Faith In The Midst of Fear

Faith in the Midst of Fear During the Coronavirus Crisis

Let me give some facts and statistics of what's going on here very quickly to begin this message. Latest updates on the coronavirus COVID -19 which has been a great threat global. These are confirmed cases on a global scale.

The global scale is the of cases are 663 ,828 people have confirmed and it still is rising. Total deaths on a global scale is 30 ,822 people. You don't hear much about the last year but total recovered is 139 ,451 people that has recovered.

In the United States confirmed cases which is number one right now globally 124 ,217. Total deaths has been 2 ,185. Total recoveries has been 1 ,195. That's in the United States alone. The coronavirus is spreading and still is rapidly spreading throughout the world and has caused havoc and panic and fear everywhere in our nation.

God's Sovereignty, Scripture's Honesty, and David as a Model

So as we all face this crisis in which God has ordained and of course a lot of people may disagree with this but God has ordained this. We believe in God's sovereignty that he's sovereign over everything.

But one thing I do appreciate before I get into the message is what the Bible has to say about these facts and the truths but I love the honesty of the Bible don't you? The Bible faces the facts straight up more than even the statistics and what's of course on social media which you will not get the right facts but I can promise you you will get the right facts and truths from the Word of God.

The Bible gives us life as it is and it really is as it takes into account human weakness, human weakness and we see this in the chapter that we're going to be looking before us today in the life of a godly man, David.

David was a man after God's own heart. He was a godly man. Now some people may disagree with that because of the many sins he committed but according to Acts 13 22 this was the testimony of this man's life.

After he had removed him, speaking of Saul, God removed Saul, he, God, raised up David to be their king concerning whom also testified and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my heart, who will do all my will.

Now keep in mind this is the testimony of what Scripture has to say concerning king of David and again some people would disagree with this question, the question of the reality of the designation of David since he proved to be such a sinner at many, many times.

He fell into adultery. He on purposely murdered Uriah according to the historical facts in Scripture but no man after God's own heart is perfect. None of us is perfect. Only the Lord Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, was completely perfect without sin.

But yet David is recognized, he recognized his sin, I should say. He confessed his sin before God and he repented of his sin as Scripture says. The chapter that I've chose for us to focus on this Lord's day is Psalm chapter 56.

Psalm 56: Faith and Fear in the Face of Danger

Psalm 56 and the reason for this is because it gives to us a honest commentary on how we can overcome fear in this chapter. Also in this chapter we have faith in the midst of fear. We're going to look into this because faith and fear can exist simultaneously.

Both can be present at the same time. So within this hour as we go to the Word of God let us turn our complete attention and focus on God's Word. After all I've said this many times to Redeeming Grace Church, I really have nothing to say but the Lord has much to say.

And that's what we want to hear. We want to hear a fresh word from God as what is going on in the crisis that is before us. So as we look at Psalm chapter 56, I will be reading verse 1 through 13. Verse 1 through 13, hear the Word of the Living God.

Be gracious to me, O God, for man has trampled upon me. Fighting all the day long, he oppresses me. My foes have trampled upon me all the day long, for they are many who fight proudly against me. When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.

In God, whose Word I praise, in God I have put my trust. I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me? All day long, they distort my words. All their thoughts are against me for evil. They attack, they lurk, they watch my steps as they have waited to take my life.

Because of wickedness, cast them forth. In anger, put down the peoples, O God. You have taken account of my wonderings. Put my tears in your bottle, for they, are they not in your book? Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call.

This I know, that God is for me. In God, whose Word I praise, in the Lord, whose Word I praise, in God I have put my trust, and I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? Your vows are binding upon me, O God.

I will render thank offerings to you. For you have delivered my soul from death, indeed, my feet from stumbling, so that I may walk before God in the light of the living. Let's take now just for a few minutes to seek our God once again in prayer.

Let's bow. Our Father in heaven, we do thank you, and we give thanks to you because of your mighty Word. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, but Father, we are also reminded that your Word is alive.

It's active. We thank you for this, Father, that it's doing its work and continues to do its work, for it will endure forever. Father, we also pray that this is how you have revealed yourself to us in a special, special way.

It is through your Word. Lord, we thank you for your Word in our language today. Father, we desire to worship you now as we are spread about, but your presence is with us in each home as we call upon you and as we look into your Word.

Father, our desire is to glorify you in all things, and Lord, I pray this morning, may you, through your Holy Spirit, give the full honor and glory that you deserve. Thank you, Father, that you are ever-present with us, your people.

You never leave us. You never forsake us. You're with us. That's all we need, is to know this great promise that you, your presence, is with us and you go before us. You've already lived out not only our yesterdays, todays, but our tomorrows as well.

But Father, we pray, we thank you as you have promised you're with us even to the end of the age. That's what your Son said to us. So Father, my prayer today, to not only redeeming grace church, Father, we pray for your church worldwide.

Give ear to what we hear. May we take heed to your Word. Father, may we be sensitive to what your Spirit is saying to your church, your people, in this hour. Give us, O Lord, eyes to see the Lord Jesus Christ and nothing else.

May we not have our eyes upon the circumstances and the coronavirus, even though that is a reality. But Father, you are a greater reality. You're greater than all these things. Father, I pray that you would give us a heart to perceive your truth, so that we may apply it to our lives and our everyday living, to be doers of the Word and not only hearers.

And Lord, we praise you in all this. In Jesus' name I pray, for your glory and for your namesake. Amen. I'd like to speak about faith in the midst of fear. The chapter before us in chapter 56 comes to us in a very difficult time in the life of David.

Psalm 56 is called a Michtam, a Michtam of David. I hope I'm pronouncing that right. It could be pronounced Michtam, however you pronounce it. It means that it is understood as golden, golden. It's interesting that it means golden.

Others think it could be related to a word meaning to cover, which implies necessary secrecy in a time of crisis in the life of David. But, as it is recalled, the background of Psalm chapter 56, in particular in the life of David's time here, is when the Philistines captured him and Gath.

And this event is recorded to us in 1st Samuel chapter 21. So please turn with me very quickly to 1st Samuel 21 to get the background of what is being said. This is very important to understand the context of Psalm chapter 56.

But if you look in 1st Samuel chapter 21, look at verse 10 through 15 with me. I will read this. And the Word of God says, Then David arose and fled that day from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath.

But the servants of Achish said to him, Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing of this one as they danced, saying, Saul has slain his thousands and David his ten thousands? David took these words to heart and greatly feared, notice this, he greatly feared Achish king of Gath.

And in verse 13 it says,. So he disguised his sanity before them, and he acted insanely in their hands, and scribbled on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva run down into his beard. Then Achish said to his servants, Behold, you see the man is behaving as a madman?

Why do you bring him to me? And in verse 15 it says, Do I lack madmen that you have brought this one to act like a madman in my presence? And then he asked another question, Shall this one come into my house?

That's a very interesting question, isn't it? To get the background of Psalm 56. And as we look at this period between the visit, and this is what the time period that was going on, to the tabernacle at Nob, and David's arrival at Dulan, David was alone, David was desperate, David was afraid, he was fearful, and as we read in 1st Samuel he wasn't thinking too clearly, was he?

He was acting like a man that was totally insane, as a madman. Now it's interesting to see this man of God, a man after God's own heart, acting this way. You could almost say it's kind of embarrassing, but here is a man, and he knew exactly what he was doing, and the text says he disguised his sanity.

Now let me ask the question, you ever wondered why David did this? What was his motive? Why did he do such a thing like this before this king and his servants? What was his reason to act like a madman before the servants of Achish?

Well the only reason that I can conclude is that David feared for his life. He really feared that he would die. He was fearful of losing his life, and he would do whatever it takes to spare his life. And at this particular time in David's life, we see that there was a lack of trust in God to deliver him, and he feigned insanity to persuade Achish to send him away to spare his life.

And with this background in mind of what was happening in David's life, there was definitely fear and desperation. We have Psalm 56. We see here him singing and calling out on God. It begins by first, as we see in Psalm 56, in verse 1 and 2, there's fear, there's faith, and response to constant danger.

Notice, danger is before him. Even his life could be taken. And we look at the Most High God for mercy. This is what is the most important thing, I believe, and David begins many of his Psalms like such as this.

He looks to God. He calls on God. But what is the very first thing he focuses on? He says, be gracious to me, or merciful to me, O God, for man has trampled upon me. Or you could say, man would swallow me up.

Fighting all day long, he oppresses me. My foes, my enemies, have trampled upon me all day long, for there are many who fight against me, O Most High. Some of translations leave out the O Most High, but I believe it's important to have that in the text.

And because that's who he's calling on is the Most High God. Notice, first of all, the very first thing David cries out. He cries out, be merciful, be merciful, be gracious to me, O God. He calls out for mercy just as he was repenting in Psalm 51.

Have mercy upon me. But now he says, be merciful, be gracious to me, O God. I love that about David. He calls on God, the Most High God, and calls to mind his attribute of mercy. Don't you love that? And I believe that is a very good attribute to call on as he goes to God, is God's goodness.

In the Hebrew, it is hesed, hesed, his loving kindness, his compassions. And as Lamentations says, they never fail. David was in great danger, constant danger, from many enemies, both from the Philistines, just not only from the Philistines, but he was also in danger from Saul's servants.

And he cries out to the only one who is the Most High God to deliver him, to help him in the midst of so many enemies. The Most High God, he calls out and he appeals to God's mercy, not relying on what he may or may not deserve.

No, he knows that he deserves justice, but he calls on God for mercy, for compassion. Notice also that David does not build up to his complaint in this prayer, in this singing out. He just pours out his heart before God.

Isn't that the way we should do? He immediately goes to God. He immediately goes before the Lord directly to God. And should not we do the same? Should not we have the same reaction as we should, as we, as children of the Living God, as Hebrew says, let us come boldly before the throne of mercy, to find grace in time of need, and not to wait, not to stall, but to go immediately to God's mercy throne.

David is surrounded literally by his enemies, isn't he? His foes are everywhere. Actually, in one chapter they said, they're more than I can number. They're like bees. There's so many of them. I have so many enemies.

You know, no wonder that would be, that would be quite discouraging to me, wouldn't it to you? But he encouraged himself in the Lord, and he knew God was on his side, and that's all that really mattered.

He says in verse 2, my foes, my enemies would hound me, trample upon me all day long, swallow me up. You know, C. H. Spurgeon in the treasury of David says, the open mouths of sinners, when they rage against us, should open our mouths in prayer, and that's what we do.

We go, God's people pray. We rely upon God, and as we pray, we're basically saying, God, you're in charge. You're the one that's in charge of this whole situation, even with this virus that's going on.

Lord, be with us as we're in the midst of danger, and so many that fear you, but sometimes fear grips our own heart as well, because we are weak, and we're weak as well. We'll redeem sinners, but we are weak, and we need to call on God as well.

Well, there are many who fight against me, David says, many who fight against me, O Most High, and then he says this, fight proudly against me, and then he says in this text, for they are many who fight proudly against me, he says, on earth David really was greatly, he was greatly outnumbered.

Now, I want you to think about this. He was greatly outnumbered, so he looked for help from the God who enthroned above. He went, he said in another chapter, I will call on the Lord. He's my deliverer.

I will look unto the hills, whence cometh my help. My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He goes to God above, the sovereign Lord who reigns over all, and David knew the strategic value of higher ground in battle.

You take the higher ground, so you get the better footing. So he knew in prayer that God was the higher ground, and so he went to the Most High God. Don't you love that name about God? He is the Most High God.

The next thing we see is David in verse three and four, he says, when I am afraid, this is a vital text here of verse of Scripture in the chapter, when I am afraid I will put my trust in you. In God whose word I praise, in God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid.

David was afraid, but he was not afraid. That sounds almost like an oxymoron, a contradiction, but I want you to, don't lose me here. He was afraid, but he wasn't afraid. Well, what do we mean by this?

Well, when he says, think of it, as he, this is a man here that defeated, as a young man, he killed a lion with his, with his bare hands, as far as we know of, like Samson. He defended his sheep. However, he killed the lion.

He probably, probably with the, with the, with the sling. It doesn't say in the text, but he did kill the lion. He killed the bear, and we also know he killed the mighty man of war, Goliath the giant.

That's, that's our Felicity's favorite Bible story. I know she's just really enjoying this. So David had the courage and the boldness of a mighty warrior, as a young shepherd boy, as he defeated the lion, the bear, and Goliath.

He was successful also as a captain of Israel's army, yet he never denied the presence of fear. He never said, I'm not, in a sense, in the presence of danger. He said, in the fear of this, but yet I will trust God.

See, there were times when he was afraid. That's, that's the honesty of the scriptures. David knew what to do with that fear. He boldly proclaimed his trust in God, despite the fear. Again, Spurgeon in the Treasury of David says this, he feared, but that fear did not fill the whole area of his mind.

For he adds, I would trust in thee. It is possible, this is Spurgeon, then for fear and faith to occupy in the same mind at the same moment. End quote. So David put his confidence in the Lord. His confidence was in God.

His trust was in God. That was his purposeful decision, replacing an emotional reaction, which comes naturally, in one's danger and circumstances. Now, you notice again, he never denies the fear that is present, but God is present at the same time.

God is in the midst of it. I want to give you another example. Turn with me very quickly to chapter 20 of 2 Chronicles. I love this story. Chapter 20 of 2 Chronicles. I want to read to you an example of a situation of fear that gripped the heart of a godly man, a good king by the name of Jehoshaphat.

In chapter 20 of 2 Chronicles, it says this, and I'm going to read the first 19 verses, and I think you'll really get the picture of what David was going through at the same time. It says this in the Word of God, and now it came about after this that the sons of Moab and the sons of Ammon, together with some of the Mennonites, came to make war against Jehoshaphat.

And then some came reported to Jehoshaphat saying, a great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea. Now listen to this, out of Amram, and behold they are in Hazatamar, that is in Gedi. Verse 3, notice the reaction Jehoshaphat had.

Jehoshaphat was afraid, and turned his attention to seek the Lord. See, he had the right response. And he proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And so Judah gathered together to seek help from the Lord.

And they even came from all the cities of Judah to seek the Lord. I love that, notice that. He came to seek the Lord, to proclaim a fast, to seek help from the Lord, to seek the Lord. And notice Jehoshaphat in verse 5, then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in the house of the Lord before the new court, and he said, O Lord, the God of our fathers.

Notice the questions he puts before God in his prayer. Are you not God in the heavens? And are you not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in your hand, so that no one can stand against you.

Did you not, O God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it to the descendants of Abraham, your friend forever? Now notice what he's doing. Let me, let me pause there for a second.

He's calling to mind, he's identifying with Judah in his prayer, he's acknowledging God's sovereignty in verse 6. In verse 7, you'll see, he reminds God of God's covenant, he, and then he brings to mind God's presence, and then God's goodness, and God's possession, and the utter dependence on him.

Now notice what he goes on to say. They have, in verse 8, they have lived in it, and have built your sanctuary, sanctuary for your name, saying, should evil come upon us, notice what he says, should evil come upon us, the sword, or judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you, for your name is in this house.

It's all about God's name. And cry to you in our distress. Notice that he does not leave that alone. He, there is distress, but we will cry to you in our distress, and you will hear and deliver us. Now behold the sons of Ammon, and Moab, and Mount Seir, whom you did not let Israel invade when they came out to the land of Egypt.

They turned aside from them, and he did not destroy them. See how they are rewarding us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us as an inheritance. And notice the next question he gives in prayer.

Oh, oh our God, will you not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us, nor do we know what to do. Now I love this, but our eyes are on you. And all Judah was standing before the Lord.

You can picture this, listen to this. All Judah was standing before the Lord with their infants, their wives, and their children. And then, then in verse, there's something that happens here in verse 14.

Then in the midst of the assembly, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jehazel. Jehazel, the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaniah, the son of Jeel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite of the son of Asaph. The Spirit of the Lord came.

That's what made the difference. And he said this, listen all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the king Jehoshaphat, thus says the Lord to you. That's all we need. We need to hear what God has to say.

Thus says the Lord to you, do not fear. Notice the first thing God says, do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude for the battle is not yours but God's. Tomorrow go down against them.

Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz. And you will find them at the end of the valley in front of the wilderness of Jeruel. And you will need not fight in this battle. Station yourselves. Stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf.

Oh, Judah and Jerusalem. Again, he says, God says, do not fear or be dismayed. Tomorrow go out to face them for the Lord is with you. In verse 18, Jehoshaphat, what was the reaction here? This king, this godly king, bowed his head with his face to the ground and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord.

And the Levites and the sons of Koahites and the sons of the Koahites, I'm sorry, stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with a very loud voice. I love that. This godly king knew where to go and how to pray and who to look to.

God and God alone. And God says, this is not your battle. It's my battle. I'm going to fight for you. And God every time encourages us, this godly king, you do not be dismayed. You do not fear. Even in the midst of all this, God is in charge.

And that's exactly what we need to do in the midst of all that's happening today. So the world will see our trust and reliance upon our God. That God is a God of deliverance. This is a wonderful classic example of how God's people should react when we are afraid.

Fear can grip us, but here, what do we do? We seek the Lord. We go to God. Well, if you go back to Psalm 56 and verse 3, he says, when I am afraid, I will. Notice, there's a choice. I will put my trust in you.

In God. Then he says, in God. I think that's the key phrase there. In God. In God, whose word I praise. In God, I have put my trust. I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me? Spurgeon says, and again, it's a sure sign of grace when a man can trust in his God.

For the natural man, when afraid, falls back on some human trust, or he thinks that he will be able to laugh at the occasion of fear. You know, you see this in our time now. Somebody sent me something on the social media says, country boy can survive in the midst of all this coronavirus.

It was almost laughable, really. Country boy can survive. Almost in arrogance, no matter what takes place, that they can do this within themselves. But I'm telling you what, we have the protection of God.

Now, if God ordains for us to get it, then we get it. But you know something? God's with us still. God would carry us through it, whether he delivers us or not. That's what Spurgeon says. He says, I pray it does not come with God to God's people, but if it does come to God's people, God is sure to be with us.

Because sometimes God does, he chooses not to deliver sometimes. It depends what God wants. He may have another plan in mind. It is always God's will. So we don't know those kind of things, but God knows exactly.

But it is grace that helps us to trust in him. Now notice, in God, in God, whose word I praise. In God, I put my trust. Twice, David says, in God, in God, whose word I praise. God calls attention, I'm sorry, David calls attention to God's name, his praiseworthiness.

His trust wasn't a blind hope. His trust wasn't a wishful cast up to heaven. No, it was based and grounded upon the revealed character of God and his promises. He was grounded in his word. And he says, trust God.

This is what this is all about. You know, there's only one that really trusted God perfectly from the cradle to the cross, and that's the Lord Jesus Christ. We fall short so, so shy of that. But what's encouraging about it is, you see, Abraham fell, he fell short of it.

David fell short of it. We fall short of it. So we're right there. Elijah panicked, in a sense, and ran from Jezebel when she threatened him. He ran like a scared rabbit to hide. That's the great prophet of fire.

You know, you think of it, and he shares like passions as we do. But, you know, David failed God many times, but he still had a heart after God. It's the direction of your heart, not the perfection. So trusting God is how, in confidence, that we know we abide with God.

You trust God through these things. His ways, his will, his plans, his mind. And you know it's in and through his word, his self-revelation to us. That's what a Psalm chapter 19 is all about. God has revealed himself through the general revelation, through nature, but he's also revealed himself, don't you want love this, through the word of God.

His own word, his self-revelation, he has given us everything we need to know in life is through his word. David could have this kind of faith in the presence of fear because his complete trust was in the Most High God.

God's Justice, Sympathy, and Tears

Notice in verses 5 through 7. I'm not going to unpack all of this, but let me just read this. All day long they distort my words. All their thoughts, and he's talking about his enemies now, all their thoughts are against me for and for evil.

They attack, they lurk, they watch my steps. Do you ever have people doing that to you? They attack you, they lurk you, they watch my steps, are watching you. And as they waited to take my life. Now David's life was on the edge here, in danger.

Verse 7, because of wickedness cast him forth. And he says, in anger put down the peoples, O God. You know it's incredible. Now he calls upon God to give justice, vindication. Now I love this about David.

David appeals to God's justice now. Now we need to also keep in mind that God is a destroyer as much as a deliverer. A lot of people don't like to hear that, but it's true. If people want the God that's all love and not justice, they don't have the God of the Bible.

The God of the Bible is a God that is loving, but he's holy, and he's just, and his wrath is an attribute as much as his love. You see right here David calls on God to destroy the wicked. You know it's not that God just has a bad temper and he just inflames himself against the wicked, but this is the way God is.

This is the way he is in his justice. He's not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance, and he takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. But there's coming a day that God will pour out his wrath against the wicked and the ungodly.

We know this, for our God is a God of vengeance as well as a God of love. Notice that David calls on God for justice, to vindicate. He never relies on his own hands to give justice, does he, or vindication.

No, he knows his hands are not worthy of this. No, he, as Paul says, vengeance is the Lord's. I will repay. You see, God brings true vengeance, and only God is just to do this. Next we see in verses 8 through 9 that not only you see that he calls out for God to give vengeance and justice, but we also see a tender side of God, that God is sympathetic, caring for David, in verses 8 and 9.

Notice this, you have taken account of my wonderings. Put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? Now let me stop right there. I love this. I love this. God is caring. He has taken account or numbered our wonderings.

He knows all things. And then he says this, put my tears in your bottle. What's David saying? David is asking God to keep a remembrance of all his sufferings and all that he went through. Why? Why? So that God would eventually vindicate him in all that he does.

Don't you love this? In this time period of David's life before coming to the Adullam's cave in 1st Samuel 22, he was completely alone. This made David value the sympathy and care of God all the more, and he found great comfort in the thought that God noted his sufferings and misery.

David was a broken man. He was broken in contrite. His heart was tender before God, and he says, put my tears in your bottle. God has a sense in heaven. Isn't that wonderful to know that God keeps this in remembrance and account?

And he says it. Let me read to you something from A. W. Tozer. He said, I love this, about tears. This is from his book, God Tells the Man Who Cares. This is what Tozer said about tears. The Bible was written in tears, and to tears it will yield its best treasures.

God has nothing to say to the frivolous man. It was to Moses, a trembling man, that God spoke on the mount, and that same man later saved the nation when he threw himself before God with the offer to have himself blotted out of God's book for Israel's sake.

Daniel's long session of fasting and prayer brought Gabriel from heaven to tell the secret of centuries. When the beloved John wept much because no one could be found worthy to open the seven-sealed book, one of the elders comforted him with the joyous news that the lion of the tribe of Judah had prevailed.

The psalmist often wrote in tears, as we read today. Tozer says, the prophets could hardly conceal their heavy-heartedness, and the Apostle Paul in his otherwise joyous epistle to the Philippians broke into tears when he thought of the many who were enemies of the cross of Christ, and whose end was destruction.

Those Christian leaders who shook the world were one and all men of sorrows, whose witness to mankind wailed out of heavy hearts. There is no power in tears per se, but tears and power ever lie close together in the church of the firstborn.".

Let me ask you today, beloved, are you a man and woman of tears? Are you broken before God? Are you like David, a man after God's own heart, that had a tender heart broken before God? He was a man of many tears.

Notice the latter part of verse 9. Notice this,. Then my enemies would turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me. That's key right there to this whole chapter. God is for me. What does that remind you of?

It reminds you of the Apostle Paul's echo. He echoes this, the triumph end of the wonderful verse in the epistle of Romans, and at Romans 8 31, and the great question he gives. He gives a series of questions, and a hymn of security for God's people.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who then can be against us? Who can be against us if God is for us? Beloved, this is the believers eternal security right here. Nothing, nothing, I'm here to say, can separate you or me from the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Absolutely nothing. I had a person years ago that came from this particular church, and he says, you know, he says, nothing could separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus but yourself. I said, my friend, that does not say that in the text.

The text says nothing, and that means nothing. That's what the Word of God says. It doesn't say that I could take myself out of it. God keeps us by his power who are his own. Now, if someone goes astray and backslides, well there's a question that remains.

Has this person ever been a child of God in the first place? We don't know the hearts of people, but I do pray if they are God's children, God disciplines them and they come back to their senses and they repent.