24-1213A_THE MESSAGE OF GRACE PT-18 (I KNOW)

Job 19:15 They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight.

Job 19:16 I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated him with my mouth.

Job 19:17 My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children's sake of mine own body.

Job 19:18 Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spake against me.

Job 19:19 All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me.

Job 19:20 My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.

Job 19:21 Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me.

Eze 36:11 And I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and bring fruit: and I will settle you after your old estates, and will do better unto you than at your beginnings: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

Jer 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Jer 29:12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
Mal 1:1 The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.
Mal 1:2 I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob,
Mal 1:3 And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.
Job 23:6 Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.
Heb 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
Heb 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Jas 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Jas 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
Jas 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Jas 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
Jas 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
Jas 1:7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
Jas 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

*GOD WANTS AN EVIL DONE, HE JUST TURNS SATAN LOOSE TO DO IT. AND IF HE WANTS GOOD DONE, HE HAS HIS SERVANTS HE TURNS LOOSE TO DO IT.

I.KNOW_ JEFF.IN EASTER.MESSAGE.BOOK SUNDAY_ 60-0417S

17 The patriarch at this time was somewhat like we are today. He had been in deep troubles, as we call it, "high waters," and he was desperate. Many days he'd set on the ash heap, and was trying to find words to console him, trying to find something that would give him courage, and something that would--would be a comfort to him as he seen his life fading out of him.

First place, he was an old man, somewhat ninety years old, and he has been stricken by the hand of God. Now, we know that God had not touched him with His hand, but that God had permitted Satan to touch him. God only has agents to do things. God wants an evil done, He just turns Satan loose to do it. And if He wants good done, He has His servants He turns loose to do it.

*WE ARE ALL ON THE ASH HEAPS. WE HAVE OUR TROUBLES, AND OUR UPS-AND-DOWNS… THEN IN THE MIDST OF ALL THAT TROUBLE, GOD CAME TO HIS RESCUE.

I.KNOW_ JEFF.IN EASTER.MESSAGE.BOOK SUNDAY_ 60-0417S

22 Now, we come to those places. We all come. And I believe that today, that we are gathered here for something like that same purpose. We are all on the ash heaps. We have our troubles, and our ups-and-downs, and our--our bad moments, and our sicknesses, and our heartaches, and our disappointments. So we come like this of a morning, this Easter morning to find words of comfort, like Job was trying to find from his friends.

None of them could give him any consolation. Because of his trouble, they were accusing him of being a secret sinner. Then in the midst of all that trouble, God came to his rescue.

*GOD PROMISED MANY AFFLICTIONS, STRANGE FEELINGS, AND STRANGE THINGS THAT WOULD BE BEYOND OUR UNDERSTANDING, BUT IT'S ALWAYS DONE FOR OUR GOOD.

I.KNOW_ JEFF.IN EASTER.MESSAGE.BOOK SUNDAY_ 60-0417S

27 And sometimes we have more troubles when we become a Christian than we did when we were sinners. 'Course it is written, "Many is the afflictions of the righteous, but God delivereth him from them all." God promised many afflictions, strange feelings, and strange things that would be beyond our understanding, but it's always done for our good. Just can't understand it, because if we did, then it would not be of faith to us; we would go with an understanding. But we do it, and we have it, and we believe by faith His Word, that it's going to work some good thing for us. If we could grasp that today, on this--this morning. If we could grasp that all of our troubles... And there's none of us immune from them. And if we could realize that those things are for our good...

*AFTER WE BECOME HIS PROPERTY, OUR CONFESSION, AND OUR BAPTISM, AND OUR PROMISE TO WALK IN LIFE FOR HIM, THEN EVERY TRIAL THAT COMES UPON US IS TO PERFECT US FOR HIS GLORY.

I.KNOW_ JEFF.IN EASTER.MESSAGE.BOOK SUNDAY_ 60-0417S

28 It is written in one of the Scriptures in the Bible, that, "Trials are brought upon us, are more precious to us than gold itself, for it is God giving us these trials." After we become His property, our confession, and our baptism, and our promise to walk in life for Him, then every trial that comes upon us is to perfect us for His glory. It's to bring us to a place where God can make Himself more real to us than He was before the trial come.

I want to join in this morning with Job to say that I've lived long enough to know that's the truth. I have seen it in my own life, that every time a great situation rises, that I can't get around it, or under it, or over it, God makes a way, and comes out glorious. I just wonder how His grace ever does it, but He does it.

*NO MATTER HOW GREAT THE DISTRESS IS, SATAN CANNOT TAKE YOUR LIFE UNTIL GOD HAS FINISHED WITH YOU.

I.KNOW_ JEFF.IN EASTER.MESSAGE.BOOK SUNDAY_ 60-0417S

36 It's those crucial hours that press us on to those sacred sands. It was in the Bible. And remember, no matter how great the distress is, Satan cannot take your life until God has finished with you. There is nothing can happen to you unless God permits it. There is no evil can come unless God permits it. And it's for your good He's working that.

Let's think, there when the floods came to destroy the world, it could not destroy Noah. Noah could not be destroyed, because that God had a work for him to do.

*AND WHEN THEIR FAITH IS PUT TO A TEST, THEN DON'T FAIL. STAY RIGHT WITH WHAT YOU BELIEVE.

I.KNOW_ JEFF.IN EASTER.MESSAGE.BOOK SUNDAY_ 60-0417S

38 One day down in a great nation under a great bondage there was some Hebrew children that we know as Shadrach, and Meshach, and Abednego. And it came to a place where they had to make a decision, that something had to be done. They had their--their--their faith was put to a test. And when their faith is put to a test, then don't fail. Stay right with what you believe.

And when they're faced, faith was put to a test. And they went through a crucial hour, not only did they go to a--a ash heap, but they went into a fiery furnace. But Satan could not destroy them, for God's purpose wasn't yet fulfilled. They could go in there with this hope, "I know my Redeemer liveth." They could go in there with this hope here, "We are assured that God is able to deliver us from this fiery furnace, but nevertheless, we will not bow to the image."

I.KNOW_ JEFF.IN EASTER.MESSAGE.BOOK SUNDAY_ 60-0417S

41 Satan could not take them. He could not drown Noah in the flood, until the purpose of God had been finished. He could not burn up the Hebrew children until the purpose of God had been finished. He could not kill Job with boils and troubles until the purpose of God had been finished. Neither could the lions eat Daniel until God's purpose had been finished. Neither could death and old age take Abraham until the purpose of God had been finished. And neither can it take you, or can it take me until the purpose of God of our life is finished. So we gather from their consolation.

*AND WHY DOES GOD LET TROUBLES COME?.... AND THOSE TROUBLES BRING US INTO A CLOSER FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD.

I.KNOW_ JEFF.IN EASTER.MESSAGE.BOOK SUNDAY_ 60-0417S

43 And why does God let troubles come? God harnesses trouble, puts bits in its mouth, and makes it obey Him, and those troubles bring us into a closer fellowship with God.

There had been no rainbow until the flood came. But after Noah was pressed into that condition that he was in, to float forty days and nights in a storm and the little ark pitching up and down in the water, it was after the flood was over that he saw the rainbow for its first time, the covenant of hope, the covenant of promise. After he'd went through the tribulation, then he saw the promise.

*WE ASK FOR COMFORT AND PEACE; GOD GIVES US THE BEST HE COULD GIVE US:…

That's the way you see the promise, after you've gone through the tribulation. I've liked that poem, or psalm:

Must I be carried home to Heaven on a flowerly bed of ease,
While others fought to win the prize and sailed through bloody seas?
We ask for comfort and peace; God gives us the best He could give us: trials and tribulations. That's better than comfort and peace. Our comforts is just beyond the river.

*HIS LOVE IS ELECTIVE WHICH HE HAD FOR US BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.

118-2 SMYRNAEAN.CHURCH.AGE - CHURCH.AGE.BOOK CPT.4

The cloudy skies and storms of life are no signs of God's disapproval. Neither are bright skies and still waters signs of His love and approval. His approval of any of us is only IN THE BELOVED. His love is elective which He had for us before the foundation of the world. Does He love us? Ah yes. But how shall we know? We shall know because He SAID SO, and manifested that He did love us for He brought us to Himself and gave us of His Spirit, placing us as sons. And how shall I prove my love to Him? By believing what He said, and by conducting myself with joy amidst the trials that He in His wisdom allows to come to pass.

*LIKE A FATHER HE IS LOOKING DOWN UPON HIS FAMILY.
118-2 SMYRNAEAN.CHURCH.AGE - CHURCH.AGE.BOOK CPT.4
"I know thy poverty (but thou are rich)."

There it is again. See Him walking up and down in the midst of His Church. Like a father He is looking down upon His family. He is the Head of His household. He is the provider. He is the protector. Yet He looks on at their poverty. Oh, how the untutored believer stumbles at this. How can God bear to look upon His own in a time of need and not just stop it all--just give in and lavish everything material upon them?

*THE VERY CHARACTER OF JESUS WAS PERFECTED BY SUFFERING.

117-1 SMYRNAEAN.CHURCH.AGE - CHURCH.AGE.BOOK CPT.4

You see, they could not figure out God's love. They thought that love meant no suffering. They thought that love meant a baby with parental care. But God said that His love was "elective" love. The proof of His love is ELECTION--that no matter what happened, His love was proven truly by the fact they were chosen unto salvation (because God hath chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth). He may commit you to death as He did Paul. He may commit you to suffering as He did Job. That is His prerogative. He is sovereign. But it is all with a purpose. If He did not have a purpose, then He would be the author of frustration and not of peace. His purpose is that after we have suffered awhile we would be made perfect, be established, strengthened and settled. As Job said, "He puts strength in us." (Job 23:6b) You see He, Himself, suffered. He learned obedience by the things that He suffered. He was actually made perfect by the things that He suffered.

Hebrews 5:8-9,

"Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered;

And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him."

In plain language, the very character of Jesus was perfected by suffering. And according to Paul He has left His church a measure of suffering that they, too, by their faith in God while suffering for Him, would come to a place of perfection. Why did He want this?

James 1:2-4,

"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."

117-1 SMYRNAEAN.CHURCH.AGE - CHURCH.AGE.BOOK CPT.4

Why does He stand by? The reason is in Romans 8:17-18,

"And if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

Unless we suffer with Him we cannot reign with Him. You have to suffer to reign. The reason for this is that character simply is never made without suffering. Character is a VICTORY, not a gift. A man without character can't reign because power apart from character is Satanic. But power with character is fit to rule. And since He wants us to share even His throne on the same basis that He overcame and is set down in His Father's throne, then we have to overcome to sit with Him. And the little temporary suffering we go through now is not worthy to be compared to the tremendous glory that will be revealed in us when He comes. Oh, what treasures are laid up for those who are willing to enter into His kingdom through much tribulation.

117-2 SMYRNAEAN.CHURCH.AGE - CHURCH.AGE.BOOK CPT.4

"Think it not strange concerning the fiery trials that are to try you."

That is what Peter said. Is it strange that God wants us to develop a Christ-like character that comes through suffering? No sir. And we all have trials. We are all tried and chastened as sons. Not one but goes through that. The church that is not suffering, and is not being tried, hasn't got it--it isn't of God.

Heb. 12:6,

"For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons."

NOW THIS SPECIAL CONDITION IN SMYRNA MUST BE APPLIED TO EVERY AGE

117-3 SMYRNAEAN.CHURCH.AGE - CHURCH.AGE.BOOK CPT.4

Now this special condition in Smyrna must be applied to every age. There is no age free from it. There is no true believer free from it. This is of God. This is the will of God. It is needful. We need the Lord to teach us the truth that we are to suffer and be Christ-like in doing it. "Love suffereth long and is kind."

Matthew 5:11-12,

"Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake.

Rejoice and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."