[0:00] Maybe you've seen the movie Home Alone. I believe it's the first one. I'm not sure on that. But I'm thinking of that scene with the two thieves.
[0:11] ! And Marv just continues his sinister smile. And Harry says, what's wrong with you? I told you not to do it. And Marv says, Harry, it's our calling card. Calling card. Yeah, all the great ones lead their mark. We're the wet bandits.
[0:49] You're sick. You know that? You're really sick. What's a calling card? What is its intent? Why do bandits use it?
[1:07] For the notoriety. Yeah. They want to be known for that act. In some sense. Not be caught yet, but at least to have their name put on that thing.
[1:22] It's something like a signature. Didn't Zorro, I didn't see much Zorro, but just a little bit maybe as kids. Didn't he leave his Z behind? It's something of his calling card.
[1:34] His signature to whatever the event was. That nobody misses. Who did this? Who's accountable? Who's to receive the praise, the honor, the high thoughts, whatever, the notoriety?
[1:49] Well, we find something of the same thing in the scriptures. And I'm not saying it's always one thing or another. But throughout the Bible, we find that some of God's greatest acts have his calling card left behind.
[2:05] A signature feature that leaves no doubt that it was the Lord who acted in this situation. And that's for his glory. The glory of his name.
[2:20] I found this at least 20 times in the Old Testament. I like in this Sunday school hour for us to look at some of those signatures that he puts on events and then see what lessons we can learn from it.
[2:34] Let's begin. We're going to need a sword drill type speed in our Bibles this morning. We're going to begin in Exodus chapter 9. One of the greatest acts of deliverance in the Old Testament was God bringing Israel out of Egypt.
[2:48] Bondage in Egypt. It becomes the picture, the Old Testament picture for New Testament redemption of Christ bringing us out of bondage to Satan and sin.
[2:59] And so this is a huge event in God's history of redemption. And here in chapter 9, we're seeing that God is answering Pharaoh's question when he was told, Jehovah says, let my people go.
[3:18] And his question was, who is the Lord that I should obey him? And God answers his question in 10 plays, doesn't he? And this is the sixth, the terrible play on their livestock.
[3:33] Verses 6 and 7. All the livestock of the Egyptians died, but not one animal belonging to the Israelites died. Pharaoh sent men to investigate and found that not even one of the animals of the Israelites had died.
[3:49] Now what's the calling card here? For Pharaoh, for the Egyptians, and yes, even for any doubting Israelites to know that this was an act of God.
[4:00] What was it? How many? None.
[4:10] None. What does your version say? Not one. Not one. Not one.
[4:21] So, it's stated twice here that we not miss it either as we look back on that event. And this makes clear that the cattle plague was not some general thing that just descended upon all the cattle.
[4:37] It was clearly a plague aimed at the Egyptians with a laser-like precision. It was an act of the Lord God of Israel that not one of their animals died when those of the Egyptians died.
[4:56] Over to chapter 14. We come to the Red Sea. And after every last Israelite makes it through on dry land. chapter 14, verse 28.
[5:09] 14, 28. Roger Bechtel. If you have that, read that loudly for us. 28? 14, 28. Yes, sir.
[5:19] The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen and all of the hosts of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea.
[5:39] Not one of them remained. Okay. Do you see it again? The same calling card. Not one survived. You can't just say, well, you'll have that.
[5:55] You know, water coming back in and wiping people out and flooding and killing them. But no, this is so precise. Not one of the Egyptians survived.
[6:07] And Psalm 106.11 is celebrating this victory in song. And when it does, it repeats God's calling card. This is what it says, 106.11. The waters covered their adversaries. Not one of them survived.
[6:21] That's to go along with this event. Look at Psalm 105. Another rehearsing of God's ways and bringing Israel out of Egypt.
[6:35] And 105 and verse 37. Who's got that? Read it quickly for us. 105.37. Then he brought out Israel with silver and gold.
[6:48] And there was none among his tribes who stumbled. Okay. None. Not one. No one. Faltered. Now, we know there was 600,000 fighting men 20 years and older.
[7:04] That's how many fighting men were in this group of Israelites. And add to it those who were too young to fight. Those who were too old to fight.
[7:15] The women, the children, and so on. The estimates are 2 to 3 million people being brought out of Egypt. And yet, not one faltered.
[7:27] Not one stumbled as they fled. That was God's doing. Little children. Old men and women. And not one stumbled. Numbers chapter 14.
[7:43] Numbers 14. Numbers 14. Here we finally arrive at the promised land.
[8:00] God says, go in and take it. I will give it to you. Drive them out. I'll be with you. And you remember their unbelief. After sending in the spies, 10 said, we can't do it.
[8:12] And so, all Israel, in unbelief, refused to go in. This is the response of God to that unbelieving generation.
[8:24] Who's got it? Numbers 14, 22, and 23. Please. Not one of those who saw my glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, but who disobeyed me and tested me 10 times.
[8:44] Not one of them will ever see the land that promised on earth to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it. 10.
[8:55] Not one. Not one. Who treated God as... He's a nobody. I don't care if he says he's going with us. That's nothing compared to these giants in the land.
[9:08] And so, they treated God as a nobody. And God says, not one of them will even see that promised land. Remember, they all died in the wilderness.
[9:21] It's the same. It's because God's calling card. This judge... This death of the Israelites in the desert, it wasn't some natural disaster that God was somehow unconnected to.
[9:34] No, we see he left his signature. Israel, you need to know that I mean business, that when I say go in and take it, you better go and take it. Because not one of these will go in.
[9:46] The next time they get to the door of the promised land, they do go in, don't they? They learned the lesson. That God means business. And he will judge his people. And so, they learned from God's calling card.
[10:00] Not one. Numbers 31. Numbers 31. We see as they are coming out of...
[10:15] Out of Egypt. The Lord said to Moses, Take vengeance on the Midianites for the Israelites.
[10:25] After that, you will be gathered to your people. So here's one of your last words, Moses. Take vengeance on the Midianites. This is God's vengeance, not man's. For what they did. Moses said to the people, Arm some of your men to go to war against the Midianites, And to carry out the Lord's vengeance on them.
[10:44] Send into battle a thousand men from each of the tribes of Israel. So 12,000 men armed for battle. A thousand from each tribe were supplied from the clans of Israel.
[10:55] The Midianites were those who attacked Israel when they first came out of Egypt. And they took advantage of them as they were fleeing Egypt. And God later is now saying, I've got a score to settle with them.
[11:07] They touched the apple of my eye. Go and take out my vengeance upon them, Moses. And so, what is three times emphasized?
[11:20] Verses 4 to 6. I quit at verse 5. Verse 6. Moses sent them into battle. A thousand from each tribe. Along with Phineas son of Eleazar the priest. Who took with him articles from the sanctuary.
[11:32] And the trumpets for signaling. Three times in verses 4 to 6. It tells us how many were sent after the Midianites. How many were there? Twelve thousand.
[11:43] A thousand from each tribe. So, that's emphasized right up front. And then they fought against Midian.
[11:54] We see that in verse 7. They fought against Midian as the Lord commanded Moses. And killed every man. Now, here's the casualty list. And it lists some of the victims of those Midianites that were killed.
[12:08] It says they killed every man. Then we come to verses 48 and 49.
[12:20] Verses 48 and 49. And these commanders came to Moses. And this was their report. Your servants have counted the soldiers under our command.
[12:32] And not one is missing. Not one is missing. This is not the age of drones and of laser guided missiles shot from ships far away from the scene of battle.
[12:47] This is the age of hand-to-hand combat. Grabbing hold of your other guy and trying to get the sword into their heart before they get it into yours. This is the hand-to-hand combat days.
[12:59] And 12,000 of Israel are fighting against this Midianite horde. And they say not one of the 12,000 is missing.
[13:10] The Midianites, all of them are dead. But not a casualty. The roll call is taken. Not one is missing. Again, that's Jehovah's signature.
[13:22] He leaves his not one. We have the same thing as they come in toward the promised land. The last kind of the front porch of the promised land. They come to that great king Sihon.
[13:35] Deuteronomy 2.36. As they're nearing the promised land. Not one town was too strong for us. The Lord our God gave them all to us.
[13:46] And then they come to the kingdom of Og. The Basham. And verses Deuteronomy 3.4 says, There was not one of the 60 cities that we did not take from them.
[13:58] And now as they cross the Jordan and go into the promised land. A coalition of five kings and kingdoms are opposing the Israelites and Joshua. And in Joshua 8.10, the Lord says to Joshua, Do not be afraid of them.
[14:12] I've given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you. Again, this is for Joshua's encouragement. God's promising.
[14:22] Not one. Not one. This isn't the first time he's heard those words. He's had a whole series now. Of not ones. Of the Lord's signature upon these great events and victories.
[14:36] And now the Lord is promising. Don't be afraid. Not one of them will be able to withstand you. And so the battle ensues. And verse 11 says, The Lord hurled large hailstones.
[14:48] Killing more that way than by Israel's swords. We had a little hail this week perhaps. But this was hail that killed the enemy. In fact, killed more than the Israelite swords.
[15:01] And then the sun stopped going down for a day. So Israel could finish off the job. If God says not one of them will escape. He means business.
[15:13] Even if he has to stone them themselves with hail from heaven. Or stop the sun for a day. To see the work finished. You have at the end of this.
[15:25] These words. Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel. Surely. How could you miss it? His signature. His fingerprints.
[15:36] His calling card. Not one of these 60 cities could stand against it. Turn to Joshua chapter 21. We get to the end of Joshua's life.
[15:47] And the end of the conquest of the promised land. As they're coming into the promised land. And we saw Moses as he left Egypt. And moved toward the promised land.
[15:58] And now we see Joshua going in. And taking the land as God had promised. In verse 44 of Joshua 21. Notice the signature again.
[16:09] The Lord gave them rest on every side. Just as he had sworn to their forefathers. Not one of their enemies withstood them. The Lord handed all their enemies over to them.
[16:19] To them. Not one of all the Lord's good promises. To the house of Israel failed. Everyone was fulfilled. And then at his death.
[16:31] Chapter 23 in verse 14. You know that not one of all the good promises. The Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled. Not one has failed.
[16:45] These words are starting to have an echo to them. As we're picking them out. Along the way of Israel's history. But I don't think it's just us that are seeing this. This is a signature.
[16:57] That Israel was given to notice. That God was fighting for them. He was faithful to keep his promise. Then later after the times of the judges.
[17:09] And David is king. When Solomon builds the temple. And dedicates it in Jerusalem. He too says in 1 Kings 8.56. Not one word has failed. Of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses.
[17:23] So church. Here's an application for you. We have. We are a people of the promise. The promises of God. And we have many great and precious promises.
[17:35] And God has left his signature. That not one of them will fail. We see it along the line. Not one failed. And we go along further in history.
[17:45] Not one failed. Not one failed. Do you think for a moment. That you're going to be the first one. That Romans 8.28. Will not be true. That promise will fail you.
[17:57] And for the first time. It will not be able to be said. Of God's people. That not one good promise to them. Has failed. We can't say that anymore. Because it's going to fail in your situation.
[18:10] No. It cannot be. He cannot deny himself. And so this is meant to encourage you. This signature. This is not one. He is left behind to encourage you.
[18:21] To find the promise. For your situation. And just to hold on to it. To take your stand on it. I love it. As I've read in church history.
[18:31] Where one man was dying. And he was. He could not see. And as he was breathing his glass. He told his daughter. Put my finger. On that verse.
[18:42] In Romans chapter 8. That nothing can separate us. From his love. You see. He had a promise. And he wanted to die. With his finger on the promise. Not one.
[18:55] It's the word of God. That lives. And endures. And that stands forever. So this is meant. To encourage us. Psalm 34.
[19:06] And verse 20. Psalm 34. And verse 20. Look this passage up. It's about our Savior. And we know this.
[19:17] From the New Testament. That. That says it's about our Savior. Psalm 34. And verse 20. It says. He protects. All his bones. Not one of them.
[19:29] Not one of them. Will be broken. Not one of them. Will be broken. And. John tells us. In John 19. 36. That this was spoken. About Jesus.
[19:40] So there they are. The three. Men. On the crosses. Crucifixion. Often. Lasted. For. Two or three days. It was. It was. A slow.
[19:50] Torturous death. And it's still the first day. And. It's a special. Passover day. And the Jews. Don't want bodies. Left up.
[20:01] On. The Passover. Sabbath. And so. They request. That bodies. Be taken down. And. Pilate says. Well they've got to be dead.
[20:12] Before we take them down. They've got to die. When. We put them up to die. That's what their sentence is. So. Then hasten their death. And the way they did it. Was just to break the knees.
[20:22] Of the. Of the guys. On the cross. With the hammer. To shatter their knees. So that they couldn't push up. And get breath. They would suffocate. Much earlier. Days earlier.
[20:33] Hours earlier. So they come to the first thief. Sure enough. He's still. Still alive. And they crush his. His. His. His. His. His. His. His. His. His. His.
[20:43] His. His. His. Man.
[21:07] last. He committed his spirit into his father's hands and he was gone. Well, the soldiers took his spirit and jabbed it in his side and John said, we saw water and blood flow out.
[21:19] He was dead as a dead man has ever been. But not one of his bones was broken. Not one. Not one. Again, this is meant to encourage us in the promises that God's the one.
[21:38] Who's superintending this scene at Golgotha. It's not the Roman soldiers. It's not the centurion. It's not Pilate.
[21:50] It's not the Jews crying for his blood. Almighty God is here at this event. It's his event. And he shows that by not letting his son's bones be broken. Not even one.
[22:05] and it encourages our hearts that this wasn't some accident of history. God is bringing to pass what he's promised for all the ages. He is crushing his son.
[22:18] He is putting him to grief. Please the Lord to bruise him. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us.
[22:28] This is God's doing. And so we can rest assured that Calvary is that great sacrifice that had been promised and meant to encourage us.
[22:42] Psalm 76 5 one of the reasons that God deserves praise and worship is that he is mighty in battle. Not one of the warriors can lift his hands against the Lord.
[22:53] Not one can stand against him. And we can say then if God before us who can be against us? Again it's meant to encourage the saints. And then when God has a score to settle with his own people.
[23:14] He has a discipline or a judgment upon the lost within Israel and a discipline upon his true saints in Israel. Sometimes he would call for the enemy nations to come and to have that on Israel.
[23:28] That was often the way that he judged Israel. He called for the nations. And Isaiah 5 speaks of the pagan armies that the Lord calls to fulfill this purpose of judgment on rebellious Israel.
[23:42] It says he whistles. I can't whistle like someone again but he gives this whistle to the distant nations and those from the ends of the earth. And here they come swiftly and speedily.
[23:54] Not one of them grows tired or stumbles. Not one slumbers or sleep. Not a belt is loosened at the waist. Not a sandal thong is broken.
[24:06] What's God doing when he's piling these not ones upon his description of this enemy nation that's coming to destroy Israel?
[24:17] What's the purpose of that? Anyone? And what's he wanting Israel to know? This judgment is not just that you happen to be a nation in the way of a big mighty conqueror.
[24:33] I've called him. I've whistled to him. And I want you to know this is my event here. I'm bringing them. Kiss the rod and him who holds it, you must know that I'm holding this rod.
[24:46] And the way he proves it to them is he says not one of the warriors or not not one of these that I've whistled to grows tired or stumbles.
[24:59] The same calling card of Israel when they fled from Egypt. Now he proves it upon his enemies. They don't stumble as they're coming to do God's will.
[25:12] They don't slumber asleep. Not a belt is loosed at the waist as they girded up their loins and tuck their flowing garments into a belt. Not one belt broke open and tripped them up along the way.
[25:24] And not a sandal thong is broken. The whole army. It's God's doing. Well, you get the idea.
[25:36] The one striking you, Israel, in judgment for your rebellion is God. And so it goes. So, then we come to Isaiah 40 verse 26.
[25:54] Lift your eyes and look to the heavens. Who created all these? He who brings out the starry hosts one by one, who calls them each by name, not one of them is missing.
[26:07] Not one of them is missing. He calls them each by name because of his great power and mighty strength. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.
[26:21] So it's no coincidence when you look up that you still see Orion or the bear or the big, the little dipper. Consistency in the night sky, not one missing.
[26:32] What is God saying? It's my power and strength that keeps every single one in place. In other words, God's providential control over nature is universal.
[26:45] It extends to everything, every star, sun, moon, insect, animal, person. Not one is missing.
[26:56] This is the calling card of our God. We're meant to take heart and to trust in him who holds us in his hand. many more on God's judgments falling upon the nations again, just showing that when he sets out to punish a people, they will not escape.
[27:23] And that's a kind warning to the unconverted, isn't it? To know that, that if they're not in Christ, taking refuge in Christ, how will you escape if you neglect so great a salvation?
[27:36] Well, you won't. You simply won't. Not one will. Read the history. Not one, not one, not one, not one. And you will not escape. So get into Christ. You see the way that this is used, this calling card, Jesus used it.
[27:54] Matthew 24 and verse 2, as they came out of the temple, the disciples were amazed at the stones of this building. And we're drawing Jesus attention to it.
[28:05] Can you believe? Look at these stones. Awesome, massive, decorative. You remember Jesus' words. He uses the not one. Matthew 24, 2.
[28:16] Not one stone here will be left on another. Everyone will be thrown down. Again, what's he saying? He's saying that God's judgment upon Israel and her Christless temple worship that goes on here in this place.
[28:36] It's going to happen. Not one stone here will be left upon another. The fact that Jesus is now using God's signature, is teaching us something about his nature, isn't it?
[28:48] That he himself is God. And he's taking up the signature and saying, not one. He's making his own prediction, his own statement of the future and prophecy.
[28:59] not one will be left upon the other. It might be carried out by the commander Titus and his Roman army in 70 AD. Oh, but don't miss it.
[29:11] This is Jehovah's judgment upon this temple and this nation and this capital, these people for rejecting their Messiah. He leaves his stone, his calling card behind with not one stone left upon another.
[29:27] And then you find men making excuses in Jesus' story about God inviting, the man inviting people to come to the feast and to the wedding feast and no one comes, they've all got their excuses.
[29:46] Well, that's the picture of Jesus Christ inviting people to the gospel feast. Come, come, whoever you are, whatever you've done, come to me and eat and you will live forever.
[29:58] And everybody has an excuse. But what is an excuse? It's a flimsy lie that hides, kind of hides the fact that we don't want to come.
[30:12] And Jesus sees right through the excuse to the heart and therefore says, I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet. Not one.
[30:24] You see, he means business. You can't put him off with excuses. This is his signature way of dealing with his enemies. But yet the same calling card is used to speak such comfort to his own.
[30:37] And we find Jesus using it in encouraging his people not to worry. What you'll eat, drink, wear. Matthew 10, 29, talks about cheap, ordinary, common sparrows.
[30:52] You can buy two for a penny. Yet not one. Not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of my father in heaven. And you are worth far more than them. Not one.
[31:04] This is a providence that extends down to each little sparrow's fall. Not one will fall apart from his will. No, he has you in his hands.
[31:16] And that's the kind of providence and control over the events of you and your life that he has. Rest in him. Don't worry. You're not forgotten by God.
[31:31] Well, it was the same on that ship that was being tossed in the waves as Paul was making his way to Rome. He has this vision in the night and the Lord says, keep up your courage because not one of you will be lost.
[31:46] It looked like they were all going to be lost in that storm, remember, but the promise was not one of you will be lost. Only the ship will be destroyed. 276 on board. And when they were washed up ashore on Malta, what did they have?
[32:00] A roll call, 276 people. Not one of them was lost. Such is our God. Well, perhaps the sweetest use, I want to hurry to this, is found in John chapter 6.
[32:15] It's again on the lips of our Lord, and again it speaks of who he is. He's a man, but he's not an ordinary man. He's God, a God man.
[32:26] And when he speaks, he uses the signature not one. And it's meant to bring great comfort to all of God's people who are trusting in the Savior.
[32:38] Luke 6, 37 to 40. all that the Father gives me will come to me.
[32:51] And whoever comes to me, I will never drive away. Jesus talks about a people who were given to him. He says it again in John 17, that the Father has given me authority to give eternal life to all of those that he has given to me.
[33:07] There are people that have been given to Jesus Christ before the creation of the world. It's his decree of election when he chose those that he would save out of this mass of sinners going to hell.
[33:19] And God the Father chose them, set his love upon them, predestined them to be his children, and gave them to his Son. Now, Son, you go and redeem them for us.
[33:30] You go and live the perfect life for them. You go and die the death that they deserve, and we will send the Holy Spirit to quicken them to new life and faith and repentance. He gave them.
[33:42] And notice what Jesus says, all that the Father gives me will come to me. I'm sorry, John 6? What did I have? Luke 6.
[33:53] You want John 6? I'm sorry. It's John 6. Thank you. John 6, verse 37. All that the Father gives me will come to me.
[34:06] So how many of those that the Father gave to the Son in the election will sometime during their life come to Jesus in faith and repentance? All of them.
[34:17] Okay? That's what he says. All that the Father gives me will give me. And out of those who come to Jesus Christ, willingly, freely coming to receive Him as their Lord and Savior and to trust in Him, out of all those that come, how many does Jesus receive?
[34:36] What's he say? All, those who come to me, I will never, whoever comes to me, I will never drive them away. All that the Father gives to the Son will come and those who come will be received.
[34:52] None driven away. And how many of those that the Father gives to Jesus and that come to Jesus in their lifetime, out of them, how many of them will be lost in the end?
[35:08] Well, let's read on. Verse 38, For I have come down from heaven not to do my will, but to do the will of Him who sent me. And this is the will of Him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that He has given me, but raise them up at the last day.
[35:24] For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
[35:35] not one of them shall be lost. Again, in verse 39, you see it. This is the will of Him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that He's given me, but raise them up at the last day.
[35:54] You sing that song, When the roll is called a beyonder, I'll be there. where are the names found for that final roll call in heaven? Well, they're found in the Lamb's Book of Life, written before the creation of the world, whose names are in the Book of Life, Philippians 4, 3.
[36:16] The Book of Life written from the foundation of the world, Revelation 17, 8, 20, 15, 21, 27, and so on. So God has given a people to His Son, and He's written their names down.
[36:29] You and I don't know who they are. He chose them to be His people. He wrote down their names in the Lamb's Book of Life, and at the last day, He will raise every single one up.
[36:46] And as the Lamb's Book of Life is opened, and the roll of names is called, one after another will respond. Here, here, present, present, page after page will show that not one is missing, and that's the very signature card that Jesus Christ leaves behind in this promise that proves that He has perfectly accomplished everything that He had set out to do, namely the Father's will to save everyone that the Father gave to the Son.
[37:20] Can't we rest our souls in Him who then, to know that He who is undertaken to save us will get the job done, not one missing.
[37:33] He's able to save to the uttermost all who come unto God through Him because He always lives to make intercession for them. He's not done, you see, He's making intercession.
[37:44] You've got to get that man home. Oh, but look at him. He's just denied that he even knew you. And Jesus, but I've prayed for you, Peter. He's interceding for it. So when you have repented, when you have recovered, strengthen your brothers.
[37:58] Oh, she's one of mine. Living in the Lamb's Book of Life, she's straying, she must be recovered, because I must raise her up at the last day. Jesus ever lives, that's our confidence, we have a living Savior.
[38:14] Because of that, all will make it safely to the end without one missing. Love that song. This is thy will, that in thy love we ever should abide, that earth and hell should not prevail to turn thy word aside, not one of all the chosen race, but shall to heaven attain, partake on earth the purpose grace, and then with Jesus reign.
[38:40] So why does God use a calling card, a signature to his great events? Well, it's for his glory, isn't it? He wants to be acknowledged for these things. The world is dead to it.
[38:53] The world doesn't acknowledge God, you're behind the storm, you're behind the victory in battle, the defeat, the putting up of one, the putting down of another leader. They don't acknowledge God in any of this.
[39:07] Oh, but praise waits for thee, O Lord, in Zion. There's a people on earth that acknowledge him, and he leaves a signature that he might receive the glory.
[39:17] It is the Lord. It's the Lord. It's the Lord acting on our behalf. So let's today acknowledge him with praise and thanksgiving, knowing that he's the one doing his works on the earth.
[39:29] It's for his glory, but it's also for our comfort to know that our lives are safe in his hands, the one who rules all the events of life, the storm on the sea that saves 276, the plagues that come upon cattle and people and hail storms and all the rest, the sparrows that fall.
[39:53] Not one thing is out from under his control. He fights for his people. Not one of our enemies will be able to resist him. And say, you've got three terrible enemies.
[40:05] The world will drag you into hell with its allurements. And there's something inside of you that still wants what the world's offering. That's called your flesh. That's another terrible enemy.
[40:17] It's the enemy within. And then there's a devil who's working with the world and with your flesh to get you to fall. He wants to drag you to hell. Isn't it precious to know that not one of his enemies, not one of our enemies will be able to stand against him.
[40:35] This is the God who, for our comfort, tells us that not one of his promises will fail. We can find one, we can put our finger on it, we can die with our finger on it, we can die with our hope in his promises.
[40:50] The God who preserves his people to the end so that not one will be missing. And then it's given for the kind warning of unbelievers of the final judgment.
[41:02] Read, read, not one of his enemies escaped. And that's his kind warning. Come to me, there's safety in Christ.
[41:14] Well, this is something then of the calling card. I'm not saying it's the only calling card, but I think as you read through the Bible, notice it. Not one, not one, not one, and drink it in for your comfort.
[41:29] Any questions, comments on that calling card and its purpose for us in the scriptures? scriptures? Yes, there. I think of the verse, I think I have this right, I'm not sure of the address, no word will be turned void.
[41:47] That's right. God declared something that's going to happen. It's not going to fall to the ground unfulfilled, just like the rain and the snow come down. It never goes back up empty.
[41:59] It always fulfills the purpose for which it was sent. So, not one of his words. Good, what else? All right, let's pray, shall we?
[42:15] Father, what a blessing it is to be one of yours that you gave to your son and that you drew to him and we have come. Jesus said in John 6 that no one can come to me unless the father draws him.
[42:32] And father, you gave us to the son and then you drew us to the son. And Lord Jesus, you didn't chase us away but with open arms received us and then stayed with us by your spirit and are assuring us that one day you will raise our bodies from the dead to spend eternity in your presence in a new heaven and a new earth.
[43:00] Thank you that we will say in that day not one word of the Lord has failed, not one promise has come short of fulfillment. Give us even now to begin saying that for our comfort, for our faith and for our hope and give us as well to see you in all these events of our lives, to know that it is the Lord and to acknowledge you.
[43:28] thank you then for the Lord's day that gathers us together to do just that. Prepare our hearts then to sing your praises and to say it is the Lord that has saved us and is saving us and will save us in the last day.
[43:44] We ask in Jesus' name for his praise. Amen. Amen. Amen.