Address—G.H. Hayhoe
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Just have a few thoughts on my heart rather than connection with the in connection with the importance of the word of God. And I had three portions before me and that was connected with the how the Lord is the one who brings his word before us. Whether we're discouraged individually or whether it has to do with his people collectively or whether it has to do with the state of the world, the Lord Jesus is the answer for every situation.
And His word is Thou which directs US1 has enjoyed that passage. Thou hast magnified thy word above all Thy name. I wondered why that was. I thought of the wonders and glory of the name of the Lord Jesus. Then why is it thou us magnify thy word above all thy name? Well, it's His Word that reveals the Person to us. We hear much of people speaking about God and about Christ and about.
Jesus, but it's His word that reveals this person to us in the glory of who He is, in the wonders of what He has done for us. I just like to look at 3 passages. First of all in Luke chapter 24, Luke chapter 24 and verse 13. And behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about.
Score furlongs and they talked together of all these things which had happened.
And it came to pass, that while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them, And but their eyes were holding, that they should not know him. And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these, that she have one to another as she walk, and are sad?
And one of them, whose name was Cleopas answering, said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which have come to pass there in those days? And he said unto them, What they What things? And they said unto him concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty indeed, and word before God and all the people.
Then passing on a little farther, the 25th verse. Then he said unto them, all fools and slow of hearts.
To believe all that the prophets have spoken, ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. And they drew nigh unto the village whither they went. And He made as though He would have gone further, but they constrained him, saying, Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far.
And he went in to tarry with them. And it came to pass, as He sat at meet with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and break and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew Him, and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another. Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the Scriptures? And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem.
And found the 11 gathered together and them that were with them. Well here we have two brought before us. Often it has been thought that this was man and wife. I believe it's very likely it was so because it tells us that Cleophus was married and that his wife was standing by the by the cross when the Lord was crucified. And then too in the story we see how they.
Him into their home. So it suggests to us at least that perhaps this was a couple. And it tells us they were sad and they hadn't expected that the Lord would not restore the Kingdom at that time. They had hoped that He would bring about the promised blessing. But instead of that, as we're told in Daniel, Messiah, the Prince shall be cut off and shall have nothing.
It seemed as if his life ended in disappointment, and they had seen him rejected by the scribes and Pharisees, and now it seemed as if the one whom they loved had been taken away from them. And what did they have? And they were sad. Perhaps there's some individual, perhaps there's some couple here, and you have come to these meetings and you feel thoroughly discouraged too. You would hope that the Lord would work out something.
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In your life and he hasn't done so. And perhaps as you talk to others, you have the same feelings within you that these two had. As they left Jerusalem, the place where the Lord had put his name started out to their own home down in Emmaus. We can picture this scene. Perhaps it has happened often in our own lives. Perhaps it's happening in the life of someone who is here this afternoon.
But isn't it lovely to see that the Lord had his eye upon these two?
He entered fully into their sorrow. He knew their grief. And so it tells us, Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. Doesn't that touch your heart and mine, to think that the Lord of glory, the one who had accomplished that great work for their blessing and for ours, should know about this too, and should Himself condescend in grace to come down and walk with them?
And let me say, if there's any here who are discouraged, the Lord hasn't forsaken you because he has promised I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. He never will forsake one of his own. I wanted the last messages he gave to his own before he went away was lo, I am with you alway, or is another translation puts it all the days.
And so he wasn't going to forsake them. He walked with them.
He drew out their hearts. I have enjoyed of late that verse in the Psalms that says.
Pour out your hearts before Him. Isn't it precious? He once poured out his soul unto death, and now He invites us to pour out our hearts before Him. Perhaps there are things we cannot tell to anyone else. Perhaps no one else would understand or enter in, But the Lord invites us to pour out our hearts before Him, just to tell Him everything.
And so they told him. Perhaps it might have seemed rather strange that they didn't know better.
Hadn't he told them that he was going to die and rise again? But a lawyer told them they didn't seem to have laid hold of it. Perhaps we're kind of stupid in some of the things that discourage us to. But nevertheless the Lord went along with them and tells us here that He drew out their hearts, got them to tell what it was that caused them this grief, and then what was the answer?
That's what I had, particularly before me. What did he bring before them?
Why, it tells us He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. He brought his precious word before them is that word that reveals Christ to the soul. And so this precious book that we have God's word.
It brings before us the Lord Jesus. We know that this book is the written word, and our precious Savior is spoken of as the living Word. And so as the Lord went through the Old Testament scriptures and over and over again showed them that these types, these shadows, these stories were all things that were written to encourage their hearts because whatsoever things were written.
Written for our learning that we, through patience and comfort of the scriptures, might have hope. And so I say again, if there are any who are discouraged, where are you going to find comfort? Perhaps you say no one understands. Perhaps you've tried to tell someone else and they tried to enter into it but didn't really understand how you felt. But there's one who loves us perfectly, who understands us perfectly.
And his divine power has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness. And so as they walked along, He had to say to them, all fools and slow of heart, He had to rebuke them. And sometimes we need this too. But thank God He didn't stop there. He caused their hearts to burn within them. He touched their hearts to the extent that when they.
Near to this place where they live. It tells us that he constrained, They constrained him to come in and abide with them. It says He made as though he would have gone further. That is, he didn't force himself upon them, but waited not only for their invitation, but for them, as it were, to say, Lord, we really want to enjoy.
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Your company. And so it was when they constrained him. Then he went in.
And he revealed himself to them. He was made known to them in the breaking of bread.
I rather think that although this was not what we might speak the regular remembrance of the Lord in his death, and that as he lifted those piercing hands and broke the bread, they saw the Nail Prince. They remembered the night when he had instituted the feast, and their hearts were stirred and touched. And so it tells us, they rose up and they went back to Jerusalem.
What was it made them want to go back?
Did He tell them they shouldn't have left Jerusalem? Did He tell them that that they ought to go back? No, He didn't say any such thing. But He did touch their hearts. He did warm their hearts by His precious word. He made himself known to them, and saw that they themselves would say, Did not our heart burn within us while He talked to us, by the way?
Even though they hadn't recognized this wonderful stranger who was walking with them.
He did make himself known to their hearts in this wonderful way. And so I just say here that if there is anyone who has come to the meeting and you were sad and discouraged, isn't it precious to know that the Lord Jesus wants to do just this for you?
He wants to draw near to you, he wants to walk with you. He not only died to put away our sins. This is wonderful, but he died because he wanted to have your company and mine in the Father's house forever. As soon as as soon as sin entered, we find God becoming a seeking God. And when he had redeemed his people and brought them out into the wilderness, he said, make me a.
That I may dwell among them. And when he was rejected by the nation of Israel, and it was about to set aside that place Jerusalem, where He had put His name, He was soon to have to say, Your house is left unto you desolate. What did He do in the 18th of Matthew?
He just said, as it were, but there will be a place where I will meet with you.
He said, where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Oh, isn't it precious? And so I say again, it's his company, and it's His word that brings the truth before our souls, that sustains us. We all know many of these precious promises in God's Word, these things that so often encourage us in times of sorrow.
There are so many that we can.
In joy, and the Lord delights to bring them before us. And I suppose many of us have had experiences.
Where there has been some verse of scripture brought home to us in power, I think of the 16th Psalm where the Lord Jesus prophetically said the lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places. Yeah, I have a goodly heritage.
I heard of a lady and she had a Bible that she liked to mark up.
And she just enjoyed the precious promises of God's Word. And over and over again they spoke to her heart. And whenever some verse became particularly precious to her, she just put beside AT&P. Someone picked up her Bible and wondered why she had marked this beside so many verses. TMP they said, what does this mean?
She said tried and proven.
Tried and proven. And so it is the Lord Himself here He warmed the hearts of these dear ones. And what did they do? Well, they went back to Jerusalem, and they went back, and they had the joy of the Lord's presence collectively, because there he appeared in the midst of his own and said, Peace be unto you. And it tells us that He.
It says he stood in the midst of them.
And showed and said unto them, Peace be unto you. And then in that 39th verse, Behold my hands and feet, that it is I myself. He delighted to reveal himself to them as the one who had gone into death, and who was risen again.
How could we turn over also to the 20th chapter of Acts, The 23rd verse say that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
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But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the Kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.
Wherefore I take you to record this day that I am pure from the blood of all men.
For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you.
Not sparing the flock also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch and remember that by the space of three years I cease not to warn everyone night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among.
Them which are sanctified. Well, here I believe we could say the heart of the apostle was saddened as he saw what was going to come in. In the church's history, in the previous one we looked at, there were two individuals sad and discouraged between themselves because of things that trouble their hearts. But here it isn't so much the personal thing.
How about the Apostle Paul? I say. He realized what was going to come.
Into that which was so dear to the heart of Christ. He loved the church, and gave himself for it. It tells us in the 12Th of John, that he died, that he might gather together in one the children of God that are scattered abroad. In the 17th of John he prayed that his own all might be one come. It was the desire of his heart for the blessing of his people.
He longed that they should share in the full blessing.
Of what was the result of his toil and victory. But now Paul comes to this place, meets these ones from this very, very favoured assembly. For what assembly was so favored as Ephesus? Because the Epistle to the Ephesians brings before us the very highest line of truth in the Scripture. And here we find Paul comes and meets those who were the leaders in this assembly he speaks to.
About what was his desire, notice what he says, the two desires of his heart, that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus to testify the gospel of the grace of God. And that is, he sought to walk in the joy of the Lord in his soul, and then he sought to fulfill the service that had been committed to him.
And dear brethren, what higher desire could you and I have to go on through life in the company of the Lord Jesus, with his joy in our souls, so that as the end approaches, there might be even more joy because we're getting nearer to the moment when we're going to see Him face to face. And so he desired that he would finish his course with joy.
I must sadly say that all Christians do not finish their course with joy.
If you and I get away from the Lord, it may not be a happy ending to the pathway down here about the apostles desire was that he might finish his course with joy. And then the Lord has a little place for you and for me to fulfill in the Church of God. Are we seeking to fulfill that place? Are we seeking to go on with it?
Paul said that he had not shunned to declare unto them the whole council of God.
If we turn back to Ezekiel, we would see that the prophet there said that unless he delivered the message that was given to him faithfully, God would require the blood of the people at his hand because he hadn't given the message faithfully. The apostle Paul carries it a little further here and says not only the warnings of the gospel, but presenting and giving out the.
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Truth of God, he wouldn't have fulfilled his responsibility if he held back some part of the truth of God. It all must be given out and given out faithfully. And the apostle sought to do this, and at the end of his life he could say, I have kept the faith. May the Lord keep us not only knowing the truth, but walking in it, testifying of it.
Now he also says here a responsibility to those.
Take the place of leaders among the people of God. And I have been much struck with this. Feed the flock of God. Feed the flock of God. Oh how lovely. Christ is the food for our souls. I've often said that coming to the Bible reading ought to be like coming to a meal table that spread with delicious things. We all know what it is to sit down. There's a lovely meal prepared. We eat it.
We enjoy it and we get up feeling refreshed, feeling happy that we have enjoyed the provision that has been made and God has made a wonderful provision for His people. All His Word is full of all those good things that He delights to have our souls enjoy.
And those who seek to occupy the place of service to the Lord have the privilege, as it were, of seeking to bring forward these precious things, serving them, as it were, to the people of God, that they might be fed. Feed the flock of God. Isn't this nice for us? The apostle speaks in another place of those who ministered questions rather than godly edifying.
And a meeting can be spoiled by this kind of thing, but God delights to minister to our souls.
And Paul had sought to minister to the souls of the Saints and give out the whole truth, not without warnings, of course, but to feed their souls. Because I'll say this, brethren, now that the only thing that will really keep our motives right is our brother brought before us, is to have the love of Christ constraining us. It's only as we enjoy his love.
That we'll have a desire to walk in his ways.
And he had to warn what was going to come. He said, after mighty parting, shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock? And hasn't the enemy been busy and trying to bring in all kinds of things to rob the Saints of God of their portion? Or how much evil doctrine there has been that has come in, and many dear Saints, instead of enjoying the full ministry of truth that has?
Given to us in the Word, they have been carried away into things that occupy them with themselves. That, as the 4th of Ephesians tells us, caused them to be carried about with every wind of doctrine. Well, Paul foresaw this, and not only from without.
But then he also saw that spirit of things within, and this is very sad.
Those who seek to draw away disciples after them. And brethren, all true ministry turns the heart to Christ doesn't occupy us with the one who gives out the ministry, but with the Lord Jesus himself. All true ministry, I say, occupies the heart with Christ and draws the soul after Him.
As one brother said some years ago, he said in one sense the under shepherd seeks to minister the truth.
So they will become independent of the under shepherd and dependent upon the true shepherd, the great shepherd of the sheep. And Paul could say, death worketh in us, but life in you. Now that is as the sentence of death was on self.
Why? Christ was brought before the soul, and he was the one who occupied the soul. Well, this is a very sad thing when we try to get a following for ourselves, draw away disciples after them. It may not be something that's very wrong. But brethren, let's not seek to make followers for ourselves. Seek to attract the Saints to Christ.
Feed them, warn them, but always bring Christ before the soul.
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And so he speaks of this and then he speaks of how he felt. Here's another sad heart. The two that went down to Emmaus were individually sad, but here's the one that's sad as he thought of the condition that would come in in the Church of God. And he says he warned them night and day with tears.
But who does he commend them to? Does he commend them to?
Some leaders know, isn't this lovely? He said. And now, brethren, I come in you to God and to the word of his grace he brought God is the source of all for the heart of God, and the will of God is the source of all our blessing. He commanded them to God. He didn't commend them, I say to some leaders and he instead he commanded them to God and to the word of his grace.
Now this precious book, how that gives us all that we need for our pathway. As I get older, I can say now that I have found more and more the marvelous resource that we have in this precious book. It's suited to every situation that a young person can be in.
Suited to every situation that an older person can be in. It's suited to every assembly difficulty. It's suited to every problem in the world. It's the wisdom of God-given to us for our pathway here. And dear Saints of God and young people, read it. Make it your own.
One person said to Mr. Darby, how do you study the Scriptures? I'd like to get hold of the truth.
Like you do. And his reply was, I'd like the truth to get hold of me, Dear friends, that's what we need for the truth to get hold of us. So that it would solely hold of us, that it would mold our thoughts, that it would mold our lives. So here again we see a ruined church. We see that which came in all its freshness and began on the day of Pentecost.
Where they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, where there was such power, and great grace was upon them all. When difficulties arose, the Lord gave wisdom to settle them in such a wonderful way, so the Saints could go on together. But here we find the enemy at work. Need we be utterly discouraged now? And now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace.
Let us search the word, it has the answer to our problems.
If we, as our brother brought before us and the young people, try and follow our own wisdom, even if we consult with the captains of thousands and hundreds and every leader, we won't get the wisdom of God apart from His Word. This precious book is what gives us the wisdom that is needed.
And I believe in my inmost soul that there is no situation that can arise in the assembly of God's people, and that we will not find an answer in this precious book if we only come before the Lord. Humbly I command you to God. That's the person who can alone preserve the flock of God and His Word, which is the guide for us.
So here we have his word for, shall I say, a ruined church.
Let's turn over now to First Timothy, chapter 3. Second Timothy. It is. Second Timothy, chapter 3. Second Timothy, chapter 3, verse 12.
Yay, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution, but evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned, and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them.
And that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given unto me. It is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine or reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect.
Thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Here, perhaps we could say a ruined world, and Timothy saw the beginning of the breakdown of things in the world.
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And it tells us here evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse.
Don't expect the world to get better. Don't expect that it's going to improve its ripening for judgment. And God has told us that things are going to get worse. And the Lord Jesus also said, because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. It's easy for our hearts to grow cold when iniquity abounds.
But then I just wanted to mention here how he says.
Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of.
And then he speaks of how Timothy had known the Holy Scriptures. We are living, dear friends and dear young people in days of changing standards. We're living in times when we find young people say, well, people used to think that way, But, you know, people's opinion have changed. People have different ideas.
They once looked at things as wrong, but you know, we're living in a different age today.
And we're very prone to allow our thoughts to be molded by what's going on in this wicked world about us. And what does Paul say? Does he say Timothy? Well, you know, you have to sort of keep up with the times and go along with the descending sense of values and morals and what is right, No.
He says, Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned.
And has been assured of what did he give as we see the ruin of the world.
And surely, I say again, dear young people, you go to school know more about it than I do.
You who work in offices and in shops know how everything that God has established as to the order of things in this world is gradually crumbling and going to pieces. And I plead with you to follow the light and wisdom of God's Word. Don't allow your thoughts and standards to be changed by the changing opinions of man.
God's Word is thoroughly up to date.
It's more up to date than anything that man writes because it's written by the wisdom of the eternal God, who knew all about these days in which we live, who told us about them, who warned us of them, but who has given us a resource in them. And so here was Timothy. How privileged he was, it tells us, from a child.
Thou hast known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation.
And that this holy scriptures are profitable for.
Uh, doctrine for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
And so I speak especially to those who are young, but I also speak to those of us who are older because we're prone to be affected more than we think by the spirit of the age in which we live. As men give up, we tend to be affected, and as the Lord Jesus said, we tend to grow cold. Oh, what a resource We have this precious book. God's standards haven't changed His.
Gives us full instruction. And I plead with you as you come to decisions in your life, as young people go out together, as you establish homes, and as you seek to work among the people at the office that don't allow your thoughts and ideals to descend to the level of what's going on. People's consciences are being seared with hot irons.
And they're giving up all thought of what is right.
Before God, Oh, May God grant that we will heed this warning that was given to Timothy. Continue thou in the things which thou hast heard. And then that he was to value these precious scriptures that had been given by inspiration of God. Now this is not the opinions of man, but this is God's word. It's His wisdom for our pathway.
And it shows us not only the way of salvation, but it also shows us all that we need for our pathway.
And so here we have, shall I say, a ruined world. But still this precious book remains. And so, whether it was individuals who were cast down and discouraged, the Lord walked with them and brought his precious word before them, warmed their hearts, and drew them back to Jerusalem as Paul saw the ruin of the church.
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He commended them to God into the word of His grace.
And sought to encourage them to go on feeding the flock of God in spite of all that would come in. And then when we see the breakdown of the world, we still have something that doesn't change. Jesus said heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall not pass away.
May the Lord keep us in these last days. The Lord is going to come soon. He's going to give that shout, and what else will really matter but His approval? Not he that commandeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commandeth. What really ought to count for you and for me is having the Lord's approval. And in His word we'll learn his mind, and we'll learn how we can have his approval.
So this is what stays our hearts in a day like this. This is what gives courage to go on. And this is what will fill our hearts with joy in another day when we look into His blessed face and know that in some little measure we had His approval as we sought to walk in the company of the Lord Jesus and in the light and wisdom of His precious Word.