Nothing Restrains The Lord: full transcript and answers

▶ 0:01 This message is called nothing restrains the Lord like we just heard many times during our worship nothing is impossible nothing restrains him amen. On the road to Emmaus in Luke chapter 24 verse 25 he’s there were two men walking along and they came into contact with another man walking. And the other man walking was Jesus and this is the third day after he was. In the grave he already risen on the third day and uh these guys were downtrodden they were upset heads down gosh he’s not risen his bot we don’t know where his body is they’re. Upset and Jesus. And they don’t know that it’s Jesus walking with them two men there’s a man coming he’s walking they don’t know that it’s Jesus but it’s Jesus.

▶ 0:57 And so they’re upset they’re telling Jesus about everything going on about uh about Jesus Christ dying on the they’re telling Jesus about him dying on the cross and raising and uh his body’s not found his body’s not there I don’t know where it’s at we don’t know where it’s at. So Jesus’s reply was he said to them oh foolish ones slow of heart to believe slow of heart I don’t want to be slow of heart amen. And all that the prophets have spoken. Ought not the Christ who have suffered these things and enter into his glory he goes on to say beginning at Moses and all the prophets he expounded he expounded to them all the scriptures concerning himself. So we know that in the Old Testament the prophets are writing about Jesus Christ from Moses all the way through there are examples about Jesus about himself.

▶ 1:56 And I am very frustrated with these two men. Why did they not write down everything that Jesus told them wouldn’t that be nice. But hey. Now get God gets to reveal it to us personally. And it’s powerful and it’s good amen. So we’re going to go to the story of Jonathan we’re going to go to the sam Samuel the prophet. Who Jesus was just talking about he’s talking about the prophets we’re going to go to the story of Jonathan and you’ll know some of these stories that are in the Bible they bring up details and you’re just like why are these details in here this makes no sense. A lot of this stuff in this story it makes no sense and we’re going to talk about it but the story of Jonathan I’m going to explain how it is a lot like Jesus Christ coming there’s some similarities and there’s a lot of similarities in other stories Joseph Moses all pointing to Jesus coming.

▶ 3:00 And Jonathan later in his life he followed Saul which he shouldn’t have done he made a bad choice Solomon later in his life followed his wife his wives didn’t serve God anymore but at a point in their time in their life God stopped and said I’m going to use this event. As an example of Jesus coming. So it’s not like oh they’re used by God oh now they have freedom to sin and all no God just used them as an example of his coming anyway here we go. First Samuel 14 3. This is the story about when Jonathan went up to the garrison of Philistines and he he took out a garris garrison of Philistines this simple story and we’re going to look at it right now.

▶ 3:56 He left the group but the people did not know that Jonathan had gone. In Luke 2 verse 45 there’s a story about Jesus Christ when they went to Jerusalem it says so when they did not find him in the group right he was supposed to be in the group he wasn’t there they returned to Jerusalem seeking him. Jonathan makes this statement in Samuel chapter 14 verse 4 Jonathan sought to go over the Philistines he said come let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. And acts chapter 7 verse 51 Stephen talks to the Pharisees and he says you uncircumcised in hearts and ears.

▶ 4:49 You always resist the Holy Spirit and we do not want to be like that. But here God is correlating the this story to his uh when he came the Pharisees were like these Philistines. Uncircumcised in their hearts. I don’t want to be a Pharisee Christian I want to hear God’s word respond to it listen to it. And he says this very powerful statement this is Jonathan talking he says a very powerful statement. It may be that the Lord will work for us let’s go let’s get these guys it may be that the Lord will work for us for nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or few.

▶ 5:44 First John 2 chapter 1 if anyone sins we have an advocate with Jesus Christ the righteous he himself is the propitiation for our sins not for ours only but also for the whole world one man. Save the whole world nothing restrains the Lord to save by many or few. Jesus Christ saved the whole world from sin by himself. There is nothing that our God cannot do. Whether it’s defeating an army like the gideonite or like Gideon in his 300 he had he had 299 more than Jesus did. Jesus was by himself but that was just an army Jesus is taking on the sin of the world he is a powerful God nothing restrains him we got to put our trust in him.

▶ 6:44 Nothing is. Impossible. First Samuel 14 11. So both them both of them Jonathan oh we got another character here Jonathan and the who the armor-bearer. Showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. In Matthew 26. 62 they had brought Jesus before the Pharisees the Sanhedrin the high priest and the high priest asks him a pointed question he says I put you under oath. Tell us if you are the Christ. Jesus said it is as you say. He revealed to them who he was. All this time there was a lot of rumors but Jesus Christ himself revealed unto them and said I am.

▶ 7:45 What you say I am I am the Christ just like Jonathan I’m just going through this story of Jonathan here and showing you the similarities. Nevertheless I say unto you you will see the son of man sitting at the right hand of the power and coming the clouds of heaven and what was their response what was the Pharisee Christian’s response what was the fair the Philistines response or this is the sorry the Pharisees this is their answer to Jesus they answered and said he is deserving of death. He is deserving of death. Is that how we respond to God. We want to fight him want to punch him you want to tell me what to do Jesus here’s your right hook. That’s how a lot of people are responding to in America to Jesus Christ and his word when he says repent when he says turn from sin when he says put that sin away in your life it’s going to take you to hell they come with their fists and they want to fight him you’re not going to win that battle.

▶ 9:02 And the Pharisees thought they won when they put them to death on the cross but they did not because he rose. And the Holy Spirit came and built the church and turned the world upside down. And the temple was destroyed. By the Romans. You can’t put Jesus down you’re fighting against God you’re not going to win. So Jonathan goes on to say statements. 14 verse 9 Samuel if they say unto us wait until we come to you then we will stand still in our place. If they say come up to us you come over here. You know the kerosene saw the garrison saw uh Jonathan and the armament come over here come over here we’re in.

▶ 10:02 Charge. Is that how we approach God with pride come to me God come. You know where I’m at you know my address my number what. Is that how we approach God you can’t approach God that way. Nick John 3 verse 2 nicodemus came to Jesus by night nicodemus was a Pharisee. He was a Pharisee but Jesus came on the scene and nicodemus goes to him by night. Oh I’m sorry. Nicodemus goes to him by night and he says we know that you are a teacher from God so here nicodemus is humbling himself he’s coming to Jesus is that how we respond to Jesus.

▶ 11:01 Do we come to him do we wait on him or are we coming to the restaurant of God and saying God I need some water I need some of this get it for me right now or there’s no tip for you. It should be the other way around. He comes and we wait on him. We serve him. But what was the Pharisees response they went out and plotted against him they were trying that they might destroy him they would send their officials to go how come you didn’t bring Jesus to us and their response is no one ever spoke like this guy right. You know this is how they approach Jesus come over here we’re in charge we’re got all the money we got all positioned is that how we you can’t approach God that way.

▶ 12:00 First Samuel 14 5. The armor bearer his armor bearer said to him now Jonathan had just said to his armor bearer come let’s go up. The Lord has delivered them into our hand come. And this is the armor bearer’s response do all that is in your heart go then I am with you according to your heart. Isn’t it good to know that Jesus and the spirit they are so united. I mean you thought you thought Jesus alone was powerful he’s got this Holy Spirit too I mean there’s really nothing you can’t do there’s nothing he can’t do. You got a team up there working for you one’s forgiving your sins one’s changing you the other one over here is doing other stuff when you I mean wow.

▶ 12:59 That’s great. Luke chapter 2 verse 40 the child grew this is talking about Jesus he became strong in the spirit he waxed strong in the spirit filled with wisdom and the grace of God. When Jesus was baptized by John the baptist. It says that the spirit of God descended on him like a dove. A lighting upon him the spirit of God was with Jesus Christ we know this. But it coincides with the armor-bearer’s statement. Jonathan said to his armored bearer come up after me after me come up after me Jesus Christ died on the cross rose from the grave and what did he tell his disciples I am going to send what my father has promised.

▶ 13:56 Stay in the city until you have been clothed with power who is doing the clothing who is clothing us with power it’s I’ll guess I’ll answer the questions the Holy Spirit is clothing you with power doesn’t that sound I mean the Holy Spirit is clothing you with power doesn’t that sound like an armor bearer. The armor bearer has got a bunch of armor he’s got a sword he’s got he’s got the Lord he’s got the breastplate he’s got the helmet he’s carrying all that oh here my here’s def I’ve got something for you. He bears the armor. And he can equip us. Now. Those that don’t believe in the Holy Spirit I’m showing you in these examples in the Bible it’s been part of the package from the beginning.

▶ 14:50 Don’t throw it out we got to get it. We’ve got to get that part. It is so essential and important and imperative. It has been God’s package from the beginning. Now I’m going to go on a little tangent. I don’t know if you guys can handle that. First Samuel 17 38. Now this is when David was going to fight goliath. Saul. Armed David with his armor he gave David his armor. And David said I cannot go with these. For I have not proved them. And David put them off.

▶ 15:48 In America today. We are going about being a Christian trying to put on some other tools that are not God’s. You know if somebody expounds the word of God great but if somebody changes God’s word and all of a sudden you want to bring that on as your armor it’s not proven it’s not tested. But the Bible says the word of the Lord is proven it is tested throughout the ages and we’ve got to put that on. Oh but oh that ship has sailed oh that’s old stuff oh man you got to get with the latest technology the technology of uh life no God’s word has lasted from the beginning it is proven from the beginning you want to know how to raise your kids the word of the Lord is proven you want to know how to behave in marriage the word of the Lord is proven you want to know how to treat people the word of the Lord is proven.

▶ 16:58 For by you I can run against a troop by my God I can leap over a wall as for God his way is perfect the word of the Lord is proven he teaches my hands to make war so that I can my arms can bend a bow of wrong I mean his ways his word. Equips you for war or battle. For this life. And all of you guys that are all of us that have got to go through all this coronavirus stuff and all the issues that have come up out of it having to stay at home having to deal with all the stuff you know what’s going to help you the word of the Lord is proven. It’s. Tested. You remember David having to spend time in the wilderness.

▶ 17:51 How did he make it through all that maybe you’re in a wilderness right now because the coronavirus you’ve been locked down. How are you going to make it through that. David had the spirit of God he had the word of Lord it was proven. But no in Romans 1 verse 25 it says who exchanged the truth of God for the lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the creator we exchange the truth of God for a lie. We serve a creature a person amen maybe they make a lot of money your money doesn’t matter as mr barnes reminded me you can’t take it with you. Right. Don’t exchange the truth of God for a lie. Furthermore.

▶ 18:43 Continuing on this tangent. Acts chapter 2 verse 1. When the day of Pentecost had fully come there appeared to them divided tongues as of fire. And one sat upon each of them and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues as the spirit gave them utterance I want to point out something here. The first thing God did when he poured out his spirit was change people’s tongue. What does James say about the tongue the tongue is a fire with it we curse our neighbor and we bless our God you know that tongue needs to be changed if you’re a complainer you need to be changed as somebody who is appraiser if you’re a a discourager criticizer your tongue can be changed as somebody who encourages.

▶ 19:45 That tongue. The spirit can change our tongue. The Spirit can change what we say. Not only that going on everyone heard them speak in his own language we hear them speaking in our tongues first of all they heard them speaking their language that’s wonderful but what were they saying. You know if they were just spouting off you know something about a how to fix your car or how to fix your house that wouldn’t have mattered what they were saying was important in our own tongues they were speaking the wonderful works of God are you speaking the wonderful works of God. Are you praised does that come out of your mouth. At home during the week what is coming out of your mouth.

▶ 20:40 And if it’s not good God can change it I was just at the beach yesterday with these guys and you know the teenagers are out there and they’re talking about this and they’re saying blah blah and cursing and and you know their mouths are stinky dirty and they got to change. Our mouths can be like that when we’re not at church we’re not around the right people all our mouths start to change. But the spirit of God will change your mouth permanently. And we need that change. Husbands and wives need that change my goodness we need that change. Kids parents. Parents we need that change. On the job. You need that change. And also.

▶ 21:37 So we have them speaking in their own language step one these guys heard them speaking their own language step two they heard him speaking the wonderful works of God. And how did the people hearing this respond they said they are drunk. That was their response. And then Peter got up and preached a message from the spirit you see it’s not just enough to speak in a different language it’s not just enough to speak the wonderful works of God somewhere you’ve got to get to the message that transforms. The word of God that converts the soul. All that stuff is well and good but see after they heard Peter’s message thousands responded repented were baptized not only that they continued on.

▶ 22:40 And that is what we need in our country that is what we need in our world. Conversion not just wimpy oh yeah God’s good I felt the presence goodbye see you later I’m not changing we need a change. We need people to have a permanent change in their life. Going back to the story okay I got off I’m off the tangent now I’m back on track guys with me first Samuel 14 13. Back to the story about Jonathan it says he climbed up on his hands and feet now a different meaning for the word climbed or a different meaning for that word is offered up or lifted up on his hands and feet you just look at the terminology I got to point this stuff out because it’s amazing God uses this the this historical example he points out things pointing to himself who was put on his hand lifted up on his hands and feet Jesus Christ he was put on the cross they said he was lifted up.

▶ 23:50 On his hands and feet with his armor bearer after him again he says after Holy Spirit came after Jesus and they fell before Jonathan. As he came after them as his armor bearer killed him. The unclean spirits whenever they saw him fell down before him and cried out saying you are the son of God see the king we wrestle not with flesh and blood but against principalities and powers of darkness you know the Pharisees were being lied to by the kingdom of darkness. Jesus told them himself you are of your father the Devil. They were listening to the kingdom of darkness and the that kingdom fell before Jesus. First Samuel 14 15 and there was trembling in the camp after they had defeated these Philistines there was trembling in the camp the field among all the people the garrison the raiders trembled and the earth quaked every anybody else remember there was an earthquake anybody else in the Bible.

▶ 24:58 Jim knows. And so there was a very great trembling Matthew 27 verse 50 Jesus Christ cried out again with the loud voice and yielded up his spirit. The veil of the temple was torn and the earth quaked and the rocks were split see the same stuff is going on it’s the same story. Very importantly in this story Samuel 14 verse 20 Saul and the people were with him assembled they went to battle every man’s sword was against his neighbor so after the great trembling had happened after Jonathan had killed this garrison of 20 men 20 men were killed by Jonathan and the armor baron there was an earthquake there was trembling and the Philistine army who was thousands of chariots thousands of horsemen and countless soldiers on foot they started to fight with each other it says their swords were against their neighbor they were against each other and there was great confusion.

▶ 26:11 The Hebrews were with the Philistines before that time. Who went up to the camp they joined the Israelites now we gotta pause here okay this is important. There were Hebrews with the Philistines I don’t know why they did it I don’t know when they went over there. But you see we’ve got that in our day right now where Christians have gone to the wrong side. They have gone to the kingdom of darkness they have joined with those who are. Uncircumcised of heart hard-hearted resisting the Holy Spirit Christians have joined that but you see when this trembling and this earth shattering thing happened when God shakes things up. Those people’s eyes were open and they came back and fought with the Israelites and the same thing can happen in our day when God shapes things up those Christians will come.

▶ 27:18 Back. That you know that you’re praying for can come back. People can be open their eyes can be open and see. Nicodemus who at first came to Jesus by night also came bringing a mixture of myrrh aloes now this is nicodemus he was at the death and the burial of Jesus Christ he started out as a Pharisee he came and he came to Jesus might talk with him and there he was at the burial of Jesus he changed. He changed. He started to serve and follow Jesus Christ. First Samuel 14 6 not only those who were with the Philistines but the story always talk also talks about those who were hiding.

▶ 28:12 People hid in the mountains in the caves and the rocks because they were afraid of the Philistine army and it says in this scriptures 1416 Samuel likewise all the men which had hid themselves when they heard the Philistines fled even they followed hard after them in battle they join the fray with the Israelites. So you got. Christians who are on the other side you have people that are afraid to speak up it is it takes. Some people who have put their trust in God who will stand up for what is right. The people will rally behind that when God is in it when God shakes things up God can do a mighty work. God can bring this all together even in our day I’m talking about today I’m talking about 2020 united states of America I’m talking about 2020 the earth.

▶ 29:15 Things can change things can change like. That. As the worship team comes. You know what I think we had a good worship so I’m gonna. We’ll just end in prayer. It says in first time 14 6 so the Lord saved Israel that day just like Jesus saves us. Jesus can come and shake the world in our day. He can preserve his people. There is nothing that restrains him there is nothing that he cannot do. So in conclusion. To our hearts burn.

▶ 30:10 The scriptures say on the road to Emmaus after those guys had talked with Jesus after he expounded the word to him and after he had gone he said those two said did not our hearts burn. When Jesus explained all that to us and God is asking that question today to us. Are you letting God’s word burn in your heart. Are you making time for that to happen you’ve got to get on the walk on the road with Jesus Christ I know in the story it just happened by accident but we’ve got to set aside time to where the word of God can burn in our hearts where we pray and ask God burn it in our hearts. Are we Pharisee Christians good God I don’t want to be a Pharisee Christian. I don’t want to resist be stiff neck be on the other side good God no.

▶ 31:08 Whoever you are wherever you are you can stand up for truth you can stand up for right even if you’re by yourself. Even if you feel alone you’re not alone God is with you. And when God is with you. There’s nothing you cannot do nothing restrains the Lord. Gosh I I was I thought that armor bear was so powerful. And I want to remind you that Holy Spirit will equip us he will arm us. And he closed us with power. And we’ve got to go to the spirit of God and I didn’t mention the whole armor of God the helmet of salvation and all those things but that Holy Spirit gives us that.

▶ 32:02 We need the sword of the spirit and the sword of truth the sword of the spirit makes a big difference. When the spirit of God goes to somebody’s mind and starts to convince them and affect and convict them see we need that part of the sword the truth is you know you got a truth the wages of sin is death that’s the truth but you also need the spirit. His word is spirit. But we need the Holy Spirit folks. We need the Holy Spirit. Don’t throw it out get it in your life. When the Holy Spirit came it changed their tongues but we let God change our tongues.