The Baptist Bible Hour now comes to you under the direction of Elder Lasser Bradley Jr. Mm-hmm. Dozen tumblers seem My great Redeemer's praise, the glories of my god and king, the triumphs of his race. This is LeSaire Bradley Jr., inviting you to stay tuned for another message of God's sovereign grace. O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder, consider all the worlds thy hands have made.
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder by path throughout the universe displayed. Then sings my song, my Savior God, to thee. How great thou art, how great thou art, then sings my song, my Saviour God, to thee. How great thou art, how great thou art when through the woods and forest glades I wander and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees when I look down from lofty mountains brender and hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze then sings my song my Savior God to thee how great thou art How great thou art in sings my soul, my Savior God to thee. How great thou art, how great thou and when I think that God, his Son, not sparing, sent him to die, I scarce can take it in that of the cross, my burden and blood and died to take away my Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee.
How great thou art, how great thou art, then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee. How great thou art, how great God when Christ shall come with shout of accommodation and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart, then I shall bow in. And there proclaim, My God, how great thou art, then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee. How great the heart, how great the heart, then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee. How great the Lord, how great God.
I'm glad to have you with us for the broadcast today. And I pray that the message will be a blessing to you. If it is, we'd love to hear from you. Our address is Baptist Bible Hour, Box 17037, Cincinnati, Ohio, four five two one seven. We do depend on our listeners for the financial support that's necessary to keep us on the air.
So if you can help us at this time, we'll certainly be thankful for it. Many of our listeners make a special year-end donation. And if you can do that, it goes a long way to helping us catch up. with some of the deficits of the past year. And now we continue with the message, blessings restored.
It's most encouraging to know that after the terrible experience of defeat, blessings have been restored and and the people are moving forward in the service of God. We think of the same thing. came to David. Just in his youth, he comes and finds Goliath. railing out against the army of Israel.
And David did not like to see the name of his God so dishonored.
So I said, I'll go fight him. I'll go. And David said, the battle is the Lord's. But David didn't shit on the Hillside with his brothers and with the other soldiers that had been fearful and unwilling to go. He said, the battle is the Lord's, but I'm not going to just sit here.
On the hillside, and pray for God to destroy the giant. I'm willing to go fight him. And so he chose five smooth stones from the book, went forward, and with one blow of divine accuracy hit the giant of the forehead, knocked him to the ground, and then took his own sword and cut off his head. The battle was the Lord's, but David had to be courageous and go forward to fight. Another thing we would observe When Joshua selected these 30,000 men to go up against Ai, he told them to go out at night.
Now some of them may have well had some apprehension. Because they could vividly remember the defeat that they had suffered when they first went up. Thirty six men were killed in that encounter. And let's say one soldier's brother was among those that died. and he says, you know, now to go out at night I'm a little concerned.
I don't know if this is a good idea. You can understand how there might have been fears and a reluctance to go, and that's the reason that the word is repeated over and over again, to be of good courage and not to fear. And so we must learn from that. that a soldier doesn't have the option to excuse himself from the battle. There might have been several men among those 30,000.
who were apprehensive. But they didn't have the right to say, Joshua, I'm not going. They were soldiers, and they were required to be faithful and to go as they were commanded. And as a Christian, You're a soldier. I think many times Christians prefer not to think about that.
They like to think about the The joy of their salvation and the comfort and peace that God gives them, and all of that has its place and is vital. But at the same time you are in a warfare. You are a soldier. And as a soldier of the cross, you don't have the option to say, I'm just too timid to move forward. I'm just concerned.
I don't know what the enemy might do. I don't feel like I can go. Ephesians chapter 6, verse 11 says, Put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Be prepared to stand. Not to turn back, not to give in because of fear.
You need to be prepared to stand. Verse 13. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. Just know in advance. That through the grace of God you're going to have victory.
And you have to do everything that's required.
So that you have done all to stand. Yes, we have a battle. A battle with the world. The world in so many ways puts out messages that are enticing and would like to ensnare you and pull you into its path so that you think like the world and act like the world, live like the world. You have a battle with this old flesh.
You're born again, you're a new creature in Christ Jesus, but the old Adam nature is still there, and you have to deal with it on and on.
So, as a soldier, you need to have the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand. The devil himself, as our adversary, as a roaring lion, goes about seeking whom he may devour. You're a soldier of the cross. and the battle is not over. until you lie down in death.
I've had People say to me at times, you know, when I was young, I used to think as the years passed that by the time I reached old age that it would be easier. But it doesn't get any easier. The old flesh still has to be battled. and the world still has to be opposed, and we still have to trust God for the strength that we need to be able to overcome our adversaries. And then another lesson to learn.
is that God works in a variety of ways. This was a new strategy. Didn't didn't tell her to do the same thing they did at Jericho. He's telling them exactly what they're to do. This is a new strategy.
No doubt God works this way. to keep us dependent upon Him rather than upon a particular plan. If we had a certain plan of action and that always worked, all you had to do was just plug it in. Here's what we're going to do. We're going to have success.
We would depend on the plan. instead of depending on the Lord.
So the Lord works in a variety of ways. We can see that repeatedly throughout his leading of the people into the land and blessing them to conquer. We must never Assume that God is limited to work in a s in a sphere of what we prefer. Have your preferences. You have certain ways that you like.
You're comfortable with them. but never draw the conclusion. that God only works within the parameters where you're comfortable.
Now, I concede God is not going to work contrary to what has revealed in the word about himself. He's not going to violate his word. He will always work in harmony with his holy character and with what is revealed in his word. But at the same time, that doesn't mean that God is going to always work in exactly the way that you prefer. the way that is most comfortable for you.
God works in a mysterious way, as the hymn writer says, is wonders to perform. And sometimes they're surprising.
Sometimes we're startled by the way God works. But He's going to work in such a way that in the ultimate end, His name is honored and glorified.
Furthermore, a lesson to be learned. is that at the very place of defeat They now enjoy victory. It was a sad day. when Israel fled. before their adversary.
As you recall, Joshua was deeply grieved. And begin to question why, why has God let us out here where we are? It's just hard to believe that a man of such faith and courage could. be so broken, but he was, and spent the whole day upon his face before God until the Lord said, It's time to get up and make some arrangements now. But oh, you can see that it was indeed a sad time.
When God's people were defeated. But now they're coming back to the same site. And enjoy Victory. That ought to be an encouragement to us. When we suffer a defeat in our own Christian walk, We've faltered.
and haven't been diligent in prayer. We may have neglected the word of God. We may have allowed sin to be harbored in our heart or sin to be acted out in a way that's displeased our Heavenly Father. And so Satan would discourage us under such circumstances. Satan would like for us to pitch in the towel and quit.
And in the weakness of our flesh, that might be what we're inclined to do. But when we come to understand that the very place of defeat, victory can still be enjoyed, it gives us courage to press on. Let's just think of the lesson we had when we were studying the book of Hosea. Hosea chapter 2, verse 15. And I will give her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope.
and she shall sing there as in the days of her youth and in the day when she came out of the land of Egypt. He's talking about Hosea's wayward wife. which represents his wayward life. The children of Israel.
So he says I'm going to. Bring her to the valley of Acor and make it a door of hope. And the valley of Achor is where Achan was stoned to death. And burn. But right at that place of defeat God says, I'm going to bless, I'm going to make the valley of Achor a door of hope.
So even in the place where there has been defeat, discouragement, disappointment. God can indeed bless under those circumstances. And then we could also observe in this as a practical lesson. that the king of Ai When he saw the approaching army, was obviously self-confident. It felt like we had victory previously.
and so we'll have victory once more. And he comes marching out and leads the whole city to come with him, leaves the city with nobody in it to defend it, and it makes it easy for these that had been in ambush to go in and burn the place down. What do we learn from that? overconfidence. can lead to defeat.
In fact, we could say self-confidence. If we're trusting it all in ourselves instead of in the Lord, we can rest assured there will be defeat. 1 Corinthians 10, verse 12 says, Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. If you think you're standing, if you feel secure, if you feel strong in yourself, so you're trusting the arm of the flesh, it will surely fail you. And then We've talked about encouragement.
We've talked about Instruction.
Now let's put further emphasis on obedience. We've seen the vivid contrast between obedience and disobedience. Obedience brought victory. at Jericho. and the second visit to AI.
but disobedience on the part of Achen in particular Brought defeat even death to himself and his family. and defeat for the nation Israel. Oh, how vital it is that we are submissive to our Heavenly Father, recognizing Jesus Christ as the Lord of our life, that we are obedient. I would ask you the question. Are you committed?
to being obedient. The old Adam nature's there. It's a total war, is it? attempts to pull you in the wrong direction. Human nature is such that we're just inclined to do things our own way.
Don't want anybody telling us what to do. When you look at your own life, What would be Your observation in all honesty today. Can you say of a truth? By the grace of God, I'm making an effort to walk. in obedience to him.
Yes, I have some struggles because my old human nature is there, and I have the same desire to do what I want to do that others may have, but I want to die to self. I want to be humbled and submissive. to Jesus Christ. That one you declare your independence. Let's say, I like to be my own person, I like to march to my own drummer, I'm going to do things my way.
You can get a lot of people who will support you in that. The people in the world say, yes, that's the way any of us ought to live. We ought to be independent in our thinking and do what we want to do. And so it Causes you to be on a different path if your life is committed to Jesus Christ and you're surrendered and submitted to Him. We can well say with the words of the hymn writer, O to grace how great a debtor Daily I'm constrained to be Let thy goodness like a fetter Bind my wandering heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love. Here's my heart, O taken, seal it, seal it for thy courts above It's prone to wonder. in a weakness of human nature. But we pray, Lord, here's my heart. Seal it for thy courts above.
Obedience means total submission. Not just picking and choosing and deciding here's something I'm willing to do, but there are other things I just don't care for and so I'm feeling justified to neglect them. You can't just make an adjustment if you're going to be a soldier in the Lord's army. There's a If something's too hard, I'm not even going to try to pursue it. If it requires too much of me, if it's too much of a personal sacrifice, if I don't seem to have the time for it, I'm just.
Going to go on my way. I'm not going to be involved. No, if you're obedient. It requires total submission to him. You can't make adjustment because you don't understand.
some of the ways in which God would lead you. Think of how perplexing it was for Abraham when he was told to take Isaac up and offer him as a sacrifice. Isaac Had been born in their old age. Why now would God, after fulfilling a promise, say, offer him as a sacrifice? But of course God Bless that Isaac did not have to die, and a ram was put down in his place, which is a beautiful picture of the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ for us.
And then we think of the story of Naaman the leper. Leprosy, an incurable disease, and there was a little maid in his house that had been taken captive when Naaman had gone after the Israelites. And she said, Would God my Lord were with the prophet in Samaria, because he could recover him of his leprosy. In desperation Naaman decides he's going to go. He takes all kinds of garments and valuable treasures.
thinking that he'll have to pay a price. Surely much will be required. And so he comes with his entourage up to the house of Elijah the prophet. And Elijah sends him word, go dip in Jordan seven times. This military leader is offended.
What do you mean, dipping that old muddy river? We got better rivers back home. We got clear flowing streams. If I'm going to dip, I'll go back home. And I'm going to do it here.
But then another servant comes to him and says, My lord, If the prophet had been they'd do some great thing, you'd have done it. If he'd have said you've got to send back home and get more garments and more gold and more silver, you'd have done it. If he'd have told you you've got to accomplish something great, you'd have done it. Why not wash and be clean? Namon couldn't understand it.
But he did go to the River Jordan. And he dipped himself seven times, and his flesh came into him like that of a little child.
So, you may come to a situation where you say, This is difficult, and I don't understand why God would expect this of me, why would God require this of me? But if it's what God has commanded, It's something that must be done. And then we think of Elijah. As he approached the widow of Zarephath, She's in a desperate situation. There's a bit of famine.
She and her son are near starvation. She said I was just going to make one more cake. We'd eat that and die. That's all we got. The famine has wiped us out.
And Elijah says, make one for me first. Don't you know that must have sounded rather strange? Thought the prophet was supposed to love other people and put others ahead of himself. And he says, Make one for me first. And here comes this word again.
He said, Fear not. Fear not. She obediently made the cake for him. And then God bless that as long as the famine remained. There was meal in the barrel and oil in the cruise, and it didn't run out.
because she obeyed what she couldn't understand. May we recognize our obligation to honor, obey, and serve our God. no matter what the requirements may be. Just as all the inhabitants of Ai had to be slain, so it is in our own experience to slay every sin that does so easily beset us.
Something that you might try to defend and excuse. Say, well, this is just me, this is just my personality. whatever the sin is. whatever the sin. it needs to be put to death.
No compromise to be made. And as we talk about obedience, Obedience Is the indication and sign that you belong to the family of God. Possibly well I was baptized as an infant. Or I joined the church as a young child. But there's no evidence in their life that there's been a change, no transformation.
The evidence that we belong to him is that we are obedient. Jesus said in John 14 verse 21 He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me. And he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him and will manifest myself to him. The one that has my commandments, not just knows what they are, but keeps them. Yeah, the one that Loves me.
Jesus. when he was restoring Peter. asked him three times. Do you love me? Do you love me?
Do you love me? Do you love Jesus? Are you following him? If you've had an experience of grace, You've come to faith in Jesus Christ, but you've never publicly confessed him. You've never followed him in baptism.
Why are you not? obeying his commandment. If you love me. Keep my commandment. in whatever service is required.
May our hearts be filled with love for Jesus Christ. and humble ourselves in total submission to serve and honor him. Mm. What of my birthday sorry? and night Jesus I cry.
Jesus. Jesus I come. Into thy freedom, gladness, and light. Jesus, I come to thee out of my sickness, into thy breath, out of my want, and into thy wealth out of my sin and into thyself, Jesus, I come to thee. As we look at this Old Testament experience and see that after disaster there came blessings to be restored once again, we can be encouraged to know that when we have faltered and failed along the way, there is still hope.
And God has promised that if we confess our sins, He's faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I hope you will join us next week, and until that time, may the Lord richly bless you all. Rosing to thy ball Out of thy storms and into thy call out of distress through tumulent song, Jesus I call to thee. 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. Oh Of unrest and arrogant pride. Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come into thy blessed will to abide. Jesus, I come to thee out of myself to dwell in thy love.
