Alright, if you wish to follow
along, turn to Galatians chapter 1 again. I still have not left
the verses that I began with a couple messages ago. Galatians
chapter 1, here in just a moment I will read these verses 13,
14, 15, and 16. I've already preached two messages
from these verses. And I had two messages more already
in my mind that I've thought about a little, made a few notes
on, and then recent circumstances, and it's in the text, caused
me to realize that I am compelled to add a third one, third more,
three more. Now let's just read verse 13,
14, 15, and 16, or you follow along as I read. For ye have
heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how
that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God and wasted
it, and profited in the Jews' religion, above many mine equals
in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the tradition
of my fathers. But when it pleased God, now
here's my text, who separated me from my mother's womb, who
separated me from my mother's womb and called me by his grace
to reveal his son in me that I might preach him among the
heathen. Immediately, I conferred not with flesh and blood. My
title, if you wish to know of a title, will be Separated from
the Womb. Now, here is a point of truth. I know I say this probably a
lot, but it's no debate I listen to some people when
they preach. They like to have debates. This is not a debating
session. I'm not here to preach and then
you ask me questions. I'm here to preach what God laid
on my heart. If you have questions, you can
ask questions later. What I have noticed when most
of this happens, most of the people who like to ask questions
while the message is going on, a question and answer, You know
what that is, right? Question and answer. They rarely
ever have questions. They always have remarks to make. And I'm telling you the truth.
I'm telling you the truth. This is the point of truth. There
is no debate. There is no speculation on this
matter. This is God-ordained truth. God
had, even when Saul of Tarsus Now we'll use medical words,
medical phrases brought from our day itself. God had, even
when Saul of Tarsus was in germinal stage, that's just that little
bitty embryo with the sperm that had fertilized that embryo. Even
when Saul of Tarsus was in germinal stage, and then embryonic stage,
and then fetal stage. Let me stop just a moment. These
things may be medically true, but they are used by this world
to give themselves a sense of righteousness and justification
when they murder unborn children. Because it used to be, it used
to be that no Murder of an unborn child can take place after the
germinal and embryonic stage. It cannot happen during the fetal
stage. But now it's changed. Now you
can kill a child in the womb all the way up to the end. Man's rebellion never stops with
just a little. A little leaven leaveneth the
whole lump. But again, God had, even when
Saul of Tarsus was in germinal stage, embryonic stage, and fetal
stage. Yea, even when Saul was born,
when he came forth from his mother's womb, God had ordained his birth
for a specific purpose. Separated from my mother's womb. the very word separated. I'm
not going to give you the Greek words that those in their self
don't matter. But that word translated here
separated comes from two base words in the Greek. And they
mean this, to separate from one thing to another by ordination. Everything that takes place on
this earth is an act of God controlling it all. Scripture is clear on
this truth. We've read it, but I'll read
it again. But when it pleased God, who separated me from my
mother's womb and called me by his grace to reveal his son in
me that I might preach him among the heathen, immediately I conferred
not with flesh and blood. Acts chapter nine, you remember
this man was sent to Saul of Tarsus just after he was blinded? on the road to Damascus. And
this is what this man was told to say to Saul of Tarsus by God
himself. Because remember, this man, when
he said, there's a man down there, he's down there in a place called
Strait. You go down there and you say these words to him. And
this man said, Lord, I've heard about that man. how he casts
into prison all that names the name of Christ. But here's what
he was forced by God to tell this Mansoul of Tarsus. Acts
chapter nine, verses 15. But the Lord said unto him, go
thou that is to Ananias. But the Lord said unto him, go
thy way, for he is a chosen vessel unto me. But even more than that, the
scripture is replete that this God-ordained purpose is not limited
to the womb, and it is a truth, a spiritual truth, ordained for
all of God's people. Turn to Isaiah 43. I have several
passages, but I'll try to move through these briefly and make
a few statements along the way. Remember, Saul of Tarsus was
a special case. But all of God's elect are a
special case. Grace, in its very meaning and
act, is a special act of God toward an individual. Look at
what Isaiah said in Isaiah 43. And this is actually of course
God speaking Isaiah simply writing down what the Lord said but now
Thus saith the Lord that created thee. What's that next two words? Oh What's that? Jacob you see
that he doesn't begin with him as Israel. He begins with him
as Jacob and God ordained what we are, even in our corrupt state
by nature in our birth. God protected and guided us in
spite of ourselves, even when we were all in our Jacob state. But now thus saith the Lord that
created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel. Fear not, for I have redeemed
thee. I have called thee by thy name.
Thou art mine. Do you see it? Thou art mine. Jeremiah chapter one. Turn to
that one. Jeremiah chapter one. It is amazing to me that modern
day religion, yes I use that word, that modern day religion
seems to somehow know better than God in His holy word. Listen
to what he told Jeremiah. Jeremiah chapter 1 verse 4, Then
the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee
in the belly, I knew thee. And before thou camest forth
out of the womb, I sanctified thee, and ordained thee a prophet
unto the nations. I had a preacher many years ago
when I had made a profession of faith. This was after a previous
profession of faith. And I felt that I was called
to preach. You've heard that phrase. I felt I was called to
preach. And I told that preacher, I said, well, since I've just
now been saved, that I definitely couldn't have been called to
preach. And that man looked at me and said, God ordained some
people even in their mother's womb. Now that floored me because
I was not used to hearing words like that. And then that same
man got very angry when I began to teach that
God ordained some people even in their mother's womb. You know
why he said that? Because God Almighty by the power
of his spirit forced him to say it for my benefit and my encouragement
in spite of him. in spite of him. By the way,
he was a preacher in the Association of Regular Baptists. Watch out
for him. They'll lie on God. Psalm 139,
look at what the 139th Psalm says. You know what Earl used to say?
There are some people who think you can sneak the truth in the
back door. Nah, don't try to sneak the truth in the back door.
Take it straight in the front door. And Jack, if they kick
us out, they kick us out. So be it. Look at the 139th Psalm,
just a few verses. Beginning verse 13. For thou
hast possessed my reins. Thou hast covered me in my mother's
womb. Do you see it? This is, according
to Psalm 139, to the chief musician, a Psalm of David. And remember, I think most everyone
here knows this already, these headings in the Psalms are inspired. The gospel according to Saint
Matthew, the gospel according to Saint Mark, those have nothing
to do with the divine canon. These are a part of the divine
word. David says, you have possessed
my reins. Thou hast covered me in my mother's
womb. I will praise thee, for I am
fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are thy works, and
that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from
thee when I was made in secret and curiously wrought in the
lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance,
yet being what? Unperfect. And many commentators
want to take this only to what? The womb in the physical sense. My brothers and sisters, God
seen us for what we were even when we were in the womb, corrupt
ungodly fallen sinners. Thine eyes did see my substance,
yet being unperfect, and in thy book all my members were written,
which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there were none of
them. What is David saying? God controls it all. Does he
not? God controls it all. How precious
also are thy thoughts unto me, O God, how great is the sum of
them. But that's not all. Now turn
to 2 Timothy. Listen to what Paul said to Timothy
himself. 2 Timothy chapter one. 2 Timothy chapter 1. Now, before
I read this, let me just say this. Penny and I watched a couple
movies the other day. One of them was on the resurrection
of Christ, wasn't it, Penny? About Christ being raised. Of
course, it was Hollywood. And they mixed up, you know, everything,
the events. They just put an event where
they wanted it. One was on the resurrection of Christ. The other
was on the Apostle Paul. Then near the end of the movie,
they had Paul quoting to Luke, not writing to Timothy, but quoting
to Luke to write in the book, which he wrote it to Timothy.
But yet they started off with this phrase from Paul. And the
actor that was playing Paul would say these words. Be not thou
therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor be his prisoner.
And of course in the movie, Paul's in jail, Luke is with him in
jail, and Paul is dictating to Luke to write these words. And
I thought, all right. We're about ready to quote one of the most
astounding passages in the book of God. Now, penny my line so
far? And I thought, okay, here we go. And this actress saying
this, be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord,
nor of me his prisoner, but be thou partaker of the afflictions
of the gospel according to the power of God. And of course,
this fit the movie scheme because Paul and Luke were locked up
in the prison. Look and he said he went on the actor went on
who has saved us and called us with a holy calling Not according
to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace and
the actor stopped The actor quoted no further Paul
the Apostle in the movie said no more to Luke But what does
it say? But be thou partaker of the affliction
of the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us
and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but
according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us
in Christ Jesus before the world began." Jack, they were afraid
to even have an actor quote the rest of the book. You know why? Because they hate that more than
just about it They'll believe in the virgin birth. They'll
believe in a healing, loving Jesus. They'll believe in a Jesus
who even died on a tree. They'll believe in a Jesus who
was buried and rose again on the third day. And even believe
in a Jesus, it was in the movie, wasn't it, the first one, about
the resurrection, that ascended back to heaven. But they will
not believe in a Jesus that God the Father must give grace into
individuals before the world began. Here's another one. Romans chapter 8. Romans chapter
8. And remember, I always go to
Romans 9 somewhere. But I'm not going to get to Romans
9 today. That's a smart aleck statement. That's what that's
all about. Romans chapter 8. And, verse 28, and we know that
all things work together for good. People love to quote that,
don't they? You'll see that on TV. You'll
see that on the History Channel. You'll see that on Murder Mysteries.
You'll see that on these police shows where some family member
has lost a loved one and somebody comes along and says, but all
things work together for good. But what does it actually say?
And we know that all things work together for good to them that
love God. A person who doesn't love God
has no reason to believe that all things are working together
for their good. Though, all things work together
for good to them that love God before they even love God. But
if you never are brought by the grace and power of God to love
God, never has anything worked together for your good. It has
always worked for your condemnation. We know that all things work
together for good to them that love God, to them who are the
called according to His purpose. For whom He did foreknow, He
also did predestinate. And it's not predestinate to
heaven. is predestinate to be conformed
to the image of His Son. Now this is a little loose. Almost
everybody wants to go to heaven. But very few want to be conformed
to the image of God's Son. This lets me know two things.
I can't do it on my own. He had to predestinate me to
it. If I could do it on my own, Jack, there's no need for Him
to have to predestinate it. Right? Predestinate to be conformed
to the image of his son. Why? That he, that is the son,
might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom
he did predestinate, do you see it? Moreover, them he did predestinate,
them he also called. And whom he called, them he also
justified. And them he justified, them he
also glorified. So all of God's people are included
in this separated from my mother's womb. Now, somebody says, preacher,
that's a gimmick. Yeah, it is. But when a blind
man sees it, or I should say, when a blind man tries to see
it, there is no capacity. When a deaf man tries to hear
it, there is no capacity. When a man who has a fallen,
corrupt, depraved heart tries to perceive it, there is no capacity. God Almighty, let me go back
and read it. But when it pleased God, who
called me by his grace to reveal his son in me. That's what he
thought about. But what did he do? He even separated me from
my mother's womb. Now think about this. Any and
all who reject this reject the record that God gave of his son. You don't have to know this to
be saved. But bless God when he saves you,
you will start to learn this very truth. Since salvation is
of the Lord, I didn't even use the word if. Since salvation
is of the Lord, when the Lord saves someone, he will teach
them that he's the one that did the saving. And they'll be glad
for it. They'll be glad for it. So I
have two questions. And I will try to answer these two questions
from the scripture. So I want to ask these two questions
and give an answer in this message. Here's the first question. Why
is rejecting this truth so dangerous? I didn't say if. It is dangerous. You mark that word. It is dangerous. Why is rejecting this truth so
dangerous, even spiritually damning? You see, there are folks who
say, well, these are just deep things. It doesn't really matter.
Our Lord himself said, and this is eternal life, that they might
know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast
sent. Know all the doctrine of the
book, and miss God the Father, and God the Son whom he sent,
and you missed eternal life. The Master said so. Here's the
first reason why rejecting this truth is so dangerous, yea, even
spiritually damning. And I'm not going to read this
one. I'll read some of the others. So damning. Because rejecting
this is unbelief. John, in 1 John 5, mainly verses
7 through 12, said this, that God's people believe the record
God gave of His Son. And if God predestinated me to
be conformed to the image of his son, then that is vital,
that I come to know something about him in that matter. As
a matter of fact, John goes so far as to say in that chapter
and verses, John, 1 John 5, 7 through 12, that a man that does not
believe, or a woman that does not believe the record God gave
of his son is calling God a what? L-I-N-G. A-R. That's dangerous. That's damning. But let's look at this. Turn
to Romans chapter 9. Well, I guess I did get there
after all. That young man that said that,
oh, I always preach from Romans 9. Trying to start him up a Bible
thing and went through Moose Parks and mentioned my name.
Like I was supposed to give him a good reference. Now, can you
imagine the audacity of some people? Moose called me and said,
well, do you know this man? I didn't remember. I said, I
don't know him. And then I said the name, I think, out loud.
But he said, yeah, you do. Of course, when she reminded
me, it was like stepping on a sore thumb all over again. Romans, turn to Romans 9, so
you'll be there. We'll make this statement. This
is why rejecting this truth is so dangerous, yea, even spiritually
damning. It denies God's right to do with
his creatures what he will. Romans 9 verse 6. Not as though the word of God
had taken none effect. For they are not all Israel,
which are of Israel. That's not a dispensational truth.
That is an eternal truth. Not every Jew in the Old Testament
was truly a part of Israel. They were physically a part of
Israel, but they were not spiritually a part of Israel. And that's
why Paul says, not as though the word of God taken none effect.
Look at all these Jews that didn't believe the Messiah. Their Messiah,
Ellen, when he came, born of their flesh and blood. Why? Because they're not all Israel.
which are of Israel. Neither because they are the
seed of Abraham, that is the physical posterity of Abraham,
neither because they are the seed of Abraham are they all
children. Watch it, children of God. They were physically
the children of Abraham, but they were not spiritually the
children of God. But in Isaac shall thy seed be
called. That is, he's gonna explain it.
That is, they which are the children of the flesh, natural descendants
of Abraham. They which are the children of
the flesh, these are not the children of God. So you see,
I didn't add into the previous verse my own take. That's what
Paul says, being moved by the Spirit of God. That is they which
are the children of the flesh These are not the children of
god, but the children of the promise are counted for seed
for he's going to explain that now For this is the word of promise
at that time at this time Will do you see this? Will I come
and sarah shall? have a son So god decreed it
it must come to pass. If God does not decree it, it
will not come to pass. But God promised it. He didn't
rely on Abraham and Sarah. Abraham was too old. Sarah, tell
me if I'm wrong, Sarah was barren from the get-go. from the get-go
and now was even too old to bear children even if she wasn't married
from the get-go. God said she will have a son
and yet she didn't have a son like Mary did. She still had
a son through her husband Abraham. That's a miracle of God Almighty. God brought this child into existence
by sovereign work of His will and purpose. And that's the way
every one of us, if we're brought into the way of God, is by that
very same way. For this is the word of promise,
at this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son. And not
only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by
her father Isaac, Now, when she conceived, she had what? Twins.
Two boys of the same makeup, of the same woman, of the same
father. For the children be not yet born,
neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of
God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him
that calleth. Is that not quite self-explanatory? Is it not? Here's two boys as
we will go on to read or rather we can go on to read God loved
one And hated the other one why because God would because God
willed to." Well, there had to be something in one and not in
the other that moved God to do that and Paul to say that. No,
the children be not yet born, where they at? Yet in the mother's
womb. Neither having done any good
or evil that the purpose of God according to election might stand. Somebody says, I cannot believe
that. Then you cannot believe God is God. You cannot believe
that God is who He says He is. And this very God was manifested
in the flesh in the person of His Son. Therefore, you reject
the Son. And he said, it goes on, it was
said unto her, the elder shall serve the younger. As is written,
Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. What shall we say
then? Is there unrighteousness with
God? God forbid. I'm gonna jump down to verse
18. Paul sums up the previous three
or four verses this way therefore hath he that is God therefore
hath he mercy on whom he will and Whom he will What does he
do he? Heart somebody said that's not
fair. No, that's grace. I and justice. Grace seemed toward Jacob. Justice
seemed toward Esau. And yet justice was covered for
Jacob, for Christ stood in his place, his room, and his stead. This, rejecting this truth, that
is that God separates men and women, even from their mother's
womb, and God does it only for certain individuals, to reject
this is not only dangerous, it is spiritually damning, it's
unbelief, it denies God's sovereign right. Here's a third thing.
Turn to Ephesians chapter one. Ephesians chapter one. Denying this truth, it insults
God's purpose in Christ. To deny that God Almighty gives
salvation to whom He will is to insult the very purpose of
God in Christ. Look at it, Ephesians 1, blessed
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed
us with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places. Where? Where? In Christ! Go on according as he has chosen
us in Him the nearest antecedent is God the Father choosing us
in Christ According as he has chosen us in him before the foundation
of the world that we should be holy and without blame before
him in love Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children
by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will
We were not chosen in ourselves. We were chosen in Christ. And
yet for my youngest years, from about, well, no doubt from the
time I was born, because I was basically born and raised in
the church, you know, in a religious assembly. From the time I was
born until the time I was about 21 or 22 years old, I was always
taught what this means is God looked into the future and seeing
you would believe and chose you. That is to choose you in yourself. We were chosen in Christ, not
in ourselves. But we'll look at something even
more pertinent in a moment. According to the good pleasure
of his will verse 5 to the praise of the glory of his grace where
he hath made us Accepted in the beloved So rejecting this truth
is spiritual damning because it's unbelief It denies God's
sovereign, right? It inserts the insults the purpose
of God in Christ, but here's the third one time to turn to
the 14th song And I will touch back on what I just mentioned
Turn to Psalm 14. Psalm 14. Here's the fourth reason why
this is dangerous. Even spiritually damning. Because to deny this,
denies the reality of our fall in Adam. Psalm 14, the fool has
said in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt. They have done abominable works. There is none that doeth good. Does that sound like a good place
to be? Does that sound like something
that God would look upon and find pleasure in? Absolutely
not and the psalmist. Okay, the psalmist and again
it is a psalm of David goes on even more particular the Lord
Looked down from heaven upon the children of men. So he did
look down upon us. Did he not and He seen what we
would be and what we would do. And what did he see? To see if
there were any that did understand and seek God. Here was God's
finding when he looked into the future, if you will, upon you
and I. They are all gone aside. They are all together become
filthy. There is none that doeth good,
no. Not one. Now you either have
to deny that, if you say God looked into the future and seen
how we believe, isn't believing God a good thing? Those who believe
God are called the friends of God. But is that how we're described
here? As the friends of God? We don't
even seek Him. We are all together what? Godless. Filthy no doer of good. No not one and then our beloved
brother Paul the Apostle Elaborates this even further in Romans chapter
3 we have no hope in Ourself, I'm surprised we have no hope
in ourselves Just turn the Romans chapter 3 You know professing Christians will read
from and quote what I'm about to read and then turn right around
and deny all of it, Jack. Verse nine, what then are we
that is the Jew better than they that is the Gentile? No, in no
wise. For we have before proved both
Jews and Gentiles that they're all under sin as it is written. There is none righteous, not
a one. You see it? Not a one. No, not
one. There is none that understandeth.
There is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of
the way. They are together become unprofitable.
There is none that doeth good. No, not one. Their throat is
an open sepulcher. With their tongues they have
used deceit, the poison of past is under their lips, whose mouth
is full of cursing and bitterness, their feet are swift to shed
blood, destruction and misery are in their ways, and the way
of peace have they not known, there is no fear of God before
their eyes. How does a man or a woman get
from that to loving God? But when it pleased God. who called me by His grace. I know you're familiar with this
here, but there's a lot of people out there that are not. Free
willism, decisionism, this aisle walking, praying the prayer.
People are actually taught if you do these things, you are
saved. That is a lie. God must act first
before you can be removed from Romans 3 and then transformed
into one that loves God, to be one that is called according
to His purpose. And then you will soon find out
that your flesh still remains in Romans 3. He brought you out
of it, but He didn't bring it out of it. And this is why the
Apostle Paul said, turn to Romans 7. I'll have to find it. Romans
chapter 7. Romans 7, verse 14. Let's start there for the sake
of time. For we know that the law is spiritual. But I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do, I allow
not. For what I would, that do I not. But what I hate, that do I. If
then I do that which I would not, I consent under the law
that it is good. Now then, it is no, now look
at this. Now then, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth
in me. Oh, to have the right to rest
in peace. To have the right to. I still
got sin where? In me. I know that in my flesh
dwells what? No good thing. And yet I have
the right to make a distinction between my flesh and my sin and
I. Right? Why? Because it pleased
God. Because Christ wrought redemption
for us. Because Christ suffered the penalty
of sin. God has the right to give us
the right to say, it's no more I that do it, but sin that dwells
in me. Seems to fly in the face of reality,
doesn't it? It does fly in the face of reality
of what's down in me and my flesh. But it does not fly in the face
of the reality that Jesus Christ suffered on that tree and took
care of everything that would satisfy a holy God's justice. Sin has been punished. And where sin has been punished
in the person of sin, it will be punished no more. So again, this free willism.
You know, you've heard it. Well, make your decision for
Jesus. Won't do you any good. Won't do you any good. Ask you. Go on by your own free will.
Believe that God chose some and did not choose others. See how
that works. I mean, I've had people tell,
I've studied this out. I don't believe that. And yet
here it is. Right here in God's book. Here's the second question. Why
is this truth so vital? Yea, even spiritually beneficial
for me. A man or a woman may not understand
much of any of this, but they'll acknowledge it. It's God's truth.
Right? Men and women may not be able
to put it into a point one, and point two, and point three, but
they will say it's in God's book, it's who God is. Whether I can
place everything in some logical order or not. Three answers to
this. Turn to Isaiah 42. Isaiah 42. Why is this truth so vital? Why
is it even spiritually beneficial for us? Here's why a couple passages
it is vital because God will not share his glory with us This
is what he said through the prophet Isaiah Isaiah 43 just one verse
look at verse 8 No, no, that's not the verse Hold on I wrote down the wrong,
no, I'm sorry. Isaiah 40, did I say 43? 42,
I apologize. Isaiah 42. I was looking at the
Bible itself and not my notes. Isaiah 42, look at verse eight.
I am the Lord, that is my name, and my glory I will not give
to another. Neither my praise to graven images. Now this is the way the Apostle
Paul put it in 1 Corinthians chapter one. I am persuaded he's
saying the exact same thing that the Lord said through Isaiah
in Isaiah 42. And here's the way the Apostle
Paul put it to our brothers and sisters at Koreth. 1 Corinthians
one verse 26, for ye see your calling, brethren, how that not
many wise men after the flesh Not many mighty, not many noble
are called, but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world
to confound the wise. God hath chosen the weak things
of the world to confound the things which are mighty, and
the base things of the world, and the things which are despised
hath God chosen, yea, and the things which are not to bring
to naught the things that are. Here it is, that no flesh should
glory in his presence. God will not share His glory
with us in way of merit. But He does share His glory with
us freely, compassionately, and graciously in the person and
work of His Son. Jack, you don't only share it
with us, that's not quite said. We are joint heirs with Christ. His glory becomes ours. And one day, the Apostle Paul
says, that glory shall be revealed in, aren't you awaiting that
day? That glory shall be revealed
in us. So this is why this truth is
vital. This is why it's spiritually
beneficial. If God tells me he won't share
his glory with me, then I best stand by God himself. I best
take sides with God against myself. I have never earned any glory. There's a second thought. Turn
to John chapter 10. John chapter 10. Of course, much of John chapter
10 are the very words of our Master Himself. John chapter
10, let me make the statement. This is why it's so vital. This
is why it's spiritually beneficial for us. It is spiritually beneficial
because it guaranteed our salvation. The very fact that God ordained
us to be His before the world began, that He ordained that
our mother and father come together and conceive us individually.
that He protected us in the womb, that He brought us forth out
of the womb, that He protected us in our rebellion and unbelief
and corruption, and that one day gave us life through the
Spirit of God and gave us conversion through the preaching of the
gospel, that guarantees salvation. And our Lord Himself put it this
way, John chapter 10, just a couple, three or four verses. Verse 14,
I am the good shepherd, I know my sheep and have known them
mine. As the Father knoweth me, even
so I know the Father, and I lay down my life for who? The sheep. He said it. My question is, am
I a sheep? Katie, that's the only question.
Am I a sheep? Right? I lay down my life for
the sheep. for other sheep I have, which
are not of this fold, them also I must bring, and they shall
hear my voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd. Somebody says that Christ died
for you, but you're responsible for salvation. That's a lie.
Christ took your responsibility upon himself if you're a sheep.
He took that upon Himself. Even further, God the Father
laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Even more than that, He
bore in His own body our sins on the tree. We are His by sovereign
ordination. We are His by redemption by blood. And we are His by the power of
the Holy Ghost through the preaching of the gospel. When an individual begins to
see this, a little hope begins to dawn. Somebody says, how do
I know I'm a sheep? Well, turn over to the Thessalonians.
I believe it's 1 Thessalonians. Let's look here. Thessalonians. How do I know I'm a sheep? How
do I know I'm one of the elect? How do I know that God predestinated
me into the adoption of children by Jesus Christ Himself? The
Apostle Paul, I am persuaded, is quite sure. 1 Thessalonians
chapter 1, for the sake of time again, verse 4, knowing, brethren,
beloved, your election of God. Now how in the name of all that's
saying could we possibly know whether God chose us or not before
the world began? Right? How could we know? Knowing
brethren beloved your election of God for our gospel came not
unto you in word only But also in power and in the Holy Ghost
and in much assurance as you know What manner of men we were
among you for your sake? What's he saying? It's not the
gospel laid hold of you and has never let you go This message
was preached to you and it wasn't just some academic lesson How
many even in this small place, we just talked about this, have
come to know Jesus simply through academic teaching? They've been
taught, they've been given rational arguments. I've done that before.
There's nothing wrong with that, but that's not the way the soul
is converted. The soul is converted by hearing
Jesus Christ condemned by God in my place. by Him being my
substitute and my surety. That's how the soul is converted
to Jesus Christ. You don't get educated into the
kingdom of God. You must be, according to our
master in John 3, you must be born into the kingdom of God
by an act of God Himself. Again, it's vital because God
will not share His glory. It's vital because it guaranteed
our salvation. Now turn to Romans chapter 8
again. We were there a moment ago. Romans
chapter 8. Well, I'm almost done. Romans
chapter 8. This truth is vital for it secures. Think about it. I'm going to
say this a couple times. I want us to I want us to at
least academically get a hold of it, but I hope to God it's
far more than just that. It is vital for it secures the
spiritual well-being of the elect in spite of the turmoil the elect
are ordained to endure. You hear what I said? It is vital. for it secures the
spiritual well-being of the elect. In spite of the turmoil, the
elect are ordained by God himself to endure. Excuse me, Romans
8. Now let's go on. I read down
to verse 30 from 28 through 30. Now listen to the rest. What
shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be
against us? The answer is, of course, rhetorical. No one. no one. He that spared not his own son,
but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also?"
What? Freely give. I know I've illustrated
this before to you. I was watching TV one time. It
was a religious, not a commercial, but a religious advertisement.
This one group of religious people were wanting to give away their
books. And they said, if you'll send us a minimum gift of $20,
we'll send you for free our new book. Now, it's no wonder that
this Christian world is so mixed up. I've got to give you a minimum
of $20, and then you'll give me a free book? Hogwa, you're
lying to me. I'm paying at least $20 for the
book. And yet, people swallow this
up as truth. Do they not? If you'll believe
God, He'll give you this free gift. He's got to give it to
you freely. And how much of it? How shall
He not with Him also freely give us? How much of it? Most of it,
right? A big part of it. 99.99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 It is God that does what for
us? Justifieth. And I like that. It's not just
we were justified, no. He's continually, day after day
after day after day, justified in spite of me. In light of me. Because of His Son. Who shall
lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is He that condemneth? It
is Christ that died, yea rather than is risen again, who is even
at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for
us. We can say that Christ is praying just like he said he
prayed for Peter. You're gonna deny me. Three times
you're gonna deny me, but I prayed for you, Peter, that your faith
fail not. Then look, who shall separate
us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress,
persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Somebody
says, but why? Why did God ordain this? Because
it's best for us. Our faith is tried by what? Fiery trials. Is that what Peter
said? And your faith is not tried to
make it stronger. It's tried to show that it's
real. Do you hear me? Religion talks
about, oh, God's trying to strengthen you. No, He's not strengthening
you. He's showing that what He's done for you is real. It don't
quit in spite of what you go through. Who shall separate us
from the love of Christ, or tribulation, distress, persecution, or famine,
or nakedness, or peril, or soul? How many times have I said, I
wish I could just quit? Ever been there? This is too
much. I can't handle this. Just let
me enjoy my life. And then the Spirit of God says,
ding. And I says, my life is but a
vapor. It's here for a little time,
then it vanishes away. But my soul is forever. And what shall a man have if
he gains what? The whole world. And lose just
one thing. His own soul. Let's go on. As it is written. Now this is
God's purpose. As it is written, for thy sake
we are killed all the day long. We are accounted as sheep for
the slaughter. Why must we go through these
things? Because God said so. And there are times when I wish,
I pray, oh God give me the eloquence, the words to just comfort God's
people in it. There's only one way. All things. work together for good to them
that love God. He knows what is best. As it
is written, for thy sake we're killed all the day long. We are
counted as sheep for the slaughter day. In, in, in, not after. In, do you see it? Not once it's
ceased. Not once it's stopped. Not once
it's over. Nay, in all these things we are
more than conquerors. Do you feel that way? Of course
you do not. It's not for us to feel that
way. Because where's the conquering? As in, I'm sorry, nay, in all
these things we are more than conquerors. How? Through Him
that loved us. We have went through, I'm not
trying to belittle what you my brothers and sisters have been
through, but we have been through nothing compared to what our
Lord went through for us. We have no idea what it's like
to hang on a cross, despised and mocked and derided by your
own creatures. You're giving them the very breath
and the voice box and the tongue to cry out against you while
he's hanging on that tree, to be spit upon, mauled, and beaten. This is a manner, Jack beaten
within an inch of his life. Were it not his life was in his
own hands, they'd have killed him on that tree. And then to
have God the Father turn his back on the son. Let me just, let me just look
at it. Nay, in all these things we're more than conquerors through
him that loved us, for I am persuaded. It's just, this is the confidence
of faith. It's not how you're going to
feel. Just forget it. I mean, I've prayed, oh God,
I don't want to feel this way. Well, you're going to feel this
way. You got the flesh. The flesh billy aches and whines
and murmurs under it all. But the new man don't. The moon
the new man's persuaded for I am persuaded that neither death
Nor life now we would wouldn't we have changed that either life
No death That's not the way Paul put it if I am persuaded that
neither death Because there are some things worse than death
for the believer to live in this world To God to leave us here
Which is tougher you think? To go to glory, to be with Christ,
for Him to leave you here. Now come on, let's get real.
Huh? Neither death, nor life, nor
angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor
things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature
shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is
in Christ Jesus our Lord. So to some I warn, go ahead and
reject this if you will. Make your decision. Well, choose. Choose. Reject it if you will. You will eat of the fruit of
your own doings. God will give you what you deserve. It's not going to be what you
think you deserve, but God will give us what we deserve if we
reject these things. But now turn to Luke 22. I'll
make one last statement. Luke chapter 22. And I want you to think about
this. I said these things, this truth is vital for our spiritual
benefit, but it's not just for me. What was it Earl used to
quote, the one philosopher, no man is an island. None of us
are. Our lives are intertwined like
this, even if we remain over here. As believers, our lives
are intertwined like this. Now, we ought to live like they're
intertwined like this, but we also live like they're out here.
To believers, I encourage this. Keep on believing. It seems so simplistic, and I
remember Tim James making this statement, and it just struck
me like a bolt of lightning. It's okay to believe God. Yeah. Keep on believing. Keep on crying unto Christ to
keep his promise to sustain us in the faith. Because this is
it. Here it is. Luke 22. I've mentioned
it, but let's look at it. As I said, we're not an island. And the Lord said, Simon, Simon. Our Lord had pity for him. But
Simon, just like us, we need to be taught lessons along the
way. And lessons never come in the sweet bird singing. They
always come in the trials. The Lord said, Simon, Simon,
behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you
as wheat. So if he hadn't desired, it means this, he has no control
over it himself. He's got to ask permission. And read if he asked permission,
who's the one, the only one that can give him that permission?
Our Heavenly Father. And look, that he may sift you
as wheat, but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not. But he didn't stop with that,
did he? And when thou art converted, do you see it? Now notice, Peter
wasn't strengthened by the problem, the failure, the fault, was he?
He's got to be converted in it. So that He can do what? Then
strengthen the ones that didn't. Do you see it? Strengthen, and
when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. Aren't you glad
God didn't leave you here by yourself? There might not be
many of us left, but thank God we're not by ourselves. One more
time, 1 Peter, I've mentioned these already, but I want us
to see God's Word in it, not my words about it. 1 Peter chapter
1, and it's beginning in verse 3. Blessed
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according
to His abundant mercy, He said according to His abundant mercy,
hath begotten us again unto a lively, or some say, living hope by the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. to an inheritance
incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved
in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith
unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. If he gave
me true faith, it'll be there all the way to the end. And if I'm just deceiving myself,
If my faith is truly indeed my faith, I'm a goner anyway, no
matter how much confidence I have. You see, our confidence is in
Him, not how persuaded we are about ourselves. But we just
can't just let the other go again. Our confidence is in Him, not
how assured we are that we're okay. He says we're okay if He
gave us faith. Look, wherein ye greatly rejoice,
though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through
many multiple temptations, that the trial of your faith be much
more precious than of gold that perisheth. And remember, the
trial itself is not the precious thing. It's the faith He gave
you to endure through the trial. that the trial of your faith,
being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though
it be tried with fire, see it, it's the faith, not the trial,
though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and
honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ, whom having
not seen, you love him, you love him, in whom though ye see him
not, yet Believing. I had a lady when I went to preach
at Frank Tate, and one of the men asked me to come back to
the back and meet everybody, shake, and say goodbye to everybody.
And that one lady come up to me, she said, you really believe
what you preached up there. I said, I can't help it. I can't
help it. Hm? Whom having not seen your
love, in whom though you seem not yet believing, you rejoice
with joy. unspeakable and full of glory,
receiving the end of your faith. What does that say? Even the
salvation of your souls. Heavenly Father, negate my rambling words and
apply your word, your holy scripture to our hearts. Comfort us and
encourage us. The world in which we live has
gone mad. Gone mad. Lord, it seems as though
they would drag us right down with them. And Lord, they will,
apart from your grace and mercy and compassion. Thank you for
Christ and all he did for us and all he is to us. In his name,
amen.