In the sermon titled “Some Things Never Change,” Pastor Charles Wetherbee provides a profound reflection on the enduring truths of the Christian faith amidst the shifting landscape of contemporary society. He uses Hebrews 13:8 as a foundational scripture, proclaiming that ‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.’ This powerful affirmation serves as a cornerstone for his message, which emphasizes the stability that faith in Christ provides in a world characterized by change and uncertainty. Wetherbee articulates the reality that while many aspects of life are transient—values, societal norms, and even personal relationships—there are core truths that remain immutable, offering comfort and assurance to believers. The sermon unfolds through a series of points that elucidate the aspects of faith that never change. Wetherbee highlights the perfection of Christ, noting that His holiness is a constant that believers can always rely upon. He then shifts focus to the love of God, which he describes as unwavering and unconditional, reminding his audience that God’s affection does not fluctuate based on human behavior. Furthermore, Wetherbee discusses the truth found in Scripture, asserting that it withstands the test of time and cultural shifts, underscoring the necessity for believers to cling to these eternal truths. The final point addresses the consequences of sin, which are consistent and unaltered, reinforcing the dangers of deviating from God’s commandments. Wetherbee’s message resonates deeply, as he speaks with clarity and conviction about the importance of anchoring one’s life in the unchanging nature of Christ and the truths of Scripture. His insights serve as a reminder that, despite the chaos of the world, there is a refuge in the steadfastness of faith, providing both hope and direction for believers seeking to navigate their spiritual journeys with confidence.
Takeaways:
- In a world of constant change, the sermon emphasizes the unchanging nature of Jesus Christ, highlighting that He remains the same yesterday, today, and forever, providing comfort to believers amidst life’s uncertainties.
- The sermon stresses that God’s love is unwavering and unconditional, asserting that no matter what actions individuals take, they cannot diminish God’s love for them, as expressed in the biblical context.
- Pastor Wetherbee discusses the enduring truth of God’s word, asserting that despite cultural shifts and societal attempts to redefine it, the truth of Scripture remains steadfast and impactful in believers’ lives.
- The consequences of sin are illustrated as consistent and inevitable, emphasizing the principle that one reaps what one sows, which serves as a warning against the deceptive nature of sin.
- Wetherbee encourages listeners to lean on the promises of God, asserting that these promises are reliable and unshakeable, offering a foundation for faith and hope in uncertain times.
- The sermon concludes with a call to remember that while personal circumstances may change, God’s character and His commitment to humanity remain constant, providing a source of stability and assurance.
Transcript
Chapter number 13, Hebrews, chapter number 13.
Speaker A:See if I can get unhooked here.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:I guess there would be very few statements that would be more understated or could never be more overstated.
Speaker A:Is the phrase some things never change?
Speaker A:You ever heard that?
Speaker A:Some things never change.
Speaker A:Most things do change, but some things never change.
Speaker A:There's a hymn that I love very dearly it says Swift to its close Ebbs out little day Earth's joys grow dim and its glories pass away Change and decay in all around I see O Thou who changest not abide with me.
Speaker A:Isn't that wonderful to know that we don't have to worry about God changing?
Speaker A:In Hebrews, chapter 13 and verse number eight.
Speaker A:The Bible says very clearly, Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today and.
Speaker A:And forever.
Speaker A:Look at it one more time.
Speaker A:Read it out loud.
Speaker A:Jesus Christ.
Speaker A:I can't hear you.
Speaker A:Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today and forever.
Speaker A:We live in a changing world.
Speaker A:Obviously, that's an understatement.
Speaker A:The Bible calls it perilous times in which we're living.
Speaker A:Changes in values, changes in definitions isn't that something.
Speaker A:Changes in right and wrong, changes in moral standards, changes in decency and modesty.
Speaker A:We live in a world now where churches are changing constantly changing people are changing.
Speaker A:We change.
Speaker A:Change in all around.
Speaker A:I see.
Speaker A:O Thou who changest not abide with me.
Speaker A:Be very brief tonight and very simple.
Speaker A:Just four things for you to say.
Speaker A:Well, I already know that.
Speaker A:I know the Bible repeats itself a lot of ways and a lot of times.
Speaker A:Because sometimes we know it, but we forget it.
Speaker A:Or sometimes we know it but we hadn't thought about it in a while.
Speaker A:Or sometimes we know it and heard it, but we're not practicing it now.
Speaker A:The first one we've already read, but I think you ought to write it down.
Speaker A:If you take notes, if you don't, that's fine.
Speaker A:Some people don't need to take notes.
Speaker A:My wife says the older I get, the more notes I need to take.
Speaker A:The first note I always write down is, I don't need to write this down.
Speaker A:I'll remember it.
Speaker A:But you still already probably know what it is.
Speaker A:Christ never changes.
Speaker A:Always the same.
Speaker A:Oh, praise his name.
Speaker A:The Bible warns us over and over again.
Speaker A:Put not confidence in man, but we still do it.
Speaker A:But men change.
Speaker A:People whom you thought would never change change.
Speaker A:Sometimes people that you thought would never quit, quit.
Speaker A:Some people that you thought would never turn their back on you have experienced that.
Speaker A:By the way, Jesus did too.
Speaker A:Never lie, never let you down.
Speaker A:Jesus dealt with changes.
Speaker A:He said, I'll never change.
Speaker A:But he dealt with changes in his disciples and changes in the world that he lived in.
Speaker A:He understood about change.
Speaker A:He knew about change.
Speaker A:Jesus is so unchangeable.
Speaker A:His perfection never changes.
Speaker A:s no less tonight than he was:Speaker A:Exactly the same.
Speaker A:Holy, holy, holy.
Speaker A:Still no fault can be found in him.
Speaker A:Jesus is perfect.
Speaker A:And by the way, a lot of us like to say, well, nobody's perfect.
Speaker A:Well, we know Jesus is.
Speaker A:Let me tell you something.
Speaker A:In Jesus, you are perfect.
Speaker A:We know we're supposed to say Amen there, and I appreciate those of you that did, but sometimes we use that as an excuse.
Speaker A:Well, nobody's perfect.
Speaker A:Well, we know that.
Speaker A:What we mean by that is, no one can go without sin.
Speaker A:But we are perfect in Christ.
Speaker A:He made the perfect sacrifice.
Speaker A:And the Bible says one day we will be perfect without sin.
Speaker A:We're being perfected now.
Speaker A:We're going through changes in our life.
Speaker A:And it's God's will.
Speaker A:We're not predestined to heaven or hell, but once he starts, we get saved.
Speaker A:We're predestined to become like Christ.
Speaker A:And God's will is that we become more like Christ every day.
Speaker A:That's the goal.
Speaker A:By the way, what's wrong with wanting to be perfect?
Speaker A:Somebody says, well, nobody's perfect.
Speaker A:Well, you want to be perfect.
Speaker A:What's wrong with setting that as your goal?
Speaker A:Even though you know you're never going to be perfect in this world as far as sin.
Speaker A:But don't you wish you were perfect?
Speaker A:Don't you wish you always said the perfect thing in the perfect way at the perfect time?
Speaker A:Oh, yes, we all do.
Speaker A:His perfection never changes.
Speaker A:His person never changes.
Speaker A:He still cares as much today as he ever has.
Speaker A:Jesus never grows old.
Speaker A:He never gets weak.
Speaker A:He's never tired.
Speaker A:He got tired in his earthly ministry when he was on the earth and he had to sit down and rest a little while.
Speaker A:Isn't that interesting?
Speaker A:The God that's holding this world together.
Speaker A:Jesus Christ got tired during his earthly ministry, because he became fully man.
Speaker A:He was a man.
Speaker A:He got thirsty.
Speaker A:He got tired.
Speaker A:I mean, Jesus felt emotions.
Speaker A:He felt what we feel.
Speaker A:And that's why the Bible says that he's been touched by our infirmities.
Speaker A:He's still seeking today and saving souls.
Speaker A:And Jesus still says, come unto me, all you that are tired and heavy laden, and I'll give you rest.
Speaker A:His perfection's never changed.
Speaker A:His person never changed.
Speaker A:His priorities never changed.
Speaker A:Write this down.
Speaker A:You're his priority.
Speaker A:Do you ever really think about that?
Speaker A:The Bible says the Lord's portion is his people.
Speaker A:You're his pride and joy even when you disappoint him, even when you fail.
Speaker A:And if we sin, God spanks us.
Speaker A:We get our spankets down here, not up there.
Speaker A:We're not going to get spanked in heaven.
Speaker A:I just thought about that.
Speaker A:This week.
Speaker A:God's going to wipe away my tears.
Speaker A:Because as soon as I see Him, I'm going to think to myself, I wish I'd have done a lot more.
Speaker A:One look at his dear face all sorrows will erase.
Speaker A:But you're his priority.
Speaker A:And I'm still His priority.
Speaker A:Even when I do wrong.
Speaker A:I just sang it a while ago.
Speaker A:When I stray, he still loves me.
Speaker A:His heart is broken when we stray, when we fail, when we don't speak up, when we should.
Speaker A:When we don't take time with him, it disappoints him.
Speaker A:You've heard me say it here so many times.
Speaker A:The Lord didn't create us robots.
Speaker A:He's not going to make you pray.
Speaker A:He's not going to make you do anything.
Speaker A:But he still hurts when we're too busy for him, or ashamed of him or busy.
Speaker A:Too busy.
Speaker A:Have you ever had a friend and you really, really needed.
Speaker A:You needed help.
Speaker A:You've been broken and you've been hurting, and I need to talk to you, and you call them up and they say, well, I'm busy right now.
Speaker A:You ever experienced that?
Speaker A:I mean, you just.
Speaker A:You really needed a friend.
Speaker A:And maybe they were busy, maybe they.
Speaker A:They couldn't drop everything.
Speaker A:But, you know, a real friend says, I'll be there as soon as I can.
Speaker A:He may not be able to just drop everything, but he's not going to tell you.
Speaker A:Can we make it some other day?
Speaker A:I'm too busy.
Speaker A:What a friend we have with Jesus.
Speaker A:All our sins and griefs to bear what a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer oh, what peace we often forfeit oh, what needless pain we bear all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.
Speaker A:He's never too busy, but we sometimes are too busy.
Speaker A:And usually it takes most of our life to realize, you know, what I've been so busy about isn't really that important.
Speaker A:And the older you get, the more you start rearranging your priorities.
Speaker A:And you say, you know, this is a lot more important than I used to think when I was 18 or 21 or 35 or 50 or whatever.
Speaker A:I'm not going any higher than that.
Speaker A:His perfection Never changes.
Speaker A:His person, his priorities never change.
Speaker A:The psalmist said, thy thoughts unto me cannot be numbered.
Speaker A:That's hard for this little pea brain to figure out.
Speaker A:All that's going on in the world, and yet Jesus thinks about me.
Speaker A:And you know what the psalmist said after that?
Speaker A:He said, this is too high.
Speaker A:I cannot attain unto it.
Speaker A:It's too high for me to think that my Creator thinks about me.
Speaker A:Jesus said, all power is given unto me.
Speaker A:And that's why he said, let not your heart be troubled.
Speaker A:I wonder how many people have been calmed down by those words since Jesus first said them.
Speaker A:Let not your heart be troubled.
Speaker A:How many hearts?
Speaker A:Why?
Speaker A:Because who said it?
Speaker A:That's why.
Speaker A:If I come to you tonight, say I know you've been having some difficulties, let not your heart be troubled.
Speaker A:It doesn't go over all that great.
Speaker A:But when Jesus says it, that's different.
Speaker A:And he has said it, and he still says it.
Speaker A:Let not your heart be troubled.
Speaker A:Ye believe in God.
Speaker A:Believe also in me.
Speaker A:Come unto me, all ye that are tired and heavy laden, and I'll give you rest.
Speaker A:Jesus said, I never take my eyes off of you.
Speaker A:I never stop thinking about you.
Speaker A:Jesus knew all about how rejection feels.
Speaker A:That's a hard one, isn't it, to be rejected?
Speaker A:He knew about loneliness.
Speaker A:Some of you wouldn't want to raise your hand, probably maybe embarrassed.
Speaker A:But some of you feel sometimes very lonely.
Speaker A:You feel like the Lone Ranger.
Speaker A:Nobody really knows what you're going through.
Speaker A:And if they did, they wouldn't understand.
Speaker A:Jesus knew all about loneliness.
Speaker A:All about it.
Speaker A:He knew what it felt to be lied about.
Speaker A:Jesus knew what it felt like to be misunderstood.
Speaker A:I heard in a song the other day that there's no place you could go that Jesus hasn't already been.
Speaker A:That's a good thought.
Speaker A:When you're all by yourself, walking that road or sidewalk or through the woods or somewhere in a room by yourself.
Speaker A:Jesus says, I've already been here and here I am again.
Speaker A:Jesus never changes.
Speaker A:Number two.
Speaker A:The love of God never changes.
Speaker A:You cannot make God stop loving you if you deny him, if you turn against him, if you leave his will, if you get hurt like a lot of people have, and said, I'll never come back to church the rest of my life.
Speaker A:God still loves them.
Speaker A:It'll never change.
Speaker A:Paul said, I'm persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is In Christ Jesus our Lord, we felt unloved.
Speaker A:We felt, how could he love me after what I did or what I said?
Speaker A:Well, we live by faith, not feeling.
Speaker A:And our faith is in that God said and what he meant and meant what he said.
Speaker A:You've been born again.
Speaker A:If you're saved, you can't be unborn.
Speaker A:And no matter what you do.
Speaker A:And a lot of these people, that's on the other side of salvation by works, they think, yeah, you Baptists think you can get saved and go out and sin all you want to.
Speaker A:I say, well, I'm saved and I go out and sin all I want to.
Speaker A:Because when I got saved, he changed my wants.
Speaker A:I used to want to sin, now I sin.
Speaker A:But a lot of times it's not because I just think that would be a good thing to do.
Speaker A:Did you know in the Quran, I've read parts of it.
Speaker A:I've never read from COVID to cover the Quran, the Bible that they use.
Speaker A:Did you know you won't find anywhere in that Koran Bible that Allah is love.
Speaker A:Not in there, but in our Bible, in the word of God, it says God is love and that he loves us.
Speaker A:He loves us.
Speaker A:It's unlimited.
Speaker A:He says, I just can't love anymore.
Speaker A:I'm just about out.
Speaker A:No, his love is unlimited.
Speaker A:And that's why you find it over and over in the Bible.
Speaker A:Whosoever will let him come, his love was unmatched.
Speaker A:Oh, I love that song.
Speaker A:I hadn't heard it in years.
Speaker A:No one ever cared for me like Jesus.
Speaker A:God's love.
Speaker A:And this is my favorite.
Speaker A:It's unconditional.
Speaker A:Know this.
Speaker A:I love none of this.
Speaker A:I love you.
Speaker A:Unless.
Speaker A:No, there's no unless.
Speaker A:And please, parents, I don't think probably anybody's ever done this.
Speaker A:And most of you that I'm looking at, your kids are about grown.
Speaker A:Some of them are not.
Speaker A:You still have children at home, but don't ever tell your children that if you're bad, Jesus won't love you.
Speaker A:That's not a good thing to drill into their heads.
Speaker A:If we disobey and we do wrong things, even little bitty children, we need to say, you've hurt God's heart, but he still loves you.
Speaker A:His love was unconditional.
Speaker A:No fine print.
Speaker A:The Bible doesn't say that he loved us when we got through with our sin.
Speaker A:No, he said, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Speaker A:And if that wasn't true, we wouldn't be saved tonight.
Speaker A:And God's love is unending.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:Unending.
Speaker A:Can you tell me anything greater and more wonderful than the love of God?
Speaker A:I know he has so many attributes and they're all amazing and glorious.
Speaker A:I know that he's holy and God is all wise and he's all powerful and he's all present and he's always kind and he's always just.
Speaker A:And we can go on and on.
Speaker A:But I still depend more on his love.
Speaker A:That's his nature.
Speaker A:He doesn't make.
Speaker A:Well, I gotta love him.
Speaker A:I told him I would.
Speaker A:No, that's his nature to love you even when you're unlovable.
Speaker A:I'm probably the only one here that's been unlovable.
Speaker A:But sometimes God will spank me and set me on his knee and say, now you know I love you.
Speaker A:I said, yes, sir.
Speaker A:Now don't do that anymore.
Speaker A:Yes, sir.
Speaker A:Now do it again.
Speaker A:He says, come here.
Speaker A:Come here, boy.
Speaker A:Come here, son.
Speaker A:I love you.
Speaker A:Turn over my lap.
Speaker A:I'm going to spank you because I love you.
Speaker A:His love is unending.
Speaker A:And then number three, Christ never changes.
Speaker A:His love never changes.
Speaker A:And number three, truth never changes.
Speaker A:Our world is in our nation especially.
Speaker A:And we're going to be held accountable because the more we know, the more accountable we're going to have to give an account for.
Speaker A:Do you agree with that?
Speaker A:We've had the Gospel for so long and we've had Bibles.
Speaker A:Most people in the world have never seen one.
Speaker A:We know so much that most people will never know.
Speaker A:And to whom much is given, much is required.
Speaker A:The truth.
Speaker A:Even though people today in our country is trying to change truth, the definition and.
Speaker A:And rewrite everything the Bible stands.
Speaker A:We used to have a picture at the church where I used to pastor.
Speaker A:And it was one of my favorite pictures.
Speaker A:It had a picture of an old anvil.
Speaker A:Any of you know what an anvil is?
Speaker A:I guess I don't even know if they're still made out of iron.
Speaker A:I guess you can make them out of lots of things.
Speaker A:But the blacksmith had the anvil and he would put the.
Speaker A:He'd heat up the things that he was doing, the blacksmith.
Speaker A:And then he'd put it on an anvil and he'd start hitting it and he'd have all these different kinds of hammers.
Speaker A:We used to have a picture in our church of this big anvil.
Speaker A:And on the side of it looked like it was chiseled the word of God.
Speaker A:And all around on the floor were broken hammers.
Speaker A:Isn't that a great picture?
Speaker A:Some of you artists ought to draw that that'd be a good thing in the school.
Speaker A:I want all you kids to draw an anvil and broken hammers.
Speaker A:And on the hammers, it would have little words on them, the hammer broke.
Speaker A:On the truth, the word of God.
Speaker A:Truth can never be destroyed.
Speaker A:It.
Speaker A:It could be hidden for a while.
Speaker A:It can be skipped over and it could be.
Speaker A:People say they don't tell the truth, but truth can be buried, but it's still going to come up through the soil one way or another.
Speaker A:Truth can be twisted, but in time it will become untwisted.
Speaker A:Truth can be denied, but it sometimes stands silently for a little while.
Speaker A:And then it speaks.
Speaker A:The truth of the Lord endureth forever.
Speaker A:Time reveals truth.
Speaker A:The truth comes out.
Speaker A:You've heard that, haven't you?
Speaker A:The truth comes out.
Speaker A:We may not live long enough to see it come out, but it's going to come out.
Speaker A:Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life.
Speaker A:You can't break God's truths, God's laws.
Speaker A:You'll break yourself on them.
Speaker A:You see, that's what's happening in our country.
Speaker A:They're changing everything and taking out the commandments and just do what you feel like doing.
Speaker A:Well, is it working?
Speaker A:No.
Speaker A:Our country is breaking itself on the truth.
Speaker A:Kids are breaking themselves on the truth.
Speaker A:Homes and families are breaking into pieces because the truth changes.
Speaker A:It never changes.
Speaker A:The truth always stands.
Speaker A:I'm not telling you anything you don't know.
Speaker A:But time reveals, time uncovers, time exposes, time confirms, time validates, time eventually settles the question.
Speaker A:The Bible says, forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:That's why we have a Christian school to teach truth.
Speaker A:The truth shall set you free.
Speaker A:If they go somewhere else, they're not going to get the truth in most places, in most times.
Speaker A:That's one.
Speaker A:There's.
Speaker A:I could give you a lot of reasons why Heritage has a Christian school, and it ought to be in your prayer list every day.
Speaker A:You never take it for granted.
Speaker A:Had some good reports today.
Speaker A:Encouraging reports from Brother Daniel.
Speaker A:Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall never pass away.
Speaker A:Thy word is true from the beginning, and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth forever.
Speaker A:And then it says, his truth endureth to all generations, every generation.
Speaker A:If they want to know the truth, can find it.
Speaker A:If they don't want to know it, they can't find it.
Speaker A:You find what you're looking for.
Speaker A:People say, I just wish somebody would tell me the truth.
Speaker A:Well, if you have a Bible, if not, let me know.
Speaker A:We'll get you One free.
Speaker A:It's truth.
Speaker A:Everything in it's truth.
Speaker A:Never been proven wrong.
Speaker A:It's been hammered and hit and all the hammers are broken.
Speaker A:It still stands.
Speaker A:The Bible tells the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
Speaker A:You see, what I'm trying to say is in a changing world, you need to fasten yourself with a chain to the word of God and you'll be safe.
Speaker A:I didn't say you won't be tested.
Speaker A:I don't say people.
Speaker A:You'll have to find out what you really believe.
Speaker A:It's one thing to have a Bible, and it's one thing to read the Bible, but it's another thing to believe the Bible.
Speaker A:And you've heard me say it.
Speaker A:What we believe is what we live.
Speaker A:We, we don't live.
Speaker A:The reason we don't live a lot of things in the Bible is because we just say we believe them, but we don't.
Speaker A:When you believe something, it becomes part of your mind.
Speaker A:It's the way your mind works.
Speaker A:There's some things you don't have to pray about because the truth is settled.
Speaker A:It's right there in black and white.
Speaker A:And I believe God has preserved his word.
Speaker A:By the way, let me just mention this word of encouragement and positive.
Speaker A:It's not been put together back there, but I told Brother Tyler, I said, I want you to find me a carousel that you see in stores that has little pockets on it and it can spin around so people other more than one person.
Speaker A:And I said, I got a lot of things I'm gonna put out there for the church.
Speaker A:You can't make anybody take them, but I'm gonna tell you what's available.
Speaker A:And one thing I want to put out there for you is why do we make such a big fuss about the King James version of the Bible?
Speaker A:We've been told that's what we use, but how many of us can really win an argument or convince somebody?
Speaker A:Because most people think those Baptists are all ignorant.
Speaker A:They just been told what to believe, but they really don't know why.
Speaker A:And I got a lot of things that I'm.
Speaker A:And I've gotten them from all different places, but they're basically from the Bible.
Speaker A:It's not what.
Speaker A:Well, this man says.
Speaker A:Our pastor says what matters, what he says, what God says.
Speaker A:And that's why the Bible teaches us, tells us to study the Bible.
Speaker A:I can't get people to just read it, but if we could study it and look up a word and take advantage of your teacher or your preacher and books and Prayer and the Holy Spirit who will guide you into all truth.
Speaker A:But I'm going to try to make that.
Speaker A:One thing that I'd like to do before I'm through here is to make available and in the future, if they're not, don't want them, they'll throw them away.
Speaker A:But people can just keep.
Speaker A:Make more copies and fill them up.
Speaker A:And I couldn't even tell you all the topics and subjects that I hope to put in there.
Speaker A:And again, they're not written by Chuck Weatherby.
Speaker A:There's men that know a lot better, more about the Bible than I do.
Speaker A:And I'm a little ashamed, embarrassed to tell you that, because we can learn as much as we want and I want to learn more.
Speaker A:And I'm still learning and hopefully you are too.
Speaker A:But I think part of a church is not only to tell people what to believe, but why and provide for them helps.
Speaker A:You know, the apostle Paul, when he was in prison, told, I forgot which one.
Speaker A:It was said, bring me the books, bring me my books.
Speaker A:Because he was a student of the word of God.
Speaker A:You don't have to be a professor to know your Bible.
Speaker A:You don't have to be a preacher to know your Bible.
Speaker A:You don't have to teach Sunday school to know your Bible.
Speaker A:You don't have to be 21 to know your Bible.
Speaker A:The truth shall set you free.
Speaker A:Satan's a liar and the father of all lies.
Speaker A:And he's winning in the many times by keeping people ignorant of the Bible.
Speaker A:And now preachers are even afraid to even use the Bible.
Speaker A:Everybody in the church has got a different Bible and they don't match.
Speaker A:And again, they only want to pick and choose, like going to a cafeteria.
Speaker A:I'll take two of those and no way, I don't like that.
Speaker A:And pick up this and that and get down to the end.
Speaker A:And it cost you three times more than you thought because you wanted a bunch of what you like.
Speaker A:We don't go through the Bible and pick what we like.
Speaker A:It's like, I wasn't in the military, but some of you guys in the military back then.
Speaker A:I don't.
Speaker A:I think now it's a lot of that mess hall stuff has changed.
Speaker A:And you can have salad bars and all this, but the cook used to have a cigarette out of his mouth and slap it on a tray and he got, I don't like that.
Speaker A:Too bad.
Speaker A:Don't eat it.
Speaker A:They didn't make the soldiers eat it, but they didn't get a menu slap.
Speaker A:And after a while they got Hungry.
Speaker A:And that's the way a lot of people read the Bible.
Speaker A:But God says, just receive the word of God with meekness.
Speaker A:Lord, show me, tell me, teach me.
Speaker A:The Bible stands like a rock undaunted mid the raging storms of time.
Speaker A:Its pages burn with the truth eternal and they glow with a light sublime.
Speaker A:The Bible stands like a mountain towering far above the works of men.
Speaker A:Its truth by none ever was refuted and destroy it they never can.
Speaker A:The Bible stands every test we give it for its author is divine by grace alone I expect to live it and to prove it and.
Speaker A:And to make it mine.
Speaker A:The Bible stands.
Speaker A:Though the hills may tumble, it will firmly stand when the earth shall crumble, I will plant my feet on its firm foundation for the Bible stands and I'm almost through.
Speaker A:But this is something else I think worth writing down.
Speaker A:And it's not from Brother Wetherby.
Speaker A:I don't know who it's from, but I wrote it down a long time ago.
Speaker A:Here it is.
Speaker A:Everybody wants the truth, but no one wants to be honest.
Speaker A:Boy, that's a mouthful, isn't it?
Speaker A:You better tell me the truth.
Speaker A:Well, what about you?
Speaker A:Well, I got to go.
Speaker A:I got to reorganize my sock drawer.
Speaker A:The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
Speaker A:Sometimes it cuts, sometimes it soothes.
Speaker A:Man.
Speaker A:My wife, bless her heart, she sent me a text today of something that she found, and it was a devotional.
Speaker A:Oh, man.
Speaker A:I said, honey, if you only knew how wonderful that is and how God has used that.
Speaker A:Used that.
Speaker A:If you took the time to send me that.
Speaker A:And she says, I know you're busy today, but if you possibly could take time and listen to this and read this.
Speaker A:And I did.
Speaker A:And I said, honey, I caught her.
Speaker A:I said, wow.
Speaker A:I said, that's a keeper.
Speaker A:We got make sure, you know, on the computer where it says save.
Speaker A:And I listened to it again, walking around in a circle in my office up there a while ago this afternoon, I was just walking around with this thing in my.
Speaker A:Listening to it over again.
Speaker A:It was amazing.
Speaker A:I'm gonna listen to it again tonight.
Speaker A:Sometimes the Bible cuts.
Speaker A:Sometimes it comforts.
Speaker A:Sometimes it counsels us.
Speaker A:It gives us exactly what we've been wondering.
Speaker A:What do I do?
Speaker A:And there it is, right there in black and white.
Speaker A:Oh, I could go on and on.
Speaker A:Jesus never changes.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:The love of God never changes.
Speaker A:Truth never changes.
Speaker A:And last of all, the consequences of sin never change.
Speaker A:The price is never reduced whatsoever.
Speaker A:A man soweth that, shall he also reap sin when it is Finished Bringeth forth death.
Speaker A:Satan is always in the selling business and he never takes cash.
Speaker A:The devil never takes cash.
Speaker A:He wants you to put it on an easy payment plan so that you'll have to be paying payments sometimes the rest of your life.
Speaker A:You know, God can forgive us and forget it.
Speaker A:The Bible says he can cast them in the depths of the sea, Hallelujah.
Speaker A:To remember them no more.
Speaker A:I can't understand all the theology of that, but it sure does make me feel good that God forgives and he forgets.
Speaker A:I'm so glad.
Speaker A:But the devil always wants you to make payments.
Speaker A:He can forgive you.
Speaker A:God can forgive you.
Speaker A:But there'll always be a soreness and sometimes things that you have to live with the rest of your life that you can't, you can't change.
Speaker A:God can forgive you and give you grace to deal with it.
Speaker A:And you can still be joyful and go forward and have a great life.
Speaker A:We all have a past.
Speaker A:I said we all have a past.
Speaker A:We all would like a second chance, but we can't dwell and live in the past.
Speaker A:Most of us would give most anything to change some things.
Speaker A:God says I'll have to take care of that.
Speaker A:You can't.
Speaker A:I forgive you and I'll help you and go on, you get to heaven.
Speaker A:Everything will be fine.
Speaker A:I don't think when a person messes up in their life even before they were saved, I don't think God, because of the kind of parent he is and the loving father that he is.
Speaker A:I don't think that God says, I'm going to make you suffer for this the rest of your life.
Speaker A:No, there may be some suffering, but God gives grace, God gives comfort.
Speaker A:And sometimes we get over it.
Speaker A:And I personally have always believed, and I will believe till my dying day.
Speaker A:In Romans 8:28, all means all.
Speaker A:And God can even use some of our biggest failures for our good and for his glory.
Speaker A:If I didn't believe that, I don't know.
Speaker A:I mean, God knows my heart.
Speaker A:I don't know if I could pastor a day if I didn't believe.
Speaker A:Romans 8:28.
Speaker A:I don't always practice it.
Speaker A:I still sometimes worry about things when God already said, hey, it'll work out.
Speaker A:I'm wise, I know what I'm doing.
Speaker A:I love you.
Speaker A:I can see 10 miles.
Speaker A:I can see all the way to the end of the road.
Speaker A:All you can see is from here to that pine tree.
Speaker A:There's no pine trees around here.
Speaker A:I planted two in my yard because I love them and I love to Rake the straw and all that stuff.
Speaker A:But I love pine trees.
Speaker A:I was raised around pine trees.
Speaker A:What's that got to do with anything?
Speaker A:But I believe all means, all sin is deceitful.
Speaker A:First we overlook it evil.
Speaker A:Then we permit it.
Speaker A:Then we celebrate it.
Speaker A:Then we persecute those who still call it evil.
Speaker A:Sin's deceitful in its promise.
Speaker A:It's deceitful in its product.
Speaker A:It's.
Speaker A:It's deceitful in its price.
Speaker A:It's deceitful in its picture.
Speaker A:Exhort one another daily while it is called today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Speaker A:And then I think, I didn't lie to you.
Speaker A:I thought it was four, but I forgot I wrote one at the end.
Speaker A:The promises of God never change.
Speaker A:The promises of God.
Speaker A:I live on them.
Speaker A:I think most of you do.
Speaker A:I live on them.
Speaker A:I say, lord, you promised.
Speaker A:I don't know when or how, but yout promised.
Speaker A:I read it and you put it there and you'd perform.
Speaker A:You don't just make the promises.
Speaker A:You perform what yout promise.
Speaker A:It may not be my way and it may not be my time.
Speaker A:Being fully persuaded that what he had promised, he was able to perform.
Speaker A:I like that song.
Speaker A:Standing on the promises.
Speaker A:Sometimes things change.
Speaker A:But there are some things that never change.
Speaker A:And you ought to be thankful.
Speaker A:You want to be safe and sound.
Speaker A:You want to succeed, you want to prosper.
Speaker A:Then believe the promises of God.
Speaker A:They're unshakable.
Speaker A:God is unshakable.
Speaker A:But thank God, he's not untouchable.
Speaker A:When we're touched, he's touched.
Speaker A:That's what it says in the Book of Hebrews.
Speaker A:Our high priest who feels what we feel.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:Let's stand to our feet, heads bowed, eyes closed for just a moment.
Speaker A:I want to have just a brief word of invitation.
Speaker A:If no one comes, we may not need to sing a second verse.
Speaker A:But we'll sing as long as people come.
Speaker A:And maybe you already knew all these points, you knew about all these stuff that never changes.
Speaker A:But maybe you forgot one or two of them.
Speaker A:Or you felt like God's mad at you and he doesn't love you anymore.
Speaker A:And he loves you more than he can't love you more then he loves you.
Speaker A:Maybe you have a burden you want to bring to the Lord.
Speaker A:Lay it down.
Speaker A:I know you prayed and prayed and prayed, praying day and night for your church.
Speaker A:You can't over pray.
Speaker A:Maybe you like to come and pray.
Speaker A:Pray for our missionaries or whatever.
Speaker A:Got some things going on on the job.
Speaker A:Your marriage is getting a little shaky.
Speaker A:If you.
Speaker A:The kids are wandering in the wrong direction.
Speaker A:God's made promises about all of those things, every one of them.
Speaker A:And maybe you'd like to come and say, lord, help me.
Speaker A:Help me not just to hold onto the promises, Lord, but help those promises to hold up onto me.
Speaker A:I'm going to pray and we'll sing a verse of invitation.
Speaker A:Heavenly Father, thank you for your word that never changes, and your love and your promises and the truth and all these things.
Speaker A:Lord, help us to live daily on the truth and by the truth and for the truth.
Speaker A:In Jesus name I pray.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:Heads are bowed.
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