Romans chapter 14. I hope this is an encouragement to you when I was putting it together. It was to me and what the Lord had given me and just some of the things that God had showed me, you know about everything, you know in life in general and just some of the things that befell people like the Apostle Paul and other men of God in the Bible and the scriptures other Christians that went through things and then, you know, the Lord really sparked interest and my return to studying Baptist history and a few other things, too, as well, that God used men like Brother Andrew and Brother Jim to really encourage me to, like, get my focus back on what I needed to, and it did help me a lot. you know brother Jim and I had a few few talks brother Jim's traveling around a lot so him and brother Andrew when they're in their in their vehicles running around they have more time to talk and and you know we were talking about some of those things and it just you know it kind of the Lord impressed upon me okay now it's time to get back to business and it's time to get down and get some of these things done. and talk about these things that need to be talked about. So, we're going to do just that, but I'll tell you more about that later. But anyway, it just, but in this, and going through the scriptures, this Bible verse just kept coming up. Somebody actually texted me this Bible verse, a pastor did, a friend of mine, and you know, this verse stuck with me, and I was like, you know, Lord, I don't know what you want me to preach this morning, about two days ago. I always think about it all week. And sometimes I have, like, three or four different messages started, and I leave them go, and I leave them go, and I move around. I'm like, okay, well, is this one? No, not this one. This one gonna work? No, not this one. This one? And then finally God says, nope, this one. And then it just flows out, and it just comes all out. And God just, you know, shows me everything that I need to know, you know, in order to be able to do that, preach what he wants me to do. And what will be an encouragement to you and a help to you along the way? But I want to preach this message to you. It's called, hang on, help is on the way. God is able to make you stand. And Romans chapter 14 and verse number four, the Bible says this, who art thou that judges another man's servant? To his own master, he standeth or falleth. Now pay attention here closely. Yea, he shall be holding up for God is able to make him stand. Just think about those last words there. He shall be holding up for God is able to make him stand. Let's pray. Father, we pray you be with us now, Lord. Help us, teach us, Lord, from your word. In Jesus' holy name we pray. Amen. God is the one that makes a man stand. When I say man, I mean mankind, man or woman. But God is the one that makes us stand. He is the one that makes us able, as children of God, He is the one that makes us able to stand, no matter what is going our way. Through the Bible, we see, through the scriptures, that there were men of God, there were people of God, that, you know what, they were able, there's no visible reason why they should still be standing. None at all. The only reason you could come up with is that God is able to make them stand. It's really what it is. It defies all logic. It defies, Job's life defies all human logic. There's no reason why in the world, in human speaking, in human terms, Job didn't just cut his own throat. Because that's what most men would do if they were under that enormous amount of affliction. But supernaturally, because the Spirit of God dwelt in him, he didn't. because God is able to make him stand. just like no matter what you're going through. And I want you to be encouraged, and I want you to think about this, that hang on, help is on the way. When you want to give up, when you want to stop fighting, when you want to give up and you're done fighting, say, I can't do it anymore, hang on, help is on the way. God is able to make you stand. He is able to do that. And I want to show you through the Bible where God did make people stand. He made them stand. It says He is able to make them stand. What does that tell you? That tells you even if you don't want to stand, God is able to make you stand. Even if you don't want to, you're done. You're done with it. You don't want to do it anymore. I don't want to stand. God is able to make you stand. Listen to me. The first point I want to make to you is this. There may be a time when all hope is lost, but God is able to make you stand. I'm going to take this off here. Turn to Acts chapter 27 verse number 20, please. And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away. There was a time in the apostle Paul's life as he sat there and all those men on that ship sat there and all hope was lost. Hope was not in sight. Do you understand that? Listen, friend, there's going to be a time in your life, and you may be in it right now. If not, hang on, it's coming. You're going to be at a point, if you're a child of God, you are going to be at a point sometime when all hope is lost. Visibly speaking, there is no reason why you should stand. But after a long absence, Paul stood forth in the midst of them and said, Sirs, you should have hearkened unto me and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer. For there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night, what'd he say here? God is able to make you stand. Look at this. And now I exhort you, he said, be of good cheer. Why? For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am and whom I serve. Saying, fear not, Paul, thou must be brought before Caesar. And lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer, for I believe God that it shall be even as it was told me." You know what? Paul had to have faith. We're going to talk about that at the end. But Paul had to have faith. He had to believe God. Because you know what? There's no reason for him to be able to stand. There was no reason. But what happened? God is able to make him stand. What did he do? He sent his angel there that stood by him. You know, I like that picture. I don't like pictures of Jesus and things like that, but I like the symbolism that's in one of these pictures. It shows a man that is slumped over like this, and behind him it shows an image of Jesus picking him up and holding him up and making him stand. That's what I'm talking about. And I don't agree with the imagery of Jesus, but what I'm saying is that is what God does. That is how he does it. Jesus Christ comes, the Holy Ghost of God comes, and is able to make you stand. to lift you up when you cannot hold yourself up. So I'm gonna show you some of these in the Bible, some of these instances. I want you to remember the text verse. Who art thou that judges another man's servant? To his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holding up, for God is able to make him stand. Yep, it's a promise. So the first man I want to talk about is Moses. Moses stood through many challenges. Moses' ministry was challenged right away by those who you would never expect to be challenged by. Turn to Numbers chapter 12, please. Verse number one, and Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married, for he had married an Ethiopian woman. And they said, hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? Oh, here we go. Oh, we found a flaw in Moses that we think is a flaw, a perceived flaw in Moses. There's something wrong with that guy. So we're going to go after and we're going to attack his leadership. But who was he attacked by? People that were closest to him. How about that? How about that? How about that? That never happens, does it? People that were closest to him. And they said, hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? Hath he not spoken also by us? And the Lord heard it. You know, sometimes you and I are going to fall on the ground and stay there until we stop kicking. We got to stop fighting. You notice what Moses did, he quit fighting. He didn't say anything. Bible says the Lord heard it. And the Lord heard it. Now the man Moses was very meek above all the men which were upon the face of the earth. And the Lord spake suddenly unto Moses and unto Aaron and to Miriam, come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out. And the Lord came down on the pillar of the cloud and stood in the door of the tabernacle and called Aaron and Miriam and they both came forth. God was not happy. And he said, Hear now my words, if there be a prophet among you, I, the Lord, will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches, in the similitude. And the similitude of the Lord shall he behold. Wherefore then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? Why weren't you afraid? What's wrong with you that you weren't afraid to do what you did? And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them, and he departed. You know, I find it interesting that this attack on the man of God here that they were trying to destroy, they attacked Moses' wife. How about that one? Well, that's not usual, is it? Yeah, that's pretty common. Mm-hmm. Let's just go it why well, she's the nearest to him So if we can hurt her if we can get that then we can hurt him Well, the devil knows that And that's why he did it Mm-hmm Eve right away Right away. He wanted to get to Adam wanted to destroy man. What'd he do? He attacked Eve Not new is it Mm-hmm Says in the anger the Lord was kindled against them and he departed They had to get to him the devil knows how to get to a man of God He knows how to attack him, but remember what the Bible says, but God is able to make him stand Says Moses was a meek man above all the men of the earth Meaning he didn't fight those that attacked him But he waited on the Lord to defend him and to uphold his ministry because God is able to make him stand. I You know, no matter what your situation is here today, God is able to make you stand. No matter what the challenge is, if you're called of God, or if you are his child, no man can destroy you. God is able to make you stand. And God fought for him. What happened? And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle. Verse number 10, and behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow. And Aaron looked upon Miriam, and behold, she was leprous. Leprous, excuse me. And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my Lord, I beseech thee, lay not this sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned. Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed, when he cometh out of his mother's womb. And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee. Now, would you look at this. Look at the spirit of Moses here. These people attacked his wife, they attacked his ministry. They attacked his authority. What did he say? Oh God, please forgive him. You know, I've been studying a lot of Baptist history. You know what I find? Those men that were persecuted, what they did. Oh God, please lay it not to their charge. It really is humbling. I'm reading ill news from New England right now by John Clark. And I'm telling you, as I read through it, I'm almost ashamed of us as a people today. Because we've allowed that American mentality and that American spirit of, you know, defending ourselves and even in the sense of freedom of speech. Yes, we have the liberty and we have the freedom, but it wasn't given to us for that purpose to supersede the meekness and the scriptural answers we are to give men. Doesn't matter. It wasn't given to us for that reason. It was given to us to preach the gospel and call men to repentance and to warn them to flee from the wrath to come. Not to retaliate against them when they do us harm. Those men didn't have that spirit. They didn't have that spirit. And I'm going to read you a letter at the end of this. I'm going to read you a letter that Obadiah Holmes wrote back to the brethren in England. I'm going to read you that letter. But Moses didn't fight those men. Look at what happened to Miriam. Moses was like, heal her now, Lord, please. I beseech thee. I beg you, Lord, heal her. Look, he was praying for her to be healed. He wasn't praying for her to have for not keep her there Lord. Just keep her a leper. We'll keep her out in the desert. And the Lord said unto Moses if her father had but spit in her face should she not be ashamed seven days let her be shot out of the camp seven days and after that let her be received in again. God was angry with what she had done. And God is angry when people do what they these these things and God will deal with them. God fought Moses' battle for him. This is Moses' own family, and they still challenge his leadership. You mark it down, though, friend, if you're a leader for the Lord, you're gonna be challenged. It's gonna happen. That authority will be challenged. This wasn't Moses' first rodeo, though. Moses has been through some things before, right? Turn to Numbers chapter 16. Moses is always going through something. Anytime you do something for God, you are going to be attacked and challenged, but God is able to make him stand. I've had people say the craziest things to me. I tried to steal his soul. I tried to rip his soul out. But I couldn't. Seriously. Those Landon fans were nuts. But I mean, I tried to rip his soul. I mean, there's all kinds of stuff. I was like, oh. I hate you, sir. Michael Landon taught me to love, but I hate you, sir. Michael would love you, but I hate you. Poor people. They need the Lord, don't they? They do. If I was down south, I'd say, bless your heart, wouldn't I? Isn't that what I'd say? Right, Brother Finney? Well, it was a lady. Numbers chapter 16, verse number 2, and they rose up before Moses with certain of the children of Israel, 250 princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown. Oh, no, not those guys. And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, ye take too much upon you. seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?" Look what Moses' reaction was, though. And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face. Why? Because he knew somebody was going to die. That's why. And he was like, oh, no. He wasn't defending his leadership. He wasn't defending his office. He wasn't standing there trying to bark out at them or defend himself against them. What did he do? He said, oh, no, you're in trouble. He fell down on his face. He said, God, oh, this is going to be bad. You've got to help him. He fell on his face. Moses didn't seek revenge on those men. He knew that God had called him to do a work and he would do that work and the Lord would take him home when he was finished with it. That's the one thing we have to have is faith in God and believe that. You know what? God doesn't call a man and equip him to desert him. But he does call a man and bring him through trials and make him stand so others can see you won't take him down. because he belongs to me. You'll only go so far and you'll go no further. Even Satan himself could only go so far and no further. Is it anything that his ministers can go as far as they do? But Moses didn't take revenge on them. He knew what God had called him to. He knew what was coming. And he spake, verse number five, and he spake unto Korah and unto all the company saying, even tomorrow the Lord will show who are his and who is holy and will cause him to come near unto him. Even him who he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him. Moses knew the Lord and he knew that God would deal with these men eventually. You and I have to trust the Lord that he is able to hold you up. He is able to make you stand. Listen, man, I can tell you from experience, He is able to make you stand when you don't want to get up, when you don't want to fight. I'm telling you something, there's going to be a time in your life, if it hasn't happened yet, where you are as flat as a pancake on the ground and you cannot move. And it is nothing but the grace and the mercy of God that lifts you off that ground. And if you're there today, you remember one thing. Help is on the way. Don't give up. God is there. You got to trust the Lord. I'm telling you, it can get dark sometimes. It can get so dark where you see no light at all. But just like Christian, just like Pilgrim, when he was on that, do you see yonder light? I see it. I barely see it, but it's there. And Moses said, hereby ye shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these works, for I have not done them of mine own mind. But on the morrow, verse number 41, all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, You have killed the people of the Lord. So they rebelled in the Korah's rebellion, right? What happened? You think, hey, they all repented, right? Everybody repented. Everybody got right. God killed all the Korah's people, opened up a big old pit, and swallowed them all into hell. So everybody got right with God, and they lived happily ever after. No. They doubled down on their rebellion. They got worse. And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation. Behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the Lord appeared. And Moses and Aaron came before the tabernacle of the congregation, and the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces. So Moses said, God, kill them all, right? Nope. No, God didn't. No, Moses didn't say that. What did he say? He stood in the gap. He stood before them. He interceded as a type of Jesus Christ. He interceded for them. Moses was a type of Christ. He was a prophet, he was a priest, and he was a king. Just like Christ. If you look in the Bible, in the book of Deuteronomy, it says that, and he was made king in Jeshuron that day. It was Moses who saw Moses. He fulfilled the type. All right? So you got to go study that out yourself, but it's in there. I promise you. Go look. Look it up. Type in Jeshuron and type in king, and you'll see it. He was made a king that day, it says. Get you up for among this congregation. What happened? It says, I think it said like 14,000 of them were killed. More were killed after the rebellion of Korah than during the rebellion of Korah. Mm-hmm. But God is able to make him stand, and God made Moses stand through everything. I mean, there were a lot of people after Moses. Didn't like him. It says those men of Renown, they were men that were well-sought, well-respected men, right? They were well-respected men, right? Didn't do them any good, though, did it? Because God didn't respect him anymore after they did what they did. Be careful, don't you? All right, next. Job. Job was a man that was able to stand through all the afflictions that he went through. Why? Because of God. God was able to make him stand. Think of Job in his life. Think of all the afflictions that befell him. Job lost his children. All of them. Job lost his finances. All of them. Job lost his servants. He lost his health. He lost his wealth. Even the respect of all others around him. Do you know that everybody that respected Job disrespected him after that? Even the young people would walk around and like mock him. Right? Why? Because he was afflicted. He was going through afflictions. The devil had attacked him. God had allowed it for his own purposes. And his friends falsely accused him of sin and attacked him and his walk with God. They accused him of secret sin and being a wicked man. Oh, you're a wicked man, Job. We know you're wicked, Job. We know you're hiding sin, Job. We know because nothing bad ever happens to good people. Nothing bad ever happens to God's servant soul. It must be the law of sowing and reaping. You must have sowed all this and now you're reaping it. Right? Wrong. Job chapter 19 verse number 25 though, Job said this, For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God. Job said, through it all, I'll stand by the grace of God. God saw him through it. God is able to hold him up through the worst of afflictions. Even his poor wife said, Job, just curse God and die, will you? She was tired of seeing him look like that. You know, you think it's hard to go through it. How about being somebody that loves you and watches you go through that? And they are helpless to help you. They can't do it for you, but they'd sure like to. Right? The hardest part sometimes is being the friend of somebody that you love very deeply and you watch them be so afflicted and so tormented by everything, and you cannot help them. And you would give anything to help them, but you cannot do anything. But the most important thing, which is to pray for them. But it's very hard because you want to do something for them. You would love to go destroy all of their enemies. But it's not for you to do. It's to be left in the hand of God. Job confesses all these things that he was going through. But all his friends were like, hey, Job, you must have did evil. Why don't you just tell the truth, Job? Why don't you just repent, Job? Job's like, if I had something to repent of, I would have. Where can I go? Can I stand before his courtroom? I'll go there and defend myself. Job's like, I didn't do anything. I'm not in sin. Job chapter two, verse number seven, so went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. See, he must have been in sin because that happened. Look at Job, though, at this point, and he took a potsherd to scrape himself withal, and he sat down among the ashes. Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God and die. She wasn't a bad woman, I don't believe. I don't think she was a bad woman. Say, oh, she's horrible. No, I don't think so. Ten of her children just died. She is the weaker vessel. Ten of her children just died. She lost everything along with him. And she was watching him being completely destroyed. It's not an easy thing to take. Right? Job had patience, so he waited upon the Lord. In Job chapter 27, verse number 5, God forbid that I should justify you. What did Job say to them? Till I die will not remove mine integrity from me. My righteousness I hold fast and I will not let it go. My heart shall not reproach me so long as I live. So I didn't do it. He said, let mine enemy be as the wicked and he that rises up against me as the unrighteous. For what is the hope of the hypocrite though he have gained when God taketh away his soul? Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh? upon him? Will he delight himself in the Almighty? Will he always call upon God? I will teach you by the hand of God. That which is with the Almighty will I not conceal. Behold, all ye yourselves have seen it. Why then are you thus altogether vain? Because you've seen what I'm going through. Why are you acting vain? This is the portion of a wicked man with God and the heritage of oppressors, which they shall receive of the Almighty. Job said, I know who I am and what God has done in me, and I will not falsely accuse myself in a matter that is not my guilt. But God held Job up through awful and terrible circumstances, trials and tribulations, but through it all, the Lord delivered him. Job couldn't say what he said at the end, and we would know nothing of the patience of Job if it wasn't tested under trials, but God is able to make him stand. Listen, you can't be a mature Christian without going through trials. God allows you to be a baby Christian when you first get saved. And if you're going to continue to serve him, he is going to bring you through trials to mature you. Do you understand that? He's not going to give you my trials that I'm going through at this point. He's going to give you your trials that you need to go through at the place you are for growth. But he is going to take you through trials to mature you and to show you that he is able to make you stand. So you cannot give up. You must keep fighting and you must keep trusting the Lord because help is always on the way. He will not leave you nor forsake you. No matter how hard it is. I don't know how hard it seems. Listen, there are going to be times in your life, again, that you can't even be peeled off the floor with a spatula. But he makes you stand. If you're here, or if you know the sound of my voice, you hear this and you're on the brink of failure, and you can't get through it, and you feel like you're not going to make it, hang on! Hang on! I can testify to you that God will see you through it. He will not fail you. However dark it is, however lonely you are, however much in despair you are, hang on, help is on the way. He won't leave you. He won't desert you. In your darkest hour, He is there for you. no matter how dark it gets. Personally, I never thought a Christian's life could get so dark. But when you've been through some things with the Lord, you find out and you can say that God is able to make him stand. You can say that because you've been through it and you've seen it. And you can encourage other people by it. And you can say, listen, God is able to make you stand. Don't give up. Help is on the way. In this Christian life, you'll want to give up at least a thousand times. But remember, as dark as the night gets, the sun will shine soon. Right? The morning is near. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. I'm gonna preach a sermon to you, children of the light, not children of the night sometime. Next, the apostle Paul knew God was able to make him stand. did he know it? But how did he know it? Listen to me, you are never going to get to know Christ and you are never going to fellowship in his sufferings and you are never going to be conformed to his image until you've been through it. And I'm going to talk about that on Wednesday, I believe, experience. Maybe or maybe next Sunday, I haven't decided yet, whatever the Lord leads. We're going to talk about experience. The triangle of faith work is patience, right? Tribulation work is patience, and patience what? Patience perfect work is what? Experience. So we're gonna talk about that. I think it's important that we go through those things. You know, these kind of things aren't fancy, but they're everyday necessities for Christian growth and to understand. Think it not strange. Lynette texted me that verse. Think it not strange, the fiery trial that should try you. Though some strange things happen unto you. Right, like this is strange. No, it's not. We always think it is. What? The devil's attacking me, what? What for? Oh, I don't know. 17 guys out preaching the gospel in the streets. thousands upon thousands of sermons out there that God has used, uncovering the unfruitful works of darkness, attacking Satan's kingdom. It's another day at the office, right? Shouldn't be anything, but to us it's strange, isn't it? What's going on? What's the deal? You're minding my own business? No, you weren't minding your own business. You're about your father's business. And God's gonna protect you, but he's also gonna let you go through the trial so you can learn. So the apostle Paul, he knew God was able to make him stand. How? Through those trials. Turn to 2 Corinthians 11, verse number 23. You know, Paul's life is a fascinating life. And if you studied it, what did Paul say? Follow me as I follow Christ. God made Paul an example. And he said to follow him. And I'm sorry, you don't have to be a hyper-dispensationalist to understand that. You just have to read the Bible. Okay? Everybody is so afraid of that term dispensational, everything else, that they just run all the way over the other way. and act like a bunch of nuts, you don't have to do that. You can just read the Bible for what it says, and he said that, okay? Very plainly, he said that, that Paul was an example. Follow me as I follow Christ. 2 Corinthians 11, verse number 23. Are they ministers of Christ? I speak as a fool, I am more. In labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Paul said, I labored more abundantly than they all. He wasn't bragging either. He did say once in a while he would have to magnify his office though. In stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. So he died more than once. Of the Jews, five times received I 40 stripes, save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods. Man, he's got a good memory. Of course, you don't forget. Whack, whack. And I'm gonna tell you what, you don't forget the trials that God brings you through. You don't forget about, oh, I forgot that happened. Oh, no you don't. Mm-mm. Those are those war wounds. I remember where I got this. And when God gives you that trying of your faith and it works patience and patience experience and then you see something and you see it coming, uh-uh, nope. Ooh, what was that? Oh, I felt that. When this happened, I remember that happening and I'm not gonna let that happen again. Because I felt the sting of that. Mm-hmm. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day have I been in the deep. How did Paul know that nothing would separate him from the love of Christ? In journeyings often, in perils of waters. Perils, dangerous, dangerous. In perils of robbers. I mean, the guy didn't hardly have anything, but whatever he had, he got stolen from him. But you know, those preachers are all rich. They're all so loaded. They have three-piece suits and stuff. These guys are just floated, right? I'm telling you. 14-year-old leather seats in my old truck. Hey, listen, don't, hey, don't misunderstand Being able to buy right, and God blessing you and you be able to buy right where you spend a third of the money that everybody else does because the Lord just blessed you with the people around you and others that you know how to buy right. That you use wisdom when you buy something. That doesn't make you rich, it makes you smart. Yeah. And just because you can take a vest, And put it with a $6 thrift store suit jacket? And a tie that Jacob gave you? And put it together and make it look good? That doesn't mean you're rich. It just means your wife knows how to dress you. You cheapskate. Six bucks, loser. No, seriously, before it was like the beard. It was like, look at that beard. Like a psycho. What are you, a crazy biker pulling up? You look scary, Pastor Cooley. Shave that beard. You look scary. So what'd I do? Lose 80 pounds? Shave the beard? Put on a vest, put on a suit jacket, and what happens? Still hate ya. Amen. So I figure I'll grow the beard back and put the suit on anyway. Grow it down to here. Then I don't need to wear a tie because I have my own. And I can dye it different colors if I want to. No, I won't do that. Put some ribbons in it. I'll put some American flags in it. That's right. He's excited. Look at him. Anyway. But Paul says, "...in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by my own countrymen." Wow. In perils by the heathen. Perils in the city and perils in the wilderness man Paul's like danger in the city danger in the country Danger in the water danger in the wilderness Danger danger danger danger everywhere he went right in perils in the sea in perils among false brethren in In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness, besides those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak and I am not weak. Who is offended and I burn not. If I must need glory, I will glory the things which concern mine infirmities. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed forever, knoweth that I lie not. In Damascus, the governor under Artus, the king, kept the city of the Damascians with a garrison desirous to apprehend me. And through a window and a basket was I let down by the wall and escaped his hands. Listen, Paul knew by experience. You know what else Paul said, really sad? He said in 1st Timothy chapter, I think it was one. I think I got that on here. Let me see if I have that here. Let's see. Let's see here. Yep. Turn to 2nd Timothy chapter one, verse number 15. Think about this. God is able to make him stand, right? Stand through, though everybody has deserted him. Listen, he said this to him in 2 Timothy 1 verse 15. This thou knowest that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me. Whoa! All of them? All of them. I mean, do you realize how many churches he planted in Asia, right? You realize that? A bunch, okay? A lot. They all turned away from him. Well, Paul was wrong, right? Because those people turned away from him. Paul should repent. Paul should repent when everybody falsely accuses him. Don't you love the Bible? All of them did. All of the pastors turned against him. All of the pastors, all of the elders, all of the churches. He said, This thou knowest that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me, of whom is Phygelus and Hermogenes. I think it's his name anyway. He said, The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesephorus, for he oft refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chain. But when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently and found me. The Lord granted to him that he find mercy of the Lord in that day. And in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well. That's why Paul says, and can say in Romans chapter 14, verse number four, who art thou that judges another man's servant? To his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holding up, for God is able to make him stand. You know, you may not agree with God holding his servant up, but he rises and falls according to his master. Not according to you or I. Have you been abandoned by brethren or family? Paul knew what that was like. Perils of false brethren, perils of his own countrymen. Paul was abandoned. Look at 2 Timothy chapter four, turn there. 2 Timothy chapter four, verse number 14. He says, Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil. The Lord reward him according to his works. of whom be thou where also for he hath greatly withstood our words at my first answer no man stood with me wait a minute what's he talking about well paul in the previous verses turn to first timothy chapter one hold your finger in that other place and hold your finger hold your finger Hey, hold your finger. No, don't hold your finger. Put your finger in that place and turn over. If you have a Bible with two ribbons, because you're really cool like that, you have two ribbons in your Bible. Do you have two ribbons in your Bible? Do you have two ribbons in your Bible? You do? Scott's like, I got two ribbons in my Bible. Who has two ribbons in their Bible? Raise your hand. You have two? Aaron, you? Aaron's got a bagel in his hand, not a ribbon. Okay, you have two? Good. Okay, so we have two ribbon Bibles here. One for the old, one for the new. If you only have one, you're backslidden. Okay. All right. 1 Timothy 1, verse number 18. This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience, which some, having put away concerning faith, have made shipwreck, of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander. Uh-oh. Wait a minute. Whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. Wait a minute, that's, so that's 1 Timothy chapter one, verse number 20. Paul said he turned him over to Satan, Alexander. Remember, Alexander the coppersmith that did him much evil? He turned him over to Satan in 1 Timothy chapter one, verse number 18. But in 2 Timothy chapter four, turned it back to that. He says in verse number 16, at my first answer, no man stood with me, but all men forsook me. Oh, well, when was the first time when he turned him over to Satan in 1 Timothy chapter one? He turned him over to Satan and everybody deserted him. Why'd you do that? What happened? Well, see, Alexander ran over to Ephesus and started blabbing his mouth and telling everybody how bad Paul was. And he built up a bunch of people against Paul. So then no man stood with him. Alexander the copper smith did be much evil. The Lord rewarded him according to his works. Of whom be thou aware also, for he hath greatly withstood our words. At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me. All they that be of Asia forsook me. Turned away from me. I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge, but notice Paul's response. Paul's response is that of a meek spirit. Paul didn't say, I pray fire come down from heaven and burn them. No, he didn't do that. Where's those Sons of Thunder when you need them? That's not what Paul did though, is it? He said, no. He said, I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. Paul knew what was coming for them. Notwithstanding, the Lord stood with me." What happened? God is able to hold him up. God is able to make him stand. Notwithstanding, the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, that by me the preaching might be fully known and that all Gentiles might hear. And I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. The mouth, huh? Ferocious mouth. Now, some people say that that was either Nero Okay, that he was delivered from Nero and the lions, that he was going on trial, that he was going to be murdered. Some people say that. Some people say it was symbolic of Satan and of the attack. I say it could be both. because Nero was full of Satan. Right? No doubt about it, Nero was the son of Satan. He was a wicked son of Belial. Or he could have been talking about spiritually speaking or metaphorically speaking. It doesn't matter. Either way, we know Christians were going to be fed to the lions. But he said God stood with him and strengthened him. That's the main point. It doesn't matter what the attack is, spiritual, physical, whatever it is. God is able to make him stand. Listen, don't give up. Help is on the way. When you feel like you're in your darkest, most desperate times, God is there. He's not going to leave you. He will try you. He said, and the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work. and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Notice Paul said that no man stood with him. He was totally forsaken by the brethren. He was alone, but he said, the Lord stood with me. Paul turned that man over to Satan and nobody liked it. They were mad. Of course they weren't there, but. But Paul doesn't explain himself either, does he? Nope. What'd he do? Moving on. Amen. God was able to hold him up. And brother, sister, it may be with you that way sometime. All men may forsake you. You may be in a place where everybody's forsaken you. You may be alone. If you hear this message someday on the internet, you may be alone. But you remember, hang on. Help is on the way. God will not leave you. Seek him and he will be found of you. No matter how dark it is. Just like Paul told the Philippian jailer, do thyself no harm. Do thyself no harm. Paul said, God will deliver me from every evil work. He knew that because God had called him and he saw him through many things and he learned by experience. And friend, you're not gonna learn that and have that close relationship to trust God and have that faith unless you go through those things. You won't. You'll stay a baby your whole life unless God takes you through trials. So, let's talk about this. How does God make us to stand? Number one, his grace. 2 Corinthians 12, 9. And he said unto me, my grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Paul gloried in those infirmities, those war wounds, those battle scars. Those things brought him closer to Christ and brought him into communion with God. He had to trust him. Now, you may be going through a trial right now. And you don't know how it's going to end up. You don't know how you're going to get through it. Hang on. Help is on the way. God is able to make you stand by his grace. Romans chapter five, verse number two, by whom also we have access by faith into this grace, wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. We stand in his grace and we stand by his grace. That's how we stand. You'd be amazed when you look at it. And I'll tell you what, there's been many times in my ministry over 10 years time that it wasn't supposed to work. It wasn't supposed to continue. The money wasn't gonna be there. The people would desert you. the challenges would come up, the battles would be there, and there's no reason why, according to man, that this church would still be here. Because they don't make it in Minnesota. And they sure don't make it in a liberal town. But God is able to make it stand. And it defies all logic, and I love it. Like I said before, they say, you should send this educated guy to Northfield. Why'd they send you there? Should have sent that smart guy to Northfield. He had a degree. Why didn't they send him there? That's right. Because I was just dumb enough to believe God. Oh, you want me to go there? OK. Paul was able to go through because of the grace of God, but he also had faith. Faith that God would see him through, and it takes faith. We've got to, we stand by faith, by grace through faith. Faith, Acts chapter 6 verse number 8, and Stephen full of faith and power did great wonders and miracles among the people. He was full of faith. Yeah. Acts chapter 11 verse number 24, Barnabas, for he was a good man and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith. and much people is added unto the Lord. 1 Corinthians 2, 5, that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. What does the wisdom of man tell you? Oh, you should give up. Yeah, you should give up. That's too hard. You should just... All this adversity, all these things, Brother Finney, you should just give up. You're done. No, it's still beaten. God is able to make you stand. But remember, your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men. That's a hard lesson that you have to learn. But when you learn it, You won't forget it. Galatians 2 20. I am crucified with Christ. Nevertheless. I live yet. Not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh. I live by the faith of the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. We live by the faith of Christ. That's what we live by. That's how we stand. It's the crucified life. Romans chapter 11, verse number 20. Well, because of unbelief, they were broken off and thou standest by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear. You stand by faith. Galatians chapter 5, verse number 1. Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. You stand by the liberty of Christ and in the liberty of Christ. And then Ephesians chapter 6, please, verse number 10. You know, he says stand four times here. I believe it's four times he says stand in this short group of verses here. And he's dealing with the armor. You stand by what? By the armor that he gives you. It's the gift of God. He gives you this armor and he says stand. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. I never knew the wiles of the devil would have such a great disguise as a Christian. They are the wiliest ones. You bet. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. And boy, do you need it on. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rules of the darkness's world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Look at this, he says it again. Wherefore, take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. He says that you may be able to withstand. Then he says again, stand therefore. having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, above all, above all, taking the shield of faith." Man, I'm going to tell you what, listen, you're not going to see, I'm telling you, there's going to be a time in your life when all the lights go out. All of them. And I mean all of them. Do you understand what I'm saying? No, some of you don't, but you will someday. I pray you don't have to learn everything the hard way, but you do have to go through that. I was just telling my wife earlier about something. I was like, you know what? You gotta let people go through things. You just gotta let them go through it. You can't interfere with it. You can't stop it. You gotta let them go through it. You gotta let them go through it. Because you learn from it. Sometimes we wanna help people too much. We don't wanna, it's like our children, we don't want them to feel that sting. Sometimes they need to feel it. Some of the best lessons you and I have ever learned, feeling the sting, right? Mm-hmm. Yep, you never forgot it. But you know what, sometimes the lights are gonna go out and it's gonna be completely dark in your Christian life. And I'm saying as a Christian, I'm not talking about lost people, I'm talking about a saved man or woman. Listen to me. Some of you know, because you've been through it, where it got dark and you could not see the hand in front of your face, spiritually speaking. You could not see in front of you. And I'm telling you, if it hasn't been there yet, it's coming, hang on. And you know what it says here? Above all, taking what? How big is the shield of faith? Covers the whole body. Covers you entirely. And he says, above all, taking the shield of faith. Why? Because you can't see the fiery darts because it's dark. You understand that? It's dark. But the shield covers your entire self. And it's faith that sees you through it. Because you remember the promises of God, you remember the goodness of God, you remember that God will never leave you nor forsake you, and you believe His Word. So you have that shield of faith and you have it on. And you don't, and you know what? It's being, that shield's being pinged. Ping, ping, ping, ping, ping. You hear the fiery darts. All you can hear is the shots being fired. And feel them bouncing off of that shield as you move your way through a dark room. Do you understand that? And all you're doing is having that armor on, that shield on, and you are taking that shield and you are moving like this. And you cannot see a thing. You can't see before you. You don't know where you're walking. The only thing you have is that shield to protect you from the fiery darts of the wicked. That's the shield of faith. And that's what it does. And that's reality in the Christian life. It don't get no realer than that. above all and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. In 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 verse number 15, therefore brethren stand fast and hold the traditions which you have been taught whether by word or our epistle. Hold fast. I want to read you something here and then we'll be done. I just want to read you Something from Obadiah Holmes. Obadiah Holmes, famous for being the man that, you know, if you whip me as with roses, he was a Baptist that was persecuted. Don't worry, you'll get to know Obadiah Holmes, who's ever listening to this, because we'll have a Baptist battle for liberty one day. And I'm going to focus just on Obadiah Holmes, each one of these men. There's going to be historical biographies done of these men. You're going to meet them and know who they are. There are some men that you desperately need to know that shed their blood for your ability to be able to have liberty of conscience and express that here in America, the freedom of conscience, and have a First Amendment. Their blood was spilled. But you know, I want you to understand what he says here and what he was going through. I'm telling you, I've been so strengthened by reading these trials of these men. And I feel so entirely inadequate when I read them. Because I read what they did and how they fought for the Lord and their responses to the attacks that they went through. And it's very humbling. It's very humbling. Part of this you can read about in Brother Finney's book, The History of the First Amendment. The true, is it, Brother Finney, is the exact title, The True History of the First Amendment? Or what's the, I always get that title. Trail of Blood, right, the history of the First Amendment. I'm gonna talk to you about that later on, but anyway, but Brother Finney and I are gonna be doing a radio show real soon, in two weeks from today. We're gonna do a radio show on it. Right in front of all of you in the afternoon. So, I'm looking forward to it. But anyway, I want you to listen to this. Obadiah Holmes writes to the brethren in London, England, recounting the Lord's dealings with him while in custody. Obadiah Holmes was taken into custody, and they threw him in a jail cell, and then they commenced to beat him for his punishment because he wouldn't pay the fine, because he didn't do anything wrong. Okay, but I want you to read his response and what he says, but notice how he was attacked how the devil attacked him. I want you to notice all this because this really encouraged me. I see that guy got beat up and that encouraged you. Well, it did encourage me a lot and that's why God allowed us to have the recording of it, right? Under the well-beloved brethren, John Spilsbury, William Kiffin, and the rest that in London stand fast in the faith and continue to walk steadfastly in that order of the gospel, which was once delivered unto the saints by Jesus Christ. Oh, but I, Holmes, an unworthy witness that Jesus is the Lord, and of late, a prisoner for Jesus' sake at Boston, sendeth greeting. Dearly beloved and longed after, my heart's desire is to hear from you and to hear that you grow in grace in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and that your love to him and one to another, as he hath given commandment, aboundeth. with the very joy and great rejoicing of my soul and spirit, had I not been prevented by my beloved brethren of Providence, who have wrote unto you, wherein you have my mind at large, and also by our beloved brother Clark," he's talking about John Clark, okay, which we're going to talk about soon, of Rhode Island, who may, if God permits, see you and speak with you mouth to mouth. I had here declared myself in that matter, and now I forbear. And while I have an experimental knowledge in myself, that in members of the same body, while it stands in union with the head, there is a sympathizing spirit which passeth through, and also remains in each particular, so that one member can neither mourn nor rejoice, but all the members are ready to mourn or rejoice with it. I shall rather impart unto you some dealings which I have had therein from the sons of men, and the gracious supports which I have met with from the Son of God, my Lord and yours. That's so like members. You might rejoice with me and might be encouraged by the same experiment of his tender mercies to fear none of those things which you shall suffer for Jesus sake. It pleased the Father of Lights, after a long continuance of mine in death and darkness, to cause life and immortality to be brought to light in my soul, and able to cause me to see that this life was by the death of His Son in that hour and power of darkness procured, which wrought in my heart a restless desire to know what the Lord who had so dearly bought me would have me to do, and finding that it was his last will, to which none is to add, and from which none is to detract, that they which had faith in his death for life should yield up themselves to hold forth a lively similitude or likeness unto his death, burial, and resurrection by that ordinance of baptism. I readily yielded thereto, being my love constrained to follow that Lamb that takes away the sin of the world. Whithersoever he goes, I had no sooner separated from their assemblies. He's talking about he's separated from the Congregationalists and all those people. He's separated from them, right? and from communion with them in their worship of God, and thus visibly put on Christ, being resolved alone to attend upon him and to submit to his will. But immediately the adversary cast out a flood against us, and stirred up the spirits of men, to present myself and two or more to Plymouth court, where we met with four petitions against our whole company, to take some speedy course to suppress us, one from our own plantation, with thirty-five hands to it, one from the church, as they call it, Okay, see, I'm gonna stop here just for a second and give you a little bit of doctrine. These guys did not believe that those were real churches. They did not have biblical baptism by immersion. They were not a real church. They did not fulfill the Great Commission, so how could they be a church? And that is long before J.R. Graves and his Landmarker Movement, just so you understand. Well, they were all registered with the state. They were all registered with the state, yep. They were the state church. That's who they were. Anyway, so he met with four petitions against our whole. Okay, so he says that. One from all the ministers in our colony except two, if I mistake not. And one from the court at Boston in Massachusetts under their secretary's hand. Whereupon the court straightly charges us to desist and neither to ordain officers, nor to baptize, nor to break bread together, nor yet to meet upon the first day of the week. And having received these straight charges, one of the three discoverers, the sandy foundation upon which be stood, who when the flood came and the wind blew, fell. Yet it pleases the Father of mercies, to whom be the praise, to give us strength to stand and tell them it was better to obey God rather than man, and such was the grace of our God towards us, that though we were had from court to court, yet were we firmly resolved to keep close to the rule and to obey the voice of the Lord. Come what will come, not long after these troubles, I came upon occasion of business in the colony of Massachusetts with two other brethren, as brother John Clark, being one of the two, can inform you, where we three were apprehended, carried to the prison at Boston, and so to the court, and were all sentenced. What they laid to my charge, you may hear read in my sentence. Upon the pronouncing of which, as I went from the bar, I expressed myself in these words, I bless God I am counted worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus. Whereupon John Wilson, their pastor as they call him, struck me before the judgment seat and cursed me. Nice godly people. Saying, The curse of God or Jesus go with thee. Whatever that meant. So we were carried to the prison where not long after I was deprived of my two loving friends at whose departure the adversaries, talking about Satan now, he says at whose, now notice what happens to his, what's going on. He's being attacked now. The devil's gonna come and attack him. Gonna attack his emotives, gonna attack everything that he does. Because he's under a trial. But God is able to make him stand. Just remember that. He said, at whose departure the adversary stepped in, took hold on my spirit, and troubled me for the space of an hour. And then the Lord came in and sweetly relieved me, causing me to look to himself. So I was stayed and refreshed in the thoughts of my God. And although during the time of my imprisonment the tempter was busy, yet it pleased God so to stay at my right hand that the motions were but sudden and so vanished away. And although there were that would have paid the money if I would accept it, yet I durst not accept of deliverance in such a way. And therefore my answer then was that although I would acknowledge the love cup of cold water, yet I could not thank them for their money if they could pay it. So the court drew near, and the night before I should suffer, according to my sentence, it pleased God, I rested and slept quietly. In the morning, many friends came to visit me, desiring to take the refreshment of wine and other comforts, but my resolution was not to drink wine, nor strong drink that day until my punishment were over, and reason was, lest in case I had more strength, courage, and boldness than ordinarily could be expected. The world should either say he is drunk with new wine, or else that the Comforter and strength of the Creator hath carried him through. But my course was this, I desired brother John Hazel to bear my friend's company and I betook myself to my chamber where I might communicate with my God, commit myself to him and beg strength from him. Now listen, listen closely. I had no sooner sequestered myself and come into my chamber, but Satan lets fly at me saying, remember thyself, thy birth, breeding and friends, thy wife, children, name and credit? But as sudden, so there came in sweetly from the Lord as sudden an answer. Tis for my Lord I must not deny him before the sons of men, for that is to set men above him, but rather lose all. Yea, wife, children, and mine own life also. To this the tempter replies, oh, I but this is the question. Is it for him and for him alone? Is it not rather for thy own or some other's sake? Thou hast so professed and practiced and now art loath to deny it? Is not pride and self in the bottom? Surely this temptation was strong and therein I made diligent search after the matters I formerly had done. So the devil's question is in motives and he's messing with his mind and be like, you're just doing this because you want people to see you. You're just doing this because you want this. He's attacking him. So he'll give up and say, okay, I'll take the money and I'll leave. Or I'll take, you can pay the fine, I'll leave. He's attacking his motives. Or he'll plead guilty and say, okay, well, it was just pride, I'll go. That's how the devil is, man. You're in your darkest time, that's when he comes attacking you. After a while, there was even as if it had been a voice from heaven in my very soul, bearing witness with my conscience that it was not for any man's sake or sake in this world that so I had professed and practiced, but for my Lord's case and sake, for him alone whereupon my spirit was much refreshed. As also in the consideration of these These scriptures which speak on the wise, who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? Although I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. Thy rod and thy staff shall comfort me. And he that continueth to the end, the same shall be saved. But then came in the consideration of the weakness of the flesh to bear the strokes of a whip, though the spirit was willing. And hereupon I was caused to pray earnestly unto the Lord that he would be pleased to give me a spirit of courage and boldness, a tongue to speak for him and strength of body to suffer for his sake and not to shrink or yield to the strokes or shed tears, lest the adversaries of the truth should thereupon blaspheme and be hardened in the weak and feeble heart of discouraged. He said, God, I don't want to even cry. Don't let me cry. And for this I besought the Lord earnestly. At length he satisfied my spirit to give up as my soul, and so my body to him. And so I addressed myself in as comely as I could, having such a Lord and Master to serve in this business. And when I heard the voice of my keeper come for me, even the cheerfulness did come upon me, and taking my testament in my hand, I went along with him to the place of execution. And after common salutation, there stood, there stood by one of the magistrates by name, Mr. Increase Knoll. who for a while kept silent and spoke not a word. And so did I, expecting the governor's presence, but he came not. But after a while, Mr. Noel bade the executioner to do his office. Then I desired to speak a few words, but Mr. Noll answered, it is not now time to speak. Whereupon I took leave and said, men and brethren, fathers and countrymen, I beseech you, give me leave to speak a few words, and the rather, because there are many spectators to see me punished, and I am to seal with my blood, if God gives strength, that which I hold in practice in reference to the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. That which I have to say in brief is this, although I confess I am no disputant, Yet seeing I am to seal what I hold with my blood, I am ready to defend it by the word and to dispute that point with any that shall come forth to withstand it. Mr. Noll answered me now, now was no time to dispute." No, because there's a crowd there. You don't want to hear it. Then said I, then desire to give an account of the faith and order I hold, and this I desired three times, but in comes Mr. Flint, and say it to the executioner, do thine office, for this fellow would make a long speech to delude the people. So I, being resolved to speak, told the people that which I am to suffer for is for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. No, said Mr. Noel, it is for your error in going about to seduce the people. To which I replied, not for error, for in all the time of my imprisonment wherein I was left alone, My brethren being gone, which all of your ministers in all the time came to convince me there. When did they come? When did they tell me of my error? And when the governor's word a motion was made for the public's dispute and upon fair terms so often renewed and desired by hundreds, what was the reason it was not granted? Mr. Noll told me it was his fault that went away and would not dispute. But this the writing will clear at large. Still, Mr. Flint calls to the man to do his office. So before that, in the time of his pulling off my clothes, I continued speaking, telling them that I had so learned that for all Boston, I would not give my body into their hands, thus to be bruised upon another account. Yet upon this, I would not give the hundredth part of one whomping pig, a one one hundredth of an English penny, to free it out of their hands. And that I made as much conscience of unbuttoning one button as I did of paying the 30 pounds in reference there too. I told them, moreover, the Lord having manifest his love towards me and giving me repentance toward God and faith in Christ, and so to be baptized in water by a messenger of Jesus in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, wherein I have fellowship with him in this death, burial, and resurrection, I am now come to be baptized in afflictions by your hands, so that I may have further fellowship with my Lord, and I am not ashamed of his sufferings, for by his stripes am I healed. And as the man began to lay the strokes upon my back, I said to the people, though my flesh should fail and my spirit should fail, yet God would not fail. So it pleased the Lord to come in and so fill my heart and tongue as a vessel full. And with an audible voice, I break forth praying unto the Lord not to lay this sin to their charge. Hmm. and telling the people that now I found that he did not fail me and therefore I should trust him forever who failed me not. For in truth, as the strokes fell upon me, I had such a spiritual manifestation of God's presence as the like thereto I never had nor felt nor can any flesh tongue express. And the outward pain was so removed from me that, indeed, I am not able to declare it to you. It was easy to me that I could well bear it. Yea, and in a manner I felt it not, although it was grievous, as the spectator said. The man striking with all his strength, yea, spitting on his hand three times, as many affirmed, with a three-quartered whip giving therewith thirty strokes. When he had loosed me from the pole, having joyfulness in my heart and cheerfulness in my countenance, as the spectators observed, I told the magistrates, you have struck me as with roses. And said, moreover, although the Lord had made it easy to me, yet I pray God it may not be laid to your charge. After this, many came to me rejoicing to see the power of the Lord manifested in weak flesh, but sinful flesh takes occasion hereby to bring others trouble, informs the magistrate hereof, and so two more are apprehended as for contempt of authority." So because they shook his hand, they find them. Their names were John Hazel and John Spurr, who came indeed and did shake me by the hand, but didn't use no words of contempt or reproach to any. No man can prove that the first spoke anything or the second. He only said thus, blessed be the Lord. Yet these two, for taking me by the hand and thus saying after I had received my punishment, were sentenced to pay 40 shillings or to be whipped. Both were resolved against paying their fine. Nevertheless, after one or two days of imprisonment, one said, John Spurr's fine, and he was released. And after six or seven days imprisonment of Brother Hazel, even that day, When he should have suffered, another paid his, and so he escaped. And the next day went to visit a friend about six miles from Boston, where he that same day fell sick. And within ten days, he ended his life. And when I was come to the prison, it pleased God to stir up the heart of an old acquaintance of mine, who with much tenderness, like the good Samaritan, poured oil into my wounds and plastered my sores. But there was present Information given what was done in inquiry made who was the surgeon and it was commonly reported He should be sent for but what was done I yet know not now thus it has pleased the father of mercies So to dispose of the matter that my bonds and imprisonments have been no hindrance to the gospel Listen to him for before my return some submitted to the Lord and were baptized and diverse were put upon the way of inquiry and now being advised to make my escape by night because it was reported that there were warrants forth me, I departed. And the next day after, while I was on my journey, the constable came to search the house where I lodged, so I escaped their hands and was by the good hand of my heavenly Father brought home again to my near relations, my wife and eight children. the brethren of our town in Providence, having taken pains to meet me four miles in the woods where we rejoiced together in the Lord. Thus I have given you as briefly as I can a true relation of things, wherefore my brethren rejoice with me in the Lord and give all glory to him, for he is worthy to whom be praised forevermore, to whom I commit you and put my earnest prayer for you, that by my late experience, who have trusted in God and have not been deceived, you may trust in him perfectly. Wherefore, my dearly beloved brethren, trust in the Lord, and you shall not be ashamed nor confounded. So I rest. Yours in the bonds of charity, Obadiah Holmes." And in closing, there's one sentence here I want to read to you. John Clark said a summary of Holmes' letter. He said this. He said, three things would well be minded in this relation. Number one, that God gave me power to confess his name before the sons of men. That's number one. Number two, that he kept my tongue that I did not speak evil of men nor authority. And number three, that he gave me strength to weak flesh that it failed not. God is able to make him stand. That's how he stood and that's how you and I will stand through all the trials of this life. through the power of God. Father, thank you, Lord. Thank you for your church. Thank you for your truth. Thank you for your word. Thank you for those that went on before us from the Bible, from the scriptures that fought the good fight of faith and laid hold on eternal life. And Lord, we thank you for these examples that we have even in our history, our own rich heritage that we have, Lord. And we thank you that you have seen us through these trials, Lord. Help us when everything is dark to remember that help is on the way. that you'll never leave us nor forsake us, and you are able to make us stand. Lord, bless this time we have together. Bless the food to our bodies and the fellowship to follow. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.