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 government, the triumphs of this race. This is Le Sherry Bradley Jr. inviting you to stay tuned for another message of God's sovereign grace.
Uh So firm of foundation, ye saints of the Lord is laid for your faith in his excellent word. What more can he say than to you he has said you unto Jesus forever you shall fled Feanon I am with thee, oh be not dismayed for I am thy God and will still give thee. I'll strengthen thee help thee and cause thee to stand up held by my rights on his wallet hand when through fiery tribals thy pathway shall lie my grace also sufficient shall be thy supplied Shall not hurt thee, I only design thy thrust to consume and thy bro to refine the soul that on Jesus still leans for repose I will not, I will not desert to his post that song though should Never to shake I'll never know for the same We continue today with the message promises and precepts And I hope you can see how much Practical information is contained in these admonitions. And then Hebrews chapter 10, verse 23. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering.
For he is faithful. That promise.
Now when he speaks of Holding fast the profession of our faith is not just talking about the fact that you came forward and publicly confessed Christ and professed him to be your Savior. He's talking about the whole scope of the Christian life. The way you live. Your profession as being a follower of Jesus Christ. Hold fast.
Hold fast. the profession of your faith without wavering. Don't falter, don't give in, don't compromise with the world, and he tells you. Why you can do this. For he is faithful that promise.
God has promised to be with you, to be your support, to be your strength. That when you draw nigh to him, he'll draw nigh to you. And so, since he Yes. Sightful? and has promised we can rely upon that promise.
1 Corinthians Chapter 1, verse 9 says, God is faithful by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. God is faithful. You can depend on it. You many times will not understand the ways of the Lord. But you can depend upon him keeping every promise.
Fulfilling every covenant. He is faithful. Promises. Not only to comfort us, the promises are indeed comforting. We can be troubled by many things.
the situations that we are encountering and facing in life, sometimes by our own inward struggles, where the psalmist spoke of sinking in deep mire where there is no standing, but the promises are a comfort. to know that when we reach that place, that there's hope and there's help for us. They give us strength. to be able to go forward. in combat, in the spiritual warfare.
They encourage us. giving us the courage we need in the service of God. And then After seeing the promises given, There are precepts. Given as well. In our human nature, We're prone to go to one extreme or another.
Seems that it's always a challenge to stay in the Narrow way of truth and righteousness. What do I mean by that?
Well A person may say, I love the promises of God. I love to read about the sovereignty of God. I love to read about His grace and mercy and what He's done for me. And they come to the conclusion that because God has made all these promises, There's nothing really for me to do. Then somebody else goes to the precepts and sees all of the things that we're enjoined to do.
And they forget that all of this is based first on what God has done for us and on His promises and on His grace. But we need both of them. Because they're both Biblical truths. Joshua was given A precept, given instruction. That sixth verse to which we've already referred says, Thou shalt hop their horses and burn their chariots with fire.
He wasn't given an option. Didn't say if you don't feel comfortable with that kind of destruction, you can stop short of it. No, this is what is to be done. Show. This was very much in harmony with what had been the case before.
God gave instruction. when they came to the crossing of the River Jordan. He gave instruction when they came to march around the city of Jericho. And God gives Precepts. commandments, teachings, instructions today.
for all of us as believers. Here's an example, James chapter 4 verse 8. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners, and purify your hearts, ye double-minded.
Now, obviously, that doesn't suggest that a person who is alienated from God, dead in trespasses and in sin, is going to be able to purify his heart by an act of his free will. He's talking to people who are children of God. And he says, clench your hands. See to it that you remove that from your life which is unclean, and that which is hindering you in your service to God. Purify your hearts.
How do you do that? By confessing your sin. by overcoming the entanglements with the things of this world. And he says, do this, ye double-minded.
So obviously, he's acknowledging that there's times that people may say all the right things. And say this is the way I want to live. But they're back and forth. They're double-minded. They're not totally committed.
Now, somebody might say, well I'm not sure about this when it says purify your heart. I know the Bible says that the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Who can know it? But um I I really believe I I have a Of a good heart. I'm a kind person.
I try to be a nice person. But because the heart is deceitful, you may not be aware of all that is in it. Therefore, we find in Psalm 139, verse 23, this prayer: Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me. and know my thoughts, and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Search me. Lord I need help. I have Try to examine my heart, but I probably don't do a very good job.
So I pray, Lord, search me, make me to know. Spurgeon We keep God's testimonies, they will keep us. Right in opinion. comfortable in spirit. Holy in conversation.
Hopeful. in expectation. End of quote. As you pray, Lord, search me. Try me.
Make me to know what's within me. You may find that some of those sins Described in Colossians chapter 3. We read from that last time. You may discover that some of those sins recorded in Ephesians chapter four. Our There.
But you've tried to ignore them. You haven't wanted to deal with them. Paul speaks of inordinate affection. refers to sexual sin. The original language has connected with it the whole thought of pornography.
What about The Deep Sands. That maybe you want to ignore rather than to confess and ask God's forgiveness. Psalm 119, verse 37 says, Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity.
Now there's no need to pray that prayer. And then turn around and watch a video. Our T V program. or some other source Where there's That which is improper. Ungodly.
tending to stir the lust of the flesh. If you pray it. Then you want to adhere to it in your conduct. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity. What about covetousness?
Covetousness is greed. I want more. I want more than what I have. I really want to have more than what other people have. Covetousness is described as idolatry.
Make an idol. Out of a job, out of money, out of material things, out of a house, out of a lot of things. Covetousness. What about Anger. Is there any deep-seated anger in your heart that you have not dealt with?
It comes as a result of Shelf pity. I feel like I haven't gotten the recognition that I deserve. I see other people have a lot of good things happen to them and I'm just... Got left out. and you're angry over it.
It's connected with pride. I want recognition. I want to be appreciated. And So there's resentment because you don't get what you want. even a desire for revenge.
Malice. Biggers. And I've used a message on the radio. about bitterness. invariably.
I'll receive mail. from one or more persons who say, I didn't really realize I was bitter till I heard that message. Bitterness. springs up in defiles of many. Not only harms the person who is bitter, it harms everybody that they have a relationship with.
Bitterness needs to be rooted out. It's an unforgiving spirit. This person has disappointed me, upset me, hurt me. spoken against me. How can I forgive them?
And yet In the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples, he said, We pray, forgive us our debts, even as we forgive our debtors. Envy.
So easy. For that to be down deep inside. Plus, I never want to admit that I'm envious. But if you're praying, Lord, search me, try me, make me to know what's within me, you may find that it surfaces, and you see there's jealousy deep within. Or it may be the sin of self-righteousness.
You sit back with the feeling, well I haven't done anything all that bad. And you see a lot of other people that you feel like have numerous faults and failures and Now, you would never be like the Pharisee Jesus talked about who prayed out loud and said, I thank thee, Lord of heaven, that I'm not as others, I'm not unjust, and I'm not an extortion. I'm certainly not like this publican. You wouldn't pray that out loud. You know better.
But down deep in your thinking. That's how you think. That's how you feel. Self-righteousness, Phariseeism is a sin.
So you have an enemy. And you need to deal with it. Worry. Worry is a sin. It's very easy to give in on that point and say, well, that's just me.
I'm just a weak person. I just can't help it. No, worry is a sin.
So, you have a clear. Declaration from the Lord. that the sins that have plagued you and are plaguing you. need to be dealt with. that you need to see to it.
that you're searching your own heart and praying that God will search it and that you will be cleansing your hands and your heart. Sin of doubt. Instead of complaining. Might never look on complaining as being a sin. It's a big sin with God.
Because When the children of Israel complained in the wilderness, there were multitudes destroyed of the destroyer. God. does not like complaining.
Well There we have the battleground. I know we wrestle against Flesh and blood, spiritual weakness in high places. And I know there are many things out there at a distance from us, but. Generally the biggest battle we face is right inside. Right with our own sins.
And he says. Purify. your heart. Here is a declaration. to us, instruction given.
Philippians chapter 2, verse 12. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. And that doesn't mean you work for salvation, you work to obtain eternal life. Eternal life is a gift. But God has given you salvation.
Now you are to work it out. with fear and trembling. You've got to be serious about it. This isn't something that I just say, well, okay, I had an experience of grace, I'm a Christian. And then you kind of set that on the shelf as though there's uh no further Involvement, nothing required of you.
Work out your own salvation. But look what follows. Here's the promise connected with it, verse 13. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.
So you're not owned. It's not left to the strength and energy of the flesh. You are to be diligent, you are to work, you are to labor, you are to do it with fear and trembling, but you have the reassurance that God is working in me. both the will and the do of his good pleasure. 1 Timothy 6, 12.
Paul says, fight the good fight of faith. You might say, well, that was addressed to a young preacher. Maybe that's just talking about preachers.
Well, certainly it was addressed to Timothy particularly, but it's for all of us. We're engaged in a battle. 2 Timothy 2, verse 3 says, Thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Endure hardness. Many a professed Christian today doesn't want to have to endure anything that's hard.
They don't want to have to cope with anything that's difficult and challenging. I got the idea that becoming a Christian, life's going to smooth out. I'm expecting to be carried to heaven, as the hymn writer says, on flowery beds of bees. I want peace and joy and everything just to. fall out to me in pleasant places.
So many Christians forget. They're engaged in a warfare. We need to always keep it in mind. that there is a battle. A daily battle.
to be fought. Sad to say, Some Christians Feel that it's a noble part of the battle when they're fighting against other Christians. That's not the battleground. We're to battle against Satan and his devices, against the world and its structure, against the sins of our own heart. that we might live to the glory of God.
Hebrews chapter twelve, verse one Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that set before us. The Christian life is not one of indifference, complacency, inactivity. He's talking about you're engaged in a battle, you're to run a race. That takes. To effort to keep running, running the race with patience that is set before us.
Now how are you going to do that? Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Verse 3: For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Yes, you can become weary running the race and say, I just can't make it. I'm just giving out.
You're able to run the race because you're looking to Jesus. You're remembering what he endured. And Therefore, you press on. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. There's a concept referred to as quietism.
The idea is I don't have to fight against sin. I just let go and let God. I just give up and turn it all over to him and I'm not involved. That's not a biblical concept. He's talking about the necessity of striving against sin.
running a race, being involved in a battle. But then finally we come and see the victory won. Joshua? Not only relied on the promise, he accepted the precept, the instruction, the commandment that was given him, action was taken. And so just as he had had victory at Jericho, At Ai and against the five kings, he now has victory over Jabon.
So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him against them by the waters of Merim, suddenly. This was startling to Jaben. He hadn't expected this. He wasn't expecting that he was going to be attacked so quickly. And they fell upon them.
And the Lord delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smote them and chased them unto the great Zeitman. And they smote them until they left none remaining. Total, complete victory. It was victory because they relied on the promises of God, that is the power of God depended upon Him, but they obeyed, fulfilling the precept, obeying the commandment, doing what God had commanded. And there's victory.
that you can have. Romans 6:14, for sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law, but under grace. And that doesn't mean that a person is going to be able to live a sinless life. I've heard people suggest that the old man, the old Adam nature had been eradicated. There's no hint of that in Scripture.
We're admonished repeatedly to live righteously and godly in this present evil world. We're told to sin not. It simply means that sin is not going to enslave you any further. That by the grace of God in you, by the enabling power of the Holy Spirit, you can resist temptation, you can overcome sin, so it shall not have dominion over you. This doesn't come about by sheer willpower, but by your connection and relationship with Jesus Christ.
John 15, 5, Jesus says, I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit, for without me ye can do nothing.
So, we're to be active, we're to be laboring, but at the same time we acknowledge without him, we can't do anything that's worthwhile. We can't accomplish anything that's to His glory, so we must abide in Him. And we remember the words of the Apostle in Philippians 4.13, I can do all things through Christ. which strengtheneth me. Promises.
and precepts. Joshua did two things. They believe the promises of God. And you obeyed the The precepts. He fought this battle depending not on himself, not on the strength of his army.
but on God's power. And you two. can enjoy victory. When you believe God's promise. and depend on his power.
As you move forward, in his service as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Willing to endure hardness, difficulty, trials. Because your trust is in the Saviour. Jesus Christ. And You can look forward to final victory.
not being defeated along the way. But Victory is out there. Philippians 1.6. 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. He will complete the work.
You may experience a failure. like Joshua did. at the first visit to AI. or like Peter did. When Jesus was arrested.
But the Lord will complete the good work in you. that he has begun. The enemy was faced. Promises made. Precepts given.
Victory won. Yes, in spite of the fact we may sometimes feel cast down, feel defeated. Victory can still be ours when we realize That we can do all things through Christ, which strengthens us. Without me, says Jesus, you can do nothing, but with him, All the things. or possible.
Heavenly Father, we give thanks for the truth of thy word. Pray that thou would bless by thy Holy Spirit that it may be applied in all of our lives. that we may live in complete dependence upon Thy power, Thy grace, resting in thy promises, not doubting thy word, But go forward. trusting thee that we may be able to fulfil thee. instructions that are so clearly given us in thy word.
May it be our prayer today that we say, Lord, search me, try me, make me to know what's within me. and bless us to be able to purify our hearts. by confessing our sin, turning from our sin. to live righteously in this present evil world. Bless each one who has listened today Each one with physical needs, spiritual needs, special burdens.
Bless us the world over in this difficult time. We recognize thy sovereignty That As we face this trial, We know thou art on the throne. And we look to Thee for the support and strength and wisdom and guidance we need. Hear us, for Jesus' sake, Amen. Be still by storm.
The Lord is on thy side. Bear patiently, the cross of grief forp. Thank you for listening today. I'm glad you've been with us. If you want us to continue, we need your help.
We only have support as our listeners provide it. And with some of the stations, the support has declined of late.
So if you want us on your local station, Please try to help us at this time, and as you write, mention the call letters of that station. Runs at Baptist Bible hour. Box 17037, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45217. Until next week at this same time, may the Lord richly bless you all. Please do a joy.
The Baptist Bible Hour has come to you under the direction of Elder Lassaire Bradley, Jr. Address all mail to the Baptist Bible Hour, Cincinnati, Ohio, four five two one seven. That's the Baptist Bible Hour, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45217. Peace. You might still wise God of the day to thy love and the future as in earth of thy government as the longing sin.
