Galatians chapter 2 I Just want to read a few verses
as I read those verses I Will make a few preliminary Both historical
and if I can use the word in a proper sense both in a historical
and practical way, I'll kind of make a few statements about
those words or phrases and Then after I've read these verses,
I'll go back and give us the historical context, and then
try to deal with some length and detail of what I want to
talk about this morning. Now, my title, what I want to
talk about this morning, is Safeguarding God's Gospel. Safeguarding God's
gospel now Paul in Galatians what we have in our division
is Galatians chapter 2 and you know this but others who hear
this may not the chapter divisions were put there just a few hundred
years ago and they do aid in our finding passages easier,
but they have nothing to do with the context of the letter and
So don't let the chapter divisions or verse divisions throw you
off like you would in a novel They often start a new chapter
because they're maybe going in a different way or whatever.
That's not so with the book of God but in Galatians chapter
2 Paul is of course continuing and he writes these words then
14 years after It doesn't sound like to me the
Apostle Paul was in this mode of thinking, gotta do it now. You understand what I'm saying? Gotta do it now. Got to see some
results now. Got to face it now. Then 14 years
after, I went up to Jerusalem with Barnabas and took Titus
with me also. And I went up by revelation. Let me Be clear on this Paul
is not talking about what? Many in our day and probably
other days as well Paul is not talking about what many in our
day would think of as a revelation. They think of some dream some
vision some extraordinary experience And I'll tell you why people
love those things, those revelations, those things that come down from
God. You know, God coming into their
room and sitting and talking with them at the end of their
bed. It's because they trust in those things more than they
do in the inspired word of the living God. Our brother Peter himself made
it clear to us that that which he, James and John, wasn't it,
experienced on the Mount of Transfiguration. What they experienced, a transfiguration
of Jesus of Nazareth. Jack, they seen him still as
a man, but with some of his original deity shining forth even in his
clothes. But even Peter said, we have
a more sure word of prophecy. A more sure word than the vision
that God gave them on the Mount of Transfiguration. And he says,
it's this book right here. So when Paul says by revelation,
he is simply saying this, God Almighty himself instructed me
to go do this. That's what he, how it actually
happened, he does not tell us. Therefore, for me to speculate
is nothing but trying to tantalize our flesh. I went out by revelation
and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the
Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation. Now
here, Paul, when it came time, though. This is 14 years later. When it came time, though, Paul
went straight to the source. Paul's not trying to sneak this
in gradually from the outside somewhere. I went up by revelation and communicated
unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles. He did not
go up to say, let's see how ours compares. He said, here's what
I preach. That's what he said, here's what I preach. But privately
to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run
or had run in vain. See, when God does send a man
to do a job, that man should expect to get the job done. Well,
if God wants it to get done, it'll get done. If God don't,
it won't. Then why do you think God sent you then? You know? Why? But neither Titus, who was
with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. Now Paul actually
mentions one of the prime problems that had infiltrated into the
churches of Galatia. Now it was a much bigger problem
than circumcision, but all problems generally began with one little
error. That's especially what's used
by the enemies of God. They'll use one little thing
and try, if that sticks, then maybe something else will stick.
Then maybe something else will stick. And that because of false
brethren, unawares brought in. Now that was unaware to everybody
that was true brethren. That because of false brethren,
unawares brought in, who came in privately, or privately, as
it's in our King James, privately, to spy out our liberty, which
we have in Christ Jesus, but for a reason, that they might
bring us into bondage. To whom we gave place by subjection,
no, not for an hour, that the truth of the gospel that might
continue with you. Pardon me. Now in this morning's text, as
I've already mentioned, Paul is continuing, of course, his
defense of his ministry. But only in light of the gospel
Paul preached. What I say that for is this. Apart from the gospel, no man's
ministry has God's favor. I don't care how much Bible he
uses to establish it. Do you hear what I'm saying? Paul's not just defending his
ministry because to another believer he wrote, God put me in the ministry. It's Paul's ministry because
God gave it to him to serve in. But it's God's ministry as the
king and sustainer of it. So again, apart from the gospel,
God's gospel, the gospel, no man's ministry has God's favor.
I don't care how big of a crowd he draws. I don't care how much
he gets the drunks to quit drinking and the dopeheads to quit doping
and the sexers to quit sexing. I don't care. If he's not preaching
the gospel, he's not sent from God. You can go to AA and give up
drinking, but you'll still go to hell apart from Jesus Christ. Another thought, apart from the
gospel, any man's ministry is but his ministry. And they can make a lot of money
out of doing it. Some of the richest men in the
world are preachers. I seen it online one time, it
kinda, you know, one of them pop-ups that catch your eye and
you look at it and it's like, and it shows you these men's
net worth. And it's like, wow. And they're
continually begging for more money, and I'm thinking, why?
They got enough to sustain a ministry for years. But they can't sustain
their pocket for years. Again, apart from the gospel,
no man's ministry has God's favor. Apart from the gospel, any man's
ministry is but his ministry, and it is not a ministry wrought
of God. Yes, God controls it all. but it's not of God. Example, God sent Balaam, but
Balaam kicked the whole way and did not want to say what God
sent him to say. Right? He wanted to go for what?
The pocket book. That's what he was doing it all
about. But God forced the man to say what God told him to say. but that doesn't mean Balaam's
ministry was of God. Also, any man's ministry that
is God wrought has no problem, I'm talking about by our context,
what I just read to you, any man's ministry that is a God
wrought ministry, that man has no problem with other true gospel
ministers and believers engaging in that ministry with them. I went up with Barnabas, you
know what he says? Now you remember who Barnabas
was, eventually they did this. They split up, didn't they? They had a rhubarb over John
Mark. Right? But still yet, before that happened,
Paul went like, well this, but God gave me this ministry. God
did give him that ministry. But he had no problem with sharing
the work of that ministry with others in the gospel ministry.
Beware of men when they think they must do this by themselves. They usually have what's called
an agenda. And that agenda usually points
back to themselves. And that applies to me as well
as the rankest free willer out there in this world. And it applies
to everybody else as well. Paul had no problem with old
Barnabas and even old Titus, an uncircumcised Gentile. going with him and engaging in
this ministry. Now did he? That's what he says.
That's what he says. Somebody says, I didn't read
that. Well, you didn't read it good enough. It may not be correct
English, but it's the truth. God's gospel, that is the gospel,
the message of God's grace in Christ, the ministry, is never
offhand. It's never trivial. It's never
lackadaisical endeavor. And I went up by revelation.
Now, it was 14 years before he ever went up to Jerusalem to
say, all right, I'm going up there to tell them this is the
gospel that God gave me. Now, did Paul know exactly what
was going to happen going up there? I don't think so, because
it's clear when he got there, he said, well, those folks really
don't matter. He withstood these people to their face, even Peter. And I jump ahead momentarily.
We'll deal with this later. Even when trouble concerning
the gospel hits home, error is to be rebuked. And if the error
is a open error that affects others, it is to be openly rebuked. And that don't matter if it's
Walter Pendleton who has stood behind this podium for years. And then somebody says, well,
it don't matter how God's people live. Ask Peter about that when
Paul was there pointing his finger at him. And I remember, it might
have been Earl. Somebody said, I can see Paul now sticking his
bony finger in Peter's face. I don't know whether he really
did that or not. Don't you think Peter felt about that, Tom? Well,
he's the first pope of the church, don't you know? I'm jumping ahead now, but you
understand this? Mm-mm. God's gospel, the gospel,
the message of God's grace in Christ, the ministry is never
just some offhand, trivial, lackadaisical endeavor. But yet how often have
I stood in this podium and treated it as such. The truth is, if
I don't take enough, now I never feel, even when I've studied
a lot, I never feel like I really studied enough, Jack. But if
I don't study enough before I stand behind this podium for one week's
message, I ought to step down for that week. And you know how
many times I've done that in my being here? Just one time. Now, Ellen, I
know I ain't that perfect. One time I did. I told Earl,
I said, I can't preach today. I'm not ready. I've got too much
baggage this week. And Earl didn't even ask for
the reason. This ain't no lack of, if you
ain't got time to deal with what you're dealing with, then bless
God, you best step aside. and we got two young men coming,
God willing, and I'm doing this to encourage them. You know why?
Because not too many pastors do. Well, they're just young
preachers. They need practice. They need
experience, and there's only one place to get it, sitting
under a God-ordained ministry, but that God-ordained man said,
now, step in this podium and speak for God. That's the only
way you really learn. And when I was brought up under
the ministry of the gospel, one man so graciously allowed me
to step right here on this podium right with him when I was jack
wet behind the ears, as we say. And there were a few other older
preachers that asked this young pup to come preach. That encouraged
me like no one can understand other than someone that that's
happened to. But I know there was a lot of
other preachers that it didn't matter. Well, he just a young
preacher. God's gospel is not some trivical,
lackadaisical thing. Now listen to me, not even got
to the message yet. Religious hucksters, legalists,
spies, isn't that what Paul calls them here? They're spies. Now
he uses it in the verbal sense. They came to spy out our liberty,
but that means they're what? A spy. A spy. They're infiltrators. They're
always, always enemies of the gospel. That's their reason for
living, if you will. That's what makes them tick,
if you will. Now I have three things to give
you. This is the contextual part. These infiltrators, these men
that Paul said, to whom we gave place by subjection, no, not
for now. Well, but let brother so-and-so
speak. Now, Paul said, nuh-uh. They're
not even telling the truth. Didn't even give them an hour's
time to speak. That's what he's talking about
here. to whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour. I didn't even give them their
45 minute time. Not for an hour, why? But there
is a reason on Paul's side too, that the truth of the gospel
might continue with you. That's how vital this thing is
of safeguarding God's gospel. Why? Because it is a truth, a
divine truth. A little leaven leaveneth the
whole lump. This is why God told Israel on
the first Passover, Joe, the actual only Passover when it
came to that old economy. The rest were just memorials
of that one Passover. And that Passover, you remove
all leaven from your houses, right? Why? Because if you do,
can't none get in. Your bread can't be leavened
if you don't got none in the house. But oh, how we set her
house. Well, that little leaven won't
matter. It's locked up in the cupboard. Unlock it, take it
out, and throw it outside. Right? Because if it ain't there,
it can't harm. But if it is there, it will harm. Eventually, someone will unlock
the lock and say, well, what's this? This looks interesting. Let's examine this. Now I know
I'm being a little melodramatic, but I'm sure a lot of people
thought Paul was being a little melodramatic too, don't you think?
Listen, these hucksters, they will dissuade or divert men's
hearts from pure free grace. They came in to spy out our liberty,
but they had an agenda, not just to see what it really is, Well,
we don't want to cause trouble. That's why we're so secretive.
We just want to see what's going on, know that they might bring
us into bondage. There's a second thought about
these infiltrators, these spies, these legalizers. They are intent
on finding fault with free grace. and deliberation that comes from
free grace. And their intent is legal subjugation
toward those who are set free. They want bondage, they want
legal oppression, they want spiritual incarceration. And that's what
he says right there. in verse four, and as I read
that, I was reminded of this. It didn't take me long to find
this. Quite, no, but I want you to just listen to it. I'm just
gonna read a couple verses for the sake of time. You'll find
it in Acts 15, but I'll read these verses. The apostles and
the elders came together for to consider this matter. They're
talking about the same time frame, the same thing here. Luke and
Paul. And the apostles and elders came
together for to consider of this matter. And when there had been
much disputing, Peter rose up and said unto them, men and brethren,
you know how that a good while ago God made choice among us
that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel
and should believe. And the question was, well, but
shouldn't these Gentiles, they believe, yeah, they could be
a part of us, yeah, but don't they have to be circumcised?
and God, which knoweth the hearts, bear them witness, giving them
the Holy Ghost, even as He did unto us, and put no difference
between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore, why tempt ye God? Now see how important Peter's
making this now. Now therefore why tempt ye God
to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our
fathers nor we were able to bear? They're trying to yoke you. Paul says don't do it. Or Peter
said don't do it. Why? Because you're tempting
God. You're not just messing with
the denominational doctrine here. You're not messing with Calvinism
here. You're messing with God. Here's the third thought. Safeguarding
God's gospel demands legalism and its advocates be exposed. They snuck in. They snuck in. You see it? And that because
of false brethren brought in. Oh, I'm sorry. And that because
of false brethren unawares brought in. They had a few spearheading
the move, but they had a bunch, evidently, that were supporting
it back home. Safeguarding God's gospel demands
legalism and its advocates be exposed. For you know how they do it?
They sneak in. If somebody walked in that door
today, and walked in here without weapons or physical verbal threats,
with some kind of weapons or something, and just said, we
don't believe in free sovereign grace. Now y'all's sovereign
grace chapel, but we're gonna set you straight. I don't care
if there's 500 of us. You will have to physically remove
us from preaching the truth here. You would have to use weaponry
or something to cause us to stop. You understand what I'm saying?
Well, that many people, maybe if they join us, we can all just
get along. No, sir. We're here first. Bye. Bye. But they don't come in announcing,
we don't believe in sovereign grace. They'll come in here and
talk about, boy, I just love being here. And this is so different.
And it just, it's coming straight. And you're preaching from the
word of God. And a few months later, next thing you know, you're
the worst thing that ever walked on God's green earth. Huh? I mean, you know of the one,
and there's been more than one, that actually wrote letters.
I think he wrote the letter to you too, wasn't it? That he heard
me personally sitting in this building saying I was preaching
that God was stoking the fires of hell with the souls of little
babies. And I confronted him on it. I said, go find the tape.
I knew I heard you. I ain't gonna do that. Of course
you can't, you fool. Somebody says you shouldn't be
mean to people. That person had an agenda. And I seen one agenda or a couple
of agendas. You know what his real agenda
was though? His real agenda was to have his way in God's church
and not God's way. Now he's spearheading a big list
of sovereign race churches. I hope God's changed him and
converted him. But you won't pull that junk around here. Paul,
Joe, My brothers and sisters, they will have to have the law
shut us down verbally, by force, and arrest us before we'll quit.
And this could go on TV. Right now, we still have liberty
to say what we're saying in this country. And I'll say it until
they cut this tongue out, or God shuts me down, one or the
other. Why? Now listen to me. The reason I'm saying this, and
I'm jumping ahead because I know this is getting a little bit
long here, but I want to give you this. The reason I'm saying
this is not because God's gospel is dainty and fragile. It's not because God's gospel's
dainty and fragile and needs men to uphold it. And it ain't
even because God's men. His pastors, his pastor-teachers,
his apostles, his prophets, his evangelists, or his people that
support them are dainty little flowers. No, but it's because
men are corrupt and deceitful. And I'll read that for you, and
you can read along with me. Turn to 2 Corinthians. I'll read
you why I say that. Remember, we don't have to safeguard
God's gospel because it's dainty. Fragile a poor little flower
that needs help 2nd Corinthians chapter 2 now, you know this
but 2nd Corinthians chapter 2 verse
14 now thanks be unto God Which always causes us to triumph in
Christ? and maketh manifest the savor
of his knowledge by us in every place. But what if they put you
in prison, Paul? Well, he just started preaching
when he's in prison, didn't he? He just started preaching when
he's in prison. Look, for we are unto God a sweet savor of
Christ in them that are saved and in them that perish. To the
one we are a savor of death and to death. And to the other, a
savor of life and the life. And who is sufficient for these
things? We don't have this power because of us, Joe. Because of
this assembly. Because of all the assemblies,
no. For we, now look at it, it's a rhetorical, the sufficiency
isn't within us. But he moves on. For we are not
as many which, what, look at that, corrupt the word of God. Now they cannot corrupt the word
of God intrinsically, but they can corrupt it outwardly and
overtly amongst the masses. But they cannot do so if we refuse
to allow them to do so here. It ain't gonna happen. It ain't
gonna happen. Somebody says you're too bold.
Got to be that bold. to be that bold. Preacher, you
need to lighten up just a little. No. No, because I will not. God help
me, I will not tempt God. I do not want to put a yoke upon
the disciples' neck that our forefathers couldn't bear and
we can't bear it either. For we are not as many which
corrupt the word of God, but as of sincerity, but as of God
in the sight of God, so speak we in Christ. If all I ever think
about is what you think of me when I'm up here preaching, I
need to quit. Because the question is, is God
pleased when I'm up here speaking? That's a mouthful. That's terrifying. That's terrifying. So as I said,
they'll dissuade or divert men's hearts from pure free grace.
They are intent on finding fault with free grace. They hate liberty. It may take them 40, 50 years
before they realize that. But they hate liberty. Safeguarding
God's gospel demands that these legalists and this legalism and
those who advocate it be exposed for what they are. They are insulters
of God. Now just some quick thoughts
about safeguarding God's gospel. I'm gonna give you the third
one. God's gospel, the reason we gotta safeguard it is not
because God's gospel's dainty and fragile, but men are corrupt,
they'll twist it. They'll even cause those who
are truly God's people not to enjoy the blessings of the liberty
that we have in Christ if they just can. They can't damn our
souls, but they can sure make us miserable living through this
world. And let me tell you something, liberty don't make you miserable,
nor does it free you to serve yourself. It'll make you happy
if you really know it. I'm liberated from me, though
I gotta live with me 24 hours a day. I have the right to say,
sin dwelleth in me and my flesh. There's no good thing. But yet,
not I. that does it. The world could
call that a cop-out, I call that free sovereign grace. That's
how my brother Paul experienced it, and that's how I experienced
it. I have the right to say, yet
not I. Do you hear me? Well, that ain't right, that
ain't just. Yes, it was, because all of that evil eye was laid
on Jesus Christ, and he bore the wrath of God Almighty for
it on the bloodied tree. He suffered for my sin and my
sins. He suffered the wrath and the
hell and the judgment of God Almighty. It's been paid for. And that don't make me want to
live in it, it makes me want to run away from it. But I'll
tell you what, as our blessed brother John Chapman said a few
Sundays ago down at Kingsport, he said, you think about this,
Jesus died for real sin. So every sin he died for yours,
you got to commit it. Or it ain't real. See, we like the way he died
for my imaginary. No, he died for real sin. He bore our sins
in his own body on the tree. And that's why Christ told Peter,
Satan's desired you, sift you sweet, and you will deny me how
many times? Three. How many times, or not,
how many sins did Jesus die for Peter? Peter's, when it come
to him denying, he died for all three. He didn't die for one
that took care of the other two, he died for them all. Somebody says if I believed that,
it's already been said here, I'd sin all I wanted to. Yes
you do, you would. Because you're unregenerate.
And an unregenerate man or woman who tries to believe the gospel
will use their liberty for an occasion to the flesh. How do
I know that? Because even true believers will
do that. And if true believers will do
that, I know the ungodly and the unrepentant and the unregenerate
will do so. That's why you got so many people
in our free grace churches who just live like hell. They just
know the doctrine, but the grace of God ain't never conquered
them down here. Somebody says, I just can't give
it up. I know you can't give it up, but he conquered it. Do
you really hate it enough to put it away? Now that's the question. Now let's be honest. That's the
question. Do we really hate it that much?
There, it comes down to it. But let me tell you something.
when God brings you to your lowest self. And I can't tell you where
that is. Somebody's lowest self, Joe, may be up here. Somebody
else's lowest self may be way down here. But when God brings
you to that place, you'll say, I hate that. And I'm done with
it. And it won't happen until then.
Another thing John Chapman said, and he was quoting from Paul
Mahan, he told all of us believers, I don't see how they did that. I can't do that, I couldn't do
that. He said, you ain't never met up with your Bathsheba yet.
Think about that one. You ain't never met up with your
Bathsheba yet. Because God ever put your Bathsheba
in front of you, you know where you're going even as a believer
of grace. You know where you're going, right down to the bottom. All God's got to do with us,
Jack, is just lift that restraint just a little. Just a little.
A little spiral. Spiral. Let me move on. Some of these, we gotta safeguard
God's gospel. And these are some thoughts.
I got off on a side track there, didn't I? Some thoughts about
safeguarding God's gospel. Here's some difficulties. I gave
you one. We don't have to safeguard it
because God's gospel's dainty and fragile. I wanna point that
out. That's not the problem. The problem's
with us, with men. We're corrupt. We'll defile everything
we touch if we touch it in ourselves. But there's more. Some infiltrate
from the outside and come in. But there's another side of that.
Some arise from within. They're right in the midst of
the group to start with. And you remember Paul warning
the Ephesian church about that? There'll be men rise. He said
they'll be people come in not sparing the flock They'll come
in from the outside, but there'll be others even of your own selves
shall men arise Speaking perverse things to draw away disciples
after themselves. I Know one thing preaching free
grace sure don't get you a big following. I Never has. The biggest local
assemblies that I'm aware of, they but pale in comparison to
many of these churches out here today. But yet when I go to one
of those assemblies, it's almost like a little bit of heaven on
earth. I mean you got three or four hundred professed true believers
in the grace of God and they're singing and praying and laughing
and talking and then being quiet when the gospel is preached and
being excited by it. It's like just a little taste
of glory. Think about it brothers and sisters
one of these days all of this will be done and God will gather
all of those of all ages that know his grace. and they'll gather
us together. And the old song says, what a
day that will be. I can't even explain it. Jack, I just try to imagine what
it's like, and that's all I'm doing is imagining, imagining. But I'm not done. Some infiltrate
from the outside. That may be a little easier to
deal with. That's what I'm trying to point
out. But the problem is sometimes it arises from the inside. I
gave you the third one. Here's the fourth one. God's
gospel has one central object. It has lots of facets. Now don't
get me wrong. It has lots of facets to it.
But it has one central object. And that's really not the best
way to state it. Jesus Christ is the sum and substance
of everything when it comes to the gospel. I want you to read these passages
later. It'll be recorded. You can go back and listen to
them later or write them down now, whatever you wish to do.
Here's three things we consider when safeguarding God's gospel.
Let us ever declare his crown right. Psalm 212, read the whole
chapter for sure, but specifically Psalm 212, kiss the sun. Let's not talk about one of these
up here. Let's talk about bowing down
and kissing his feet. Let us ever declare Jesus Christ's
crown right. He's king. God through the psalmist
has kissed the sun. Worship him. Bow before him. Let me read it. I'm thinking
I'm about to misquote that. Lord knows I don't need to misquote
that. Kiss the son, lest he be angry,
and ye perish from the way. When his wrath is kindled, but
a little. That lets me know how important
it is to kiss the son, right? But a little. Blessed are all
they that put their trust in him. But here's another. It's
found in Proverbs chapter eight. Go ahead and turn to that if
you will. I'm sorry, I'm bouncing back and forth with being concerned
about this time. Jack, why do we do that? I know
we get tired, I understand that. I know you get hungry, I understand
that. I know sometimes, Joe, we got things to do. There are
things that are pressing upon us, things we gotta do. But sometimes
we just try to get through, don't we? Let us ever declare his crown
right. He is king. He deserves to be
bowed to and worshiped. But here's another. Let us ever
declare his true person. Now look at Proverbs 8. And of
course, this is about a subject of wisdom, but this wisdom is
personified. This wisdom is Christ Jesus himself. But look at verse 32. Now therefore,
hearken unto me, O ye children, for blessed are they that keep
my ways. Hear instruction, and be wise,
and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth
me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the post of my doors. Whoso findeth me, findeth what? Life. This person is Jesus Christ. Findeth life, look, and shall
obtain favor of the Lord. Well, preacher, I thought doctrinally
that we gotta have his favor for, no, get off of it. Quit
trying to be a Calvinist and read the word of God. Search him out, seek for him,
look for him, believe him, bow to him, you'll find life. And
you know what? You'll obtain favor of the Lord.
Somebody might think it's their doing. Not if God's doing the
work they want. Good lands, we try to be so. I gotta have all my little ducks
in a row. If you're just preaching God's truth, your ducks will
be in a row. Let me tell you, if God saves
a sinner, that sinner will know God did it. But look, but he that sinneth
against me, wrongeth, His, wait a minute, wait a minute. But
wouldn't it be better a red preacher, but he that sinneth against me
wrongeth my soul? No, wrongeth his own soul. And this ain't talking about
I stole a nickel, though that's included. How do you wrong Jesus
Christ? By lying about who he is. About lying about what he's actually
done. What did we sing? I am not ashamed
to own my Lord, nor to defend or safeguard his cause, maintain
the honors of his word, the glory of his, what? Cross. Jesus, my
Lord, I know his name. What's that mean? It's not a
title. It's a description of who he really is and what he
accomplished. That's why the writer calls our
name, what? Worthless. It may describe a
lot, but what's it all about to? Worthless. But his name,
when you look at all the characters and the majesty and the glory
behind that name, oh, it's glorious. Jesus, my Lord, I know his name. His name is all my, this is his
name, why? Because it's backed up by his
character. his person, his work, nor will
he put my soul to shame, nor let my hope be lost. But he that
sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul. All they that hate
me love death. I don't care how much they talk
about life. If they hate the Christ of God, they love death. One more. Isaiah 42. So maybe if you're turning, if
you are turning and you get there, you'll probably know where I'm
going with this third one. Remember, let us ever declare
his crown right. Let us ever declare his true
person. And let us ever declare his true
work. Just one verse, verse four. He
shall not fail, nor be discouraged. If my doctrine don't match that,
then my Christ is a false Christ. Is that not simple enough? If
the Jesus I'm preaching's ever failed to do anything he came
to do, then Jack, is he not a failure? But this says about God's elect,
verse one, God's servant, Jesus Christ, he shall not fail nor
be discouraged. Oh God, help us. Strengthen us. God, enable us to safeguard your
gospel in spite of us. In spite of us. Heavenly Father,
God, help us, forgive us, but Lord, lead us. Help us not to
simply always be crying out for forgiveness, which we always
need, but God, help us to cry out for strength to safeguard
your truth. And Lord, we know that we're
not sufficient for this. It's not within us to rise to
the occasion. But God, may you raise us up
to the occasion in Christ's name, amen.