WEBVTT 00:00:08.990 --> 00:00:14.710 All right, turn to Isaiah 55. All right, so we've 00:00:14.710 --> 00:00:18.309 been on the series of our purpose statement, 00:00:18.449 --> 00:00:19.949 love God, love his word, love his ways, love 00:00:19.949 --> 00:00:21.309 his things. And you're like, that's a purpose 00:00:21.309 --> 00:00:24.390 statement. Yes, it is. It literally is why we 00:00:24.390 --> 00:00:29.230 are here. You know, the chief end of man is to 00:00:29.850 --> 00:00:31.730 Glorify God and enjoy him forever. Well, how 00:00:31.730 --> 00:00:34.630 do we do that? How do we glorify God? We glorify 00:00:34.630 --> 00:00:38.090 God by loving God and learning to love God, by 00:00:38.090 --> 00:00:41.469 loving his word, by learning to live his word, 00:00:41.490 --> 00:00:43.590 by living his ways, and then learning to love 00:00:43.590 --> 00:00:45.850 his things by stewarding. All of this is about 00:00:45.850 --> 00:00:48.750 stewardship. Whether you're looking at your relationship 00:00:48.750 --> 00:00:50.729 with Christ, his word, his ways, and his things, 00:00:50.909 --> 00:00:52.950 you have to steward your relationship with Christ. 00:00:53.030 --> 00:00:54.750 You have to steward the word of Christ. You have 00:00:54.750 --> 00:00:57.030 to steward the ways of Christ. And you have to 00:00:57.030 --> 00:00:59.310 steward. The things of Christ. And it's very 00:00:59.310 --> 00:01:03.750 important. Like many churches, you know what 00:01:03.750 --> 00:01:06.549 their motto is. Love God, love others, reach 00:01:06.549 --> 00:01:10.370 the world. Really. I get it. Like I get the greatest 00:01:10.370 --> 00:01:14.530 commandments. But we purpose put first things 00:01:14.530 --> 00:01:17.209 first. And Christ is first in all things. So 00:01:17.209 --> 00:01:19.730 the best way to love God, to love others, is 00:01:19.730 --> 00:01:24.069 to love God. So we're on loving his ways. Love 00:01:24.069 --> 00:01:27.269 his ways, live his ways. Isaiah 55 is where we're 00:01:27.269 --> 00:01:28.950 going to be starting. So I'm going to pray and 00:01:28.950 --> 00:01:30.250 then we'll get started. Father, I want to thank 00:01:30.250 --> 00:01:32.890 you so much for your word. Thank you that you 00:01:32.890 --> 00:01:35.450 are the sovereign king, that you are in control 00:01:35.450 --> 00:01:37.590 of all things. And by your providence, you cause, 00:01:37.810 --> 00:01:42.030 move, and bring about the results of what you 00:01:42.030 --> 00:01:45.430 have set in place by your word so that all things 00:01:45.430 --> 00:01:48.290 bring you glory and that you are honored and 00:01:48.290 --> 00:01:51.230 glorified. And your name is... preached among 00:01:51.230 --> 00:01:53.069 the nations. Lord, we do thank you and praise 00:01:53.069 --> 00:01:56.090 you for your word. Help us to understand the 00:01:56.090 --> 00:01:58.069 importance of living your ways and loving your 00:01:58.069 --> 00:02:00.290 ways. To you be honor and glory forever in Jesus' 00:02:00.370 --> 00:02:05.450 name. Amen. Isaiah 55. Isaiah 55. I should have 00:02:05.450 --> 00:02:09.500 turned there first. All right. So we're going 00:02:09.500 --> 00:02:11.219 to notice some very important things. And you're 00:02:11.219 --> 00:02:12.979 going to kind of catch a theme that's going on 00:02:12.979 --> 00:02:16.840 here. And it's really about salvation. The ways 00:02:16.840 --> 00:02:18.860 of God is the way of salvation. And you're going 00:02:18.860 --> 00:02:22.659 to see some very important things I don't think 00:02:22.659 --> 00:02:25.500 many people consider. So when you talk about 00:02:25.500 --> 00:02:28.560 God's ways, do you really understand what it 00:02:28.560 --> 00:02:31.120 means? I think we understand what he commands, 00:02:31.340 --> 00:02:34.300 but do we really understand his ways? Isaiah 00:02:34.300 --> 00:02:39.229 chapter 55, verse 6 through 11. seek the Lord 00:02:39.229 --> 00:02:44.270 seek Yahweh while he may be found call upon him 00:02:44.270 --> 00:02:48.110 while he is near let the wicked forsake his way 00:02:48.110 --> 00:02:52.330 and the unrighteous man his thoughts let him 00:02:52.330 --> 00:02:55.689 return to the Lord that he may have compassion 00:02:55.689 --> 00:03:00.930 on him and to our God for he will abundantly 00:03:00.930 --> 00:03:06.229 pardon for my thoughts are not your thoughts 00:03:06.860 --> 00:03:10.060 Neither are my ways your ways, declares the Lord. 00:03:10.300 --> 00:03:13.479 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, 00:03:13.719 --> 00:03:17.060 so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts 00:03:17.060 --> 00:03:21.639 than your thoughts. For as the rain and the snow 00:03:21.639 --> 00:03:24.979 come down from heaven and do not return there 00:03:24.979 --> 00:03:30.719 but water the earth, making it bring forth and 00:03:30.719 --> 00:03:34.819 sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to 00:03:34.819 --> 00:03:39.789 the eater, So shall my word be that goes out 00:03:39.789 --> 00:03:43.789 from my mouth. It shall not return to me empty, 00:03:43.889 --> 00:03:47.210 but it shall accomplish that which I purpose 00:03:47.210 --> 00:03:51.289 and shall succeed in the thing in which I sent 00:03:51.289 --> 00:03:53.909 it. So I want you to notice something, what God 00:03:53.909 --> 00:03:58.449 is saying here. You don't think like me. Your 00:03:58.449 --> 00:04:02.729 mind is not even close to be like my mind. And 00:04:02.729 --> 00:04:04.550 you're not even close to doing things the way 00:04:04.550 --> 00:04:08.180 I do them. Your ways are so outside of my ways 00:04:08.180 --> 00:04:10.879 and your thoughts are so outside of my thoughts. 00:04:10.939 --> 00:04:14.340 You have no clue. Be like, well, God, then how 00:04:14.340 --> 00:04:17.220 do we get to know you? It's right here. The scripture 00:04:17.220 --> 00:04:19.779 he's given us is enough for life and godliness. 00:04:20.240 --> 00:04:22.139 There are some things we just don't need to know. 00:04:22.420 --> 00:04:25.879 We don't have to know. And I'm kind of glad because 00:04:25.879 --> 00:04:29.220 when we start to really dig into what God has 00:04:29.220 --> 00:04:33.220 revealed in his word, revealed inspiration through 00:04:33.220 --> 00:04:37.000 his word, Okay, divine inspiration. And then 00:04:37.000 --> 00:04:41.839 we look at his creation, natural inspiration 00:04:41.839 --> 00:04:44.939 that he created. We start to really grasp that 00:04:44.939 --> 00:04:48.759 God is far beyond in his thoughts and ways are 00:04:48.759 --> 00:04:51.199 far beyond ours. As a matter of fact, we are 00:04:51.199 --> 00:04:55.120 in complete contrary in our thoughts and ways 00:04:55.120 --> 00:05:00.899 than his. Total opposites. God's ways are seen, 00:05:01.139 --> 00:05:04.500 heard, and can only be found in the word of God. 00:05:04.579 --> 00:05:08.699 You cannot find any of God's ways outside of 00:05:08.699 --> 00:05:11.879 his word. It's right here. You want to know what 00:05:11.879 --> 00:05:16.300 God's ways are? Right here. Okay? The word gives 00:05:16.300 --> 00:05:19.720 us a clear picture that God's ways are completely 00:05:19.720 --> 00:05:23.629 and vastly different than ours. that our ways 00:05:23.629 --> 00:05:27.670 are wicked and desperately sinful and that God's 00:05:27.670 --> 00:05:32.230 ways are righteous, good, perfect, pure, holy, 00:05:32.350 --> 00:05:37.910 and true. Psalm 1830, this God, his way is perfect. 00:05:38.129 --> 00:05:41.329 So that kind of stops us pretty quickly, doesn't 00:05:41.329 --> 00:05:44.870 it? Because our ways aren't. The word of the 00:05:44.870 --> 00:05:49.550 Lord proves true. He is a shield for all those 00:05:49.550 --> 00:05:52.879 who take refuge in him. So what do we learn? 00:05:52.959 --> 00:05:55.339 God's ways are perfect and his word is true. 00:05:55.600 --> 00:06:00.860 Number two, Psalm 77, 13. Your way, O God, is 00:06:00.860 --> 00:06:04.680 holy. What God is great like our God. In other 00:06:04.680 --> 00:06:08.459 words, your way is not only perfect and true, 00:06:08.639 --> 00:06:13.569 but your way is holy. It's a narrow way. It's 00:06:13.569 --> 00:06:16.970 not a way that man can contrive. It's not a way 00:06:16.970 --> 00:06:19.730 that man has determined. God's way has been determined 00:06:19.730 --> 00:06:23.569 by him and him alone. And it is a very narrow 00:06:23.569 --> 00:06:30.250 way. Psalm 119 verse 132. Turn to me and be gracious 00:06:30.250 --> 00:06:34.829 to me as is your way with those who love your 00:06:34.829 --> 00:06:38.689 name. So those who love God's name, God's way 00:06:38.689 --> 00:06:44.879 for them is grace. and turning. Turn to me, and 00:06:44.879 --> 00:06:47.620 be gracious to me. Why? That is your way for 00:06:47.620 --> 00:06:51.079 me, because I love you. Because if I don't turn 00:06:51.079 --> 00:06:53.740 to God, turn to Christ, I will not experience 00:06:53.740 --> 00:06:56.420 the grace of God, the way he's intended for me 00:06:56.420 --> 00:06:59.680 to experience his grace, and I would not really 00:06:59.680 --> 00:07:03.459 love his name, would I? So, God's way for the 00:07:03.459 --> 00:07:07.660 sinner is beyond our understanding. In John 14, 00:07:07.779 --> 00:07:11.949 5 through 6, Thomas said to him, Lord, we do 00:07:11.949 --> 00:07:14.209 not know where you're going. How can we know 00:07:14.209 --> 00:07:20.110 the way? Jesus said to him, I am the way, the 00:07:20.110 --> 00:07:23.870 truth, the life. No one comes to the Father except 00:07:23.870 --> 00:07:27.629 through me. And this way is a literal way. It's 00:07:27.629 --> 00:07:32.269 not just he's the doorway. He is the way of living. 00:07:32.490 --> 00:07:37.449 He is the way in every way. He is the way incarnate. 00:07:37.769 --> 00:07:40.870 He is the word incarnate. He has lived out for 00:07:40.870 --> 00:07:45.189 us to see on display the way of life. And the 00:07:45.189 --> 00:07:47.569 only way to get on that way, which is the narrow 00:07:47.569 --> 00:07:49.870 way, is through him because he's the only way 00:07:49.870 --> 00:07:54.329 to get there. Now, Romans 11, 28 through 36. 00:07:55.410 --> 00:07:58.509 As regards the gospel. Now, I want you to notice 00:07:58.509 --> 00:08:02.069 something very important. Is as we go through 00:08:02.069 --> 00:08:06.540 these verses, look at God's way. Because you'll 00:08:06.540 --> 00:08:09.100 be surprised that it's not the way you think. 00:08:09.939 --> 00:08:13.199 Because man thinks one way, we think we're right. 00:08:13.399 --> 00:08:15.420 Well, this has got to be the way that God does 00:08:15.420 --> 00:08:19.939 things because God is love. After all, when we 00:08:19.939 --> 00:08:23.990 read this and we see God's way. of his mercy, 00:08:24.089 --> 00:08:28.410 which is given to us as we experience and actually 00:08:28.410 --> 00:08:33.629 walk in his salvation because of Christ, we really 00:08:33.629 --> 00:08:35.509 understand there is only one way, and it's a 00:08:35.509 --> 00:08:38.929 very narrow way. This is going to shock you. 00:08:39.590 --> 00:08:43.309 As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your 00:08:43.309 --> 00:08:46.870 sake. Who are they? Those who have rejected Christ, 00:08:47.070 --> 00:08:51.389 the Jews. The Jews are enemies for your sake. 00:08:51.960 --> 00:08:56.440 But as regards election, they are beloved for 00:08:56.440 --> 00:09:00.720 the sake of their forefathers. In other words, 00:09:00.720 --> 00:09:04.600 because of election and God bringing salvation 00:09:04.600 --> 00:09:08.940 through the Jews and the forefathers, Abraham, 00:09:09.179 --> 00:09:13.840 Isaac, Jacob, we can have salvation. For the 00:09:13.840 --> 00:09:16.519 gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 00:09:17.500 --> 00:09:21.340 The gift of salvation for the elect is irrevocable. 00:09:21.360 --> 00:09:25.220 You cannot stop it. Every elected person will 00:09:25.220 --> 00:09:29.740 be saved. This is a problem for many others who 00:09:29.740 --> 00:09:33.779 look at some theology differently because they 00:09:33.779 --> 00:09:35.940 really have a hard time dealing with chapter 00:09:35.940 --> 00:09:40.059 11, actually chapter 9, 10, and 11 of Romans. 00:09:40.970 --> 00:09:43.629 Look at what it says. For just as you were at 00:09:43.629 --> 00:09:47.570 one time disobedient to God, but now have received 00:09:47.570 --> 00:09:51.350 mercy because of their disobedience. Think about 00:09:51.350 --> 00:09:55.250 that. Because of their rejection, you, being 00:09:55.250 --> 00:09:57.870 disobedient, have received the mercy of God. 00:09:58.009 --> 00:10:00.190 Because of their disobedience and the rejection 00:10:00.190 --> 00:10:03.610 of Christ, you received mercy of God because 00:10:03.610 --> 00:10:05.889 you were disobedient. That's what he means here. 00:10:06.070 --> 00:10:10.279 So they too. have now been disobedient in order 00:10:10.279 --> 00:10:15.519 that by the mercy shown to you, they also may 00:10:15.519 --> 00:10:19.200 now receive mercy. Isn't that interesting? So 00:10:19.200 --> 00:10:22.460 this is what happens. So I'm being disobedient 00:10:22.460 --> 00:10:24.919 and because of my disobedience, God can now show 00:10:24.919 --> 00:10:27.480 me mercy. Because why would he have to show mercy 00:10:27.480 --> 00:10:29.899 to someone who's obedient? There's no need for 00:10:29.899 --> 00:10:32.279 mercy when you're being obedient. You need mercy 00:10:32.279 --> 00:10:35.600 when you're being disobedient, right? So I'm 00:10:35.600 --> 00:10:38.850 being disobedient. And the disobedience of someone 00:10:38.850 --> 00:10:42.509 else brings mercy to me because of my disobedience. 00:10:42.730 --> 00:10:45.690 And then he turns around and says, so they too 00:10:45.690 --> 00:10:48.350 have now been disobedient in an order that by 00:10:48.350 --> 00:10:51.629 the mercy shown to you, you may also now receive 00:10:51.629 --> 00:10:56.169 mercy. Wow. So the disobedience of one is now 00:10:56.169 --> 00:10:59.090 giving me an opportunity for God's mercy? Yes. 00:10:59.809 --> 00:11:03.840 Now look at this, verse 32. This is an interesting 00:11:03.840 --> 00:11:10.419 verse. Look, for God has consigned all to disobedience. 00:11:10.460 --> 00:11:14.460 This word consigned means to be shut up on all 00:11:14.460 --> 00:11:18.519 sides. So those wonderful little babies, God's 00:11:18.519 --> 00:11:21.480 consigned them to disobedience. God has shut 00:11:21.480 --> 00:11:27.360 them in, in all sides, so that one may save them. 00:11:27.440 --> 00:11:33.100 God has shut us all in to disobedience. God uses 00:11:33.100 --> 00:11:37.700 my disobedience, my sinfulness to redeem me. 00:11:38.200 --> 00:11:41.659 Isn't that? And now that should shock you. You 00:11:41.659 --> 00:11:43.879 know why? Because God's thoughts aren't our thoughts. 00:11:44.960 --> 00:11:47.879 Here's the point. If I was never disobedient, 00:11:47.899 --> 00:11:50.480 would I ever understand God's mercy? Would we 00:11:50.480 --> 00:11:54.379 really understand God's mercy and what it means 00:11:54.379 --> 00:11:58.450 to have mercy upon us? and the greatness and 00:11:58.450 --> 00:12:01.549 the grandness of God's grace and mercy if we 00:12:01.549 --> 00:12:03.990 weren't disobedient. What's the point? That's 00:12:03.990 --> 00:12:07.090 important to understand. So I thank God that 00:12:07.090 --> 00:12:11.289 he has consigned me to my sinful nature so that 00:12:11.289 --> 00:12:14.149 I can experience the grace and the mercy of God, 00:12:14.309 --> 00:12:17.850 not because I love my sin, because I do, so that 00:12:17.850 --> 00:12:20.789 his mercy would be great upon me. That's the 00:12:20.789 --> 00:12:25.730 point. Like, wow. Now, who would even think? 00:12:26.379 --> 00:12:28.919 of that. I mean, God could have fixed it, right? 00:12:29.080 --> 00:12:31.740 I mean, God could have removed all this. We don't 00:12:31.740 --> 00:12:34.100 have to suffer, but we do because if we don't 00:12:34.100 --> 00:12:36.659 understand the depth of our sin, we don't understand 00:12:36.659 --> 00:12:39.360 the depth of the mercy of God because where sin 00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:43.879 increases, grace increases all the more. So what 00:12:43.879 --> 00:12:45.779 do we do? Continue sinning so that grace may 00:12:45.779 --> 00:12:48.899 increase? By no means. We died to sin. How can 00:12:48.899 --> 00:12:51.620 we live in it any longer? We don't continue sinning 00:12:51.620 --> 00:12:55.740 because God gives us grace. God gives us grace 00:12:55.740 --> 00:12:58.059 because he gives us the power to be obedient. 00:12:58.460 --> 00:13:02.740 Isn't that amazing? Now, when we look at this, 00:13:02.860 --> 00:13:06.419 look what it says at the end of verse 32. For 00:13:06.419 --> 00:13:09.580 God has consigned, for God has shut up all of 00:13:09.580 --> 00:13:17.659 us on all sides to disobedience that he may have 00:13:17.659 --> 00:13:23.360 mercy on all. Oh, look at this beautiful statement. 00:13:24.059 --> 00:13:28.620 Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and 00:13:28.620 --> 00:13:32.899 knowledge of God. Oh, the depth of the riches 00:13:32.899 --> 00:13:37.419 of God's thoughts who are higher than your thoughts 00:13:37.419 --> 00:13:43.240 and my ways higher than your ways. You have no 00:13:43.240 --> 00:13:47.159 clue what God has planned for those who he has 00:13:47.159 --> 00:13:50.519 adopted and redeemed. It's beyond your imagination. 00:13:50.860 --> 00:13:53.820 You can't even think and fathom because your 00:13:53.820 --> 00:13:57.440 thoughts don't even compare. Oh, the depth of 00:13:57.440 --> 00:13:59.980 the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God. 00:14:00.059 --> 00:14:04.440 How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable 00:14:04.440 --> 00:14:11.519 his ways. God's way of mercy is through God. 00:14:11.419 --> 00:14:16.179 disobedience. For who has known the mind of the 00:14:16.179 --> 00:14:20.279 Lord? And who has been his counselor? Can you 00:14:20.279 --> 00:14:24.419 tell him? I mean, Job tried, right? Cursed the 00:14:24.419 --> 00:14:27.259 day I was born. He said, where were you, Job, 00:14:27.279 --> 00:14:30.120 when I set the foundations of the earth and drew 00:14:30.120 --> 00:14:32.299 a line in it? Where were you when I told the 00:14:32.299 --> 00:14:36.799 waters to stop here? Were you there? No. That's 00:14:36.799 --> 00:14:38.799 because God's thoughts are higher than our thoughts 00:14:38.799 --> 00:14:40.860 and his ways are higher than our ways. We can't 00:14:40.860 --> 00:14:45.159 even imagine. Verse 35 of Romans 11. Or who has 00:14:45.159 --> 00:14:48.379 given a gift to him that he might be repaid? 00:14:48.519 --> 00:14:51.940 Could you even repay him for what he has done? 00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:55.279 The very thought of God accomplishes whatever 00:14:55.279 --> 00:14:59.799 he plans. For from him and through him and to 00:14:59.799 --> 00:15:03.419 him are all things. To him be glory forever and 00:15:03.419 --> 00:15:06.820 ever. Do you hear that? From him. Through him 00:15:06.820 --> 00:15:10.879 and to him are all things. That's called sovereignty. 00:15:11.120 --> 00:15:14.500 So for all those who may hear this message, who 00:15:14.500 --> 00:15:18.019 don't want to hear about the sovereignty of God, 00:15:18.259 --> 00:15:22.700 deal with that. That's a way that is far beyond 00:15:22.700 --> 00:15:25.700 my, I can't even comprehend. I do all things 00:15:25.700 --> 00:15:30.110 through me, for me, and to me. Why? Because there's 00:15:30.110 --> 00:15:32.809 one place that we can understand God's ways. 00:15:32.850 --> 00:15:36.169 God's ways have been given to you in a way for 00:15:36.169 --> 00:15:40.110 you to live rightly. God's ways are found only 00:15:40.110 --> 00:15:44.490 in one place. One place, his word. You can't 00:15:44.490 --> 00:15:46.450 get his ways anywhere else. There's no other 00:15:46.450 --> 00:15:50.649 place. In all of creation besides his word. You 00:15:50.649 --> 00:15:53.210 can't find it in the Quran. You can't find it 00:15:53.210 --> 00:15:55.710 in the Hare Krishnas. You can't find it in Jehovah's 00:15:55.710 --> 00:15:57.509 Witnesses. You can't find it in the Mormons. 00:15:57.509 --> 00:16:00.330 Their ways will kill you. It's not God's ways. 00:16:00.429 --> 00:16:03.610 God's ways are clear. It's consistent. He doesn't 00:16:03.610 --> 00:16:05.850 shift and he doesn't change. His ways are made 00:16:05.850 --> 00:16:10.269 very clear for us to obey. Psalm 25, four through 00:16:10.269 --> 00:16:14.149 five. Make me to know your ways, O Lord. Teach 00:16:14.149 --> 00:16:18.679 me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach 00:16:18.679 --> 00:16:22.820 me for you are the God of my salvation. For you, 00:16:22.919 --> 00:16:28.379 I wait all the day long. Your ways, your paths, 00:16:28.759 --> 00:16:32.679 your truth, your salvation. Do you see it? Do 00:16:32.679 --> 00:16:35.399 you see who, where's the way? Christ is the way. 00:16:35.980 --> 00:16:40.279 2 Peter 1. 3 through 11. The very first verse 00:16:40.279 --> 00:16:42.860 we're going to read here is the declaration statement 00:16:42.860 --> 00:16:45.799 for this particular chapter, to be honest with 00:16:45.799 --> 00:16:51.179 you. His divine power has granted to us all things 00:16:51.179 --> 00:16:55.759 that pertain to life and godliness. His divine 00:16:55.759 --> 00:17:01.259 power has granted us all things, the way to life 00:17:01.259 --> 00:17:04.940 and godliness. Through the knowledge of him who 00:17:04.940 --> 00:17:08.460 called us to his own glory and excellence. Now, 00:17:08.460 --> 00:17:14.420 verse 4. By which he has granted to us his precious 00:17:14.420 --> 00:17:17.940 and very great promises. He has granted those 00:17:17.940 --> 00:17:21.839 promises, the word, to us. And they are not only 00:17:21.839 --> 00:17:25.920 precious, but they are very great. So that through 00:17:25.920 --> 00:17:29.680 them, through what? Through the word, you may 00:17:29.680 --> 00:17:32.400 become partakers of the divine nature. Through 00:17:32.400 --> 00:17:35.680 the word. Faith comes by hearing the word. Hearing 00:17:35.680 --> 00:17:39.019 the word of Christ. It's the word of Christ that 00:17:39.019 --> 00:17:42.039 we become partakers of the divine nature. What 00:17:42.039 --> 00:17:45.140 great promise, the promise of Messiah. What great 00:17:45.140 --> 00:17:47.279 promise that we will be with him forever. What 00:17:47.279 --> 00:17:49.539 great promise that he has a people that is not 00:17:49.539 --> 00:17:53.880 of this world. And if that's true, what way should 00:17:53.880 --> 00:17:58.200 his people live? Look at this. So that through 00:17:58.200 --> 00:18:01.460 them, you may become partakers of the divine 00:18:01.460 --> 00:18:06.740 nature, having escaped from. The corruption that 00:18:06.740 --> 00:18:10.720 is in the world because of sinful desires. We 00:18:10.720 --> 00:18:14.359 are escaping corruption. That's an amazing thought. 00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:21.299 We escape. John has escaped corruption. So when 00:18:21.299 --> 00:18:24.640 he's laying in the bed next to his wife and he 00:18:24.640 --> 00:18:27.539 looks over to her and says, why am I still here? 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:31.940 I want my escape. What an amazing thing. That's 00:18:31.940 --> 00:18:35.940 celebration. We're still here. Escaping, right? 00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:39.000 Well, we have in Christ already escaped, but 00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:43.819 now for this very reason, because of the truth 00:18:43.819 --> 00:18:47.460 that God in his divine power has granted us all 00:18:47.460 --> 00:18:49.519 things for life and Godliness, he has given us 00:18:49.519 --> 00:18:53.619 a way and the way because of his knowledge and 00:18:53.619 --> 00:18:57.099 has granted us these precious and great promises 00:18:57.099 --> 00:19:01.079 and that we have, we can now. We now have become 00:19:01.079 --> 00:19:03.720 partakers of the divine nature and escaping the 00:19:03.720 --> 00:19:07.740 corruption. How should you live the way? For 00:19:07.740 --> 00:19:11.140 this very reason, verse 5, make every effort 00:19:11.140 --> 00:19:14.900 to supplement your faith. What's a supplement? 00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:18.599 I'll give you an example. How many guys like 00:19:18.599 --> 00:19:22.160 to go out in the sun? I know. But then the doctors 00:19:22.160 --> 00:19:23.799 go, you know, you really can't go out in the 00:19:23.799 --> 00:19:27.160 sun because, you know, the ozone layer is thinning 00:19:27.160 --> 00:19:30.019 and you're going to get skin cancer. But they 00:19:30.019 --> 00:19:31.579 don't tell you that when you don't go out in 00:19:31.579 --> 00:19:34.619 the sun and get vitamin D3, you get other cancers. 00:19:35.240 --> 00:19:39.259 Because vitamin D3 is absolute necessity for 00:19:39.259 --> 00:19:44.240 your immune system. Why? So I supplement. I need 00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:47.619 to supplement. The idea is I need to, in addition 00:19:47.619 --> 00:19:54.220 to my faith, add something. So add to my faith 00:19:54.220 --> 00:19:59.599 virtue and virtue knowledge. And knowledge self 00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:03.539 -control. And self -control steadfastness. And 00:20:03.539 --> 00:20:07.500 steadfastness with godliness. And godliness with 00:20:07.500 --> 00:20:10.259 brotherly affection. And brotherly affection 00:20:10.259 --> 00:20:16.339 with love. So timely. So timely. So important. 00:20:16.599 --> 00:20:21.839 For if these qualities are yours. And are increasing. 00:20:22.599 --> 00:20:26.559 They keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful 00:20:26.559 --> 00:20:30.200 in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. What's 00:20:30.200 --> 00:20:33.339 the point? Ephesians, we are to grow into mature 00:20:33.339 --> 00:20:36.799 manhood, into the knowledge and the stature of 00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:42.220 Christ, to know his ways and let him reveal to 00:20:42.220 --> 00:20:45.240 us his thoughts because our thoughts don't, in 00:20:45.240 --> 00:20:48.400 our ways, they just, it's oil and water. For 00:20:48.400 --> 00:20:53.140 whoever lacks these qualities, is so nearsighted 00:20:53.140 --> 00:20:56.680 that he is blind. That is the blind leading the 00:20:56.680 --> 00:21:01.180 blind. They fall into a pit. Having forgotten, 00:21:01.500 --> 00:21:05.720 it continues, having forgotten that he was cleansed 00:21:05.720 --> 00:21:08.839 from his former sins. In other words, he didn't 00:21:08.839 --> 00:21:13.240 clean himself. Christ cleanses us. It's Christ, 00:21:13.339 --> 00:21:18.150 the way. Therefore, brothers, Be all the more 00:21:18.150 --> 00:21:21.170 diligent to confirm your calling and election. 00:21:21.569 --> 00:21:24.670 In other words, if you want to make sure that 00:21:24.670 --> 00:21:27.809 everyone knows you're a believer, live this way. 00:21:28.750 --> 00:21:32.130 Confirm it. Prove it. Don't want to hear no talk. 00:21:33.130 --> 00:21:36.210 Prove it's what he's saying here. For if you 00:21:36.210 --> 00:21:40.490 practice, you see that? These qualities, you 00:21:40.490 --> 00:21:43.500 will never fall. Doesn't mean you're not going 00:21:43.500 --> 00:21:45.759 to make mistakes. It means that you will not 00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:50.259 fall away. Your salvation is sure because you 00:21:50.259 --> 00:21:53.519 are, by the power of the Spirit, continuing to 00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:58.920 add to your faith these things, these supplements, 00:21:59.220 --> 00:22:03.099 these spiritual supplements. That's the way that 00:22:03.099 --> 00:22:07.099 God has given for you. For in this way, there 00:22:07.099 --> 00:22:11.180 will be... Richly provided for you an entrance 00:22:11.180 --> 00:22:13.839 into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior 00:22:13.839 --> 00:22:17.539 Jesus Christ. The grand entrance. There's going 00:22:17.539 --> 00:22:21.099 to be a grand entrance or it's going to be, what 00:22:21.099 --> 00:22:23.559 do you call those little party doodads that you 00:22:23.559 --> 00:22:27.819 wear a little patent and it gets wet and no longer 00:22:27.819 --> 00:22:30.660 does it anymore. It's like, what kind of entrance 00:22:30.660 --> 00:22:39.470 are you going to have? You know, you pull the 00:22:39.470 --> 00:22:42.430 string and a little thing goes poof. Or is it 00:22:42.430 --> 00:22:45.670 going to be fireworks? I don't know. I don't 00:22:45.670 --> 00:22:47.150 know what that's going to be like, but I want 00:22:47.150 --> 00:22:48.930 a grand entrance because that's what he says. 00:22:48.990 --> 00:22:51.230 For in this way, there will be richly provided 00:22:51.230 --> 00:22:53.170 for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom 00:22:53.170 --> 00:22:55.069 of God. I'm wanting to know what that looks like. 00:22:55.670 --> 00:22:59.230 So in the Psalms, there are a lot of scriptures 00:22:59.230 --> 00:23:02.670 that talk about the way. And I'm going to give 00:23:02.670 --> 00:23:06.990 you a few of them today. In Psalm 18, verse 21. 00:23:07.690 --> 00:23:11.089 For I have kept the ways of the Lord and have 00:23:11.089 --> 00:23:14.109 not wickedly departed from them. What are the 00:23:14.109 --> 00:23:17.250 ways? The word of God. God's commands. That's 00:23:17.250 --> 00:23:19.130 his way. You want to know what God's way is? 00:23:19.309 --> 00:23:22.190 Be obedient to his word. That's his way. That's 00:23:22.190 --> 00:23:24.329 what he's saying here. All of this points to 00:23:24.329 --> 00:23:28.349 his way. And his ways are way different. So he 00:23:28.349 --> 00:23:32.250 has a way for you. His way is obedience. He has 00:23:32.250 --> 00:23:36.450 a way for you to come through Christ. by which 00:23:36.450 --> 00:23:40.690 he consigned our disobedience to experience his 00:23:40.690 --> 00:23:46.410 mercy and grace. He has a way, his faith, which 00:23:46.410 --> 00:23:48.970 he deposits in you and causes to grow in you. 00:23:49.069 --> 00:23:51.990 And as a result of his creation of faith within 00:23:51.990 --> 00:23:54.589 you, you come to the saving knowledge of Christ. 00:23:54.690 --> 00:23:57.710 That's his way. He's the way. There is no other 00:23:57.710 --> 00:24:01.329 way. For I've kept the ways of the Lord and have 00:24:01.329 --> 00:24:04.769 not... wickedly departed from my God. Psalm 25 00:24:04.769 --> 00:24:10.029 .4, make me know your ways, O Lord, teach me 00:24:10.029 --> 00:24:13.789 your paths. Make me know your ways. Why? Because 00:24:13.789 --> 00:24:17.670 if I don't know your ways, I will fail you. And 00:24:17.670 --> 00:24:21.390 God says that if we practice these things, we 00:24:21.390 --> 00:24:24.769 will not fail him. We will not fall, I mean. 00:24:24.930 --> 00:24:30.029 Here we go. Psalm 25 .8. Good and upright is 00:24:30.029 --> 00:24:33.130 the Lord. Therefore, he instructs his sinners 00:24:33.130 --> 00:24:39.910 in the way. Psalm 37, 23 and 24. The steps of 00:24:39.910 --> 00:24:43.009 a man are established by the Lord when he delights 00:24:43.009 --> 00:24:46.930 in his way. In other words, the only way that 00:24:46.930 --> 00:24:49.690 you're going to be able to have your steps established 00:24:49.690 --> 00:24:54.789 in Christ is to delight in his way. Not by watching 00:24:54.789 --> 00:24:57.569 just preachers on TV. It's not enough of the 00:24:57.569 --> 00:25:00.390 way. The way is the word. It's not by listening 00:25:00.390 --> 00:25:02.690 to these little tiny messages you get from people 00:25:02.690 --> 00:25:07.509 that give you the fluff and it tastes like, what 00:25:07.509 --> 00:25:11.630 am I thinking of? It tastes like a s'more. Tastes 00:25:11.630 --> 00:25:14.269 really good, but it's really bad for you. And 00:25:14.269 --> 00:25:17.910 I love s'mores. That's so bad. His way is different. 00:25:18.710 --> 00:25:21.309 The steps of a man are established by the Lord 00:25:21.309 --> 00:25:24.890 when he delights in his way. Though he fall, 00:25:25.269 --> 00:25:30.500 he shall not. be cast headlong for the Lord upholds 00:25:30.500 --> 00:25:34.920 his hands. Psalm 119 verse 1 through 3. Blessed 00:25:34.920 --> 00:25:39.539 are those whose way is blameless, who walk in 00:25:39.539 --> 00:25:42.420 the law of the Lord. Blessed are those who keep 00:25:42.420 --> 00:25:47.339 his testimonies, his way, and seek him with their 00:25:47.339 --> 00:25:52.099 whole heart, who also do no wrong but walk in 00:25:52.099 --> 00:25:57.740 his ways. Do you see the cycle here? Psalm 119, 00:25:57.799 --> 00:26:00.619 verse 14 and 15. I'm going to read all these. 00:26:00.660 --> 00:26:02.980 They're all Psalm 119. I'll tell you when it 00:26:02.980 --> 00:26:07.259 shifts, okay? So Psalm 119, verse 14 and 15. 00:26:07.480 --> 00:26:11.359 In the way of your testimonies I delight as much 00:26:11.359 --> 00:26:16.240 as in all riches. I will meditate on your precepts 00:26:16.240 --> 00:26:22.269 and fix my eyes on your ways. 27, make me understand 00:26:22.269 --> 00:26:25.710 the way of your precepts and I will meditate 00:26:25.710 --> 00:26:30.109 on your wondrous works. I have chosen the way 00:26:30.109 --> 00:26:33.269 of faithfulness. Why? Because God's way is faithfulness. 00:26:33.769 --> 00:26:38.150 I have set your rules before me. 32, I will run 00:26:38.150 --> 00:26:41.750 in the way of your commands when you enlarge 00:26:41.750 --> 00:26:45.099 my heart. In other words, as I continue to run 00:26:45.099 --> 00:26:47.940 in the way of your commands, my heart becomes 00:26:47.940 --> 00:26:50.420 enlarged. And if you're ever a runner, did you 00:26:50.420 --> 00:26:52.640 know runners have bigger hearts than people who 00:26:52.640 --> 00:26:54.700 don't run? Isn't that interesting? That's a real 00:26:54.700 --> 00:26:59.279 physical fact. Or ride bikes. I mean, like big, 00:26:59.359 --> 00:27:04.480 strong muscles. Here we go. Verse 33. Teach me, 00:27:04.539 --> 00:27:06.880 O Lord, the way of your statutes, and I will 00:27:06.880 --> 00:27:15.190 keep it to the end. 37. worthless things, and 00:27:15.190 --> 00:27:20.230 give me life in your ways. Psalm 128, verse 1. 00:27:20.950 --> 00:27:24.549 Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks 00:27:24.549 --> 00:27:29.910 in his ways. And then Psalm 86, 11. Teach me 00:27:29.910 --> 00:27:34.069 your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth, 00:27:34.190 --> 00:27:38.390 unite my heart to fear your name. Do you see 00:27:38.390 --> 00:27:40.490 the point of what the way is? What is the way? 00:27:41.269 --> 00:27:47.079 God's word. Who's the way? Jesus. How many are 00:27:47.079 --> 00:27:51.339 on the way? Very few. His ways are not burdensome. 00:27:51.660 --> 00:27:54.500 So I want to end with this statement. Therefore, 00:27:54.519 --> 00:27:57.500 brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm 00:27:57.500 --> 00:28:00.900 your calling and election. For if you practice 00:28:00.900 --> 00:28:05.720 these qualities, if you live according to his 00:28:05.720 --> 00:28:10.319 ways, you will never fall. That's what this means. 00:28:11.160 --> 00:28:15.269 Love God. Love his word. Love his ways. Love 00:28:15.269 --> 00:28:20.049 his things. Love God's word, his commands. Love 00:28:20.049 --> 00:28:23.789 his commands. Live out his commands. Do his commands. 00:28:23.930 --> 00:28:26.230 It's there. You're going to do it regardless. 00:28:26.710 --> 00:28:29.730 Christ is the fulfillment of all that. It's not 00:28:29.730 --> 00:28:32.910 an issue of legalism. It's an issue of a clarification 00:28:32.910 --> 00:28:37.269 of the heart. If you love me, you obey these 00:28:37.269 --> 00:28:40.039 commands. Father, I want to thank you so much 00:28:40.039 --> 00:28:42.339 for your goodness and faithfulness. We give you 00:28:42.339 --> 00:28:45.019 praise, honor, and glory. And we thank you that 00:28:45.019 --> 00:28:48.119 you have given us your ways, that we may live 00:28:48.119 --> 00:28:51.880 a life that reflects you as you continue to conform 00:28:51.880 --> 00:28:54.579 us into the image of your Son for your glory, 00:28:54.680 --> 00:28:58.200 that we may be prepared to enter into the kingdom 00:28:58.200 --> 00:29:03.589 in such a way that you are so glorified and we 00:29:03.589 --> 00:29:06.369 praise you and thank you. You have consigned 00:29:06.369 --> 00:29:09.329 us to disobedience to show us mercy. You have 00:29:09.329 --> 00:29:12.829 given us salvation because of mercy and you have 00:29:12.829 --> 00:29:17.490 implanted in us faith, which is the gift that 00:29:17.490 --> 00:29:22.049 we may walk uprightly before you. May we supply 00:29:22.049 --> 00:29:26.130 or supplement faith with all these things for 00:29:26.130 --> 00:29:28.289 your glory. In Jesus' name, amen.