Turn to Luke chapter 8 if you
are following along Luke chapter 8. I will read several verses In verse 4 is where I will begin
Luke chapter 8 and verse 4 Luke records it this way and
I say that because Matthew and Mark also record this account
And there are differences, but there are no errors. There are
no contradictions. There are just differences. Luke
8 verse 4, and when much people were gathered together and were
come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable. A sower
went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by
the wayside, and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air
devoured it. And some fell upon a rock, and
as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away because it lacked
moisture. And some fell among thorns, and
the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. And other fell
on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit, and hundredfold.
And when he had said these things, he cried. And I just try to picture
in my mind's eye, he is probably speaking somewhat, as given this
parable, Mason, probably somewhat in a, maybe even a monotone,
just stating this, and all of a sudden he cries out these words.
He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. In other words, pay attention
to what you've just heard. If you've got an ear, listen. And his disciples ask him, saying,
what might this parable be? And I want you to note, at least
in Luke's account, he doesn't begin by telling them what this
parable be. He goes on to tell them what
the parable be. This is what he said, unto you
it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God. But to
others in parables, that seeing they might not see, this is the
very purpose of the matter. And hearing they might not understand. Now, the parable is this. Do you see that? Now take some
time later to go back then and read Matthew, Mark, and Luke
all together and then picture the whole scene and what took
place here. Now the parable is this, the
seed is the word of God so there is no doubt as to what the seed
is. Those by the wayside are they
that hear Then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out
of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. So we know
what the first ground is. They on the rock are they, which
when they hear, so far both grounds have heard. When they hear, they
receive the word with joy. These have no root, which for
a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. The word we could put there would
be they go into apostasy. And that which fell among thorns
are they, which when they have heard, all three have heard,
right? They've heard what? The word
of God. Not false religion Not the false gospel that is
so touted today, but the very Word of God They which fell among thorns
are they which then they have heard go forth and are choked
with cares and riches and pleasures of this life and bring no fruit
to perfection but And all how we ought to thank God for that
one little word. Yes, sir but That on the good
ground are they which in an honest and good heart having heard the
word Keep it and this is not about they obey it It's not about
some duty. They keep it's like this Lay hold of it and they pull
it in here They keep it and bring forth fruit with patience. I have two different messages,
one for this Sunday and God willing, one for next Sunday or whenever
we meet again, God willing. This morning, the title of my
message is No Fruitful Believing. Next time, we will try to look
at fruitful believing. I will approach this in a little
different tact this morning. I'm not saying that it's wrong
to approach it the other way. I have approached it the other
way on many occasions. And when I began to think about
this, I thought, Walter, you preached on that just a few weeks
ago. But what I'm talking about here
is I'm not going to define each separate ground per se. Christ
does so. When it's valid and it is the
traditional approach to this. But what I want to do this morning
is consider all the obstacles which fight against a person's
salvation as revealed by the Lord of glory in the first three
grounds. But think of all the obstacles
that are aligned against our souls and hearts and minds. Because if you say, well, I'm
good ground, you're only good ground because God made you good
ground. By nature, there are none of
us that are good ground. And that's why you will see,
as I hope to show a little later, he doesn't give the parable and
then immediately explain the parable. He gives the parable,
then gives a parenthetic and says, it's given to you. Given,
it's a gift. It comes from above. It didn't
come from within you. It's given to you, but to others,
it's not given. Then, And then only does he then
explain the parable. This is vital. Think about it. All of the obstacles that fight
against a person's salvation. There are things that hinder
fruitful believing. The last ground, the fourth ground
stated here, is the only ground that had fruitful believing.
Right? The first per se had no believing
at all. The second quickly believed.
This didn't last. Right? Religion today says believing
is good no matter what. That's not so. That's not so. And I'm talking about believing
after having heard the word of God. The truth of God. I believe that some folks did
here too, but they went into apostasy Some folks heard it
and the devil snatched it right away from Others heard it in
cares and pleasures and riches choked out the word And they
became what? unfruitful Only the fourth ground
brings forth fruit unto perfection and that only with Patience and
we ought to thank God for that too Salvation is revealed only in
fruitful believing. That's right. Do you hear what
I say? Yeah The only place that there is salvation that is the
salvation of God that is in Christ Jesus is in fruitful believing
Belief that falls short of fruitful believing is nothing but adding
to your condemnation Think of the obstacles that are mentioned
by Christ here there is Satan stealing The word he's a liar
right the father of it and But he cannot thwart God Almighty
in his sovereign purpose of sending out sowers to sow. So the word
will get sown. Yes, sir. So when he can't resort
to a lie, guess what he does, Mac? He starts stealing then. That's right. You see it? Yeah.
He starts stealing then. Satan stealing the word. He's
a thief and a liar. Here's another obstacle. The
seed, the word is trodden down. It's even trodden down first
before the fowls came. Remember that's what our Lord
said it. He put it that way. He put it that way, Jack, for
a reason. The seed is sown, but it's sown, how does he put it? Let me just get it right, by
the wayside. And it's trodden down. Then the
fowls of the air come along and snatch it up. You see it? Our hearts, by nature, are set
in defiance to the Word of God. And it's an obstacle to our salvation. There's not a one of us, by nature,
that when we first heard the Word of God, even if we don't
remember it, our feet trod God's Word underfoot. Yeah, well I've
always believed this. Have you ever heard somebody
say that? Have you ever said that yourself? Stop saying it.
Because you haven't always believed this. You might have always been
brought up under it, but you ain't always believed it. And
even if you had always believed it, believing it that way don't
do you any good. If you believe just because somebody
else believed, that belief is of no value whatsoever. Satan
stealing the word the seed being trodden down how defiant men
are I Don't get on Facebook. I'm
not here to criticize anybody who does I'm glad some of you
do It gives me spies in the land But be that as it may One of
the spies reported to me about something that someone had put
on this social media. And people put stuff on social
media and then get mad when they get called on it. Isn't that
amazing? But what was saddening was the
defiance. You could see the word of God
being trodden underfoot. And you know what? I had to look
at myself and realize, by nature, in Adam, in my father Adam, that's
me too. Satan stealing the word, the
sea being trodden down, the pleasures of this world, they're an obstacle,
they're a hindrance, are they not? The cares of this world,
all these things our Lord mentions. The cares of this world. And
he says, not the deceitfulness of riches, Now go back, we read
Luke, but remember Matthew and Mark's there too. There was a
lot more said by Christ than just what Luke wrote. But if
you read just Matthew, there's a lot more that Christ said than
just what Matthew. You gotta read all three of them.
I didn't take time to read all three of them. He didn't say the deceitfulness
of riches. There are not good riches and
deceitful riches. There are deceitful riches. All riches are deceitful. But Abraham, you ain't Abraham. But King David, Solomon, you
ain't King David. You ain't Solomon. And look at
Abraham. Look at David. Look at Solomon. Riches are deceitful. Have you
ever thought boy if I just had hit that five hundred and forty
million dollar jackpot Huh, I seen somebody win it and thought man.
It wasn't me Was I didn't even buy a ticket so it wasn't gonna
be me But then I even thought if only that person knew me and
loved me maybe they would share You ever done that You know why
you don't have riches God knows you don't need it God knows it
would destroy you God knows it would destroy me That's why you
don't have it if you're a believer, and you don't have it That's
why you don't if he gives it to you look out. He's about to
show you something about yourself Advance he's not going to show
you something about yourself Think about it Satan Trodden
down underfoot pleasures of this world cares of this world deceitful
riches the trials of life Yeah, all these things are obstacles
to a man and woman salvation, right? Tribulations and persecutions
that arise because of the word Pseudo Christianity is telling
people believe and everything's going to be better. Yeah There's
an advertisement, we just seen it on TV, wasn't there, Penny?
Some woman preacher, and she's preaching how if you obey God
and you believe Him, everything will be fine. That's a lie. Now the reason it's not bad for
them, because they're not really believing God. They're believing
religion. You believe the truth of God,
and every demon in hell, so to speak, will break loose against
you. The Antichrist spirit of this world will assault you in
your heart, mind and soul, if not even your body, if they could.
Tribulations and persecutions will arise because of the word.
And that's an obstacle to some folks. Our Lord said so. Let
me tell you, it's an obstacle to me. Except for the grace of
God. He put it this way, a lack of
moisture. I thought of it this way. I'm
not saying I'm telling you, oh, I've got the insight in the Christ's
mind and exactly what all he meant by all these phrases, but
I will give you a little insight, a lack of moisture. Could we
not say that's the gospel in word only? Because the gospel has to come
in more than word only. Exactly. It's got to come in
power and in the Holy Ghost and in much assurance. Amen. And
in tribulation and trials. Yeah. A lack of moisture. This is an obstacle to men and
women's salvation, is it not? Another way he puts it is a lack
of root. I thought of it along this line.
No spirit wrought spiritual longing. That is this inner work of the
Spirit of God inside an individual that says, I must have Christ
above everything else in this world. Oh, that I might know
Him and the power of His resurrection. Oh, that I might be found in
Him. And as Martin Luther wrote, let
goods and kindred go. This mortal life also. We live in a country of ease. We're so blessed lazy. Lazy. We are. I didn't say you are. I didn't
say they are. I said we are. Hmm lack of root That's a hindrance. It's an obstacle. It fights against
the salvation of the soul No deepness of earth is another
way put it yeah, I thought of it at least along this life no
providential aids As a matter of fact everything
in Providence seems to work against this person or that person, huh,
I The more they hear the word, the more they rebel. The less
they hear the word, the more they don't care. So what do you
do? Huh? Right? You try to put this
in quotes, force it on them, and they just can't. You let
them alone, and they look at you and say, well, you don't
care about me anymore. But let me tell you, that's me,
and that's you by nature. No deepness of earth. Temptations. The world is rife with temptations. Isn't it? You cannot turn on
the TV without your flesh being bombarded with temptations. And the world is very subtle
at it as well. Subliminal messages are there. to lay hold of our flesh and
draw it away from Christ. Temptations. But here's the thing,
I thought about it, a preacher said it one time. Think of Adam. There were no bars to go to when
Adam was created. There was no other woman for
Adam to mess around with. Was there? Was no movies to go
see. Well, there was no dice or gambling
cards around, no casinos, and he still fell. He still fell. How much more
you and I, having been made sinners, and then being in a world that
is just rife with temptation, and you think we're not gonna
reach out to taste of a forbidden fruit of some kind? Come on now. And then this last one, apostasy. Most people that you will talk
to, especially even those that profess to be Christians, if
you mention to them about apostasy, they have no idea what you really
mean. They have no idea what apostasy
is. You know what apostasy is? It's this, it is to make a start.
And then turn back. Our Lord put it this way, with
three words, remember Lot's wife? And say that correctly. Remember
Lot's wife? It's not remember Lot's wife.
No, it's remember Lot's wife? Huh? She started out, she left
the town too. But turn back to Luke. The place was being consumed
with fire and brimstone, and she still looked back. Huh? And let me tell you, apart from
the grace of God, that's me. Apart from the grace of God,
that is every one of you. It's an obstacle to our eternal
salvation. If I'm one of the elect, I will
never apostatize. But I've not seen my name in
the book yet all I have is the evidences of The preaching of
this word and my reception of it and sometimes that seems very
kneel Apostasy here you want to talk
here you want to here's a summary of apostasy turn to second Peter
and Listen, it's nonsense to say,
well, I was saved and lost and saved and lost and saved. People
don't get it. They're like the first ground.
They hear the word and they don't understand it. We'll mention
that even in a moment, but here's apostasy 2nd Peter chapter 2
speaking of these apostate preachers leaders Prophets back then preachers
now teachers verse 19. He says while they promised them
liberty that is these false preachers promised the people they preached
to Liberty they themselves are the servants of corruption and
Now, think about the juxtaposition. They're talking about liberty,
liberty, liberty, but they themselves, the very preachers, these apostate
preachers, are the servants of what? Corruption. For of whom
a man is overcome, notice, overcome of the same is he what? Brought
into bondage. For. If after they have escaped
the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and
look, here's the actual qualifying thing, and overcome. All of us
are gonna be entangled one way or another here or there. It
is unavoidable. Only God's grace keeps us from
going all the way and being what overcome but some can be overcome
in there what this says it's not this is not a Possible this
is not this is not a hyperbole or so look and overcome The latter
end is worse with them than the beginning Mac that's a strong
statement sir For it had been better for them not to have known
the way of righteousness Then after they have known it to turn
from the Holy Commandment delivered unto them But it has happened
to them according to the true Proverbs. So this does happen
to people don't it? The dog that is turned The problem
is he or she still a dog. Yep The dog that is turned, the
dog is turned to his own vomit again. That's nasty to think
about. Isn't it? But that's the proverb
God Almighty calls the proverb giver to use concerning, to describe
rather, apostasy. It's like eating something and
then puking it up. And that's the apostasy. But
here's what an apostate does. He goes back and starts licking
that pretty spewed up. That's nasty. Corrupt. Listen, and the sow that was
washed to her wallowing in the mire. That ain't getting saved
and getting lost and getting saved and getting lost. No. Apostasy is damning to the soul. Now I cannot look at each individual
and say, if someone has fallen away or fallen, I should say,
as to whether they've actually fallen away or not. Falling and falling away look
the same in the beginning. They're both a fall. But one
falls away, the other one just falls. God then brings them back.
This one here don't come back. It turns back to where it was.
Our Lord gave an illustration of this. You got a house, got
all this nastiness in it, and you clean all that nastiness
up, then it's real clean and shiny. Then what happens? The
demons, and then he tells you what it's really about, the demons
that's been cleaned out of that house, they come back and find
it empty or swept, garnished, and what? Here's the problem,
empty. And more demons come along with
the one and enter back into the house and the second states worse
than the first same thing that Peter's talking about here That's
what apostasy is yes, sir, and it's damning to the soul The
whole of this world of things of entities of beings whether
they be demonic or human and is set to fight against a man
or a woman and true fruitful believing. All these things set
against obstacles. We sang the song for a reason.
Is this vile world a friend to grace, to help me unto God? The answer is rhetorical. No,
even, it's not just no. No, this vile world is an obstacle. Everything about it, everything
in it, including myself, because some of us even trod down the
seed when it's sown, don't we? Hmm. Is this vile world a friend
to grace to help me unto God? Who among us is able to withstand
all these things personally? Nobody. Nobody. Think of these three things.
Hearing the word of God is essential, is it not? It's essential But
mere hearing is not enough Now turn to Matthew. This is Matthew's
account of it. And this is what the words he
uses Matthew 13 and verse 19 When anyone heareth the word
of the kingdom now, let me just stop just a moment The word of
the kingdom is exactly the same message as the gospel of Jesus
Christ. I There is not the gospel of
Christ and the gospel of the kingdom. And these pre-millennialists
who are proposing such a thing and have been for years are liars.
The kingdom is not about a thousand years. The kingdom is about the
king and his reign and his subjects. That's what the kingdom is about.
When anyone heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth
it not. Let us take note, remember, some
people don't get it at all. And this is not about education.
I have spoken with some that are very, I mean, I've spoken
with some that are very intelligent individuals, worked all over
the world. And you speak to them concerning
the word of the kingdom and they just don't get it I mean, it's
like Now look when anyone hears the word of the kingdom and understandeth
it not And what do men do with stuff? They don't understand?
Put it down under the feet usually don't that trotted underfoot
you see Look Where am I at? 19. Then cometh
the wicked one and catch away that which was sown in his heart.
This is that which receives seed by the wayside. Do you see it? There must be an understanding
which works belief unto salvation. Go back to Luke 8 and verse 12.
Those by the wayside are they that hear the word then cometh
the devil and taketh away the word out of their hearts and
I'll apply all that together and look at this lest they should
what? believe and be saved Understanding is vital, but you remember what
Paul said don't you in Romans 3 verse 11? There is none that
understands Huh? Right? There's none that
understandeth. There's none that seeketh after
God. They're all going out of the
way. He's talking about me and you. Oh, beloved, if it's not the
free and reigning grace of God, we're goners. Well, I'm good
ground. Oh, don't brag on being good
ground. Good ground ain't nothing but dirt. Right? Good ground ain't nothing
but dirt. Let me tell you something. Apart
from good ground, it's even worse than dirt. Here's another thing. Joy in
the word. That's the first. The first one
is the first ground. Hearing the word is essential,
but mere hearing is not enough. Some people just can't get it.
And you know what, that's just the way it is. You know that? You can't change that, I can't
change that. I can't give a man understanding. Who only can do
that? God above. But here's another
thing, joy in the word. That's in the scripture, in the
gospel, in Christ. It's essential, right? Remember
last week, Romans 10 and 11, whosoever believeth on him shall
not be ashamed. That's joy. If you're not ashamed
of something, you're happy about it, right? You joy in it. And yet we see one group here
that immediately receives the seed, the good word of God, with
joy. But joy itself is not enough.
Turn back to Matthew 13 again. Listen to what our Lord said. Matthew chapter 13, verse 20
and 21. But he that receiveth the seed
into stony places, the same as he that heareth the word, and
anon, that means immediately, with joy receiveth it. Yet he
hath no root in himself, but doerth for a while. For when
tribulation and persecution arise because of the word, the very
word he immediately received now. You see it? By and by he
is offended. And in Luke says he what? He
fell away. Right? Went into apostasy. Read what Mark says about it.
Mark chapter 4. This is the way Mark puts it. Mark chapter 4
verses 16 and 17. And these are they likewise which
are sown on stony ground, who, when they have heard the word,
immediately receive it with gladness, and have no root in themselves.
But this lets me know this. It's got to be an inner work.
It's got to be inside of you. It don't work its way inside. No, something's got to be done
on the inside to start with. You see, even before the good
word of God. Now look, and have no root in
themselves and so endure for a time afterward when affliction
and persecution arise for the word's sake, and it will. Immediately,
just as quick as they received it, they'll that quick turn from
it. Immediately they're offended. Well, you made me mad. I can't
even see get over it, because you can't get over it. I'd love
to say just get over it, but they can't get over it. It's what man is by nature. We
kind of think of there's four different kinds of people. No,
there's only two different kinds of people. Absolutely, totally
depraved and unregenerate, or absolutely, totally depraved
and regenerate. The absolutely, totally depraved
and unregenerate manifest themselves in at least three different ways.
But there are only two kinds of people Different kinds of ground we
might say yeah, but only two different kinds of people and
apart from the grace of God we are all unregenerate Of course Luke 8 again verse
13 They on the rock are they which when they hear receive
the word with joy and these have no root which for a while believe
And in a time of temptation, what do they do? They go into
apostasy. They fall away. Our Lord put it this way. He
preached the truth and it said, and many believed on Him. This
is in John 8 verses 30 and 31. Then it says that Jesus said
unto them Jews, those Jews, which believed on him. Now it says
they believed on him, so I take it that they believed on him.
But then he said to them Jews which believed on him, if you
continue in my word, then you will continue to be my disciples.
Is that what he said? No, no. If you continue in my
word, then are you my disciples indeed. So if you don't continue,
then you wasn't a disciple indeed. You wasn't really one to start.
You may have really believed. But that belief came from somewhere
other than God. And the only thing that tells
the difference is how long you last. Whether you die in faith
or you die outside of faith. That lets me know that if it
ain't the grace of God, Joe, I'm a goner. Because if everything I think
I got right now leaves tomorrow, then I had nothing. What I had
today, it's nothing and then go back and read what what Matthew
he that hath To him shall be taken away. He that hath not
to be given This is in God's hands folks It's in God's hands
go back and read it's there it's it's in between the parable and
the explanation We'll read it in a moment Yeah, if you continue
in my word, then are you my disciples indeed. And it wasn't just moments
later, they was wanting to kill him. They didn't last very long
at all, did they? Huh? But I don't care if you
last a hundred years, if you died a hundred and one, and you've
abandoned the truth of God and his Christ, you'll perish forever. Don't think God owes you anything
by any merit you have or do. Number three, this world's cares,
its pleasures, and money, they must be dealt with. Right? They must be dealt with. Try
to go without money for a while. See how that works out for you.
You'll be at the Salvation Army. You'll be somewhere begging for
clothes or for food, now won't you? And there are cares in this
life. There's things you gotta attend
to. And not all pleasures are evil and wicked, but they all
are an obstacle. They're all an obstacle. This
world's cares, it's pleasures, it's money. They must be dealt
with, but they're all deadly to the soul. Look at Luke 8,
14, go back and read it. Look at Mark 4, 18 and 19. Look
at Matthew 13 and verse 22. These things arise up and it
chokes the word and the person. You'll see both said that. It
chokes the word and the person. The word choked, the person choked. No salvation. You hear what I
said? No salvation. Either one or both.
Either one or both. The word choked or the person
choked, no salvation. If salvation, and when I say
salvation, I mean fruitful believing. The fourth ground. Fruitful believing. And as God willing, next time
we'll look at fruitful believing. What is this really about? But
if salvation, that is fruitful believing, and one thing about
fruitful believing, it's not all of the same quantity, but
it is all still the same quality, because it is called a fruit,
singular, never fruits. You might say, but I don't love
God like so-and-so does. Yeah, you do. You may not love
him as much as so-and-so does, but if you're under God's grace
and God's grace conquered you, you love with the same kind of
love that so-and-so does. You just may not love as much.
Some bring forth, what, 30, some 60, some 100. But they all still
bring forth fruit. And they do it with patience
because it comes slowly It doesn't happen tomorrow If salvation that is fruitful
believing is not by free reigning grace then no salvation exists
at all in this world folks That's what I'm saying It's either free
sovereign grace or this book is a lie. It's not free will,
because this book don't teach free will. It's not by the works
of the flesh, because this book refutes works of the flesh. If
it's not a work of God, then there is no salvation. This book's
just a lie, a fairy tale. And when we die, I don't know what happens. But
this book ain't no lie. and let God be true and let every
man be a liar. This book is true. But don't become confused here. God and his word is never thwarted. You hear what I said? The sower goes forth to sow.
God really will look at that. Why? Because God sends him forth
to sow. Yeah, and God says my word will accomplish the thing
where into I sin it it will not return into me void So whatever
does come back to God? Yeah is what? That's what God
meant to happen If the seed was trodden underfoot and the fowls
of the air come and snatch it up, Mack, guess what? That's
why God purposed. If thorns come up and choke it
out, the Word and the person, that's God's sovereign purpose.
If it falls on stony ground and ain't got no depth, And ain't
got no moisture and ain't got no root. That's God's person
the purpose look at each one Matthew Mark and Luke all three
he gives the parable they actually go away from the multitude The
disciples come up to him privately said Lord explain this parable
to us, but before he explains the parable He says it's given
unto you others. It's not given unto They're not
going to see. They're not going to hear. They're
not going to understand. They're not going to be converted.
And they're not going to be healed. Isn't that what he said? He said,
if you don't understand this parable, how are you going to
understand any other parable? Because this one gets to the crux of
it all. It's all about God. And whatever
happens when the Word is sown is what God Almighty sovereignly,
in His wisdom, I can't explain it. And I don't need to try to
justify it. Whatever happens when the Word
is sown, that's what God sovereignly purposed to take place. The devil
can't snatch a thing lest God Almighty suffers him to do so. Look at me. I feel like, Joe,
I was all three of them grounds at one time or another. In some
way or fashion. How often did I trot underfoot
the Word of God? How often did things choke out
the Word of God and both it and me become unfruitful? How often,
years ago, I made my profession and I turned away? You say, well,
that was all religion. It was still under the Word of
God. You see what I'm saying? I read this Bible. I knew what
this Bible said, but I didn't understand it. How in the world
did I ever become good ground? Only by an act of free sovereign
grace. Only because it's given unto you to know these things. They all three. It's amazing. For years, I've never even seen
it. Why is that little part in there? Why? Because Christ wants
these disciples to understand this. No matter what happens
when you sow the Word, God Almighty, your God, and His Father, the
Father of Jesus Christ, is accomplishing exactly what He purposed to accomplish
in this world. And that's just the way it is.
You know what? That comforts me. It doesn't make me want to
be loose and not sow the word. It puts, it wants me to go out
there and sow seed even more. But we don't get no response.
Yeah we do. No response is a response. That's
the response God's ordained. Well, we preach on the radio
and nobody even says boo. God's having his way with his
word, folks. Isn't he? But what about that
money? What about it? Watch out for
deceitful riches. What's it all about anyway? In
and out about the sower went forth to sow. It didn't say the
sower sat down in his nice little sweet chair and just started
throwing out some seeds. No, you go forth. In other words, you engage in
this thing. Now, let's go back. What was that number we sang?
166. Now listen to it. Listen to verse three again,
and I'll close with this. 166, a mighty fortress, Martin
Luther. Verse three, and though this
world with devil's field should threaten to undo us, we will
not fear, for God hath willed his truth to triumph, what? Through us. He's not preaching
the gospel to the world who is we are He ordained it that way. It'll do what God wants it to
do. Yes, sir. Look the prince of darkness grim
We tremble not for him his rage. We can't endure for lo his doom
is sure one little word Will fail him Remember, Satan can't
move lest God gives him say so. So even if you die, as we've
seen the song say, we'll still conquer. If they kill us for
preaching the gospel, what have they done? Us a favor. Really? Yeah. If we preach the
gospel and you lose your job, what have they done to you for
you? A favor? But, no but. Don't let the thorns
choke you or the word Right cares pleasures deceitful riches. It don't matter. You're gonna
die anyway, and who sell these things be Folks Oh God if I was motivated
the way I ought to be motivated by this truth You know Joe I'd never bellyache and murmur
again. But I do. But God's grace is
sufficient to turn me around and bow me down once again at
the feet of Jesus Christ. Isn't that glorious? Isn't that
glorious? Next week, God willing, we'll
look at fruitful believing. Be with us all as we part from
one another. Be with those who weren't able
to be here today. And Lord, may we be mindful of one another.
May we pray for one another. May our thoughts be with one
another. May we talk to one another, support
one another, help one another. In Christ's name, amen.