Four Pillars for Faithfulness in Perilous Times

Him and if you would open your Bibles once again to second Timothy chapter 3, I will mention that after a an introduction and I intend to read we will reference verses one through five. In the later in the messages posit verses 10 through 17. This message was born out of an invitation from a friend of mine to speak at their church's 55th anniversary Faith Christian school in Ramser and the church. There and they have been in existence for 55 years and I gave much prayer and thought to it. God has blessed that ministry is.

He's blessed beacon Baptist Church and yet looking back is a healthy thing if we been faithful to the truth and toward United I think that we need to look ahead and ask ourselves the question what is our part in making certain we stick by the stuff the message title you can see before you is for pillars for faithfulness in perilous times. I want to read a text from Jeremiah sex for you to listen to and then I want to read a bit of an extended introduction. It's very important to set the tone and I think some information in that introduction will shock you and show you the importance of us preparing individually and collectively as a ministry, let me say this also. I think that you are confident that the pastoral staff that you have is committed to the word of God. We are committed to the word of God and we hold ourselves accountable every week is to the investment of our time and our commitments. There is going to come a day in 25 or 30 years when we won't be here. It would be sooner than that and my burden is and maybe this message is aimed at our middle-age and younger people. What will you do to make certain point about to say doesn't happen to beacon Baptist Church. Listen to what Jeremiah said. Chapter 6 verses 16 and 17, the prophet wrote to Judah thus says the Lord, stand in the ways and see and ask for the old has with the good way he has a walk-in at then you will find rest for your souls. But they said we will not walk in it.

Also, I set watchmen over you saying listen to the sound of the trumpet, but they said we will not listen the context of this passage that I just read to you is the coming destruction of Jerusalem because Judah had forsaken her God. One of the keywords in this entire book is the word backslide its use eight times the nation had turned her back on the warden was following false prophets who led them to worship idols 11 times the word repent is used by the prophet. But the nation did not repent and we read of Jeremiah weeping so burden was he for his nation. Commentators describe that era of history with the following words religious insincerity, dishonesty, adultery, and justice tyranny against the helpless and slander prevailed as the norm and not the exception.

Paul wrote that the same would be true in the last days are setting. We will see in second Timothy chapter 3 verses one through five but know this, that, on the last days perilous times will come.

For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful and wholly unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despises of good traders had strong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away down to verses 12 and 13 yes and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived Lovett as we get another message signed. I want to share just a few of the results addressed in the May 2019 Gallup poll and the topic was what is morally acceptable in our current culture now as I read these headings out, ask yourself the question, what percentage would you say our culture would think is morally acceptable. This is May 9 and May 2019 that this was done 77% believe that divorce is morally acceptable 71% of people polled believe that sex between unmarried adults is morally acceptable.

63% believe that gay or lesbian relationships are morally acceptable 68% believe that gambling is morally acceptable 65% believe that smoking marijuana is morally acceptable 64% believe the embryonic stem cell research is morally acceptable 64% believe that having a baby outside of marriage is morally acceptable 52% believe that Dr. assisted assisted suicide is morally acceptable and 42% believe that the killing of the unborn is morally acceptable. I think you would agree with me that there has been a steady increase in the acceptance and promotion of issues once clearly considered immoral by a majority of Americans. One of our begin members mention something to me today about an ad for the Super Bowl is going on tonight. So I went home and I look this up.

Let me read my last statement been read this about the ad there has been a steady increase in the acceptance and promotion of issues once clearly considered immoral by a majority of Americans. Here's the article that I got about the ad this year's Super Bowl should have no shortage of controversial ads including spots featuring Pres. Trump, Michael R number and drag queens, but there was one commercial that pro-lifers say was too hot for the network to handle.

It was title faces of choice. A powerful black-and-white ad featuring adults and children of different genders and ethnic backgrounds with one thing in common. They survived abortion folks.

They accepted the drag queen and they rejected the pro life that that says volumes about the culture in which we live sometime back. Pastor Bartman gave me an article that I've held onto it and I thought it very appropriate for message tonight and I want you to listen carefully to this even more alarming than what I just read in the findings of Dr. Paul Elliott of teaching the word ministries. In October 2019. He wrote of doing research at Yale Divinity school, where he found a mountain of evidence documenting the spiritual and moral decline of once Bible believing churches, colleges and seminaries as well as evidence of how and why the decline is happen, and his tragic effects.

He wrote and I quote in earlier times, Protestant churches and institutions fearlessly proclaim belief in the Bible is the inspired and errant and fallible, providentially preserved word of God authoritative in every sense and we would say a hearty amen to that. But what we found in the EL archives is the evidence of a conspiracy.

He says I use that word very deliberately. It began in the 19th century and continues today to undermine faith in authentic Scripture and replace the inerrant word of God with worldly philosophies and man-made doctrines. Dr. Elliott goes on to write this conspiracy readily supports a liberal philosophy of social justice, promoting homosexuality, radical feminism extreme environmentalism, the effort would've been The longer-term goal of advancing the development of world religion, mirroring nominal Christianity with other religions and belief systems including Roman Catholicism, Eastern orthodoxy, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and secular humanism. He closed his article by writing that a deep crisis is upon the church.

God calls upon those who are truly his to return to the authentic word is our world rockets toward secularism rejects everything Christian humanism that makes man his own God and liberalism that preaches another gospel. What must characterize us as individuals and as ministries recitation stay true to the old pass in the good way. What I have in the screen in front of you at beacon Baptist Church for people that have gone here for very long, is not surprising you taught this all the time, but we need to be reminded, no matter what. Which church it is to recall that he said once Bible believing churches that believed a lot of what we preach here. No longer do so and we have to guard but that does not happen to us. We have to guard it doesn't happen.

So what are we going to look at God's word, the Scriptures must be preeminent God's will for sovereignty of God must be personalized. God's work. The salvation of sinners by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. The glory of God alone must be proclaimed and finally God's workmanship. The sanctification it prepares us to reflect Christ as a work of ongoing grace. The first thing that we want to consider tonight is God's word, the Scriptures must be preeminent. And these will not be in order of the verses but follow if you would. Verse 16 all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, and the first thing that we look at as a sub point on that this is the Scriptures are preeminent when we choose to prize them through personal study and let me say this to you in our outline tonight will be a couple of verses for each of them.

You need to look them up and find the context. I'm not looking for proof texts under these things. Look at the contacts of and understand the truth of the verses that have been selected. Jeremiah 1516 the prophet says your words were found, and I ate them in your words will was to May was the joy and rejoicing of my heart why Jeremiah Brian call by your name, old Lord God of hosts, beloved, could that be said of you tonight. You know the Scriptures are important but are they the rejoicing of your heart. Psalm 119 verse 111 David said your testimonies. I have taken as an heritage forever, for they are the rejoicing of my heart in a familiar passage. Second Timothy 315 or 215 I should say the subject is implied. You you be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth, and that word be diligent means to make effort to be earnest, and I ask you this question personally answer it if you would does God's word get the leftovers of your day or prime time that you may be one of these folks have to get up and leave for work so early that it's better for you to have devotions later. That's fine.

The question is this R is the word of God, the rejoicing of your heart. It will never be in my shirt and it consistently because you want to be in second thing that we want to look at is the Scriptures are preeminent when we choose to preach them and not paraphrase them to justify a carnal lifestyle.

I told our teens this morning that the work the term carnal Christian makes about as much sense as adulterous soulmate. There is not such an animal is a carnal Christian. Christians can sin but they can't live in a pattern of sin without the Holy Spirit convicting and gripping them as he did. David, the Scriptures are preeminent when we choose to preach them and not paraphrase them to justify a carnal lifestyle late RC Sproul said this, I think that the greatest weakness in the church today is that almost no one believes that God invest his power in the Bible, he goes on to say everyone is looking for power in a program and a technique in anything and everything, except where God has placed his word turned back a page if you would second Timothy chapter 4 are head and that may be on the same page that you are opening Bible second Timothy 4124 he says to Timothy, I charge you, therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ will judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom preach the word be ready in season and out of season, convince, review, exhort with all long-suffering and teaching for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires because they have itching ears, they would heap up for themselves teachers and they will turn away their ears from the truth and be turned aside to fables. I had a notice in this.

In verse two it says be ready in season and out of season. What is at main literally it means for us to be pressing or urgent at every opportunity. When the Lord gives us an opportunity to share the living hope that is ours. We need to share wing to be pressing or urgent at every opportunity, and how are we to do this, we convince them of wrong doctrine or wrong behavior and when I say we convince them that through the power of the Holy Spirit bringing to bear upon them. The word that we share. We rebuke them with an eye toward conviction and repentance, we exhort them or urge them to practical duty, and obedience to the Scripture. That's how and why are we to do this it makes it very clear and we see this happening everyday folks. He says that many will have an intolerance of truth in what they're going to desire instead of the teaching of doctrine that can have a desire for spiritual and emotional sugar pills that are dispensed by blind leaders of the blind. If it sounds good. I was standing at in-line and defy gravity editing function Saturday got a talking to this dude I had a codon that had the word coach. He sought, he said. I played soccer for Garner high school I was the MVP and goal as goalie. So with that hit a nerve. We started talking and in the course of our conversation. He said he grown up about this, but he was in Pentecostal Holiness church. Now he's not really big and did not.

If that doesn't say it all these into a motion and what goes along with that and folks, I think you'd agree with me when you study doctrine properly.

There will be a motion. There will be a motion but it will not be the cart before the horse it with the emotion of gratitude for the truth of God's word. Then I want to give this warning from an unexpected source very unexpected and young people listen at this carefully. John Cooper lead singer for the rock band skillet responded to a host of recent apostasy's among young Christian leaders. He wrote this. It's time for the church to rediscover the preeminence of the word and devalue the teaching of the word. When did value truth over feeling truth over a motion and what were saying now is a result of the church raising up influencers who did not supremely value truth will let a generation who also do not believe in the supremacy of truth and now those disavowed leaders are probably still leading and influencing boldly away from the truth.

That's a profound statement, this guy is immersed in it.

Now one payment came to my mind.

How long will you stay in. No, he may mean well, but as I've told our young people he he had a couple of other quotes or were excellent. He talked about novices who write music maybe not being the best people be influencing young people. That's the truth that's the truth, not saying that you don't have some godly young Christians who have an influence on our young people but beloved. We got to make certain that we are preaching the word and not paraphrasing it just to justify a carnal lifestyle or tickle itching years and the challenge to the young people in this church in the middle-age people in this church long after the pastoral staff is gone.

Insist upon that the word of God is preached carefully, fearfully, reverently, the word of God is preached. The third thing that I would have us to look at under the word of God is the Scriptures are preeminent when we choose to practice in you can say there preeminent, but if you never practice some how can you say that they're not preeminent you or to may the poet Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote your actions speak so loudly that I cannot hear what you say that that's a mouthful. Your actions speak so loudly that I cannot hear what you say I more than one occasion I told young people that I teach Bible if I don't behave out there. The way I behave in here. You should listen to. The thing that I sent out there meaning on the sidelines of the soccer field because that is where the Scriptures become preeminent you practice them. You don't take it off you know and and just go out and do whatever it takes to win. In other words couple of verses. James 122 tells us be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. First John 37 very hurt searching verse little children. Let no one deceive you, he who practices righteousness is righteous, just as he is righteous and we must often ask ourselves and my believing like a new creation in Christ and then folks this last thing the send screen number four the imputed righteousness of Christ must be reflected in the practical righteousness of living out the gospel. I have a diagram and illustration I've used in teaching young people that has an error coming down and it has in it the words imputed righteousness put to my account the righteousness of Christ and that imputed righteousness of Christ should evidence itself in the practical righteousness of a holy life as we were taught this morning. The imputed righteousness should evidence itself in practical righteousness out of gratitude for the grace of God in each of our lives.

Second thing, and I would have you look at is not only God's word, the Scriptures must be preeminent. But God's will. The simony of God must be personalized. Verses 10 and 11. He writes to Timothy again and says that you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch that I called him at less risk what persecutions I endured.

Now notice this and out of them all the Lord delivered me this first thing God is sovereign of the time of your birth and of your death has been an encouragement to numerous people that I visited in the hospital or rest homes. Job 14 five says in the speaking of mankind in general. Job is speaking of mankind in general, and he writes since his days are determined, the number of his months is with you.

You have appointed his limits, so that he cannot pass. Doctors can do whatever they want to. When the time comes that God has set your limit.

He's calling you home if you're a believer you're done and that should give that's not a gloom and doom thing today believing in the siren God I'm not going to die till God's done with and says come home and the best is yet to come in. If you don't follow that one look at Psalm 139 16 and you read this many times many many more than the Job 14 five but Psalm 139 16 your eyes saw my substance, yet being uninformed and in your book.

They all were written. The days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them a second thing that I want us to consider when we think of God's sovereignty being personalized. God is sovereign over your salvation now you know what is taught at this church, I'm only going to give you two verses in a moment or two passages for you to think about time, but I do want to say this in preference to give a most passages I was a Christian, a long time before I invite him brace the doctrines of grace. I know what my hangup was the word for knowledge foreknowledge. I just kept thinking of foreknowledge is God knowing before and it wasn't until I went to Ground Zero and said I'm gonna start at ground zero and determine what I believe the Bible says about salvation now. Did I profit from messages or from this pulpit, you better believe it and what it did was it challenged me to go. I don't want to see deeper us not deeper.

It challenged me look longer can I say it that way. Think about it longer and I came to grips with the truth that I believe foreknowledge talks about an independent intimacy and intimate love that God had for me before the foundation of the world and beloved, I'm only going to give you four passages pate one there are five passages of Scripture that to me if you read them and their contacts nails this down. God is sovereign over your salvation. John 17 wanted to its Christ rare.

Listen to what he says Jesus spoke these were lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said father, the hour has come.

Glorify your son that your son may also glorify you notice this as you have given him authority over all flesh.

Why, that he should give eternal life to as many as you have given him. You have given him authority over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as you have given him the second text that I take you to is a marvelous chapter John 10 I just picked out three versus but you do not believe because you are not of my sheep. As I said to you.

I've got a stop there, lest I forget to make this point I want to read it again make the point will finish the passage but you do not believe because you are not of my sheep. He did not say you are not of my sheep because you do not believe that's important because one ways got the cart before the horse. You do not believe because you are not of my sheep. That's what he said he didn't say you are not one of my sheep because you not believe I listen to this with the other verses but you do not believe because you are not of my sheep. As I said to you my sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall anyone snatch them out of my hand.

My father who was given them to me, is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of my father's hand, beloved, I would invite you on your own is a set of start of the message read John 17. Read John 10 read Ephesians 1.

Read Ephesians 2 read Romans eight and when you get Romans eight plug-in the idea that he foreknew he also predestinated to be conformed with the images on plug-in the idea that foreordained means for loved new before intimately like Adam knew his wife and can see it's an intimate intimate special relationship and we find that not only is God sovereign over the time of your birth and your death is sovereign over your salvation, but God is also sovereign over the details of your life is sovereign over the details of your life. Your personal characteristics.

Exodus 410 and 11 then Moses said to the Lord, O my Lord, I'm not eloquent, neither before or since you have spoken your servant, but I'm slow of speech and slow down so the Lord said to him who has made man's mouth or who makes the mute the death. The scene or the blind have nine I have more I want to give your personal illustration and the majority of you have heard this before, the insane, you've seen this because we been together at beacon for years, but we got several new folk and bacon. My wife and I have and you're not mishearing this my wife and I have 18 grandchildren, three of them are special needs.

One of them has autism and brain damage you if you do not see Joe. Sometimes a church on Sunday. You will hear him. His little sister who was a little over a year old has a vocabulary that far exceeds genocide because he hasn't said mama he is 13 and God made him exactly the way he is now the brain damage is another story too long for me to get into tonight, but I guarantee one thing is hard as it is at times to embrace. It is part of God sovereign plan for his life and our lives and our extended families lives and it doesn't stop there. We have three special needs grandchildren, Joe, Josiah, Jaelyn, who was adopted and unbeknownst to our family has autism and Joel is down syndrome. Joel is Jonathan's son and they did their best to convince them to abort him because they could tell ahead of time.

He was going to be Townsend, but because we believe that God is sovereign over the details of life that was not even an option wasn't even a consideration. God is sovereign over your personal characteristics. God is sovereign of your pathway in life.

Psalm 3723 the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delights in this why though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down for the Lord upholds him with his hands. Your pathway in life and then finally your plans. Proverbs 1921. There are many plans in a man's heart, nevertheless the Lord's counsel that will stand and I'm not going to. I'm not going to extrapolate this illustration, but the farthest idea in my mind is a very average very average athlete in high school.

I never planned in the least, in any way to coach a game I had never played. I had no plans to coach anything anything I never played soccer but it's been 47 of part of my life for 47 years and I say this carefully and deliberately. I believe that probably some of my older players when they look back now with a little age on them would say that I had more of an impact on their lives out there than in the classroom.

Why is that, like Italy teens today out there.

The real you comes out. Anybody can put a front on out there.

The real you comes out in the marketplace at work on the sideline in the game. God is sovereign over the details of your life that include your personal characteristics your pathway in life and your plan.

1/4 time.

God is sovereign over your trials. Boy that can be a blessing for us to understand. Notice again verse 12 he says yes and all who who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution folks have mentioned this before, there are people in the world who are under the umbrella or the label of Christianity, who are suffering greatly crucifixion burning alive rape just execution of one form or another.

God is sovereign over your trials. First Peter 419. Notice this therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to him and doing good as to a faithful Creator suffer according to the will of God.

Philippians 129 for to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for his sake, powerful words, first Peter 220 and 21 when you do good and suffer if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God for to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that you should follow his steps and I'm going to read this quote that I think we really need to chew on for a moment and then make a statement about it. If we merely endure suffering without seeing it as God's instrument to demonstrate the reality of our faith to develop the resolve of our faith and to delight in the rewards of our faith will not become more like Christ will simply endure. Life isn't fair. Every now and then you're thrown a curve and you can put all the other little goodies in there that you want to, but folks I would remind you that the Bible says of Jesus, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, so when we talking about if we merely endure suffering will fail to delight in the rewards of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, the most despicable, humiliating, painful death. You could die there's life.

Enjoy.

Beyond the cross and there's some here that are clueless when it comes to that, we who have fled to Christ and thanked him for his grace and mercy in our lives.

That is our living hope that is our living hope there's life beyond the cross. There's life because of what Jesus did on our behalf, 1/5 and final area that we want to look at when it comes to the sovereignty of God being made personal our birth or death our salvation.

The details of our life are trials, but also God is sovereign over your country's leadership and we can all say a hearty amen to that God is sovereign over your country's leadership. Proverbs 21, one, the king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water, he turns it wherever he wishes and I have this illustration. Cyrus the Keaton king of Persia is just one example of God using an unbeliever to accomplish his sovereign purposes, Gen. 221 he removes kings and raises up kings. Daniel 417 that the most high rules in the kingdom of men gives it to whomever he will and sets over at the lowest of men. Yup, we see not even our own country, at times and folks there are times and we have to cast a ballot election. Quite frankly, we may have to do it holding our nose and what we do we pick the candidate that is the closest to what the Bible teaches. The closest and that could be light-years away, but is closer than his or her opponent. We do the best we can, because the alternative is to be irresponsible of the citizen intellect. Someone further from the truth, be the leader in our country and here's the thing about we seen seen that when George W. Bush got elected.

I believe God is sovereign over our country's leadership. Whether was George W. Bush in office or Obama or from the belief that God is sovereign over leadership back and give us peace and you know what is sovereignty over leadership may mean were going down a rough road.

That's what it may mean because we certainly deserve to go down a rough road when one abortion clinic kills 11,000 babies a day. One of in Missouri. 11. Not a day a year 11,000 innocent babies, we deserve leadership that will take us down the wrong road.

May God be merciful to us that I want to slip briefly. Number three God's work these last two points are shorter God's word, the salvation of sinners by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone for the glory of God alone must be proclaimed. Verse 15 B Paul references the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Beloved, there's another gospel being peddled a health and wealth.

Counterfeit speaks of professing faith in Christ setting the course for your life with your MasterCard in hand.

God is the go to guy in the sky, and all you call on him when you need him. He is your pinch-hitter. You can put all kinds of ridiculous blasphemous things in their there is an another gospel being peddled and I'm going to give an example. I would not want to trade places with this dude for anything you might know him. He's written several books and he lives in Texas.

This book is the power of IM that is the title of the power of a high end and here is the description of the book on Amazon quote transfer transform your self-image and embrace the power of positive thinking with two simple words declare I am and celebrate the life God is created for you. Whatever follows the words I am will always come looking for you so when you go to the day sang on blast blessings will pursue you untalented talent follows you. I'm healthy health head your way. I'm strong strength tracked you down. I think and say I'm rich now what I did put in my notes, that sounds like humanism today and not Christianity in heaven help that because he's probably got the largest congregation of blind followers in the nation. Blind leaders of the blind. As Paul David Tripp writes we are to be instruments in the Redeemer's hands. Understanding and sharing the gospel involves knowledge and wisdom living the gospel before others involves consistent choice. You cannot glorify God without the mentality of edifying the saints and evangelizing those who are ignorant of her irritant toward the gospel. I want to say that again you cannot glorify God without the mentality of edifying other believers and evangelizing those who are ignorant of or irritant toward the gospel.

This includes in the home. The workplace and during the games of life. First Peter 315 and 16 sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asked you a reason of the hope that sinew with meekness and fear. Having a good conscience that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.

The last thing we want to look at. Nine.

Closing is God's workmanship. The sanctification that prepares us to reflect Christ is a work of God's ongoing grace. Verses 14 and 15 a, but you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them that from a child you'd known the holy Scriptures.

Notice verse 17 it speaks of the man of God being complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work and I take it in Ephesians 28 through 10.

We often quote ETA nine but 8 to 10 for by grace you been saved through faith and that not of yourselves.

It's a gift of God not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them and you can see an acrostic there using the word grace God's grace and salvation is shown in God's righteousness at Christ's expense and sanctification, God's will.

God's resources and Christ enabling I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me in glorification. God's riches at Christ's exaltation. There's a time coming folks when we will be seeing our hope hope will be reality.

Faith will be site in Romans 828 to 30, and again as I read this think what I said about the word for knowledge.

If you would we know that all things work together for good to those who love God who loves God we love him because he first loved us. Okay, we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose for whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son. So I study that I said why would God for why would God predestined something he foreknew sit foreknew is going to happen. It's almost like him looking down the corridors of time and running ahead yell of what happens about that for second, why would he predestined something that he for nose is going to happen. I could see him predestined in the lives of those that he knew and loved before the foundation of the world whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son. Why did he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he predestined, these he called me call these he justified, whom he justified these he glorified the last verse will look at tonight. Philippians 16 being confident of this very thing, that he who has begun a good work in you will completed until the day of Jesus Christ.

We are God's workmanship from salvation to glorification and beloved were in a battle a spiritual battle that is growing in scope and intensity.

Christians and Jews alike are being targeted for persecution and in some countries for extermination are you preparing for what might lie ahead. If the Lord Terry's we don't know when the Lord is coming back the day nor the hour. Are we preparing as individuals for what might lie ahead. If the Lord Terry's are you determined to stay true to the old, as in the good way and you look at this final slide.

God's word, the Scriptures must be preeminent. We must choose to apprise them to preach them to practice them God's will, the sovereignty of God must be personalized to be profitable. He is sovereign over the time of your birth over your death over your salvation over the details of your life over your trials and over your country's leadership God's work. Salvation of sinners by grace alone to faith alone in Christ alone for the glory of God alone must be proclaimed.

We must not only talk the gospel, we must walk the gospel if our witnesses to be credible and finally God's workmanship.

The sanctification that prepares believers to reflect Christ as a work of God's ongoing grace.

I close by saying this. I don't know about you but I thank God in his providence that he is not only save me, but he's led me to a church where this is central where this is central where this is the picture and everything else is the frame that's one thing that I try to teach our young people when it comes to music. If the melody competes with the message you have entertainment. Can you imagine a barn board frame around the Mona Lisa or can you imagine a gold gilded frame around the country watercolor and if this church, and we need to pray that God will enable us to continue this. This is the picture and everything else is the frame.

Everything else compliments what's essential at beacon Baptist Church and that is the word of God, let us pray father we pray you take will reset tonight and use it in each of our lives. I've shared things that are not necessarily new to any of our people and yet we need to be reminded. We need to personalize the fact that your sovereign in so many areas of our lives. Lord, enable us to not only share the gospel with our lips, but through our lives in Christ, a man