Welcome to Delight in Grace. The Teaching Ministry of Rich Powell. pastor of Grace Bible Church in Winston-Salem. You can learn a lot about the character of God. Through what he does.
In this message titled You Have Lacked Nothing, Pastor Rich unpacks Deuteronomy two, shedding light on the narrative with biblical history. we can see God's necessary justice and His abundant goodness. This is part 5 of a message which was first preached on April 21st, 2024. Sixth centuries. God waited centuries while the Amorites slowly filled up their own cups of condemnation by their sinful, barbaric behavior.
God never acted impulsively against them. His grace and mercy waited to see if they would repent and turn from their headlong plummet into self-destruction. The forbearance of God. And then the last point here that we need to consider.
Well, let me back up here for a second. 1 Thessalonians chapter 2, verse 16. The Gentiles, that they might be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins, but wrath has come upon them at last, to fill up the measure of their sins. You see, God is a forbearing God. It comes down to this.
Here's a point, a very important point I want you to remember: God's hope. Holiness necessarily limits is forbearance. God's holiness necessarily limits his forbearance. In other words, man can go on and continue being very and more and more and more sinful. And get to the point where there's absolutely no concern for life among them, and every man is utterly consumed with himself, and he will do whatever he wants to any other human for his own pleasure and gratification.
And eventually, that goes on long enough, and eventually, God will say, enough. Away with you. Because he is holy. Because he is good. And he is just.
Lastly, I want us to consider God's election, the election of God. We're speaking of his chosen people Israel here. Let's look at his steadfast love, the steadfast love for his people. Because remember, he has a purpose for them. Election is not arbitrary, but it's with design and purpose and privileges, as we've already considered.
He made a promise to them and to their fathers, and we've already established God is a promise-keeping God. And he promised them this land. I will bring you into this land. I will give you this land. Why?
Because there is a purpose. There's a purpose in all of this. Because you, my people, will be, are called to be a light to the Gentiles. And it is in this land, and through this people. You, Israel, my people, through you, Messiah will come to redeem mankind, to reconcile man to God, and to make all things new.
And because of that, they were under God's protection. It's a big part of what it means to be chosen. That's what Romans 8 is all about. that we are under the protection of God. That God prevents the corruption of his people.
The last illustration today, surgeon.
Sometimes surgeons have to remove limbs. If a limb dies and it becomes full of gangrene. And the surgeon will not hesitate to remove that limb, lest it infect the rest of the body. This is what's going on. This is what's going on.
Well, Rich, this has been nice. I want to leave you with just a few thoughts today. I want to bring it home.
Okay, let's bring this home. Number one, I want you to evaluate. to reevaluate something. We are not going to evaluate God. God's word is to be brought to bear upon our lives.
Here's what I want you to evaluate. What is the starting point? And the object Of my faith. Is it Myself. Or Is it the infinite, sovereign, transcendent?
Holy and good Creator. Is He the starting point of my faith? As he has revealed himself. Or am I the starting point of my faith? Because it's my faith, and I'm going to choose the kind of God I'm going to believe in.
Are you ready to evaluate that? We must know God. in the way that he has made himself known. Lest we worship a God of our imagination. And we will.
Next, I want you to. Afresh. appreciate Three things. Number one, the holiness of God. God is Holy Number two, I want you to appreciate the destructiveness of sin.
And that is something that every one of us battles with, and we should be so thankful. That the Lamb of God came. To do what? to take away the sin of the world. Thirdly, I want you to appreciate on that note the amazingness.
of grace. The judgment of God. Terrifying. And there's only one way. to be safe from it.
And that is in God Himself. That's why Jesus came. That's why Paul's Favorite term in the New Testament was to be In Christ. As he said to the Colossians, your life is hidden with Christ in God. That is profound.
That is the amazingness of grace. If that is true. If that is not true of you. I invite you to speak with me afterwards, with myself or one of the elders. We'll have them standing at the back doors as we conclude today.
But we take you to a room with a round table. You can ask questions. We want to introduce you to the one. who is the Savior of humanity. Our only hope.
But if you are in Christ. Or not. This needs to be reiterated. The only appropriate response to sovereignty. is surrender.
It makes something clear. Jesus didn't come and die. and experience the separation from God.
So that we could be his fans. He's not looking for fans. There's only one appropriate response to sovereignty, and that is surrender. If you have surrendered to him, then you can say, you can reiterate, the Lord. He's my shepherd.
I shall not want. I Lack. Nothing. He is my all. in awe.
Can you say that this morning? Stand with me, please. Father, we are Humbled. By your word this morning. Take your truth and plant it deep in us.
Shape and fashion us. in the likeness of your Son, the Lord Jesus. Thank you, Father, for the hope that is ours in Him. Father, I pray if there's anyone in this room this morning that has not. Surrendered to Jesus in faith.
and found their hope and their forgiveness in Him. Father, that your goodness would draw them to you and lead them to repentance. Do a work among us this morning, Father. That we will appreciate the holiness of God, that we will appreciate the destructiveness of sin. and the amazingness of your grace.
Find us, Father, to be a people that will say, The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. Father, thank you. for what you have done. And for what you will do.
In Jesus' name. Amen. You've been listening to Delight in Grace, the teaching ministry of Rich Powell, pastor of Grace Bible Church in Winston-Salem. To hear this message and others, check out www.delightandgrace.com. to discover how to live by grace.
Tune in with us on weekdays at 10 a.m. Yeah.
