WEBVTT 00:00:03.619 --> 00:00:08.380 Mine went home to be with the Lord. Jim had preached 00:00:08.380 --> 00:00:12.560 in our church in Covington, Kentucky. Sometime 00:00:12.560 --> 00:00:14.800 later, he asked me to come to Kansas City to 00:00:14.800 --> 00:00:17.579 his church where I held a meeting, and then as 00:00:17.579 --> 00:00:20.100 a result of our getting to know each other, we 00:00:20.100 --> 00:00:22.219 asked him to join our staff in Covington, and 00:00:22.219 --> 00:00:27.820 he did that, I think it was in 1978. He had a 00:00:27.820 --> 00:00:32.240 very vital part of our ministry. We enjoyed serving 00:00:32.240 --> 00:00:35.049 together. He had been a pastor over 40 years 00:00:35.049 --> 00:00:38.950 himself and was desiring to wind down just a 00:00:38.950 --> 00:00:40.770 little bit, although he was the kind of a guy 00:00:40.770 --> 00:00:43.210 that didn't wind down very often, very fast. 00:00:45.490 --> 00:00:50.729 When I resigned the church in 1979, Jim continued 00:00:50.729 --> 00:00:56.829 on, of course. It was not but about three months 00:00:56.829 --> 00:01:00.409 later that I discovered that he had terminal 00:01:00.409 --> 00:01:04.840 cancer. Jim enjoyed eating out, and I ate with 00:01:04.840 --> 00:01:07.980 him a number of times for lunch. He especially 00:01:07.980 --> 00:01:11.140 liked iced tea. He would put in what I call the 00:01:11.140 --> 00:01:16.140 fake sugar, the artificial sweetener. He didn't 00:01:16.140 --> 00:01:18.500 put in one package of glass. He would put in 00:01:18.500 --> 00:01:22.200 three or four per glass and drink a couple of 00:01:22.200 --> 00:01:26.299 glasses at a meal. I can't help but think that 00:01:26.299 --> 00:01:29.239 that contributed to the bladder cancer that eventually 00:01:29.239 --> 00:01:34.299 took his life. I will remember the last time 00:01:34.299 --> 00:01:37.540 that we saw him. Annette and I went to the hospital 00:01:37.540 --> 00:01:42.420 room where he was. He had several kinds of cancer 00:01:42.420 --> 00:01:47.000 in his body by that time. All of us knew that 00:01:47.000 --> 00:01:52.159 this was it in this world. We chatted, I suppose, 00:01:52.420 --> 00:01:57.040 for perhaps an hour. When it was time to go, 00:01:57.099 --> 00:02:00.700 we had prayer. And as I slipped out the door, 00:02:00.700 --> 00:02:05.500 I waved. And in my mind's eye, I can still see 00:02:05.500 --> 00:02:08.860 Jim lift his right hand and wave, put it down, 00:02:08.919 --> 00:02:13.699 close his eyes, and lean back in his bed. Within 00:02:13.699 --> 00:02:17.599 24 hours, Jim went into a coma, and just about 00:02:17.599 --> 00:02:23.159 three days later, went home to be deprived. It 00:02:23.159 --> 00:02:25.620 was sometime that fall, I think about four months 00:02:25.620 --> 00:02:27.919 after that, that I received a letter from his 00:02:27.919 --> 00:02:32.479 attorney. His attorney said that Jim... had left 00:02:32.479 --> 00:02:37.879 me $300 as an inheritance. You see, Jim was a 00:02:37.879 --> 00:02:42.479 pastor, and he knew that books to a pastor are 00:02:42.479 --> 00:02:46.319 what hammers and saws are to a carpenter. Books 00:02:46.319 --> 00:02:50.500 are the tools of the trade. And because he knew 00:02:50.500 --> 00:02:55.319 the expense of books, he very kindly left me 00:02:55.319 --> 00:02:59.139 in his will $300 stipulated to buy books with. 00:02:59.949 --> 00:03:02.949 And, of course, I went out and spent $300 very 00:03:02.949 --> 00:03:06.629 quickly on books. As far as I can remember, that's 00:03:06.629 --> 00:03:10.169 the only time that I've inherited anything. An 00:03:10.169 --> 00:03:13.789 inheritance is a very special gift because it 00:03:13.789 --> 00:03:17.409 is usually due to a relationship that has been 00:03:17.409 --> 00:03:22.449 precious and dear in this life. In our text today, 00:03:22.569 --> 00:03:29.449 we learn that all of us are heirs. of a marvelous 00:03:29.449 --> 00:03:33.990 inheritance that God has given to us. You may 00:03:33.990 --> 00:03:36.830 have inherited many estates in your life, or 00:03:36.830 --> 00:03:40.789 you may have never inherited even $300. But I 00:03:40.789 --> 00:03:42.810 want you to know that if you're a child of God 00:03:42.810 --> 00:03:47.729 today, you have obtained an inheritance. It says 00:03:47.729 --> 00:03:52.669 in Ephesians 1, verses 11 and 12, in him also 00:03:52.669 --> 00:03:57.349 we have obtained an inheritance. having been 00:03:57.349 --> 00:04:00.849 predestined according to his purpose, who works 00:04:00.849 --> 00:04:04.370 all things after the counsel of his will, to 00:04:04.370 --> 00:04:07.669 the end that we who were the first to hope in 00:04:07.669 --> 00:04:11.030 Christ should be to the praise of his glory. 00:04:12.909 --> 00:04:15.830 We have obtained inheritance, says our text. 00:04:16.029 --> 00:04:19.949 Now there are two possible readings to the same 00:04:19.949 --> 00:04:23.670 Greek words at this point. Occasionally this 00:04:23.670 --> 00:04:26.720 happens in the New Testament. The student simply 00:04:26.720 --> 00:04:29.480 has to decide which reading is preferred in light 00:04:29.480 --> 00:04:33.319 of several factors, including the context. It's 00:04:33.319 --> 00:04:36.600 possible to read verse 11 this way, In him also 00:04:36.600 --> 00:04:42.379 we have been made an inheritance. The idea in 00:04:42.379 --> 00:04:46.100 that reading being that we are the inheritance 00:04:46.100 --> 00:04:51.939 given by God to Jesus Christ. That coincides 00:04:51.939 --> 00:04:54.600 with the beautiful words of Jesus in John 17 00:04:54.600 --> 00:04:58.779 as he prays to the fathers and says he prays 00:04:58.779 --> 00:05:02.399 not for the world but for those, his words, whom 00:05:02.399 --> 00:05:08.240 thou hast given me. You see, Jesus realized that 00:05:08.240 --> 00:05:11.660 believers have been given to him in a very special 00:05:11.660 --> 00:05:16.459 sense. We are his special possession. And he 00:05:16.459 --> 00:05:20.120 prays for us. We are his inheritance in a sense. 00:05:21.579 --> 00:05:23.680 But I believe personally that the better reading 00:05:23.680 --> 00:05:26.300 of this phrase is what is found in most Bibles, 00:05:26.300 --> 00:05:29.699 including the NASV, which I have, when it says 00:05:29.699 --> 00:05:33.199 that we have obtained an inheritance. It seems 00:05:33.199 --> 00:05:35.060 to me that that reading is preferred because 00:05:35.060 --> 00:05:37.879 in the rest of the context, we are the recipients 00:05:37.879 --> 00:05:42.019 of what God has done. And it seems to me that 00:05:42.019 --> 00:05:46.279 should be the case here as well. We have received 00:05:46.279 --> 00:05:50.699 an inheritance from God. We have obtained it. 00:05:50.699 --> 00:05:54.339 He has given it to us. There are four thoughts 00:05:54.339 --> 00:05:57.980 from our text that expose this truth to help 00:05:57.980 --> 00:06:01.839 us to get a hold of it. First, let's think about 00:06:01.839 --> 00:06:04.660 the direction, the direction of our inheritance. 00:06:05.779 --> 00:06:08.259 There are two directions really involved. There 00:06:08.259 --> 00:06:12.740 is a past direction and a future direction. There 00:06:12.740 --> 00:06:17.410 is a past route to our inheritance. And there 00:06:17.410 --> 00:06:21.329 is a future orientation to it. Let me explain 00:06:21.329 --> 00:06:23.990 to you what I mean. Notice that the verb tense 00:06:23.990 --> 00:06:26.850 is such that it says this is a completed action. 00:06:27.310 --> 00:06:34.790 He says, we have obtained an inheritance. In 00:06:34.790 --> 00:06:36.629 other words, it's something that has already 00:06:36.629 --> 00:06:40.750 taken place. Not something that will take place. 00:06:40.829 --> 00:06:44.699 We have obtained an inheritance. Now, if that 00:06:44.699 --> 00:06:48.240 is true, when did it take place? When did we 00:06:48.240 --> 00:06:50.579 obtain the inheritance? There are three possible 00:06:50.579 --> 00:06:54.000 answers to that. I think they're all true in 00:06:54.000 --> 00:06:57.680 a certain way. When it says we have obtained 00:06:57.680 --> 00:07:00.620 the inheritance, it may refer to the eternal 00:07:00.620 --> 00:07:04.639 action of God's decree when, as according to 00:07:04.639 --> 00:07:08.379 our earlier studies, he chose us in Christ and 00:07:08.379 --> 00:07:11.439 predestined us to be his sons and to obtain glory. 00:07:12.810 --> 00:07:15.870 It's possible to say that at that point, before 00:07:15.870 --> 00:07:19.029 God even created, there was a sense in which 00:07:19.029 --> 00:07:23.649 we obtained this inheritance. It can also mean 00:07:23.649 --> 00:07:26.610 that we obtained this inheritance when the Lord 00:07:26.610 --> 00:07:29.850 Jesus Christ died for us. It may refer to his 00:07:29.850 --> 00:07:34.209 cross work where he, our savior and our benefactor, 00:07:34.329 --> 00:07:39.629 if you please, died to bring into force his will. 00:07:41.290 --> 00:07:43.949 Now, a will is something that is made and set 00:07:43.949 --> 00:07:47.629 in place, but it's not enforced until the death 00:07:47.629 --> 00:07:52.269 of the one who's made it. In Hebrews 9, verses 00:07:52.269 --> 00:07:57.449 15 to 17, God tells us that he has brought into 00:07:57.449 --> 00:08:03.050 enforcement his new covenant or his will through 00:08:03.050 --> 00:08:07.769 the death of Jesus Christ. His death was required 00:08:07.769 --> 00:08:12.810 so that the will of God The covenant of God could 00:08:12.810 --> 00:08:16.250 be set into motion, the new covenant sealed in 00:08:16.250 --> 00:08:19.230 the blood of Christ. And so there's a sense in 00:08:19.230 --> 00:08:21.670 which we obtained our inheritance when Jesus 00:08:21.670 --> 00:08:26.209 died for us. That's when Christ died and the 00:08:26.209 --> 00:08:30.649 will was set into motion. There's a third way 00:08:30.649 --> 00:08:33.029 that we can look at this same thought. We obtained 00:08:33.029 --> 00:08:37.330 our inheritance at the moment that we trusted 00:08:37.330 --> 00:08:40.450 in the Lord Jesus Christ. That is when the Holy 00:08:40.450 --> 00:08:43.570 Spirit regenerated us and we came to faith in 00:08:43.570 --> 00:08:47.330 Christ. At that moment, we obtained our inheritance 00:08:47.330 --> 00:08:50.929 in the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, if you want to 00:08:50.929 --> 00:08:53.950 settle for one of the three or for a piece of 00:08:53.950 --> 00:08:57.730 all three, as I personally do, the point is this, 00:08:57.809 --> 00:09:00.889 that our inheritance is not something for which 00:09:00.889 --> 00:09:06.049 we yet must strive, hoping to gain, but it has 00:09:06.049 --> 00:09:09.649 already been given to us. It is an action that 00:09:09.649 --> 00:09:13.769 is completed. We have it now. That's the path 00:09:13.769 --> 00:09:17.450 route. But let's look ahead now to the future 00:09:17.450 --> 00:09:20.590 orientation. Because you see, even though we 00:09:20.590 --> 00:09:24.490 have obtained it, we have not, in a sense, experienced 00:09:24.490 --> 00:09:31.029 it. We have not yet, in our own experience, seen 00:09:31.029 --> 00:09:34.029 that inheritance in our own possession. It's 00:09:34.029 --> 00:09:38.960 not ours in that sense of our experience. That 00:09:38.960 --> 00:09:41.320 is the sentence in which Peter writes about it, 00:09:41.360 --> 00:09:44.960 and I'd like you to turn to 1 Peter 1, because 00:09:44.960 --> 00:09:48.899 this is a parallel passage to what Paul writes 00:09:48.899 --> 00:09:55.240 in Ephesians 1. Verse 3 of 1 Peter 1. Blessed 00:09:55.240 --> 00:09:58.740 be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:09:59.200 --> 00:10:04.820 who according to his great mercy has caused us 00:10:04.820 --> 00:10:09.620 to be born again. to a living hope through the 00:10:09.620 --> 00:10:12.559 resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Great 00:10:12.559 --> 00:10:15.980 words there. Now verse 4 explains the purpose 00:10:15.980 --> 00:10:20.159 in view. To obtain an inheritance. Notice that. 00:10:20.620 --> 00:10:25.480 We have been called to be born again that we 00:10:25.480 --> 00:10:27.879 might obtain an inheritance. Notice what he says 00:10:27.879 --> 00:10:31.720 about it. Which is imperishable. That is, it 00:10:31.720 --> 00:10:36.960 cannot be destroyed. It's unspoiled. and is undefiled, 00:10:37.100 --> 00:10:42.220 that is, it is unstained, it's unspotted, and 00:10:42.220 --> 00:10:47.860 will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you. 00:10:48.159 --> 00:10:51.200 You see, there is a sense in which the inheritance 00:10:51.200 --> 00:10:55.399 that we have obtained is yet reserved in heaven 00:10:55.399 --> 00:11:00.600 for us, it goes on to say, who are protected 00:11:00.600 --> 00:11:05.049 by the power of God through faith. for his salvation 00:11:05.049 --> 00:11:08.269 ready to be revealed in the last time. And so 00:11:08.269 --> 00:11:10.929 God is reserving for us our inheritance in heaven. 00:11:10.990 --> 00:11:14.009 At the same time, he is protecting us here on 00:11:14.009 --> 00:11:19.029 the earth for it. So there's a future sense in 00:11:19.029 --> 00:11:22.809 which we will experience the inheritance that 00:11:22.809 --> 00:11:25.850 we have already obtained through Jesus Christ. 00:11:26.570 --> 00:11:29.549 That is the direction of our inheritance. It's 00:11:29.549 --> 00:11:33.220 rooted in the past. but it is oriented to the 00:11:33.220 --> 00:11:38.159 future as well. Secondly, I want you to think 00:11:38.159 --> 00:11:41.340 with me regarding a definition of our inheritance. 00:11:41.559 --> 00:11:44.980 What is it? What is this inheritance that we 00:11:44.980 --> 00:11:50.139 are said to have obtained? It is not, I say, 00:11:50.220 --> 00:11:56.100 the same as rewards. Our inheritance does not 00:11:56.100 --> 00:11:59.860 equal the rewards that we anticipate from the 00:11:59.860 --> 00:12:05.129 Lord. Rewards we earn, rewards may be lost, but 00:12:05.129 --> 00:12:08.850 not so our inheritance. Inheritance is based 00:12:08.850 --> 00:12:14.929 upon relationship and not servantship. Inheritance 00:12:14.929 --> 00:12:17.870 is based upon our relationship as the children 00:12:17.870 --> 00:12:22.590 of God, not upon our service for him. Our inheritance 00:12:22.590 --> 00:12:27.570 is secured to us forever. It is secured in heaven 00:12:27.570 --> 00:12:32.289 while we are protected on the earth. I think 00:12:32.289 --> 00:12:34.690 we can define our inheritance with this sentence. 00:12:35.190 --> 00:12:39.730 It is that which we share with Jesus Christ as 00:12:39.730 --> 00:12:43.309 joint heirs with him. That's what our inheritance 00:12:43.309 --> 00:12:46.950 is. It is that which we share with Jesus Christ 00:12:46.950 --> 00:12:50.350 as joint heirs with him. I believe that we can 00:12:50.350 --> 00:12:53.649 delineate it in four ways. In the first place, 00:12:53.730 --> 00:12:56.049 there is a sense in which our inheritance involves 00:12:56.049 --> 00:13:01.169 our eternal life. The very life that we share 00:13:01.169 --> 00:13:04.830 with Jesus Christ is ours by inheritance. In 00:13:04.830 --> 00:13:08.429 Matthew 19 .29, Jesus said, Everyone who has 00:13:08.429 --> 00:13:11.610 left houses or brothers or sisters or father 00:13:11.610 --> 00:13:14.710 or mother or children or farms for my name's 00:13:14.710 --> 00:13:18.529 sake shall receive many times as much and shall 00:13:18.529 --> 00:13:24.490 inherit eternal life. Now, Jesus is not saying 00:13:24.490 --> 00:13:28.159 there that we are working our way toward the 00:13:28.159 --> 00:13:31.259 inheritance of eternal life. But he's saying 00:13:31.259 --> 00:13:34.559 that one who truly believes on him is one whose 00:13:34.559 --> 00:13:38.460 faith will be proved by its works. And he says 00:13:38.460 --> 00:13:42.720 it is that genuine faith which is proved by works 00:13:42.720 --> 00:13:46.919 that causes us to inherit eternal life. So there's 00:13:46.919 --> 00:13:51.139 a sense in which we inherit our very life from 00:13:51.139 --> 00:13:55.580 Jesus Christ. We share that with him. Secondly, 00:13:56.350 --> 00:13:58.490 As we think of our inheritance, we must think 00:13:58.490 --> 00:14:01.169 of it in terms of our future glory with Christ. 00:14:02.070 --> 00:14:06.070 In Romans 8, verses 16 through 18, it says, The 00:14:06.070 --> 00:14:09.450 Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit 00:14:09.450 --> 00:14:13.250 that we are children of God, and if children, 00:14:13.509 --> 00:14:17.450 heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with 00:14:17.450 --> 00:14:20.590 Christ, if indeed we suffer with him in order 00:14:20.590 --> 00:14:25.330 that we may also be glorified with him. For I 00:14:25.330 --> 00:14:27.429 consider that the sufferings of this present 00:14:27.429 --> 00:14:31.769 time are not worthy to be compared with the glory 00:14:31.769 --> 00:14:36.590 that is to be revealed to us. Our inheritance 00:14:36.590 --> 00:14:40.789 in Jesus Christ involves future glory, a time 00:14:40.789 --> 00:14:43.909 when we will be like him in every aspect of our 00:14:43.909 --> 00:14:48.549 being, body, soul, and spirit, conformed to his 00:14:48.549 --> 00:14:53.139 image. It is at that time that... We can be said 00:14:53.139 --> 00:14:57.899 to be glorified. Glory, you see, is not just 00:14:57.899 --> 00:15:03.340 a place, another name for heaven, but it is the 00:15:03.340 --> 00:15:07.559 condition in which we will live in heaven. We 00:15:07.559 --> 00:15:11.960 will be glorified in glory. We will be like the 00:15:11.960 --> 00:15:14.799 Lord Jesus Christ, and that is our inheritance. 00:15:17.929 --> 00:15:20.409 I believe our inheritance can thirdly be described 00:15:20.409 --> 00:15:25.009 as kingdom privileges. In Matthew 25, verse 34, 00:15:25.169 --> 00:15:27.809 it says, Then the king shall say to those on 00:15:27.809 --> 00:15:31.070 his right, Come, you who are blessed with my 00:15:31.070 --> 00:15:33.909 father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you 00:15:33.909 --> 00:15:38.669 from the foundation of the world. God has purposed 00:15:38.669 --> 00:15:41.570 that his son, the Lord Jesus, should someday 00:15:41.570 --> 00:15:45.549 reign over a kingdom in this world. It is what 00:15:45.549 --> 00:15:47.909 we call the thousand -year reign of Christ or 00:15:47.909 --> 00:15:52.730 the millennium. Those who are Christ's will share 00:15:52.730 --> 00:15:57.429 with him the kingdom. You and I who are heirs 00:15:57.429 --> 00:16:01.730 with the Lord Jesus Christ will partake of kingdom 00:16:01.730 --> 00:16:06.090 privileges. We will reign together with Christ. 00:16:07.549 --> 00:16:10.570 So our inheritance involves the very eternal 00:16:10.570 --> 00:16:16.009 life that we have. future glory when we'll be 00:16:16.009 --> 00:16:19.269 like Christ and it involves kingdom privileges. 00:16:20.470 --> 00:16:23.289 But there's one more way to describe our inheritance. 00:16:24.250 --> 00:16:27.649 This is in a two -word phrase found in 1 Corinthians 00:16:27.649 --> 00:16:34.250 3, verses 21 to 23, where it is said that all 00:16:34.250 --> 00:16:41.350 things belong to us. As heirs with Jesus Christ, 00:16:41.470 --> 00:16:47.220 we will inherit All things. You say, well, what 00:16:47.220 --> 00:16:52.559 does that include? All things. That's how you 00:16:52.559 --> 00:16:57.379 say it, all things. It excludes nothing. This 00:16:57.379 --> 00:17:00.460 is the way he puts it. All things belong to you, 00:17:00.500 --> 00:17:04.000 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:07.420 or life or death or things present or things 00:17:07.420 --> 00:17:12.240 to come. All things belong to you. And you belong 00:17:12.240 --> 00:17:16.900 to Christ. And Christ belongs to God. Everything 00:17:16.900 --> 00:17:20.700 that God has created is a part of the inheritance 00:17:20.700 --> 00:17:25.160 that we have obtained in Christ. That includes 00:17:25.160 --> 00:17:28.339 not only this creation, but the new creation. 00:17:28.759 --> 00:17:33.220 For in Revelation 21 .7 it says, He who overcomes 00:17:33.220 --> 00:17:37.660 shall inherit these things. Now you have to look 00:17:37.660 --> 00:17:40.960 at the context to see what these things are. 00:17:42.059 --> 00:17:45.799 They are the new heavens, the new earth, and 00:17:45.799 --> 00:17:49.740 the new Jerusalem. He who overcomes, that's the 00:17:49.740 --> 00:17:52.779 definition of the believer, shall inherit these 00:17:52.779 --> 00:17:57.380 things. So not only all things that are now in 00:17:57.380 --> 00:18:01.099 this present creation, but all things that shall 00:18:01.099 --> 00:18:05.380 be when God creates a new heavens and new earth 00:18:05.380 --> 00:18:10.259 and a new Jerusalem. All of those things as well 00:18:10.259 --> 00:18:14.119 are ours as part of our inheritance to Christ. 00:18:14.740 --> 00:18:18.700 Now that's something to be excited about. Our 00:18:18.700 --> 00:18:23.579 inheritance is defined in those terms. Now think 00:18:23.579 --> 00:18:26.000 with me thirdly regarding the definiteness of 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:30.920 our inheritance. How do I know beyond a shadow 00:18:30.920 --> 00:18:36.509 of a doubt that I will be able to claim The inheritance 00:18:36.509 --> 00:18:40.690 that God has given to me. How do I know that 00:18:40.690 --> 00:18:44.970 I'll be there? Can I know that? Well, the answer 00:18:44.970 --> 00:18:48.750 is yes. You can know that. We all have the privilege 00:18:48.750 --> 00:18:52.789 of knowing that. The inheritance that we have 00:18:52.789 --> 00:18:57.970 obtained is definite. It rests upon two things 00:18:57.970 --> 00:19:02.890 in our text. It rests upon God's plan, number 00:19:02.890 --> 00:19:08.799 one. and God's person, number two. The definiteness 00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:12.059 of our inheritance, the assurance that we have 00:19:12.059 --> 00:19:15.460 that we shall be there to claim that inheritance 00:19:15.460 --> 00:19:19.500 rests upon God's plan and God's person. Notice 00:19:19.500 --> 00:19:23.980 with me first God's plan. Ephesians chapter 1. 00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:31.319 We have obtained an inheritance having been predestined 00:19:31.319 --> 00:19:36.099 according To his purpose. That's God's plan right 00:19:36.099 --> 00:19:39.980 there. What this means is that God marked out 00:19:39.980 --> 00:19:43.720 before him, God predestined a certain objective. 00:19:44.839 --> 00:19:49.079 And that objective is that you and I who trusted 00:19:49.079 --> 00:19:52.240 Christ should inherit the things he's talked 00:19:52.240 --> 00:19:56.299 about. In verse 5 he puts it this way. He predestined 00:19:56.299 --> 00:20:04.599 us to adoption as sons. You see, God marked out 00:20:04.599 --> 00:20:09.680 beforehand, he predestined, that we who trust 00:20:09.680 --> 00:20:13.400 the Lord Jesus Christ should be his sons, brought 00:20:13.400 --> 00:20:18.180 into his family as adults, and as that, heirs 00:20:18.180 --> 00:20:23.359 with Jesus Christ of all things. Our future glory, 00:20:23.779 --> 00:20:30.299 eternal life, and kingdom privileges. It says 00:20:30.299 --> 00:20:34.940 here that this predestining was according to 00:20:34.940 --> 00:20:38.599 his purpose. Did you notice that? The word purpose 00:20:38.599 --> 00:20:41.039 here is the noun of the verb in verse 9 that 00:20:41.039 --> 00:20:45.859 we looked at a couple of weeks ago. God predestined 00:20:45.859 --> 00:20:52.460 us according to his purpose. That is not a hard 00:20:52.460 --> 00:20:54.940 thing to get a hold of. God's purpose means that 00:20:54.940 --> 00:20:59.839 which he has set before him. I assume that some 00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:01.759 of you will be going on vacation this summer. 00:21:03.319 --> 00:21:05.799 At some point, if you have not done so already, 00:21:05.920 --> 00:21:08.279 you will sit down and you will set before yourself 00:21:08.279 --> 00:21:11.539 certain goals that you want to accomplish. You're 00:21:11.539 --> 00:21:13.960 going to drive to this destination. You're going 00:21:13.960 --> 00:21:16.839 to stay in that particular place. You're going 00:21:16.839 --> 00:21:19.819 to spend X number of dollars, knowing you'll 00:21:19.819 --> 00:21:23.640 probably spend double X number of dollars. You 00:21:23.640 --> 00:21:25.880 set certain goals before yourself. Now, you may 00:21:25.880 --> 00:21:29.109 not be able to carry all of those out. Because, 00:21:29.150 --> 00:21:31.089 you see, we can't know the future. We don't know 00:21:31.089 --> 00:21:34.809 all that may be involved in our plans. But we 00:21:34.809 --> 00:21:37.609 set before ourselves certain plans and purposes. 00:21:38.809 --> 00:21:41.690 And what this is saying here is that God has 00:21:41.690 --> 00:21:44.589 purposed certain things. God has set before him 00:21:44.589 --> 00:21:49.329 certain things. And his predestining, us, to 00:21:49.329 --> 00:21:52.230 receive the inheritance is a part of what he's 00:21:52.230 --> 00:21:55.329 purposed. Now there's one difference between 00:21:55.329 --> 00:21:59.779 our purposing and God's. While we may not be 00:21:59.779 --> 00:22:05.680 able to carry out what we purpose, God can carry 00:22:05.680 --> 00:22:10.480 out everything that he purposes. Because he knows 00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:14.119 everything that's involved in it. There's nothing 00:22:14.119 --> 00:22:18.980 that escapes his notice. What God purposes, he 00:22:18.980 --> 00:22:24.099 is able to do. We see God's purpose mentioned 00:22:24.099 --> 00:22:27.099 elsewhere in this epistle. In chapter 3, verse 00:22:27.099 --> 00:22:30.920 11, it says that God's calling out of Jew and 00:22:30.920 --> 00:22:34.640 Gentile to form the church was in accordance 00:22:34.640 --> 00:22:39.440 with the eternal purpose. Notice that word, eternal 00:22:39.440 --> 00:22:44.579 purpose. God set before himself back in eternity, 00:22:44.799 --> 00:22:47.579 before time even was, before there was a clock 00:22:47.579 --> 00:22:51.859 or a calendar. God set before himself certain 00:22:51.859 --> 00:22:56.740 objectives. And my friend, there is nothing in 00:22:56.740 --> 00:23:01.900 heaven or hell, neither saint nor sinner, angel 00:23:01.900 --> 00:23:06.440 nor demon, can prevent God from accomplishing 00:23:06.440 --> 00:23:11.380 his purpose. It's an eternal purpose. We see 00:23:11.380 --> 00:23:16.160 it mentioned as well in 2 Timothy chapter 1 and 00:23:16.160 --> 00:23:20.779 verse 9. We're writing about God. Paul says, 00:23:20.980 --> 00:23:24.769 Who has saved us? and called us with a holy calling, 00:23:24.789 --> 00:23:27.970 not according to our works, but according to 00:23:27.970 --> 00:23:32.930 his own purpose and grace, which was granted 00:23:32.930 --> 00:23:37.930 us in Christ Jesus from all eternity. You see 00:23:37.930 --> 00:23:43.769 that? From all of eternity past, God purposed 00:23:43.769 --> 00:23:46.990 what he was going to do, and he granted grace 00:23:46.990 --> 00:23:52.069 in advance to accomplish those purposes. But 00:23:52.069 --> 00:23:54.109 there's one more familiar passage that talks 00:23:54.109 --> 00:23:57.410 about his purpose, although sometimes it's overlooked 00:23:57.410 --> 00:24:01.630 in the speed of our recitation. Romans 8, 28. 00:24:01.910 --> 00:24:07.150 We read this this morning. It says that we know 00:24:07.150 --> 00:24:11.309 that God causes all things to work together for 00:24:11.309 --> 00:24:15.509 good to those who love God. Now question, who 00:24:15.509 --> 00:24:19.359 are those that love God? He answers it. Those 00:24:19.359 --> 00:24:26.440 who are called according to his purpose. Now, 00:24:26.539 --> 00:24:29.039 in this particular text, Paul goes on to elaborate 00:24:29.039 --> 00:24:32.599 what God's purpose is. He says, For whom he foreknew, 00:24:32.839 --> 00:24:36.599 he also predestined to be conformed to the image 00:24:36.599 --> 00:24:38.660 of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among 00:24:38.660 --> 00:24:41.579 many brethren. Whom he predestined, these he 00:24:41.579 --> 00:24:45.960 also called. Whom he called, these he also justified. 00:24:46.019 --> 00:24:50.089 And whom he justified, these... He also glorified. 00:24:51.470 --> 00:24:54.690 I want you to notice that the same D's are involved 00:24:54.690 --> 00:24:58.730 in all of those verbs. There are none that lose 00:24:58.730 --> 00:25:00.990 out along the way. In fact, there are none that 00:25:00.990 --> 00:25:04.710 are added along the way. He speaks about those 00:25:04.710 --> 00:25:07.849 he foreknew as being ones he predestined, and 00:25:07.849 --> 00:25:10.509 those he predestined he called. Those he called 00:25:10.509 --> 00:25:14.069 he justified, and those he called he what? He 00:25:14.069 --> 00:25:18.869 glorified. Now even though we have not experienced 00:25:18.869 --> 00:25:23.630 our glorification, it's still future. It is so 00:25:23.630 --> 00:25:28.410 sure to happen that the eternal God, who is not 00:25:28.410 --> 00:25:32.190 a part of the process of time, says, I see it 00:25:32.190 --> 00:25:38.089 as done. That is part of God's eternal purpose. 00:25:38.650 --> 00:25:42.549 That those that he foreknew and predestined and 00:25:42.549 --> 00:25:46.539 called and justified should be glorified. And 00:25:46.539 --> 00:25:48.759 that includes the obtaining of our inheritance. 00:25:48.920 --> 00:25:53.059 That's God's plan. That's God's plan. His plan 00:25:53.059 --> 00:25:58.339 is that all of those that he's called should 00:25:58.339 --> 00:26:05.160 obtain that inheritance. But this definiteness 00:26:05.160 --> 00:26:07.740 of the inheritance also rests upon God's person. 00:26:08.579 --> 00:26:10.900 Because you see, it's one thing to plan, it's 00:26:10.900 --> 00:26:14.380 another thing to pull it off. Is God able to 00:26:14.380 --> 00:26:19.599 pull off what he plans? Can God achieve it? God 00:26:19.599 --> 00:26:22.720 is the God of all power, is he not? He is omnipotent. 00:26:24.359 --> 00:26:26.599 Notice with me that we see the statement of his 00:26:26.599 --> 00:26:32.140 power here in Ephesians chapter 1, where he says, 00:26:32.220 --> 00:26:39.319 we've been predestined according to his purpose, 00:26:39.359 --> 00:26:45.900 who works. all things after the counsel of his 00:26:45.900 --> 00:26:48.539 will. I want to break that clause there down 00:26:48.539 --> 00:26:54.059 to three parts. Who works all things after the 00:26:54.059 --> 00:26:57.220 counsel of his will. We see the statement of 00:26:57.220 --> 00:26:59.559 his power in that word works. It means that he 00:26:59.559 --> 00:27:03.579 energizes. You see, intrinsic to God's purpose, 00:27:03.799 --> 00:27:08.579 his plan, is his power to fully accomplish it. 00:27:09.289 --> 00:27:14.109 God operates with divine energy without frustration. 00:27:15.210 --> 00:27:20.750 There is no one, there is no thing that can frustrate 00:27:20.750 --> 00:27:24.690 the purpose of God because he has all power and 00:27:24.690 --> 00:27:29.190 will bring about what he says he will do. That 00:27:29.190 --> 00:27:34.210 is God's power. He did it in creation. God spoke. 00:27:36.430 --> 00:27:38.430 And then God didn't have to go around trying 00:27:38.430 --> 00:27:41.470 to get things together for it. When God spoke, 00:27:41.710 --> 00:27:44.670 he said, that's my purpose, and immediately it 00:27:44.670 --> 00:27:50.650 was so. It was there, fully functioning. God 00:27:50.650 --> 00:27:53.029 didn't have to have startup time. God didn't 00:27:53.029 --> 00:27:56.710 have to have an evolutionary process. God purposed 00:27:56.710 --> 00:28:01.869 it that fast. It was there. It's true in redemption. 00:28:02.710 --> 00:28:04.869 What God purposed, he has the power to bring 00:28:04.869 --> 00:28:08.279 about. God purposed before the foundation of 00:28:08.279 --> 00:28:10.900 the world that Christ should come, die for our 00:28:10.900 --> 00:28:13.579 sins, and be raised from the dead. Look over 00:28:13.579 --> 00:28:17.240 here in verse 19. He says, These are in accordance 00:28:17.240 --> 00:28:20.619 with the working of the strength of his might 00:28:20.619 --> 00:28:24.440 which he brought about in Christ when he raised 00:28:24.440 --> 00:28:27.400 him from the dead and seated him at his right 00:28:27.400 --> 00:28:30.720 hand in the heavenly places. You see, not just 00:28:30.720 --> 00:28:33.720 in creation, but in redemption, God has revealed 00:28:33.720 --> 00:28:39.400 his power. Now, do you think that God is going 00:28:39.400 --> 00:28:47.460 to be overcome by the whims of man? Not in the 00:28:47.460 --> 00:28:54.240 slightest. What God has purposed to do, he will 00:28:54.240 --> 00:28:58.319 do. He has the power to do it. So how do I know 00:28:58.319 --> 00:29:02.160 that I'm really going to experience the inheritance 00:29:02.160 --> 00:29:05.259 that I've said to obtain? How do I know that 00:29:05.259 --> 00:29:08.099 God isn't going to change his will and drop me 00:29:08.099 --> 00:29:11.599 out of it somewhere along the way? You know, 00:29:11.680 --> 00:29:15.700 my friend, because God's plan is that all that 00:29:15.700 --> 00:29:20.480 he foreknew and called and justified, he also 00:29:20.480 --> 00:29:23.859 glorified. That's his plan. And his power is 00:29:23.859 --> 00:29:27.680 great enough not only to keep that inheritance 00:29:27.680 --> 00:29:32.380 in heaven for you, but to keep you for it. 1 00:29:32.380 --> 00:29:38.920 Peter 3. What is the scope of his power? Well, 00:29:38.940 --> 00:29:42.880 it says here that he works all things. Now, what 00:29:42.880 --> 00:29:45.940 does that include? Well, again, it's all things. 00:29:46.019 --> 00:29:49.539 It's unlimited. There's no limit to the reach 00:29:49.539 --> 00:29:53.279 of God's ability to employ all things to his 00:29:53.279 --> 00:29:56.200 own end. That's why Romans 8 .28 says what it 00:29:56.200 --> 00:30:04.289 does. He works all things, as it says here. after 00:30:04.289 --> 00:30:08.250 the counsel of his will. So we have the statement 00:30:08.250 --> 00:30:12.750 of his power, he works, the scope of his power, 00:30:12.890 --> 00:30:16.490 all things, now the sphere of his power. You 00:30:16.490 --> 00:30:18.769 see, God's power is not just exploding in all 00:30:18.769 --> 00:30:23.470 directions. God, who is all -powerful, has carefully 00:30:23.470 --> 00:30:27.349 channeled his power. It's moving in a certain 00:30:27.349 --> 00:30:29.589 direction. It's operating in a certain sphere. 00:30:30.269 --> 00:30:33.170 And that sphere is said to be the counsel of 00:30:33.170 --> 00:30:37.049 his will. And what is God's will? Well, that 00:30:37.049 --> 00:30:41.029 is his divine volition. It's what he wills to 00:30:41.029 --> 00:30:44.509 do. It's his purpose. What is the counsel, then, 00:30:44.529 --> 00:30:47.589 of his will? Well, that could be described as 00:30:47.589 --> 00:30:51.329 the specific plan that springs forth from God's 00:30:51.329 --> 00:30:55.410 will. I like the words of Dr. Hendrickson in 00:30:55.410 --> 00:30:57.990 his commentary on Ephesians when he says, The 00:30:57.990 --> 00:31:00.920 benevolent purpose... that we should be holy 00:31:00.920 --> 00:31:04.579 and faultless, destined to glorify him forever. 00:31:05.220 --> 00:31:09.779 The benevolent purpose is fixed. Being part of 00:31:09.779 --> 00:31:14.119 a larger, universe -embracing plan, not only 00:31:14.119 --> 00:31:17.299 did God make this plan that includes absolutely 00:31:17.299 --> 00:31:20.880 all things that ever take place in heaven, on 00:31:20.880 --> 00:31:24.519 earth, and in hell, but he also wholly carries 00:31:24.519 --> 00:31:28.259 it out. And then he makes this powerful sentence. 00:31:29.319 --> 00:31:35.160 His providence in time is as comprehensive as 00:31:35.160 --> 00:31:41.440 his decree from all eternity. God's decree in 00:31:41.440 --> 00:31:45.299 eternity past includes all things. And now in 00:31:45.299 --> 00:31:48.240 the process of time, his providence, his power, 00:31:48.380 --> 00:31:53.500 is able to fully carry out every aspect of his 00:31:53.500 --> 00:31:58.789 divine decree in the past. He works all things 00:31:58.789 --> 00:32:02.710 after the counsel of his will. Now, my friend, 00:32:02.750 --> 00:32:06.349 that includes your life and mine. That means 00:32:06.349 --> 00:32:12.910 you can trust God without fear or doubt. What 00:32:12.910 --> 00:32:15.089 are the circumstances that puzzle you today? 00:32:16.890 --> 00:32:19.750 What are the circumstances that are holding you 00:32:19.750 --> 00:32:24.369 back and limiting you and against which you jerk? 00:32:27.180 --> 00:32:31.220 You wish you could be free of them. What is it 00:32:31.220 --> 00:32:35.240 that's creating anxiety in your life? Will you 00:32:35.240 --> 00:32:39.539 today get a hold of this truth that God works 00:32:39.539 --> 00:32:44.519 all things at the counsel of his own will? And 00:32:44.519 --> 00:32:46.619 that includes the pesky little things in your 00:32:46.619 --> 00:32:49.039 life that right now are giving you headaches, 00:32:49.359 --> 00:32:55.180 giving you upset stomachs, giving you heartburn. 00:32:57.869 --> 00:33:01.049 The anxiety that you feel today, dear child of 00:33:01.049 --> 00:33:03.849 God, the anxiety you feel today, my friend, forgive 00:33:03.849 --> 00:33:06.230 me for saying it this way, it's of your own making. 00:33:09.589 --> 00:33:14.089 God wants us to know a perfect peace about the 00:33:14.089 --> 00:33:17.509 circumstances of our life because we can rest 00:33:17.509 --> 00:33:23.990 in him who has a plan and the power to pull it 00:33:23.990 --> 00:33:29.700 all off. That means that I don't need to worry 00:33:29.700 --> 00:33:34.940 about the interest rates going back up before 00:33:34.940 --> 00:33:39.839 I get my house refinanced. God's in control of 00:33:39.839 --> 00:33:44.059 that. It means I don't have to worry about the 00:33:44.059 --> 00:33:49.339 possibility of that disease that the doctors 00:33:49.339 --> 00:33:55.740 suspect may be in my body. It means I need not 00:33:55.740 --> 00:33:58.480 fret over those children that have gone astray. 00:33:59.900 --> 00:34:05.259 And I can relax in God. I can step back from 00:34:05.259 --> 00:34:08.699 my circumstances, take a deep breath, and say, 00:34:08.739 --> 00:34:14.280 Lord, thank you. Thank you that you are in charge. 00:34:15.780 --> 00:34:19.119 And I give myself to you. And I take my hands 00:34:19.119 --> 00:34:25.940 back from the strain, the rain. of my life how 00:34:25.940 --> 00:34:28.320 does god will you get a hold of this today and 00:34:28.320 --> 00:34:30.900 and how that applies to your life and how practical 00:34:30.900 --> 00:34:36.139 it is god knows what he's doing not just in the 00:34:36.139 --> 00:34:39.699 world in the universe and eternity god knows 00:34:39.699 --> 00:34:43.099 what he's doing in your life and mine too even 00:34:43.099 --> 00:34:46.360 though we may not be able to understand what 00:34:46.360 --> 00:34:48.599 we're passing through we may not be able to see 00:34:48.599 --> 00:34:52.929 the purpose in it But God is powerful enough 00:34:52.929 --> 00:34:56.590 to do what he wants to do. We have some dear 00:34:56.590 --> 00:35:01.730 friends in Kentucky who have visited here, as 00:35:01.730 --> 00:35:04.909 a matter of fact, a few years ago, who have wanted 00:35:04.909 --> 00:35:10.710 a baby for a long time. They've lost two or three 00:35:10.710 --> 00:35:20.500 due to premature delivery. And this time, jody 00:35:20.500 --> 00:35:22.820 was able to carry the baby full term and the 00:35:22.820 --> 00:35:28.280 baby was born last wednesday with down syndrome 00:35:28.280 --> 00:35:34.360 i haven't had a chance to talk to tom yet but 00:35:34.360 --> 00:35:38.380 knowing the man of god that he is i'm sure after 00:35:38.380 --> 00:35:41.340 he got over the initial shock and maybe disappointment 00:35:41.340 --> 00:35:45.119 he was able to stand back from the circumstances 00:35:45.119 --> 00:35:49.300 i know tom will have to know this But he today 00:35:49.300 --> 00:35:54.239 is able to say, God does all things well. I don't 00:35:54.239 --> 00:35:59.880 have to spread about it. God's in control. Can 00:35:59.880 --> 00:36:01.980 you say that where you are today in this circumstance? 00:36:05.460 --> 00:36:08.980 I want to close with this thought. We've talked 00:36:08.980 --> 00:36:11.099 this morning about the direction of the inheritance, 00:36:11.360 --> 00:36:14.420 the definition of it, the definiteness of it. 00:36:15.599 --> 00:36:17.800 Let's close with a thought about the design of 00:36:17.800 --> 00:36:20.860 our inheritance. Why has God caused us to inherit 00:36:20.860 --> 00:36:25.079 all things? Why has he given us this marvelous 00:36:25.079 --> 00:36:28.800 salvation? Well, he says in verse 12, to the 00:36:28.800 --> 00:36:31.039 end that we who were the first to hope in Christ 00:36:31.039 --> 00:36:35.280 should be the praise of his glory. The design 00:36:35.280 --> 00:36:37.940 of our inheritance, my friend, is not that we 00:36:37.940 --> 00:36:43.619 might be spoiled brats in God's family. Not so 00:36:43.619 --> 00:36:46.440 that we might abuse the wealth of our inheritance 00:36:46.440 --> 00:36:49.780 in Jesus Christ. Not so that we might be careless 00:36:49.780 --> 00:36:53.000 in our living and the sureness, but certainly 00:36:53.000 --> 00:36:57.539 the definiteness of our inheritance. But he has 00:36:57.539 --> 00:37:01.420 designed all of this for the praise of his glory. 00:37:01.920 --> 00:37:04.739 So that we might understand that salvation is 00:37:04.739 --> 00:37:08.420 of the Lord. That salvation with all of its benefits 00:37:08.420 --> 00:37:12.199 is for the glory of God and for no credit. to 00:37:12.199 --> 00:37:16.840 man whatsoever. And I like the way the apostle 00:37:16.840 --> 00:37:20.579 balances things out. After talking about predestining 00:37:20.579 --> 00:37:24.699 again, he says in verse 12, we who were the first 00:37:24.699 --> 00:37:28.320 to hope in Christ. You see, there's man's part. 00:37:32.340 --> 00:37:35.000 He talks about God's eternal purpose, and then 00:37:35.000 --> 00:37:37.559 he says, we who were the first to hope, the first 00:37:37.559 --> 00:37:42.179 to trust in Christ. You see, while God has the 00:37:42.179 --> 00:37:44.599 eternal plan and all things that he has purposed 00:37:44.599 --> 00:37:47.099 will come to pass because he has power to do 00:37:47.099 --> 00:37:53.960 it, man has a responsibility too. Today, my friend, 00:37:54.039 --> 00:37:56.500 if you have never trusted Jesus Christ as your 00:37:56.500 --> 00:38:00.579 Savior, and if you should die and be condemned 00:38:00.579 --> 00:38:04.780 in hell, you will never be able to justly say 00:38:04.780 --> 00:38:09.250 that it's God's fault. Because, you see, God 00:38:09.250 --> 00:38:14.750 has said to you, whosoever will may come. God 00:38:14.750 --> 00:38:19.610 has compassionately loved all, and he desires 00:38:19.610 --> 00:38:22.630 with his heart for all to be saved. He does not 00:38:22.630 --> 00:38:27.130 delight in the death of the wicked. If a person 00:38:27.130 --> 00:38:30.670 dies and goes to hell, it is the result of his 00:38:30.670 --> 00:38:35.349 own sin and his own rebellion, and not because 00:38:35.349 --> 00:38:43.099 of God's decree. The Spirit of God today is working 00:38:43.099 --> 00:38:47.659 with some of you. I can't help but believe there 00:38:47.659 --> 00:38:49.940 may be someone here who has not yet trusted the 00:38:49.940 --> 00:38:54.719 Lord Jesus Christ. May I close by reading a poem 00:38:54.719 --> 00:38:58.239 especially for you. The rest of you can listen 00:38:58.239 --> 00:39:01.119 in, but if you are not assured today of your 00:39:01.119 --> 00:39:05.559 own salvation, listen to these words penned by 00:39:05.559 --> 00:39:11.059 an unknown author entitled The Four Calls. The 00:39:11.059 --> 00:39:14.460 spirit came in childhood and pleaded, let me 00:39:14.460 --> 00:39:18.960 in. But oh, the door was bolted by thoughtlessness 00:39:18.960 --> 00:39:24.019 and sin. I'm too young, replied the child. I 00:39:24.019 --> 00:39:27.539 will not yield today. There's enough time tomorrow. 00:39:29.000 --> 00:39:34.159 So the spirit went away. Again he came and pleaded, 00:39:34.199 --> 00:39:37.780 in youth bright happy hour. He came but found 00:39:37.780 --> 00:39:41.679 no answer. For lured by Satan's power, the youth 00:39:41.679 --> 00:39:45.760 lay dreaming there and saying, Not today, not 00:39:45.760 --> 00:39:50.400 until I've tried earth's pleasures. So the spirit 00:39:50.400 --> 00:39:56.739 went away. Again he called in mercy, in manhood's 00:39:56.739 --> 00:40:00.639 vigorous prime. But he found still no welcome. 00:40:01.239 --> 00:40:05.519 The merchant had no time, no time for true repentance, 00:40:05.679 --> 00:40:10.739 no time to think or pray. And so, repulsed and 00:40:10.739 --> 00:40:16.480 saddened, the spirit went away. Once more he 00:40:16.480 --> 00:40:21.920 called and waited. The man was old and ill. He 00:40:21.920 --> 00:40:25.219 scarcely heard the whisper. His heart was cold 00:40:25.219 --> 00:40:30.340 and still. Go, leave me. When I need thee, I'll 00:40:30.340 --> 00:40:36.639 call for thee, he cried. And then, sinking on 00:40:36.639 --> 00:40:44.460 his pillow. Without a hope, you died. If you 00:40:44.460 --> 00:40:46.780 sense the Spirit of God working in your life 00:40:46.780 --> 00:40:51.860 today, I call upon you to take God at His word. 00:40:53.239 --> 00:40:57.679 That whosoever will, may take of the water the 00:40:57.679 --> 00:41:01.539 life -giving. Whosoever shall call upon the name 00:41:01.539 --> 00:41:05.199 of the Lord shall be saved. Will you do that 00:41:05.199 --> 00:41:12.010 today? Let's bow together in prayer. Our heads 00:41:12.010 --> 00:41:15.269 are bowed, our eyes are closed. The service is 00:41:15.269 --> 00:41:18.650 about over. But the Spirit of God is pleading. 00:41:19.929 --> 00:41:24.710 He's knocking at some hearts right now. I wonder 00:41:24.710 --> 00:41:27.670 if there's someone here today, maybe only one, 00:41:27.750 --> 00:41:34.469 maybe a few, that if you're one who right now 00:41:34.469 --> 00:41:40.840 would say, I... Today, give my heart to Jesus 00:41:40.840 --> 00:41:46.300 Christ and trust in him as my savior. I know 00:41:46.300 --> 00:41:50.460 he died for my sin and I receive Jesus and believe 00:41:50.460 --> 00:41:56.900 on him. And that is my decision today. Would 00:41:56.900 --> 00:42:00.739 you lift your hand and put it down? I'm not going 00:42:00.739 --> 00:42:02.500 to embarrass you or come back to you, but I'd 00:42:02.500 --> 00:42:05.630 like to know. And I believe God would have you 00:42:05.630 --> 00:42:09.650 make an indication of that decision. By the uplifted 00:42:09.650 --> 00:42:13.130 hand, you're saying, today I do trust in the 00:42:13.130 --> 00:42:17.650 Lord Jesus Christ. And my uplifted hand is my 00:42:17.650 --> 00:42:24.070 testimony to that. God bless you. Yes, two of 00:42:24.070 --> 00:42:26.230 you have lifted your hands. God bless you. You 00:42:26.230 --> 00:42:30.670 may put it down. Anyone else? Today I trust in 00:42:30.670 --> 00:42:36.949 the Savior. Father, I thank you for these who 00:42:36.949 --> 00:42:41.670 have made that life -changing and eternity -changing 00:42:41.670 --> 00:42:46.590 decision. And I pray that as they begin their 00:42:46.590 --> 00:42:51.369 walk, as newborn babies, you will strengthen 00:42:51.369 --> 00:42:55.610 them and encourage them. And may all of us who, 00:42:55.670 --> 00:43:01.130 like them, are heirs of the inheritance, walk... 00:43:03.360 --> 00:43:08.280 faithfully as the children of God. May we now 00:43:08.280 --> 00:43:11.000 appropriate the inheritance you've given to us, 00:43:11.239 --> 00:43:14.679 knowing that one day we shall fully experience 00:43:14.679 --> 00:43:20.980 it. This week, may what we are in Jesus Christ 00:43:20.980 --> 00:43:25.179 make a difference in the way that we think and 00:43:25.179 --> 00:43:29.460 respond to our circumstances, the way that we 00:43:29.460 --> 00:43:34.210 treat people, and the way that we treat you. 00:43:36.530 --> 00:43:40.030 To that end, we ask your blessing on this message.