God's Call

[0:00] Tonight we're going to begin the study.

[0:12] We will realize and recognize that in the book of Jeremiah, in his prophecy, God deals with the kingdom of Judah and deals with the reality of coming judgment upon them.

[0:29] ! And that judgment will include captivity in Babylon and the destruction of the city of Jerusalem, the city of David, the city of God, if you will.

[0:40] And that because of their sin against God. And we'll picture that's quite prevalent throughout the book. And we'll see some things from time to time as far as what their sin actually was.

[0:56] But for the focus of our study, we're not going to focus so much on what Israel had done against God.

[1:06] We'll see some of that. But we want to focus mostly on Jeremiah. We want to look at Jeremiah, what his call of God was. How he responded to that call.

[1:20] And what God promised him in that call. And so I want us to consider that. But as we consider that then, I want us to realize as well.

[1:32] Jeremiah's not the old one. He's got a call of God on their life. Every man, woman, boy, and girl that's ever been saved by the grace of God has the call of God upon their life.

[1:44] Naturally, not per se to the extent Jeremiah and some of the others had. But it's still the idea that God has a purpose. That he wants to use and achieve in the life of his people.

[1:59] No matter who we are. No matter what church we belong to. We've all got the call of God upon our lives. And so I want us to see that, consider that as we go through this.

[2:10] And then as we go through that and look at and consider that. We want to ask the question in our own lives.

[2:22] What have I done or what am I doing in response to God's call in my life? Now we're going to see some tremendous things about Jeremiah. And what he did in response to God's call.

[2:34] And how he faced some of the things that he faced in fulfilling God's call to his life. And so it just really brings up some good questions for us.

[2:46] And what our response to God's call is. So go to the book of Jeremiah, chapter 1. And the first four verses just kind of open the door to us. As far as the timing of when God called Jeremiah.

[2:59] And you see that again in chart 103. That second chart that we gave you. The words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth, in the land of Benjamin.

[3:11] To whom the word of the Lord came in the days of Josiah, the son of Amnon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. Now notice, if you will, we're going to see that phrase at the beginning of verse 2 a lot.

[3:25] The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah. All right. Notice this, the capitalized letters for the word Lord. Always the word Jehovah in that.

[3:38] And of course, the characteristics in the name Jehovah is the fact that he is the self-existent one. But more importantly for us, the self-existent one that reveals himself to man.

[3:50] And that's what we see here. Anytime you see, anytime you see that word Lord or God in all capitalized letters, that's the name Jehovah. So when you're studying whatever that passage has to say, study it from that reality that this is God speaking.

[4:08] God who is the one that reveals himself to man. So see how he's revealing himself to man. So we'll see how he reveals himself to Jeremiah in this.

[4:20] And so you see, you see in verse 3, So that gives you again that time frame in which all this was set that you see in that second chart there.

[4:46] Now look at verses 4 through 8. Then the word of the Lord came to me. That's Jeremiah saying, I'm going to read a lot of this in our study. I'm going to read out of the Amplified Version.

[4:57] All right. And that's what this is. Then the word of the Lord came unto me. That's Jeremiah saying, Before I formed you in the womb, I knew and approved of you as my chosen instrument.

[5:09] And before you were born, I separated and set you apart, consecrating you. And I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. Then said I, O Lord God, behold, I cannot speak, for I am only a youth.

[5:25] But the Lord said to me, Say not, I am only a youth. For you shall go to all to whom I shall send you. And whatever I command you, you shall speak.

[5:38] Be not afraid of them, that is, their faces. For I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord. Now, as I was studying this last year, I picked something up out of those, really, those three, eight verses or four verses, four through eight.

[5:58] Concerning what God does, when he begins to call someone into his service. Three things that we begin to see here.

[6:10] First of all, we see God's preparation. All right. His preparation. And then we see God's provision. And then we see God's provision for us here.

[6:22] His providence, preparation, providence and provision, if you will. Now, in God's preparation, God directed Jeremiah's life early on, right from the get go, to become acquainted with who God is and become acquainted with God's word.

[6:39] Absolutely imperative that that happens somewhere down the road when God calls someone into service for him to fulfill his will for their lives.

[6:51] With Jeremiah is right from the beginning. Notice, if you will, it says that in verse one, Jeremiah was the son of Hilkiah, who was of the priests that were at Anathoth.

[7:03] And then we find also that his grandfather, if you will, was a high priest during the reign of King David. So, you see, he had quite a heritage.

[7:13] He had quite a background from which to come as far as God preparing his life, as far as knowing what the law of God has to say. Now, with that as well, Jeremiah, no doubt, began to see the importance of the prophetic word.

[7:31] That God had given through their lifetimes and had heard from them. So, you know, he had that background. It would be good for us, I think, sometimes to take a look.

[7:43] I'd love to do this, to take a look back at your own life and just take a look and say, how is it that God has molded and shaped your life spiritually? How has he shaped you to find, to give you the understanding of who he is and understanding of his word that you have now, that you currently possess?

[8:04] How has God done that? When did he begin doing that that you can remember? And how has that progressed for you through your life until the present day?

[8:15] And look at that and say, okay, put that together with the reality that God has put a calling upon your life. If you've been saved. And then put that together to try to piece and see what it is exactly God is doing and showing you about his call upon your life.

[8:33] So, in preparation, God directed Jeremiah's life in the things of God right from the very beginning. So now, Jeremiah is a young man.

[8:44] When we think of young, we think of young, young, young. Amen? Not even teenage years, maybe teenage years, early teenage years. But in reality, when you compare the age of the people of the Old Testament, you've got to realize young is maybe 25 or less.

[9:00] All right? And that's the picture we have here of Jeremiah. Calls himself a young man, but belief is that he's probably a little younger than 25. Not much, but a little bit.

[9:12] So now, here he is. 25 or so years old. His heart and his mind have been molded by God toward the things of God. And so, now God can call him.

[9:24] Now, God knows he's ready to be placed into service by the Lord. And I think the reason why God so specifically dealt with Jeremiah this way is because of the ministry God's going to put him in.

[9:41] Folks, it's not going to be easy here for him. It's just not going to be easy at all. Now, consider something else with me here.

[9:51] When we look in the scriptures, whether it be Old Testament or New Testament, we see God's call upon a person's life. We usually see a lot of times, anyway, see the idea that God some way, somehow has said to them, you are my chosen instrument.

[10:08] I have chosen you for a specific purpose. And then he would prepare them for the task that he had for them to carry out. Even Jesus realized after his baptism was what?

[10:21] Driven by the Spirit of God into the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights. There be confronted by Satan in those temptation events that we see recorded.

[10:32] Plus other things, I think, that were not recorded. And so even Jesus had that preparation time that the Father gave to him. Let me ask you a question while we're at it here, thinking about that.

[10:44] What do you think? What do you think was the paramount thing that came out of Jesus' experience in the wilderness?

[10:56] As far as Jesus himself is concerned. That would prepare him and enable him to carry out the ministry that the Father had for him. What would you say that was?

[11:13] Time's ticking. No wrong answer here. Okay. Certainly victorious over Satan. Showed he was more powerful. Okay.

[11:26] Showed power of God at residence by the Spirit of God in him. The activity of the Word of God in his life. Living out the Word of God. Not just quoting Scripture for the sake of quoting Scripture.

[11:40] But that was just a natural response of his life when he was confronted by Satan. Well, here's what Satan said. But yeah, here's what God said. You know, natural response. One other thing that I have in mind.

[11:51] Anybody got an idea? Point fingers. Okay. Total dependence upon the Father.

[12:03] Totally. He did not go there in his own power. He was driven. Luke said, I think it is. Driven by the Spirit into the wilderness. And there the Spirit of God did his work in his life and taking care of him, preserving him, directing him, giving him wisdom, giving him strength, everything he needed.

[12:27] And he came away from there knowing he could trust the Father. He knew that anyway. But in his human experience, now he knows that. And I like the devil was finished.

[12:40] The devil left him. And the angels came and ministered to him. Amen. Amen. That was good. That was good. So, learning to trust God in whatever God has in store as far as the calling is concerned.

[12:55] And then there are men like Ezekiel. You know, God did some crazy things with Ezekiel. He really did. I would encourage you when you get home between now and next week sometime, just look at God's call to Ezekiel.

[13:11] One of the things God tells Ezekiel to do is, Ezekiel, I want you to go and I want you to go lay on your right side. I think it was for 400 and 390 days on your left side.

[13:25] Just go lay on your left side for 390 days. Just stay there. Night and day for 390 days. Boy, that's a little over a year.

[13:38] Amen. A year and a month, thereabouts. So, that time's over. All right, Lord, what's next? Now I want you to lay on your right side for 40 days.

[13:50] 40 days. One day for each year of captivity that's coming to the people of Israel. So, he goes and lays on his right side.

[14:03] Other things that he did that people had to think is completely crazy. But realize something. When Ezekiel was finished doing those things that God told him to do.

[14:15] He had ingrained within him. Not only the message that God had for Ezekiel to preach to the people of Israel.

[14:29] But that was so ingrained within him. The reality of what that was going to be. What was going to happen. That he just couldn't get rid of it.

[14:41] It was totally, completely in his mind. And it drove his life for the remainder of his days. You realize that's what God does when he calls people into ministry.

[14:54] He calls them to do a particular work. And now, that message that he was to proclaim was planted, if you will, as a burden, if you will, within him.

[15:10] To the point that it could not be separated from him in his life. Such a heavy weight to be carried that God placed upon him.

[15:20] And he never forgot the reality of that message. That's what you've got to have. Amen. If you're going to be consistent. If we're going to be day after day consistent in what God's called us to do.

[15:37] We have to have that burden, if you will, ingrained within us. Whatever that is that God gives us. To indicate, here's what I want in your life.

[15:51] Here's what I want to use you to do. Until I'm finished with you. Alright? So, that then, shapes our life.

[16:02] Shapes our living. Molds us. Forms us. Into what God desires for us to be in ministry, if you will. Alright? Now, look at something else with me.

[16:15] That type of drive, then, becomes the motivation of our life. You remember over in John chapter 4.

[16:26] You can turn that if you want to. John's Gospel chapter 4. Familiar story to you in the ministry of the Lord. Where Jesus tells his apostles, I've got to go through Samaria.

[16:39] Got to do that. Unheard of, but I got to do it. Because there's an appointment of the Father there for him. And so, the apostles being the apostles, being men.

[16:51] It's getting close to lunchtime. Lord, we haven't got anything to eat. And so, they come to the well of Sychar there. And the disciples go into town to buy some food for lunch.

[17:05] Jesus stays there by the well. Because there's a dear woman coming that he needs to confront. And he does. She comes to realize that he is the Messiah she's heard was coming.

[17:19] She runs into town, back into town, to tell her family and friends what's happened. That she's met who she thinks is the Christ. While she's gone, the disciples come back.

[17:33] Lord, here you go. They've been to the Big Mac store and got some food. Some vittles, if you will. Lord, here's just something to eat. Come and sit and eat.

[17:46] And what did Jesus say? Verse 34, 32 somewhere. Fellas, yeah, I have meat to eat that you know nothing about.

[17:56] The literal rendering of that is, I have good eats. I have good eats. And the apostles, being men of the flesh, at that point, said, did somebody bring him something to eat?

[18:11] You know, look what he says. He said, my meat, the thing that fills me up, the thing that satisfies me, the thing that gives me nourishment, is to do the will of him that sent me.

[18:26] Yeah. That's what satisfies me. That's what gives me delight. That's what gives me joy. Amen. I don't know about you ladies. I know my wife, you know, she's, eating is not a big thing for her.

[18:41] Didn't know that when we got married. But nonetheless. But men, men, how many of you men, when you eat, you like it to be something that just really satisfies and is good?

[18:59] Come on, let me see your hands. Yeah. Yeah. How many of you ladies that way? Or you could care less. Abigail. Good girl. Yeah. All right. Yeah.

[19:10] Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You know, good steak come off the grill. You can smell it. Amen. Eat that thing.

[19:21] You taste it. Oh. Just brings a delight to you. That's the picture Jesus gives here. The thing that brings real delight to him is to fulfill and finish the work that the father has for him to do.

[19:37] My meat is to do the will of him that sent me and to finish his work. Then he says, verse 35, say not ye, there are yet four months and then cometh harvest.

[19:49] Behold, I say unto you, lift up your eyes, look on the fields, for they are white, all ready to harvest. And he that reapeth receives wages and gathers fruit unto eternal life, that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

[20:08] And herein is that saying true. One soweth and another reapeth. Now look at verse 38. I sent you to reap that whereon you bestowed no labor.

[20:20] Other men labored and you are entered into their labors. Now think of something just a moment here. How many times do we think, all right, God's really laid it on my heart to go talk to somebody about the Lord.

[20:32] Okay. Okay. And we try to muster up the courage to go do that. And we go knock on the door, hoping they don't answer.

[20:46] Yeah. Thinking that this is just going to be nothing but a bland old cold call. Nobody else has ever done anything for them before in bringing a message to God, of God to them.

[21:00] So this is going to be brand new and fresh and I'm the one that's got to do that. Nuh-uh. Jesus said, you're not the one that's plowed the ground here or sowed the seed.

[21:14] Someone else has done that. You're just reaping the harvest. Amen. So realize, whenever God lays something on your heart, just realize you're just the next cog in the wheel.

[21:26] You're just the next one to do whatever it is God's trying and wanting and endeavoring to accomplish in that situation, in that circumstance. Yeah. And be glad that he's included you in part of doing that in part.

[21:43] All right. Now, so, have confidence in God fulfilling his redemptive purposes in whatever it is he's called you to do.

[21:56] Jeremiah's ministry was not in his own choosing or initiative. It was God's call. God's call according to his own desire and his own purpose.

[22:09] As Paul said in Ephesians 1.9, according to his good pleasure, which he hath purposed in himself. Whatever God's called for us to do, he's called us to do that according to his own purpose and pleasure.

[22:26] Yeah. Because he's willed that, purposed that in himself. So, that's God's preparation in our lives.

[22:36] Now, God's provision, or excuse me, God's providence, as far as our calling. Realize again and remember, Psalm 139 talks about the reality of how well God knows us.

[22:49] Psalmist said God knew him before his even being formed. He's in the heart and mind of God, and we as well. And he has his good pleasure in mind for us when he formed us.

[23:03] Every believer has a call upon their life. Ephesians 2.8-10. For by grace are you saved, through faith, and that not of yourself. It is a gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.

[23:18] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath... Now, notice this. For ordained, previously determined, what those good works for us will be.

[23:39] So, the character and direction of the good works are already made ready for us by the Lord himself. Now, he's destined those good works, made them ready for us, and in his purpose and his decree.

[23:53] Ephesians 4.11-12. He gave some apostles and some prophets and some evangelists and some pastor teachers for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry.

[24:08] For the edifying of the body of Christ. So, for the equipping of the saints for ministering work is literally the idea there. And that results in the building up of the body of Christ.

[24:20] Again, Philippians 2.12-13. Paul says, Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation.

[24:33] And you do that with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to do and will and to do of his good pleasure. Work out literally means bring it to its accomplished purpose.

[24:46] Its ultimate conclusion. Whatever God has saved you for. Alright? Again, realize God saved you for more than just to get you to heaven.

[24:59] Amen? Getting you to heaven is just the fruit on top of the ice cream or whatever. Cherry on top of the cake. He saved you and me for a purpose.

[25:14] Here. Alright? Alright? And so he says, bring that purpose. Whatever that purpose is. Seek it out. Determine what God shows you.

[25:24] And then bring that to its ultimate conclusion. But you do that with fear and trembling. Fear is literally self-distrust.

[25:36] You don't trust yourself in getting it done. It's the idea of needing complete dependence and leadership by the Spirit of God. And allowing us to do that work that God's called us to do.

[25:49] Now, I like Philippians. Philippians, you can tell. Ephesians of Philippians are one of my favorite two books. Alright? Philippians chapter 3, verses 12 through 14.

[26:02] Notice. Apostle Paul again desired to apprehend. Grab a hold of that thing that God has intended for his life. Not as though I had already attained. Either were already perfect or complete.

[26:15] But I follow after if I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ. Now, that word apprehend means to reach up and pull down.

[26:26] Alright? Reach up to something, grab a hold of it, and pull it down. Paul is saying, whatever it is, God saved me for. Whatever his purpose for me is. I want to reach up there, grab a hold of it, and I want to pull it down.

[26:41] To make it a part of my life is the idea here. Alright? I want to apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ. So he says, Christ himself has grabbed a hold of me, I guess, and pulled me up.

[26:55] Alright? Yeah. So he said, I want the two to meet, so I can determine what that is and get it done. But he said, I have not counted myself to have apprehended, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, reaching forth to those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

[27:17] Now, notice what Jeremiah's response was in verse 6. Then said I, Ah, Lord God, Jehovah Elohim.

[27:28] That's interesting that he used those words. Alright? Behold, I cannot speak, for I am only a youth. Jehovah, we've already looked at the word.

[27:41] Elohim. Strong, faithful, covenant-keeping God. I just think it interesting that he would use that name with that characteristic when he makes an excuse.

[27:54] Amen? God, I know you're faithful. I know you keep your covenant. I know you're able. You're strong. But I can't do this, is what he's saying. Alright? Now, valid reasons that he gets.

[28:05] He's young in light of the age of apostles, prophets, and older men. So, accompanied with that is inexperienced. So, I just don't know how to do this.

[28:16] I just don't know what to do. Just like Moses and his response when God called him. Do you ever realize it's really an act of futility to give excuses to God?

[28:31] As if God doesn't know us. Amen? Yeah. It's futile to do that. He knows what he's doing. God's response to Jeremiah, in verses 7 through 8. But the Lord said to me, Say not, I am only a youth.

[28:48] For you shall go to all to whom I shall send you. And whatever I command you, you shall speak. Be not afraid of them. For I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.

[29:03] Now, don't you love this? I want you to go and you're going to go. You're going to speak to whoever I tell you to speak to. All right? And then he says, Don't be afraid of them.

[29:17] Now, what would you think if God would tell you that? Don't be afraid of them. All right? That means something's going to happen here.

[29:29] They're not going to be very nice. They're not going to be very formidable and welcoming. Good words of encouragement here. But look what he says.

[29:41] Look what he says. Be not afraid, for I am with you to deliver you. Danger's coming, but I'll deliver you, says the Lord.

[29:56] Now, that's God's providence. God's provision, then, is seen in that verse as well. Seen in his response to Jeremiah.

[30:09] You're going to set out and do whatever I've called you to do. Folks are going to reject you. They're going to reject your message. But then, verse 9, That's good news.

[30:31] From that point forward, Jeremiah acted without fear, just as God instructed him to do. And we'll see as we go along here, that in the times of the most dire needs in Jeremiah's life and ministry, God provides deliverance.

[30:51] So, Jeremiah's faithfulness to God's call was unrelenting. In the face of constant opposition, even impending probable death, lowered down into the pit of a cistern, deep mucky mire, left for dead, Jeremiah stands firm.

[31:12] God is faithful to him. Now, just kind of reminiscent of Queen Esther. Amen? Yeah, if I perish, I perish. She's going to obey God, just trust Him with the consequences.

[31:25] Now, Jeremiah operated upon the basis of God's promise to him. This is found in verses 17 through 19, getting a little head here. Here's what he says to Jeremiah.

[31:37] But you, Jeremiah, gird up your loins. Arise and tell them all that I command you. Do not be dismayed and break down at the sight of their faces, lest I confound you and, excuse me, lest I confound you before them and permit you to be overcome.

[31:57] For I, behold, I have made you this day, look at this, I've made you this day a fortified city and an iron pillar and bronze walls against the whole land.

[32:12] Oh yeah, there's a bunch of backslidden Jews. I've made you a fortified city in the midst of all of them. All right. Against the success of kings of Judah, against its princess, against its priests, against the people of the land, giving you divine strength which no hostile power can overcome.

[32:32] They shall fight against you, but they shall not finally prevail against you. For I am with you, says the Lord, to deliver you. Now, Jeremiah wasn't a well-known man, would not really be considered a prime candidate to be a prophet.

[32:52] But God had a calling upon his life. And so, he does for us as well. Don't ever think that because God doesn't put you in the so-called limelight or major, what we determine is major calling, that you don't have a calling of God.

[33:12] Every calling of God is major. Doesn't make a difference who you are and what that calling is. It's what God wants done for and through us.

[33:23] Paul says when he writes to the church at Corinth in chapter 1, verses 26 through 29, For you see your calling, brethren, hath not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called.

[33:38] But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. And God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. Things that are based of the world and things which are despised hath God chosen.

[33:52] Yea, things which are not to bring to naught things that are, that no flesh should glory in his presence. I don't know about you guys, but I'm in good company with that verse of those passages right there.

[34:07] Amen? Yeah. God calls the foolishness of the world to confound the wise. Now, consider this with me. Whatever God's calling upon your life is, it's an imperishing call that God has placed and planted within you.

[34:26] You might not have yet zeroed in on what that might be, but you will if you let God and ask God to show you what that is. See what he's planted within you and that is a portion of his redemptive work that he wants to use you to accomplish and that in the power, of course, of the Holy Spirit.

[34:50] each part needs to be done to complete the work. Realize that. Every part needs to be done. Nothing can be left out.

[35:04] All of it needs to be accomplished, whatever that may be. So, the question is, are we willing to do our part?

[35:16] Are we? Are we really willing to do our part in seeing to it that whatever God's call upon my life is, is accomplished?

[35:28] Thus, his kingdom purposes in that are realized. Are we willing to really seek God's mind and say, Lord, is there a burden you want to place upon my heart and my mind about what you want to utilize me for, for your kingdom purposes?

[35:50] So, our submission to God's call has got to have as its basis a deep-seated love for God. That's where it all starts.

[36:01] Amen? It is. That's what he did with Peter, you remember. Peter says, fellas, after the resurrection, after the ascension of Christ, fellas, I'm going fishing.

[36:14] Going back to the fishing poles, the nets. The rest of them there will go with you. Chances are, now, providence is they meet Jesus on the seashore.

[36:30] Remember what he said to Peter after the, everything else took place. Peter, do you love me more than these?

[36:42] Isn't it interesting that Peter decided he's just going to go back to fishing? Going to go back to the old, the old occupation I had before this discipleship business.

[36:54] Jesus confronts him. Peter, do you have agape love for me more than these? Lord, yeah, I do.

[37:06] I have phileo love for you. Feed my lambs. Peter, do you really love me? Do you really have agape love for me?

[37:19] Lord, yeah, I've got phileo love for you. third time, Jesus changes the word. Because he's trying to draw something out of Peter's heart here.

[37:35] Peter, do you really have phileo love for me? And that's what Peter was responding with. Yeah, Lord, I have phileo love for you. Peter got irritated that you asked him the third time.

[37:49] Brought too many memories to mine. Especially the idea that he denied him three times. Peter, do you really have phileo love for me?

[38:00] Lord, you know I do. Alright. You see, what Jesus was trying to get Peter to see, yeah, you can love me with phileo love, that brotherly love kind of love.

[38:15] But if you're going to be able to accomplish what I've got for you to accomplish in my call upon your life, you've got to have agape love. Got to have it.

[38:28] Yeah. Got to have it. And that's why he tells the apostles and disciples, this is my commandment to you, that you love one another.

[38:40] Now, God prepared Jeremiah that way. Fulfilling the call of God means sacrifice. But you know, we come to realize that God's sufficient in everything for us.

[38:57] Sacrifice is no big deal. But when we consider really the sacrifices that prophets like Jeremiah and Ezekiel and Amos and all of those others made, the things that God asks of us seem rather simple, don't they?

[39:15] Hebrews chapter 11. Look there just a moment. We're about to finish up here. Hebrews chapter 11. That great passage of the roll call of the faithful.

[39:29] pick up in verse number 32 with me if you will. Because he lists by name a number of them.

[39:41] Abraham and Sarah, Enoch, Noah, Isaac and Jacob, Joseph, Moses. And then verse 32. What shall I say more? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and of Barak and of Samson, of Jephthah, of David also and Samuel of the prophets and of the prophets, who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouth of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword out of weakness, were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

[40:22] Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover, of bonds and imprisonment.

[40:37] They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with a sword, they wandered about in sheep skins and goat skins being destitute, afflicted, tormented, of whom the world was not worthy.

[40:51] They wandered in deserts and in mountains and dens and in caves of the earth. Wow. How dare we complain, amen, when God calls us to sacrifice.

[41:05] All these and these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise. They didn't live to see physically. God, having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

[41:22] Let me read those last two verses as they amplified. All of these, though they won divine approval by means of their faith, did not receive the fulfillment of what was promised, because God had us in mind and had something better and greater in view for us, so that they, those heroes and heroines of faith, should not come to perfection or completeness apart from us before we could join them.

[41:50] Amen. What is that greater thing? You know what I think that is? It's the reality of the personal relationship. Yeah. They didn't have that.

[42:01] They had the Spirit of God upon them and given them power to accomplish the thing God called them to do. But you and I in the day of grace have the indwelling presence of the Spirit of God through which we have sweet communion and fellowship with the Father and the Son.

[42:22] Amen? Yeah. That's a better thing. Amen? So, one day we'll all be together. Amen. And maybe we can sit down and share with one another what God's done.

[42:37] Amen? Amen? Amen? Thank you.