If you wish to follow along,
turn to Numbers chapter 15. Numbers chapter 15. I'm not going
to read the whole chapter, but I will read the first couple
verses. And then we will look at the
summary of Numbers chapter 15, which would be the last verse.
In Numbers 15, we read these words. And the Lord spake unto
Moses, saying, and I want you to note this, speak unto the
children of Israel and say unto them, when ye become into the
land of your habitations, which I give you. So here God has made
it clear. Someone is going to enter the
land. Now we'll look at this a little
more. Now let's look at the summary. In verse 41, It says this, I
am the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt
to be your God. I am the Lord your God. Now, as most of you probably
already know, my subject and my title for this morning is
Hope Renewed for Some. But before I deal with that,
I must lay a little foundation. Consider the context in which
Numbers chapter 15 is given. God has just moved in wrath and
told everyone who is 20 years and above, save two people, Joshua
and Caleb, that their carcasses would fall in the wilderness
and that none of them would enter the promised land. And then immediately
after this, Mason, God says, you speak to the children of
Israel and say, when you come into the land, let us not presume like some
in Israel did. Yes, it is true. Someone must enter God's rest. This is what God has just promised.
But God never goes against his wrath. He never goes against
justice. He never goes against his law. God has foreordained some to
enter, but we must never presume, and when I say that, I mean take
for granted that the blessing is mine. especially when we presume
and think that God owes us this rest. Now you know the passage,
but I want you, if you're following along, turn to Hebrews chapter
four. I think I read from this last
week. But Hebrews chapter four. And
listen how the epistle puts it. Hebrews chapter four. Let us
therefore fear And someone might say, what kind of fear? All kind
of fear. I realize, and very able men
have spoken about fear, and they seem to always want to talk about
reverential fear for God, and that is certainly true. But you
read this context, it is you better fear that you might not
get to where you think you're going. You better fear that you
might not be where you think you really are in God's sight.
Let us therefore fear, and look at it, here's the context, lest
a promise being left us, the promise being left us of entering
into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. Let
me say this. I have been asked this question,
I don't know how many times, concerning different people,
and been asked this question by different people, do you think
so and so is saved? And Mason, I'm getting to the
point where I have to say, I don't know. I don't know. Because we all have this inner
desire, and I am persuaded it's of the flesh, that we want to
know for sure who's really saved and who's really not. And that
way, any faults that that saved person may have, I can justify
myself as well. But let me tell you something.
God has saved some murderers, but he ain't saved all murderers.
God has saved some drug addicts and some homosexuals, but God
ain't saved them all. God ain't saved them all. Look
at it, the promise being left us. Any of you should seem to
come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached
as well as unto them. And he's talking about these
very people we're reading about in Numbers. For unto us was the
gospel preached as well as unto them, but the word preached did
not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard
it. For we which have believed do
enter into his rest. And my mind would think, all
right, now, Mason, now, ought to have some comforting word
from God, right? But look at what the writer writes.
For we which have believed do enter into rest. And that is
true. But then he goes on and says,
as he said, as God said, as I have sworn in my wrath. So Mason,
now he didn't talk about grace. He doesn't talk about mercy.
He talks about God's wrath. For we which have believed do
enter into rest, as he said, as I have sworn in my wrath,
if they shall enter into my rest, although God ordained the rest
to be entered even before the world began. That's a paraphrase
of what he goes on to say. although the works were finished
from the foundation of the world. For he spake in a certain place
of the seventh day on this wise, and God did rest the seventh
day from all his works. And in this place again, if they
shall enter into my rest, then look at it, seeing therefore
it remaineth, here's the glory, that some must enter therein. Somebody's got to enter. Why? Because God foreordained someone
to enter. But I had better not ever presume
that that must be me. Yeah, seeing therefore it remaineth
that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first
preached entered not in, because of what? The one thing that keeps
us out of this rest, unbelief. unbelief. So we must not take
for granted or presume on God. Consider this. These spies, 12 of them, go into
the land. They return after 40 days. Joshua and Caleb said,
let's move now. Is that not what they said? Let's
move now. We can take these people. If
God's for us, these people can't stand up to us. The other 10
said, oh, it's a glorious land, but we cannot do this. And God kills those 10 men in
the presence of all of Israel. and then turn and says, you will
not enter in. And they still, well, we will
do this. Oh, we messed up. We messed up. We will go in.
And they were slaughtered on that mountain. Then God uses
Moses to preach the promise that when you go into the land, you
do these things that we find in chapter 15. You would think after all these
people have been through that they would have what? Believed
God. But man by nature cannot just
believe God. And even in light of chapter
15, have you read chapter 16 yet? Here is Korah that raises up
against Moses. And I'm thinking, you people
are bonkers. You've lost your ever-loving
mind. But my brothers and sisters,
that's what we are by nature. We cannot help ourselves, but
we're still accountable before God Almighty. Now listen to me. I know my title is Hope Renewed
for some, and I haven't really spoken about much hope other
than this. God promised. God promised somebody's
going to enter in. I want to be one of those somebodies.
Don't you? Now think of it. False Christian
religion. confounds hope offered with hope
preached and They think it's the same thing God did not offer
to Israel hope God had Moses preach say to Israel hope and
There's hope, right? There is a big difference. I
know there are those even who call themselves under the name
of Calvinism or free grace that try to contend for the free offer
of the gospel, but there is no such thing. We are to freely
preach the gospel to all. The church was commanded under
the auspice of the apostles. They started it to go into all
the world and preach the gospel to every creature. But we are
not told to offer the gospel to anyone. But false Christian
religion confounds hope offered with hope preached. Hope is never
offered. God never offered those who were
20 years and older another chance, did he? He had just sworn in
his wrath, you will not enter in. And they would not enter
in. Let me give you two passages.
And these are familiar passages probably to anyone that's familiar
with the scripture, but turn to Acts chapter two. All of us
here and probably most who may be listening to me live stream
right now are familiar with Peter's gospel message on the day of
Pentecost. But I want us to look at exactly
what Peter says. Acts chapter two, and this is
kind of the summary. Peter has preached Christ, has
he not? Mason, he preached Christ, the
foreordained Christ of God, whom wicked men took by their wicked
hands and their wicked deeds, and they, in their estimation,
they tortured him to death. but we know in fact that he gave
up the ghost. All that happened to Christ was
foreordained of God to happen to Christ for our benefit, for
the benefit of his people. And look at what it says, verse
37 of Acts 2. Now when they heard this, who?
These people who were there at the crucifixion of Christ. These
people who would say in their hearts, we will not have this
man to reign over us. Those who had said the very words,
what, when asked the question, what would I do then with Jesus
of Nazareth? What did they cry? Crucify him. They said now when they heard
this, they were pricked in their heart and said unto Peter and
to the rest of the apostles, men and brethren, what shall
we do? Then Peter said unto them, repent and be baptized, every
one of you in the name of Jesus Christ. You will submit to the
name of Jesus Christ, the very person you had just previously
in hatred against crucified and slain. Then he said unto them,
repent and be baptized, every one of you in the name of Jesus
Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift
of the Holy Ghost. And I'm not gonna argue with that. That's
sound doctrine. That's the truth, and look, for
the promise is unto you. You see it? For the promise is
unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off. There you have, you see, the
free offer of the gospel, right? Huh? Huh? No, sir, because the
last few words define it all. The last few words qualify it
all. The last few words make it a
declaration of the gospel to all. But it's clear that it's
not for all. As I said, hope is renewed for
some. Hope is never renewed for all
without exception. Even as many as. That lets me know it's not gonna
be one less. and there's not gonna be one more, right? Now
this is, I'm not an English scholar by any means. I did not even
do well in English class in school. But I know what this means. And
if you have any education whatsoever, you know what these words mean.
Even as many as the Lord our God shall call. That means if God calls you in
this manner, you'll have it. If he does not, you will not,
though the promise is being preached to you. Turn with me to another
one. Now these are real bona fide
gospel men preaching the gospel, are they not? Why is it that
men and women do not mirror their messages and their manners and
their methods after these men? You know why? Because they really
don't believe the message that these men preached. Because Peter
was preaching to a group of people that had just slaughtered Jesus
Christ a few weeks before. And he said, I got a promise
to you. And then he sums it all up and qualifies it if God calls
you to it. Is that what he said? Now that's
Peter. In the mouth of at least two
or three witnesses, every word will be established. Now look
at Acts chapter 13. Acts chapter 13, verse 38. Paul the apostle had been preaching
what? More appropriately, he'd been
preaching who? Jesus Christ. You can read his message that
he preached, and he sums it up this way. Be it known unto you
therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached
unto you the forgiveness of sins. But he does not say it is offered
to you. He said, I am preaching this
to you that there is forgiveness of sins. And look, and by him,
not just through him, but his words are, and by him, All that
believe are justified from all things, but only believers. You see it? Now somebody says,
you're putting that in there. No, that's what he's saying.
And by him, all that believe are justified from all things
from which he could not be justified by the law of Moses. And then
he tells us without question, Beware, therefore, lest that
come upon you which is spoken of in the prophets, behold, ye
despisers and wonder and perish, for I work a work in your days,
a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare
it unto you. Do you see that? He qualifies
this and puts God in charge of all of it. but he says man's
rebellion is what keeps man out. No man or woman can ever blame
God because they've never entered the rest. We, if we do not enter
God's rest, it will be our fault and our fault only because God
will give us the fruit of our own doings. Now, having said
that, I will say this. Being called of God unto faith
in Christ That is hope renewed. And God's got to do it. It's
not walking an aisle and praying a prayer. It is not dedicating
your life to God. It is not giving your heart to
the Lord Jesus Christ. God must call a man or a woman
or a boy or a girl first or they will never ever believe God. But if God calls you in this
manner, you will believe God and you will enter into that
rest. So I say that being called of
God and to faith in Christ is hope renewed because look at
what it goes on to say. in verse 48 of Acts 13. Paul preached this mainly to
Jews first, and they didn't like it. They didn't like it. But
look what it says. And when the Gentiles heard this,
they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And look
at it. And as many as were ordained
to eternal life believed. So that lets me know it was not
one less. or one more, but it was exactly
that number that God had ordained to believe. Look at it, it goes
on. And the word of the Lord was
published throughout all the region, but the Jews stirred
up the devout and honorable women. You see that? The devout and
honorable women. Devout and honorable in what
way? Only in a human way. They weren't devout and honorable
before God. but the devout and honorable
women and the chief men of the city and raised persecution against
Paul and Barnabas and expelled them out of their coast." Well,
Paul must have said something wrong then, right? He must not have offered this
in the right way, right? After all, this is rest. This
is a glorious thing, right? No, he never offered it to anybody,
but he preached it to everybody. You hear it? He didn't offer
it to anybody, but he did preach it to everybody. And this is
the truth of the gospel. Let us never disregard the preaching
and the hearing. Now this is what I meant a moment
ago. I thank God for this technology. And it's great when people who
cannot make it to service and some who have no place to go. It is a great blessing from the
Lord, but let us never disregard the actual gathering together
and hearing men speak. Scent of God who are declared
to be God's gifts to the church Let us never disregard that preaching
and that hearing in person If you ever just read through like
Matthew Mark Luke and John it said and Jesus opened his mouth
and taught the people saying You ever thought about that?
Why didn't they say he and Jesus say it? Mason isn't that the
same thing? Yes, it is the same thing technically,
but the Spirit of God does not use words just to fill in space.
It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching. I know God can
take this book, and a man and woman can sit down and read this
book, and God Almighty can give them eyes to see. and ears to
hear and a heart to perceive. And God has done that before.
God can take a cassette or a CD or electronics and send the gospel
out to people. We have some messages by some
men from years ago that are, their messages are written down
and God uses that. Don't get me wrong. There are
messages, gospel messages preached and recorded, Mason, in this
book. And God can use that. But don't ever disregard the
actual gathering together and hearing the preaching of the
gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. But let us never seek mere professions
over the truth of the message. Yes, we could take the edge off
the gospel a little, couldn't we? We could take the edge off
the gospel just a little, just enough that maybe a few more
folks would come and make some professions. Don't you think
I haven't ever thought that? But Mason, I'll tell you this,
the very thought when it arises in my mind scares me to death
that I even think such of a thought. You see, No matter what the results,
we must never take the edge off of the offense of the gospel,
because that is the way God ordained to call out his people from,
not physical darkness, but spiritual darkness, to see the truth of
God, is by having the truth of God preached to them as it is.
I am not standing here offering anybody anything. But I am here
standing preaching to everyone here, and everyone who hears
me right now somewhere else, or may hear these messages later.
I am saying that through this man, through Jesus Christ, I
am preaching unto you the forgiveness of sins, but you better look
out, it ain't for everybody. Do I have the right to say that,
Ellen Mattis Jenkins? I have the right to say that.
No, it's even more. I have the responsibility to
say that. So again, let us never disregard
the preaching and the hearing, but let us never dull the edge
of God's gospel sword. False profession equals no possession
at all of rest. And I'm not talking about false
professions under false religion. Don't misunderstand, I'm not
talking about them out there now, I'm talking about right
here. Just making a profession, even a profession of orthodox
sound doctrine is of no value whatsoever if it's not the work
of God wrought in the heart, mind, and soul of an individual. There are some people who believe
free grace because they've been brought up under free grace and
for no other reason they believe in free grace. They've never
actually entered by faith into God's rest. They just believe. That's not the kind of belief
through which you enter God's rest. You got to be called of
God first. Because any faith you muster
up is that, a faith that you or I have mustered up. And we'll
end up just like those Israelites. presuming on God. We end up like
Korah in an open rebellion against God. So let me move on. Hope
was renewed for some, but if you look at chapter 15 verses
11 through 16, and let's go back there. Hope was renewed for some,
but it's always God's way. And forgive me for saying it
this way if it needs forgiving. It's God's way or the highway.
It is God's way. You ain't in God's way whatsoever.
Look at what I mean. Chapter 15, verse 11, thus shall
it be done. One bullet or for one ram or
for one lamb or a kid. And we'll look at that in a moment.
According to the number that you shall prepare, so shall you
do everyone according to their number. This is very similar
to the Passover. Jack Mattis, the Passover, none
of it was wasted. There was not extra. Mason, it
was exactly what was needed. It wasn't even just enough. It
was exactly what was needed. But look what it says. And all
that are born of the country shall do these things after this
manner, in offering and offering, made by fire of a sweet savor
unto the Lord. And if a stranger sojourn with
you, well, he can do it however he wants to do it. Is that what
God says? Well, long as he puts forth a good sincere effort,
ain't that good enough? No, the stranger that's in your
land, he gotta do it the same way. Think about this. The scripture tells us there
is one mediator between God and men. That is the man Christ Jesus. Peter said it this way, there
is none other name given among men under heaven whereby we must
be saved. Jesus Christ said, I am the way,
the truth, and the life, and no man comes unto the Father
but by me. You see, sincerity does not matter
if you're wrong. Sincerity does not matter if
you miss the person and work of Jesus Christ. Moreover, faith
lays hold, now listen to what I'm about to say to you. Moreover,
faith lays hold of both Christ's work and his person. Now we usually, you'll usually
hear men say that phrase, his person and work. You know why?
You should say his person and work. Do you know why? Because
his work would mean nothing apart from his person. There were two
that died on crosses beside him. They had no saving power, but
in fact were in need of salvation themselves. Do you understand
what I'm getting at? But I've just said, moreover,
faith lays hold both of Christ's work and person. That's why we
then read in chapter 15 verse two, speak unto the children
of Israel and say unto them, when ye be coming to the land
of your habitations, which I have given to you, and will make an
offering by fire unto the Lord, a burnt offering, or a sacrifice
in performing a vow, or in a freewill offering, or in your solemn feast,
to make a sweet savor unto the Lord of the herd or of the flock.
In other words, when you come to offer any of these offerings,
Two things will be always with them now. What does he say? Then
shall he that offereth his offering unto the Lord bring a meat offering
of a tenth dill of flour mingled with the fourth part of a hen
of oil and the fourth part of a hen of wine for a drink offering
shall thou prepare with the burnt offering or sacrifice for one
lamb. And he repeats this in three
different circumstances. What does this mean? This means
that Christ's person gives validity to his work. Because the meat
offering, which is what we'd call a grain offering, and the
drink offering, Mason, they were bloodless offerings. But they
must be offered in conjunction with the what? The blood offerings. You see, the blood of Jesus Christ
was not human was not human blood. The blood of Jesus Christ was
the blood, the human blood of God Almighty Himself. God did not come and dwell in
a human body. God was made flesh and dwelt
among us. He had a real human body, real
human blood, real human bones, a real human beating heart, Mason,
but it was the flesh and the bone and the blood and the heart
of God Almighty himself. God was not just inhabiting or
infesting a body. God took upon himself a human
body. And it is the person, here's
the problem. Many preach Christ's work historically,
do they not? They preach he died, he was buried,
he rose again, and he's seated at the right hand of God the
Father. Do they not preach that? But that's not enough to preach
the gospel. Did you know that? That's not
enough to preach the gospel. Many preach his work historically,
but in denying his true person, they end up denying the efficacy
of his work. If you miss who he really is,
it is no wonder that you don't think he accomplished anything
in what he did. because you don't really know,
you've never heard, or you've rejected, if you've heard, the
actual truth of the person and work of Jesus Christ. Let's look
at his person for a minute. And remember, were the Israelites
not told, when you enter that land, you put blue. on the borders
of your garden. Isn't that what he said? Now
what is blue indicative of? The heavenly things, right? Heaven.
You look into the sky and I'm told the reason the sky looks
blue is because of the vast waters on this earth. That may be true,
but you're looking into what? Heaven. And it's what? It's blue. Now think about this. You wanna
see some blue ribbon? Turn to Colossians chapter one.
I'll give us some blue ribbon. Colossians chapter one, for the
sake of time, I will begin in verse 10. No, no, let me begin
verse nine. For this cause we also, since
the day we heard it, heard what? Heard of your faith in Christ,
heard of your love for the brethren. From this cause we also, since
the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you and to desire
that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all
wisdom and spiritual understanding. that ye may walk worthy of the
Lord unto all pleasing." Don't tell me walk don't matter. Walk
doesn't justify. Walk does not reconcile. But
the justified and the reconciled do walk. And the way we walk
does matter. that you walk worthy of the Lord
unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work. God's people
are not against good works, and if you're against good works,
I don't care how much Calvinism you got, you got the wrong thing.
God Almighty's ordained, he's foreordained that we walk in
good works, and I do. Earl said it years ago. It's
we walk in good works. We don't just do one or two here
or there. You know, it's just not, I go to church on Sunday.
We walk in them. Mason, they're a part of our
very everyday existence. Sometimes that good work is just
going to work and doing your job. Job and paying your bills
and being honest with men and women. Isn't it? That's a good
work. That's the right thing to do,
that you might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being
fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge
of God, strengthened with all might according to his glorious
power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.
And you say, I just can't do it. I know you can't yourself,
just like the Israelites. They could not conquer those
people in their own power. But Mason, bless God, they could
with God's power. And we might think, but I just
can't do what's right. Yes, you can. If he's working
in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. And if
you're not willing and doing his good pleasure, then guess
what? As Joe would say, evidently God ain't working in you both
to will and to do of his good pleasure. So that evidently means
God ain't in you. That's just a fact. Look, giving
thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers
of the inheritance of the saints in light. God's qualified us
to be a partaker of the inheritance just as much as those who've
already there, Mason, and already got it. our brothers and sisters
that's left this place and now stand or sit or bow in the presence
of Jesus Christ, Ellen Meadows, God Almighty's qualified us just
as much now as they are now in his presence, who hath delivered
us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the
kingdom of his dear son, in whom we have redemption through his
blood, even the forgiveness of sins, and now we begin to see
the blue ribbon go up. who is the image of the invisible
God. So if you see Christ by faith,
you've seen God. Isn't that true? Our Lord spoke,
and I think Jackie was even talking physically. Let me finish the
sentence. I think he was even talking physically. He said, he that seen me. has
seen the Father, even if they didn't know they'd seen the Father.
Let me tell you something, if you believe Jesus, I said if
you believe Jesus Christ. I didn't ask you if you believed
in him. Yes, God's people believe in him, but we also believe him. Does not Numbers 15, God said,
you keep my commandments? Does it not say, is this not
a commandment? Everybody thinks of the 10, right? Well, here's
a commandment. This is commanding us as to who
Jesus Christ is. Is it not? Look at it. Who is
the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature,
for by him were all things created that are in heaven, that are
in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions
or principalities or powers, all things were created by him
and for him, and he is before all things, and by him all things
consist, and he's the head of the body of the church. Now do
you obey that commandment? Mm-hmm. How many people claim
to obey the 10, but could care less about that one right there?
How many say, boy, I honor my mother and father, but they dishonor
the father because they dishonor the person of the son? You see,
faith lays hold, as I said, both of Christ's work, but it lays
hold of his person. If you miss his person, you've
missed the whole deal. Many preach, as I said, historically,
but they deny the truth. Here is this ribbon of blue.
Here's the question. Have we come to Christ in faith
for hope? The question, what is that like? Now, I know we have a small group.
It would be in some cases much easier for me emotionally and
physically if we had a big number. You know why? Because I could
preach some of these things and say, well, I was talking to those
folk, not to these over here. But when you only got a couple
handful, then somebody's going to say, was he talking to me?
Well, let me tell you something right now. I'm talking to every
one of you that's right here this morning. Now, yes, we may
become, we will become older, not may. Well, we may have got,
we may, we've got to deal with you pretty soon. You may not
become older, but if we live very long, we're all going to
become older and we may forget some things that happened back
yonder. We may become seadial. Mason,
we may not remember things back yonder, but if you still got
your mind, You've got to be able to, I'm not talking about a day
and a time, but you've got to remember when at one time you had no hope,
and all of a sudden things begin to change, and you begin to have
hope. And if you think you've just
always had this hope, and that's all you remember is you've always
had this hope, then you better hope your C now. Because you
ain't always had this hope. Now do you understand, well I've
always believed this, then you got trouble. You got trouble. Unless you've ever been converted
by the preaching of the gospel through the power of God's spirit,
you have not entered into this rest. I don't care what you believe. Now can I prove that? What is
the experience of receiving this hope? I will read it to you in
Hebrews chapter six. Hebrews chapter six. In other
words, Have we come to Christ in faith for hope? And I ask
the question, what's that like? We will read it, what that's
like. Hebrews chapter six, verse nine, but beloved, we are persuaded
better things of you and of things that accompany salvation though
we speak thus. Though we speak in what way?
He just spoken about apostates. I don't know how to put it other
than the apostates conversion experience looks just like everybody
else's. other than one thing. It don't
last. That's what it boils down to.
It don't last. So that lets me know there's
a danger. This person may have a conversion experience. That
person may have a conversion experience. One of them may be
saved. The other one may not. Right? Look at what, I know Hebrew six
verses one through eight, boy, it's some of that tough language,
but it's true language nonetheless. But look, but we, but beloved,
we are persuaded better things of you and things that accompany
salvation, though we talk like this, though we speak thus, thus
speak. Look at it. For God is not unrighteous to
forget your work and labor of what? love. If you don't do it
because you love it, then you're doing it for the wrong reason.
You ain't really got it. If you're doing it just because,
well, that's what I've always been taught, then you're on the
wrong path. God is not unrighteous to forget
your work and labor of love which ye have showed toward his name
in that ye have ministered to the saints and do minister. And
we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to
the full assurance of hope How long? Unto the end. Because if you don't, then you're
like the person in verses 1 through 8. Unto the end, that ye be not
what? Slothful. But followers of them
who through faith and patience inherit the promises. You don't
give up. No matter how difficult it is,
you don't give up. Because if you give up, you've
bugged out. And if you bug out, John says,
you never was of those who were in. John says, if they were of
us, they'd have no doubt hung around with us. Look, for when
God made promise to Abraham, because he, that is because God
could swear by no greater, he swore by himself. And God is
the only one that has the right and the power to do that. saying,
surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will
multiply thee. So who did the blessing and the
multiplying depend upon? Abraham or God? God. Look, and so, after he had patiently
endured, well, that shouldn't matter then, right? I believe
in free grace. No, you don't. Because he that
hath begun a good work in you, what does the book say? If he
begun a good work in you, he'll do it under the day of Jesus
Christ. If you could ever bug out, you might as well bug out
now. Because you ain't got it. You just ain't got it. And look,
and so after he, that is Abraham, had patiently endured, he obtained
the promise, for men verily swear by the greater, and an oath for
confirmation is to them an end of all strife. And even that
truth is begin, doesn't find much weight in our day and age,
does it? Would you take just anybody's word out there? Well,
I swear on this. You better not. Mm-hmm. Not in this day and age It used
to be it they say a handshakes good enough. Not anymore It ain't
sometimes signing the legal papers ain't even good enough Then you
got to go hire a lawyer to fight over the legal paperwork Right,
but Paul the writer of Hebrews is talking about a premise if
a man says I swear on this. I You would take his word, but
look at what it says. For men verily swear by the greater,
and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife,
wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise
the immutability of his counsel, he confirmed it by swearing on
it. Right? Isn't that what that means? He
confirmed it by an oath that by two things in which it was
impossible for God to lie. That is his promise and his oath.
God said, I promise this and I swear on it. Isn't that what
he's saying here? I promise this and I swear about
it. I will do it. But look at what it says. Well
then, I'll just sit back and just wait for it to happen. It
don't work that way. Did you know that? Well, if I'm
one of God's, I'll be okay. That's true. But you know why
you'll be okay? Because God Almighty will light
a fire under you that you can't escape. Now look at it. Wherein
God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise
the immutability of his counsel, conferred it by oath that by
two things in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have
strong consolation, and here it is, who have fled for refuge. So that lets me know there was
a day when you didn't have any refuge. And unless you're senile,
you better remember that there was a time when you didn't have
any refuge and something happened and changed where you fled, what? Fled for refuge to lay hold upon
the hope set before us. So that means you also left something
else too, right? You don't flee stand and steal.
You don't flee sitting in the chair. You get up and you get
out of dodge. If God's never changed how you
think, how you believe, and how you live, you have never been
called by God. Now how can I put it any plainer? Herein is where we stand. Christ's
person is all to us. The drink offering and the meat
offering were bloodless offerings, but they were just as vital as
the blood. I remember what Earl, Joe gave
me a stick with several of Earl's messages on the sacrifices, and
Earl adequately pointed out about the drink offering and the meal
offering. They're not intended to be blood offerings because
they speak of the perfections and the glory of the person of
Jesus Christ. But here we see God clearly saying,
now when you bring a blood offering, you better make sure you got
that meat offering and you make sure you got that wine offering.
You know why? Because the work of Jesus Christ
ain't worth spit if you ain't got the right Jesus Christ. Now
do you hear what I just said? The work of Jesus Christ ain't
worth spit if you don't have the right, the correct Jesus
Christ. And if God ain't called you to
Christ, you ain't in Christ. Now, you wanna talk about some
more heavenly blue? I gotta read this passage to
you. Turn with me to Ephesians. I'm sorry, not Ephesians, Colossians.
Colossians chapter three. You see, yes, believers may fall
by ignorance. We see that in Numbers 15. But
presumption damns the soul. Chapter 15, verses 30 and 31.
Believers reject rebellion. Remember the guy, we read it,
Numbers 15. Gathered sticks on the Sabbath day. What did God
tell them to do? Now come on, what did God tell
them to do and what did they do? They killed him with rocks. You Sabbatarians, you want to
keep the law? Do that. Right? Isn't that what the law
says? We can't do that, they put us
in jail. Is it right to serve God or man? But I thank God I'm
not under law. I thank God you're not under
law too. Because the first mistake I make,
you'd have rocks bashing my head in, wouldn't you? But look, here's
some blue. Verse one of chapter three, if
ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above,
where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Oh, but preacher,
I like this, or I like him, or I like her, or I like that. That don't mean squat. Do you
hear me? It don't mean squat. It says,
set your affection where? On things above, if ye be risen
with Christ. If you can't, you're not risen
with Christ. Set your affection on things
above, not on things of the earth, for ye are dead and your life
is hid with Christ in God. I'm glad Paul preached that message.
Have you ever found that one pearl a great price? You see,
nothing can compete with Jesus Christ. God the Father won't
have it. He won't have it. You put people in danger. You
put other people and things in danger when you exalt them with
Jesus Christ. Do you hear what I'm saying? If you're one of God's, he may
destroy that thing or that person to keep you away from it. To keep you away from it! Because
he knows it'll damn your soul. And you put that person or that
thing in jeopardy by doing so. for you're dead, your life is
hid with Christ in God. When Christ, it doesn't say who
gave us life, he did, but it's more than that, is it not? When
Christ, who is our life? That's the question. Is he your
life, or is he just a part of your life? For those who have
entered rest, he is their life. When Christ, who is our life,
Shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory? Mortify
therefore. Kill it. Kill it. And what do
they say? Your members which are upon the
earth. And then, this ain't gray. This ain't a gray area. Fornication,
uncleanness, inordinate affection. It's not wrong to have affection
toward things and people, but they do not compete with God.
If they compete with God, they are an idol to you or to me.
Mortify thy fear of members, fortification, uncleanness, inordinate
affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry. For which things sake the wrath
of God cometh upon the children of disobedience, in which ye
also walked sometime when ye lived in them. And you couldn't
help but do that, right? But you're still accountable
before God. But look what it says. But now ye also put off
all these, anger, wrath, malice, Blasphemy? And I gotta stop and
give you this. Filthy communication out of your
mouth. What's that say? Don't be vulgar. You know what
that means. Don't be vulgar. A person who's
been to this assembly and a person who professes faith in Jesus
Christ was heard to say that if you cuss, Listen, if you cuss, it proves
you're intelligent. Yeah, they've proved that. I
don't care who they are. Now folks, this is the kind of
mentality some people got, and they profess to believe in the
living God. What's that say? Don't be vulgar
in the way you speak. You don't tell dirty jokes. You
don't use coarse language because you think it don't make you look
wise. It might to the wise acres out
in this world, but most people cuss, you know why? Because their
logic is unsound. And what they're reasoning by
really don't cut it, so they got to swear about it to make
them sound like they know what they're really convinced of it.
They're convinced of nothing. Folks, this is shoe leather gospel. This ain't just, well, I believe
in sovereign grace. So does Satan. He probably knows
it better than most fallen sons and daughters of Adam does. He
can't partake of it, but he knows, Ellen, sovereign grace is the
only hope that a man has. And he can't do nothing about
it. I'm sure that's what makes him so aggravated. Put off all
these anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your
mouth. Lie not one to another. Boy, go on about that, lie to
people, just lie, lie, lie, lie, lie. Had another one, been to
this place. Professor Saubringer, well, I'll
never do that again. And within 24 hours, they were
doing it again. Lie, lie, lie, lie, just quit
lying about it, you know? But remember, we are warned to
put off these things, to mortify these things. You know why? Because
they're still down in here. When God calls you, he don't
get rid of all those things. He puts something new down in
there. And look, that's what he says. Look, lie not one to
another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his
deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge,
after the image of him that created him, and every one of us is just
alike. Well, we expect that of the old
barbarians. No, we don't. Not if God's called
them, right? Well, I was just raised that
way. Didn't you were raised wrong? Right? You were raised wrong. And he goes on. Here's my conclusion. Hope is renewed for all who believe
Christ. You hear what I said? Who believe
Christ. If you believe Christ, you will walk this way. You hear
what I said? You're going to walk this way.
The preacher, I fall. Of course you fall. And you will
fall. You can't help but fall. But
you know what a believer does when they fall? God upholdeth
them with his hand, and they will not fall away. They will not go back to where
they were. Here's the question. Has God
ever moved you from where you were? That's the question. Father, teach us that truth. Teach us by the power of thy
spirit, not by my words or Paul's or Joe's. Teach us by the power
of thy spirit. Make these things real to us,
Lord. Oh God, help us not to presume on you. In Christ's name,
amen.