Seek The Lord While He May Be Found

Thank you for listening to this message from the ministry of Morse Corner Church in Leverett, Massachusetts. Morse Corner is a non-denominational church that is committed to the preaching and teaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Our church was founded in 1896 by two students of the famous evangelist D .L. Moody. We seek to encourage and edify the body of Christ through the proclamation of God's word through the ministries of the local church.

If you'd like more information, visit our website, morsecornerchurch .com. We hope you enjoy the message. If God has foreordained, that demonstrates that if someone is blinded, it's either the result or hardening of heart.

The Sovereignty of God in Hardening and Blindness

Remember God and Pharaoh, God hardened his heart. If someone is blinded or their heart is hardened, it cannot happen without either God's doing or at the very least his allowing it. And if he's allowing it, it is for a purpose.

So all of this establishes the sovereignty of God in all things. So the false teachers, even them, that Paul is contending with. Even the false teachers are allowed to exist for a reason, for a purpose.

Look at verse 2 of 2 Corinthians 4. But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

So what we have in 2 Corinthians, when you read it, if you think about it, this is what's going on. We have a one-sided conversation, don't we? We have Paul's words. We don't know what the church was saying in many cases.

We don't know what the false teachers were saying, the accusations they have. So why is Paul saying this? Well, he's likely saying this, that hey, I'm not crafty, I'm not underhanded in my methods, I don't distort the word of God.

He's probably saying that responding to the accusations of the false teachers. And they were the ones who were actually distorting the word of God, right? They were the ones operating in a deceitful manner.

So this is a common tactic that people will use. If you're guilty of something, you want to attack your, this isn't the right thing to do, but you attack your enemies that make them guilty of it when you're the one doing it.

You've heard of this projection, right? People project things upon other people. You're the one guilty, but you're saying, no, it's him.

He's doing it.

That's what the false teachers were doing with the apostle Paul. They viewed Paul as their rival. So they had to slander him. They had to accuse Paul of what they themselves were doing. And based on verse three, they were the one preaching a gospel that was veiled.

Some of it was true, but they were veiling the gospel because people were not hearing the clear gospel from the false teachers, which is why Paul may be saying in verse three, but even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to who?

To the lost. To those who are perishing. In other words, Paul is saying the problem is not with me. The problem is not with the message. The problem is with the people. Verse four, whose minds the God of this age has blinded, who do not believe lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

So the lost, they do not believe. Therefore, they perish. Christ and the gospel are glorious.

They don't see it.

The veil is there to cover their hearts, to blind them. So who made them blind? All the lost people in the world. All those who are perishing. All those who have the veil over their heart. Who put the veil there?

Who has deceived them? Who has blinded their mind? Well, Paul says, what does he say? Look at it. The answer is right there. He says, it's the God of this age who has blinded them, right? We all see that.

Most people would identify the God of this age as Satan. And you've heard this a million times. That Satan is the God of this world, right? You've all heard this. Well, let me just say, if you look at it closely, notice, the Bible doesn't actually say that.

You've heard preachers say this. I've probably said this. That the Bible says that Satan is the God of this world. The God of this age. Actually, that's not what the Bible says. That would be an implication, all right?

So, why would we believe that Satan is the God of this age? Why would we think that is what Paul is implying? Again, 1 John 5, 19. The whole world is under the sway of the wicked one. Ephesians 2, 2. Satan is the prince of the power of the air.

Also, remember Jesus in the temptation. Satan offers him the kingdoms of this world and their glory. So, there is more than enough evidence in the Bible that Satan is indeed the God of this age. There are, however, a minority of scholars who believe that Paul, in talking about the God of this age has blinded them, a minority of scholars believe that it's the God of heaven who.

Has blinded them.

Now, I want to be clear. I don't agree with that.

The God of this age, I believe, hear me say it, I believe this is a reference to Satan. But at the same time, I do submit to you that the God of heaven does blind people. So, at this point, let's turn to 2 Thessalonians, chapter 2.

And this matters because if God is blinding people, he's doing it for a reason. He has a purpose. And there are several passages that come to mind. Romans, chapter 1, that because they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, what did the Lord do?

He gave them over to a reprobate mind or a debased mind that no longer functions. And this utter rejection of God will find its culmination in the end of days, which is what Paul is referring to here in 2 Thessalonians, chapter 2, the day of the Lord.

And the return of Christ. Look at 2 Thessalonians 2, verse 6. And now you know what is restraining. We believe this is a reference to the Holy Spirit as the restrainer. He says, and now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time.

For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of.

The way.

And then the lawless one or the Antichrist will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of his mouth and destroy with the brightness of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of.

Satan.

Notice this, with all power, signs, and lying wonders. And with all unrighteous deception among those who perish because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason, God will send them a strong delusion that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

So just a few quick comments on this. Verse nine, the working of Satan is with what? Power, signs, and lying wonders. So what does this result in? It results in deception. Number one, this only happens, why?

Because God lifts the restraint. The Holy Spirit is removed.

Okay?

So God is permitting this for a reason. So that's number one. And then number two, they perish because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. That is the reason why God sends them a strong delusion, that they should believe the lie.

So don't miss this. Why did God send the strong delusion? Why does God blind them, if you will? Because they did not receive the love of the truth. So did they have a chance? Did they have a chance to hear and believe?

According to the Bible, yes, they did. Just like in Romans 1, God gives them over to a debased mind.

Why?

Because they chose not to retain God in their knowledge. It was their doing. It was their choice. You know, some people, I think, misunderstand the sovereignty of God and election and predestination and all of that.

People misunderstand it. And one of the most common responses I've heard, if I've heard it once, I've literally probably heard it a thousand times. People will say, well, I don't believe in all of that because I don't believe that God drags some people kicking and screaming into heaven while at the same time, he's stiff-arming others, keeping them out of heaven when they desperately want to be there.

I've heard that so many times. That's people's response often when they hear about God's sovereignty and these subjects. Number one, what did Jesus say in John 6, 44? No one can come to me unless the father who sent me draws him and I will raise him up at the last day.

The Greek word to draw, that's the Greek word for dragging someone. Go look it up afterwards. Elsewhere, that same Greek word is used to drag. And what did the Lord do to Paul? Think about this. Paul was kicking against the goads, right?

Whatever the translation says, he was resisting God. And then God one day grabbed him and said, no,.

Now you belong to me, Paul.

Paul was not searching after God. God dragged him to where he wanted him to be. Now, God changed his heart. Did Paul make a choice? Did Paul make a choice to believe?

Of course he did.

But God acted first. Number two, this statement, God would never drag people and stiff arm others. Who are all these people desperately seeking after the Lord, but God just won't allow them to come unto him?

That's not happening.

That is a complete straw man argument. Nobody is claiming that's the case. It's not the case. And then finally, number three, the Bible says in Romans 3, 11, that no one searches after God. But on the other hand, we know, as Peter says, that God is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

So God gives people an opportunity. God gives people time. And the elect are those who believe those who continue to reject the Lord continue and rejecting the Lord. At some point, God says, that's what you want.

Fine.

That is what you will get. Now turn to Isaiah chapter six. More verses on God blinding the hearts of men. Isaiah chapter six. Give you a moment to find that. So is Satan blinding people as the God of this age?

Of course he is. But he could not do it unless God allowed him to do it. Isaiah chapter six, verses eight through 10. The prophet says, also I heard the voice of the Lord saying, whom shall I send and who will go for us?

Then I said, here I am.

Send me.

And he said, go and tell this people. Keep on hearing, but do not understand. Keep on seeing, but do not perceive. Make the heart of this people dull and their ears heavy. And shut their eyes, lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and return and be healed.

Do you realize what God is saying in this passage? He's sending the prophet Isaiah to preach as an act of judgment upon the people. They will hear the message, but they won't understand it. The preaching of God's word and he's saying do this and understand with their heart and God is preventing this.

God is blinding them in a sense. So in this preaching, in this message, a veil is being put over the message.

Why?

Because of their hardness of heart. So while the preaching of God's word saves some, it makes the heart of others dull. And now we're building up to the main point of the sermon.

Okay?

The fact is, the more a person hears the word of God, the more they hear the gospel and reject it, the more blind they become to the truth. This is why the scripture says that today is the day of salvation.

Thanks for listening. I'm Pastor Michael Grant from Morris Cornick Church. If you'd like to listen to the complete message or if you'd like more information about the ministry, visit our website, morriscornickchurch .com.

And we'd love to have you join us some Sunday morning here in Leverett. Until next time, may the grace of God be with you.