Take your Bibles and turn with
me to the book of II Corinthians. II Corinthians chapter 1. I know that many of you are going
through things that trouble your mind and heart. Many scattered around the country
are going through severe trials and troubles. Brother Tommy Robbins,
Pastor Pennington up in Southern Ohio, some of you right in this
place, all kinds of trouble, physical things, sickness. Old
age is a trial. I'm not what some of you might
call old, but I feel old. And I'm feeling it more and more
as time goes on. Just surviving the economy, that's
a trouble. And we have spiritual troubles,
wrestling over weighty matters of the soul, struggling with
that old man of sin. Paul said, when I would do good,
any and every time that I would do good, evil was present with
me. Heart troubles. Friends and family
separated themselves from you over the gospel, over what you
believe, over what overwhelms your heart. And they can't understand it.
They don't see it. And they get upset. And after
a while, they separate. There's a division, trouble. Job said man is of a few days
and full of trouble. He's just full of trouble. He
lives in a troubled world. Now I want to, as best I can,
attempt to say something to you that speaks to that trouble.
I have troubles. And I want to say something that
speaks to that trouble and gives comfort to our souls. I need
comforted within. My heart needs comforting. And let me say this, you and
I have no trouble at all compared to the man who wrote this book
that I'm about to read to you from. We have no trouble at all compared
to those who wrote these things in Holy Scripture. Listen to
the words of the text here in 2 Corinthians chapter 1 beginning
with verse 3. Blessed be God, even the Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, all mercies,
every mercy, and the God of all comfort. If
we're going to find any mercy or receive any comfort, it's
going to have to come from Him. I don't have what it takes. I
can't tell you. I can talk to you about it. I
can point to it, but only He can give you comfort. Now watch this, verse 4, "...who
comforteth us in all our tribulation..." Now He's talking about Himself
here now. "...that we may be able to comfort them which are
in any trouble. By the comfort wherewith we ourselves
are comforted of God." For as the sufferings of Christ abound
in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted,
it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual
in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or whether
we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And
our hope of you is steadfast, knowing that as you are partakers
of the suffering, so shall you be also of the consolation."
Now here's what he's telling them. I know that I have lots
of trouble. Nobody had trouble like Pop.
They hired rowdy men to beat him up. leave him for dead outside
the city. They stood him up and whipped
him twice or three times. They had it down to a science
in that day how many lashes it took to kill a man. It took thirty
lashes. They took that cat of nine tails
with those pieces of glass and metal on it. Thirty stripes would
kill a man. Paul received twenty-nine, two
or three times. beat him up, left him for dead,
shipwrecked out on the sea a night and a day in the deep, bitten
by vipers, ridiculed everywhere he went,
rumors, false accusations everywhere he went, looking down the nose
at him, hunting him to put him to death. The Jews despised him. God took one of the princes of
their religion and turned him around. Oh, how they despised
him after that. And he said, in all this trouble,
God gives me comfort and He gives me consolation. And the reason
He gives me these things is for your benefit. It's for your benefit. It's for you to know that if
God gives you the trouble, He'll give you the comfort to go through
it. And that this comfort has a purpose. For we would not, brethren, have
you ignorant, verse 8, of our trouble which came to us in Asia,
that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that
we despaired even of life. But we had the sentence of death
in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in
God which raiseth the dead. who delivered us from so great
a death, and doth deliver, in whom we trust that he will yet
deliver us. Ye also help him to gather by
prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means
of many persons, thanks may be given by many on our behalf. Now, brethren, troubles have
a purpose, and the purpose is twofold. First of all, it's to
teach us what Paul said here in this ninth verse that we should
not trust in ourselves. That's why these troubles come.
It's to show you what's in you. It's to show you that there's
nothing there to help you. There's nothing there to comfort
you. There's nothing in you to give you peace. There's nothing
in this world that can give you peace. He allows us to go through
these trials and these troubles to teach us not to trust in ourselves. That's what they're for. He said,
boy, I'm in over my head. That's what he's trying to show
you. You're in over your head. You were born in over your head.
You just didn't realize it. Now he's going to teach you what
that is. And then secondly, it's to teach us what Paul said also
in that verse, that we should not trust in ourselves, but trust
in God. Trust in God. Brethren, we've
got no power over providence. I don't. Do you? Whatever's coming tomorrow, I
can't stop it. It's coming. It's coming. I've got no power
against trouble. I've got no power over these
principalities and powers in this world. I've got no power
against them. We've got no idea how long our
lives are going to be, how long God will use our sufferings to
comfort others, or how. We don't know that. We should not trust in ourselves,
but trust in God. Now know this, there's no remedy
for trouble except faith. There's no remedy. You can jump
up and down, grit your teeth, and throw rocks, and call people
names, and go through all the shenanigans that men put themselves
through, but there's no remedy for trouble except faith. John said over in 1 John chapter
5, he said, Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world. And this is the victory that
overcometh the world, even our faith. Even our faith. And faith is personified in the
Scriptures. Now, I want you to follow me.
It's personified in the Scripture. It's described as a new man. That's how the Scriptures talk
about faith. A new man. A new man. We have put on the
new man, Paul says. which is renewed in knowledge
after the image of Him that created Him. Believers are exhorted in
Ephesians chapter 4 and verse 22 to put off concerning the
former conversation the old man which is corrupt according to
deceitful lust. And be renewed in the spirit
of your mind and put on the new man which after God is created
in righteousness and true holiness. Faith is personified. It's talked
about in believers as a new creation, a new man, a person living in
you. Isn't that the hope of glory
Christ in you? He didn't say the doctrines of
grace in you. He said Christ in you. Faith is described as a person,
a person abiding in us. Our Lord told His disciples,
He said, I'm going away, but when I go away, I'm going to
send to you the Comforter. And when He's come, I'm going
to come with Him. How's He going to come? In testimony. In testimony. Not only am I going
to come, but the Father's going to come, and we're all three
going to abide with You forever. A person abiding in us. And faith
is also described as a principle, a living, vital principle, governs
our thoughts and emotions, governs our motives. In Colossians chapter
2 and verse 6, the Holy Spirit tells the church this, as you
have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him. How did we receive Him? By faith,
by grace, by the mercy of God, by the power
of His Spirit, according to His eternal purpose and will. Of
His own will begat He us, ain't that what it says? That's how
we received Him. Now He said, walk that way. Walk
that way. Rooted, built up in Him, established
in the faith as you've been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving,
and beware, And I love how this reads in the New American Standard
Version. He said, See to it that no one
takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according
to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles
of the world, rather than according to Christ. Now, I want you to listen to
me for just a minute. The coming of Christ and the
work he accomplished in the ministry of the gospel and the working
of his spirit established certain principles. Principles. Mercy, grace, kindness, forgiveness,
gentleness, and especially the love of God. None of these things could have
ever been experienced apart from trouble. None of these things could have
ever been experienced apart from the fall. Only sinners can experience these
things. Sinners called of God, chosen
of God, redeemed of God, justified of God, regenerated of God, and
given the gift of faith. It's impossible for a natural
man to enter into these things in principle. Those principles
are not established in it. This is just a school of thought,
just a theory. and his is as good as yours.
This is your opinion. They're like noses, everybody
has one. Listen to these scriptures. In
this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that
God sent His only begotten Son into the world that we might
live through Him. Herein is love, not that we love
God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation
for our sins. Principles of grace are established
in the person and work of Christ and in the conversion of His
elect. These principles are established. If you want to talk to somebody
about the grace of God, don't stand and talk to them about
John Calvin's theory on grace. Take them to the cross. You want
to talk about the particular, effectual love of God? Don't
talk to them about some writer, some ancient writer. Take them
to the cross. In this was manifested the love
of God. You want to talk about grace?
Go to the cross and tell me which part of it you're worthy of.
Which part of it you merited? Which part of it do you deserve?
You're not going to find it. All you're going to find there
is grace. Grace. Zachariah the old prophet, when
that temple was rebuilt, and he knew what it stood for, he
cried grace, grace unto it. These things are established
in the person and work of Christ and in the conversion of his
elect. All who embrace him have these principles imparted to
them through the experience of grace. Can I make good on that? Oh yeah, listen to this. He that
loveth not knoweth not God. He doesn't know God. Well, I just, you know, you don't
know God. Because God is love. He's love. If you have no love,
you don't know God. That's what this says. Believers are told to pray. Listen
to this. Forgive us our debts as we forgive
our debtors. Can you pray that way? Or are you that fellow the Lord
talked about over there who the Lord forgave that great debt
and he found you over in the corner choking this guy over
the nickel he owed you? Can you pray this prayer? Forgive my debts as I forgive
my debtors. Well, the Lord followed this
instruction on this prayer with this warning. If you forgive
not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours.
Now, this is not talking about a work you do to merit forgiveness.
This is talking about the condition of a renewed heart and the principles
of mercy and grace that follow it up. If you receive mercy and
forgiveness, you'll be a forgiving person. I guarantee it. There are no ifs. There are no
exceptions. Self-sacrifice. Christ gave himself
for us. Do you suppose if you really
understood what that meant that you could avoid giving yourself
to his cause? There's no way. I'm just telling
you, there's no way. Once you experience this, these
principles are established through the experience of grace in your
heart. Self-sacrifice, He gave Himself
for me. I used to watch this old Arminian
church, and I don't really want to make fun of them, but they
used to, you know them little squeeze purses some of you may
still carry and put change in them? They used to pass the offering
plate and squeeze that purse out and look in there and get
a nickel and throw it in the offering plate. How much grace you reckon he
experienced? How much love? Self-sacrifice. Christ gave himself
for us. Somebody asked me one time, said,
you believe in tithing? I said, I don't think a believer
would lower himself to tithe. Huh? He gives himself. That's
all he can do. Ain't that what the hymn writer
said? Here, Lord, here I am. This is all I can do is give
myself. I don't even know what use he's
got of that. Self-sacrifice. Let this mind
be in you that was also in Christ Jesus. In Titus 2, verse 11,
he said, For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath
appeared to all men. Grace and truth came by Jesus
Christ. That cross appeared to all men. There's nobody in this world,
I'm not saying there's not some heathens over there who haven't
heard of it, but in the fullness of time every nation, tongue,
kindred, people under heaven has knowledge of that sacrifice
of Christ. And that grace of God that brought
salvation, it appeared to all men. And it teaches us, it establishes
once for all certain things. They're established. It teaches us to deny ungodliness
and worldly lusts and to live soberly, righteously, and godly
in this present world. And above all, looking for that
blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and
our Savior, Jesus Christ. Principles. Principles of grace. A man comes and he starts telling
you that, yeah, you're saved by grace, but you have to do
certain things to merit God's favor. Ain't that contrary to
that grace? You're a believer. Even if you
can't dispute his argument, you know it's not right because that
principle of grace is established in that experience of grace.
And he'll tell you, no, this can't be. This can't be. Now
turn with me to Romans chapter 15. These things of mine, let
me give you five things to establish you in the faith, comfort your
heart in times of trouble. All true hope begins here. It
abides here. And it rests its weary head in times of trouble and times
of trial. Right here. The Word of God. The Word of God. Now watch this.
Romans 15 verse 4. For whatsoever things were written
aforetime were written for our learning that we, through patience
and comfort of the Scriptures, might have hope. If I'm going
to get any hope, John, it's going to be right here, right in this
book. When I'm convinced of a truth
in this book, it comforts. It comforts. When I'm convinced
by this book of the love of God, I'll lay down and rest in it.
When I'm convinced by this book of His mercy, I can wallow in
it. I can come without reservation
to the throne of grace and plead for that mercy. There is no comfort, no assurance,
no peace, no hope apart from the testimony of the Word of
God. Paul said to Timothy that from a child he had known the
Holy Scriptures that were able to make him wise unto salvation
through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Now brethren, this is not saying
that a man can read the Bible and be saved. That's not what
this is saying at all. That's contrary to the other
scriptures. Contrary to the will of God.
But a person who has no knowledge of this book, it's nearly impossible
to preach to him. What are you going to say? He's
got no basis. You know, if you're going to...
I don't even know what you teach, Luke, If you stood up before
a group of people and you're going to teach them math, if
they've got no prior knowledge of numbers whatsoever, you're
in a mess. Where's the basis? You have to
start somewhere. You have to start. Here's where
we start, right here in this book. And Paul told him that
Lois, his grandmother, had greatly blessed him by reading to him
when he was a child the Holy Scripture. A person who has no knowledge
of this book, it's nearly impossible to talk to him, reason with him.
They've got no basis. They just, I think, I feel, Daddy
said, Uncle John said, if your hope is built on a church
covenant of feeling, emotional experience, or some fear, I've
got nowhere to go. I've got nowhere to begin with
you. Hope finds its foundation in the Word of God. And I battle all the time with
men and women who try to put preaching and the Word of God
contrary to one another. They are not contrary to one
another. They are not contrary. Peter said, We are born again,
not of corruptible seed, but incorruptible by the Word of
God, which liveth and abideth forever. Then he followed that
declaration with these words. This is the Word which by the
Gospel is preached unto you. You see that? It's not contrary
to it. It's right in line with it. And
it's of it. I don't know how many Scriptures
I've read to you this morning. Scriptures. You can't preach
without the Scriptures. The Word of God is the foundation.
If I'm going to have any comfort, I'm going to have to be convinced
of this Book. I'm going to have to rest in this Book. This is
the Word of God. Do I believe that? It is the foundation of faith,
rule of practice. And then secondly, all true comfort
and consolation comes from faith in the living God. Turn with
me to II Thessalonians chapter 2. I read earlier to you, I read
a portion. I am going to read the end of
the chapter. I was talking to one of the superintendents
of our company one day. He'd been aggravated by another
one of the workers who was a Southern Baptist soul winner. And he said,
you know, he said, I believe religion is just a clever idea
of society to restrain men by fear and keep them from being
as evil as they could be. He said, I think it's just somewhere
back in time some society got together with I got this idea
and then I've been building on it ever since. Just been building
on it, building on it. I don't really believe in the
devil and demon spirits, he told me. I don't really believe in
a supreme being or an eternal existence or heaven and hell.
I don't really believe in regeneration or a spiritual kingdom. He said,
I just can't buy into the The concept of a God who says He
is love and yet allows sickness and death and wars and disease
to come upon men. Well, I'm going to tell you this.
You'll never find any hope until you believe God is. God is. Hebrews 11, verse 6. Without faith, it's impossible
to please God, for he that cometh to God must believe that God
is and is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. The premise of everything written
in this book is stated right up front at the beginning, in
the beginning, God. Now, if you stumped there, you
might as well just take the rest of it and throw it away. This
is the premise on everything in creation, in providence, in
time, in history, and in eternity future. In the beginning, God. God. And there's no gray area
here, no room for the ideas and theories of men, no room for
speculation and tradition. God either is or He isn't. And He said He is. He said, you
go tell Pharaoh, I am sent you. God is. And if He is, then I must of
necessity receive Him by faith according to His own testimony.
I wasn't born with any knowledge of God. How am I going to find
out who He is? All Scripture is given by inspiration
of God. Prophecy came not in old time
by the will of man, but holy men of God spake as they were
moved by the Holy Ghost. If there's no supreme being,
no all-wise, omnipotent, knowledgeable God, then let man's concepts
and ideas be heard. Let him give his opinions. Let
him stand up. Let's listen to it. Let's gather
on Mars Hill like those philosophers did and listen to things that
people had to say if there is no God. But if God is, then I'm
with Paul. Let God be true and every man
a liar. Let's go there. 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, "...Set
before us the God who does what he pleases, to whom he pleases,
saves whom he pleases, restrains whom he pleases. And all others
who are left to themselves, and deceived, and beguiled, and..."
They're all held accountable for what they are. Held accountable
to this God. And he tells us that all those
saved in time were chosen to be saved, called to be saved,
given all things necessary to be saved. And then down here
in verse 16, II Thessalonians 2, Now our Lord Jesus Christ
Himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath
given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
comfort your hearts, establish you in every good word and work,
Salvation is of the Lord. That's a comfort to believers.
I'm glad it ain't a man. I mess up everything I get my
hands on. I bought a brand-new truck one
time, and I was going to save a nickel, and I got up under
there and changed the fuel filter, and that thing was one piece.
It went from the fuel tank all the way to the fuel injector. It wound up costing me about
$400 to put all these pumps and regulators and all this stuff
back in. It was all in one piece. And I tell you, you do too. You do too. I'm glad salvation
is not of man. I'm glad it's of the Lord. He's
the author and finisher of our faith. It says, of God are we
in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, righteousness,
sanctification, and redemption. Paul said, all things are of
God who has reconciled us to Himself in Christ Jesus and given
to us the ministry of reconciliation. So we find then that the Word
of God is the foundation of faith. And the fear, that reverential
fear of God, believing Him to be and to be as He says He is,
that's the beginning of all wisdom. That's the beginning of it right
there. And then thirdly, those who truly believe find hope and
consolation in the free grace of God. Now looking still here
in II Thessalonians 2, down in verse 16, it says, "...who have
loved us, and have given us an everlasting consolation and a
good hope through grace." You're not going to find any
consolation, you're not going to find any comfort apart from
grace. It's not something you earn.
It's not something you deserve. It's not something we somehow
call down upon ourselves. Hope is given. It's given. You can't find anything that's
not given. Huh? God gave us His Son, He said.
Gave us the Holy Spirit. Gave us His Word. Gave us apostles
and prophets and missionaries and evangelists and pastor-teachers.
gives us opportunities to hear. He said, I called and you refused. God gives repentance. Did you
know that? That's the gift of God. You have
to be led to repent. What kind of a mess are we in?
We've got to be led to repent. We have to be given faith. And only God can give comfort
and consolation. And all this giving is understood
and undeserved and ill-deserved, and therefore it's a good hope
through grace. These eternal things, weighty
things, spiritual things taking place all around us and in us,
we've got no hope unless God be pleased by His grace to give
us some hope. And then fourthly, there's peace
and comfort and patience. And it's established through
the preservation of faith. God preserves faith. Did you
know that? And as He preserves it, He strengthens
us, establishes us, and gives us comfort. Gives us comfort. Turn with me to Romans chapter
5. I was thinking in my study, I
cannot recall a single time in my life that my father ever said,
I love you. Now, he probably did, but I don't
recall a time. There's not one outstanding time
in my life where I can remember him looking me in the face and
telling me, I love you. But all my life, I was convinced
that he did. I knew that he did. There was
no question in my mind that he did. How did I know that? Because
he always put me before his own comfort. Always. Always put me before his own
comfort and rest. He was always there when I needed
him. And in the end, he had little
to call his own because he gave it all to his children. Watch this here in Romans chapter
5 verse 1, Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with
God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also we have access by
faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope
of the glory of God. Not only so, but with glory in
troubles, tribulation, knowing that trouble worketh patience,
And patience experience, and experience hope. And hope maketh
not a shame, because the love of God shed abroad in our hearts
by the Holy Ghost, which is given to us. For when we were yet without
strength in due time, Christ died for the ungodly. Scarcely
for a righteous man will one die, yet for adventure for a
good man some would even dare to die. God commendeth his love
toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for
us. Much more than being now justified by His blood, we shall
be saved from wrath through Him. For if, when we were enemies,
we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more
being reconciled, we'd be saved by His life. Paul said, we glory
in tribulations, knowing, having confidence and patient assurance
to endure these things, because when we know this, we're only
going to give another evidence of God's love. that's what they're
there for. He's going to let you get into
something and then he's going to get you
out of it. When he gets you out of it, that love of God's going
to be brought in your heart. He just keeps doing that. Keeps
doing that. After a while you realize what
he's doing. You realize it. But here's the hope. Here's the
hope. What greater trouble What greater trouble could we
be saved from than the trouble He first saved us from? What
could possibly come to pass in your lifetime worse than what
you were born into? Huh? You remember that scripture I
read to you a while ago, who hath delivered us from so great
a death over there in II Corinthians 1? from so great a death? Think about the greatness of
that death, that darkness, that blackness, that single eye, that
evil eye through which only evil comes. How great is that darkness? How great is that death? How
permanent is that death? No way out. You see what he's
saying? Now, he saved us from that. What
are you going to get into now worse than that? Nothing. Nothing. Everything else is just
light afflictions is what Paul called them. Just light afflictions.
Nothing to compare to that greater death. So great a death hath
he delivered us and doth yet deliver us. And he said my trust
is that he'll yet deliver us. We glory in tribulations, knowing,
having confidence, patience, assurance to endure these things
because we know that they're going to give us greater evidences
of God's love. If God commended His love to
me and gave His Son for me and affectionately justified me while
I was yet in my sins, being now reconciled by His blood, made
known to be His Son, demonstrated that grace in my heart, sprinkled
that blood on my conscience. Being now reconciled by His blood,
how much more confidence and assurance do I have?" He put it this way in Romans
chapter 8, "...if He spared not His own Son, but delivered Him
up for us all, how shall He not also with Him freely give us
all things?" And I tell you this, Older saints
have no excuse for doubts and fears and anxious thoughts. His
love has been proven to us over and over and over. And then the fifth thing is this.
We're comforted in knowing that our hope extends beyond the grave. Turn with me to 1 Thessalonians
chapter 4. Our hope extends past the grave. We spend too much time dwelling
on the grave. Dwelling on the grave, oh. Worry about, my dad used to worry
about whether or not the plot he had in the cemetery was wet. I don't think he's wet. He convinced
me he knew the Lord. If he's with the Lord, he's not
wet. He is not even going to feel
the moisture of tears. There will be no more tears there,
no more crying. Listen to this, I Thessalonians
4.13, I hope it extends past the grave. I would not have you
to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye
sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe
that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep
in Jesus, will God bring with Him. For this we say unto you
by the word of the Lord, that is, by His oath, by His promise,
by the clear teaching of the word of God, that we which are
alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent
them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend
from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and
with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first.
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with
them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall
we ever be with the Lord." Now listen, comfort one another with these
words. Isn't that a comfort? Oh, it is to me. You know, he
talks about death as sleep. I laid down last night, I think
I only got about three hours, but it wouldn't have mattered
if I'd have slept eight hours. It would have seemed like about
30 seconds. You lay down, close your eyes, time to get up. Time
to get up. You don't even realize that eight
hours fast, do you? We may lay in that tomb for a
thousand years, that old body. It's going to seem like a second. Open them eyes, them ears, hear
that voice, hear that trumpet. Rise out of that tombs. See Him in His full glory. Are you staring death in the
face? Are you about to go through that valley? Are you about to
turn loose of everything visible and tangible and touchable in
this world? comfort one another with these
words. Oh, that's a comfort to me. What
a comfort. Paul said, if this earthly house
be destroyed, we have a house not made with hands eternal in
the heavens. He said, in a moment, even in
the twinkling of an eye at the last trump, the trump shall sound,
the dead in Christ shall be raised incorruptible, and we'll be changed.
The time ends with the grave. It's all over. No more time.
No more time. Now, he said, comfort one another.
Comfort one another. Our Father, I pray that You use
these things that I've said this morning. Comfort the hearts of those that
believe. and cause those who don't believe
to think on these things, to look on these things, what great
assurance and comfort and consolation that you've given to those who
do believe. Open our minds and hearts, make
us sober, sober within, sober in our minds,
looking for that great day. It could be today. comfort us. We pray for Christ's
sake. Amen.