Well, good morning and welcome
to the services here this morning at Sovereign Grace Baptist Church.
We wish you a happy Father's Day, those of you that are fathers. And we have a birthday today,
Maryland's birthday, and we have the first day of summer. And
then after services today, we plan on having the Lord's Table.
So we're just so thankful to be here. And we ask that you'd
remember us in prayer. Remember one another. And would
you join me in the book of Numbers this morning? Numbers. chapter
1 and I'd like to begin reading with verse 2. Numbers chapter
1 and begin reading with verse 2. There are some names that
we're going to read here or go over that I'm very poor at names
so I'm going to ask you to fill in if you would as you read along. I will mention the name of the
tribe and we have a name after that. That person is going to
be a very important person in the numbering of the folks that
we're looking at here. And also we find that if there
is an EL, associated in the word, whether it's the beginning or
the end, it has something to do with Jehovah, that name does,
and we'll be going through that at a later date. We also notice
that with the names that are listed here, that they are the
son of someone, and it just reminds me that we're all children of
Adam, this person is related to this person, and these people,
these Jews, these members of the 12 tribes of Israel, could
take their line directly back to Adam. They could go back through
Abraham, they could go back through Noah, and they could arrive at
Adam. This is a reminder to us that
we are simply sinners saved by grace. If we know the gospel,
if we know the Christ of the gospel, if he's been raised by
grace, we are related to Adam. We have that sin nature, we're
born with it, we have no ability to deal with it on our own, but
we have a great Savior. I appreciate that old hymn writer
that said towards the end of his life, There's two things
I do know, many things I've forgotten, but two things I know. I'm a
great sinner, but I have a great Savior. Well, here in the book
of Numbers chapter 1 verse 2, the Lord shares with Moses to
take you the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel. Here
we have it, we're dealing with Israel here. We're not dealing
with any other country, any other nation. Many of them around there,
many of them are enumerated. They're listed in other places.
Those people that inhabited the land that they're headed for.
There are a lot of people there that are named by the nation
that they are a member of, the tongue that they speak. But this
is the only nation that God ever did anything like this for. And
there's only one other entity that he ever did this for, and
that's the church. Israel is going to be numbered
here. They'll be numbered later after the inability of these
folks by God's purpose of grace to go into the promised land
they many of them die off so they're going to be another numbering
and The Israel is numbered and the church is numbered and we'll
look at that as we go through this message Which says here
to take the sum? of the children of Israel, after
their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number
of their names, every male, by their poles." Last week we looked
at that word poles for just a moment and we saw that this word is
a Hebrew word Golgotha, which is brought out in the New Testament
or transliterated, not translated, but transliterated, we do have
Golgotha, which is the place of the skull. So we will find
out as we go through the scriptures, it's revealed to us that Jesus
Christ is the only one that can pay the head tax or the poll
tax, the Golgotha price for us. And he did that at the cross. The number of these from the
20 years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to
war in Israel, thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies. And with you, there shall be
a man of every tribe. Now, we're going to go down through
here and we'll read some of the names. You read the rest as we
go through here, as you read it along with me. But we have
here that God has already picked out the leaders of these tribes.
He didn't ask for volunteers. probably wouldn't have got any
but he says who is going to be the leader over these tribes
and with you there shall be a man tribe of the house of his fathers
and these are the names of the men that shall stand with you
how important it is for us to notice here that the God not
only has a number, but he has a name with those numbers. And
this will be very important as we go over to the book of Revelation
shortly. It says, take every man of every
tribe, everyone ahead of the house, but these are the names
of the men that shall stand with you of the tribe of Reuben, Al
Azur. And once again, we have that
E-L, and it has something to do with Jehovah, and we will
look at that. And you read the rest of those.
And the tribe of Judah, We're going to have an important person
there, and he's going to be the son of this person. Let's trace
our line right back to Adam. We are part of the fall. We fell
in Adam. By one man, sin entered into
the world. We have death by sin. We have
this death sentence on us. We're dead in trespasses and
sin We have no ability in ourselves to do anything about that. It's
such a such a deadly sin such death that we have spiritually
dead goes on to talk to us about Simeon and the person that will
be over that tribe and we have Judah and the person will be
over that tribe and and that his father is listed there of
Issachar, of Zebulon, of the children of Joseph, Ephraim,
and so we have these folks listed and then of the tribe of Benjamin
and of the tribe of Dan, of Asher, of Gad, of Naphtali. These were
the renowned of the congregation, princes of the tribes, those
folks that are listed here, these men that are listed here, this
is their description, they were the renowned of the congregation,
princes of the tribes of their fathers, heads of thousands in
Israel. And Moses and Aaron took these
men which are expressed by their names. We're going to go back
here and look at this for just a moment. We find that the period
of time that the book of Numbers was written in is identified
for us in the book of Galatians. Would you read there with me
in the book of Galatians chapter four and verse four? The book
of Galatians chapter four and verse four, the apostle Paul,
when he's writing to the saints there at Galatia, he had this
to say about the coming of the Messiah, the coming of the Lord
Jesus Christ. Now it was history. when he wrote
this but he wants us to know most assuredly Galatians chapter
4 verse 4 he wants us to know most assuredly by the power of
the Holy Spirit that in the fullness of time now what does this have
to do with the book of Numbers this has to do with it that part
where it says of the time now Christ came in the fullness of
time but we're going to have a lot of of the time take place
before Christ comes some 4,000 years before the writing of the
book of Numbers will take place. Genesis has taken place, Exodus
has taken place, Leviticus has taken place, Numbers and Deuteronomy,
the first five books of Moses. And remember what the Lord said
about Moses, if you believe Moses, you'd believe me, because Moses
wrote of me. So this is the message about
our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ and his care for the church as
it is expressed in numbering these folks But the time that
Numbers was written, the time that Moses was used to write
this passage of scripture is that part of the time. We have this need for all this
time to be fulfilled before the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Now you noticed with me in the reading of this passage in the
book of Numbers chapter 1, that there was a tribe by the name
of Judah listed there. Now there's wonderful reason
that God shares with us about Israel, the 12 tribes of Israel,
but also about Judah. Number one, this period of time
that we're looking at, that we're studying about, is not the fullest
of time. That will take place when the
Lord Jesus Christ will come back, They're born of a virgin. We're
in the of that time, not in the fullness of time, but we're in
the time when God demonstrated to all peoples the very universality. Seeing a group even cared for
as God cared for Israel, supplied all their needs, took care of
them. they would not come out of their sinful state. Now that's
an issue that we deal with and God is going to demonstrate that
in the book of Numbers as he has in the book of Exodus and
Leviticus and he will in Deuteronomy, that he pays so particular attention
to Israel, the 12 tribes of Israel, these children of Israel, he
provided for them in such a glorious way. And I've had people tell
me if I had been there, I wouldn't be like Israel. We'd have been
exactly like them without the grace of God, without the new
birth. We'd be just exactly like them.
God dealt with them. It was a grand experiment that
he shares with us that he gave Israel, this 12 tribes chosen
through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, And then these 12 sons of Jacob
and all their children, as they spent that 430 years down there
in Egypt, and they're brought out with a great host and mighty
hand, brought across the Red Sea. They saw all their enemies
that were in Egypt destroyed in the Red Sea drowned, just
taken down to the bottom as lead, and they moved them out and brought
them before Sinai, and they built a tabernacle and did all those
things for the glory of God and for the purpose of God, and yet
their heart was not in it. These ten times, they've gone
up against God. He gave them clothes that didn't
wear out, shoes that didn't wear out. He fed them manna. He fed
them quail, water from the rock. All of these wonderful examples
of His great power. And we read that also He led
them by a pillar of cloud. He led them by a pillar of fire.
And he just demonstrated this over and over how much care he
gave, and yet they did not turn to God. There were so few in
Israel that were of Israel, spiritual Israel. And it tells us in the
book of Hebrews that these folks, they died in unbelief. They died
in the wilderness, they died in unbelief, they didn't know
God. And there in the book of Deuteronomy it shares, the Lord
said, I did not give you a heart to believe. So without that,
it doesn't matter how good a care God gives the people, they still
will not turn to Him. And it's an example we find in
the New Testament that the miracles of the Lord did and proclaimed,
even the raising of Lazarus, the result by many people was,
we got to get rid of this guy, we got to kill him. So, it didn't
change their heart to see those things. How many times have people
said, if I saw the ark, I would believe. If I saw this, or I
saw that, no, no, they'll not believe Moses, they'll not believe
the one rose from the dead, is what Abraham told that man in
hell. We're in this period of time
when God demonstrated to all peoples, to us, we look back
and look at this experiment. We're no different. We're the
Gentiles, by and large. Out of some 4,000 years, there
is no demonstration of any kind, a tendency in man to do better,
to grow better. There was just none of that happened. And we find in the book of 1
Corinthians 1 and verse 21, the world by wisdom knew not God. Farther they went, wiser they
got in their own idea, they knew not God. So for 4,000 years we
witnessed this experiment of God with all the nations, with
God and Israel. It is demonstrated through all
this time would man lift up himself ever Would he ever recover from
the apostasy from God? And the answer is no. There is
none that seeketh after God. There is none that looketh after
God. So we find that word. Now, the gracious act of God
is demonstrated when we look into the scriptures and we find,
enter Jehovah. One that's been set aside before
the foundation of the world to be the Lamb slain enter Jehovah
He speaks and it is his word that we honor He will declare
that without a word one to speak on the behalf of he is the one
that will speak on the behalf of those given to him by the
father before the foundation of the world a Mediator one that
was as both parties in my God and man Those that belong to
him one that remained just yet justified the ungodly Here we
are going to witness a An interest by God of a people declared his
people and does something for them that only God does for his
people, and that is he numbers his people. Israel and the church
are the only ones ever numbered in scripture. He never numbers
the Esau's in the way he numbers the Jacob's. Now he knows all
the Esau's, but he names all and numbers all of the Jacob's. They are written down in the
Lamb's Book of Life. And that writing was done before
the foundation of the world. It doesn't need to be literal.
Why? The mind of God revealed to us
in this purpose of grace that he would have an interest in
us before the world began and symbolically have us listed in
his mind, in his book of names before the foundation of the
world. Now we know that God knows all the numbers of all people
of all people earth and all tribes. It's a special number about the
church, about the church of the living God. And he's going to
demonstrate that here in the numbering of these folks. There's
a special pleasure in numbering the type so he could declare
the number of the church. In the book of Revelation chapter
7, would you turn there with me for a moment? Revelation chapter
7, we just have to go over here to the book of Revelation for
a moment and we read here in chapter 7 of the book of Revelation
and there in verse 4 read with me here Revelation chapter 7
and verse 4 and I heard the number of them that were sealed and
there were sealed a hundred and forty four thousand of all the
tribes of the children of Israel now I don't know how many People
have read this and used it as a literal number of those who
are going to have some special place or whatever This is a symbolic
number for the church. This is God's number for the
church This is a distinct number for the church to God There is
a very certain number of the church those he died for his
sheep the many he ransomed here is As it tells us in the book
of Revelation chapter 7 and verse 4, the number is symbolic as
144,000. There is a perfect number out
of every kindred, nation, people, and tongue as symbolized here
by those that were counted. We have a special group that
is counted and they are identified by who the Lord wants to be numbered. The number is symbolic as 144,000. Yet when men view this number,
notice here in Revelation chapter 7, let's read down through verse
5, 6, and 7. It says, Out of the tribe of
Judah were sealed 12,000. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed
12,000. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed
12,000. Symbolic numbers of the number out of every nation people
in tongue that God has purpose to save and he goes on the tribe
of Asher He's not going to miss one tribe out of all the peoples
of the world. They are his Israel They are
maybe out of England. They may be out of Spain. They
may be out of of Canada, they may be out of the United States.
They may be out of Papua New Guinea. These tribes, these peoples,
He has a distinct and very special number out of every one of them.
The tribe of Naphtalem were sealed 12,000. The tribe of Manasseh,
it's this very purposeful number that God has chosen out of every
place that He intends to save His people from, were sealed
12,000. Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed
12,000. The tribe of Levi were sealed 12,000. of the tribe of
Issachar were sealed 12,000, of the tribe of Zebulon were
sealed 12,000, of the tribe of Joseph were sealed 12,000. After this, we notice here that
that's the symbolic number, 144,000, 12,000 out of every tribe, symbolic
number of the church. That's God's number And He knows
every one of them personally. He has had their names written
down in the Lamb's Book of Life from before the foundation of
the world. And He has given them to His Son. And His Son has gone
to the cross and died for them. And the Holy Spirit has applied
the gospel, the preaching of the gospel to them from Abel
down to this time. probably to Adam and Eve. But
we know by faith, Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice. We
do know this, that Abel was the first church member to be in
heaven. He was there alone after his
brother killed him. He was in the presence of the
Lord, and he's doing, has done, and doing, and will do that which
the church will always do in the presence of the Lord of glory,
and that is worship him. Bow before him and cry, worthy
is the Lamb. Well, here in the book of Revelation
chapter seven and verse nine, says after this I beheld and
lo a great multitude which no man could number from our standpoint
there is a number that no man can number we cannot count them
we not we can't figure them we're going to go back over there to
the book of numbers chapter one we'll read that there were over
six hundred thousand that were numbered out of the twelve tribes
that were there a certain number out of each tribe that specific
specimen and you know six hundred thousand people in front of us
we'd say that's a number no man can number God knows how many
were there and he's going to give us the number over there
in the book of Numbers chapter 1, but we look at it and we say
that's a great host of people. Well, that's what John saw here.
He said a multitude which no man could number of all nations,
of all kindreds, and peoples, and tongues, stood before the
throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and
with palms in their hands. And they cried with a loud voice,
saying, Salvation to our God, which sitteth upon the throne,
and unto the Lamb." John heard the number 144,000. John saw
the number, and he saw a number that he could not number. What
a blessed thing it is as we read in the scriptures as God's care
of his people to the point he would have them absolutely and
correctly numbered out of every kindred nation, people, and tongue. We can only say what dignity
God has declared to his people in numbering them. In the book
of 2 Timothy chapter 2, 2 Timothy chapter 2, read there with me
if you would. 2 Timothy chapter 2 and verse
19. 2 Timothy chapter 2 verse 19 the scripture say nevertheless
the foundation of God standeth sure how God standeth sure having
this seal The Lord knoweth them that are his. And let everyone
that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. He knoweth
them that are his. He knows the exact number. He
knows the exact number that are on this earth at this very moment. He knows the exact number that
has been on the earth since the time of creation down to this
time. And he knows the exact number that will be his people
from this point on and add it all together, come up with a
number, that is symbolically found in the book of Revelation,
and that is 144,000. But that number to our eyes,
to us, is a number that no man can number. And that number is
out of all the tribes and peoples and lands that the Lord has ever
created and put in place throughout the world. The Lord knoweth them
that are His. In the book of Isaiah chapter
49, when we get to looking at this number, Isaiah chapter 49,
God is so gracious to share with us that when he went to the cross
he shared this about himself. Isaiah chapter 49 verse 16. Here in the book of Isaiah chapter
49 verse 16 we have These wonderful words, it says, well, let's look
at verse 15 first. Can a woman, Isaiah chapter 49
and verse 15, can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should
not have compassion on the son of her? You know, we generally
say, well, no, they couldn't. But the Lord says, yea, they
may forget, yet will I not forget thee. They may, but I will not. This is God speaking about his
people. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hand.
Thy walls are continually before me. The walls of Zion are continually... I know exactly who is my number. I know who they are. I know where
they are. I have numbered them out from
the very beginning. I know exactly who was in the
Lamb's book of life. I know exactly who I went to
the cross for, and I know exactly the number that the Holy Spirit
will find and regenerate in the time that's appointed. In the
appointed time, God will deal with us in that fashion. So he
graven thee upon the palms of my hands. The Lord has symbolically
has our names graven on the palms of his hands. And in the book
of John chapter 10, I know we're kind of going across the scriptures
but would you return with me to the new testament for just
a short reading here in john chapter ten the lord shares with
us these wonderful words uh... that are so precious to the church
says my sheep john chapter ten verse twenty seven my sheep hear
my voice and i know them and they follow me and i give unto
them eternal life and they shall never perish neither shall any
man My Father which gave them me is greater than all, and no
man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and Father
are one." In this passage of scripture, not only has he graven
them, not only does he know them, but he says, I know them in a
very special way. My sheep hear my voice, and I
know them, and they follow me. He knows the number of them.
He knows the name of them. He knows the characteristics
of everyone. He knows that we're all sinners,
but he has saved his church by his grace. In chapter 13 of the
book of John, let's turn there for just a moment. John chapter
13, and we find here he says something about those that he
chose. John chapter 13 and verse 18. I speak not of you all. I know
whom I have chosen. But that the scripture might
be fulfilled, he that eateth bread with me hath lifted up
his heel against me." The Lord says, I know whom I have chosen. He knows the name. He knows the
number. And it's illustrated in the book
of Numbers as we go back there. But it's also shared with us
in the book of Revelation. There is a number out of every
144,000 the complete number the number that is exact the number
that God chose and the total of them is an exact number and
Symbolically, it's called a hundred and forty four thousand But when
John saw the number it was a number that no man can number How glorious
is this number that God has of the church these he chose? He would ransom now over there
in the book of numbers as we go back to the book of numbers
it shares with us here in the book of numbers and in chapter
one again the book of numbers chapter one we read here take
ye verse two take ye the sum you take them all and add them
all up now they have specific criteria twenty years and old
and upward not all Israel is going to be counted Not all Israel
is of Israel. Not all Israel are saved. We find that out. Paul said not
all Israel is of Israel. Now if you'll look here in the
book of Numbers chapter 1 and verse 46, we have this number
given to us Numbers chapter 1, verse 46. What does it say here? Even all they that were numbered,
three thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty. Now
that's the total number that meet the criteria that the Lord
gave Moses to have these who were over them to number. This
is the number. This is the exact number. Even
all they that were numbered. Now not all Israel was counted.
Only those that met this criteria. Just as it is not all people
are counted. Not all people are Christ's. Not all people belong to him
by deliverance from their sins, by his going to the cross. We
have an example over here in the book of Romans chapter 9. Would you turn with me to Romans
chapter 9? In Romans chapter 9, it's so good for us to go through
the scriptures and see how often we find this principle mentioned
about numbering the people. and this principle is carried
out with Israel as a type and with the church as the anti-type. Israel was numbered but there
was a criteria twenty years old and older and male and those
who could go to war. This is the criteria. The Lord's
criteria about who he saves is his. to save sinners, we know
that. He's going to save those who
were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world.
He's going to save those who Christ died for on the cross,
those he made ransom for, those he made propitiation for, those
he made atonement for. Those are going to be saved,
but the rest are not counted. Here in the book of Romans chapter
9, let's turn there for just a moment. Romans chapter 9 and
verse 6. Notice with me here, Romans chapter
9 and verse 6. It says, Not as though the word
of God hath taken none effect, for they are not all Israel which
are of Israel. Not all Israel is going to be
counted. only the Jacobs will be counted.
There will be many Esau's and they will not be counted like
this. Now the Lord knows the number of those, but the number
that he made mention of there in the book of Numbers and those
that he made mention of in the book of Revelation, that number
is a very special number. That's the number of his people.
That's the number of his elect. Here it says, not all Israel
is of Israel. not all Israel which are of Israel. And then in verse 7, neither
because they are the seed of Abraham. It's not because they're
related to someone, not because they're related to Abraham, or
even back to Noah, or back to Adam, are they all children.
But in Isaac shall thy seed be called. Abraham had several children,
but Isaac is the line that the seed would come through. This
is the children of Israel. This is the tribes of Israel.
This is the 144,000 that would be counted. That's the children,
the seed of Isaac. And then in verse 8, that is,
they which are the children of the flesh, these are not the
children of God. But the children of promise are
counted for the seed." Oh, can you see that? The children of
promise are counted for the seed. He illustrates that over in the
book of Numbers, chapter 1. He only counted those who had
certain criteria. and he gave Moses and Aaron the
responsibility of counting them and he put over them someone
over every tribe and out of every tribe there were a certain number
that were numbered and if we will read that number as we go
through the book of numbers it's very important God has a number
and he has a number out of every tribe out of every tribe he has
a number that's going to be numbered and we found the sum of the total
but there every tribe has a certain number and here in verse 8 of
Romans chapter 9 that is they which are the children of the
flesh are not the children of number they're not counted they're
not Jacobs, they're Esau's. But the children of the promise
are counted for the seed. How glorious God is to his people
to let them know that he numbered them. And he will lose not any
of them. There will not be one lost one
out of the whole host. The 144,000 will be an exact
number in heaven. But as you and I look around,
we'll see a number that no man can number, just as John saw.
In the book of Galatians chapter 4, what a glorious book we have
here, the Bible. And that's all we have to rely
on. We don't have philosophy to rely on because it's unreliable. We don't have men's religion
to rely on because it's unreliable. We don't have history to rely
on because it's unreliable. I took a class one time in the
college called historiography, and this guy's telling about
all the historians, and they always have a very one-sided
view, and that's the side they want to portray, want to give.
Well, God has a one-sided view, too, and that is all men are
sinners, and He is the way, the truth, and the life. He's one-sided
on this. He's not going to give an inch on this. Here in the
book of Galatians chapter 4, We find, as the Apostle Paul
ought to say to the Galatians, he wondered how come they were
so soon moved from him. and here he says in the book
of Galatians chapter four verse twenty three but he who was of
the bond woman was born after the flesh but he that was born
of the free woman was born was by promise these things which
things are allegory for these are the two covenants the one
from mount sinai which gender is to bondage which is agar or
hagar For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia. Now we're camped
right in front of them there in the book of Numbers, and they
are numbered, and yet it tells us here that there's a whole
group of these folks that are, it symbolizes Mount Sinai in
Arabia and answers to Jerusalem, which now is, and is in bondage
with her children. But Jerusalem, which is above,
is free, which is the mother of us all. What a glorious statement. God has numbered his people.
He knows that they are by nature in the bondage of sin, but he
sets them free by the blood of Christ. He sets them free by
his divine appointment. He sets them free. He has numbered
them. He has graven them on the palms
of his hand. He knows exactly how many they
are, and he illustrates that very point when he counted out
the folks that were there in trial. He didn't number them
all. Counted only those that he had
put before Moses, and that's the numbering The Lord Jesus
says himself He came not to minister or be ministered unto but to
minister and to give his life a ransom for many Now what does
ransom mean? That's the price of redeeming. That's the price paid for slaves. That's the price to liberate
many from misery and the penalty of their sins. Christ ransomed
many. He knew the exact number. Now
the Lord Jesus Christ never in any of his preaching or teaching
ever said That he loved everybody in the world, but he loved those
that were given to him by the Father. He knew their names and
he knew their number. And it's brought out by picture
in Numbers chapter 1 and illustrated in the last book of the Bible
in the book of Revelation. That he had a number. And it's
a number that's definite. It's a number that is special.
It's a number called 144,000. It's a number of Here is the sum of all the tribes
of all the people of God Almighty in Christ Jesus found throughout
the world and that number is given to us symbolically as a
hundred and four thousand but see that when John saw them he
saw the number of them there was a number that no man can
number and And they were out of all the peoples of the world.
Now God purposed to save a people. And he purposed to save a distinct
number of people. And he has illustrated that so
clearly here in the book of Numbers chapter 1. Moses, Aaron, count
these folks. Then this is what I want counted. Let's just travel one more time
over there to the book of Numbers. The book of Numbers chapter 1
and there in verse 2. Says there take ye the sum of
all the congregation of the children of Israel. I want to know the
number now Do you do we don't think that he didn't know the
number he knew exactly how many there were But we're going to
find out he wants them numbered for us to see that he cares about
the number of his people Take the sum of all the congregation
of the children of Israel after their families and by the house
of their fathers with the number of their names every male by
their poles Every one every male with the number of their names
from 20 years old and upward, all that are able to go forth
to war in Israel, thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies."
Now they are numbered. We have those who are going to
assist in that. We have those who have been brought
to an important position by Almighty God to do this great task that
is set before them. He has called on them to do this,
to number these people. Now how long it take it doesn't
say how they did it It doesn't say whether he lined them up
or whether he put him in categories of 25 or a hundred It doesn't
say but it does say that in the end numbers chapter 1 verse 46
After you go through all of the tribes, and we will do this after
it goes through all of them it tells us here now special attention
verse 27 of the number of those that were numbered of them even
the tribe of judah was three score and fourteen thousand and
six hundred seventy four thousand six hundred the exact number
all right let's go down to the bottom there to verse forty six
after the conclusion i will go back through here in previous
lessons after this in the future but it says here in the book
of numbers chapter one verse forty six even all they that
were numbered Can you just see, my friend, the glory of God as
we've surrounded him in heaven, crying out, worthy is the Lamb.
And he looks out and he sees all those that were numbered,
those those nail prints were for, the print were for, the
ones that his side was pierced for, one he shed his blood for,
the one he gave his life for. this do in remembrance of me.
We do that in just a moment. We're going to have communion
service. And he said the same night that he was betrayed, he
took bread and break it. And this is my body broken for
you. This is what Christ did on the behalf of this numbered
people. And then he took the cup and he said, this is the
blood of the New Testament shed for you. This is what he did
for that number. How glorious it is that he would care about
a number. It's not random. I'll just save
those who turn to me. Well, we know from scripture
and the Lord would share with us Nobody would come so he had
to get involved the glorious Savior that got involved with
a downtrodden worthless group of people and yet their number
is brought out here in the book of Numbers chapter 1 verse 46
even all they that were numbered were six hundred thousand three
thousand five hundred and fifty Amen, that's the number. That's
the ones Jesus loved with an everlasting love. Typical pictorial
love. That's the number. That's the
144,000 in the book of Revelation. Those he loved with an everlasting
love. Those he gave himself for. Those
he was promised for. Those he became the atonement
for. All of these things. And you
know, Before the foundation of the world, He was their surety.
Before the foundation of the world, He was their Lamb. Before
the foundation of the world, He was the Lamb slain. He knew
the number in eternity past before Adam had ever sinned. And out
of all the host of people that's ever born on the face of the
earth, out of that host, He has a number. Mankind cannot number,
but the number of that group is for us to just look at. It's a definite number. The book
of Revelation calls it 144,000, the perfect number of all that
Jesus Christ gave his life a ransom for. What glorious Christ it
is, a Savior that actually died for a specific number of people
that were numbered before the foundation of the world, and
when he laid down his life a ransom for them, He actually was a Redeemer
that redeemed a people. And the Holy Spirit goes about
giving them the new birth, those that are born of the Father,
those who are adopted by the Father. How glorious is this
great scheme of salvation that God has provided for His people.
The number, He counted them out. Take ye the sum. God and will for the communion
service.