“Our Substitute” is part of the “Paying Ransoms and Making Deals” sermon series, focusing on the central theme of Jesus Christ as the ultimate substitute for humanity’s sins. Drawing from Isaiah 53 and other key scriptures, the sermon emphasizes that no religion, human effort, or sacrifice can replace the perfect substitution of Jesus on the cross. Through His willing sacrifice, Jesus bore the punishment for sin that we deserved, offering salvation to all who believe. The message explores how Christ fulfilled the role of substitute in both prophetic and sacrificial symbolism, making Him the only one who could redeem mankind.
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Isaiah 53:4 Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we
esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.
Isaiah 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our
iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes
we are healed.
1 Peter 2:24 Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having
died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
Galatians 3:13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become
a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”),
Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for
the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God,
might taste death for everyone.
I should have been crucified, I should have suffered and died
I should have hung on the cross in disgrace, but Jesus God’s Son took my place
Romans 8:31 “… If God is for us, who can be against us?
I. THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR THE SUBSTITUTE.
Romans 10:1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that
they may be saved.
Romans 10:2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not
according to knowledge.
Romans 10:3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to
establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness
of God.
Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone
who believes.
Religion is no substitute for the Substitute.
John 16:2 ” … Yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers
God service.
Mark 10:18 “… No one is good but One, that is, God.
Human effort is no subsitute for the Substitute.
Galatians 2:21 “… if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.
The worst form of badness is human goodness when that human goodness
becomes a substitute for the new birth .
Isaiah 64:6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like
filthy rags;
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves;
it is the gift of God,
Ephesians 2:9 Not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Acts 2:23 Him, …you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;
II. THE SINNER MUST HAVE A SUBSTITUTE.
Genesis 3:21 Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and
clothed them.
The ram substituting for Abraham’s son Issac symbolized Jesus.
Genesis 22:11 But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and
said, “Abraham, Abraham!” So he said, “Here I am.”
Genesis 22:12 And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything
to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son,
your only son, from Me.”
Genesis 22:13 Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him
was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram,
and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.
The animal sacrifices symbolized the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus.
Leviticus 1:2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When any one of
you brings an offering to the Lord, you shall bring your offering of the livestock—
of the herd and of the flock.
Leviticus 1:3 ‘If his offering is a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male
without blemish; he shall offer it of his own free will at the door of the tabernacle
of meeting before the Lord.
Leviticus 1:4 Then he shall put his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it
will be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him.
The Scapegoat was a symbol of the Substitute Jesus.
Leviticus 16:20 And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and
the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat:
Leviticus 16:21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat,
and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their
transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall
send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:
Leviticus 16:22 And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not
inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.
W.D. Davies in his book “Paul and Rabbinic Judaism,” says that in the Temple
at Jerusalem, every year there were sacrificed 1,093 lambs, 113 bulls, 37 rams,
and 32 goats.
Hebrews 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take
away sins.
III. JESUS IS THE SINNER’S ONLY SUBSTITUTE.
John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold!
The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for
the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God,
might taste death for everyone.
1 John 1:7 “… and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
Bruce Springsteen (quote)
“As I grew older, sometimes I wondered who went in my place. Somebody did.
What was his fate? Did he live? I’ll never know. Maybe it was another dose of
my survivor’s guilt … over those who went and fought in my place.”
IV. JESUS WAS THE WILLING SUBSTITUTE.
John 10:17 “… I lay down My life that I may take it again.
John 10:18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it
down, and I have power to take it again.This command I have received from My Father.”
“Trading Places” is part of the “Paying Ransoms and Making Deals” sermon series. This message focuses on the extraordinary grace of Jesus Christ, who traded His riches for poverty to redeem humanity. Based on 2 Corinthians 8:9, the sermon explores how Christ’s sacrifice allows believers to become spiritually rich through His poverty. The themes of grace, sacrifice, and spiritual wealth are central, and listeners are reminded of the importance of giving, humility, and the true riches that come from a relationship with Christ.
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2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though
He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty
might become rich.
2 Corinthians 8:9 (MSG) You are familiar with the generosity of our Master,
Jesus Christ. Rich as he was, he gave it all away for us—in one stroke he became
poor and we became rich.
“RAGS TO RICHES”
“RAGS TO RICHES TO RAGS”
According to a Sports Illustrated article, 60 percent of former NBA players are
broke within five years of retirement.
By the time they have been retired for two years, 78% of former NFL players have
gone bankrupt or are under financial stress.
RICHES TO RAGS TO RICHES
1 Corinthians 2:9 “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart
of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
Romans 8:16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of
God.
Romans 8:17 And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ,
John 14:2 In My Father’s house are many mansions ….
John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you
to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
I. HIS GRACEFUL REASON.
2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ …
An acronoym for GRACE is God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense
The VOICE translation of 2 Corinthians 8
2 Corinthians 8:1 Now, brothers and sisters, let me tell you about the amazing gift
of God’s grace that’s happening throughout the churches in Macedonia.
2 Corinthians 8:2 Even in the face of severe anguish and hard times, their elation and
poverty have overflowed into a wealth of generosity.
2 Corinthians 8:3 I watched as they willingly gave what they could afford and then
went beyond to give even more.
2 Corinthians 8:4 They came to us on their own, begging to take part in this work
of grace to support the poor saints in Judea.
2 Corinthians 8:5 We were so overwhelmed—none of us expected their reaction—
that they truly turned their lives over to the Lord and then gave themselves to support
us in our work as we answer the call of God.
2 Corinthians 8:6 That’s why we asked Titus to finish what he started among you
regarding this gracious work of charity.
2 Corinthians 8:7 Just as you are rich in everything—in faith and speech, in knowledge
and all sincerity, and in the love we have shown among you—now I ask you to invest
richly in this gracious work too.
2 Corinthians 8:8 I am not going to command you, but I am going to offer you the
chance to prove your love genuine in the same way others have done.
2 Corinthians 8:9 You know the grace that has come to us through our Lord Jesus
the Anointed. He set aside His infinite riches and was born into the lowest
circumstance so that you may gain great riches through His humble poverty
It is grace responding to grace.
Luke 6:38 (PHILLIPS) Give and men will give to you—yes, good measure, pressed
down, shaken together and running over will they pour into your lap. For whatever
measure you use with other people, they will use in their dealings with you.
Phillip Yancey’s in his book entitled What’s So Amazing about Grace?
“I rejected the church for a time because I found so little grace there. I returned
because I found grace nowhere else.”
II. HIS PLENTIFUL RICHES.
2 Corinthians 8:9 He was rich …
III. HIS MEANINGFUL RAGS.
2 Corinthians 8:9 “… yet for your sakes He became poor, …”
Thomas Aquinas said,
“The appropriateness of the life of poverty which Christ led is based on the fact
of 2 Corinthians 8:9. We too should take a vow of poverty because Christ lived
such a poor life, as indicated in this verse.”
Luke 18:22 “… Jesus said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and
distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
Deuteronomy 15:11 For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command
you, saying, ‘You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your
needy, in your land.’
Matthew 26:11 For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always.
Galatians 2:10 They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing
which I also was eager to do.
Luke 9:58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests,
but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
2 Corinthians 8:9, For you …. for your sakes… that you might be rich
IV. HIS NEEDFUL REARRANGEMENT.
2 Corinthians 8:9 ” … that you through His poverty might become rich.”
Televangelist Joseph Prince explains it:
On the cross, Jesus bore the curse of poverty! That is what the Word of God
declares: Read 2 Corinthians 8 for yourself. The entire chapter is about money
and being a blessing financially to those who are in need. So don’t let anyone
tell you that the verse is referring to ‘spiritual’ riches.”
Televangelist Kenneth Copeland (quote)
“Is it God’s will for every Christian to be financially blessed?
God does not want you poor and miserable. He wants you blessed.
If you are born again, as a joint heir with Christ, all God’s resources belong to you.
This isn’t just religion; it’s New Testament reality! When Jesus went to the cross,
He totally defeated poverty on your behalf once and for all. As 2 Corinthians 8:9 says …
Notice that verse doesn’t say He did it so you would just have your needs met.
It says He became poor so that you might be rich! This is God’s will for you! ”
Lawyers for Hunt claimed more than $75 million worth of damages.
Those damages, according to court documents filed in the case, include
* a loss of $610,000 in annual income and benefits,
* a loss of $360,000 a year in book sales,
* a loss of $350,000 in speaking fees and an additional $80,000 in other lost income,
* for a total of $1.4 million a year.
The lawyers also claim that Hunt intended to work for 11 years—or until he
was 80—when the Guidepost report was published—for a total alleged loss
of $15.4 million.
No supporting documents were included to substantiate those claimed losses.
The court filing also claims at least $30 million in reputational harm and at
least $30 million in emotional distress
Revelation 3:17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have
need of nothing’–and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor,
blind, and naked–
2 Corinthians 8:9 ” … that you through His poverty might become rich.”
1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust
2 Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might
become the righteousness of God in Him.
2 Corinthians 8:9 For YOU know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though
He was rich, yet for YOUR sakes He became poor, that YOU through His poverty
might become rich.
“It’s All About Soul” is part of the sermon series “Paying Ransoms and Making Deals,” focusing on the eternal value of the soul as referenced in Matthew 16:26. This sermon examines what it means to search, appraise, sell, and ultimately save the soul. Through an exploration of key Biblical passages, it emphasizes that while the world offers temporary gains, only Jesus can save and give us a new identity in Him. The sermon encourages listeners to recognize the unmatched worth of their soul and the ultimate sacrifice Christ made for its salvation.
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Matthew 16:26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses
his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
Quote
“It’s hard to imagine these experiments getting any serious attention from the scientific
community today. But the lines of thinking that led to them — and the reactions they
generated — remain with us to this day.
We’re still profoundly ignorant today, as any honest scientist will tell you.
According to scientific consensus, the soul does not exist and cannot be weighed.”
I. A SOUL SEARCHER.
Matthew 16:26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses
his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
Proverbs 11:30 ” … He who wins souls is wise.
Soul searching is defined as a penetrating examination of one’s motives,
convictions, and attitudes.
The person who never searches the soul will never find the need to save the soul.
II. A SOUL APPRAISER.
Matthew 16:26 For what PROFIT is it to a man if he GAINS the whole world, and loses
his own soul? Or what will a man give in EXCHANGE for his soul?
1) THE SOUL’S CREATION.
Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed
into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship,…”
2) THE SOUL’S DURATION.
Revelation 20:15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the
lake of fire.
3) THE SOUL’S DISTINCTION.
4) THE SOUL’S APPRECIATION.
Luke 19:10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
III. A SOUL SELLER.
Matthew 16:26 … what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Luke 18:18 Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to
inherit eternal life?”
Luke 18:22 “… Jesus said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and
distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
Luke 18:23 But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.
Matt. 26:14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,
Matthew 26:15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him
unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.
IV. A SOUL SAVIOR.
John 1:12 ” … As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become
children of God, to those who believe in His name:
Colossians 1:27 “… Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
Galatians 2:20 “… It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the
life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God …”
I HAVE A NEW IDENTITY IN CHRIST!
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things
have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
We are in Christ, Christ is in us.
Matthew 26:26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it,
and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”
Matthew 26:27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying,
Drink from it, all of you.
Matthew 26:28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many
for the remission of sins.
When we are born physically, a new person emerges that did not previously exist.
When we are born again spiritually a new person emerges that did not previously exist.
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of his Spirit, washed in His blood.”
“The Devil Is In The Details” is part of the sermon series “Paying Ransoms and Making Deals.” This sermon focuses on the real spiritual battle between Jesus and the devil, emphasizing the temptations that Jesus faced in the wilderness (Luke 4). With powerful scriptural references, the message highlights the devil’s desire for worship and control over the kingdoms of the world, but it ultimately showcases Christ’s victory and the necessity of worshipping God alone.
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Luke 4:1 Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and
was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
Luke 4:2 being tempted for forty days by the devil …
Luke 4:5 Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the
kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
Luke 4:6 And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory;
for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.
Luke 4:7 Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.”
Luke 4:8 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written,
‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”
Luke 4:13 Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from
Him until an opportune time.
DETAIL #1. THE DEVIL EXISTS AND IS A REAL ENEMY.
John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do.
Ephesians 2:2 “… walked according to the course of this world, according to the
prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,
DETAIL #2. THE DEVIL’S WORLDLY OFFER TO JESUS.
Luke 4:5 Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the
kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
Luke 4:6 And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory;
for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.
Matthew 12:25 But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom
divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against
itself will not stand.
Matthew 12:26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will
his kingdom stand?
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government
will be upon His shoulder.
Revelation 11:15 … “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of
our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”
Psalm 2:7 “I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
Psalm 2:8 Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance,
DETAIL #3. THE DEVIL’S MAIN DESIRE IS TO BE WORSHIPPED.
Luke 4:7 Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.”
Matthew 4:9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down
and worship me.”
Revelation 13:15 He was granted power to … cause as many as would not worship
the image of the beast to be killed.
Revelation 13:16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and
slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads,
Revelation 13:17 And that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark
or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
What is worship? It is giving glory to God.
1 Corinthians 10:31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all
to the glory of God.
Romans 1:25 ” … and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator
Whatever you offer your body to is your object of worship
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you
present your bodies a living sacrifice …
DETAIL #4. THE DEVIL’S BARGAIN FOR SOULS.
Mark 8:36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his
own soul?
Mark 8:37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
1) Nobody ever gained the whole world.
2) What part of the world they do gain will not satisfy them.
Ecclesiastes 1:8 … the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
3) What part of the world they do gain, they can not keep.
Jim Elliot’s quote, ” He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain
what he cannot lose. ”
Luke 12:15 “… “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not
consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.
What do people sell their souls for? The passing pleasures of sin!!!
Hebrews 11:24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the
son of Pharaoh’s daughter,
Hebrews 11:25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to
enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,
2 Corinthians 4:4 (GW) The god of this world has blinded the minds of those who
don’t believe …”.
Charles F. Kettering said,”We should all be concerned about future because we will
have to spend the rest of our lives there.”
In the Journal of Psychology is a survey of 160,000 was conducted asking people
what their most important personal values were:
56% Economic security
46% Home & Family
25% Liberty & Freedom
13% World Peace
10% Education
8% Religion
4% Decency & Morality
2% Being a good citizen
Question: Do you see the word “soul” anywhere mentioned on the list?
DETAIL #5. JESUS CHRIST IS THE VICTORIOUS SAVIOR-KING.
Luke 4:8 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is
written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”
Luke 4:13 Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from
Him until an opportune time.
Isaiah 59:16 He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no
intercessor; Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; And His own
righteousness, it sustained Him.
Psalm 106:23 (NLT) So he declared he would destroy them. But Moses, his chosen
one, stepped between the Lord and the people. He begged him to turn from his
anger and not destroy them.
Hebrews 7:25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to
God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Worship gets us into trouble and worship will get us out of trouble.
‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”
This sermon, titled “Does It Pay To Serve The Lord?,” examines the tension between skepticism and faithfulness among God’s people, as depicted in Malachi 3:13-18. The message addresses the cynicism of those who see no benefit in serving God and believe that the wicked prosper without consequence. It contrasts this with the assurance that God hears the faithful, remembers those who fear Him, and distinguishes between the righteous and the wicked. Ultimately, the sermon calls believers to trust in God’s justice and faithfulness, reaffirming that God rewards those who honor and serve Him.
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Malachi 3:13 “Your words have been harsh against Me,” Says the Lord, “Yet you say,
‘What have we spoken against You?’
Malachi 3:14 You have said, ‘It is useless to serve God; What profit is it that we
have kept His ordinance, And that we have walked as mourners Before the Lord
of hosts?
Malachi 3:15 So now we call the proud blessed, For those who do wickedness are
raised up; They even tempt God and go free.’ ”
Malachi 3:16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, And the
Lord listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before
Him For those who fear the Lord And who meditate on His name.
Malachi 3:17 “They shall be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts, “On the day that I make
them My jewels. And I will spare them As a man spares his own son who serves him.”
Malachi 3:18 Then you shall again discern Between the righteous and the wicked,
Between one who serves God And one who does not serve Him.
II. GOD REMEMBERS THE CYNICAL CRITICS.
Malachi 3:13 “Your words have been harsh against Me,” Says the Lord, “Yet you say,
‘What have we spoken against You?’
Malachi 3:14 You have said, ‘It is useless to serve God; What profit is it that we
have kept His ordinance, And that we have walked as mourners Before the Lord
of hosts?
You’re gonna have to serve somebody
It may be the Devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody
Job 21:15 ‘Who is the Almighty that we should serve Him? And what profit do we
have if we pray to Him?’.
Malachi 3:15 So now we call the proud blessed, For those who do wickedness are
raised up; They even tempt God and go free.’ ”
Malachi 3:15 (GNT) As we see it, proud people are the ones who are happy. Evil
people not only prosper, but they test God’s patience with their evil deeds and get
away with it.
Isaiah 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, and who
will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”
Isaiah 6:9 And He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not
understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’
Isaiah 6:10 “Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy,and shut their eyes;
eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with
their heart and return and be healed.”
Isaiah 6:11 Then I said, “Lord, how long?” And He answered: “Until the cities are laid
waste and without inhabitant, the houses are without a man, the land is utterly desolate,
Isaiah 6:12 The Lord has removed men far away, and the forsaken places are many
in the midst of the land.
2 Corinthians 4:1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy,
we do not lose heart
Grace is me receiving something I don’t deserve
Mercy is me not receicing something I do deserve.
2 Corinthians 2:14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, …
II. GOD REMEMBERS THE RIGHTEOUS REMNANT.
Malachi 3:16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, And the
Lord listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before
Him For those who fear the Lord And who meditate on His name.
Isaiah 6:13 But yet a tenth will be in it, and will return and be for consuming, as a
terebinth tree or as an oak, whose stump remains when it is cut down. So the holy
seed shall be its stump.”
Matthew 7:13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way
that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.
Matthew 7:14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life,
and there are few who find it.
Jeremiah 23:3 “But I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all countries where
I have driven them, and bring them back to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and
increase.
Malachi 3:16 (MSG) Then those whose lives honored God got together and talked
it over. God saw what they were doing and listened in. A book was opened in God’s
presence and minutes were taken of the meeting, with the names of the God-fearers
written down, all the names of those who honored God’s name.
God has His book, the Bible.
Psalm 119:89 Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven
God has His book, the Book of Life.
Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and
books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life.
And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written
in the books.
God has His book for our tears,
Psalm 56:8 You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not
in Your book?
Psalm 56:8 (NLT) You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears
in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.
And then, God has His book of remembrance.
Malachi 3:16 “… a book of remembrance was written before him
1. God will remember those who feared Him.
Malachi 3:16 “… So a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who
who fear the Lord ….
Romans 3:18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
2. God will remember what you say.
Malachi 3:16 And the Lord listened and heard them
Psalm 139:4 For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O Lord, You know it
altogether
Psalm 139:4 (NLT) You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.
Psalm 66:16 Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will declare what He has
done for my soul.
3. God will remember your friends.
Malachi 3:16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another,
Malachi 3:16 (MSG) Then those whose lives honored God got together and talked
it over.
4. God will remember those who honor His name.
Malachi 3:16 (MSG) written down, all the names of those who honored God’s name.
Matthew 10:42 And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in
the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”
Malachi 3:16 And who meditate on His name.
Psalm 9:10 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You,
Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.
We sing “His name is wonderful”
Isaiah 9:6 “… And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
All hail the power of Jesus’ name, let angels prostrate fall.
Bring forth the royal diadem and crown Him Lord of all!”
Malachi 3:17 “They shall be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts, “On the day that I make
them My jewels. And I will spare them As a man spares his own son who serves him.”
Malachi 3:17 (ESV) “They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when
I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son
who serves him.
Malachi 3:18 Then you shall again discern Between the righteous and the wicked,
Between one who serves God And one who does not serve Him
1 Samuel 2:30 “… For those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me
shall be lightly esteemed.
