Still Others — Alan Martin

Let's go to the Lord in prayer and father we already have acknowledged you in song and testimony. By our presence and we know that you know whether that's been a contradiction. Or inconsistent with how we've walked before you in fear and trembling all week knowing you.

You hear every word and we're going to render account for it knowing you. Know the not only the thoughts and intents of the heart. You know the motives behind everything we do. Nothing is hidden from you.

We know we're going to give an account for everything. We know you're just and You're going to render unto every man according to their deeds. That's why we repent. That's why we confess. That's why we agree with your spirit.

When you point out to us, we've missed the mark we have fallen short of your glory. We're not going to make our own standard in fear and trembling. We declare we agree with you. Your word is right the ways of the Lord are right.

The righteous walk in them the rebellious stumble in them. You're you've made the way of the righteous smooth. It's a level path, it's a good way and those who walk in it find rest under their souls. It's the disobedient the way the transgressor is hard.

We confess with you that your yoke is easy. Your burden is light and you have given and you do provide rest for our souls. What's hard for us is fully learning the simplicity of just agreeing with you and everything.

Deliver us from our own carnal limited human. Understanding that's dark without your light the entrance of your word gives light. It gives understanding to the simple not only that good and upright is the Lord you're good and upright.

Therefore you instruct sinners in the way boy. We qualify this morning Lord to be instructed in your way and you guide the humble in. What's right? And all we need Lord to be humble is to see you. Because compared to you we're nothing.

And we can do nothing. But that's fine. You're you give your grace to the humble. And you dwell with those who are of a broken and a contrite spirit. And who tremble at your word and father for your own namesake blot out our transgressions forgive our iniquity show mercy.

Show the strength let the strength of the Lord be displayed. That you Oh Lord are loving. And that you Oh Lord are kind that you are the gracious compassionate God slow to anger and abounding and loving kindness forgiving wickedness rebellion and sin even while You do not leave the guilty unpunished.

Thank you for your complete justice that only those will be condemned who have refused your every Attempt to be gracious and merciful to turn us from our own wicked ways. Thank you that you offer every Wicked man every sinful man you tell them that if they turn from their sins sin will not be their downfall.

So father instruct us teach us. Given to us a heart of wisdom so that we can help us to number our days are right like Moses pray. So that we can gain a heart of wisdom. We we are utterly dependent upon you.

To make your word living Lord, we don't want to study a dead letter. We don't want to just look at a written commandment we want life and that life is you your presence and We believe that you can operate Through the gift of preaching.

You can reveal yourself. You can strengthen your Saints you can confirm your word. You can bring encouragement. You can bring reproof. You can do the many wonderful things that your grace is Able you you can tailor it to every person's need here today.

And only an only a way that you can and no man can. And we acknowledge that and we ask for your help. We ask like David open our eyes the eyes of our heart that we may behold wonderful things in your law.

The things that bring us into a real relationship with you. We ask this in Jesus name. Amen. If you will turn up to Hebrews chapter 11 the hall of faith. Hebrews chapter 11. Well, there's a lot of people we could read here and I want to skip right down through if you don't mind.

I Want to the The first part of the chapter or I think has more of the people we enjoy reading about but I want to skip down to that the others. Where it starts still others see if you can find that verse 36 still others.

Kind of a change, you know, we can rejoice in at Gideon. We can joy said David we can rejoice with Elijah. We can rejoice with Samson. We can rejoice with many of those who saw Spectacular deliverance, but what about the still others?

First 36 still others had a trial of mockings and Scourgings. Yes, and of change and imprisonment. Let me read this to you from more a direct word to word from the original language and others of Mockings and scourgings took up a trial took up Received, you know, the same word is used in Matthew 10 28.

Don't turn there. I just want to read it to you if you want to mark it down. Well, I say don't turn there. Excuse me. If you want to turn there, it's your Bible your conscience. I just don't want to press you to do so, but Matthew 10 28 to 10 38 the same word is used 30.

Matthew 10 37 says the one not loving father or loving father mother more than me is not worth of me. Neither is the one loving son or daughter above me worthy of me and he who does not take up his cross and Follow after me.

He's not worthy of me. It's the same word these Took up their trial. They picked it up and So it these took up their trial chains and imprisonments. They were stoned. They were sawn into they were tempted.

They were slain with the sword. They wondered about in sheepskins and goatskins being destitute and afflicted Tormented of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains and dens and caves of the earth and all these.

Having obtained a good witness through faith did not receive the promise. These are people by faith even without receiving the promise took up Their trial it says that God had provided something better Something better for us so that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

Are you gonna take up your trial today Saints? Are you gonna think it's strange? Does the trial from God mean you're doing something wrong? Turn to first Peter. No, it doesn't mean that first Peter chapter 1 verses 3 through 7.

1st Peter 1 3 through 7. Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to his abundant mercy has begotten us again into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled that does not fade away reserved in heaven for you.

Who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time and in this in? This great salvation ready to be revealed in the last time you greatly rejoice. Though now for a little while if need be you have been grieved by various trials.

But these various trials have come in verse 7 so that the genuineness of your faith Being much more precious than gold which perishes though refined by fire may be found unto praise and Glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Who is that praise and glory and honor going to go to for that person whose faith has been found genuine? To that person. They're going to share in the honor and the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. Enter entering into the joy of the Lord, but for now You're gonna face all kinds of Trials, you know, it says that all those that the still others that took up their trial fire.

They didn't receive the promise. Oh because God God had something better so that they would not be we were not perfected without us. How does God perfect his sons. All of God's sons are? Perfected. By suffering now if you didn't realize that that's what you were called into.

You someone preached to you there are a false gospel. Jesus said the way is Narrow means tribulated this it it and it's hard. That is the way because that is the way we're perfected in Hebrews chapter 5 verse 8 9.

It says although he was a son He Jesus learned obedience Through the things he suffered and once made perfect He became the source of eternal salvation to all those who obey him. Christ himself Was made complete to the things he suffered and God still makes you and I complete by a designed plan of suffering.

To make our way difficult for now for a little while. So that we can live by faith and That we can receive the salvation kept in heaven for us ready to be revealed. But it's kept there for now though.

We have our own season of trial now. How does this how is one perfected through suffering turn to Romans chapter 5? You you should be familiar with this this will not be new to very many of you. Does it matter.

I like what John says. I write these things to you that Not because you did not know them because you do know them and are firmly established in the truth. You now have I think it was Peter actually said these said that he goes, but it doesn't matter.

I want to make every effort to see that you are always able to remember these things. Of course Peter said after his departure. I'm not ready to part. So I don't want to skip that part. Romans chapter 5 verse 1.

Therefore having been justified by faith. We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ through whom also we have access by faith Into this grace wherein we stand and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

But not only not only do we rejoice in that But we also glory in Tribulation. Because we know that tribulation produces what? Endurance. All right and endurance. Character or experience and experience hope and that hope does not disappoint.

Because the love of God is shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Spirit. So here's how it works. Tribulation leads to endurance in endurance leads to proven character experience and That proven character and experience leads to hope and that hope does not disappoint us.

See this this tribulation this this this fiery trial. We forget is part of our baptized baptism. You know, we ask you do you preach the baptism of the Holy Spirit? I'm asked that have you been baptized of the Holy Spirit?

Why don't they ever say have you been baptized in the Holy Spirit and fire? Right worth and fire part and When the one should have come after me greater than I he shall baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.

If you want to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, yeah, but you better be asking for more than to speak in tongues. You better be asking to be perfected. Fully perfected in the image of Christ by these trials.

God will design to perfect you even as he did his own son. This is the baptism we we desperately need this baptism of fire. You know I love that song how from a foundation that one of the verses says went through fiery trials by pathway shall lie my grace.

All-sufficient shall be thy supply. The flame shall not hurt thee. I only design thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine. It's a blessing we it's been granted unto us not only to believe in the Christ Jesus but to suffer With him that's that's that's a gift now.

Look in 1st Corinthians and see another purpose of this fire. 1st Corinthians chapter 3 if you would 1st Corinthians chapter 3. Fine verses 13 and 14. This is what fire does. Is baptism of fire? One's work Will become clear.

For the day will declare it because it will be revealed by what fire. Fire will reveal the work and the fire will test each one's work of what sort it is and if anyone's work which he has built on it Endures he will receive a work a reward.

So what is the fire designed to really reveal whether your work will? Endure. Pretty important just how and how important is. Well, Jesus said didn't he say to his disciples? I have chosen thee that ye should go and bear forth fruit bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remain remain.

Get this. Remain in the Greek is the word minnow. Okay, if you take the word minnow and add the Greek preposition hoopoe. Which is under but hoopoe minnow. Remain under you get the word endurance. Endurance means to remain under to remain under what the fire?

The trial the suffering. That's what it means. That's where we get the idea. How vital is Endurance to the Christian life he that endures through the end shall be saved. You don't want to be saved don't endure.

It's a matter of salvation. It's not just a matter of maturity. He that is endures to completeness. V is not in any of the original manuscripts. This verse is five times in the Gospels. He that endures to the end shall be saved twice in Matthew 24.

Once in Luke once in once in I think twice twice in Luke once in Mark. It is not in any of the manuscripts the he that endures unto end completion fullness perfection. To be finished to the finish shall be saved now.

We're told. It's this quality of endurance. We must run by look in Hebrews chapter 12 back. We're close to where we began Hebrews chapter 12. Remembering these still others who took up their own trial of fire.

We're they they also a part of these great cloud of witnesses you know what too many times the great cloud of witnesses in our mind is David and and Samson and Gideon all these people who saw these miraculous Deliverances, but hey these people that took up their fiery trial and wondered about in goatskins and in Sheepskins living in caves the scum of the earth, you know in the world's eyes, but of whom the world was not even worthy.

They're also part of these great cloud of witnesses and we're to remember that we're encompassed about by them. Hebrews chapter 12 verse 1 says in verse 2 says well, I'll better read all of verse 1 therefore we also.

Since we are surrounded by so great account, excuse me of witnesses let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us and Let us run with endurance. The race that is set before us. Looking away unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before him did what?

He endured the cross. He took up his cross with endurance. Just like the people before took up their fire of trial with endurance. Just like you and I are called to to not be think it's strange at this fiery trial.

We're undergoing but to take it up to take it up with endurance and run. Looking to Jesus seeing that he took up his cross. He endured his cross. How did he do? So how did it Jesus endure his cross? Before the joy set before him.

Okay, let me ask you a question. What's another way of saying a Joy set or another word for a joy set before us. What's the what would be another expression a joy set before us something we don't have but we're conscious of it.

Hope. Who hopes for what he had already has but if he hopes for it, what's he doing? He's waiting. Expectantly eagerly if he's eagerly anticipating something and it's bringing him joy. He has hope. He has hope and we need this hope to endure It without this hope because it says so do not throw away the steadfastness.

The firmness of your hope. After ye have done the will of God then you shall receive the promise, but ye have need of Endurance the scripture says. And let's just look at this in a couple of plays look in Romans chapter 4.

Our father of faith our our natural father of the faith is who? Abraham and How did our father natural father in the faith Abraham endure. Let's read about it in Romans chapter 4 verse 18 and following Abraham who?

Against all hope in hope. Believed and so became the father of many nations according to what was spoken. So shall your Offspring be and not weakening in his faith. He disregarded the fact that his body was as good as dead and that Sarah's womb was also dead and He yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God but was strengthened in his faith giving glory to God being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he promised and Then it says therefore in verse 22 it was accounted unto him for righteousness.

God considers everyone who endures in hope by faith righteous. It's the righteous who are going to be saved and the righteous live by faith. And this is the victory that overcomes the world even our faith.

To everyone who overcomes the promises of God or for them. The ones who endure to the end and this is also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe who in him who raised up our Lord Jesus from the dead.

Let's look at it another place. Romans chapter 8 18. Romans 8 18. Wonderful passages if you're going through a time of difficulty. Romans 4 18. Romans 8 18. Beginning with verse 18 for I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy To be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Do you realize that just puts you in the same category the glory which will be? Revealed all you have right now brothers is a deposit of this glory. That's all you have. You have not received it fully yet.

It's kept in heaven for you Waiting to be revealed in the last time so you can be just like those The still others who took up their trial not having received that together with them. We'll all be perfected in that day when we get to be like him when this light and momentary Affliction is over and those who endure to the end get to the full inheritance that our deposit guarantees We have.

For I consider not that the present Sufferings of this present time are worthy to be compared with the glory Which shall be revealed in us verse 19 for the earnest expectation of the creation. Eagerly await for the revealing of the sons of God for the creation was subject to futility or to bondage not willingly.

But because of him who subjected it in hope even the even the creation was only subjected in hope. Because the creation itself also Will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pains together until now not only that. But we also who now have the first fruit of the Spirit even we Ourselves grown within ourselves eagerly awaiting.

What's eagerly awaiting hope? Eagerly waiting for the adoption the redemption of our body for we were saved in this hope. But hope that is seen is no hope for why does one still hope for what he already had?

Well, what do y 'all what he sees, but if we hope for what we do not see. We eagerly wait for it with perseverance you see hope produces perseverance endurance. It enables you to endure because you're not fixed upon what you see.

There's a one of the one of the passages that speaks powerfully to this is in 2nd Corinthians chapter 3 actually chapter 4. 2nd Corinthians chapter 4. This was text upon in our time in the earlier time in the word this morning, which was wonderful verse 7.

2nd Corinthians chapter 4 verse 7. But we have this treasure. The treasure that we have is spoken of in verse 6. The fact that God has given us the knowledge of the light of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

We having that knowledge is our treasure. We have this this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. Now this is this is this describes Christians. We are hard-pressed on every side.

But not crushed. We are perplexed but not in despair. Persecuted but not forsaken struck down but not destroyed. We always carry about in our body. The dying of the Lord Jesus. Anyone ready to sign up want to be a Christian.

All it means is you're going to always carry about in your body the dying of the Lord Jesus. Sign up. Anyone want to be his disciple today? I Do because it's through dying that we live. Yes, that's the mystery of the gospel.

We always carry about in our body the dying of the Lord Jesus that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who are alive are always delivered to death for Jesus sake that the life of Jesus also May be manifested in our mortal flesh.

That means now His life manifested in us now that though we are pressed forsaken abandoned persecuted I mean all these days we still love the father. Nothing can move us from that faithful confidence in God's promise.

Verse 12 so then death is at work in us but life in you and. Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what is written. I believe and therefore I spoke. We also believe and therefore speak. Now that's a quotation since we have the same spirit of faith.

According to what's written. I believe and therefore I spoke. Where's that? Where's that verse found? Psalms 116 let's turn there. This will be the last place. I think we turn to of course I say that a lot.

I think Shouldn't think too much. Psalm 116 read with me the whole that a good portion of this song. I love the Lord for he heard my voice. He heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me. I will call on him as long as I live.

The cords of death entangled me the anguish of the grave came upon me. I was overcome by trouble and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the Lord. Oh Lord saved me. The Lord is gracious and righteous.

Our God is full of compassion. The Lord protects the simple-hearted when I was in great need. He saved me be at rest once more of my soul for the Lord has been good to you. For you Oh Lord have delivered my soul from death my eyes from tears my feet from stumbling that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living and then here's the verse.

I Believe therefore I said I'm greatly afflicted and in my dismay. I said all men are liars. Now this is interesting notice this. The spirit of faith says. When you know what the spirit of faith really says when you're in faith and when you're at rest.

You say the Lord has been good to me. You know what you say when you're dismayed. All men are liars, you know, why. Because you're not seeing God anymore. All you got is is too big natural eyes focus on a lot of natural problems and When you have lost vision and lost faith, all you know is your truth that there ain't nobody good.

They're all liars and then none of none of them are real. But that that is your dismay speaking when you're at rest in faith you're looking away from those things unto Jesus. And the only way to overcome Discouragement and weariness is take your eyes off men and put them back on Christ.

And then you'll find that the Lord has been good to you and your soul will be at rest. Because he didn't promise you it would be easy in this life. His promise is kept in heaven for you. Waiting to waiting to be revealed in that day.

And if you live by this hope you'll find Endurance unto the end and you'll be safe. All right, don't give up anything. The opposite of remaining under is this Hebrew word. Where it translates the NIV says in my dismay.

The King James says in my haste. The American Standard says in my alarm. The Hebrew word means to be out of place. Don't let anything move you out of the place of abiding. Stay under. Stay under in hope against all hope in Hope believe do not waver through unbelief regarding God's promise be strengthened in your faith.

God has power to do what he's promised and he didn't promise to deliver you out of Every trial. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. When you pass through the fire I will be with ease with us in our affliction.

And he'll be with us to the end. I will never leave you Nor forsake you for lo I am with you always and that's it having him with us. Seeing him clearly we find rest. We find we find endurance Through faith and hope and rest.

Let's pray you look to you father. Just like your word says I Want to read it father just before you. Your word tells us that we who are strong ought to bear with the failings of those who are weak and not to please ourself.

Each of us should please his neighbor for his good to build them up even as Christ did not please himself. But he said that the insult of those who insulted him had fallen. You father had fallen upon him and you said that everything you left us as a writing father was written so that we could do endurance and The encouragement of these writings we might have hope and then you say you your servant Paul prayed may get may the God of endurance and Encouragement grant you a spirit of unity among yourselves father deliver us from the unbelief that's that only knows that all men are liars and instead fill us with the compassion of Christ who can take up the cross and Take up the reproaches upon himself of those who reproach you.

Help help us bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourself. Bring us to the place father where we can endure. Whatever difficulties dealing with men cause us to face. Make us like your son.

Who though being rich? Became poor. So that we through his poverty Might be made rich. Lord grant us a spirit of endurance with each other. We ask in Jesus name. Amen.

Okay, any.

Announcements that we need to make before we're. We're gonna. We'll talk about those in the prayer list momentarily. Okay, we will this Thursday Friday for excuse me Friday. We also need to remember Vestor Nations,.

I received a call from his son. He has been told. Really? He's entering hospice care now and it and if you don't understand hospice hospice is the point where they no longer treat they they except for comfort, they only try to make a person comfortable and.

Okay, we get opportunity for all of us who can maybe stop by and see Roger. Nine pounds, okay.