(Saved Through the Fire) 10 - the Hope of the Promise — Milton Green

This is tape number 10 in a series. We urge you to listen to all the tapes in the series in numerical order So that the whole teaching can be received and understood. Listening to a part of this series or to the tapes out of sequence can lead to a Misunderstanding of the nature the intent and the importance of this series.

Christ’s Supremacy and the Church

Father right now the name and the power and the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Father we're just so thankful that you are the radiance of God's glory Lord Jesus you are the exact representation of his nature and Lord Jesus you have sat down at the right hand of glory after you made purification for sin.

And Lord, it's you who have inherited a name far greater than any angel. Father you have the name which is above every name. Because Lord Jesus you are the head of the body of the church. And you are the firstborn from the dead so that you yourself might have first place in all things.

For it was a father's good pleasure for all fullness to dwell in you and through you to reconcile all things to himself whether things in heaven or on earth. And Lord Jesus, you're the head over all rule and all authority.

Lord Jesus, we just pray that father that we would see you as my brother's been sharing father the futility and vanity of Religion is being exposed today father. It's never before and so Lord let us please Determine in our heart to experience you.

Let us just see you. Let us just hear you. Father I pray for your peace and your grace or to settle among us Lord we renounce any anxieties any fear Lord just any stress or strife father. We're just at peace and liberty in you.

So father I just right now to this congregation to this body of believers Lord. I just speak grace. I speak your love. I Speak your healing and your deliverance in the name and the power and the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen well praise God. You know, it's an interesting story about the children of Israel. Having been in bondage for over 400 years and God in a very supernatural way called them out, didn't he? I want you to think about something before we look at the Word of God and I want this to.

Israel’s Exodus and the Wilderness Journey

I want you to impress this on your mind. You remember Moses was visited by God in the burning bush and God told Moses he says Moses. I have heard the cries of my people. I've seen their distress and I've seen their suffering.

He says so I'm going to send you to be a deliverer. Of course, you know the story Moses goes and when he gets there things don't go according to his plans. They go according to God's plans. Because God said all along I'm going to harden Pharaoh's heart.

He had a purpose in doing that. Have you ever seen people in your path that seem like God had hardened their heart. But God always has a purpose doesn't he? Well in this case God supernaturally through a series of events.

I Mean made it completely known. Matter of fact Pharaoh and the people of Egypt said hey Please will y 'all leave? I mean they did everything but chase them out. But I'll get the picture here. Here they are all of this has happened.

It's undeniable that it's God. Even Pharaoh's magicians they told Pharaoh said this is God. We don't have any control over it. Can you imagine that when the heathens start saying this is God? I? Mean that's God, right?

So here they are. Glory, we're being set free today. Comes the Passover they share the meal they pack up the next morning. They're ready to go and they're so excited and they turn and what are they facing as they leave Egypt the wilderness?

Have you ever thought of that? They get real excited about leaving but All of a sudden. They're facing the wilderness. Some of them said just what you did. Gee it wasn't supposed to be this hard. Gee we we had plenty to eat back in the world.

Oh, it never was this way back there, you know before I left Egypt. You ever said that? But you had to leave Egypt didn't you? Why did they have to leave Egypt? Because God told Moses to begin with. I have a land flowing with milk and honey that I'm going to take them to.

Let me tell you what happened to you. Here's what happened to you. You were in the world lost. Dying being destroyed right where you stood right the Spirit of God Revealed and manifested the Lord Jesus Christ to you.

You chose you responded and you turned and you begin to leave Egypt also. But when you turned. You were staring straight into a wilderness. Matter of fact, you know. It's interesting that the Spirit of God told Moses tell Pharaoh now that you want to take these people out three days into the wilderness to worship me.

Now is that what he said about six times? That's what he said six times. Pharaoh. Let the people go out three days in the wilderness that they may worship you in it interesting. They went three days in the wilderness and it says in the Word of God.

They didn't find any water. Can I tell you something? That speaks of your walk right now. You've left Egypt, but I want to tell you something you've left you're facing a wilderness now, let me tell you why.

Because God is bringing you into a land flowing with milk and honey. You have a walk. You have a walk that began back here. It began supernaturally by the Spirit of God bringing you out of the bondage of the world and you've begun to walk.

You've begun to walk being led by the Spirit of God and where are you headed? Where are you headed? Where? You headed toward the land of milk and honey. You headed toward the promised land. Well, I want to tell you something brethren.

Fiery Trials and the Necessity of Perseverance

Don't think it's some Strange thing concerning these fiery trials. I want to share you share with you something. But I think that'll help you in your wall. See some of you haven't been to meetings. Some of you still have the concept.

It's still ingrained religious thinking that well here. I am in the world. I'm going to say my words. I'm going to turn around. I'm gonna go join me a good church and I'm gonna. Here I am. I don't even make good sense.

Does it do you hear what I'm saying? What you're going through and let me just say that I'm just gonna lay this out on the table real fast. Did you ever notice that it wasn't the generation that came out of Egypt that made it to the promised land?

Did you notice that it was a new generation that made it over there? Can I tell you something about your walk? The old man that turned out of the world the old man that you are he won't make it to the promised land.

Do you understand what I'm saying? He won't make it there. You let me tell you why he wouldn't be at home there once he got there. He's still gonna be at home back here in the world in the flesh. But let me tell you something.

Let me tell you something about the wall that we'll be sharing a little bit. But I got to say this before I get into what I'm going to share with you. So you understand where I'm coming from? Once you turn and You're walking through the wilderness.

Can I tell you? That there's a bunch of trap doors to hell in that wilderness. Now that may come as a surprise and a shock to some of you, but there's a lot that wilderness is loaded with trap doors to hell and The power of the darkness are there tempting you.

Tempting you so that you know, you know what they want you to do. You've begun you walk, right? They want you to come to some place and camp out. Boy, it's nice here. We got palm trees. We got plenty of water.

We're just gonna stay here God. We're gonna put up our corner tower and Live right here. We don't want to God this has got to be the land flowing with milk and honey and They're left standing there and the glory crowd leaves and what are they left with?

Death and destruction. That's what they're left with. See it's mere religion. That tells you that it's some creed or some code or some doctrine that we can walk in. It is only faith that tells you that the only walk you can have is a walk with the Lord Jesus Christ.

That's it. The only walk is with him. To walk any other way is total deception and it's total destruction. You might as well just Accept that right now. So we're living in a day and age right now where we're still in the wilderness.

But you know what the glory cloud is moving and if you don't move with it. You're gonna die right there in the wilderness. You'll you'll have fallen in to one of those trap doors. That'll take you and don't.

This might this may offend you a little bit, but please listen what I'm about to share say it may. If you don't go on with the glory cloud, it says the sons of God are those who are led by the white. If you're not led by the Spirit of God, then what are you you obviously not a son of God?

You reckon you're going to arrive at the land of milk and honey if you're not led by the Spirit of God. See, I've got to say some things right up front. Let me tell you why I got to say him. I got the same because I love you.

You need to get used to them. You need to see him. I want you to turn with me to Acts 13. I want you to look at Acts 13 and you know, it's unusual about this sermon that we're about to look at a pause.

This is a first recorded sermon by the Apostle Paul. He has just been sent out by the body of believers in Antioch. He it says very plainly that he has been part of the prophets and the teachers. There at Antioch.

They have sent him out and now as such God has commissioned him as an apostle to the church. So here he is look at. Look at verse 32. Well, let's back up to verse 27. Okay, let's back up there kind of get a running start.

Look at verse 27. For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers. Recognizing recognizing neither him nor the utterances of the prophets which are read every Sabbath that sounds familiar in some places, doesn't it?

Fulfilled these by condemning him and though they found no ground for putting him to death. They asked Pilate to execute him and When they had carried out all that was written concerning him. They took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb.

But God raised him from the dead and for many days he appeared to those who came with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. The very ones who are now his witnesses to the people. Now, let me ask you a question.

Look at me. Just a second. Is he proclaiming the gospel? Is he proclaiming the gospel which still applies to you and I? Let's read the next verse and We preach to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers.

Question. Who are the fathers? Who are the fathers? Can I tell you who the fathers are? Abraham Isaac and Jacob. Do you see that read on a little bit here? We're preaching to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers that God has fulfilled this promise to our children.

Now, this is what the New American says, but The Amplified translates that phrase by this he says that God has fulfilled this promise to us their children in. That he raised Jesus as it is written in the second psalm.

Now, let me ask you a question in its strange that he's going To the second psalm as a proof of Jesus having been raised from the dead. Don't you think that's a little unusual that he'd go to the second psalm and then quote it by saying Thou art my son today.

I have begotten thee. What is begotten mean? Huh? You tell me you talk to me. Begotten means to be given life, doesn't it? Do you have any children? You've begotten them hadn't you. You've given them life.

Look at verse 32. This is a very important point. We preach to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers that God has fulfilled his promise To us and that he raised up Jesus. Now, wait a minute.

Look at me. Here's Paul. I'm gonna go over here for this. Here's Paul on the other side of the cross, right? Jesus has come. Jesus been crucified. All is pointing back beyond the cross. Paul is pointing back beyond the law.

Paul is pointing back to the fathers and he's saying I am proclaiming to you The promise made to the fathers. Do you hear what I'm saying? It's important to see what it is saying because. If we get along you're gonna see why it's important.

Paul is saying I'm proclaiming you the good news of the promise made to the fathers. Well. That seems real strange. Doesn't it turn with me just a second. Let's look at two acts 24. I want to lay a little bit of a foundation for this a little bit more acts 24.

But look at verse 14. Now don't you think of the of the setting here? Okay, see so often when we look at the Word of God. We sometimes don't notice the setting. We don't notice the context and I think it's important Paul is before Felix.

Paul was on trial. Now I'll ask you a question what if they took you right now to the governor of the state and You were on trial for what you believe now. I'll ask you a question. Do you think it would be important what you're about to say?

It could mean you're. It could mean your neck now. Paul, you know him he's one of those fellas he's. He might not pass that way again. So I don't think he's gonna mess around to you. Okay, let's look at it verse 14.

He says many things but this is one thing he says right in the middle of this whole discussion. He said but this I admit to you. That according to the way which they the Pharisees call a sect. I do serve the God of our fathers believing everything.

Did he say everything? That is in accordance with the what? Paul believed the law didn't he and that is written in the prophets. Having a hope in God which these men cherish themselves that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.

Flip over tax 26. Let's look at it again Paul. He's moved from the governor. He's moved to the king. Now is this again an important meeting? Now I won't say what I want you to notice. I want you to see how the Spirit of God is taken.

Has taken out of the life of Paul these messages at these times and put them here for a purpose. Look at verse 6. He's making his defense before the king. He says now and now Acts 26 verse 6. And now I am standing trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers.

Look at me. Here he is again before the king. Pointing beyond the cross. Pointing beyond the law pointing back to the fathers and say I am on trial today for the hope of the promise made to them. But is he standing in the New Testament day?

Obviously is. Is he proclaiming the gospel he goes on. He says the promise to which our twelve tribes hope to attain as. They earnestly serve God night and day. And for this what's that word? For this hope o King I am being accused by Jews.

Why is it considered incredible among you people if God does what? Have you seen a couple of phrases in here over and over again? The main phrase Paul in his gospel is proclaiming to you. The hope of the promise made to the fathers.

Did you hear that? I want you to turn with me to Romans 8. You know Paul made an unusual remark. He said we are saved by hope. Well, I'd like to know what that means. You know what matter of fact, I'd kind of like to know what the hope of the promise is made to the fathers.

Hope, Faith, and Endurance

Look at Romans 8 verse 24. You know now let me let me clear up something in Today's connotation the way we use words today if I tell you. Well, I hope this or that happens. What am I really saying to you.

What is conveyed to you. It may happen it may not it's. It's conveyed as a maybe. Well, I hope it'll happen. It's conveyed as a maybe. Can I tell you something? That's not the way hope is used scripturally.

Okay. Look at it with me. Romans 8 24. For in hope we have been saved. But hope that is seen is not hope. For why does one also hope for what he sees but if we hope for what we do not see. With perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

Can I tell you that that's the scriptural definition of hope? Waiting with perseverance. Waiting with a knowing and a strength within you. We're going to look at just a second. But let me ask you a question.

How does the Spirit of God define faith. The assurance of things what I've hoped for. I think that's an interesting remark. Turn with me to Hebrews 6. I want you to keep your perspective now. I Want you to stay with me?

Okay. Now Paul is talking about. Hey, I'm proclaiming to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers. He keeps pointing back Even beyond the law to that promise. Well, let's look at Hebrews 6.

I want to pick up something else here look at verse. Let's look at verse 11 beginning there and We desire that how many of you is he talking to all of us? He desires that each one of you show the same Diligence.

So as to realize the full assurance of hope unto where? Let me ask you a question did Jesus Christ make the remark that he who endures to the end shall be what? Can I tell you that if you don't endure you're not saved.

Can I tell you something? You don't have today's theology translates this thing. You know, we got all of our we got we can't upset flesh now. You know, we got to do something to make this we got to fit this Bible into something.

That'll they'll sound Pleasing that wing swallow it that wing consume it and then we need it not have to deal with flesh. See they tell us when I wait a minute. No, that scripture actually reads the saved shall endure to the end.

But can I tell you that's not how the verse reads? The verse reads. Those who endure to the end shall be saved. See we're back to our picture a while ago the Spirit of God has called you out of Egypt.

It's real. It's real you've turned As you're led by the Spirit of God and you've become this walk through the wilderness to arrive at the land of promise. Do you see what I'm saying? He who endures to the end shall be saved.

Look at this again with me so that you might realize the full assurance of hope until the end that you may not be sluggish. Can I tell you something about your walk? If you don't have any hope and you're about to see what hope is if you don't have it.

You're going to be sluggish and you walk. Can I even just go a little further and say you're going to be downright lazy and you walk for? Verse 12 that you may not be sluggish but imitators of those who through faith and patience.

Inherit the what? Well now wait a minute. Look at me. Here we go again. What promises are he taught. Is he talking about? He's still talking about the promises made to the fathers. Is this is this still in the New Testament.

The Promise to Abraham and the Heirs of Faith

Verse 13 look at this with me for when God made the promise to Abram since he couldn't swear by anyone greater. He swore by himself. Praise God saying I will surely bless you. Can I ask you a question?

Reckon, there's a doubt in that. I mean, are you sure? I Mean think of it here. Now. Here's God Almighty El Shaddai. Looking at you and saying I will bless you. Can you receive it. Can I tell you something you remember you remember in their walk.

You know, they turned out of Egypt and here they go and they start trudging through the wilderness being led by the glory cloud being led by the Spirit of God and they they go about a year and they finally get up there and they send in spies into the land and You remember they sent 12 spies 10.

Um came back with a bad report and two of them came back with a praise report 10 um came back and says We can't take the land. There's too many Giants there. There's just too many stoned walls. They're too big for us.

We can't go in. Can I tell you something? God says You are well able to go up and take it. I'm saying that to you. Can I tell you something. The powers of darkness and the demons of hell have placed all sorts of Giants in your path.

They're there from your walk in the world before you ever turn to God. They're there because of the curse that was on you even in Adam. They're there because of all of the garbage that came on you even through your ancestors.

The stoned walls the wall cities which seems to be so strong and so big. God says you're well able to go up and take it. Now I'm saying that to you. Because if you don't understand that You'll be like the children of Israel and because of your unbelief You'll fail to go in.

You may tell you something if you don't go in it's destruction. Okay, when I see some people say when I boy that just sounds tough. Boy, that's just too heavy now. No, it can't be that way. Mm-hmm. Let's read on here.

Verse 14. God is saying I will surely bless you and I will surely multiply you. He's saying this to Abram, right? This has been quoted from Genesis 22 is in the New Testament and thus having patiently waited he did what?

He obtained the promise. He didn't say all of the promises. He said the promise. Verse 16 for men swear by one greater than themselves and with them an oath given his confirmation is an end of every dispute in the Same way God desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable is of his purpose.

Do you see that? God has a purpose and it's an unchangeable purpose. He interposed with an oath in order that by two Unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie we who is the way the way.

Are the heirs of the promise? So that we may have strong encouragement we We're going to find out something else about the heirs of the promise. We who have fled for refuge and laying hold of the hope set before us.

Can I tell you something look at me? Do you know what the word fled means? It means you've run from something. Can I tell you something? You remember when the children of Israel left Egypt. Does it say that they fled they left in a hurry?

Okay. What is a refuge. It's a shelter. The shelter is a place where you get in a storm. Didn't it it says? Those may have strong Encouragement those who have fled for refuge in laying hold of the what?

The hope who have fled for refuge and laying hold of the hope now. So you've got a you've got to follow me to this point. Look at verse 19 this hope. Now we haven't defined hope have we. We're still talking about it this hope we have as an anchor of the soul.

Hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil where Jesus has entered as a Forerunner for us having become a what kind of a priest. Can I tell you something? You know what? He's saying this hope is an anchor of the soul and It's one which enters within the veil where Jesus has entered.

In other words. Our hope is Within the veil where Jesus has entered. To become a high priest you may tell you something about your walk in the wilderness here. We've left Egypt. We've begun on our walk.

We get really excited about our walk. Then all of a sudden we get really excited about revelation. We get really excited about more revelation. We get excited about even more revelation and this and that and the other but can I tell you something?

This land that you're heading. God says that he preordained that you would be conformed into the image of who in this walk. You're being conformed into the image of Jesus. Okay, you understand that that's pretty basic.

But can I tell you this? That unless in the journey you're being conformed to the image of a high priest. You are not being conformed into the image of Jesus. Do you understand what I'm saying? If you're not being conformed into the image of one who loves and helps and intercedes and lays down his life for others.

You'll not finish the walk. Can I tell you something. Quit worrying about what you know start concerning yourself with manifesting the life of God. Manifest. You set your heart on being conformed to his image and loving and laying your life down.

Because if you don't I don't care what you know. You're not going in because you're not conformed to his image. Amen, let's go on over just a little bit. Look at Hebrews 10. See we just read there we have this hope which is a which is an anchor of the soul one which has entered within the Veil where Jesus has entered.

Confidence, Holiness, and Willful Sin

Look at Hebrews 10 here real quick. Hebrews 10 verse 19 since therefore brethren are we talking to believers? We have confidence. To enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus by a new and living way which inaugurated for us through the veil that is.

What's the veil? His flesh his body. And since we have a great priest over the house of God. Let us draw near with a what kind of a heart you can't draw near any other way. Let us draw near with a sincere heart and full assurance of what?

Full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean washed. From an evil conscious and our bodies washed with pure waters and let us hold fast the confession of our what? Hope without wavering for he who promised is faithful who promised God the Father promised.

I want to tell you something. See there's true. Look at me. Just a second. Everybody look at me. So you're hearing some strong scriptures of encouragement. Because see the perspective in terms of what salvation is.

To be honest has oftentimes been lost. The perspective of the walk by and large isn't really understood. Let me tell you why. Because it was really understood. We wouldn't be as torn up as we are. Okay.

We wouldn't be as worn out as frustrated as we are. We wouldn't be as defeated as we are. But you let me tell you something about this. There's tremendous encouragement and you're going to see you're going to see something about the walk that God has said.

That you may not have seen before but I want you to look at verse 26. But if we go on sending willfully after receiving a knowledge of the truth. There's no longer a sacrifice for sin. Anyone who set aside look at verse 27, but a certain terrifying expectation of what of Judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries.

Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy. On the testimony of two or three witnesses how much severe punishment do you think he will deserve? Who has trampled underfoot the Son of God has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified and has insulted The Spirit of grace verse 35.

Therefore do not throw away your confidence. Which has a great reward for you have need of endurance so that when you have done the will of God you may receive. What was promised I? Want to tell you something look at me as you make this turn out of Egypt and you begin to walk.

You're going to see something that God has promised in regards to your walk. But but see here's another pitfall. You've got to be diligent. You have got to endure. You want me to tell you what that's the reason why the fires come.

You're about to see that in the life of Isaac. Look on over to Hebrews 11 1. Hebrews 11 1 says now. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen. Is that true? Okay, let's slip on over here.

Abraham as a Stranger Seeking a Heavenly City

Look at verse 8 in Hebrews 11. Now think of the perspective here because if you don't keep it in perspective, you're going to think well gee, how does this apply? Look at me just a second. We're in a walk, right?

We're going. God has called us out of the world out of the bondages. We've been in where we've turned to walk through this wilderness. Heading toward a land of milk and honey, which God has promised and in turning there in The New Testament Paul keeps saying I am preaching to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers.

See over and over again. He keeps stressing that and I stress it because I want you to really see this and understand where we're coming from. Look at verse 8. By faith now, let me ask you a question.

I Want you to think is that when you look at faith? Did the Word of God say that faith with the assurance of things hoped for? Did it say that are we safe? Are we safe to see in that word faith the assurance of things hoped for?

Are we safe to do that? I think we are faith carries with it. Let me clarify something faith carries with it many many different aspects. But one important aspect is the assurance of things hoped for.

When there are things when there is an assurance of things hoped for it helps your walk. Okay, it helps your walk in a way that you're going to see okay. You're going to see here in just a minute by faith by the assurance of things hoped for.

Abraham when he was called he obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance. Is that true? Who promised him the inheritance and He went out not knowing where he was going and by faith.

He lived as a what? He lived as an alien in the land of promise as in a foreign land. Dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob fellow heirs of the same promise. For he was looking for what? He was looking for the city which has foundations.

He's architect and builder is God. Is that true? Can I tell you something look at verse? Look at verse 13. All of these died in faith. Sarah Abraham died in faith without receiving the promises without receiving the fulfillment of the promises.

But having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance now stop just second. Did we read over there while ago that hope that scene is not hope he saw them from a distance. He welcomed them. Hope is something that he didn't possess.

Hope is something that he's waiting. Expectantly he's waiting with perseverance for who to deliver it. He's waiting for God to perform what he's promised. Okay, keep that in mind. Now look at this. They having seen them verse 13 having seen them and welcomed them from a distance and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

For they who say such things make it clear that they're seeking a country of their own. Verse 16, but it is as it is they desire a better country. That is a heavenly heavenly one. Therefore God's not ashamed to be called their God.

Why? For he has prepared a city for him. I Want you to look at something look at me. We've heard about that promise made to Abraham. But do you realize right here the Spirit of God says that Abraham didn't see the promise as being a clump of land.

Do you see that. It says he confessed that he was a stranger and an alien in the land of promise. The Spirit of God here says that it makes it clear that he was looking for a heavenly city. It makes it clear.

He was looking he wasn't looking for a pile of rocks and a four square lot somewhere. Keep your place right here. Turn over to Hebrews 12. Well, then the question is what's the city? What is the city that the Spirit of God just said that Abraham was looking for?

Verse 22, but you have come to Mount Zion Hebrews 12 verse 22. Look at it with me. But you have come to Mount Zion and to the white you reckon. This is what he's looking for. To the city of the Living God to the what kind of Jerusalem.

Did it just say he was looking for a heavenly city a heavenly land sure it is. And To the myriads of angel. And to what? To the General Assembly and Ecclesia Ecclesia the called-out ones the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven and to God the judge of all and to the white the spirits of righteous men made white.

Back up over there to Hebrews 11. You know, you know look at me while you're turning back over there, you know, we've always read that. We've always looked at it. And we thought well gee God promised Abraham a clump of land.

It did amazing. It says very plainly Abraham confessed that he was a stranger in an alien. He went at home there. Why. Because it says very plainly he was looking for a city. We just read what city he was looking for.