I was sitting there thinking,
I remember on our honeymoon, I took Linda Gatlinburg and I've
not been able to forget that. I think she thought
maybe I should have taken her to New Orleans or something like
that. But it was Gatlinburg. But we went to see Tim that very
first time on our honeymoon. It was such a blessing. Just
love having you guys here. I guess it didn't sound too good
when I said that Lynn's it. She was glad I took her to Gatlinburg.
I thought it was great. I didn't even know we'd be going
on a honeymoon. Somebody gave us money on wedding
and so it was kind of a last minute thing. My parents didn't teach me right. I'm somewhat intimidated by my
subject for tonight. I've entitled this message a
sermon on all things. A sermon on all things. And I've got like 30 texts. And
so I'm just going to rip through it and pray that the Lord blesses
it. It's not the way I generally
prepare a message, so we'll see how it goes. I was laying in
my bed thinking about this scripture in 1 John chapter 3. If our heart
condemn us. You know anything about that?
If our heart condemn us. God is greater than our heart. And he knows all things. I'm just thinking about that,
all things. In 2 Corinthians, chapter 5,
verse 18, I'm going to come back to 1 John 3 in a moment. We read,
And all things are of God. 2 Corinthians, chapter 5, verse
18. All things. are of God. And in the context of that passage
of Scripture, he's talking about all things in the new creation.
Look in verse 17. Therefore, if any man be in Christ,
he's a new creation, a new creature. Old things are passed away. Behold,
all things have become new. Now, in this new creation, all
things are of God, the new birth. That's what God does. He births
you into the kingdom of heaven. If you have faith, he gave it
to you. If you have repentance, He worked
it in you. If you have love, He placed it
there. All things are of God in this
new creation. He did it all. And all things
are of God, period. Period. In creation, it's what
God did. All things are of God. In providence,
it's what God does, period. In salvation, It's what God does,
period. Paul said in Romans 11, 36, for
of him and through him and to him are all things. And we read in Ephesians 1, 11
that he worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. He never consults with anybody. never looks for help, never looks
for advice. And because he is God indeed,
I love this scripture, with God all things are possible. He has no limitations, no want
of power, because with God nothing shall be impossible. Now, cook
on that. With God, nothing shall be impossible. And because He's God, all things,
this is found in Hebrews 4, all things are naked and open. with the one with whom we have
to do. Now, generally, when we think
of that passage of Scripture, I know what we think about. We think,
well, I can't hide my sin. And that's true. You can't hide
your sin from him. He sees all the way through you.
That's very true. It means more than that. He sees
all things, and here's what I thought about. There in Genesis chapter
7, verse 1. He sees things as they really
are. He said to Noah, thee have I seen righteous before me. Now, if God saw Noah as righteous,
there's only one reason. Noah was righteous. And God sees
things as they really are. And that comforts me. He sees
me. Yeah, I know I can't hide my
sin from Him. I realize that. There's no point
in trying to pretend before Him. I realize all that. But not only
do I know this, I know that He sees every believer as righteous
because that's what they are, righteous through and through. He sees all things. Everything's naked and open with
the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. Paul said concerning
the Lord Jesus Christ in Colossians chapter 1, who is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he might have
the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that
in him should all fools dwell. And I love thinking about this.
In all things, he has the preeminence. In creation, all things. were made by him. And without
him was not anything made that was made. All things were created
by him and for him, in heaven and earth, whether visible and
invisible. He has all the preeminence in
creation. You know that. Nobody was around
to help him. He did it all by himself. And
he has the preeminence in providence in all things. Listen to this
scripture. By him, Galatians or Hebrews 1, 3, by him, all
things consist. He upholds all things by the
word of his power. That means everything that happens,
he's the first cause behind it, period. Doesn't matter what it
is. He is the cause. Aren't you glad it's that way?
Oh, well, look at the alternative. If he's not the first cause,
who is, the devil? That scares me to death. Men?
That scares me to death. Blind fate? That scares me to
death. But thank God, He is the cause. He's good. That's why we don't
have to worry about it. He's good. Whatever He does is
right. It may be painful right now,
but it's right. Whatsoever the Lord shall up
and judge of the earth is right. All things are of God in providence. Most especially, all things are
of God In salvation, he has the preeminence in salvation. Romans 8.32 says, He that spared
not his own son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall
he not with him also freely give us? What? All things. All things of salvation. Because of the Lord Jesus Christ,
because of him shedding his precious blood as the sin atoning victim,
God freely gives me all things. I'm an adopted son. I'm accepted. I'm forgiven. I'm justified. I'm sanctified. I'm glorified. And there's nothing that can
cause God to withhold all things to me, because He spared God
His own Son. That's the only reason that's needed. That's why, if any man be in
Christ, He's a new creature, a new creation. Old things are
passed away. That old standing before the
law, the old way of salvation by works. Old things have passed
away. Behold, all things have become
new and all things are of God. He said, all things are delivered
to me of my Father. And he tells us in Revelation
21 5, Behold, I make all things new. That's why Mark
7.37 says, He hath done all things well. He maketh both the blind
to see and the dumb to speak. Can't you say in your heart,
Amen to that? He hath done all things well. Now, because with God all things
are possible. I've already said that once.
The Lord said in Mark 9, 23, if thou canst believe, all things are possible to him
that believeth. Now, you remember how that fellow
came to it. He said, Lord, if you can do anything, come and
help us. He didn't realize who he was
speaking to. And the Lord said, if you can believe, all things
are possible to him that believeth, and I love his reply, Lord, I
believe. Help thou mine unbelief. I'm painfully aware of it at
all times, but I do believe. I can't not believe. I believe. Try to not believe. You can't do it, can you? Not
if you're a believer. But you're also aware of some
else right with it. You're unbelief. I believe. help
thou mine unbelief. Oh, that I might have grace to
say with Paul, as he said in Philippians 4.13, I can do, I
can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. That covers a big area, doesn't
it? I want to have that simple faith that Paul had, that every
believer has, where he said, after the way which they call
heresy, so worship I, the God of my fathers, believing all
things which are written in the law and the prophets. And you
want, I do believe all things which are written in the law
and the prophets concerning him. Look at Acts chapter 13. I want
you to look at this one. Verse 38. Be it known unto you,
therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached
unto you the forgiveness of sins." And let me remind you, the gospel
doesn't end with the forgiveness of sins. It begins with the forgiveness
of sins. What a declaration. It's an announcement
of the full, free, complete, absolute forgiveness of sins. Through this man is preached,
is declared unto you the forgiveness of sins. You know, when God has
forgiven you, what you find out is you find out you've been forgiven. Verse 39, And by him, All that believe are justified
from all things. All things. From which you could not be justified
by the law of Moses. Now, because we know that with
God all things are possible, we also know That all things
work together for good. To them that love God. To them
who are called according to His purpose. We know that. How do
you know? Because we know Him. That's all
that's needed to be known. We know Him. And we know who
He is. He's in control. And all things, all things, all
things work together for good. To them that love God, to them
who are thee called according to his purpose. And that's why,
as we read in Ephesians 5, verse 20, we're to give thanks for
all things. If it's working together for
your good, can't you give thanks for it? And that means even the
difficult things. 1 Thessalonians 5, verse 18. This is the will of God. In everything,
give thanks. No matter how difficult it is.
No matter how painful it is in everything, give thanks for this
is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you, whatever
you're going through. I don't care what it is. It's
the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Isn't that wonderful?
So in everything. Give thanks. And, you know, since we know
that all things work together for good, to them that love God
and to them who are called according to his purpose. Since we are
commanded to give thanks for all things, we also know, as
Philippians 2.14 says, to do all things without murmuring
and without complaining. Do all things without murmuring
and without complaining. Now, in light of what has been
said, may we say with Paul, I count all things but loss, but garbage,
but refuse for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus,
my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things. And count that which I have lost,
but what done, that I may win Christ, and be found in him,
not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that
which is in the faithfulness of Christ, the righteousness
which is of God by faith." Now Peter says in 1 Peter 4, 8, above
all things, Have fervent charity. And this is what's more important
than anything else. Above all things. Have fervent charity
among yourselves, for charity shall cover the multitude of
sins. Now, real charity. Listen to
me real carefully. Real charity, that which is the
gift of God, that love that comes from God. We'll cover, we'll
cover over, we'll overlook, we'll forgive the failures, infirmities,
faults, and sins of others. Charity covereth a multitude
of sins. Is it any wonder that Paul said
the greatest of these is charity? It's the greatest thing. in the
world. Now abideth faith, hope, and
charity these things, but the greatest of these is charity.
You see, faith is not going to be forever. My faith is going
to one day be turned into sight. And what I'm hoping for, I'm
one day going to experience. But charity abides forever. The greatest of these is charity. And Paul went on to say in 1
Corinthians 16, 14, let all your things be done with charity. All things. But whatever they may be, are
to be done with charity. It is charity that beareth all
things, that believeth all things, that hopeth all things, and that
endureth all things. Charity never fails. So above
all things, have fervent charity among yourselves. Well, we need
charity, don't we? I need you to cover me up. That's what I need. I need that
out of you. You need that out of me. It was charity that caused
the early church to have all things in common. All things. Somebody once said, well, that's
the beginning of socialism. No, it's not. Socialism says,
what's yours is mine. Love says, what's mine is yours. Have fervent charity among yourselves. Having the common salvation and
the common faith, we have all things in common. Now, the writer
to the Hebrews said, pray for us, for we trust that we have
a good conscience in all things. Willing. That's our desire in
all things, willing to live honestly. Turn to Matthew 28, what are
we supposed to preach? Matthew 28, I like this. Verse 19. Let's begin reading
verse 18. And Jesus came and spake unto
them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and earth.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching
them to observe what? All things whatsoever I have
commanded you. Now listen, in the word of God,
there is nothing of secondary importance. What man is able to make a judgment
like that? It's in God's Word, and you call
this teaching them to observe all things. No matter whatever
he says, it's of primary, critical importance. Teaching them to
observe all things whatsoever I command you. 1 John chapter
2. I want you to look at these last
few. 1 John chapter 2. I talked about this some couple
of weeks ago. But it's one of those all things Scriptures.
1 John 2, verse 20. But you, 1
John 2, verse 20, but you have an unction. You have an anointing
from the Holy One, and you know all things. If you know the Lord Jesus Christ,
You know all things. And you know him even before
you hear him. And when you hear him, you already knew him. Because
you know him. You know all things. Here's the key to true knowledge.
It's knowing him. It's having him knowing me. That's
what comes first. Him knowing me. That's what the
thief was hoping in. Lord, remember me. That's my hope. His knowledge
of me. The Lord knoweth them that are
His. That's the foundation of God. And our knowledge of Him.
And knowing Him, we know all things. That's why I know it's
impossible for somebody to know the Lord Jesus Christ and to
believe that He could shed His blood for somebody and they wind
up in hell anyway. You can't believe that if you know Him.
It'd be impossible. You see, if you know Him, that's why you
know all things work together for good, because you know Him.
He's God. He's in control. You know this
stuff. You know. You know. Look in 1 John chapter 3. Let's begin in verse 11. So this is the message that you
heard from the beginning. That we should love. one another. Notice Cain, who was of that
wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because
his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. Marvel
not, my brethren, if the world hate you. We know that we have
passed from death into life, because we love the brethren. Everybody who loves Christ, I
really do love. I do. That's an evidence of salvation. John gives us that. We know we've
passed from death to life because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother
abideth in death. Verse 15. Whosoever hateth his
brother is a murderer. And you know that no murderer
hath eternal life abiding in him. 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 whoso hath this
world's good, 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 and
for, if our heart condemn us." You know, I read several commentaries
on that, because I wanted to know, what does this verse mean?
And really, when I read it, it troubled me. A lot of fellows
said, well, if our hearts condemn us, think how much God condemns
us. That's bad news to me, because
I know what it is to always feel my heart condemning me. All the
time. All the time. I wish it wasn't
like that. But that's the way it always
is. I always feel condemned about something. But though my heart
condemns me, God is greater than my heart. And He knows all things. He knows me in Christ. He knows
me as righteous. He knows me as perfect. He knows all things. I might
not be able to perceive it, but He always does. God is greater
than our heart, and He knoweth all things. Now, one last scripture,
which we turn to John chapter 20. I'm sorry, John chapter 21. Verse 15. So when they had dined. Jesus
saith to Simon Peter. Son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?" I feel quite sure he's not saying,
do you love me more than the other disciples? Unless he's
saying it by way of, you used to think that, do you think it
now? I think what he's talking about,
though, is when he says, Do you love me more than these boats?
These fish? Remember, Simon said, I'm going
fishing. I've had it with this disciple
stuff. I'm going fishing. I'm going back to my own way
of life. After all he'd seen, he led this group fishing. And
the Lord appeared to him. And he says, Simon, do you love
me more And he answered, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love
thee. And I'm sure even when he said
that, he felt very conflicted. I know my actions seem to deny
it. I know that people could look
at me and wonder whether I do or not. I realize that. But you
know that I love you. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second
time, Simon, son of Jonah, lovest thou me?" Now, think about the question. The Lord asks you, do you love
me? Do you love my person? Do you love my sovereignty? Do you love my Lordship? Do you love my justice? Do you love my holiness? Do you
love my wisdom? Do you love my power? Do you
love me? I don't want you to think about
your love. I want you to think about me.
Do you love me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord,
thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
He saith unto him the third time. Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou
me? Peter was grieved because he
said unto him the third time, lovest thou me? And I can understand
that. It's almost like saying you must not have really meant
it. Now, be honest. Tell me the truth. Do you love me? Now, look
what Peter appeals to. Lord, Thou knowest all things. I can't hide anything from you.
You know how weak I am. You know what a contradiction
I am. You know how sinful I am. And you know that in my heart,
I love and adore your person. You know all things, and you
know that. The believer can appeal to the
very omniscience of Christ. He does know all things. You
know, I imagine it's possible that some of the other disciples
were saying, well, let's see what he's going to say. You know,
we see what his actions have been. Let's see what he's going
to say. I can imagine that. I might have been one of them doing that.
I might have been one of the ones saying, listen to that hypocrite.
Look what he did. Him said, I can say that. But he appealed to the very omniscience
of Christ, you know all things. You know. That I love you. And he said unto him, feed my
sheep. A sermon on all things. Let's pray.