Now this is important to understand today. The Word of God needs to be read. And until the church is getting people into the Word of God, it’s, I think, missing its main function. This is very important. What is the minister to do today? How is the minister to grow? Well, he’s to grow by reading and by exhortation and doctrine. You see, a growing minister makes a growing church. And what about you? Are you farther along today than you were this time last year? Are you growing in grace and the knowledge of Christ? The only way to do is by reading the Word of Godthe great truths of the Word of God.

For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those that believe. Now again we have something very important here. The first thing is if you stand for Jesus Christ today, it’ll cost you something. There’s no question about that. Then the next thing here that’s very important is to know that the Lord Jesus, He’s the Savior of all men. And whoever you are, He’s your Savior. And He’s the only Savior. But who does He save? Those that believe. This is important for us to see.

These things command and teach. Let no man despise thy youth. There would be those in the church that’d say, Well, he’s just a young fellow, he doesn’t know yet. And maybe he didn’t, but don’t let anybody despise your youth. But be thou an example of the believers. It’s not age that’s important, but whether you’re an example of the believers. In what way? Here is God’s standard. We should be an example today in word, in our conversation, in our conduct, in our love, in our spirit, and in faith, and in purity.

Now that is a comfort to the child of God todayto know that all things work together for good. Why? Because God is going to see to it. And as Dr. Torrey used to say: That verse is certainly a pillow for a tired heart. And how many tired hearts there are in this world today who need a pillow to rest upon like this that are going down through deep waters and facing trials and temptations down here, and undergoing suffering and pain. They need to know that all things are working together. And that’s just not an idle expression. It’s because there is a God that has a plan and program. And He’ll not let up until it’s carried out to the very letter.

Well, friends, we have today a Mediator. The Lord Jesus Christ is come, and He has one hand in the hand of deity because He’s God. He’s able to save to the uttermost because He’s God and because He’s paid the price for your salvation and mine. Now He’s a Mediator, but He’s become a man; He can hold my hand down here. He understands me. He understands you. He knows you. You can go to Him. He’s not going to harm you and hurt you. You say, Well, I failed. I’ve done this; I’ve come short of the glory of God. I’m just such a failure. Well, He knows that, and He still loves you. He still wants to put His arm around you.

Therefore, thou shalt speak all these words unto them; but they will not hearken to thee: thou shalt also call unto them; but they will not answer thee. And Jeremiah didn’t have many hands put up in his services, and he didn’t have very many people that came forward. He didn’t have any. But, my friend, God says, You’ve done the job. You’re to give My Word. And the important thing isfor you and meis not to be able to count noses today or heads, but the important thing is can we give a report to God that we have given His Word and that we’ve tried to back it up.

I must remind you that after the Ten Commandments there were certain judgments that God gave, and that’s been the thing that Jeremiah’s been referring to. It has to do with the way you treat your neighbor. It has to do with the way that you conduct your business. It’s what kind of social life are you living today. Jeremiah makes it clear, my friend, you’ve gone down the detour. You’re away from God. And all of this business of talking about how fundamental you are. You can talk about doctrine and, believe me, I insist on that. I’d really like to know what kind of a life you’re living. How honest are you? How clean are you in your living? That’s what he’s talking about here. This gets right down where we’re living today.

He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion. In other words, those stars are up there in the places they’re in because God put them there. And that’s where He wanted them, and He didn’t put them where I want them. He put them where He wanted them. And this is His universe, and He’s the One to be worshipped. And we call ourselves civilized today, and we find ourselves giving ourselves to that which does not help at alla little Zodiac. Can you imagine intelligent people dealing with that kind of thing in this matter of fortune telling and all of that. Why not worship the living and the true God?

He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion. In other words, those stars are up there in the places they’re in because God put them there. And that’s where He wanted them, and He didn’t put them where I want them. He put them where He wanted them. And this is His universe, and He’s the One to be worshipped. And we call ourselves civilized today, and we find ourselves giving ourselves to that which does not help at alla little Zodiac. Can you imagine intelligent people dealing with that kind of thing in this matter of fortune telling and all of that. Why not worship the living and the true God?

Anything that you do in the local church, you’re to do it not only in the name of Christ, but you’re to do it at His command. He’s the Lord. And He made the statement, He said, You called me Lord, Lord, and you don’t do the things that I sayyou don’t obey Me. I wonder if He might not say that to many of us today. We just don’t call Him Lord. He says many in that day are going to say, Lord, Lord, didn’t we do this, that, and the other thing? We were busy as termites for You. And He’s going to say, Well, I don’t even know you. I didn’t know you were doing that in My name. You certainly didn’t go about it that way. You didn’t seek My will. You didn’t seek to obey Me. Oh this is very personal, you see.