God-Applied - 4

Let's return to Isaiah chapter 55 where we have read the word of God together and this will be our starting point tonight as we consider the subject of the good news applied by God were speaking this week concerning the Scriptures, the word of God, considered that they are God breathed, inspired of God that they are God preserved that they are God blessed wherever the word of God goes blessing accompanies it. Prosperity follows and tonight consider the matter that is God apply the word of God on slide by God himself. And therein he is the power of the word that makes it effectual wonderful to be with you again this evening to enjoy your fellowship. Your singing your spirit as you look and read the word to the word and read the word and deed.

We welcome our friends from the rescue mission tonight with Thanksgiving that in God's kind Providence we have the opportunity to be together here in the house of the Lord, the 55th chapter of Isaiah has that wonderful wonderful lens invitation of everyone that first come ye to the waters and it is not an advertisement.

Advertisers are selling things. This is free, without money, take without price.

The price is paid by the one who is the water of life, the bread of life, our Savior, who on the cross with his own blood redeemed unto God. Everyone who will ever believe in him and as I say, of the prophet issued that glorious invitation becomes down to the 11th verse and he is comparing the word of God.

The Scripture that which comes from the mouth of God. After the snow into the rain. They are an illustration and I would encourage you to let this illustration be engraved upon your mind, so that whenever it snows or whenever it rains. You are reminded of this very truth, the rain falls from the heavens above the earth disappears into the earth, it's out of sight and out of mind, but lo and behold vegetation grows because of its moisture.

The orchards grow and produce the fields to grow the gardens growing. You have the food that we eat. And from that growth not only comes the food that we consume, but the seed to sow next season's crop. The water the water whether frozen in the form of snow for the liquid like we get during most of the year, though it may be out of sight is not out of effectiveness is producing and we have a harvest.

As a result. So is the word of God. The word of God may be so, you think to yourself, it's out of sight, it's out of my it's been forgot. It's not been affected you're wrong on is effective and this is what he is arguing. Just as the rain and the snow are effective in bringing forth crops vegetation.

So the word of God will not be on fruitful it will not return unto him empty or void, but he affirms their very clearly verse number 11. It shall accomplish that which I believe the words God doesn't waste his breath when he is breathed forth his word. It will accomplish exactly what he wants it to account.

In some cases, it will be the saving of the soul.

In other cases, it will be the soul refuses to believe in is heartened by the word of God has not failed the same summit melts the wax bakes the clay and this is what we're talking about here that God's word will be effectual because it is God who applies we live on this planet Earth which is more vast in all of its details and makeup than any of us can know do we stop to think of the fact that God created it out of nothing. It's one thing to take a substance and from that substance to mold a Masterpiece Theatre sculpture or be at a painting with paint on canvas or what have you got one of the artists who has rendered a masterpiece to mankind has produced that masterpiece out of nothing but God has done so and this is how the writer of Hebrews says by faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God.

He speaks in all things coming to be just as he intended, just as he desired in the prophet Isaiah. Here is the mouthpiece through whom God brings forth that very truth to us concerning his word. It will return to him empty.

All of it will accomplish his everlasting holy and glorious purpose. Great encouragement. This I can preach the word and not have to be discouraged because I didn't see results. The fact that I didn't see results doesn't mean there are no results for the things of God are wrought spiritually and we cannot see a spirit nor do we see the workings of Almighty God by his word in the hearts of men and women any more than we see the workings of the rainwater that is disappeared into the ground, but comes forth with fruit. We are dealing with God applying his word to bring about his purpose and he says it shall accomplish the purpose unto which he is said cannot fail. So we focused on the matter of the good news. The only place we find good news in the Scripture the news you can trust and again the only news you can trust is the good news of God's word.

We've seen it illustrated amazingly before our eyes, especially the past two years when you can believe nothing that you hear except God and the word of God will always be true in God will always apply it to bring about exactly what purposes of this evening I was to look at several passages of Scripture and we will put them into categories: two points if you want to. The first point of the second point in the first point is just script yours that a firm what we're saying right now from Isaiah 55 Scriptures that set forth the biblical claim unto effectiveness accomplishing God's purpose and then we will look more precisely at illustrations of this from the one who is the living word of God, the Lord Jesus Christ and observe how his word. While among men never returned to doing void, but rather was in every case and exhibition of divine power, and of the divine will to bring about his purposes.

By way of his word, just as he did when he created all things by the word of God to turn with me if you will to Romans chapter 10 in verse 17 and he will recognize all of these passages I'm sure is me quite familiar to you. In Romans chapter 10 the apostle Paul, the mouthpiece of the spirit of God is writing concerning the salvation of Gentiles as well as to and that is affirmed in the 13th verse where he says, for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be see and clearly verse 13 is an elaboration upon verse 12 where he says there's no difference between the Jew and the Greek the same Lord over all is rich unto all them call upon him, and Paul wrote in an era of history when the truth of God's word had been revealed to the people of Israel, many of whom thought that was the limit and extent of the revelation of God only to the seed of Abraham only to the people of Israel and after Christ's work on Calvary. It was revealed to the apostles that indeed Messiah had come to save not just use body, whosoever believe if it Jew and Gentile alike. John repeated this often when he uses the word world for God so loved the world, not just the Jewish people. The people of every language and tongue and tribe and nation all world was in the focus of the atoning work of Christ as he went to the cross of Calvary, and here the apostle Paul is pointing out it's not a matter of Jew or Gentile.

Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be see and I think many times this text of Scripture perhaps has been mistakenly applied in that it is been put into practice with this mindset. If we can just get them to see the sinners prayer will get a man if we can just get them to make a profession of faith by hook or crook whatever it takes if we could just get them to do it doubly say and I'm not sure that's what the passage you say, rather, what the passage is saying is an answer to this question. Who is it that is truly saying this is who it is, those who call on the name of the Lord. In other words, the mark of the same person visiting calls upon the name of the Lord is not a one time event where presto it's done. He said the right formula and got in but it is a fact that those in whom the Spirit of God has worked to bring the life of God, to them, they can use them with God.

They call upon the name of the Lord and it doesn't matter if there Jew or Gentile. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be see now how is it taken who goes on to explain they can call on him and who would not believe in the can't believe on him, of whom they have not heard and they can hear unless there's somebody proclaiming it and what he's doing is coming down to the point that a person must hear the message of God. If he is to come to faith and then talk to call and be among us a call upon the name of the Lord. You see, he's coming down to this point the word the word is by the word of God, that one hears and then believes, and thus calls upon God. And so in verse number 17 a conclusion.

So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God and what we are seeing in this passage is that it is God who saves by way applying the word of God to the soul that the sinner might be coming here and having become a hearer become a believer in having become a believer, one who calls upon the name of the Lord and it doesn't matter who it is with his salvation comes by way of the word is Faith comes by way of the word faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. This is God applying the word of God to the heart and conscience of the hearer. But Paul goes on to express the fact that Isaiah the prophet said that not all believe that some of her have not believe, which only highlights the fact that those who do believe are those unto whom the word of God has been purposefully and in fact Julie applied by God and God applies the word of God in order that he might thereby generate produce begat faith in the unbelieving hard faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God turn with me further to the book of Hebrews Hebrews chapter 4, another passage ensure that you're quite familiar with throughout the book of Hebrews, the writer warns professed believers of the danger of apostasy.

The danger of going back on their profession. And while the saving grace of God brings a soul with certainty unto salvation, never to be lost. Yet the people of God are worn throughout this epistle to take heed not to presume upon God and not to pull back, but persevere in the face and as he stresses that in verse number 11. Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief, who remained in the wilderness to die and be left there in its dusty unmarked grave, because they did not believe to go into the promised land is God. I promise. And so the believers are told. Let us labor to lead us guard our faith and he proceeds them to say in verse number 12 for the word of God is quick, or living powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart that you have another statement concerning God applying Scripture the word of God effectually recall many years ago as I was preparing to enter the ministry in talking with my father his whole life used in the gospel ministry asking the question what if you present the Scripture and the person you resilient doesn't believe he said it's a sort stick them with it, whether they believe it or not doesn't matter whether a person believes disorder not it's still sharper than a two edge sword pierced him with it. For indeed it is a piercing discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

A person can live his life in sin to his greatest pleasure and delight. But when God chooses to apply the word of God effectually suddenly that person sees that his way of life, which he thought nothing evil is in fact evil and wrong is the apostle Paul and said, concerning the law that he would not have known that it is a sin to cover it had not the laws that thou shalt not covet, but suddenly covetousness was smitten by the sword of the Spirit through the 10 Commandments and what you know revealed evil in the human thought. See in green covetousness and what the Scripture is affirming is that this word of God by which faith comes is a word that also is penetrating piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit. It is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Perhaps you had the experience of opening the Scripture, without any plan to go to one's specific place and suddenly come across the text of Scripture strikes you like a dagger in your conscience.

Have you ever had that experience in the end it's God himself applying the word of God, making it a factual exposing to you what you did not know about yourself discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

We go to yet another passage in first Peter chapter 1 first Peter chapter 1, the apostle Paul in the letter report action of this first chapter admonishes the believer to gird up the loins of his mind.

The idea being vigilant being alert being mindful to the utmost ancient men would wear a long flowing garment and if they had to get someplace fast. It was in their way and make a trip over it so they would reach down and pull up the hands of it and tired and enough, perhaps around their midsection and then they could run or work without it being in the way. And Peter says in the same way, gird up the loins of your mind, and he speaks of exercising a diligence in the things of God of.

In fact, valuing what you have by God's grace because we know verse number 18 that were not redeemed with corruptible things such as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ we are redeemed, purchased with nothing less blood. Christ word merely the blood of any human being that in itself is more valuable than gold or silver, but the blood of Christ, the blood of the God man. The blood of the sinless one has redeemed us. Therefore, let's take this redemption seriously treated as something that is of great value, precious and let's recognize. In addition, we should value because verse number 24 verse number 23, rather we are born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God which live and abide forever. Five years ago I was born in Havre de Grace, Maryland I was born of corruptible seed. My father contributed his cell and my mother contributed his cell and when those two cells united.

It was not a new life that was formed rather I became a partaker of to live in the life of my father and mother was imparted thereby miraculously unto me, and nine months later I was born corruptible. See this is why I have glasses this evening. Mrs. line my back when I sit or stand very long in one place.

This is why I take blood pressure medicine. This is why one day I will die because I am born of corrupt will see my father and mother both lie in their graves in Bel Air, Maryland, and not too long.

Hence I will lie in mind will lie because we are born of corruptible seed. Therefore, we can do nothing but correct. But there is an incorruptible seed which begets a new birth and the time came in the gracious providence of God when I was born again a second time and when I was born the second time.

God himself gave the seed by which I would be born again and that seed unlike the seed of my first birth is and will see and therefore it begets an incorruptible life. I will live forever more because I am begotten of incorruptible seed and I'll devalue that value attached to it is infinite worth. Peter is saying value this precious life because it's more precious than gold that perishes the gold the blood by which and the seed of that is the word of God and the word of God to live with, and abide forever.

That is utterly priceless value in the steam this life, God is giving you gird up the loins of your mind and the earnest and diligent and faithful in the things of God. So the word of God seed of the new birth is seen that germinates when God pleases for integer first time I was born.

I did not put in request list of what I want to be this is that whatever else know was all programmed by Almighty God in the genetic composition of my parent's and so it is with the new birth is. I could not on my first birth say while I was born.

I make sure come that day at 90's of God. So my second birth born again of incorruptible seed by the word of God that we look at these few passages. Isaiah 55 Romans 10 chapter 2 just to set the biblical stain concerning the word of God which must be applied by God and which is applied by God. And when God applies his word. It shall accomplish that which he purposes it shall prosper in the thing where into the sentence. But now the second category of Scriptures I want us to look at it if you turn with me to John chapter 7 will start their and we will stay in the Gospel of John.

Considering the word of God as it came from Christ himself beginning John chapter 7 we do well to consider the point that everything Christ said and did, was the word of God. Now that does not make the teaching of Christ in the New Testament Premier and superior to the teaching of all or anyone else. It is all God three.

It is all the word of God number of years ago when I was pastoring in Spartanburg, South Carolina. I received a visit from a former United Methodist minister who didn't have a high high regard for the doctrine of inspiration that we've been dealing with this week and as I asked him a question about the resurrection. He said what Paul said this that contradicts what Jesus said that he said the wrong thing I knew it he was pitting all against Jesus because men really didn't believe what you see the problem with doing that if all is liable to mistakes, then we cannot trust anything the Bible says concerning Jesus word because we really don't have Jesus words, we have what Matthew Mark Luke John said she's and they were no better than Paul. And so if you're not going to accept Paul, then you can say that you accept Christ because Mark Luke and John.

They're the ones that tell us what Christ said the Lord Jesus didn't write the word of the Scripture. All that our Lord said, word of God.

And so in John chapter 4, especially chapter 7 chapter 4 I think is yes.

Jeff Forsberg wanted to start Jack. Chapter 4 is a passage you know quite well. No doubt, no wonder I cannot find united in the book of Luke, John chapter 4 need Glasses needed new set of brains and just a couple other things not be back on target. Maybe John chapter number four. Jesus amazing amazing truth, Jesus the son of God, the Creator of the ends of her feet.

If not, neither is weary, became weary and set on the edge of a well there in the territory of the Samaritan he had gone there because there was a Samaritan woman whom he would save from her send that in the Samaritan woman came out, you know, the accountant Christ engaged her in conversation and it quickly developed into something of a debate on her part, at least if she wanted to argue for the position of her father's Christ revealed to her his knowledge of the thoughts and intents of her heart and she was astonished that day she came to faith in Christ and brought her illicit husband's to Christ to hear of him before the day was over. Many of them were believing because of what she had said about the Lord Jesus. We read there in verse number 29, where she went to call these men and she said, see a man which told me all things that ever I did is not this the Christ and what we see in that statement is the effectual power of the word of Christ she heard what he said what he said about her about her sinfulness and hearing his word, that word, which was a discerner of the thoughts and intents of her heart she knew this is the Christ, and she knew it was such a conviction that she hastened to bring others I haven't heard Messiah.

What we are seeing here is word of God applied effectually to her own salvation. Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God that day as Christ spoke to her word she didn't want to hear necessarily what she was hearing was the word of God and the effect thereof was to produce within her faith is this the Christ of faith that made her an evangelist on the spot.

Let me go and tell that's the first illustration we look at God applying the word and its power supply turn with me now to chapter 7 John chapter 7. By the time we come to John chapter 7 the ministry of Christ is caught up in great great controversy is the religious leaders who despise him and will eventually have him crucified arcing and you will endeavoring to ensnare him in his speech, making fools of themselves in the process, but unbelief will accept such foolish activities defend evidently the religious leaders had sent people to apprehend Christ to arrest him and bring him in to them that they might silence him and so we read in verse 44, and some of them would have taken him but no man laid hands on. Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said unto him, why have you not brought him in the officers answered never man spake by like this man and answers the officers use our officer they are delegated certain authority and they been sent out to bring Christ in, and they come back without in their superiors and sent them say, why didn't you bring a man and I say what we are seeing here is the power of Christ's word. I asked in their determination to take it. These men would return before their superiors empty-handed and therefore liable to be faulted because hearing his word had a power over them that they could not describe that they could not explain, but he could go no further. He stopped in with it and nobody knew what was happening, but the word that he was speaking was of such note and power that it rendered him incapable of fulfilling their duty of laying hands on and bring him his hour had not yet come.

There would be a time when a mob of men wouldn't be able to bring him into trial, but only when he would let in the times not.

And then we go to John chapter 8, the very next chapter and doubtless this account you know well religious leaders, file men, that they were heartless users of humanity brought to Jesus a woman whom they said had been taken in adultery, in the very act why they didn't bring the man we don't know we do know you don't commit adultery alone had to be another partner there. But he was brought in just in here. You had the religious leaders who should have been for the good and counsel and comfort of this horse in laden woman instead using her as a pawn in their little game against Christ and they bring her before the Lord Jesus Christ trying to put yourself in her shoes.

I cannot think that any woman who lived that she did in the depths of her heart is really happy with herself and now she is brought before the premier religious teacher of the day, Nasser. There she stands alone before the one who is the eternal personification and embodiment of a righteous and she is unrighteousness surrounded by the religious leaders who present themselves as righteous ones, when in fact there and they say to Jesus. She was taken in adultery, Moses in the law says stone her to death.

What do you say, and they were endeavoring simply to ensnare Christ as something that would never succeed at because his words are of God, so we read there how the Jesus upon hearing them the middle of verse six stoop down and with his finger wrote on the ground as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said under them. He that is without sin among you, let them cast the first stone at her and again he stooped down and wrote on the ground and they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last Jesus was left alone and the woman standing in the midst of various suggestions have been made as to what Jesus wrote on the we don't know the ground. We don't need to know what he wrote on the ground. If we needed to know that the spirit of God recorded it for us but he did this we do know that what he wrote on the ground. The word of God it was not the first time that the finger of God had written and mineral substance to the ground. Finger writing in that brown had once engraved upon the stones of Sinai. 10 Commandments and now the giver of the law is being faced by lawbreakers who want to make him out as a contradictory of the law which he gave. And so he returns with his finger writing in the soil and whatever he wrote pierced even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and was a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart, such as the word of God applied to the sinfulness of man and they melted away. Jesus asked the woman where your accusers and then said to her need to do I condemn the go and sin no more, and I fully believe that day.

That woman was converted by a gracious Savior, and the evidence of this. This he said neither do I condemn God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might say in that day, a scarlet woman was washed white as snow in the eyes of Almighty God pronounced pure and then condemned by God himself in human flesh and we see in this yet another illustration of God applying his word effect jewelry powerfully.

It will not return to them will accomplish that which he purposes and it will prosper in that which he said what we have in this first portion of John chapter 8 is a demonstration of the great prosperity of the word of God and is applying it effectually. Then we come to John chapter 11.

For another example. Again, John chapter 11 is a familiar chapter to you for you know that that is where Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead Lazarus, his good friend has been dead for four days and it is known to everyone, but a corpse lying in its grave for four days has already begun to become so when Jesus told them to roll the stone away from the tomb in which he was interred. His sister protested. By this time stink of Jesus proceeded and called Lazarus, come forth.

Stories told with unbelieving minister was preaching from this passage preached. I have no idea what he was explaining that what it says Jesus cried with a loud voice that was necessary because in fact a prearranged deal had been made by which Lazarus would feign death and be there in his tomb, but Christ would callout message inherent at that time he would note now hearing this message interrupted and said no he didn't say Lazarus.

Lazarus attention signal it's time to come.

Fact is, if he hadn't said Lazarus, every corpse in that cemetery. And that's the fact Christ calls soul to come forth. It will and the good Shepherd knows his sheep by name, he goes before that many calls and they follow him and this is all illustrated in the calling forth of Lazarus. Lazarus, come wait a minute talking to a dead man.

How do you ever expect to accomplish anything by a conversation with a corpse. And yet this is the way God works. He gives the command to Lazarus that Lazarus is generally unable to obey God ever command us to do something that we are incapable of you have any question about it.

I would take you to Exodus chapter 20, where there are 10 Commandments none of the subject and if none out of 7 billion people on earth except one who happened to be not only man but God if none others have been able to keep the 10 Commandments.

I would venture to say they are Commandments that is possible. Paul tells us in Romans eight that what the law could not do, and it was weak through the flash God sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh, and this is the glorious unity God's indescribable grace he gives us a command that we cannot, by which it is revealed to us.

Our inability to do good. Our absence of righteousness, then God comes and keep it perfectly in our place as our substitute and credit spots with having ourselves. This is the imputation of Christ's righteous in all of those who are in Christ. Romans four tells us receive a righteousness by means of faith that is the righteousness of God. So he calls with commands.

We cannot keep and then gives us the keeping of Lazarus, for it tells us that Lazarus came for. But no, it doesn't say it, we might imagine for a moment. This cold corpse, warming up and kinda staggering and stumbling out of the granaries been confined but that's not what happened.

He's wrapped engraved club is no way you can walk let alone come forth.

In fact, when he doesn't appear before the multitude, Jesus has to say this because he couldn't walk.

The fact is that when Jesus called Lazarus, come forth from deep within that cave. The body of Lazarus was catapulted for out before our Lord just stand there and he had been raised by the power of the word of Christ applied effectually on to the day, the hour is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the voice those in the graves shall hear the voice of the son of God, and shall come forth. Glorious day it will be in the raising of Lazarus.

The picture of how powerful that word will be when the voice of the son of God is heard by the dead, so Lazarus has to be unwrapped from the grave clothes so you can begin taking strides in walk and pick up life where he lifted off his power of Christ applying God's. And then we go to chapter 18 John for one last illustration John chapter 18. Our Lord is in the garden of Gethsemane, where he is taking his disciples that he might pray following the institution of the Lord's supper. The last Passover celebrated on or in verse number four says Jesus.

Therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth and said to them, whom seek ye. This is the mob that is coming to arrest Christ, commissioned by the priests and the scribes the religious leaders and when I say I'm mob probably is a designation mob is a disorderly crowd of people of these were not disorderly people. These were soldier Roman soldier. These were men train for military action, who were sent for this part of the Roman governing authority in that area. These were men with weapons upon them.

These were men physically fit young and in the prime of their strength came forth on a military detail to arrest the Lord of hosts, the commander of heavens armies thing and so as they arrived. Jesus asked him the question whom seek no you recognize that when Christ asked a question. It's not in order that he might get information he already has all of the information he knows who there's is asking them. The question whom seek ye I believe is a gesture of mercy to after that which he will do before them in just a few minutes. They need to stop and think what are we doing why we come here to arrest this man that thought Jesus is the answer. Verse five Jesus of Nazareth users answered unto them, I am he literally I am which he identifies with the I am self to Moses centuries earlier and it tells us that when Jesus had said that it's verse six unto them, they went backward and fell to the ground and the wording bear does not fully explain the scene is set before us.

Mind you, these were armed, courageous, physically fit Roman soldiers who were there to guard the interests of Caesar's empire. These were men of war hardened for the battle but when they heard Jesus say I am the power of those words coming from his lips drove backward, backward onto the ground. It literally not them off of their feet soldiers doubtless so close to the ground by the mere word of Christ saying one word spoke all things to be what we see again is the word of God applied by God, which will not return to him void will accomplish that. She seems and so I contemplate Paul's words in first Corinthians chapter 2, where he speaks to the Corinthian believers and says when I came to you, I didn't come in the excellency of my speech or human wisdom where my words, my wisdom, he was concerned that he might rely on human persuasion and eloquence. Send rhetoric and thereby convince some people to make a profession which was devoid of the power of God and so he came in meekness. He came in fear and trembling declaring the testimony of God that their faith might stand in the power of God rather than the wisdom of man, and he proceeds them to describe in verse number nine that I have not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God has revealed them unto us by his Spirit going to know the things of God, you will know them by the spirits instruction, it will not be by means of the eloquence of some by his skill and char to sway crowds how much I fear evangelism in the past century has succumbed to that mentality preacher has to be a good entertainer. He has to be at people person. Super eloquent and know how to make them laugh and how to make them cry.

Give the illustration at the right time and pump them up, crank up the service to a certain elevation of psychological excitement and then throw the hook and get them in totally contrary to what Paul is saying in first to the first Corinthians chapter 2, he said I didn't depend on man's wisdom man's eloquence excellency of speech rather the spirit of God force the spirit of God that applies the word of God and in verse number 14. We find that the natural man, the unconverted man is not receive the things of the spirit of God. Their foolishness unto him. He is actually and innately resistant God. But when the spirit of God speaks to that date. So that is naturally resistant to hearing anything of God and says, come forth than like Lazarus, outthink, and they are brought to the new birth with the new life from the incorruptible seed which lived with five this is the word of God apply, and I close with the story that I think I probably told you before, but I love the pellets of beer with.

I was ministerial student studying to be a preacher and would've told anybody that I'm saved because I had gone forward of an altar call multiple times in fact and had said the sinner's prayer. In fact, said it several times a Lord of the last time. Let it work this time literally. That's where I was, but I believed I knew the Lord. But as a freshman studying for the ministry I found myself overcome by unbelief and it was not that I was doubting city was far, far beyond that.

Not because I thought about it and decided this is what I'm going to believe. In fact, I didn't want to believe that way.

It seemed contrary to everything I've been told, but you mean there is a God knows the number of hairs on everybody's head on planet Earth. That's just to fantastic next to fairytale wish and that's the way I was thinking I hadn't pondered her contemplated that I had devised such thinking, but it was there and I was overcome with unbelief and in fact, for all practical purposes, was an atheist. There cannot be such a thing. And on top of that was the misery, the hypocrisy here. I was studying ministry and finally after praying the Lord.

If you do exist, reveal yourself to me. Finally I went to the faculty member who was reputed to be the premier Bible scholar on and briefly explained to him where I was just told you, and he responded that quickly quoting the verses we read tonight from Isaiah 55. My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways.

As the heavens are high above theorists are my thoughts about the unbelief was hearing those words and through no effort of my own. I believe there was not a doubt in my mind and has not been sent and I believe what was happening there now. After years of studying the Scripture that God was revealing to me. Unbelief is not the decision of my mind to me. It is the natural Constitution of mind age we are all verse. Thus, we are dead in trespasses and sins, and we must be born again of the C the word of God which live and abide forever when we are born of that seed, you will live and abide forever that day alone with that teacher with a single text of Scripture, God applied his word to my heart and I came to life life more abundant board again God plies his word when he dives it will be effectual, it will accomplish that which he purposes and will prosper under the thing were into scented. So what we see is that the Scriptures are God breathed there.

God preserved they are. God bless wherever they go, and they are God apply and without the word of God applied by God. Nothing happens.

Profitability sold but spell together as we pray Lord our God recognize that it's entirely possible that there is a soul here tonight 50s is dead. As Lazarus was in his grave, but you called Lazarus to come forth and he was brought out of that grave to stand before you put it please you will Lord. Even tonight to call a soul out of death in sin to regenerate that soul and give it the very life of God is imparted by the seed of your Word and the lives and abides forever, please.

You will Lord to bring a soul from death to life in Christ tonight.

Bless your word to our edification into your flooring pray in Jesus matchless name