temptation taking you, but such as is common to man, but God. But God is faithful. God, your
heavenly father, is faithful. He is loving to his children.
Now, God's in consuming fire to all those who don't know him. God is unapproachable to those
who don't know him, but to his children he is their heavenly father, always
approachable. And he is your faithful, loving
father who knows your frame like you know your own better than
you know your own children. He knows what is best for you.
Father does indeed know what's best. Shall not the judge of
all the earth do right? Most certainly. Every time he
knows all about you and it says here he will not suffer you. To be tempted or tried above
that you're able. Will not try you in a way that
is more difficult or harder than you know that you're able able
to bear up on. Some of you have gone through
some very severe trials and The loss of a loved one. Major major
surgery. To get through. Seeing their smiling looking
at. First Corinthians ten thirteen is true. True to women ladies
who see right in front of me lost their husband and not couldn't
be a more difficult trial to undergo. God saw him through it. A way
to escape. He said he will not suffer you
to be tempted above or more than you're able, but will with the
temptation or the trial also make a way to escape. A way to
escape that you may be able to bury away. This is our subject
tonight. The way to escape. The way to
escape. A way to escape that you may
be able to bear it, or that is to bear temptations and trials
and your worries and your fears and your depressions, your anxieties
and your sins and all these things that beset you. A way to escape. Now what is this way to escape? A way to escape. What is this
way to escape? the play on words here but make
a way. A what one. What what might that way make
a way one way. It's not like God was searching
room I'll I'll we'll find a way you know we say that a lot now
we'll. Tell you how we're going to how we're going to pay next
month's. Mortgage we'll find a way That's not what he's saying
here. He said God, with the temptation,
will also make a way to escape. One way. Let me remind you what
Jesus Christ said in John 14. He said, I am the way. And he didn't qualify that or
clarify that. He didn't say any more than that.
He said, I am the way. The truth. The light. The way.
What way? The way to escape. I am the way
to escape, like a city of refuge. Turn with me to 1 Samuel, the
book of 1 Samuel, chapter 22. Like cities of refuge, you remember
when someone was accused of some crime and they
ran for their life? And they could run to one of
these cities of refuge and escape the law. 1 Samuel chapter 22. We need
to run to our city of refuge. Christ is that city of refuge.
Christ said, Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy
laden with problems, with sin, with trials, with troubles. I'll
give you rest. I'll bear them for you. Look
at 1 Samuel chapter 22. I love this passage. I could
stop right here and preach a while. Look at verse 1. David, who is
a type of the Lord Jesus Christ, Christ is even called the son
of David. It says, David departed thence and escaped to the cave
Adilam. And when his brethren and all
his father's house heard it, when his brethren and all his
father's house heard it, where he was, they went down thither
to him. They went to David. Oh, this
is a picture of the believer coming to Christ. Verse two.
This is great. And everyone that was in distress. Everyone that was in debt. Everyone that was discontented. Gathered themselves unto him
and David became a captain over them. So, everyone that is in distress,
everyone that is in debt, everyone that is discontent or bitter
of soul, run to Christ. Come to Christ. He is that way
to escape. That way to escape. Now, what
is it to come to Christ, then? We say, come to Christ. Come
to Christ. We read over there in 1 Peter
2, to whom coming? Come to Christ. that you may
be able to escape this way of escape. Come to Christ. What
does that mean? Where is Christ? Where is Christ? You say, well,
Christ is seated at the right hand of the majesty on high.
He's not here. He's on the throne of glory.
Well, what does it mean to come to Christ? How do I get to Christ?
Where is Christ? How does he speak to me? How
does he help me? Huh? Turn to Psalm 119. Let me ask you a question while
you're turning. What one name in all the scriptures, what one name of Christ best
describes how he is or who he is or what he does, his person
and his work. What one name best describes
the person and the work of the Lord Jesus Christ? And I'll give
you some hints. He has many names. He's got a
wonderful counselor, the mighty God, the Prince of Peace, and
so on and so forth. All right, Christ revealed the
Father. He's the revealer of the Father.
He created all things. He upholds all things. He quickens us. He regenerates
us. He speaks to us. He is with us. There's a name or something which
God said in Psalm 138 that he has magnified above all his name. Would you say that word John
in Gospel of John chapter one. He says the word in the beginning
was the word capital W capital O capital R capital D the word
psalm. I believe it's nineteen says
he has a name which no man knows, but he himself and them to whom
he reveals it his name is the word. Jesus, the word is how Jesus
Christ speaks to us. The word is how Christ quickens
us. The word is how we're born again.
We read that in first Peter. The word is how we're upheld.
He upholds all things by his word. The word is how we're strengthened. The word is how we're kept. The
word is how he abides in us. How can Christ be in me when
the heavens cannot contain him? The Word. The Word is Christ. The Word is the way of escape,
the way to bear up unto trial. Now, let's read just a few places
here in Psalm 119. Look at verse 9. Wherewithal
shall a young man cleanse his way, by taking heed thereto according
to thy word. Look at verse 11. Thy word have
I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against the Christ in
me, my hope of sins forgiven. Verse twenty-five, My soul cleaveth
unto the dust, quicken thou me according to thy word. Verse twenty-eight, My soul melteth
for heaviness, strengthen thou me according unto thy word. Verse thirty-seven and thirty-eight,
Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity, and quicken thou me in
thy way. Establish thy word unto thy servant
who is devoted to thy fear." Verse 41, "...let thy mercies
come also unto me, O Lord, even thy salvation according to thy
word." Verse 49, "...remember the word unto thy servant." upon which thou hast caused me
to hope, or upon whom thou hast caused." You see, you can use
the word Christ with the word word interchangeably in every
instance. Remember Christ. Remember me
in Christ, upon or upon whom thou hast caused me to hope.
Verse 50, He is my comfort in my affliction. Thy word hath
quickened me, given me life. Verse 105, turn over there. Psalm 119, 105, Thy word is a
lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Christ is called
the light of the world. Verse 107, I'm afflicted very
much. I'm under trials and temptations
and troubles. I'm tormented. Quicken me, O
Lord, according unto Thy word, verse 114, thou art my hiding
place and my shield, I hope, in thy word. So he could go on
and on and on and on and on. Every verse in Psalm 119 speaks
of the word of God. It uses different names, different
words, but it all means the same thing. His testimonies, his commandments,
his law, his judgment, his precepts, his statutes, and so forth. all
pertaining to the Word of God, which pertains to the Lord Jesus
Christ, who is the Word incarnate, or the Word was made flesh and
dwelt among us. In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Well, the Word
was made flesh and dwelt among us. Well, then he was gone back
to his spirit again now, right? But the Word is still with us. And did you see, did you notice
there how the Word and how the Lord are synonymous? The way
of escape is Christ. The way of escape is Christ's
Word. I'm not talking about merely reading the Bible. Everybody
does that. Like some magical incantation,
you know, like some pill you take or something. That's not
it at all. I'm not talking about just reading
a book per se. If you go through the motions
of reading the Bible, everything will be OK. That's not what I'm
saying at all. But I'm talking about approaching God's book,
approaching the Lord with his book, approaching the Lord with
his book and asking him, Lord, speak to me through this book.
This is how he speaks. He doesn't speak through signs.
and miracles and wonders and visions anymore. He used to,
he doesn't anymore, because we have now a more sure word of
prophecy. The Bible wasn't completed back when God spoke through visions
and so forth to the prophets, but now it's completed. And we
don't need any prophets anymore. There are no more prophets. Because
the prophecy of this book is sealed up. It's all, it's all
finished. It's finished. We don't need
more prophets. We have the word. We have to work. And I'm not talking about merely
reading this book, but approaching the Lord with this book and asking
him, Lord, this is how you speak. This is how you reveal yourself.
This is how you make yourself known. This is how you convict.
This is how you convince. This is how you quicken. This
is how you strengthen. This is how you give new birth
or do it to me through the preaching. Or maybe the reading of that
one. Now our Lord said this, listen
to me, listen to what he said. Our Lord said, man does not live
by bread alone. Well, some people do. That is, their God is their belly.
Their God is not the living God, their God, they're not seeking
God, they're dead. In trespasses, they do live by
bread alone, that is what they take in, but they're not living.
in their spiritual life. But Christ said, man liveth,
truly liveth, life more abundant, eternal life, by every word that
proceedeth from the mouth of God. Every word, not some of
it, but every word. Man liveth by this bread of God. That's what we sang a while ago. Lord, break thou the bread of
life. to me the staff of God. This
is the food which God uses to nourish. This is the seed which
God uses to sow. Now quite often, and see if this
is not the way you do things, quite often I get up in the morning,
get up pretty early, and head on out the door. And I've got
too many things to do, and I'm just too busy, and I don't want
to fix myself a big breakfast, and Mindy doesn't either. I don't
blame her, and I don't require her to. But I don't want to eat
anything. I generally live until about
eleven-thirty on caffeine. But about that time, and I'm
not like Stan. Stan fixes biscuits and gravy
for himself every morning. I've eaten it, I know. This man
cooks sausage gravy like you've never eaten before. But I begin
to run down. I don't eat anything in the morning.
I begin to run down about eleven or eleven-thirty or so. Anybody
like that? Well, after eating lunch, though,
which my wife quite often graciously prepares for me, I'm revived
and I go on in the strength of that that food that has been
prepared for me see I was too busy I didn't want to I didn't
want to take the time to prepare that meal for myself and I ate
it all out and I quickly weakened well. Many of you become weak
and sickly the scripture said due to. A poor diet you can trace
many physical maladies to a poor diet malnutrition malnutrition. Many of you are weak in the faith
perhaps. Where does faith come from? What
does the scripture say? What does Romans 10 say that
faith comes from? Faith cometh by hearing, and
hearing by the word of God. Many of you weak in faith, weak
in strength. Sounds redundant, but weak in
strength. He said there in Psalm 119, strengthen
me according to your word. Hope, assurance, so many, that's
all faith is what that is. It all comes from the word of
God. We need to at least, and I've
said this time and again, time and time again, we need to at
least avail ourselves of meals that are already pre-prepared.
Now were my wife to get up and fix me a big meal in the morning,
I'd eat it. And I bet you when Walter Gerber's
here, she'll do that. My dad complains about the same
thing, though. I go back to mom and dad's house. I didn't say home, but mom and
dad's house, and my mother gets up and fixes a big meal. My dad
comes in, Paul must be home. I said, I don't get that otherwise. Well, were she to fix and prepare,
pre-prepare me a big meal, I'd eat it every time. Wouldn't you,
Ray? What are you laughing at? Yes, pre-prepared me. Well, we need to at least avail
ourselves of every meal that has been pre-prepared for you,
four times a week. That is, twice Sunday morning,
once Sunday evening, once Wednesday night, and occasionally on Saturdays
for the Bible study. You should not forego your own
feeding yourself. Right? Don't let anything usurp
your own private reading of God's Word. Don't do it. Don't do it,
or you'll quickly become weak, weakened, malnourished, spiritually
malnourished. I'm talking to believers now.
All right, you say, well, I have trouble reading the Word of God.
I don't know where to start. I don't know what to read when
I start. I lose my attention span so short. I just don't know
where to start. I don't know how to read the
Word of God. Well, I'll give you a little advice. Turn over
to Psalm 103. Psalm 103. Now, like I said,
there's no temptation, or like Paul said, like God said, there's
no temptation, no trial. And it's a trial. We all struggle with this thing.
We want to read the Word of God. We're like Peter said, we do
desire the sincere milk of the Word. But oftentimes, it's like
a closed book. Oftentimes, you're not hungry.
Oftentimes, you don't get anything out of it. Oftentimes, you want
to, but you just, it's a hard matter making yourself do it. And it is a good thing to discipline
yourself, set aside a time to do it. That's what the word disciple
comes from, discipline. I can tell you where you can
always go. If you have trouble reading the word of God, I can
tell you where you can always go. You can flip over there and
you can find something. You can find something. That's
right, the Psalms. Because this man, David, and
I just like the word said, there's no temptation, no trial taking
you, but such is common to man. And you'll find one in the psalm.
You'll find this man in the psalm, David, who was beset with trials
and temptations and troubles that you say, I've had that very
same problem. One you can relate to, one you
find your heartfelt feelings in the psalm. And go somewhere
and you'll find at a particular time, a particular Problems besetting
you. You'll find it in the Psalms.
David, I'm so thankful the Psalms are not boring to me. They're
a place I can go when I've got no place else to go. This is
the way to escape. David, you'll find David up.
You'll find David down. Downcast. You'll find David strong. You'll find David weak as a child.
You'll find David believing. You'll find him unbelieving.
You'll find him doubtless. You'll find him doubting. You'll
find him rejoicing. You'll find him sad. So you can turn to the Psalms
just about any time, whenever you can, any time, and find And
I found this, and I found the best way to escape and the best
escape for depression, anxiety, and we all go through it. Yes,
I go through depression, anxiety, fears, troubles, worry. Worry,
I upbraid you or admonish you to not worry. That worry is unbelievable. I worry. We all do. It's all common. The best way
I have found to escape this inner turmoil is, like David, to count
your blessings. Count your blessings, because
when you begin to count your blessings, your troubles will
seem so few. When you begin to think about
how the Lord has blessed you. Your afflictions will seem light,
won't they? Compared to, I've said this so
many times, we are, believers are like children, we are God's
children. Children live ninety-nine percent
of their days in relative happiness and bliss. Don't they? Everything just going so smooth,
children just Play, play, play all day. Have fun. And all of
a sudden, at one point, the addition. Oh, man. What a horrible trial has been
inflicted on me. A chore. He played all day long. Twenty-three hours and thirty
and fifty-eight minutes he played. Then you got to do something.
A chore. Generally speaking, that's the
life of the believer. Ninety-some percent of our lives, unless
you're just one who has been beset behind and before with
constant trials like Job, and I don't know anybody here like
that. I do know some people, but not in here. And they do
seem to come in waves, but they quickly go. And then the blessings
come in baskets full. If you count your blessings,
your trials will be few, and they will seem light in comparison
to the weighty blessings. This is what David says here.
And I can, oh, Psalm 103. Nancy, it's one of our favorites,
isn't it? Psalm 103. David begins by saying,
Bless the Lord. Oh, let's just go through here,
and I'll show you. what this will do for you, what the Psalms
will do for you. Anybody feeling down, depressed and discouraged
and got some fears and troubles and trials and sin over your
head? Well, just listen to this. Bless
the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me. Bless his
holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and
forget not all his benefits. Why do we murmur and complain?
We've forgotten his benefits. We've forgotten what he's done
for his benefits. What are they? We'll read on.
He forgiveth all thine iniquities. He forgiveth all thine iniquity. He forgiveth. He healeth. He
redeemeth. He crowneth. He satisfies. He
executes. And so on and so forth. He talks
about what all he has done for us. He forgiveth all thine iniquities. All of them? All of them. He
said that sins and iniquities I'll remember no more all of
them all of them past ones yet about the future now. All of
them who he was all that is easy and we saw Sunday morning how
that's Prince Prince we're talking about spiritual diseases which
is our worst problem but we won't die something someday aren't
we remember that you health nuts. Will die of something. Got to
die of something. I know a man who was so taken
up with, he was a vegetarian, he died of stomach cancer. There's a man who was an avid
runner named Jim Flick, he was 40 years old, dropped dead of
a heart attack running down the road. Ran miles a day. Don't trust on the arm of the
flesh or a cup of tea. That's it, that's the private
and that's free, that little Lessons 3, who healeth all thy
diseases. If you're healed, the Lord's
the one that does it. Spiritually speaking though,
he heals all thy spiritual infirmities. Sin, he's put it away. Verse
4, who redeemeth thy life from destruction. Who redeemeth thy
life, keeps you from destroying yourself in sin. Who stops your
wild career and redeems you. You're not your own, now you're
bought with a price. He makes you worth something.
He makes you like Christ, who crowneth thee with lovingkindness
and tender mercies, crowns you with lovingkindness or mercy
and grace and tender mercy, who satisfied thy mouth with good
things. And that good things is in italics
there. I believe it's talking about
the gospel, who satisfied thy mouth, thy craving with the gospel. That's what the believer longs
to have. the bread and wine of the gospel, so that thy youth
is renewed like the eagles." That's eternal life, isn't it?
The Lord, verse 6, "...executeth righteousness." You could exchange
the word execute for impute, couldn't you? The Lord imputeth
righteousness, or that is, he lived the perfect life for all
of his people that God demanded of them. God says it must be
perfect to be accepted. The only one that's going to
enter heaven is he that has clean hands, a pure heart, who's never
lifted up his soul under bandage or sworn deceitful. Got to be
perfect in thought, word, and deed from the minute you're born
and the minute you die. Got to be absolutely perfect
in motive, every part. One sin, to be guilty of one
sin is to break all the law. Well, who can enter God's heaven
then? No man. In and of himself, but one man. Jesus Christ. He said, I earned
heaven. Christ earned heaven because
he established a righteousness. The life he lived here wasn't
just to show us how to live a good life. It was to live a life that
God would accept on the behalf of God's people, to establish
a righteousness. And then he took that righteous
life and gave it to all those that God gave to him. And he
did what's called imputed it to them. That means charged to. Like a charge card you have,
it's got your husband's name on it and whatever you charge,
it's charged to his account, he pays for it. Well, our sins
were imputed to him. Charged to him. And his righteousness
was imputed to his people. That's what that means. He executeth
righteousness and judgment, or the word justice. He's that enables
him to be just and justify. Center. God says the soul of
sin must surely die. I have sinned and come short
of the glory of God. How am I going to? Live eternal
life, Christ live for me. Gave me his life. He took my
sins, soul of sin must surely die. He died. And therefore,
God is just to justify me. He declares me innocent. Why?
Because of what Christ did. He declares me, the sins that
I've committed, paid for. Why? Because of what Christ did.
See that? For all that are oppressed by
sin. Verse seven. Now, anybody murmuring
and complaining now? Ought not be, so far. The word revealeth is not in
there, but that's what it means here. Verse seven, he made known
his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.
The revealer, God forgiveth, God healeth, God redeemeth, God
crowneth, God satisfies, God executeth, God revealeth. He revealed his gospel to you.
He revealed his word to you. Verse eight through ten, the
Lord is merciful. Oh, how merciful. How merciful
has he been to you? Huh? Hey, old sinner. God's been merciful to you from
day one. He's been merciful to you up
until now. Will he keep being merciful to you, even though
you're going to go on sinning against him? Will he? You ungrateful
sinner, you. How could you do it? Yeah, his
mercy's going to endure forever. It says that how many times,
26 times in one psalm, doesn't it? Or more than that. God is merciful. The Lord is
merciful and gracious. Mercy is not getting what we
deserve. Gracious is getting what we do
not deserve. He's slow to anger. Slow to anger. Oh, he's not like me. He's not
like you. We get angry Somebody pulls out
in front of us in an automobile. We become raving lunatics if
somebody doesn't turn their turn signal on. Don't we? God didn't restrain us. If we
were living in a Wild West day, we'd shoot them dead. Kill them
dead. Wouldn't we? Yet so. Admit it. God is slow to anger. And what
all do we do to provoke him to anger? From the minute we wake up, Scripture
says His mercies are new every morning. They better be, because
He's going to have to be merciful to us all day long until we go
to bed at night. And what have we done to provoke
Him? Everything. We've slowed anger. Slowed anger. As a matter of fact, He never
gets really mad at His children. Oh, no. He took out all His anger
on Jesus Christ on the cross. And plenteous in mercy, great
of mercy. That means he has a whole lot
of it. I need a lot of mercy. I'm going to need a lot until
the day I die. God's mercy is like an ocean in fullness. Every
day's mercy is like taking a thimble full. No need to worry. It's going to run out. Plenteous in mercy. He will not
always chide. Sometimes God does chide or chasten. Sometimes it does appear that
God is angry. Well, it won't. He won't stay
that way you long. That's what it says there. He won't always chide or chasten.
Neither will he keep, and the word anger is in italics, is
a better word for it, forever. Verse ten, He hath not dealt
with us after our sins. You see, one sin is transgression
of the law. it and is merits eternal judgment. And it once again is against
the thrice holy God. I've used this illustration before
and I heard. But over in England if you do anything if you spit
on the sidewalk. It's called a breach of the Queen's
peace. And it's punishable. I don't
know what the punishment is, but it's punishable. Anything,
any transgression of the laws of that society are called a
breach of the Queen's peace. And any transgression, any sin,
no matter how seemingly small, and there is no such thing, but
no matter how seemingly small, sin is a transgression against
the peace that God has ordained for his world. People think that
that woman, or that woman just taking the fruit, what's so big
about that? Get to the heart of that sin.
Get to the heart behind why she ate that. Why'd she take of that
fruit? And get to the heart of our sins,
too. Why? The motive behind it. You see,
God doesn't look, doesn't see as man sees. He looks on the
heart. And that woman ate that because Satan said, don't you
want to be like God? He has no right to withhold that
tree from you. Who does he think he is? You have your free will. God can't be God. You're just
as much God. And she said, that's right. Who
does he think he is? I'll show him. That's a serious
one. Serious. He hath not dealt with us after
our sins." And people, that's just one sin. We are all together
sin. He hath not dealt with us after
our sins. No, contrary, like Isaiah 40
says, he, oh no, he hadn't, contrary to dealing with us according
to our sins, he dealt with us according to Christ's. We received
with the Lord's hand double, what Isaiah 40 says. We didn't
receive not only mercy, but grace. Not
only did God withhold from us hell and wrath and judgment,
but he gave us favor and acceptance and praise and honor and glory. You see what that's saying? The
devil, he's not dealt with us after our sin, nor rewarded us
according to our iniquities. In other words, we haven't got
what we deserve. As the heaven is high above the earth, so great
is his mercy toward them that fear him." And there's a key
word, fear. Fear. And it's found here two
or three times. Fear him. Them that fear him.
Them that fear him. And this is lost today. Romans
says there's no fear of God before their eyes. Why? Because everybody
thinks God is all love. I tell you, God is wrath. God
is hatred to some people. God is only love to his people
in Christ. God is only love in Jesus Christ,
Romans 8, 39. But to his people, he is love
indeed. God is love to his people. So great is his mercy toward
them that fear him. As far as the East is from the
West, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. That
fit man took him out in the wilderness. Christ, like that fit man who
took that scapegoat, he was the fit man, he was a scapegoat.
The bearer of our sin took him out in the wilderness and deposited
him. Separated them from us. Sins once separated us from God,
Christ took our sin and separated them from us. As far as the East
is from the West. He's removed them. They're all
gone. There are no first thirteen. Oh. Like as a father. Pity of his children. Oh, the pity of a father. Oh,
the pity of a father. My wife complains that I'm too
easy on our daughter. You mothers, you may think the
same thing, it seems like that fathers are more tender with
their daughters and mothers more tender with their sons. Is that
right? Well, here it says, The Father
pitieth all his children. Pityeth them. Pityeth them. Fatherly pity. Looks down in
pity, not anger and wrath and judgment, but pity. So the Lord
pitieth them that fear him. And oh, how the Father knows
the frame of his children. Verse 14. He knows our frame.
He knows our frame. He knows our prayer. Oh, I'm so glad. You know, I'm
glad God knows everything about me. I'm glad. Even my hypocrisy. He knows me. I tell you, there's
peace in coming clean. Total confession and being totally
exposed for God is peace in that. Not harboring. Guilt and sin
and iniquity, but. And he knows it. Says, you know,
my downside, Lord, you searched me, you've known me, you know,
my downside, you know, when I sit down, you know, when I rise up.
You understand my thoughts, you know, my thoughts. You compass
my path in my lying down. Hedge me about. You're acquainted
with all my ways. There's not a word in my tongue,
but lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. You know what
I'm going to say, what I have said, what I will say. You know
what I'm thinking before I think it. Oh, such knowledge is too wonderful
for me. It's high. I cannot attain to it, but I
like it. I like it. He knows all about
me, but accepts me anyway in the Lord Jesus Christ. That's
a good thought, isn't it? Oh, he knows our frame. He knows
our frame. What is our frame? What kind
of man are you? I'm no man. I'm a worm. I'm no man. There's only been
one man ever to walk this planet. His name was Jesus Christ. Machoism is not in manhood. Christ
could have blew away the universe with a blast of his breath. One
time he did go in the temple and clean house one man. But when they smote him on one
cheek, he turned the other one. He was gentle. He was kind. He
was meek. He was loving. He was caring. He was compassionate. All these things. Man, I'm no
man. What kind of man am I? I'm no
man at all. What kind of woman are you? Huh? What is your frame then? What are you? Dust. That's what it says here. Dust.
Dust. Look at that. He remembers the
word dust. Man, verse 15, his days are as
grass. Grass is the flower of the field.
So he flourishes. Beauty, you beautiful women,
you're going to turn old and ugly someday, wrinkled and old
and gray and just die. You strong men, you're not going
to be able to pick up a coffee cup, maybe. It's going to fade
away like the grass, like a flower of the field. What is your life?
It's a vapor. Verse 16, the wind passes over,
it's gone. And the place thereof shall know
it no more." Somebody's going to say, Rick who? Rick Williams
who? I don't rightly remember him. Aren't they? I'm going to say
it about everybody in here, if the Lord doesn't come first.
They're going to say, Henry Sword. Seems like I remember a fellow.
Well, he had a station in Farrum for a hundred years. Don't you
remember Henry? I think I do. I just can't describe
him to me. I just can't. Sorry. So what difference does it make?
What matters if anybody knows you but one? Jesus Christ. That's what the thief said on
the cross. Lord, everybody's going to forget me. As well they
should, because I ain't nothing. Lord, remember me. You remember
me. But verse 17, the mercy of the
Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him. They're
going to know him, restored in glory. Moses is going to know
him. You think so? We know Moses,
Abraham, Isaac. Who's Isaac? We've already seen
that. He's nothing but an old sinner saved by grace, right?
Isaac, Jacob, who in the world is Jacob? What a lot! Lots from
those standards. Why? Because of the mercy of
the Lord, in and through the Lord Jesus Christ, upon them
that fear him and his righteousness. Christ's righteousness unto children
of children, to such as keep his covenant. What's that mean?
That just means believe the gospel. What's that mean? to those who
remember his commandments. Do they? What are his commandments?
His word. Just believe his word. The Lord had prepared his throne
in heaven. His kingdom ruleth over all.
Christ says, I've gone to prepare. See, his throne is prepared.
He's seated on that throne. He says, I've gone to prepare
a place for you. There where I am, you may be also. So what
is left to do? After all of this, huh? Anybody
got any problems now? Verse twenty, twenty-one, twenty-two. Bless the Lord, all ye angels,
that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening
unto the voice of his word. Bless ye the Lord, all ye his
hosts, ye ministers of his, that do his works. Bless the Lord,
all his works, and all places of his dominion. Bless the Lord,
O my soul. So bless the Lord, count your
blessings, name them one by one, and your troubles and trials
will seem so very few. Well, there's no temptation or
trial taking you, but such as is common to man. And God, who
is faithful, will with that same temptation make a way to escape. where with you may be able to
bear. You can just about say any meaning
money. Get you going to the word of
God and find some. This is the way. This is the
word it tells of Christ. It's not just like it is not
just open a Bible reading you go away feeling good. That's
not it. You look for Christ when you read When you read the word,
look for Christ. Look for his person and his work,
and his person and his work is what will rejoice yourself. That's what will give you hope,
give you assurance and faith and so forth. All right. Stand
with me and I'll dismiss this. Our Heavenly Father, we thank
you for this balm of Gilead, your word. For old lepers like
us, It's a healing salve indeed. Blind, haught and lame, deaf
and dumb. It's just what we need. Dead sinners, hear your voice. It is not your word like a hammer
that breaks these hard hearts. It is not your word like a fire
that burns within us. We thank you for it, Lord. We
ask that you would instill it in our hearts. Plant it like
that seed, that incorruptible seed. which liveth and abideth
forever. Hide your word in our hearts,
that we might not sin against thee. Quicken us according to
your word. Strengthen us according to your
word. All of these things do according to your word, according
as it speaks of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Word incarnate. In
his name we are met together, and for his glory and our good. Amen.

A Way Of Escape

What does the Bible say about temptation and trials?

How do we know God provides a way of escape from trials?

Why is Christ considered the way of escape?

How can believers find strength during difficult times?

Why is it important for Christians to count their blessings?

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A Way Of Escape

What does the Bible say about temptation and trials?

How do we know God provides a way of escape from trials?

Why is Christ considered the way of escape?

How can believers find strength during difficult times?

Why is it important for Christians to count their blessings?

Sermon Transcript

About Paul Mahan

Comments

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