Burbank Conference: 1966
Table of Contents
Desires of the Heart
YP Address—C.D. Andersen
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For 42 in the appendix.
I'll read the last Stanford.
In thy presence, we're happy.
In thy presence we are secure.
In thy presence, all afflictions we can easily endure.
In thy presence we can conquer, we can suffer, we can die. Wandering from thee, we're feeble. Let thy love Lord keep us an eye. #42 in the back of the book.
Savior, lead us by Thy power.
What can he find?
Will I love from the straight?
I know.
And.
Not.
Say.
Progress.
More than.
We shall.
Be.
Here for us.
Can I rest as we are?
Hurry and my presence will seek you.
In my presence, all are.
We can we continue.
In my friend.
We can cry.
We can stop.
One Rain Brown Lane.
We are being more.
Glad, I love, Lord.
Keep us now.
I was thinking about.
What Paul tells Timothy.
I hadn't thought to speak much about this.
But over in Second Timothy, we have two things brought before us.
And I believe I want to begin with this, and it says in the first chapter of Second Timothy.
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Verse 15.
And this is the Apostle Paul writing to Timothy.
Timothy A Young man.
And this is.
A time given, especially in consideration of the young people this afternoon, and we are much concerned.
About our dear young people.
Because we're in an enemy's land.
And all the enemy is busy.
And the enemy would like to draw away our dear young people.
In fact, he would like to draw away everyone of us and here, Paul tells Timothy.
This thou knowest that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me.
This was a sad note. All this is something that weighed on the heart of the apostle Paul. To find the dear Saints of God were turning away from him. Paul was in prison for the Lord's sake and for the truth's sake.
And here they were, turning away from him. They were, I suppose, offended.
In the Apostle Paul and the Reproach, persecution was too much for them.
And they were giving up.
Well, we are in days of giving up.
And the enemy is busy leading us on, trying to get us to the point where we give up.
Turning away from the apostle Paul, turning away from the truth he has given us.
Turning away from the principles that he has given us in his epistles, you know, there was a time in my life that.
I didn't read much of anything but the Gospels.
Back then, as the Lord dealt with me in the Congo and I was translating the scriptures into the native language.
I began to see things in Paul's epistles that I had never seen.
Never dreamed of. And I thank God for these letters that God saw fit to put into our hands, these inspired words from the hand of the Apostle Paul.
And oh, there's good instruction there. We were reading some of it this morning in the Reading meeting.
And always should be so thankful for this book that we have in our hands the whole word of God.
You know the apostle.
Says also in chapter three of his second letter to Timothy, he says this know also.
He said in chapter one this thou knowest. But now he says this know also.
This is something that follows upon the other. They were giving up the truth.
And now what was it that was coming in? Oh, all kinds of apostasy was coming in. And this is what characterizes the day in which we're living this Know also that in the last days perilous times shall come, or dangerous times, difficult times.
Dear young people, do you find it difficult to live for the Lord today?
Do you find it that you're in perilous circumstances?
Perhaps where you work are going to school, you find it difficult to live for the Lord. You find it difficult to speak a word for Him. You don't even dare mention the name of Jesus.
Yes, we're living in days like that. But we've been told about it. We've been warned. It's just not as though this thing has taken us unawares.
We know that it was to come, and we see that it's upon us, these conditions. Well, I'll read a few things here, for men shall be lovers of their own selves. You see anything of that, I'm afraid.
That we, Saints of God, are characterized by that too.
Lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters proud.
Blasphemous, Disobedient to parents, Unthankful, unholy.
I'm thankful, unholy. How about holiness?
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Is there giving up of holiness?
Is there a thinking that God?
Is not going to bring us into account, even though we are a little loose. It doesn't matter what we do.
God will Passover these things. Jude speaks of that as turning the grace of God into lasciviousness.
Oh, God is good. He will not take us into account for these things. He is not so strict. God is not so narrow.
But God cannot tolerate unholiness, he says. Be ye holy, for I am holy.
Without natural affection, truce Breakers, false accusers, incontinence, fierce despisers of those that are good traitors, heady high minded lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof from such turn away.
Talking about.
He's talking about those who profess to be children of God.
He said some of the same things about the heathen as we had in the first chapter of Romans this morning it was referred to, and now the same things are being said of professing Christendom.
And dear young people, we're part of professing Christendom and we're part of that. That has gotten into a condition like this, and it's a day in which.
We need to be in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot get along without him, he said. Without me, he can't do nothing.
All that the spirit of God might burn this into our souls.
That we cannot get along without the Lord Jesus Christ.
I need it for myself.
Oh, how careless we become and thinking that we can go through a day.
Without talking to the law, thinking that we can go through a day without reading his word.
Things like we can go through a day without being in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Dear young people.
And this is something for all of us. We cannot do without the Lord Jesus Christ.
He said. Without me, ye can't do nothing.
All that we might have such an attachment for the Lord Jesus Christ that we be in his presence all the time.
What we need to ask the Lord for grace is that we might stay close to His pierced sigh, close to Him, just like we were singing, wandering away from Him. We're feeble. We can't do anything.
Let us turn to Psalm 27.
Perhaps you realize somewhat the dangers that are around us today.
The perilousness of the time. And perhaps you have wondered, well, what should I do?
I seem helpless.
Perhaps you have had a desire to get into the presence of the law, to be closer to him.
Well, here in Psalm 27, David is writing.
And he says in verse four, one thing have I desired of the Lord.
That will I seek after.
What was it he wanted to seek after?
That I may dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of my life.
To behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple, he wanted to dwell in the House of the Lord.
All the days of his life he wanted to behold the beauty or the graciousness of the Lord, and he wanted to inquire in his temple or meditate upon him.
That was his desire.
But he went further than just the desire, he said. I'm going to seek after.
Perhaps you dear young people have had certain spiritual desires, spiritual longings.
And you have longed that you might be victorious in your Christian life.
You find that there are temptations that overtake you, and you succumb to those temptations, and you fail and stumble along.
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All you wish that you might live more for the law.
That you might be more pleasing to him. You have a desire. You do desire to please the law, but are you going to leave it at that?
It's good to have the desire, but David went further, he said. That will I seek after.
That will I seek after.
Yes, he put forth some energy, some effort.
To get to that point. And what did he do? Well, he wanted to dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of his life. Behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in his temple, he wanted to get into the presence of the Lord and think about him.
And he sought after. That's what he went after. Is that what you're seeking?
While we're living in a world where there are all kinds of things advertised.
And, you know, the Apostle Paul says that we should be content with such things as we have, But the advertising of the present day is geared to make us discontent with such things as we have. And there are all kinds of things presented to us, and we're made to believe that we need these things, that we ought to have them.
And the first thing you know it, we have a desire for them and we seek for them.
I believe if we are occupied with this desire that David had.
And we are seeking grace from the Lord to seek after this that he sought after.
We won't have time to desire these other things and to seek after them.
Oh yes, we need.
That which consists of a livelihood but the Lord will take care of that. Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. I'm sure if we put the Lord Jesus Christ first, he'll take care of us. We may not have everything we need.
At all times, we're not guaranteed prosperity, you know, just because we're children of God.
There may be times that we will lack some things. We may not have an overabundance either.
But the Lord will take care of us.
I'm thinking about the Queen of Sheba.
She was seeking for something. We might look over and 1St keep our second kings.
Now first Kings chapter 10.
First King.
And she had one desire.
And then she sought after it.
First Kings chapter 10 and when the Queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon.
Concerning the name of the Lord, she came to prove him with hard questions, and she came to Jerusalem with a very great train.
With camels that bear spices and very much gold and precious stones. And when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.
First of all, as you heard of the fame of Solomon.
And then there was a desire in her heart to go and see him.
And then she put forth some effort to get there, to get into the presence of Solomon.
I think it must have been at least 1000 mile journey that she took to get to Solomon and it says she came with a very great trade.
It took some energy, some effort, some planning in order to make this trip to get into Solomon's presence.
Now perhaps you have a desire to get into the Lord's presence, to walk with the Lord, to talk with the law, which means communing with the Lord because.
That's what the Queen of Sheba did. She communed with Solomon. You would like to do that. Be in communion with the Lord, going on with the Lord. As a happy Christian, all you really want to be a happy Christian.
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It will take some planning. It will take some effort.
This thing doesn't come.
Automatically no.
You'll have to set aside some time for reading of the word. You'll have to set aside time to be quiet to be in the Lord's presence.
It takes some effort. Perhaps you will have to get up a little earlier in the morning so you have time before you go to work.
But I'm sure that any effort that's put forth to be in the large presence to read His word will be abundantly rewarded, just like the Queen of Sheba was rewarded well after she got there and got into the presence of Solomon. She didn't think about that long journey. What was she thinking about?
All she was thinking about Solomon, then it says, And Solomon told her all her questions. There was not anything hid from the king, which he told her not. And when the Queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built, and the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendants of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cup bears, and his assent by which he went up into the House of the Lord, there was no more spirit in her.
David wanted to get into the Lord's presence to behold his beauty.
The Queen of Sheba.
Got into Solomon's presence and what did she see? His beauty.
The order there and all of these things speak of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The wisdom.
The Wisdom of the Lord Jesus Christ. Do you need wisdom?
Get into the Lord's presence.
And he'll give wisdom.
He's made unto us wisdom.
And.
The meat of his table What wonderful food the Lord Jesus Christ has for us.
Food for the soul, food for the new man. Very often we get more occupied with feeding the old man.
Feeding the Newman. But the Newman feeds on spiritual food, spiritual things.
The word of God, the fellowship of the Saints.
That's what the spiritual mind feeds upon. Being together with the Lord's people, Being over his word, Being in prayer. Are you feeding your soul?
There was a dove and a Raven sent out of the ark.
The dove returned because it didn't find any rest for the soul of its foot.
They couldn't find rest out in that scene of corruption. No doubt there was all kinds of corruption floating around on the water.
And it was a scene of death, a scene of corruption.
And it came back into the ark. No rest for it there, nothing for it to feed upon. It didn't find any enjoyment out there, came back into the ark. But the Raven, when it was let out, it stayed out. It found something that was suited to its nature.
We have two natures just like that, The new nature, the dumb nature, the old nature, the Raven nature, and the old nature of the Raven nature.
Does not care to feed upon anything but the corruption and refuge of this world.
And justice, because you are saved, that doesn't mean that the old nature got any better.
It's just as bad as it ever was, and it has the same desires as it ever had. And This is why we need to feed upon the Lord Jesus Christ, feed the new man, feed upon His Word, be filled with Christ. And while we're busy feeding upon the Lord Jesus Christ busy being in His presence, we won't have time to feed the old nature.
May God give us grace to keep busy feeding the new man.
She says in verse six. It was a true report that I heard in my own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom.
Howbeit I believe not the words until I came and mine eyes had seen it, and behold, the half was not told me Thy wisdom and thy prosperity exceedeth a fame, which I heard. Or perhaps we have doubts. We don't really believe that the Christian life is a happy life. We don't believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is what we hear sometimes that different ones say that he is.
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We don't really believe what the word says about the Lord Jesus Christ, the wonder of his person.
Oh yes, we are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ as far as salvation is concerned.
We know him as our savior.
But do we believe?
But he is able to satisfy our hearts.
Your conscience is at rest. You have peace with God because you have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior.
You know your sins are gone and you know that.
Everything is forgiven and you know that being justified by faith.
You have peace with God, and you have a righteous standing before God.
Everything is settled as far as your conscience is concerned and you have peace with God. You are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, but do you believe in him as your law?
Believe that he can give your conscience peace and you have peace, But do you believe that he can satisfy your heart? You know we're not all conscious. We're not all conscious.
We have a heart too that needs to be satisfied.
As she goes on and says here, happier thy men, happier these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom.
That was the place of happiness in the presence of Solomon. A place of happiness is in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. He can really satisfy our hearts. Let's go over and see what the Lord says about Solomon over in Luke's Gospel Chapter 11.
Luke's Gospel, Chapter 11.
Verse 31 Here we have the Queen of Sheba mentioned.
It says the Queen of the South shall rise up in the judgment.
With the men of this generation and condemned them. For she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon.
And behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
This is the Lord telling this while he was here in this scene, he links it together with Jonah.
And he speaks of Jonah as being assigned to this generation.
Verse 30 says, First Jonah was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of Man be to this generation. Well, John is a sign of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ and resurrection. Because Jonah, as Jonah was 3 days and three nights in the Whale's valley, so shall the Son of Man, he said, be 3 days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
And as Jonah came forth out of the whale's belly.
Out onto dry land, so the Lord Jesus Christ came forth in resurrection.
And that dry line speaks of the place where judgment can never come.
And you and I who have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ are in that very place where judgment can never come. The Lord says shall not come into judgment, but is passed from death unto life. All that gives us peace of conscience doesn't. That's the work of Christ for our souls. But what about?
Sound Why does he bring Solomon in here? Well, it seems that the Lord would not only occupy us with the work.
Of redemption, thought he would occupy us with himself, his person.
His work is for our conscience.
But himself? He himself is for our heart.
I believe this is where there's a great deficiency today in Christendom. We thank God for those who are preaching the gospel.
And there are many who are preaching the gospel who are not in fellowship with us, and we can give God thanks.
For every real true gospel message that's preached by anybody, anywhere. And we thank God for any soul that's saved through that ministry.
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But we know that so very often.
Souls are left right there. They get peace of conscience knowing their sins are forgiven.
And they are left there, and they are not let on to know the Lord Jesus Christ himself in person.
As one who can fill and satisfy the heart.
And what happens?
If they do not have Christ before them, and they are not satisfied with Him if he is not filling the heart.
They will go out into the world.
They'll go out into the world.
They will seek their pleasure and satisfaction somewhere else. You and I will do the same thing if our heart is not filled with Christ.
Oh, that we might have the Lord Jesus Christ in his person before us, Peter says, Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the knowledge of him. Get acquainted with him. Well, how can you get acquainted with anyone without being with them? The only way that I can get acquainted with you, dear brethren.
Is to get around in your homes and and be with you a few days. I get better acquainted with you and it's a delight.
For let's use the same principle in connection with the Lord Jesus Christ Getting acquainted with him. Let's be much in His presence. The only way that we can really get to know him and to know him is to love him.
And to have our hearts filled with himself.
Well, the Lord says here the Queen of the South shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon. The Lord seems to put emphasis on that. She came a long way.
To hear the wisdom of Solomon, she put forth some effort, and behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
The Queen of Sheba would go all that way to see a mere man, Solomon.
How far are we going to go to be in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ?
Oh, may the Lord give us grace to put forth real effort and energy.
To get into the presence of the Lord that our hearts might be satisfied.
Another one that I'd like to turn to is over in Second Kings.
Chapter 4.
Here we have a woman that was widowed. Second Kings chapter 4.
Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets, until Elijah say.
Thy servant, my husband, is dead, and thou knows that thy servant had feared the Lord, And the creditor has come to take unto him my two sons, to be bonds, men. Oh, what a sad condition she was in. What a trial, what a difficulty that presented itself to her.
And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for them? Tell me, what hast thou in the house?
And she said Thine Handmaid has not anything in the house shave a pot of oil.
While this is a pertinent question, what hast thou in thy house?
Do we have that in our house which can really satisfy us?
You know, there are a lot of things that want to come into our houses today and into our hearts.
To push out that which can really satisfy.
What hast thou in thy house? And she says, not anything in the house save a pot of oil. She didn't put much value on that pot of oil. She didn't see much.
Valuing in just a little bit of oil.
But what does it speak of? It speaks of the Lord Jesus Christ.
In his grace to us.
Then, he said, go borrow the vessels abroad of all thy neighbors, even empty vessels. Borrow not a few.
And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee, and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels.
And thou shalt set aside that which is full. So she went from him, and shut the door upon her, and upon her son.
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Who brought the vessels to her? And she poured out, and it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me out a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed. Then she came, and told the man of God, And he said, Go sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.
You see two things there in that seventh verse. She could get her debt paid now, and then there would be some leftover to live on.
And that's exactly the case with the Lord Jesus Christ. There's enough in him to get our debt paid.
And enough to live on.
I trust the young people here this afternoon know the Lord Jesus Christ as savior. I believe most of you do.
But if you don't know the Lord Jesus Christ as your savior, you don't know anything about having your debt paid.
Now everyone is a Sinner.
And he is guilty, and he is in debt to God. And God has said, the soul that sinneth it shall die.
And what a terrible difficulty you're in.
What an awful circumstance to be in to be in your sins, and to be in debt to God.
How are you going to get out of debt? How are you going to get free of guilt? How are you going to get rid of those sins that are taking you down?
To an eternal hell.
The only way?
Is through the Lord Jesus Christ who died on Calvary's cross and shed His precious blood there.
He paid the debt. He paid it all.
His precious blood was shed and you can have your sins forgiven through faith.
Lord Jesus Christ, who died for sinners and rose again.
And what a joyous experience it is to have our sins forgiven.
To be relieved of the debt.
But is that all you're looking for? Is that all you're thinking about? Maybe you have your debt paid?
You know the Lord is your savior.
And you're happy that you're on your way to heaven, that you've escaped hell and judgment.
But there is more than that in Christ.
After this widow had sold the oil, there was enough to pay the debt. And then the man of God said, Live thou and thy children of the rest.
All There's enough in the Lord Jesus Christ to live on.
There is enough in him to fill and satisfy the heart.
That we might know more about this, everyone of us. This is not only for the young people, but for all of us.
And there's nothing else that's really going to keep us in a day like this, but to be filled with the Lord Jesus Christ, to be in His presence. Nothing else can keep us. Salvation comes through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. There's only one way to be saved, and there's only one way to be kept, and that's to keep our eye on Him, to be occupied with him. Now we hear much said about consecration in what we might call fundamental circles today.
And I'm afraid sometimes.
We are LED astray as to the real meaning of consecration.
I believe we get the principle of it over in Exodus Chapter 29.
There is sort of a pseudo spirituality that is being advocated in some places today.
And we have to be watched that we're not taken in by this.
They speak of consecration.
And they speak of.
Efforts to do this and to do that.
And they talk about.
The the inner mind and the outer mind, the outermost mind, they talk about the release of the Spirit, and they get all occupied with themselves and what they can do for the Lord, or what they can be for the Law.
Over here in Exodus 29.
We read about the consecration of the priests, Aaron and his sons.
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When it's Aaron and his sons together, it speaks of the priestly family, and it's typical of us who know the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior.
And I will read just a few verses here about the consecration of the priests.
Verse 22 of Exodus 29 Also thou shalt take of the ram.
The fat and the rump and the fat that covers the inwards and the crawl above the liver.
And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, and the right shoulder, for it is a rhyme of consecration.
And one loaf of bread and one cake of oil bread, and 1 wafer out of the basket of unleavened bread.
That is before the Lord. Now what does all this speak of? Well, it speaks of the Lord Jesus Christ.
These offerings are all a type of the Lord Jesus Christ.
And you get Christ all the way through the scriptures. It's a story of himself.
The Lord as he was speaking to the two disciples going to Emmaus, it says he spoke to them.
In all the scriptures, the things concerning himself, in all the scriptures, There's something in all the scriptures concerning the Lord Jesus Christ from Genesis to Revelation. It's a story of him or as someone who said, it's his story. Not just history, some of it is history.
But it's his story.
And God would occupy us with the Lord Jesus Christ.
And to be occupied with the Lord Jesus Christ is true spirituality.
Now there are those who would get occupied with the Spirit, the Holy Spirit, and speak much about the Holy Spirit, and I'm sure we need truth as to the Holy Spirit and the place that He has today.
But not to the point where we get occupied with the Spirit and forget about the Lord Jesus Christ.
True spirituality is being occupied with him.
Paul said to the Galatians that he travailed in birth again that Christ might be formed in them.
That's the important thing, that Christ might be formed in us, that we might be filled with Him. And here we have an example of it. In verse 24 he says, Put thou shall put all in the hands of Aaron and in the hands of his sons, and shall wave them for a wave offering before the law.
Aaron's hands and his son's hands were filled with this offering, these various things that represent or typify the Lord Jesus Christ.
And that was consecration. There we have the principle of consecration.
And when we, as the priestly family today, have our hearts.
Filled with Christ, our lives taken up with Christ.
And God by his Spirit would love to point us to the Lord Jesus Christ alone.
And you know, when we get occupied with Christ.
We are not conscious if there is any spirituality there. Just like Moses, he came down from the mountain. He didn't know his face was shining. He'd been in the presence of God and his face was shining and he didn't know it.
Oh, that's what we need today, to be in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ, to be occupied with him.
And our faces will shine for him. Yes, we'll be a light down here.
As we ought to be. If you'd look further in 9/11 Chapter of Luke, it speaks about our body being a vessel of light, but it's not until the Lord has finished speaking about Solomon, his person.
We cannot be a vessel of light here in this world unless we're occupied with the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.
It's not enough just to know we're saved and have peace with God. We must be occupied and filled with Him.
Then we can be a vessel of light. But as we're filled with him, we won't, we won't be conscious of it on all. How we need this. How I need this.
To be so filled with him that I might shine for him and not be conscious of it. Oh May God give us grace to seek this one thing, to behold the beauty of the law, to inquire of him, to be occupied with him, be in his presence. That's what God would desire for us. And God by his Spirit wants to lead out our hearts to Christ, to be occupied with him. But God would not have us to be occupied with the Holy Spirit.
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But occupied with Christ.
Oh, May God help us in these days, that we might be preserved. And there's only one way to be preserved as there's only one way to be saved. That's through Christ. One way to be preserved, going on in communion with the Lord Jesus Christ being in his presence, occupied with him and filled with him. Well, I trust this is simply enough to us, but May God give us grace.
To make it good to our own soul.
Let us sing just one verse of 318.
The first stanza of 318.
Oh, Lamb of God, still.
Keep us close to Thy peace and sign.
Take only.
There Insane.
And peace we can love I.
Will falls and snails.
As I round us, I lost some years with him.
The grace that sort of found us.
Alone can keep us clean.
Jonah
The Person of the Lord Jesus Christ
Address—P.R. Gladding
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May we turn first of all to the fifth chapter of Genesis.
Genesis 5.
Read the first verse. This is the book of the generations of Adam. This is the book of the generations of Adam. First chapter of Matthew. First verse the book of the generation of Jesus Christ. These two expressions are descriptive of the two great themes of Scripture. The Old Testament gives us a record of Adam and his descendants.
And the New Testament is devoted to the history of Christ, the Son of God.
And his people are redeemed. And so we have in the very first verse.
This precious save you mentioned Jesus Christ. We know there are two atoms mentioned in the 15th of First Corinthians.
And we find in Genesis 5, the first Adam, sin brought sin into the world. About the last Adam, the Lord Jesus Christ came to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And so we have here before us right away that Blessed One Jesus Christ.
You have noticed, of course, that this is the very first name mentioned in the New Testament, and it's the very last name mentioned in the end of the Revelation. So it would appear to me that the Spirit of God would always bring before us the person of the Lord Jesus Christ all through Scripture. And Matthew begins with the announcement of the coming Savior. Matthew ends with the promise of the perpetual presence of the Savior who has come.
I am with you always, even unto the end. How wonderful and precious this is that you and I who know this blessed person. We have the promise of His presence to the end of the journey, and then He's coming to take us home to be forever with Himself.
And so how good it is to be reminded right away as we open this New Testament, that the Spirit of God brings before us the Person, the Lord Jesus Christ.
And so we have here in this chapter his birth mentioned his coming into this scene in the 21St verse.
And she shall bring forth his Son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins.
It reminds us of what the Psalmist could say. I think it's Psalm 62. From him cometh my salvation.
And from him cometh my salvation too. I wonder if we all know this blessed person here tonight, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Have we all received Him as our Lord and Savior? Have we felt our need of Him? I believe that's the first important thing for us to feel our need of a Savior. We never think of going to the doctor until we feel the need of the doctor, his services. And so the Sinner needs to realize his need of this blessed person.
Well, we have here the announcement of his coming in the very first chapter. Now return to the second chapter and there we have.
The story of his birth.
And I'd like to look at the story of his birth tonight and his three journeys to Jerusalem.
We'll read a few verses in the second of Matthew now, when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the King.
Behold, there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born king of the Jews?
For we have seen his star in the east, and I come to worship him. When Herod the King had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
And when he had gathered all the chief priests and the scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him in Bethlehem of Judea. For thus it is written by the prophet. And thou, Bethlehem in the land of Judah, art not the least among the Princess of Judah. For out of thee shall come a governor, that your rule my people Israel. Then Herod, when he had privilege, called the wise men, inquired of them diligently, What?
Appeared and he sent them to Bethlehem and said go and search diligently for the young child.
And when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship Him also.
When they had heard the king, they departed, and lo, the star which they saw in the East went before them till it came, and stood over where the young child was.
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When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were coming to the house, they saw the young child with Mary's mother, and fell down and worshiped him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts, gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
And when they were departed, behold, the Angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother.
And flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word. For Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled. Which is spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt, have I called my son?
Here we have the record of the birth of this blessed Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
And if you read the chapter carefully, you will find these words mentioned five times, the young child and his mother.
Now we know today it's put in the reverse order, the mother is worshipped and not the young child, the Lord Jesus Christ. But how remarkable it is that we should find these words five times in the chapter, the young child and his mother, never once the mother and the young child. And so I believe we find here that the Spirit of God would bring before us.
All through Scripture this blessed person, the Lord Jesus Christ says in Colossians in all things he must have the preeminence.
And so the young child is mentioned first.
And we find in the first verse it says wise men came from the East to Jerusalem.
Saying, Where is he that is born king of the Jews, for we have seen his star niece and I come to worship him.
I think it's in First Kings Four. We find there that the East is noted for its wisdom.
But these wise men came from the East, from the seat of human wisdom, all the way to worship Him who is the wisdom of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. And I suppose they were wise too, because they recognized in this humble infant the Christ, the King of the Jews.
And there was nothing here royal splendor or magnificence. And yet they saw in him the Christ, the Son of God, and they came to worship him. Yes, they left the seed of human wisdom to come and worship Him who is the wisdom of God.
And note what they said, saying, where is he that is born king of the Jews? Well, this is a very first question asked in the New Testament. Where is he? The first question asked in the Old Testament is, Where art thou? The Lord said that to Adam, did he not? Where art thou? Very searching question. If the Lord were to put the question to us here tonight, Where art thou? What would be our answer? Could we say, thank God I'm in Christ?
I know him as my Lord and Savior. Or should we have to hang our head in shame and say, well, I'm afraid I'm in my sins? Well, it's good to challenge our hearts, you know today as to the truth and reality of these things. Where is he that is born king of the Jews? Now no earthly potentate was ever born a king. Such were born Princess and became kings afterwards. But this blessed One was born a king.
Think of it, how wonderful. You and I were born sinners. He was born a king.
Well, he said, where is he that is born king of the Jews, for we have seen his star in the East.
Now the New Testament opens with his star and closes with him as the star, the bright and morning Star. And his star brought them to him, to Jesus where he was. But he is. The bright and morning Star is soon coming for us to take us home to glory. How wonderful and precious the thought, beloved Saints of God, to know that perhaps tonight.
We're going to see the Morning Star, the Lord Jesus Christ, and be with Him throughout eternity.
Well, it's cheering to my own heart, and I'm sure it is to many of us here.
We've seen his star in the East and I come to worship him, not his mother to worship him.
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Well, is is he worthy of our worship too? Indeed he is. And I think it's good for us to remember that in Scripture we find that worship always comes first before service, but often it's put in the reverse order. Service 1St. And men are seeking by service to become worshippers. But that's not the way, is it? Now worship has its first place in Scripture all through service has its place too, but second place.
And we have it brought before us in many scriptures. Well, it said, they said we have come to worship him.
And when heard the king had heard these things, he was troubled in all Jerusalem with him. And you know what he said in the end of the eighth verse when he found him? Bring me word again, that I may come and worship Him also. Did Herod want to worship this dear child Jesus? Indeed not. He had murder in his heart, because we find in the end of the.
13th Verse For Herod will seek the young child to worship him, no to destroy him.
Or the very moment this dear baby arrived, there was murder in the hearts of those around him. They wanted to get rid of him right away. How solemn. It's a picture of our own hearts, beloved by nature. We did not want Christ, did we?
No, he said, if we didn't say it with our lips, we set it by our actions away with Him. We have no time for Jesus but all thank God when the time came for us to see ourselves as God sees this and all our wretchedness and ruin.
And in all our need, when we felt our need of Him and through grace, turned to Him.
Well, we find we will not go into all the details, but I'd just like to notice a few things in chapter. So we find then Herod professed to want to see Him, to worship Him, but that was not his idea at all. It says in verse 10, when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. Now, beloved, when you and I see the morning star, the bright and morning Star, do you think we shall rejoice with exceeding great joy?
I'm sure we will. Or wouldn't it be a blessed and happy experience to see the bright and morning star tonight? The Lord Jesus Christ be caught up out of this poor scene which is doomed for judgment to be forever with Him and like Him. And that glory seen above. Well, when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. I was just thinking two of the 11Th verse. It says when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him.
Gifts Gold and frankincense and myrrh. These were highly significant gifts, were they not?
The gold, I suppose, would speak of his Deity, and the frankincense comes next. Frankincense and myrrh. This would speak, I believe, of the perfection of his wondrous life here on earth as a perfect man. And the myrrh is a bitter herb to the taste, and would perhaps suggest his sufferings here on earth as a man, and more so at Calvary, when he took up the question of sin and our sins, and had to suffer then not only.
Of men, but at the hands of a holy God. Or how it should solemnize our hearts when we think of this, that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, the sinless spotless one, came down here to be made sin, and go to the cross and take up the question of sin and your sins and mine, and settle it to the glory of God his Father, and for our eternal blessing and salvation.
Well, surely this should produce from our hearts eternal praise and worship.
And adoration, when we think of His infinite love, in leaving that glory seen above, to come down here for that purpose, to glorify His Father, and to seek and to save the last. Well, now these gifts here were presented to Him.
But if you turn to Philippians two, we find that these things characterized him. They were in him. Maybe just turn to it if Philippians 2.
The second chapter of Philippians and verses 6-7 and eight.
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not a robbery to be equal with God? Surely this would speak of the goal, the deity of His person, but made himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. Surely this would speak of the frankincense of His wondrous life here and then. Verse 8. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself.
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And he came obedient unto death, even the death of a cross.
Surely this would speak of the Murrah, his sufferings here as a man and more so under the hand of a holy God. So I believe those three things which were were presented to him are seen in him here in this chapter.
Now maybe go back, just for a moment, to the turn to the second chapter of Luke.
You get a little more concerning the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ second chapter of Luke, beginning at verse 7.
And she brought forth her first born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a Manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
This is a very, very solemn statement, is it not? He was born in the stable of an inn.
But there is no room for him in the end.
In Luke 10 we find there is room for that poor man who fell among thieves. He was taken to the inn. They made room for him, but no room for the Son of God. How solemn this is. And yet this blessed person, the Lord Jesus, came down to earth to make room for you and me in heaven, and yet when He came, there was no room for Him. Well, is there room for Him in your heart tonight?
I trust SO with everyone here.
It's a challenge, isn't it? Have you any room for Jesus? We often sing in the gospel.
He will bore your load of sin as he knocks and seeks admission. Sinner, will you let him in? Well, have we all let him in? Will we find then? It says she brought forth her first born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a Manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
This is very remarkable. I feel that he was born in the stable of an inn, and so the animal creation will be brought into blessing as a result of Christ's coming here and going to the cross. You turn to Romans 8, says The creature itself shall also be delivered from the ******* of corruption, brought into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
That would suggest to me, I think it's the 21St verse of the 8th of Romans.
Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the ******* of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
We are not suggesting, of course, that the animal creation will be saved. That's not the thought at all.
But they will be brought into a into the glorious liberty of the children of God through the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
But how much more so you and I, who have received Him as our Lord and Savior?
Well, now monarchs when coming to their subjects are usually preceded by heralds and now announcing their coming. But there is no welcoming committee. When the Lord Jesus Christ came here, no, no one to welcome him, not a crowd to receive him and to welcome him, but God sent one. Oh yes, verse 13 And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying.
Glory to God in the highest and on earth. Peace, goodwill toward men.
So although there was number welcoming committee to welcome him when he arrived, God sent one. Yes, he will have his son honoured, although he was despised and rejected here.
And it says they were in the same country, shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock. By night, Lo, the angels of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid.
And the Angel said unto them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
How wonderful this is good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people.
For unto you have very personal this is unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord. Now we find this blessed one was not only born a king, but he was born a savior. Is he your Savior dear friend, tonight thank God he's my savior. Is he yours? Well, it's well to challenge our hearts, you know because.
So many people take things for granted today that if they do the best and.
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Come from meetings or go to church. It's alright with them, but that's not the point at all.
Now we need to have personal dealings with God about our sins and receive God's provision for us in the person of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Fiona. For behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which will be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. Again I say, you and I were born sinners, but he was born a king and born a Saviour.
And now, a little further down, it's the 14th verse. Glory to God in the highest and on earth. Peace, goodwill toward men.
Now we often hear this remark. Where is the peace you Christians speak of? There's no peace in this world. Well, we have to remember before the proclamation of peace on earth was announced.
For declare the offer of good times, and great joy was given unto all people.
And so the reception of the Savior must come before we can have peace. We cannot have peace without the reception of the Savior.
And there is peace for everybody to death and only have it. The world is striving for some kind of peace, and yet they reject Christ, who is our peace. We can say of those of us who believe that he is our peace and he's made peace through the blood of His cross. I remember dear man in Bermuda who was very, very ill. He had cancer and was dying.
Her brother and I went to see him. We asked him where he was going at the end of his journey.
He said well I'm struggling hard to make my peace with God before I go.
Well, we said if I were you, friend, I would give that up because you'll never accomplish that. The poor man looked astounded.
He said, no, you can never do that. You know, you might as well give it right up. So we turned into the first Colossians and read that verse, having made peace through the blood of his cross, and we read it to him and got him to read it. He said, oh, I see it now. I've been trying to make something that Christ has made for me already, said yes, all you have to do is receive it. And he did just before he passed away. It seemed so blessed and simple.
And there are many like him today, you know, trying to make their peace with God. But how can we as sinners?
How can I approach a holy God in my sins apart from Christ? It's impossible. And so God has made a way whereby we can approach Him and is through His beloved Son, and only that way.
And now we find in Luke 19, it speaks of peace being in heaven. Peace was on earth here and the person of Christ at one time, but he's been rejected and cast out. Now peace has gone to heaven. That's where He is. And so if you want peace, friend, you have to get it by way of heaven, by way of the Lord Jesus Christ who is there. He's not here on earth now to give you peace, but you can have it through Him, through simple faith in Him.
And in his shed blood.
Christ, the Prince of Peace, was rejected and cast out, and now peace has gone to heaven in the person of Christ. That's where he is. But you and I can have peace. How blessed it is to have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ and to be at peace with Him. And it's only through his beloved Son. Well, shall we just look now at the three journeys to Jerusalem?
In the same chapter.
Verse 22 or 21. And when 8 days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the Angel before he was conceived in the womb. And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.
We find this Blessed One went to Jerusalem in his infancy, in his boyhood, and in his manhood. Here we find he goes to Jerusalem with his parents in his infancy, and he was presented to the Lord. I suppose the law required this.
He was presented to the Lord. This, I suppose, would speak of the perfection of His purpose. He's presented to the Lord. And who was as devoted as Christ to God? His Father. Was he not devoted to his Father? Indeed he was.
And so we find here in the days of his infancy, he was taken to Jerusalem. Now in the 40th verse.
And the child grew and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.
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Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover, and when he was 12 years old they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of a feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem, and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.
But they supposing him to have been in the company, they knew very well he was not in their company.
But they supposed he was in the company when today's journey, and they sought him. Among their kin spoke an acquaintance, And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. He came to pass that after three days they had found him in the Temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
Now he's at the age of 12 years and his parents take him up to Jerusalem again after the custom of the feast.
And now they're returning from Jerusalem to Nazareth, and they thought he was in the company.
But he was not in their company.
And so they sought him. They went as day's journey, and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.
And when they found him not, they turned back to again to Jerusalem, seeking him.
What a different picture we have on the 24th of Luke.
Here we find Jesus. Parents were going back from Jerusalem to Nazareth and they missed Jesus. He was not in their company. They were without him.
And then they went back again to Jerusalem without him, and it took them three days to find him. Well, in the 24th of Luke we find there the disciples, two of them. They were rejoicing both ways, going from Jerusalem and coming back to Jerusalem. They found him as they did not our heart burn within us while he talked with us, by the way. And so here Jesus parents were sad both ways.
Going back from Jerusalem and returning to Jerusalem.
But the two in the 24th of Luke were glad both ways. They found him, and they went all the way back to Jerusalem to share their joy with others.
And that says when they had found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. They came to pass it. After three days. They found him in the Temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions.
I suppose it would not really take us one day, would it, to get out of communion with the Lord and to lose sight of Him and get away from Him. But it might take his three full days to get back because of our wretched pride, the pride of our hearts. And we know, do we not, of some who have gotten away from the Lord, and it takes perhaps a lifetime for them to get back more than three days.
So I believe there's a solemn warning here for us.
If we get out of communion with the Lord and get away from Him, it may take a long time to get back. It need not.
But because of the pride of our hearts, we're not willing to admit or to judge ourselves, are we?
And admit that we've made a mistake. And so we keep away. That's been the sad history of many, but there's no need for it. If I may make this little illustration, I have enjoyed it myself. And I just pass it on and see what you think of it. I often think of the little dove that was sent out from the ark, you know, And it says it found no rest for the soul of its foot. So what did it do?
The Raven didn't return to the Ark. It flew around, about, back and forth, over the earth, over the waters of judgment.
But the dove returned to the AH, found no rest for the sole of its foot, and so it returned to the arc.
Well, may I say that in this sense, nor is a type of the Lord Jesus, because He put out His hand and pulled the little dovey. And did He not? He didn't push the dove away because the dove had returned. And I believe, beloved Saints of God, if you and I ever get away from the Lord, we will find Him ever ready and willing to receive us back. He put out His hand, receive us. He will only judge ourselves and own our mistake and come back to Him.
In confession and repentance.
So may we suggest that that little dove, perhaps is a picture of one who has left the ark and found no rest for the sole of its foot, and has returned to the ark? And what a beautiful picture to see Noah putting out his hand and pulling that little dove in again. I think that's a sweet picture of the Lord's infinite love and grace for the backslider, for those who may have strayed away.
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But it does take, does it not more than three days in many cases for those return who have.
Gotten away from the Lord because of wretched pride, but all how we need to be much before the Lord in self judgment do we not day by day?
And that's the only way that we can enjoy sweet communion with that blessed One who now adorns the throne of his Father.
And then we find it says in this 46th verse.
Being a boy, he did not take it upon himself to assume the place of a teacher to these venerable old men. No, he sat there and was asking them questions.
And it says he sat in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions.
And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. So it was not long before they were asking him questions. These venerable old men, these doctors, they were asking this dear Lord Jesus 11 years of age, they were asking him questions, and they were astonished at his answers. Now that which amazed these venerable old men became so commonplace to Jesus parents that they could go a whole day without missing him.
But it took them three full days to find him.
And they said, you notice in the end of verse 48, Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.
Saw the sorrowing, he said unto them, How is that the short that ye sought me? Wish ye not that I must be about my father's business? This is why he came down here, wasn't it? To do His father's business, to do his will. And he began at an early age to do it. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them. But his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. What a beautiful picture this is.
The young ones here, he became subject to his parents. That's a very important thing for today, isn't it, For the dear young children of the children of the Saints to be subject to their Christian parents and to be subject to the Lord.
And it says his mother kept all these sayings in her heart, and Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man. Now the 9th chapter. Spend a little more time on this one. This is the last journey to Jerusalem, I believe.
Like to read from verse 28?
And it came to pass about an 8 days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James and went up into a mountain to pray.
Now these three disciples were with the Lord on three special occasions, when he was on the mount of Transfiguration shining, when he raised the daughter Jairus saving, and they witnessed him suffering. So they with him on three special occasions, and they went up into a mountain de prey. And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance resulted, and his raiment was white and glistering.
And behold the talk with him two men, which were Moses and Elias.
In connection with this, I often think of the contrast between the Mount of Transfiguration and the Cross of Calvary.
We see the blessed Lord here on the Mount of Transfiguration with two of the most holy of men, Moses and Elias. On the cross we see him hanging between 2 Thieves, 2 malefactors. What a contrast. On the Mount of Transfiguration we hear the Father's voice of commendation of his beloved Son. He says, This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased. On the cross we hear that desolate cry from the sun Himself, my God, My God.
Why hast thou forsaken me?
And there again on the Mount of Transfiguration, it tells us in Matthew's Gospel, his face shone as the sun, but on the cross his face was so marred more than any man's. What a contrast. Beloved to see him on the cross of Calvary, hear his face shone as a sun on the Mount of Transfiguration. At the cross his face was so marred more than any man's.
What a contrast we have here. Well, it says.
That talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias, who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease, which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. Now you and I never speak of death as an accomplishment, do we? They speak of his decease, which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. No, death is the end of all human hopes, but they speak of his death as an accomplishment.
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Where was his death an accomplishment? Indeed it was.
Why, He accomplished the will of His Father here on earth, particularly so at Calvary. He accomplished that great and mighty work of redemption. He accomplished salvation for you and me all. His death was indeed a great accomplishment. To think that He accomplished the will of His Father on this earth and accomplished that great work of redemption for you and me.
And then he accomplished that salvation. He procured that salvation for you and me, which we can enjoy and have through simple faith.
In him.
And then it says, And Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep, and when they were awake, they saw his glory. And the two men that stood with him, he came to pass. As they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us make 3 tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias, For Peter, not knowing what he said. Well now we often speak of Peter's failures and his downfall.
But may I suggest a word of commendation for poor Peter tonight?
I believe we see something here for which we can commend Peter in spite of his mistaken idea. Putting the Lord on the same level with the law and the prophets, Moses and Elias. He said it's good for us to be here, Lord. In other words, I'd like to stay here with you. This is a good place. No doubt it was, and but you notice what he said. Let us make 3 tabernacles, one for Peter, no one for thee in this case. He put the Lord first this time.
I think we should commend Peter for that because, you know.
It's good for us to put the Lord first, is it not? Do we all do that? Do I do that? Do you? Do we put the Lord first?
We'll see later on the chapter where two men put themselves first, but here Peter put the Lord 1St. And so can we not commend Peter for this? He didn't say one for Peter. No, there was not one for Peter here, one for the Lord, one for Moses, one for Elias. And no doubt it would have been good for Peter to remain there with Moses and Elias and with the Lord. But this was not to be.
And now we find it, says came a voice.
While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them. They feared as they entered into the cloud.
I take it that the cloud removed Moses and Elias and left Jesus there.
Now who did Peter see? He saw Jesus only. So it's Peter Jesus 1St and Jesus only with Peter on this occasion. Other times it was Peter 1St and but it's it's the Lord first here I believe we might suggest here too. We have 4 mounts spoken of in these few verses. We have Moses the lawgiver.
On Mount Sinai, he was present. Speaking of Mount Sinai.
Elijah was there Speaking of Mount Carmel, and I spoke of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem, speaks of Mount Calvary, and then he says they saw his glory.
His glory was seen.
And it's to be displayed when He comes on Mount Olivet, is it not? So we have 4 mounts suggested here. And the Father was there, the Son was there, and I suppose we could say the Holy Spirit in the form of the cloud removed to Moses and Elias. Now Peter sees Jesus only, but Peter I suppose still wish that he might remain there with the Lord. But that was not to be, says in verse 36. And when the voice was passed, Jesus was.
Found alone, and they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.
Now the 37 verse seems to me to be a very, very important verse and a very precious one. And it came to pass that on the next day now we find that the Lord Jesus did not remain on the Mount of Transfiguration. It says the next day when they came down from the hill, much people met him. And behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master.
I beseech thee look upon my son, for he is mine only child.
Now let us suppose that the Lord had taken to heart what Peter said, and had remained on the Mount of Transfiguration.
And all his glory there. What would have happened to this poor lunatic down in the valley?
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He would have undoubtedly perished. And beloved, what would have happened to you and me if the Lord had remained up in the glory and had not come down the hill, so to speak, did not come down from the glory to this earth, to the valley of sin and death? What would have happened to you and me? We would have been lost forever. So cannot we thank God that He came down on that occasion from the Mount of Transfiguration to meet this poor lunatic?
Indeed, we can and can we not thank Him for all eternity for coming down from the glory?
To save us, He came down into the valley of sin where we were to redeem us, to save our souls, and to bring us into a place of eternal relationship and blessing. Or how we should thank Him, and we will for all eternity for coming down, not for remaining up there, but He came down well. This dear man, he says, I beseechly look upon my son. What does the Lord say? Look under me.
And be say this poor man said, Lord, look upon my son. The Lord says in Isaiah 4522, look under me and be saved all the ends of the earth, for I am God, and there is none else. Now we find in the 38th verse he says, look upon my son, for he is my only child. How precious to see that two only sons met here in the valley.
The only son of this dear man was met by the only begotten Son of God, and what a blessing he received.
And isn't it the case with everyone of us, when we meet the only begotten Son of God as sinners and confess that we are sinners and confess Him as our Lord and Savior? What blessings we receive? Indeed we do.
And eternal blessings. I'm not suggesting that this dear man received eternal life or eternal blessings, but he was healed because Jesus chose to come down from the hill down into that valley to meet this poor man and all his wretchedness and need.
And so, beloved, you and I should never cease to thank the Lord Jesus Christ for coming down from the glory to the scene to seek and to save us, to redeem us, and to bring us to God.
And then we find in the 42nd verse it says, And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down and tear him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his Father. What a wonderful and blessed experience it must have been to this dear boy.
And to his father, to see that his only son healed and delivered.
To his Father. A little further down we find that time was coming for the Lord to be delivered, not to his father, but to sinful and wicked men. What a contrast. The Lord had met this poor lad and all his need, and healed him, and delivered him to his Father in health and strength.
Now it says in the.
44th verse Let these sayings sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man shall be delivered into the hands of men.
What a contrast, beloved. He delivered this dear boy, but he was to be delivered himself into the hands of men, wicked men, yes, wicked men, to be crucified, rejected, spit upon, slain. And yet it was all for you and me, because he loved us. And the Lord says.
Let these sayings sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man shall be delivered in the hands of men. But they understood not the saying, and it was hid from them.
That they perceived it not, and they fear to ask him of that, saying now what a solemn verse this 46 verse is. Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest, in spite of the fact that the blessed Lord had manifested that wondrous grace and loved that poor man, now they're asking, who should be the greatest?
Man who is absolutely nothing, wants to be everything. And beloved, that spirit is not dead today, is it?
Man wants to be something, whether it's in the world or in the assembly. How we need to guard against that spirit. It's not day-to-day.
I remember, dear old brother in the West Indies, he threatened the life of a younger brother, he said. Because you are head of the assembly and I shall be. What do you know? Can you imagine anything worse?
And he's now with the law. That old brother, he was over 80 then, and I heard him. He threatened the life of a younger brother. He said he's the head of the assembly and I should be. Do we not have a similar spirit? He is sad to say. Then there was a reasoning among them which of them should be greatest.
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Blessed One, who is the greatest of all, came down here in order to win our hearts and redeem us. He went into death for us. And yet they could ask which of them should be the greatest.
Now the 51St verse is the one I had before me, and it came to pass. When the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem.
The time had come for him to be received up.
Now the blessed Lord could have gone back to the glory on this occasion, I take it.
The time was come for him to be received.
But did he go back to the Father? No, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.
Steadfastly. What for? He was going there to redeem you and me. Yes, He could have gone back to the glory. Death had no claim upon Him. Whatever in Him was life. Death had no claim upon the Son of God. He could have gone back to the glory then, but He would have gone alone. Instead of that, He chose to go to Jerusalem, and He was going there to suffer. For my sins, Beloved, and for yours. How they should touch our hearts.
And call forth praise and worship and adoration to Him when we think of that.
Journey to Jerusalem, going there to suffer. He could have gone right back to the glory.
But now he wanted you and me to share that glory with him, about to be forever with Him up there. And so he went to Jerusalem to suffer. And then we get a little further down in verse 2054. When his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven and consume them even as Elias did? I should have read the 53rd verse, however.
And they did not receive him because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.
Now James and John saw this. They said, Lord, shall we command fire to come down from heaven and consume them as Elias did?
But the blessed Lord turned to them and said, in effect, this is not the day of judgment, this is a day of grace.
Turned and rebuked them and said, you know not what manner of spirit you're of. And what a beautiful answer. For the Son of Man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
What a message. The Son of Man came not to destroy men's lives, but to save them. We read in the first verse in the 21St verse of Matthew one I should call his name Jesus, for He shall save his people from their sins. Here we find that He did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And that man going to Calvary did not.
I said reverently. The blessed Lord never could have saved you and me from our sins had he remained in the glory. No.
There must be the death of the sinless victim before you and I could have forgiveness of sins and peace with God, and it's through our Lord Jesus Christ.
So the Lord rebuked them. I often think of what we have in the 19th of Luke in connection with Zacchaeus.
Every verse begins with and until you come to the 10th verse and that begins with four.
For the Son of Man is come.
To seek and to say that which was lost for the Son of Man is come. What a message, beloved. Is there any message like it in the world? The Son of Man is come. He's been here already. He came to seek and to save the lust. What a mission to this earth. And do we not see a picture that here in the previous verse that we read says the next day when He came down from the hill, what a graphic picture of his mission to this earth to come down from the hill into that.
Meet this poor man and what a glorious truth that he came down from the glory scene to meet us in all our need and ruin to and to save our soul and to bring us into eternal blessing. Now we find that from verse 57 to the end we have three types of followers mentioned.
He came to pass that as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee with us, whoever thou goest. This was an unconditional statement, wasn't it? I will follow the Lord whithersoever thou goest.
Now the Lord tells him the next verse, what is going to cost him to do so? And we never hear another thing about the man. The Lord says, Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. In other words, I willing to abide by those terms. And we hear nothing about this man. Now after this, now look at the next verse. And he said unto another, You notice in this case.
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It was a man who said to the Lord, I will follow thee. Now in the next case it's the Lord saying follow me. Verse 59 follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Notice those words, me first, me first. Peter says, let us make 3 tabernacles, one for thee. He put Jesus first. This man puts himself first.
Suffer me first to go and bury my father.
It does not necessarily mean that the man's father was dead, but it could mean what we have in Acts 7. I believe it is in connection with Abraham. I wouldn't be dogmatic about this, of course, but it could be so.
In the 7th chapter of the Acts, in verse three. And said unto him, Abraham, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall show thee. Then came he out of the land of Chaldeans, and dwelt in Charan. And from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land wherein you now dwell.
So Abraham partially obeyed the Lord, but not till his father was dead did he fully follow and obey.
We find that could be the same in this case, I believe. It's not to say the man's father had already died, but he was merely saying.
Postponing of the fact that he was willing to follow the Lord. But just wait till my father is dead. Then I'll have no obligations, and I can come and follow you then. So he said, Let me first go and bury my father. Suffer me for us to go and bury my Father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead.
But go down, preach the Kingdom of God. Now the whole world is in the undertaking business, isn't it? And you and I, beloved, through grace, are in the business of pointing dead souls to Christ. That's our business, not to be in the undertaking business. This man said, let me go and bury my Father. Me first. Let me first. Well, we get in the 21St chapter of Matthew, if I might just turn to it for a moment.
In the 28th verse what but what thinking A certain man had two sons, and he came to the 1St and said son, go work today in my vineyard.
Go work today in my vineyard.
His place is appointed and the time arranged. Go work today in my vineyard. Go work today. Well, this man was putting it off following the Lord and serving him until his father was dead. Verse 61 and another said all also said, Lord, I will follow thee, but let me first again me first go and bid them farewell which aren't home.
And again, this man was postponing service following the Lord.
About the Lord once prompt obedience beloved if any are here desires of following of the law. Let us take a little advice from that verse we just read in Matthew 21 son go work today in my vineyard his vineyard go work today and you notice it says son and there are many I fear who are not sons yet and yet they seek to serve the Lord and go and work for him. But how striking it is Son go work today in.
We must be sons before we can be servants to serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. And so the Lord Jesus, in the last verse of our chapter, Jesus said unto him, No man having put his hand to plan, looking back, he spit for the Kingdom of God.
Well, I trust we might find something from these scriptures.
Search our house and to encourage us to and I often think of what the apostle says.
The Lord sent here. No man looking back is fit for the Kingdom of God. The apostle could say forgetting those things which are behind and pressing forward to those things which are before. I haven't stated correctly, but you remember the verse. But the apostle Paul was reaching forward all the time, pressing toward the mark, not looking back. If you and I look back, we may have lots of regrets, but if we look upward and onward, we'll be encouraged below it to go on.
And that's what the Lord wants us to do, does He not? To go on in simple dependence upon Himself, in obedience to His Word, and in separation from this world and all its defiling influences? Oh, may the Lord preserve His beloved from the spirit of this world. How its creeping in, is it not? How we need to guard against this evil and have our hearts and minds centered upon Christ, where He is in the glory in our hearts occupied?
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With Him, I do believe that if our hearts are really and truly occupied with Christ, all these other things will have no place in our hearts and lives.
And you've heard me quote that verse perhaps before. Lamentations 351 by an eye effective mine heart.
Well, that conveys a lot to me if my eyes fixed upon the trash of this world is going to affect my heart and soon get into my feet. On the other hand, if my eyes fixed upon Christ in the glory, my heart will be affected in a different way too. I'll be happy and satisfied. So may the Lord preserve His beloved and keep us till He comes, looking to Him, rejoicing in Him.
And seeking to follow him closely.
Exodus and Leviticus Separation and Holiness
Address—P.R. Gladding
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May we turn to the book of Exodus.
Exodus.
We'll read just a few verses in.
Various chapters.
Because we do not get the whole story in one chapter.
Exodus begins by telling how God came down in grace to deliver and enslave people.
An exodus closes, I believe, by telling how God came down in glory to dwell amidst a redeemed people.
This morning you and I had the blessed and happy privilege of being here with the Lord in the midst. Or how precious a thought our brother reminded us of this, and how good to be reminded and to realize that the Lord is in our midst.
And now I'd like to read just a few verses in the first chapter. Verse six. And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation.
Verse 8.
Chapter. Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.
I suppose we could say that Joseph is a type of the Lord Jesus Christ and this new King a type of Satan.
And it said, And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of his children of Israel are more and mightier than we. Come on, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply, and it come to pass that when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.
Therefore, they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens.
And verse 13 And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigor, and they made their lives bitter with hard ******* in mortar and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field.
And now just two verses in the.
End of the second chapter, verse 23.
And it came to pass in process of time that the king of Egypt died.
And the children of Israel sighed by reason of the ******* and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the *******. And God heard their groaning. And God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them. The 5th chapter.
And afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.
And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go. What a very, very solemn statement this is. Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not. The Lord is the one here this afternoon.
Who would dare to say this? I know not the Lord.
Or who is the Lord?
Well, beloved, who is the Lord?
Well, He's the eternal Son of God is enough, and He's my precious Savior.
Your Savior, everyone of us here, Can you say the Lord is my Savior? Many of us can through grace, and we can thank God for it. But what a solemn thing for Pharaoh to say. Who is the Lord?
There are 7 devices of Satan expressed by Pharaoh and we look at them in the moment and I believe this is the first one.
He says, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go. Now we know from the other Scriptures and others too, that the children of Israel were in Egypt, in a very hard and difficult place, and long to be rid of it, to get out of it. And undoubtedly it was the Lord's desire to to have them out of Egypt, but fear this wicked king was holding them there. Of course, God permitted it for a purpose.
And he did not want to let the children of Israel go. They served his purpose well.
And so he wanted to retain them there, but they wanted to go. And we find, he says, he says rather, who is the Lord, that I should weigh his voice to let Israel go. I know not the Lord.
Isn't that a solemn statement? I know not the Lord.
Well, if that's the position of anyone here, friend, I'm deeply sorry for you, because if you do not know the Lord.
You are lost and you're on the road to hell.
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So how important it is to know the Lord? Do we all know the Lord?
Well, it's good to challenge our hearts in these days of uncertainty with so many.
And so we find here then, fairer question, the Lord's authority.
It's a solemn thing isn't it, to question the Lords authority?
Who is the Lord?
It's so different what the Moses said, he said. Who am I?
This sounds better, doesn't it? Who am I?
But first, and who's the Lord?
Moses takes a very humble place there. Who am I? But Pharaoh exalts himself says, Who is the Lord? I'm not interested in the Lord. Who is he?
Well, children of Israel wanted to get out of Egypt, and they said, the God of Hebrews. Hebrews hath met with us, let us go, we pray thee. 3 days journey into the desert and sacrificed unto the Lord our God.
Why 3 days journey?
We find that Elijah.
When the day's journey into the wilderness.
But he sat him down under a juniper tree and wished in himself to die.
But here the children of Israel wanted to go 3 days journey.
Into the desert. I suppose this would speak of complete separation from Egypt.
And how important that is for today, because Egypt is a type of the world as we all know. And how important it is, beloved Saints of God, for you and me to go 3 days journey out of Egypt completely separated from this evil world.
This world has rejected my precious savior. It's stained with his blood. He's been cast out. Can I have fellowship with the world that has rejected my Lord and Savior? Well, it's a very solemn thing if I do. And so the children of Israel wanted to go 3 days journey into the desert. They wanted to be completely separated from Egypt and this cruel king.
And all the ******* of Satan.
Of which he typifies, undoubtedly.
And it says in the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works get you under your burdens? And Pharaoh said, Behold the people of the land now many, and you make them rest from their burdens.
Now we find that Pharaoh tries something else. He tries to persecute the children of Israel.
And we know what persecution has done for done for some dear children of God. It has turned them aside, sad to say. And I suppose we even never know how it would affect us until we pass through that.
You know that dear brother Jiangsu who died in a prison camp. I know him so well and work with him. A dear godly man.
He was prosecuted under death. He wouldn't give in. Thank God. No. He remained firm and steadfast at the last moment. But he died in a prison camp.
He had gone, so to speak, three days journey. He was completely separated from Egypt and he was not going to submit to the designs of these wicked people. Now he loved the Lord Jesus Christ and he intended with God's grace and help, to serve him to the end and be faithful to Him. Well, here we find that the King of Egypt now tries to persecute the children of Israel.
He says they rest from their burdens.
And then in verse seven, ye shall no more give the people straw to make Breakers. Heretofore let them go and gather straw for themselves.
This seemed an impossible thing for them to do, really. I suppose they had been provided with a store after this time, but now he says they're not to have any more stall. Let them go and get it themselves.
What a cruel thing this was.
And he says, You shall no more give the people straw to make brickers heretofore. Let them go and gather straw of themselves, and the tail of the bricks which they did make heretofore you shall lay upon them, shall not diminish aught thereof, for they be idle.
Says they rest from their burdens and they be idle.
Oh, what is?
A hard master Satan is. Indeed he is. If you and I are serving Satan, we're going to find what a hard mastery is.
And is bent on dragging us down to hell. That's all we'll get for serving Satan. So what a good thing to be delivered from him and to have a new master in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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So he says they be idle. Therefore they cry, saying, let us go and sacrifice to our God.
Let them more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein, and let them not regard vain words. Keep them busy. Isn't that Satans object?
To keep us busy that we have no time for God and his things.
I remember, dear brother, and you all know him. I will not mention the name, but he wrote to us in Africa and he said, you know, brother, I am so busy, I hardly have time to pray. Well, you know, he was far too busy. If you and I haven't time to pray, beloved, we'd better give up some of the service. I'm sure that's very, very important for us all to find time in the morning to be on our knees, to see grace, wisdom and guidance and help for the day.
Something I saw in Salon on the island of Salon impressed me deeply.
I saw some very, very large elephants coming down the road. There's a man in charge and he had a long bamboo pole and a spike in the end, and he spoke to these elephants in Tamil and they just lined up along a fence along the road. He gave each one just a little poke with a spear. This spike they got down on their knees.
Now, I'm not suggesting they got down on the knees to pray, but they got down on their knees.
Before they started the day's work.
If they had not been on their knees, this man could not have possibly lifted the heavy harness and placed it upon their backs. And these elephants were used for hauling logs from the forest, huge tree trunks. And they had to have the harness on their backs in order to be able to drag those logs along the road or to lift them. And so this man had trained the elephants to get on their knees first thing in the morning, to have their burdens placed upon their backs.
Well.
After the day's work, those elephants came back again the same spot and down on their knees again.
What thought I have their burdens removed now? They had finished their day's work, and now he took the heavy harness off the backs and they went to rest.
I wish I had the picture here. I have a large picture of that. It was well worth having and it was a wonderful thing to witness because it spoke to my own heart.
I thought, well, now a lesson for me there these great big elephants, you would think, oh, they have plenty of strength they need and get on their knees.
But you know, you and I are weak and helpless and we do need to get on our knees first thing in the morning to seek grace and help from the one above who alone can give it. If we do not get on our knees, beloved, in the morning and seek grace and help, how are we going to carry the burdens of the day? It's impossible. Supposing a death comes in the family or you have an accident. So call. How are we going to meet these circumstances if we haven't been on a knees? So how important?
For us, each one to be found on our knees first thing in the morning, and then these elephants lasting a night, there on the knees again to have their burdens removed. Can we not do the same? Can we not get on our knees at the end of the day and unburden our hearts to that blessed one?
And seek his grace still further for the pathway. You remember what the psalmist said in the morning I will direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. And we find that the psalmist prayed three times a day. Remember when we arrived in China? I'm getting away from the chapter, but just pardon me for a moment. When we arrived in Shanghai, dear brother Willis said, brother gladly. My father and I have been used to praying three times a day. Will you join us? Said Indeed I will. I do feel the need for that.
So we met three times a day for prayer, not only to pray for ourselves, but to pray for the Saints of God in every place, and to seek grace for ourselves, for the pathway that we might be preserved and kept and helped. So how important it is, beloved, to be on our knees first thing in the morning.
Needed grace for the day and then last thing at night to unburden our hearts. We can tell that blessed One what we couldn't tell one another. We can pour out our hearts before Him.
Well, now we find here then.
Pharaoh, He puts more work upon the children of Israel. They be idle. Give them more to do.
And that's one of Satan's object today, beloved, to put work upon us and to occupy our thoughts and our hearts with anything and everything but Christ. If Satan can keep you and me busy so that we have no time to pray or to read the Word, He's gained a victory. But let us see to it, beloved, that he does not gain that victory. The only way we can be preserved from losing that victory.
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I believe is to get on our knees and seek grace and help from the Lord that He might keep us in, preserve us.
Welfare tries this out now, he says. Keep them busy, no time for God.
And then the 8th chapter.
25 And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, said, Go ye sacrifice to your God in the land in Egypt.
Would this be right? Indeed not.
How can you and I sacrifice to God if we're in the world?
Now the Lord sent to the woman of Samaria. They are cometh, and now is.
When the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
They couldn't sacrifice to God in that land. Wouldn't be in order, for one thing.
And they would be submitting to Ferris Compromise. And so we see he, as Moses said, it is not meat so to do. For we will sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the Lord our God. Lo, shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes? And will they not stone us?
This shows the danger I believe of.
Having one foot in the world and one in the assembly, go sacrifice to your God in the land.
That's an impossibility, isn't it?
Indeed it is.
We will go three days journey into the wilderness.
Moses stands by this. He desires to do this from his heart. Three days journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord our God, as he shall command us, how important that is, as he shall command us. We find King Jeroboam sacrificing in his own way, it says, in a way which he devised of his own heart.
But here we find it's as He shall command us.
You and I can only sacrifice to God in the way he has commanded, the way that he's made plain in his word for us. And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, but she may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness, only you shall not go very far away in treat for me.
God has no time for borderland Christianity. Now I say again, beloved Saints of God, we cannot have one foot in the world and one in the assembly. It's impossible.
Someone is going to suffer. Are we going to make the Lord suffer by compromising, having one foot in the world in one in the assembly?
Well, it certainly does not do, does it? And so we find here.
He says only shall not go very far away in treat for me.
Well, Moses stands by that desire. 3 days journey into the wilderness.
And that's what we need, complete separation from the world and all its attractions.
And to be found in the presence of the Lord.
Now Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that she may sacrifice to the Lord. Your God in the wilderness only shall not go very far away.
Now the 10th chapter.
Verse 7 And fairer servants said unto him, How long shall this man be a snare unto us?
Let the men go, that they may serve the Lord their God. Nurse thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed. And Moses and Aaron went, were brought again unto Pharaoh. And he said unto them, Go, Sir of the Lord your God, But who are they that shall go? Moses said, We will go with our young, and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds, where we go, for we must hold a feast unto the Lord.
And he said unto them, Let the Lord be so with you, as I will let you go, and your little ones look to it, for evil is before you.
Now this sounded alright, perhaps on the surface, but now he seems to change his mind. Not so. Go now, ye that are men, and serve the Lord.
Well, what would this mean? They left their wives and children behind. That would mean divided affection, would it not? And isn't that Satan's object today, to divide our affection? Yes, indeed it is.
Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. If they left their wives and children me high end, do you not think that their hearts would be there with them and be constantly thinking of their wives and children, wondering how they're getting along? So their affection would be divided. And that's Satan's object today, beloved, to divide our affection. But we're told to set our affection on things above where Christ sitteth.
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Not on the earth, not on the things in the world. There is a danger of doing that, is the not.
But we are exalted to do just the opposite, set our affections on things above.
And so he says, Go now ye that are men.
Well, Moses couldn't agree to that. It would mean leaving their loved ones behind, and I'm sure their hearts would be and their thoughts would be centered upon their loved ones and not upon what they were going to do. And so Satan tries that today. He wants to divide your affection mine with Christ. He doesn't mind us having a little bit of a world.
But what good will it do us? It'll rob us of the joys of Christ and happy communion with Him.
Oh beloved, how we do need to be completely separated from this world. Let us remember it's crucified our precious Savior. Cast him out as worthless.
Crucified Him, spit on his face. Can we have fellowship with a world that has done this well? It's a solemn thing if we do. And now we find in the 24th verse of the same chapter.
And Pharaoh called unto Moses and said, Go ye serve the Lord only. Let your flocks in your herds be stayed. Let your little ones also go with you.
Let your flocks and your herds be stayed, tells us in the 23rd chapter. None shall appear before the Lord. Empty. They left their flocks and herds behind. What sacrifice would they have to offer to the Lord? Not any. And Satan would do the same with us if he could. He'd have us appear before the Lord on Lord's Day morning. Empty. That is no praise, no worship in our hearts, just occupied with the things that have occupied.
Hearts during the week.
Sometimes we hear this remark, and I believe it's a solemn one too, it has been said. Well, I didn't get much out of the meeting this morning.
Well, what is our object in coming? Is that to get something or to give something? On Lord's Day morning, I believe we should come to give something.
To bring our baskets full of firstfruits from praise and worship and adoration to that precious loving Savior who now adorns the throne of His Father. Is He not worthy of all our praise and worship and adoration? Indeed He is. Well, Satan would rob us of that. He would occupy our thoughts and hearts on Lords Day morning with those things we've been thinking about during the week and looking at perhaps during the week.
And so we come into the Lord's presence with nothing.
With nothing. But that's not the way. You and I need to feed upon Him during the week and then come with our baskets full, our hearts full of praise and Thanksgiving and worship to that Blessed One.
And we need material for our worship, do we not? What is the material for our worship? Isn't it Christ himself?
The presentation of Christ and God the Father, and all the wondrous value of His person and glory. Then our hearts are occupied with Him and drawn out in praise and worship and adoration.
Well, he says, you can go and leave your flocks and herds behind. That would mean he had no sacrifice to offer.
And that's a very sad state to be in, isn't it?
But we find there is no victory or deliverance for them.
Until they were sheltered by the blood.
No, no victory or deliverance. They're not delivered yet in spite of the fact they longed to be. They were still in Egypt.
And we find that the very first thing that God did when He called the children of Israel out of Egypt was to ensure their safety from judgment by sheltering them beneath the blood of the slain Lamb. That was the very first thing, was it not?
And then they were in a perfect place of safety. Well then in the next chapter, the 13th chapter, the very first verse begins with sanctify unto me all the first born. Sanctify unto me all the first born. Whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast, it is mine. This is the Old Testament type, safety and sanctification. They go together.
The children of Israel were finally sheltered by the blood of the lamb.
And then the very next thing is to sanctify under me all the first born. The Lord says they're mine.
I suppose it means to set apart for God those whom he had sheltered by blood.
They had to be separated unto Himself and is not the case with you and me. You and I have through wondrous grace have been sheltered by the blood of the Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ. Now we need to be sanctified and set apart for God from base uses to the service of God.
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And what we find in the Old Testament, we certainly find in the new. We have safety and sanctification brought before us again in the New Testament.
Two very important truths, are they not? And is found in John 17, after the Lord there had declared the safety of His own. Do you remember what He said? Those whom thou hast given me, I have lost none. And then immediately following He says, Sanctify unto me. Sanctify them through thy truth. That's it, Sanctify them through thy truth. Thy word is truth.
So again, we have in the New Testament safety and sanctification.
And that seems to be a very, very important principle for today, not only to be sheltered by the blood, to be set apart for God.
Remember what the apostle could say. You're not your own, you're bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are gods.
And so how important His beloved force be, not only sheltered by the blood of the Lamb, but to be set apart for God.
And see by grace to serve him and follow him.
Now in the 14th chapter we have the children of Israel.
They have that wonderful joy of seeing their enemies dead upon the seashore. Now they're delivered from their enemies. They see their enemies dead. Complete victory over their enemies.
This morning we had before us, did we not, that great and mighty V1 at Calvary. There was a great victory won here. Their enemies were dead on the seashore. Complete victory. What about the complete victory we were occupied with this morning? The victory our blessed Lord gained at Calvary by going into Death Forest? Yes. Did he not gain a wonderful victory, and brought us into a new position altogether?
A position of eternal blessing and relationship.
Through his death at Calvary. Not only through his death, but through his resurrection and ascension to glory.
It's one thing to preach the death of Christ, but let us never separate these two wonderful truths, the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
How important it is to connect them, to keep them together, because you know, we read in First Corinthians 15, if Christ be not raised, you'll get in your sins. So how important it is to be constantly reminded of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, and not only his resurrection, but his ascension to glory. He's gone back into the Father's presence, down his. There's our great high priest to bear us up before the Father constantly.
Day and night. How precious the thought, beloved, to know that the one who was on the cross of Calvary Frost sins is now in the glory of our great High Priest.
And is there living for us, and he's soon coming for us. Well, now in the 15th chapter, we find the first song, I suppose, mentioned in Scripture. And I suppose the first and last songs in Scripture are connected with redemption. How precious it is. This song is connected with redemption. How could they sing before their enemies were completely?
Beaten before they were dead? No, they'd be afraid to sing in case the enemies came up again.
But now their enemies are dead. Now they can sing. And did not we this morning, through grace, sing together as one voice to that blessed One because of the victory he gained at Calvary, bringing us out of darkness into light from the power of Satan unto God?
Surely we should be like the Psalms, beloved, and call upon all that is within us to bless and praise His holy name.
When we realize what His love has wrought for us and what He's done for us on the cross at such a tremendous cost, we can never estimate the cost of the Lord Jesus. Go to Calvary and we cannot estimate the cost to God the Father.
To give him up for us all, and then for God to bruise him. Their solemn words, beloved, and Isaiah 53.
It pleased Jehovah to bruise him. What solemn words they are to bruise him. And if God had not bruised his beloved Son, you and I would have been bruised for all eternity. So how it should produce praise and worship and adoration on our hearts to realize that God in his mercy to us bruised his only Son, that you and I might never be bruised all how it reminds us of that solemn verse.
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13-7 Away goes sword against my shepherd, against the man that is my fellow Seth, the Lord of hosts Smite. The shepherd and the sheep shall be scattered. Isn't that a solemn statement?
A Waco sword against my shepherd. Who is God's shepherd? The Lord Jesus Christ, Who is his fellow, the Lord Jesus Christ. And yet that solemn statement is smite the shepherd. What was the response from the shepherd, the Good Shepherd? I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. Or how wondrous and precious it is. But how solemn? Intensely so.
The thing that God had to bruise his only his holy, well beloved Son.
In order that you and I might never be bruised for our sins and iniquities.
Well now may we turn to Leviticus Chapter 11.
Leviticus 11.
From this chapter on, we find there are 7 aspects of purity. The children of Israel are called upon to observe 7 aspects of purity.
And if they were called upon to observe these aspects of purity, surely you and I should too.
We'll just read a few verses. And the Lord spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which he shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth, whatsoever part of the hoop, and his cloven footed and chewed the cards among the beasts that shall he eat.
How careful God was to select the right food for His people? Is He less careful today, beloved, to select the right food for you and me as believers? What food do we need?
Do we need the periodical? Well, we can name lots of things that there is a danger of feeding upon which will never feed our souls, beloved, or how we need a feed upon the pure Word of God, the Bread of Light, the Lord Jesus Christ.
And we find here then these animals with a cloven footed, and chew the card that shall he eat? I suppose chewing the card expresses the thought of inwardly digesting that which one eats.
And the cloven footed would speak of the character of ones walk. The divided hoof sets forth the character of ones walk. And these were clean beasts that they were to eat. And God was very, very careful to order this food for them because they were, they'd been sheltered by the blood of the lamb. They were his people. They were sanctified, set apart for God. Now he's going to see to it that they have the right kind of food.
And has God seen to it that we have the right kind of food? Yes, He's provided His precious word that we can feed upon day by day.
And have our souls strengthened and sustained, and that which will preserve us from all the evil around.
Now they're in the seventh verse. It speaks of a swine here.
And in the 29th verses speaks of a mouse.
Now, these are very different animals, are they not? They have different characteristics and they're so different in every respect.
Well, the swine says he is unclean to you.
And they were told in the.
The 44th verse. Neither shall he define yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. For I am the Lord that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. Ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
Now, you and I would never think of letting a swine in our house, our home, would we? Never. Everything that the swine came into contact with, they would defile it. We know what filthy creatures they are. And we would never think of letting a swine in our homes.
But what about the little mouse?
The mouse is an unclean animal too.
But this little mouse could creep in our homes unobserved. You know, perhaps we'd never seen a little mouse come in, but it can do a lot of damage.
Caused a lot of trouble in the home. Well, we'd keep the swine out. Definitely would wouldn't, wouldn't think of letting a swine in. But we might be helpless perhaps, about the little mouse coming in. But there'd soon be the evidence present that the mouse was there and it might be very difficult to get it out.
Well, may we liken these two things to, we'll say, the swine, to big sins, some big sin, we would say, Oh, no, I wouldn't have that in my home. I wouldn't entertain that thought for a moment. Now, I want to keep that sort of thing out of my home. But what about the little mouse, the little thing that creeps in, perhaps unobserved. It can soon cause plenty of trouble and distress in the home.
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We've had mice in the home. We had rats in our bedroom too. In China, we caught three one night in a bedroom.
And not very nice things to have in your bedroom, but when you get a little mouse in, you know it could, could cause trouble. Well, should we not be on our guard to keep it out? We wouldn't let the swine in, but the mouse might come in and it can give us plenty of trouble too. So these things, all the creeping things, this is little thing that creeps upon the earth. And we know, beloved, how easy it is for things to creep into our homes, into our habits.
Into our lives. Perhaps we do not notice it at first, but we soon realize there's something wrong. And that's like the little mouse, you know, We may not see it come in, but we'll soon realize there's something wrong in the home. Or this cookie has been eaten, chewed what? Who's done this, and so on. We soon find it causes trouble. Well, maybe some little sin.
Has entered our home.
And it records plenty of trouble. And you know, it's far better if we endeavor, by God's grace, to keep the mouse out as well as the swine.
We know that.
It's very easily done to let these little things in, but they can cause lots of trouble and bring sorrow in our own lives too.
So we need to be on our guard, do we not, as to what we allow in our homes or in our lives, in our habits. And so we have in these following chapters things which will exercise us and exercise us deeply.
And now it speaks of the ninth verse, Thee shall eat of all that are in the waters, whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, and the season the rivers them shall eat.
I suppose the fin would be the enabling power to go forward and the scales would help resist the outward influences around. And beloved, how we do need the fins and the scales, do we not? We need spiritual energy to go forward in this scene which is against us, and we need to have our hearts closed against the evil outside influences that they may not come in.
Into our homes or in our hearts or how we need to be cast upon God in these days.
To be preserved from any little bit of evil which might come in our lives, our habits, our homes, and cause distress and trouble. And not only that, it would ruin our communion with our blessed Lord and rob us of the joys of Christ. We all know how easy it is to let things come in which will rob us of the joys of Christ and the enjoyment of Himself. It's so easy. And so how we need to be on our guard about this.
Well, in the 11Th chapter then they ought to have pure food.
Now in the 12Th chapter, you can read the chapters when you have time, you'll find that these things are there.
They ought to have pure bodies. That's an important thing too, isn't it, To have pure bodies?
In Romans 12, we're to present our bodies, a living sacrifice unto God, a living sacrifice our bodies. And so how important it is for us to have pure bodies.
Not defiled by the things around and then the.
The 15th chapter.
The 14th chapter rather from verse 32. They ought to have pure homes.
Oh, I say again, how we need a guard against the impure things entering our homes, which would have a withering effect upon our souls. So they were to have pure homes mentioned, the 14th chapter, the 15th chapter. They ought to have pure habits.
This is another important thing, isn't it? In some lands the people's habits are really filthy. I've seen some of the filthy habits even in the meetings in China, where you'd hardly believe it. But we don't dwell on that now. And so they ought to have pure habits in the 15th chapter.
In the 17th chapter they ought to have pure worship.
Is this an important thing for today? Indeed it is.
You remember the case in Leviticus 10 where Nate Davina Bayou offered strange, fire spurious worship to God? What happened to them? They were cut off in a moment.
Yes, God had to judge them for it, but a solemn thing offering spurious worship. A member passing a big so-called church building in England some years ago and had a huge notice outside.
Inviting the world to come in and worship with us. It says Come in and worship with us. That proved to me that they didn't know the first thing about worship, Inviting the world to worship God.
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Well, the Lord says that we can only worship the Father in spirit and in truth. And we're told in Deuteronomy not to offer our burned offerings in every place that we see, but in the place which the Lord has chosen there to offer our burnt offerings. And so here they were to have pure worship. How much spurious worship there is today around us, indeed there is, sad to say.
Does God accept it? I'm afraid not.
It will only come under his judgment.
Well, you and I this morning had the privilege, did we not, of being in the Lord's presence, in the spirit of worship, to worship God the Father and remember our blessed Lord in His death? And what a privilege he was, Beloved, do you know it could be the last?
The privilege we had this morning, beloved Saints of God, could be the last that you and I will ever have here on earth. And it's only while we're here on earth.
During the Lord's absence that we are privileged to do this be no need for it when we get home, but we had the joy and privilege this morning. How thankful we should be that we all take advantage of this privilege. The young believers here did you take advantage of the opportunity? Did you hear that voice this do Remember Me? Many of us did and thank God we had the grace and the privilege and the joy to respond.
But it's only for a little while, may soon be over.
Well, they ought to have pure worship here.
Now in the 18th chapter, they ought to have pure morals. How important that is to pure morals.
We find plenty of impure morals around us today.
But the children of Israel were instructed to have pure morals, and so are we. Why? Because we've been redeemed with the precious blood of Christ. We belong to Him.
And then in the 19th chapter, they ought to have pure customs, another important thing.
I suppose one of the customs we could look at in this chapter is in the 13th verse. If we might say so. Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbor, neither rob him. The wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.
This would speak of a pure custom I believe.
Now, what's the reason for all this? Well, we find it here in the 20th chapter.
The reason for all this carefulness?
Verse 24.
But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, the land that floweth with milk and honey. I am the Lord your God, which have separated you from other people.
Verse 26 And ye shall be holy unto me, for I the Lord am holy, and have severed you from other people.
That ye should be mine.
How this reminds us again of that wonderful precious statement. You are not your own. You're bought with a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God. May the Lord Beloved give us the grace to do this for the little while we left here. Maybe this perhaps will and could be the last day that you and I will be here on earth.
Well, should we not seek by God's grace and to seek to honor him by obedience and dependence and faithfulness?
Till he come, because He's coming very soon. And in a moment we'll hear the shout and be gone. We'll leave this poorer world behind forever. Oh, how grand the prospect. How thankful we should be that we have been redeemed and that we have been set apart for God. We belong to Him. The Lord Jesus bought us with his own blood. What more could he do, beloved, than that? Nothing.
Nothing less would meet our case and nothing more is necessary.
God gave his beloved Son. Christ gave his life to redeem us to God by His precious blood.
And now we brought into this wonderful position of relationship and blessing. Now we can address God as our Father. We hear so much of that today. Our Father which art in heaven. This is said like parrot fashion by thousands of people today. And you know, strictly speaking, they have no right to call God their Father at all until they are redeemed. How could I call any brother here my Father, unless I belong to his family, unless I was a member of his?
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One of his? No, I couldn't. Well, yet people are calling God their Father, and they know nothing about him. They haven't received Christ as his Savior. They're not brought into a true relationship with him. And yet they say our Father, which art in heaven. Well, thank God you and I. Through grace and grace alone, beloved, that's all it is. We can address God as our Father. Indeed we can.
And know the Lord as our Savior and rejoice in the fact that He's coming at any minute now.
The joy, how it thrills the soul to realize that we are actually on our way home. Yes, we are. Once we're on the road to hell, but now we're homeward bound, glory bound. And so only through the wondrous grace of God. Well, may the Lord preserve us from all these compromises we've seen and the these suggestions of Satan to draw us away from Christ, to occupy our thoughts and hearts with anything and everything but Him.
Keep them busy. That's His desire, beloved, and to divide our affection. And that can be done in a very short time, can it not? The moment we take our eyes off the Lord and fix our gaze upon things here, it'll soon divide our affection. Yes, our hearts will go after those things, and our feet will soon follow on. So may the Lord preserve us the little while it's left.
Oh, we do realize, do we not, that the time is short.
Yes, any minute we may hear the shout and many of us hear a longing for it, longing to hear that voice and to see Him face to face, the One who's redeemed us, saved our souls. And that's not all. He's brought us into the family of God, and we're going to spend an eternity with Him in that glory scene above. And it's his desire to have us there. It was not our desire by nature to be near to God and be with Christ. No, we.
As far away as we could, but now he's brought us nigh through his precious blood, where his children, the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus, and we are homeward bound. Well may the Lord keep us then while we are journeying on toward home. True and faithful to himself. And let his beloved seat by his grace to go. 3 days journey into the wilderness, complete separation from the things of earth.
Complete separation.
I'm sure that's the only way that you and I can be perfectly happy in the Lord's presence to be completely separated from this evil world and all its defiling influences. They're all around us. Let us not get them into our homes like that little mouse, or let us keep them out, beloved. Or how we need to set a guard against our a door of our heart that we may not let things in which would grieve the Lord and defile us as His Bloodborne children.
May He preserve us till he come.
The Old Paths
Ephesians 1:1-
Ephesians 1:3-
Romans 12