The Joy of Salvation: Part 1

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The Joy of Salvation: Part 2

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I want to invite you this morning to our study to the epistle of 1st
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Peter, chapter 1. Chapter 1, we are continuing our study through this wonderful book, 1st
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Peter, chapter 1. And today I'm going to be reading verse 6 through 9, but we're only going to look at the first portion of verse 6.
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We're only going to break ground. And the reason I want to do this, I'm going to set before you that we're talking about the joy of salvation because everything that he speaks about here is about greatly rejoicing in the salvation in which he has purchased.
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It's all because of the love and the mercy of God shown to us and demonstrated on the cross that Jesus gave himself.
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He is our great salvation and the salvation has been bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ.
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But here, as we have seen through the past several weeks, we looked at the heavenly inheritance and all that incorporates the great salvation that God and God alone has purchased.
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So hear the word of the living God, verse 6 through 9.
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He writes, In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold, which is perishable, even though be tested by fire, may be found to the result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
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And though you have not seen him, you love him. And though you do not see him now, but believe in him.
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You greatly rejoice. There it is again. You greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
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May God bless the reading of his word from our ears to our hearts, as only
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God would take it to our hearts this morning by his Holy Spirit. Let's seek our
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Father in prayer and ask God to come and meet with us.
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Father, as we come before you, we humble ourselves. Lord, may our attitude this morning be with one that we tremble.
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We tremble at your word. Oh, Father, your word. It's holy.
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It is eternal. It is forever settled in heaven. And it is the only thing that has the power to save to the uttermost.
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It's the only agent that can save the souls of men. It is alive.
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It is quick. It is powerful. It is living. And it is sharper than any two -edged sword.
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And Father, you said it pierces as far as the division of soul and spirit in both joints and the marrow.
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And it's able to judge the very thoughts and the intentions of our heart this morning.
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Father, you also said that all Scripture, not some of it, but all of it, is by your breath.
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It is inspired. It is inspired by you. You breathe on it.
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It is your breath. And it's profitable. Oh, praise your name.
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It is profitable for us today to teach us, to reprove us, to correct us, to equip us, to train us in righteousness, so that we, your people, especially the man of God, may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
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Father, equip us this morning, I pray. Father, I pray as this, as the
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Puritan said, this is your mind revealed in Holy Scripture. But we can see nothing without the spectacles of the
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Holy Spirit. So, Father, as your Word is read, as your Word is preached, as your
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Word is sung, and everything is centered on your Word, Father, we must have the blessed Holy Spirit this morning to give us eyes to see and ears to hear, and a heart to perceive and to understand.
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Because, Father, if we're in the natural, we're not going to understand it. If we're in the flesh, we're not going to understand it.
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Father, it must be in the Spirit. And, Father, that's what we pray for this morning. And we ask this in Jesus' name.
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Amen and Amen. The joy of salvation. Do you have this joy this morning?
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Do you have this eternal joy? Not a temporary joy.
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But an eternal joy that's only found in Jesus Christ. This passage of Scripture uncovers a rich, deep, doctrinal truth of salvation in Jesus Christ that the
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Apostle Peter used to encourage the suffering saints, by the way. These saints were suffering. As we looked at, they lost everything that they had.
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Many of them lost their jobs. Many of them lost their homes by a fire from Nero.
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And many of them lost their very lives being burned to the stake. This is very real.
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And the suffering was very real in that time period. It's hard for us to relate to it, but I assure you that the way things are going, we will relate to it.
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Third World countries, the persecuted church there relates to this. These are suffering
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Christians. These are persecuted believers. And I'm telling you, beloved, as the Apostle Peter was speaking these words, these words meant something.
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These words were blessed. These words were full of joy and to give them hope and courage in the face of persecution, in the face of suffering.
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These great truths speak of the salvation that's in Jesus Christ. There's nothing greater.
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And that's what we need to really focus on to make sure that we make our calling and election sure this morning, that we have this salvation.
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It's not a ticket to heaven and a fire insurance from hell. It's in Jesus Christ. It's in the person of Jesus Christ.
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It's in His person. It's in His works. And the Apostle Peter reminds these early believers that we're greatly suffering, that they can greatly rejoice.
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That all the suffering that they were enduring would not be compared to the great rejoicing, the eternal bliss that awaits them in heaven.
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To those that are found faithful in Jesus Christ, to those that are born again believers and been born of the
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Spirit of God, a salvation that is secure. That is enough to rejoice in.
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Just what I said, if I gave you a benediction and sent you on your way, you could say amen. God has blessed us with a great salvation this morning, brothers and sisters.
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And it's a faith that's also proven. It's a condemnation that is inevitable and a love that is unseen and a deliverance that is in progress.
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That's what we're going to look at for the next several weeks. But again, we're going to only break ground. And I'd like to just break ground in a sense and set before you this morning that this salvation is something for us to rejoice in.
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We can rejoice in this great salvation. In verses 1 through 5, as we looked at,
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He reminds us that the salvation we have is to the elect. It's to the chosen.
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Chosen. Chosen of God. The elect. Triumph and hope.
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The living hope. Aren't you glad it's a living hope? It's not a dying hope.
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And that we can have this as believers. And also
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He reminds them that you are basically pilgrims, sojourners. You're spiritual aliens.
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That we have been chosen of God, sanctified by God, sealed by God. Blessed by God.
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And then the apostle Peter continues on with his doxology. That's what it actually is. If you look at it in the original here, all the way starting with verse 3, all the way to verse 9 is a full doxology.
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He praises God. Blessed the God. Blessed the God. That word be is in there, but the be is not in the original.
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So he says, bless God. Bless God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy.
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You know, we have this salvation because of His great mercy. He's been moved with compassion and mercy.
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He doesn't owe it to us. He is not obliged to give it. He gave it because He loves us.
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He loved His elect. He loved the ones that He has ordained from the foundation of the earth.
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And by the way, He loves the whole world. But the elect has a special love.
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It's a special love given to them. Isn't it incredible?
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And according to His great mercy. His mercy is great, isn't it? It's great. I love the way the apostle
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Peter says, it's just not mercy. Mercy is good enough. Mercy is great. But he adds to it, great.
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It's great. Why is it great? Because He's caused us to be born again. You know, we're not going to understand what
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He's talking about here unless we're born in the Spirit of God. You must be born again, Jesus said to Nicodemus.
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Think about Nicodemus there for a second. As we looked at this. But I keep thinking about this. He's up the ladder as a
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Pharisee at that time period. He's a teacher of the Jews. He's a teacher of Israel. And Jesus said, you should know these things.
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And Jesus tells him, you must be born again. You know what Jesus, in paraphrase.
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I heard Pastor John McCarthy refer to this. And it's not original with me. But I'd like to share it with you.
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He said, basically in paraphrase. He's telling Nicodemus. He's up the ladder. He's an elderly man. He's had all this religion all his life.
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He's taught from the law. He's basically been greatly esteemed as a teacher of the
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Jews. And Jesus says, you've got to start all over. That's what He said. Dump your religion.
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Dump it. It's worthless. You must be born again. You must be born of the
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Spirit of God. You must have desires from above. And everything that you are, you will be a child of the living
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God. I'll give you a new heart. I'll put all my laws in your heart. I'll take out the stony heart.
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I'll put a heart of flesh. I will put my fear within you. I will cause you to love me. I'm telling you, if you don't have that, you're not going to understand.
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We're not going to understand anything in this word. We're not going to understand because you're not going to have the love of God in you.
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Because when that takes place in regeneration, the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the
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Holy Spirit. It is God that causes us to come in to His kingdom. Praise God.
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This is a glorious thing because without this we cannot have eyes to see.
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People are still dead. And I'm telling you, churches are full today because people are still in their religion.
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They're playing church. But they must come out of the dead. And only God can raise the dead. I'm telling you, it is central to understand and to know that we've been born again.
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And if you don't know that, get it right. Repent. It's not too late.
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And if you say you cannot do it, that's exactly right. Go to God and say, I cannot do this. God can do it in you.
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As Brother Ben and myself was speaking to this young man, Malik. Did I get that right, Ben? He had an unusual name,
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Malik. He was honest. He was an honest sinner. He said, I got a cold heart. I said, but God can give you a new warm heart.
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I said, our hearts do get cold. But God can give you a new heart, give you a warm heart. I will say about that young man, he was an honest sinner.
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There is a lot of hope for him. Amen, Brother Keith. We gave him the word of God.
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And I said, look, you need to get in this word. And stay in the word.
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And seek God in the word. And God will meet you. Ask Him to be giving. Seek and you shall find.
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God's not going to withhold. And we basically told him, God doesn't want to see you in hell. God's not willing that any should perish.
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But that all should come to repentance. God doesn't take no delight in the death of the wicked, beloved.
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We had the great opportunity, praise God, that God opened up that door. And I just ask everybody here in this room, please pray for Malik.
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And pray for Aaron. Aaron was more the quiet one. He was doing his job a little bit more.
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But, as Scripture says, he was studying to be quiet and do his work. But Malik was really disgruntled.
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But he had a lot of pain. He had a lot of hurt. Brother Keith, witness this.
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That's the way the world is, isn't it? They're hurting. They're angry. They're seeking for truth.
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Yet their sin continues to drive them. Because they love the pleasures of sin.
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They love the darkness. They flee from the light. And I said, look, this is our witness to this world.
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We are to compel people to come to Jesus. And say, this is the light. The Word of God is the light.
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You come to the light. And let the light expose your sins and your deeds of darkness.
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And repent from it. And beloved, God will come. He is faithful and He will come.
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And I'm telling you, He desires and He takes joy to save a repentant sinner. Joy in heaven over that.
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We're going to look at that in a minute. Peter goes on. There's a living hope. You've been born again to a living hope.
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So you're not going to have this living hope unless you're born again. And by the way, the living hope is through something.
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It's through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. All that's connected. You see,
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He has caused us. God causes us to be born again to a living hope. And it's through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
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And we know there's a living hope. Because He lives, we can live also. Isn't that great?
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And that's what He's saying. It's all because of Jesus. It's all because of His resurrection from the dead.
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This is why we can rejoice. And then you can rejoice to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable.
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Listen to that. And undefiled and will not fade away. Reserved in heaven for you. It is reserved in the vault of heaven.
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Nothing can touch it. Verse 5. Who are protected by the power of God.
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You're protected by God's power. God's power never fails. He will keep you to the end.
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And by the way, it's through faith. And by the way, that faith is a gift. You know, when
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I first came into the kingdom of God, I thought it was something I did in the sense I knew salvation was a free gift. And I said,
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I have taken hold of this salvation. I knew I was in the kingdom. But I said, my faith activates. And you know something?
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I come to find out it's not my faith anyway. It's the faith of the Son of God in me.
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I thought, yeah, but His faith became my faith. You see that? His joy became my joy.
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So, in other words, every good and perfect gift comes from above. The Father alights in Him. There's no variable.
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There's no shadow of turning. So, I realized in Scripture for the first time, you know, it wasn't me seeking
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God in the first place anyway. The Bible says seek the
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Lord. Yeah, I sought the Lord. But come to find out it was God taking a hold of me, bringing me in to cause me to seek
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Him. Why did I say that? Because I like what Pastor John MacArthur says.
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If you'd lose your salvation, you would. In other words, it would be up to us.
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And then R .C. Sproul says, God took the initiative. And he says, unless God took the initiative, none of us would be saved.
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So, really, the seeker is God. God's the seeker. He's the one that comes after us.
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Because what does the Scripture say? There's none that seeketh God. In our own fallen nature, a dead man, you go to the grave, and you tell me if those people are seeking
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God now. They're dead. They can't seek
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God. But those who are alive has that capacity to still seek
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God. If the Spirit of God would bring them in. Protected by the power of God through faith.
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For what? A salvation that's ready to be revealed in the last time. It's come to us.
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In the last time. The time of salvation. That's what he's talking about. God energizes that faith.
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He continues, and He preserves it. And saving faith is permanent.
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It never dies. Because it's a living faith. James talks about that. Is it a dead faith?
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It's a living faith. There's people who profess to have faith, but they're dead in their sins.
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But there's people that's come to the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. They're born of the Spirit of God. They have a living faith.
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It's like a living hope. It's activated. And God the Holy Spirit has activated it.
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And then he goes on. In verse 6. In this. Notice what he said. In this.
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You greatly rejoice. Now let's look at this. Now I've made to the text.
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All that Peter was talking about is a salvation that is secure. That's my first point. That's the only point we're going to look at.
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And I think that's enough. A salvation that is secure is a faith that is proven. It's commandated.
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That it is inevitable. A love that is unseen. And a deliverance that is in progress. We're going to look at that.
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Those are basically the five reasons to rejoice. That we have this great salvation.
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And in verses 1 through 5. We looked at it just a minute ago. It's the salutation.
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We are reminded of the election. The triumphant hope. The living hope that we have as spiritual aliens.
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And we have been chosen. Sanctified. We've been sealed. We've been blessed. And then Peter continues on with this doxology of hope.
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Speaking of the source. Of all the hope that the Father has drawn us into himself.
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And also the power of our hope. That we have been born again to a living hope.
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The power of regeneration. Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The greatest miracle of the new birth.
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And we learned the promise of that eternal hope. And the eternal inheritance we have is imperishable.
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It's undefiled. And it's not contaminated. It will not fade away.
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It cannot be touched. It is eternally safe in the vaults of heaven. Our inheritance.
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That inheritance that Jesus Christ has purchased. And by the way, you do not.
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We looked at that. No one has an inheritance unless there was a death. That's what purchased it.
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That's what qualifies it. And you know something? This salvation is literally guarded in heaven.
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God guards it. Think about that. Nothing can touch it.
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Our salvation is protected by God himself. Because he himself is the salvation.
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He's purchased it. The eternal life he's given. And you know if you do a little study on this.
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Jesus basically said that inheritance of eternal life.
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That was the question that the rich young ruler had. How can I inherit eternal life? And Jesus basically told him.
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And he started with the law. And then he went to perfect perfection of the standard of that law.
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And Jesus was basically saying. And then you come follow me. Jesus was basically saying,
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I am eternal life. That life eternal is in Jesus Christ.
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Again, it's just not a ticket that Jesus just gives to us. And says, bam. Now when you get to the gates of glory and the gate of pearl.
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Just give you a ticket. No sir. It's not going to be like that. He's the pearl of great price.
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He is the door. He is the way. He is the truth. He is the life.
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No one comes to the father unless they come by me. He is that way.
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And if you look at it. That eternal life is in the person and works of Jesus.
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I tell you, you're not going to understand that until we see. And that's the gospel. That's the good news. And that you greatly rejoice.
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God himself has become our salvation. Because he's the one that has accomplished it. Salvation has been given through Jesus Christ.
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Because Christ is that unspeakable gift. Eternal life is present.
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And that's what he's speaking of. It's a present possession. Keep in mind that Jesus himself is that salvation.
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So he's the pearl of great price in our salvation. These great truths should cause the heart of every believer.
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Beloved, as I'm speaking this to you. Should cause your heart to rejoice. That's cause to rejoice.
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You know something? Even in the state we're in. We should be rejoicing. But you know something?
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Even in a state of a persecuted believer. At this time. Whether they were in chains or in dungeons.
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Being persecuted. They've lost everything they had. When Peter spoke these words. They can say, Hallelujah!
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I got something on the other side. I have an eternal inheritance that's only in Jesus Christ.
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And he says this. Who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation.
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Ready to be revealed in the last time. That's a salvation for you. We don't deserve it.
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We can't earn it. It's been freely given. He's purchased it. God's done it all.
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Salvation's of the Lord. If you were to sum up salvation. It is of the
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Lord. John has said that. A rebellious prophet. And by the way.
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When he prayed that. Isn't it amazing how that's recorded. But he was actually in the belly of the sea monster.
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The whale. And he was suffering. He was being disciplined by God. And he cries out to God.
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He cries out. And he says, Salvation is of the Lord. And if you notice in that prayer. As soon as he said that.
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The whale spit him up on land. He was ready. After God humbled him.
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After God disciplined him. Now he was ready to preach the word. And he went to Nineveh. That great city. And he preached that word.
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And I'm sure he was crying out for them to repent. And I'm here to tell you. The heathens there repented. And God was gracious.
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He was slow to anger. And merciful. To forgive them their sins. And the scripture says.
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Their sin came up to heaven. God was going to judge them. God was going to judge them. And burn them up.
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But here was the instrument. And he was being rebellious. But God knew how to get his attention. He couldn't run from God.
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Could he? And God did it all. And the storm. He prepared him.
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And then he preached the word. And you know the story. At the end of it. He was pouting. About the whole situation.
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He was being selfish. Because he was a Jew. And he thought only the Jews had a monopoly on God. Only the
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Jews had this. It's not for the Gentiles. But that was God's intended purpose. His purpose was to reach the world.
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Isn't God good? That's his intended purpose. And this you greatly rejoice.
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That's what he's telling these suffering saints. It's a paradox actually. Of the
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Christ life. We can rejoice in the midst of great distress. And heaviness. And trials.
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And hardships. And can I say this? There's a divine order here too. There's a sense that.
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As scripture says. In Psalms. I believe it's 126. Verse 5.
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He that sows in tears shall reap in joy. You see it's not the other way around.
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First there's the sowing. The brokenness. The ground must be broken up. The fallow ground must be broken up.
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There must be brokenness. And Jesus started with that. On the Sermon on the Mount. He talked about blessed are those that are born.
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Blessed are those. That basically are stripped of their pride. That's what he's talking about.
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And there's a level. There's a divine order that reaches. A plateau of great joy.
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It's not the other way around. We'll look at that in a minute. This joy reflects what
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Peter certainly knew. From the Old Testament revelation. And it wasn't new to him. The Psalmist in Psalm 43.
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Go with me to chapter 43 of Psalm. We're going to turn to some scriptures now. Have your
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Bible ready. And ready to go. Psalm 43.
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Notice this in the Old Testament. There's so many verses on this. I don't have time to cover them all. But let's just hit just a few.
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Psalm 43. Look at verse 3 and 4. Oh send out your light and your truth.
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What a prayer. Don't we need to be praying that? Oh God send out your light and your truth.
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Let them lead me. And what does he say? Let them bring me to your holy hill. They will.
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And to your dwelling places. And then I will go to the altar of God. Hallelujah. Listen to this.
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To God my exceeding joy. Did you get that? To God my exceeding joy.
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And upon the lyre I will praise you. Oh God my God. You see that?
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He's praying for deliverance. And if you read on he says. Why are you in despair oh my soul?
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It's like he's meditating upon himself. Oh soul why are you in despair? Why are you disturbed within me?
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My hope is in God. My hope is in God. I shall not and for I shall again praise him.
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The help of my countenance and my God. Go to Isaiah 35.
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Look at verse 10. There's a lot in Isaiah but I don't have time to hit them all. Isaiah 35 10.
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Scripture says this. The ransom of the Lord will return. And come with what?
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Joyful shouting. To Zion. You know that's the way we should be doing.
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Hey God's people are heading marching on to Zion. And they got a song in their heart.
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And a praise on their lips. Joyful shouting to Zion. With what? Everlasting joy.
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It's just not temporary joy. It's everlasting joy. Upon their heads. They will find gladness and joy.
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And now notice what he says. And sorrow and sighing will flee away.
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It's going to flee away. Isn't that wonderful? It's going to flee away.
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It's going to be gone. God's going to wipe away every tear from every eye one day. It's going to be eternal bliss but it's not yet.
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Now we can have this joy. Even in the midst of persecution. But there's also grieving.
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There's anguish. There's agony. There's hardships. You know this. In life there's going to be those things.
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But we can have. We're going to look at this. We can have that eternal joy in Jesus Christ by faith.
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Because we know it's real. Because Jesus Christ is risen from the dead. You see.
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What about the introduction of the Gospel of Luke. Calls actually the birth of Jesus Christ.
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And what does it say? Luke chapter 2 verse 10. Good news of great joy.
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Good news of great joy. What about the Apostle Paul. To the believers at Thessalonica.
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He received. That received his evangelistic message in 1 Thessalonians 1 verse 6.
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With the joy of the Holy Spirit. Can I tell you that? That it's not our joy.
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It's Jesus' joy. But it's also the joy of the Holy Spirit. What I'm trying to say is.
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It's not a joy that we can muster up. It's got to be by the Spirit of the living God.
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It's got to be the joy of the Holy Spirit. And by the way. Jesus says it's my joy that I give unto you.
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And it becomes your joy. Through faith. Salvation joy. Beloved.
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What's it saying? It's supernatural. It's supernatural. It's eternal. It's a joy that is not of this earth.
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And this earth does not have it. And the people that's lost and groping in darkness.
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Should see that joy in us. It comes from heaven above.
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It's founded and grounded in God himself. And it comes to us through the Holy Spirit. It comes by the power of regeneration.
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And by the way. Can I say this? It comes through repentance too. We'll see that.
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Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5 verse 8. That we believers wear the hope of salvation. James 1 verse 2 says.
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Count it all joy. When we encounter various trials. Paul said in Romans 3 through 5.
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And not only this. But we also exalt in our tribulations. Knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance.
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And perseverance proven character. And proven character hope. And hope does not disappoint.
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Because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts. Through the Holy Spirit. Who was given to us.
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Five reasons to rejoice. And the first one is. We have a salvation that's secure. We have a salvation that is secure.
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We're going to look at the others Lord willing. Later on. Salvation is of the
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Lord. We have a salvation that's secure. And the reasons that a believer has to rejoice in.
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Is a salvation that is secure. Now actually what is he meaning by that? Let's look at this.
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In this you greatly rejoice. What's the meaning of it? That's a great meaning.
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I'll look this up. The original language speaks of a deep. It's a profound. It's an overwhelming.
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It is a supernatural gladness. A eternal bliss that springs forth from the very wellspring of a keen understanding.
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Of the love and the mercy and the grace of God in salvation. Isn't that a mouthful? That's a definition.
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In this. In this. Everything he speaks of. All the way back to 1
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Peter chapter 1. All the way from verse 3. All the way to verse 5. In this you rejoice.
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You greatly rejoice. The word. Rejoice here.
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Again. In the original language speaks of a deep. Profound. Overwhelming. Supernatural gladness.
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And all that truth is found in verses 3 through 5. In this you greatly rejoice.
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It's an ongoing joy. Those that have been born to the spirit of God. Regenerated.
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Converted. Repentant. True repentance. Incorporates into this. The grammar of this is rejoicing in the present tense.
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Which means it's ongoing. It doesn't stop. Why would it stop?
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Because it's God's joy. Right? It's eternal. It comes from heaven.
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It comes from God. It's never ending. It's perpetual.
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In this you greatly rejoice. In this you greatly rejoice. The Greek meaning of it. Is intense.
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It's an expressive term. That means to be supremely. Abundantly happy. A happiness that is not tentative.
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Or based on the circumstances. Of supernatural. I'm sorry.
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Of superficial feelings. Jesus referred to this. Go to Matthew chapter 11.
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I'm sorry. Chapter 5. Now Jesus speaks of this in the Sermon on the Mount.
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As I alluded to a minute ago. But if you read what Jesus speaks of here.
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It's foundational to the believer. To those that have been born in the kingdom of God.
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They're children of the kingdom. That's what he's referring to. And by the way. He's the king. If there's a kingdom.
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There's got to be a king. And he's that king. And the king speaks forth.
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The king himself. Now we're heralds of the king.
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But he's the king. And as verse 3 says. Blessed are the poor in spirit. For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
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Let me read through. Blessed are those who mourn. For they shall be comforted. And by the way. That word blessed.
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Means extremely happy. Extremely joyful. Extremely.
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Exceedingly happy. For they that shall be comforted. Blessed are the gentle.
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For they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. For they shall be satisfied or filled.
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Blessed are the merciful. For they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart.
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For they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers. For they shall be called the sons of God. Blessed are those.
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Who have been persecuted. For the sake of righteousness. For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
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See notice that's what Peter is basically reflecting upon. You have that inheritance. You've been persecuted for Jesus sake.
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And you've got a great inheritance. He's getting this from Jesus. Verse 11.
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Here it is. Blessed are you when people insult you. Persecute you. And falsely say all kinds of evil against you.
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Because of me. It's because of Jesus. They say things falsely.
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Have you ever had other people, unbelievers, say things falsely against you because of Jesus in you?
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Because of the truth? Because the truth offends them? What is he saying?
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How do you react to it? I had this one time happen to me as a pastor. And I was expressing my trials to this other pastor.
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And I said this is pretty tough on me. I probably had some self pity on me at the time.
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As a new pastor I was needing someone to relate to. And bear my burdens and stuff. And he gave me the right answer.
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He said you know what you need to do pastor? He said you need to shout for joy. And I looked at him and said what?
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But he's right. He said you shout for joy. Be exceedingly glad. Because you're being persecuted for the sake of Jesus.
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We're going to look at this in a few minutes. Rejoice Jesus says rejoice and be glad for your reward is in heaven.
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It's great. For in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
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And they understood that. They understood their persecutions that came upon them.
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And a lot of them were martyred. A lot of them was put to death. A lot of them was tortured.
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As you know that Jeremiah the prophet was thrown into a well. A dungeon to die.
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Because he just spoke God's word. He was the messenger of God. He proclaimed and he heralded the truth.
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That's how much time I got. It's running out. I got to go. Well how secure is this salvation?
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Let me tell you how secure it is. Turn with me to Romans chapter 8. We'll see how secure it is.
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Romans 8 tells it. Notice what he says. Verse 31.
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And by the way he just went through the golden chain of redemption. Those great chains.
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You can see it in verse 29 through 30. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to become conformed to the image of his son.
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So that he would be the firstborn among many brethren. And these whom he predestined he also called.
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And these whom he called he also justified. And these whom he justified he also glorified.
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In other words it's going to happen. You can't break that link. Because it's God. It's of God.
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And then verse 31. He basically just basically gives them the comforts of the security that's in salvation.
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Verse 31. And then shall. What then shall we say to these things? He just mentioned all those things.
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The golden link of the chain of redemption. If God is for us who can be against us?
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In other words if this is of God and God has selected you and God has chosen you. And he's called you and he's justified you.
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And these things whom he justified he also glorified. Who can be against you?
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Who can be against you? That's the question. If God is for us who can be against us?
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And then he gives the answer. Verse 32. He who did not spare his own son but delivered him over for us all.
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How will he not also with him freely give us all things? Isn't that glorious?
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Verse 33. Who will bring a charge against God's elect? Who's going to get the charge? He answers it.
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God is the one who justifies. God. God justifies.
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God declared you just. Not because of something we've done but because of what
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Jesus did. You see it's all in Jesus. Who is the one who condemns?
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You got someone condemning you? Christ Jesus is he who died. Yes rather who was raised.
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Who is at the right hand of God. Notice this.
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Who also intercedes for us. Robert Machine he said this and I paraphrase it.
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I spoke this to Brother Keith yesterday. And this will make you shout for joy. He basically said.
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If I know that Jesus Christ is interceding for me. I have great joy.
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I can't think of the full quote. But basically he was saying. But just to know that Jesus Christ is interceding and praying for me.
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In the next room. Will give great calls of rejoice. I'm paraphrasing this now.
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But even more so knowing right now he prays for me. Now I paraphrase.
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I tore it all to pieces. I should have wrote that quote down Brother Keith. But just the truth knowing that Jesus is praying for you right now.
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He prayed for Peter didn't he? That your faith will not fail. The Father answered that.
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Who will separate us from the love of Christ. With tribulation. Or distress.
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Listen to this. Our persecution. We're talking about an early church that was persecuted beloved. Or famine.
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Or nakedness. Or peril. Or sword. In other words.
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If all these things come upon you. Tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness or peril.
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Or sword. He says just as it is written. I tell you the truth on this. And he gives the Old Testament quote.
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For your sake we're being put to death all the day long. Yes it is happening. There is suffering. There is persecution.
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All these things that will happen. We're considered as sheep to the slaughter. But. There it is.
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Don't you love those buts. I mean some good news is on the horizon there.
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But in all these things. We are overwhelmingly. We're more than conquerors through him who loved us.
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And I'm convinced that neither death nor life. Nor angels or principalities. Nor things present. Nor things to come.
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Nor powers. He just goes to one level to another. And you can't stop it.
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Nor height. Nor depth. Nor any other created thing. Will be able to separate us from the love of God.
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Which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Nothing can take it away.
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How secure is it? Is that secure or what? That brings us to worship.
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Doesn't it? That we worship a God that has secured our salvation that much.
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That's why we can sing blessed assurance. Jesus is mine. Oh what a foretaste of glory divine.
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This very source of eternal joy is in Jesus Christ. Let's look at that very quickly.
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Go to John chapter 16. Now this is the right perspective.
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John chapter 16. Now I want you to see what
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Jesus is telling us. He's basically.
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He just gave the promise of the Holy Spirit in chapter 15 at the end of it.
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Chapter 16 Jesus basically tells about the ministry of the
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Holy Spirit. Okay. He when he comes. He's going to convict the world of sin and in righteousness and judgment.
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Concerning sin because they do not believe in me. Concerning righteousness. I go to my father and you no longer see me.
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Now he's telling them I'm going to leave you. I'm going to die.
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They didn't want to accept that. Because he's the king. They thought the kingdom as these Jewish believers believed. They always believed in the
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Messiah that would come and take up the kingdom. And do away with sin.
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And set up the kingdom and he's the king. Talk about death.
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That was far from their mind. But it was part of the will of God. It was the will of God.
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And he speaks about this. And he speaks about his prediction starting with verse 16. Look at verse 16.
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A little while you will no longer see me. And again a little while and you will see me. They didn't understand this.
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Some of his disciples said to one another. What is this thing he's telling us?
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A little while? Notice Peter uses that same language. A little while. And you will not see me.
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And again a little while you will see me because I go to the Father. See they didn't get it. And in verse 18.
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So they were saying. What is this that he says a little while? We do not know what he's talking about.
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Notice what it says in verse 19. Jesus knew that they wished to question him.
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They didn't question him. But he knew it. He knew their thoughts.
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Even as a man. At times his divinity appears. He knows their motives.
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He knows their thoughts. He knew that they wished to question him.
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And he said to them. And so he basically. Jesus takes the initiative here. Are you deliberating together about this?
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That I said a little while. And you will not see me. And again a little while you will. And you will see me.
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I bet you them disciples were floored. What does he say?
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He said truly, truly I say to you. Notice what he says. You will weep and lament.
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But the world will rejoice. You will grieve. But your grief will be turned into joy.
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Do you see the order? It's not meant for into this world. You can have this rejoicing in you.
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But you are going to have some hard times. Persecutions coming. And that's what he mentioned about the Holy Spirit.
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The Holy Spirit will see you through this. He will give you the power. He will comfort you. He will lead and guide you into all truth.
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I'm going to go away. But you see. It's in the Holy Spirit. And he's basically saying.
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I'm going to die upon the cross. You're going to weep. I'm going to be hung on the cross.
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You're going to weep. And you're going to grieve. And he gives an example. Whenever a woman is in labor.
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She has pain. Because her hour has come.
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But when she gives birth to the child. She no longer remembers the anguish. There's that word anguish.
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Because of the joy that a child has been born into the world. First the anguish.
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Then the joy. Brother Keith was referring to Nehemiah. I studied the book of Nehemiah.
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In chapter 1. It talks about that God looked for a praying man. He found Nehemiah. He wasn't a preacher.
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He was just a man that was well to do. He was a citizen. He was a very important person.
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He was just a common businessman. And God saw that he was mourning and praying.
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And God. He had a heart after God. And he was in anguish. Because of Jerusalem was tore down.
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The walls were tore down. It was broken. As brother Keith mentioned. You know things is broken. We should be broken.
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We should be in anguish. But you know something. All that's going to turn around.
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You sow in tears. You go in anguish. You go down to the bottom of it. And anything that God does of worth for his kingdom.
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Would be born out of anguish. We should be weeping. And we should be mourning.
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We should be lamenting over people that are dying. And lost in this world. But there's something greater on the other end.
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There's a great joy. It's unspeakable. And full of glory. Jesus says.
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In the illustration. A child has been born into the world. Every woman here. That has had a child.
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Understands this illustration. Us guys can't relate to this. But there is extreme pain.
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In having that child. But all that pain is forgotten of. When that child is born. And you holding that child.
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That's what Jesus is saying. This is the order. Therefore he says. You too have grief now.
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But. Don't you love that buts. I will see you again. There's the promise.
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And your heart will rejoice. And no one will take your joy away from you. Hallelujah. No one can take it away.
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The world can do everything they can. They can assault you. But they can't touch that joy within you.
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In that day you will not question me about anything. Truly, truly I will say to you. If you ask the father for anything in my name.
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I will give it to you. But until now. You have asked for nothing in my name. Ask and you will receive.
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That your joy may be full. There's joy. There's joy.
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There's much to be said about this. Joy because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
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Hebrews chapter 10. Verse 32 -36 speaks about. In the times of distress.
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Go with me very quickly there. Let me just read it to you very quickly. Because I don't have much time. I've got to come to a conclusion.
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But chapter 10. He speaks about this. I want you to get this. Verse 32.
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Notice what he says. But remember the former days. He's speaking to Hebrews now. When after being enlightened.
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You endured a great conflict of sufferings. There's that word again.
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They're suffering saints. Partly by being made a public spectacle. Through reproaches and tribulations.
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Partly by becoming sharers. With those who were so treated. For you showed sympathy to the prisoners.
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Accepted joyfully the seizure of your property. Knowing that you have for yourselves.
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A better possession for a lasting one. Therefore do not throw away your confidence.
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Which has a great reward. There's no turning back.
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Verse 36. For you have need of endurance. See what he's talking about? Endurance.
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Perseverance. To the end to receive that joy. So that when you have done the will of God.
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You may receive what was promised. See God promised it. You will receive it.
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Joy of salvation. The joy of salvation. I don't have time to go to it.
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2 Corinthians chapter 6. Verse 1 through 10. Speaks about it. Let me go very quickly.
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How about the apostles? Go to Acts chapter 5. They had reason to rejoice. Look at this.
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This is the apostle Paul chapter 5. Look at verse 27.
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When they had brought them. They stood them before the council. The high priest questioned them.
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Saying we gave you strict orders. Not to continue teaching in this name. And yet you have filled
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Jerusalem. With your teaching. And intend to bring this man's blood upon us. May we do the same thing beloved.
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They filled Jerusalem. They were preaching the word everywhere they went. But Peter and the apostles answered.
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Listen to this. To these big shots. These governors. They gave them strict orders not to preach.
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But he says we must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus.
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Whom you have put to death by hanging him on a cross. He is the one whom God exalted to his right hand.
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As a prince and a savior. To grant repentance to Israel. The forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses of these things.
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And so the Holy. Is the Holy Spirit. And whom God has given to those who obey him.
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Obedience. But notice. Let's read on. But when they heard this. They were cut to the quick.
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Intended to kill them. But a Pharisee. By the name of Gamaliel.
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A teacher of the law. Respected by all the people. Stood up in the council. And gave orders. To put the men aside for a short time.
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Now he's a negotiator. He's a diplomat. He's going to do something here. He said to the men of Israel.
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Take care of what you propose to do with these men. He has some wisdom to him. Listen to this.
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For some time ago. Thetis rose up claiming to be somebody. In a group. About 400 men joined up with him.
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But he was killed. And all who followed him. Were dispersed and came to nothing. After this man
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Judas of Galilee. Rose up in the days of the census. And drew away people after him.
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Like a cult. He too perished. And all those who followed him were scattered. It came to an end.
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Notice what he says. So in the present case. I say to you. Here's some wisdom. Stay away from these men.
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And let them alone. For if this plan of action is of men. It will be overthrown. But if it is of God.
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You will not be able to overthrow them. Or else you may be. Even be found fighting against God.
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That's exactly what the case was. You can't fight against God. And notice what they did.
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They took his advice. Which was good. And after calling the apostles in. They called them back in.
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Notice what they did. They flogged them. And ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus.
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And then they released them. So they went on their way. And from their presence. To counsel. And what were they doing?
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They were rejoicing. That they had been considered worthy. To suffer shame. For his name.
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Doesn't that give you joy? And know what they do. And every day. You think they stopped?
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Nope. Every day in the temple. They were in the temple. And from house to house.
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They kept right on teaching. And preaching Jesus as the Christ. But here's what
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I want to stress. After they were flogged. They didn't go out like cry babies.
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And say oh I'm torn my back. Torn to pieces. No sir. They didn't even refer to their pain and affliction.
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You know they were hurting. But you know something. There was something greater than that. They were rejoicing that they had been considered.
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Worthy to suffer shame. For his name. That's the way a real
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Christian is. But when you come to repentance.
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If you read. In Luke chapter 15.
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That those parables. Each and every parable represents salvation. That each concludes with a celebration of tremendous joy.
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At the recovery of that which is lost. Joy in heaven. Illustrates heaven's response to salvation of a repentant sinner.
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That's heaven's perspective. But the believer also has that joy too.
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Because he knows he has that salvation. In God. There's so much more.
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Nehemiah as I referred to earlier. In chapter 8 verse 9. Let's go to Nehemiah.
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I want you to see this one verse. And then we're going to go to Revelation very quickly.
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But if you go to Nehemiah. Yes. As brother
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Keith mentioned. It's right before the book of Job. And I want you to see this verse.
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Nehemiah chapter 8. Notice verse 9 and 10.
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Chapter 8. I'm sorry. Verse 9 and 10. Then Nehemiah who was the governor.
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And Ezra the priest. And the scribe. And the Levites. Who taught the people.
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Who said to all the people. This day is holy to the Lord your God. He was talking about the Sabbath. Do not mourn or weep.
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See this is toward the end of the book. For all the people were weeping. And they heard the words of the law.
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They were weeping. Wouldn't you love to see a congregation weep. Just to hear the law of God spoken.
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And then he said to them. Go and eat the fat and drink of the sweet. And send portions to him who has nothing prepared.
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For this day is holy unto our Lord. Do not be grieved. And what does he say?
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For the joy of the Lord is your strength. You know. How can we have this joy unless we know it's the joy of God.
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It's God's joy. Did you know if you read in Revelation. When the end of all things take place.
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Go with me very quickly to chapter 19 of Revelation. I'm going to close with this. Revelation.
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You know who wins. Hey. Read the end of the book. We know who wins. The Lamb comes back.
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He wins. And this is part of it. Chapter 19.
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I want to just read. Let me start with the first verse.
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After these things I heard something like a loud voice in a great multitude in heaven saying. Hallelujah. Salvation and glory and power belong to our
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God. Because his judgments are true and righteous. For he has judged the great harlot.
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Who is corrupting the earth with her immorality. And he has avenged the blood of the bondservants on her.
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And a second time he said. Hallelujah. Her smoke rises up forever and ever. Now think of this.
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A judgment has fallen. God's wrath has fallen. And the saints and all of heaven is saying.
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Hallelujah. And the 24 elders and the 4 living creatures fell down.
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And worship God who sits on the throne saying. Amen. Hallelujah. And a voice came from the throne saying.
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Give praise to our God. All you his bondservants. You who fear him.
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The small and the great. And then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude. And like the sound of many waters.
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Like the sound of a mighty peals of thunder saying. Hallelujah. You know. If I shout to the highest with my little one voice.
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I can't. We can't compare to this. That peals of thunder. Go outside and listen to peals of thunder.
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Let us rejoice. Did you get that? Let us rejoice. And be glad. And give the glory to him.
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For the marriage of the lamb has come. And his bride has made herself ready. And it was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen.
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Bright and clean. This is it. This is the marriage supper of the lamb. This is it. This is the day.
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God judges. And he's brought the judgments down. And this is the vindication. God does it all.
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And he gathers the bride in. And the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
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And then he said to me. Right. Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the lamb. And he said to me.
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These words are true of God. Then I fell at his feet to worship him.
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But he said to me. Do not do that. This is an angel. He's right. I am a fellow servant of yours.
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And you're brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus. And worship God for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
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And if you read on. And I saw heaven open. Behold a white horse. And who sat on it is called faithful and true.
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And in righteousness he judges and wages war. This is going to happen. His eyes are as a flame of fire.
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And on his head are many diadems. Can you picture this? And he has a name written on him.
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Which no one knows except himself. We don't know what that name is. He's clothed with a robe dipped in blood.
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You know where that speaks of. The cross. And his name is called the word of God. And in the armies which are in heaven.
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Clothed in fine linen. White and clean. We're following him on white horses. And from his mouth comes a sharp sword.
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So that. Listen to this. With it he may strike down the nations. You ever see somebody strike down the nations?
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Just not one nation. Nations. And he will rule them with a rod of iron.
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And he treads the winepress of the fierce wrath of God. The almighty.
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And on his robe and on his thigh. He has a name written. King of kings and lord of lords. It's coming.
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It's coming. It's coming. Jesus is coming. And if you're born again in the spirit of God.
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In this you greatly rejoice. You have this salvation. Be ready. Be ready. For the midnight hour is upon us.
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Let's pray. Father. There is so much here in this word. Lord if there's anyone in this room.
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I pray oh God. And by the sound of the voice over this recorder. I pray oh God. That today would be the day of salvation.
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And then they can repent. That lord calls to bring them to repentance. Lord grant repentance.
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And father it's appeared and said. Thomas Watson I believe.
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Until sin is bitter. Christ will be sweet. Sin must be first bitter.
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For Christ to be sweet. Lord to know the joy of this great salvation.
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That's only through the blood of the cross. And through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And we have a living hope being born again.
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Father we do not know this. Unless we are truly repentant. To believe the gospel.
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Repent and believe the gospel is the command. Lord you can do this.
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It's an impossible act for man. But father if someone cries out to you. Desiring to be saved.
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Father you say. Jesus your son said. He that cometh to me.
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I will no wise cast out. Father he said it. He says all that the father gives will come to me.
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That's going to happen. But he that cometh to me. I will no wise cast out.
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Father you're going to bring in your people. And then the end comes. When we don't know.
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We don't know. And if we tried to put a date on it. We'd be false teachers. No man knows the day or the hour.
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But father may we be ready. Like those other half of the ten virgins.
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They had oil in their lamp. They were sober. They were ready. They were dressed in fine linen.
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They were ready. And prepared. May we do so.
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And be ready. When your son comes back. In power and glory and honor.