Christ Will See To It

Turn with me, if you would, to the book of Acts. Acts chapter six. A few things before we read through. It's a long reading this morning. We'll read the end of verse six and all of, or excuse me, chapter six and all of chapter seven But it goes along with what our Sunday school was, with Abraham, and with what the morning message will be, where our Jehovah Jireh is found in Christ, who provides, Christ who sees to it.

This coming Sunday, the 13th, our brother Kevin Thacker will be here for the morning messages. The following Wednesday, which is the 15th, Michael Moore is coming to preach for us. And on the following Sunday, which is the 19th, I believe, I may have done my math wrong. The following Sunday, 19th or 20th, Paul Pendleton is coming to preach for us. So we're looking forward to that and I'd ask that you keep them in your prayer while they study and travel. Also, there are cards out in the vestibule. If you haven't already signed them, please do. Acts chapter six. We'll start in verse 8. And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, the Cyrenians, the Alexandrians, and them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. They were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. Then they suborned men, which said, we have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God. And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes and came upon him and caught him and brought him to the council and set up false witnesses, which said, this man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us. And all that sat in the council, looking steadfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel. Then said the high priest, are these things so? And he said, that is, Stephen said, men, brethren, and fathers, hearken.

The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia before he dwelt in Sharon. and said unto him, get thee out of thy country and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall show thee. Then came he out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Sharon. And from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him unto this land wherein ye now dwell. And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on. That's Abraham.

Yet he promised that he would give it to him for possession and to his seed singular to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child. God spake on this wise, that his seed should sojourn in a strange land and that they should bring them into bondage and then treat them evil 400 years. And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God. And after that they shall, shall they come forth and serve me in this place. And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day. And Isaac begat Jacob, and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.

And the patriarchs moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him, and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. And he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt, and Carnaean, and great affliction, and our fathers found no substance. But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. And at the second time, Joseph was made known to his brethren, and Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh. Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, three, four, and 15 souls, So Jacob went down into Egypt and died, he and our fathers, were carried over into Sycam and laid in the sepulcher that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Amor, the father of Sycam. When the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt till another king arose, which knew not Joseph.

The same dealt subtly with our kindred, evil and treated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children to the end that they might not live. In which time Moses was born and was exceeding fair and nourished up in his father's house three months. When he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up and nourished him for her own son. And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was mighty in words and in deeds. And when he was full 40 years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel.

Seeing one of them suffered wrong, he defended him and avenged him that was oppressed and smoke the Egyptian. For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them, but they understood not. And the next day he showed himself unto them as they strove and would have set them at one again saying, sirs, your brethren, why do you wrong one another? But he that did his neighbor wrong thrust him away, saying, who hath made thee a ruler and a judge over us? Wilt thou kill me as thou didst the Egyptian yesterday? Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Median, where he begat two sons.

When 40 years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush. When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight. He drew near to behold it. The voice of the Lord came unto him, saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled and durst not behold. Then said the Lord to him, put off thy shoes from thy feet, for the place wherein thou standest is holy ground. I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people, which is in Egypt. I have heard their groaning. I am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.

This Moses, whom they refused, saying, who made thee a ruler and a judge? The same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by thy hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush. He brought them out, after that he had shown wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea and in the wilderness 40 years. This is that Moses which said unto the children of Israel, a prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me, him shall ye hear. This is he that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel, which spake to him in the Mount of Sinai, with our fathers who received the lively oracles to give unto us, to whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again to Egypt, saying unto Aaron, make us gods to go before us. For as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we want not what has become of him.

And they made a calf in those days and offered sacrifice unto the idol and rejoiced in the work of their own hands. Then God turned and gave them up to worship the hosts of heaven. As it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have you offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of 40 years in the wilderness? Yea, you took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your God, Rimfan, figures, which ye have made to worship them, and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.

Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen, which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers under the days of David. who found favor before God and desired to find a tabernacle of the God of Jacob. But Solomon built him a house. Howbeit, the Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands, as sayeth the prophet. Heaven is my throne, earth is my footstool. What house will you build me, saith the Lord? Or what is the place of my rest? Hath not my hand made all these things? Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted?

Stephen's attacking their tradition. Stephen's attacking the trust that they have in the law and in the history, in Abraham and in Moses, in their tradition, which is to say he's attacking their trust in themselves, right? They've slain them. that showed before of the coming of the just one, of whom you have been now the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the disposition of angels that have not kept it.

And when these, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, those in the temple, when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, they gnashed on him with their teeth, but Stephen, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly to heaven, and he told them, and he saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God and said, behold, I see the heavens open and the son of man standing on the right hand of God. And when faced with that, that's why I know this is a long reading, but when, when, when faced with the fact that tearing down all of their traditions, Abraham and Moses and the law and Stephen telling them it's all found in Christ, Christ is the Most High. When he pointed that out to them, I see the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God.

Then they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and ran upon him with one accord and cast him out of the city and stoned him to death. The witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. They stoned Stephen, calling upon God and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. When he had said this, he fell asleep.

When faced with the fact that our works are nothing but idols, our traditions are nothing but idols, that it is all in the hand of the Almighty Christ left to ourselves, we will respond exactly the same way. They stoned Stephen, and so would we, outside of God's grace. Let's stand together while Chris leads us in our call to worship. As on the cross of Christ I stand. Let's start this again. As on the cross of Christ I thought, it seemed to hear a man cry.

Is on this night, do I in your eyes, you will still pass by. Is not such suffering greater than that which you've seen before? And was there ever any man who grieved or suffered more? I looked again, and what I saw, I cannot fully tell. It seemed within his very bones, there range the fires of hell.

What caused your grief? I asked the man. What crimes could I have done? That John Jehovah struck you down and left you all alone. His hands sure cut my heart like steel and let me void of breath. This for your sin, this pain I feel, for you I go to death. Your sin before my Father's throne could find no place to hide.

This is the way God can be just and you be justified. ♪ Jehovah's mercy never fail ♪ ♪ Each morning they are new ♪ ♪ Great is His faithfulness and love ♪ ♪ Therefore we're not consumed ♪ Jehovah God in Christ the Son shall all my portion be. My soul shall therefore wait for Him and live eternally. Okay, you can be seated now. And if you would take your hymnal and turn it to page 257. Tis so sweet.

257. ♪ Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus ♪ ♪ Just to take Him at His word ♪ ♪ Just to rest upon His promise ♪ ♪ Just to know the saith the Lord ♪ ♪ Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him ♪ How I proved Him o'er and o'er. Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus, O for grace to trust Him more.

Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus, just to try His cleansing blood. Just in simple faith to plunge me near the healing, cleansing flood. Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him, how I proved Him o'er and o'er. Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus, oh, for grace to trust Him more. Yes, it is sweet to trust in Jesus, just from sin and self to cease, just from Jesus simply taking life and rest and joy and peace. Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him, how I proved Him o'er and o'er. Jesus, Jesus, ♪ Precious Jesus, oh for grace to trust him more ♪ I'm so glad I learned to trust thee ♪ Precious Jesus, Savior, friend ♪ And I know that thou art with me will be with me to Thee. Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him, how I've proved Him o'er and o'er. Jesus, Jesus, Precious Jesus, oh, for grace to trust Him more. Turn with me, if you would, to Acts chapter 9. Acts chapter 9, we'll read the first six verses.

And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest and desired of him letters to Damascus, to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, that is, following Christ, if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, He came near Damascus, and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven.

And he fell to the earth and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest. It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he, trembling and astonished, said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it should be told thee what thou must do.

We'll end our reading there. Let's pray together. Our holy heavenly father, we pray together that your name, your character, who you are, is glorified in this place this morning. That you would see fit to send your spirit to be with us, to bless your word, edify saints and call sinners to repentance according to your will, that above all, your will be done, that you leave us not to ourselves, but rather to accomplish your will. We pray for this time together, and we thank you for this time together, that we can meet as a family and worship together. Thank you for providing this time, for appointing this time and calling us out to be here together. for providing this place where we can worship together. I pray that you be with us and bless. We thank you for forgiveness of sin in Christ. Christ, our our Redeemer, Christ who will provide. I pray that you increase our faith. Give us eyes to see and a heart to believe.

Draw us ever near to him according to your will. We think of those that aren't able to be together with us today, that you bless their travels, those that are suffering physically, that you be with them in comfort as only you can. And we think now of all the places where you've seen fit to declare your name, even right now, that you bless the message wherever your word is going forth. Cause it to run its course. according to your will. Again, I pray that you be with us in a mighty way and leave us not alone. That we may worship and glorify your name. See Christ together one more time. We pray this together in Christ's name. Amen. Acts chapter nine. This morning is a continuation of our Sunday school message.

The message in Genesis, which saw Abraham and how Abraham learned of God's character, and learned of God's name, his character, who he is, Jehovah Jireh, right? We looked at that in the Sunday School message, the Lord will provide, the Lord will see to it. And we're gonna look as Abraham learned who God is, how Paul learned who God is, and saw the fulfillment of God's promise, all God's promises. God who is sovereign, God who has the right, God who is present, God who provides, God who will see to it. All of that promise, which is one promise, is all found in our Lord Jesus Christ. And how he learned, that was revealed to him and he declared it. All of God's good character, his name, who he is, all flows through the fact that God is Jehovah, that Christ is Jehovah, Christ is sovereign. and all that he does and all that he has.

Christ has the authority. Christ has the right. Christ has the right and what he does is right. It's never against his character. It's never against his goodness. He is first Jehovah. He is sovereign. He is holy. He is separate. Everything that we find in Christ is never contrary to that. Even bringing sinners into the throne room of God himself, never for a minute diminishes his sovereign holiness. He does so in a holy way.

Not only does Christ have the right, it is right, right? Because Christ has the authority, because he's earned the right through his sacrifice, because justice is satisfied in Christ's sacrifice before a holy God, the sinless took on the sin of his people, justice is satisfied. Therefore, not only is it his right to save his people, it is right for him to show mercy. It's right.

Scripture says, therefore, therefore you sons of Jacob are not consumed because the Lord does not change, right? Because he is sovereign and he is good. And because of Christ's sacrifice, which, was done sovereignly before a holy God, which was accomplished. Therefore, there is no shadow of turning with him. There is no change. Therefore, ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

And just as Abraham learned that God is absolutely sovereign, he is Jehovah. Just as Abraham learned that he is the most high God, right? He's the possessor of heaven and earth. Just as Abraham learned that our Lord is thy shield and thy exceeding great reward. And I know we focused more in the Sunday School message about how the Lord is the shield for his people. He is the exceeding great reward for his people. But what he said to Abraham is, I am thy shield. I am thy exceeding great reward.

It put me in mind of, I heard someone say once when Ruth was sitting to supper with Boaz, right? And Boaz had the bread, and that's the gospel, that's the truth, right? And he dipped it in the gravy and handed it to Ruth, right? That's the gospel, that's the truth, that's salvation for me. That's the difference. Lord says, I am thy shield, I am thy exceeding great reward.

Just as Abraham learned that God is a covenant God, just as Abraham learned that Jehovah Jireh, the Lord will provide, the Lord will see to it. Paul goes through and is revealed to him in a similar manner, and he preaches in a similar manner that all of that, all of the truths of God's character and God's goodness, it's all found in our Lord Jesus Christ. In our text here, in Acts, I'd like to continue again and see how Paul learned of God's character in Christ. just as Abraham did. I want us to see through Paul's teaching that just as God was all things to Abraham in the physical world, that's a picture of how God, through Christ, is all things to his people in the spiritual world and in salvation. So first, Paul saw Christ as Jehovah just as Abraham did. God revealed himself as Jehovah to Abraham.

Turn over to to Romans chapter 10, if you would. Romans chapter 10, and we read there in Acts chapter 9, how the Lord revealed himself to Christ, said, why persecutest thou me? And a great light shined around him and he found himself in the dust. And immediately he knew who was in charge, right? He knew who was sovereign. He knew this, this is the Lord Jehovah. And immediately he said, what will thou have me to do?

Before we read Romans 10, let me quote out of Joel chapter two. It says, and it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered. And Paul quotes this here in Romans chapter 10, verse 13. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, that's L-O-R-D, Jehovah, right? Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

In Philippians, let's turn over there. Philippians chapter two. Philippians chapter two, verse 10, Paul clarifies that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, right? Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

What did our Lord reveal to Abraham? He revealed that he is absolutely sovereign, that he alone has the right and the authority and the power to accomplish whatsoever he wills. And what did our Lord reveal to Paul? That this absolute sovereignty belongs to Christ alone and is found in Christ alone, in the man, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Paul learned just as Jonah did. What did Jonah learn in the belly of the fish? He learned that salvation is of the Lord, right?

It is. It is the Lord's to do with as he will. It is from the Lord. The Lord controls it. Salvation is absolutely, from A to Z, absolutely of the Lord, contingent and waiting on nothing. Needing no catalyst, right? Needing no action. He is the Lord that wills. He is the Lord that provides. He is the Lord. Salvation is of the Lord. And as Jonah learned that, helpless, in the belly of the fish, So does Paul. Absolute sovereignty.

I was reading through one of Spurgeon's message about the story of King Charles I, who was trying to escape from England. And he was being held in a bedroom in a tower, and he was trying to escape from England to France because he was going to be killed.

And he had everything lined out. I mean, he had a horse waiting at the bottom of the castle. to take him to a boat that was waiting for him to cross the water, and he had a carriage waiting for him on the shores of France to take him to where he was going to be safe. Everything was outlined. He just had to get out the window. He had one thing to do, and he couldn't do it. He got stuck between the bars and got caught. He couldn't do one thing.

Left to ourselves, that's how we think. I pause to say it. Our sovereign God who said, let there be light. And there was light and created everything that we see and all the things that we don't see left to ourselves. We think he needs something from me in order to accomplish. Salvation is of the Lord left to ourselves at our best state being altogether vanity. We come all the way right here and say, he has done all this.

He just needs me to, whatever you fill in there is wrong. I say you, whatever I fill in there is wrong. We're no different than King Charles, right? All you gotta do is get out the window. You just have this one little thing to do. No, no, no, no. That's not our Lord. Our salvation is of the Lord. What could Jonah do in the fish? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. And neither can we. Frank has said so often, I'm so thankful for the message that's come from this pulpit, that don't let your dead ears, I'm talking to myself, don't let my dead ears hear that and say, well, then there's nothing I can do.

I'm just going to sit here in the belly of the whale. No, Jonah cried out to the Lord, right? Right? Paul cried out to the Lord. What will you have me do? I can cry. Salvation is of the Lord. I recognize that. I see that clearly, clearly over and over and over in the scripture. And I'm going to cry to him and ask for it then, right? Does my cry move him? No. No. If the Lord has put it into your heart to cry, cry. If he started a good work, he won't live it undone. Everything was prepared for King Charles.

It had the one thing to do and couldn't do it. And that's us. We can't do one thing. Why can't we do one thing? Because we're dead. We're spiritually dead in Adam. That's what we inherited from our father. And all we have done is prove that. from the moment that we're born since. We've proven what our nature is, just as the men in the temple did.

When they heard, salvation is not of your tradition, salvation is not in your keeping of the law, salvation is not in your hand, salvation is in Christ, and when they heard that, they stoned Stephen to death. That will be our response. If that's our response, if that's my response, cry to the Lord and take that away, right? Take that away and show me your way instead. Salvation is absolutely of the Lord. And as Paul declared, it's found in Christ. Christ revealed himself to the Lord.

And what did Paul say? Lord, what will you have me do? Right, I'm helpless. What would you have me to do? Did Christ come to Paul because Paul asked that question? Was Paul traveling along asking the Lord, what would you have me to do? No, Paul was traveling along persecuting Christians, men and women. Paul responded, what will you have me to do because Christ came to him first, right? You love me because I first loved you. Paul came to Christ. just as we do, just as I beg us all to do again today. We come to Christ because he came to us first, right? He gets all the glory.

Paul saw that he saw that the sovereign Jehovah in Christ is Jehovah of the sinner's salvation, right? Paul saw just as Abraham did. He saw the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, just as Abraham did in our Sunday school, Abraham, saw the Lord Jehovah, the possessor of heaven and earth, just as Abraham saw that, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, Paul also saw this truth in Jehovah Christ.

Turn to Colossians chapter one, if you would. Colossians chapter one. Verse 16, remember Abraham learned that God Jehovah was the possessor of heaven and earth. And Paul says, Colossians 1 verse 16, for by him, that is by Christ, were all things created that are in heaven and they're in earth. Paul learned.

In fact, let's, let's read back starting in verse 12. here in Colossians chapter one. Starting in verse 12, giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet, made us right to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light, who has delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear son. His Son, in whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins.

This is Christ, who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature. For by Him, C.C. Paul has been talking about the Lord Jesus Christ, for by Him were all things created that are in heaven and 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. He's the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, and that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself.

By him, I say, whether they be things in earth or things in heaven, just as Just as Abraham learned, our Lord is the Lord of both heaven and earth. It was revealed to Paul that in Christ, Christ has the authority in both heaven and earth. If you're still in Colossians, he has the authority in both heaven and earth. So that in verse 21 and you who are sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death. to present you, because he is the God of heaven and earth, to present you holy and unblameable and unreprovable in his sight. Because he is the God in Christ, we see the God of both heaven and earth who has accomplished salvation. Paul saw God, the sovereign God Jehovah in Christ. Paul saw the sovereign God, Jehovah, the possessor of heaven and earth in Christ, who is able to make you unblameable, unreprovable in his sight.

I wonder if someone would have communicated with Jonah when he was in the belly of the whale. Christ can deliver you. Think he'd have been interested in that? God can deliver you. But he had a great need, right? He had a great need, a desperate need. And the Lord delivered him from it. And he learned the Lord delivers. And salvation is absolutely of the Lord. If we'd be given a need, a need for holiness.

What do they say in rehab? You have to first acknowledge the fact that you're an addict, right? You have to first acknowledge that there's a problem to fix anything. This is just us, right? We're using a silly human example. To fix any problem, you have to first admit the fact there is one, right? It's evidence that we are of our father, Adam, dead. That we will say, just as the Pharisees said, I'm not sick. And the Lord says, well, only those that are sick need a physician.

That the Lord would make me sick before Him of my lack, of my lack, of my, I'm full of sin and death, of my lack of a right standing before Him, of my lack of spiritual life before Him. Oh, if the Lord would give us a need, a need for Him, then maybe I would hear He's able He's able to make you unreprovable.

Beyond reproach, a charge can't even be made against me before him. All of who I am, all of my sinfulness, all of my death, wiped away and the righteousness of Christ instead, and life given in me made unreprovable, beyond reproach, not even a charge can be made against me in the holy throne room where the angels, where the cherubims cover their eyes and their feet, give me a right to stand, a right standing in the throne room of God. The only person that would not interest is a dead person, is a person who says, I don't have, I don't have a spiritual need. I have no need of that. We do, but we're blind to see that the Lord Jehovah would give us eyes to see our spiritual need. Just as Abraham saw that God was his, God said, I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward. Just as Abraham saw, so did Paul.

Turn with me if you would to Philippians chapter three. Philippians chapter 3 verse 8, Paul says, yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ. That I may win the gifts of Christ, that I may win the result of Christ, that I may win Christ is what Paul says. I am thy exceeding great reward. Let's actually read that again, starting back in verse seven.

But what things were gained to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ, my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through faith. that which is through the faith of Christ Jesus, that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith, that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable unto his death, that I may know him. Just as Abraham, who was tried by certain death, the armies of the four kings were come after him, he had no heir, he had no hope, He had no concept of how the Lord would fulfill his promise to him. How will this all work out? As God told Abraham, I am your shield and your exceeding great reward. I will save and protect you. I will create life. Where there's only death in you and Sarah, I will create life.

Paul sees this same reward in Christ, if you'd turn over with me to 1 Corinthians chapter 1. We do often see how the Lord uses means, right? We see that. Sometimes we see a glimpse of the Lord's will while, while we're in the middle of something, we see how this is being turned this way. And this would be granted. It's a lot easier to look back and see it, isn't it?

Then when you're right in the middle of it, but sometimes, sometimes we see the means in the middle of the trial, which is comforting, but isn't it better just to trust him, right? Is, that I would trust my soul's eternal salvation to him and not trust him to get me home safely this afternoon. He's the God of both heaven and earth and he can be trusted both with this moment. He's the God of heaven and earth as well as salvation. Paul sees this same reward. Christ is the reward. Paul sees the same reward in Christ here in first Corinthians chapter one, starting in verse 26.

For you see your calling brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called, but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. base things of the world, things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are, that no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us." Right?

Christ is our exceeding great reward. Christ is our shield. He's made unto us wisdom and righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. It's all of him what lacks wisdom, righteousness before a holy God, sanctification, redemption, that according as it is written, he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. Absolutely. Paul saw God as his shield and exceeding great reward in Christ, who is our righteousness, our wisdom, our sanctification, our redemption, Paul saw Christ as our exceeding great reward.

Just as Abraham saw God as a covenant God, when God spoke to Abraham and said, my covenant will I establish with Isaac, my covenant will I establish with Isaac, then he left off talking with him. Why? Because there was nothing more to be said. God takes care, as we said this morning, God takes care of both sides of the covenant. God promises, God purposes, God delivers. And Paul saw that in Christ. Turn with me to Galatians, if you would. Galatians chapter three, verse 16.

Now to Abraham and his seed, where the promise is made, he sayeth not and to seeds as of many, but as of one into thy seed, which is Christ. That's why both times we read through there in Genesis, both times I pointed out it's seed singular, right? Seed singular.

He was teaching Abraham, Isaac, all the promises are in Isaac. Now he's revealed that as a picture, all the promises are in Christ, all in Christ. Um, They're all fulfilled in Christ. And let's look back and reread that verses 15 through 18, the seed, which is in Christ.

Brethren, I speak after the manner of men, though it be but a man's covenant, right? If it's just between us, if it's a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed and no man disanulleth or added there unto, right? If we have a covenant, then after the covenant, after the contract, if you will, that's a word that we use more. If we have a contract, no one can later break the contract, right?

Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not and to seeds as of many, but as of one and to thy seed, which is Christ. This, I say that if the covenant, which was confirmed before, before of God in Christ, the law, which was 430 years after cannot disannul it. Contract can't be broken. Contract wasn't made with us. The covenant was made between God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. That's where the covenant is. The law coming 450 years later can't annul or disannul that, that it should make the promise of none effect.

The promise is in the seed, Christ Jesus. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise, but God gave it to Abraham by promise. It's all of God because salvation is of the Lord and salvation is in Christ. It's in Christ. God fulfilled the covenant made between God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. That was the covenant.

He purposed the salvation of his people, right? He accomplished salvation through the successful sacrifice of our sinless Lord Jesus Christ. He accomplished salvation. He applies salvation to the heart that he gives to his people through the Holy Spirit. It's all of the Lord. The covenant is of the Lord, as salvation is. And Paul saw that. The promises were made. He's a covenant God. He's a covenant God.

Every time we see the I will and ye shall, the ye shall isn't, we're not filling a lack that God has. I'm going to do this for you so that you'll do this for me. That's sacrilegious. Absolutely not. Blasphemy. He's a covenant God. He performs both sides of the covenant. purposes he accomplishes that he applies to the hearts of sinners. Sinners are never held up as being of great value and great importance. Not in the scriptures.

They are held up this way in the world. We would hold ourselves up in this light if we're ever left to ourselves. That we're of such great value and I'm of such great importance that God the Father sacrificed his only son because I'm worth something. That's not it at all.

Scriptures say sinners are trophies of God's grace, of grace. They display God's sovereign love and goodness, which is displayed in Christ when sinners are made righteous in Christ. Sinners are made worthy in Christ. Sinners are made valuable had no value of our own to bring, they're made valuable in Christ. When the guests come to the wedding feast, right, they put on the garment. They're made valuable, made valuable in Christ. Sinners are trophies of Christ's work and Christ's goodness.

In Ephesians, it says that in the ages to come, he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. The exceeding riches of his grace. that the scripture would mention His grace. Rich grace. And whatever we can imagine rich grace is, Ephesians 2 says it exceeds that. The exceeding riches of His grace.

Where? In Christ. And always in our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of His covenant with us? No, no, no. Because of His covenant with Himself. out of his own goodness, out of his own character, out of his own name, because of who he is. He has seen fit to show the exceeding riches of his grace to us, the least of all worthy recipients of such. And finally, God, Paul saw, just as Abraham did, Abraham saw God as the Lord who will provide, right? Jehovah Jireh, just as Abraham saw when when he went to sacrifice Isaac, his only son, and he saw the Lord will provide Jehovah Jireh, he saw the Lord will see to it. Paul saw that the Lord Jehovah who is sovereign, who is the possessor of heaven and earth, who is present, who is our great reward, who is a covenant God, Paul saw that he will provide all in Christ.

Turn with me if you would to Philippians chapter four. Sandy, I have to pause and tell you how thankful I am for our sword drills when I was a kid. Never more so thankful is when I'm standing here. Philippians chapter four. But my God shall supply all your need, singular. My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. All your need, God who is the, possessor of heaven and earth, all your need, all my need in this world. He's the possessor of heaven and earth in this world. Do we have a need in this world? Do I have a need in this world? Take that need to God.

I was reminded Monday or Tuesday, we took Gavin and some of his friends down to Lexington. I was reminded of a story that I think Henry told picking up a hitchhiker, and he had his backpack on. He said, throw your pack in the back. He's like, no, no, I couldn't burden you with that. And he kept it on his shoulders. I'm carrying you and the backpack. Let your backpack go.

And I was reminded of that when I picked up some of Gavin's friends. And this boy, I looked back there, and he was sitting with his pack on his lap. We got all this space in the back of the van. He's just sitting there with his pack on his lap. And I said, toss it in the back of the van. And he was like, oh, I don't want trouble yet. It's like, bub, we're carrying you. He's carrying us already, right? Let it go. Give it to him.

We all, we, I wonder sometimes, why do we carry so many burdens in this life? Is it because I need to be reminded every second to turn to him and lead on him? Because the moment I think I got this, I'm in trouble, right? We spoke a couple weeks ago about every breath we take. Shouldn't I be reminded that that just came from Him? Every time that heart beats, shouldn't I be reminded that that comes from Him? Everything that we always, it's nonstop. Everything we always have going on, it just seems like there is one big decision after another. And we're in the middle of one right now as a congregation, right? And we take that to the Lord.

He is the possessor of heaven and earth. Philippians says, my God shall supply all your need. To what degree? To this degree, according to his riches in glory. His infinite riches in glory by Christ Jesus. In this world, and most importantly, all our need, singular, our need, in salvation, our need of the removal of sin's curse, our need of erasing Adam's sinful nature, our need of righteousness, of holiness, our need of a right to stand before a holy God, before God Almighty, before that Jehovah that revealed himself to Abraham and to Paul and Lord willing to us before that Jehovah of ultimate sovereign authority. a right to stand, our need of life, our need of redemption, our need to be made acceptable and to be made accepted. Scripture says, my God shall supply all your need, all of this need abundantly according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. That's our Jehovah Jireh, Jehovah the Lord who wills to provide, Jehovah the Lord who will see to it, all found in Christ.

Amen. Let's pray together before Chris comes and leads us. Our Holy Heavenly Father, we pray that this has been a fruitful time that you bless according to your will. that you be with us through the remainder of this day and as we go about our lives through the week. I pray that you bring your goodness, your sovereignty, your presence, your goodness, the fact that you alone provide. You are a sovereign God who provides and provides for all our need in Christ. I pray that you bring that to our minds throughout the week cause us to worship. We pray that you always see us only in our Savior, Christ Jesus. It's in his name that we pray. Amen. Thank you, Chris. All right, in closing, if you would, take your hymnal and turn it to page 204. 204, and let's be standing as we close, please. Turn your eyes upon Jesus. 204. Oh soul, are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see. There's life for a look at the Savior. And life more abundant and free.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim. in the light of His glory and grace. Through death into life everlasting, He passed and we follow Him there. Over us sin no more has dominion, For more than conquerors we are. Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. His word shall not fail you, He promised, Believe him and all will be well. Then go to a world that is dying. His perfect salvation to tell. Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim. in the light of His glory and grace.

Christ Will See To It

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