♪♪ ♪♪ ¶¶ Good evening, Saints of God. Turn in your hymn books to 233. Depth of mercy, can there be? Mercy still reserved for me? Can my God His wrath forbear? a chief of sinners spared. I have long withstood his grace, long revoked into his face, would not hearken to me to repent now my God is love

Good to see everyone on this chilly winter night, but at least it's not snowing. A couple of announcements before Mark comes for scripture reading. Shelby was telling me that Mary Lou Duff has been in the hospital for a week, week and a half. And she is now in rehab in Stanford, so be in prayer for Mary Lou. Also, Billy's brother, Roy McCormick, had quadruple bypass surgery recently, and they're still recovering. They are both taking care of Billy and his mother.

So the McCormicks are pretty dear to me. A lot of you, most of you probably don't know, when Debbie and I first moved to Kentucky, We were looking for a place to stay and Billy's family, Craig McCormick and Myrtle, took us in for a couple of weeks until we found a house to rent. And I've always thought the world of those folks. They have been dear to our hearts since the first day we got in Kentucky, actually. So be in prayer for Roy and Mary Lou.

Dave and Celeste are both under the weather. Dave texted me before service and said they weren't going to be able to be here. Our other folks as well that we would love to have here and they would love to be with us, but in the Lord's good providence, that is not so. But we want them to know that they're not forgotten. We miss them every service. I think that is it. Mark, come have scripture reading for us, please.

I'm going to read Psalm 23 tonight.

The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. Thou anointest my head with oil. My cup runneth over. Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Let's pray.

O most gracious Lord, we are so thankful that you provide for us. With you, we lack nothing. All we have, you have given to us. and for us to know and understand this is a gift in itself. Continue to give us spiritual sight through the Holy Spirit to discern the things of God that are most important. Help us to shun the worldly things which tempt us daily and are of zero worth when viewed in regard to our life in eternity with our Lord and Redeemer. Oh, merciful God, make us to not desire the temporal things of the here and now, but make us to yearn for the green pastures and the still waters of your heavenly kingdom.

Lord, we ask that you would provide our brother Rex with a message that will feed our souls and sustain us. And we continue to pray that you will provide a man of God to be our pastor and guide. We know that you will provide all these things because we are your people. In Jesus Christ's name we pray, amen.

All right, turn in your hymn books to 388.

so Have Thine own way, Lord, have Thine own way. Thou art the Father, I am the Son. Holy and making, After thy will, while I am waiting, yearly and still, have thine own way, Lord, have thine own place. Search me and try me. Master thee today. Wider than storm. Watch me just now, as in thy presence only I bow. Have thy own way, Lord, have thy own way.

Wounded and weary, help me I pray. Power of power, surely is Thine. Touch me and heal me, Savior divine. Have Thine own way, Lord, have Thine own way.

Lord, I thee at sun's sway, filled with Thy Spirit, till all shall see Christ only, always living in thee.

When it's time for you to stand before God's judgment throne

Will you stand to Christ complete or will you stand alone? Will you stand to Christ complete or will you stand alone?

Can you by works impure at best wash the sin stains from your hands?

Can you establish righteousness to equal God's demand? Can you establish righteousness to equal God's demand?

Has your life upon this earth been perfect and complete?
If not you stand condemned by God, yea, worthy of hell's heat.
If you on your own so pardon, how so justify?
Why did God require that Jesus come to earth and die?
Why did God require that Jesus come to this earth and die?

Jesus Christ, Lord of glory, was my substitute.
He gives me perfect standing, no one can dispute
He gives me perfect standing, nobody can dispute

Can you see the godly wisdom of such salvation, full and free?
Trust in Christ alone forever and praise Him evermore with me.
Trust in Christ alone forever, praise Him eternally.

When it's time for re-judgment, weary, full of fear,
Will Christ stand when your name is called, and before ye say, I am here?

When it's time for me and judgment I won't be full of fear

Christ will stand when my name is called and for me say I'm here Christ will stand when my name is called and for me say I'm here

In our starting place tonight, turn with me to the book of 1 John. 1 John chapter 3. 1 John chapter 3, we'll begin reading in verse 16.

Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But who so hath this world's goods, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his vows of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him.

My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And hereby, we know that we are of the truth and shall assure our hearts before him.

For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then we have confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him because we keep his commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

And this is his commandment that we should believe on the name of his son Jesus Christ and love one another as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him and he in him. Hereby we know that he abideth in us by the spirit which he hath given us.

Now out of these verses, I want to look primarily tonight at what John wrote in verse 20. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things."

I've titled this message after the last two words of this verse, all things. I did some research, and these two words, all things, are found over 230 times together in Holy Scripture, most of those being in the New Testament. You could literally preach 25 or 30 messages from this very two word combination. But I want to look at just a few of those verses tonight. I will certainly be revisiting this probably sometime in the future. But I want to be looking at several verses tonight. You can either follow along or just listen as I read them. But we'll be looking at several verses.

But this verse in John 3 20. Tells us that our God knoweth All things, knoweth all things. Just stop and contemplate that for a moment. When it says that our Lord knoweth all things, it is not just referring to facts. It goes much, much further than that.

Our God knows the end from the beginning, He tells us. He knows everything that has occurred in the far, far ages of eternity past. Isaiah 46, 9. makes this statement. Remember the former things of old for I am God and there is none else. I am God and there is none like me declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times to things that are not yet done saying my counsel shall stand and I will do all my pleasure.

God Almighty knows not only all things that have come to pass but all things that are yet to happen. in the next minute, in the next day, in the next hour, in the next millennium. And he knows this because he has purposed all things that have already come to pass. And he purposes all things that shall come to pass in the future. And he will cause it to come to pass by his unimaginable power and his irresistible will. His power, which cannot be matched in his will, which cannot be thwarted.

He makes this plain in Daniel 435, this verse that we're so familiar with. And all of the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing, and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth, and none can stay his hand or say unto him, what doest thou? And in Isaiah 40, verse 15, we read a similar comparison of God's great power Compared to mankind as a whole, it says this. Behold, the nations are as a drop in the bucket and are counted as the small dust of the balance. Behold, he taketh up the aisles as a very small thing.

This tells us that all of the nations of the earth, with all of their supposed power, are just like the dust on a scale. You wouldn't even bother wiping it off. It's so insignificant as to be completely ignored. And our God knows the number of hairs on the head of every one of Earth's eight billion inhabitants. He knows the number of the grains of sand on every beach in this world. He knows how many gallons of water in the Earth's oceans and how many drops of fresh water are in every lake on this planet. He knows the location and the path of every heavenly body.

Scientists tell us, I don't know how they know this, but they tell us that there are more stars in the universe than grains of sand on the earth. Now, whether or not that's true, it doesn't matter. But there's a lot of stars and our God not only spoke those into being, he guides the path of every single one. And I could go on and on and on with examples of what our God knows, but certainly one of the most blessed verses that we will find in God's word Concerning the things that our God knows is found in Second Timothy 219.

Listen to this and rejoice center. Nevertheless, the foundation of God stand assure having this seal, the Lord knoweth those that are his. Of all the things he knows, it's probably to my heart, one of the most blessed he knows them. that are his. And he's not only aware of who we are, he knows every single flaw and shortcoming to everyone and in everyone whom he sent his son to die for. And he knows that in and of ourselves, his chosen people are worse and worthless. Psalm 103 tells us this in verse 14, for he knoweth our frame, he remembereth that we are Dust. Dust. How useless is dust? It's just simply an annoyance. But that's not how our God sees us in Christ.

Rather, when He looks upon His chosen elect ones, He sees them as perfectly holy and righteous because of the imputed holiness and righteousness of Christ our Savior In and of ourselves, we are as useless as dust, but in Christ we are counted as the most prized possession of the God of this universe. And we're counted as such because of what it costs to buy us, the precious blood of that spotless Lamb of God.

Turn over with me to Matthew 11. The next place that we find these two words, all things, in Matthew 11 verse 27, our Lord said this, all things are delivered unto me of my father and no man knoweth the son but the father, neither knoweth any man the father save the son, and to whomsoever the son shall reveal him.

Here our Lord makes the proclamation that the father has delivered all things into his hands. The reins of this universe have been turned over to the sun. All power is given unto me in heaven and earth, he told the disciples in Matthew 28. And he says that among those powers that are now in his hands is a prerogative to either reveal or to hide the things of God to whomsoever he chooses to make known the mysteries that have been hid for ages and generations.

As he told his disciples in Matthew 13, 11, speaking of why some see the truth of the gospel and others do not, he said this, because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. To know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, a mystery is a profound secret something wholly unknown, or something previously concealed, something that has not been or cannot be explained, that which is beyond human comprehension.

What a perfect description of the things of a holy triune God, a profound secret, something that is difficult to perceive and to understand. And there is no more profound secret that is shown to lost, undeserving sinners than the revelation of Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

And there's no more profound and at the same time, no more simple truth than the truth of the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ on behalf of redeemed sinners. People talk about studying the deep things of God. Yeah, doctrine's okay, but we like to study the deep things of God. There is no more deep things of God than to study why a holy God who created everything in this universe would leave His majesty and glory on high and come to this earth for one purpose, to be made a bloody sacrifice for sin.

That's as profound as it gets. Paul stood in awe of this when he was writing the last part of his letter to the Romans when he said in chapter 16 verse 25, Now to him that is a power to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret since the world began. And that mystery has now been revealed to chosen sinners.

It is this that all that is required to stand pure and holy in the sight of a thrice holy God and his law is found in the person and in the finished work of our blessed Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Psalm 2514 declares the secret of the Lord is with them that fear him and he will show them his covenant, that new covenant that holds so much better promises to God's people than did the old covenant, the covenant that David said was ordered in all things and sure. Which ties in so well with the next verse we want to look at in Acts 13. Acts 13. Verse 39. Acts 13, 39. And by him all that believe are justified from all things from which he could not be justified by the law of Moses.

What an incredibly blessed promise that the justification that Christ provides for his elect people provides all things necessary to be justified, which was impossible under the law of Moses because the natural man cannot keep the law of God. We're told that numerous times in the scriptures. But we now have full and free justification given to us by a sovereign God, the sovereign king of this universe, and paid for by the blood of Christ.

It is God that justifies, it is Christ that died, we're told in Romans 8. And Paul ends that 8th chapter of Romans with a lengthy list of things that can never separate us from the love of Christ. We won't bother reading it. But we know that he tells us that there is no force in this universe that is able to separate a redeemed sinner from his Savior. That love that has been ours for endless ages of eternity and will be ours for endless ages of eternity to come.

2 Peter 1, verses 2 and 3 says much the same thing. Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God and of our Lord Jesus. according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness through the knowledge of him that hath called us unto glory and virtue. This is how Paul was able to tell the Colossians, and ye are complete in him. This is how the elect are completely justified from all things which might condemn us.

The next place I want to look is in the book of Mark, where these two words, all things, are found. Mark 10. Mark 10 and verse 25. The Lord Jesus is here speaking to His disciples. Mark 10, 25. And our Lord tells His disciples this. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven. And they were astonished out of measure saying among themselves who then can be saved. And Jesus looking upon them sayeth with men it is impossible. But not with God. For with God all things are possible.

And this is why This is why I don't completely despair over my children and grandchildren who hold the gospel of Christ in contempt. Many of you know exactly what I'm talking about. For with God, all things are possible. Because no matter how vigorously our children, our grandchildren oppose this gospel of Christ and him crucified, I know that our Lord can crush that will like a freight train crushing a net. And when our God says that all things are possible with God, it doesn't mean that it might or it might not happen. It means that those things that we are incapable of providing and performing, such as convincing men to come to Christ, can be performed with our God and by our God with ease.

This is stated emphatically in Jeremiah 32, 27. I quote this verse often. Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for me? And we know the answer to that is no. Think about this. Our God doesn't have to put forth any effort whatsoever to accomplish his will. He merely thinks it. He merely wills it, and it comes to pass. That in itself is astonishing. This is how the Lord Jesus could say that with God, all things are possible.

And the reason that statement is true is because the God that we worship, the Lord Jesus Christ, holds all power. Therefore, there is nothing that He cannot accomplish, including the saving of the most vile of sinners. The next place I want to look at is in 1 Corinthians 15. 1 Corinthians 15. I'll give you a minute to find it. 1 Corinthians 15, verses 27 and 28.

Now here are these two words, all things, are used five times in just two verses. 1 Corinthians 15, 27, speaking of God the Father, for He hath put all things under His feet, speaking of Christ. But when he sayeth all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is expected, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

This verse is similar to what we read in Ephesians one that says, that God the father had put all things under his feet and given him to be the head over all things unto the church which is his body the fullness of him that filleth all in all both these passages make it abundantly clear that all things are now under the absolute control under the firm Dominion under the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ, which is simply another way of saying that there is nothing, absolutely nothing, that is out of His control.

In Psalm 110, verse 1, we read this, The Lord saith unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. We read similar words in Hebrews 1.13 and in Hebrews 10.13. His enemies are now His footstool. They are under His feet, signifying there is no force on earth that can frustrate His purpose and His will. Because as we're told in Matthew 8, I already quoted it, that He is given all power in heaven and in earth.

Hebrews 2, verses 8 through 10, Hebrews 2, again tells us much the same thing. Hebrews two and verse eight. Thou has put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor. that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man for it became him for whom are all things and by whom are all things in bringing many sons under glory to make the captain of their salvation perfect through suffering.

This verse says for whom are all things. This means that everything in this universe both visible and invisible, were created to bring glory to the Son of God. And it also says, by whom are all things, confirming what we read in the book of John, first chapter, verse three, all things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made, speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ.

First Corinthians 8.6 says much the same thing, but unto him, but unto us, there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him, and the one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

And yet, after knowing all the above to be true, if you're like me, we find ourselves concerned over the silliest of things, most insignificant things. We don't like to admit it, I don't like to admit it, and I think you're the same as me, but we're subject to every single doubt of any lost man or woman on this planet. But unlike them, we do have a good hope because we serve and worship a completely sovereign God.

We are very much like that father that we read about in Mark 9. This man came to the Lord seeking help for his child who was possessed of a demon, if you recall this story. And the Lord said unto him in verse 23, if thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out and said with tears, Lord, I believe, help thou my unbelief.

We believe, but our faith is sometimes so weak that it can scarcely be called faith at all.

The next place I want to look at is in the book of Colossians, chapter 1, where we find these two words, all things. Colossians, chapter 1. Again, these two words, all things, are used four times in just two verses. Colossians 1, 16. 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.

And we already looked at John 1, 3. All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made. That was made when we read that first verse in this Bible. Genesis one one, and it says in the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. It is the same God that is spoken of in that first chapter of John. It is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the one that created all living things upon this earth. He is the one who formed man out of the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils. And the man became, we're told, a living soul.

We read in John 1.4, in Him was life, and He gave that life to every living thing. In Him also is eternal life, which He gives to each and every one of His chosen.

Next, over in Hebrews, the book of Hebrews chapter 2. Hebrews chapter 2, verse 17. Wherefore, in all things, it behooved him to be made like unto his brother, and that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. This word behoove is not a word that we use much anymore. It means something that is appropriate or necessary. Wherefore, in all things, it was appropriate it was necessary for him to be made like unto his brethren.

This man who walked the earth, this flesh and blood man who was known locally as Jesus of Nazareth, was in every cell of his body made exactly like every other human being. But there was a gigantic difference that separated him from every other man that ever lived. And that difference is spoken of in Hebrews 4 15 for we have not in high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like as we are and here's the gigantic difference yet without sin.

There was not a single human emotion. Not a single human circumstance. that our Lord Jesus Christ did not experience when he dwelt on this earth. He suffered hunger, fatigue, joy, unspeakable sorrow beyond anything we will ever know as a real flesh and blood man. But more than all those sufferings, he endured the suffering of being made sin and becoming the object of the fierce wrath of his father. All of which he willingly suffered to bring us to God. who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Yet in all things he endured for the sake of his people, he never once sinned. He was. Every second of his life, as he is described in 1 John 2, 1, he was. Jesus Christ, the righteous.

Next, in 2 Corinthians. 2 Corinthians 5. 17. 2 Corinthians 5.17. Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. All things are passed away. All things are become new, a new creature. When we say something is new, it means that it is something that never existed before. The new man that comes into existence when we're given faith in Christ, when we're given spiritual life in Him, all things are passed away, we're told.

We use that term to describe what happens when someone dies. We say they passed away. Paul wrote to the Romans in chapter 6, verse 6, knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. But even though that old man, that old nature which we're born with is dead, it still continues to trouble us every moment of every day and will till we lay this body in the ground. But it is dead even now in the sense that it no longer has dominion over us. Paul assured us of this when we read in Romans 6.14, For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under the law, but under grace.

But this verse in 1 Corinthians 5.17 also tells us that when we're found in Christ that all things are become new. This means that everything which we used to hold dear becomes as dumb to us as Paul described it. Worthless. Useless. Offering no spiritual benefit whatsoever. We no longer look at things the way we used to. The things that used to mean so much to us, we now hold in disdain knowing that they are completely useless in our journey here on this earth.

Turn over to the book of Philippians with me. The book of Philippians. Chapter 3. Chapter 3, verse 1 of Philippians. Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but to you it is safe. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision, for we are the circumcision which worship God in the spirit and rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh.

Though I might also have confidence in the flesh, if any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more. Circumcise the eighth day of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, and Hebrew of the Hebrews, as touching the law, a Pharisee concerning zeal, persecuting the church, touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 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 Christ Jesus, my Lord. for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but done, 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 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. if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead."

Paul here lays out his pedigree, and it is indeed impressive. These were the things that he had previously put all his confidence in for obtaining favor from God, but he was taught that all those things had no merit whatsoever before a holy God. He was shown that Christ is all in all. that he provides all things necessary to be seen as perfect before the all-seeing eye of God. This is what he meant when he wrote that in Christ all things are become new. It is given unto us to know the mysteries of things that have been hidden, we're told, for generations, been hidden from the beginning of the world, the scripture says. And when we're given eyes to see the majesty of Christ Jesus our Lord, all else pales in comparison. All else fades into obscurity. We see everything in a new light, that light being the light of Jesus Christ.

Paul in 2 Corinthians 4, 6 put it like this, For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Once we are given eyes to see that glory, we no longer look at anything the way we used to. This is how all things are become new.

Now the last verse that I want to look at is found in 2 Samuel 23. I'll give you a minute to find it. 2 Samuel 23. 2 Samuel 23, David writes in verse 5, we read this, 2 Samuel 23, 5, Although my house be not so with God, yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure, For this is all my salvation and all my desire, although he maketh it not to grow."

This is the new covenant that is spoken of in Hebrews 8 and 9. It tells us that this better covenant that our God has made with His chosen people is much better than the old covenant, made up of better promises. But of all the promises that we find in that new covenant spoken of in Hebrews, there is one that stands out above all the rest. We find in Hebrews 8, 12, for I will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their sins and iniquities. Well, I remember no more.

Free from the law, oh, happy. condition. Jesus has bled and there is remission. And it is an everlasting covenant, one that will stand for as long as the throne of God stands. It cannot be broken because it was purchased by and sealed by the blood of the precious Lamb of God, who will one day make all things new.

Thank you for your attention. Let's look to the Lord in prayer.

Our merciful Father, we thank you. And praise you. That all things. That would condemn us. To an unimaginable eternity of suffering. Have been done away with in Christ. Father, we thank You for the peace that comes from just resting in Him. No longer having to wonder, having to guess if we've done enough, if we've prayed enough, if we've read the Scriptures enough to merit favor before Your holy law.

But Father, we stand confident that all things that we need to enter into Your kingdom have already been provided in the person of Christ. Father, that's incomprehensible, knowing ourselves as we do. And it speaks to the power of the blood of Christ. Father, we thank you that all things are ours. In him. We pray, Father, that you would grant us traveling mercy as we make our way home. We pray that. We would think on Christ through this coming week that you would give us a spirit of thanksgiving. for all things provided by Him.

We ask this in His name and for His namesake. Amen. Lord bless you. You're dismissed.