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She's looking, Peter.
Laying aside all balance and all dial hypocrisy and envies and all evil, speaking as newborn faith, desire the sincere milk of the word, that she may grow thereby. If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious, to whom, coming as unto a living stone, disallow the deed of men, the chosen of God, and pray he also has lively stones are built up a spiritual house.
Holy priesthood who OfferUp spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ, Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture. Behold, I lay of Zion, a cheap cornerstone elect precious, and he that believeth on him shall not be compounded.
Unto you therefore, which be the He is precious, but under that would be just the stone which the builders disallowed. The same is made ahead of the corner, and a storm stumbling in a rock of a fence, even to them would stumble at the word, being disobedient, whereunto also they were appoint.
What GR chose generation, a royal priesthood and a holy nation. Execute your people that you should show forth the praises on Him who have called you out of darkness unto His threshing life.
Which in times past were not a people, but are now the people of God, Which has not obtained person, but thou have obtained mercy.
Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and children, abstain from fleshly lusts with war against control, having your conversation honest among the Gentiles, that whereas they speak against you as evil doer.
They may, by your good word, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Submit yourself to every ordinance of man, for the Lord's sake, whether it be the king and supreme, or of the governor, says unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of people do.
And for the praise of them let do well, For so is the will of God, that with well duty they may put the silence of a foolish man.
As free and not losing your liberty for a form of militias, but as the servants of God.
Honor all that, love the brotherhood. Dear God, honor the King.
Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the fullest Gentile, but also to the thrower. For this is thankward of a man. For conscience charged God in your grief, suffering wrongfully.
What glory is it yet when you be buffeted for your fault, you shall take it patiently.
If when you do well and suffer for it, you take it patiently, this is acceptable with God or even here on to where you call the Christ, because Christ also suffered for leaving us an example that we should follow his death.
Who didn't know sin, neither was thou found in the mountain, Who when he was reviled, reviled not again, when he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself to him the judgment, right Who? His own self? There are sins in his own body on the tree. That we, being desperate, should live under righteousness. By whose strength?
For ye were as she going astray, but are now returned under the shepherd and Bishop.
Of your children.
We sometimes get discouraged in our meetings here and there because there are difficulties that come up.
Displays of the flesh and this kind of thing.
But as we read the epistles.
Do we find any of them?
That have no correction.
To give to those to whom they're written.
If we go through Paul's epistles, it's that if we go through Peter, it's the same. If we go through John, it's the same.
Things weren't perfect.
And so my love and Saints of God, let's not get discouraged and.
Feel like dropping out because things get in a mix up.
00:05:03
But just remember these various things that Peter speaks about here, laying aside all malice and guile and hypocrisies and envies and evil speaking, well, those are the things that we find that causes sorrow.
Well, they caused Peter sorrow in his day.
There is nothing new.
And we mustn't expect to find that perfect company where none of these things ever occurred. Doesn't exist, brethren.
The expectations are based upon.
A position that we're in and this welfare would indicate this as we look back in the previous chapter and we see the price through which we were brought into blessing.
Then the expectations and we noticed too that it says here.
In the.
First verse all guile, and then Peter directs us in the last few verses to one in whom was found no guile, our blessed Savior. And so how we need this, brethren, to not just be occupied with negative things.
We we need the correction, but the correction in Scripture by the apostles is always in love, is it not? And predicated on a position we're in through grace and the power that avails for us so that we can walk in the power of that new life. We need the expectation. We need to know how to walk. But we also have that lovely example before us, our own blessed Savior.
I was thinking of a verse two in Matthew the 6th chapter.
In connection with our laying hold of the truth as newborn babes in the 22nd verse of the 6th chapter of Matthew, the light or the lamp of the body is the eye. If, therefore, thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil or wicked, thy whole body shall be full of darkness.
If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness?
Now the only light that comes into the soul is the light that we have in Jesus Christ.
And if we do not have that object before us continually, there's going to be replacing it, the old nature manifesting itself. And so there won't be any laying a hold of the Scriptures because communion, it must be in holiness. And unless there is that enjoyment of the pure object, there will not be holiness with us. We do find the words obedient children. That's in verse.
Thing and then in 15.
This it says, but as he which hath called you is holy.
So be holy in all manner of conversational behavior.
Well, we do know that this epistle is addressed to believers.
Who were dispersed? The dispersed ones of Israel.
In the slow particular problems and of course here we have Christians.
Pilgrims and strangers upon the earth.
So that holiness comes in here and beloved, what is holiness?
Is it not the exclusion of everything from my life and yours that would be contrary to God's mind and God's nature and His word? Surely that would be holiness? And would that be perfecting holiness in the fear of God?
All beloved.
The exclusion from my life and yours.
Of everything that would be contrary.
To the mind of God.
Through his blessed heart of love.
Country to himself, his very nature, from his very nature's light. God is light, that's his nature. And so holiness comes in here.
Concerning the Pilgrim.
Tell you. And so there is the laying aside.
Of all mallets.
And guile, This is a very solemn statement.
00:10:03
And.
It is remarkable that we are capable of practicing all this this list.
I'm reminded of an occasion in our readings in Bolivia.
Her brother asked the question if we could practice, if a believer could practice that list.
Enumerated in Galatians 5. The work of the of the plague.
The brother said he wasn't very old in the faith, but he said.
No. And then our brother Talia said yes.
Yes. So there was a week. There was a quiet moment for a while.
And this younger brother said, Brother, if I believed that, I would do what I like and tell you, said, dear brother, if you belong to Christ, you wouldn't like.
You just wouldn't like.
And it ended there. Well, that was a good note.
Yes, we are capable of anything.
Unless but he keep his hands of love upon.
Brother Smith, The word here refers to newborn babes.
Is it only the new new child of God who has these dangers and needs the milk of the Word to counteract them?
Well, I think, beloved brother, that that word.
It says sincere milk. We translated that.
Into the ink of tongue as the unadulterated.
Were unadulterated. Well, I presume, dear brother, that's for us all.
Whether young or old in the faith? And was there ever such a time as now?
To steer clear of anything that would adulterate the precious word of God. I remember hearing old Mr.
I think it was Mace. No, it was Walter Scott.
He was very old when I was listening to him in England years ago.
And he spoke on this, and he said, brethren.
The Word of God is opening our hands this afternoon.
And it will be open in heaven forever.
My word shall not pass away.
And so I hope that in keeping with my brethren thoughts concerning as newborn babes.
Desiring the unadulterated.
Word.
Does it? Can we imagine a newborn babe not desiring the milk?
They'll make a tremendous fuss until they get it.
As you know, those who are fathers and mothers.
They remember.
Their children, when they were little tops, they would make a big fuss to get that bill. They'd never be satisfied till they hadn't. Well, isn't that surely that should be our attitude, beloved to this blessed, blessed Word of God.
Perhaps, too, there's a parallel that is practical, at least that's the same does not yet have conflicting appetites. The appetite of the babe is for the milk with which it is nourished. It knows nothing of the culinary arts that bring all kinds of tempting dishes before its elders.
And so here one's appetite is to be for that which is price. That's right.
May I just remark?
One of the first fruits of the work in Bolivia was a dear brother, Professor Dessa. He was a professor for 37 years in the university and I had the joy of leading him to Christ. Well, he was. He was a bachelor and very apt in what he said.
One day, a young brother said.
I have been away listening to certain preaching and it was just as if pouring the milk into my mouth.
And dancer said. Poor brother.
Brother, it's time you were eating some meat and that that's how he would speak to us. Time you ate some meat.
00:15:09
The point here is not that only for the babes that brother intended when he asked the question.
That we all, as Christians, should ever.
Desire, the precious milk of the word.
Now another thought as to the babes.
A baby.
Feeds frequently. It seems to have such an appetite for that milk.
That it feeds and feeds and feeds. I remember they used to feed babies as often as two, 2 1/2 hours apart. Maybe it's three and four hours nowadays. They keep changing their ideas, but as long as we're here, every one of us.
Will need to.
Favor the reading the word, feeding on the word.
Frequently.
As that word, as beginning in verse two as newborn babe. Not that we are newborn babes, That we should ever, ever cultivate that appetite for the Word of God.
There is one circumstance, of course, that might hinder the babe having an appetite, and that is sickness.
Believe this is the point here, that we are spiritually sick when we allow the things that are spoken of here and it hinders the appetite for the word of God. For we all know very well that if any of these things that are spoken of are growing in our hearts, it does hinder the appetite. We don't enjoy the Lord, we don't enjoy the meetings like we should because these things have come in.
I was also thinking of how it could be compared to a garden.
Because in the chapter before it says that we're born again by the incorruptible seed of the Word of God. Well, the seed is good. The seed bears good fruit. But weeds choke out the garden too. You know, you might have the very finest of seed, you might have good soil, but alas, the good soil will make the weed grow if the weed seeds are allowed there.
And so I believe that we're warned here of those things that would hinder the growth.
That would be the result of feeding upon the word of God and having that appetite like the babe does, or the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever. But I also mentioned too, in this first verse that there are things that are seen and there are things that are not seen. Perhaps we could say.
Malice and guile would be things unseen.
But if these feelings are allowed and nursed into our in our hearts, then they grow, just like a little seed when it falls into their garden. It's not seen at once, but it'll grow. And so if we allow these things unseen by our Bradman and don't judge them, then they come into the more advanced stage of.
Enemies and evil speaking which are apparent.
Surely need these warnings because I'm sure each one of us desire to be found feeding upon Christ and growing more, but alas, we have good soil in our hearts for these very things that we're not continually before the Lord. It's been said, you know that.
This first verse is like the farmer plowing the ground.
And getting rid of the weeds and getting the deep soil before the seed is put in.
So that the seed can grow, and so the principle of self judgment.
In our lives sobriety I believe we have in this first verse and then the result is laying hold of the word with an open clear heart and mind.
It may not always be seen.
But if it is there, God sees it, if we have a tender conscience.
If we want not our own way, why we'll recognize a hindrance that's there.
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Now in the end of Ephesians 4 we have a verse. I might read the last.
Well, Ephesians 430, the Holy Spirit is grieved.
By any unbecoming thing nursed in our hearts.
And grieve not in the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed until the day of redemption.
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking, we have that in our verse that we're considering evil speaking be put away from you with all, all mouths.
Malice to be judged. How can there be happiness in the soul if malice is nursed and left unjudged?
When he was down at Bermuda he was addressing the children in the Sunday school and he said, children, can you tell me what honey is like?
So there is a silence for a little while, and one little boy stood up. He said I know what it's like, Sir, He said it's very sweet. He said, How do you know? He said I've tasted it.
That we have here in our third verse.
If so, we have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Well, if we have, surely we should feed upon Him.
And the feed upon His word surely will increase our appetite for more.
Mental milk of the Word, because it's by the Word of God, intelligently received in the mind, by the Spirit, that we learn the mind of God. We learn those things that are displeasing to the Lord so that we can judge them. We also learn those things that are pleasing to Him. And that's why these Bible readings are so important.
It is blessed to look to the Lord and to have Himself as our object, but we need direction.
And we find this in the precious word of God. And so we need to this morning as we sit here, have open minds open to His precious Word, not open to those beilements that are constantly liable to come in, but open to the precious Word of God. And that mind that is brought into subjection too, we have in Corinthians, it says.
Casting down reasonings and every high thought that exhales itself against the knowledge of God.
And bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. I believe this is so important. Our minds are affected by all the things that we hear and see about us, but as we read the word of God, we have the mind of God made known to us.
And it's blessed to receive it in simplicity, just in the same way as a child does.
Receives the word from his parents and simplicity and were to receive it in this way and seek grace from the Lord to act upon it in this way we grow in the knowledge of the Lord and in great, but that's very important, but also the fact that.
There should be exercise in connection with the word as we read it as.
There's a verse in the Corinthian in Romans, the 12Th chapter.
I was thinking of as her brother here was just speaking.
But I'll read it in another translation.
The third verse of the 12Th chapter of Romans. For I say, through the grace given unto me to every man that is among you, not to have high thoughts.
But to think soberly.
Or so as to be wise. I believe it should read so as to be wise.
That is.
Our object in reading the scripture.
Is not to exalt self, but to exalt Christ and the Newman.
The life that he has now is always to be kept in mind and.
So to think, so as to be wise in the flying of the truth, We may just read truth and never be exercised by it. But I believe the thought here is that there might be the exercise in regard to our whole pathway as we read the Scripture, because that's our subject here in this verse. Isn't it The Word of God, the sincere metal milk of the Word?
00:25:24
May we say that we don't read the word of God nearly to know?
But we read it to do.
To do.
And that is a great secret to do. And if any man will do his will, he shall know of the teaching or the doctrine.
How often we read the Word of God to know.
Our thoughts are just vain thoughts.
That word vain we've translated into the Inca Tomba vacuum. So, beloved, we needn't feel very ****** ** about our knowledge when it's a vacuum, but we read the word of God to do it.
How important that is, not merely to know it.
In the first chapter of the act, isn't it the first verse?
The former treatise Have I made Earth? The optimist of all that Jesus began both to do and to teach concerning the adulterated Word of God.
We know that there are students here.
Sitting in this meeting, there's no doubt number there are many.
The The attack upon the Word of God is very real in these days. When I was a student, it was real too. It was known more as rationalism, of course, in those early years.
Then it came over to be modernism. Today it's agnosticism.
Atheism, although I have never met yet and.
Atheist.
I've watched many souls die.
Having preached Christ in the army during the war, tackle war, I saw many hundreds.
And some of them were proud officers.
But it was remarkable how they cried for even for their mummies.
At the last.
They were afraid to die.
Now concerning the adulterated word, you young Christian.
May will you not allow by the grace of God, anything, any teaching to upset.
That simple faith in what is written.
Now one day a brother brought me a translation.
The New Testament into the Greek language, Greek and Spanish will. I have never seen anything like that.
And he brought to me, he said, brother, here is a wonderful.
Book a translation into Greek the New Testament we can Spanish.
Well, we looked over the back of the of the translation, where you'll usually find the sting, you know, in the tail. And I said to him, Brother, would you like to sell me that testament? Oh, no, he said. I wouldn't like to part with it.
Well, let us read John One together, and we read it together.
In the beginning with the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was a God, all the love a God.
I said, won't you tell me that? Well, he says if you possessed, I will. What are you going to do with it? I said going to burn it. Absolutely burn it.
And we spoke to him concerning the Lord Jesus Christ.
This is the sin of Colossians.
They would put the Lord Jesus there, and the apostle comes forth with that matchless epistle, beloved.
Exalting the Lord Jesus to the highest pinnacle.
But he was a translator who had put the Lord Jesus at the very right most run of the ladder.
No, Aegon. Well, that man was either a scoundrel or an ignorant man.
00:30:00
Well, there's no indefinite article in the Greek language.
Well beloved, you dear young Christians in your trials in the colleges.
I was talking to a student and I said what did you, what did you teach at 10?
Well, Mr. Smith, he said. I was told to throw the board everything that I had been taught.
And to get rid of that old fashioned idea of Christianity.
Well, isn't that sad? And do you know?
That the lie goes faster than the truth.
And when and the thoughts of you are long, long thoughts.
And how those wicked statements dwell in the soul.
May we never listen to such people. Such preposterous teaching at his blessed feet. With a simple faith, the apostle Paul.
Second Timothy.
The third chapter on the 10th verse. He enunciates a very important principle. Second Timothy 310 But thou hast fully known my doctrine.
Manner of life.
Now what God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
Thou hast pulling all my doctrine or my teaching.
And my manner of life.
There is no disharmony there.
The apostle sought diligently to be what he taught.
And he repeatedly refers to that same line of truth.
Life and his doctrine were consistent.
So we should be much concerned and much exercised, brethren, that.
Our knowledge of the word.
Doesn't stop with our heads.
But it finds its way into our lives, our daily lives, our contact with our neighbors, our friends, our relatives. There's never a time to take a vacation.
I remember reading an incident where a.
Preacher was on a vacation and they were having some doings.
And they asked him to give thanks at the table. He said no.
I won't do that. I'm on my vacation.
There is never a time to take a vacation from godliness.
So the apostle connects his doctrine and his manner of life. Oh, may the Lord keep us in these last days. I believe our brother Smith has just been saying to our young people.
As to what they're hearing in colleges and schools, I believe it's so important.
The devil is behind it. It's an effort to discredit the word of God.
To rob them of all confidence in the Scriptures so they can do their own thinking and try to find God through their own poor depraved minds. That's where we are today. And I believe that you young people would be wise when you start into higher education, to say now by the grace of God.
I have committed myself to the truth of the Word of God.
And I'm not open to receive any of this infidelity that's being handed out. I'm not open to it. I'm not open to persuasion. I made-up my mind. I'm settled.
I believe that's important, brethren.
Brother Brown in that's what we find in Colossians first chapter and the ninth verse where it says where those apostle is praying for the caution says and to desire that you might be filled no room for anything else.
But with the wisdom.
With the knowledge of His will and all wisdom and spiritual understanding, that you might walk worthy of the Lord, and to all please and fruitful in every good work.
Yes, I certainly believe it's very important that we should read the Word and get a good knowledge of the Word of God because that is what fortifies us against all the unbelief that we find around us. Very often we notice that when you carefully examine the attacks that are made, it's an ignorance of the Scripture that is behind them. Remarks are made and if we knew the Scriptures well, we'd be fortified. We'd.
00:35:17
Lift the shield of faith. I remember her reading a comment that we have more to be feared about by the ignorance of the Word of God among the people of God, and by the attacks of infidelity, because if we are not fortified by the knowledge of the Word of God, then the enemy can get in one of those fiery darts.
So we're to lift the shield of faith, but we're also to know the mind of God, as it says in Colossians.
That he might be filled with the knowledge of his will. So I surely would encourage each one here, whether young or old.
To read the word of God until our very thoughts are formed by it. And I believe this will protect us against the attacks that are being made in a very wonderful way in Colossians. That's been referred to, I believe.
The another translation gives us the full knowledge, doesn't it? And also the true knowledge of God, now coupling that with the exalted place that has been referred to.
That the Lord Jesus is given in Colossians.
The highest place. There's no room for man's reasonings.
And there's no room of setting anyone or anything in opposition to this position, this knowledge. And in Colossians we have the full knowledge and understanding and then we have the full assurance. That's really the helmet of salvation.
In the second chapter, full assurance, so that the believer is fortified, and the young labor, as he goes to school is fortified.
Another thing in our chapter we have whom coming is unto a living stone.
Now it's the living God, and the believer has a sense now.
That he belongs to that which is living in contrast to all that man is connected with, that is dead and belongs to a scene of death. And as far as we are concerned, naturally as to the old man, ye are dead. That's also found there.
For the believers in that new position, he has the if he, if he wants it to meditate on it, He has the full knowledge of his will. He has the true knowledge of God. He has an object that's a man seated in the heavens beside the Father, the man Christ Jesus as the object for his soul. He has everything he needs.
Feeding on the Word of God and growing.
I would like to read this short little poem of Brother Checklist I pasted in my Bible last evening. It just happened to fit into what we're talking about, I believe. In fact, I think I've enjoyed this particular little poem of Brother Checklist above all the other of his poem. I valued it so much I'll read it. Nature.
To the mind, attentive teaches off a hidden truth.
Even by a tiny insect.
Speaking to our hearts reprove.
Many a different plant will furnish daily food the insect needs, but it always takes the color from the leaf whereon it feeds.
Christians from the bread of Heaven.
OFT times turn to earthly fair.
But a telltale change of color to.
Their shame they always wear.
If on Christ the Lamb were feeding will present a heavenly blue, but the taste of earthly follies.
Changes to another you now there are so many competitive things to draw away our attention.
00:40:03
There are so many counter attractions also attractive they're made, but if we are robbing the Lord of the time that we should be spending in the precious word of God and the things of God.
It's going to tell in our lives in.
Philippians 19 or 8:00 or 9:00.
A verse of thought. I'll read verse 9 and 10 and Philippians 19 and 10. And this I pray that your love may abound. Yet more and more in here we get that full knowledge is the point here. In full knowledge and in all judgment or intelligence, spiritual perception, spiritual mindedness.
In order that she may.
Job and approve the things that are more excellent. Now if there be two things, one more for the glory of Christ, another thing less for His glory, we should be actively.
Exercised discerning which would be better now. This would be true of our bookshelves. This would be true of the magazines that we take.
And of what we give our attention to.
I fear that we're living in days when the flesh has too much to say. All these attractive catalogues and and things that magazines mind, they're just full of wonderful things. But we can feed on some of these things.
To the detriment of our soul, we should learn the exercise to favor the things of the Lord.
Where is that scripture? I can't turn to it right now. A lamb in the morning and a lamb in the evening. Where is that Leviticus?
Or 2929.
Verse 38. Verse 38.
Now this is that which thou shalt offer upon the altar, 2 lambs of the first year, day by day, continually. The one lamb thus shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb thus shall offer it even. Yes, that's the version I had in mind. I think it's.
A nice sound principle.
Begin the day with Christ, and we end the day with Christ.
And.
The.
Pardon me just a moment. In the old days they used to talk about the family all.
Well, perhaps we don't give it that dignified title.
But I believe we're missing something if we don't don't open our Bibles together as a family every morning and every evening. A lamb in the morning, Christ to begin the day, in Christ to end the day. I think we're the losers if we don't practice this. Now, I don't mean to say that we're to forget Christ in between, but I do emphasize the fact.
The lamb in the morning and a lamb in the evening.
29.
It might connect with verse 42.
There shall be a continual.
Burnt offering.
Now there was associated with that burnt offering incense.
And in the verse before, for a sweet savour and offering made by fire unto the Lord.
This burnt offering aspect must be an incense, must be Christ.
According to God's own appreciation of him. And God's appreciation of Christ is full.
And if we ever come into God's presence with that confidence.
That will honor the Lord. I notice in the reading in Elisha's ministry when the three kings were gathered and they had no water in the desert, and Elisha is there.
00:45:04
When the blessing did come, it came at the time of this sacrifice, by the way of Edom, it says.
It was at the time of the offering of that sacrifice. Now the same thing was true.
In the 19th chapter, the 18th chapter, when Elijah was offering on the altar and the priests of bail were destroyed, you recall it was at the time of the evening sacrifice that the blessing came and the fire fell from heaven. And so that encourages us all that we may not immediately see the blessing there is a blessing connected with.
The offering of the morning and the evening sacrifice.
We noticed that the Word is presented as seed, there to impart divine light to those who receive it and believe it.
And then in our chapter, the second verse.
We have the same precious word presented as food for those who have received Christ.
Though we surely need to feed upon that Blessed One as we get in the 6th chapter of John and verse 57, as the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father.
So he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. Here we have Christ's sustenance of the new life.
Though we need him all the time.
I was thinking two of different references we have to feeding.
Israel and Egypt fed upon leak onions garlic things of the earth the 44th chapter of Isaiah we find that Isaac, Israel and then in hozier in the.
No, sorry, he framed, fed up and wind.
Israel fed up and ashes in the 44th chapter of Isaiah.
And then in the same the 13th chapter of Hosea.
There's according to their posture. So were they filled?
And it goes on to say, And their heart was exalted, therefore they have forgotten me.
So they are not feeding from the living bread, or otherwise they wouldn't have forgotten the Lord who is the living bread.
And then we find in Song of Solomon, chapter one, verse seven, I believe it is. Tell me where thou feedeth. What a challenge to our hearts, beloved. Where do we feed? What do we feed upon? Tell me where thou feeded.
Well, the Lord offers the living bread for us to feed upon his precious word and Himself. And Matthew 4, where Christ is brought before us in connection with the temptation and the wilderness, and Matthew 4 verse four just.
For the sake of time, he answered.
Christ answered Satan. He answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone.
But by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
I believe we connect that with here as to our living our life and in connection with the word in Peter as our growing.
So we have a beautiful example, I believe there in that 4th chapter of Matthew and the verse which we read in connection with Christ as the dependent man.
Connection with our.
Fourth verse. To whom coming is unto a living stone.
That's Christ, of course.
In Livingstone disallowed. In need of men, the chosen of God.
I believe we need to be reminded at the present time.
That the Christ of the Bible.
The Christ that the Word of God brings before us.
Is disallowed indeed of men.
Now we've just this week.
We've seen decorations of every imaginable kind all over the country, from coast to coast.
About the birth of Christ.
And yet, hot mockery it is.
The Christ of the Bible, the Christ of Scripture, is disallowed.
Indeed, of men.
Man do not want the Christ of the Bible.
They have various imaginations and they bring forward these celebrations that have to do with this name. But as to the Christ of God, that's the one that's presented in Scripture. They have no time for Him.
00:50:18
There is an effort now to make.
Christianity, a popular thing to dress it up make it very appealing.
Modernize it, bring it up to date.
Well, brethren, there's nothing like that in Scripture whatsoever.
Christ of God is disallowed by this world, and it's only a work of the Spirit of God in our soul that's going to bring us to the Christ of God.
The the the one who came into this world.
Went to Calgary, was rejected, suffered Bled, died.
The only one that can save.
And if we're not subject to him, the Christ of God, all this awkward celebration and honor that we give Him is really an insult to God. Beginning the 24th verse, the expression that we should live unto righteousness is connected with the death of Christ and our death with Him, is it not?
And that sort of gives the character to this chapter, doesn't it?
The fact of the practical exercise under the government of God.
Because Peter gives us that, does he not the government of God to?
Use effort.
Stand against Satan's methods today.
It's just a question poll. Well.
We do read that our warfare is not against flesh and blood.
But against principalities and powers? That's in Ephesians 6.
And the remedy there is to put on the whole armor of God.
Maybe just read that as this question has been asked, beloved.
For we wrestle not verse 12 against flesh and blood.
That is to say, against human beings.
Against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world.
Against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Well, we do know, beloved, that the 1St Heaven is full of them.
Demons.
And that's where the warfare is going on.
Demon.
In contrast to what we have in the fourth of Ephesians, verse 10 of chapter 3, pardon me through the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church, the manifold wisdom of God.
Well, here's the contrast, beloved, between good angels and demons. We have good angels here in verse 10.
And are they not all ministering spirits sent to them who should be heirs of salvation? Here we are.
But in in concerning have we to use any effort?
The word in Ephesians 6 is stand.
Let us read that again, just for a moment, below.
Page 6 Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day.
And having done all to stand.
And therefore having your loins burnt about the truth.
And having on the breastplate of righteousness.
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith we shall be able to quench all the fiery gods of the wicked, and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit.
Which is the word of God. But it's wonderful that verse 18 comes in here too, praying always with all prayer and supplication of the Spirit, and watching there unto with all perseverance and supplication for All Saints.
Well, how blessed it is, beloved, to know that it is gone. Who willeth? How is it mean that God? Who willeth to do I forget in English?
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Will continue both to will and to do, of his own good pleasure.
Thank you. Notice here in this chapter we've been noticing how the incorruptible seed gives life and then there's food. But here where the house is looked at the the Church of God as the House of God, it has to do with conduct, doesn't it?
When the Church of God is spoken out as the body of Christ, why, it's his love and care. Christ loved the church and gave himself for it, nourishes and cherishes that. But here we find the church looked at as a house, not here with man as the builder, but with God as the builder. When man does the building well, he may bring in some bad material.
Wood, hay and stubble. The day will declare that.
But when and the Lord Jesus is the builder, when God is the builder, by then there's no bad material. The Lord Jesus said on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And so building upon him where we have a sure foundation, and we are brought in a burning storm. So here we find the church looked upon in its first character and the wonderful.
Place we have as holy priests and royal priests, there upon this foundation that can never fail. Gates of hell can never prevail against that which he has built. That we may not always be in the enjoyment of the privileges belonging to the place Norwich, may we always act like we should in the place where we have been brought.
But it's nice the subject is introduced by bringing us to that person.
Who has better sinners? Living storms? Who is himself the chief cornerstone?
I often find a few things mentioned in.
That's not confused worship and service, but in this chapter we find there in divine order. Are they not worship and chapters in verse five and service in verse 9?
To say it's often reversed, people seem to think that service is far more important than worship.
But we find it then divine order. Here worship comes first. Or should do they both have their plate but worship has the 1St place?
That's the order in.
Ezekiel 44.
Emphasize their.
We sometimes would like to substitute activity.
For that which is God's pouring God.
God's portion.
In Ezekiel 44, verses 10/11, 12:13.
And even 14 it shows the Levites who are.
For service.
But in verse 14 says that I will make them keepers of the charge of the house for all the service.
But they had not kept the charge.
And when we get to verse 15, we have the priests. They are the ones that have immediate access into God's presence and who are.
Who served in the interest and care of God?
So in the last half of verse 15, these priests, the sons of Zadok.
Shall come near to me.
To minister unto me, and they shall stand before me.
To offer unto me the fact and the blood, saith Lord God.
They shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come near to my table to minister unto me, and they should keep the charge, and it shall come to pass that when they enter in.
At the gates of the inner court they shall be clothed with linen garments.
I believe this speaks of the consistent life of practical righteousness. The linen garments, and no wool shall come upon them whilst they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within they shall have linen bonnets upon their heads, and shall have linen breeches upon their loins. They shall not notice this now, they shall not.
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Bird themselves with anything that causes.
Swept there can be a great lot of energy and activity.
Out of place, but if the Lord has the 1St place.
In the heart, then the life will indeed be fruitful. In service, that will be.
Fragrance of Christ and to God's glory.
Both.
We have the same order in Hebrews 13, do we not?
15.
By Him, therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. Not surely speaks of worship, and the next verse service, but to do good and to communicate. Forget not, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
And the same order in the first four books of the Bible.
Genesis. We find man's a Sinner. In excellence man is redeemed with a lamb. In Leviticus man is worshipping, but in numbers he's serving.
I believe it's so very important to distinguish the difference and the order because so many today are bent on service, service, service, and they haven't time to be in the presence of God to worship.
They think it's not important and it's all important intervention. Beloved, that verse 16 that our brother cited from Ezekiel 44.
They shall enter into my sanctuary, they shall come near to my table to minister unto me, and they shall keep my charge. Well, in this connection one is reminded in Psalm 93. Holiness become a blind house, oh Lord, forever and ever.
Or, as we have it, for the ages of the ages.
Peter, we have the question of the building holiness. Become a thine house. Who Lord forever and ever.
Another.
Thought is found, I think it's in Second Chronicles 20.
29 if I remember.
Second Chronicles, 29.
Yes.
In verse seven of Second Chronicles 29.
Also they have.
All but sad words of Hezekiah here they have shut up the doors of the porch, who put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor burnt offering.
In the holy place unto God now verse 11, my son's.
Be not now negligent.
For the Lord hath chosen you to stand before him, to serve him.
And that he should minister unto him.
And burn incense. Oh, that's the loveliness of Christ. And bring that before God is the highest privilege that any redeemed one can possibly have. Nothing can exceed that. And when we have become careless as to our highest privileges.
And then resort to activity all. What a miserable substitute it is, and one doesn't want to ever be misunderstood.
Have anyone think that we are to be rocking chair Christians? I think an expression Brother Willis used to use in a steward.
We are never intended to settle down in this world. The truth must have its balance.
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But to think that because activity is a joyful thing, I know what it is.
In my early days, preaching on the street frequently giving out gospel tracks, all is good when the heart is going along with the Lord. But to merely make a service as the great thing is surely not our particular calling. It is Christ must have the 1St place. Another verse, say 6 Psalm 65, verse 4.
Blessed is the man whom now chooses and causes to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts. Can anything be more precious than that? The spiritual health, and that's in here is.
That which will be complete when every believer.
Is there and we're caught away, Is that it?
Well, I'm asking the question. You know the answer. Are we not now living stone in this portion here?
We will have the fullness of it when we are in the glorious true. But now is the line of truth here, isn't it? I was thinking though, that there is a contrast in the two last verses of Ephesians 2, is there not?
We have in one case the thought of the temple, and the other the Tabernacle.
Whereas here I suppose it's more the temple, is it not? The temple in the end of Ephesians 2 is growing. It is not yet complete, the last verse.
Verse 22 of that chapter is the Tabernacle truth in that we are the habitation of God through the Spirit. In that sense, it's always a place where it's a Tabernacle.
While we are in the wilderness.
Temples almost finished though, isn't it? Amen.
We were enjoying, we're enjoying the verse on the I Think Choice Cleaning Calendar this morning.
Oh, if I remember right it might have been the other calendar, A second Chronicles chapter 3 and verse one in which it speaks of Solomon began to build the house. He began to build the temple of the Lord.
But it was on Mount Moriah, that place where Abraham offered up Isaac.
And figure at any rate.
In that place where the threshing floor horn and the Jebusite was, where the plague was stayed, he offered the burnt offering too. Burnt offering.
But.
David, before his death, made a great provision for the building of this temple.
The Lord Jesus Christ in his death, dying in our stead, shedding his precious blood, redeeming his Son to himself.
He made provision Lord Jesus in his death or the building of this temple. In virtue of that precious bloodshed, the Holy Spirit is given to us by which we worship.