Grace Through Faith
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One of the keys to understanding the truths of the New Covenant is having a revelation of the gift of grace. The apostle Paul gives us clear insight in this matter in Romans chapter 5-6. Romans 4:13, "For the promise that he would be heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith". Verse 16, "Therefore, it is by faith, that it might be by grace, to the end that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not to that only which is of the Law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all". Here Paul indicates the way we enter into grace is through faith.
We need a revelation of the grace of God to understand the New Covenant. We have all heard that grace is unmerited favor. Well, that is true, but it is much more than that. Grace is God's willingness to use His power and His ability on your behalf, even though you don't deserve it. This definition of grace, will challenge you to study the scriptures concerning grace. Paul tells us that it is through faith that you can enter into grace.
Romans 5:1: "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand. In other words, the only way that we have access into God's grace (His willingness) is through faith in His Word and the blood of Jesus His Son.
We cannot merit favor with God through good works as they did under the Old Covenant. They were under the law and they had to keep the whole law or the curses came on them and no one could keep the law to the letter. But under the New Covenant it is no more the works of the law, but it is of faith that we might enter into the promises through grace. Under the law they either measured up to the law or the curses of the law came upon them and it was bad news all over again. However, under the New Covenant (the days of grace) God through His mercy and grace causes us to be justified by faith. We are not justified by what we have done, or what we haven't done but we are justified by faith in the blood of Jesus. It is through this faith that we access the grace of God for the remission of sins.
"Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight; for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law". (Romans 3:19-22,28)
You will notice in every letter that the apostle Paul wrote he says, "Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus". You find that is usually in the first two or three verses but no further than the seventh verse. Grace is God's willingness. Paul wanted us to receive God's willingness toward us. That is where many people miss it today. They have trouble receiving God's willingness; oh they believe God is able, but they are not sure He is willing. They need a revelation of the gift of grace.
Peter refers to grace in the beginning of each of his epistles and gives us more insight in this matter. He says, "Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord". Grace being God's willingness, is multiplied through the knowledge of God. The more you know about what God will do, the more willing God is to do it because it produces faith. It is not that God is not already willing but God's willingness is multiplied when you know what God will do on your behalf.
In Ephesians 2:8 we find a very interesting statement, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God". What gift is Paul referring to here? Many believe it is the gift of faith that Paul mentioned in I Cor. 12:9, but I am convinced that he is referring to the gift of grace. In the third chapter of Ephesians we find strong evidence that it is grace. "If you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to youward". Then in verse seven, "whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of grace of God which was given unto me by the effectual working of His power". It seems rather obvious that the gift he has referred to is the gift of grace. (Eph. 3:2)
Then in Ephesians 4:7 Paul says, "But to every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ". I believe we make a mistake when we say that the scripture in Ephesians 2:8 is referring to the gift of faith. The gift of faith is a special gift and is listed as one of the nine Gifts of the Spirit in I Cor. 12:9.
More Evidence
The death of Jesus ushered in the dispensation of grace. In John 1:14 we see that "the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth". Jesus was full of grace. He was filled with God's willingness. Verse 16 says, "And of His fullness have all we received, grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, grace and truth came by Jesus Christ". (v.17)
Acts 14:3 speaks of the Word of God as the word of grace. Acts 14:2-3, "But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and made their minds evil effected against the brethren. Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands". Here it speaks of the Word of God as being the word of grace.
Now let's put it together. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us - full of grace and truth. For the Law was given by Moses, grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. The Word of God is spoken of as being the word of grace. In other words, the Bible is the Word of God's willingness toward us, for the Word of God is God's will for us.
II Cor. 8:9 says, "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (or you know the willingness of the Lord Jesus Christ) that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich". It was through God's willingness that Jesus became poor that we might be made rich. That includes financially, spiritually, physically and every way.
Now lets look at II Tim. 2:1 where Paul admonishes Timothy to be strong in grace. That is why so many Christians are in trouble, they are not strong in grace. They are strong in knowing God is able to do certain things but not strong in God's willingness to do it for them at the present.
II Peter 3:18 tells us to "grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ". We must grow in grace. Don't stay where you are, as far as God's willingness for you is concerned. As you grow in the grace of God, you realize that God wants you to have the things that He has given you. Peter said: "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord. According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust". (II Pet. 1:2-4)
"But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him". (Heb.11:6) The reason it is impossible to please God without faith is because God is not pleased when you don't have enough faith to enter into the grace that He has already given through the exceeding great and precious promises.
I believe Hebrews 4:16 brings the whole thing into focus by saying: "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, (don't come begging, hoping to God that something will happen, but come BOLDLY) that you may obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need". We shouldn't try to come on our merits. We certainly don't want to come saying, "we want what we deserve", because we don't want what we deserve. It is through faith that we can come boldly to the throne of grace, and obtain.
Under the Old Law they were under a law of works. In Galatians 3:10 Paul said: "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident; for the just shall live by faith". Under the New Covenant, we are not justified by works (we receive reward because of works) but we are justified by faith. Justified means just as if I had not sinned. Therefore, you can come boldly to God's throne of grace and obtain mercy and find grace (God's willingness) to help in time of need.
In Galatians 3:21 Paul asks a question and answers it: "Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise".
The conclusion of the matter can be found in Romans 5:20-21. "Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord". So where sin did abound, grace does much more abound. In other words, (grace) swallowed all our sins. Where sin once did reign now grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. "For if by one man's offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ". (Rom. 5:17)
You can allow sin to reign or you can allow grace (God's willingness) to reign in life through righteousness unto eternal life that is in Christ Jesus. The choice is yours and time is short. Enter into His grace through faith and trust Him and His Promises today
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
The Secret Place
A Sermon Preached by Smith Wigglesworth in 1921
Public Domain - Copy Freely
Back to: Online Books | Teachings
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation. Psalm 91
The crown of life is for the overcomer. It is not for those at ease in Zion. We must be in the place where God can depend upon us to keep going until we see victory, never giving in and knowing no defeat, always making our stand by a living faith and gaining the victory. Faith is the victory.
This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. John 6:29
England once had a war with France. Some prisoners were taken; among them, a drummer boy. Napoleon ordered him to sound a retreat. He said "No!" He had never learned one.
God never wants you to retreat before the enemy, but to learn the song of victory and overcome! Praise the Lord!
There are two kinds of shouts: a shout that is made, and a shout that makes you. There are men of God, but there are also men who are God's men. There is a place where you take hold of God, but there is a better place where God takes hold of you.
Psalm 91:1 says, "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. " Do YOU know the presence of the Almighty? It is wonderful. It is a surety, with no wavering, no unbelief, no unrest there. It is perfect!
Fear the Lord
My great desire is to see men become strong in the Lord by dwelling in the secret place, which is known to all who fear Him.
Now, there are two kinds of fear. One fear involves being afraid of God. I hope you are not there. Unbelievers are there. But the believer should desire, rather, to die than to grieve God by fearing Him in this way.
Fellowship with God, peace, and power -- this is God's will for us, so don't fear that it isn't. No price is too great to pay to have it. It is our inheritance. Christ purchased it for us. Through Him we have the covering of the presence of the Almighty. What a covering the unfolding of His will is!
The secret place of the Lord is with those who fear Him in the second way: with respect and honor. Moses knew something about it. He feared God and said to Him, "If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence" (Exodus 33:15 ).
Oh, to dwell in the secret place, His presence! What will this presence do? It will dare us to believe all God says; assisting us to lay hold of the promises. We will have God so indwelling us that we will become a force, a power of God's abiding, until the time death is swallowed up in victory!
We have a great salvation filled with inspiration. It has no limitations; it makes known the immeasurable wonders of God.
If you are in the experience of verse 1, here is an added substance of faith for you. (It is a fact. And you need to have facts, inward facts, instead of "fearings" or feelings, because you will be beyond anyone's argument when you have them.) There are those who proclaim, "I will say of the Lord, he is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust" (Psalm 91:2 ). Who will say it? He that abideth! He who abides in the Lord knows he can trust in the Lord to protect him from harm.
Free From The Law of Sin and Death
There is no "kick" in the secret place -- no evil temper, no irritability. All is swept away while one is dwelling in the presence of the Almighty; in the covering of God. Even the best of humanity, when from the devil, is not good, and cannot remain in God's presence. Jesus was manifested to destroy ALL the works of the devil (I John 3:8 ).
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh. Romans 8:3
God sent forth Jesus in the mightiness of His power. In flesh and in the midst of flesh, He condemned it. The law of the Spirit of life was destroying all that must be destroyed. Dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God, we then are above all in Him: He that is above all and through all and in you all.
This is a fact, not in human nature, but in God. It is the gift of God from heaven. We belong to the new creation, and we are in a wonderful place in life. It is a life free from the law of sin and death.
Can we keep ourselves there? GOD can keep us there.
He never forgets to keep me,
He never forgets to keep me
My Father has many dear children;
But He never forgets to keep me.
Has He forgotten to keep you? Nay! He cannot forget. God has much in store for you; you are far from being out of His thoughts.
God's Word: Antidote to Evil
There was a time when the children of Israel hung their harps on the willows in defeat. Sometimes the believer does the same. The song of joy leaves his heart. It doesn't have to happen. I have seen thousands delivered from evil powers.
You must be aware that there is a great weakness in the land: It is a lack of knowledge. People hew out cisterns that can hold no water, instead of filling themselves with the Word of God.
You see, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear. . ."(I John 4:18 ). And where is God, who is Love? He is in the Word. He has embodied Himself in the Word. The Word spells destruction to all evil, because God is in the Word, and He is greater than all evil. Therefore, he that dwelleth in love is master of evil situations. He that dwelleth in GOD, in His presence and in His Word, is master of evil situations. We have no fear! We are over every sickness! Ours is a perfect redemption!
Concerning the healing Christ secured for us in redemption, some ask, "Does it last? Does the healing stand good?" Yes! What God does, He does to last forever!
Many years ago, God healed me when all my teeth were decayed and weak. God healed them when I was sixty-two. I am as fresh as a boy! Now, devil, take THAT! Such healing is God's plan, which is better than any other plan!
Some turn from God's plan because of fear. Others throw over God's wonderful plan because of a feeling. The Bible has so many precious promises, with wealth beyond all price, that God has planned for us to have. Seek after God's plan. Don't be unbelieving, for the waverer gets nothing. Real faith is established, never changing, and with it you'll get all God has for you.
Established Faith
"How can I get established faith?" you ask.
Abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Don't change your position, but always have the presence of God, the glory of God. Pay any price to abide under that covering, for the secret of victory is to abide where the Victor abides.
Higher, higher, nothing dreading
Never, never let me stop;
In thy footsteps keep my treading
Give me strength to reach the top.
Jesus has become the Author and the Finisher of your faith. Through faith in Him, you came to the Father, "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation: (Romans 10:10 ). Your life is hid with Christ in God. You have no limitation when the holy breath blows an inward cry after Him.
Oh, do you know His Name? If you do, God will set you on high (Psalm 91:14 ). And you can ask what you will -- communion with Jesus, fellowship divine -- and it shall be given to you! It comes through knowledge of Jesus' Name, not just by whispering it now and then.
Call upon the lord, and he will answer you (Psalm 91:15). Feed upon His Word. To those who do, God hath said, "With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation" (Psalm 91:16). Amen.
A Sermon Preached by Smith Wigglesworth in 1921
Public Domain - Copy Freely
Back to: Online Books | Teachings
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation. Psalm 91
The crown of life is for the overcomer. It is not for those at ease in Zion. We must be in the place where God can depend upon us to keep going until we see victory, never giving in and knowing no defeat, always making our stand by a living faith and gaining the victory. Faith is the victory.
This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. John 6:29
England once had a war with France. Some prisoners were taken; among them, a drummer boy. Napoleon ordered him to sound a retreat. He said "No!" He had never learned one.
God never wants you to retreat before the enemy, but to learn the song of victory and overcome! Praise the Lord!
There are two kinds of shouts: a shout that is made, and a shout that makes you. There are men of God, but there are also men who are God's men. There is a place where you take hold of God, but there is a better place where God takes hold of you.
Psalm 91:1 says, "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. " Do YOU know the presence of the Almighty? It is wonderful. It is a surety, with no wavering, no unbelief, no unrest there. It is perfect!
Fear the Lord
My great desire is to see men become strong in the Lord by dwelling in the secret place, which is known to all who fear Him.
Now, there are two kinds of fear. One fear involves being afraid of God. I hope you are not there. Unbelievers are there. But the believer should desire, rather, to die than to grieve God by fearing Him in this way.
Fellowship with God, peace, and power -- this is God's will for us, so don't fear that it isn't. No price is too great to pay to have it. It is our inheritance. Christ purchased it for us. Through Him we have the covering of the presence of the Almighty. What a covering the unfolding of His will is!
The secret place of the Lord is with those who fear Him in the second way: with respect and honor. Moses knew something about it. He feared God and said to Him, "If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence" (Exodus 33:15 ).
Oh, to dwell in the secret place, His presence! What will this presence do? It will dare us to believe all God says; assisting us to lay hold of the promises. We will have God so indwelling us that we will become a force, a power of God's abiding, until the time death is swallowed up in victory!
We have a great salvation filled with inspiration. It has no limitations; it makes known the immeasurable wonders of God.
If you are in the experience of verse 1, here is an added substance of faith for you. (It is a fact. And you need to have facts, inward facts, instead of "fearings" or feelings, because you will be beyond anyone's argument when you have them.) There are those who proclaim, "I will say of the Lord, he is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust" (Psalm 91:2 ). Who will say it? He that abideth! He who abides in the Lord knows he can trust in the Lord to protect him from harm.
Free From The Law of Sin and Death
There is no "kick" in the secret place -- no evil temper, no irritability. All is swept away while one is dwelling in the presence of the Almighty; in the covering of God. Even the best of humanity, when from the devil, is not good, and cannot remain in God's presence. Jesus was manifested to destroy ALL the works of the devil (I John 3:8 ).
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh. Romans 8:3
God sent forth Jesus in the mightiness of His power. In flesh and in the midst of flesh, He condemned it. The law of the Spirit of life was destroying all that must be destroyed. Dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God, we then are above all in Him: He that is above all and through all and in you all.
This is a fact, not in human nature, but in God. It is the gift of God from heaven. We belong to the new creation, and we are in a wonderful place in life. It is a life free from the law of sin and death.
Can we keep ourselves there? GOD can keep us there.
He never forgets to keep me,
He never forgets to keep me
My Father has many dear children;
But He never forgets to keep me.
Has He forgotten to keep you? Nay! He cannot forget. God has much in store for you; you are far from being out of His thoughts.
God's Word: Antidote to Evil
There was a time when the children of Israel hung their harps on the willows in defeat. Sometimes the believer does the same. The song of joy leaves his heart. It doesn't have to happen. I have seen thousands delivered from evil powers.
You must be aware that there is a great weakness in the land: It is a lack of knowledge. People hew out cisterns that can hold no water, instead of filling themselves with the Word of God.
You see, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear. . ."(I John 4:18 ). And where is God, who is Love? He is in the Word. He has embodied Himself in the Word. The Word spells destruction to all evil, because God is in the Word, and He is greater than all evil. Therefore, he that dwelleth in love is master of evil situations. He that dwelleth in GOD, in His presence and in His Word, is master of evil situations. We have no fear! We are over every sickness! Ours is a perfect redemption!
Concerning the healing Christ secured for us in redemption, some ask, "Does it last? Does the healing stand good?" Yes! What God does, He does to last forever!
Many years ago, God healed me when all my teeth were decayed and weak. God healed them when I was sixty-two. I am as fresh as a boy! Now, devil, take THAT! Such healing is God's plan, which is better than any other plan!
Some turn from God's plan because of fear. Others throw over God's wonderful plan because of a feeling. The Bible has so many precious promises, with wealth beyond all price, that God has planned for us to have. Seek after God's plan. Don't be unbelieving, for the waverer gets nothing. Real faith is established, never changing, and with it you'll get all God has for you.
Established Faith
"How can I get established faith?" you ask.
Abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Don't change your position, but always have the presence of God, the glory of God. Pay any price to abide under that covering, for the secret of victory is to abide where the Victor abides.
Higher, higher, nothing dreading
Never, never let me stop;
In thy footsteps keep my treading
Give me strength to reach the top.
Jesus has become the Author and the Finisher of your faith. Through faith in Him, you came to the Father, "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation: (Romans 10:10 ). Your life is hid with Christ in God. You have no limitation when the holy breath blows an inward cry after Him.
Oh, do you know His Name? If you do, God will set you on high (Psalm 91:14 ). And you can ask what you will -- communion with Jesus, fellowship divine -- and it shall be given to you! It comes through knowledge of Jesus' Name, not just by whispering it now and then.
Call upon the lord, and he will answer you (Psalm 91:15). Feed upon His Word. To those who do, God hath said, "With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation" (Psalm 91:16). Amen.
The Gospel in a Nutshell
The Gospel in a Nutshell!
The day is over, you are driving home. You tune in your radio. You hear a little blurb about a little village in India where some villagers have died suddenly, strangely, of a flu that has never been seen before. Its not influenza, but three of four people are dead, and its kind of interesting, and they are sending some doctors over there to investigate it.
You don't think much about it, but on Sunday, coming home from church, you hear another radio spot. Only they say its not three villagers, its 30,000 villagers in the back hills of this particular area of India, and it's on TV hat night. CNN runs a little blurb; people are heading there from the disease center in Atlanta because this disease strain has never been seen before.
By Monday morning when you get up, it’s the lead story. For its not just India; its Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran and before you know it, you're hearing this story everywhere and they have coined it now as "the mystery flu."
The President has made some comment that he and everyone are praying and hoping that all will go well over there. But everyone is wondering, "How are we going to contain it?" That's when the President of France makes an announcement that shocks Europe. He is closing their borders. No flights from India, Pakistan, or any of the countries where this thing has been seen.
And that's why that night you are watching a little bit of CNN before going to bed. Your jaw hits your chest when a weeping woman is translated from a French news program into English; There's a man lying in a hospital in Paris dying of the mystery flu. It has come to Europe. Panic strikes. As best they can tell, once you get it you have it for a week before you know it. Then you have four days of unbelievable symptoms. And then you die.
Britain closes its borders, but it’s too late. South Hampton, Liverpool, North Hampton and its Tuesday morning when the President of the United States makes the following announcement: "Due to a national security risk, all flights to and from Europe and Asia have been canceled. If your loved ones are overseas, I'm sorry. They cannot come back until we find a cure for this thing." Within four days our nation has been plunged into an
unbelievable fear. People are talking about "What if it comes to this country"? And preachers on Tuesday are saying It’s the scourge of God.
It's Wednesday night and you are at a church prayer meeting when somebody runs in from the parking lot and yells, "Turn on a radio, turn on a radio!" And while the church listens to a little transistor radio with a microphone stuck up to it, the announcement is made. Two women are lying in a Long Island hospital dying from the mystery flu. Within hours it seems, this thing just sweeps across the country. People are working around the clock trying to find an antidote. Nothing is working. California, Oregon, Arizona, Florida, Massachusetts; it's as though it's just sweeping in from the borders. And then all of a sudden the news comes out. The code has been broken. A cure can be found. A vaccine can be made. It's going to take the blood of somebody who hasn't been infected and so, sure enough, all through the Midwest, through all those channels of emergency broadcasting, everyone is asked to do one simple thing: Go to your downtown hospital and have your blood type taken. That's all we ask of you. When you hear the sirens go off in your neighborhood, please make your way quickly, quietly and safely, to the hospitals.
Sure enough, when you and your family get down there late on that Friday night, there is a long line and they've got nurses and doctors coming out and pricking fingers and taking blood and putting labels on it. Your spouse and your kids are out there, and they take your blood type and they say, "wait here in the parking lot and if we call your name you can be dismissed and go home." You stand around, scared, with your neighbors, wondering what in the world is going on and if this is the end of the World. Suddenly a young man comes running out of the hospital screaming.
He's yelling a name and waving a clipboard. What? He yells it again! And your son tugs on your jacket and says," Daddy, that's me." Before you know it, they have grabbed your boy. "Wait a minute. Hold on!" And they say, Its okay, his blood is clean.
His blood is pure. We want to make sure he doesn't have the disease. We think he has got the right type. Five tense minutes later, out come the doctors and nurses crying and hugging one another-some are even laughing.
Its the first time you have seen anybody laugh in a week, and an old doctor walks up to you and says, "Thank you sir. Your son's blood type is perfect. Its clean, it is pure, and we can make the vaccine." As the word begins to spread all across that parking lot full of folks, people are screaming and praying and laughing and crying. But then the gray-haired doctor pulls you and your wife aside and says, "May we see you for a moment? We didn't realize that the donor would be a minor and we need.....we need you to sign a consent form." You begin to sign and then you see that the number of pints of blood to be taken is empty.
"H-h-h-ow many pints?" And that is when the old doctor's smile fades and he says, "We had no idea it would be a little child. We weren't prepared. We need it all!" "But-but. . . .I don't understand. He's my only son!" "We are talking about the world here. Please sign. We-We need it all!" But can't you give him a transfusion?" "If we had clean blood we would. Please, will you please sign?" In numb silence you do.
Then they say, "would you like to have a moment with him before we begin?" Could you walk back? Could you walk back to that room where he sits on a table saying, "Daddy? Mommy? What's going on?" Could you take his hands and say, "Son, your mommy and I love you and we would never ever let anything happen to you that didn't just have to be. Do you understand that?"
And when that old doctor comes back in and says, "I'm sorry, we've got to get started. People all over the world are dying." Could you leave? Could you walk out while he is saying, "Dad?…..Mom?………… Dad?…….Why. . . .Why have you forsaken me?"
And then next week, when they have the ceremony to honor your son, and some folks sleep through it, and some folks don't even bother to come because they have better things to do, and some folks come with just a pretentious smile and just pretend to care. Would you want to jump up and say, "EXCUSE ME! MY SON DIED FOR YOU! DON'T YOU EVEN CARE? DOES IT MEAN NOTHING TO YOU?"
I wonder, is that what God wants to say? "MY SON DIED FOR YOU! DOES IT MEAN NOTHING? DON'T YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I CARE?" Father, seeing it from your eyes should break our hearts. Maybe now we can begin to comprehend the great love you have for us.
So that's the gospel in a nutshell.
The day is over, you are driving home. You tune in your radio. You hear a little blurb about a little village in India where some villagers have died suddenly, strangely, of a flu that has never been seen before. Its not influenza, but three of four people are dead, and its kind of interesting, and they are sending some doctors over there to investigate it.
You don't think much about it, but on Sunday, coming home from church, you hear another radio spot. Only they say its not three villagers, its 30,000 villagers in the back hills of this particular area of India, and it's on TV hat night. CNN runs a little blurb; people are heading there from the disease center in Atlanta because this disease strain has never been seen before.
By Monday morning when you get up, it’s the lead story. For its not just India; its Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran and before you know it, you're hearing this story everywhere and they have coined it now as "the mystery flu."
The President has made some comment that he and everyone are praying and hoping that all will go well over there. But everyone is wondering, "How are we going to contain it?" That's when the President of France makes an announcement that shocks Europe. He is closing their borders. No flights from India, Pakistan, or any of the countries where this thing has been seen.
And that's why that night you are watching a little bit of CNN before going to bed. Your jaw hits your chest when a weeping woman is translated from a French news program into English; There's a man lying in a hospital in Paris dying of the mystery flu. It has come to Europe. Panic strikes. As best they can tell, once you get it you have it for a week before you know it. Then you have four days of unbelievable symptoms. And then you die.
Britain closes its borders, but it’s too late. South Hampton, Liverpool, North Hampton and its Tuesday morning when the President of the United States makes the following announcement: "Due to a national security risk, all flights to and from Europe and Asia have been canceled. If your loved ones are overseas, I'm sorry. They cannot come back until we find a cure for this thing." Within four days our nation has been plunged into an
unbelievable fear. People are talking about "What if it comes to this country"? And preachers on Tuesday are saying It’s the scourge of God.
It's Wednesday night and you are at a church prayer meeting when somebody runs in from the parking lot and yells, "Turn on a radio, turn on a radio!" And while the church listens to a little transistor radio with a microphone stuck up to it, the announcement is made. Two women are lying in a Long Island hospital dying from the mystery flu. Within hours it seems, this thing just sweeps across the country. People are working around the clock trying to find an antidote. Nothing is working. California, Oregon, Arizona, Florida, Massachusetts; it's as though it's just sweeping in from the borders. And then all of a sudden the news comes out. The code has been broken. A cure can be found. A vaccine can be made. It's going to take the blood of somebody who hasn't been infected and so, sure enough, all through the Midwest, through all those channels of emergency broadcasting, everyone is asked to do one simple thing: Go to your downtown hospital and have your blood type taken. That's all we ask of you. When you hear the sirens go off in your neighborhood, please make your way quickly, quietly and safely, to the hospitals.
Sure enough, when you and your family get down there late on that Friday night, there is a long line and they've got nurses and doctors coming out and pricking fingers and taking blood and putting labels on it. Your spouse and your kids are out there, and they take your blood type and they say, "wait here in the parking lot and if we call your name you can be dismissed and go home." You stand around, scared, with your neighbors, wondering what in the world is going on and if this is the end of the World. Suddenly a young man comes running out of the hospital screaming.
He's yelling a name and waving a clipboard. What? He yells it again! And your son tugs on your jacket and says," Daddy, that's me." Before you know it, they have grabbed your boy. "Wait a minute. Hold on!" And they say, Its okay, his blood is clean.
His blood is pure. We want to make sure he doesn't have the disease. We think he has got the right type. Five tense minutes later, out come the doctors and nurses crying and hugging one another-some are even laughing.
Its the first time you have seen anybody laugh in a week, and an old doctor walks up to you and says, "Thank you sir. Your son's blood type is perfect. Its clean, it is pure, and we can make the vaccine." As the word begins to spread all across that parking lot full of folks, people are screaming and praying and laughing and crying. But then the gray-haired doctor pulls you and your wife aside and says, "May we see you for a moment? We didn't realize that the donor would be a minor and we need.....we need you to sign a consent form." You begin to sign and then you see that the number of pints of blood to be taken is empty.
"H-h-h-ow many pints?" And that is when the old doctor's smile fades and he says, "We had no idea it would be a little child. We weren't prepared. We need it all!" "But-but. . . .I don't understand. He's my only son!" "We are talking about the world here. Please sign. We-We need it all!" But can't you give him a transfusion?" "If we had clean blood we would. Please, will you please sign?" In numb silence you do.
Then they say, "would you like to have a moment with him before we begin?" Could you walk back? Could you walk back to that room where he sits on a table saying, "Daddy? Mommy? What's going on?" Could you take his hands and say, "Son, your mommy and I love you and we would never ever let anything happen to you that didn't just have to be. Do you understand that?"
And when that old doctor comes back in and says, "I'm sorry, we've got to get started. People all over the world are dying." Could you leave? Could you walk out while he is saying, "Dad?…..Mom?………… Dad?…….Why. . . .Why have you forsaken me?"
And then next week, when they have the ceremony to honor your son, and some folks sleep through it, and some folks don't even bother to come because they have better things to do, and some folks come with just a pretentious smile and just pretend to care. Would you want to jump up and say, "EXCUSE ME! MY SON DIED FOR YOU! DON'T YOU EVEN CARE? DOES IT MEAN NOTHING TO YOU?"
I wonder, is that what God wants to say? "MY SON DIED FOR YOU! DOES IT MEAN NOTHING? DON'T YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I CARE?" Father, seeing it from your eyes should break our hearts. Maybe now we can begin to comprehend the great love you have for us.
So that's the gospel in a nutshell.
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