1 00:00:00,974 --> 00:00:04,288 James sent me a number of questions, 2 00:00:04,288 --> 00:00:05,949 and a lot of them look good, 3 00:00:05,949 --> 00:00:09,778 and I'll probably save them for other weeks. 4 00:00:09,778 --> 00:00:14,905 But this one was the first one in an email that 5 00:00:14,905 --> 00:00:19,695 he sent me today or yesterday. 6 00:00:19,695 --> 00:00:31,772 And I guess I'll read it to you as it is. 7 00:00:31,772 --> 00:00:36,888 It comes from David. 8 00:00:36,888 --> 00:00:40,747 And he actually starts with a question: 9 00:00:40,747 --> 00:00:44,601 "Why does God make it so hard 10 00:00:44,601 --> 00:00:51,411 for His people to make it into His Kingdom?" 11 00:00:51,411 --> 00:00:58,026 Now. I don't think when he uses "His people," 12 00:00:58,026 --> 00:01:01,427 that David means just Christians, 13 00:01:01,427 --> 00:01:10,858 I think what he means, and you'll see this as I move forward, 14 00:01:10,858 --> 00:01:13,495 I think it will become clear in a moment, 15 00:01:13,495 --> 00:01:18,726 that in his mind, God's people is everybody. 16 00:01:18,726 --> 00:01:22,083 So he says, "Why does God make it so hard for His people 17 00:01:22,083 --> 00:01:26,361 to make it into His Kingdom?" 18 00:01:26,361 --> 00:01:32,074 "He throws most of His own people into the lake of fire forever 19 00:01:32,074 --> 00:01:36,416 to be tormented with no hope of getting out. 20 00:01:36,416 --> 00:01:40,385 I understand He gives us a way out, 21 00:01:40,385 --> 00:01:44,523 but I also understand it's extremely difficult 22 00:01:44,523 --> 00:01:49,684 and not many will actually be able to do it. 23 00:01:49,684 --> 00:01:53,408 What kind of Savior is Jesus anyways? 24 00:01:53,408 --> 00:01:57,575 You can't honestly tell me all you have to is believe. 25 00:01:57,575 --> 00:02:00,282 I understand what Scripture says in John 3:16 26 00:02:00,282 --> 00:02:02,559 as well as several other verses. 27 00:02:02,559 --> 00:02:05,645 I don't feel like I have to describe them to whoever reads this 28 00:02:05,645 --> 00:02:07,856 because you know them. 29 00:02:07,856 --> 00:02:12,063 What about all the other verses pertaining to the difficulty level? 30 00:02:12,063 --> 00:02:14,171 Why does Jesus set the standard so high 31 00:02:14,171 --> 00:02:18,821 that it seems that no person can complete it? 32 00:02:18,821 --> 00:02:22,115 God has ruined my life. 33 00:02:22,115 --> 00:02:26,065 Anyways, I can continue until I'm blue in the face, 34 00:02:26,065 --> 00:02:30,895 but nobody will read this anyhow so I'm giving up on my life. 35 00:02:30,895 --> 00:02:35,622 I tried to repent and I keep failing. God does not want me. 36 00:02:35,622 --> 00:02:40,192 God does not want me in His house. 37 00:02:40,192 --> 00:02:45,028 I was so happy before God came into my life. 38 00:02:45,028 --> 00:02:49,027 And now that He's here, He's broken my family apart. 39 00:02:49,027 --> 00:02:53,496 He's happily broken my life apart, broken my relationship apart, 40 00:02:53,496 --> 00:02:57,141 taken my job away, made my family cry in fear, 41 00:02:57,141 --> 00:02:59,536 make my mom think she has failed me. 42 00:02:59,536 --> 00:03:03,569 And now she's depressed and made me depressed. 43 00:03:03,569 --> 00:03:07,729 But He loves me. (obviously sarcasm) 44 00:03:07,729 --> 00:03:12,064 Yet He will probably happily throw me into hell if I disobey, 45 00:03:12,064 --> 00:03:14,019 but He loves me. 46 00:03:14,019 --> 00:03:16,095 I want to kill myself. 47 00:03:16,095 --> 00:03:22,924 God does not want His people to enter His Kingdom." 48 00:03:22,924 --> 00:03:25,198 And you know, I look at something like that... 49 00:03:25,198 --> 00:03:29,323 the guy took the time to send that to I'll Be Honest. 50 00:03:29,323 --> 00:03:33,582 He sat down at his computer... 51 00:03:33,582 --> 00:03:39,673 and I look at this and obviously, "I want to kill myself." 52 00:03:39,673 --> 00:03:44,419 You know whether he's serious or not, I don't know, 53 00:03:44,419 --> 00:03:49,953 and maybe we'll never know in this lifetime. 54 00:03:49,953 --> 00:03:55,609 But he's obviously miserable. 55 00:03:55,609 --> 00:03:59,708 He feels like it's hopeless. 56 00:03:59,708 --> 00:04:02,708 You heard him. "I've tried to repent." 57 00:04:02,708 --> 00:04:07,943 He says, "God does not want me." 58 00:04:07,943 --> 00:04:14,181 He says that obviously he's blaming God for 59 00:04:14,181 --> 00:04:22,047 broken family, broken life, broken relationship, 60 00:04:22,047 --> 00:04:31,753 lost job, family crying, mom depressed, he's depressed. 61 00:04:31,753 --> 00:04:39,009 And he sees God has just happily throwing him into hell if he disobeys. 62 00:04:39,009 --> 00:04:41,447 "I want to kill myself." 63 00:04:41,447 --> 00:04:45,697 "God does not want His people to enter His Kingdom." 64 00:04:45,697 --> 00:04:51,573 He sees salvation so impossible... 65 00:04:51,573 --> 00:04:58,496 I guess the reason that I felt somewhat compelled to take this one 66 00:04:58,496 --> 00:05:06,460 is because he obviously is not seeing things right. 67 00:05:06,460 --> 00:05:13,993 And that's pretty basic to every one of us when we were lost, 68 00:05:13,993 --> 00:05:20,464 or if you still are, we recognize we didn't see things right. 69 00:05:20,464 --> 00:05:22,621 We didn't understand things right. 70 00:05:22,621 --> 00:05:29,024 And what Scripture says is we were deceived and we believed lies. 71 00:05:29,024 --> 00:05:35,539 And this guy obviously his mind is filled with misperceptions about God. 72 00:05:35,539 --> 00:05:40,721 He's got wrong doctrine, he's believing downright lies. 73 00:05:40,721 --> 00:05:44,704 And Jesus gives us the remedy for such people. 74 00:05:44,704 --> 00:05:53,271 This is how Jesus says it, in John 8:31, "If you abide in my word..." 75 00:05:53,271 --> 00:05:57,684 We need His Word. 76 00:05:57,684 --> 00:06:01,324 There's truth in here. 77 00:06:01,324 --> 00:06:07,789 He says of His Father's Word, "Thy Word is truth." 78 00:06:07,789 --> 00:06:10,854 There's truth in this book. And what Jesus says is this, 79 00:06:10,854 --> 00:06:13,918 "If you abide in my word, you're truly My disciples," 80 00:06:13,918 --> 00:06:17,085 but this is what I'm going after, 81 00:06:17,085 --> 00:06:23,399 If you abide in His Word, you will know the truth, 82 00:06:23,399 --> 00:06:26,076 and what does the truth do? 83 00:06:26,076 --> 00:06:28,806 It sets us free. 84 00:06:28,806 --> 00:06:34,249 And if there is anything that is true about this guy, he needs freedom. 85 00:06:34,249 --> 00:06:36,343 He is in bondage. 86 00:06:36,343 --> 00:06:39,343 He is in prison. 87 00:06:39,343 --> 00:06:44,122 This guy is behind the bars of deception. 88 00:06:44,122 --> 00:06:51,706 If David is to be set free from the darkness and the despair 89 00:06:51,706 --> 00:06:55,200 and the deception that he's in, he needs truth. 90 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:57,678 Truth is what's going to set him free. 91 00:06:57,678 --> 00:07:02,393 And he needs to be immersed in truth. 92 00:07:02,393 --> 00:07:06,901 Now listen to what David says, the last statement he makes: 93 00:07:06,901 --> 00:07:13,338 "God does not want His people to enter His Kingdom." 94 00:07:13,338 --> 00:07:18,212 And that's where I want to start with this, that just simply isn't true. 95 00:07:18,212 --> 00:07:20,037 There's no truth to that. 96 00:07:20,037 --> 00:07:22,986 God not only does want His people to enter His Kingdom, 97 00:07:22,986 --> 00:07:27,576 He guarantees that they will enter His Kingdom. 98 00:07:27,576 --> 00:07:34,954 I think one of the things that David is off on is who "His people" are. 99 00:07:34,954 --> 00:07:40,530 For one thing, God doesn't go around calling everybody "His people." 100 00:07:40,530 --> 00:07:42,953 But that's kind of how David uses it. 101 00:07:42,953 --> 00:07:47,569 David is using it as, in one sense, everybody belongs to God 102 00:07:47,569 --> 00:07:52,015 in the fact that He's the Creator of every single individual, 103 00:07:52,015 --> 00:07:57,109 but Scripture doesn't speak about everybody on the face of the earth 104 00:07:57,109 --> 00:08:01,163 as being God's people. The world speaks that way. 105 00:08:01,163 --> 00:08:04,530 You know, all of God's people, 106 00:08:04,530 --> 00:08:07,555 and they would have us to believe that's everybody. 107 00:08:07,555 --> 00:08:11,511 But, that's not the case. 108 00:08:11,511 --> 00:08:14,014 In Scripture, we find that there are those that are God's 109 00:08:14,014 --> 00:08:16,795 and there are those who are not God's. 110 00:08:16,795 --> 00:08:18,846 And just let me throw some verses at you. 111 00:08:18,846 --> 00:08:21,992 Why don't you follow me around your Bibles? 112 00:08:21,992 --> 00:08:26,508 Look at John 6. I want you to turn to these, 113 00:08:26,508 --> 00:08:41,381 and we're going to take some time and do a bit of a Bible study. 114 00:08:41,381 --> 00:08:46,012 Because if anything is evident, David has a wrong view of God. 115 00:08:46,012 --> 00:08:48,623 A totally wrong view of God. 116 00:08:48,623 --> 00:08:53,041 He doesn't believe that God wants His people to enter His Kingdom. 117 00:08:53,041 --> 00:09:02,701 Look with me at John 6:39. 118 00:09:02,701 --> 00:09:08,865 "And this is the will of Him who sent Me." 119 00:09:08,865 --> 00:09:12,844 Now, if we just look at the broader context, 120 00:09:12,844 --> 00:09:16,024 we know that Jesus Christ is speaking. 121 00:09:16,024 --> 00:09:20,225 And when He says, "this is the will of Him," He is speaking of His Father. 122 00:09:20,225 --> 00:09:25,015 God the Father. This is the will of God the Father. 123 00:09:25,015 --> 00:09:31,767 Who sent Me - that's Christ. God the Son. 124 00:09:31,767 --> 00:09:39,728 This is the Father's will, that Christ should lose nothing 125 00:09:39,728 --> 00:09:45,552 of all that the Father has given to the Son. 126 00:09:45,552 --> 00:09:48,752 That's speaking of the people. Now notice this: 127 00:09:48,752 --> 00:09:52,643 There are people in this world who the Father has given to the Son. 128 00:09:52,643 --> 00:09:55,477 You need to recognize that. 129 00:09:55,477 --> 00:10:00,257 The Father has given a people to the Son. 130 00:10:00,257 --> 00:10:03,773 One of the reasons that the Son of God has come 131 00:10:03,773 --> 00:10:10,303 is to get Himself a bride. 132 00:10:10,303 --> 00:10:14,015 And hear's the thing, it is the will of the Father that 133 00:10:14,015 --> 00:10:17,659 Christ will lose nothing of all the people 134 00:10:17,659 --> 00:10:20,211 that the Father has given to the Son. 135 00:10:20,211 --> 00:10:21,979 But what's going to happen? 136 00:10:21,979 --> 00:10:30,086 But Christ is going to raise it up - the "it" is the "all." 137 00:10:30,086 --> 00:10:33,877 All that have been given to the Son. 138 00:10:33,877 --> 00:10:37,517 Christ is going to raise them up on the last day. 139 00:10:37,517 --> 00:10:40,606 For this is the will of My Father, 140 00:10:40,606 --> 00:10:46,708 that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in Him 141 00:10:46,708 --> 00:10:52,786 should have eternal life. And I will raise him up on the last day. 142 00:10:52,786 --> 00:10:58,210 And the thing that I want to point out here is two truths ought to hit us. 143 00:10:58,210 --> 00:11:07,028 One: if you are one who the Father has given to the Son, 144 00:11:07,028 --> 00:11:09,303 you will be raised up. 145 00:11:09,303 --> 00:11:11,690 You will enter the Kingdom. 146 00:11:11,690 --> 00:11:15,016 And how do you know who those people are? 147 00:11:15,016 --> 00:11:21,120 Well, verse 40 tells us that the will of the Father 148 00:11:21,120 --> 00:11:29,508 in verse 39 is that Jesus will lose none of God's people. 149 00:11:29,508 --> 00:11:34,957 But then we know from verse 40 that it's the will of God the Father 150 00:11:34,957 --> 00:11:41,924 that these people who have been given by Him to the Son will be known 151 00:11:41,924 --> 00:11:49,966 by the fact that they look on the Son and believe in Him. 152 00:11:49,966 --> 00:11:52,439 They're the ones that have eternal life. 153 00:11:52,439 --> 00:11:56,035 And so, this answers that question. 154 00:11:56,035 --> 00:11:57,872 How can you know God's people? 155 00:11:57,872 --> 00:12:02,176 God's people are the ones who believe on the Son. 156 00:12:02,176 --> 00:12:05,262 And if you believe on the Son, you can be certain of this, 157 00:12:05,262 --> 00:12:10,017 you're one of the people that the Father has given to the Son. 158 00:12:10,017 --> 00:12:11,438 I mean you see it here. 159 00:12:11,438 --> 00:12:12,885 Who's going to be raised up on the last day? 160 00:12:12,885 --> 00:12:17,578 You see it in verse 39, they're the ones that the Father has given to the Son, 161 00:12:17,578 --> 00:12:18,869 and you see in verse 40, 162 00:12:18,869 --> 00:12:23,330 it's the ones that look on the Son and believe in Him. 163 00:12:23,330 --> 00:12:25,683 It's the same group. 164 00:12:25,683 --> 00:12:29,127 On the one hand, you see behind the scenes. 165 00:12:29,127 --> 00:12:34,644 God is pulling back the veil and He's allowing us to see this transaction 166 00:12:34,644 --> 00:12:41,052 or this interaction between the Father and the Son, 167 00:12:41,052 --> 00:12:47,483 but then in verse 40, He has us looking here at 168 00:12:47,483 --> 00:12:54,124 what our responsibility is in all of this. 169 00:12:54,124 --> 00:13:01,097 And you know, what this absolutely makes us certain of 170 00:13:01,097 --> 00:13:08,846 is that all that the Father gives to the Son will come to believe. 171 00:13:08,846 --> 00:13:14,244 That's certain. They're going to look at the Son and believe. 172 00:13:14,244 --> 00:13:19,526 Let's go to Matthew 18:14. 173 00:13:19,526 --> 00:13:23,636 We could spend all day in John 6:39-40, 174 00:13:23,636 --> 00:13:30,854 just a little taste of glory that comes from that chapter. 175 00:13:30,854 --> 00:13:35,782 You ought to sit down and just be amazed. 176 00:13:35,782 --> 00:13:44,520 John 6 is one of the phenomenal chapters in our Bibles. It really is. 177 00:13:44,520 --> 00:13:54,053 There are certain chapters in the Bible that just have a density of glory. 178 00:13:54,053 --> 00:13:56,764 And John 6 is one of them. 179 00:13:56,764 --> 00:14:04,841 Now look at Matthew 18:14. 180 00:14:04,841 --> 00:14:10,137 (I don't hear too many pages rustling so I think you're all there) 181 00:14:10,137 --> 00:14:18,038 Matt 18:14, "So, it is not the will of My Father (this is Jesus speaking) 182 00:14:18,038 --> 00:14:25,542 who is in Heaven that one of these little ones should perish." 183 00:14:25,542 --> 00:14:32,461 And He is very specifically speaking about Christians, 184 00:14:32,461 --> 00:14:36,036 one of those that are saved. 185 00:14:36,036 --> 00:14:38,964 And I'm not going to spend all of the time proving that because 186 00:14:38,964 --> 00:14:41,916 we've got plenty of other verses that we can look at here, 187 00:14:41,916 --> 00:14:48,957 but if you carefully study that - the little ones are Christians, 188 00:14:48,957 --> 00:14:52,757 and it is not the will of the Father Who is in Heaven 189 00:14:52,757 --> 00:14:57,285 that even one of those that God calls His people, 190 00:14:57,285 --> 00:15:00,444 His little ones should perish, one of His children. 191 00:15:00,444 --> 00:15:03,687 Not a single one of His children are going to perish. 192 00:15:03,687 --> 00:15:29,390 Look at Luke 12:32. 193 00:15:29,390 --> 00:15:32,965 He says in Luke 12:32, "Fear not, little flock..." 194 00:15:32,965 --> 00:15:35,463 Let me ask you something, look at the verses right before this, 195 00:15:35,463 --> 00:15:43,759 tell me who the little flock is. 196 00:15:43,759 --> 00:15:48,091 Luke 12:32, Jesus says, "Fear not, little flock..." 197 00:15:48,091 --> 00:15:52,151 who is He speaking to? 198 00:15:52,151 --> 00:15:59,701 Can you see in the first 31 verses of chapter 12 anywhere 199 00:15:59,701 --> 00:16:08,684 where the people He is speaking to are directly identified? 200 00:16:08,684 --> 00:16:17,521 I'm looking for the exact identity as described 201 00:16:17,521 --> 00:16:22,947 anywhere in the first 31 verses of Luke 12. 202 00:16:22,947 --> 00:16:30,674 I'm looking for the exact identity of who He is speaking to. 203 00:16:30,674 --> 00:16:33,906 (in response to a comment) 204 00:16:33,906 --> 00:16:44,524 Are so many thousands of people specifically the little flock? 205 00:16:44,524 --> 00:16:53,446 What does verse 22 say? Exactly. He said to his disciples (verse 22). 206 00:16:53,446 --> 00:17:01,014 So as He is articulating certain truths to them, 207 00:17:01,014 --> 00:17:05,399 He says specifically to His disciples, 208 00:17:05,399 --> 00:17:10,153 "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure 209 00:17:10,153 --> 00:17:12,736 to give you the Kingdom." 210 00:17:12,736 --> 00:17:15,968 There's no doubt about that. 211 00:17:15,968 --> 00:17:23,248 I want you to go back to Psalm 37. 212 00:17:23,248 --> 00:17:30,849 That answer "the saints" is right, but I was looking for specifically 213 00:17:30,849 --> 00:17:35,441 for them to be identified right in that context. 214 00:17:35,441 --> 00:17:45,872 Psalm 37:28 215 00:17:45,872 --> 00:17:51,752 "For the Lord loves justice. He will not forsake His saints." 216 00:17:51,752 --> 00:17:54,086 Now there's a reference to His saints. 217 00:17:54,086 --> 00:17:57,921 Saints are the saved people. Saints are Christians. 218 00:17:57,921 --> 00:18:06,802 Saints are not Saint Benedict, Saint Thomas, Saint John. 219 00:18:06,802 --> 00:18:11,443 It's the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful. 220 00:18:11,443 --> 00:18:14,443 They're the Christians. 221 00:18:14,443 --> 00:18:19,820 "He will not forsake His saints. They are preserved forever. 222 00:18:19,820 --> 00:18:21,720 But the children of the wicked shall be cut off." 223 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:27,606 But my point here is this, those who are His saints are preserved forever. 224 00:18:27,606 --> 00:18:29,513 The children of the wicked are cut off. 225 00:18:29,513 --> 00:18:32,566 Anyways, God has His saints, He has His people, 226 00:18:32,566 --> 00:18:35,839 and then there are the wicked, which is everyone else. 227 00:18:35,839 --> 00:18:38,022 There's not a third category. 228 00:18:38,022 --> 00:18:43,025 Now I'm going to test you here. Nahum 1:7 229 00:18:43,025 --> 00:18:48,503 Nahum is in the minor prophets. 230 00:18:48,503 --> 00:18:58,819 You might find it relatively close to the small little minor prophet of Micah. 231 00:18:58,819 --> 00:19:15,991 Nahum. The minor prophets are all lined up right before Matthew. 232 00:19:15,991 --> 00:19:27,556 Nahum 1:7, "The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, 233 00:19:27,556 --> 00:19:31,956 He knows those who take refuge in Him." 234 00:19:31,956 --> 00:19:37,071 This is the picture of God knowing. 235 00:19:37,071 --> 00:19:39,957 It doesn't mean that He doesn't know those 236 00:19:39,957 --> 00:19:42,169 who don't take refuge in Him. 237 00:19:42,169 --> 00:19:46,192 But He knows these people in a special way. 238 00:19:46,192 --> 00:19:49,441 You know what I mean by that? 239 00:19:49,441 --> 00:19:59,086 In Matthew 7, when He tells the wicked, the lawless, to depart from Him, 240 00:19:59,086 --> 00:20:07,834 "I never knew you." I never knew you. 241 00:20:07,834 --> 00:20:16,648 You see, Matthew 7:23, why don't you turn there? 242 00:20:16,648 --> 00:20:22,106 He knows those who take refuge in Him. 243 00:20:22,106 --> 00:20:27,637 But in Matthew 7:23, He says to a lot of religious people, 244 00:20:27,637 --> 00:20:36,111 and you see these religious people throughout Matthew 7, 245 00:20:36,111 --> 00:20:46,026 but you can see in Matthew 7:22 what these people are doing. 246 00:20:46,026 --> 00:20:48,762 They're religious. 247 00:20:48,762 --> 00:20:56,269 In Matthew 7:23, He tells them depart, He says "I never knew you." 248 00:20:56,269 --> 00:20:59,370 You see, God knows those that are His own. 249 00:20:59,370 --> 00:21:02,413 God knows those who take refuge in Him. 250 00:21:02,413 --> 00:21:05,988 They are His saints. They are His little ones. 251 00:21:05,988 --> 00:21:08,716 And it is His good pleasure to give them the Kingdom. 252 00:21:08,716 --> 00:21:11,060 And He is going to give them the Kingdom. 253 00:21:11,060 --> 00:21:13,991 And Jesus Christ is going to raise them up on the last day. 254 00:21:13,991 --> 00:21:15,928 That is the will of the Father. 255 00:21:15,928 --> 00:21:18,961 We know them because they look to the Son and they believe in Him. 256 00:21:18,961 --> 00:21:22,068 And they will be raised up in the last day. 257 00:21:22,068 --> 00:21:27,909 Over against those who do not believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. 258 00:21:27,909 --> 00:21:30,474 It's said to them, no matter how religious they were, 259 00:21:30,474 --> 00:21:32,345 and look how religious they were. 260 00:21:32,345 --> 00:21:34,659 They were casting out demons, they were prophesying, 261 00:21:34,659 --> 00:21:37,076 they were doing all sorts of incredible things, 262 00:21:37,076 --> 00:21:39,844 they were doing many mighty works, 263 00:21:39,844 --> 00:21:42,296 they were saying, "Lord, Lord," they used the Lord. 264 00:21:42,296 --> 00:21:45,033 And look how many times it says "in the name of." 265 00:21:45,033 --> 00:21:48,388 They were casting out demons in His name. 266 00:21:48,388 --> 00:21:50,742 They were prophesying in His name. 267 00:21:50,742 --> 00:21:53,207 They were doing many mighty works in His name. 268 00:21:53,207 --> 00:21:59,541 They called him, "Lord, Lord," but He said in the end "I never knew you." 269 00:21:59,541 --> 00:22:06,698 Look at 2nd Timothy 2:19 270 00:22:06,698 --> 00:22:29,809 You have 1 and 2 Thessalonians and 1 and 2 Timothy. 271 00:22:29,809 --> 00:22:38,627 2 Timothy 2:19, "But God's firm foundation stands bearing this seal, 272 00:22:38,627 --> 00:22:42,412 'The Lord knows those who are His." 273 00:22:42,412 --> 00:22:49,287 My point is this, David was using "His people" to cover everybody, 274 00:22:49,287 --> 00:22:51,163 and he was saying "Why does God make it 275 00:22:51,163 --> 00:22:55,334 so hard for His people to make it into His Kingdom?" 276 00:22:55,334 --> 00:22:59,165 "He throws most of His own people into the lake of fire 277 00:22:59,165 --> 00:23:02,385 forever to be tormented with no hope of getting out. 278 00:23:02,385 --> 00:23:06,552 God does not want His people to enter His Kingdom." 279 00:23:06,552 --> 00:23:09,198 Those are statements this guy was making. It's just not true. 280 00:23:09,198 --> 00:23:12,068 God knows who His own are. They are His saints. 281 00:23:12,068 --> 00:23:13,927 They are those who take refuge in Him. 282 00:23:13,927 --> 00:23:15,787 They are those that have looked to the Son 283 00:23:15,787 --> 00:23:18,406 and the Son is going to raise them up at the last day. 284 00:23:18,406 --> 00:23:21,468 They are going to inherit the Kingdom. 285 00:23:21,468 --> 00:23:23,654 It is the Father's good pleasure that they do so. 286 00:23:23,654 --> 00:23:26,462 It is the will of the Father that Christ raise them up. 287 00:23:26,462 --> 00:23:28,957 God the Father knows His own. 288 00:23:28,957 --> 00:23:32,757 He knows those that take refuge in Him. 289 00:23:32,757 --> 00:23:38,280 First Corinthians 8:3 says this - if you're in 2nd Timothy, 290 00:23:38,280 --> 00:23:45,994 you can go back towards the front of your Bible just a little bit. 291 00:23:45,994 --> 00:23:56,014 1 Corinthians, couched right between Romans and 2 Corinthians. 1 Cor 8:3 292 00:23:56,014 --> 00:24:02,903 Here's another trademark of the Christian, it's that they love God. 293 00:24:02,903 --> 00:24:10,529 And this is what we're told, "If anyone loves God, he's known by God." 294 00:24:10,529 --> 00:24:13,623 If you love God, God knows it. 295 00:24:13,623 --> 00:24:19,144 But it isn't just that God has a knowledge. 296 00:24:19,144 --> 00:24:21,019 "He is known by God." 297 00:24:21,019 --> 00:24:24,674 Well, think about it, when Jesus told people to depart, 298 00:24:24,674 --> 00:24:28,136 He said "I never knew you." 299 00:24:28,136 --> 00:24:32,599 Does that mean that Jesus didn't know who they were? 300 00:24:32,599 --> 00:24:35,540 "Depart from Me, I never knew you." 301 00:24:35,540 --> 00:24:41,674 It's knowing in an intimate way. That's the idea here. 302 00:24:41,674 --> 00:24:45,033 It doesn't mean that God doesn't know the facts about them. 303 00:24:45,033 --> 00:24:49,525 It means God never had an intimate, close relationship with them. 304 00:24:49,525 --> 00:24:52,623 It means they never trusted Him. 305 00:24:52,623 --> 00:24:55,949 They never loved Him, and He never loved them. 306 00:24:55,949 --> 00:25:01,442 Romans 8:28. 307 00:25:01,442 --> 00:25:07,835 This works right off "if anyone loves God (1 Cor 8:3) he is known by God." 308 00:25:07,835 --> 00:25:14,299 Here in Romans 8:28, it's a very well known verse, 309 00:25:14,299 --> 00:25:19,015 but you have to think about the implications of this verse. 310 00:25:19,015 --> 00:25:22,831 Romans 8:28, "We know that for those who love God..." 311 00:25:22,831 --> 00:25:28,132 Remember 1 Cor 8:3 says that "if anyone loves God, he is known by God," 312 00:25:28,132 --> 00:25:33,171 Here, all those that love God, we know this about it, all things work together 313 00:25:33,171 --> 00:25:38,201 for good for those who love God, 314 00:25:38,201 --> 00:25:40,872 for those who are called according to His purpose, 315 00:25:40,872 --> 00:25:43,490 but they're the same ones that love God. 316 00:25:43,490 --> 00:25:47,528 Here's the thing, everything works together for good - for their good. 317 00:25:47,528 --> 00:25:49,853 God certainly isn't going to cast one of them into hell 318 00:25:49,853 --> 00:25:53,256 because that's not for their good. 319 00:25:53,256 --> 00:25:57,511 God is going to work every single thing out for their good 320 00:25:57,511 --> 00:26:02,052 for those that love Him. 321 00:26:02,052 --> 00:26:21,250 Now let's jump to John 10:27. 322 00:26:21,250 --> 00:26:25,165 Jesus really drives the truth home here. 323 00:26:25,165 --> 00:26:33,050 John 10:27 (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) 324 00:26:33,050 --> 00:26:38,071 John 10:27, He says, "My sheep hear My voice," 325 00:26:38,071 --> 00:26:42,886 and here it is again, "I know them." 326 00:26:42,886 --> 00:26:49,599 You see, Matthew 7:23, "I never knew you." But here? 327 00:26:49,599 --> 00:26:53,577 Jesus says when it comes to My sheep, 328 00:26:53,577 --> 00:26:56,901 He says "I know them," and "they follow Me." 329 00:26:56,901 --> 00:27:03,236 Always. My sheep, they hear My voice. 330 00:27:03,236 --> 00:27:05,496 I know them. 331 00:27:05,496 --> 00:27:09,985 Unlike those people that get cast away in the end who He doesn't know. 332 00:27:09,985 --> 00:27:12,441 "And they follow Me." And notice this, 333 00:27:12,441 --> 00:27:18,992 "I give them eternal life." You can't go to hell and lose life. 334 00:27:18,992 --> 00:27:27,515 Hell, the lake of fire, is death. That's eternal death. 335 00:27:27,515 --> 00:27:31,363 You can't lose eternal life. Because it's eternal. 336 00:27:31,363 --> 00:27:34,444 He says of all of His sheep, they follow Him. 337 00:27:34,444 --> 00:27:37,053 He says of all of His sheep, He knows them. 338 00:27:37,053 --> 00:27:41,293 And He says of all of His sheep, they have eternal life. 339 00:27:41,293 --> 00:27:45,523 They're going to enter the Kingdom. They never perish. 340 00:27:45,523 --> 00:27:48,874 No one ever snatches them out of My hand. 341 00:27:48,874 --> 00:27:51,752 My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all, 342 00:27:51,752 --> 00:27:54,804 and no one is able to snatch them out of my Father's hand. 343 00:27:54,804 --> 00:27:57,581 It's just impossible. 344 00:27:57,581 --> 00:28:03,131 Does God want His people to perish? 345 00:28:03,131 --> 00:28:04,467 Is it true what he says? 346 00:28:04,467 --> 00:28:06,999 God does not want His people to enter His Kingdom? 347 00:28:06,999 --> 00:28:09,206 This is so far from the truth. 348 00:28:09,206 --> 00:28:22,206 Notice this, 10:26 of John, "You do not believe, 349 00:28:22,206 --> 00:28:25,919 because you're not among My sheep." 350 00:28:25,919 --> 00:28:28,282 Do you see the issue? 351 00:28:28,282 --> 00:28:31,051 If you don't believe, it's not because you're one of His people 352 00:28:31,051 --> 00:28:37,175 who is going to be prevented by God from entering His Kingdom. 353 00:28:37,175 --> 00:28:46,944 If you don't believe on Christ, you don't belong to the sheep. 354 00:28:46,944 --> 00:28:49,216 You're not one of His. 355 00:28:49,216 --> 00:28:54,474 Turn back to John 8:47. 356 00:28:54,474 --> 00:29:01,459 Jesus says something very similar to what we just saw in John 10:26. 357 00:29:01,459 --> 00:29:11,208 In John 8:47, notice this, "whoever is of God." 358 00:29:11,208 --> 00:29:17,428 Guess what? As soon as you hear that, "whoever is of God" 359 00:29:17,428 --> 00:29:21,514 He's describing a category of people. 360 00:29:21,514 --> 00:29:23,506 That ought to immediately lead us 361 00:29:23,506 --> 00:29:26,933 to a conclusion that there's another group of people. 362 00:29:26,933 --> 00:29:30,175 In fact, He's going to tell us about another group of people, 363 00:29:30,175 --> 00:29:32,260 right in this very verse. 364 00:29:32,260 --> 00:29:33,918 "Whoever is of God..." which means 365 00:29:33,918 --> 00:29:37,240 that there's another group who is not of God. 366 00:29:37,240 --> 00:29:40,255 Notice this, "whoever is of God hears the words of God. 367 00:29:40,255 --> 00:29:45,918 The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God." 368 00:29:45,918 --> 00:29:49,495 See the two categories? Of God, not of God. 369 00:29:49,495 --> 00:29:56,503 Known by Christ; I never knew you, not known by Christ. 370 00:29:56,503 --> 00:29:58,284 Those who love God, those who don't. 371 00:29:58,284 --> 00:30:01,477 Those who believe in Christ, those who don't. 372 00:30:01,477 --> 00:30:08,112 And if you're in the one category, My little flock, My little ones, 373 00:30:08,112 --> 00:30:10,760 they're going to be raised up on the last day. 374 00:30:10,760 --> 00:30:13,648 They're not going to perish, they have eternal life. 375 00:30:13,648 --> 00:30:17,975 It's God the Father's good pleasure to give them the Kingdom. 376 00:30:17,975 --> 00:30:23,187 This just isn't true what David says here. 377 00:30:23,187 --> 00:30:29,148 Now, think about this, here's something he says again, 378 00:30:29,148 --> 00:30:33,605 I'm going to go on to another point, "You can't honestly tell me 379 00:30:33,605 --> 00:30:37,187 all you have to do is believe. 380 00:30:37,187 --> 00:30:40,217 I understand what Scripture says in John 3:16 381 00:30:40,217 --> 00:30:42,452 as well as several other verses. 382 00:30:42,452 --> 00:30:45,562 I don't feel I have to describe them to whoever reads this 383 00:30:45,562 --> 00:30:48,055 because you know them. 384 00:30:48,055 --> 00:30:52,536 What about all the other verses pertaining to the difficulty level? 385 00:30:52,536 --> 00:30:57,240 Why did Jesus set the standard so high that it seems no person can complete it? 386 00:30:57,240 --> 00:31:00,568 God has ruined my life. 387 00:31:00,568 --> 00:31:05,038 Ok, well let me tell you about one of those other verses. 388 00:31:05,038 --> 00:31:07,461 He assumes that we know them. 389 00:31:07,461 --> 00:31:09,501 Aside from John 3:16, 390 00:31:09,501 --> 00:31:14,648 I suspect that Ephesians 2:8,9 are extremely well known. 391 00:31:14,648 --> 00:31:21,337 Let's turn there. 392 00:31:21,337 --> 00:31:26,584 "You can't honestly tell me all you have to do is believe." 393 00:31:26,584 --> 00:31:32,077 That's what David is saying. 394 00:31:32,077 --> 00:31:38,941 And we know John 3:16, we know that it says, 395 00:31:38,941 --> 00:31:46,636 "if you believe on the Son, that you'll not perish, you'll have eternal life." 396 00:31:46,636 --> 00:31:51,131 Look at Eph 2:8, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, 397 00:31:51,131 --> 00:31:54,445 and this is not your own doing." 398 00:31:54,445 --> 00:31:58,134 Notice that? By grace you have been saved. 399 00:31:58,134 --> 00:32:03,720 Grace. You don't merit it. It's gracious. 400 00:32:03,720 --> 00:32:08,580 God powerfully gives it to you and you don't deserve it. 401 00:32:08,580 --> 00:32:14,332 By grace, you've been saved, through faith. 402 00:32:14,332 --> 00:32:20,689 It's by grace, but it's as we believe - that's how it's imparted to us. 403 00:32:20,689 --> 00:32:26,371 And this is not your own doing, it's the gift of God. 404 00:32:26,371 --> 00:32:30,884 God does this. God saves us. God brings the salvation to us. 405 00:32:30,884 --> 00:32:36,714 And it happens when we trust Jesus Christ and what He did, 406 00:32:36,714 --> 00:32:39,065 dying that bloody death on that cross. 407 00:32:39,065 --> 00:32:42,444 It's not a result of our works. 408 00:32:42,444 --> 00:32:45,612 It's a result of the works that Jesus Christ did. 409 00:32:45,612 --> 00:32:49,137 Not a result of our works, so that no one may boast. 410 00:32:49,137 --> 00:32:50,493 You see where the boasting is, 411 00:32:50,493 --> 00:32:54,698 it's boasting in your own works, but it's not there. 412 00:32:54,698 --> 00:32:57,236 It's not a result of works so that no one may boast. 413 00:32:57,236 --> 00:33:00,510 In other words, when you get saved, you can't boast in yourself. 414 00:33:00,510 --> 00:33:03,668 Your boasting is in the Lord only. 415 00:33:03,668 --> 00:33:09,229 Now notice this, many like to forget verse 10. 416 00:33:09,229 --> 00:33:12,564 "For we are His workmanship..." 417 00:33:12,564 --> 00:33:15,904 That's like a craftsman taking a piece of wood 418 00:33:15,904 --> 00:33:21,641 and whittling into something, carving it. 419 00:33:21,641 --> 00:33:26,674 It's like a potter taking the clay. 420 00:33:26,674 --> 00:33:29,155 We've got a craftsman. 421 00:33:29,155 --> 00:33:32,155 It's like a craftsman in a workshop. 422 00:33:32,155 --> 00:33:36,719 We are God's workmanship. 423 00:33:36,719 --> 00:33:42,239 He's crafting us. He creates us "in Christ Jesus," 424 00:33:42,239 --> 00:33:46,974 notice this, "for good works which God prepared beforehand 425 00:33:46,974 --> 00:33:48,709 that we should walk in them." 426 00:33:48,709 --> 00:33:53,553 Now, do you see how works made their way into these verses? 427 00:33:53,553 --> 00:33:56,951 I thought we were told in verse 9 428 00:33:56,951 --> 00:34:01,992 that we are saved through faith, not a result of works. 429 00:34:01,992 --> 00:34:06,355 That's true. I get saved, not because of anything that I do, 430 00:34:06,355 --> 00:34:12,236 but notice this, once you get saved by grace, through faith, 431 00:34:12,236 --> 00:34:18,387 suddenly God goes to work on you to do what in you? 432 00:34:18,387 --> 00:34:23,233 Well, to make you a worker of good works. 433 00:34:23,233 --> 00:34:27,661 You are His workmanship, which means He goes to work on you 434 00:34:27,661 --> 00:34:34,079 after you have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ by faith, 435 00:34:34,079 --> 00:34:36,522 totally saved by the grace of God. 436 00:34:36,522 --> 00:34:42,481 Not by your own works. His grace extended to you, 437 00:34:42,481 --> 00:34:46,761 as you trust what His Son has done to merit your salvation. 438 00:34:46,761 --> 00:34:57,939 And God goes to work on you to create you being a worker of good. 439 00:34:57,939 --> 00:35:01,631 That's what He does. God goes to work on us. 440 00:35:01,631 --> 00:35:07,248 Powerfully making us into a good works machine. 441 00:35:07,248 --> 00:35:08,811 That's how they fit in. 442 00:35:08,811 --> 00:35:14,634 You see good works are always a result of the fact 443 00:35:14,634 --> 00:35:18,483 that we've been saved by grace through faith. 444 00:35:18,483 --> 00:35:23,969 You see faith will always act upon what it believes. 445 00:35:23,969 --> 00:35:26,409 It will always go to work. 446 00:35:26,409 --> 00:35:30,485 It always does. Now think with me here, 447 00:35:30,485 --> 00:35:31,801 and I'm not going to have you turn to this one, 448 00:35:31,801 --> 00:35:51,123 I am going to have you turn to James 2, you can go ahead and turn there in fact. 449 00:35:51,123 --> 00:35:55,863 But I want you to think about this. 450 00:35:55,863 --> 00:35:59,816 While you're turning there, hopefully you're all there by now. 451 00:35:59,816 --> 00:36:08,748 James 2. James follows that big book of Hebrews. 452 00:36:08,748 --> 00:36:14,182 But in Luke 6, our Lord says this, 453 00:36:14,182 --> 00:36:22,559 "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?" 454 00:36:22,559 --> 00:36:26,058 Now think with me, here's the Lord Jesus Christ, 455 00:36:26,058 --> 00:36:28,927 and He's looking at some people. 456 00:36:28,927 --> 00:36:33,657 Those people call Him Lord. 457 00:36:33,657 --> 00:36:38,885 Why do you call somebody Lord? 458 00:36:38,885 --> 00:36:42,093 Well, you believe they're Lord, right? 459 00:36:42,093 --> 00:36:45,034 But here's the difference between true faith and false faith... 460 00:36:45,034 --> 00:36:48,912 here's the difference between saving faith and non-saving faith. 461 00:36:48,912 --> 00:36:55,273 You see, what you say you believe 462 00:36:55,273 --> 00:37:02,953 will give itself away by what you do. 463 00:37:02,953 --> 00:37:05,910 When I was a young believer, I would hear the story, 464 00:37:05,910 --> 00:37:07,918 and maybe some of you have heard this before, 465 00:37:07,918 --> 00:37:11,341 Craig and I heard this story numbers of times, 466 00:37:11,341 --> 00:37:17,453 but it's the idea of some guy had a tight rope 467 00:37:17,453 --> 00:37:23,992 stretched across the street between two buildings, 468 00:37:23,992 --> 00:37:31,908 and he would ask the crowd, "Do you think I can walk across this?" 469 00:37:31,908 --> 00:37:33,800 "Oh yeah, we think you can do it." 470 00:37:33,800 --> 00:37:36,908 And he walked across there with one of those poles. 471 00:37:36,908 --> 00:37:41,578 And then he said, "Do you think I can walk across there with a wheelbarrow?" 472 00:37:41,578 --> 00:37:44,953 "Yeah, ok, we think you can do it." And he did. 473 00:37:44,953 --> 00:37:48,172 He walked across that rope with a wheelbarrow. 474 00:37:48,172 --> 00:37:51,548 He said, "Do you think I can walk across there 475 00:37:51,548 --> 00:37:55,498 with a wheelbarrow with somebody in it?" 476 00:37:55,498 --> 00:37:58,559 Well, what are you going to answer? 477 00:37:58,559 --> 00:38:01,999 If you say, "Yeah, I believe you can do it," 478 00:38:01,999 --> 00:38:05,128 but you're so full of doubts that if he says, 479 00:38:05,128 --> 00:38:10,488 "ok, you believe I can do it - you get in the wheelbarrow." 480 00:38:10,488 --> 00:38:13,288 You see, that's what saving faith is like. 481 00:38:13,288 --> 00:38:17,860 Because our Lord Jesus Christ is going to put that faith to the test. 482 00:38:17,860 --> 00:38:20,208 And the whole thing is here, He says to people, 483 00:38:20,208 --> 00:38:23,208 "you call Me 'Lord, Lord.'" 484 00:38:23,208 --> 00:38:25,440 That's just like the people in the crowd, 485 00:38:25,440 --> 00:38:29,002 "yeah, yeah, you're a tight rope walker, 486 00:38:29,002 --> 00:38:33,044 who can do it with a wheelbarrow with somebody in it." 487 00:38:33,044 --> 00:38:35,924 Well, you call me a tight rope walker, 488 00:38:35,924 --> 00:38:37,454 but you won't get in the wheelbarrow. 489 00:38:37,454 --> 00:38:39,705 You see, that's exactly what Jesus is saying. 490 00:38:39,705 --> 00:38:45,007 He's saying, "you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and then you don't do what I say?" 491 00:38:45,007 --> 00:38:49,864 What does it mean to be Lord? Doesn't that mean to be Master? 492 00:38:49,864 --> 00:38:52,000 Are you telling me that you believe I'm Master 493 00:38:52,000 --> 00:38:55,849 and then you won't do what I tell you to do? 494 00:38:55,849 --> 00:39:02,940 You see, this is the difference between saving faith and non-saving faith. 495 00:39:02,940 --> 00:39:07,114 We will always act on what we truly believe, 496 00:39:07,114 --> 00:39:09,579 at the deepest level, what we believe 497 00:39:09,579 --> 00:39:14,245 influences the decisions we make in life. Guaranteed. 498 00:39:14,245 --> 00:39:17,443 And this is what James hits on. 499 00:39:17,443 --> 00:39:21,333 Look at James 2:14. It says this, 500 00:39:21,333 --> 00:39:23,554 "What good is it, my brothers, 501 00:39:23,554 --> 00:39:28,784 if someone says he has faith, but does not have works." 502 00:39:28,784 --> 00:39:31,997 You see works will always flow from faith. Why? 503 00:39:31,997 --> 00:39:35,906 For one, like we saw in Ephesians 2:10, because where there's faith, 504 00:39:35,906 --> 00:39:40,687 God will always go to work crafting you. You are His workmanship. 505 00:39:40,687 --> 00:39:44,161 He's creating in you all these good works. 506 00:39:44,161 --> 00:39:49,189 But it's not just because God assures us that He does that. 507 00:39:49,189 --> 00:39:53,132 There's a closer connection even than just the fact that we believe 508 00:39:53,132 --> 00:39:55,726 and then God produces these works. 509 00:39:55,726 --> 00:40:03,266 The fact is that the faith itself will manifest itself 510 00:40:03,266 --> 00:40:06,546 by works that are consistent with that faith. 511 00:40:06,546 --> 00:40:10,076 Those are the kind of works God produces in us. 512 00:40:10,076 --> 00:40:16,191 It's the kind that are consistent with trusting Christ. 513 00:40:16,191 --> 00:40:24,469 And here's the thing, can we call God Jehovah Jireh? 514 00:40:24,469 --> 00:40:29,219 Think with me here. What does Jehovah Jireh mean? 515 00:40:29,219 --> 00:40:32,964 God my Provider. 516 00:40:32,964 --> 00:40:37,110 Ok. When was He called Jehovah Jireh? 517 00:40:37,110 --> 00:40:40,916 When did God provide? 518 00:40:40,916 --> 00:40:43,392 Mount Moriah, right? 519 00:40:43,392 --> 00:40:47,218 When Isaac was being offered by Abraham. 520 00:40:47,218 --> 00:40:53,898 God provided a sacrifice. God provides. 521 00:40:53,898 --> 00:40:56,784 And we can go around and we can tout that. 522 00:40:56,784 --> 00:40:59,784 God provides. 523 00:40:59,784 --> 00:41:04,709 And then God says, "there's somebody over there that has a need. 524 00:41:04,709 --> 00:41:07,343 Give to it." 525 00:41:07,343 --> 00:41:11,477 Well, Lord, if I give to it, I'm going to kind of run out of money. 526 00:41:11,477 --> 00:41:14,652 How am I going to eat next week? 527 00:41:14,652 --> 00:41:20,090 Does God not say to us that He knows our needs before we ask? 528 00:41:20,090 --> 00:41:24,005 Does He not say to us don't worry about tomorrow? 529 00:41:24,005 --> 00:41:29,116 Aren't the issues we have to deal with sufficient for today? 530 00:41:29,116 --> 00:41:34,290 See this is where our faith is tested. 531 00:41:34,290 --> 00:41:38,112 Oh, I know they have a need, but if I give to them, 532 00:41:38,112 --> 00:41:42,089 I may not be able to eat next week. 533 00:41:42,089 --> 00:41:45,834 Wait. Didn't you call Him Jehovah Jireh? 534 00:41:45,834 --> 00:41:48,771 Didn't you? I mean, that's like calling Him Lord. 535 00:41:48,771 --> 00:41:54,132 Are we going to call Him by these titles and then not act on them? 536 00:41:54,132 --> 00:41:59,780 I mean, brethren, this is real life. This is faith. 537 00:41:59,780 --> 00:42:06,806 And what David is asking here, well he's more like claiming, 538 00:42:06,806 --> 00:42:10,288 he's making these declarations that it's not by faith only. 539 00:42:10,288 --> 00:42:16,306 "Why is it so hard?" Well, listen. Why is it so hard? 540 00:42:16,306 --> 00:42:23,200 It isn't because we're saved some other way than by faith. 541 00:42:23,200 --> 00:42:26,274 It's because the hardness 542 00:42:26,274 --> 00:42:31,324 is continuing down this path of trusting the Lord 543 00:42:31,324 --> 00:42:34,419 no matter what comes at us. 544 00:42:34,419 --> 00:42:39,784 Do you not remember it's called the good fight of faith? 545 00:42:39,784 --> 00:42:42,948 We fight a good fight. 546 00:42:42,948 --> 00:42:49,390 The battle is to keep believing Jesus all the way to the end. 547 00:42:49,390 --> 00:42:53,331 Listen. "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith 548 00:42:53,331 --> 00:42:56,862 but does not have works? Can that faith save him? [No] 549 00:42:56,862 --> 00:43:00,802 Because it's not true faith. 550 00:43:00,802 --> 00:43:03,625 What kind of faith is that that says, "Lord, Lord," 551 00:43:03,625 --> 00:43:06,495 but then you don't do what He says? 552 00:43:06,495 --> 00:43:08,282 Are you saying you really believe? No. 553 00:43:08,282 --> 00:43:15,537 It's cheap. People flippantly throw around the fact 554 00:43:15,537 --> 00:43:19,238 that they believe all sorts of things all the time. 555 00:43:19,238 --> 00:43:23,391 But when they're really put to it... 556 00:43:23,391 --> 00:43:26,156 you ought to be able to give away all that you have 557 00:43:26,156 --> 00:43:27,940 if you see somebody in need 558 00:43:27,940 --> 00:43:30,720 and trust that the Lord's going to provide for you. 559 00:43:30,720 --> 00:43:32,776 Because the Lord promises. 560 00:43:32,776 --> 00:43:36,666 The Lord promises to richly supply all of our needs. 561 00:43:36,666 --> 00:43:40,642 He does. And He tells us not to be anxious for today. 562 00:43:40,642 --> 00:43:44,644 Does He not know that we need to eat? And to be clothed? 563 00:43:44,644 --> 00:43:46,977 Does He not know about our needs? He does. 564 00:43:46,977 --> 00:43:49,684 You say, if we really say we believe 565 00:43:49,684 --> 00:43:53,604 that we ought not to be anxious about these things. 566 00:43:53,604 --> 00:43:58,361 If we really believe that He wants us to meet the needs of others, 567 00:43:58,361 --> 00:44:02,268 and He's promised that if we take care of the stranger or the imprisoned 568 00:44:02,268 --> 00:44:03,831 or whoever they are, the needy, 569 00:44:03,831 --> 00:44:06,831 that we're going to cry and He's going to say, 570 00:44:06,831 --> 00:44:11,430 "Here I am." That's what Isaiah 58 says. We can read those things. 571 00:44:11,430 --> 00:44:14,355 Brethren, do you just sit down and have your devotions in the Bible 572 00:44:14,355 --> 00:44:16,865 and read those words and then you can go out and 573 00:44:16,865 --> 00:44:20,075 they don't affect how you live? 574 00:44:20,075 --> 00:44:23,769 You see, we believe God's promises or we don't. 575 00:44:23,769 --> 00:44:25,541 And you can say you believe them, 576 00:44:25,541 --> 00:44:28,741 but if you're not willing to cast your weight on them, 577 00:44:28,741 --> 00:44:31,741 it's not true, it's not real. 578 00:44:31,741 --> 00:44:32,944 And that's what we're being told here. 579 00:44:32,944 --> 00:44:35,944 Can that faith save him? No. 580 00:44:35,944 --> 00:44:39,768 Is there a faith that doesn't save? Well, you better believe it. 581 00:44:39,768 --> 00:44:44,052 Look down at James 2:17. 582 00:44:44,052 --> 00:44:50,372 "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, it's dead. 583 00:44:50,372 --> 00:44:52,750 Someone will say, 'you have faith and I have works, 584 00:44:52,750 --> 00:44:57,676 show me your faith apart from your works, I'll show you my faith by my works.'" 585 00:44:57,676 --> 00:45:02,582 He says, look, you believe some basic facts about God. 586 00:45:02,582 --> 00:45:04,108 You believe God is one. 587 00:45:04,108 --> 00:45:07,616 Well, you do well. But the demons believe. 588 00:45:07,616 --> 00:45:09,859 I mean, they have that kind of faith. 589 00:45:09,859 --> 00:45:16,805 They at least have enough reasonable fear that they shudder. 590 00:45:16,805 --> 00:45:19,224 But it's certainly not saving faith. 591 00:45:19,224 --> 00:45:23,042 I mean our faith is no better than demon faith if there isn't works. 592 00:45:23,042 --> 00:45:25,547 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, 593 00:45:25,547 --> 00:45:28,076 that faith apart from works is useless? 594 00:45:28,076 --> 00:45:30,299 Was not Abraham our father justified by works 595 00:45:30,299 --> 00:45:33,081 when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 596 00:45:33,081 --> 00:45:35,680 You see, that's what faith does. 597 00:45:35,680 --> 00:45:37,516 Do you know what he believed? 598 00:45:37,516 --> 00:45:46,506 God had told him, Abraham, it's going to be through Isaac 599 00:45:46,506 --> 00:45:52,721 that I'm going to bring all these promises that I promised you - through him. 600 00:45:52,721 --> 00:45:55,005 And you know what? 601 00:45:55,005 --> 00:45:58,755 When God told him to take him up on that mountain and sacrifice him, 602 00:45:58,755 --> 00:46:05,362 Abraham believed that God was still going to use Isaac 603 00:46:05,362 --> 00:46:11,313 to bring all these blessings to the nations like God promised. 604 00:46:11,313 --> 00:46:14,053 You know what Scripture says that he believed? 605 00:46:14,053 --> 00:46:17,319 He believed in the God who raised people from the dead! 606 00:46:17,319 --> 00:46:23,012 Every appearance is, he believed he was going to actually 607 00:46:23,012 --> 00:46:25,927 drive that knife through his son and God was going to raise him from the dead. 608 00:46:25,927 --> 00:46:27,268 That's what he believed. 609 00:46:27,268 --> 00:46:30,707 Because he knew God was going to answer those promises. 610 00:46:30,707 --> 00:46:33,381 He knew it. Now he didn't know how God was going to work it out, 611 00:46:33,381 --> 00:46:36,677 but he knew it. Even if God had to raise Isaac from the dead. 612 00:46:36,677 --> 00:46:38,809 He knew that it was going to come to pass. 613 00:46:38,809 --> 00:46:43,397 His faith did not waiver. 614 00:46:43,397 --> 00:46:47,921 So, verse 23 says Scripture was fulfilled that says 615 00:46:47,921 --> 00:46:50,938 Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. 616 00:46:50,938 --> 00:46:55,601 You see, when we believe in God, it's counted, 617 00:46:55,601 --> 00:46:57,971 it's imputed to us as righteousness. 618 00:46:57,971 --> 00:47:01,192 But only when it's what kind of faith? 619 00:47:01,192 --> 00:47:04,044 The kind of faith that so believes God 620 00:47:04,044 --> 00:47:07,044 that it will cast its whole weight on Him. 621 00:47:07,044 --> 00:47:13,228 Don't talk about faith - don't think your faith is going to be saving faith 622 00:47:13,228 --> 00:47:17,778 if that faith does not lead you 623 00:47:17,778 --> 00:47:20,778 to cast yourself on the promises of God 624 00:47:20,778 --> 00:47:28,125 to actually live according to what you say that you believe. 625 00:47:28,125 --> 00:47:35,392 Look, why is it so hard? Is the Christian life so hard 626 00:47:35,392 --> 00:47:41,009 because we're actually saved by a different way? No. 627 00:47:41,009 --> 00:47:52,423 Now turn to 1 Peter. 628 00:47:52,423 --> 00:47:56,588 If you're in James, all you have to do is go to the next book, 1 Peter. 629 00:47:56,588 --> 00:48:02,765 Chapter 1. Look at verse 6. 630 00:48:02,765 --> 00:48:07,915 You see, the trials in life are not meant 631 00:48:07,915 --> 00:48:11,874 to make us believe we must earn heaven. 632 00:48:11,874 --> 00:48:14,516 The trials test our faith. 633 00:48:14,516 --> 00:48:16,716 Do you know what trials do? 634 00:48:16,716 --> 00:48:21,888 They test what we believe most. Notice 1 Peter 1:6 635 00:48:21,888 --> 00:48:26,315 "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while if necessary 636 00:48:26,315 --> 00:48:29,605 you've been grieved by various trials, 637 00:48:29,605 --> 00:48:33,905 so that the tested genuineness 638 00:48:33,905 --> 00:48:36,883 of your faith, more precious than gold that perishes, 639 00:48:36,883 --> 00:48:40,061 though it is tested by fire, may be found to result 640 00:48:40,061 --> 00:48:42,940 in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 641 00:48:42,940 --> 00:48:45,040 Why do we have to suffer? 642 00:48:45,040 --> 00:48:48,306 It tests the genuineness of your faith. 643 00:48:48,306 --> 00:48:57,336 If you go to 1 Peter 4:12, just over a few chapters, 644 00:48:57,336 --> 00:49:00,455 "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial 645 00:49:00,455 --> 00:49:03,215 when it comes upon you to test you." 646 00:49:03,215 --> 00:49:04,294 Notice that. 647 00:49:04,294 --> 00:49:09,317 Fiery trials test us, as though something strange were happening to you. 648 00:49:09,317 --> 00:49:13,239 It's not strange. You should expect it. Why? 649 00:49:13,239 --> 00:49:24,017 Here's why: God is glorified when you cling to Him when it gets tough. 650 00:49:24,017 --> 00:49:29,815 You know why? Because it says, when it's tough, think, 651 00:49:29,815 --> 00:49:35,346 when it gets hard. Real hard. 652 00:49:35,346 --> 00:49:39,253 And you still keep clinging to Christ. 653 00:49:39,253 --> 00:49:42,823 Do you know what it says? 654 00:49:42,823 --> 00:49:46,315 I want Christ more than I want comfort. 655 00:49:46,315 --> 00:49:50,451 I want Christ more than I want ease. 656 00:49:50,451 --> 00:49:53,413 Because if you're in this just for what you can get out of it, 657 00:49:53,413 --> 00:49:58,282 when things get tough, you drop out. 658 00:49:58,282 --> 00:50:01,743 I mean isn't that Luke 8 says, don't turn there, 659 00:50:01,743 --> 00:50:05,726 just listen, the parable of the soils in Luke's account, 660 00:50:05,726 --> 00:50:09,378 It says the ones on the rock are those, who when they hear the Word, 661 00:50:09,378 --> 00:50:11,288 they receive it with joy. 662 00:50:11,288 --> 00:50:14,062 You know we have all sorts of people that hear the Gospel, 663 00:50:14,062 --> 00:50:16,872 they receive it with joy, but these have no root. 664 00:50:16,872 --> 00:50:23,531 They believe for awhile, but in time of testing, fall away. 665 00:50:23,531 --> 00:50:28,408 Why do people fall away in time of testing? 666 00:50:28,408 --> 00:50:30,496 It's too hard. 667 00:50:30,496 --> 00:50:37,896 If that's what it takes to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and get saved, 668 00:50:37,896 --> 00:50:42,556 and I have to keep believing Him and trusting Him through this difficulty? 669 00:50:42,556 --> 00:50:45,822 I'm out of here. Throw in the towel. I want out. 670 00:50:45,822 --> 00:50:47,834 This is too tough. 671 00:50:47,834 --> 00:50:51,024 Because you see when you want Christ more than anything else, 672 00:50:51,024 --> 00:50:54,833 you will keep clinging to Him no matter how hard it gets. 673 00:50:54,833 --> 00:51:00,699 You see, it's the trials - 674 00:51:00,699 --> 00:51:04,944 why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things I say? 675 00:51:04,944 --> 00:51:06,300 Now think about this. 676 00:51:06,300 --> 00:51:09,372 I look at Him and I say, "You are Lord." 677 00:51:09,372 --> 00:51:13,404 That means I'm following You. That means You tell me what to do. 678 00:51:13,404 --> 00:51:17,338 And Your Word, You guide me. May Your Word be a lamp unto my feet. 679 00:51:17,338 --> 00:51:20,865 You are Lord. I'm not Lord. I've been bought with a price. 680 00:51:20,865 --> 00:51:26,569 Ok. Follow Me. That's what He says. Follow Me. 681 00:51:26,569 --> 00:51:31,873 But He also says this, He says we need to die. 682 00:51:31,873 --> 00:51:36,682 We need to deny ourselves and carry our cross. 683 00:51:36,682 --> 00:51:41,894 And it means this, when it gets tough - I mean real tough, 684 00:51:41,894 --> 00:51:44,405 do we still say, "You're Lord?" 685 00:51:44,405 --> 00:51:47,875 Because you know what? When you're in the heat of the fire, 686 00:51:47,875 --> 00:51:51,247 and you still believe He's Lord, you still obey. 687 00:51:51,247 --> 00:51:55,117 When you're in the heat of the fire, and you still love Him most of all, 688 00:51:55,117 --> 00:51:57,712 you will endure the hardship. Why? 689 00:51:57,712 --> 00:52:00,114 Because you're not in it for the ease 690 00:52:00,114 --> 00:52:04,150 and you're not in it for the cushy lifestyle that you get out of it. 691 00:52:04,150 --> 00:52:06,106 You're in it because you want Christ. 692 00:52:06,106 --> 00:52:08,256 You want the eternal life that He offers. 693 00:52:08,256 --> 00:52:11,212 And that eternal life is to know Him. You want Him. 694 00:52:11,212 --> 00:52:14,925 You want to be with Him in Paradise. You want to dwell with Him forever. 695 00:52:14,925 --> 00:52:17,049 You want to behold Him face to face. 696 00:52:17,049 --> 00:52:18,720 When you want that more than ease itself, 697 00:52:18,720 --> 00:52:21,720 you will endure the hardships. 698 00:52:21,720 --> 00:52:27,174 And God is greatly glorified, would you not be? 699 00:52:27,174 --> 00:52:30,916 If you had somebody that loved you, and things got a little bit hard, 700 00:52:30,916 --> 00:52:33,254 and they hit the road? 701 00:52:33,254 --> 00:52:36,254 What does that say about their love for you? 702 00:52:36,254 --> 00:52:41,120 But if it got real hard, if somebody marries you and it gets real hard, 703 00:52:41,120 --> 00:52:45,494 real hard - as hard as it can get and they stay with you, 704 00:52:45,494 --> 00:52:47,607 what does that say about their love? 705 00:52:47,607 --> 00:52:50,201 You see, that's why God is so glorified by this. 706 00:52:50,201 --> 00:52:54,190 He tests our faith. 707 00:52:54,190 --> 00:52:59,312 And so, anyway, I'll just end with this. 708 00:52:59,312 --> 00:53:01,782 Listen to what David says: 709 00:53:01,782 --> 00:53:08,005 "Why does God make it so hard for His people to make it into His Kingdom?" 710 00:53:08,005 --> 00:53:13,359 When he says "so hard," yeah, God promises through much tribulation, 711 00:53:13,359 --> 00:53:15,559 we will enter the Kingdom, 712 00:53:15,559 --> 00:53:19,539 but not so hard that His people can't enter. 713 00:53:19,539 --> 00:53:26,222 Why? Because He saves them. He's promised them eternal life. 714 00:53:26,222 --> 00:53:30,928 But "why does God make so hard for His people to make it into His Kingdom? 715 00:53:30,928 --> 00:53:34,704 He throws most of His own people into the lake of fire forever 716 00:53:34,704 --> 00:53:38,386 to be tormented with no hope of getting out. 717 00:53:38,386 --> 00:53:40,934 I understand He gives us a way out, but I also understand 718 00:53:40,934 --> 00:53:44,547 it's extremely difficult and that not many will actually 719 00:53:44,547 --> 00:53:46,379 be able to do it. 720 00:53:46,379 --> 00:53:49,061 Do you know why it's so difficult? 721 00:53:49,061 --> 00:53:54,568 Because most people will sell Christ for 30 pieces of silver. 722 00:53:54,568 --> 00:54:00,840 That's why. C.S. Lewis said it like this: 723 00:54:00,840 --> 00:54:12,588 He said, talking about those that were on this voyage to Aslan's land, 724 00:54:12,588 --> 00:54:16,681 he says, do you think it will be had for a song? 725 00:54:16,681 --> 00:54:20,299 Just like, do we think it's cheap? 726 00:54:20,299 --> 00:54:24,359 Most people will sell Christ at a price. 727 00:54:24,359 --> 00:54:27,452 That's why it's so difficult. 728 00:54:27,452 --> 00:54:30,340 Because most people love other things more. 729 00:54:30,340 --> 00:54:32,752 It's got to do with what they love. 730 00:54:32,752 --> 00:54:37,422 If you will truly be saved by the Lord Jesus Christ, He will save you. 731 00:54:37,422 --> 00:54:41,678 He said, "I also understand it's extremely difficult, 732 00:54:41,678 --> 00:54:44,461 not many will actually be able to do it. 733 00:54:44,461 --> 00:54:48,690 What kind of Savior is Jesus anyways?" 734 00:54:48,690 --> 00:54:51,535 And I would just end with this, I thought, 735 00:54:51,535 --> 00:54:55,990 "You know, what kind of Savior is Jesus anyway?" 736 00:54:55,990 --> 00:55:00,436 And I thought, what kind is He? 737 00:55:00,436 --> 00:55:09,913 He's the kind of Savior that actually would die for His enemies. 738 00:55:09,913 --> 00:55:16,065 And I know you've heard that, but just hear that afresh. 739 00:55:16,065 --> 00:55:18,891 Who dies for their enemies? I mean, that's what Paul's arguing. 740 00:55:18,891 --> 00:55:20,829 Some people for a good person, 741 00:55:20,829 --> 00:55:24,428 they might per chance lay down their life for somebody like that, 742 00:55:24,428 --> 00:55:27,682 but who lays down their life for their enemies? 743 00:55:27,682 --> 00:55:30,362 That's the kind of Savior we have. 744 00:55:30,362 --> 00:55:32,641 You want to know the kind of Savior we have? 745 00:55:32,641 --> 00:55:41,963 We have the kind of Savior who as God actually became man 746 00:55:41,963 --> 00:55:45,697 to endure all the sufferings, 747 00:55:45,697 --> 00:55:51,127 I mean all these hardships that David is talking about here, 748 00:55:51,127 --> 00:56:00,088 do you know He came? His family thought He was crazy. 749 00:56:00,088 --> 00:56:06,095 His friends defected. 750 00:56:06,095 --> 00:56:11,400 You think things were hard? His own Father forsook Him. 751 00:56:11,400 --> 00:56:15,857 We have the kind of Savior Who became a man that He might suffer 752 00:56:15,857 --> 00:56:22,718 all the ways we suffer to make Himself a sympathetic high priest. 753 00:56:22,718 --> 00:56:26,401 I got to thinking, what kind of Savior do we have? 754 00:56:26,401 --> 00:56:35,351 I want to take this guy David and say, Behold Him... 755 00:56:35,351 --> 00:56:40,022 Looking out over Jerusalem as He literally, it says He wept, 756 00:56:40,022 --> 00:56:44,365 but it's the word for wail. He wailed over them! 757 00:56:44,365 --> 00:56:49,623 Jerusalem, Jerusalem... that's the kind of Savior that we have. 758 00:56:49,623 --> 00:56:54,544 We have the kind of Savior that wept over those who rejected Him, 759 00:56:54,544 --> 00:56:56,526 a city full of people. 760 00:56:56,526 --> 00:56:59,436 We have the kind of Savior who could - 761 00:56:59,436 --> 00:57:03,206 think about how early in the Gospels, 762 00:57:03,206 --> 00:57:05,152 in the synoptic Gospels we have the account 763 00:57:05,152 --> 00:57:08,152 where the leper came to Him. 764 00:57:08,152 --> 00:57:15,740 I mean, just disgusting, vile, leprous, unclean. 765 00:57:15,740 --> 00:57:19,821 "Lord, if You will..." He didn't just come right out and ask Him, 766 00:57:19,821 --> 00:57:24,617 "Please, heal me." 767 00:57:24,617 --> 00:57:27,617 He said, "If You will, You can make me clean." 768 00:57:27,617 --> 00:57:31,381 You know what it says? Jesus was moved with pity. 769 00:57:31,381 --> 00:57:32,921 That's the kind of Savior we have. 770 00:57:32,921 --> 00:57:35,394 He said "I will. Be clean." 771 00:57:35,394 --> 00:57:41,171 He healed him on the spot. We have the kind of Savior who graciously, 772 00:57:41,171 --> 00:57:48,273 I think of Matthew 11, who graciously invites men to find rest in Him. 773 00:57:48,273 --> 00:57:49,993 That's the kind of Savior we have. 774 00:57:49,993 --> 00:57:53,742 We have the kind of Savior Who can look at His disciples and say, 775 00:57:53,742 --> 00:58:00,064 You know what? I could ask My Father to send legions of angels 776 00:58:00,064 --> 00:58:02,369 and deliver Me from this whole deal. 777 00:58:02,369 --> 00:58:06,025 Do you recognize that all the way to the cross, 778 00:58:06,025 --> 00:58:09,045 all the way to the scourging, all the way to the mockery, 779 00:58:09,045 --> 00:58:10,066 all the way to the spitting, 780 00:58:10,066 --> 00:58:13,066 all the way to being buffeted about the head 781 00:58:13,066 --> 00:58:17,387 and having His beard pulled out, all the way to carrying that cross, 782 00:58:17,387 --> 00:58:22,861 all the way to the crucifixion, all the way to being forsaken by His Father. 783 00:58:22,861 --> 00:58:26,997 Do you realize Jesus Christ had a way out? 784 00:58:26,997 --> 00:58:30,634 All He had to do was give the word and He was out of there. 785 00:58:30,634 --> 00:58:34,521 Do you know that's what He said? That's what He said. 786 00:58:34,521 --> 00:58:39,877 I could call upon My Father to send a legion of angels, 787 00:58:39,877 --> 00:58:43,000 and this whole band of people that came out to get us, 788 00:58:43,000 --> 00:58:48,352 like Jesus even needed that! 789 00:58:48,352 --> 00:58:50,199 He said, "who are you looking for?" 790 00:58:50,199 --> 00:58:54,118 They all fell down. 791 00:58:54,118 --> 00:58:57,935 Jesus could give the word and no one could have even come close to Him. 792 00:58:57,935 --> 00:59:02,929 We have the kind of Savior that willingly went to the cross, 793 00:59:02,929 --> 00:59:06,351 to shed His blood for His enemies. 794 00:59:06,351 --> 00:59:12,525 We have that kind - we have the kind Who was willing to be forsaken. 795 00:59:12,525 --> 00:59:13,823 Do you recognize what He did? 796 00:59:13,823 --> 00:59:16,478 We have the kind of Savior 797 00:59:16,478 --> 00:59:21,628 that looked the wrath of God square in the eyes, 798 00:59:21,628 --> 00:59:24,495 and said I will take that cup and put it to my lips, 799 00:59:24,495 --> 00:59:27,999 that He might ransom His people. 800 00:59:27,999 --> 00:59:34,221 We have the kind of Savior... 801 00:59:34,221 --> 00:59:40,555 who could be denied by Peter, and He didn't deny Peter. 802 00:59:40,555 --> 00:59:44,872 He actually exalted Peter to feed His sheep. 803 00:59:44,872 --> 00:59:47,623 That's the kind of Savior we have. 804 00:59:47,623 --> 00:59:51,908 We have the kind of Savior that can overlook the faults of His people. 805 00:59:51,908 --> 00:59:55,364 "They have kept Your Word." What is that? 806 00:59:55,364 --> 00:59:57,849 They're fighting about who is going to be the greatest. 807 00:59:57,849 --> 01:00:00,433 We have the kind of Savior Who... 808 01:00:00,433 --> 01:00:04,970 you think about the adulteress that was brought to Him, 809 01:00:04,970 --> 01:00:09,928 or the woman that had five husbands and the man she was with... 810 01:00:09,928 --> 01:00:14,604 Jesus is just shedding abundant mercy on them. 811 01:00:14,604 --> 01:00:19,208 We have the kind of Savior Who can look out over the people 812 01:00:19,208 --> 01:00:23,296 and see them as sheep without a shepherd. 813 01:00:23,296 --> 01:00:25,958 We can see Him not even wanting to send them home, 814 01:00:25,958 --> 01:00:27,728 lest they faint in the way. 815 01:00:27,728 --> 01:00:30,685 Have them sit down, you guys feed them. 816 01:00:30,685 --> 01:00:34,643 And we have the kind of Savior Who 817 01:00:34,643 --> 01:00:38,043 - you guys know it, I'm always amazed by it, 818 01:00:38,043 --> 01:00:41,062 we have the kind of Savior who actually goes to a wedding 819 01:00:41,062 --> 01:00:44,262 and He turns water into wine. 820 01:00:44,262 --> 01:00:48,142 That's the kind of Savior we have. 821 01:00:48,142 --> 01:00:53,536 We have a Savior that saves people 822 01:00:53,536 --> 01:01:00,156 who are willing to be saved the way He saves. 823 01:01:00,156 --> 01:01:04,528 He's willing to save them to the uttermost. 824 01:01:04,528 --> 01:01:07,768 Do you know what David's problem is? 825 01:01:07,768 --> 01:01:16,341 David doesn't want to be saved by Jesus Christ the way Jesus saves. 826 01:01:16,341 --> 01:01:21,850 He doesn't want to surrender to this Savior. 827 01:01:21,850 --> 01:01:28,719 The thing David needs to recognize is he probably has eaten today. 828 01:01:28,719 --> 01:01:35,408 And the sun came up out of the east and actually shined on him. 829 01:01:35,408 --> 01:01:40,996 The world didn't swallow him up after having an attitude like this? 830 01:01:40,996 --> 01:01:45,243 David needs to go read the book of Job. 831 01:01:45,243 --> 01:01:48,139 And Job was a righteous man. 832 01:01:48,139 --> 01:01:51,819 He did not accuse God and find fault with God 833 01:01:51,819 --> 01:01:54,908 near the way that David has. 834 01:01:54,908 --> 01:02:02,532 And when God broke forth, Job, where were you when I created? 835 01:02:02,532 --> 01:02:06,089 Where were you when I did this? And when I did that? 836 01:02:06,089 --> 01:02:11,350 David needs to tremble before this God. 837 01:02:11,350 --> 01:02:14,659 Because he has received so much mercy. 838 01:02:14,659 --> 01:02:19,337 He has received so many blessings for which he obviously 839 01:02:19,337 --> 01:02:22,605 is showing no gratitude. 840 01:02:22,605 --> 01:02:26,204 And the very fact that God continues to give him life and breath, 841 01:02:26,204 --> 01:02:33,668 he should fall down and thank this God who he's nigh unto cursing. 842 01:02:33,668 --> 01:02:39,632 If he had what he deserves, he would find out very quickly 843 01:02:39,632 --> 01:02:42,024 just how many blessings he has. 844 01:02:42,024 --> 01:02:45,484 And if he would go to Jesus Christ to find rest, 845 01:02:45,484 --> 01:02:48,647 his problem is he's trying to save himself, 846 01:02:48,647 --> 01:02:56,042 his problem is that God isn't jumping through hoops for him. 847 01:02:56,042 --> 01:03:01,030 And look, Jesus never promised 848 01:03:01,030 --> 01:03:04,940 that we would be delivered from problems. 849 01:03:04,940 --> 01:03:08,968 Jesus did not come into this world to deliver us from problems. 850 01:03:08,968 --> 01:03:13,706 He came to save His people from their sins. 851 01:03:13,706 --> 01:03:19,955 And in fact, promised us, your problems just start the day you meet Him. 852 01:03:19,955 --> 01:03:22,496 He says, I'm going to bring a sword. 853 01:03:22,496 --> 01:03:25,581 Don't think I've come to bring peace on this earth. 854 01:03:25,581 --> 01:03:29,962 I came to bring a sword. 855 01:03:29,962 --> 01:03:34,985 What kind of Savior is Jesus anyway? 856 01:03:34,985 --> 01:03:36,449 What a question! 857 01:03:36,449 --> 01:03:41,245 Oh, if he could only know the Lord Jesus Christ 858 01:03:41,245 --> 01:03:45,821 the way the Lord has revealed Himself to so many of us. 859 01:03:45,821 --> 01:03:47,692 What a Savior we have! 860 01:03:47,692 --> 01:03:51,140 We've got the kind of Savior that really saves! 861 01:03:51,140 --> 01:03:52,904 That's the kind we have! 862 01:03:52,904 --> 01:03:58,534 We have the kind Who, when He gets a sinner in the palm of His hand, 863 01:03:58,534 --> 01:04:00,177 He doesn't loosen His grip. 864 01:04:00,177 --> 01:04:03,177 He keeps them all the way to the end. 865 01:04:03,177 --> 01:04:06,528 That's the kind of Savior we have. 866 01:04:06,528 --> 01:04:08,990 We've got us a real Savior. 867 01:04:08,990 --> 01:04:14,482 We've got a Savior indeed. 868 01:04:14,482 --> 01:04:19,543 Father, I pray that You would have mercy on this man David. 869 01:04:19,543 --> 01:04:23,275 And I pray it in Christ's name. I pray it for Christ's sake. 870 01:04:23,275 --> 01:04:27,566 I pray that we in this room might one day find 871 01:04:27,566 --> 01:04:31,693 that this man David is there in glory, 872 01:04:31,693 --> 01:04:34,693 a trophy to the kind of Savior 873 01:04:34,693 --> 01:04:37,738 that Jesus Christ really is. 874 01:04:37,738 --> 01:04:39,992 I pray it in His name, Amen.