to him do his name, hymn number two.
We'll go ahead and start there right on the first.
♪ Down at the core where I stand ♪
Sing praise that we have this at this time.
Pastor, as he preaches from your word, Lord,
with your spirit, in Jesus' name I pray, amen.
For our next hymn, if you would turn in your hymnals
to hymn number 404.
When the battle's over, hymn number 404.
Go ahead and start there, right on the first.
And turn.
Yes.
Saturday, I'm doing for the prize some sort of
Anchor Baptist Church winter wet shirt jacket.
So what's going to happen is once you quote it to someone,
once you get it, please email the church your size.
So we won't have the prize the week that it's over,
but that's when I'm going to make the order.
So please do email the church your size
if you complete this, and we'll get a cool jacket for you.
On the inside, we do have our service times listed.
Sunday morning at 10.30, Sunday evening at 4.30,
and of course our Wednesday Bible study at seven o'clock.
Following that, we have our soul winning times listed there,
and our year to date soul winning statistics.
Then we have our upcoming events.
This Saturday is the Lawton, Oklahoma,
soul winning marathon.
Definitely gonna be very cold
from what I've seen in the forecast.
Not surprising for this type of time of year,
but make sure you really prepare for that,
and just be cautious with who you're planning on bringing
with young children and stuff.
I like that, but if you need a ride,
I have three more spots in my vehicle
if anyone needs to carpool, so just let me know.
That's gonna be fun, 12 to four,
and then we'll have dinner after that.
Then February 1st for the evening service.
This upcoming Sunday will be a men's preaching night.
We do have a sign-up sheet in the back there
if you'd like to sign up,
followed by a potluck and fellowship evening.
Then February 8th, Evangelist Tanner Furr
will be preaching both services for us here.
So I'm really excited that he's gonna be able
to come up here and preach for you guys.
I'm gonna be gone that weekend,
preaching at Spring Crest Baptist Church in Houston, Texas.
That's Pastor Enrique Reyes, and he's a really great guy.
I've known him for years and years.
I'm really excited to go preach for him.
And the other pastor that's there,
there's two pastors that are there.
One of them is Pastor Cobb, and he's in his 80s.
So Pastor Reyes does like most of the preaching,
but I'm really excited to meet him.
I've heard a lot of great things about him.
To meet an old timer that's just been faithful
for decades and decades is really inspiring.
So really excited for that.
And then Saturday, all day Saturday,
I'm gonna be at the Space Center,
which I'm super excited for.
That's how I know there's no Flat Earthers at Spring Crest
is because the whole church is going.
So I'm really excited for that.
Then February 13th will be the Sweethearts Banquet at 6 p.m.
There's a signup sheet as well in the back for that.
And then March 7th, the Tulsa, Oklahoma Soul Winning Marathon.
That's all the upcoming events for the near future.
And then on the right we have our online visitor card and online giving information.
And then we do have some updates for our prayer list.
Please keep the halls in prayer.
Tomorrow they both have some medical appointments they want some prayer for.
And then just an update, my brother did return back to the U.S. safely yesterday, so thank
you for praying for him for those months.
Let's go ahead and have a word of prayer as a church family.
Lord, thank you very much for Anchor Baptist Church.
Thank you for keeping us all safe through the storms and bad weather.
I pray that you would continue to do so throughout this winter, and I pray that you just, even
though it's winter, even though it's cold, I pray that we'd have many laborers for the
harvest on Saturday, that you would just lead us to people that want to be saved, that you
just bless our efforts as we go out there, Lord, and keep us safe, and help us just to
reach many people for Christ, even in the wintertime, God.
I also pray that you would bless the appointments for the Hall family tomorrow, that you help
things go their way, Lord, according to your will, that you just bless them.
I also thank you for bringing my brother home safely, and I pray, Lord, for Brother Theodore's
mother, that you just please heal her, please just heal her body of cancer.
Also please help Brother Miles with his health, Lord, and also please bless all those church
members here who have loved ones that are unsaved, that those people will just have
soft hearts to the gospel, Lord.
I just thank you for the opportunity for our church here, the work that we're doing.
I pray that you bless all the soul winners that are over in the Philippines right now,
that you would just, all those soul winners from Steadfast in the Philippines, that you
please bless their missions trip, help them to be safe, and have a very fruitful trip,
Lord.
We love you in Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.
All right.
At this time, we'll go to our third song together.
All right.
For our third song, if you would, at this time, take your white handouts and turn to
"holy, holy, holy."
That's "holy, holy, holy" in the white handouts.
And start there, right on the first.
"Say then, his people, Israelite, the seed of Abraham, bribe of Benjamin, cast away his
people which he foreknew.
What ye not, scripture saith, of Elias?
How he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, Lord, kill thy prophets and
dig down thine altars, and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
What saith the answer of God unto him?
I have reserved to myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to the image of
Baal.
Even so then, at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of
grace.
And if by grace, then is it no more of works, otherwise grace is no more grace; but if it
be of works, then is it no more grace, otherwise work is no more work.
What then?
Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and
the rest were blinded.
According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they
should not see, and ears that they should not hear unto this day.
And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling block,
and a recompense unto them.
Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back all way.
I say then, Had they stumbled that they should fall?
God forbid, but rather, through their fall, salvation is to come unto the Gentiles, for
to provoke them to jealousy.
Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches
of the Gentiles, how much more their fullness?
For I speak to you Gentiles, and as much as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify
mine office.
If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some
of them.
For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of
them be but life from the dead?
For if the first fruit be holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root be holy, so are
the branches.
And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, were graft
in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree, boast
not against the branches; but if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
Thou wilt say then, the branches were broken off, that I might be graft in.
Well, because of unbelief, they were broken off; and thou standest by faith, be not high-minded,
but fear.
For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed, lest he also spare not thee.
Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God on them which fell severity, but toward
thee goodness.
If thou continue in his goodness, otherwise thou also shall be cut off.
And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graft in.
For God is able to graft them in again.
For if thou were cut out of the olive tree, which is wild by nature, and were graft contrary
to nature, into a good olive tree, how much more shall these, which be the natural branches,
be grafted into their own olive tree?
For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should
be wise in your own conceits, that blindness in part is happened to Israel until the fullness
of the Gentiles become in.
And so all Israel shall be saved as it is written, there shall come out of Sion the
Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.
For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins, as concerning
the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes; but as touching the election, they are beloved
for the Father's sakes.
For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance; for as ye in times past have not
believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief; even so have these
also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
O the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out!
For who hath known the mind of the Lord, or who hath been his counselor, or who hath first
given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things, to whom be glory for ever.
Amen.
Let's bow our heads for our prayer.
Father God in heaven, we thank you for this day in our church.
Amen.
We just ask that you bless our church.
Help us to do mighty works for you.
We ask that you fill our hearts with spirit.
Help us to learn from your word.
In Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.
We are in Romans chapter 11, and this is a great chapter, though this is a chapter
that believers in Zionism, or those that would discount our belief of replacement theology,
would often come to say, hey, you know, let me show you where replacement theology is wrong
and they'll take you to Romans chapter 11, but really, this chapter is on our side when
it comes to our belief, and what do I mean by replacement theology?
What I mean by that is that in the Old Testament, God's chosen people, God's chosen nation was
a physical nation.
It was the physical nation of Israel.
It was the physical Jews, but in the New Testament, God's chosen people are made up of all different
types of people that believe in Jesus Christ, right?
So we're not saying, hey, Gentiles replace Jews.
We're saying believers that are both Gentiles and Jews have replaced physical Israel.
And let's start reading in verse number one.
It says, I say then half God cast away his people.
God forbid for I also am an Israelite of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
Now when a lot of people will take you to this verse, they'll only read that first part
of the verse.
They focus on that, where it says, I say then half God cast away his people, God forbid.
And they'll say, hey, conversation over.
The Jews are still God's chosen people.
But hold on.
He explains in this verse in what way it is true that God has not cast away his people.
He says for, meaning because I also am an Israelite of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe
of Benjamin.
He's saying, hey, it's not like God has just cast off all the Jews or that God has just
cast off all the physical house of Israel because he's saying, hey, physically, I'm
an Israelite in Philippians talks about how he is a Hebrew of the Hebrews.
He circumcised the eighth day.
He's a Pharisee, right?
He's touching the law.
He's really zealous.
He's really, you know, into that, at least before he got saved.
But then notice what it says in verse two.
God hath not cast away his people, which he foreknew.
Why ye not what the scripture saith of Elias, how he maketh intercession to God against
Israel?
Saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets and dig down thine altars, and I am left
alone and they seek my life.
Now let's remind ourselves where this is in the Old Testament.
Let's go to first Kings chapter number 19, first Kings chapter number 19, first Kings
chapter number 19, notice what it says in verse 10 and he said I have been very jealous
for the Lord God of hosts for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant.
So in the Old Testament Elijah is saying hey the children of Israel have forsaken thy
covenant thrown down thine altars and slain thy prophets with the sword and I even I only
am left and they seek my life to take it away.
So notice in general even of the house of Israel way back in Elijah's time Elijah has
this perception that so many of them have forsaken the covenant covenant so many of
them have forsaken the Lord that he feels like he is literally the only one left.
Now look that was not true strictly speaking because God told him hey there's seven thousand
men that have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal but it goes to show like how vast
Israel's rejection of God was even then to where Elijah is feeling that way.
And today when you look at the physical Jews when you look at those that are descendants
of Abraham in general we're just like where where's the saved Jews right is there one
is there even one right and of course there is of course there are saved people that live
in Israel today but the point is that it's a remnant it's not the majority go back to
Romans chapter number 11 so it's saying here in verse number two that Elijah was making
intercession to God against Israel right so you know this idea of you could never say
anything bad about Israel you always have to be blessing Israel I'll bless them that
bless thee and that's talking about the political nation of Israel well Elijah here is making
intercession to God against Israel but notice it says in verse four but what sayeth the
answer of God unto him I have reserved to myself seven thousand men who have not bowed
the knee to the image of Baal even so then at this present time also there is a remnant
according to the election of grace so in Elijah's time there was a large portion of the nation
that had forsaken the covenant had forsaken the Lord they're worshipping false gods they're
worshipping idols but there was a remnant that had not bowed the knee to the image of
Baal he uses that illustration to say hey even now at this present time in the New Testament
there still is what a remnant according to the election of grace so is the majority of
Israel saved are the majority of Jews God's chosen people no there's a remnant that are
according to the election of grace notice verse number six it says and if by grace then
it then is it no more of works what is the it referring there to it's referring to the
election being elect being chosen what do people always want to talk about today the
old IFB design is you know who are elect who are God's chosen people okay the Bible is
making it very clear here and if by grace then is it no more of works right so being
elect if it's by grace it's not by keeping the law it's not by keeping the commandment
that says there otherwise grace is no more grace right if we're going to say that being
elect has to do with the law well then grace isn't grace is it words have to have meaning
is what Paul is saying here right and election salvation being God's chosen people of course
it is not of works it is of grace but if it be of works then is it no more grace otherwise
work is no more work and of course this is in the context of being God's chosen people
being elect. But of course this is very, very true with salvation. And this is a good verse
even just to show people out soul winning, though it's really in the context of the Jews
showing people that, Hey, grace and work, these are two different things because a lot of people
are just confused in their mind and they will say with their mouth, yes, salvation is by grace.
Yes, salvation is by faith, but you have to have the works, but you have to go to church,
but you have to repent of your sins, but you have to follow the commandments, but you have to read
the Bible. And it's like, well, what you just said contradicted yourself. Is it by grace or is it by
works? Because if it's by grace, it can't be a works anymore, right? If you're given something
that you don't deserve, you obviously didn't earn that through your works. Now, if you're given
something by the merit of your work, that's not grace. So salvation has to be one or the other,
folks. It's either 100% election by grace or 100% by works. And of course no one can be saved by
works. And then it says in verse seven, what then? "Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh
for, but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded." So notice God here is separating
Israel from the elect. You know what that means? Israel cannot be elect. Israel cannot be the
chosen ones because he says here, "Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for." What is that
talking about? That's talking about physical Israel. The nation of Israel hath not obtained
that which he seeketh for. And why did Israel not obtain that which he sought for? Go back to
Romans 9. The Bible explains this to us. It says in verse 31, "But Israel, which followed
after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness." Wherefore? Because
they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. "For they stumbled at that
stumbling stone. As it is written, 'Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense,
and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.'" Right? Back to Romans chapter number
11. So Israel did not obtain that which he seeketh for. Why? Because they did not accept Jesus
Christ. That's why. Because they did not believe in the Messiah, they did not obtain the election.
But the election hath obtained it, right? The real chosen ones, we actually did obtain election.
How? By grace. Through fate in the Messiah, in Jesus Christ. And it says, "And the rest were
blinded." The rest of this chapter is going to talk about how blindness in part has happened to
Israel. That's talking about physical Israel that rejected Jesus. They are blind. Look at verse 8,
it says, "According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they
should not see and ears that they should not hear unto this day." So notice there's a supernatural
element that's happening in this situation with the Jews where God has kind of put this spirit
upon them. I mean, isn't that what it says? God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that
they should not see and ears that they should not hear. And a lot of people see a verse like that
and think, why would God ever kind of purposely make it to where someone can't see or can't hear?
Why would God want to put a spirit of slumber upon someone? Well, go to John chapter number 12,
John chapter number 12, and we're going to see this same terminology used here. John chapter
number 12. When you get there, look at verse number 36. Jesus is preaching to the Jews here.
Notice what he says. While ye have light, believe in the light that ye may be the children of light.
These things spake Jesus and departed notice and did hide himself from them. That's a scary idea of
the son of God hiding himself from you, right? And here's the thing. He's saying, hey, believe in the
light while you have light. A lot of people have this idea that every single person on earth can
get saved up till their dying breath, no matter what. And look, I think there's a lot of people
in this world that could get saved on their deathbed, sure. But that is not a sure guarantee
for every single person. No, you have to believe in the light while there is light. Because we see
that what happened to the Jews is that light came unto them. The Lord Jesus Christ came unto them.
He did miracles. Hey, he preached the word of God. Never man spake like this man. And you know what?
Eventually that light left them. And not only did the light just leave, Jesus, the Bible says that
he hid himself from them. You know what this makes me think of? Reprobates. Because there's people in
this world that get the truth. They see the light. They know the light's there. The light is obvious
to everyone. But you know what they do? They choose to reject the light. They choose to hate
the light. And you know what? The Jews by and large rejected, yea hated the Lord Jesus Christ.
Why else would they say his blood be on us and on our children? Why else would they choose
Barabbas over the Lord Jesus Christ? Why else today do many Jews spit on the ground at the
name of Jesus Christ, blaspheme him, mock him to this very day? Because a lot of them just
hate the Lord Jesus Christ. And you know what? As a result of their hatred for God, God in general
has put a spirit of slumber upon the Jews today. And Jews today are just blind. They're spiritually
blind. How are they blind? I don't know, maybe because they have the scripture that's constantly
pointing to the Lord Jesus Christ. Go listen to my sermon, Jesus the Messiah, and tell me that the
Old Testament is not constantly talking about Jesus. It was all talking about Jesus. And how
do you not see something like that? You got to be blinded. Let's keep reading. Look at verse 37.
"But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him." Right? A
lot of people say, "Oh, show us a sign. Give us a miracle." Hey, they've got Moses and the prophets.
Let them hear them. Hey, if they don't hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they believe the
one rose from the dead because Jesus is doing miracles before them, yet they still do not
believe. Jesus is raising people from the dead. Nah. Jesus is healing people. Oh, he's casting out
devils by devils. Right? Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. And Jesus, what happened when they blaspheme
the Holy Spirit? He says, "Hey, you don't have forgiveness in this life or the next." What is
that? Hey, he's blinding them. He's darkening their hearts. He's giving them over to a reprobate mind.
Look at verse 38. "Notice that the saying of Isaias, the prophet, might be fulfilled,
which he spake, 'Lord, who hath believed our report, and to whom hath the arm of the Lord
been revealed?'" Verse 39 is the key. "Therefore they could not believe, because that Isaias said
again, 'He hath blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, that they should not see with their
eyes nor understand with their heart and be converted and I should heal them. This is
a punishment from God. It's the worst punishment from God being turned over to reprobate mind
to where your mind and your conscience and just your brain is so seared that you cannot
believe. And it's not that God did not at one point want these people to be saved. Why
else was Jesus coming to them? Why else was he preaching to them? Why else was he ministering
to them and doing miracles? But there comes a point where God just like, okay, you just
want to hate me. You just want to reject me over and over and over again. Well, I'll just
turn you over to a reprobate mind. If you read Romans chapter number one, and here's
the thing. If anyone believes on the Lord Jesus Christ, they will be saved for whosoever
shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. And people come up with these strawmen
where they're like, well, what if a reprobate believes in Jesus Christ? What if a sodomite
believes in Jesus Christ? Okay, well, here's the thing. Theoretically, if a sodomite believed
in Jesus Christ, they would be saved and they would have all their sins forgiven. But guess
what? They cannot believe because when God supernaturally blinds you spiritually, when
God gives you that spirit of slumber, you cannot awake yourself. You cannot believe.
It says there that they could not believe. Does that mean Jesus didn't die for everyone?
No, he died for everyone. Does that mean he didn't die for every sin? He died for every
sin. But there just comes a point where people reject him over and over and over where God
in turn rejects them. Let's go back to Romans chapter number 11. So far, this chapter seems
really pro-Israel, right? I don't understand how the Zionists come here saying like, "Romans
11, that proves Zionism. That proves they're still God's chosen people." I mean, we're
referencing about how God's given them the spirit of slumber. That doesn't fit with
their doctrine. Notice verse number nine. Let's see if it gets more pro-Jew here. And
David sayeth, "Let their table be made a snare and a trap and a stumbling block and a recompense
unto them. Let their eyes be darkened that they may not see, and bow down their back
all way." What's happening here? David is giving imprecatory prayers against the house
of Israel. Now David is writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. David is the
sweet psalmist of Israel, yet of these wicked detractors that hate God, that reject his
covenant, he says, "Hey, let their eyes be darkened that they may not see and bow down
their back all the way." There's nothing wrong praying in precatory prayers, especially
against people that hate God. Obviously, we don't want to just throw around in precatory
prayers willy-nilly against everyone, but it's like when someone is screaming his blood
be on us and on our children, it doesn't sound like that person's ignorant. It sounds like
that person knows what they're doing. "Hey, let their eyes be darkened that they may not
see and bow down their back all the way." Verse 11, "I say then, have they stumbled
that they should fall? God forbid, but rather through their fall salvation has come unto
the Gentiles for to provoke them to jealousy." So when it says there, "I say then, have they
stumbled that they should fall?" Whenever I see the word that, I kind of read in, in
my own mind, "so that," because we don't really use this exact way of speaking today
where it's like, "Come with me to Panda that we may feast." It's just like, "Come with
me to Panda so that we can eat," right? So he's saying, "Hey, have they stumbled just
so they could fall? Did they just fall just for the sake of falling? Was God bored one
day and just decided He was going to be done with Israel? God forbid, right? But rather
through their fall, salvation has come unto the Gentiles for to provoke them to jealousy.
So something really bad happened. What is it? The Jews rejected Christ. The House of
Israel rejected God. Well, did they just fall just so that they could fall? No. God can
use bad situations. God can use people's wicked actions for good in the long run and for
His glory in the long run. So it's like, is it, is it good that the Jews rejected Christ?
Of course that's not good. You know, is it good that the House of Israel fell? No, but
some good came of it. And what is that? That the gospel then went out to the Gentiles.
And when the disciples finally stopped wasting all their time, banging their head against
the wall, preaching to the unreceptive Jews, finally they're just like, you know what?
You've judged yourself unworthy of everlasting life. Lo, we turn to the Gentiles. And then
what happens when they finally turn from the Gentile or from the Jews to the Gentiles?
They're just turning the world upside down with the gospel. Thousands of people getting
saved, thousands of people getting baptized, great churches being started, right? The New
Testament just kicked off and got ignited by the disciples preaching to the Gentiles.
And that is exactly the same thing we see today. We don't see a bunch of fruit by going
into Jewish areas of our country and preaching the gospel or going into Israel. We see a
lot of fruit going into the black country of the Bahamas, a Gentile country, right?
Hey, we see a lot of fruit going into Asia, into the Philippines. And those people are
just hungry for the word of God. I've never been there, but I've heard, hey, Hawaii is
very receptive. I know for sure Pacific Islanders are very receptive because you go to Enid,
Oklahoma, and all those people are very receptive. You know, the Chukis, the Samoans, those people
are very receptive. What am I saying? Hey, the Gentiles are very receptive. So even though
it's not good that the house of Israel fell, God would have liked for them to have believed,
of course. There's still some good that came out of it. And you know, that's just a great
lesson we could just learn about life and about God in general, is that oftentimes what
man means for evil, God can work out for good. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and
lean not unto thine own understanding and all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall
direct thy paths. You know, a lot of times you're just like, I'm sure the Old Testament
prophets and you could tell from Isaiah, I'm sorry, what's the name I'm thinking of right
now? In 1 Kings chapter 19, my brain is failing me. Elijah, sorry about that. He's frustrated.
He's like not happy that this is happening, but a lot of times we're just frustrated at
things that we don't understand because in the long run, God works things out for good
oftentimes. And then it says in verse number 12, notice now if the fall of them be the
riches of the world and the diminishing of them, the riches of the Gentiles, how much more
their fullness? So notice by the house of Israel falling by the Jews rejecting God,
we became rich because the gospel came to the Gentiles, but he's saying, Hey, how much
more their fullness? Obviously, Hey, wouldn't it be great if they did believe? Of course
it would. For I speak to you Gentiles in as much as I am the apostle of the Gentiles,
I magnify mine office. Now this is interesting because we obviously know that the apostle
Paul had a deep love and had a special place in his heart for his kinsmen, for the Jews.
The Holy Spirit is having to like forbid him from going places and to go to the Gentiles
because like he just wants the Jews to get saved. Three chapters in a row in Romans,
he's just talking about and lamenting over the fact that the Jews aren't saved and he's
wanting them to be saved. But notice he just kind of has accepted the fact that God has
just made him the apostle of the Gentiles. And he's not really complaining about that.
He's not upset by it. He's like, you know what? I magnify my office. He's like, I'm
happy to be the apostle to the Gentiles. And again, what does this come down to is just
trusting in the Lord. A lot of times we just have an idea of how things are going to go
in our life and things could just radically change so fast. It's not even funny. But
you know what? If you're on God's side, if you're righteous, if you're doing His will,
if you're praying that you'll be in God's will, God, I want to do what's right. I want
to be a servant. I want to serve you in the best way I can. Then where you end up, you
know, you just got to trust in the Lord where you end up. And I'm telling you, if we just
always got what we wanted and we could just make our little perfect roadmap of our life,
we would screw things up royally. Right. And you know, I'm not going to even go into the
million stories that I have in my own life with things where I'm like, I want it to go
this way and it didn't. And then looking back, I'm like, I'm glad it didn't go that way.
And I'm sure it's the same thing for you. And it's like, man, the apostle Paul really
just wanted to serve the Jews and minister to the Jews. But would he have been the great
apostle that he was? Would he have been the great church planner that he was if he just
stayed in Jerusalem? He just stayed in Judea? Absolutely not. So we hate, you know, it sounds
cliche, but we need to be sensitive to the Lord's will in our life. We need to be constantly
reading the Bible to get God's will into our mind and then just have the faith to actually
go out and do that. Notice what it says in verse 14. If by any means I may provoke to
emulation them, which are my flesh and might save some of them. So notice he's happy to
be the apostle of Gentiles, but he's still hoping to provoke the Jews to emulation, right?
To get saved. And it says there that I might say that and might save some of them. So again,
he's really wanting them to be saved. Verse 15 says for if the casting away of them be
the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be? But life from the dead,
right? So because they were cast away, because they were cut off, the Gentiles got the gospel.
Hey, the gospel's already been spread throughout the whole world. So he's like, Hey, now it's
already been spread throughout the whole world. Now wouldn't it just be great if they got
saved? Wouldn't it be great if they believed on the Lord Jesus Christ? And of course, that would be
great. Verse 16, for if the first fruit be holy, the lump is also holy. And if the root be holy,
so are the branches. So if you are in this root, this root or this tree called God's chosen people
in the kingdom of God, you're holy. If you're not holy, you're going to be cut off, as we'll see
in the next verses here. Notice what it says, and if some of the branches be broken off and thou,
being a wild olive tree, were graft in among them and with them partakers of the root and fatness
of the olive tree, boast not against the branches, but if thou boast, thou bearest not the root,
but the root thee. Now I'm not really that much into horticulture or I'm not an arborist or
anything like that, but this idea of grafting is really interesting. Go research it online
to get a better understanding, but it actually is possible to cut off a shoot or cut off a branch
from one tree, one vine and connect it to another tree and have that tree like take it and provide
nutrients to it. I don't know a whole lot about it, but I know that the bark has to be scraped
off, has to be like connecting, you know, touching the inner part of the tree. And so it's saying
here that if some of the branches be broken off, so some branches were broken off folks, who is
that? That's the Jews. That's the house of Israel. They were broken off of that tree and now being a
wild olive tree worked graft in among them, right? So Gentiles believing Gentiles did not replace the
tree of God's chosen people. We were simply placed onto the tree of God's chosen people.
So again, it's not that Gentiles replaced Jews. It's that believers replaced Jews is that believers
replaced Israel. We are grafted in by faith and with them partakers of the root and fatness of
the olive tree. Boasts not against the branches, but if thou boast thou bearest not the root,
but the root thee. Look, we don't want to make the same exact mistake that the Jews have made
for centuries thinking that they are somehow special and superior because of their blood
or because of their lineage, right? Why are we special today? Because of Jesus, because of faith
in Jesus Christ. And how can any group of people become special, believe in Jesus Christ? How can
any group of people cease to be special, reject God, reject the Bible? So it's not like we're
boasting saying like, wow, we're so much better than the Jews on a carnal level. Wow, you know,
being white is better than being a different color or being German or being American or being Mexican
is somehow superior. No, no, no, none of that stuff matters. What made the Jews special was they had
the law, the covenant, the service of God. That's what made them special. Why did they cease to be
special? Because they rejected the Lord Jesus Christ. How can they be special? Once again,
if they believe on the Lord Jesus Christ has nothing to do with blood. And this is what's
so crazy is today you kind of see this warning coming to fruition here. What's like, hey,
don't boast against the branches where you see like this real white supremacy coming back,
this real worshiping of Adolf Hitler and Nazism coming back, especially in places like X.
And it's like, look, these men, these, these Nazis in the thirties and forties,
they did not open their Bibles and read Romans nine, 10 and 11 and read Galatians three and read
the New Testament and say, you know what? God's chosen people are not the Jews today. And they're
the synagogue of Satan because they rejected Jesus. And we need to believe in the Lord Jesus
Christ. Adolf Hitler literally made fun of Christians for believing that in Mein Kampf.
He literally mocked them for believing that. And he said, we need to stop fighting over religion.
And we have to realize that it's the Jews tainted blood. Let me tell you, that is a retarded view.
That is an unbiblical view. And there's nothing wrong with the Jews blood or ethnicity or looks
or IQ. And there's nothing special about us. And there's nothing special about anyone outside of
Christ. And people today need to stop boasting against the branches, acting like we're so much
better from a genetic standpoint. No, we are so much better because we're not spiritually blinded
by God. That's why we're so much better. And it's not anything to do with us. It has to do with
Jesus. That's it. So look, are believers in Christ better than Jews? Absolutely. But not because of
their skin color, not because of their blood, not because of their IQ, not because of their
athleticism. It's because they are saved. It's that simple. One's going to heaven, one's going
to hell. Verse 19, "Thou wilt say then, the branches were broken off, that I might be
grafted in." Well, he's saying, yeah, true. Yeah, the Jews were broken off so that we would be
grafted in. That's very true. "Because of unbelief, they were broken off. And thou standest by faith.
Be not high-minded, but fear." Why did the Jews get cut off? Because, you know, of some superficial
reason? No, it's because they rejected God. Why were we grafted in? Is because we believe in Christ.
And, you know, throughout history, there's been times where nations have believed in Jesus Christ,
have had lots of Christianity, and then it's faded and vice versa. You kind of see this ebb
and flow of history. And it's like America founded on Christianity. Very special place.
We are way less Christian today than we once were. That's sad. I would like to see that reversed.
Okay. You look at places like, for example, Germany at one point, tons of Christianity
in Germany, England, tons of Christianity in England, Scotland, lots of Christianity.
These places are extremely spiritually dark today. What changed? You know, their blood type,
their culture, not necessarily. What changed is religion. What changed is, you know, being
Catholic instead of being a Christian. What changed is bringing in Muslim hordes to destroy
your nation. That's what changed. Verse 21, "For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed,
lest he also spare not thee." Now, some people will twist this to teach you could lose your
salvation. Of course, that's nonsense. Build your doctrine on clear scripture, okay? The Bible is
very, very clear that you cannot lose your salvation. Just read the entire book of John
and it'll reiterate that over and over and over again. But I think about this from a national
perspective or from a people group perspective. Hey, if God did not spare the Jews, if God did
not spare Israel, whom he gave to the covenants, the law, the service of God, the Ten Commandments,
the prophets, the Lord Jesus Christ, right? The gospel first. If he gave all of them that
much blessings and they rejected it and he cut them off, well, of course, what's he going to
do to America if America rejects God? What's he going to do to Germany if Germany rejects God?
What's he going to do to Australia if Australia rejects God? We need to have a fear of the Lord
and realize, hey, if things are going good in our nation, if we're blessed, if we have the blessings
of God upon our nation, you know, we need to stay as Christian as possible because that could be cut
off if we reject God. Notice it says verse 22, "Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God,
on them which fell severity, but toward thee goodness, if thou continue in his goodness,
otherwise thou also shall be cut off." So notice how God treats you, how God treats a nation,
a group of people is determined by you, is determined by me. And a lot of people have
a false doctrine of God where they think, you know, God is just only love, God is only gentle,
God is only kind, God is only forgiving. Or some people could get on the far end of the extreme
and think God's only wrathful, only angry. No, the truth is he's both of those things and you have a
big vote in how you receive, you know, God's anger or God's blessing. Hey, the goodness and
severity of God towards you, toward the goodness. If you believe in Jesus Christ, hey, goodness. But
severity, if you reject him, verse 23, and they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall
be grafted in for God is able to graph them in again. Nothing is stopping a Jew in this world
from getting saved, right? Hey, it is a personal decision to hate God, to reject God, to go down
the reprobate road, if you will. And it is a personal decision to believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ. And any Jew in this world at any time can decide to put their faith in Christ. And you know
what the most loving thing that we could tell Jews today is, Hey, you are in a religion that is of
Satan. You have been deceived by the devil. Your religion is wicked. You need to believe in the
Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, or you will spend eternity in hell. A lot of people say that is so
anti-semitic. That's hateful. No, what's hateful is lying to them and acting like you still have a
special covenant because of your DNA. You still have a special covenant because of the piece of
dirt that you live on. No, no, no. It doesn't matter who you are. God's not a respecter of persons.
There is no difference between the Jew and the Greek. For the same Lord overall is rich upon all
that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. That's what
they need to hear today. Look what it says in verse 24, for if thou were cut out of the olive tree,
which is wild by nature, and were graft contrary to nature and into a good olive tree, how much more
shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? You know,
it sounds like grafting in the same type of tree is easier than these wild, you know, strange trees.
Verse 25, for I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be
wise in your own conceits. That blindness in part is happened to Israel until the fullness of the
Gentiles be come in. So right now, the current state of Israel is that blindness is happening
in part to Israel. We went through that in John chapter number 12. The Jews today, by and large,
are blind. The Jews today probably have the most reprobates of any religion that exists.
Sad to say, I'm sure that of any religion that exists, Jews pump out the most reprobates. Why
because they hate Jesus. They just blaspheme Jesus. They reject him as the Messiah. So there's
blindness in part notice until the fullness of the Gentiles come in. So this state is going to be
the case until a certain point of time when the fullness of the Gentiles come in. What is that
talking about? Let's go to Luke chapter 21. Luke chapter 21 and let's compare some Scripture with
Scripture here. Luke chapter number 21 when you get there look at verse number 20 notice it says
"and when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies then know that the desolation thereof
is nigh." Now this is dual fulfillment because of course in 8070 the Romans came in they compassed
Jerusalem and they made that place desolate. There was not one stone left upon another
that was not hewn down but also in the coming great tribulation it's going to be the exact same
thing after the abomination of desolation when the antichrist sets that up in the temple declares
himself to be god Jerusalem is going to be trodden down of the Gentiles until a certain
moment of time. Notice what it says verse 21 then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains
and let them which are in the midst of it depart out and let not them that are in the countries
enter therein too. So this chaos this desolation is really localized in Judea in Jerusalem.
Preppers love this verse because they think like at any point in the tribulation we just need to go
to a bunker in the middle of Idaho this is saying look if you're in this area you need to flee you
need to get out of there. Verse 22 for these be the days of vengeance that all things which are
written may be fulfilled. So God is taking vengeance upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem again
not really a pro-Israel pro-Jew message here in 8070 that was God's vengeance upon the house of
Israel for rejecting Jesus Christ. The destruction of their temple was a punishment for rejecting
Jesus because they don't need the temple. Jesus Christ is that lamb of God that was sacrificed
once for all and a temple and animal sacrifices is blasphemous. It's an open defiance and rejection
of Christ. So God destroyed the temple through the Romans as a punishment from God. Same thing in the
coming end times the destruction of Jerusalem will be a punishment. It's vengeance the Bible says
but woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days for there shall be
great distress in the land and wrath upon this people right so God's wrath is about to rain down
on Jerusalem verse 24 and they shall fall by the edge of the sword and shall be led away captive
into all nations and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of the
Gentiles be fulfilled again dual fulfillment in 80 70 what happened the diaspora the Jews scattered
all throughout the world at this time but also in the coming future end times there's a fulfillment
as well go to Revelation chapter 11 Revelation chapter number 11 and we'll get some more details
about the times of the Gentiles being fulfilled notice what it says in verse number two it says
but the court which is without the temple leave out and measure it not for it is given unto the
Gentiles and the holy city shall they notice tread underfoot forty and two months forty two months
is three and a half years right so the treading down of Jerusalem the holy city starts at the
midpoint of Daniel 70th week what is the midpoint of Daniel 70th week the abomination of desolation
where the Antichrist stands in the temple of God declares himself to be God he has this image that
he makes everyone worship and in order to buy or sell you have to worship this image you have to
worship the beast basically go back to Romans chapter 11 so let's see how this fits in with
Romans 11 Romans chapter 11 look it says in verse number 26 or verse 25 uh for I would not brethren
that you should be ignorant of this mystery lest you should be wise in your own conceits
that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in
and so all Israel shall be saved as it is written there shall come out of Sion the
deliverer and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob what is this talking about all
Israel shall be saved again let's get ourselves with the timeline what happens the abomination
of desolation then the armies of the Gentiles come in and they trod Jerusalem underfoot
and they do that for 40 and two months that's the times of the Gentiles when that's fulfilled
what does that mean it's over that gets us to the end of Daniel 70th week which is what the
beginning of the millennial reign of Christ right so in between the abomination of desolation
and the beginning of the millennial reign of Christ what happens during that time the rapture
happens during that time the resurrection of the dead happens during that time and let's look at
a few more verses on this go to Matthew chapter 19 Matthew chapter number 19 help us to understand
this a little bit better Matthew chapter number 19 look at verse number 28 it says and Jesus said
unto them verily I say unto you that ye which have followed me in the regeneration when the son of
man shall sit in the throne of his glory ye also shall sit upon 12 thrones judging the 12 tribes
of Israel think about this the regeneration what is that the resurrection when the rapture happens
what's happening all of the saints who have died before us are coming with the lord in the air
right those that have died are rising from the ground and meeting the lord in the air
that means that all the people who have ever lived in israel all the 12 tribes of israel
they're obviously going to be brought back in the regeneration and they're going to rule and reign
with christ the millennial reign we're going to be ruling on this earth this physical earth with the
lord jesus christ well where are all of these saved israelites going to be reigning from they're
going to be reigning from the promised land the holy land so at the beginning of the millennium
guess what israel is going to be full of saved people believers in the lord jesus christ when
does that happen that happens when the times of the gentiles are fulfilled right because what kicks
off the uh millennial reign of christ the battle of armageddon where god destroys these armies of
gentiles that have come to fight against him and so that kicks off the millennial reign go to also
isaiah 59 isaiah chapter number 59 because in romans 11 we saw there how it said as it is written
there shall come out of scion the deliverer he'll turn away ungodliness from jacob isaiah chapter 59
let's see where that's written just to get some more cross references on this isaiah 59 verse 16
notice it says and he saw that there was no man and wondered that there was no intercessor therefore
his arm brought salvation unto him and his righteousness it sustained him for he put on righteousness as a
breastplate and in helmet of salvation upon his head and he put on the garments of vengeance for
clothing and was clad with zeal as a cloak speaking of the lord jesus christ of course
according to their deeds accordingly he will repay fury to his adversaries recompense to his
enemies to the islands he will repay recompense doesn't that fit with luke 21 about how these be
the days of vengeance how christ is coming to take vengeance notice verse 19 so shall they fear the
name of the lord from the west and his glory from the rising of the sun the whole earth when the
enemy shall come in like a flood the spirit of the lord shall lift up a standard against him
and here's the quote the redeemer shall come to zion and unto them that turn from transgression in
jacob saith the lord as for me this is my covenant with them saith the lord my spirit that is upon
me and my words which i've put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth
of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed saith the lord from henceforth and forever
when it says that the redeemer is coming to zion and he's coming to uh unto them that turn from
transgression and jacob i believe that's referring to the lord jesus christ coming
and setting up his millennial kingdom because think about when christ is coming to rule and
reign on this earth do you think that israel is still going to be the wicked place that it is
today of course not he's going to turn away ungodliness from jacob he's going to be ruling
and reigning with a rod of iron and right now you know tel aviv israel is one of the faggot capitals
of the world not going to be so when the lord jesus christ comes to reign he's going to be
stoning those people with stones he's going to be laying down the law and you know what the the
resurrected saints are going to be the people who are actually inhabiting that place and in the future
you know what all israel will be saved now what this is not saying go to roman chapter number 11
because people have some really weird interpretations of this and look i understand
that we had to cross reference and compare scripture with scripture but that's what you're
supposed to do to come to conclusions in the bible is compare spiritual with spiritual not just make
up ideas out of your own brain that's not there in the text for example like this very commonly
held belief about romans 11 that says that when christ comes every single jew in this world is
just going to somehow magically believe in christ how does that how is that compatible with anything
that we know about salvation about god about scripture hello faith cometh by hearing and
hearing by the word of god hey if they don't believe moses and the prophets neither will
they believe the one rose from the dead they rejected him at the first they'll reject him
again oh but if they see a sign that's when they'll believe wait a second who's coming with
signs with lying power and signs and wonders the antichrist who's going to be raining fire down
from heaven the antichrist who are the jews going to believe in the antichrist this is not saying
that when christ comes they're all just going to say wow we were so wrong we're sorry for
blaspheming you we're sorry for worshiping in the synagogue of satan we're sorry for being an
antichrist religion now we're just going to all of a sudden get saved that is nonsense this idea
that every hollywood jew you know the entire pornography industry the entire banking industry
they're all just going to get saved because jesus showed up that is nonsense folks you know how you
get saved believing the gospel not by seeing a sign why is jesus coming back hey he says it's
the days of vengeance for jerusalem hey he says that it's wrath upon this people and hey in the
future yes in the millennial reign of christ all israel will be saved that is true but this is not
saying that every physical jew i mean are we just calvinist now is god just like you know imputing
belief into people's hearts against their will that is crazy to believe that doctrine let's keep
reading here it says let's read verse 26 again and so all israel shall be saved as it is written
there shall come out of scion the deliverer and shall turn away ungodliness from jacob for this
is my covenant unto them when i shall take away their sins as concerning the gospel they are
enemies for your sake sakes but as touching the election they are beloved for the father's sakes
so hey when it comes to the gospel when it comes to the service of god when it comes to
the new testament religion of christianity the jews are our enemies and they are the enemies of god
why because the jews constantly want to stop the gospel from going out they want to stop the name
of jesus christ from being proclaimed in this world but of course they're beloved concerning
the election why because that's just saying god just wants them to be saved right of course god
would prefer if they got saved god would prefer if they believe in him so those that are not
reprobate of course god still does love those people then it says in verse number 29 for the gifts
and calling of god are without repentance hey the promises that god made the gifts that he's given
he's not going to turn away from his promise he's not going to change his mind on those things
but we've already explained in romans chapter 9 how god has fulfilled his promises through
believing gentiles through the lord jesus christ for as ye in times past have not believed god
yet now have obtained mercy through their unbelief right so like we caught a good deal the
gentile world caught a good deal with the jews rejecting him because the gospel went into all
these different countries throughout the world that may not have happened at least as early
in history as it did and so it's like who knows how that chain of salvation could have been altered
if that didn't happen so we benefited from that it says verse number 31 even so have these also
now not believed that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy for god hath concluded them all
in unbelief that he might have mercy upon all hey in the new testament the the playing field
is leveled right there is no special chosen physical nation the kingdom of god was taken
from them and was given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof and you know what god
just looks at a person who's not yet saved and it's just a person who's not yet saved he's just
concluded them all in unbelief so that he can show mercy upon all and you know what god is
ready to show mercy to the jew and to the gentile today but that would have to evolve repentance
changing from being a jew to being a christian or for the gentiles changing from being a catholic
to being a christian changing from being a muslim to being a christian notice verse number 33 oh
the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of god how unsearchable are his judgments
and his ways past finding out you know just believe what the bible says all right verse 34
for who hath known the mind of the lord or who hath been his counselor no one right what a prideful
attitude to think oh i'm counseling god verse 35 or who hath first given to him and it shall be
recompensed unto him again for of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be glory
forever amen he kind of closes on this thought saying hey you know what it's all about it's all
about him it's all about the lord jesus christ and all things were created for him all things are
going to be giving honor and glory to him and you know what the jews today need to stop worrying
about the glory that they have in their own skin in their own genealogy in their own blood
and you know what this revival of racism that's happening in america and in western countries
right now hey it's not about you it's not about your blood it's not about your culture it's not
about your nation it's about him and without him you're nothing oh i'm a white pure arian
no you're nothing without jesus christ oh i'm a pharisee of the pharisees i'm a hebrew of the
hebrews you know i have perfect genealogy from abraham you are nothing without the lord jesus
christ and you know what anyone who rejects jesus christ is on their way to hell you must believe
in the lord jesus christ to be saved that's why paul said there's no difference between the jew
and the greek let's pray lord thank you for this day and thank you for roman's chapter number 11
definitely some deeper things in here lord i just pray that you help us to learn the truths
from your word lord that you continue to bless throughout this bible study in the book of romans
i pray lord that you would help us to be equal opportunists in who we give the gospel to lord
let's just conclude everyone in unbelief and just be willing to preach the gospel to anyone
jew or gentile we love you in Jesus name we pray amen with that we'll go ahead and sing one last
song to conclude the service if you would take your hymnals and turn to hymn number 309 dare
to be a daniel hymn number 309 and start there right on the first