The Baptist Bible Hour now comes to you under the direction of Elder Lassaire Bradley Jr. When I get scared. A thousand times to see my grace. Redeemers praise the glories of my god and king, the triumphs of his grace. This is Laser Bradley Jr., inviting you to stay tuned for another message of God's sovereign grace.
The message today was preached recently at Cincinnati Primitive Baptist Church. About six weeks ago. I was stirring around getting ready to go to a service which is held each Monday morning. in the building where we live. The speaker is Pastor David Wells.
With the methodist church in Madeira.
Now I have to admit that when I first went I wasn't expecting to hear much that I would agree with since so many Methodists. are very liberal. But I'm thankful to say I have attended the meeting for almost a year. And I have heard God's name honored and the name of Jesus Christ praised. Twice when Pastor Wells could not be there.
I was asked to speak. and encouraged by the fact that as the people went out, every one of them said that they enjoyed the messages. And I'm thankful. For the opportunity that I'm scheduled to speak again at the end of August.
Well, back to the Monday morning six weeks ago. Emily asked me what I was doing, and I said I was getting ready to go to the meeting. She said, well, you can't go. You're walking funny. and leaning to the side.
I said, oh, I think I can make it down there and back. She said, Come over here and sit down.
So she checked my vitals and said, I'm going to call Jonathan. My grandson, who is a nurse, And so Jonathan came. and said we need to call the paramedics. They came and checked me out. and said, We need to take you to the hospital.
In short order, they had me downstairs and into the ambulance. and as soon as we started the siren began blaring, and I burst into tears. I'd been taken to a hospital in an ambulance several times before, but never with the sirens being used. And I questioned what on earth is wrong with me that I'm sobbing like this. If I'm having a stroke, This driver is getting me to the hospital as quickly as possible, and the hospital is not far away.
and he's clearing a path with the siren and his horn. As I further considered I know that it's not. that I'm afraid to die. If you recall I preached a message a few months ago entitled Longing for Home. The text was 2 Corinthians CHAPTER V For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, We have a building of God.
and house not made with hands, Eternal in the heavens For we groan earnestly, desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven. Uh I'm like the Apostle Paul when he said, I'm in a strait betwixt two, Having a desire to depart and be with Christ, but he also had a desire to stay and minister to God's people.
So I have a desire to stay here and help take care of my wife, Emily. And to continue preaching as long as the Lord will bless me to do it.
So, when I selected the title for that message, Longing for Home. I thought there ought to be a song by that title. and after searching found one by the Spencers. I read the words at the beginning of my message. when I preached that sermon.
And have listened to that recording over and over and over again since I found it last December. The Longing for Home. I think I'll read just a little bit of it to you now. I'm only a pilgrim and a stranger. In this unfriendly world that I roam, For Jesus, who has brought me from darkness, has promised me a heavenly home.
In the Bible we read of a city. whose builder and ruler is God, and some day when this life is over, its beauty It's beautiful sight. will behold. I'm longing for home the sun goeth down, I want to be where sweet rest can be found. I'm just about through with this old house of clay.
I'm leaving this world for glory some day. Maybe you can understand why I've enjoyed listening to that recording over and over again. The second burst goes on. when the last weary mile has been travelled, and the gates of that city swing wide. Oh, what a glad feeling 'twill be to know that heaven is mine.
Beyond the dark veil of sorrows, With Jesus forever I'll be On to that city I'm going. Behold the Saviour. To see. Longing for home.
So I asked the Lord, Lord, why am I crying? I'm being cared for. And if I'm dying, that's what I've been singing about.
So I'm not afraid to die. And the Lord brought to my mind a Scripture that has brought me comfort many times through the years. Underneath are the everlasting arms. And my crying stopped. What more could anyone ask than to be supported by the arms of the Almighty God of heaven and earth?
The God who in the beginning created the heaven and the earth. And to think that his arms are underneath to support us. What a blessing.
Well, about that time we arrived at the hospital. They took me in and the nurses began to stick me with needles and give me some pills. After a while, a young man came with a stretcher to take me upstairs for one of their special important tests. We were waiting our turn. Uh This young man is named and he said it's Isaac.
I said, Well, that'll be easy for me to remember. I've got a grandson and a great-grandson named Isaac, in addition to the fact that it's a Bible name. And he says, And I have a brother named Isaiah. I said, well, your parents must be churchgoers to give their sons those names. He said, My parents did go to church, but they are both dead.
Well, I asked, do you go to church? And he said No, but I try to live right.
So I asked him my question. I asked a lot of people: if you died today and came into the presence of God, on what basis would you expect him to let you into heaven? He said, Well, because I'm living right. And not only that, I'm working on liking people that don't like me.
So I think God would be pleased with my efforts and I would go to heaven.
Well I said um The problem is God demands perfection. He's a holy God. It's commendable that you're trying to live right and do good things. But God demands perfection. And all of us come terribly short.
All of sin that comes short of the glory of God.
So we're in deep trouble. Since we can't meet God's standard, we're condemned. And we need help, and there's only one that can help us, and that's Jesus. Jesus came into this world to save sinners. That's what the scripture declares.
I shall call his name Jesus in Matthew 1:21. For he shall save his people from their sins. He came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. And Jesus himself said, He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life. And he that believeth not is condemned already because he has not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Well, about that time it was my turn to get test and so the young man thanked me for talking to him. And my day got a lot brighter. Because I enjoy being able to tell somebody about Jesus, and especially when they thank me for doing it.
So I was thankful for that little experience.
Well, I stayed in the hospital. two days and two nights And they concluded that I was not having a stroke for which I am very thankful. And I was certainly thankful to get back home.
Well, this morning I was to look at that verse that brought me such comfort. The Lord brought it to my mind. Deuteronomy 33, 27. The Eternal God is thy refuge. And underneath are the everlasting arms.
My What a promise. the eternal God. God is from everlasting to everlasting. He is thy refuge. He is thy hiding place.
And underneath, holding you up. are his everlasting arms.
So first we would like to consider the fact that his arms are powerful. God wants us to know that He is powerful. Because reference is made to his power over and over again throughout the scriptures. That was certainly so in the passage that Pastor Bass read earlier this morning And in this passage in Deuteronomy thirty three, The verse just preceding our text says, There is none like unto the God of Jezren. who rideth upon the heaven in thy help.
and in His Excellency in the Sky.
So the God who has his arms underneath us rides in the heaven. in His Excellency.
Well, we have one to support us from underneath and one to protect us from above. This great sovereign God who rules and reigns according to his pleasure. Isaiah chapter forty, verse twenty six. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things. that bringeth out their hosts by number, He calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might.
for that he is strong in power. Not one fails. God wants us to know that. He said, Well, I know God's a God of power. But you kind of take it for granted and don't give it much thought.
But the reason we find it repeated so often in the Psalms, that was what the people sang in their worship. And God wanted them to hear it over and over again. as they sang praises to his name. Psalm 147, verse 3. He healeth the broken.
He bindeth up their wounds. He telleth the number of the stars he calleth them all by names. Think when you look up into the heavens on a star-filled night. And remember that God knows them every one. calls every star by name.
Oh, his power is beyond our ability to fully comprehend. God Great is our Lord and of great power. His understanding is infinite. His power is great. is understanding has no limit.
So His arms are powerful. And his arms are comforting. Certainly when a little child is distressed. Maybe he's fallen. and mother or father comes to pick him up.
When those arms are felt underneath It is indeed. a comfort to that little one. And certainly for us. When we're struggling with the difficulties and burdens of life, and we're reminded that underneath us are the everlasting arms of God. It is a great comfort.
In Psalm 69, verse 1, the psalmist says, Save me, O God. For the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire where there is no standing. I am come into deep waters where the floods overflow me. I'm weary of my crying.
My throat is dry. Mine eyes fail while I wait for my God. Sink in deep mire. What a stressful situation. Trying to find something secure to stand upon, but every step that is taken.
is one that just sinks in the mire. certainly a terrible feeling of uncertainty. a difficult situation from which to relieve ourselves. I sink in deep mire. Where there is no standing.
Have you been there? Have you had those times where you just had to cry out, Lord, come to my rescue? I'm full of doubts and fears and problems that I don't know how to deal with. I just feel like I'm sinking. I'm just going down.
I'm weary of my crying. I need help. But you know, even when you sink. It is good to know that while struggling in the mire, You haven't gotten your foot on anything solid yet. But the everlasting arms are still down there under you.
You say, well, I fear I've gone so low the arms are not there. They're still there. no matter what the circumstances are. Even when you Sink. because of your own failures.
It's good to know that God hasn't given up on you. Psalm forty, verse one. I waited patiently for the Lord, and He inclined unto me and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of the miry clay and set my feet upon a rock. and establish my goings.
Well, I cried to the Lord. He heard me, and as a result, verse 3 says, He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God. Many shall see it in fear and shall trust in. In the Lord. Surely when the Lord does bring us up from the low places, and puts a song in our mouth.
We have reason to be praising him over and over again. And let others know of our joy and our confidence and our trust. In the Lord. Yes. His arms are comforting.
And his arms are everlasting. Remind us of the promise. that we use so often Hebrews 13:5, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee, so that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper. And I will not fear what man shall do unto me. How often do you quote that to yourself?
The Lord himself said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. You may have those seasons where you feel surely the Lord has forgotten me. How could I be in such darkness and such stress if God really cared about me? But his promise is, no matter what the circumstances, We can say, God declared, God who cannot lie, declared Himself, I will never leave thee. nor forsake me.
So those everlasting arms Right. Indeed. a comfort and blessing to us. Philippians 1.6 says, Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ. You may reach a place and say, Well, I've just failed so miserably.
I should have been more committed. I should have spent more of my time serving God. I should have been more diligent in seeing that I was putting Him first in all things. I don't know that he could still care for me. But his promise is that he who hath begun a work in you will perform it.
God's not going to give up on you. You may feel like giving up yourself. I'm just fail so many times I feel like quitting.
Well, there's no place to quit. And remember that God is still working in you. drawing you away from your Sinful desires and sanctifying you to live to his honor and glory. Yes, many Failures, doubts and fears may trouble us. But the Lord will never cut his work short.
Short. the everlasting arms are always Underneath. And when you come down to die, His everlasting arms will hold you. That some of the We all know so well twenty-three Verse 4 says, Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. There may have been a time that the thought of dying troubled you.
Because it's something we haven't experienced and can't imagine what it'll be just exactly like. But what a promise is this. That though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death. And there may be times in the deepest trials and sorrows of life that we walked through that valley before death itself comes. But it is yet a fact.
that when that hour of departure comes, The sting of death has been removed. The darkness that we might anticipate is going to be overcome with the light of the presence of our Savior Jesus Christ. And when we come to that hour and can say, I'm longing for home, I'm looking to that wonderful experience. of going from the sorrows and troubles of this life to be in the presence of Jesus Christ with Him. Four.
Ever. Yes, so I walked through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. Those everlasting arms in the hour of death will. Lift us up. And take us home to glory, where we shall see him as he is.
Isn't that wonderful to anticipate? Of seeing Jesus Christ. face to face. We've been singing about him. We've been praying to him.
We've been preaching about him. But to see him as he is. And that's the promise of the Word of God. We shall see him. and shall be like him.
You'll be going to glory. because of his sovereign grace. Lift it up. By his sovereign grace, because he chose you before the foundation of the world. You know, there are those who will say, well, yes, I believe in salvation by grace.
But I believe man still has to do his part.
Now, you tell me what part a dead man can contribute to salvation. you hath equipped who were dead in trespasses and in sin. Salvation is all of the Lord. I say, well They'll give credit to God down to 99% and say, but there's that one little point where man's free will has to turn the whole situation or there'll be no salvation. We're saying salvation is not by free will, it's by free grace.
and you will be lifted up Because by sovereign grace You were chosen before the foundation of the world. You'll be lifted up. Because you were redeemed at the cross. We sing a lot of hymns about the suffering of Jesus Christ at Calvary. And as many times as we sing about it, as many times as we read about it, as many times as we hear preaching about it, I'm sure none of us have come close to being able to fathom what all was involved there.
to think of the horrendous suffering When the sins of all who will ultimately live in heaven. were laid on Jesus. And the wrath of the Father was appropriately poured out upon him. Not that Jesus was a sinner, but he was bearing the sins of many to put them away. and he suffered sufficiently.
that they might be saved. Oh, the sovereign grace of God by which Jesus went to the cross. You'll be lifted up by sovereign grace. Because he granted you repentance and gave you faith. See, those are two places where men sometimes try to interject their effort and take some credit.
But the book of Acts talks about God granting people. Repentance. And by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.
So he will lift you up. Because By his grace you were granted repentance and he gave you faith. He will lift you up from this world of sin and sorrow to go home with him because he has kept you by his power. You would have faltered, you would have fallen, you would have strayed totally off course. But as we quoted earlier, the one who started this work, he who hath begun a good work and you will perform it.
under the day of Jesus Christ. You have been kept by his power. It will lift you up. and you will join the heavenly chorus. Oh, can you imagine that?
It's a beautiful experience when the Lord's people here blend their voices and sing the truths of the gospel. But think of this. to be there in the presence of Jesus and they sang a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book. And to open the seals thereof, for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God. By thy blood, out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation.
And I beheld and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne. And the beasts And the elders and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands. saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing. Oh, what a scene Thousands upon thousands of these heavenly creatures and joining with them the redeemed souls that have been brought there by his sovereign grace, to sing, Thou art worthy, for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God. by thy own precious blood.
Jesus. It's a very good idea. What a comfort and joy to anticipate that great day that will join that heavenly chorus to sing the praise of Jesus Christ forever. And to remember while we're yet here, underneath are the everlasting arms. I hope you'll write us.
Until next week at this same time, may the Lord richly bless you all. What a day. The Baptist Bible Hour has come to you under the direction of Elder Lessere Bradley Jr. Address all mail to the Baptist Bible Hour, Cincinnati, Ohio 45217. That's the Baptist Bible Hour, Cincinnati, Ohio, four five two one seven.
What a day! That will be when my Jesus I shall see, when I look upon His face, the one who saved me by His grace, when He takes me by the hand and leads me through the promised land, What a day, glorious day that will be
