[MUSIC] DR. CHARLES STANLEY:
WHEN YOU FIND THAT YOU'RE FACED BEING TESTED AND YOU DON'T
KNOW WHAT GOD'S DOING IN YOUR LIFE. AND YOUR PRAYERS SEEM TO GO
UNANSWERED FOR SOME REASON. AND THE DEVIL JUST HARASSES YOU,
AND YOUR PLANS ARE FRUSTRATED, AND YOUR FRIENDS HAVE ALL
DESERTED YOU. AND SOMEHOW BETWEEN YOU AND GOD
THERE SEEMS TO BE THIS CLOUD. WHAT DO YOU DO? WHERE DO YOU TURN? HOW DO YOU RESPOND? WELL SOME PEOPLE RESPOND BY
SIMPLY SAYING, "GOD DOESN'T ANSWER MY PRAYER. GOD ISN'T WHO HE SAYS HE IS. IF HE WERE, THIS WOULDN'T BE
HAPPENING TO ME." AND SO YOU GET INTO THAT VICTIM
MODE. OR YOU JUST TRUST THE LORD WHEN
YOU DON'T SEE YOUR WAY CLEAR AND YOU KEEP MOVING FORWARD. PROBABLY IN ALL OF OUR LIVES, AT
SOME POINT OR THE OTHER, THERE ARE THOSE SEASONS WHEN WE GO
THROUGH SITUATIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WE WOULD
ALMOST BE WILLING TO SAY, "GOD REALLY AND TRULY IS NOT
GENUINELY FAITHFUL." NOW WE BELIEVE THAT HE IS, BUT
LOOK WHAT'S HAPPENING IN MY LIFE. AND SO WE ARE PRONE TO JUDGE GOD
BY OUR ENVIRONMENT, BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WE'RE FACING,
AND SO IN THE PROCESS OF DOING SO, WE THINK ABOUT ALL THE
THINGS THAT WE'VE LEARNED. AND THEN WHEN IT COMES TO THE
REALITY OF THE TIME OF TESTING, THAT'S WHEN WE DECIDE WHETHER WE
REALLY AND TRULY BELIEVE IT OR NOT. WHAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IN
THIS MESSAGE, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT AN ATTRIBUTE OF THE LORD
GOD. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING
THAT AFFECTS EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US EVERY DAY: EVERY TIME YOU
PRAY, EVERY TIME YOU FIND YOURSELF IN A SPIRITUAL BATTLE,
OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE, YOU'RE AFFECTED BY WHAT WE WANT TO TALK
ABOUT. BECAUSE ALL OF US FACE THOSE
TIMES WHEN WE GENUINELY, NOT THAT WE WANT TO, BUT WE
GENUINELY QUESTION THAT GOD IS FAITHFUL TO ME IN THIS INCIDENT,
IN THIS SITUATION AND THIS CIRCUMSTANCE, WHATEVER IT MIGHT
BE. SO I WANT YOU TO TURN TO 1
CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 1, AND I JUST WANT US TO READ THESE FIRST
9 VERSES TOGETHER. AND IT'S THE 9TH VERSE I WANT US
TO NOTE PRIMARILY. SO HE BEGINS BY SAYING, PAUL, AS
AN APOSTLE OF JESUS CHRIST BY THE WILL OF GOD, AND SOSTHENES
OUR BROTHER, TO THE CHURCH OF GOD WHICH IS AT CORINTH, TO
THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN SANCTIFIED IN CHRIST JESUS, SAINTS BY
CALLING, WITH ALL WHO IN EVERY PLACE CALL ON THE NAME OF THE
LORD JESUS CHRIST, THEIR LORD AND OURS: GRACE TO YOU AND PEACE
FROM GOD OUR FATHER AND THE LORD JESUS CHRIST." THEN HE SAYS, "I THANK MY GOD
ALWAYS CONCERNING YOU FOR THE GRACE OF GOD WHICH WAS GIVEN YOU
IN CHRIST JESUS, THAT IN EVERYTHING YOU WERE ENRICHED IN
HIM, IN ALL SPEECH AND ALL KNOWLEDGE, EVEN AS THE TESTIMONY
CONCERNING CHRIST WAS CONFIRMED IN YOU, SO THAT YOU ARE NOT
LACKING IN ANY GIFT, AWAITING EAGERLY THE REVELATION OF OUR
LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHO WILL ALSO CONFIRM YOU TO THE END,
BLAMELESS IN THE DAY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. GOD IS FAITHFUL, THROUGH WHOM
YOU WERE CALLED INTO FELLOWSHIP WITH HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST OUR
LORD." SO WHAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS
SIMPLY THIS: RESTING IN THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD. NOW I CAN REPEAT THIS. ALL OF US WILL MEET THOSE
SITUATIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES AT TIMES THAT WILL CAUSE US TO AT
LEAST DOUBT FOR A MOMENT, "GOD, WHERE ARE YOU?" AND AS WE SAID, THERE'LL BE LIKE
SOME DARK CLOUD HANGING BETWEEN YOU AND HIM. SO, PAUL IS ENCOURAGING HIS
LISTENERS, READERS AT THIS POINT. AND I WANT US TO THINK ABOUT FOR
A FEW MOMENTS, ALL THROUGH THE SCRIPTURES HOW GOD IS REMINDING
US OF HIS FAITHFULNESS. AND SO, I WANT US TO BEGIN IN
DEUTERONOMY CHAPTER 7. LET'S BEGIN IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
JUST FOR A FEW PASSAGES, IN DEUTERONOMY CHAPTER SEVEN, AND I
WANT YOU TO LOOK AT IF YOU WILL, VERSE 9 AND I JUST WANT TO TAKE
YOU THROUGH A FEW OF THESE THROUGHOUT THE SCRIPTURE JUST TO
REMIND YOU OF HOW OFTEN HE TELLS US THIS. HE SAYS IN VERSE 9, "KNOW
THEREFORE THAT THE LORD YOUR GOD, HE IS GOD, THE FAITHFUL
GOD, WHO KEEPS HIS COVENANT AND HIS LOVINGKINDNESS TO A
THOUSANDTH GENERATION WITH THOSE WHO LOVE HIM AND KEEP HIS
COMMANDMENTS." THEN IF YOU'LL FLIP OVER TO THE
119 PSALM, JUST WANT A FEW OF THESE, 119 PSALM AND THE 89TH
VERSE, LOOK WHAT HE SAYS. HE SAYS, "FOREVER, O LORD, YOUR
WORD IS SETTLED IN HEAVEN. YOUR FAITHFULNESS CONTINUES
THROUGHOUT ALL GENERATIONS; YOU ESTABLISHED THE EARTH, AND IT
STANDS." THEN MOVE ALL THE WAY OVER TO 1
THESSALONIANS AND THE 5TH CHAPTER. AND ALL THROUGH THE SCRIPTURES,
1 THESSALONIANS THE 5TH CHAPTER AND THE 24TH VERSE OF THIS
CHAPTER, AND NOTICE HERE AGAIN THE EMPHASIS ON TRUSTING HIM,
HIS FAITHFULNESS. HE SAYS, "FAITHFUL IS HE WHO
CALLS YOU, AND HE ALSO WILL BRING IT TO PASS. THEN IF YOU MOVE OVER TO 2
TIMOTHY THE 2ND CHAPTER AND LOOK, IF YOU WILL, IN THIS 2ND
CHAPTER AND THE 13TH VERSE. NOTICE WHAT HE SAYS. HE SAYS, "IF WE ARE FAITHLESS,"
THAT IS, WE DON'T BELIEVE, "HE REMAINS FAITHFUL, FOR HE CANNOT
DENY HIMSELF." AND THEN THE 1 PETER, FOR
EXAMPLE, AND CHAPTER 4. AND LOOK IF YOU WILL IN THIS
19TH VERSE. AND AGAIN, HERE'S WHAT HE SAYS. HE SAYS, "THEREFORE, THOSE ALSO
WHO SUFFER ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD SHALL ENTRUST THEIR SOULS
TO A FAITHFUL CREATOR IN DOING WHAT IS RIGHT." AND EVERYBODY KNOWS THE 1 JOHN
CHAPTER 1 AND VERSE 9, "IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS," HE'S WHAT? "FAITHFUL AND JUST RIGHTEOUS IN
FORGIVING US OF OUR SINS AND CLEANSING US FROM ALL
UNRIGHTEOUSNESS." NOW, WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN WE
TALK ABOUT THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD? IT MEANS THAT HE ALWAYS DOES
WHAT IS RIGHT. HE ALWAYS DOES THE RIGHT THING
ABOUT EVERYTHING IN EVERY SINGLE SITUATION. NOT ONLY DOES HE DO WHAT HE SAYS
HE'LL DO, HE FULFILLS EVERY SINGLE PROMISE THAT HE MAKES. ALL OF US HAVE THOSE PROMISES IN
THE WORD OF GOD THAT WE TREASURE THOSE PROMISES ESPECIALLY
MEANINGFUL TO US, BECAUSE OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR LIFE. AND GOD BRINGS US TO A PASSAGE
OF SCRIPTURE. IN THAT PASSAGE GOD SOMEHOW
COMFORTS US WITH IT. SO WHEN HE SAYS THAT "HE IS
FAITHFUL," IT MEANS THAT IN ALL TIMES, IN ALL THINGS, IN ALL
CIRCUMSTANCES GOD IS ALWAYS THE SAME. HE NEVER CHANGES. HE DOESN'T FALTER. HE DOESN'T FORGET. HE ALWAYS IS THERE TO FULFILL
HIS PROMISE. AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT YOUR
FAVORITE PROMISE IN THE WORD OF GOD WOULD BE, HE'S THERE EVERY
SINGLE TIME. AND PROBABLY ALL OF US HAVE SEEN
THOSE SITUATIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES WE, WHEN WE COME
TO THAT VERSE AND SAY, "LORD, HERE'S WHAT YOU PROMISED. WHY ISN'T IT HAPPENING?" WELL, IS IT HAPPENING OR IS IT
NOT? IS GOD DOING IT A DIFFERENT WAY
THAN WHAT WE EXPECT? DOES HE ALWAYS KEEP HIS PROMISE? HE SAYS, FOR EXAMPLE, HE CANNOT
LIE; HE CANNOT FAIL BECAUSE HE IS GOD AND HE IS A GOD WHO IS
FAITHFUL IN EVERY SINGLE CIRCUMSTANCE OF LIFE. NOW IT'S ONE THING TO SAY THAT. AND IF SOMEBODY SAID, "WELL WHY
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT GOD IS FAITHFUL AND WILL BE FAITHFUL
EVERY SINGLE TIME?" FOR EXAMPLE, WE GO THROUGH
SITUATIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES AND WE CRY OUT TO HIM, FOR GOD TO
HELP US AND STRENGTHEN US AND ENABLE US TO FACE IT. SO WHAT'S WHAT IS OUR PROOF? IT'S ONE THING TO SAY THAT HE
IS. BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE WHOLE
IDEA OF GOD'S FAITHFULNESS, THERE ARE FIVE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD
THAT ARE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY IN ORDER FOR GOD TO SAY THAT HE'S
FAITHFUL. THERE ARE MANY ATTRIBUTES OF
GOD. HE'S HOLY, FOR EXAMPLE, AND ALL
POWERFUL AND MANY OF THE ATTRIBUTES YOU KNOW. BUT THERE ARE FIVE OF THEM THAT
ARE ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL IF GOD IS GOING TO BE FAITHFUL TO ME
AND TO YOU IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE OF OUR LIFE. AND THE FIRST ONE IS SIMPLY
THIS: HE MUST BE OMNISCIENT IN ORDER FOR HIM TO BE FAITHFUL TO
ME. THAT IS, HE MUST KNOW EVERYTHING
THERE IS TO KNOW ABOUT ME. HE MUST KNOW THINGS AHEAD OF
TIME. HE KNOWS PRESENT, PAST AND
FUTURE. HE KNOWS ABOUT EVERY SINGLE NEED
THAT WE HAVE; OUR WANTS, OUR DESIRES, OUR WEAKNESSES, OUR
FRAILTIES. HE KNOWS EVERYTHING. IF HE DID NOT KNOW EVERY SINGLE
THING ABOUT US, HE COULD NOT BE FAITHFUL TO MEET ALL OF OUR
NEEDS, WHATEVER THEY MIGHT BE. SO HIS OMNISCIENCE, HE KNOWS
EVERYTHING. ONE OF HIS ATTRIBUTES IS THAT
HE'S OMNISCIENT. THE SECOND ATTRIBUTE IS THAT HE
IS OMNIPOTENT. HE CANNOT PROMISE ME TO BE, OR
PROMISE YOU, TO BE FAITHFUL IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE OF LIFE IF
HE'S NOT ALL POWERFUL. BECAUSE THERE COULD BE SOME
SITUATION, SOME CIRCUMSTANCE--WELL WHAT WOULD
GOD DO? IF HE'S NOT ALL POWERFUL, THEN
THAT MEANS HE CANNOT UNDER ANY SUCH, SITUATION OR CIRCUMSTANCE
FULFILL EVERY SINGLE NEED OR PROTECT US IN EVERY SITUATION. SO HE NOT ONLY KNOWS EVERYTHING
AND HE IS ALL POWERFUL, BUT LIKEWISE, HE MUST BE
OMNIPRESENT, WHICH MEANS THAT HE, LISTEN, HE IS ALWAYS WITHIN
REACH, AND WE'RE ALWAYS WITHIN HIS REACH. THAT IS WE'LL NEVER SEE A
SITUATION WHEREBY HE'S NOT PRESENT, READY AND ABLE TO DO
WHATEVER IS NEEDED IN YOUR LIFE. SO WHEN YOU TAKE THOSE THREE
ATTRIBUTES ALONE, SOMEBODY SAYS, "IS GOD FAITHFUL?" YES, HE IS. "WELL HOW CAN HE BE FAITHFUL IN
EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE?" BECAUSE HE KNOWS EVERYTHING. HE HAS ALL POWER TO CHANGE
ANYTHING HE DESIRES TO CHANGE OR MOVE. AND, HE IS ALWAYS PRESENT. NOW THOSE THREE WE CAN POSSIBLY
ACCEPT AND SAY, "WELL I, I CAN, I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT." BUT THERE DEMANDS SOMETHING
ELSE. HE MUST ALWAYS BE TRUTHFUL IN
EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE. FOR GOD TO BE FAITHFUL, HE MUST
BE TRUTHFUL. BECAUSE IF HE'S NOT TRUTHFUL,
THEN I HAVE A PROBLEM. AND SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT HIS
TRUTHFULNESS, I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT A COUPLE OF PASSAGES OF
SCRIPTURE, ONE OF WHICH IS IN TITUS. AND LOOK IF YOU WILL IN THIS 1ST
CHAPTER AND 2ND VERSE SAYS, "IN THE HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE, WHICH
GOD, WHO CANNOT LIE, PROMISED LONG AGES AGO, WOULD GOD EVER
LIE?" NO, HE CANNOT LIE; BECAUSE IF HE
LIED HE WOULD BE VIOLATING HIS OWN CHARACTER. AND THE VERY CHARACTER AND
NATURE OF GOD IS SUCH THAT HE CANNOT LIE. HE IS ALWAYS GOING TO SHOW US
AND TELL US THE TRUTH. THAT IS, GOD WOULD NEVER MISLEAD
US. HE WOULD NEVER SAY ANYTHING THAT
WOULD CAUSE US TO HEAD IN THE WRONG DIRECTION IN LIFE. HE IS ALL-KNOWING, ALL-POWERFUL,
ALWAYS PRESENT, AND WHEN YOU LOOK IN THESE PASSAGES, HE'S
ALWAYS TRUTHFUL. SO WHATEVER HE PROMISES--FOR
EXAMPLE, HE SAYS, "I'LL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU." IS THAT THE TRUTH OR IS IT NOT? AND SO, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE
FAITHFULNESS OF GOD, EVERY SINGLE PROMISE THAT HE MAKES HE
IS GOING TO FULFILL. IF HE'S NOT FULFILLING SOME
PROMISE IN YOUR LIFE TO SUIT YOU, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU HAVE TO
ASK YOURSELF THE QUESTION. "IS THIS A PROMISE OF GOD, IS,
OR IS THIS SOMETHING I CONJURED UP?" IF IT'S A PROMISE OF GOD, YOU
HAVE, LISTEN, THE VERY NATURE OF GOD IS THAT HE CANNOT PROVE TO
BE UNFAITHFUL, UNTRUTHFUL, INADEQUATE, UNKNOWING, MISTAKEN,
IN ERROR ABOUT ANYTHING. SO THE VERY BASIS OF MY BELIEF
THAT HE IS A FAITHFUL GOD IS HIS VERY NATURE. AND HE SAYS, "AS, HE CANNOT
LIE." AND EVEN WHEN YOU AND I ARE
UNFAITHFUL TO HIM, HE SAYS, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT HE'S STILL GOING
TO BE FAITHFUL NO MATTER WHAT. AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN
HE SAYS, FOR EXAMPLE IN 1 PETER CHAPTER 4, "THEREFORE, THOSE
ALSO WHO SUFFER ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD SHALL ENTRUST THEIR
SOULS TO A FAITHFUL CREATOR IN DOING WHAT IS RIGHT." SO ASK YOURSELF THE QUESTION: DO
I REALLY AND TRULY BELIEVE THAT GOD IS ABSOLUTELY,
UNQUESTIONABLY, ALWAYS, WITHOUT EXCEPTION FAITHFUL TO HIS WORD
AND FAITHFUL TO US AS FOLLOWERS OF JESUS CHRIST? NOW WE'LL COME TO THIS A FEW
MOMENTS LATER BUT HE'S ALSO FAITHFUL TO THE UNBELIEVER. AND I'LL SHOW YOU WHY IN A
MOMENT. BUT WHAT I WANT YOU TO SEE IS
THE VERY BASIS OF YOUR BELIEVING THAT HE IS FAITHFUL TO YOU, THAT
HE'S--HE'LL ALWAYS BE THERE, IS HIS VERY NATURE THAT CANNOT
CHANGE. THAT'S WHO HE IS. BUT THERE'S ONE OTHER THING,
ANOTHER ONE OF HIS ATTRIBUTES, AND THAT ATTRIBUTE IS SIMPLY
THIS: HIS IMMUTABILITY, WHICH MEANS HE CANNOT CHANGE, THAT GOD
DOES NOT CHANGE. NOW I KNOW WHAT SOME OF YOU MAY
BE THINKING ABOUT SOME PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE. WE'LL COME TO THAT IN A MOMENT,
BUT HE CANNOT CHANGE. IF GOD IS A CHANGING GOD, THEN
HE MAY CHANGE SOMETHING ABOUT HIMSELF OR ABOUT SOME SITUATION
THAT IT WILL PROVE TO BE UNFAITHFUL. BUT HE'S A FAITHFUL GOD AND HE
IS A GOD WHO ONLY TELLS THE TRUTH. HE'S A GOD OF TRUTHFULNESS, BUT
HE IS ALSO A GOD WHO DOES NOT CHANGE. FOR EXAMPLE, IN MALACHI THE 3RD
CHAPTER AND THE 6TH VERSE HE SAID--HE SAYS FOR EXAMPLE, "I DO
NOT CHANGE." HE'S ALWAYS BEEN THE SAME, HE IS
THE SAME NOW, AND HE WILL ALWAYS BE THE SAME. IT IS HIS NATURE THAT HE'S
UNCHANGING. AND APART FROM THOSE FIVE
ATTRIBUTES, YOU CAN'T HAVE A GOD WHO IS FAITHFUL. HE MUST KNOW ALL THINGS, HE MUST
HAVE ALL POWER, HE MUST BE AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES, HE MUST
BE A GOD ONLY OF TRUTHFULNESS, AND ONE WHO DOES NOT CHANGE. MANY THINGS AROUND US CHANGE BUT
HE DOESN'T. HE TREATS US JUST AS HE'S
TREATED PEOPLE ALL THROUGHOUT ETERNITY PAST AND ETERNITY
FUTURE. HE'LL NEVER CHANGE. IT IS HIS NATURE. IT CANNOT CHANGE. IF HE CHANGE, EVERYTHING WOULD
BE UNCERTAIN. IF GOD CHANGED ANYTHING ABOUT
HIS PROMISES, THEN WE WOULD HAVE UNCERTAINTY. IF HE CHANGED ANYTHING ABOUT THE
WAY HE OPERATES, WE WOULD FEEL UNCERTAIN. SO YOU AND I COME TO HIM IN
PRAYER. WE MAKE OUR CASE FOR HIM, OUR
NEEDS, WHATEVER THE NEEDS MAY BE. AND THE ISSUE IS DO I BELIEVE
IT OR DO I NOT? AND SO WE KNOW THAT THE
SCRIPTURE SAYS, FOR EXAMPLE, HE SAYS, "THIS IS THE CONFIDENCE
(THAT WE HAVE IN) HIM, THAT, IF WE ASK ANYTHING ACCORDING TO HIS
WILL, HE HEARS US. AND IF WE KNOW THAT HE HEARS US,
WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE PETITION THAT WE DESIRED
OF HIM." SO CAN GOD CHANGE THAT? NO, BECAUSE IF HE CHANGED THAT,
HE WOULD CHANGE HIS TRUTHFULNESS. AND HE CANNOT CHANGE HIS
TRUTHFULNESS. THIS IS A PROMISE HE'S MADE, AND
THE PROMISES OF GOD ARE POWERFUL. AND IF HE DID NOT HAVE PROMISES,
WE WOULD BE WALKING IN UNCERTAINTY ALL THE TIME. HE PROMISES, FOR EXAMPLE, TO
HEAL. DOES HE PROMISE TO HEAL EVERY
PERSON? NO, HE DOES NOT. AND SO HE IS TRUTHFUL. NOTICE WHAT HE SAYS. THIS IS THE CONFIDENCE, THIS IS
THE BASIS OF MY CONFIDENCE, THAT IF I ASK ANYTHING ACCORDING TO
HIS WILL, WHO KNOWS ALL THINGS, HAS ALL POWER, WHO LOVES ME
UNCONDITIONALLY, IF I ASK ANYTHING ACCORDING TO HIS WILL,
HE'S GOING TO HEAR ME. AND IF I KNOW THAT HE HEARS ME,
I KNOW THAT I HAVE THE PETITION THAT I DESIRED OF HIM. IF I ASK SOMETHING THAT'S NOT
HIS WILL, THEN HE IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO ANSWER. SO IF SOMEBODY SAYS, "WELL, GOD
ISN'T TRUTHFUL BECAUSE HERE'S WHAT HE SAID. I MADE THIS REQUEST. GOD SAYS HE ANSWERS PRAYER. 'ASK AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN YOU;
SEEK AND YE SHALL FIND; KNOCK AND IT SHALL BE OPENED UNTO
YOU.'" BUT WHAT'S THE ISSUE IF I
ASK ACCORDING TO HIS WILL? HE DOES NOT CHANGE. HE DOES NOT FALTER. HE DOES NOT HESITATE. HE DOES NOT FAIL TO KEEP HIS
WORD. HE'S A GOD OF TRUTHFULNESS AND A
GOD WHO DOES NOT CHANGE. AND THE FACT THAT HE IS
UNCHANGEABLE IS A GREAT SOURCE OF COMFORT AND ASSURANCE FOR
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US. FOR EXAMPLE, HE SAYS, "IF THOU
SHALT CONFESS WITH THY MOUTH JESUS AS LORD, YOU WILL BE
SAVED." CONFESSING HIM AS LORD AND YOU
MEAN THAT, YOU'LL BE SAVED. NOW, IS THAT SOMETIMES
OR ALL THE TIMES? ALL THE TIME. "IF I CONFESS, I AGREE WITH HIM
THAT HE IS THE LORD AND MASTER OF MY LIFE, I WILL BE SAVED." NOW, IS THAT ALL THE TIME? IS THAT JUST CERTAIN PEOPLE? "BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS
CHRIST AND THOU SHALT BE SAVED." WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? AND WHEN SOMEBODY SAYS, "OH, I
BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST." BUT THEY BELIEVE THAT HE WAS,
THAT HE IS, THAT HE IS SOMEBODY, THAT HE'S A SAVIOR, BUT NOT
BELIEVING UNTO THE POINT OF ACCEPTING HIM AS ATONING FOR
THEIR SIN AND ACKNOWLEDGING HIM AS THE LORD OF THEIR LIFE. IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT STORY. SO SOMEBODY SAYS, "WELL I
BELIEVE IN JESUS. YOU MEAN TO TELL ME I'M NOT
GOING TO HEAVEN?" IF YOU DO NOT BELIEVE IN JESUS
CHRIST WITH THE MEANING OF WHAT THAT WORD MEANS--IT IS A WORD OF
ACTION, SOMETHING MUST TAKE PLACE. IF YOU BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST
AS YOUR SAVIOR, SOMETHING HAS TO TAKE PLACE. THE FORGIVENESS OF YOUR SINS,
REPENTANCE OF YOUR SINS, AND ACCEPTING THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
AS LORD AND MASTER OF YOUR LIFE. HE'S TRUTHFUL IN EVERY SINGLE
ASPECT. AND SO WHEN SOMEBODY SAYS, "YES,
BUT GOD THIS." NO, NO, NO, NO. HE CAN'T CHANGE HIS TRUTHFULNESS
BECAUSE IT'S HIS NATURE. IT'S HIS NATURE TO BE
ALL-KNOWING; HIS NATURE TO BE ALL POWERFUL; HIS NATURE TO BE
ALWAYS PRESENT; HIS NATURE TO BE ALWAYS TRUTHFUL; AND HIS NATURE
CONTINUALLY ALWAYS THERE DOING EXACTLY WHAT HE PROMISED TO DO. HE'S UNCHANGING. LET'S ELIMINATE ALL FIVE OF
THOSE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD AND WHAT KIND OF GOD DO YOU HAVE? IF HE DOESN'T KNOW EVERYTHING;
IF HE DOESN'T HAVE ALL POWER; AND IF HE'S NOT ALWAYS IN REACH;
AND IF HE'S NOT ALWAYS TRUTHFUL; AND IF HE'S CHANGING, WHAT
CONFIDENCE DO YOU HAVE? SEE WHAT AN AWESOME GOD WE HAVE? AND IF ANY OF THAT'S MISSING,
YOU DON'T HAVE ANY ASSURANCE ABOUT ANYTHING IN LIFE. YOU SAY, WELL, I TRUSTED JESUS
AS MY SAVIOR AND I'M GOING TO HEAVEN WHEN I DIE. WELL, BUT SUPPOSE GOD'S CHANGED
THE WHOLE PLAN. HE HASN'T CHANGED THE PLAN. EVERYTHING IS THE SAME. GOD DOESN'T CHANGE. AND IF HE DID, WE WOULD BE
HOPELESSLY AND HELPLESSLY CONFOUNDED IN EVERY SINGLE AREA
OF OUR LIFE. EVERY PROMISE WOULD BE UP FOR
GRABS. EVERY PROMISE WOULD BE
QUESTIONABLE. HERE'S WHAT HE SAID, BUT GOD
DOES CHANGE HIS MIND. NO, HE DOESN'T. SOMEBODY SAYS, YES HE DOES. AND SO I WANT TO BRING UP A
PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE. LET'S GO BACK, LET'S JUST TAKE
JONAH, FOR EXAMPLE, THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE. GOD SAID TO JONAH, I WANT YOU TO
GO TO NINEVEH AND PREACH THE MESSAGE THAT JUDGMENT IS COMING. JUDGMENT IS COMING. SO HE GOES AND HE PREACHES
JUDGMENT IS COMING, AND THE SCRIPTURE SAYS THEY TURNED TO
THE LORD AND THE KING CALLS FOR A FAST AND THEY TURN TO GOD, AND
SO THERE IS NO JUDGMENT. SOMEBODY SAYS, SEE THERE, GOD
CHANGED HIS MIND. NO, HE DIDN'T. NOW LISTEN CAREFULLY. IT'S ONE THING FOR GOD TO MAKE A
STATEMENT THAT IS CONDITIONAL. AND THOUGH IT IS NOT SPOKEN
HERE, THIS IS EXACTLY, IT WAS CONDITIONAL. BECAUSE WHY WOULD GOD HAVE THEM,
HAVE HIM PREACH THE TRUTH OF THE MESSAGE OF GOD'S IMMINENT
JUDGMENT AND THEY ALL, AT LEAST A BIG, LARGE PART OF THE
CITY--ENOUGH OF THEM REPENTED OF THEIR SINS, TURNED TO THE LORD
AND THEN GOD WIPE THEM OUT. WELL WHAT WAS HIS PURPOSE? HIS PURPOSE WASN'T TO DESTROY
THEM. HIS PURPOSE WAS TO BRING ABOUT A
REPENTANCE AND A REVIVAL THROUGHOUT NINEVEH AND THAT IS
EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. SO GOD DIDN'T CHANGE HIS
MIND--IT WAS CONDITIONED UPON THAT. AND HE SAYS HE DOESN'T CHANGE
HIS MIND. LISTEN, WHY WOULD GOD CHANGE HIS
MIND, FIRST OF ALL, WHEN HE KNOWS PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE? SOME OF YOU ALREADY KNOW, SAY HE
DOESN'T CHANGE HIS MIND. HE MAKES SOME PROMISES
CONDITIONED UPON CERTAIN THINGS. HE MAKES SOME THAT ARE
UNCONDITIONAL. AND THEN YOU THINK, FOR EXAMPLE,
WHAT DID HE SAY TO ABRAHAM? I'M GONNA MAKE YOU A GREAT
NATION. HE DIDN'T SAY IF YOU OBEY ME OR
IF YOU DO NOT. HE SAID, I'M GOING TO MAKE YOU A
GREAT NATION AND ALL THE NATIONS ON THE EARTH WILL BE BLESSED,
PERIOD; UNCONDITIONAL. WHEN HE SAID TO JONAH TO PREACH
THERE IN NINEVEH, WHAT HAPPENED? THEY--ON WHAT GOD'S GOAL WAS,
NOT TO DESTROY THEM BUT TO BRING THEM TO REPENTANCE, AND THE
REASON JONAH DIDN'T WANNA GO TO BEGIN WITH IS BECAUSE HE DIDN'T
LIKE THEM, HE DIDN'T WANT THEM TO BE SAVED. AND DO YOU REMEMBER, HE ENDS UP
SITTING UNDER A TREE, AND MOANING AND GROANING AND
COMPLAINING TO GOD AT THE VERY LAST PART OF THE BOOK BECAUSE
GOD DID WHAT HE SAID HE WOULD DO. DID GOD CHANGE HIS MIND? NO. GOD ACCOMPLISHED HIS PURPOSE AND
JONAH WAS THE PERSON THROUGH WHOM GOD SPOKE. SO, HE DOESN'T CHANGE HIS MIND. SO I ASK YOU AGAIN--AND THE
REASON I EMPHASIZE THIS IS BECAUSE I THINK WE BELIEVE A LOT
OF THINGS BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY BASIS FOR THEM. BUT I WANT YOU TO SEE AGAIN THE
CHARACTER OF GOD CANNOT CHANGE. IF HE'S PERFECT, HOW WOULD IT
CHANGE? HE IS THE ULTIMATE OF EVERY
SINGLE THING--THE ULTIMATE IN KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM AND POWER. WHAT, HOW COULD YOU CHANGE
PERFECTION--THE VERY ULTIMATE. AND SO THEREFORE YOU AND I HAVE
A GOD, WHEN HE SAYS THAT HE IS GOING TO BE FAITHFUL, HE IS
FAITHFUL AND HE CANNOT CHANGE BECAUSE IT'S HIS NATURE NOT TO
CHANGE. AND SO WHEN THESE THINGS HAPPEN
IN SCRIPTURE, AND THAT'S JUST ONE INCIDENCE--WE COULD GIVE YOU
SOME MORE. HE SAID, FOR EXAMPLE IN FIRST
SAMUEL CHAPTER FIFTEEN, WHEN SAMUEL SAID TO SAUL, SAUL, GOD,
IS, HE IS RIPPING THE KINGDOM FROM YOUR HANDS AND YOU WILL NO
LONGER BE KING. AND THE PASSAGE SIMPLY SAYS, GOD
WILL NOT LIE OR CHANGE HIS MIND, IS WHAT HE TOLD HIM, AND HE
DIDN'T OF COURSE. SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT'S
THE BASIS OF YOUR FAITH? WHY DO YOU BELIEVE HIM? WHY DO YOU TRUST HIM? WHAT IS IT ABOUT GOD THAT YOU
CAN ABSOLUTELY--THINK ABOUT THIS: YOU'RE TRUSTING YOUR WHOLE
ETERNAL LIFE ON A PROMISE. AND THE REASON YOU'RE TRUSTING
YOUR WHOLE ETERNAL LIFE ON A PROMISE IS BECAUSE YOU BELIEVE
THAT THE GOD WHO MADE THAT PROMISE IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE
HIS MIND. AND WHEN HE SAYS IT'S THROUGH,
THE SHED BLOOD OF HIS SON, JESUS, YOU DON'T BELIEVE HE'S,
YOU DON'T THINK HE'S GOING TO CHANGE HIS MIND. YOU ACCEPT HIS PROMISES BASED ON
THE FACT THAT HE IS GOD AND THAT HE'S A GOD THAT DOESN'T CHANGE
HIS MIND, WHO KNOWS ALL THINGS AND HAS ALL POWER. EVERYTHING THAT'S WITHIN HIS
REACH AND IT WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY TOTALLY COMPLETELY
UNACCEPTABLE TO TRY TO DESCRIBE GOD AS ONE WHO CHANGES
HIS MIND AND WHO THINKS THIS TODAY AND THAT TOMORROW. SO, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL FIVE
OF THOSE ATTRIBUTES. THAT'S THE BASIS BY WHICH YOU
AND I CAN SAY, GOD IS A FAITHFUL GOD. IF HE MAKES A PROMISE, HE'S
GOING TO KEEP IT. IF HE GIVES US A WARNING, HE'S
GOING TO FULFILL IT. AND SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR
FAITH, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BASIS OF YOUR FAITH. AND YOU THINK ABOUT THE BASIS OF
YOUR FAITH, YOUR WHOLE FAITH IS BASED ON YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF
WHO GOD IS. WHAT IS HE LIKE? AND WHEN PEOPLE SAY TO YOU, WELL
I, I DON'T BELIEVE ALL THAT STUFF. WELL, WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE? AND YOU LISTEN TO SOMEBODY WHO
DOESN'T BELIEVE IN GOD, AND IT SORT OF TICKLES ME AT TIMES AND
I'M THINKING, THEY'RE JUST GOING ROUND AND ROUND AND ROUND AND
ROUND. NOTHING IS CERTAIN, NOTHING IS,
NOTHING IS REALLY SOLID. IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST GIBBERISH. BECAUSE WHEN YOU ELIMINATE THE
ONE TRUE GOD AND YOU ELIMINATE THE CHARACTER OF GOD, THERE IS
NO ASSURANCE OF ANYTHING AND NO HOPE. AND SO WHEN IT COMES TO LIFE AND
DEATH, YOU EITHER BELIEVE HE'S FAITHFUL WHEN HE SAYS, ABSENT
FROM THE BODY, PRESENT WITH THE LORD. IS THAT ONCE IN A WHILE? IS THAT AN EXCEPTION? NO. IT IS THE PROMISE TO EVERY
SINGLE BELIEVER. AND JESUS SAID HE WOULD COME FOR
US, RECEIVE US UNTO HIMSELF, THAT WHERE HE IS, THAT'S WHERE
WE'RE GOING TO BE. HOW MANY OF YOU ARE EXPECTING
ONE DAY TO DIE AND GO TO HEAVEN? ON THE BASIS OF WHAT? ONE SIMPLE THING--THE PROMISE OF
THE SON OF GOD, WHO NEVER CHANGES HIS MIND AND
WHO--LISTEN--WHO HAS ALL POWER TO MAKE IT A REALITY. WHEN I THINK OF PEOPLE WHO ARE
NOT BELIEVERS, AND THEY TALK ABOUT WHAT ASSURANCE THEY
HAVE--WHICH IS NONE--AND THINK ABOUT IF THEY WOULD JUST STOP
AND THINK. WELL NOW, NOW, WHAT IS IT OUT
THERE? HOW AM I, AND THEY JUST HEM-HAW
AROUND. THEY HAVE NO HOPE. THAT IS THEY MAY HAVE A HOPE,
BUT IT'S TOTALLY UNFOUNDED. OUR HOPE ISN'T JUST A HOPE. IT IS A HOPE WITH THE ASSURANCE
GIVEN TO US BY GOD WHOSE VERY CHARACTER IS SUCH THAT HE DOES
NOT CHANGE. AND EVERY SINGLE PROMISE HE'S
GIVEN US IN THE SCRIPTURE, HE'S GOING TO KEEP. NOW, THIS IS DEMONSTRATED
THROUGHOUT THE SCRIPTURE. LET'S JUST TAKE, FOR EXAMPLE,
RUN THROUGH A FEW OF THEM QUICKLY. WHEN HE SAID TO, ADAM AND EVE IN
THE GARDEN, IN THE DAY THAT YOU EAT OF THE FRUIT OF THIS TREE,
YOU'RE GOING TO DIE. DID GOD WANT THEM TO DIE? NO. DID HE CHANGE HIS MIND? NO, HE DID NOT. HE MADE A PROVISION FOR THEM
THROUGH THE SHEDDING OF BLOOD. THAT'S WHY THEY HAD SKINS. TO HAVE SKINS, YOU'VE GOT TO
HAVE DEATH AND YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE BLOOD. SO HE SAID, YOU'RE GOING TO
SURELY DIE. THEY DIDN'T DIE PHYSICALLY, BUT
THEY DIED SPIRITUALLY. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN HE SAID TO
NOAH, NOAH, HERE'S WHAT I'M GOING TO DO. I'M GOING TO DESTROY EVERY
LIVING THING ON THE FACE OF THIS EARTH. I WANT YOU TO BUILD THIS ARK. YOU TAKE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND
ALL THESE ANIMALS AND I'M GOING TO PUT YOU IN THE ARK AND I'M
GOING TO DESTROY EVERYTHING ON THE EARTH. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HE DID. THEN HE SAYS, I'LL NEVER DO IT
AGAIN THAT WAY, AND HE HASN'T. THAT'S WHY HE GAVE US A RAINBOW. YOU SEE, GOD HASN'T MISSED
ANYTHING. GOD IS A GOD OF PROMISE AND
ASSURANCE AND CONFIDENCE. HE WANTS HIS PEOPLE TO BE
CONFIDENT. THAT'S WHY OUR TESTIMONY OUGHT
TO BE BOLD. LISTEN--THE REASON MOST PEOPLE
DON'T HAVE A BOLD TESTIMONY IS THEY CAN'T DEFEND THEIR FAITH. AND THEY SAY, WELL HERE'S WHAT I
BELIEVE. BUT WHY DO YOU BELIEVE IT? WHY DO YOU BELIEVE THAT GOD WILL
ANSWER YOUR PRAYER? WHY DO YOU BELIEVE HE'S GOING TO
TAKE YOU HOME TO HEAVEN? WHY DO YOU BELIEVE THAT HE'LL
EMPOWER YOU? WHY DO YOU BELIEVE,? IN OTHER WORDS, BECAUSE YOU
BELIEVE THE PROMISES OF GOD. WELL WATCH THIS. YOU CAN BELIEVE THOSE THINGS,
BUT THEN WHEN YOU GET IN THE MIDST OF A BIG TRIAL AND THINGS
ARE TOUGH AND LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE IT; YOU'RE
GOING TO LOSE EVERYTHING, OR YOUR FAMILY'S FALLING APART, DO
YOU STILL BELIEVE IT? HE HASN'T CHANGED. WATCH THIS. OUR EMOTIONS OFTENTIMES, SORT OF
RUN COUNTER TO THE PROMISES OF GOD. AND WE HAVE TO DECIDE, AM I
GOING TO BELIEVE WHAT I FEEL, OR AM I GOING TO BELIEVE WHAT GOD
SAID? AND THAT'S WHERE FAITH AND DOUBT
CLASH. SO, I THINK ALSO ABOUT WHAT HE
SAID TO ABRAHAM--THAT TWELFTH CHAPTER OF, GENESIS. HE SAID, ABRAHAM, I'M GOING TO
MAKE YOU THE FATHER OF A NATION THAT'LL BE LIKE THE SANDS OF
THE SEA. AND HE SAYS, ALL THE EARTH IS
GOING TO BE BLESSED OUT OF YOUR LOINS. IS THAT WHAT HE DID? IT'S EXACTLY WHAT HE DID. AND SO YOU HAVE THE NATION OF
ISRAEL, YOU HAVE THE COMING OF THE MESSIAH--EVERYTHING THAT GOD
PROMISED. AND NOTICE THAT HE DIDN'T SAY,
IF YOU DO THUS AND SO. THAT WAS AN UNCONDITIONAL
PROMISE OF GOD. HERE'S WHAT I'M GOING TO DO. NOW WATCH THIS. WHEN GOD MAKES A CONDITIONAL
PROMISE, IT'S CONDITIONED UPON SOMETHING WE DO OR DO NOT DO. WHEN HE MAKES AN ABSOLUTE,
UNCONDITIONAL PROMISE, NOTHING CAN CHANGE IT BECAUSE IT IS
UNCONDITIONALLY THE WORD OF THE LIVING GOD. NO ONE CAN POINT TO ANYTHING
GOD'S EVER SAID AND SAID, GOD LIED. HE IS A GOD OF TRUTH AND POWER
AND KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING AND UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. HE WANTS US TO BELIEVE HIM
BECAUSE BELIEVING HIM IS OUR ENTRANCE INTO LIFE ETERNAL. AND SO GOD DOESN'T JUST SIMPLY
GIVE US SOME LIGHT-HEARTED PROMISE OR LIGHT-HEARTED
INVITATION, WELL IF YOU'LL JUST BELIEVE THIS, THAT OR THE OTHER. PUT YOUR TRUST IN ME, HE SAYS,
FOR THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE. AND OUR ETERNAL LIFE IS
CONDITIONED UPON OUR ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THE
FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS--PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE. WE HAVE HOPE THAT'S NOT JUST
HOPE, BUT IT'S HOPE GROUNDED IN THE VERY NATURE OF GOD, HIMSELF. SO, LET'S THINK ABOUT, FOR
EXAMPLE, IF GOD IS NOT A FAITHFUL GOD WITH ALL THESE
ATTRIBUTES, WHEN YOU GET DOWN TO PRAY, WHAT WOULD YOU THINK? YOU'D THINK, I HOPE SO. I HOPE SO. IF ALL THESE THINGS ARE NOT
TRUE, YOU'D PRAY, WELL LORD, I HOPE SO. AND THE TRUTH IS, OUR
RELATIONSHIP WOULD BE MEANINGLESS. HOW CAN YOU HAVE A RELATIONSHIP
WITH SOMEBODY YOU DON'T TRUST? AND IF GOD'S CHANGING HIS MIND,
NOT EXERCISING HIS POWER; YOU DON'T KNOW HOW HE'S GOING TO
OPERATE. THEN THERE IS NO ASSURANCE, NO
CONFIDENCE IN OUR LIFE. AND HOW WOULD WE RESPOND TO LIFE
IF WE DO NOT HAVE UNCONDITIONAL PROMISES OF GOD? AND YOU FACE STORMS IN LIFE. WHEN YOU AND I GO THROUGH STORMS
IN LIFE, WHAT GET'S US THROUGH THEM? THE--LISTEN--THE PROMISES OF GOD
IS WHAT GETS US THROUGH THEM. LORD, YOU SAID HERE'S WHAT YOU
WOULD DO, IF I WOULD PRAY AND TRUST YOU; IF I YIELDED MY LIFE
TO YOU. IT IS THE UNCONDITIONAL PROMISES
OF GOD THAT GETS US THROUGH THE STORMS OF LIFE. AND IF HE'S CHANGING, IF HE
ALTERS HIS COURSE SOMEHOW, THEN WHAT HAPPENS? WE HAVE NO ASSURANCE, NONE
WHATSOEVER, OF WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. SO IT'S ALL BASED ON HIS
FAITHFULNESS--THAT GOD IS WHO HE SAYS HE IS AND THAT IT DOES NOT
CHANGE. IT WOULD CERTAINLY BE IMPOSSIBLE
TO HAVE ANY KIND OF REAL TRUE GENUINE ASSURANCE AND CONFIDENCE
IF GOD WAS NOT ABSOLUTELY FAITHFUL. SO, LET'S THINK ABOUT WHY WE CAN
REST IN HIS FAITHFULNESS FOR A FEW MOMENTS. WE SAID WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT RESTING IN THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD. HOW CAN WE REST IN THAT NO
MATTER WHAT WE'RE FACING? WELL FIRST OF ALL, TURN TO
LAMENTATIONS CHAPTER THREE FOR A MOMENT. JUST TURN THERE FOR A MOMENT. GO PAST ISAIAH AND JEREMIAH AND
LOOK AT THIS THIRD CHAPTER. HE SAYS, VERSE TWENTY-TWO, "THE
LORD'S KINDNESSES INDEED NEVER CEASE, HIS COMPASSIONS NEVER
FAIL. THEY ARE NEW EVERY MORNING;
GREAT IS YOUR," WHAT? "FAITHFULNESS." GREAT IS YOUR FAITHFULNESS. SO FIRST OF ALL, WE CAN REST IN
HIS FAITHFULNESS SIMPLY BECAUSE HE'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE AND
HE'S A FAITHFUL GOD. IN FIRST THESSALONIANS FIVE
TWENTY-FOUR, ONE OF THE REASONS WE CAN REST IN HIS FAITHFULNESS
IS BECAUSE HE, HERE'S WHAT HE SAYS. HE SAYS WHATEVER HE CALLS US TO
DO, HE WILL EMPOWER US TO DO IT. THAT IS A PROMISE OF GOD THAT'S
AN UNFAILING PROMISE. WHATEVER HE CALLS US TO DO, HE
WILL EMPOWER US TO DO IT. SO FOR EXAMPLE, YOU SAY, WELL,
MAYBE GOD IS CALLING ME TO BE A SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER. WHAT'S MY PROMISE? MY PROMISE IS THIS. HE SAYS, IF I CALL YOU TO DO IT,
I WILL EMPOWER YOU, I WILL ENABLE YOU. WATCH THIS. IT WOULDN'T EVEN BE HONEST WITH
GOD IF HE CALLED YOU TO DO SOMETHING AND THEN DID NOT
ENABLE YOU OR TO HELP YOU BRING IT TO PASS. LIKEWISE, HE SAYS IF WE CONFESS
OUR SINS, HE'S FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US OF OUR SINS. IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE THAT HE'S
FAITHFUL, THEN HOW WILL YOU EVER KNOW? AND, I'VE HEARD PEOPLE SAY THIS
AND I'VE SAID, OKAY, WE DEAL WITH SOMETHING ABOUT SIN IN
THEIR LIFE. SAY, LET'S ASK GOD RIGHT NOW TO
FORGIVE YOU OF YOUR SINS. ARE YOU WILLING TO ASK HIM TO
FORGIVE YOU? YES I AM. ALL RIGHT, LET'S ASK HIM. SO THEY PRAY AND I SAY, WELL HAS
HE FORGIVEN YOU? WELL I HOPE SO. MM-MM-MM, WAIT A MINUTE. YOU, WELL READ THAT VERSE. AND SOMETIMES I'VE HAD PEOPLE
READ THAT VERSE UP TO TEN TIMES BECAUSE EVERY TIME BEFORE THAT
THEY WOULD SAY, WELL I THINK SO. WELL I HOPE SO. MAYBE SO. I'M NOT SURE. NOW WAIT A MINUTE. IF GOD IS WHO HE SAYS HE IS AND
HE SAYS, IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, THAT IS, WE AGREE WITH HIM ABOUT
IT, HE SAYS, HE'S FAITHFUL AND JUST, RIGHTEOUS THAT HE HAS THE
RIGHT TO FORGIVE ME FOR MY SINS BECAUSE OF WHAT CHRIST DID AT
THE CROSS. HE'S FAITHFUL AND JUST TO
FORGIVE US OF OUR SINS AND TO CLEANSE US FROM ALL
UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. IF GOD IS NOT FAITHFUL, I WOULD
NEVER KNOW WHERE I AM. THE ONLY REASON YOU AND I KNOW
THAT WE'RE SAVED IS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT HE'S TRUE TO WHAT
HE SAYS. LIKEWISE, I THINK ABOUT, FIRST
CORINTHIANS CHAPTER TEN VERSE THIRTEEN. HE SAYS, MAYBE YOU SHOULD TURN
TO THIS ONE. FIRST CORINTHIANS TEN
THIRTEEN--IT'S ALL ABOUT TEMPTATION. AND YOU'LL RECALL THE PROMISE,
THE AWESOME PROMISE HE MAKES IN THIS PASSAGE. LISTEN TO WHAT HE SAYS. HE SAYS, "NO TEMPTATION,"
WHATEVER THE NATURE OF IT IS. "NO TEMPTATION HAS, TAKEN YOU
BUT SUCH AS IS COMMON TO MAN," THAT IS, ALL OF US ARE TEMPTED
ALIKE IN MANY, MANY WAYS, "NO TEMPTATION , TAKEN YOU BUT SUCH
IS COMMON TO MAN; (BUT) GOD," LOOK AT THIS, "(BUT) GOD IS
FAITHFUL, WHO WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO BE TEMPTED BEYOND WHAT YOU
ARE ABLE (TO BEAR), BUT (WILL) WITH THE TEMPTATION (HE) WILL
PROVIDE THE WAY OF ESCAPE ALSO, SO THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO
ENDURE IT." HERE'S WHAT HE'S SAYING. HE HAS PUT A LIMITATION ON YOUR
TEMPTATION. NOW, IF THAT PASSAGE OF
SCRIPTURE WERE NOT IN THE BIBLE, WE'D SAY, WELL GOD, LISTEN. THAT TEMPTATION IS SO STRONG,
I--THERE'S--YOU KNEW HOW-- GOD, YOU'RE THE ONE WHO TEMPTED
ME. NO, GOD DOESN'T TEMPT US. HE SAYS HE DOESN'T. AND HERE'S WHAT ELSE HE SAYS. THIS IS HIS PROMISE. HE SAYS, I WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO
BE TEMPTED MORE THAN YOU CAN BEAR, IF WE'LL TRUST HIM. HE PUTS A LIMITATION ON
TEMPTATION AND TRIALS IN LIFE--NOT JUST TEMPTATION, OR
TEMPTATION TO DO WRONG, BUT TRIALS IN LIFE. HE HAS A LIMIT. WHY? BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU AND ME
UNCONDITIONALLY. AND IT WOULD BE, IT
WOULD--LISTEN--IT WOULDN'T, IT WOULDN'T EVEN BE RIGHTEOUS IN
THE EYES OF GOD TO REQUIRE US TO DO SOMETHING THAT HE KNOWS THAT
THERE'S NO POSSIBLE WAY FOR US TO DO IT AND HE DOESN'T COME TO
OUR RESCUE AND HELP US DO IT. HE SAYS HE WILL MAKE A WAY TO
ESCAPE, THAT WHATEVER WE ARE DEALING WITH, HE WILL HELP US TO
BEAR IT. HE SAYS, FOR EXAMPLE, IN PSALM
ONE NINETEEN, LOOK AT THIS PASSAGE A MOMENT. IN PSALM ONE NINETEEN, IN THE
SEVENTY-FIFTH VERSE, I WANT YOU TO NOTICE, WHAT THE PSALMIST
SAYS. HE SAYS, "I KNOW, O LORD, THAT
YOUR JUDGMENTS ARE RIGHTEOUS," THAT IS, THEY'RE ALWAYS RIGHT. AND THEN HE SAYS, I ALSO KNOW,
"THAT IN FAITHFULNESS YOU HAVE AFFLICTED ME." THAT IS, SOMETIMES THE
AFFLICTION THAT COMES UPON US IS GOD DOING WHAT? HE'S BEING FAITHFUL TO HIS WORD. AND SO HE LOVES US ENOUGH THAT
HE DOESN'T WANT US SINNING AGAINST HIM AND LIVING
DISOBEDIENTLY BEFORE HIM. AND SO WHAT DOES HE DO? HE SENDS ENOUGH AFFLICTION TO
GET OUR ATTENTION, TO CHANGE OUR ATTITUDE, CHANGE OUR MIND TO
START LIVING OBEDIENTLY BEFORE HIM. AND SO, WHAT HE'S SAYING IS, I'M
GRATEFUL THAT YOU LOVE ME ENOUGH; THAT YOU'RE FAITHFUL. LISTEN TO THAT. HE SAYS YOU'RE FAITHFUL, I'M
GLAD YOU'RE FAITHFUL IN AFFLICTING ME. AND SOMETIMES WE, WE THINK
AFFLICTIONS AND DIFFICULTIES AND HARDSHIPS ARE ALL BAD; NONE OF
IT'S FROM GOD. YES IT IS--DISCIPLINE IS FROM
GOD. IT IS AN ACT OF HIS
FAITHFULNESS TO GET US BACK IN LINE DOING WHAT HE WOULD HAVE US
TO DO. AND OF COURSE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT
HIS ANSWERED PRAYER. AND LET'S THINK ABOUT WHAT,
WHAT JESUS SAID IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. HE SAID IN THAT SIXTH CHAPTER,
HE SAYS, OUR HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS OUR NEEDS BEFORE WE EVEN
HAVE THEM; AND THAT HE'LL MEET OUR NEEDS. IS THAT A PROMISE? YES, IT IS A PROMISE. AND YOU SAY, WELL IS IT
CONDITIONED? I THINK IT IS CONDITIONED. IT'S CONDITIONED IF A PERSON'S
LAZY AND SLOTHFUL AND DOESN'T CARE. THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT ISSUE. BUT GOD IS WILLING TO, HE'S
WILLING TO MEET OUR EVERY SINGLE NEED, BECAUSE HE'S A GOD WHO
LOVES US UNCONDITIONALLY. AND THAT'S, THAT'S THE KIND OF
LOVE HE HAS. HIS LOVE IS UNCONDITIONAL FOR
HIS CHILDREN; AND THEREFORE HE'S GOING TO MEET EVERY SINGLE NEED
THAT WE HAVE. AND HE SAYS, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT
IN ROMANS EIGHT TWENTY-EIGHT--YOU KNOW THAT BY
HEART. GOD CAUSES ALL THINGS TO WORK
TOGETHER FOR GOOD, TO THOSE WHO LOVE HIM, TO THOSE WHO ARE
CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE. IS THAT A PROMISE? YES IT IS. AND IF, AND IF WE DIDN'T HAVE
THAT PROMISE, THINK ABOUT THE FRUSTRATION WE WOULD HAVE IN
DIFFICULTY AND HARDSHIP. IF GOD IS ALLOWING US TO GO
THROUGH DIFFICULTY, HE'S A GOD OF PURPOSE. HE IS A RIGHTEOUS GOD. IN OTHER WORDS, HE ISN'T JUST
SITTING BACK AND WATCHING THINGS HAPPEN IN YOUR LIFE AND MINE. HE IS INVOLVED IN OUR LIFE. HE HAS--WE HAVE BEEN INDWELT BY
THE SPIRIT OF THE LIVING GOD. AND INDWELT BY THE SPIRIT OF THE
LIVING GOD, WE HAVE BEEN SEALED FOREVER AS A CHILD OF GOD. SO WHEN SOMEBODY SAYS, WELL I
KNOW I'VE BEEN SAVED AND I KNOW I'VE BEEN SEALED, BUT I THINK, I
THINK YOU CAN STILL BE LOST. THEN WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THAT
GOD WHO INDWELT YOU AND SAID THAT HE SAVED YOU FOR ALL
ETERNITY, HE LIED. NOW, YOU TELL SOMEBODY WHO
BELIEVES YOU CAN FALL FROM GRACE, THEN THEY DON'T LIKE THAT
AT ALL. I CAN TELL YOU THEY DON'T, BUT
THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE SAYING. I KNOW THAT'S, I KNOW THAT'S
WHAT IT SAYS, BUT I BELIEVE THAT YOU SIN AGAINST GOD, YOU'RE
GOING TO BE LOST. NOW WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THAT
GOD DID NOT TELL THE TRUTH. NOW I KNOW THAT IT'S A
MISCONCEPTION THEY HAVE, BUT THAT'S--ULTIMATELY THAT'S
WHAT IT SAYS. EITHER HE'S RIGHTEOUS IN
EVERYTHING OR HE'S AN UNRIGHTEOUS GOD. THIS IS AN AWESOME GOD. FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE FIRST VERSE
OF THE FIRST CHAPTER OF THE BIBLE, WHEN IT SAYS, IN THE
BEGINNING GOD CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH, THE GOD
WORD THERE IS ELOHIM--INFINITE IN POWER, INFINITE IN POWER,
ABSOLUTE IN HIS FAITHFULNESS; HAS ALL POWER--INFINITE IN
POWER, ABSOLUTE IN HIS FAITHFULNESS. THAT'S THE GOD WHO IS
UNCHANGING; WHO HAS ALL POWER, ALL KNOWLEDGE, ALL
UNDERSTANDING. WHO LOVES US UNCONDITIONALLY;
WHO HAS THE BEST FOR US; WHO COMES TO OUR RESCUE IN ANY AND
EVERY SITUATION; WHO LIMITS THE TRIALS AND HEARTACHES HE ALLOWS
IN OUR LIFE. AND HE HAS PROMISED US A
RESURRECTION BODY. WELL, SO YOU SAY, WELL, I DON'T
KNOW ABOUT THAT PART. WELL, LET ME ASK YOU THIS. IF YOU'RE WILLING TO--WATCH
THIS--IF YOU'RE WILLING TO TRUST YOUR SALVATION ON A SINGLE
PROMISE OF GOD, BASED ON THE CROSS, IT'S A SINGLE PROMISE OF
GOD, WILL YOU NOT TRUST WHAT HE SAID ABOUT YOUR RESURRECTION
BODY? AND I THINK PEOPLE, SOMETIMES
THEY GET THEIR EMOTIONS ALL MIXED UP IN IT ALL AND THEY
STOP, THEY DON'T STOP TO THINK, WAIT A MINUTE. I'M TRUSTING MY WHOLE, WHEN I
COME TO DEATH, I'M EITHER GOING TO BE SCREAMING IN FEAR OR I'M
GOING TO BE REJOICING IN THE LORD THAT I'M ABOUT TO MEET HIM. NOW IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY
CERTAINTY ABOUT IT, YOU'RE NOT, IT'S GOING TO BE A SAD TIME. YOU BASE YOUR WHOLE ETERNITY ON
WHAT YOU BELIEVE ABOUT GOD, THAT HE IS FAITHFUL TO KEEP EVERY
SINGLE PROMISE HE'S MADE WITHOUT FAIL. AND HERE'S THE ISSUE. YOU CAN LOOK AT THIS BOOK. YOU CAN GO FROM GENESIS TO
REVELATION, AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FIND ANY VERSES IN HERE OR
ANYTHING GOD DOES THAT HE MAKES A MISTAKE OR HE IS IN ERROR OR
HE FORGOT. GOD NEVER SAYS, OH I THOUGHT. HE NEVER SAYS, OH I SEE. HE DOESN'T SAY ANY OF THAT. WHY? BECAUSE HE'S THIS INFINITE,
INDESCRIBABLE, AWESOME GOD WHO LOVES HIS CHILDREN AND WHO IS
COMMITTED TO US FOR ALL ETERNITY. NOW, THERE'S ONE LAST THING
I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THAT. HE'S ALSO FAITHFUL TO THE
UNBELIEVER. UP-PUP-PUP-PUP, NOW WAIT A
MINUTE. HOW CAN THAT BE TRUE? WELL TURN TO MATTHEW CHAPTER
SEVEN FOR A MOMENT. TURN TO MATTHEW CHAPTER SEVEN
AND, LET'S LOOK AT THIS, TWENTY-FIRST VERSE. NOW REMEMBER WHAT HE, WHAT WE
SAID. HE IS A GOD OF TRUTH. HE DOES NOT LIE. NOT EVERYONE WHO, VERSE
TWENTY-ONE CHAPTER SEVEN, "NOT EVERYONE WHO SAYS TO ME, 'LORD,
LORD,' WILL ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, BUT HE WHO DOES THE WILL
OF MY FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN WILL ENTER. MANY WILL SAY TO ME ON THAT DAY,
'LORD, LORD, DID WE NOT PROPHESY IN YOUR NAME, AND IN YOUR NAME
CAST OUT DEMONS, AND IN YOUR NAME PERFORM MANY MIRACLES?' AND
THEN I WILL DECLARE TO THEM, 'I NEVER KNEW YOU; DEPART FROM ME,
YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'" WHAT IS HE SAYING? HE SAYS, LISTEN, HE IS A
FAITHFUL GOD WHO KEEPS HIS WORD. PEOPLE WHO PRETEND TO BE
CHRISTIANS AND PRETEND GOOD WORKS AND THINK THAT'S
SUFFICIENT AND BOAST THAT IT IS, HE SAYS THEY'RE GOING TO BE
SEPARATED FROM GOD FOR ALL ETERNITY. LOOK IF YOU WILL IN JOHN CHAPTER
THREE, AND LOOK IN THIS, IF YOU WILL, WE KNOW JOHN CHAPTER THREE
SIXTEEN AND ALL THAT. BUT WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO VERSE
THIRTY-SIX, HE SAID, "HE WHO BELIEVES IN THE SON HAS ETERNAL
LIFE; BUT HE WHO DOES NOT OBEY THE SON WILL NOT SEE LIFE, BUT
THE WRATH OF GOD," WATCH THIS--NOT WILL, BUT IS ABIDING
IN HIM, OR, "ON HIM." THAT IS, PEOPLE WHO ARE LOST ARE
UNDER THE WRATH OF GOD. AND--LISTEN--THIS IS WHAT HE
SAYS. HE'S A GOD OF TRUTH. AND SO HE'S GOING TO BE FAITHFUL
TO THAT. LOOK IN THE TWENTIETH CHAPTER OF
THE REVELATION FOR A MOMENT AND LOOK AT THIS TERRIBLE PASSAGE OF
SCRIPTURE; BECAUSE IT IS TERRIBLE. WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO PEOPLE
WHO, DIE WITHOUT CHRIST. AND THE TWENTIETH CHAPTER,
BEGINNING IN THAT ELEVENTH VERSE, AND NOTICE WHAT HE SAYS. HE SAYS, "THEN I SAW A GREAT
WHITE THRONE AND HIM WHO SAT ON IT, FROM WHOSE PRESENCE EARTH
AND HEAVEN FLED AWAY, AND NO PLACE WAS FOUND FOR THEM. AND I SAW THE DEAD, THE GREAT
AND, SMALL, STANDING BEFORE THE THRONE, AND BOOKS WERE OPENED;
ANOTHER BOOK WAS OPENED, WHICH IS THE BOOK OF LIFE; AND THE
DEAD WERE JUDGED FROM THE THINGS WHICH WERE WRITTEN IN THE BOOKS,
ACCORDING TO THEIR DEEDS. AND THE SEA GAVE UP THE DEAD
WHICH WERE IN IT, DEATH AND HADES GAVE UP THE DEAD WHICH
WERE IN THEM; AND THEY WERE JUDGED, EVERY ONE OF THEM
ACCORDING TO THEIR DEEDS. THEN DEATH AND HADES WERE THROWN
INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE. AND IF ANYONE'S NAME WAS NOT
FOUND WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF LIFE, HE WAS THROWN IN THE LAKE
OF FIRE." YOU SAY, DO YOU BELIEVE ALL
THAT? WELL LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION:
DOES GOD LIE? NO, HE DOESN'T. WHAT I WANT YOU TO SEE HAVING
NEVER TRUSTED JESUS AS YOUR SAVIOR, DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT
IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE LOVE OF GOD. GOD LOVES YOU UNCONDITIONALLY,
BUT HE IS A GOD OF TRUTHFULNESS. HE'S A GOD WHO KEEPS HIS
PROMISE. LISTEN. HE IS A GOD WHO KEEPS HIS
PROMISE AND HIS WARNINGS--THAT IF YOU DISOBEY ME, THERE WILL BE
CONSEQUENCES. YOU OBEY ME, THERE ARE GREAT
WONDERFUL CONSEQUENCES. YOU MUST CHOOSE WHAT TO BELIEVE
OR NOT TO BELIEVE--A GOD WHO IS A GOD OF TRUTH, WHO DOES NOT
CHANGE HIS MIND; WHO HAS ALL POWER, ALL KNOWLEDGE, ALWAYS
PRESENT; AND A GOD WHO LOVES YOU UNCONDITIONALLY. WILL YOU REJECT HIM? YOU MAY STILL SAY, I DON'T
BELIEVE ALL THAT. BUT LET ME JUST REMIND YOU. YOUR UNBELIEF DOES NOT CHANGE
THE PROMISE OF THE LIVING GOD. THAT PUTS YOU IN A PRETTY BAD
SPOT. YOU CAN CHANGE THAT. YOU SAY, WELL HOW? BY ACKNOWLEDGING THAT JESUS
CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD WHO WENT TO THE CROSS, AND WHEN HE
WENT TO THE CROSS, HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE ON THE CROSS, SHED HIS
BLOOD FOR YOU AND ME. THAT IS, HE PAID OUR SIN DEBT IN
FULL WITH HIS LIFE. AND THE MOMENT YOU AND I ASK HIM
TO FORGIVE US OF OUR SINS AND SURRENDER OUR LIFE TO HIM--IT
ISN'T JUST SOMETHING YOU SAY. YOU YIELD YOUR LIFE TO HIM. IN THAT MOMENT YOUR SINS ARE
FORGIVEN. THE BIBLE SAYS YOU ARE SEALED
WITH THE SEAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE. YOUR NAME IS WRITTEN IN THE
LAMB'S BOOK OF LIFE. YOU ARE FOREVER A CHILD OF GOD. NOW YOU HAVE THIS AWESOME
FAITHFUL GOD INDWELLING YOU IN THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
TO ENABLE YOU TO LIVE A GODLY LIFE; TO ENABLE YOU TO ACHIEVE
AND ACCOMPLISH EVERYTHING THAT GOD HAS IN MIND FOR YOU. IT'S A CHOICE YOU MAKE. BUT LET ME JUST SAY THIS. IT IS AN ETERNAL CHOICE. TO SAY NO TO GOD IS AN ETERNAL
DISASTER. TO SAY YES TO GOD IS AN ETERNAL
BLESSING THAT IS YOURS FOR THE ASKING AND THE RECEIVING. AND THAT'S OUR PRAYER FOR YOU. AND FATHER, HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE
THAT YOU'RE WHO YOU ARE--AWESOME, INDESCRIBABLE,
HOLY GOD. WOULD YOU SINK THIS MESSAGE IN
EVERY ONE OF OUR HEARTS? WOULD YOU REMIND US DAILY WHO
YOU ARE. AND LET US LIVE ON THE BASIS
THAT WE HAVE YOU LIVING WITHIN US. TRUSTWORTHY, TRUSTWORTHY GOD,
FAITHFUL GOD, DEPENDABLE, RELIABLE IN EVERY WAY--WHAT AN
AWESOME BLESSING. I PRAY THE SPIRIT OF GOD WOULD
ENRICH EACH ONE OF US; DEEPEN OUR UNDERSTANDING OF YOU. AND TAKE THIS, FATHER, AND APPLY
IT TO OUR HEARTS IN SUCH A WAY THAT OUR FAITH RISES; OUR SENSE
OF CONFIDENCE INCREASES. EVERYTHING ABOUT US BEGINS TO
CHANGE WHEN WE RECOGNIZE WHOSE WE ARE, WHOM WE SERVE, AND WHO
LOVES US UNCONDITIONALLY. IN JESUS'S NAME, AMEN. MALE ANNOUNCER: IF YOU'VE
BEEN BLESSED BY TODAY'S PROGRAM, PLEASE VISIT US AT INTOUCH.ORG.
