Would you turn back to Luke chapter
10? While you're turning there, Mark
Daniel will bring the message tonight. I'm going to Cleveland
this afternoon to have one of those. In the morning, I'm going
to have my throat stretched. So, haven't had that done in
several years. So, something I'm really looking
forward to. Luke chapter 10, verse 1. After these things, the Lord
appointed other 70 also, other than the 12 apostles, and he
sent them two and two before his face into every city and
place whether himself would come. Now he gives them instructions
regarding this, and in verse 16, he says, regarding these
70, he that heareth you, heareth me. And he that despises you sets
aside what you say, despises me. And he that despises me,
despises him that sent me. Now, the Lord had sent the 70
on a preaching campaign. We don't know how long it lasted.
And he lets them know, he that hears you, hears me. Now that's what's going on in
true preaching. Most of what goes on under the
name of preaching is not true preaching, but this is what goes
on in true preaching. He that heareth you, heareth
me. And he that despises you, despises
me. And in verse 17, we read of their
return. And the 70 returned, we don't
know how long they were gone, but the 70 returned again with
joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy
name. Now the Lord granted success
to them. And they were greatly encouraged
because even the devils were subject to them. The devils had
to do what they said to do. Can you imagine how you'd feel
if you had that kind of power given to you, where even demons
had to be subject to you and whatever you said to do, they
had to do? Now you can bet that these men
were very happy and very encouraged over what had taken place. Devils
were subject unto us through thy name. Now we know from the
next verses, that with this rejoicing that they had, they returned
with joy. The devils are subject to us through thy name. There
was a dangerous mix of pride. I know anytime we speak, anytime
I speak, anytime you speak, there is a dangerous mix in there. A dangerous mix I can understand
why they were so happy, but this is not the response
I would have thought that the Lord would give to what they
said. Verse 18, and he said unto them, after they returned with
this joy that the devils were subject to them, he said unto
them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Now the Lord tells us something
about the literal fall of Satan. And the Lord said, I saw it.
I was watching what was happening. I beheld it. I believe that this fall took
place somewhere between Genesis 1.1 and Genesis 1.2. In the beginning,
God created the heaven and the earth. And then it says, and
the world was, and that could be translated and sometimes is
translated. And the world became without
form and void. We don't know what happened between
Genesis one, one and Genesis one, two, but Satan fell at some
time and God didn't create the universe without form and void. But when Satan failed, something
catastrophic took place. I don't understand what all it
was, but the Lord, watched it all. Now, his fall is spoken
of specifically in Revelation chapter 12, and it talks about
the fall of the great dragon and a third of the stars from
heaven falling with him. And most believe that that means
that a third of the angels fell with him. I think this fall is
described in Isaiah chapter 14. I realize that this is spoken
of concerning the Babylonian king, but I think it's also and
primarily a reference to the fall of Satan himself. Look at
Isaiah 14, verse 12. How art thou fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer, son of the morning? How art thou cut down to the
ground which did weaken the nations? For thou hast said in thine heart,
I will ascend unto heaven. I will exalt my throne above
the stars of God. I will sit upon the Mount of
the congregation and the sides of the great North. I will ascend
above the heights of the cloud. I will be like the most high. Isn't that what the serpent tempted
Eve with? You'll be like God. You eat this
fruit. You'll be like God. God says
to him in verse 15, yet thou shalt be brought down to hell
to the sides of the pit. Now, when the Lord refers to
beholding Satan fall, he hears the disciples say, Lord, Demons
are subject to us in thy name. And you can see their excitement
about that, but mixed with it, and I know this just because
I know myself, I'd be just like them. I would be somewhat filled
with pride. Look how the Lord's using me.
Look how the Lord's blessing me. Look at the Lord's hand on
me that even demons are subject to me. And the Lord said, I saw
one who was very high fall to a very low place. And he brought many down with
him. You know, Paul said regarding the office of a pastor, he said,
not a novice, less being lifted up with pride. He fall into the
condemnation of the devil, not a novice. Now the Lord speaks
of seeing Satan fall from heaven. And then he says to his disciples
in verse 19, behold, I give unto you. power. You know, any power any man has
is a borrowed power that the Lord Jesus gave him. You see,
he has a monopoly on all power. Aren't you glad it's that way?
You know, when we were reading in the back, I think Paul was
reading in the back of, in first Peter chapter two, and talked
about those who stumbled at the word, whereunto also they were
appointed. God appointed him to this. And
you know, that filled my heart with joy to know he's in control of
everything. He has all power, stuff like that. People say,
well, that seems awful. No, it doesn't. It seems good.
He's in control of everything. He has all power. And he says to his disciples,
behold, I give to you power to tread on serpents and scorpions
and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any
means hurt you. Now, can you imagine How encouraged
and confident they must've been when the Lord said this to them.
Oh, they felt good. And I would too. But look what
the Lord says next in verse 20, not withstanding in this rejoice
not that the spirits are subject unto you. Now the Lord forbids
them. to rejoice in that. And it just
seems so natural. If the Lord had made you to do
this or me to do this, we'd feel pretty good about it. I have
no doubt about that. But the Lord commands them, do
not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject unto you. You see, this kind of joy can
so easily degenerate into pride. I think of what Paul said in
1 Corinthians chapter 4 verse 7, who makes you to differ from
somebody else? And what do you have that you
didn't receive? Now, if you received it, why
do you glory as if you didn't receive it? What you have, he
gave to you. You know, it's not necessarily
an evidence of grace in the heart that we have gifts and seeming
success. Judas had all that. Judas was
a preacher of the gospel. Judas was numbered with the 12,
and he had a high position. He was the treasurer. He was
the man who held the bag, and he didn't have a drop of grace
in his heart, even though he performed miracles like the other
apostles did and was used seemingly greatly. You see, what we're
rejoicing in may not turn out to be all that it appears to
be. Remember that. Success does not mean grace. It could be that any success
I have or you have can be attributed to God moving some unknown saint
to pray for us and God answering their prayers. Can I feel good
about any way the Lord uses me? The Lord tells me not to rejoice
in it. I couldn't help but remember
somebody came up to Spurgeon And Spurgeon was a man who, he
liked to pose for portraits and he had a bust made of him, you
know, had plaster put all over him so they could make a bust
of him. And a man came up to him, it was a member of his church,
he said, it troubles me, he said, you seem to be kind of filled
with yourself and have a tendency toward self-exaltation and pride. Spurgeon looked at him and he
said, My sermons are published in over
20 languages and I pastor the largest church in England, the
largest church in Europe. He said, it's a wonder I'm not
worse. Lord says, don't rejoice in this.
I couldn't help also, but to think of what Paul said in Galatians
chapter six, verse 14. He said, God forbid that I should
glory. Now, Paul is the apostle, the chief apostle, the man God
used more than any other man to expound the gospel, the man
God used to write scripture, the man God used to establish
so many churches. The apostle Paul, brought up
into the third heaven and taught the gospel directly by the Lord
Jesus Christ himself. And what does he say? God forbid
that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord
Jesus Christ. Can you say that? God forbid
that I should glory. Now he says in verse 20, not
withstanding in this rejoice not that the spirits are subjected
to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven. Three things I want to point
out about that. First, I can really only rejoice in that which
is written. That experience I had, I'm not
so sure of it. I can think of all kinds of experiences I've
had in the past. Mountaintop experiences, loads, but you know,
I'm not putting stock in any experience I've had. I can only
rejoice in that which is written. The word of God. Now they were
rejoicing, the disciples rejoicing in something they could see,
weren't they? They could see how the Lord had blessed this
and they were rejoicing in something that their eyes could see. But
the Lord tells us to rejoice in something we can't see. And here's the kicker. If your
name is written in heaven, how much did you have to do with
it? You had nothing to do with it,
did you? Can you rejoice in that which you have absolutely nothing
to do with and wholly what he has done? Rejoice that your names
are written in heaven. Now, when our Lord says this,
this is a reference to the Lamb's book of life with the names of
the elect in it. Remember in Psalm 40 verse 7
when he said, lo, I come in the volume of the book it's written
of me. Now, the Bible hadn't been written
at that time, or most of it hadn't been written. He was talking
about a book that was a whole lot older than the Bible. The
book of God's purposes and decrees with the names of the elect in
that book. It's that book that was sealed
with seven seals that no man was found worthy to open that
book. Sealed with seven seals. John said, I went much because
no man was found worthy. And the angel said, weep not
for the lion of the tribe of Judah had prevailed to open the
book and to loose the seven seals thereof. And then when John looked
for that lion, he saw a lamb as it had been slain. And he
came to the throne and took the book. That's the book that's
being spoken of. The Lamb's Book of Life. And this is no obscure
teaching. In Deuteronomy 32, 32, the Lord
said, Moses said, if you won't forgive me, blot, I pray thee,
me out of the book which thou has written. Now that's an amazing
statement. If you won't forgive these people
after this golden calf incident, he says, blot me out of the book.
I don't know if I could have prayed that prayer, but the Lord
told him about the book that had been written. In Psalm 69,
28, let them not be written with the righteous. Psalm 139, 16,
thine eye did see my substance, yet being unperfect, and in thy
book all my members were written. Daniel 12, 1 says, thy people
shall be delivered, everyone that shall be found written in
the book. That was set in the Old Testament.
Hebrews, or I mean, Philippians chapter 4, verse 3, Paul spoke
of those whose names are written in the Book of Life. In Hebrews
12, 23, we read of the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn,
which are written in heaven. Revelation 13, 8 speaks of those
whose names are not written in the Book of Life, of the Lamb
slain from the foundation of the world. And in Revelation
17, 8, we read of those that shall go in perdition. Those
who shall go into perdition, destruction, whose names are
not written in the book of life of the lamb slain from the foundation
of the world. Would you turn with me to Revelation
chapter 20? As we see, this is no obscure
teaching. You rejoice that your names are
written in heaven. Revelation chapter 20, beginning
in verse 12, John says, and I saw the dead small and great stand
before God. And the books were opened, and
another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the
dead were judged out of those things which were written in
the books, plural, according to their works. And the sea gave
up their dead which were in it, and death and hell delivered
up the dead which were in them. And they were judged every man
according to their works, and death and hell were cast into
the lake of fire. This is the second death, and
whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast. into the lake of fire. Look in
Revelation 21 verse 27, who will enter heaven and there
shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither
whatsoever worketh an abomination or maketh a lie, but they which
are written in the Lamb's book of life. Rather, Rejoice because your
names are written in heaven. Now what this is a reference
to is the great, glorious, holy, God-exalting truth of divine
election. The names of the elect are written
in a book with an eternal pen. The number cannot be added to
or taken from. And the Lord tells us to rejoice
in election. And I realize the natural man
will not rejoice in election. They despise it. They do. And you know why? Because they're
hoping in their works. And when somebody preaches election,
you can't be saved by your works. You're totally dependent upon
him to save you. Now, if you're hoping in your works, you're
not going to rejoice in election. Oh, but if you're a sinner needing
him to do something for you, you are going to rejoice in this
holy doctrine of election. Look in verse 21, right after
the Lord said this, he said in verse 21, and you know, this
is the only time it said that the Lord rejoiced in, in the
new Testament. And look what it says in that
hour. When our Lord said that Luke chapter 10, verse 21, in
that hour, Jesus rejoiced in spirit and said, I thank Thee,
O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that Thou hast hid these
things from the wise and prudent and has revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed
good in Thy sight. The Lord rejoiced in this, didn't
He? And He tells us, Disciples, don't you rejoice that in the
power I give you, but you rejoice that your names are written in
heaven. Now, what is the election? Which turned with me to Ephesians
chapter one, he tells them to rejoice in this. Ephesians chapter one. Election is God's ancient choice
of his people before time began. Now in this election, you didn't
have a vote. This is his choice. Look at Ephesians
chapter one, verse four. According as he hath chosen us,
who chose who? He chose us. The Lord said in John chapter
15 verse 16 to his disciples, you have not chosen me, but I
have chosen you. You know, my heart knows that. So
I didn't choose him. He chose me. Somebody says, well,
we choose him. Well, the Lord said, you didn't
choose me. I chose you and ordained you
that you should go and bring forth fruit. Who chose who? He chose us. Now let's go on reading. According
as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world. When was this choice made? Well,
he chose us when we chose him. No, no. This choice was made
before time began. Well, that's glorious, isn't
it? It's glorious. He chose us before
the stars were ever created, before the sun ever shined. He chose us before time began. Second Timothy 1.9 says he saved
us. That's all of our belief, isn't
it? He saved us and he did it all. And he called us with a
holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his
own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus
before the world began. What came first? He saved us, then He called us. I was saved before I was even
called. He saved me. Before the world began, everything
we have in Christ Jesus, we were given to us before time began.
Now, the next question I would ask from this passage of scripture
is why did He choose it? Well, according as He has chosen
us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should
be holy. And without blame before him,
that's why we should be holy. You see, election is the doctrine
according to holiness. It's how God makes people holy. It's not a doctrine that promotes
sin. It's a doctrine that declares God's people to be holy. and
without blame before Him, in love having predestinated us
unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ Himself, according
to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of
His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the blood." Now,
why did He choose those people? Well, is it because He foresaw
they'd believe? No, He did it to the praise of the glory of
His grace. Now, I've tried to think about
that. I hope this is coming from my heart. I sure hope it is.
In glory, no one will have more of a reason to sing into the
freeness of his grace than this sinner talking to you right now.
I know that. I'm not saying because he foresaw
I would do anything. He elected me to the praise of
the glory of his grace. Now, how did he choose them?
Well, I love what it says in verse four, according as he has
chosen us in him, in him. Now, I don't pretend to understand
how all this is, but God did not choose me and then give me to
Christ. Doesn't work that way at all. He didn't say, well,
I'm going to select this one and I'm going to pass by this
one. I'm going to save this one and I'm going to damn this one
just in some kind of arbitrary fashion. No, God's elect have
always been in the beloved. Behold, I have loved you with
an everlasting love. Therefore, with loving kindness,
have I drawn thee. God's elect have always been
in the Lord Jesus Christ. I love the way the Lord says
regarding his son in Isaiah 42, 1, behold, mine elect, Christ
be my first elect, he said, then chose us in him, our living head. There's no understanding of election
without the person of Christ. I mean, it's just some kind of
arbitrary choice apart from that, but no, God's elect have always
been seen In the beloved, in the Lord Jesus Christ. How did
he choose us? In him. You see, there's no other
way he could have chose us. I've always been in the beloved. Now, I realize that men make
all kinds of horrible incriminations about this doctrine. And they
say, well, that makes God unfair to choose some and not choose
everybody. And it kills missions and it kills zeal for witnessing. Because what's the point if it's
all appointed and everybody's who's going to be saved? It's
already been determined. And who's not? What's the point in
preaching? What's the point in missions?
Or it leads to fatalism and indifference and gives people cushion in their
sin. None of that is true. None of that is true. Now, if
an unbeliever wants to take it and joke himself with it, that's
okay. I'm not going to change the truth just because some unbeliever
is going to abuse it. But none of that is true. The
elect are told to rejoice in their names being written in
heaven. Now, let me say some things about
these names being written in heaven. God's electing grace. First thing I'd like to say is It's the truth. It's what the Bible teaches. It's what our Lord taught. All that the Father giveth me
shall come to me. And him that cometh to me, I
will in no wise cast out. He said, I pray for them, the
sheep. I pray not for the world, but
for them which thou has given me. For they are thine, and all
mine are thine. Now, election is part of what
we call the gospel. Let me repeat that. Election
is a part of what we call the gospel. It's essential for the sinner's
salvation. Listen, if God didn't elect you,
you won't be saved. There is no salvation apart from
God electing a people. Now, some people think of election.
They think, well, that means that prevents people from being
saved. It would have been. No, it doesn't. We would have
all been damned because of our own personal sin. But thank God
he chose a people to be saved. And that never prevents, election
doesn't prevent anybody from being saved. It causes people
to be saved who would have been damned. Thank God for election. Can you say that from your heart?
We're bound to thank God always for you, brethren, beloved of
the Lord, because God has from the beginning, from the beginning
chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the spirit
and belief of the truth. You cannot preach the gospel
and not preach election. It's essential for the sinner's
salvation. It's essential in the preaching of the gospel.
You know, when Ananias came to Paul, what's the first thing
he said to him? Anybody remember? The God of our fathers hath chosen
thee. First thing he heard. It's essential
for God's glory. Remember when Moses said, I beseech
you, show me your glory. And God said, I'll make all my
goodness pass before you. And I'll proclaim my name before
you and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious. And
I will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. It's essential to
God's glory. God defines it as his glory. And you know, it's essential
for me to hear. I've got to hear this. And I
am not interested in hearing anybody who doesn't preach election,
our names written in heaven, that which our Lord said we are
to rejoice in. Now, let me tell you what election
says. Election says God is God. That's what election says. God
is God indeed. And you know, election is consistent
with his character. Every attribute of his. He's
sovereign? Well, if he's sovereign, he had
to elect a people. He's the first cause behind everything.
He's immutable. He can't change. He can't begin
to love someone and then quit loving them and send them into
hell. No, if he loved you, he's always loved you and he always
will love you. And your salvation must be. Election
is consistent with the character of the living God. God's eternal.
Everything he does is eternal. He's not a creature of time like
we are. He's the creator and he dwells
outside of time and everything he does is eternal. Do I understand
that? No. Do I believe it? Altogether.
Election is consistent with the character of the living God. Election teaches us that salvation
really is all of grace. Now let me ask you again, what
did you have to do with your name being written in heaven? Nothing. Can you rejoice in that
which you had nothing to do with? That's the only thing I can rejoice
in. That which I had nothing to do with what my Lord has done. That's all I'm permitted to rejoice
in. Turn with me to Romans 9 for
a moment. This is a great chapter on this glorious truth regarding
God's election. Look what it says in verse 11. For the children, being not yet
born, talking about Jacob and Esau, neither having done any
good or evil, that the purpose of God, according to election,
might stand. What is God's purpose? That salvation
might not be of works, but of him that calleth. Works didn't
have anything to do with it, did it? You know, your good works
can't recommend you. Your bad works can't disqualify
you. If God chooses you to be saved,
saved you must be. You're in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Now that's what the Bible teaches. Here's another glorious thing
about election, God's people's names being written in the book
of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
You can't really understand the redeeming work of Christ on the
cross without some understanding of election. You see, Christ
died for the elect. He accomplished their salvation. He didn't die to make salvation
available to everybody. If they do something in order
to make it work, he died for the elect. He said, I lay down
my life for the sheep, other sheep I have, which are not of
this fold. He said to one group, you believe
not because you're not in my sheep, as I said to you. He died
for his elect. He said to the sheep, those on
his right hand on judgment day, come ye blessed of my father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of
the world. Turn to Romans eight. Romans eight. Verse 31, what shall we then say to these
things? If God be for us, who can be
against us? Who's the us? Who is the us? Is he talking about everybody?
Is he including all of Adam's race in the us? Well, in the
very context of this passage, he says, for whom He did, verse
29, for whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be
conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn
among many brethren. Moreover, whom He did predestinate,
then He also called, and whom He called, then He also justified,
and whom He justified, then He also glorified. What shall we
say to these things, if God be for us, us whom He foreknew? Us whom He called, thus whom
He justified, thus us whom He predestinated. If God be for
us, who can be against us? Verse 32, He that spared not
His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not
with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything
to the charge of God's elect? It's God that justifieth. Who
is He that condemneth? It's Christ that died, yea, rather
that's risen again, who's even at the right hand of God. who
also maketh intercession for us." There's no understanding
of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ apart from a reception
of this glorious truth regarding God's election of grace. Election completely shuts the
door to salvation by works and it opens the door wide to anyone
who comes to Christ. All that the Father giveth me
shall come to me, and him that cometh to me I will in no wise
cast out. Oh, beloved, hold on to that.
Don't think election would prevent you from coming to the Savior.
It doesn't. Oh, if you come by the grace
of God, oh, come, come, come to the Lord right now. That's
coming to me, all you that are weary and heavy laden, and I'll
give you rest. That's what the Lord says. Come. The Spirit and the bride say,
come, let him that hears say, come, whosoever is a thirst,
let him come, take the water of life freely. Election doesn't
prevent anybody from coming to Christ. You come right now, just
as you are, and you'll be received. I'll tell you what, election
is the great stripping doctrine. It's so humbling. Why me? Why would the Lord take me and
choose me? Why would my name be in the book
of life? I don't know of anything more
humbling than to think that he would choose me. We love him
because he first loved us. Why me? You know, election is
so encouraging to the preacher. You know, I wouldn't bother to
preach if I didn't know God had elect people and he's gonna call
them. He's going to call. And this guarantees that I'll
be holy and without blame according as he has chosen us in him before
the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without
blame before him in love, having predestinated us. Now, I want
to show you from Matthew chapter 15, how to respond to the doctrine
of election. And this is how you and I ought
to respond to the doctrine of election. Verse 21, Matthew chapter
15. Then Jesus went thence and departed
into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan
came out of the same coast and cried unto him, saying, Have
mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David. My daughter is grievously
vexed with the devil. Now let me tell you three things
about this lady. Number one, she came knowing who the Lord
was. Number two, she came with a right
of great need. And number three, she came for
the right thing. Mercy. This is the son of David. I have
a great need. My daughter is grievously vexed
with the devil. There's nothing I can do about
that. And she came for the right thing. Mercy. You know, when
you come for mercy, you admit everything's all your fault.
You're guilty. What you need is mercy. Now this
woman comes the right way and look how the Lord answered her.
Verse 23, but he answered her not a word. He ignored her. She came pleading and he ignored
her. He did not speak to her. Have you ever dealt with the
silence of God? When you pray, and as far as
you can tell, He does not hear. He does not answer you. What
did she do? Verse 23, evidently, she kept
crying. You know, one thing I know is
that any sinner who's truly seeking the Savior, nothing's going to
stop them. He answered her not a word, but she kept crying.
She kept asking for mercy. She wouldn't be denied. I love that scripture. The kingdom
of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. They must have Christ. They must have His mercy. I know
this. I must have His mercy. I must. I must. I'm not going to quit.
If He doesn't answer me, I'm going to keep crying. Lord, have
mercy on me. And his disciples came and besought
him, saying, Send her away, for she crieth after. She's driving
us crazy. Yari told her no. Yari didn't
answer. Just send her away. How hard-hearted disciples can
be. These were the apostles. Yet how hard-hearted they were
at this time. And as far as that goes, how
arrogant they were at this time. She's crying after us. Fellas,
she wasn't crying after you guys. You had nothing to do with it.
Don't flatter yourself like that. She was crying after the Lord.
Now, look what the Lord says in verse 24. And he answered and said, I am not
sent, but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. I've
only come to save the lost sheep of the house of Israel. I did
not come to save everybody. Now, all the Lord's teaching
here is divine election. I've only come for the lost sheep
of the house of Israel. She's coming wanting this thing
and he says, I didn't come to save everybody. Now, what was
her response? Did she give up in despair? Did she say there's
no point in me doing that? No. Look what it says. 25, after this statement, then came
she and worshipped him. There's never been anybody that
worshipped that didn't worship an absolute sovereign. He hadn't given her what she
wanted yet. but she worshipped him for who he was and not what
he did for her. Then came she and worshipped
him. Is Jesus Christ worthy of your
worship, even if he doesn't save you? And if he let you drop into
hell, would he still be worthy of worship? Yes. Yes. Then came she and worshipped
him, saying, Lord, help me. If you don't help me, I can't
be helped. But he answered and said, it's not meat to take the
children's bread, my gospel, and to cast it to dogs. Well,
that's rough language, isn't it? That's rough language. But look at her response. And
she said, truth, Lord. Now, everybody who ever comes
to him knows that whatever he says is the truth. And they know
he's the Lord. Truth, Lord. Yet the dogs eat
of the crumbs which fall from their master's table. Now, I
love what she says here. She says, I'm not saying that
I deserve a place setting with the children. I'm nothing more
than a dog, I know that. But I'd be infinitely grateful
for any crumbs of mercy that you let fall my way. Can you
come to the Lord like that? Verse 28, then Jesus answered
and said, O woman, great is thy faith. Be it unto thee even as thou
wilt. And her daughter was made whole
from that very hour. Now that's the way to meet the
doctrine of election, like this woman did. You worship. Don't argue. Don't charge God
with injustice. Don't say it's not fair. Who
are you to stand in judgment on God? Do you think you have
the authority to decide what he does, whether it's fair or
not? Who do you think you are? No, don't talk that way. Bow down and worship and say,
Lord, help me. Lord, I'll be grateful, I'll
be grateful for any crumbs of mercy you let come my way. And
yet the Lord answered her, O woman, great, great is thy faith. Be it unto thee even as thou
wilt. Now here's the last thing I want
to say. Somebody says, how can I know if my name is written
in heaven? I want to rejoice that my name
is written in heaven. How can I know if my name is
written in heaven? Turn to Acts 13. Verse 48. And when the Gentiles
heard this, they heard Paul preaching the gospel, they were glad and
they glorified the word of the Lord and As many as were ordained
to eternal life, what? Believed. Now I'm not asking
you if you know that you're one of God's elect, for sure. I'm not asking you if you know
that Jesus Christ died for your sins. I'm not asking you if you
know that you've been born of God, but I am asking you this. Do you believe the gospel? Do you believe the gospel? With the mouth confession is
made into salvation, with the heart man believeth. If thou
shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in
thine heart that God raised him from the dead. Do you believe
in your heart that God raised him from the dead? Do you understand
why he did it? Because God was satisfied with
what he did. That's why he raised him up.
Sin was put away and God was completely satisfied with him.
And you know what? If you're a believer, you believe
that and you're satisfied with the same thing God is. You're
satisfied to be saved by the Lord Jesus Christ. As many as
were ordained to eternal life. Believe. Lord, I believe, help
thou mine unbelief. Let's pray together. Lord, how we thank you for the
book of life of the lamb slain from the foundation of the world, Lord, how we thank you that our
salvation is not because of anything we do, but because of something
we had absolutely no part in, nothing to do with. Being found
in your son, being chosen in him, having him come and represent
us and keep the law for us and die to pay for our sins, raise
for our justification. Lord, we confess that he did
it all. Lord, deliver us from glorying
in anything but him. Lord, how we thank you for our names being written in
heaven. In Christ's blessed name we pray,
amen. We're going to have a baptism
at this time. Albert Kelly is going to confess Christ in believers
baptism. So you've gone back there and
leave us in the hands.