Conference: 1979
Table of Contents
Sir, We Would See Jesus
Address—A.C. Hayhoe
DISCLAIMER: The following has been auto-transcribed. We hope it will help you to find the section of this audio file you are looking for.
You have your Bible handy. I'd like you to turn, please, to a verse in John's Gospel.
Chapter 12.
John's Gospel chapter 12 and verse 20.
And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship.
At the feast the same came therefore to Philip, which was of best said of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus, Philip cometh, and telleth Andrew, And again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus, and Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of Man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, except the corn of wheat.
Fall into the ground and die it abideth alone, but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
A long time ago.
I saw one of our daughters busy at her homework desk.
And I walked over to see what she was doing and she quickly bent over her work and covered it and said, Daddy, no, not now. I'll show it to you in a little while. So I went back to my own room and presently she came in. She said I have something for you, Daddy. And she had been riding in the best form of old English script. She knew how these words, Sir.
We would see Jesus.
That's something for a father to receive from his own daughter.
I still have that text.
The lettering isn't perfect, but the verse is Sir.
We would see Jesus.
Oh, there's nothing else in the glory that will satisfy your heart or mine, then the company of the Lord Jesus. Do you agree with that? I know you do. I know that you don't think for one moment of all the beauty and the music and all the rest that perhaps folks talk about in heaven, but you think about the person of the Lord Jesus. I'm going to see him. He's going to welcome me.
And the joy of his presence is going to gladden your heart and mind forever and ever. Oh dear young brother, dear young sister, may this be a voice to me, as though you looked up here at me tonight and said to me Sir, we would see.
Jesus, that's a challenge to me. That's a responsibility that rests on my shoulders as I look around and see the lost on the road to hell I may preach to them.
But can they see Jesus? And dear fellow believer, I hope that you will take this to heart too. I hope that as you look around this company, to those whom you know, that you will remember that you have a responsibility that they might see the Lord Jesus through you. Why did they come to Philip? There were others around. I can't answer that.
But I expect there was just something about Philip that made them feel when they saw the crowd. I'll go and ask this one. Please Sir. We would see Jesus. And I wonder in the neighborhood where you live, in the school that you attend.
In the shop or whatever where you work, if anyone there we're concerned about his soul or her soul, miserable and dissatisfied with what they see around them.
To whom would they come with that question, Sir? What is it that you have?
What is it that you have that we don't possess? Would you would I be able to turn them to the Lord Jesus now? I can't put this desire in your heart. We speak first of those who are on say, those who are lost, seeking for the Lord Jesus.
But I wonder if among fellow believers there was a desire for more of the company of the Lord Jesus.
Would you or I be a help to them in this? My dear brother, my dear sister, These three days together here at these meetings may have a lasting effect, an eternal effect, on those whom you meet. Are they seeing Jesus in you and in me as we meet together here? What is the topic of your conversation when you're free from those brethren that perhaps might be?
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Listening.
Oh, I trust, dear brothers and sisters, that you and I may feel this as a very, very special challenge here at these meetings.
Souls have come here that they might learn more about the Lord Jesus, and I hope that you and I may each one feel the challenge of these words. Sir, We would see Jesus now when this message is brought to the Lord Jesus, he knew what it would cost him to have the companionship of these dear Greeks up there in the glory. He knew what it would cost him, Dear brother, dear sister, to have you with him up there in the glory. He loved you so much.
That he came into this world to die. He knew when he left that home what it would cost him not simply to rescue you from hell, but to have your company up there in the glory. And he's looking forward to it. Just imagine he is looking forward to having you there.
More than all of us combined are looking forward to being with him up there, and he went into death in order to have your company. You don't mind if I ask you, how much of your company do you grant to him? And I take it to myself from day-to-day. When the day has ended and you and I put our head down on a pillow to sleep, perhaps we can look back over the day and say how much of the company of the Lord Jesus did I have throughout the day?
How much of my company did he enjoy throughout the day? Oh, just a look up throughout the day and think of the joy of being with him.
We went into a little soda fountain. Do you still use that term to get 5 cold drinks with the children? And of course you never get 5. People all order the same thing. And I remember we ordered, we'll say it was 2 Cokes, 2 ginger ale and 1 grape or whatever. So the girl walked away. Presently she came back, said what was that order. So we repeated it. Thank you. And she went away, came back again. Excuse me, could you tell me that over again?
Difficult. She walked away and another clerk stepped up and she said you'll have to forgive her. She's getting married tomorrow and she can't think about anything else.
And I understood, I guess. Smiled. I think even if she got it mixed up, we would have accepted it. But I just thought that there's something there. She's getting married tomorrow and she can't think about anything else. Oh dear brother and sister, we are going to see the face of our Lord Jesus Christ, perhaps before tomorrow's sunrise.
That's something to think about, Sir. We would see Jesus. Suppose we turn to John One.
And look at just a little verse there, John one verse 29.
The next day John, see if Jesus coming unto him and said, Behold the Lamb of God, oh, isn't this wonderful if there are those around us, and I believe there are who are so dissatisfied, so frustrated, so discontented with what they are trying.
That they want something better, can't you? And I point them to the Lord Jesus, can't you? And I say, as John said long ago, behold the Lamb of God, oh, what a wonderful statement that is. May that be the testimony of your life and mine.
You don't have to be an evangelist to say that, do you? That's not a very long sermon, but I hope it's the visible and spoken testimony of your life and of mine. Behold the Lamb of God. Oh, has the Lord Jesus so captivated your heart and mine that by his very wonderful grace, this may be the day by day testimony of our life, wherever we may be? Turn with me over, please, to the Song of Solomon.
Chapter 5.
Verse 9.
What is thy beloved? More than another beloved, Although fairest among women, What is thy beloved more than another beloved Without us? So charge us. My beloved is white and Ruddy, the cheapest among 10,000. Verse 16. His mouth is most sweet. Now here are the words that I have been enjoying. Yeah, he is all together lovely.
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This is my beloved, and this is my friend though daughters of Jerusalem.
Beloved, gone, all our fairest among women, where there is thy beloved turned aside, that we may seek him with thee.
Isn't that searching? And isn't it beautiful? They ask her What is my beloved more than another beloved here again? I believe they had seen in her an occupation with her beloved that produced this question. Does anyone ask me? Does anyone ask you what it is that has brought you satisfaction, joy, happiness, high hope? I hope you say yes from time to time. I am inquired up in this matter.
I hope, dear young people, that there is a joy in your life and testimony that others take notice of. And I believe you know that there is a special challenge in that direction today. When there is so much frustration, so much turning to that which can only cause misery, the very contentment and joy of the believer should stand out that much the more. But notice that wonderful statement of the of hers in verse 16.
Yeah, he is altogether lovely. Even the comparison with the 10,000 is forgotten now.
She's just so solely occupied with him that she comes forth with that delightful expression. Yeah, he is all together, lovely, all that. My own soul knew more of it. But I believe it's only right that I should tell you this. Over 50 years ago, I bowed my knees and owed my guilt and accepted the Lord Jesus as my Savior. And I knew that day that my sins were gone. I knew that day that heaven was my destiny.
But I didn't realize what happiness he could bring. And I look back and it's only right, I should confess it, before you look back on those 50 years and more to tell you this. He's more than a savior. He can bring you happiness and joy, and it makes your heartache to look around and see those who are so dissatisfied. While ago, I was in Hamilton and I looked up in the Yellow Pages to see if there was anyone there with whom I had graduated.
I saw the name of one young lady. Her name was Stella Kroll, I remember.
So I thought, I'm going to go and visit her.
So I went around to her home in the evening and to my great surprise, she recognized me. Come on in, Al. So I went in and sat down. What brings you here? When you were at college, you were so shy. You never even said good morning to anybody. What brought you here? Now, that's what she said. I didn't know I was that bad, but I must have been, I said. Well, still, I was just visiting in Hamilton and I thought I'd look up in the Yellow Pages and I saw your name. How's it been going with you? Oh, wonderfully. Well, I've been very successful in my practice. I'm going to find home.
Wonderful husband, two fine sons. I've got everything I expected and more.
Except I've never found satisfaction, and I know you have.
I said yes, Stella, I have. And it hasn't come from a successful practice or a Good Wife and a happy family, although the Lord has granted these, but it comes from the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior. Stella, I wish you knew him as your savior too. Sorry to say there was no acceptance of the Lord Jesus. I wish I could say there had been, But what else can we present to those who apparently have everything?
And should be satisfied and plainly tell you that they're not. Yeah, He is all together lovely. And he is. And what's the result? Where there is thy beloved gone, that we may seek him with thee? I really believe it, dear young people, if your testimony and mine were as it ought to be.
There would be those who would look on and say, where is the one who has brought you this happiness? I want him to.
One more verse, no two more, but the next one is John chapter 20.
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Verse 24.
Bob Thomas, one of the 12 called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples, therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord.
Verse 26 And after eight days his disciples were within, and Thomas with them.
I think this is good for us to remember, don't you, Thomas? Called Dinamis.
What does Datamus mean?
Right, a twin. I wonder why we're suddenly told here in this first that Thomas was a twin.
I hope he doesn't have any twin brothers here that missed the meetings like Thomas did. I don't know. But I wondered, you know where it says Thomas called. Inamus was not there. Whether it just might be a little reminder to me, don't be a twin brother to Thomas. For some reason not recorded, Thomas missed this meeting, but just let me present to you what's on my heart. They met Thomas during the week. Thomas, where were you?
Now what did they say? We have seen the Lord and I expect there was reflected in their faces that which went to the heart of Thomas. Oh, I don't want to miss next Lords day. I want to be there. They have seen the Lord and I missed it. Oh dear brother, dear sister, Perhaps where you come from there might only be a few. You may look forward to an experience like this and enjoy it so much. But when you go back to your home assembly.
There might only be a few, but I tell you, with the presence of the Lord in the midst, what joy can flood your soul? Their words to Thomas were these we have seen the Lord are. If this is true, you will enjoy it, and he will enjoy it too. And you'll want others to share in that joy. Is there someone here who, when Lord's Day morning comes round.
Doesn't feel that claim, that stirring in your heart I want to be.
Where the Lord is, and perhaps even a step beyond that, I want to show him that I remember tomorrow morning. If the Lord leaves us here, we will be gathered out there in the presence of the Lord Jesus to remember him in death.
Whose arrangement was this? Whose desire was this the Lord's own desire? He made that provision. He extended that invitation.
I hope when that invitation came to your heart, you responded and you'll share it with us tomorrow. Just one more, and that's in Revelation 22. And then perhaps we'll just try to connect these verses. Revelation Chapter 22.
Verse four. And they shall see his face, and his name shall be in their forehead. Oh, what a wonderful conclusion. They shall see his face. Yes, indeed we shall. It may be before tomorrow's sunrise. Just imagine that we'll see his face.
What does that do to your heart? Isn't that something? I traveled alone for 14 years, said goodbye to my wife and children. I'd go off on long trips for weeks and weeks and weeks at a time, and finally I'd send letters. I hope to be home on the 14th or whatever. And I want to tell you a secret, and I don't think you'll be surprised to hear it. I very, very, very rarely rang that front doorbell or got to the door by the time my little Volkswagen or whatever pulled up.
I didn't get as far as the front door. They were out the door, summer or winter, to meet me with a big hug and a welcome. You think I was sorry to see that? No. Somebody had been looking out the window and somebody hollered. Here he is or here's Daddy. And they were out the door. And I want to tell you, it made me rejoice. I look forward to it all the way. Years ago, Norman Wood was out here to the conference and he was flying back.
I was driving a little black folks leg. I said, Norman, have you looked down and see a little black Volkswagen trying to keep up to you? You'll know who it is. When I headed for home from California, it didn't take me long to get there. My loved ones were back there in Spitfalls and beloved young people were going to see his face. Now look, it begins with.
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Sir, we would see Jesus.
Then the next verse, Behold the Lamb of God. And then the next one.
Yeah, he is altogether lovely. Do you agree with that? So far I know you do. And then the next one to perhaps warm the heart of a disappointed Christian. Strange, strange term, isn't it? Disappointed Christian. We have seen the Lord and then the last.
They shall see his face. I just like to put those five together, and perhaps you might wish to meditate upon them a little more besides that, to help you remember them. You may remember that Paul says in First Corinthians 14. I'd rather speak 5 words.
But with my understanding, I might teach others also. Then 10,000 words in an unknown song, and each of those little texts has five words in it.
Sir, we would see Jesus. Behold the Lamb of God.
Yeah, he is altogether lovely.
We have seen the Lord. They shall see his face. It doesn't take a big long sermon to reach the heart. There are 5 little sermons of five words each, and I think anyone of them is intended to really speak to our conscience in our heart about that person of our Lord Jesus Christ. Shall we just look to the Lord in prayer?
It's no part of the world.
I'm trading my sailor.
Day long, Every Saturday. Star allies are grounds. All in my sleigh.
Let me give her a long.
Let me listen.
Baby, never mind.
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What does it say?
I'm part of my heart. A blessing, love, holy regret.
My friend.
I wanna hold.
It won't let me read.
All the way.
Light and Darkness
Address—J. Brereton
DISCLAIMER: The following has been auto-transcribed. We hope it will help you to find the section of this audio file you are looking for.
I would like to turn, first of all tonight, brethren, to the second chapter of Genesis.
What I have before me tonight is to consider the subject of light and darkness.
And to consider the subject of light and darkness from the point of view of God's sovereign act.
And from the point of view of our responsibility, we find them both marked very carefully for us in this precious word.
But first of all, I would like to draw your attention to some verses in Genesis chapter 2 and Genesis chapter 3.
In all this Genesis chapter 2 and verse 8.
And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there he put the man whom he had formed.
And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food.
The Tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
Then the third chapter. Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made.
And he said unto the woman, Yeah, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden, but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die, for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat.
And gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat.
And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked, and they sold fig leaves together and made themselves aprons.
And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day.
And Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.
My brethren, the reason I read this scripture before we turn to the other passages I have before me.
Is to draw your attention to the fact that when God gives us the description of the garden in the second chapter, He specifically tells us in the end of the ninth verse the tree of life also in the midst of the garden.
And the tree of knowledge of good and Evil.
Now I have no doubt that the tree of life.
In its ultimate picture is a type of Christ, a picture of Christ.
That tree of life was the center of the garden.
And it specifically called the Tree of life the source of life.
But when we come to the third chapter, we find that when Eve is tempted by the serpent.
She displaces the tree of life in her mind, and to her the tree of life is no longer the tree in the midst of the garden. For her, the tree that's in the midst of the garden is the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
And so when you go to the third chapter, she specifically says in the third verse.
But of the fruit of the tree, which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it.
Neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
Our brethren, it's vital to.
To us in the considerations that we will have before us tonight if the Lord permit.
That we remember that God has only one standard.
And that standard is Christ.
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When the subject is the Sinner, it says all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
And the only one who met God's standard is Christ.
The one who in himself was the display of the glory of God.
And so we find when God gives us this picture of the garden, he sets before us the fact that the tree of life is the one that's in the midst of that garden, and then brings in the fact that there's a responsibility connected with it too. And that's the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Now when we have the assembly before us.
The principle remains the same.
Christ is the center.
And all matters that come before us must ever be considered in the light of the One who is in the midst Christ, the center.
Now we also have the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and so consequently.
There is our responsibility.
We have a responsibility to act in obedience to the Word of God.
But we find that when Eve is tempted.
As I mentioned before, she loses sight or ignores the fact that the Tree of Life is what is in the midst of the garden and looks solely at the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil and speaks of it as being in the midst of the garden.
And the result is in looking solely at, can I say the tree of responsibility and losing sight of the place of the tree of life.
She is left, then, to her own reasoning.
And she looked at the tree and decides on the basis of what appears good to her, that she should eat of the tree.
And the result was sin came into the world.
Our brethren, we have this principle.
To be considered in the light of our families.
For instance, there are fathers and mothers here tonight.
Some with young children.
If you view in the light of what we have here, the tree that's in the midst of your garden.
Your family, your home, if you view the tree that's in the midst of that garden as the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
What you're going to do is lay down a lot of rules and regulations.
Perhaps even add to the Word of God as Eve did.
But using your own mind to do the reasoning.
Your home isn't going to be a garden at all.
You're going to forfeit.
The place that God wants your family, your home to be. A garden.
But if?
You find in your home that Christ is the center.
That everything in your home centers around the Lord Jesus Christ.
If the children in your home are given to see that the tree of life.
Is the tree in the midst of your garden?
Then we find that everything then takes its proper course.
Because with the standards set by the recognition of the Lord Jesus as the center of your home, then we find room for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and act as responsible parents to bring our children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. But recognizing.
That Christ is there.
The same is true in the assembly.
We never judge rightly unless we recognize.
That the Lord Jesus is the center of his people and that whatever.
Is allowed in the assembly or not allowed in the assembly?
Is to be decided on the basis of to whom we're gathered.
The Holiness.
Of the Lord Jesus Christ, the one who is the center of his people.
Now I could mention I wouldn't.
But I could mention, and I speak to my own heart, I'm not pointing a finger at others when I say this. The homes of dear Christians, dear beloved Saints of God.
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Who have raised their children in the ultimate of strictness.
The children were prohibited, in effect, from everything.
There was a law for every circumstance.
But the Lord Jesus was not set before the children.
All they saw was rules and regulations.
And the time came.
When they rebelled.
They hadn't had the Tree of Life set before them either, in Word.
Or in practice, just the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Things added to the word.
And the result is the tree of life is displaced in the home.
In the assembly.
Before our children.
And the result is sadness.
And as we see ultimately.
There now, as we look at this subject of light and darkness, I trust that we'll have before our hearts this principle.
That when God separates between light and darkness, he is setting before us absolute moral values.
And the Lord Jesus Christ is the pattern.
The tree of life.
You turn back to the first chapter of Genesis now for a moment.
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth, and the earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
And God said, let there be light, and there was light.
And God saw the light that it was good, and God divided.
The light from the darkness.
And God called the light day, and the darkness he called night.
And the evening and the morning were the first day.
Now I'd like you to just keep that place for a moment and turn over to 2nd Corinthians chapter 4.
2nd Corinthians, chapter 4.
The fourth verse, In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not.
Lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord and ourselves your servants for Jesus sake.
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Our beloved brethren, we find that first of all in the subject of light and darkness.
And we'll find it all here in this first chapter of Genesis God sets before us.
His own acting in sovereign grace.
We next find He sets before us Christ as the one who is the display of His Holiness and grace. And then we find our responsibility right before us.
We find here, first of all, God tells us of a scene where darkness was the characteristic that the Spirit of God saw wherever he went.
Notice it says in that second verse, and darkness was upon the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. It was a scene characterized by darkness.
It's not my thought tonight to go into the.
What happened before this?
But something that God does not describe to us happened, that caused the first creation that came from the hand of God to be ruined.
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Now, in principle, exactly the same thing happened with man.
When man came from the hand of God, the Lord God could look upon the scene and say it was very good, But something came in, and God's creation of man became a thing of ruin.
Man fell and what the Spirit of God then saw.
Was a scene of darkness.
It was a scene in which man, Adam and Eve pictured to us so graphically there in the third chapter of Genesis.
Hid themselves.
From the presence of the Lord.
They knew full well that the result of their sin was.
Moral darkness. They were not suited.
To the presence of the one who is light.
Well, in creation, the Spirit of God faced such a situation. God acted and it says in the third verse. And God said, let there be light and there was light.
I understand. I am certainly no Hebrew scholar by any means, but I understand that literally translated this verse is God said like be and likewise.
Now, brethren, what did this scene of confusion do to receive the light? What act did the darkness take? None whatsoever. God acted and brought light into the midst of darkness.
Now we turn it over to 2nd Corinthians chapter 4, and what do we find?
Exactly the same thing set before us, the human heart, morally at a distance from God, a scene of darkness.
And God commanded, the one who had commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined into our hearts to give the light.
Of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
And I trust that is true of everyone here in this room tonight, that God by His grace hath brought the light into your heart, the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Oh, brethren, what did we do to merit salvation? Nothing whatsoever. Our hearts were as dark morally as this world was dark physically.
But God has brought light out of darkness.
But then you notice it says in Genesis chapter one and God saw the light that it was good.
And God divided the light from the darkness.
Now God created, God acted, God spoke.
And light was, but then it tells us specifically.
That God divided.
Light from darkness.
My brethren, put very simply in terms that we would use today, what is morally pictured to us here is a scene where there are no what we call Gray areas.
God doesn't speak of twilight and dust. He talks about light.
And darkness and God separates. He divided between what was light and what was darkness. No more a mixture. No thought of a mixture whatsoever.
A clear cut division between light and darkness. And this distinctly tells us and God called the light day.
And the darkness he called night. He not only divided them, but he gave them different names. No confusion, no mix up, no carryover from one to the other.
A clear cut division between light.
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And darkness.
Now I would like you to turn over with me please to 1St John chapter one.
One John. Chapter One.
And verse 5.
This then is the message which we have heard of him. And declare unto you that God is light.
And in him is no darkness at all.
If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness.
We lie and do not the truth.
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Now we noticed in Genesis chapter one that God divided the light from the darkness.
Here it distinctly tells us that light is the character of God.
God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.
But then it tells us if we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness.
We lie and do not the truth, but if we walk in the light as He is in the light.
Our brethren, I mentioned, and I'm sure these things are not new. I don't mean to suggest that they are new to any of you here.
We noticed in Genesis chapter one that it was God's sovereign act to bring light.
Where there was only darkness.
And then he divided between the light and the darkness.
Well, God has shone into your heart and mind by grace.
And he has divided between light and darkness.
And if you are a child of God tonight, if you belong to Christ.
You are in the light, That's where God has brought you.
Into the light.
It isn't a question of your walk, of your obedience, any more than your salvation was a question of your walk or your obedience.
It's a question of what God has done.
He separated between light and darkness, and here we have those who are in the light.
And those who are in the darkness.
If you belong to Christ, you are in the light. You walk in the light.
I understand.
Some older brother may be able to tell me differently afterwards, but I believe it was Mr. Potter. Many years ago somebody asked Mr. Potter what happens if a Christian turns his back on the light.
And his answer was it will just shine on his back.
Because he's in the light and he can't get out of it. That's where he's been introduced into the light. God is light, and what we have in this chapter particularly is the subject of communion to be enjoyed in the light.
And it is such a precious thing, beloved brethren, to see that God brings before us in the very verse where he says, if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and.
The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin. We are in the light, and what has made us suited to that light is the blood of Jesus Christ.
As one brother put it many years ago, everything that the light exposes, the blood cleanses, and the result is we are suited to the light. Now. This is God's sovereign acting in grace. You're a child of God, you've been brought into the light, and that's where you walk.
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Regardless of what you allow in your life.
You walk in the light positionally because God has brought you there.
Now if you would turn with me, please, to Ephesians.
Chapter 5.
Ephesians chapter 5.
And verse 8.
The first part of the verse.
For ye were sometimes darkness.
But now are ye light in the Lord?
Now this is true of every child of God.
We were at one time darkness.
Now you notice the language. It doesn't say that we were one time in the dark. We were sometimes darkness, that is, that we were identified with the moral condition of darkness.
But now.
Are ye light in the Lord?
Brethren, God has not only shone into our hearts to give the light of the glorious gospel of Christ in the gospel of God in the face of Jesus Christ. He has not only brought us by grace into the light.
But he has told us that we are light in the Lord. Isn't it a marvelous thing, beloved brethren, that the Word of God should describe those who were sometimes morally identified with the condition of darkness, but God separated between light and darkness?
And now he tells us that we are identified.
With the light, we are light in the Lord.
And now if you return, please to 1St Thessalonians chapter 5.
First Thessalonians, chapter 5.
And verse 5.
Ye are all the children of light and the children of the day.
We are not of the night, nor of darkness.
And we're not only spoken of as light in the Lord.
But God speaks of us as the children of light.
You are all the children of light and the children of the day. We go back to the first chapter of Genesis, and it tells us distinctly there that God called the light day.
And the darkness he called night. Now it tells us that not only has God worked sovereignly to bring light out of darkness, not only has he brought us into the light so that we walk in the light as He is in the light, not only has he morally conformed us as to what God has done to that light.
By saying that we are light in, the Lord identified us with the light.
But he has told us that we are the children of light and identified with the day.
Now, brethren, this is what God has done.
He divided between the light and the darkness.
And every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ here tonight is a child of the day.
How could we go back to Genesis chapter one for a moment?
Genesis chapter one and verse 14.
And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven, to divide the day from the night.
And let them be for signs and for seasons.
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And for days and years. And let them be for light in the firmament of the heaven, to give light upon the earth.
And it was so. And God made two great lights, the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also, and God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth.
And to rule over the day, and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the 4th day.
Now, if you would just keep your finger there again, please, and turn it over to John's Gospel Chapter 8.
John's Gospel, chapter 8 and verse 12.
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world.
He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
The 9th chapter.
And the fourth verse.
I must work the works of him that sent me while it is day. The night cometh when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
John's Gospel chapter 15 I think it is.
John's Gospel chapter 15 and verse 22.
If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin, but now they have no cloak for their sin.
He that hateth me, hateth my father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sinned. But now have they both seen and hated both me and my father.
Brendan we find back in Genesis chapter one.
That in the early part of the chapter that we read, God divided between the light and the darkness.
But now we find that God speaks of having appointed or made two great lights.
And he says distinctly in the 18th verse, to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light.
From the darkness.
Now these two great lights, I'm sure you realize, are the sun and the moon.
And he tells us he made the stars also.
And in that sun, that greater light, the one that is the source of.
Heat source of life in so many ways. Scientifically, as far as this world is concerned, we have such a lovely picture of the Lord Jesus Christ, the greater light.
And when he was here in this world, he was here as in a body that had been prepared for him.
And here in this world, as long as he was in the world, he was the light of the world. And what did he do?
All brethren, he ruled over the day.
Now there's going to come a day when his rule is going to be manifested in power.
When He is truly going to rule in all majesty and glory.
But while he was here in this world, while he was the light of the world.
Sin had no dominion.
Sin was rebuked by his presence.
He was the light.
And he divided between the light and the darkness.
And so it was, we find when we look at those verses in John chapter 15.
The Lord Jesus speaks of himself as the one who had come and having come.
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Man had no cloak for his sin.
We go back to Genesis chapter 3 and what do we find? We find Adam and Eve have sowed fig leaves together, made themselves aprons.
But the Lord God comes.
And they hide. They have no cloak for their sin, nothing that will enable them to.
Stand in the presence of light because they're morally dark.
Now, beloved brethren, the Lord Jesus divided between the day and the night. He divided between the light.
And the darkness and as it says so beautifully here in the 14th verse.
Let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and for years.
Here was a light.
A great light, Oh, what a marvelous light. And brethren, can I say it, set the pattern for the life of those who were to be identified with the light?
John, James, Peter, those who came to him, Mary Magdalene.
They found that their whole life, everything, signs, seasons, days, years, everything centered was fixed, was determined by that great light, that marvelous light that had come into the world.
He divided between light and darkness. God had done it in the.
Power in.
As an act sovereignly of God. Earlier we find, but here was one.
A great light.
And while he was here?
There was number confusion between light and darkness.
There was number question.
As to what was sin and what was not sin.
The standard was Christ.
He was there what was suited to his presence.
Was light. What was not suited to his presence was darkness.
And there were no areas in between light and darkness.
But the Lord Jesus is not here anymore.
They cast him out.
They rejected that light.
In the third chapter of John's Gospel, the Lord Jesus.
Gives us in a sense of moral anticipation of what man's result was going to be.
When he said men loved darkness rather than light.
Because their deeds are evil.
And so the result is that they put out the greater light.
But there's another light.
And this is the light.
Physically speaking, hear the light of the moon.
It's that light, beloved brethren, that reflects the light of the sun.
And it's the light that shines.
At a time of darkness.
But you notice the language that's used in the 14th verse it talks about.
Let there be lights in the firmament of heaven to divide the day from the night.
And let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years.
Let them be for likes in the firmament of heaven, to give light upon the earth.
And it was so.
God made two great lights, the 17th. First, God set them in the firmament of heaven to give light upon the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night.
And to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.
Now, brethren, what is brought before us here is the sun and the moon, the greater light and the lesser light.
But the testimony, the effect.
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The light.
The signs, the seasons, the days, the years of both.
Are to be the same.
Now, I don't mean by that.
That the moon gives the same amount of light.
God very jealously guards that which is connected with His Son, and He talks about the greater light and the lesser light, but they, the greater light and the lesser light were to be for signs.
And Four Seasons.
For days and for years.
In other words.
The effect of the sun.
That rule that it exercised?
That display before the world.
The character of the light.
Was to be the same.
And brethren, this is vital for us to lay hold of Indiana, our souls.
We find that the lights were to be for signs.
And for seasons.
For days and for years.
The Lord Jesus, when He was here, was the full display in himself of that light.
Now.
As far as his glory was concerned, it was veiled.
To a large extent, not his moral glory, but the display of that glory and power was veiled.
Except for those rare occasions when the Lord Jesus allowed it to be displayed.
But there was never any question.
As to the moral character of God, who is light displayed in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Now he was for signs. You and I are to be for the same kind of sign.
For seasons.
For days and for years.
All, brethren, he didn't belong to this world, and neither do you and I.
He was going back to his father.
And you and I anticipate leaving here at any moment.
He was set apart.
As belonging to heaven, though in grace he reached out to the Sinner.
And you and I are set apart. We belong to heaven.
You know, there's a most marvelous verse in First Corinthians 15 and I have enjoyed meditating on it so much in the last few months time and again.
It says, as is the heavenly.
So are they also that are heavenly?
Think of that for a moment.
As is the heavenly.
Is there any question in your mind that the Lord Jesus.
Is the man out of heaven?
That he is in every possible way suited to heaven.
Can I use such a term as saying heaven and the Lord Jesus Christ?
Are identified one with the other.
While the word of God says as is the heavenly, so are they also that are heavenly.
You belong to heaven, and I say it reverently. Beloved brethren, you and I belong to heaven now.
As much as the Lord Jesus does.
As is the heavenly.
Now it says in the 18th verse.
These lights were to rule over the day and over the night.
Well, it's the night time.
They put out the light.
And now, since that great light in that sense has been put out, the lesser light.
Has been here to display.
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It's a picture of the church.
It's a picture of a corporate testimony to what is suited to Christ to display that light.
And it says that they are to rule.
Over the day.
And now, over the night.
Now, brethren, how do we rule?
Well, if we were to turn to Romans chapter 6, we won't take the time, but you know the verse very well.
It gives us to see there that the result.
Of the work of Christ is that sin has no more dominion over us.
Brethren, I can never under any possible circumstances ever since.
And say I couldn't help it.
Since I became a child of God.
If I sin against the Lord, it's because I chose to.
And there is no other excuse ever for it.
Because now that you and I are children of God.
Sin no more has dominion.
Now in that 6th chapter of Romans when it talks about the Lord Jesus.
It says Death hath no more dominion over him.
That is that at Calvary the Lord Jesus voluntarily.
Submitted himself to the power of death.
And then rose triumphant over it. But he was never subject.
To the power of sin.
Sin never had dominion over him, but it did over you.
And it did over me.
But no more.
When we belong to Christ.
We not only are brought into the light, made children of the light and children of the day.
But we are delivered from the power.
The power of darkness.
We sin no longer has dominion.
And we are to rule over the night.
The knight is not to rule over us.
And it goes on to say.
And to divide the light from the darkness.
Now God divided the light from the darkness and brought you into the light, and brought me into the light, identified us with the light, made us children of light and children of the day.
And now you and I are called upon to divide.
Between the light and the darkness, all you say. I thought God did that. He did.
We go back to the fourth verse that says God divided the lights in the darkness.
But now it says.
That that greater light is to divide the light from the darkness. And he did.
And now it says the lesser light is to divide the light from the darkness.
Brethren, are we doing that?
Are we doing that, dividing the light from the darkness?
Remember, God has acted to bring us into the light.
That's what he's done in Sovereign Grace. But now we're called upon to divide.
The light from the darkness.
To turn with me again to Ephesians chapter 5 for a moment.
Ephesians chapter 5.
Verse 8.
For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth.
Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness.
But rather reprove them.
For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light.
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For whatsoever doth make manifesties light.
Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead.
And Christ shall give thee light.
Some of you older brethren here I know will remember.
My dearly beloved servant of Christ, who's been with the Lord for many years.
Who used to remind our hearts so often?
But every exhortation of Scripture is founded upon what you possess.
Never on doing something together.
We see that brought out so simply here.
Ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord.
Walk as children of light.
In other words, brethren, you and I are children of light.
And that's how we're to walk.
We couldn't conceive, I'm sure, of someone like Prince Charles, who's often used as an example. We can't, couldn't conceive of Prince Charles responding very well to the suggestion that if he walked circumspectly, he might one day become the Prince of Wales.
His answer would be I am the Prince of Wales.
But what about the suggestion that since you are the Prince of Wales, there's a conduct that's becoming to one who is the Prince of Wales?
Brethren, we are the children of Light.
Now God is giving us to see here in the strongest possible language.
The need to separate between light and darkness.
But now are ye lighting the Lord walk as children of light, for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth. No Gray areas.
No, brethren, no Gray areas.
Is of God, is according to righteousness.
And goodness and truth.
Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
Not what is acceptable unto the brethren.
Not what is acceptable unto us as parents when we view it in the light of our families.
But what is acceptable unto the Lord?
And have no fellowship.
With the unfruitful works of darkness.
But rather reprove them.
O brethren, remember, go back, if you will please, to what we were talking about at the beginning of this meeting.
What Saints? What sex?
The moral character of what is acceptable to God is Christ.
He is the one who is in the midst.
On the tree of the garden he is the one.
And when our eyes are upon Christ.
There is no place for human reasoning.
But when we simply look at our own responsibility and get our eyes off the standard of Christ.
Then we're just like Eve. We're cast adrift to whatever seems good to the eyes, whatever seems good to eat, whatever seems acceptable to ourselves.
And not.
What is according?
To the holiness of.
And so we find it says, For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the Light, for whatsoever doth make manifest his life.
Whatsoever doth make manifest.
Is light.
The light.
Is that into which we have been brought. Now we're to walk as children of light.
And as walking as children of light, we are a display of the light.
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And that should have the effect of reproving.
All the works of darkness.
You remember the beautiful story told about our dear brother in Lansing, MI.
Sure, many of the president have heard it, but to my own soul, it's exceedingly sweet.
The time he was in the lunch room at the plant where he worked.
And somebody told a story that wasn't very nice at all, and he didn't even smile.
And one of the men asked him what was wrong. Why didn't he join in the laughter with the others?
And his answer was.
I dwell in the presence of God.
My brethren, there is the light that reproves the darkness.
It goes on to say, Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from. And if you'll allow me to to mention it, it should read, Rise from among the dead, and Christ shall give you light, or Christ shall shine upon thee.
When a man is sleeping amongst a lot of dead people.
It's very difficult to tell who's dead and who's asleep.
But when the cry comes and says wake.
Can you see the difference?
The ones who hear the voice.
It proves that they weren't dead, they were just sleeping.
And they arise.
And the light shines upon you.
The Lord Jesus looks for you and I, beloved brethren, to divide the darkness.
So that every decision that S made by you as a parent.
By you as just one of the young people in your moral decisions that you make at school tomorrow.
The questions that are going to arise in your class this week or next week.
Those who go to work.
Those who are parents, the decisions were faced to make in our families.
The decisions that must be made in the assembly.
Brethren, they must always divide between light and darkness.
And what is decided must always be in accordance.
With the holiness of the one.
Who is in the midst?
Remember, the tree in the midst of the garden is the tree of life.
Not just the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Now God has acted. Our time has gone. God has acted.
In marvelous grace, brethren, if we were to turn over to Genesis chapter 21, a chapter that's well known to us to many here.
We would find a description of a coming scene of Glory, a city.
A city that has the glory of God.
And it has no need of the sun or the moon.
And has no need of lights to shine in darkness. It has no need of lights to separate between light and darkness.
Because everything that is there is morally suited to the presence of God.
Having the presence of God.
A scene of glory where everything that the eye of God rests upon.
Is suited to himself as light.
Brethren, may we be diligent.
May we be cast upon the Lord for our children.
May we be cast upon the Lord in our personal decisions.
And may we be cast upon the Lord in the assembly.
That everything that we do.
Everything that we allow, every decision that our children see us making.
That by the grace of God, it divides between light and darkness.
And that what is done, what is said, what is decided is suited.
To the light.
And to which we have been brought by grace.
Lessons from Jacob's Life
Address—C.E. Lunden
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Jesus, my Savior, thou art mine, the Father's gift of love divine. All thou hast done and all thou art are now the portion of my heart.
I love.
You.
And they are all friends of us, and they love my heart's light, Oh my God.
Oh, Savior.
To me.
Close Elderly.
I.
I'd like to turn to the 25th chapter of Genesis Reverse. We'd like to read several verses this afternoon. Perhaps we'll comment as we go. Verse 23 of chapter 25 of Genesis.
And the Lord said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb.
And two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels, and the one people shall be stronger than the other people.
And the elder shall serve the younger.
Now, this is only part of a story, I know, but it's a story that most here are acquainted with. The life of Jacob.
We notice here the sovereignty of God.
It's it's common, I suppose, with all of us in some measure.
To keep seeking something from cell.
As though our destiny even depended on ourselves.
Now this is true with a Sinner. As a rule, he thinks that his destiny depends on himself, and so naturally works comes before him. But you know, we don't lose the sense of this altogether when we're saved.
We still have a little inclination, I believe most to keep looking inward to see if there isn't something we can do in connection with our own blessings.
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But we discover in the life of Jacob that is all of God.
In fact, this verse shows us that it begins with God.
Now if you were to read in the last book of the Old Testament where Israel's history is over.
You would read Jacob have I loved and Esau have I hated.
But you don't read that here. No, this is the beginning of his history.
Has chosen Jacob.
Now look at the 3020 ninth verse. And Jacob sod pottage. And Esau came from the field, and he was faint. And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with this same red pottage, for I'm faint. Therefore was his name called Edom. And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die, and what prophet shall this birthright do to me?
And Jacob said, Swear to me this day, and he swear unto him, and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.
Then Jacob gave Esau bread and potties of lentils, and he did eat and drink, and rose up and went his way, and Esau despised his birthright. Now in the 12Th of Hebrews he's called a profane man.
A profane man, he saw us. He despised his birthright.
We find that Jacob takes advantage of his brother when he's in need.
And that's another side of the story.
Because Jacob was bent upon one thing, and that was to get that birthright. Now, the way he went around to get it was quite a different thing. We can't approve of that, but we do approve of his faith. And we learn in these histories of the Old Testament. And by the way, there's 23 chapters here about Jacob.
There's 13 about Abraham and there's over 30 about.
David.
History that God gives us to these men and the precious lessons we learned from them. But here we find that Esau despises his birthright. He had the opportunity, but he despised it. Now it's true that God said the elder shall serve the younger, but it's just as true that in the history of Esau he despised his birthright.
Now in the 27th chapter.
The 22nd verse.
And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father, and he felt him. And he said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.
And he discerned him not because his hands were hairy as his brother Esau hands. So he blessed him.
Now we have a man.
Jacob, who is deceiving his old father.
In connection with getting the blessing.
And.
It says it's Jacob's voice.
That is Esau's hands.
Jacob's voice, but Esau's hands. The man of faith.
It's his voice, all right, but it's not his hands.
Now what a lesson that is for us this afternoon.
Dear young people, as we go in and out among men.
We may have Jacob's voice, but we do we have Jacob's hands too.
You know the Christian has been created to good works.
And how are these works to be followed out? Grace on our knees each day, seeking grace and help. So there might be Jacob's hands as well as Jacob's voice.
Is it so with us?
Now turn the page over. We can't linger long on these points, but.
In the 30.
Fourth verse.
And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with the great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, oh, my father.
Now what's this all about?
It's about the blessing wherewith he had blessed Jacob. The father had blessed Jacob even though he had been deceived. And he says yeah, heenie shall be blessed. God ordered it so that Jacob would get the blessing.
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Regardless.
Esau despised it.
But now when Esau comes back to his father, hoping to be get a blessing.
It's too late.
It's too late.
He had despised his birthright, and the blessing and the birthright go together.
The blessing and the birthright go together.
And he cries out.
And we read in the book of Hebrews again.
About how he wept.
Not for repentance, though He wept for the blessing.
Not repentance.
Oh, how sad this is. He had gone too far off handedly, he said No, I don't want that birthright.
I don't want that. I'm hungry.
Sold out for a mess of pottage. He lost the blessing too.
But now turn to the 28th chapter.
The.
We find he is running from his brother.
Esau, because he has tricked him and his brother is going to kill him if he can. He won't be able to, but he wants to.
And so he is running from his brother, and it says in the 11 verse of the 28th chapter. And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set. And he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and laid down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and beheld a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven, and behold the Angel of God ascending and descending on it.
Behold, the Lord stood above it and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham.
Thy father and the God of Isaac, the land where now lies to thee, will I give it to thy seed?
And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad into the West, and to the east, to the north and to the South. And in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
And behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land, for I will not leave thee until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place, And I knew it not. And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place. This is none other but the House of God.
And this is the gate of heaven. Jacob rose up early in the morning.
And took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. And he called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of that city was called Luz at the 1St. And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way, that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and ram it to put on, so that I come again to my father's house in peace.
Then shall the Lord be my God.
And this stone which I have set for a pillar shall be God's house. And of all that thou shall give me, I will surely give the 10th unto thee.
We have two things here. We have God's ways of grace with Jacob and his promises.
We have the return of Jacob in answer to God.
That if you'll do this.
Then I'll do this.
Now that's that's the same as Israel who said all the Lord has spoken. We will do.
It shows that Jacob doesn't know his own heart.
And it's true, is it not, that only God knows our heart, only God himself?
We don't know our own hearts.
He thought if he did certain things that surely God would bless him on that basis.
No, God isn't blessing on that basis, beloved.
Now he's going to bless on his own basis, and that's his sovereignty.
Oh, what a lesson we have to learn. Whether young or old, it's on the basis of His grace that He's going to bless.
He's a bountiful giver and he's going to give according to what's in his heart, not measured according to what's in your heart.
Isn't that good? It's what's in his heart.
Now where is Jacob? He's sleeping with a stone for his pillow.
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It said the sun had set.
This was a time of discouragement in the life of Jacob.
He was running from his brother. He might well run from his brother. He deceived him.
Does God leave Jacob because of this? No, God just brings in something richer into Jacob's life.
Is Jacob going to have to reap? Oh yes, he's going to have to reap. And you'll see several chapters following this where he reaps. He reaps bitterly.
But not until first God has promised him the blessing.
Isn't that just like our God?
Remember the time when the Lord said to Peter?
Satan's desire to have you, that it may sift you as wheat, but I've prayed for thee that thy faith fail not. But what did he say before that? Why is that? You're going to sit on the disciples are going to sit on 12 Thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel.
Told them of their blessing for a long time to come. He did the same with David when he sat before the Lord.
Before he sinned and he told him about his house for a long time to come.
Oh yes, God encourages the hearts of His people even before we fail.
So here.
Now where does he find himself?
He finds himself at the gate of heaven. He doesn't know really what it means, but he was at the gate of heaven.
He finds himself in the presence of God.
And you know, dear young people, it's one thing to be to be under ministry and to sit and listen to these precious things, and it's quite another thing to realize that you're in the presence of God.
Whenever His word is opened, you are in the presence of God.
And to have him speaking to you.
And so he says why this is Bethel, this is none other but the House of God, and he sets up a pillar for it.
But now we go on, we go to the 32nd chapter. And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. And when Jacob saw them, he said this is God's host. And he called the name of that place May and am or two hosts.
2 hosts.
Now we find that in the next chapter or so, he's going to meet Esau, his brother who wanted to kill him.
I think it's marvelous as we trace the life of Jacob to see how God was on hand at every turn.
To guard him, as he had said, I will keep thee in all places, whether thou goest.
Dear young people, do you believe that this afternoon?
Do you believe that God will keep you in every place where you go?
He will.
Yes, he will. He said he will. Three times. This is recorded in the word of God, I believe.
Once in Joshua and once in Hebrews, I think I will keep thee.
And so we find 2 hosts. Now what are they? The heavenly hosts on the earthly host. Is that enough?
Is that enough to keep Jacob? Preserve him? But there's something else I believe here.
It gives us a little hint of the blessing that will come through.
The one who had been made the depositary of all of God's blessings.
There is not only going to be an earthly blessing, but there will be a heavenly blessing, and that's what you and I are enjoying.
Now as a heavenly people.
The 24th verse.
And Jacob was left alone. Oh how good these exercises for the man of God.
How good these exercises to be left alone in the presence of God.
Well, this is Jacob's case.
And there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
The breaking of the day.
This is going to be a change in the life of Jacob.
A tremendous change is going to take place in his life now.
He was a clever man, at least he thought he was, to arrange things so that he could have what he wanted. But it's going to be different now.
It's going to begin to be different, at least.
00:20:02
And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh, and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint.
As he wrestled with him and he said, let me go for the day breakthrough. And he said, I will not let thee go except thou bless me.
And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. He said, Thy name shall be called no more, Jacob, but Israel.
That is Prince with God, for as a Prince as thou power with God and with men, and has prevailed. And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou ask this? Ask after my name? And he blessed him there.
And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, for I have seen God.
Face to face in my life is preserved.
Now we find not Jacob wrestling with someone, but a man wrestling with Jacob.
A man wrestling with.
What for?
Well, Jacob's will had to be broken, that's all.
Had to be broken.
From now on, we see a helpless Jacob. His thigh is out of joint.
Helpless, Jacob. This we don't like, do we? The flesh doesn't like this at all.
But oh, it's going to be a way of blessing for Jacob.
And.
We find that he gets a new name, not Supplanter or Deceiver.
First name was.
But Israel, a Prince with God.
Now that's the result of this wrestling, he said. I've seen God face to face.
Have you been in the presence of God face to face? Have you come right?
Face to face with the reality of the Christian life, what it means, how the flesh has to go, it has to go.
And then the Lord takes that place.
We say Lord, but do we say it lightly, or do we really mean Lord when you say Lord?
If thou should confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord.
And believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead. Thou shalt be saved.
That's a wonderful confession, but is it a practical confession in our lives?
Now we have the break of day. We had the sunset in the other case.
But this is the break of day for Jacob. It's a new beginning.
And.
He calls it.
Penial the face of God. I have seen God face to face.
Now the 35th chapter.
And God said unto Jacob, Arise and go up to Bethel, and dwell there.
And make there an altar unto God that appeared unto thee, when thou fled us from the face of Esau thy brother.
Then Jacob took on to his household all. Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him. Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments. And let us arise and go up to Bethel, and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.
And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand.
And all their earrings which were in their ears, and Jacob hid them under the oak, which is by Shechem. And they journeyed, and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob. So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is Bethel, he and all the people that were with him.
And he built there an altar and called the place L Bethel.
Because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother.
Ninth Verse. And God appeared unto Jacob again when he came out of Python Aram, and blessed him. And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob. Thy name shall not be called anymore, Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name. And he called his name Israel.
00:25:01
And Jacob said unto him, And God said unto him, I am God almighty, Be fruitful and multiply. A nation, and a company of nations shall be of thee, and king shall come out of thy loins. And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac to thee, I will give it to thy seed. After thee will I give the land.
And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him, and Jacob set up an altar.
In the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone, and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon. And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Bethel. Now we have a new experience in the life of Jacob.
We skipped over several chapters that told of his reaping.
All the trials that he passed through, but we noticed that God had promised blessing before he ever passed through those trials.
And even in the trials, he got blessing.
Rich blessing.
Now that is the family that was given him Joseph and so on.
But now we find that he has come to.
The place where?
God tells him directly to rise and go to Bethel.
Now that's the place where God has spoken to him the first time. Bethel, the House of God.
Well, now Jacob knew that he was not fit to go to Bethel.
His house wasn't in order.
And.
Yet when God says go to Bethel, immediately he commands his house, something he never had done before.
His house was in disorder, he had idols in it.
God commanded him to go to Bethel.
And so he commands his household.
And they put away all the idols.
His house is cleansed. He couldn't go to Bethel unless his house was cleansed.
And his house is cleansed.
Now what effect does this have on Jacob? He discovers that God is coming in to do for him what he could not do for himself. Impossible.
Only God can undertake for us.
We can't do it ourselves.
And when he had the command, he knew that this was the only thing that he could do, command his household. And he did.
What effect does it have on him?
Well, we notice.
14th verse.
And Jacob set a pillar up, a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone. And he pours a drink, offering on it, and oil. Now what does this mean?
In the sacrifices, at times there was a drink offering poured upon the sacrifice.
There had to be the same amount of oil as of wine.
It speaks of extreme joy.
Extreme joy on the part of the worshipper.
And this is the place that Jacob has come to, a place of extreme joy. Why?
Because on all these things that Jacob had sought to do for himself, they didn't work.
But when God comes in, everything goes right.
Everything goes right.
And he's overwhelmed with.
And not only has it made an order, as you notice before this, but now he makes a pillar of stone, and he pours a drink, offering and oil upon it.
Now he had had a pillar before, you know, in Bethel.
And it had oil on it, but no wine.
No, he was still, He was still Jacob then, but he's Israel now and he has the wine, the joy, because he's discovered what God is doing instead of what Jacob is doing. How wonderful this is.
But we'll go on in the 37th chapter. You'll notice he goes back to Canaan.
He goes back to Canaan.
Bethel really is in Canaan, but actually he goes.
00:30:01
Makes his way down towards his father's house. You'll notice that in this 37th chapter.
Joseph is 17 years old.
17 years old. That's all we'll mention here.
And now we have a history in Canaan.
And we find during this history.
That Jacob is bereaved of Joseph, at least supposedly.
Of Joseph he thinks he is slain.
He is bereaved of Benjamin and Simeon because they are now to be put in prison.
You remember the story.
And we find that.
It looks as though everything is going bad for Jacob.
Is that dark, dark hour in his life?
When it.
He says everything is against me, everything is against me. Was it?
No, it wasn't brother, brother. It wasn't everything against him at all. Everything was for him.
Everything was for him.
Now in the 40.
47th chapter.
The 27th verse.
And Israel dwells in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen.
And they had possessions therein, and grew and multiplied exceedingly.
And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt 17 years.
So the whole age of Jacob was in 147.
Years.
Now let us.
These York verses we've read.
We find in the mean time.
That Joseph had become the governor of.
Egypt. He wasn't slain at all.
God has sent him ahead to preserve life for his people.
Israel.
And finally, when the news comes to Jacob that Joseph is alive.
And they'd sent the wagons to fetch him, he said it's enough.
It's enough.
You remember that little hymn, Lord? Tis enough, we ask no more. Thy grace around us, Porch.
So on.
What a difference from the first expression. All things are against me now, he says. It's enough. I've had enough.
And that's what Grace says, beloved. We can't take it in.
Now, many of our lives are much like Jacobs, aren't they? But remember the end of it.
There is a blessing at the end of it.
That he may do us good at our latter end is what he has in view.
And though there may be dark clouds in between.
And sorrows and awe. Remember, it's all for blessing.
Now we find that these 17 years in the land of Goshen probably were the happiest years in Jacob's life.
Here he is, a man with a hip out of joint. He's too old to do anything but just sit.
And meditate.
Turn to the book of Proverbs, just for a moment.
Proverbs 8.
Verse 12.
I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions. Now that verse may seem a little difficult.
But I'm going to translate that word prudence.
This way.
To know what you're about.
Do you know what you're about there, young people?
Jacob had to come to Goshen to know what he was about.
To discover what the life was all about.
All the experiences that Jacob had.
Now I wisdom, dwell with prudence, one who knows what he's about.
And find out knowledge.
00:35:01
Through reflection.
Find out knowledge through reflection.
17 years of it.
And what is the result of this reflection on his whole life that we've been following just briefly?
All blessing, not only blessing for Jacob, but blessing.
For his children.
But notice in a moment.
Here we have.
17 years of reflection.
The whole pathway, that whole life of 100 and.
30 years plus the 17.
What's it all about?
All that we would learn earlier. What's it all about? We might save ourselves many sorrows that he learns it here.
With his leg out of joint, an old man.
Not able to do anything but sit in the presence of God, he discovers what it's all about.
Oh, there are many who will never discover what it is all about. Thank God for any who discover.
What life's about?
To think of a God of grace that wants to bless us and he insists on blessing us.
In spite of ourselves, that's what happened to Jacob.
And now in the 48th chapter.
We find the blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh.
And the book of Hebrews refers to this.
It says he blessed both the sons of Joseph when he was dying.
Leaning upon his staff. What does that mean?
Well, you know, in the book of Ecclesiastes at the end.
We have an old man at the end of the book.
An old man, a picture of one who's leaning on his staff. Beloved. Woe be to the man who doesn't have a staff when he leaves this world, you know what I mean?
While Discover doesn't discover that he's absolutely helpless and he needs to lean on someone else.
Jacob learned to lean. He didn't start out that way.
He started out using his own cleverness, he thought.
Which only led him into trouble, made enemies, but now he is leaning on his staff and he blesses both the sons.
Of Joseph, How does he bless them? By crossing his arms.
What does that mean?
Well, you see.
He had learnt the truth of sovereignty.
Joseph said Father, no, that's not right.
You're blessing the youngest.
Oh no, Jacob had learned something.
He learned the sovereignty of God.
And he said, no, my son, that's the way it must be.
Yeah, that's the way it must be.
Jacob, if he'd gone according to nature, he would have blessed them that way. But you know what terse Deegan said.
Across the will of nature lies the path of God.
Cross the will of nature, those the path of God.
He had his will broken and now he learnt the path of God.
And he blesses those sons, but now briefly in the 49th chapter.
And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you.
That which shall befall you in the last days, gather yourselves together and hear ye sons of Jacob, and hearken unto Israel your father.
Now, we're not going to go into these prophecies.
Of Jacob.
But simply to state this.
That he had now the wisdom that come through reflection.
Comes through reflections we had in Proverbs.
He had been in the presence of God.
Able to accurately tell forth what was to happen to his sons in the latter days.
He had the mind of God.
00:40:01
I'm sure it was inspired, but still, it was the exercise.
Of his own soul now, before these 17 years, he never could have done this.
But he has come to the place now where he is able to tell exactly.
What would happen to his sons in the latter days? And this takes in, Beloved, the whole history.
Of God's people in this world.
Right down to the millennial day.
The prophecies of that man Jacob.
Whose name once was not Israel.
But one who was clever.
One who was able to make his own way, but it didn't work.
And so now we find Israel calling his sons together and telling them all this to take place.
In the end of their days.
Telling forth the prophecy.
That had to do with God's people up until the Millennial day. What a marvelous thing this is.
And yet we can always say, you know, that our ways are so much like Jacob in his early years.
May God grant us then to take notice of these lessons that he learned, that we might learn them early.
And not be put into such a position where we are forced.
Finally, to acknowledge them by the breaking of the hip. Yes, God, God does allow things in our lives to bring us to it if we do not answer to what He has to say to us. May help us then, dear young people, to listen to the truth as we hear it, and to act upon it and to make it our own. Make it good to our souls.
And to remember this life of Jacob, and the end of it. How does all blessing? He had Joseph back, king over all Egypt. He had Miss Benjamin, son of my right hand.
Yet Simeon to hear that all these things at the end.
And he says it's enough. It's enough.
Shall we sing that little hymn #9 in the back of the book?
Baptism
Address—A.C. Hayhoe
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The 19th of fact, and to be brief, I'll read the third verse.
Who has encountered some believers?
And in verse three of that chapter he says, Unto what then where he baptized?
I'd like you to take particular notice of it. Onto what were you baptized? He doesn't say when were you baptized? He doesn't say who baptized you. He doesn't say how much water was used. He says unto slush.
For you baptized my aquatic factors I look up and down these rules that there would be quite an assortment of answers if I were to say how old were you when you were baptized? Who baptized you, how much water was used? What a variety of answers I might receive. But if I asked one question unto what were you baptized, I believe I would get the same answer from everyone. I was baptized under the Lord Jesus Christ in the name of.
Of the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Now I do believe, and I would like to make this very clear, that I believe the symbol of death and burial is much more fully displayed in total immersion. But the Word of God does not present that which cannot be carried out at all times and in all places.
If water is a symbol of death, which it is, and water is used.
The amount of water is not brought to our attention here. I remember one time visiting in a home in Dipper Harbor, New Brunswick. We had had a series of cottage meetings in that home many years ago, and the dear old lady's name was Mrs. Belding. A good many of her neighbors came in evening after evening as we read the word together. But I remember one time she said to me, Sir.
You wouldn't really consider it baptism.
Someone was totally immersed, would you?
And I said, well, I have baptized many and I have always baptized by total immersion, but I'm not saying I'll never vary that. But I believe that God would certainly recognize it as baptism if water, the symbol of death, were used. Oh, I can't accept that. The eyes can't accept that.
Well, no, I said. Mrs. Belding, you're quite an old lady.
But I said, Mrs. Belding, let me suppose that you're an English. Let me suppose that the doctor says by number means will I permit Mrs. Belding to be baptized by total immersion? I forbid it. And you, Mrs. Belding, just accepted the Lord as your Savior last night, and you do want to be baptized, Bob. Total immersion is out of the question.
Suppose I came along with a picture of water and sprinkled it, or poured it, and put upon you the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, would that be baptism in? I never thought of it like that. I have an idea that if I were laboring among the Eskimos, I'd have a little problem with total immersion. Don't you think I would?
I believe it's the wisdom of God that has given us.
Water as a symbol of death and where it is possible to carry it out by total immersion. This, I believe is the way in which God's Word was presented to us. But almost certainly accept as baptism according to the word of God, the use of water as a symbol of death, that baptism under the Lord Jesus Christ in the name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. So the question here raised by Paul is.
Unto what will be baptized.
And I would just like to ask that question tonight. I don't even ask how old you were. I don't even ask if you can remember it.
But I do ask, unto what were you baptized? Could we now turn please to 1St Corinthians chapter 10?
And I believe you'll find something that is ever so precious. First Corinthians chapter 10 and verse one. Moreover, brethren, I would not that he could be ignorant how that all our fathers were under the cloud and all passed through the sea.
And we're all baptized unto Moses in a cloud and in the sea. Now let us remember, please, as we read this and look into it, that this is not simply the reasoning mind of the apostle Paul. It's not some application that I am about to make from the pages of the Old Testament. This is the Holy Spirit of God.
00:05:15
Refers to that event in Exeter.
As baptism.
We'll all baptize. The Holy Ghost uses that word under Moses in the cloud and in the sea. Have you turned back then, please, to the book of Exodus and get a little glimpse of that which is being referred to Exodus chapter 3 and verse 18?
Here the Lord is speaking to Moses. Exodus chapter 3 and verse 18.
And they shall hearken to thy voice, and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel.
And to the king of Egypt, and ye shall send to him. The Lord God of the Hebrews hath met with us. And now let us go. We defeat the three days journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.
Chapter 5, verse one.
And afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh thus, that the Lord God of Israel let my people go, but then they hold a feast under me in the wilderness.
I will turn over with me, please, to chapter 10, verse eight. And Moses and Aaron were brought again unto Pharaoh. And he said unto them, Go, serve the Lord your God. But who are they that shall go? And Moses said, We will go with our young, and with our old, with our sons, and with our daughters.
That our flocks and that our herds will we go, for we must hold a feast under the Lord. And he Pharaoh 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. Not so go now.
Ye that are men, and serve the Lord. For that you did desire, and they were driven out from Pharaoh's presence.
I want to raise a question here.
The Lord had told Moses, and he and the elders of Israel considered this together.
We we must go and hold a feast under the Lord.
In the wilderness.
Pharaoh comes along and says, Who are they that shall go now?
Who told Moses to answer as he did here? Had the Lord specifically told Moses look?
You are to take all your children with you out of the land of Egypt. Don't leave one of them behind. The Lord had said no such thing. The Lord had told Moses that He was to lead the people of Israel out, that they might sacrifice an offspring of the Lord in the wilderness.
But the faith of this dear man of God laid hold of.
That which others have laid hold of to this day must we leave our children back in Egypt.
And we shall we take our children with us through the waters of the Red Sea. He had no specific command from Jehovah to do this, but faith laid hold of the promise of Jehovah, not only for Moses and for his wife, but for all those dear children. And when Pharaoh said, no, you're not, you cannot take those children with you.
Moses said, We will indeed take our little one with us. You know, I believe this looks back to the time when dear Moses himself by faith was placed by his own beloved parents into the waters through which every male child was consigned. They were to be thrown into the waters of the river Nile, and those parents recognized that the sentence of death belonged upon their little son.
The same as it belonged upon every other. And so they put their boy in the water, but he was taken up again out of that water. And just let me pause here, for I believe the picture is so beautiful. When dear little Moses crying, he was, the Scripture says so crying, he was placed into the arms of his mother.
With the mother is here. Take heed to this, please. He was picked up out of that water as a crying little fellow put in the arms of his mother with these words.
00:10:03
Take this child away and nurse him for me.
I will give thee thy wages.
Oh, let me address this to the mothers who are present. That dear little boy, crying, lifted up out of those waters, was put into the arms of his mother with a double instruction, a negative and a positive instruction. Take this.
Child away.
Children don't like to be taken away. I sure didn't like it when I was a boy. My father and my mother, it seemed to me, were always taking me away from something. Something that I wanted, something that other people were attending or doing and I wanted to attend to, and I wanted to do it too. But I believe those words rang in the ears of my father and of my mother. Take this child away.
Don't expect your children to be very happy, perhaps.
When you are taken away from those things which naturally they might wish.
To share in but that's only half the instruction and nurse him for me.
May I say this I trust with all discretion.
A mother can only nurse her child from that which she herself has taken in and made her own.
And a mother is very careful.
What she eats when she's nursing a little one.
Let me pass this thought on to the dear mothers who are present.
If you have had that little one placed in those waters, if you have had that name put upon that little one, could you pick for that little one put back in your arms with that double that negative and positive instruction? Take this child away and nurse him. Nurse her for me, and I will give thee thy wages.
I stand here to thank God.
For a father and mother.
Who heard those instructions from the Lord?
And sorry to say, I didn't appreciate what was going on. I didn't like being kept away from.
Those things that I wanted to become involved in.
Our children are no exception. They didn't like it either.
I hope they won't be offended if I tell you.
That they have individually.
And personally thanked us for taking them away.
Things that they would have become involved in just the same as I. But we don't think the words of the Lord, but they were addressed.
To a mother whose little lamb has been placed in the water and brought up out again. And there is the very man who stands here face to face with Pharaoh, who says, no, you're not going to take those little ones. Moses, thank God for his faithfulness, says, indeed we will, beloved.
10 new pictures.
The fathers and the mothers crossing through the waters of the Red Sea, standing over there on the other side and looking back across those waters. Yonder is the land of Egypt. Yonder is the dominion of Pharaoh. They say. Too bad that our children must. They must remain there.
Until they are intelligent enough to know where they are and where they want to be.
Until they ask that they too might be found on the other side of those waters. Ah, beloved, I thank God as I stand here, that my father.
And my mother had that united desire which they felt they saw so plainly in this precious book, the Word of God, that the household was associated with the responsible ones in that household, that we might share together the privilege of an upbringing in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. They were all baptized under Moses, in the clouds and in the sea. Let me try, please, to use from this a little illustration.
Sometimes is a bit bewildering to focus Suppose.
Well, there was a mixed multitude that went out of Egypt with Moses. Suppose that among them, and I'm sure this was so, there were those who had no faith at all. They just followed the crowd. They just went because everybody else was going, and they carried their children too.
00:15:06
So halfway across the wilderness, 20 years later, if you wish, the father and mother are dead and the 20 year old son, he says. I don't remember that night when we left the land of Egypt. I heard about it, but I don't remember crossing the waters of the Red Sea. I guess my father and mother took me through simply because everybody else was doing it. They had no faith. They didn't do it because they knew what they were doing.
They simply kind of followed the crowd.
So I guess I'll have to go back to Egypt and cross the Red Sea again and start all over.
How does that sound to you? The Word of God says 1 baptism, 1 baptism. And I have spoken to many a child of God who, having put his or her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, looks back and says, you know, when I was a little fellow, my father or mother had that name put upon me in the church which they attended. I really don't think they knew what was being done, but I.
If the water was used as a symbol of death, if that most precious name was put upon the child, where do they stand? They stand where God wants them to stand, and I am very, very thankful.
When my dear mother was brought to know the Lord Jesus as her Savior in the city of Toronto, she looked back to that very condition. She had been baptized by a Bishop in the city of Toronto, with water specially brought all the way from the River Jordan, in order that somehow or other it might qualify for a little better. Did she have to be baptized over again?
No, she had that name put upon her.
And the repetition of such a thing would be a very, very strange picture indeed.
Could we turn please to?
Ephesians chapter 6.
We have seen, in the case of the mother of Moses, the responsibility that was directly led to her charge.
When her dear little boy was picked up out of the water and put in her arm. Do you remember those words?
I'm going to pause a moment to let you see if you can remember them. What was said to Moses mother when her little son was picked up out of the water and put in her arms. Do you remember? Take this child away and nurse him for me. A negative and a positive charge laid to that dear mother. Now in Ephesians chapter 6 and verse 4.
And he fathers.
Here is where we find the responsibility. Ye father, provoke not your children to rest, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Again, I believe a positive and a negative responsibility that rests upon the shoulders of father as well as mother. Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of.
The Lord whose name is this?
This is none other than the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. How can I carry this out?
Can I leave them over Yonder in that position where the name of the Lord Jesus does not belong? Can I leave them Yonder where the name of the Lord has never been put upon them, and consistently and according to Scriptures bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord? Will we not see here that those children are looked upon as having been brought inside that circle where the name of the Lord Jesus Christ?
Stands. I'm going to quote what I heard my father say when I was growing up.
He said. Son, I am thankful.
That those who reject.
Christian household, baptism are all inconsistent. Now. I thought that was a very unkind remark for him to make and I told him so. I said, Father, that's not a kind thing to say. Why do you say that now, son? He said, I'm very glad they are inconsistent. Well, I said, I still don't understand you. He said, son.
They all bring their children up as though they had been baptized.
Even though they leave them outside of that place, even though they have not yet had that name put upon them. Do you see what I mean? Oh, you have visited in many a home where perhaps the children have not been baptized. Or what do you hear the parents say? You hear them say? Now remember the Lord Jesus will be watching you. Remember, the Lord Jesus is listening to what you say.
00:20:19
I say this with a very thankful heart.
That I do not believe one of our three children ever left the front door of our home.
To go to school.
Without hearing these words.
Remember Gracie, the Lord Jesus will be watching you today.
Remember Charlotte, the Lord will hear every word you say to me.
Remember Danny?
The Lord's eye will be upon you all day today. What right did my wife or myself have to address our children in such a manner? What right did we have to exhort them to bring them up under the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and yet leave them away over Yonder in a place where that name does not belong? All beloved fathers and mothers.
I do not wish to press this upon me. It was the faith of Moses parents.
Nobody else put their little boy in that water and put him out again. It was the faith of Moses who said we will not leave our little ones behind. And he didn't have a word from God to tell him that he must do this. It was faith in the promises of beholder. He laid hold of those promises. He knew the heart of Jehovah, and so all those little ones came with them.
And beloved, I feel we see in the Word of God that which faith can we hold on and I don't want.
I don't want to tell any father or mother in this company tonight that you ought to have your children that time. But I do say this, that I see it so beautifully presented in pictures and in shadows in the Word of God, so that a praying father and a praying mother may well see the beauty of it for his or her own.
Let me take you again, please, if you will, to a faraway land. Let me take you off to India, where they're all Hindus. And I say again, they understand it far better than we do.
Very well. We're a Hindu household, my wife and myself. We have in our home both idle, peculiar to Hinduism. We bow down before those idols, my wife and myself and our children, and I accept the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior. What do I do?
Well, I'm alone in this. I guess I'll have to leave the idols where they are. I guess I'll just have to see all the rest of my family still carrying on with idolatry. I have to see those idols in my own home. Is that the way you would recommend that I, as a father, act in a Hindu home? Ah beloved, I have seen it in those far away land. I have seen.
A father in a heathen home, except the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior, and the earnest and yearning and immediate desire of his heart is.
What about my home? What about my household? It is going to remain a heathen family. A heathen household. Am I going to see those idols and see my wife and family bowing down before those idols? Oh, what a precious privilege to see to it.
That a Christian household begins right then and there.
Before I turn to another scripture, I want to give you an illustration and happen.
Right here in this area.
A very near couple whom I know very well, although I will disguise the name.
They were visiting in a home. What a wonderful and precious privilege.
Our Christian household baptism.
Was unknown.
And at the supper table, the little girl in that family misbehaved. Knowing her very well, I'm sure her misbehavior was not very serious, but at any rate, her mother turned to her. And I'm going to invent a name so I won't be training by instead. Josephine, don't do that. That's not pleasing to the Lord Jesus.
And the people in whose home they were visiting said, what did you say to your daughter? Well, I just said don't do that. That's not pleasing to the Lord Jesus. You have no right to address your daughter like that. She's not yet 12 years of age.
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What do you suppose they meant by that? They went on to say.
Until she has accepted the Lord Jesus as her Savior and been baptized, you have no right whatever to address her or to admonish her in the name of the Lord. Now those parents were right here and one night after meeting they asked me, can we come home with you? This was the problem they laid before me. What did these people mean by their comments? Well, I said, what was your answer?
Well, they said our answer was yes, indeed, we have had our little girl baptized and have had that name put upon her.
So that we feel quite free to address her, to admonish her, to instruct and to correct her in the name of the Lord Jesus. All he said. Then we got a most rightful scolding, reminding us that until that child had come of age and had accepted and confessed the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, you have no right whatever to address, correct or admonish her in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Shall I say that is being consistent?
With leaving our children outside that place, I'm thankful that all such parents are, shall I say, inconsistent. I am thankful that they bring their children up under that most precious name. Could we take time, please, to turn to Acts chapter 16 and verse 14?
And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us, whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto those things which were spoken of Paul. And when she was baptized and her household, he besaw us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord.
Come into my house. Now again we go down to verse 30. I think you know this, the story of the Philippian jailer.
And he the tailor, brought them out and said, Sir, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy hope.
And they spake unto him the word of the Lord unto all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes, and was baptized he and all his great way. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoice, believing in God with all his house. In both of these instances. Libya and the dealer.
The whole household was immediately.
That time and brought into that same position.
As the one who had believed, now I know that when you reverse 33.
You might say, well, it looks to me as though verse 34, I should say.
As though the whole household also believed. And I will say that from the way it is written before us tonight in English, that's the way it appears. But I think you know that in most languages there is a distinction made between singular and plural verb. There is a distinction made that is very promptly recognized, as you know, in Latin.
And in French.
And I remember recently when visiting in India, I asked our dear brother.
Johan to read this verse to me in Telugu and he read it in Telugu and when he came to this he was so astonished and I said why are you astonished? Why it says here he said that believing in God is.
Singular masculine. He said it was only the dealers who is spoken out here as having believed in God. This is the way it is in the original Greek in which it was written. This is the way you would find it in most languages to take that distinction. And it's true, beloved, that this beer tailor, when he accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior, he wanted his household.
Share in the wonder of that position, which was now a fresh delight and joy to his heart. He laid hold upon this most wonderful promise even as Lydia did in verse 15 of this same chapter. I don't need to pursue the matter any further. I just wish to leave it to the powerful exercise.
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And to the faith of any fear who might have a concern about this matter.
I remember a dear couple. The azet had no children.
They asked me about this matter.
And I gave them a few scriptures to pray about and to consider. And I said, I know that at the moment your considerations may not give you many answers, but I know this, that if the Lord gives you a family, you will find these exercises to be very real and very 13 in your heart. Now the Lord has given them a family and their exercises have been.
Very real and very pristine and much owned the Lord, but a family is going on happily in the sea of the Lord.
Oh, I just want to say this. Our time is gone, beloved, more than gone. But I do want to say this, if I might just try to go over again what we have shared together, and that is that God away back there in the Old Testament.
Have a people whom he very, very dearly loved.
And he wanted them to be identified by his name. Now when we come to the New Testament.
We find that the Lord Jesus Christ has redeemed to Himself a people, and we find that He do life and give the privilege to those who are responsible in their household of having their household share with them that precious place to have that name put upon them. I have the memory, beloved.
Day of my baptism, but I have a memory of being brought up in the nursery and admonition of the Lord.
Why? Because that name was put upon me before I can ever remember it. And I thank God that my beloved Father and my beloved mothers took it upon themselves in the fear of the Lord to remember that which they had done, to remind me as I grew older, that that name had indeed been put upon me.
And all eyes say this, for the days are so dark, the difficulties are becoming so very, very great. But if you, beloved fathers and mothers, would not take my word for any of the things that we have said this evening, but that if you will, just take this precious book, the living and precious and infallible Word of God.
And carefully seek help for yourselves in this wonderful book.
That which would give you the precious privilege of bringing up a family.
In the nature and admonition of the Lord I believe you find many answers there that would be like your heart. But I again wish to repeat this past our faith have A to myself before that, and I have no right whatever to tell any other family here what you ought to do. I will say this.
I will say that.
But I thank God that my own beloved father and mother, though I knew nothing of it at the time, prayed over this over the front of His honey, with a tiny little gift from God to them in their home.
And they felt something of that which was around in this ungodly world. They felt something of the precious patterns that were put before us in the Word of God. They knew very well that baptism did not impart life, but they knew also that baptism did bring into a position where the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Rightly and properly belongs.
And until you or I have been baptized, we do not belong in that place where the holy and precious name of the Lord Jesus Christ has truly been put upon us. Isn't it a privilege for parents to be able to encourage and to correct their children in the name of the Lord in the sphere of the Lord?
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Oh hi, thank God for the memory of my early childhood.
When these things were put before me because it was either pleasing or displeasing to the Lord Jesus Christ. And I believe my dear parents were entitled to do this, because not long after I was given to them, they had me placed beneath those waters.
In the means of the Lord Jesus Christ put upon me, I will say this to, but I have received to baptize.
Yes, I have these things about private It's not very easy to do. Why have I received? Because I have had parents say to me I would like to please to baptize my children.
And I go and visit in the home. And what do I find in the home? Anything but a Christian atmosphere, anything but an evident desire to bring those children up as those who are under the name and in the sphere of the Lord Jesus Christ.
And it's not easy to say no, but I have said no because I feel it would be a mockery.
They take a child and put him or her down beneath those waters, but the name of the Lord Jesus Christ upon that child and then stretch him down into a situation for everything that was ungodly would be poured into his eyes or ears someday today. Ah, dear fathers and mothers.
Make our home, your home and my home be a sanctuary for our children.
That would meet with the approval of the Lord Jesus Christ.
And if you have had your children baptized, remember this.
But you have had a wholly and a precious name, but of my most dreams. And let not our homes be a contradiction to it. Let there be with you and me, beloved fathers and mothers and grandparents, that continual and prayerful and yearning design.
Now they're saying may grow up to live, to please the one whose name was put upon them. Let us once again look back to the waters of the Red Sea. Let us see those dear fathers and mothers as they stand there with their hearts full of strong. And he looks back and they say Yonder on the other side is the land of Egypt. And its leader fell. And thank God my children are not there.
Thank God my children are right here with me on this side of the warriors, with the Spirit of God called.
OK, I know that there is a great deal more to the subject, but it's 20 minutes to 10. And if there are questions, your brothers and sisters, if you feel I have not answered faithfully or have not even touched upon, please be free to bring them to my attention. And again, I wish to conclude by saying this, I do not believe it would be right before God for me to tell.
Anyone here what you ought to do? Half style face? Have it to thyself.
Before them.
Believed in the light of the precious Word of God, any view of the increasing evil and darkness that is all around us. The precious privilege that Moses, father and mother, felt on his behalf, and that Moses felt on behalf of the children of Israel in his day. The faith that the Philippine jailer had. The faith that Cornelius had. The faith that Lydia had.
May it be granted to you is the prayer of my heart.
The female bring your children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, reminding them that that name has been put upon them. And I pray once more that the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for hanging right around here. As many of you as have been baptized under Christ have put on Christ. If that name were hanging around my neck, where would I go?
In what company would I be found?
And go without children.
Yes, through the prayerful and journey and fearful.
And I secretly spread him, but fearful exercises.
The result for our children?
It's because of this we had that name for the common, for our responsibilities goes along with it. And when our son or our daughter would come and say can I go here, Can I go there? Can I join this? Can I do that all that we might be the name of the Lord Jesus which had been put upon me and remind them that we have a responsibility.
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A solemn responsibility before God.
God grant that these things may stir afresh within the heart of each one of us a desire to be more true to the one who went beneath the waters of death. Alone for me, alone for you. And He put before us the privilege of going down into those waters and up again, that we might live in meanness of life. May I just add one more thought? I know that there have been times when I have taken little ones from the arms of.
Or a mother, and prepared to put them beneath those waters. And I see her hesitation of fear and uncertainty in the face of the father and of the mother. And I will understand it. There are poor little fellows. Their poor little girl is now in the arm of some stranger who is going to put that tire right under those waters. And you can just fence the distress on the face of the father and the mother.
And when I see.
I think of what it costs God.
The census fund, the wisest Calvary for me. And then that little crowd goes down under waters and comes up again and sometimes comes up with a cry. And I used to say to myself, oh, I wish they wouldn't cry like that. I wish they would come up with a smile. It would be so much easier for the parents and so much easier for me.
But I really don't feel like way anymore when that crowd comes up with a cry.
I think you know what comes to my heart.
I think of what assemble it is of death.
Let the cry be what it may, that pile is put in the arms of mother, to be nourished and brought up in the fear of the Lord. Oh, when I see the picture from my own soul.
I trust you will not be disturbed with me, my brethren, for presenting to you.
That which has been so meaningful and so precious to me for many years now.
May God grant that it shall be a blessing to everyone of us.
And again, if I have said things which are confusing to you, please don't hesitate tonight or any other time.
They'll ask for further comments on this important matter.
One Thing
Address—G.H. Hayhoe
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To young people, I was thinking about four different times in the Bible where we read 2 words one thing, and I'd like to first of all turn to the one in Marks Gospel chapter 10.
Mark's Gospel chapter 10, verse 17. And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good master, what shall I do, that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one that is God. Thou knowest the commandments. Do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not.
False witness defraud not honor thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I kept from my youth up. Then Jesus beholding him, loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest, go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven. And come, take up the cross and follow me.
And he was grieved at that saying, and he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved, for he had great possessions.
Well here you notice in this 21St verse it says one thing, thou lackest. Now this was a very, very fine young man, a man that I'm sure anyone would say was better than the ordinary, that you might meet day by day. And he came to the Lord Jesus and it tells us here that he was running. I believe this shows us that he was in real earnest, but I think it brings before us that not earnestness or our best plans or our best works can.
Fit for the presence of God. So he came running and he came to the Lord Jesus. And I believe when he said Master, it doesn't mean that he acknowledged him as Lord, but simply as teacher. And the Scripture says, if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord. So the Lord Jesus took him up on his own ground. He just looked upon him as a great teacher.
And he asked the question, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
He thought that it was going to be by some efforts of his own, and he didn't know his own helplessness. And you know, we must all learn this sooner or later, that we have no strength of our own. It says when we were yet without strength. In due time Christ died for the ungodly. There's nothing that the natural man can do to make himself fit for the presence of a holy God.
But when he asked this question, then the Lord Jesus took him up on his own ground.
He first of all said that why call us thou me good? There is none good but one that is God. If he didn't recognize who the Lord Jesus was, and then why should he have called him good? Because as the Lord said, there's none good. No, not one. Or as another verse says, there is none that doeth good. No, not one. That's the third chapter of Romans. So I don't believe that this young man truly recognized who the Lord was.
But nothing more than what Nicodemus saw in him as a great teacher. And so the Lord, as I say, just took him on his own ground.
He said, Why call us thou me good. And then he said, Thou knowest the commandments, and that is if he was going to try to do something. The law laid down God's standards. The law told man what he should do, because it said this do and thou shalt live. But had any man done it? Did man in his natural state have the power to do those things that the law required? Well, the Scripture answers that.
Question and not I it says.
Deeds of the law, there shall no flesh be justified in his sight.
For by the law is the knowledge of sin. So I say the Lord took him up on His own ground. And if there's anybody who feels that they can make themselves fit for the presence of God by their own works, the law gives man an opportunity. Is there anybody that has lived up to God's holy requirements and has kept His law? The Scripture says that the law was given that every mouth might be stopped.
And all the world become guilty before God.
And so the law simply made known to man God's requirements and closed his mouth just as if I had a heavy bag. And my little boy said, well, dad, I can carry that bag. And I say, no, it's too heavy for you. Oh, but he says I can give me a chance. So I say, well, here it is. Then you try it.
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And he tugs away and tugs away and he says, well, I can't carry it. Well, that's really what the law did. It was intended to show a man that he had come short. But this man came in the sense of his own self righteousness. And so I say the Lord took him on that ground just as he did Israel when the law was given in the first place.
That this man then answered all these have I observed from my youth up, That is, he could boast that he had fulfilled.
Certain of the requirements of the law, but there were two things in the law that he he wasn't able to fulfill the law said thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy strength. Is there any person in his natural state that is, that can possibly do that? Why, that condemns us. The Lord Jesus said the two great commandments of the law were first Godward.
Loving the Lord with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself, is there anyone?
Who could say he loves the Lord with all his heart? By the natural man, he's at enmity with God. You know very well you're going to school and you talk to people about the Lord Jesus, why they want to walk away from you. They don't love the Lord. There's enmity in their hearts. The Bible says the carnal mind is enmity against God. It is not subject to the law of God. Neither indeed can be. And is there any person who could honestly say that he loves his?
As himself always makes me think of the story that I heard of a man and he was visiting in a certain place and he saw the firewalls go by and they were going in the direction that was near his house. And he was a little uneasy and he followed to see where the fire engines were going. And he was so relieved that it wasn't his house. But if he loved his neighbor as himself, he would have felt just as badly.
That it was his neighbor's house. You see, the natural heart does not love his neighbor as himself. The natural heart is selfish. And that's why the Lord brought these two things before him. Sell what thou hast, and give to the poor.
And thou shalt a treasure in heaven, And that was loving his neighbor as himself.
And come, take up thy cross, and follow me. And that was to love the Lord with all his heart.
That he would be willing to forsake all and follow him. Now, there might be some person here and you say, well, does it really mean literally that you sell all that you have when you come to the Lord Jesus? Well, I sometimes put it this way, that when you accept the Lord Jesus as your Savior, there really is a change of ownership before you're saved. Everything that you possess you think of as your own. My car, my house, my possessions, my money.
But you know when you're saved, why you acknowledge Jesus as Lord and he's the one that ought to. And if we truly are acknowledging his claims, why we say everything that I have belongs to him where the stewards were to use what we have for him. And so when the Lord saves us, why everything that we possess actually belongs to the Lord and we should be looking up like Saul of.
The very day that he was saved, up to that time he had, so to speak, lived his own life. But he said, Lord, but wilt thou have me to do? And So what the Lord was really setting before him was what Christianity really is, And that is the Lord first, others next, and self last, as someone has put that as an acrostic for joy.
J Standing for Jesus, all for others, and Y for yourself. JOY, Jesus first.
Others next and yourself last. It's impossible to do this if you're not saved. But when the Lord Jesus comes into your heart and takes control, this is exactly what happens. And that's the secret of true joy. None of the world can't find joy because they're trying to find it without God, and they're trying to find it selfishly. They shut God out of their lives and they think if they get fame or money or.
Pleasure or something like this that it's going to satisfy.
Something for self. But I want to tell you and dear young people, that when you come to the Lord Jesus, the true secret of joy is to put him first. To say, as a little Him puts it, a love that transcends our highest powers, demands our soul, our life, our all. We sell out, as it were, and give the Lord Jesus his rightful place.
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Well, this young man like that, and mind you, he was a nice young man.
He was a man that could really boast of a good character, but he didn't have Christ. And there might be some nice young person here tonight, a person that perhaps is better than some other people that you compare yourself with. But I say this, if you like having Christ as your Savior, then you lack now that which is really vital and important. One thing now lackest. And so the one thing that is needful for the Sinner is to receive.
Christ, that's what happened on the road to Damascus with Saul of Tarsus. He received the Lord Jesus. He received him. He was his Savior. And from that moment, honor onward, the Lord Jesus was the one who had the first place in his life. He followed him. And you know, he was naturally a covetous man, but the grace of God enabled him to even overcome that part of his disposition so that he could say, I've coveted no man's gold.
Silver or apparel. What a wonderful change was wrought while if there's anyone here tonight and you lack that one thing.
Why, May God grant that you'll be brought to the feet of the Savior and receive Him. And I'll tell you this, that when you do, He'll give you the power. Immediately something will happen When you accept the Lord as your Savior, your heart goes out in love to Him. And next Hawaii, you begin to think of others. You remember Rahab the harlot. She confessed that the Lord was the true God. And what was the next thing? She began to think about shelter for other people in Jericho and her home was.
For all those who sought refuge from the judgment would find their place of shelter.
Under the scarlet line. So remember this one thing is needful. If you haven't got Christ, why? You haven't got salvation, You haven't got the thing that is most important. In fact, in God's sight you're still dead. You haven't begun to live, because it's only in having Christ that we pass from death.
Unto life.
And now the next one I'd like to look at is in Luke chapter 10.
Luke chapter 10 and verse 38. Now it came to pass.
As they went, that he entered into a certain village, and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
And she had a sister called Mary which also sat at Jesus feet and heard his word.
But Martha was cumbered about much serving and came to him and said.
Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she helped me.
And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things.
But one thing is needful, and Mary hath chosen that good part which shall not be taken away from her.
Now neither Martha nor Mary were in the same position as that rich young man. That rich young man lacked what we might say is really salvation itself. He didn't have Christ. He didn't have salvation. But Martha and Mary both, I believe we could say, had put their faith in the Lord. They welcomed him into their house. They really were true believers. But here we find that although they were both true believers.
Only one had realized the one needful thing.
It tells us here about Martha, that when the Lord Jesus came to the house.
Why she had so many things to occupy her that she didn't have any time.
To sit down at the feet of the Lord Jesus. And you know, it's very easy for us in life just to keep so busy that we don't have time for that one needful thing. Oh, we might say, but other things are necessary. We do have to eat. We do have to have shelter. Yes, we need all those things. But the one thing that is most important that the Lord Jesus spoke about was the thing that Mary really had.
Valued. You know, I've sometimes thought in reading the scripture here carefully because sometimes I think Mary is put in the wrong light here as though she wasn't doing anything. But I believe if you read the story carefully, you'll see that they were actually both busy when the Lord came to that house. But what Martha, what Martha complained about was that her sister.
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Left her and took her feet at her place at the feet of the Lord Jesus.
In other words.
When the Lord was not in the house where there were a lot of necessary things to be done, there were things that had to be attended to, and we all have them. We have to look after our material things here in this life. But when the Lord Jesus came into the door and to me, it's just as if Mary said to herself, now this is an opportunity I must not miss.
The Lord has come to visit us and the work's going to have to be left. I I'm not going to bother with it right now.
I'm going to sit down and hear what the Lord Jesus has to say.
And I'm sure that many of you at this very moment are saying that's just the way it is with me. I never would have time to read my Bible. I never would have time to get to the meetings if I didn't leave something. There's just so many things that I want to do that I find when meeting time comes or when time comes at home to spend little time reading the Word. I always have to leave something to find time. And I'm sure you'll find if you begin to think about it, that that really.
True, you must leave something because the devil always suggests 101 Things that you can do.
When the time comes to sit at Jesus feet just to have a little time to.
Listen to him. We know it in a home, you know.
When there's no time for a husband and wife just to sit down and talk and enjoy one another's company, and then the home becomes a drudgery instead of a a place of happy companionship. It doesn't mean that we don't have things to do and we sit down and talk, but we leave those things because we appreciate one another's companionship and fellowship. And so how much more?
When it's the Lord of glory.
So Mary here made a really good choice when Jesus came in.
She I believe said to herself, perhaps not out loud, I must stop and just sit down and hear what the Lord Jesus has to say to me to day. And that's what she did. And her sister found fault and the Lord Jesus was the one that spoke up. And may I just suggest this, that sometimes you do something for the Lord and somebody finds fault well.
It's often very well just to leave it and let the Lord.
Answer the question for you. That is. In other words, what I'm saying is to be satisfied with His approval. Sometimes when we try to justify ourselves, we get into problems. But you know, if we just leave it and let the Lord vindicate us. And notice here Mary didn't say a word. She could have got a little bit annoyed at her sister and said, well, I want to do this or it's not your affair or something.
Here or I might have done that. But she didn't say a word. She let the Lord answer for her, and the Lord answered so sweetly for her by saying Martha. Martha lowered, careful and troubled about many things. But one thing is needful, and Mary hath chosen that good part. You notice the Lord Jesus didn't say the better part. I've heard people say that's the better part, but it doesn't. That isn't what the Scripture says. Mary has chosen that good part.
Because there are times when we should be busy, there are necessary things the Lord intends us to do, and we're doing the better part when we do them, when they should be done. There are duties and responsibilities, and we're doing the better part. But when the time comes that we should be sitting down at the feet of the Lord Jesus or stirring ourselves up and going to the meeting, and the better part is to go the goal where we can learn more about him. Because I want to.
To you, dear young people, and the world is growing rapidly worse, and there's all kinds of things being poured into your ears day after day at school and everywhere in this modern society to try and do two things to shake your faith in God's Word and to make you lower your standards of what's pleasing to God. Yes, I know that's what you're hearing all the time.
To say all those are old fashioned ideas, you don't have to think that way. We're living in 1979.
And things have changed or starting to make you doubt God's word. But remember, the only way it can be fortified for the evil of this present day is to be acquainted with what the Lord Jesus says. There's a verse in the 17th Psalm that says by the word of thy lips have I kept me from the paths of the destroyer. Don't neglect the word of God. Read it. And I say again, be sure that you.
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Time, you know.
I know as you get older, I find now when I read things, I don't remember them as well. And so I just want to encourage you to read the Bible when you're young. If you think, well, when I get a little bit older and I have more time, but you're not going to have more time until perhaps if the Lord were to leave you here until you got retired, well, maybe you would have a little more time. But you define them that you couldn't remember so well.
Plus the fact that it's a wasted life.
How much better to spend your time for the Lord Jesus while you're young? So let's remember this little word spoken by the Lord Jesus. One thing is needful and that is to sit at Jesus feet and hear His words. And we get that through this precious book.
Now I'd like to turn to the next one in Psalm 27.
Psalm 27.
Verse four. One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I 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.
Well this, this is one thing of desire you notice in the others we spoke about the one thing of salvation, the necessity of sitting at Jesus feet. That's the one thing that's needful. But you know, life must have a purpose and with the psalmist here, he had a purpose. I've often said if the Lord were to come down right now.
And go about and speak to each one of us personally and say, what would you desire most of all that I should do for you?
I wonder what would be our response? I'm sure that many of us have things that we really would like the Lord to do for us. But here we find the supreme desire that was in the heart of the psalmist, and I hope it'll be of my heart and of your heart too. And that is, his supreme desire was that he might dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of his life, that he might behold the beauty of the Lord, and that when province arose, that he might.
Inquire from him, Wasn't that an excellent desire? Wasn't that a fine thing to have?
For the one desire that was paramount, that was greatest of all in his life. And dear young people, we all have things that we desire. We have requests when we talk to the Lord, but we can ask ourselves right now if this is the greatest desire of our hearts. And he said not only the desire, but he said.
That will I seek after, because if you desire something, there has to be also.
Energy to pursue it. If I said that I wanted to have some certain thing, well, you'd probably find me pursuing it. If I said I wanted to have a nice house, you'd probably find me pursuing the idea of getting a nice house. If I wanted to get new clothes, you'd expect me to be going down to the store or something so that I would get them. And you know, there's no you sitting here and saying, well, I really desire to follow the Lord unless it has some.
Some effect in our lives that there's a purpose then that will I seek after. My father used to quite often say, he said, sometimes we have a a good wishbone, but a poor backbone. And I think that's very true. We, we say, I wish this and I wish that, but there's no backbone to our Christian life. We really have no spiritual energy. And the the solemnist here said one thing of I desired of the Lord that will I seek after.
The thing not only that he desired, but there was the energy of faith connected with it. That's what he sought after. Now that was the ambition, shall I say, of his life, And he says that I may dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of my life. This is a rather remarkable expression, because in the 23rd Psalm it says.
That your really goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever.
And many of us, as we sang in the first hymn we sang tonight about the Father's house and the glorious home that awaits us, and we love to think of that. But this is something a little bit different here, isn't it? That I may dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of my life.
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And you know, this is a this is a good thing for us because I believe it simply means to walk in the in the company of the Lord Jesus. And I've often said that we ought to desire to enjoy his company in two different ways, individually and collectively, individually in our Christian life at all times because we can have the Lord.
Right beside us at school.
We can have the Lord beside us in our homes, we can have him beside us as we drive in our cars, says about Enoch that he walked with God for 300 years. We can have the company of the Lord at all times. But then there's another aspect, and that is the collective, the Lord Jesus said, where two or three are gathered together in my name.
There am I in the midst of them. So, you know, I think there are two very blessed desires that we can have.
To have the enjoyment of the Lord's company in our daily life. And that is a very wonderful thing, to just feel the Lord near to you as you go about your daily life and your job and your friendships and everything. And then next that we should desire to know what it is to be in that blessed place of privilege to be gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus.
To go. And I say to go because it takes spiritual energy.
To go in obedience to His Word and gather around Him.
Where he is in the midst. So isn't this very lovely here? The one thing that the psalmist desired was that it might be true of him all the days of his life. And I I say again, may it be our portion individually as we go about our daily life, and collectively that we value the privilege of being gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
And then it says.
To behold the beauty of the Lord. It's good that that comes in here because sometimes, you know, when you go to meeting, well, you might get occupied with other things. We can get occupied with people's clothes or anything like that, or we can even get occupied with people's failures. A lot. A lot of things can come in to distract us. But isn't it nice here?
His purpose and you know the House of God at that time was beautiful.
That that beautiful temple was was wonderful, but it says here 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.
And so the next point here in this verse is to enquire. I've often said that life is full of hard questions. Constantly we're meeting difficult questions in life. Young people going to school meet all kinds of problems. Today, as we get older than we, the problems don't decrease, they seem to increase more problems and problems about friends, problems about jobs, problems.
About where you live. Problems arise in the assembly, All kinds of life, just full of it. Just like that queen of Sheba, she found life so full of hard problems that she made a long journey all the way up to Jerusalem to get some of these problems settled. Well, isn't it nice here that it says to inquire in His temple? And dear young people, we have a person that we are invited to come and inquire from and his.
Is wonderful counselor the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace and so when these problems arise, some of them are answered in the word of God and some of them are only answered by getting before the Lord in prayer. I say some of them because some things God has spoken about definitely in his word but there are a lot of things in life that we don't have a direct verse of Scripture but as we're.
Lord, He does reveal his mind to us now. This was the one thing.
The psalmist desired that he might just walk in the company of the Lord all the days of his life, that he might be occupied with the beauty of the Lord, and that when the problems arose, that he would go to him and ask the Lord for the solution to these problems of which life is so full. And so we do have such a one. He invites us in the Psalms. He says, pour out your heart before him. There's no other friend on earth.
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That you can really pour out your heart to only the Lord. You've perhaps tried to do it sometime. You poured out to your heart to somebody and He let you down. He repeated what you said or and told it the wrong way or something. And you get very disappointed often with what people do. But there's one who invites you to pour out your heart to Him. And He knows us through and through, and He invites us to come with boldness into His holy presence.
Now there's just one more I want to look at, and that is in Philippians Chapter 3. Philippians Chapter 3.
And verse 13.
Now perhaps I should read the 12Th verse to get the context, not as though I had already attained either were already perfect, but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth under those things which are before.
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect. Be thus minded, and if in anything you be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
There's another verse that says the man also strive for the mastery is yet is he not crowned except he strive lawfully.
And so here we find the apostle Paul considers himself to be pressing on toward the mark. He's like a runner. He wants to run with the prize before him. And he says here, this one thing I do. We've spoken about these different places where the Scripture speaks of one thing, not only as the psalmist, the one thing of desire. But now this is action, isn't it? This one thing I do. He he compares.
To a runner who's running in a race, he doesn't say that he has already attained. We haven't come to the end of the race. None of us have. We're still here in this world. But we are running in this race, and we're told in Hebrews 12. Let us run with patience or endurance the race that is set before us.
Paul desired to apprehend that for which also he had been apprehended of Christ Jesus. I might say that the word apprehend simply means laid hold of, as though he should say like this. I want to lay hold of in my own soul the purpose that the Lord had in laying hold of me, because that's what He did when He saved us. He laid hold of us. We were on our way to a lost eternity, and he reached.
Laid hold of us. What did he do it for? To make us famous people or something in this world? Did he do it to make us very successful? No, Paul said. I know why he laid hold of us. He laid hold of us that we might be just like his beloved son, that we might just be like God's beloved son. In this chapter He desired that he would have him as his object and be like him, and then at the end of the journey he would.
Physically like him, because the Lord is going to change our bodies to be fashioned like unto his own glorious body. So he desired to get hold of this. And dear young people, if you and I got hold of this, sometimes the way people talk, you'd think the Lord saved us to make a successful business people or to make us something here in this world. But I say again, let's get hold of this. He laid hold of us for another purpose.
That we might really be Christ like here in this world.
And Christ like for all eternity, morally and physically, in that glorious scene above.
He goes on to say in this 13 verse, there's one thing I do forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before I press toward the mark. So he was pressing on through life, and he sought to have an object before his soul.
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Sometimes they use the comparison, you know, to help bring out this thought. Supposing that you were trying to break a path across a field of deep snow. Well, you know very well if you've ever tried to walk in deep snow that it's very hard, if you're just walking in deep snow, to make a straight path, you probably find that you really make quite a crooked path. But there is a way of making a straight path. And so let's think of a man and he's making this.
Crooked path. And then all of a sudden he realizes what he's doing. He didn't have any object. And so he sees on the other side of the field a tree. And he sets his eye on that tree. And instead of looking down where his feet are, he just keeps that tree before him and goes on through the snow. Well, you know what's going to happen, don't you? As long as he keeps his eye on that tree on the other side of the field.
He's going to break a nice straight path across the fields.
I remember when I used to walk to school, we used to cross some frozen pond and sometimes the snow is pretty deep. And whoever brought the path, if they didn't, if they didn't do that, why it it just was so wandering across the the field, across the ice. Well, I believe this is an illustration. Before we were saved, we were breaking a crooked path. We, we certainly were going our own way. Scripture says all we like sheep have gone astray.
Turned everyone to his own way and perhaps even when we were saved, if we didn't put the Lord as our object, we can also make crooked paths as Christians sometimes as real believers, we're like Peter, we're following a far off we're not making a straight path. It says in the cross of Hebrews lift up the hands that hang down in the feeble knees and make straight paths for your feet and so.
This person realized he wasn't. Then he got his eye on the tree and why he was going along for a little while looking at that tree, and then he began to think, I wonder how I'm getting along. I wonder if I'm doing a good job here. So he turns around and here he sees this crooked path behind him and.
He sees this straight path that he's been making.
And he begins to pat himself on the back. Oh, I'm doing a good job here. I'm doing a good job.
Meanwhile, he forgets about the tree because he's occupied now with himself and what a fine job he's doing. And then he realizes he gets his eye off the tree. Well, you know, when he gets, if he puts his eye back on the tree, when he gets to the other side of the field, he's going to see something quite striking. He's going to see that crooked part, the nice straight part, and the crooked part when he was looking back to see how he's getting along.
Now you know when we are conscious of sin in our lives.
We certainly should judge sin and failure. It's important that we do. The scripture tells us if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. But I I don't want to miss this point.
We're not to sort of flatter ourselves that we're doing a pretty good job.
I remember when I was a young man, somebody spoke on New Year's Eve about how important it was to look back over the past year and take stock and see how well we had got along through the year. And I remember how my father was very disturbed when he when I came home, he said, oh, son, that's not the thing to do. Keep your eye on Christ.
If you think you've done a good job, you'll be proud, and if you think you've made a failure, you'll be discouraged.
When there's failure, confess it, but don't, don't have your eye upon self, have your eye upon Christ. Now of course, there is a sense in which we should remember our past failures to be humble, but we don't have to be occupied with them. Paul said to the Ephesians, Wherefore remember that she being in time, past Gentiles in the flesh. And sometimes it's a good thing to remember that we have.
Done some things we shouldn't just to keep us humble, but we don't have to be occupied with it.
Thank God we can be occupied with the Lord Jesus and I think the greatest danger.
Is to be occupied with how well we're doing because I think that spiritual pride is one of the greatest sins. So the apostle Paul said, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before I press toward the mark and what was before him. Well, the proper translation of this verse is the prize of the calling on high of God in Christ. That is, he saw Christ in glory.
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And he was pressing on. In those old ancient races, they always had the prize at the end.
And the runner ran with the prize in view. When he reached the end, he won the prize. It was there in view. And he compares himself to that. The prize in Paul's life was to get to the end and be with and like the Lord Jesus. And now this 15th verse. Let us therefore as many as be perfect. Perhaps I should say here that.
Perfect here doesn't mean that a person who is saved.
Ever will be perfect in the sense that there's no failure, but perhaps I could describe it like this.
That the perfect Christian state is to have Christ as the object before your soul.
And that's really what he's talking about. Let us therefore as many as be perfect, be thus minded. And if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. I say this because sometimes I've heard Christians say, well, how can you know whether a thing is right or wrong? Because you talk to a lot of different Christians and they don't all have the same opinion.
Well, he says, if you set the Lord before you and you really want to please him.
And you make his word your guide, and Christ as your object. Then he said.
The Lord will show you. The Lord will show you. And that's a very wonderful thing because.
If you relied on ma'am, you would have all kinds of different opinions. I've heard Christians say, well, you can never be sure about that because so many Christians have different opinions. Or that's just about saying that the Lord really can't teach you. You really have to rely on man. And since they didn't have different opinions, you really can't know. Don't believe that, dear young people, the Lord can reveal it. And more than that, He wants to reveal it to us. He wants to reveal it.
If in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. And then He brings in a nice thought in the next verse. Nevertheless, where two we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule. Let us mind the same thing. What He's really saying is we're not all as far along in the race, but as we get along in the race, often things we didn't understand before.
Open up to us. I don't think there's any Christian here that tonight that's been saved.
For any length of time, but would say that when I was first saved I didn't see that, but since I have been saved for a little while. The Lord has made that known to me. And so just because to night you maybe don't see a lot of things in your Christian life. Remember where too we have already attained. Let us walk by the same rule. What is the rule?
What is the rule? Well, the rule is to have Christ in glory as the object before your soul, and whether you're right near the end of the race or just starting out in it, there's no difference in the rule.
Exactly the same whether you're saved for 5 minutes or five years or 50 years. There's no difference in the rule.
The rule is to have Christ as the object and His Word as the guide for you. And So what he is saying is that there may be things that perhaps you don't see. And you know, I can look back in my life, things that I didn't see when I was younger. And as time goes on, the Lord makes these things known to us.
But let us go on with Christ as the object before our souls, and then he opens these precious things to us, makes them real to our hearts if we press on in the race. So let's remember those four things. I don't say they're the only four, but I think there are four in a very beautiful order in our Christian life. First of all, if there's anybody here that is not saved, you lack the most important.
What you need is Christ and all. May God grant that you'll receive them as your Savior tonight. There's no better time than now to accept the Lord Jesus, to let Him come into your heart and then he won't lack the one important thing. Then to the next thing. One thing is needful. If any of us have been neglecting our Bibles and neglecting the meetings, let's remember one thing is needful. Mary found out that good.
Of sitting at Jesus feet and then the next one one thing of I desired as young people we have ambitions. It's sort of natural when we're young that we have ambitions and so one thing that I desired of the Lord that will I seek after and as we life opens up before you, may it be your desire dear young people to go on in life in the company of the Lord Jesus and then to the last one one thing I.
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Putting all this into action in our lives, are we pressing on toward the mark? We're soon going to be with Christ in glory, and we want to press on. And if there's things tonight that we don't see, let us not take our eyes off the object. Let us not boast and flatter ourselves and say, I think I'm doing pretty well and doing all right. But let us have our eye upon the object, the one whom God has set forth before us to be the object of our hearts, and press on.
And then soon we'll be with Him and like him. That's what the end of the chapter is, when we're not only down here having him as our object, but in His presence, with him and like him. Well, may the Lord keep us. Dear young people, we only have a little time. I often say the rest of our time, I don't know how long it is, but I believe it's a little time.
Yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tear him.
May the Lord give us a proper sense of values in our lives.
The Church, The Bride, The Body of Christ
Address—A.C. Hayhoe
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Would you turn with me tonight, please, to Psalm 119, the 119th Psalm?
And verse 105.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light onto my path.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and the light unto my path. I suppose most of us committed this little verse to memory when we were children, and thought very little about it.
But I believe there's a very, very important message in this little verse. I hope one that will not only glad in our hearts, but search our hearts too. Are you and I really glad to have the light of the Word of God?
To shine upon our footsteps and upon our path.
Are you and I really thankful that we have a book that contains the answers from God Himself that would direct us step by step until at last we reached that home where He waits to make us welcome? You know, it would be an absolutely worthless waste of time for us to come here together this evening to express our own thoughts on these important matters.
But it's such a wonderful and precious thing, beloved brethren, to be able to open up the Word of God and realize that we have in it all the light and all the wisdom that we shall ever need until we take our last footstep here and enter at last into the wonder of the Father's house. Our thought in calling this meeting together this evening is.
That we might consider what?
It really should mean to us to be gathered.
To the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I know as I look around that there are some here who are thankfully gathered and who have been perhaps for quite a long time. There are others who are not yet gathered but perhaps prayerfully considering this before the Lord.
And I hope that as we look at the scriptures, there may be in it that which will.
Guide each one of us that which will speak to our consciences.
And to our hearts. But first of all, I would like to speak of the all sufficiency of the Word of God to answer those questions which concern that which I believe to be the most precious privilege under heaven, granted to those who know what it means to be redeemed with the precious blood of Christ.
The all sufficiency, I say, of the word of God.
For here it is spoken of as a lamp unto my feet.
And a light unto my path. Aren't you thankful?
That God's Word has shown for you upon a pathway that you know is going to end in the glory. Aren't you thankful for a book that made known to you as it has made known to me? The guilt of my heart, the love of God, the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ, the certainty of sins forgiven, and the wonder of knowing that we shall be at home with Himself.
When our journey here is ended, the light of God's Word has shone upon that pathway and we know where it leads. We know where it's going to end. And we're so thankful, are we not? But it's a lamp to our feet as well as a light to our path.
We're not home yet. Step by step we're journeying homeward and we have that lamp to shine upon our feet to guide us step by step along the way. And all my dearly beloved brother and sister in Christ.
I bow my head and confess that this speaks to my conscience.
Do I really thank God for, do you really thank God for a book that shines step by step upon the journey here and that would guide you and would guide me if I were really willing to bow to and to walk in that light? You know, if you were to start out on a very dark night to walk, shall I say, from here.
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To Perth and who had with you a flashlight and you Shawn that flashlight down the road, it wouldn't shine very far would it? And you might feel very terrified and say well it's about 1012 miles to Perth and my flashlight only shine such a little distance, what shall I do? Well of course the answer is very evident, just you hang on to that flashlight and walk in the light step by step and it will.
Whole journey all the way. But if you let go of that light, if you try walking on without it, you'll soon find yourself in the dark. If you stand still in uncertainty and terror and say, what shall I do? You'll never walk.
To that destiny and so beloved when I see that the word of God is not only a light on the pathway that shows me where it leads, but it's a lamp to my feet that shows me step by step where he would have me walk until that day let's turn over for a moment to.
Second Peter. Second Peter chapter one and verse 3.
According as his divine power hath given unto us.
Whole thing that pertained unto life and godliness, according as His divine power, hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness. Again, I wonder if you and I are truly thankful for the message that we have just seen in this verse. We have.
From God in his word, everything that we need.
In order to be the possessor of divine life and know it, and in order to live to please the Lord Jesus, all is founded in the Word of God. And I believe you and I remember that in the very last chapter of the Word of God, we are solemnly warned as to what God has to say about taking from this book or adding.
To this book.
We should be that we can pick up this precious book. And although it's 1979, yet we know that the divine author of this volume knew all about you, all about me, and all about the footsteps we have already taken and all about that which would surround us in 1979. And I say again.
There's light and wisdom here in this book, all things I read, all things that pertain unto life.
And godliness, let me say again, if you wish to be the possessor of divine life and know it, you certainly must turn to this book to find it. If you wish to live to please the Lord Jesus, to serve Him, to worship him according to truth, where shall I turn? To this same precious book? All things that pertain unto.
Life and godliness, I admit there will be repetition of that which many have heard again and again.
But I'm going to ask you, please, to imagine that we take this book, the word of God, written in the native language of someone who lives in the darkness of Pagan Africa, or if you wish, the darkness of Hindu India. And you take this book to them and you present it to them, and you leave it with them to read. Now suppose we consider what happened, this man in Africa, this man in India.
Begins to read this precious book, and as he reads on and on, what does he discover? He discovers that he's a guilty Sinner under the eye of a holy and a righteous God. He discovers that the God who has looked down upon him and has recorded his guilt is a God of love and love deep enough to send his own beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
To take those sins upon himself, to bow his head.
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And endure the judgment for those sins to shed his precious blood, that he, that dark Sinner in Africa or India, might know the wonder of sins forgiven. You know that he could make that discovery through reading this precious book, and I believe you would say with me. And he could look up from that book and say, thank God.
I know God now as my Father who loves me. I know the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior. I know my sins are gone, I know that I'm born again, and I know that I'm going to be with the Lord Jesus Christ in glory forever. This I know from reading the Word of God. But we raise another question, having finished the reading of the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation.
What will this Pagan of Africa do? What will it Hindu of India do now?
Will he close that book? Will he look around him and say, oh, if only there were a?
I don't want to offend. I'll pick a name that won't offend anyone. Only there were a Mormon church here. I would join it because that's what the word of God tells me I ought to do. Oh, you say no, Indeed, He would say no such thing. All right. Just you substitute any name you wish instead of that word Mormon, the names that are exalted.
Right here in Smith Falls, all over Canada, all over Christendom. I ask you plainly through reading this book and this book alone, would that Pagan of Africa, that Hindu of India look up and say, oh, if only were subtitles were here, I would join it. But that's what God's Word tells me I should do. Remember, in God's Word we have all things that pertain unto life.
And godliness.
Don't you feel that that dear man would look upon this precious book and say.
Oh, only where there were some fellow believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we could meet together for prayer. We could meet together for the reading of His precious word. Why, we could even meet together to remember our Lord Jesus Christ in death. For this He has requested of us.
In his precious word. And so they begin to do this. They begin to meet together in this precious, simple and thoroughly scriptural way. And you stumble across this little group and you say to them, what denomination is this?
I think they would say, I beg your pardon, so you ask them again. I mean, what's the name of your church, your denomination, and who's your leader? I think they would say, what book have you been reading? We have been reading the word of God and we find ourselves rejoicing in the fact that we have been sheltered by the precious blood of Christ.
And we're just meeting here in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. For his name we delight to honor. His name we see in God's Word. Is that what God delights to honor? And all we can say is.
We're believers. We're gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
And so, beloved, as we open this precious book, and as I seek to express before you, I hope with a glad heart what it means to me to be gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. I hope it may mean more to every one of us when our time together is ended. I know that I'm looking into the faces of those who have known this joy before. I have long before.
I believe I also am looking into the faces of those who have not long known.
No wonder what it means to be gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus. And I hope I'm looking into the faces of others who truly love the Lord Jesus.
You know he died for you. You know you're going to meet him in that day where you're going to sing his praises forever.
And perhaps you've been thinking about it, praying about it.
But I have not yet responded to the loving desire, His heart, and my prayer is that He may guide you, that He may direct you with that lamp to your feet, and that the love of His heart may so constrain your heart.
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That that desire will be outstanding in your life.
I would like to just say this, but in Speaking of this precious subject.
I first of all, would like to raise the question as to why it means so much to many hearts here, why we spend time coming together in this way to talk about it when we know very well we've talked about it before. It's not just simply something that we hear about, discover, and then never need to make any further reference to it.
Why is it?
That we come together from time to time to refresh our hearts on the joy of what it means to be gathered to the name and around the person of a Savior who loved us with a love stronger than death.
And perhaps also we might consider how we can express.
How we can manifest here on earth that which God's Word so plainly presents to us concerning the truth of the Church, the body of Christ.
And then?
And I prayed much about this and then that we might consider.
The effects that they ought to have upon our consciences.
And upon our heart.
And upon our hopes.
Because it's more than simply a step taken and then a company identified with and a stand confessed. I repeat, it ought to have its effect upon our consciences and our hearts and our hopes.
And as time permits, we'd like to cover this matter under those different headings. First of all, then, could we just raise the question as to why this matter should be?
Of prime importance to everyone who belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ. Will you turn with me back, please to Matthew's Gospel? Matthew chapter 16?
And verse 13.
When Jesus came into the coast of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say? Whom do men say that I, the Son of Man, AM? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist.
Some Elias and others Jeremiah saw one of the prophets.
He set unto them, By whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said unto him, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood hath not revealed and unto thee but my Father, which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church.
And the gates of hell shall not prevail again. I believe I can say that one reason, in fact the reason why this is such a vital and precious truth, is this.
That it is a very pinnacle of the purposes of God. This I believe we may discover as the Lord enables us, turning from Scripture to Scripture. The very pinnacle, I say, of the purposes of God.
Before ever the foundations of the earth were laid, and when we open the word of God, may I say it with all reverence, I believe that God was in a hurry to display and picture and type and shadow.
Those eternal purposes.
Ah, we see Adam your knighted to a bride which was formed out of his own side, and upon her he lavishes his love. They bear the same name. God called their name Adam in the day when he created them. You've heard the question raised, what did God call the first woman he ever made?
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Generally, when that question is asked, the answer of course is Eve.
Adam called his wife's name Eve, but I read in Genesis 5 verse 2 male and female created he them and called their name Adam in the day when he created them so completely where they won in the sight of God that they bore the same name. I say God was in a hurry to reveal the purposes of His heart from that past eternity and so I turn the pages to the very end.
Word of God And again I see the Lord Jesus taking to himself that bride, that blood redeemed to himself at the cost of his own life. And I say, when I open the precious word of God, am I going to look at that mighty work and say, well, to me it means my sins are forgiven. I'm going to be in heaven instead of hell.
Wonderful, glorious confidence, this is.
And I know it means a lot to you and me who are redeemed by that precious blood, but all to know that you and I were in the counsels of God from a past eternity, together with all the redeemed, that we might form a bride, His body, His Church, to be to His praise and glory, to be united to him up Yonder. And no the wonder.
Of that privileged relationship, even here, day by day.
And step by step.
You remember that in the 25th of Exodus God said to Moses.
Having looked for the first time upon a redeemed company here on earth, the children of Israel in the wilderness, he said to Moses, Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. Isn't that breathing? The desire of his heart was. I want to dwell in the midst of my people. Did he really know what kind of people they were? Yes, he did.
Had he heard their murmuring and the complaining? Yes, he had, and there was plenty more yet to come. And yet he says to Moses, Let there make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them all. Beloved, that which we have before us this evening, the joy, the privilege of being gathered to the precious name of the Lord Jesus Christ, is the result of His desire.
His heart of love. The wonderful work of Calvary.
Because he wants your company.
By me again. Say it with all reverence.
He doesn't want to have to wait until he has you at home with him. He wants the joy of your company in that special way for which he has made provision while we are here journeying homeward. Sometimes in my thoughts I compare that request of Exodus 25 with the language of Peter on the Mount of Transfiguration. Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.
What did Peter say? Let us make here 3 Tabernacles.
Three, one for V1 from Moses, one for Elias. He gave the Lord first place, but he brought in two other names along with it, honored names. They were Moses and Elias. Did the Lord say very well, you have given me first place?
Moses and Elias promptly disappeared from the scene.
The Lord Jesus was left alone and a voice from heaven said, this is my beloved son, hear him. There must be no other name associated with that precious and alone worthy name of our Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ. 3 Tabernacles or.
Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. Three.
And when we look around today, beloved, what do we see? What do we see?
You will permit reference to our visit within recent months.
To India and the question that was raised quite frequently over there.
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Before missionaries came to this land, we were all Hindus.
And now you missionaries have come, bringing with you a book that you call the Word of God.
And one man will open that book and preach a message and tell us we're all sinners, God loved us, Christ died for sinners. Put your trust in him and your sins will all be washed away. So we accept that message. And then the missionary proceeds to found the church to select a name for that church.
To usually choose himself as being the leader of that church. And along comes another missionary.
Also carrying the same book, preaches the same message. And he gathers his converts into another church bearing a name, The names that are familiar to us here in Canada, names honored and respected in the religious circles of Canada. They exist over there in India too. But the Hindus are bewildered by this. We were Hindus, and now?
What has happened to those who have accepted the Lord Jesus?
They're divided up into this, that of the other group, burying these various names. Which one of these do you represent? What should I say?
Did I say, well, I represent this one? No, it was a joy, it was a privilege to open this precious book and say, shall we find the answer to that question in the covers of this book or should we add something to it? Oh no, They felt the only way to answer the question was to answer it from within the covers of the Word of God. This beloved friend we hope to do in these talks which we share together.
To remind ourselves.
That God wants all the honor and all the glory to go to his His well beloved Son, our Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ. Now notice please in Matthew 16. The question is raised in verse 13.
When do men say that I, the Son of Man, AM? Well, there are three answers or more. John the Baptist, Elias.
Jeremiah or one of the prophets?
Now he asks the question, Don't say he that I am, Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. Oh what a glorious, what a wonderful confession is this.
Revealed to Peter through the Father which is in heaven. And immediately the answer of the Lord Jesus comes upon this rock I will build.
My church, Ohio, let's get hold of that. Let's thank God for that. Let's rejoice in that.
That church which he calls my church rests upon that person of the Lord Jesus Christ and the confession of His alone worthy name. And I believe that you and I can see every attempt being made to undermine the deity, the manhood.
The sinless perfection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In order that the fairy foundation of the Church may, if such were possible, may be destroyed. Oh, I say to you, my beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, let us stand gladly firm and faithful to the truth of the manhood, that Deity, the sinless perfection. All I say to you, my beloved brothers and sisters in Christ.
Let us stand gladly, firm and faithful to the truth of.
The manhood, that deity, the sinless perfection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I say this because my heart is full silent to know that even the most honored and popular.
Evangelists and religious leaders of today are giving up.
The very things that we have just spoken on the sinless humanity.
The Lord Jesus Christ.
Our Lord Jesus have sinned.
I don't recommend that you ask that question of those religious leaders, one of them whose name is known far and wide.
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It was reported to me that he was teaching.
And the Lord Jesus could have sinned.
Well, I've never heard his voice nor read any of his literature.
And I didn't feel that it was right for me to accept what someone else said, though I wrote him.
And said, is it true that you teach that the Lord Jesus could have sinned?
And I got a very definite answer indeed. He could have sinned. He could have committed any sin that you could commit. Why do I say this? Oh beloved, I say this because when I read such verses as these, and I see the very foundation upon which we rest is the person of our Lord Jesus Christ, very God and very man.
For sinless perfection is upheld without any shadow of doubt.
In the Word of God let us stand for these truths with glad heart, because upon the confession of the Person, and they altogether worthy name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Rest the joy that we speak of here.
Upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Before we go even one step farther, let us say this.
Every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ under heaven is a living stone in that church. Every believer under heaven is a member of the body of Christ, and every believer under heaven is indwelt by the Spirit of God and is part of the Bride of Christ.
Oh, let us be ever aware of this, lest we become narrow in our thinking and in our affection in true.
Faithfulness to our Lord Jesus Christ, let us remember that there is a path of obedience and faithfulness that's honoring to Him and worthy of His name. And I trust that you and I, with all our heart and soul may seek it out in this precious book and long to walk in it. But may the Lord keep us with a largeness of heart that would ever remember. And I repeat, blessed what we say be misunderstood.
That every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is sheltered by his precious blood is according to the word of God.
A member of the Body of Christ. A living stone in the Church of God. Indwelt by the Spirit of God. Part of the Bride of Christ.
Do all express this. There are some who know nothing about it and we feel sorry for them. There are others who know it very well.
But don't express it.
I think I can say I feel even more sorry for them.
Isn't it strange?
That anyone could read in a precious word of God of the purpose for which he picked us up and the privileges entrusted to the believer here should read of it and then shrug their shoulders and say it matters not to me. As long as my sins are forgiven and I know I'm going to be in heaven when my journey here is ended, why should I concern myself?
With such matters as these.
I can scarcely understand what goes on in a heart that would make such a response as that He loved you, He died for you, He wants your company and He wants it now. Another thing that I believe is so very, very important about this fruit of the church and of being gathered to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
That which makes it so, I trust. So precious and all important to our heart. Is this the whole?
Godhead is concerned.
About this and as mentioned in the word of God in connection with.
Their involvement in the wonderful truth that I think should mean so much to every one of us for the truth of the Church.
And I say, being gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, remembering him in death with that look, and that cup is, AI should say, is the expression of that truth entrusted by God to man. Now I say that Trinity is involved. God is involved in those eternal purposes and counsels of his loving heart.
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The Lord Jesus is involved.
In the oneness, love and sacrifice that took him to Calvary, that this might be.
A reality and the Holy Spirit is involved in seeking and gathering out those who are destined to share the eternal wonder of being members of His body. Living stones in that church. The whole dog head involved. And then someone says why? Why are you so interested in the truth of the church?
Why are you so concerned and anxious that others might know the joy of being gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ?
Oh, I say, if it is of such supreme importance to the whole Godhead, if it was the council of the heart of God from a past eternity.
And we are privileged.
To enjoy it, to share it, to display it while we're here. I think the question is, how could anyone the other than interested in the glorious truth entrusted to us? Let's turn, shall we, to Ephesians chapter 3, Ephesians chapter 3, and verse 9.
And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery or secret.
Which from the beginning of the world have been hid in Bob, who created all things by Jesus Christ, to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church, the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Here I see God himself.
Concerned about this glorious matter that we speak of, and I look back into those past eternal councils and I see that God had a purpose in His heart which would indeed be fulfilled. But what about verse 10?
To the intent that now this is not Speaking of those past eternal councils, nor is it Speaking of that coming eternal display, but now.
Until the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church.
The manifold wisdom of God now, beloved, not in the past and not in the future only, but here and now.
The very principalities in heaven are intended to be able to look down and see.
The manifold wisdom of God.
The counsels of God's heart from a past eternity.
Displayed here now.
And how are they displayed? It says might be known by the church. I repeat, the church is composed of every member of the body of Christ, every redeemed one. If you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, you're part of the Church of God. Young or old, you're a living stone in that church, which will be displayed in all its beauty.
Up there, but this says now.
Will shortly come to the way in which we are privileged to display the wonder of this here and now.
Privilege of bearing one name and one alone, the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The privilege of being gathered around himself.
Outside the arrangements, the names, the systems that men have invented by adding to the Word of God, Here, beloved, is the precious, unspeakable privilege.
Of displaying that which was in the eternal council of God. I say this matter ought to be of supreme delight and importance to us, because the Trinity is involved in it, has been concerned about it from the ages of a past eternity. And here in this particular passage I see.
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The Council of God. You know I have sometimes used this.
Little illustration I'm a father and although our family is grown and gone, we will remember the joy of those three children who blessed our home and thank God, made it happy.
Now suppose that my wife and I had.
Developed a plan involving the happiness and the blessing.
And the joy of our three dear children.
And we pondered over this for a long time.
It involved everything that we possessed.
It involved tremendous sacrifice on our part and great cost, but it was for the joy and happiness of our family. And we were just thrilled at what we had in mind concerning the happiness and the joy and the blessing of our family. And at last the time arrived when we felt it was due time to make this wonderful secret, this purpose of our heart numb.
To our family and we call them together, Gracie, Charlotte, Danny, we have something to tell you. And they sit down. What is it? Well, we have had a kind of secret purpose. We haven't told you anything about it, but we've been considering this for a long time and it has cost us a great deal. But it was a pleasure to us because it concerns you and your happiness and this.
Our purpose, and we unfold to them this purpose that we've had for so long.
And when we're all done, they say, is that all, Daddy? Can we go back out and play now? Can you picture how we feel?
We expected something a little different. We expected an interest on their part. We expected that there would be a thankfulness in their heart for those purposes of ours. But they just shake their head and say, is that all? And turn away as though we hadn't even spoken to them. Now, my beloved friend.
God has been pleased to tell you and to tell me that before ever the foundations of the earth were laid, He thought about you, He loved you, He had a purpose for you, and He's been pleased in his Word to tell us the wonder of that purpose. And if you were to ask many, many, many believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, what was that eternal purpose? What was this mystery? What was this secret that God at last was pleased to make?
Men, they say, I don't know what you're talking about. I'm saved, I'm going to heaven. What else is there to it? Beloved, when I realize that the whole Godhead was concerned in this wondrous purpose of love, that God has been pleased here to make it known to us, and that by the Church here on earth might be known the manifold wisdom of God, I say, Oh, is there any way in which I can show?
Ladness at that which God has prepared, that which the counsels of God have been.
Toward me. Ah, we shall see later on that that glorious purpose, that call of love, finds the redeemed of the Lord gathered together around the Person and under the precious name of His beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Oh, I look up and down these rose tonight, and I see reflected in your face your joy in knowing that the Lord Jesus is your Savior.
No shadow of doubt about that. Your sins are gone. You're going to spend eternity with.
Jesus Christ in glory forever.
But what about these wonderful purposes and councils of love? What about the precious privilege, the tender and yearning invitation that you and I might share and enjoy and express the truth of the Church?
Suppose a bridegroom takes to himself a bride.
He slips that ring on her finger. He purposes to take her to his home and to share the wonder of their love and joy together.
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But she has other plans, she says. Excuse me, please. I'm very, very thankful that you have chosen me. I promise that I'll come to see you once a week. I promise that if I'm ever in trouble, I'll call on you to help me out because you promised to do so. But share my life with you. No, I'm not interested. Carry your name with me. No, I'm not interested.
I pledge, I promise, I'll come to see you, spend an hour with you.
Once a week, maybe even twice a week. But don't you interfere with my life.
Does that sound reasonable? Does that sound like terms that would satisfy?
Our bridegroom, beloved friend, I belong.
You belong to one whose love outside any pride group on earth.
And if I were to say to him, I promise to be in your company one hour and a week, maybe 2.
I promised a call on you if I'm ever in trouble or ever in need, but don't interfere with the plans of my life.
Would I dare to make such terms as the Oh beloved, to be gathered to the person and name of the Lord Jesus Christ is such a precious reality. Could we turn please to Ephesians chapter 5?
Ephesians chapter 5 and verse 25, beginning at the middle of the verse. Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, that he might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy.
And without blemish, in Ephesians chapter 3, we noticed the involvement of God Himself in His wonderful purpose.
And now we see the involvement excuse the term of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It meant that He must come to this world as man and give himself in order to possess that which was so dear to his heart. Was it worth it? Read it. Christ also loved the Church and gave himself for it. Oh, but I am so saddened when I realized that.
The real significance of the church is brushed aside as a mere.
Theory that need have no claim upon it. Just as the wife would take a look at the marriage certificate, brush it aside of having no as having no claim whatever upon her. Treat it as only a theory.
Right here in this town, one time I was sitting in the study of one of the respected ministers, a born again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. I rejoiced to call him brother, and I did every time I met him. And he called me brother every time he met me on the street or anywhere else.
And I was sitting in his study one day, we were chatting about these very things and he said to me.
What is that church that you belong to?
He knew that I attended this place. He said, what is that church that you belong to? I said, brother, I belong to the same church you do. Oh, he looked so surprised. I said, isn't that true? You and I both belong to the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh, I know what you mean. I said, brother, what do I mean?
You mean that church that cuts across the boundaries of all denominations?
I said yes, that's true. Is there any other?
Now that was a difficult question to answer. Is there any other? You know what he did? He had to be part from the Word of God. He had to bring in the history and traditions of Christendom in order to support the position in which he found himself.
He is my brother. He is a living stone in the Church of God. We're part of the same church.
You will understand me, I believe, when I say this.
I not only recognize it as found in the Word of God, but by the grace of God, I have privilege to express it, to display it that's gathered to the person and name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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And I don't want to deny it by being part of one of the systems established by men or bearing one of the names chosen by men. Do you remember that in commending those at Philadelphia, the Lord says to them, Thou hast kept my word and not denied my name. Oh, dear brother, dear sister, it's a precious privilege.
To bear that name and that name alone.
When I see the heart of God involved in that eternal council, when I see the Lord Jesus giving himself in order that he might possess that which ravished his heart, the church, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, that he might present it to himself. A glorious church. Oh, what a future awaits us. We're going to be presented together with all those redeemed.
And he's going to see his church complete up Yonder in the glory, to the satisfaction, to the ravish delight of his own heart. And every one of the redeems will be there, not one stone missing. But shall I say, what a precious memory to be able to look into the countenance of the Lord Jesus Christ in glory.
And remember that by his matchless grace while we were here.
We were privileged to share in the joy of expressing that truth as members of His body. Could we turn please to 1St Corinthians?
Chapter 12 and verse 13 There by 1 Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be to the Gentiles, whether we be bond or free, and have been all made to drink into one spirit.
The Spirit of God is concerned also in this. The question was raised some time ago. Why are we so concerned? Why are we gathered here together this evening to consider that which has been taught among us for years and years?
Because it never loses its vital importance. Because its preciousness should increase in our hearts as we draw near to the moment when our footsteps here will be exchanged for the Joy home and the Father's House, and when I see that in the eternal councils of God and by the mighty sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ.
And by the seeking and in gathering of the Holy Spirit of God.
This wonderful truth of the church is developed in the Word of God. I say, how could any believer in the Lord Jesus Christ be anything other than profoundly and thankfully interested that such a truth is to be found in this glorious book?
I say, dear brethren, that to be true and faithful to the person and name of a rejected Savior is not a popular stand to take. There are many positions in Christendom.
Where you and I could get by much more easily. Where we would find much more recognition and honor. But to be true.
To the name and person of our Lord Jesus Christ will never be popular.
In the world that spit in his face just before I close, let me mention this. It has been mentioned before. When I repeat it, I think you know that if we were to journey together.
If you wish to Japan and you ask 50 people in a row in that faraway land, what are you? They would tell you with real pride. I am a Buddhist.
So you move on from Japan to India and you ask 50 people there and what are you? And they would tell you again with pride, I am a Hindu.
You move on from there to Saudi Arabia or some similar country and what are you?
I am a Mohammedan, and all the pride with which they make that confession. Now suppose you said to one of them, Oh, I know, I know, everybody here is a Mohammedan, but what else? You know what they would do.
You'd better. You'd better make yourself scarce if you ever asked the Mohammed in that question. I know you're a Muhammadan, but what else?
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In pride he would say, what do you mean? What else? I told you I'm a Mohammed and what else do I need? I am a follower of the Prophet Muhammad, and don't you dare suggest to me what else? A Buddhist is a Buddhist, a Hindu is a Hindu, a Mohammedan is a Muhammadan. Now come on over to Canada and you ask people who possess the word of God, what are you?
What answer do we get? What answer?
I don't need to answer. You know what answer? Ask 50 people in Smith's Falls, Perth, wherever you wish. What are you?
They would tell you all right by one among the fifty were to say.
I belong to the Lord Jesus Christ.
And I'm gathered to his precious name, they say what? What do you mean? Well, I repeat, I say, I belong to the Lord Jesus Christ, and I'm gathered to his precious name. Oh, I know, I know, we're all Christians. But what else?
Is the name of the Lord Jesus Christ sufficient? Is he worthy to be confessed? Is his name a worthy center to which we can be gathered by God's matchless grace? Or shall we compromise the truth because it's not understood, and even more serious because it's hated?
In chapter 12 and verse 13, four by one spirit.
Are we all baptized?
Into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bombed or free.
I've been all made to drink into one spirit.
The Spirit of God is concerned also in this. The question was raised some time ago. Why are we so concerned? Why are we gathered here together this evening to consider that which has been stopped among us for years and years?
Because it never loses its vital importance.
They called it preciousness should increase in our heart as we draw near to the moment when our footsteps here will be exchanged for the joy home and the Father's house. And when I see that in the eternal counsels of God, and by the mighty sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the seeking and in gathering of the Holy Spirit of God.
This wonderful truth of the church is developed in the Word of God.
I say, how could any believer in the Lord Jesus Christ be anything other than profoundly and thankfully interested that such a truth is to be found in this glorious book?
What is Man
Address—A. Roach
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Return to 1St Thessalonians chapter five, First Thessalonians 5 and verse 23. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly. And I pray God, your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless under the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Faithful is he that calleth you, who also.
Will do it. In the 8th Psalm there is a question raised, what is man? And that's the subject on our hearts tonight. We want to see what the word of God tells us man is. Now I know in the 8th Psalm it has a little different connection. David looking at the heavens, he says, when I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou has to obtain.
What is man without visitors to him?
Is looking at the greatness of creation and he says how can a God with such mighty power well how could he have anything to do with puny man but I want to ask that question tonight and a little different connection what is man what how what is man what does man consist of now you know we're living in a day when all kinds of supposed scientific theories about man that he evolved from lower creatures and that he's on the.
This sort of thing. But the word of God alone tells us what man is.
And we have right in this verse that we read tonight three things that everyone of us here tonight possesses. It says Spirit.
Soul and body.
Spirit and soul are the unseen parts of our being. The body is self-evident that it's the spirit and the soul that control our thoughts and the actions of our body. And so we see here then there are these three things that man has. Now the animals we may see from some other scriptures we may refer to.
The animals do not have a spirit. Now the spirit in man.
Connects us with God, that is, the Spirit gives us the consciousness of God. The soul turns us inward and makes us conscious of ourselves. The body makes contact, it gives us world consciousness. And that we see these three things here. And the apostles desire with the Thessalonians was that their whole man might be preserved.
Blameless here unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I remember a dear brother used to say this. He said if your spirit is kept, your soul will be kept, and if the soul is kept, the body will be kept. And so I believe, as we'll see from Scripture, that the spirit connects us with thoughts of God that the lower animals do not have. You know, in the so-called scientific world, they speak of a missing link.
Well, one of the greatest missing links is this, that your dog and cat and any monkey you can look at doesn't have a spirit.
As a living sorrow, Genesis show that they were living soul, that a spirit is a different thing as we'll see as we go through. No animals show any religious attitude that you go down to darkest Africa or the darkest parts of the world where man is low and degraded. No matter how degraded he is, what does he have? He has a God consciousness that makes him worship an idol. He doesn't know the true God, so he worships a stone.
Spanish or he worshipped some glorified image. Why is it that men everywhere, even in in the hedonism, have something that they set before them as an object of worship? You never saw the highest type of of of monkeys that apes get together. You never saw a group of chimpanzees get together and have a religious meeting. They have no consciousness of God but what we have here.
The believer, I mean, not only the believer, but man as such.
Spirit, and that spirit makes him realize he's got to do with God, whether he wants to do it with the true God or not. And so he makes up for that with his idolatry or some other object. But he's got a conscious evenly infidel. Why is he so about and denying God? Because the Spirit gives him consciousness that there is a God. Man never becomes infidel in the conscience.
He only becomes infidel in his intellect. Romans one bears that out. And so I'd like to notice tonight.
Several scriptures. First, we want to notice several scriptures that bring out the three parts of man's being.
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And then to notice other scriptures that show the action of the spirit, the action of the soul, and the place the body has in in the in God scheme here. Now notice again your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved, blameless. Now let's go over to Hebrews 4 for our next scripture. Hebrews 4.
And verse 12 for the Word of God.
Is quick or living, and powerful and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and as of the sailor, of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Now we get the same tripod of being of man. Here we have the soul mentioned, we have the spirit mentioned, and we have the body.
The joints and marrow. So here again we have the threefold being of man. I might make this remark by way of contrast. When we come to the Godhead, we have Trinity, absolute Trinity. That is, there are three persons in unity and harmony, three separate persons in one Godhead. But with us it's not three persons, it's three parts. That's why I believe if my own soul, the word Trinity can only be.
Applied to the Godhead, but triunity could apply to God too, because there were three Persons. But man is a Tri unity. He has three parts, all united together in one. The Trinity is another thing. There we have the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and there are three Persons and their wills. Another clash. Everything is in harmony. If the Father wants to send the Son, the Son says, Lo, I come, and then he offers Himself through the eternal Spirit we.
Multiply examples from Scripture. The absolute unity of thought and action in the Trinity. But now with us it's different. We are one person, but three parts and we get that here. Notice another thing that the Word of God is able to divide asunder, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit. Oh, it's a marvelous thing when the Word of God is ministered in the power of the spirit. Take an unsaved person, He comes.
Gospel meeting and the Word of God reaches down, reaches down into a soul.
Stars as affections reaches down into a spirit, and stars as conscience.
You know, the Lord in the fourth of John, that's what he did with that woman. God was a giving God, but then the woman was a Sinner. And so the Lord first shows God as a giving God that reached her soul, and then he speaks to her conscience. And that's where I believe the action of the Spirit comes in. The Word of God is able to sever, it's able as A2 edged sword to cut both ways toward the soul and toward the Spirit. And I believe when a person is really converted.
That has to happen if only our affections are reached with Stony ground here is that if our conscience is brought in, then that there can be conversion, they can be salvation. So that two edged sword plunged into the heart as it were, cuts toward the soul and toward the Spirit. And so we see them. We have again, in addition to 1St Thessalonians, we have the Scripture in Hebrews 4 to show.
These three things now one other scripture before we look at the individual parts of our being.
In first the first chapter of Luke, first chapter of Luke and verse.
Those 46.
And Mary said.
My soul doth magnify the Lord.
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God, my Savior, and her body gave expression to it.
So here we have the triunity again. Notice the order in which she speaks. She says my soul the magnify the Lord. There's worship. Notice that worship here is connected with what went on in her soul. Her soul was filled with this joy that the Lord had brought into it. And she says my soul magnify the Lord. Feelings and emotions go with the souls. We I trust we'll see from other scriptures. But notice when she speaks to the Spirit.
In the past tense she says my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. That was a transaction once and for all. It was the Spirit illuminating her. And she said, My spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. Well, what was the result? Her soul. My soul doth magnify the Lord. All that we can learn from this. Beloved brethren, there was a time in our lives when we came to Christ, when our soul.
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Rejoiced in God, our Savior. But now what is the state of soul? Are we worshippers? Is our soul so filled with that Christ who died for us?
That we're worshippers. Mary brings in both here, first the what she was enjoying at the moment, and that which had been brought to her home, to her conscience before my soul. Death magnify the Lord. Oh, it's a wonderful thing to go on in our Christian lives, magnifying the Lord. A happy Christian is one.
Who was walking with the Lord? Can two walk together? Except they be agreed and all they walk together. And we were in agreement with Christ as to the Father. We were in agreement with the Father as to the Son. Fellowship with the Father and with the Son. What a path we've been called into. And so we can be worshippers as Mary was with a full of truth revealed today. Now let's go over. We want to take up the Spirit first. That's the order. Have you ever noticed?
One finds oneself doing it to that. Well, whatever we mentioned the three parts of man's being, we always say body, soul and spirit.
Invariably we hear it that way and say it that way, but Scripture says spirit, soul and body.
The Spirit is that basic and most important part of our being. And I believe when man fell, when he sinned, that was where the dullness came in and where where man fell. And of course he got a conscience through God's mercy. That was a mercy in itself. But let's turn over to 1St Corinthians 2 to see something about the Spirit as to its function and what it does.
1St Corinthians 2 and verse 11.
What man knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of man which is in him. Even so, the things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God, and notices the distinction. There's the Spirit of God here, but there's the spirit of man.
The spirit of man knows the things of a man. It's our human spirit. It knows the things of man, whether it be within what, what I have within or men come forth with some learning or teaching. I have a spirit that in principle is able to apprehend that, able to understand it and believe it. I mentioned I referred to the Scripture simply to show how the spirit is connected here with.
The intelligence now in Romans 8, we read.
Our spirit witnessing with his Spirit that we are the children of the sons of God or the children of God. His spirit witnesses with our spirit. That is, it's through the the Holy Spirit teaching that our spirit joins into that. And we see we own the place that God has given us and we cry our Father. And so we see in this passage that intelligence is related to the spirit of man.
Now let's go. Go to the Old Testament. I trust our brethren won't mind turning their Bibles. You know, I I've often thought of it this way.
There are certain truths in Scripture that you won't find in one paragraph or one chapter. God has given us his book in such a way as to encourage diligence and searching through. And so there are many truths that permeate that go through the whole Scripture. And it isn't like a Sears Roebuck catalog that you can turn to in the back and find out where all the household goods are mentioned. Turn to that page. It's all there. No, the Bible isn't written that way. It's written for us to be diligent and.
Tonight we may have to turn to several scriptures, and I trust we don't mind using our Bibles in that way. Suppose we turn to Job 32. Job 32.
And verse 8.
But there is a spirit.
In man and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding in principle. This is almost what we had there in first Corinthians 2. Man's spirit and then the God manifesting to man. But notice what Allah who brings out here. There is a spirit in man, and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.
Now I'm I'm going to reiterate this. This is an important thing that nowhere does it say there's a spirit in the animals.
And the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them wisdom. The animals and man are widely separated. I remember dear brother HE Hayle used to use a very graphic illustration to show the difference between an animal and and a man with regard to what is religious. I remember him at a Montreal conference years ago. He says if you took a cow into the greatest cathedral in this city, so that would that.
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Cathedral would mean nothing more to that cow than the barn.
The coward know any religious feelings whatsoever, but he said if you took a drunken man in there, he'd have some census is supposed to be God's house and you'd have some kind of a reverential fear. And I believe that illustrates clearly what we have in mind here, that man has a spirit and it's through that spirit that God communicates to him. Whereas the animals, it's an entirely different thing. It says in the animals that there are natural brute beasts made to be taken and destroyed.
Not made to be taken and tortured, but destroyed and in the full and final sense. Here we get then that there was a spirit in man. Now let's go over to the 35th chapter for an interesting verse.
Verse 11. Well, we read verse 10.
But none said, Where is God my maker, who give us songs in the night?
Who teacheth us more than the beast of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven? Now, you know, a man is wiser than the fowls of heaven. He can lay a trap and catch them, and he knows more than the beast. He can catch them too. But I don't believe that's a thought here. What he's, what he's bringing out here is the vast difference between the knowledge that God gives to man by means of the Spirit.
Than what the animals possess they go by instinct. And here we find that he says, who teacheth us more than the beast of the earth. Oh, where does the theory of evolution fit in here? You know, if it would, every instance you read about it, it seems very quite ridiculous. You know, I might just make this side remark. I understand that. The giraffe with that long neck.
When that giraffe bends over to take a drink of water.
There's a stop valve in its heart that shuts down the flow of blood.
Because if it didn't that the giraffe would get, well, we might say apoplexy. But when the giraffe lifts its head up again, then the flow of blood continues as before. Now, how could the giraffe have ever evolved? He could never have gotten a drink of water until this thing evolved. He would have died of thirst. And if he didn't, if he didn't have that valve, and then he would have died of a of a blood hemorrhage in the brain. And so they say, we say that's just an example of how.
Foolish and ridiculous it is to think that man ever came from the animals. Well, here we get then that he teacheth us more than the beast of the earth. Now what were the Proverbs 20 and verse 27?
The spirit of man.
Is the candle of the Lord.
Searching all the inward parts of the belly, man comes to a gospel meeting. The word of God strikes down. He begins a feelings in the presence of God. God is dealing with him not simply through his soul, but through his spirit. The candle, the spirit of man is the candle of the Lord. Now we we read in Luke's gospel how that woman, she took the candle and saked it all through the house.
Well, here God uses that light. He brings that light right down into our hearts. The search.
And so again we see that man's spirit is connected with intelligence, with God, consciousness rather than emotions. We'll see later to it's connected with death as well as the soul is connected with death. Well, why, we may as well go over to Ecclesiastes now for another verse.
Please ask these eight.
And his remarkable statement. I'd like to connect this with the Blessed Lord on the Cross too.
Please ask these 88 There is no man that has power over the spirit to retain the spirit. Neither have the power on the day of death.
And there is no discharge in that war, neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it. There is no man that has power over the spirit. Now we're going to see how the spirit is related to death. The body without the spirit is dead, as well as without the soul. We have other scriptures for that. But notice here it says no man hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit.
There was only one man.
That ever died in this world, who had power over the Spirit in the day of death, and he released the spirit.
Jacob. Moses was told to go up in the mountain and die. So was Aaron and another occasion.
We need read of Jacob. When the time came he was going to die, he got into his bed, pulled his feet up into the bed, and he and he gave up the ghost, not because he gave it up of his own volition. It was the time for him to die, as it was with Aaron and with Moses, but when the Lord Jesus died.
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I'm going to be far particularly to what it says in Matthew and in John. Now the words in Matthew and in John where it speaks of him giving up the ghost are words of authority. Mark and Luke is different. Just use the word expired. That might apply to anyone, but in Matthew, the Messiah in full power, he delivers up voluntarily his spirit. In John it goes even further. It's a different word again. And he he didn't, he commits.
He delivers it over to someone else. It's a word that means delivering over to someone else.
And so we see it. A Luke brings that out by saying, Father into thy hands I commend my spirit. Here is the only man that had power in the day of death, and he did not choose to retain the spirit. In love for you and me, He dismissed the spirit.
But notice this also, He bowed his head first. The Lord Jesus didn't die and then draw his head droop. In John's Gospel we see his full authority and and his power of all circumstances, and he bowels his head. Then he dismisses the Spirit. Now those thieves, they were their heads with a drop from sheer exhaustion. Not so the blessed Lord.
And so we see again, coming down to ourselves when the day of death comes.
Not one can retain the spirit, and neither has he power on the day of death. Now let's go over to James James two and see how that's applied in the New Testament. James 2.
And verse 26.
For as the body without thee or without a spirit is dead.
So faith without works is dead also. Now we see the relation of the spirit to death. We're going to see the later on the soul is related to that too. Here James says the the body without a spirit is dead. So in the in the gospel of Luke when the Lord Jesus comes to Jairus house, his 12 year old daughter is lying dead.
What does it tell us there? It said the Lord Jesus went in, He's told to arise. And it says her Spirit came into her again.
James says without the Spirit you're dead. Now the Lord shows that in resurrection the Spirit comes back again. And so that's what we're waiting for. Those who have gone on before, those who are dead in Christ, what will happen when the Lord comes? The spirit and the soul will return again. And of course there'll be a new body involved too. And so we see then that the spirit is related then to man's intelligence before God is conscience.
And also now related here to death. Now let's go over to Genesis. We'll take up the soul. Now briefly, Genesis chapter 2.
Genesis 2 and verse 7.
And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathe into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became.
A living soul. Now, just so that we're clear on this, let's go over to the first chapter in verse 24.
Have the animals involved. God said let the earth bring forth the living souls that should read after his kind, cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth after his kind. And it was so. So the lower animals are called living souls. But notice the difference here. God has makes man as a special work.
He takes the the clay, the earth and the dust of the ground, and he forms the man.
And he doesn't say as he does with the animals, bring forth, come alive. God breathe directly into man's nostrils the breath of life. And man became a living soul. Not just the living soul in the sense the animals were, but man has a soul that is immortal. Immortal because in the 12Th of Luke, you'll find that after the body is killed, God can still cast the soul.
Hell, the soul still is still there. Man cannot destroy the soul. They cannot touch it, but they can put to death. They can put the body to death, but they cannot do that with the soul. So what we get here is man became a living soul. And I repeat that, that the only thing mortal that you and I have with us is our body. And the only thing that's ever called mortal is our body. Romans 6, Romans 8.
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Our moral bodies.
We get in both those places. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, and with his spirit will quicken our mortal body. We'd be quickened by our mortal bodies, will be quickened by his spirit which is in us. So we see that the soul is never said to be mortal. Only the body is said to be mortal. It's the only thing that's ever laid away. Now we get the we would like to turn. I'd like to turn to First Samuel 18 now to see what the soul, what the exercises of the soil are.
First Samuel 18 and verse one.
And it came to pass when he had made an end of Speaking of the soul.
That the soul of Jonathan was knit.
With the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. Notice in this passage there are affections, not intelligence. There was intelligence in Jonathan recognizing what David had done. Jonathan saw this young lad go down into the valley, and he saw him go down there and win that great victory against the giant, against Goliath.
And Jonathan knew that that victory was for him.
And what was the result? He loved David as his own soul. It's related to the soul of both those statements. Jonathan loved him. The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David. The affections were there. Let me pause in in the line of thought here and ask ourselves, have we seen our David go down into the valley of Eli? Have we recognized in our souls that wonderful work of Calvary that the Lord Jesus?
Went down to the dark valley of Elah on the cross, and there forever broke Satans power. You know, I don't believe that the valley of Elah and Davide victory there represents the temptation in the wilderness because Goliath never came back after the temptation in the wilderness, the devil did come back. I believe that that stone that was, that came from that slain.
That struck the giant and killed him.
That that brings us to Hebrews 2. That through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, and deliver them, who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to *******. The victory in the valley of Elah was final, the victory in the wilderness. Temptation in one sense was not. It showed the Lords power over Satan. But Satan's power was not broken until you get to the cross. And so one is thought of it this way, that those 5 stones.
If we think of them in connection with the five books of Moses, David could have taken anyone of those stones to make any difference. Because in Genesis you get the death of Christ able sacrifice. In Exodus you get the death of Christ, the Passover lamb. In Leviticus you get the death of Christ, the burnt offering and the sin offering and all the other offerings. In Numbers you get the the red heifer, the heifer, there's the death of Christ again.
And so on. And then and Deuteronomy.
We have that heifer that's killed in a rough valley over running water so that the death of Christ is in each of those five books. So David didn't have to study which stone to take because it was the death, the value of the death of Christ that when when the victory. And so he just takes the stone out of the bag and and wins the victory. And so I believe that we have the the Jonathan seeing that he sees what David had done for him and his heart's affection go out.
All truly we can say, can we not? We love.
Because he first loved us, we couldn't even love the brethren. We couldn't love the Lord except Christ had not first loved us. Although I believe really in the passage is the Father. It's a Father who loved us. And so we we see here that the soul is connection with love. And I believe it's a good thing to love those things that God loves, that Christ loves. Now let's go over the second Samuel.
I think it's a fifth chapter, Second Samuel chapter 5.
Now David have been crowned king, admitted king rather, and in verse six. And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hit her thinking David cannot come in hit her. Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion the same as the city of.
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David and David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter and smite of the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind that are hated of Davidde soul, he shall be chief and captain.
So on. Now instead of love coming from the soul, we find this hatred there too. Our emotions are wrapped up with our soul. So how important it is to be under the power and authority of the Word of God so that we love what Christ loves and hate what He hates, not hate one another. Paul tells the those in his epistle to Titus he speaks of that we were hateful and hating one another. Well now the grace of God comes in and saves them.
What are we going to do now? Our love to our brethren, but hatred towards sin? In the letter to Ephesus in Revelation One, the Lord credits the Ephesians Saints with hating the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which thing I also hate.
Now the Lord can hate, He hates evil. And so if we're in the mind of God, the current of His thoughts through the precious Word, we will hate from the depths of our soul that which is contrary to His thoughts and will, making allowance and love for the persons who may be guilty. You know, we have to distinguish, we think of some souls who are going on in a wretched way. We may hate thoroughly the evil are going on with, but at the same time our soul can love them.
And seek in every way to bring the grace of God before them so that those things will be taken away. So the same soul that can love can also hate. We get that here now. Our time is going. We might turn over to Job 14.
Job 14.
Now we learn something else. Verse 22. Joel 1422.
But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn, Mourn, give him mourn. You have a loved one taken away. Never had a sad occurrence in your in your Christian pathway.
Well, we mourn, the apostle speaks of.
The sorrow not as others which have no hope. Those Thessalonians had relatives who had died and they were sorrowful about it. What causes the sorrow? The separation. Even if I know my loved one is going to be with Christ, that's wonderful to know that, but that is what will comfort me. What will comfort me of these words of Christ is coming again and we're going to be reunited. That's what the force of First Thessalonians is, comfort one another of these words. What words that Christ is going to come from heaven.
And he's going to raise your loved ones and you're going to be brought together. And so the morning will cease. You know, there's another sense. We need not turn to it. But in Matthew it says, blessed are they which mourn, for they shall be comforted. I believe the mourning there is those have a sense in their souls.
How everything around about is dishonouring to the Lord. You know, Paul speaks of us. We have the face roots of the Spirit. We groan within ourselves. We're going to groan in creation. We're in a scene that's contrary to the God that's sent his Son to save us. And so this morning, don't we mourn as we see the name of Christ dragged down, we see wickedness abounding on every hand. Well, those that mourn in that way are going to be comforted because God is going to.
Millennial Kingdom and he's going to purge Christ the purge out of his Kingdom. All things that offend and so that's related to his appearing but so we see then that the soul mourns its connection with with mourning. Now let's go to the 23rd of Joel and the 13th verse that he is in one mind and who can turn him and what his sole desireth even that he doeth.
For a perform of the thing that is appointed for me, so forth. Here we find desire.
And in Deuteronomy it says, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after desire, lust, hatred, love, these are things that have their seat in the soul. And here is who can turn him. Here's a one mind who can turn him for what his soul desireth, even that he doeth. You know that's how we were in our unconverted days. You know, everything our soul desired. We were thinking only of a soul thinking of our own.
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Just like that man in the 12Th of Luke, who could say sorrow us much goods laid up for many years, eat, drink, eat and be married. He didn't even say tomorrow we die. He left that out. That was part of the Epicurean saying. He just says eat and be married. And So what happened this night thy soul shall be required of thee. That man was holding nothing back from his soul's desire. The same way with a rich man in the 16th of Luke. He felt sumptuously every day.
There wasn't a thing he he could could deny himself. He had the means that to supply it and everything is sold as I had after but now we're saved. Not only we know Christ, what desires that we have now what's desires to our souls now all I believe the most important one of all is to be obedient to his will cost what it may it will cost you and me something.
If you're going to be obedient to the Lord, you know.
I know it was in a little different connection, but Barack said the Barack in the book of numbers, he said to Balaam, the Lord has kept me from promotion. You know, the Christian sometimes is faithful on the job and they they don't want to promote him in too high a position. You know, he he brings the religion into it, you know, and so sometimes the lab will keep you from promotion. But the main thing is what does our sole desire is it to do the will of God.
Or is it to please myself? The soul desires the soul lusteth the soul.
Lusted. And so we get that here, the desire. Let's turn over to Matthew 10, to the New Testament now.
To the 10th of Matthew and verse 28.
We're going to find again, this is the voice I would refer to in Luke 12, but here we have its counterpart in Matthew 10, verse 28.
Feel not them which kill the body that are not able to kill the soul, but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body.
In Hell or Gehenna Lake of Fire, notice that the body can be killed, but the soul cannot. This is an important thing. Here's a scripture that shows the immortality of the soul. It shows that the body can be killed, but the soul is not killed. It tells us here.
Rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Now destroy here does not mean putting out of existence.
Or to use another word, it does not mean annihilation. Now the same word that we have here for destroyed is the same word in the original for the word lost, the sheet that was lost. I'm not a Greek scholar, but I looked it up. I found that the word Apollo me and it means lost is in the 15th of loop. Does that mean the sheep was annihilated? No, the shepherd went out and found it. So when it says that he's able to destroy.
Both soul and body in hell. It does not mean that that is the ceasing to exist.
Destruction does not mean annihilation, and one is often illustrated in this simple way. Here we have a table. Now I might take an axe or a saw and cut off those legs. I've destroyed it as a table, but the material is still there. But as a table is destroyed.
That God made man upright, He made man as his creature to be the one to worship him and serve him. And these who have sinned against him will find their way in hell, the purpose for which they were made and brought into beings. In that sense, there's destruction, but it does not mean ceasing to exist, or there'd be no, there could be no resurrection. Now let's go over to Genesis 35. We want to see the connection of the soul with death.
Just as we saw the Spirit, the connection of the Spirit.
Genesis 35 and here we have Rachel Jacobs wife.
They're giving birth to Benjamin and in verse 18 it says it came to pass as her soul wasn't departing before she died.
That she called his name Banana, but his father called him Benjamin.
Notice in James we had the body without the spirit is dead. Now we learn that upon death, not only does the spirit depart, but the soul departs that unseen part of man which is so intricately linked together in some way that's beyond our comprehension, that when death comes in, the spirit is gone, the soul is gone, and so here when she dies.
I don't know for Satan, but I believe in most places where.
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Soul is associated with death. It has to do with the actual condition of death itself when the spirit is brought in as intelligence. The Lord Jesus didn't say, Father into thy hand I commend my soul. He says into thy hand I commend my spirit. Yet in another place He could say, Thou wilt not leave my soul in hades. I believe scripture is more accurate than we often give it credit, and I not that one can understand every passage where these differences occur, but here we see in her case.
Soul and it says it came to pass as her soul was in departing for she died.
Now first Kings 17. Here we have the death of a young a young child.
And the days of Elijah and the mother of the child cries after Elijah in verse 20.
Of 17th chapter and in verse 21, he, that is Elijah, stretched himself upon the child three times and cried unto the Lord, and said, Oh Lord my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again. And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah, and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.
Now we notice before that when Jarrah's daughter was raised, her spirit came into it. Here the child's soul comes into him. Now we we, we can put these scriptures together. We know that the soul and spirit do not act independently. That one we can release, 1 can be released and the other not. Not in resurrection. We come back to that again in resurrection body.
Soul and spirit, spirit, soul and body, whatever order we put it in will be reunited. Those who have died in Christ, the soul and spirit are in heaven. They're with with Christ.
Glory all apart from mortality. They'll never have to do with mortality again. They're they're gone. They're out of a scene where death exercises its power and they've been introduced into one where it has no power. And so that their body still in the grave. What are they waiting for in heaven? Or they're waiting for the coming of the Lord Jesus, when the whole man will be reunited here the soul comes back into the body.
And the child revived.
Now we've noticed thus far then the spirit and the soul, perhaps it may seem unnecessary to even talk about the body because we know quite a bit about that. We know about his aches and pains and his, his shortcomings, and that is a body of humiliation. But Scripture speaks of it. Let's go over to 2nd Corinthians 12, Second Corinthians 12 and here is this is a very important principle here too in this chapter.
The apostle says in verse two, I knew a man in Christ.
About 14 years ago.
Whether in the body, I cannot tell.
Or whether out of the body I cannot tell. God know it. Such a man caught up to the 3rd heaven, and I knew such a man, whether in the body or out of the body I cannot tell. God knoweth Twice the apostle says that what do we find here? That man, man's being here, can be separated from his body.
Forces, whether in the body or whether out of the body, I can't tell, but he was there. He was consciously in the presence of God.
I personally believe for myself that in one way Paul experienced the death of a believer in this passage.
In heaven it was in the body out of the body. Oh, I believe that he what he heard there when he wrote to the Philippians, ladies is having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is very far better or it heard things unspeakable there, but he had the experience, whether in the body or out of the body. Again I point out that our spirit and soul are seen as can be separated from the body. The body only gives us outward identification here and.
World Consciousness.
As we say now, we turn over it back to Joe, if you don't mind. Job 33. Some of these things we don't even need scriptures for in one sense, but it's good to have the word of God before us.
Job 33.
And verse 19.
He just chastened also with pain upon his bed and the multitude of his bones with strong pain, so that his life abhorrent bread and his soul dainty meat. His flesh is consumed away that it cannot be seen, and his bones that were not seen stick out. And so we have man here.
Seen as chasing with pain, what is it that feels the pain? The spirit and the soul?
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The body, it's the body that's subject to pain. When man fell, when man sinned and he brought everything into the world connected with sin, pain, suffering, and death. But think of what the blessed Savior, the one who upon whom death had no claim, the holy sinless One, When you read the 22nd Psalm and you read there those sufferings.
I may tell all my bones.
And he speaks of being out of bones, being out of joint, and the pain and anguish and suffering that the blessed Lord passed through. Who can measure that pain and suffering that the Lord Jesus in that human sinless body passed through for you and from me on that cross I sink in deep mild, that there is no standing. The water floods overflow me. He speaks of that too. And in Hebrews he speaks of His.
Body, a body. Has thou prepared me? Think about that holy sinless body that is the babe in the Manger, and that is the one who sat at Psychos well to bless that poor woman, and the one of the Man of Gethsemane, and finally the Man of the Cross.
I shouldn't say finally, because he also was a man that rose from the toll and the Son of man in glory head of the church. So here we see them that Joe brings in the fact of pain related to the body. Now let's go over to the New Testament just for a final scripture. You want to end in a note of joy and blessedness. There are many other scriptures about the body but.
It is a passage in Philippians 3 that I must like to notice. Philippians 3.
And verse 20.
For our conversation is in heaven from once also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body. All we know it the correct reading is our body of humiliation, that it may be fashion like unto His body of glory.
According to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto himself. All that a change awaits us our body of humiliation. Think over the day.
All the effort we have to spend on the body, we wash it, we feed it, we give it rest, give it transportation. Almost everything we do has some relation to sustaining the body. That's about it. Humiliation. Even if some of the younger ones don't have the pains or drawbacks and some of the older ones have, still it's a body of humiliation. And think of how that body deteriorates and how.
He's a man. He's in the prime of youth.
He's strong and he can run the race, you know, and then he gets older and he has a hard time getting up and out of a chair into an into a chair and out of it. What a body of humiliation. We have another cast is the more on the Lord. I realize and I'm sure that the Lord allows things to happen to our bodies to cast us more upon him. But he is a coming day. Why does it say we look for the Savior?
Paul, didn't you know the Philippians are already saved? They've already got the Savior. So have you.
What are you looking for the Savior for? Ah, the Savior of the body here. It's the Savior of the body trying to hold our place here. And look at Romans 8. That just occurs to me. Romans 8 and and Rose 23 and not only they, but ourselves also, which have the face roots of the Spirit, even we ourselves learned within ourselves.
Waiting for the adoption to whip the redemption of our body.
For we are saved by hope, our own hope. That hope that is seen is not hope for what a man see if why don't he yet hoped for that? If we hopeful that we see not, then that we will patience wait for it. What is it that that we see not the redemption of the body. We still we still have the have a body that's subject to, as we already pointed out, the pain and ailment. But here the apostle says we're waiting.
Adoption to what? The redemption of our body now the work that the work has already been done on the cross.
But the redemption of the body is future. Now the apostle Peter distinguishes that in his first epistle. He says receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. That is, Peter says, you've got the salvation of your souls. Paul let's us know here we haven't got the salvation of our bodies. Or this may be a little amusing in a way, but I remember a dear old Christian man in New York years ago, someone came up to him shouting, I've got full salvation.
00:50:12
And that we know it was one of those sites, you know that.
They get excited about things and the asking of their saved eternally. They don't they don't believe that, but they've got all kinds of miracles. Full salvation. Most Christian man knew. He says he said you've got full salvation. He said what do you wear? What did you get false teeth for? He got false teeth. If you got full salvation. You see, when we get full salvation, our bodies are not going to have any of the marks of sin or deterioration that we have down here. And so when the apostle says we look for the Savior.
Savior of the body, the one who's going to change our bodies. And as it says, he had noticed how wonderful this is. He's going to take the body of humiliation and fashion it like unto his own body of glory. Christ is glorified in heaven. Back in Corinthians and another connection, if we want to see the glory of God, we look up and see it in the face of Jesus Christ. He's glorified in heaven. And that's one thing in that chapter. Satan doesn't want the people of the world to know that.
Glorified Savior in heaven, but we know it, we have it according to the Word and so here it's looking for the Savior and he will change our body of humiliation. Fashion it like that. His own body of glory according to what? According to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. When Christ comes in glory, He's going to subdue the whole creation.
There's going to be the putting down of all that offend. He will purge out of his Kingdom all things that offend.
By his power He subdued the whole scene. But when does He first use that power to subdue everything in you and me? That would be contrary to that place up there? He uses that power on us 1St And he has the power to subdue all things unto himself, and he's going to take us there in in accordance with those wonderful purposes of God, and which the cross of Calvary is the foundation of our blessing. So let us remember that spirit, soul, and.
May we be preserved as the apostle prayed, be preserved in our souls as we await his coming.
Young Men and Old Men
Address—I.H. Klassen
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I'd like to read a portion in Second Timothy.
Which especially concerns should we say, young men?
And I'd like to read a portion that especially concerns those of us that are older.
Really none of us are exempt from the word of God. None of them none of us are and say well, we've we've got it made. The Lord has a has a word for all of us continually. Now second Timothy first Timothy 4 you know, if we say that we are in Christ and we insist on that very much we all are in Christ, but.
Paul speaks of our ways being in Christ. There's such a thing as our ways being in Christ, and this would be the way.
And we find that more is accomplished by example than by words. I think we all admit that. And so he says to Timothy in verse 12, Let no man despise thy youth, but be thou an example of the believer in Word, in conversation. That is a matter of life.
In love, in spirit.
I thought of the day in which we live, how important the spirit is, the spirit of a man.
You know.
We can say things ever so right, and if our spirit isn't right, it just almost neutralizes everything. And so, especially in these last days, the Lord presses very much that our spirit be right.
And so he says to Timothy, your spirit, faith, purity, oh, it's so important. Purity is so important in relation to testimony, in relation to, to going on with the Lord.
Thought of the verse in Isaiah says that be clean that bear the vessels of the Lord.
Now, sometimes when a soul gets a little away from the Lord, there's a tendency to get perhaps quite strong in service.
But uh.
The Lord presses the fact of purity. I remember my mother once saying she it was years and years ago. She said she went shopping one day and she saw a dress in the showcase.
And there was a sign on this dress.
Slightly soiled but greatly reduced. I I get amused when I think of that, but how true that is. Slightly soiled but greatly reduced. And that's what happens. And so.
The word press is so strong for purity.
And then verse 15, Meditate upon these things. Give thyself wholly to them. Now it's one thing to give our time, but another thing to give ourselves. Give thyself holy to them, that thy profiting may appear to all.
Take heed unto thyself. How? How? This suppresses that to heed to thyself and to the doctrine. We may reverse that. Take heed to the doctrine and myself, but it's the other way around. Continue in them. For in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee. Now we've heard of salvation of sinners, sinners getting saved, but this is Saints getting saved.
And I think of that, how important it is.
And how?
Saints, as it were, are falling, by the way, and they need to be saved.
I sometimes say why get a lot of other recruits if we can't save those that we have?
Well, Timothy was told to continue in these things to save himself, and then that hurt him.
So this is very practical in relation to say we should we say a young man, though we all fit in that I could never say that I am above these things.
He that hath clean hands shall grow stronger and stronger. It says, I believe in the Book of Job.
Now it turned to First Peter 5.
And there we see that.
That exampleship is pressed also in connection with leadership.
00:05:00
Now chapter five of first Peter, the elders which are among you, I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed. Now notice what it says to the elder. Feed the flock of God, which is among you.
Feed the flock of God.
You know we used to run cattle.
And if there was pasture for them to eat, one wire would hold the cows with electric wire, of course, but one electric fence would hold the cattle. But if there was no food in there, you could put all kinds of wires around the the pasture and they would break out. Well, it's that way. And this brings an exercise, doesn't it? Feed the flock of God?
And then it says taking the oversight not by constraint, but willingly.
Not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind, neither as being Lords over God's heritage, but being in samples or examples to the flock. So here we get. If we want to put this in another age bracket that includes some of us older ones, there is the word but being.
Examples to the flock now. It's the kind of a thankless job, we might say.
I remember Brother Al Larson said you want to be happy, preach the gospel. If you want to have your heart broken, shepherd the Saints.
And so it says here. But there is a day of reward coming when the Chief Shepherd shall appear. Ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
And then there's one more verse. Likewise a younger submit yourselves and to the elder, yeah, all of you be subject 1 to another.
And be clothed with humility. Well, here's this verse just brings us all right together. And none of us would.
Would say, well, look down somebody else's back and say you better take care of your side of things. I think we all need to take care of our own side. But with this, I'd like to turn to the 20th of Deuteronomy, which first takes up maybe the character of the of the young man.
Now let's say at this point I don't want to say one thing that we're discouraging a young man from growing.
Nothing from searching the word.
That one moment from taking him away from any of these things. But I think in this chapter we get a little insight as to how God deals with with each one of us and especially should we say with with a young man here.
Now there's going to be conflict in the land. You can't get away from it. The whenever there's a going on with the Lord in any way, there's going to be conflict. It's going to come from Satan.
6th chapter of Ephesians. There is spiritual wickedness in high places, until there's always this pressure against any testimony of the Lord. So there's going to be conflict. So it says, when thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and see his horses and Chariots and a people, more than thou, be not afraid of them.
For the Lord thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
And it shall be when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people.
Now this is all the side of encouragement. The priest shall come.
And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies.
Let not your heart faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be terrified because of them. For the Lord your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you. Well, here is the priest now, the priestly side, as it were. It comes along and speaks a word of encouragement, like Paul spoke to Timothy, he said.
God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of love and a sound mind. And be not ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner. It just seems like the priest, as it were, comes in and speaks words of encouragement.
00:10:09
And I believe that the priestly side here speaks.
Of that side where those words of encouragement, it's like Paul speaking to Timothy, so.
There is always the the encouraging side and we have to be real careful just to cut somebody down, say well, you're, you're worthless. But the point is.
There is a sign of encouragement that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but He of love and of a sound mind.
And we are not to be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner.
But now there is another one approaches on the scene in verse five. It's not the priest now, but it's the officers shall speak unto the people, saying, what man is there that hath built a new house and hath not dedicated it? Let him go and return to his house. Must he die in the battle? And another man dedicated?
Well, now this is a different picture, isn't it?
It's not now the priest, but it's the officers of the people that come out and they apply as it were a personal test and.
As much as to say no, there's a man that may have built a house now the house is a structure of truth that we might have and praise the Lord if we are exercised enough to have a structure of truth but when he's pressing here is the fact that if you have.
Their structure of truth and have not lived in it. You are in real danger of dying in battle, in real danger being overcome. And I think we're aware of this, perhaps everyone, especially us that are older, because we have experienced at times where we have not really made the truth good to ourselves, We have not really lived in it.
And consequently, there's been disaster.
And so I think of it the the priests like Timothy, Paul talking to Timothy, but the officers of the people, I think of Paul talking to Mark and the 15th of Acts, you know, here was Mark and Barnabas and Paul and they were making a decision about going on one of their missionary trips.
And.
You can just about here at the Barnabas says. Well, no, I'd like to take Mark along.
And it kind of crept leaked out, you know, it was Mark, was his relative.
And Paul says well.
Mark.
You remember a while back when you were on a missionary journey with us, you turned back.
He says, he said. I just don't think you're ready, Mark, for this, this. I don't really think you have lived in your house.
And so we know that there was a problem created over that. But nevertheless, I think the offices of the people here carry the thought of testing a person as to whether he is ready or not for the for the battle for the because it was really quite a serious thing for a man to die in battle.
And we learned something here. We learned something of the sovereignty of God. And I often say, if we're not clear on the sovereignty of God.
That we are not very stable now it says here another man let him go and return to his house lest he die in a battle, and another man dedicated. So God is going to have his work done.
God is not thwarted in any way because if I don't do it, somebody else will do it, and so he's going to have it done.
Well, you might say, well, you're kind of discouraging us from reading the word, from searching the word. No, not at all. It's important to build a house, and I just wish I had to build more of a house when I was a young man.
But turn to.
Turn to the 23rd chapter of this same book for just a little reminder.
00:15:02
And attest again, and I don't say anyone is violating this, but notice what it says in verse 24 of Deuteronomy 23.
When thou comest into thy neighbor's vineyard, then thou mayest eat grapes thy fill at thine own pleasure, but thou shalt not put any in thy vessel or in thy basket. What? Somebody asked me one day what that really means, and I was in a home where there was Mr. Darby's books on the shelf.
I don't know 34 volumes and the and the index.
And I said, well, there's Mr. Darbys vineyard.
Now you can go and eat all you want from that vineyard, but if you take it and put it in your basket, it looks like it's yours, looks like you raised it.
Now, if you have gone into the vineyard and you have eaten the grapes and you have assimilated them, you've got the good out of them, then you have something that you can pass on to somebody else. You have strength, as it were, to pass on and to help others. But if you just take it and put it in your basket, it's almost like handling it in more or less of an intellectual way.
And and this was really forbidden in in Deuteronomy 23.
So.
Again, I say it's wonderful that we have the written ministry and we need it and, and what would we have done without it? But as we we go into it, let's be careful that we don't, just as it were, take it and put it in our basket and then pass it out as though it's my own because it won't have the power.
Until.
You have assimilated it and it comes out as it were in your pathway, as we had in Timothy.
Now, maybe an example of that would be in Mark, I think it's the 14th chapter. Yeah. Mark 14. You see, there's a time coming where going is going to be rough. You know, there always is. We're put to the test.
We're mentioning before the meeting that God tests us on everything we put out. Now in verse 50, the test came.
The Lord was taken and he was led away and then verse 50 says they all forsook him and fled.
But now notice verse 51. And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about him, about his naked body. And the young men laid hold on him, and he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.
Well, what? What was the matter here? Lennon, you know, speaks of practical righteousness.
But what was the matter with having a linen cloth cast about you? Well, it was something that he never wore. He had the linen cloth cast about him, but he had never worn it. Now in the next chapter, you have a man.
Is it the 16th chapter? Probably yes, the 16th chapter.
You have a man that's clothed in a white.
Gold.
Verse 5.
And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment, And they were frightened. And he said unto them, what a message he gave them, Be not afraid.
You seek Jesus, NASA, which is crucified. He is risen.
Not here. Behold the place where they lay him. Oh, what a difference to have just a linen cloth cast about you, or if you're wearing it, whether or it has come part of you. And if this linen cloth, it just cast about you, somebody can come along and pull it off just at a very inopportune time. And.
How how humiliating it is and how disheartening.
So the Lord would spare us from that to live in your house is something like wearing wearing them in them, not just having having it cast about you where you more or less would appear to have it as it were so in this verse.
00:20:22
And again, I say by no means would I discourage searching the word or the ministry, but.
Let's remember, it's a wonderful thing to live in it. A while back I heard a young man open up the book of Ephesians, the 1St chapter. And remarkably so. But it proved that the man wasn't really living in that. And so if there's no power in it, there's no power in anything that you and I would put out that has not become part of us.
It's just somehow the Spirit of God does not link his power and approval with it. If if I'm not living in that, in that house as it were now, I.
This doesn't mean look for perfection. I never like to give the idea that the Lord even looks for perfection because he doesn't. But he does look for a right spirit and he looks for self judgment and an acknowledgement as to how many times the perhaps the 1St man asserts himself and we don't really recognize him.
Well, now you come to another test. The officer isn't through yet, you know he.
And that's like we mentioned the officers like Paul saying to Mark, I just don't think you're ready Mark. And I believe that faithfulness of Paul to Mark resulted in Mark's restoration. A number of years later, Mark was restored. But Barnabas, as we far as we know, I don't think Barnabas ceased to serve the Lord, but he was no more in the public for some reason or other.
Now it says, and what man is he that hath planted a vineyard and hath not eaten of it? There again, you've planted a vineyard, but you haven't eaten of it yet. Let him also go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man eat of it. Well, turn to Leviticus 19, I think maybe.
To get an idea what's meant by planting a vineyard?
Yeah, verse 23 And when ye shall come into the land, and shall have planted all manner of trees for food, then ye shall count the fruit thereof as uncircumcised. Three years.
Three years shall it be as uncircumcised unto you. It shall not be eaten all.
But in the fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be holy, to praise the Lord with all.
And the fifth year ye shall ye eat of the fruit thereof.
That it may yield unto you the increase thereof. I am the Lord your God. Well, will we learn from that? Well, one thing we would learn, that you would have to be at least five years in the land before you could eat of your own vineyard.
And I believe it's instructive because the first three years the fruit was unedible, it was uncircumcised, it's called. And I believe those three years are a process that you and I go through, that we learn that in me, that is in my flesh dwelleth no, no good thing. And the very thought of three is resurrection. 3 You come, as it were.
To to a new creation and think of what goes on of the the.
Problems and all that goes on in those three years as the Lord is seeking to teach us again and again, where the flesh asserts itself and and the Lord shows that it had no place. And then you come to the 4th year and it was all given to the Lord on the 4th year.
Now isn't this the result? When I learned that in me that is, in my flesh dwelleth no good thing? Then I say, well, everything belongs to the Lord, all the glory is to the Lord, everything is His. Now we might say that with our mouths, you know, everything's the Lord, but have we really entered into the fact that if it weren't for the Lord, then we would have nothing?
00:25:14
So all the fruit is given to the Lord the 4th year.
Well then, beautiful, the Lord turns around the fifth year and he gives it back to you. But it's given back on altogether, a different ground. Now it's given back on the ground, should we say, of resurrection. It's given back.
In such a way that we can enjoy it and have it without it affecting us the wrong way. So the man that planted a vineyard, it took a while before he really got the benefit of that for himself. And you know, the vineyard speaks of joy especially and.
I believe it's true when we're talking to before this meeting about certain ones.
Trying to be happy, trying to push certain things, and yet down in their souls they have not experienced the real joy of the Lord. And so it's because we have maybe jumped over those first three years and have not really come to the end of ourselves. And then to give the blessed Lord all the credit, all the glory, and then when you turn, when he turns around, he gives it back to you. It's so different.
It's not now something that I got, but it's something that the Lord gave me. Well, that's the the.
The next one, Now there's three, and I mean the third one. And what man is there that hath betrothed the wife, and hath not taken her? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her.
Well, perhaps your thought is better than mine on that, but I thought of it in this way. The thought of marriage is the thought of increase.
And it's the thought of increase at home.
I thought of how wonderful if I or any of us could be used for a little profit and increase in our own assembly in our own homes.
That would be the first place, wouldn't it too, that I might, I might be profitable at home. And it's wonderful the thought of being profitable first in our own home and then profitable in our own home gathering and then launch out maybe other places, but sometimes people go clear across the country to serve the Lord and they have never.
Showed any interest at home? Well, I believe that the warning here is that if we're going to get established and we're going to get our feet on the ground, that it has to start at home.
So this was another test and again the statement is.
Unless they die in battle and another man taker, I'm always going to have his work done. But.
It's not going to be done by disobedience in any way. It's by according to His word and by obedience to the word. Now this final Test, and the officer shall speak further unto the people and.
And shall they shall say, What man is there that is fearful and faint hearted?
Let him go and return to his house, lest his brethren's hearts faint as well as his.
Well, you know, it makes me think of one man fearful and afraid can make ten others fearful and afraid. And so we have to really be careful about hanging crepe. I sometimes call it that, just looking on the dark side. I was over in Toledo.
A year ago and.
Oh, that was the one person there just talking as though the world had come to an end and there was no hope. There was nothing left and all that kind of a thing. Everybody was not honest and this type of thing, well.
A person like that can affect a lot of others and so we have to be careful about the side of being fearful and afraid.
Now they had no place in the army of Israel. A man that was fearful, and afraid he was. He was told to go home. And the only place where I remember this to be used was in Gideon's case.
00:30:08
And Gideon.
He was leading an army of.
I forgot now 33,000 maybe, But the Lord said, well, that's too much, too many. And so he applied the test. He said whoever's fearful and afraid, go home.
Now again, just ponder that expression, fearful and afraid, and how easy the enemy can use that to to just take the starch out of everybody. But then they were, I think 20,000 left after he applied that. And so he applied the next test he taught, brought him down to the water and he had him drink water.
And as they drank water, one of them went on this side.
And then one on that side, and you might say, well, how would drinking water determine who would be in Gideon's army or not? The way that they drank water, that's about as insignificant thing as there is. I know in the harvest field you maybe have a dozen men. They all drink water different.
Some just go up and down and others take their time but but in this case this is what decided it and I believe now I sometimes say I see the Lord using some maybe.
Maybe should I say a very common insignificant brother, and of course I am that too, but I say I wonder why he doesn't use me. He uses him and he doesn't use me. Well, I believe that the drinking water is probably the most insignificant thing that there is. And I believe that is what the Lord tests us on, is what you might say, the very insignificant things.
I think in many cases you know scripture speaks of.
Well, it has some even words like be courteous. You like to run across a person that's courteous. You know, sometimes maybe they don't have it coming, but but a courtesy is a wonderful thing, obedience, rebuke, not an elder. The elder is to is to be an en sample all those things.
And so this is really what?
What decides whether you're going to be in Gideons army or not is the way you do little things, and I just can't encourage that too much because perhaps you're looking at a man that failed the worst in that kind of a thing. But I have noticed at home and I've been gone.
Sometimes months at a time.
But those that are taking over the ministry and the service of the Saints of most of us older ones were gone. Most of them were in Phoenix.
Were those that were the Lord was using, were those that had their hands in the dishwater at the all day meeting, those that swept the floor, those that cleaned off the tables, those that set the chairs in order, Those are the ones God is using today. So I believe it's something to encourage us that God discerns and He decides things as to the way I do little things, not the way I do big things.
Because I might be out of my place. So the young man, if we allow me to use the term here.
He should build a house. Yeah, but live in it. You know, somebody said to me the other day, well, that's a lot of nice truth, but does it work? Does it work? I don't see it working for you.
Well, if truth doesn't work, it really isn't truth.
But truth does work.
But it doesn't work unless I really have it. Well, now let's turn over perhaps a word to those of us that are older in the 17th chapter of this same book. Now in this portion, verse 14.
You get the thought of a king, you get the thought of leadership, when thou art come unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, and shall possess it, and shall dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me.
Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the Lord thy God shall choose.
00:35:01
Now God had a king in mind. You know, the Lord Jesus is a king, and God had a king in mind, and God has leadership in mind.
A St. you know, are like sheep, but they need a leader, they need leadership, and so this is a word for leadership.
In the first place it says, whom the Lord thy God shall choose.
Now if you would turn to Acts 20, you would read a verse like this. Take heed to the flock of God over which the Holy Ghost hath.
Made you overseer, I think. Maybe even says feed the flock of God over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseer. So that would be first, wouldn't it? Now we're living in days of weakness, I'll admit. And you don't really.
See all these things like they should be, and it's a wonder it isn't. A lot less we might say, but still this is instructive. The first thing is over which the Holy Ghost have made you overseers. Now we find that the Father steps into the Son's place in some cases.
And maybe the Lord hasn't directed the thing that way at all, but that's the way it is.
And you accept it that way, or a man with a doctor's degree, he's up to step into that place. Well, you don't say it's right, but due to the government of God, we do often have that type of a thing. But just from the instructive side here, the thing that is said here, that it was one over which the Holy Ghost have made you overseers.
And then it says further.
Who the Lord thy God shall choose one from among thy brethren, shalt thou set king over thee. Thou mayest not set a stranger over thee which is not thy brother. So the one in oversight must be a brother.
Well, what is a brother? What's the meaning of a brother? Well, I often quote Mr. Penfield in this, but he said if you want to know what a word means, go to the first time in Scripture.
Where it's given and you get the definition. And so let's just turn over to the 4th of Genesis and get the what a brother is.
That's the first time it's mentioned, and it's mentioned a number of times.
But there's one thing that's rather remarkable about this, that Abel is called a brother 7 times and Cain is never called a brother. So Cain did not answer to the expression of a brother, but notice you can count them for yourself.
Verse two. And she again bear his brother Abel.
And then look at verse 8. And Cain talked with Abel his brother. And it came to pass when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not Am I my brother's keeper? And he said, What hast thou done? The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
And.
Art thou, and now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brothers blood from thy hand? Well, I'm sure there's at least seven times that Abel is referred to as a brother, but Cain is never called a brother. So what would you say a definition of a brother was? Well, one thing would be one that had the right sacrifice.
Abel offered a.
A sacrifice that had blood and fat.
That would be one thing, and then the other definition would be or the other part would be one that sought the welfare of others.
Now that's a very evidence. You know, I'm glad that there are those that sought my welfare. They were brothers. They were brothers in the sense of the word. And we need to be brothers. We need to seek the welfare of one another. And this is what characterizes a brother. And that's the reason the one that they chose for to be their ruler was to.
00:40:17
Be a brother.
No, we don't choose overseers.
I mean, somebody here don't say, well, I'm an overseer here, no, but you're not an assembly long before you know who they are and.
Timothy at one time did choose overseers, but that passed off of the scene. They're not chosen anymore, but it's really one that would answer to some of these moral qualifications. Is he really a brother? And.
Is the one that the Lord has put in that place.
Well, now there's a warning to the leadership again.
But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to the end that he should multiply horses. For as much as the Lord hath said unto you, ye shall henceforth return no more that way.
Now what would it mean to to get horses, as it were? Well, the horse speaks of natural strength. Natural.
Something that you?
Force a situation there a horse is strong, a horse is attractive and how easy it is in a way to use this kind of a thing in leadership some.
Human.
Kind of thing.
Now, sometimes you find a man that's able to run a crew of men very well.
If I may be a doctor, you may find a lawyer. And so they come into leadership and they operate things just like they would in business. Well, that's the thought of multiplying horses. You cannot do that in the assembly. It may work good out in the construction field and on the farm and so forth, but it does not work in the assembly.
You know the Lord is there and you say, Lord, what shall we do?
How shall we handle this? And that's the spirit that we should have. But not to multiply horses, to get natural force and natural strength to do that. Because what happens is you 'cause people to go back to, to Egypt.
How many times, perhaps some of us have been guilty of turning a person back into Egypt by some some of these?
Ways that were really not of the Lord. I don't say anything I got ever happened here. Don't take me wrong. It's just the point that the word of God is given for instruction and maybe we can get some help from these, but the word is that if you multiply horses, if you're going to bring an organization and force things, the first thing you know, people are going back where they came from back to Egypt.
And there's a real warning against that now. It says neither shall he multiply wives to himself.
That is heart turn, not away. Now what would the wives be?
Well, the wives speak of affection and.
How solemn to have divided affection and leadership.
Now I am aware as like all over the country, that almost every assembly is related somehow. There's a lot of relatives in it and there's some that are not related. And so you sometimes hear this.
This complaint and I I don't really take it serious. It may be some truth to it that the leadership favors their own relatives more than they favor the rest of us. Well, sometimes that's just an unrest for unsatisfied spirit. But there is a warning that we are not to have divided affection. A multiplying of wives. You can hardly think of anything worse, can you, then multiplying wives?
I often appreciate Isaac that way. He had one wife.
And that's really a wonderful type of Christ in the church.
Well then, it says, neither shall he greatly multiply to himself sober and gold. Now this is a warning too, in the assembly, in leadership. And the world has a phrase, money talks, but really, money doesn't talk in the assembly. It has no voice in the assembly. I might promote a man with riches, but the word of God doesn't.
00:45:20
And so this again is a warning to us in relation to leadership.
Well, then if that's the more or less the negative side, but now we come to the positive side.
Now it says here verse 18 And it shall be when he sitteth upon the throne of his Kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in the book of that which is before the priest and the Levites. Yeah, each king that came to the throne, he was to take the original copy and copy it out. And the next one that came to the throne was to take the original copy and copy that out.
And the next one, and so on. But you can see why, because supposing the first king would make a copy of the law, and naturally speaking, he would make a number of mistakes. Well, the next one copying it would make his mistakes plus some of his own. And so by time you get down the line, you would hardly recognize it. And this is what's happened to among us.
In this world, the the Bible has been translated and retranslated until.
You get ahold of some of these modern copies, you can't. You hardly recognize them. And So what a warning it is to return to the original. And I don't discount.
Mr. Darby's translation in any way I think is the most valuable book, but I still feel that God is honored the King James, and that that it seems to be of the Lord to stick chiefly.
To it we have the other for reference but but.
It's just sad to see what some of the young men and young ladies are picking up and using even in the meeting to read. They're just the beauty is gone. They're such a beauty in this book right here in front of us.
And that can be easily destroyed because when man puts his thoughts in, it's, he puts it in so the natural man can understand it. This is his aim. He wants to put out a book that the 1St man can understand. But you know, the word of God is spiritually understood. And what we have this afternoon, it wouldn't be worth anything if we couldn't see the spiritual teaching.
This well, he was to copy it and it says furthermore.
And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein over the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statues to do them.
That his heart be not lifted up above his brother. Now there's a real warning in leadership, isn't it? That our hearts might not be lifted above our brethren?
And that He turned not aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, to the end that He may prolong his days in His Kingdom, He and his children in the midst of Israel.
Well, what a blessing that is to prolong the Kingdom.
And it's remarkable about this.
Other assemblies up and down the coast that have closed their doors never open again. Why are they dissolved? What has happened? It was a breakdown in leadership.
Go right down the line. Those of us that are a little bit acquainted and can see that it was not prolonged and.
Here by obedience to the Word of God.
Why? The testimony is going to be prolonged, and by disobedience there's a danger that it it may not be.
So we have now.
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The young man to live in his house.
To eat of his own vineyard.
To bring forth fruit at home.
And we have for leadership.
That he must be one chosen of the Lord. He must be a brother.
One that has a true care for others. Oh, how the Lord delights in a care for others. Because that's what he had. He had a care in others. He found the the man that was going from Jerusalem to Jericho and he found him had fallen among thieves and he was there to pick him up and take him. And so he was to be a brother and then not multiply horses.
Use natural means in the assembly.
And divided affection and that wealth.
In itself is right. I don't say it's wrong, it's needed, but for that to have a voice in the assembly like it has in the world, it has no place and then we need to write the word of God and the best way to write the word of God would be like a Corinthians 2 Says that ye are the epistles of Christ.
Known and read of all men.
Nearness to God Brbnk
Address—T. Roach
DISCLAIMER: The following has been auto-transcribed. We hope it will help you to find the section of this audio file you are looking for.
Like to.
Look at some scriptures that bring before us the.
Position that we have as being near to.
The Lord, the access that we have.
And perhaps we all realize what the scripture says.
Very, very plainly that we are accepted in the beloved.
That we are near to God, but I don't think we.
Realize this until we see the distance that an Israelite was from God and how all those things that would keep him at a distance have been done away in Christ.
And therefore we are brought near.
Now if we go back to the Tabernacle and the Old Testament, we find that in the Holy of Holies.
Was the place that God dwelt. He lived there among the people, but the people did not have access. Even the priests could not come into that place, and the high priest only once a year.
God is holy.
And he would make the people to feel that and realize that they were all kept at a distance and none could come near, none could approach. There were seven, and we'll read of them, seven barriers to one entering into the very presence of God in the Tabernacle.
But I believe we can find a corresponding answer to that in the New Testament, of entrance and of closeness. Perhaps we'll start then with a verse of Numbers 3.
Sorry, the first one is the numbers 2.
A second chapter of Numbers.
And this has to do with where the people pitch their tents, Tabernacle being in the center of the camp and the people roundabout.
Beginning at verse one, it says, And the Lord spake unto Moses, and unto Aaron, saying, Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch his by his own standard, with the end sign of their father's house. Far off about the Tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch So the 1St.
Indication of distance is at least a barrier to the entrance into the presence of God. With this great distance they were to camp a far off none dare come near.
And now the second one is found in the third of numbers.
And verse 38.
For those that encamp before the Tabernacle toward the east, even before the Tabernacle of the congregation eastward.
Shall be Moses and Aaron and his sons keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel, and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
There we have the 2nd barrier. Here were the priests ranged in front of the entrance.
To the Tabernacle, and no one could approach that Tabernacle, not even an Israelite without a sacrifice. But it says a stranger that comes near shall be put to death.
Well, we'll see in the New Testament that as Gentiles, we were strangers. Strangers.
So that's the second barrier. Now, the third one we find given to us in Exodus. Indeed, the remainder of these seven are in Exodus, the 27th chapter.
In the 16th verse.
For the gate of the court shall be in hanging of 20 cubits.
Of blue and purple and scarlet and fine twined linen wrought with needlework.
The gate.
Now we sometimes think of a gate as an opening in the fence, but this courtyard?
Was.
Fine linen and the gate was another curtain that barred the entrance to the casual entrance of anyone into that courtyard. Nevertheless, we see in the materials and the colors of that gate a figure of the Lord Jesus. And so we are getting a hint even back here in the Old Testament where man was kept at a distance.
00:05:03
That God was going to make a way of approach.
Through the Lord Jesus Christ, where even in the gate is a figure of the Lord Jesus. Now we say it was a barrier. In one sense it was it was also the entrance to that holy place. But in in other sense it is a barrier. Now we'll find the the next item.
That you would come to if you went through that gate would be the brazen altar.
And we have that referred to back in the 27th chapter.
On the first verse.
Thou shalt make an altar of Shittimwood, 5 cubits long and five cubits broad. The altar.
Shall be Foursquare. The height thereof shall be 3 cubits.
And so on. I don't believe we need to read the whole description of it, but.
This was actually the next.
Barrier to a person approaching God. There was that brazen altar, and the only way an Israelite could approach that altar was with a sacrifice. The sacrifice, well, we know it speaks to us of the cross, cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Well, we'll see that in more detail in the New Testament.
But beyond that point?
Only a priest could go. A commoner could not pass beyond that brazen altar.
But a priest, in going beyond this, would first of all be confronted by an item called the labor. We read of that over in the 30th chapter.
This 30th chapter has to do with the worship with the incense.
Which speaks of worship.
And we have people redeemed, giving their redemption money.
And then in the 17th verse of the 30th of Exodus, and the Lord spake unto Moses, saying.
Thou shalt also make a labor of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal, And thou shalt put it between the Tabernacle of the congregation of the and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein. For Aaron and his son shall wash their hands and their feet thereat. When they go in into the Tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water that they.
Not for when they come near to the altar, to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the Lord.
So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not, and it shall be a statute forever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations.
Get an idea of the importance of this labor? Because to avoid it meant death. To pass by it without washing the hands and the feet meant death.
And so it proves its importance by the penalty for passing by it and avoiding it. It's we'll see a picture to us of self judgment, of that washing away of defilement that we have in this world.
Now back to the 26th chapter, we have the next.
Barrier to the presence of God. The door that hanging in the front of the actual Tabernacle. The building within the courtyard.
In verse 36 of Exodus 26.
And thou shalt make and hanging for the door of the tent of blue.
And purple and scarlet and fine twined linen wrought with needlework.
And thou shalt make for the hanging 5 pillars of Sheddham wood and overlay them with gold, and their hooks shall be of gold.
And I shall cast 5 sockets of brass for them again.
We find this door and its materials.
Fine twined linen showing the perfections of the Lord Jesus.
The blue is heavenly character, the scarlet for the.
The purple rather his royalty and the scarlet being Israel's color.
All of these things brought in this door, the hanging which was called the door.
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And then behind that was the veil, and we read of that in the 32nd, 33rd verse.
And thou shalt hang up the veil under the tatches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the veil the Ark of the Testimony, And the veil shall divide unto you between the Holy Place and the Most Holy. And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the Ark of the Testimony and the Most Holy Place, And thou shalt set the table without the veil, and the Candlestick over against the table.
On the side of the Tabernacle toward the South, and I shall put the table on the north side.
Well, there then are those seven.
Barriers that would keep man at a distance because sin had come in and God was holy. And now, as we turn to the New Testament and see how God has taken away of those barriers, we must realize that God is still holy.
But now that we have the light of the New Testament.
The shed blood.
Which brings us near. We can come near with boldness, and we're invited to come.
Were invited to come, and so this hymn that we have been singing, that we are so near we could not nearer be.
We begin to see the meaning of this.
Imagine an Israelite that would try to walk into that Tabernacle without a sacrifice and try to break in. Why, it would mean death. If it meant death to a priest to pass by the labor, what would it have meant to an Israelite, let alone a Gentile such as you and I, to go into that place? Oh, God would maintain His Holiness.
And he is just as holy today.
But now let's just turn over.
If you're pleased to Ephesians chapter 2, remembering that the first of those barriers was the great distance.
The people were to be set back.
From the entrance of the Tabernacle.
The second of Ephesians.
And verse 11.
Remember.
That ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called uncircumcision by that which is called the circumcision in the flesh.
Made by hands that at that time ye were without Christ.
Being aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise.
Having no hope and without God in the world, but now in Christ Jesus.
Ye who sometimes were far off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ, for He is our peace, who have made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall partitioned between us, and so on. Well, we find here that though we were Gentiles, and time passed.
You know, a believer.
Believer today is no longer either a Jew or a Gentile. We have three classes named in First Corinthians 10 where Paul says give no offense to the Jews, to the Gentiles, or to the Church of God.
So we're not really Gentiles anymore, nor Jews, but we're members of the Church of God, believers in the Lord Jesus.
Are no longer Gentiles, so he says in time passed Gentiles in the flesh in a position where it says a far off.
Having no hope and without God in the world.
What a distant possession we occupied as Gentiles in this world, as those who were without Christ at one time in our lives, without Christ far off, but now by the blood of Christ brought 9 brought near. Oh, it took the death of the Lord Jesus to bring us near and to make this way. And so with all of these.
Barriers that we found in the Old Testament.
With in Christ and we are invited to come near. Now here is the first one.
Then that distance is done away with, and we who are sometimes or one time a far off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
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Well, that's enough to make us rejoice. It should be to think that we're brought near, near to a holy and a righteous God. How can it be?
Well, it just shows us that when the Lord Jesus.
Takes our sins away. When that blood is that has been shed as applied, we're cleansed from all sin.
We're given a new life, all of these things come together, and as we find that we're brought near where we know that he has completed the work because he could not have one sin in his presence. We all know it was one sin that put Adam and Eve out of the garden.
And there shall not enter into that holy city, not one thing that defile it.
And so if we're brought near, it proves that God is satisfied with the work of Christ in our souls.
That every sin has been done away with and that we're pure. We're ready to come into His presence.
That says to our standing, of course.
Our position before God.
Now the second of those barriers was the You remember now the priests that were encamped in front of the.
The gate of the Tabernacle, and they were there to guard, and a stranger that came near was to be put to death. Now let's go down a little bit in the second chapter of Ephesians.
Maybe we should just continue where we left off.
At the 15th verse, having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances for Jamaican himself of Twain, 1 Newman, so making peace.
That he might reconcile both. That's both Jew and Gentile unto God.
In one body, by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby, and came and preached peace.
To you which were far off, and to them that were nigh, and through him.
We both have access by 1 Spirit unto the Father. Now, therefore ye are no more strangers.
And foreigners, but fellow citizens with the Saints and of the household of God, and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, and whom all the building fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord, in whom ye also are builded together for inhabitation of God.
Through the Spirit.
Well, if a stranger who came near was to be put to death, we learn here that we're no longer strangers.
As Gentiles, we were strangers, it says in Romans. What advantage?
Half a Jew as much every way, because he had the word of God that was revealed at that time. He had the word of God, but the Gentile didn't have that. The Gentiles had idols and they did not have a revelation from God.
But now we're brought near. We're no longer strangers and foreigners.
We know that there are many who these days possess Bibles and they have the word of God and therefore are responsible.
And they haven't believed it. But we can speak now of those such as the Ephesians Saints that Paul was addressing.
Those who had acted in faith, those who had received the Lord Jesus, had been brought nigh by his blood. And now he says no more strangers.
When we go to a place that we haven't been to before, we really feel like strangers, don't we? If you go into a city you've never been in before and you don't know the names of the streets, you hardly know the directions, and you sense that you're a stranger there. And you can spot a stranger because he has that look on his face of being puzzled and looking around.
God doesn't want us to be in his presence like that.
He wants us to feel comfortable there, and so we're no longer strangers. He's taken that stigma away from us. Strangers and foreigners, No, but we're fellow citizens with the Saints and of the household of God.
So we see that the second of those barriers is done away with now. We're no longer strangers, we're no longer at a distance.
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Then the third of those barriers was the door.
Was the gate rather the gate to the courtyard? And we find a verse in Matthew the 7th of Matthew that refers to a gate, and rather than being a barrier, we have an invitation to come in.
13th verse of Matthew 7.
Enter Ye in at the straight gate.
Where wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction.
And many there be which go in thereat, because straight is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be but find it. Now some of you might wonder what it means a straight gate.
Because we don't generally speak that way anymore. But if you remember in geography.
There is something that's called a straight. A narrow opening of water between two pieces of land is called a straight. It's a narrow place, and the straight gate is the narrow gate. It's narrow.
And yet we are invited to go in. It says few there be that find it, few there be that find it. Everyone finds the broad Rd. the wide gate, and many are content to follow the crowd and to go on in that broad Rd. But it says enter ye in at the straight gate.
Might be a good point just to pause and mention to those who are here who might still be strangers to God's grace. I thought this is an invitation for you. Now God would invite you to come into that walk that narrow path.
All that's not popular to walk a narrow path, but it's wonderful that that path is wide enough for you and the Lord.
To go on together, and it's the gate is narrow enough that you have to leave everything else outside your works, your thoughts. You can come in yourself, your sins forgiven and come in by trusting in the Lord Jesus. But rather now than having a barrier, a gate which is a barrier, we have an invitation here to come in and God is inviting He would.
You still tonight, you're still in your sins to come in and receive the Lord Jesus as your Savior. Come in and walk with Him on that narrow, that narrow way.
Sometimes narrow ways are difficult to follow.
And you might lose the trail, but we have the word of God.
To guide us and in the 23rd Psalm he speaks about.
Leading us in the paths of righteousness.
And it's interesting to notice that Word has there. It doesn't mean necessarily a straight path.
But it's one that avoids the evil and the pitfalls, and it's clearly marked out in the Word of God the path that we are to follow, and we can't see all the way to the end in that path.
But it's a path of dependence. It's a path where we have to trust the Lord for every step.
And His word is a lamp to our feet and the light to our path, So He would lead us on a path of righteousness.
But we're invited to come in through that straight or narrow gate and to walk with him.
And now we've noticed too, that the next obstacle to the entrance of anyone to the presence of God in the courtyard of the Tabernacle was the brazen altar. The brazen altar was for the sacrifice, the sacrifice of animals.
There were bulls and goats and sheep that were offered there by the thousands, and those sacrifices could never take away sins.
Could never give a guilty conscience peace. And let's turn now to the 10th of Hebrews.
And we'll just read verses 11 and 12 with regard to.
The sacrifice that.
We have.
And every priest standeth daily, ministering and offering oftentimes.
00:25:02
The same sacrifices which can never take away sins, but this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever sat down on the right hand of God.
Now, if you were to read the details of that Tabernacle in the Old Testament, he would find no chair or bed or anything on which the priest could rest. It's true, we read of a mercy seat, but that is where God sat. That was where God was. There was nothing for the priest to sit on.
When things were out of order in Israel, we do find the priest Eli was sitting.
But the priesthood was about to be passed over in those days.
But we find nothing of God's order that called for a seat.
In the Tabernacle, why was that a priest was standing?
Daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices.
Which can never take away sins.
Well, that was a the figure.
Approving that the sacrifices were never sufficient, there always had to be another one and another one and another one, and it was all looking on to the one sacrifice which could and did and does take away sins. So we have the contrast of that in the 12Th verse.
But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins, with the comma there forever sat down on the right hand of God, we find the Lord Jesus, as to atonement, as to putting away sins, has sat down forever. He never will need to rise up again to offer a sacrifice. Isn't that wonderful?
The Lord Jesus has offered himself once, once for all.
And now he can sit down forever because that sacrifice is acceptable to God.
And it's important that we see this, that it was only one sacrifice.
Because if the Lord Jesus ever had to offer himself again.
It would show that the first sacrifice was not sufficient.
I know the first one wasn't proper and wasn't enough. Would the second one be? So you see, it had to be one sacrifice that was accepted by God, that satisfied the claims of God, and now the Lord Jesus can sit down forever and we can rest in that sacrifice. It is enough. It is what satisfies God. If God is satisfied, we can be satisfied as well.
So there was one sacrifice for sins, rather than the constant offering of those burnt sacrifices on the altar, that brazen altar.
But it was a figure of things to come. But now we no longer are dependent on the figure. We have the reality. We have the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus.
Well then, if we progress in this Tabernacle beyond that brazen altar, we would come to the labor. The labor.
We didn't read the verse, but in Exodus it also tells what the labor was made of.
It was made of brass, but it was made of the brass looking glasses.
It was shiny. And if that priest, Israelite priest, would walk up to that labor and look inside, whose face would he see? He would see his own, wouldn't he? He would see his own, his own reflection. And if we just turn now to John 13, we'll see a little bit of what that labor might stand for.
13th of John.
Start with verse three and read a few verses.
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God.
He riseth from supper and laid aside his garments and took a towel and girded himself. After that he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples feet, and to wipe them with a towel, wherewith he was girded.
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Then cometh he to Simon Peter, and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do, thou knowest not now.
But thou shalt know hereafter, Peter saith unto him. Thou shalt never wash my feet.
Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
Jesus said unto him, He that is washed needeth not safe to wash his feet, but is clean every whip, and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him. Therefore said he, are not all clean.
Well, this brings before us a use of the labor we have in Ephesians 526, the washing of water by the Word. So we know that the water is a picture, a figure of the word of God. And the Lord Jesus said to his disciples, What I do thou knowest not. Now they understood the literal thing of washing feet.
But he he meant something else because.
He said, What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter. So there was something else.
That the Lord Jesus had in mind, and for our present application we would see it as the application of the Word of God to our walk.
The feet were washed.
I walk. What does that mean?
Walk well. It's often referred to in Scripture as our life here, our lives here in this world. As we walk along in life's journey in this world, there are things that defile us. There are things that we can't avoid. We hear something, we see something we're working with, something we're hearing in school, and we're reading things in school that defile us.
And there are some awful things in the school books these days.
We need the Word of God to cleanse us from those things. Young people need that. Children need the Word of God. And it's wonderful if you're in a home where you read the Word of God together. Your father and mother read it to you. You read it for yourself when you're old enough.
And all it would be a wonderful thing if we all had a thirst for the Word of God and a desire to read it every day and apply it to ourselves. So the Lord Jesus used the water to wash the feet of his disciples.
The priest in the Old Testament, he had to Washington his hands and his feet.
His hands were occupied and sacrifices, and we've seen that the sacrifices were.
Were finished because the one sacrifice of the Lord Jesus has sufficed, but there still needs to be the washing of the feet, our walk, our lives here in this world. We need to have the word of God applied because although we may be cleansed from our sins and that is what the Lord said to Peter.
When Peter went from 1 extreme to the other and he said not my hands and my.
Not my feet only, but my hands and my head. The Lord Jesus said he that is washed.
Washed all over Needeth not safe to wash his feet, but is clean every whip.
And so those of us who have been cleansed in the blood of the Lord Jesus, we're fit for heaven.
But our lives here on this earth need the cleansing of the water of the Word.
Our hearts sprinkle from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water we need.
The washing of this Word of God, it purifies our thoughts. It tells us what is truth, and there are many things in the world today that would be confusing to us if we didn't have the word of God to show us what the truth is. We can't always explain things that are happening in the world, and sometimes we're asked questions of it. What about this movement and what about that one? We don't know all about those things, but we know the truth of the.
God, and it helps us to avoid those things that are contrary to it, as we've often perhaps heard an illustration of the bank tellers handling money. And they know good money so well that when they come across a counterfeit, they know it instantly. They don't study counterfeits because it always be another one coming along that might deceive them. But if they know what is true, they know the good money.
00:35:17
They handle it, they see it, they know instinctively when they come across one that isn't.
A true piece of money.
So we have the word of God that will give us the truth and will keep us pure. Now there's another verse in connection with the labor like to turn to. It's in First Corinthians 11.
It's in connection with the Lord's Table, but we can just take that 28th verse.
Connection with the labor being made of the looking glasses.
And that reflection of self, it says, But let a man examine himself.
And so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. Well, this boy definitely brings before us.
Self judgment, Self judgment. There's discipline at the table of the Lord. It might have to be carried out by others, but this is self judgment. Let a man examine himself, examine himself. What does it mean?
We came across one person.
It was a Christian lady.
It wasn't at the Lord's Table. She.
Was devout and she went to church.
And she said, I examine myself and I don't like what I see.
So she refrained from taking the Lord's Supper.
Well, it says here, let a man examine himself, and so let him eat that bread and drink of that cup. What should I do if I examine myself and I don't like what I see? Well, I should give up what I don't like. What I see is wrong. The washing of the water would tell me that this is wrong. And so I give it up. And I go on then with a clear conscience to remember the Lord.
But if I say well, I don't like what I see.
And I say, I better stay home, I better not go because this is inconsistent with being at the Lord's table. That's not what the verse is telling me. That's bringing my own will into it and saying, well, I don't like what I see, but I want to do it anyway. Isn't that what it's saying? What the Spirit of God would do would be to bring before us something that's not right so that we can give it up.
Expose it to ourselves from the Word of God.
And when we examine ourselves, we find and we find anything, we give it up so that we can go ahead with a clear conscience.
Remember the Lord? Well, this would be perhaps part of the truth brought before us by that labor, and that would then suit a person to go on further. And the next item would be that door, but close the way into the holy place. And we find that in John 10.
Familiar verse, perhaps, to all of us.
As we remember some of these verses from Sunday school, but the ninth verse of John 10 with the Lord Jesus says.
I am the door.
By me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out and find pasture.
Well, the Israelite was blocked. His view, even of what was inside that Tabernacle was blocked by that door.
And that door was a hanging of fine linen, and blue and purple and scarlet picture of the Lord Jesus. And here very plainly he says, I am the door, I am the door.
As we pass through that door.
In the Tabernacle we would find on the right hand side the table of Showbread.
On the left hand side.
The Candlestick and ahead of us would be the golden altar.
Well, what do these things teach us?
That table of Showbread, one place that's called the pure table. At least one place the pure table had on it 12 loaves and even when the Kingdom was divided.
And 10 tribes had gone away from the center. There were 12 loaves on that table.
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And later in their history, when the temple was rebuilt in Ezra's time and they offered a sacrifice at the dedication of the temple, the rebuilt temple, it says they offered 12 sin offerings. According to the number of the tribes of Israel, there were two tribes that had gone back parts of two. They offered 12 because they always had in mind the whole.
Nation of Israel, 12 tribes, and we come to the New Testament.
We find the Apostle Paul making reference to our 12 tribes.
He hadn't lost sight of the fact that there were 12 tribes, even though most of them were scattered and only a remnant of the two tribes was left. They had the 12 before them. Now, what do we have in Christian, in Christianity, we have a table with one loaf, one loaf on it. And what does that remind us of whenever we look at that? Oh, it's true. It reminds us of the body of the Lord that was given in death for us.
But it also reminds us that we, being many, are one loaf and one body. And so as we look at that one loaf, it ought to remind us of every believer in the Lord Jesus. We ought not to forget that there are many, many, indeed the majority of believers that are not present when we're remembering the Lord. There are places there, but they haven't occupied that place. And as we see that loaf, it ought to remind us.
Of the truth that there is one body.
And that.
Every believer is a member of that one body.
You know there's a time coming, the read of it in Second Thessalonians, when the Lord Jesus comes and all the believers will be gathered together unto him. What a privilege it is to be gathered together unto Him now, and to show forth His death in the appointed way, and to have a testimony bear witness to this fact in the world today, that there's one body with one loaf on that table.
Well, also within that holy place.
Was this Candlestick? It was the only light that was inside of that building. The seven lamps on that Candlestick.
And what does that teach us? That Candlestick, if we read the details of its construction.
We find that.
There is a #22 Connected with it. There were 22.
Flowers 22 knots, 22 blossoms.
22 Well, you know if you read the 119th Psalm, in many Bibles is divided up into sections, 22 sections, and in some Bibles is actually the character Hebrew letter at the head of each section. There were 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet, and in nearly every verse of the 119th Psalm we have the word referred to.
As in different forms, it may be law judgments.
Or the word and several other words that have the similar meaning. And so we're brought into brings before us, no doubt, the Word of God, the word of God. The lapse cause is really a lamp stand. The lamps were powered by the oil by oil, which is a figure of the Holy Spirit.
And here we have in our hands the light that guides us.
It's the Word of God and it was given by the Holy Spirit and you know that.
That Candlestick was beaten out of one piece of gold. It wasn't melted. It wasn't molten. It was beaten out of one talent of gold talent and believes about 100 lbs.
Now just imagine the impossibility of anyone today to make.
Such an elaborate thing as the Candlestick beaten out of one lump of gold. But it was a miracle. It was a miracle. But what about the Word of God? It was written over many centuries by many different men, and it all agrees together. It's one as that lampstand was one.
How could it be? Why? It's a miracle. It's a miracle that we hold in our hands this word of God.
That we have to guide us and give us light. It's all one. And yet it was.
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Was written over centuries by men that never saw one another.
Well, it's a work of God. Well then, at the back of this.
Holy Place was the Golden altar, and it says specifically that no sacrifice was to be offered on that golden offer altar. They never offered an animal or even a meat offering. A meal offering was never offered on it.
But the fire from it?
Fire on it was taken from the brazen altar, and the incense was put upon it, and it filled that place with the odor.
Of that incense, so the memorial of the sacrifice that was taking place.
At the brazen altar was brought in and put on that golden altar. Well, isn't that what worship is? When we come together to the presence of the Lord and we remember Him in death. It's his death that makes it so precious to think that he.
The creator of all things and.
Sustainer of the universe, the one who was beloved of the Father, and all that we can think of about the Lord Jesus. But he laid down his life there on Calvary's cross. Well, this is what we can bring to that golden altar and OfferUp as praise and Thanksgiving and just adoring His person.
This is what true worship is.
The dimensions might be significant too to think of. The size of the brazen altar was 5 by 5 by three, but that golden altar was one by one by two. I think if you work it out, you find it was that the brazen altar was over 37 times the size of the golden altar. Well, there are many who understand the cross.
But help you understand true worship.
It's a small thing compared with the understanding of the sacrifice, and yet it's what is valued by God. That's that sacrifice of praise to God, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name. Well, there was one more barrier to the presence of God and the Tabernacle, and that was the veil, the veil, and we read of that.
Couple of places in the New Testament we can look at Matthew 27.
See what happened to it when the Lord Jesus died.
What opened the way into that holiest of all?
Matthew 27 and verse 50.
Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
And behold, the veil of the temple was rent and twain from the top to the bottom.
Renton Twain from the top to the bottom. Now we've often heard that.
At least I can remember, brethren, Speaking of this, how that signified that it was God that opened that up. You know, there are no idle words in Scripture but tells us it was torn from the top to the bottom. There's a meaning connected with it. There's some reason for it. No doubt that is the reason that it was God who tore that It wasn't man. It tore from the top to the bottom. And just imagine those priests.
In one place that tells us that the 9th hour was the.
The hour of prayer. It was at the 9th hour that the Lord Jesus yielded up the ghost.
And therefore it was at the 9th hour that that veil was rent, and those priests.
That were in the temple at that time, praying how they must have been frightened.
To have that view into the holiest of all tradition tells us that they sewed it up again.
And their actions, and the actions indeed of many in Christendom, are of sewing up the veil and keeping us still at a distance from God.
But this signifies that the way into the holiest of all is now available. It's open to us. We can come into the very presence of God. Indeed, we're invited to come in the fourth of Hebrews were invited to come boldly to the throne of grace, and in the 10th of Hebrews to turn back there again.
We find that.
The veil is explained there.
Hebrews 10. Reading from the 19th verse.
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Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest.
By the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which he hath consecrated for us.
Through the veil, that is to say, his flesh.
And having an high priest over the House of God, let us draw near with a true heart and full assurance of faith, Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Well, now we find that the veil is His flesh. I like to think of it in this way.
The veil in the temple or in the Tabernacle.
Hid from view that holiest of all the place of God's presence.
The Lord Jesus, when he walked here, it says the veil is his flesh.
His flesh, so the woman at the well, she said.
He was a Jew, the man whose eyes were open, he said He's a prophet.
And various ones knew the Lord as a man. Nicodemus knew him as a teacher, as a good man. Oh true, they found out he was more than that because God would give them a glimpse behind that veil. But there was that man, the Lord Jesus Christ, walking in this world, the flesh, the form of his body as it were hiding from view, the deity.
It took faith to see that. It took faith to look beyond and to recognize that in this man was the Son of God. Well, the veil is rent. We see that now. Faith. It still requires faith to apprehend it that in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ we have access to the holiest of all. The veil is rent.
And our souls draw near. Perhaps we could sing that hymn in closing 136. I think it is.
The Red Heifer
I.H. Klassen
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And I think it's good to understand the setting of this truth of the red heifer.
Is because of this sacrifice or this?
This incident of the red heifer came in.
In the 39th year of the wilderness of the wilderness, they came to the end of the wilderness and.
Practically, and then this offering comes in.
And the reason it's so important is because that's where we are. We're right at the end of the wilderness. We're about ready to step into Canaan.
And.
The reason that this offering comes in to is because.
There is so much defilement if you stop and think in the wilderness. What was happening in the in the wilderness?
A plague would break out and 50,000 were slain in the plague.
And.
There have been many died before then, perhaps before. Well, there were different plagues and so every time you touch the dead body you were defiled.
Now in a sense to us a dead body is something that has no life, God worth.
And we're doing this all the time. I think that.
That.
Well, like.
I think you mentioned last night about it, even involvement with relatives. It's so easy to touch a dead body, something that has no like no spiritual life or nothing or something that won't help you on.
To the God Word, as it were. So this, this sacrifice comes in then at the end of the journey, and it speaks to us that God has made a provision as to how to meet the day in which we live. God has made provision, provision of cleansing.
So it says in verse 2, this is the ordinance of the law which the Lord hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me a red heifer without spot, where it is no blemish, and upon which never came a yoke. Now if you would read of the any of the other offerings, it's not that it it didn't say all those things it said without spot, yes.
Maybe without blemish, yes, but here it's without spot, without defect.
And really the word blemish.
And so.
It's a red heifer. No, the word red there means Ruddy.
It's the same word as you get a Song of Solomon where you have Ruddy or with David was Ruddy, it says, which would speak of hell. So it it must be a very healthy animal. And now it was a heifer. It wasn't a Bullock. Many cases they offered bullocks, but this was a heifer because the heifer speaks of state.
Our state of soul, where the Bullock speaks of our position.
What we have in Christ. They offered a book for a burnt offering.
But here it's its state, and so it isn't dealing here now with lost sinners in this chapter is dealing with Saints that have fallen.
Or become defiled.
And so they have heard was a heifer and then it says without spot that would be on the outside and without defect or blemish that would be on the inside.
No, I dressed up many, many animals for.
For eating, you know, and they may look perfect on the outside, but you, you open them up and you find some defects. Something isn't right. Well, that kind of animal couldn't have been used for this purpose. And so this speaks especially of the Lord Jesus, because he was without blemish outwardly and he was without defect inwardly.
The you know, Peter and Paul and John all gave witness.
You know, they said he did no sin in him was no sin.
Well, it's even Pilot and the thief.
They could just know him outwardly. But Pilate said, I find no fault in this man and the thief says this man have done nothing amiss. So this is the offering and we're all never came a yoke. Never came any yoke. Now again, you wouldn't get this in the offering in Leviticus. Don't say anything about it. 1 Coming under a yoke, but.
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The Lord Jesus.
And all that he went through never came under the yoke of any man. He never came under the influence of any man.
Even when he was teaching, as it were, the multitude, you know, came to hear him and he took a bolt and he thrust out in the water and he talked to people. Well, he never came under the influence of the people. Today, many a preacher comes under the influence of the audience. Remember a young man I grew up with?
He got saved and and he, he was really devoted to the Lord. And so he went his mother, so his mother's persuasion, he went to a seminary.
Well, of course we lost track of it and some years later my father bumped into him.
And he said, Leonard, what are you doing? He said. I've got a church over in Oakland, CA.
And my father said, oh, you've got a good opportunity to give the gospel, don't you, Leonard? He says, Mr. Clawson, if I go gave those people the gospel, I'd lose my job. Well, he was a man that came under the influence of the multitude.
So.
The Lord never did, and so it's a word to us. But we don't come, as it were, under the influence of man. But if we do well, there is cleansing.
Now the next thing you have Eliezer the priest. Now we want to remember the Elias of the priest is not a type of Christ. Sometimes he is, you might say, but here he is not a type of Christ because you find in verse seven that.
He washed his clothes and made his crushing water and was unclean until the Even so it couldn't be speak of the Lord, but I believe it's the priestly element in the assembly. In the assembly you have what you might call an element and it should characterize all of us, an element that cares for God's glory.
Now that's the priest. The mediator was interested in man, but the priest.
Interested, as it were, in the interests of God, and so he functioned. God works. So whenever problems arise or defilement, the first thing that's necessary is for the priestly element, as it were, to get a glimpse of the death of Christ. And so it says, There you shall give her unto iliage of the priest, that he may bring her forth without the camp.
And one shall slay her before his eyes. Well, how touching that is in a way, if in any way we could get a vision or a glimpse of the death of Christ.
Why don't you slay her before his eyes?
And if we see that, if we see the death of Christ, the sufferings of Christ is going to give us all together a different attitude in relation to, should we say, to help a man in his recovery.
Then verse four, an illegal the priest shall take on her blood that is with his finger and shall sprinkle of her blood directly for the Tabernacle in the congregation 7 times. Well, I think it's really wonderful to realize that there might be failure, there might be defilement, but that does not take us off on the ground of the work of Christ the shed blood.
It's it's the work of Christ is something that has brought us.
Saved us and.
Though we may fall and get defiled, we still are the Lords, and the blood has been applied. But anyway, again one shall burn the heifer in his sight. Her skin, her flesh, her blood, her dog. Shall he burn now again in no offering.
Chapter 19. University.
5.
Speaking of the priestly element in the assembly.
First of all, as it were, gets in the presence of the Lord, and sees something of the sufferings of Christ.
00:10:07
We want to slay her before his eyes. And verse three. And then here one shall burn the heifer in his sight.
And it speaks of burning her skin, her flesh.
But no offering was a blood burned. I don't think you could find another offering in scripture where the blood was burned, but here the whole thing was consumed.
And so it's really a more drastic picture of the death of Christ than any other.
Everything is consumed and then of course it's reduced to ashes. But what happens now to the priestly element in the assembly as they view the burning?
Well, they take anything that they might be able to. Gloria Cedar wood.
Or Hemphill or Scarlet. Everything we have goes into the fire. You know, sometimes we think we have a lot of prestige to hang on to our little authority or a little, a little place or something. But as we view the death of Christ in this way, we just, we don't say, well, you have to put it in the fire, No.
Spontaneous, when we ever get a vision of the death of Christ, the sufferings of Christ, we, as it were just for everything that we might have thought we had and put it in the fire. And I believe we see a little of that in the apostle Paul on the third of Philippians, when he took the best that he had and founded it refused.
Well then, the priest. So here we have the Father. It couldn't be the Lord Jesus Christ.
Even the priest, you know, the police never failed here. He hadn't fallen, he hadn't touched a dead body, but he got such a vision of the death of Christ that he even felt his own uncleanness.
And really, I believe that a man that really gets a vision of the death of Christ feels unclean us more than a man that has been defined.
And so this man bathed his flesh in water and washes his clothes. Now washing our clothes is very important because clothes big of our associations and our habits. And many times our associations and habits have brought us into difficult places and maybe even put us in places where we touch dead bodies, as it were and.
And we become defiled so.
There as you view the death of Christ, any of us, we might be a priest, we might be clean, but still as we view the death of Christ, it's real searching as to our associations. Are we are we hanging on to something that would really hinder us from.
From the reality of this and then it says he shall be unclean until the even, while they get that expression quite often unclean till the even. But what it means is the complete day, a complete cycle of exercise has Ruddy's course.
Well then, you have he that burneth her shall wash his clothes and water, and bathe his flesh in water, and shall be unclean until the evening. Here's a man that hadn't touched a dead body, and yet as he handled those ashes, he felt his uncleanness again. I hope you understand what I mean.
When you when you get a glimpse of what Christ suffered, but you feel what you are even seeking to go on.
And now you come to another man, and a man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the hammer and lay them up for the camp in a clean place.
And so forth.
Now here we've had the priest, now we have the clean man. Now the priest, he cares for God's glory. That's his chief interest. But the clean man is a man that is able to meet the defiled man.
And so it takes a clean man gathers up these ashes, and in Galatians 6/1 it says, Ye that are spiritual, restore such in one, lest thou be tempted, and so forth so.
There are those are really men. Should we say that Paul is talking is to clean men, Ye that are spiritual restore such an one. Well, what's a spiritual man you know?
00:15:09
I don't think we can call ourselves spiritual men, but I suppose a spiritual man is a man that is directed by the Spirit of God. Perhaps the Spirit of God is able to direct him.
But the point here is that even the clean man, you know, you never can have to do with with evil or defilement without feeling your uncleans. You may not be involved in it, but you still feel when you have to do with it, you're unclean and you feel it. But anyway, the clean man, he goes through the same purification.
He that gathers the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes, wash his clothes, and be unclean until even.
There shall be unto the children, unto the children of Israel, and unto the strangers that still join us among them for a statute forever.
Well, here we have what you call the ashes of the heifer, and that has to do with restoration.
Not with the saving of a Sinner, but it has to do with the restoration of a St.
And now you come to verse 11, and it says He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days so.
That brings out now the thought of having touched something on again.
Where you where you've gotten defiled and so you need to be clean cleansing has to come in?
And so.
There we have Then he shall purify himself with it on the third day and on the 7th day.
The summer's day shall be clean.
If he purified of himself the third day, then the sanitation will be clean.
No, I think we made a lot of mistakes. I know we have, especially in receiving perhaps.
I mean, allowing one that's been defiled to only go to the third day.
And not have a full restoration to the summit place.
No, I just like to picture that and that I don't know if a better picture than Genesis 4041.
42.
Because the story of Joseph is known to most of us, I think we could understand this. Genesis 42.
Now we know that God caused a worldwide family for king sons who had sold their brother.
And haven't repented of it.
And it's it's just unbelievable because they have what God?
God works sometimes. Think about a worldwide family.
And yet you see the blessing side too, by selling of Joseph, Joseph comes into Egypt and Egypt gets its information and wisdom from Joseph and the whole world.
Is is preserved by the food through Joseph, so God and his government always has blessing too. But here were ten sons and and you could hardly believe it. Here are 10 boys for 20 years.
Hid what they did. They they had sold Joseph, they deceived their father. And you would think of these men, their wives or their children, something would leak out sometimes what had happened to Joseph. But they were so bound together in this thing that it never reached out as to what happened to Joseph. But here in our 20 years after they had done it. And they were different men now. They were men that had sympathy for their father and so forth.
But they come, and so they come to Joseph. Joseph is governor, verse six. And Joseph was governor of the land, and he it was a soul to all the people of the land. And Joseph Bradley came and bowed down themselves before him, with their faces to the earth. And Joseph saw his brother, and he knew them, but made himself strange into them, and speak roughly unto them.
He said unto them, Whence came ye?
And they said from the land of Canaan to buy food. And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him. And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Your spies to see the Niquitus of the land, or you come, and so forth.
00:20:04
But anyway, here's the result in hand. Verse 21. And here now the boys are talking to each other.
And they said one to another, we are very guilty concerning our brother and nobody had said anything about their brother or anything, but there was a conviction.
Concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul when he besought us, and we would not hear.
Therefore this distress come upon us well.
At least the third day there was there was a real conviction of roles.
And of course they didn't know Joseph could understand what they were saying, but not supposing Joseph would said, Oh, I'm Joseph right here by what would have been missed. There were two more years necessary to to really bring on. And so we might point that out in verse 44 where they come to the 7th day.
Now the 10.
Had come and they got their sacks full.
And so they were sent back, and Joseph was with them, of course, and.
And so Joseph had then put the silver cup in Benjamin Sack.
And so after they were gone aways, why they sent the steward after them and said.
You know, somebody has stolen Joseph Cup and the brothers, they just couldn't believe it. You know, they, they, they, they were honest men now and they just couldn't believe it. Well, they brought their money back that they'd given. Why should we see on the cup? And so they had to go through this exercise from the oldest to the youngest to open each one is back and search for the Golden Company.
And finally, they come to Benjamin's side.
And Benjamin has the silver cup.
Well, Benjamin was the only one of the boys that wasn't guilty of selling Joseph because he was home with his father and yet he had the silver cup. And so Benjamin again is a type of Christ.
When we see, as it were, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Bearing the price of redemption. This is what breaks us down.
David. He came to the third day in the 32nd Psalm.
But when he comes to the 51St Psalm, that's the 7th day he said against thee, and the only have I send it on this wickedness he felt his sin against God well.
As they view Joseph with a sober cup that brings that out to that the only one that was not guilty was charged with redemption's work. And so if that doesn't break us down, well, it broke the boys down here, verse 14 of chapter 44, and Judah and his brother came to Joseph's house.
For.
For he was there, and they fell before him on the ground. And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that you have done working off, that such a man as I can certainly divine. Now here is the 7th day. And Judith said, What shall we say unto my Lord? What shall we speak, or how shall we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of thy servant. Behold, we are my Lord, Service both we and he also.
Well, now in the next chapter, Joseph makes himself known.
Point is that many times we just wait for this little third day, as it were, and we don't wait for the Lord to finish the work those other four days and consequently we have.
A faulty restoration. I mean, we've experienced this. I don't say it happened here or not, but we have experienced that it has not worked out.
So then it brings out.
Whosoever touches a dead body of any man, that is death defile not himself, and purifies not himself.
The father of the Tabernacle Lord. Now this phone, isn't it? The Tabernacle of the Lord is a picture of the assembly.
We might say, well, I'm the only one that's affected by this, but isn't true. The whole assembly is affected, the Tabernacle Lord, and that's all going to be cut off from Israel because the the water of separation was not sprinkled upon him. He shall be unclean. His uncleanness is yet upon him.
00:25:15
And then it brings out some things that cause uncleanness. Should we say this is the law when a man dies in a tent or a tent is a whole?
Sometimes maybe a father can bring a thing into the home that defiles the whole home.
One man I can attend and all coming to attend our are defiled by that an unclean 7 days.
And.
Every open vessel which have no covering bound upon it, unclean. Well, it's wonderful. In our work and our daily life there is such a thing as having a covering on the back. We don't have to be defiled by everything that goes on.
But anyway.
It brings out different ways of defilement here.
And verse 16 Whosoever touches one that is plain with a sword.
The one plane with the sword would be a thing that's very close, very fresh, just happened.
And sometimes that there are some of those momentary things that just suddenly drop us at work and requirement comes in.
But then there is a dead body which might be something older.
Then there is a phone, which would be something real. Many, many a man fell in the wilderness, and it would be some time before a bone might shorten. Sometimes something that happened way back here someplace a long time ago. And yes, some of these bones are presented sometimes in the assembly. What do you want to do? What?
And grave. I don't know what to say about a grave. Mothers might have a better thought than mind, but a grave seems to me like this evidence of death.
But still you don't really have a certainty.
It looks like somebody's been buried there, but.
But perhaps you can't really see.
You just don't have evidence to know for sure what the situation is. I don't know, Maybe Gordon, do you have a thought on that? Great. Yeah.
Sometimes, you know, we jump into things and in suspicion and so forth, and we don't really have evidence for a thing and it really isn't fair. It would be wait until if the grade would have to be in power to find out for sure. But anyway.
Whatever you have to do with any of these things, the fireman comes in.
Well then, verse 17 for an unclean person, they shall take of the ashes of the burnt heifer, and purification for CNN running water be put therein in a vessel.
Now they take the ashes, you know, that have been burnt out.
There is the evidence of the burning of Christ, as it were, and.
But it's taken with running water. Running water would speak of the Spirit of God. You can't do these things mechanically or just because they ought to be done, but by doing it over running water speaks of a freshness and it speaks of of done in the Spirit of God. And so.
Like I say, these things can't be done mechanically or just because some writer in the past has said this way it should be done.
You can't. You've got to take it where the fresh water which is, which is really gotten by the spirit of dependence and so forth. In the first two days you might argue and say, well, I know worse than anybody else and I know a brother that's done worse than I have and all that kind of thing. But still all that doesn't give you any peace. And so you finally come to 3rd day and it's more remorse.
And regret than repentance.
But when you come to summer today, then it's true repentance. But anyway, it isn't always. I don't say that you might go after a brother.
Under certain occasions, but for the most part the most satisfactory restorations are if the defiled person takes the first step. What do you think about that? Going to call me? Do you think I?
00:30:12
And I thought about.
Her then let them return. Well, there's a lot of truth by that. I don't say in some cases they might you might stir up but then.
The healthy way is if I make the first thought of the word first move.
And so it says here that person in verse 19, the person upon whom the water was sprinkled, the Sabbath, they shall purify himselves and wash his clothes and bathe him so in water and be clean. And even that is the person that.
Needed the cleansing. He now, as it were, washes his associations and self judgment and he's he.
He is clean and not even.
And so you get a real picture of true restoration if you can go, as it were, to the 7th day instead of jumping in right at the third day. You know, I believe that at the third day it's very important. And I believe a man comes to the third day that you would associate with him with the desire of helping him.
They still he has to go, as it were, the next four days before he's really fully restored.
And we could turn to a birth.
In their back in in Leviticus the 14th chapter.
And I think it's a good principle and I would say that we have experienced some restoration.
Restoration by using this word.
Record 14 Eight. And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be cream, and after that he shall come into the camp.
And shall carry abroad out of his ten 70s.
Now coming into the camp, I believe, is coming into the good graces of the assembly. I don't mean now received into fellowship or breaking the bread, but he comes into the camp where he can converse with his brother in and perhaps get some instruction and some help.
And then he doesn't come to his original position now, which would be the tent would be his his original position for another seven days.
And so I like to think of the coming into the camp as the third day.
And then and then he goes through a special exercise, we might say. And then in verse nine, it's more drastic. His self judgment is more drastic than it has been. And then is it where he's received into the 10th, but it shall be on the 7th day that he shall shave all his hair off his head, his ear, his eyebrows, even all his hair.
Shall we shave off and he shall wash his clothes?
Also he shall wash his fresh and water and shall be clean, and then what comes out is a much larger offering than two turtle loaves, as we had earlier in this chapter. But on the eighth day he shall take two lambs without blemish and so forth. So I think there you get a little picture of the third day in the 7th day and the restoration of the.
The letter.
And so I don't think you can just take what I said and apply it to your case and use it, but I think there's room for exercise in each case as to how to meet it.
I think we're we can pretty well be tackling the third day of the week. We can detect when a man wants to be recovered. And so we appreciate, we show our appreciation, but we don't right away throw our arms around him and say, well.
Come into your original position because it takes a while.
No any questions.
Mainly I could answer them, but it could but.
00:35:02
It might be helpful if I didn't make it clear some of these things.
One reason that I thought of this chapter especially is because in a way, we're losing sight of some of these things that we need today.
There's more development than ever today, and we need to know how to meet it. God has made provision to meet it.
There's six there's three things in the cedar wood and my sister and the.
Well, the theaters, the street and you know, theaters of Lebanon straight, it might be something that I would have that maybe it's true, maybe some.
Some ability or maybe something of a stately character or something that I might be hanging on to. But if I view the death of Christ, that has to go really nothing left. And the hip hop, you know, let's speak of that, which is very lonely. Well, in Colossians they were, they were priding themselves in their humility.
Forgot to tell that verse goes but anyway it was a.
We may have a false humility that has to go into the fire.
Starlight, of course, speaks over.
Of having some authority or as we thought of a kingly situation.
So, but all that, all that goes.
Actually, none of us really have anything to boast in or to hang on to.
And nothing detects that pride like you're getting a glimpse of the sufferings of pride.
Can I open 14 there where you have this the letter being claimed? We never have a letter being claimed.
Yeah.
Because that's a literal number that you're talking about. That's when you think of leprosy in the spiritual sense. It's where the will has worked.
And it's extension, perhaps about the most of anything, is one's own will.
Because.
And the will, the will is so determined and when the, when my own will work, when it's a kind of a blinder of the eyes that you don't really, you can't really discern or write when the will is at work.
And sometimes said, you have your own will, you have the Lord's will, and you have Satan's will. And sometimes kind of hard to discern which is what.
But many times, you know, when Peter speaks of it being willingly ignorant, and that kind of ignorance is really serious because it's governmental.
To be willingly ignorant. There's no hope for willing ignorance because you can't meet it. Man might be ignorant, but if he wants to be ignorant, why, How can you penetrate it?
So the thought of the matter is.
Encrypted himself well and.
Yes, it's a picture of them, especially in the doctor stands, but.
You think of leprosy in the forehead.
It's really.
One mind, isn't it work? And then?
So.
Really.
That's what's in is it doing your own will, isn't it? And then with John says, how did you put it?
Sin is lawlessness.
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You mean now in the New Testament? Is that what you mean?
Well, the Lord said, go show thyself to the priest, to the leopard that he had planned.
But I think if you want to get a little picture of this, you might get it in the man in the fifth of the first Corinthians that had to be dealt with. I think you can see where the man came to the third day in the 7th day, and Paul has to encourage the Corinthians to receive the man back into fellowship.
Congregation.
Prior to the blood being burned, they just took a little of it sprinkled.
But the rest of it was burned.
Now if you'd asked me why or what speaks that I can't say. But then the only offering were the blood was burned. But I think it just brings out how drastic or should we say the extent of the death of Christ.
That in a way comes before us, especially in this day where there's defilement on every hand.
Have a question?
What's the difference between this chapter and the 13th of John Will have St. Washington?
Well, 13 of the young.
The Lord says, If I wash thee, N thou hast no part with me.
Now he's not talking to a man that neat had touched a dead body.
That will is the Lord. The Lord was in heaven, wasn't it? He was going to be going to attend, and he said, if I washed thee enough, thou hast no part with me.
Doesn't mean you cease to be a Christian, but in a certain sense.
There wouldn't be the communion with the Lord, the communication with the Lord. The Lord doesn't wash and.
For the most part, I feel that foot washing is.
Is refreshment.
Being refreshed in the past.
I had thought that the 13th of John would be sort of minor to bottom or this would be sort of a matrix to found this. Would that be right? Well, it could involve that.
Like I said, the first time it's mentioned is the 18th of Genesis where you get the Lord coming to Abraham.
And we're sure that he didn't. He wasn't defiled in the sense of this chapter. He may have had some dust on his feet.
It has really a different thought. It's just, well, I sometimes said it this way when I used to bring the cattle home from from a very desert area and no water there where the cattle were grazing. But as I came down to civilization, why I would run across the springs or something.
Level of quicks and I take my shoes off, sit down and put my feet in the water. Four or five minutes or so and then.
And then get up and.
Put my shoes and socks back on and you just feel like you had a foot treatment.
You don't know what that is here from.
Well, that's the knee of foot washing in its major sense.
You can.
You know, we're contracting development all the time.
That could be as much the work of the advocate as the high priest.
You understand from this 19th member that they're in the three persons who are declined like the seventh verse. The priest remorse is closed sheet of furnitures from washes clothes first ten. He then got on the answers of the heavens for walking to school.
What could they be entitled to?
Well.
I took this off to one place and the brother said I don't say this reflection on me, but his comment was you couldn't have taken up another chapter for me.
00:45:05
He said that we have had a certain outbreak in our assembly and he said no, I'm not involved. I became defiled just handling, handling the case.
And so a clean man, as it were, when he has to do with defilement, even if he hasn't defiled himself, as it were, he senses.
That he he needs friendly.
And I believe that a clean man feels defilement more than a man is defined. Do you believe that?
Yeah. And so we said first it was the priestly element in the assembly that felt deflated.
But see, that was because they viewed.
The burning of the heifer.
So the whole thing. But now the clean man, he goes to the unclean man and has to apply the ashes.
And the water purification and consequently you can't help but then well, but for the grace of God, that's what I'd be is where that unclean man is. And so it brings out self judgment to you.
And in many cases where you get the third day in the seventh day.
And even with Peter, for instance, when the when the Lord met him after resurrection alone, that was the third day, but went to the 21St of John and he really came seventh day.
Hypocrisy was on the part of of those that that led to Jesus and upon.
They said.
Jesus went not into the hall as they should be behind.
Yeah.
Yeah.
They had that faint pious feeling when they said they didn't want to.
Take the Lord on the Passover date.
Well, this is something altogether the opposite of that. Really feeling, feeling a situation and you're delight in restoration. Just long for it. But there is a way to carry it out.
And.
If I feel when I'm dealing with with a man that's defiled, if I have that feeling that you sinned and I haven't, well, I, I don't have the right feeling. You get it pictured in Daniel and also in in Ezra with me. They, they may just send their own. And so when you make the man in your own, then you do need cleansing in the sense of washing your clothes and so forth.
All right, here you folks have to go. I don't want to keep you.
Maybe somebody could close this little session with a word of prayer and then.
Delivery from Satan's Power
Address—P.L. Johnson
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I want to return to the book of Numbers chapter 22. Numbers chapter 22, and I suppose we ought to read most of the chapter in order to have the entire context before us. Numbers 22.
And the children of Israel set forward and pitched. And the plains of Moore on this side, Jordan by Jericho.
And Baylor the son of Zippor, saw all that Israel had done unto the Amorites, And Moab was so afraid of the people, because there were many, and more of was distressed because of the children of Israel. And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field.
And Balak, the son of Zippor, was king of the Moabites at that time.
He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Biore, to Peter, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt. Behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me. Come now, therefore I praise thee. Curse me this people.
For they are too mighty for me per adventure. I shall prevail that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land.
For I want that he whom thou blesses is blessed, and he whom thou cursed is cursed. And the elders of Mauve and the elders of Midian departed, with their rewards of divination in their hand. And they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balaam. And he said unto them, Lord, here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the Lord shall speak unto me. And the Princess of Moab abode with Balaam.
And God came to Balaam and said.
What men are these with thee? And Balaam said unto God, Balak, the son of Sephora, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying, Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt which covers the face of the earth. Come now, curse me then her adventure. I shall be able to overcome them and drive them out.
And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them.
Thou shalt not curse the people for their blessed. And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the Princess of Balak, get you into your land, for the Lord refuses to give me leave to go with you. And the Princess of Moore rose up, and they went under Balak and said, Balaam refuses to come with us. And Balak sent yet again, Princess, more and more honorable than they.
And they came to Balaam and said to him. Thus saith Balak, the son of Zipporah.
That nothing I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me, for I will promote thee unto very great honor, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me. Come, therefore I pray thee, curse me this people. And Balob answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God to do less or more.
Now therefore I pray you, tear ye also hear this night, that I may know what the Lord will say unto me more.
And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up and go with them.
But yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do. And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his *** and went with the Princess of Moab. And God's anger was kindled because he went. And the Angel of the Lord stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was writing upon his *** and his two servants were with him. And the *** saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in.
And the *** turned aside out of the way, and went into the field, and Balaam smoked the *** to turn her into the way. But the Angel of the Lord stood in a path of the vineyards of all being on this side, and a wall on that side. And when the *** saw the Angel of the Lord, she thrust herself under the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall, and he smote her again.
And the Angel of the Lord went further, and stood in a narrow place.
Where there was number way to turn either to the right hand or to the left, and when the *** saw the Angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam.
And Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smoked the *** with a staff. And the Lord opened the mouth of the ***. And she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? And Balaam said into the *** Because thou hast mocked me, I would there were a sword in my hand, for now would I kill thee, and the acid unto Balaam.
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Am not I thine *** upon which thou has ridden ever since I was thine unto this day?
What I ever want to say to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay. Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand, And he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face. And the Angel of the Lord said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ***? These three times? Behold, I went.
Out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me.
And the *** saw me, and turned from me these three times, unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee and saved her alive.
And Balaam said unto the Angel of the Lord, I have sinned, for I knew not that thou studest in the way against me now. Therefore, if it displeased thee, I will get me back again. And the Angel, the Lord said unto Balaam, Go with the man, but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the Princess of Balaam, and then a few.
Verses in the 23rd chapter.
And Balaam said unto Balak, Bill me here 7 altars, and prepare me here 7 oxen and seven Rams. And Balak did his Balaam had spoken. And Balak and Balaam offered on every altar of bullicking around. And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go. Peradventure the Lord will come to meet me, and whatsoever he showeth me, I will tell thee. And he went to a high place.
And God met Balaam.
And he said unto him, I have prepared 7 altars, and I have offered upon every altar a Bullock and a ram. And the Lord put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak. And he returned unto him, And lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he and all the Princess of Moab. And he took up his parable, and said, Balak, the king of Moab, hath brought me from Aram out of the mountains of.
Saying, Come, curse me, Jacob, and come defy Israel. How shall I curse whom God hath not cursed, or how shall I defy whom the Lord has not defied? Far from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him. Lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations. Who can count the dust of Jacob in the number of the fourth part of Israel?
Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his.
We know, of course, that the.
Chapters 22 Through 24.
Give us all of the parables that Balaam uttered that were given to him by God. But this afternoon I thought we might just look a little at the first parable that is uttered by Balaam and the circumstances of the people.
That.
Leads up to this unusual circumstance that we have, where the enemy undertakes to curse and to destroy the people of God to prevent their entering into the Promised Land, the very purpose for which they were redeemed. For we know that when they were brought out of Egypt, the children of Israel.
The object, the purpose for their redemption, is that they might be brought into the land of Canaan, and there they would be for God's pleasure.
So this wilderness through which their passing was only, you might say, incidental. The object that God had in mind was for them to be brought into the land. And it appears here in the plains of Moab, as we read in the beginning of chapter 22, that the enemy seen in this King Balak.
The enemy is seen here with an effort to destroy the people of God and to prevent.
They're entering into the promised land, the blessings that God had for them. So we might say that it's the it's an expression of the power of the enemy.
Against the people of God, to destroy them and to prevent them from entering into what God has provided for them. And in a way, of course, we can say this is typical of the Lord's people today. I'm sure it isn't necessary to remind us that when we read of the children of Israel in the Old Testament, we see in them a picture and a type of the Lord's people today.
00:10:27
As they were the people of God in that day, we who are believers on the Lord Jesus are the people of God today. And we stand in a similar place that the children of Israel had of old. So you might say that the the place that Israel occupies here is typical of our own place. And I would like to just briefly give a little summary.
Of what we have in the history of Israel.
From the book of Exodus, they're being delivered out of Egypt to the present time when we read here that they have pitched in the plains of Moab. You remember their history as a nation really begins when they're redeemed out of Egypt.
By blood and by power, the Passover night, when the blood was applied to the doorposts and the lentils, preserving them from the judgment of the destroying Angel who came.
Who went throughout the land to destroy the first barn and then there being?
Delivered from their enemies, crossing the Red Sea on dry land and looking back and seeing all of their enemies dead on the seashore. And they sing that song of deliverance you remember in the 15th chapter of Exodus, that song of redemption. So they are redeemed people.
Redeemed by blood and power. And you and I today stand as those who have been redeemed.
By the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, we have been delivered.
From this present evil world, as we read in Galatians 1, So just as Israel was redeemed by blood and by power, so we have been redeemed by blood and power. That is, our sins have been washed away by the blood, and the power of God has delivered us from the world and from the enemy. We read in Colossians one that we have been.
Delivered from the power of Satan.
And translated into the Kingdom of the Son of his love, we have been delivered from the power of Satan.
And just to anticipate a moment, what we really have in the these parables of Balaam is the is a testimony to that fact that the Lord's people have been delivered from the power of Satan, from the power of Satan, God. Satan cannot pluck us out of the hand of Christ.
We are delivered from the power of Satan. He cannot.
Rob us of our place in Christ. He cannot rob us of the glory to which we are going. Now, we might have a lot of trouble along the way, and I think we'll be able to see later when we just touch on chapter 25, that there's a difference between the power of Satan and the Wiles of Satan.
As to his power, it's broken. We've been delivered from the power of Satan.
We still have to contend with his Wiles.
But as Israel was delivered, as we have it in Exodus.
Then we have also the fact that God would dwell in the midst of His people, and we have the Tabernacle, wonderful blessing that not only are they redeemed and delivered, but they are the habitation of God. God would dwell in the midst of His people. Well, isn't that what we read in the end of Ephesians 2IN whom ye are builded together for a habitation of God by the Spirit.
God would dwell in the midst of his people. God would find in his people His house.
His dwelling place. And we go on in the history of the children of Israel and we see that when the Tabernacle is set up, then they have the wonderful privilege of approach to Him. In the book of Leviticus. We see how that they can bring their offerings and approach God. And we have also the the character of God's dwelling place, the holiness. It becomes his house.
00:15:01
But Leviticus is chiefly concerned with the approach of the people of God to God. That's why in the beginning of Leviticus God speaks to the people out of the Tabernacle, the Tabernacle now having been set up, and He dwells in the midst there. The privilege that people have of approaching Him, coming into His presence, then when we come to the Book of Numbers.
Where we have read this afternoon.
We read in the very beginning that God speaks there in the wilderness. He's not speaking out of the Tabernacle, but in the wilderness, because it's in numbers that we have the wilderness experience of the people of God. We have them viewed as going on toward the promised land, redeemed and endowed, and going on towards the promised land.
I might mention in regard to the I use the word endowed.
They were not only redeemed in the book of Exodus, but I used that word endowed in regard to their typically receiving the Spirit. You remember when the rock was smitten in Exodus 17 and water came out.
That, I believe, is typical of the Spirit of God being given to believers.
Consequent upon the.
Crucifixion of the Lord Jesus The smiting of the rock undoubtedly would bring before us the Lord Jesus on the cross and as the result of the work of the Lord Jesus on the cross that has so purified our hearts.
And you know, we do have pure hearts. The apostle Peter says, I stir up your pure hearts by way of remembrance.
Our hearts have been purified by faith.
The precious blood has been applied, and so God, who knows the hearts of all men, our hearts being purified by faith, not only being born again by God's Spirit, but we receive the Spirit of God, a divine person.
To dwell in these bodies. Know ye not that your bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost?
You see, because we're sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, whereby we cry out the Father.
The Spirit of God begat life. We are born of God, we are born of the Spirit so that there is a spirit of life. But then the Holy Spirit himself is a divine person, comes and takes up his abode of when we believe the gospel of our salvation so that our hearts are purified by faith, we are redeemed, we're cleansed, and I say endowed with the Spirit of God. Now that's the character of God.
Is presented in Scripture and that's the circumstances in regard to Israel. And then when we come to the book of Numbers, we see that God makes a wonderful and practical arrangement for them as to their journey through the wilderness. He gives them instructions as to how they were to encamp around about the Tabernacle.
Every tribe had a particular place.
And then he makes provision for the movement of the camp, providing all that the Levites need for the transporting of the of the Tabernacle and and all that pertained to it. And he makes provision for them and in the way of guidance and direction. Because when the people go forward in the 10th chapter of Numbers, we read that the ark of the covenant of God went forth to seek out a resting place for them. God undertook in a wonderful.
To give them everything they needed, God redeemed them, God endowed them with the Spirit and God gives them every arrangement for their for their blessing and everything in order and undertakes to lead and guide them all. You would say what a privileged people, what a privileged people. And when you think of all of these things, you would say they would be so thankful.
They would be so grateful for all this.
But the first thing we read when they start their journeys in the 11Th chapter of Numbers is that they murmured and they complained. Murmurings and complaints. And we're not really surprised, are we? Because we feel ourselves and we say, who is more blessed than we are today?
What people have ever had greater blessing than the Lord's people in the day in which we live?
00:20:02
Think of not only redeem, but the wonderful endowment that we have, the Spirit of God and the light of God, the revelations that God has given. We have the, you might say, the accumulated light, all of the accumulation of light that God is given from the beginning.
We're living in the consummation of the ages, and as it says in First Corinthians 10, we have all of the accumulated light of God Himself found in this precious book in the Spirit of God-given that we might enter into it, and He has undertaken the lead and to guide and to protect.
And should we not be those who are filled with praise and grateful and humble?
And devoted and loyal. But we're not surprised that the Children of Israel murmured and complained, because we find the same thing.
And we find that the same spirit prevails among the Lord's people today as it did in that day. And you know, as we go on in the book of Numbers, it's it's a failure after failure, murmuring against Moses. You remember Miriam and Aaron, and then they despise the the pleasant land.
A wonderful report given out about the the land of Canaan and and because they were little difficulties involved.
Why, they complained, and they murmured, and they were fearful of going up, and they were defeated by their enemies. And then we have that awful rebellion of coral rebelling against the authority of Moses. Think of that.
Well, don't we find some of these things rising up among the Lord's people, speaking against those whom the Lord might be using, and even rising up in rebellion and despising the pleasant land? And one might say, oh, I've never despised anything of the Lord. Well, I'm not so sure. Do our hearts really enter into what God has provided for us?
Does it seem as nothing in our sight as it did to the children of Israel when they had the report of the of the pleasant land? What we find that there's problems all the way through and not only that, but Moses himself himself failed. You remember, he was so provoked with the people of God that he had to say here now you rebels, must we fetch you water out of this rock?
And the result was God had to say to Moses, you're not going into the Promised Land, even Moses.
The meekest man on the earth, God said, and he failed. What a history when we read of all of this. And that's the history of of God with his people.
And we see how that.
They even murmured finally. And there was the fiery serpents.
When I turn back to the 21St chapter, there's something I want to point out that might be helpful to us.
It's in the 21St chapter that we have the fiery serpents.
And the people being bitten, but what I wanted to point out especially is what we have in verse 16. And from thence they went to beer. That is the way over of the Lord's bacon of Moses. Gather the people together and I will give them water. Now this really is not in response to a request of the people.
There were times when they wanted water. That is, they cried out for water.
But it seems the Lord initiates this. He said, Gather them together, and I will give them water. Then Israel sang this song. Spring up. Oh well, sing ye unto it. The Princess ****. The well, the nobles of the people digged it by the direction of the Lawgiver with their staves, and from the wilderness they went to Matina. Now what I want to point out is this. We know of course, that the springing well here is a is a type of the Holy Spirit.
Water and movement this way Isn't a picture a type of the Holy Spirit?
Now, I'm not suggesting that the Holy Spirit is given twice to the believer.
I've mentioned in Exodus when the rock was smitten and water came out, I think is a type of the giving of the Spirit to those who believe the gospel of their salvation. They're sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. But it, it, it appears to me that what we have here is that the people of God now in a typical way for the first time, recognize you might say that it's only in the power of the Spirit.
00:25:07
That anything is accomplished for God. It seems as if in the book of Numbers they had undertaken everything in their own strength. They had undertaken things in the flesh, and the result was there was failure and failure and murmuring and complaining. You might say they had the Spirit, but there was no real dependence upon the Spirit.
There was no real recognition of the fact that it's.
The Spirit of God.
That accomplishes anything and everything that is of God in the believer. Turn to Romans 8 and I want to read there of what I have in mind. It's one thing to have the Spirit.
As a believer whose heart has been purified by faith, but it's another to recognize the power of the Spirit and be in the enjoyment of the Spirit.
In Romans 8 it says in verse four that the righteousness of the law.
That doesn't mean the keeping of the 10 commandments, but what it means is the righteousness that God looked for in the Law, the righteous requirement of the Law, if there's going to be righteousness fulfilled in the individual which the Law demanded.
It says might be fulfilled in us, not by us, but in US.
It can be fulfilled in us now who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. We know it's been pointed out before that those words who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit, which are found in the first verse of this 8th chapter do not belong there. You see, in verse one it should read. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, period.
For there is not a question of the walk, it's the question of the.
Of the work of Christ, the work that has been done for us, that puts us before God in such perfection that there is no condemnation, that even though there is an evil nature within, we still have the flesh within. There is no condemnation.
We recognize that it's sin that dwells in me, but our standing before God is in Christ.
And we're in the Spirit before God. We're not in the flesh. We're not in Adam. There is no condemnation. So you omit the words who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. But in verse four, those words belong there. But there it's a matter of, of the of the walk. And you it's in, it's in connection with the Spirit who walk not after the flesh, but after.
The spirit. Now that's the thought I had in mind in the in the Exodus, or rather Numbers 21.
When the people recognize the Spirit, there is the recognition of the Spirit's power and dependence upon the Spirit of God. And you know, right after this we have the first, their first victories. They defeat Sion, king of the Amorites and also Aug, king of Basin. They're able to be victorious because they recognize the power of the Spirit.
The power of the Spirit.
And not going on in the flesh. Well, I think it's remarkable that this.
The chapter 22 The power of the enemy comes in. The enemies power comes in. As soon as there is victory on the part of the people of God, there's a victory. They overcome Ogg, king of Basha.
Our king of the nation. And you remember something about this king.
There's not too much said about him in Scripture, but the thing that is noted about this man was his bed, and it was a large bed. He was obviously a large man, but it's remarkable that Scripture makes reference to his bed.
And I suppose that this would have typically a reference to you might say that what we are in the flesh that desires an easy path in this world that indulgence of the flesh. Aug king of basin is his. He was a large man is a big eye that gets in the way so often and and the the ministering to self and it's overcome.
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Victory that is overcome as they recognize the Spirit of God. And that well that springs up that well, that springs up unto everlasting life. Well now, as I say, this is the background that leads up to chapter 22.
The children of Israel, the people of God, they're redeemed, endowed, and they've had all of these experiences with God and God's governmental ways with them, and they've entered into the power of the Spirit. So the enemy comes.
And he's going to destroy. That's his fault. He's going to destroy everything that God has wrought. Because that's really what's involved here. It isn't so much what the people are in themselves.
You see, it isn't what the people are in themselves. The people are viewed in these parables of Balaam. The word that is put into Balaam's mouth by God views the people of God from the top of the rocks. Notice that when we come to chapter 23, when Balaam first speaks in verse 9, far from the top of the rocks.
I see him. In other words, the people are viewed from God's.
A vantage point. They're viewed from above. It isn't the people of God viewed in their tents there in the plains of Moab.
Viewed from that standpoint, there might be many things that the enemy could come in and condemn. But viewed from the top of the rocks, viewed from on high, viewed from God's vantage point, it's what God has wrought. And what God has wrought cannot be destroyed. What God has blessed cannot be cursed. What God has done.
Cannot be reversed. The enemy's power is completely and utterly frustrated.
In these parables of Balaam in the in this attempt of Balaam to to do the enemies work, he's completely frustrated and is if for the Lord allows us to be together again and we go on in these parables, we'll see how that eventually Balak becomes so frustrated that he leaves the scene entirely and it's all left.
For blessing from God through the mouth even of an impious man, this man Balaam. So we see that the enemy's power is broken. He's completely frustrated.
Completely stymied, he can do nothing against the people of God. For you see, the viewpoint is when the Lord, when God first speaks to Balaam in verse 12 of chapter 22. Notice what he says. Thou shalt not go with them. Now this is the expression of God's mind. Thou shalt not go with Him. Thou shalt not curse the people far they are blessed.
And in the 23rd chapter.
Verse 20 Balaam recognizes this. He says, behold, I have received commandment to bless.
And he has blessed and I cannot reverse it.
I cannot reverse it. There's no power against it because as we read at the end of verse 23, it's not a question of what the people are in themselves. It says, what hath God wrought? It's a question of what God has done. And the enemy cannot overturn the work of God.
He can, he can play havoc with the people of God in their walking ways, but he cannot overturn the work of God. He cannot reverse the blessing. All that God has in his purpose and counsel for his people cannot be reversed or taken away by the power of the enemy at all. So in these, in this.
Circumstance these chapters 22 Through 24.
Where we have Balaam.
Uttering these parables, we have God meeting the power of the enemy and frustrating him in every way. But now let us look at the 25th chapter for a moment, for just a little contrast.
After the wonderful display, and I might say that there's no indication that Israel knew anything of what was going on.
This that was going on between God and Balaam and Balak and Balaam. There's no indication that the people of God there in their tents and the plains of Moab knew anything about it.
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It was entirely outside them. It was God's matter, and God took it in hand and God settled it. But now, then we have something that's going on down in the plains. We have something now. We have a view of what is going on in the camp of Israel among the people in chapter 25. And Israel abode and **** them. And the people began to commit ******** with the daughters of.
Moab, you see, and we read in verse.
Three and Israel joined himself under bail pior, and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel.
Well, turn to the Book of Revelation chapter 2 and verse 14. We see who was behind this sad failure, the children of Israel joining with the daughters of Moab. And the result was that they took up with the false gods of those people. And in verse 14 of chapter two, he says to the church at Pergamos, but I have a few things against.
Thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam.
Who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication? Now you see, we read in chapter 22 how that Balak came to Balaam and wanted Balaam to curse the people of God.
That is, he was, he wanted to exert power against the people of God, to destroy them, and he was frustrated. Now it seems that after that, Balaam, because you will, if you read carefully, you know that Balaam loved the wages of unrighteousness, and Balaam wanted that reward from Balak so bad, but God didn't allow him to curse the people.
But it appears that later Balaam undertook to.
Instruct Balak how he could hinder the people of God. And that is as we read here, to commit fornication to each thing, sacrificing to idols. So in chapter 25 of Numbers, when we read that the children of Israel committed ******** with the daughters of Moab, it was at the Council of Balaam that this took place.
Now what I'm saying is this.
That when it comes to the power of the enemy, as seen in the desire of Balak to curse the people of God, God came in and God delivered the people. There was no power against His people. But when it comes to seductions of the enemy, when it comes to his wives, when it comes to his enticing the people of God.
Into pathways that are not according to the mind of God, while it does not.
Take away the blessings that we have from God in Christ, they're ours as it were entitled and we're going to be in that glory conformed to his image. Everything that God, his purpose is going to be brought to pass. In the meanwhile, our joy, our peace, our blessing, our testimony is can be destroyed and the Lord dishonored.
And that's what we find now with the children of Israel committing ********* with the daughters of Moab.
They were enticed into associations that were not of God and it resulted in their taking up the gods of these people. And so God was robbed of his portion and his people. He was robbed of the joy that he would have in his people. And the the people were deceived and deluded. We know, of course, that there were many, or at least there were some who were unhappy about it. And one man was very faithful by the name of Phineas. But the point I'm making here is that.
While the power of the enemy is broken, we've been delivered from Satan's power. We still have to contend against his Wiles. Turn to the 6th chapter of Ephesians, Ephesians 6 and verse 11. I read this mainly for the expression we have here.
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the Wiles of the devil.
Again, I remind you, it doesn't say against the power of the devil because God himself is the one who who, as it were, withstands the power of the devil to destroy the people of God. But it's the Wiles of the devil devil. That's why the apostle Paul could say to the Corinthians that.
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That he feared lest their minds be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ, Just as Satan deceived Eve. He said that was what he feared in Two Corinthians 11, that their minds should be corrupted from the simplicity or singleness of eye to Christ. That they might he he was fearful that they might not be faithful, that they might, as as it were, be illicit in their spiritual affection.
That they might allow their hearts to go out to the things of this world and ungodly, unholy and unrighteous associations.
That's what happened in Numbers 25. They took up with the daughters of Moab, The daughters of Moab. You remember how the Moabites began a very, very disgraceful beginning. It was after a lot, you remember, was delivered out of Sodom.
That he had two children by his daughters, two sons there mentioned, one was Moab. So you might say that the daughters of Moab are an issue of Lot. It's that which they represent, that which has issued from Lot. And what does Lot speak of? We know, of course, that Lot has been brought before us many times as a picture of a worldly Christian.
Because Lot was a righteous man, as we read in Peter, Peter.
We wouldn't know it from the history of the Old Testament, would we? Just what kind of a man Lot was. But Peter tells us that he was a righteous man.
The Lord knows how to deliver the righteous and reserve the ungodly to the day of judgment. So he was a righteous man, but Lot was one who wanted the well, well watered plains and he wanted to settle down in this world. And we know that he's found in that city of Sodom. What a contrast with Abraham.
We know, of course, that he went out from Abraham. There was a time when he was with Abraham.
Then a test came.
And we know that this is always the way with God, that He does test his people. And Lot went along with Abraham for a while. Then there came a test. And it wasn't necessary for a Lot to pitch his tent towards Sodom. But when the test came, that's what he did. And so the test will come with each one of us who profess to be gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus.
The test will come. Something will come up. God allows it from time to time.
And the question is of whether we will remain with Abraham as he did. He remained in the land, and it was after a lot was separated from him that God told him to walk up the length and the breadth of that land as if now he was free to enjoy it. And lodge, you remember, pitched his tent towards Sodom and eventually found his way into Sodom. And he was a very active man there. But you know, there's one thing I want to point out about a lot in Sodom.
That sometimes is overlooked when we think of Lot in Sodom. I suppose a young persons especially, they think of Lot down there, just enjoying himself, going to all of the amusements that they have in they had in those days, and living a very riotous life, like the prodigal. No, Now, if you read carefully in the Word of God, you find it that he was vexed with the manner of life down there.
He didn't. He wasn't a profligate.
In fact, one of the things that that they say about him, when the angels came down to deliver him, that they said this man came in as a stranger and he, he sits as a judge among us. Undoubtedly Law had been correcting those people for their profligate life and he wasn't exactly going on with them and all of that, but he was content to dwell in their midst and he was taking part in all of their affairs. He was one who sat in the gate of Sodom.
You know what that means? That means he was taking part in their in their civic affairs.
He had something to say about the running of the government of that city. He had to say as to the the the various laws that would be passed. He was very active in all of the civic affairs in that city. That's the kind of a Christian that Lot represents. He represents a worldly minded Christian who might be morally free from the.
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Profligacy that fills this world. But he's one who is.
Taken up with earthly things, taken up with the affairs of life, and gets involved in all of the social measures, in the political aspects and things that belong to this world of which the Christian is not a part at all. That's what Lot would represent. Well, the daughters of Moab, I think would be bring before us the subtle way.
In which the enemy would seek to lure the people of God into.
An earthly path and into earthly mindedness, because, you know, it can sound very good.
It can sound very good as to like social measures and so forth and getting occupied. There's a lot of want, there's a lot of misery, there's a lot of sorrow, there's a lot of injustice in this world. And the Christian feels it. And I don't want to be misunderstood because it would be a strange Christian who did not feel injustice.
And misery. And want.
And that's why we look forward to the Kingdom.
And that's why we long for the Lord to come. We want to see everything according to God.
And we want to see justice, we want to see, we want to see peace, we want to see all of these things, but we have to leave them into the hands of the Lord at the present time. And we cannot take, undertake to to legislate and put everything in order. And that's the thought I had in regard to the Wiles of Satan. In other words, in a very subtle way, we might be LED into these things rather than taking the place.
That the very first parable, if you'll turn back to that 23rd chapter.
The place that the very first parable brings before us. And I just want to touch on this because.
The first parable brings before us the place that God has for his people.
Now you remember in verse nine he says it's from the top of the rocks that I see him.
And from the hills I behold him. Lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations. That's the first thought is that here is a people that God has set apart for himself.
He has set them apart for himself.
A people for his possession, as we had this morning in that verse, that he's made us a Kingdom priests. He's made us a people for himself.
He has set us apart.
We're not a part of this world. We've been separated from it. We've been sanctified by the will of God. That's what we read in Hebrews 10. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ. Once for all, we've been set apart. It's the will of God that we should be set apart, and it's the work of the Lord Jesus Christ that sets us apart. What sets us apart is not that spirit of stand thou by thyself. I'm holier.
That's not the thought. It's the will of God, it's the work of Christ, and it's the work of the Spirit of God. Because we do read about sanctification of the Spirit.
In first Peter chapter one we read about there being sanctified by the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. For sanctification of the Spirit is not some experience that we enter into as believers. It isn't some super spiritual state. It isn't some state of ecstasy into which we enter. It means that when we were.
Born again of God's Spirit when life was imparted to us by the Spirit of God.
We were set apart for God. What really sets us apart in this world is the will of God, the work of Christ, and the power of the Spirit of God. And I believe that separation should be viewed in that light. It should be viewed in that light. It's because God himself has set us apart. And that's the real meaning, to put it simply, of sanctification to set apart.
And we're set apart to God.
As I say again, by God's will, and through the work of Christ, and because the Spirit of God has has begotten life and us, so he says here, lo, the people shall dwell alone.
And shall not be reckoned among the nations.
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From God's side we can speak of it as sanctification. From our side, the response of it is separation. From our side, we speak of it as separation. We recognize what God has done himself and what he has made us to be a a peculiar people, a people for his possession. And so the result is that we are separate. Well, again, I want to go back to Abraham and Lot just for.
While Lot was one who was down in the city of Sodom, Abraham dwells alone on that mountain, and it was really Abraham who delivered Lot.
Through his intercession, I have no doubt that it was through the intercession of Abraham that Lot was delivered out of that city. And it was Abraham who was there in communion with God. He was, you might say, dwelling alone. He was not reckoned among the nations. He was in the place of separation, but he was in the place of communion. He was in the place of power.
And he was able to deliver, whereas Lot on the other hand.
Was in a position of weakness and out of communion and had to be literally plucked as a brand for the burning, saved as it were by the skin of his teeth as scripture would speak of so as by fire well this first parable while God comes in and frustrates the the effort of the enemy to destroy the people of God, he puts into balaam's mouth these.
And this first parable that God put into his mouth would be that which we would lay hold on at the very outset. The youngest believer in the room, the child who has believed on the Lord Jesus, should from the very outset understand that God has set you apart for himself. He has set you apart. So that separation when it's brought up.
Separation from the world is based on the fact that you have been sanctified, set apart for God.
And if we look at it in that light, I believe that we will have more power and effectiveness in our separation, connecting it with the sanctification that has been wrought for us and the power of God. So God overcomes the power of the enemy and brings in a word of blessing in the mouth of this man, Balaam.
Balaams First Prophecy
Address—P.L. Johnson
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I was referring to the book of Numbers chapter 22. Numbers chapter 22.
I suppose we ought to read most of the chapter in order to have the entire context before us. Numbers 22. And the children of Israel set forward and pitched in the plains of Moab. On this side Jordan, by Jericho and Baylor, the son of Zippor, saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites, and Moab was sore afraid to the people because there were many.
And Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel. And Moab said unto the elders of Midian.
So this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor, was king of the Moabites at that time. He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Biore, to Peter, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt. Behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me.
Come now, therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people, for they are too mighty for me. For adventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land. For I want that he whom thou blesses is blessed, and he whom thou cursed is cursed. And the elders of Moore and the elders of Midian departed with their rewards of divination in their hand. And they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.
And he said unto them, a lot here this night.
And I will bring you word again, as the Lord shall speak unto me, and the Princess of Moab abode with Balaam.
And God came to Balaam and said, What men are these with thee? And Balaam said unto God, Balak, the son of the poor king of Moab, have sent unto me, saying, Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt which covers the face of the earth. Come now, curse me then her adventure. I shall be able to overcome them and drive them out. And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them.
Thou shalt not curse the people for their blessed.
And Baynham rose up in the morning, and said unto the Princess of Balak, get you into your land, for the Lord refuses to give me leave to go with you.
And the Princess of Moore rose up, and they went unto Bali, and said, Balaam refuses to come with us. And Balak sent yet again, Princess, more and more honorable than they. And they came to Balaam, and said to him. Thus saith Balak, the son of the form, that nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me, for I will promote thee unto very great honor, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me. Come therefore I pray thee curse me this people.
Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God to do less or more. Now therefore I pray you carry he also hear this night, that I may know what the Lord will say unto me more. And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up and go with them.
But yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.
And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his *** and went with the printed of Moab. And God's anger was kindled because he went. And the Angel of the Lord stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was writing upon his *** and his two servants were with him. And the assault the Angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand, and the *** turned his side out of the way, and went into the field.
And Balaam smoked the *** to turn her into the way, but the Angel of the Lord stood in a path of the vineyard.
Of all being on this side, and a wall on that side. And when the *** saw the Angel of the Lord, she thrust herself under the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall. And he smote her again. And the Angel of the Lord went further, and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. And when the *** saw the Angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam. And Balaam's anger was kindle, and he smoked the *** with his staff.
And the Lord opened the mouth of the *** and she said unto Balaam.
What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? And Balaam said into the *** because I was mocked me, I would there were a sword in my hand, For now what I killed thee? And the accident of Balaam? Am not I thine *** upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? What I ever want to say to do so unto thee? And he said Nay. Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword.
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His hand, and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face. And he answered. The Lord said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten? Thine asked these three times, Behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me. And the *** saw me, and turned from me these three times, unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive. And Balaam said unto the Angel of the Lord, I have sinned.
For I knew not that thou studest in the way against me now. Therefore, if it displeased thee, I will get me back again.
And the Angel the Lord said unto Balaam, Go with the men, but only the word that I shall speak unto these that thou shall speak. So Balaam went for the Princess of Balaam. And then a few verses in the 23rd chapter. And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here 7 altars, and prepare me here 7 oxen and seven Rams.
And Baylor gated. Bala had spoken and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar of bullicking around.
And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy bird offering, and I will go for adventure. The Lord will come to meet me.
And whatsoever he shows me, I will tell thee. And he went to a high place.
And God met Balaam, and he said unto him, I have prepared 7 altars, and I have offered upon every altar a Bullock and a ram.
And the Lord put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak. And he returned unto him, And lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he and all the Princess of Moab. And he took up his parable, and said, Balak, the king of Moab, has brought me from Aram out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me, Jacob, and come defy Israel.
How shall I curse whom God has not cursed? Or how shall I defy whom the Lord has not defied?
Far from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him. Lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations. Who can count the dust of Jacob in the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his. We know, of course, that the chapters 22 Through 24.
Give us all of the parables that Balaam uttered that were given to him.
By God. But this afternoon I thought we might just look a little at the first parable that is uttered my balaam, and the circumstances of the people.
That leads up to this unusual circumstance that we have, where the enemy undertakes to curse and to destroy the people of God to prevent their entering into the Promised Land, the very purpose for which they were redeemed. But we know that when they were brought out of Egypt, the children of Israel.
The object, the purpose for their redemption, is that they might be brought into the land of Canaan.
And there they would be for God's pleasure. So this wilderness through which their passing was only, you might say, incidental. The object that God had in mind was for them to be brought into the land. And it appears here in the plains of Moab, as we read in the beginning of chapter 22.
That the enemy seen in this King Balak, the enemy is seen here with an effort to destroy the people of God and to prevent their entering into the promised land, the blessings that God had for them. So we might say that it's the it's an expression of the power of the enemy.
Against the people of God.
To destroy them.
And to prevent them from entering into what God has provided for them. And in a way, of course, we can say this is typical of the Lords people today. I'm sure it isn't necessary to remind us that when we read of the children of Israel in the Old Testament, we see in them a picture and a type of the Lord's people today, as they were the people of God in that day.
We who are believers on the Lord Jesus are the people of God today, and we stand in a similar.
Place that the children of Israel had a vote. So you might say that the the place that Israel occupies here is typical of our own place. And I would like to just briefly give a little summary of what we have in the history of Israel.
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From the book of Exodus, they're being delivered out of Egypt to the present time when we read here that they have pitched in the plains of Moab. You remember their history as a nation really begins when they're redeemed out of Egypt.
By blood and by power, the Passover night, when the blood was applied to the doorpost and the lentils, preserving them from the judgment of the destroying Angel who came, who went throughout the land.
To destroy the first barn and then there being delivered from their enemies.
Crossing the Red Sea on dry land and looking back and seeing all of their enemies dead on the seashore. And they sing that song of deliverance you remember in the 15th chapter of Exodus, that song of redemption. So they are redeemed people, redeemed by blood and power. And you and I today stand as those who have been redeemed by the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We have been delivered from this present evil world as we read in Galatians 1.
So just as Israel was redeemed by blood and by power, so we have been redeemed by blood and power. That is, our sins have been washed away by the blood, and the power of God has delivered us from the world and from the enemy. We read in Colossians one that we have been delivered from the power of Satan.
And translated into the Kingdom of the Son of his love, we have been delivered from the power of Satan. And just to anticipate a moment, what we really have in the the parables of Balaam is the is a testimony to that fact that the Lord's people have been delivered from the power of Satan, from the power of Satan God.
Satan cannot plunk us out of the hand of Christ.
Delivered from the power of Satan, he cannot.
Rob us of our place in Christ. He cannot rob us of the glory to which we are going. Now, we might have a lot of trouble along the way, and I think we'll be able to see later when we just touch on chapter 25, that there's a difference between the power of Satan and the Wiles of Satan.
As to his power, it's broken. We've been delivered from the power of Satan, but we still have to contend.
With his Wiles.
But as Israel was delivered, as we have it in Exodus.
Then we have also the fact that God would dwell in the midst of his people, and we have the Tabernacle.
Wonderful blessing, that not only are they redeemed and delivered, but they are the habitation of God. God would dwell in the midst of His people. Well, is that what we read in the end of Ephesians 2IN whom ye are builded together for a habitation of God by the Spirit?
God would dwell in the midst of his people. God would find that his people, his house.
His dwelling place and we go on in the history of the children of Israel, and we see that when the Tabernacle is set up, then they have the wonderful privilege of approach to him. In the book of Leviticus we see how that they can bring their offerings and approach God. And we have also the the character of God's dwelling place, the holiness that becomes his house. But Leviticus is chiefly concerned with the.
Of the people of God to God. That's why in the beginning of Leviticus, God speaks to the people out of the Tabernacle, the Tabernacle now having been set up, and he dwells in the midst there. The privilege that people have of approaching him, coming into his presence. Then when we come to the Book of Numbers where we have read this afternoon.
We read in the very beginning that God speaks there in the wilderness. He's not speaking out of the Tabernacle, but in the wilderness, because it's in numbers that we have the wilderness experience.
Of the people of God we have them viewed as going on toward the promised land, redeemed and endowed and going on toward the promised land. I might mention in regard to the I use the word endowed. They were not only redeemed in the book of Exodus, but I used that word endowed in regard to their typically receiving the Spirit.
You remember when the rock was smitten in Exodus 17 and water came out? That I believe is typical of the Spirit of God being given to believers.
Consequent upon the the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus, the smiting of the rock undoubtedly would bring before us the Lord Jesus on the cross. And as a result of the work of the Lord Jesus on the cross that has so purified our hearts. And you know we do have pure hearts. The apostle Peter says, I stir up your pure heart by way of remembrance.
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Our hearts have been purified by faith.
The precious blood has been applied, and so God, who knows the hearts of all men.
Aren't being purified by faith not only being born again by God's Spirit, but we receive the Spirit of God, a divine person.
To dwell in these bodies. Know ye not that your bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost? You see, because we're sons, God has sent forth the spirit of His Son into our hearts, whereby we cry ABBA. Father, the Spirit of God begat life. We are born of God, we're born of the Spirit, so that there is a spirit life. But then the Holy Spirit himself is a divine person.
Comes and takes up his abode.
When we believe the gospel of our salvation so that our hearts are purified by faith, we are redeemed, we're cleansed and I say endowed with the Spirit of God. Now that's the character of God's people is presented in Scripture and that's the circumstances in regard to Israel. And then when we come to the book of Numbers, we see that God makes a wonderful.
And practical arrangement for them as to their journeying through the wilderness.
He gives them instructions as to how they were to encounter a roundabout the Tabernacle. Every tribe had a particular place. And then he makes provision for the movement of the camp, providing all that the Levites need for the transporting of the of the Tabernacle and and all that pertained to it. And he makes provision for them and in the way of guidance and direction because when the people go forward in the 10th chapter.
Numbers we read that the ark of the covenant of God went forth to seek out a resting place for them. God undertook in a wonderful way to give them everything they needed. God redeemed them, God endowed them with the Spirit and God gives them every arrangement for their for their blessing and everything in order and undertakes to lead and guide them all. You would say what a privileged people.
What a privileged people. And when you think of all of these things, you would say.
They would be so thankful, they would be so grateful for all this. But the first thing we read when they start their journeys in the 11Th chapter of Numbers is that they murmured and they complained. Murmurings and complaints. And we're not really surprised, are we? Because we feel ourselves and we say, who is more blessed than we are today?
What people have ever had greater blessing than the Lord's people in the day in which we live?
Think of not only redeem, but the wonderful endowment that we have, the Spirit of God and the light of God, the revelations that God has given. We have the, you might say, the accumulated light, all of the accumulation of light that God has given from the beginning.
We're living in the consummation of the ages, as it says in First Corinthians 10. We have all of the accumulated light of God Himself found in this precious book, and the Spirit of God-given that we might enter into it. And he has undertaken the lead and to guide and to protect. And should we not be those who are filled with praise?
And grateful and humble and devoted and loyal.
But we're not surprised that the children of Israel murmured and complained because we find the same thing and we find that the same spirit prevailed among the Lord's people today as it did in that day. And you know, as we go on in the book of Numbers, it's it's a failure after failure.
Murmuring against Moses, you remember.
Miriam and Aaron and then they despised the the pleasant land a wonderful report given out about the the land of Canaan and and because they were little difficulties involved.
Why, they complained and they murmured, and they were fearful of going up, and they were defeated by their enemies. And then we have that awful rebellion of Cora.
Rebelling against the authority of Moses. Think of that. Well, don't we find some of these things rising up among the Lord's people?
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Speaking against those whom the Lord might be using, and even rising up in rebellion and despising the pleasant land, and one might say, oh, I've never despised anything of the Lord. Well, I'm not so sure. Do our hearts really enter into what God has provided for us?
Does it seem as nothing in our sight as it did to the children of Israel when they had the report of the of the pleasant land? Well, we find that there's problems all the way through. And not only that, but Moses himself himself failed. You remember, he was so provoked with the people of God that he had to say, here now you rebels, must we fetch you water out of this rock? And the result was God had to say to Moses, you're not going into the Promised Land, even Moses.
The meanest man on the earth, God said, and he failed. What a history when we read of all of this. And that's the history of of a God with his people. And we see how that they even murmured finally, and there was the fiery surface. And I turned back to the 21St chapter. There's something I want to point out that might be helpful to us.
It is in the 21St chapter that we have the.
Fiery serpents.
And the people being bitten, but what I wanted to put out especially is what we have in verse 16 and from this they went to beer. That is the way over of the Lord's bacon and Moses gather the people together and I will give them water. Now this really.
Is not in response to a request of the people. There were times when they wanted water, that is, they cried out for water. But it seems the Lord initiates this. He said, gather them together, and I will give them water. Then Israel sang this song. Spring up, Oh well, sing ye unto it. The Princess did the well. The nobles of the people dig it by the direction of the log, ever with their stage.
And from the wilderness they went to Matina.
Now what I want to point out is this. We know of course that the springing whale here is a type of the Holy Spirit. Water and movement this way is a picture or type of the Holy Spirit. Now I'm not suggesting that the Holy Spirit is given twice to the believer.
I've mentioned in Exodus when the rock was smitten and water came out, I think is a type of the giving of the Spirit to those who believe the gospel of their salvation. They're sealed where the Holy Spirit of promise. But it appears to me that what we have here is that the people of God now in a typical way for the first time, recognize you might say that it's only in the power of the Spirit.
That anything is accomplished for God, it seems as if in the book of Numbers.
They had undertaken everything in their own strength. They had undertaken things in the flesh and the result was there was failure and failure and murmuring and complaining. You might say they had the spirit, but there was no real dependence upon the spirit. There was no real recognition of the fact that it's the Spirit of God.
That accomplishes anything and everything that is of God in the believer. Turn to Romans 8 and I want to read there of what I have in mind.
It's one thing to have the Spirit as a believer whose heart has been purified by faith, but it's another to recognize the power of the Spirit and be in the enjoyment of the Spirit.
In Romans 8, it says in verse four that the righteousness of the law, that doesn't mean the keeping of the 10 commandments, but what it means is the righteousness that God looked for in the law, the righteous requirement of the law, if there's going to be righteousness fulfilled in the individual which the law demanded.
It says might be fulfilled in US, not by us, but in US.
It can be fulfilled in us now. Who won't? Not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
We know it's been pointed out before that those words who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit, which are found in the first verse of this 8th chapter do not belong there. You see in verse one it should read. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, period. For there is not a question of the walk, it's the question of the of the work of Christ.
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The work that has been done for us, that puts us before God in such perfection that there is no condemnation.
That even though there is an evil nature within, we still have the flesh within. There is no condemnation.
We recognize that it's sin that dwells in me, but our standing before God is in Christ, and we're in the Spirit before God. We're not in the flesh. We're not in Adam. There is no condemnation.
So you omit the word who waltz not after the flesh, but after the spirit. But in verse four, those words belong there. But there it's a matter of of the of the walk and it's in it's in connection with the spirit who won't not after the flesh, but after the spirit. Now that's the thought I had in mind in the in the Exodus, or rather Numbers 21 when the people recognize.
The Spirit there is the recognition of the Spirit's power and dependence upon the Spirit of God.
And you know, right after this we have the first, their first victories. They defeat Zion, king of the Amorites and also Aug king ovation.
They're able to be victorious because they recognize the power of the spirit, the power of the spirit and not going on in the flesh. Well, I think it's remarkable that this.
The chapter 22 The power of the enemy comes in. The enemy power comes in as soon as there is victory on the part of the people of God.
There's a victory. They overcome Ogg, king of Basha, our king of the nation. And you remember something about this king.
There's not too much said about him in Scripture, but the thing that is noted about this man was his bed, and it was a large bed. He was obviously a large man, but it's remarkable that Scripture makes reference to his bed. And I suppose that this would have typically a reference to, you might say that's what we are in the flesh that desires.
An easy path in this world, that indulgence of the flesh.
Ogg king of nations, he was a large man with a big eye that gets in the way so often and and the the ministering to self and it's overcome. That's the victory that is overcome as they recognize the Spirit of God and that well that springs up that well that springs up unto everlasting life well now.
As I say, this is the background that leads up to chapter 22.
The children of Israel, the people of God, they are redeemed, endowed, and they've had all of these experiences with God and God's governmental ways with them, and they've entered into the power of the Spirit. So the enemy comes.
And he's going to destroy. That's his fault. He's going to destroy everything that God has wrought. Because that's really what's involved here. It isn't so much what the people are in themselves.
You see, it isn't what the people are in themselves. The people are viewed in these parables of Balaam. The word that is put into Balaam's mouth by God views the people of God from the top of the rocks. Notice that when we come to chapter 23.
When Balaam first speaks in verse 9, far from the top of the rocks, I see him. In other words, the people are viewed from God's advantage point. They're viewed from above. It isn't the people of God viewed in their tents there in the plains of Moab.
Viewed from that standpoint, there there might be many things that the enemy could come in and condemn. But viewed from the top of the rocks, viewed from Ohio, viewed from God's vantage point, it's what God has wrought. And what God has wrought cannot be destroyed. What God has blessed cannot be cursed. What God has done cannot be reversed. The enemy's power is completely and utterly.
Frustrated in these parables are available in the in this attempt available to to do the enemy's work. He's completely frustrated and is if the Lord allows us to be together again and we go on in these parables, we'll see how that eventually Balak becomes so frustrated that he leaves the scene entirely and it's all left for blessing from God through the mouth even of an impious man.
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This man, Balaam, So we see that the intimate power is broken. He's completely frustrated. He's completely stymied.
He can do nothing against the people of God. For you see the viewpoint is when the Lord, when God first speaks to Balaam in verse 12 of chapter 22. Notice what he says. Thou shalt not go with him. Now this is the expression of God's mind. Thou shalt not go with him. Thou shalt not curse the people far they are blessed. And in the 23rd chapter.
Verse 20 Balaam recognizes this. He says, behold, I have received commandment to bless.
And he has blessed and I cannot reverse it.
I cannot reverse it. There's no power against it because as we read at the end of verse 23, it's not a question of what the people are in themselves. It says, what hath God wrought? It's a question of what God has done. And the enemy cannot overturn the work of God.
Now he can, he can play havoc with the people of God in their walk and waves, but he cannot overturn the work of God. He cannot reverse the blessing. All that God has in his purpose and counsel for his people cannot be reversed or taken away by the power of the enemy at all. So in these in this circumstance.
These chapters 22 Through 24, where we have.
Balaam uttering these parables, we have God needing the power of the enemy and frustrating him in every way. So now let us look at the 25th chapter for a moment, for just a little contrast.
After the wonderful display, and I might say that there's no indication that Israel knew anything of what was going on.
This that was going on between God and Balaam and Balak and Balaam.
There's no indication that the people of God there in their tents and the plains of Moab knew anything about it.
It was entirely outside them. It was God's matter, and God took it in hand and God settled it. But now then we have something that's going on down in the plains. We have something now. We have a view of what is going on in the camp of Israel among the people in chapter 25. And Israel abode in, shut them, and the people began to commit boredom with the daughters.
Of Moab.
And we read in verse three. And Israel joined himself unto Bell Peor, and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel.
We'll turn to the Book of Revelation chapter 2.
And verse 14.
We see who went behind this sad failure, the children of Israel joining with the daughters of Moab. And the result was that they took up with the false gods of those people. And in verse 14 of chapter two he says to the church at Ferguson, But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel.
Do anything, sacrifice unto idols and to commit fornication. Now you see we read in chapter 22 how that Balak came to Balaam and wanted Balaam to curse the people of God. That is, he was he wanted to exert power against the people of God to destroy them and he was frustrated. Now it seems that after that.
Balaam, because you will. If you read carefully, you know that Balaam loved the wages of unrighteousness.
And Balaam wanted that reward from Balakot that God didn't allow him to.
Curse the people, but it appears that later Balaam undertook to.
Instruct Balak.
How he could hinder the people of God. And that is as we read here, to commit fornication to each thing, sacrifice into idols. So in chapter 25 of Numbers, when we read that the children of Israel committed ******** with the daughters of Moab, it was at the Council.
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Of Balaam that this took place and what I'm saying is this, that when it comes to the power of the enemy.
As seen in the desire of Balak to curse the people of God.
God came in and God delivered the people. There was no power against his people. But when it comes to seductions of the enemy, when it comes to his Wiles, when it comes to his enticing the people of God into pathways that are not according to the mind of God, while it does not take away the blessings that we have.
From God in Christ their hour that it were entitled and we're going to be in that glory conformed to his image. Everything that God is purpose is going to be brought to pass in the meanwhile our joy, our peace, our blessing, our testimony is can be destroyed and the Lord dishonored and that's what we find now with the children of Israel committing ********* with the daughters of Moab. They were enticed into associations that were not.
God and it resulted in their taking up the gods of these people. And so God was robbed of his portion and his people. He was robbed of the joy that he would have in his people. And the people were deceived and deluded. We know, of course, that there were many, or at least there were some who were unhappy about it. And one man was very faithful, the name of Phineas. But the point I'm making here is that while the power of the enemy is broken.
We've been delivered from Satan's power. We still have to contend.
Against his Wiles turn to the 6th chapter of Ephesians.
Ephesians 6.
And verse 11. I read this mainly for the expression we have here.
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the Wiles of the devil. Again, I remind you it doesn't say against the power of the devil.
Because God himself is the one who who ended where withstands the power of the devil to destroy the people of God. But it's the Wiles of the devil devil. That's why the apostle Paul could say to the Corinthians that that he feared lest their minds be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. Just as Satan deceived Eve. He said that was what he feared in 2nd Corinthians 11, that their mind should be corrupted from the simplicity are singleness.
To Christ that they might, He was fearful that they might not be faithful, that they might, as it were, be illicit in their spiritual affections, that they might allow their hearts to go out to the things of this world and ungodly, unholy and unrighteous associations. That's what happened in Numbers 25.
They took up with the daughters of Moab, the daughters of Moab. You remember how the.
Moabites began.
A very, very disgraceful beginning. It was after a lot, you remember we delivered out of Sodom.
That he had two children by his daughters, two sons there mentioned, one was Moab. So you might say that the daughters of Moab are an issue of Lot. It's that which they represent, that which has issued from Lot. And what does Lot speak of? We know, of course, that Lot has been brought before us many times as a picture of a worldly Christian.
Because Lot was a righteous man who agreed in Peter. Peter.
We wouldn't know it from the history in the Old Testament, would we? Just what kind of a man Lot was. But Peter tells us that he was a righteous man. The Lord knows how to deliver the righteous and reserve the ungodly to the day of judgment. So he was a righteous man, but Lot was one who.
Wanted the well well watered planes and he wanted to settle down in this world and we know that he's found in that city of Sodom.
What a contrast with Abraham. We know, of course, that he went out from Abraham. There was a time when he was with Abraham. Then a test came.
And we know that this is always the way with God, that he does test his people. And Lot went along with Abraham for a while, then there came a test. And it wasn't necessary for a Lot to pick his tent towards Sodom. But when the test came, that's what he did. And so the test will come with each one of us who profess to be gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus. The test will come. Something will come up. God allows it from time to time.
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And the question is of whether we will remain with Abraham as he did. He remained in the land, and it was after a lot was separated from him that God told him to walk up the length and the breadth of that land as if now he was free to enjoy it and lodge, you remember, pitched his tent towards Sodom and eventually found his way into Sodom. And he was a very active man there. But you know, there's one thing I want to point out about a lot in Sodom that sometimes it's overlooked when we.
Lot in Sodom, I suppose, a young persons especially, they think of a lot down there, just enjoying himself, going to all of the amusements that they have and they had in those days and living a very riotous life, like the prodigal. No, no, if you read carefully in the Word of God, you find it that he was vexed with the manner of life down there. He didn't. He wasn't a profligate.
In fact, one of the things that they say about him when the angels came down to deliver him, that they said this man came in as a stranger and he, he sits as a judge among us. Undoubtedly Law had been correcting those people for their property, good life, and he wasn't exactly going on with them and all of that, but he was content to dwell in their midst and he was taking part in all of their affairs. He was one who sat in the gate of Sodom. You know what that means?
That means he was taking part in their in their civic affairs. He had something to say about the running of the government of that city. He had to say as to the the the various laws that would be passed. He was very active in all of the civic affairs in that city. That's the kind of a Christian that a lot represents. He represents a worldly minded Christian who might be morally.
Free from the profligacy that fills this world.
But he's one who is taken up with earthly things, taken up with the affairs of life, and gets involved in all of the social measures and the political aspects and things that belong to this world of which the Christian is not a part at all. That's what law would represent. Well, the daughters of Moab, I think, would be a bring before us the subtle way in which the enemy would seek to lure the people of God.
To an earthly path and into earthly mindedness, because you know, it can sound very good. It can sound very good as to like social measures and so forth. And getting occupied, there's a lot of want, there's a lot of misery, there's a lot of sorrow, there's a lot of injustice in this world. And the Christian feels it. And I don't want to be misunderstood because it would be a strange Christian who did not feel injustice.
And misery. And want.
And that's why we look forward to the Kingdom.
And that's why we long for the Lord to come. We want to see everything according to God and we want to see justice. We want to see, we want to see peace. We want to see all of these things, but we have to leave them into the hands of the Lord at the present time. And we cannot take undertake to to legislate and put everything in order. And that's the thought I had in regard to the Wiles of Satan. In other words, in a very subtle way, we might be LED into these things rather than taking the place.
That the very first parable, if you'll turn back to that 23rd chapter, the place at the very first parable brings before us.
And I didn't want to touch on this because.
The first parable brings before us the place that God has for his people. Now you remember in verse nine he says it's from the top of the rocks that I see him.
And from the hills I behold him. Lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations. That's the first thought is that here is a people that God has set apart for himself.
He has set them apart for himself.
A people for his possession, as we had this morning in that verse, that he's made us a Kingdom priests. He's made us a people for himself.
He has set us apart.
We're not a part of this world. We've been separated from it. We've been sanctified by the will of God. That's what we read in Hebrews 10. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ. Once for all, we've been set apart. It's the will of God that we should be set apart, and it's the work of the Lord Jesus Christ that sets us apart. What sets us apart is not that spirit of stand thou by thyself. I'm holier than thou. That's not the thought, it's the.
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Of God. It's the work of Christ and it's the work of the Spirit of God. But we do read about sanctification of the Spirit.
In first Peter chapter one we read about there being sanctified by the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. For sanctification of the Spirit is not some experience that we enter into as believers. It isn't some super spiritual state. It isn't some state of ecstasy into which we enter. It means that when we were.
Born again of God's Spirit. When life was imparted to us by the Spirit of God, we were set apart for God.
What really sets us apart in this world is the will of God, the work of Christ, and the power of the Spirit of God. And I believe that separation should be viewed in that light. It should be viewed in that light. It's because God himself has set us apart. And that's the real meaning, to put it simply, of sanctification to set apart.
And we're set apart to God, as I say again, by God's will, and through the work of Christ, and because the Spirit of God has has begotten life in us, so he says here, lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.
From God's side we can speak of it as sanctification. From our side, the response of it is separation.
From our side we speak of it as separation. We recognize what God has done Himself and what He has made us to be a a peculiar people, a people for His possession. And so the result is that we are separate. Well, again, I want to go back to Abraham and Lot just for a contrast.
While Lot was one who was down in the city of Sodom, Abraham dwelt alone on that mountain. And it was really Abraham who delivered luck.
Through his intersection, I have no doubt that it was through the intercession of Abraham that Lot was delivered out of that city, and it was Abraham who was there in communion with God. He was, you might say, dwelling alone. He was not reckoned among the nations. He was in the place of separation, but he was in the place of communion. He was in the place of power, and he was able to deliver, whereas Lot, on the other hand, was in a position of weakness.
Out of communion and had to be literally plucked as a brand for the burning, saved as it were by the skin of his teeth, as scripture would speak up so as by fire. Well, this first parable while God comes in and frustrates the the effort of the enemy to destroy the people of God, he puts into Balaam's mouth.
These parables and this first parable that God put into His mouth would be that which we would lay hold on at the very outset.
The youngest believer in the room, the child who has believed on the Lord Jesus, should from the very outset understand that God has set you apart for himself. He has set you apart so that separation, when it's brought up, separation from the world, is based on the fact that you have been sanctified, set apart for God. And if we look at it in that light, I believe that we will have more power.
And effectiveness in our separation.
Connecting it with the sanctification that has been wrought for us in the power of God. So God overcomes the power of the enemy and brings in a word of blessing in the mouth of this man, baby.
Warfare in the Land
Address—B. Warr
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Festival a couple of Pantages, one from Deuteronomy chapter 8, Deuteronomy chapter 8, and verse one. All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the Lord swear unto your father's. And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God LED thee these 40 years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee to know what was in.
Whether thou wouldest keep his commandments or no. And then that connected with the Book of Judges.
I believe it's chapter 3 of Judges. Judges chapter 3 and verse one. Now these are the nations which the Lord left to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan, only that the generations of the children of Israel might know to teach them war at the least, such as before knew nothing thereof, namely, 5 Lords of the Philistines and all the Canaanites and the Sidonians, and the highlights that dwelt in Mount Lebanon from Mount.
Of the entering in a haman, they would approve Israel by them to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the Lord, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses. The thing of these two verse, these two portions, is the two kinds of trials in life. The first one is to get to the land, And that's the way the Lord proves us on a daily path of trusting him and his provision. But then when we get to the land.
We're there in the land.
And there is warfare left. You hear the Philistines. We get them here left to prove us to know whether we will be obedient or not. Now our brother mentioned the religious aspect of the Philistines, and I would like to.
Connect that with Ephesians chapter 6. I believe it is where we get the New Testament view of it. We see the warfare in Ephesians 6. That's left to prove us.
And it is a warfare, and it's a different warfare from what many people.
Today see many people only see the trials of the pathway to prove them. But here in Ephesians chapter 6 and verse 10 we read finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God. You may be able to stand against the Wiles of the devil, for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against.
Principalities against powers against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
And we have our enemies, and then we have the armor. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day. And having done all the stand, stand there for having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darks of the wicked, and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, Praying always with all prayer and supplication of Spirit, and watching there undo with all perseverance and supplication for All Saints. And for me that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the Gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds.
That therein I may speak boldly as I ought to speak. Now we can certainly see the connection, can't we? Here we have our warfare, and we've heard of the character of the Philistines. Now here we we come, and we trust the Lord Jesus Christ.
And we have all blessings in Christ, but where are they? So we have all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.
In between here and between there. You see, we have enemies and their enemies there not to defeat us because we've heard of the victory of the Lord Jesus Christ. That's not it. It's it's our entering in and standing in the good of all that we have in Christ and not being robbed out of what He has given to us. He bought our blessings with great price. Now let us not be cheated out of them, not by some man who's going to.
Up and overpower me physically. That's what we are not warring against the physical, but we war against those that will come in and convince us that the truth doesn't matter or that a lie is true. And now what do we have to for our defense? And that's the thing I was going to just mention in passing.
That we know what we have to stand with. We have the whole armor of God now. You couldn't do any better than this. You can't add anything to it and you cannot improve on it.
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And you cannot stand without it. So we have the armor of God to be able to stand. Not having the loins gird about with truth, you know, that's letting the truth get down to the most intimate private part of the person. Don't spare anything from the light of what God says. Don't let Satan rob you or pray for me that it be not so with me that Satan. Robert, don't let Satan rob us.
By having to dodge anything of the truth of God. Let it get down in there.
And the truth will then gird about our beings way down in the bottom of our beings, so that when things come out, they should not come out. They're judged way down there. See. Gird about the loins would tell us about the most intimate way down. Private thoughts.
Who a man knoweth the things of a man, say the spirit of the man way down there. Let the truth go way down there, and let it find a lodging place. And may it we be gird about, because we read about Shields and breastplates that protects us from what comes from without to get in.
But this girl here would protect what's in from coming out. We must let the word of God go there and judge there. The breastplate of righteousness. This is practical righteousness where we are righteous, declared so by God, but practical righteousness in the life. You see, he that is righteous is as bold as a lion. I believe there's a verse.
What it means is when something would come up to attack me, to defeat me.
You see, a practical righteousness in the light gives boldness and protection against something coming in to discourage us, or to cause us to to think in the day of trouble. But the breastplate of righteousness would tell us that there's no way.
That we will ever be able to stand out. We won't have the heart for it. We just won't have the heart for the pathway without practical righteousness in the life. Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace have enjoyed this. You know the there are two feet and there are two sides of the gospel of peace. And instead of having the feet shot one side of the gospel of peace.
Is that peace between man and God that now there is peace?
And man no longer as an enemy of God if he believes in the Lord Jesus Christ. But there's also that side of the gospel which tells us of the peace between man and man, or the truth of the one body, the truth that now we are in Christ Jesus, part of the gospel.
Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace would not only tell us about that walk in the world, which would give us that liberty to talk to our neighbor about having peace with God, but it would also bring in the preparation.
Of walking in the assembly as members of one body, the gospel of peace, where there is peace made between man and man.
So having our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, and then taking the shield of faith, you know there is that in life which gives peace in every circumstance. That is the shield of faith. And no matter what might be hurled at you by the enemy, just simply to leave it with the Lord, He is able. And we will need that as we go along, because there will be the fiery dark to the wicked, as He would send in from out He tried to get at us.
To defeat us and to cause us to turn back from standing with Christ.
But the shield of faith is that simple confidence in the Lord that he will take care of it. No, you've been worried about that. Satan would say, well, what about this or what about that, or what about the other? Simply leave with the Lord. Don't worry about that. The Lord will take care of that. My only part is to be faithful to him. How important it is that shield of faith count on the Lord, and the helmet of salvation would tell us of that which protects.
The enemy's entrance into our thoughts.
Because he would come in and disturb our minds and disturb our thoughts. But we have the helmet, that protection for the mind, the helmet of salvation. And we have the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. We use this word. It is a, it is our only offensive weapon. We simply set forth what God has said.
And the rest of it is his work, and the helmet of salvation is that certainty.
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That armor that we rest in the good of what we have in the Lord Jesus.
As sure as He is, our place is in heaven with Him, and as sure as He is seated, there we shall be also. Then we have one other thing, praying always. I think that all of that, all that we have in the armor, our ability to use that armor will come from prayer, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit. And there we would have the power, the source of our energy.
To to do all these things.
But David, when he went to take the armor, they offered him the armor of Saul and he says, well I can't use the armor of Saul against Goliath because I don't know anything about Sauls armor. Well maybe we know something about God's armor. May we realize what the battle is and that it be our part to be found having done all to stand.
Blessing in the Path of Obedience
Address—G.H. Hayhoe
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Like to turn to first Timothy and the third chapter, First Timothy chapter 3 and verse 15. But if I tarry long that thou mayest know how thou artist to behave thyself in the House of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth, and without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness.
God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit.
Scene of angels preached under the Gentiles believed on in the world received up into glory.
Well, I believe rather than that these two verses give us the key to this whole epistle, and I'd like to look at this first epistle of Timothy as what we might call a model house. You know, we often speak of First Timothy as being a truth that brings before us the House of God in order. And seeing it is the House of God in order, we can expect that this epistle will take up every part of our life in such a way as to show us.
How there is that which is a testimony here in this world to God's order. And this is very beautiful. I'm sure many of us have gone into a new development and you've looked at a model house, and as you walk through the house, you saw how the one who had built that house planned that everything should be set up and fixed to the best advantage. Now you might go back there after someone has bought it and found everything far from what the original plan was.
But nevertheless, it was very interesting to see what the plan of the builder was.
How he intended it to be. And I believe, brethren, that that's just exactly what we have in First Timothy. And I'm sure if we look at it carefully, there are many things that we can learn as we look at the epistle in this light. For God has given us light for everything that we need, not only telling us the way of salvation, but telling us of that which is pleasing to him. And in a world where men are trying to follow their own ideas in order, isn't it lovely to see?
That God does have an order, and that He has that which He intends in this earth.
To be a testimony for him, maintaining his truth, and displaying in a practical way the character that is according to godliness. And you can see from these two verses that that is what is brought before us in this epistle. It says, if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how the oddest to behave thyself in the House of God. I might say that.
When it speaks this way, it's not talking about a physical building.
That you could call the House of God. Very often in Christendom why they look at a building and it's erected for a religious purpose and it's called the House of God. But in the scripture we know that it's a building composed of living stones. And as Peter tells us, he also has living stones. Or build up a spiritual house and holy priesthood to OfferUp spiritual sacrifices.
Acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
So we're not talking about just how we behave in the meeting room, it's how we behave as a testimony in this world, as being that which is responsible to maintain the truth of God and walk in godliness, So it says, which is the Church of the living God. What a remarkable and wonderful expression, the Church of the living God, to think that the word church means the called out ones and to know that God has in this earth.
People that are called out don't belong to this world, are not part of the world system at all, but have been called out from this world, called out as a people that belong to heaven. Citizens of heaven are those who represent heaven upon earth, so it tells us. Paul speaking in 2nd Corinthians 5, says Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ dead.
Be reconciled to God.
Church of the Living God, what a solemnity, what a responsibility.
To be the called out ones in this world who belong to the living God, who are living stones. We know in the Old Testament that temple was a place, as it tells us in the Sam's. Every whit of it was to show forth God's glory, and it ought to be so with us. That ought to be the main purpose of our lives, to be to his glory, as we sang into our little hymn. In him it is ordained to raise a temple to Jehovah's praise.
Composed of all the Saints who own no Savior but the living Stone.
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So it's the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground or is it believe it says the stay in the margin or the support of the truth. Now who is going to maintain the truth in this world? Do we expect the public press to maintain the truth of God? Always say no, you can't rely on what you read in the daily newspaper. Well, who can and who is responsible to maintain the truth of God in this world? The Church of the living God.
What a responsibility then.
God has given us a deposit of truth and Paul exhorted Timothy, hold fast to the truth. Hold fast the form of sound words oh Timothy, hold fast that which is committed to thy trust and to us who have been made part of the Church of the living God. We have a great responsibility in this world and that is to uphold the whole truth of God. We have no right to deal with our.
As we would with the opinions of man. When a man gives you his opinion, why you have a right to question it. But when God gives us His truth in His Word, it's our responsibility to take it and bow to it. My father used to sometimes say, every book that I read I judge except one book and that is the Bible. It judges me. And that is very important for us. We have no right to traffic with the truth of God as though we could accept this and.
This aside, I know many Christians do. They say, well, you know, we, we don't accept that and we're living in a different age. And so they accept parts and set aside parts. We have no right to do that here. We find that the assembly is to be the pillar and support of the truth. We are responsible, brethren, I say, to hold a positive truth that has been committed to us and that is a great privilege as well as a great responsibility.
And then it goes on to speak in the next verse of the.
Secret of godliness and without controversy. Great is the mystery or secret of godliness.
And that is, not only ought people to know the Church of the living God as that which supports and stands for the whole truth of God, but also they ought to see, when they get to know us, a pattern of godliness. They ought to see in our lives that it isn't just truth that we hold and say that we believe, but it doesn't affect us, but that which has a practical effect in our lives.
The Lord Jesus when he was here in this world.
Could say, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father, but by me. He was a living example of the truth. When they asked Him who He was, He could say altogether that which I said unto you from the beginning. His whole life corresponded perfectly with who He was, and was the full fulfillment of all that God said about the Messiah who would come and be among them. He was the secret of godliness.
He was one, as I say, who sold perfectly a glorified God and manifested Him.
That he could say, he that hath seen me hath seen the Father. And so the secret of godliness is not that you follow some godly brother. You say, well, he's a godly brother. I think that what he does must be all right because he loves the Lord so much. Now the secret of godliness is the pathway of the Lord Jesus. It's true we can imitate the faith of others, but all want a mistake to follow others. You'd get into almost all kinds of error and perhaps into some sad mistakes in your.
Personal life if you follow godly man, someone has said, and I was shocked when I read the statement, that at the root of every error in the professing church has been some godly, pious man, yes, some man who was a godly man and because he gave out something, people accepted it without searching the scriptures to see if it were so and so here we find we have the the.
Pillar and support of the truth and the secret of godliness. And notice what it says.
About the Lord Jesus, God was manifest in the flesh. Just think of that one, as I said, who so perfectly glorified God that as we had in our chapter in the meetings, he was the image of the invisible God man here in this world. And when people looked at him, you say, what is God like? A perfect manifestation of it in the life of the Lord Jesus.
I see him standing still at the cry of a blind man.
I say that's the God whom I know. I see him weeping at the grave of Lazarus. I see that's the God I know. Here was the one who perfectly displayed him. And that's the secret of godliness because the Lord Jesus is the pattern or example for us. He left us an example that we should follow his steps and then he was justified in the Spirit. It wasn't always justified by man. Many people found fault with him, many people sediment.
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He was sought at night of the builders, but he was justified in the Spirit. And if there was any question as to this, why, when he goes with that company to be baptized, all the rest were confessing their sins. But the Spirit of God comes upon him and marks him out, and says, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. He was marked out by the Spirit of God. Are you and I satisfied?
God's approval. Or do we say, well, if other people don't like me, I just can't stand it?
I've got to have the approval of my peers. Oh, the Lord Jesus was content.
To have the approval of His Father and be marked out by the Spirit of God on that day, and then it says preached on a scene of angels is not a beautiful word too. Here was their angels looking down and seeing their Creator walking in this world, walking, shall I say, in a form lower than themselves. He took a place that says He was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death. So here was.
God down in this world as a man lower than the angels, and the angels looked down and saw one in this world, the 1St man who had perfectly glorified God. And you know this is interesting for us too, because Paul said we made a spectacle unto the world and to angels and to men, even in connection with a sister wearing a covering it says she should because of the angels, the angels.
They look down to see whether we recognize God's order in the creation.
The man in his place and the woman in hers and the angels are observers even in connection with the truth of the mystery. It says to the intent of noun to the principalities and heavenly places might be known by the Church, the manifold wisdom of God. Angels look down and saw that blessed One walking here in this world ever to please his Father. And then it says.
Preached under the Gentiles. Why is this brought in? Oh, I think there's something lovely in this, brethren.
Preached under the Gentiles when He was rejected by the nation, we see grace reaching out beyond the limits of Israel.
And blessing the Gentile. Oh, I think that is so encouraging because sometimes you undertake to do something and you feel it you failed in it. Or perhaps that the ones that you sought to help didn't accept the help that you wanted to give them to get discouraged and give up.
Do you say, oh, it's no use? Why isn't it lovely to see the Lord Jesus? He accepted the rejection of the nation from from the Father. He said, I thank the Father Lord of heaven and earth that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes, that grace that was in his heart could not be held in. And so if someone does something to you that hurts, don't give up. Don't say it's no use.
Why? The Lord went on.
And when rejected by the nation, the grace was so panned up, shall I say in his blessed heart, that it reached out to the Gentile. He couldn't be any less than what he was in himself, full of grace and truth, and then to believed on in the world. Isn't this beautiful too? Because at the end of his pathway it didn't seem as if he had accomplished very much in this world. It says Messiah the Prince was cut off and had nothing.
The nation rejected him, his disciples forsook him and fled. It seemed as if he has blessed pathway had been in vain. Is there fruit from it? Oh, he's going to see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied believed on in the world. And perhaps I could put it this way. Don't try to count your results this side of the glory. Leave that to the coming day. That's the secret of godliness. You'll give up.
Or you're good. Proud. One or the other. If you think you're accomplishing a lot, you'll get proud.
And if you think your work isn't accomplishing very much, you'll be discouraged. But if you're content to wait the Father's time, then everything is going to be properly made known in that day, believed on in the world. There will be fruits. We're going to meet blind Bartimaeus in the glory. We're going to meet the woman of psycho as well. We're going to meet many others. But the Lord Jesus was despised and rejected here. And then, it says received up in glory.
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That was the end of his pathway and he was received up in the glory. And so I say again this I want to look at this epistle as being a little pattern for us. First of all, that we are responsible to maintain and stand for the whole truth of God. And secondly, that in the city of Burbank and in the city of Ottawa, where I live and every place.
Why? As there should be, as people look at those who bear the name of Christ.
A testimony to those two things that we will not compromise the truth of God, that we stand for it.
And that as they watch our lives, they see the secret of godliness, they see Christ likeness in US. Oh, what a what a responsibility, but oh, what a privilege, what a privilege it is to be representatives of heaven here in this world. And now let us go back. And I just like to trace through in this epistle a few things that bring this before us, which I think are very.
Interesting.
In the in the first chapter we see how that Paul had left Timothy at.
At emphasis, just notice here in the third verse of the first chapter, as I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus when I went into Macedonia. The Talmud has charged some that they teach no other doctrine, neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies which minister questions, rather than godly edifying, which is in faith so do.
Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned. Paul had besought Timothy to remain at Ephesus, and his desire was that there might be in the assembly there at Ephesus ministry that would have this result. I believe the other translation of the fifth verse reads now the purpose of that which is enjoined, and because that is.
Here, in other words, the purpose of ministry is to produce this result in our lives as believers. There were those who were giving heed to fables and then just endless genealogies. They were raising a lot of questions. But he said, now, Timothy, I'd like you to help the Saints so that when they come together, what is given out might be.
It might be such as would draw out affection for the Lord.
Produce a good conscience and bring, bring forward, or perhaps I should say, develop more faith and confidence in God. And that lovely when ministry is of that character. And brethren, that ought to exercise us in connection with our assembly as we come together. How lovely it is when we come together and instead of going away with a number of unanswered questions and some genealogy that was brought before us that we didn't understand.
Instead, we go away and our hearts have been stirred by His love to us, and we go away all just feeling a response of our affections to that blessed Savior. Well, he's exhorting Timothy that the assembly ought to have this character. Just like when you go into a place and they serve a good meal and you just sit down and you thoroughly enjoy it, and you go and you say to somebody, why we had such a nice meal, everything was so good.
And the assembly ought to be like that. It ought to be a place where the Saints are fed, where blessing comes to their souls, where they go away having the enjoyment of the love of Christ deepened in their souls. If there's something that's going on in their lives that is not pleasing to the Lord, it ought to exercise us so that we would walk before God.
With a good conscience, I don't know anything worse, dear friends, than to.
Go through life with a bad conscience to be doing something that every time you come to the meeting it just comes into your conscience. I'm not walking the way I should. I may be fooling my brethren, but my conscience bothers me. Oh, what an unhappy state of things. But the result of the ministry ought to be to lead us to acknowledge this before the Lord, so that we would go on with a good.
Conscience before God and before men. So the purpose of what is enjoined is first a love out of a pure heart, nothing pretended but what's real, and a good conscience and a faith unfeigned, unfeigned, or it could be translated unpretended. You know, we can pretend faith, and I'm afraid I'm guilty of doing that. Sometimes we say we trust the Lord, and when some difficulty.
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In our lives, we're all together, we're all upset, and we wonder just where our faith is flown to. Reminds me of a story I heard of a little boy and he was coming home from Sunday school on the bus and he had got a little text at Sunday school and the text was have faith in God, have faith in God. And he was holding this text up and it got caught in the wind and went out the window of the bus and flew away.
And he said, oh, I lost my faith in God. I lost my faith in God. And someone heard it. And God used that little remark to stir up somebody on the bus who had lost something worse than a text. He had truly lost his faith in God. And you know, isn't it nice when we come to the meeting and our faith is strengthened? I'm sure we've all had this experience. We've come to the meeting and things have been brought before us and our faith was strengthened.
It says in Romans chapter 4 about Abraham.
Was strong in faith, but I noticed that the other translation reads he was strengthened by faith. And isn't that true? It's faith that strengthens us. Discourage people in hands that are hanging down. We don't do anything. But when we have confidence in God, we have confidence in the difficulties and trials of life. We have confidence when we seek to serve Him. There is a confidence that he gives. A little hymn says Sweet as the confidence thou gives.
The high above our praise.
Our hearts resort to where thou lives in heaven's unclouded rays.
And so here we see that the chapter begins by showing us that in the assembly there ought to be this sort of ministry that would be such a blessing and help to the people of God. And then we go on further in the chapter and we see the kind of material that God has picked picked up. You know, when you look at a house, why you often look at the kind of material that is used. What kind of material did God pick up?
It tells us that we're living stones. But notice this.
15th verse. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
Of whom I am chief, howbeit for this 'cause I obtain mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all long-suffering for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on Him to life everlasting. What kind of material? We were talking about the assembly being the House of God, the Church of the living God. What kind of material has He picked up? Well, here's one person He picked up, who was the chief of sinners.
And everyone of us can say, well, if we weren't the chief of sinners, we were pretty bad sinners and we certainly needed his grace to save us. And so this is the kind of material that God picks up. We might feel, well, I haven't got this or that. It's what he makes us. Men can make bricks. And so they did try at the Tower of Babel. They were going to build a tower whose top would reach under heaven. But you know, this didn't use stones. They use something man made they.
And they held the bricks together with slime for mortar. And so it is in everything that man does. It's all his own work. And he can only keep the things together by something that appeals to the fallen nature of man. It's slime he uses for mortar. Isn't that true? There's nothing can be kept together in this world unless there's something that appeals to the to the flesh. But when the temple was built.
Why? There were living stones. There were stones cut out of the quarries, each one huge stones, costly stones.
And here they were put in a place. There was number sound of even a hammer in the building, and they were each put in their special place in the building. And that's what God did to you and I. He placed us. We were huge stones. We were costly stones for what it cost him to build us into this house and to make us part of this Church of the living God. And so here we find that God picked up the chief of sinners. He picked up you and he picked up.
Me and everyone who knows him has been made a living stone in this building. And then he says that he showed this kind of mercy to us that we that he said that he might be a pattern to them who would hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. Here's a person who just gets saved and now he's introduced among the people of God.
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And what does he see? Well, he ought to see a pattern.
He ought to see in US who know the Lord is our Savior and that we are seeking to hold this truth of God and display the Spirit of Christ in our lives. And Paul was billed as a living stone into this building for this purpose. And oh, what a cost I say it was. Christ Jesus came into the world. Oh brethren, we'll never know what it cost him to bring us into this.
What I spoke of as a model house.
To make us part of that which He is building here in this world and the cost to himself. When we looked at this model home in one area one time, why we want to know the cost, although we can never measure the cost by which we have been brought into this place of association as members of the body of Christ living stones.
In a spiritual building. And so he goes on and speaks of.
The 19th verse, holding faith and a good conscience, and so on. But now the second thing I'd like to notice here, and I characteristic way in the second chapter, it says, I exhort therefore, that first of all supplications, prayers, intercession, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings, and for all that are in authority.
That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness.
And honesty, what is the responsibility of the Church of God in this world? Is it here to try and enter into the political situation and help to build up a better country and a better world? Why? I was reading certain group and they were saying they were training their children to be leaders in the religious in the world and to occupy places to help improve this world.
Dear friends, this is not what the Church of God is here for.
The Church of God is here, as we say, to maintain the truth of God. It's here to display the Spirit of Christ. But here is our attitude toward those who and authority we're not to be part of it. We're to pray for it. There was one man and he was he just couldn't see that. He thought that Christians should vote and take part in politics until one time.
When he cast his vote, the man that he voted for didn't get in and he said never again.
I won't vote again because I voted against God, He said I thought I was voting for the right man, but he didn't get in. So I couldn't have been voting for the right man because the powers that be are ordained of God. And so he was content from then on to do what God said, and that was to pray for the powers that be. And I often say our prayers mean more than our votes because when we prayed, and God can do the work of looking after those kind of.
Things there was number such thing as Christian government. When Paul said to the Romans to submit to the powers that be, and with no such thing as Christian government here, when he wrote to Timothy, he was telling him how to act in a world that was seemingly under the control of godless men. But the Christian knows that there is one who is the head of all principalities and powers, the one and it says the most high rules.
Kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever he will. What a consolation this is.
And so we do have a responsibility not to be finding fault, but to be praying. We don't find Paul finding fault with the powers that be, even although they were persecuting Christians, even although Paul himself died as a martyr, we know having his head cut off and being a prisoner under Nero, we don't find him finding fault with the government. And you know, this is very important for us. What is?
Position of the church in this world it's to pray for those who in authority it's to desire their blessing and as it goes on, to tell us that we may lead quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty. Because the Christian is just like the ambassador in another country he is not one who is responsible to interfere in the affairs of that country he seeks to maintain the.
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Of his own country and that is the extent of his responsibility and that is the place that we occupy in this world. We are to maintain in this world the interests of Christ. Have often said an ambassador in a place he has several responsibilities. If anyone wants to visit his country, why he tells them how they can get there, what's required and when anyone wants to go to our heavenly home, what a joy to tell them the way to get there through Christ.
Through his finished work, and you can get pictures that tell you all about his nice country. He likes to give them out, and he shows the very best. And you know, we love to tell about the home that awaits us, where there's no more sorrow or crying or pain. Also, this ambassador has an interest in every citizen of his country who's living in that strange land. And so isn't this lovely? We ought to have an interest in God's people who are in this world because we're here as His.
So we pray for those who are in authority and we know that what God's desire is that all men should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. That is our great desire because it is God's desire. And that's why we want peace, so the gospel can go out, so people can be saved, and so that they could come to the knowledge of the truth.
And then we have another thing that people ought to observe in connection with the Church of the living God.
The ninth verse in like manner also that women adorn themselves in modest apparel.
With shamefacedness and sobriety, not with broidered hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly or wet array, but which becometh women professing godliness with good works. Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve, and Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
It should have begun at the eighth verse. I will therefore that men pray everywhere.
Lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting. Here we have the position of man and the position of woman brought before us. He brings before us the responsibility of the man to occupy the more public place. I will therefore that man pray everywhere. Everyone may not be gifted but the two men. The public place is given, and to the woman is given the place of learning in silence.
Sometimes people say, Oh yes, but we're living in a different age today.
But here we have God's pattern. Do we have a right, brethren, to set aside God's pattern? Do we have a right, because the opinions of people are changing, to say that now we can sort of change the Word of God? Isn't the assembly responsible to be the pillar and ground of the truth?
Ought we not to maintain God's truth in a world like this? The world doesn't seem to know what is the proper place of man or woman and we see the breakdown of everything. Homes are getting broken up, everything is going into disorder and are we just going to follow sweet because we live in this age or is the Christian to be a pattern in this world of an order that God has established. I say if men only want.
Place to be important and they're all wrong. But if God has put the man in this place, he has a great responsibility to fulfill. And I'm not here to hold up my head and say, but men have fulfilled their place as they should. I know that we haven't I speak as a man, we haven't fulfilled a place, but that doesn't in any way change my responsibility nor does it change the responsibility of the woman. And we see through the Scripture that when men broke down, why God raised up women.
Stirred up men Deborah stirred up barrack and he became a deliverer for God's people. Hold of the prophetess stirred up Josiah and she told him that they had been neglecting the word of God, but she didn't say now Josiah, if you want get up there and read the word of God, I'm going to do it. No, he's stirred him up to his responsibility and is very beautiful to see how that God has an order that is displayed in a practical.
Way in our clothing and as an order that is displayed also in connection with the order in God's assembly. And I wish to stir up the minds of the brothers as to their responsibility that God has given to us, the place of being those who fulfill responsibilities in the world and in the home. Because this is not just talking about the assembly. It says, I will therefore that men pray everywhere.
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Is not just talking about the assembly. This is an order that ought to be maintained wherever God's order is recognized. It tells us in Isaiah when God's people began to break down, he said.
Oh my people, children are your oppressors and women rule over you. They that lead thee, cause thee to err and destroy the way of thy paths. Well, you say, well you, you just believe in men being very important. I say I believe in God's order.
I believe in God's order, and I was to stir up the brothers here as to their responsibility, because in a day when men begin to break down are not fulfilling their proper place by such things as we see taking place today. But God hasn't changed his order. It ought to be seen in God's assembly, and so here we find it set before us. The world has an order of their own, but people ought to see among believers.
That we recognize this order that God has established, and we find something else. In this third chapter it says this is a true saying. If a man desire the office of a Bishop, he desireth a good work. A Bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality.
Apartment to teach and then also in the eighth verse.
Likewise must the deep and must the deacons be grave, Double tongue, not given to much wine.
Not greedy or filthy lucre, holding the mystery of the faith and a pure conscience. We see that in the assembly God has an order too. There are those who have a godly care for the Saints of God. And it says here if a man desire the office of a Bishop, he desireth a good work. It's a good work to care for God's people. It says in Hebrews about those who.
Are the leaders among us? It says. They watch for your souls.
They as they that must give account that they may do it with joy and not with grief.
For that is unprofitable for you, so that God has those who are to be shepherds, who are to be. For the Bishop simply means an overseer. And he was responsible, according to Peters epistle, to feed the flock of God. He has a godly oversight. Isn't it nice? As I look back in my life, I'm thankful for older brothers who had a concern about me, who cared, who didn't, just.
Me as another young person, but who had a godly concern and care, who wanted to see me encouraged in the pathway of faith and led on. And so we find this. It's not just a democracy where we vote in certain people. The assembly never chose its own bishops and it isn't something that was taken on by popular vote. It was something that a man fell in his heart, of course, in the apostles days.
Marked out by the Apostle, but now since the the apostles are no longer here.
We find that it says in the 20th of Acts over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers. Isn't it nice to know that God raises up those who have a care for His Saints? And now if I could speak to those who are a bit older, and I speak to myself too. Do we have this loving concern for one another? Are we really seeking the good of our brethren? And this is what the world ought to see, not just a group of people coming together having no care or concern over.
One, perhaps you could walk into a building, a religious building and go in and out and nobody shake hands with you and nobody cares. It's not to be that way. In God's assembly there is to be a care and there were those who had this they desired a good work. I've often said when, when someone has an interest in my children, I'm I'm very thankful. I, I appreciate it because they're my children and God cares about his children too, and he appreciates it when we.
Take a godly concern for them and for their good. And then the deacons, they were the ones who were given certain responsibilities. And so in the assembly there is there's an order to there are those who have responsibilities to fix the chairs, to set things up and to look after the special meetings. All these things are like the office of a Deacon or a minister. And in this case we find that even Phoebe was.
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Of the Church, he was perhaps what could be called a deaconess. She was one who had a care for the Saints and she did a loving service for the Saints of God, not preaching on the platform or something, but she did a loving service for the Saints of God. And so we can see then that in the assembly a person comes in, they see a certain order. They they see there are those who have a godly oversight. They see there's order in the way things are maintained and carried on even in the meeting.
And the Lord takes notice of all this. Now we come to the 4th chapter.
And we come to this 4th chapter and it says.
In the third verse.
Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats which God hath created, to be received with Thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with Thanksgiving, for it is sanctified by the word of God. And prayer. Isn't this very lovely too? Here it speaks about marriage.
You know, there's a terrible breakdown in the world over marriage and there are many, many who don't seem to understand that it's God's plan. And that's something that man has established. It was God who made the partner for Adam. It says that I will make a help made for him. And it's very lovely for young people to realize that the Lord is the one who can bring along that one who is the help meet.
And this is what God has established. I won't go into all the details because it's not taken up here.
But it is important to see that marriage has a very important place in God's plan and it says whatsoever God has joined together, let not man put asunder. So we see that in the assembly they ought to see marriage according to God's plan and according to God's order. And I think it's very lovely when it is seen in that way. And I and I believe I could just say this too, that in what exists between us even as.
Ones who are married, there ought to be continually two things displayed and that is love and respect one for another. The scripture speaks of husbands love your wives. Then it speaks says speaking to the wife. The older women were to exhort the younger women to love their husbands. So there was the love and there was the responsive love. Then it says that the husband is to give honor to the wife as under the weaker vessel and she and her part.
Her husband did you ever see a home where there was love and respect and where the Lord was known that there wasn't happiness. Why there will be happiness because it's God's plan and they ought to see as they enter our homes that we have have not just a man made plan but we have something God is established and so just briefly that we notice that this is what is seen in the House of God when we walked into that model house why we saw to the best of.
Advantage this builder had fixed all the furniture and everything and build it all so that it would really be the ultimate of what could be enjoyed in that home. And isn't it wonderful that God has set up something in the earth to be a testimony and where He could give us the ultimate of enjoyment out of living here in this world in His pattern. We walked into that model house. Why? We saw to the best of their advantage. This builder had fixed all.
Furniture and everything and build it all so that it would really be the ultimate of what could be enjoyed in that home. And isn't it wonderful that God has set up something in the earth to be a testimony and where he could give us the ultimate of enjoyment out of living here in this world in his pattern. Oh, how beautiful this is. And then we go on, it says about food.
That every creature of God is good.
And it's sanctified by the word of God and prayer. So you walk into a Christian home and they start to eat and they, they bow their heads and they, they give thanks. They recognize we enjoy good food. Our brother was just remarking at the little.
50th anniversary that we had last night. How that when the meat was prepared in the home of Abraham and in and Sarah in their tent, Perhaps I should say it says the meat was tender and good.
I've always enjoyed that. Does God care whether we have nice food? Why, He's just given us such wonderful food in this world. And the Lord himself was a guest at that table and he's the one that says the meat was nice. So you think, oh, he shouldn't be occupied with things like that. Oh, we appreciate all the good things God provides. He's giving us richly all things to enjoy. This is the model home. This is what God has established. And then going down in the chapter the 7th.
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For bodily exercise profit of little but.
Or for a little time, margin says bodily exercise profiteth for a little time, but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. Perhaps I could say that even our fun is kept within proper limits. It's we don't lay great emphasis on what shall I say, sports and entertainment. We realize that our bodies need exercise.
And it profits for a little time. But the great thing in our lives is not just to become great sports, but rather as it says here.
Godliness is profitable unto all things, having the promise of the life that now is and that which is to come. As I sometimes watch the young people playing at Otter Lake, I I say to Pearl. To me it isn't how well they can play. But when I see them play in a Christian spirit, I think that's far nicer than the ones who are winners. Anyone can be happy when he's winner.
But I say that the one who can be a loser and do it in the spirit of Christ is far better testimony for Christ. And so in everything in our lives, even in bodily exercise, we just see it. It's for a little time. But godliness is profitable unto all things. It has the promise of the life that now is, and that which is to come. Thought is the one who cares for our bodies, in other words.
And then in the 14th verse.
It says, Neglect not the gift that is in me, which was given me by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery. Meditate upon these things. Give thyself wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear unto all. Take heed unto thyself and unto the doctrine. Continue in them. For enduring this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee.
Is another thing the ascended Christ has given gifts.
And haven't we profited by this? Haven't we been thankful for those things? Why? There's so much precious ministry written by those gifts that the ascended Christ has given to the church. And not that these men were the ones who gave out their word as the authority, but they were the ones who were given the ability of setting the truth of God before us.
And how we thank God for that.
We see that it isn't just one man who's placed in charge of the group, and this one man is supposed to be the evangelist and the pastor and the teacher and everything. But rather we see that there are gifts given in the church and therefore the whole body of Christ. I know how we have sat down and profited by these gifts, how we thank God for the books that they have written.
All this is part of the provision in the House of God.
And how many, many dear Christians there are who have haven't profited by these marvelous gifts that God has given. When Ruth was brought into the House of Boaz, he said, whenever you're a thirst, go and drink of what the young men have drawn. Now he could have told her, will you go to the well and you can draw water yourself. She probably was strong enough that she could have done it too. But he said the young man have drawn the water, you can profit by it.
And I thank God for those.
Who have been raised up of God, who've drawn water for us, who have brought out many of these precious things so that we can have them and enjoy them. And Timothy was exhorted not to neglect this. In other words, if he knew something, it wasn't just for himself. He was to pass it on. If you'd seen those young men drawing water, you might have said, well, aren't you drawing more than you want? Well, we're drawing it for others. And so we have the privilege of giving out what we have.
Passing the torches it were so that others might know the precious things that we have enjoyed.
And that they might enjoy them too. But he had to be careful about his walk, because if our walk doesn't correspond with our talk, there won't be very much to our ministry. And so he had to say, take heed to thyself and unto the doctrine. Take heed. In other words, Timothy, two things. Remember, you need to watch your own life, and you need to be careful that you always maintain the truth of God.
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Because there were teachers in the in the Church in the latter days who were bringing him damnable heresies.
And know how important that the truth should be maintained. So he says, Take heed to thyself, and unto the doctrine.
And now we find in the beginning of the 5th chapter another thing that should be seen in the House of God, and that is that we have a respect for age, that we know how to treat older ones and younger ones, how we know how to care for our own loved ones. Isn't this a nice thing to the world? Is forgetting all about this? There's very little respect for age today.
There's very little respect and when boys and girls get together there isn't always purity in their actions.
But here, he says, here and younger women as and the younger as sisters with all purity. And so here we find that there's something else set down in our actions, one with another, that there is that honoring of age, there is respect for those who are older. There is the recognition of a proper relationship between.
Young boys and girls, and then there is requiting our parents.
Sometimes today, on account of all the provisions that are made for old age, we can be very thoughtless about our parents and our relatives in their need Here. It doesn't only talk about parents, but it even says children or nephews. And we learn first to show piety at home. What a what a lovely thing to see this. It's, it's getting out of the present society, isn't it? But it's God's plan. And this is what Paul is exhorting Timothy.
So that he might know how to behave in himself, in the House of God.
And then the eighth verse brings before us. And He provide not for his own, and especially for those of His own house.
He has denied the faith and is worse than an infidel. Here we find the responsibility of the man to be the provider in his home. What a responsibility. This is another thing that's getting all shaken up today. But here's God's plan and how nice it is to see where there is an exercise to carry this out. And I know what's becoming increasingly difficult.
But I believe that God can give to the to the husband the sense of the responsibility that God.
Has for him, and it's a great thing for us as brothers to feel the responsibility God is placed upon us.
And so here we find this, the Father in the household feels a responsibility in connection with those who are in His house, and that He provides for them. And then the 21St verse. I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.
Well, this is something else.
I know anybody here that works. You find that there's no fairness in the world at all. You find people are most unfair in the way they treat their employees and the way they treat one another. Even teachers at school are not always fair with the children. But, brethren, we ought to be fair. We ought to be careful that we don't do things by partiality, and that it doesn't matter who the person is or what family they're from. There ought to be nothing done through.
There ought to be always an exercise to act in fairness. And so he has to charge him about this because it's something that our hearts are prone to. And isn't this lovely to see here, that when the world looks on and sees people who are fair, perhaps you have an employee, an employer, and you say one thing I can say about him, he's fair. You admire him for that, don't you? Because he's fair. And so we ought to be like that. We're not to do things by.
Partiality.
And this is the world looking on. They're coming into our model house and they're looking. Are they seeing these things?
Or do they see all the furniture turned upside down and see that we're just not following the pattern at all? Perhaps after a group of people started to live in that house, you'd hardly know it, even though it's the same house. That's the second epistle. But here we find that God is established in order and there's fairness. And then we come to the 6th chapter and the second verse.
I'll read the first verse, that as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor.
That the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather do them service because they are faithful and beloved partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort. Here we find how we should work for our employer. We ought to do service in the name of Christ. And if we're doing something for a believing master.
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All the more reason why we should do it well. Sometimes we're prone when we're doing something for one of our brethren to be a little bit careless because we think, oh, well, he's my brother, he won't mind. But here we find that if you're working for a believing master, all the more reason to do the work well. And so this shows in the place where I work, what does my employer think about me? Does he see me as a conscientious worker? Does he say, well, there's one person I.
Because he's a Christian. Well, this is what he's talking about. This is what is seen in the House of God. This is the practice that ought to be seen when believers are employed and the way they act with an unbelieving employer or a believing employer.
And then we come to the sixth verse.
But godliness with contentment is great gain. Isn't this something that we often fail in, brethren? We tend to be very discontented. We tend to be grumbling because we don't have this and we don't have that. And we don't like the way the government is doing things. And we tend to get like that, you know, if we're not watchful. But as Christians, it ought to characterize us, godliness.
With contentment is great gain. There's nothing sweeter than to see one.
Accepts his circumstances and all as from the Lord. And you know, the King's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water. The Lord can touch the heart of our employer. He can make him be favorable toward us, That is, to pay us what is right and proper. And so that the Christian has the real secret of contentment, because he can accept everything as from his Father's hand.
Even the way people's attitudes toward us, we can accept us from the Lord because absolutely nothing happens by chance. There's a place in the Psalms that it says that when Abraham and his his children were in the land of Canaan, he said touch not mine anointed and do my prophets no harm. He wouldn't let anybody do any harm to his people. But then in the same chapter as you read on it says later.
It says he turned their hearts to hate his people.
To deal subtly with his servants who did it, who turned their heart? The Lord, you say the Lord turned their heart to hate his people. Yes, God's people were getting too comfortable in Egypt, and God allowed the place to get a little uncomfortable, so they'd want to get out. He wanted to take them out of Egypt. And it's the place had been too comfortable. They would have wanted to stay. And you know, brethren, sometimes the Lord does just that to us. He's stirring up our nest intentionally.
Because He doesn't want us to be too comfortable here. We brought nothing into this world and it's certain we can carry nothing out. So may we seek to develop that spirit of contentment. Oh, how beautifully it was seen in the Lord Jesus in accepting everything from His Father's hand.
And then the 12Th verse of this last chapter shows the Christian has a warfare fight. The good fight of faith lay hold on eternal life. For unto thou art also called, and has professed a good profession before many witnesses.
So we find here that the Christian is not to be one who just, shall I say, has no backbone. He has nothing really to stand for. No, we have something to stand for. We stand for the rights of Christ here in this world. There are some ambassadors in this country who are over in Iran and they are there. It was a great responsibility placed upon them. Now they have something to stand for. And so you and.
Something to stand for. We're not to be people who have nothing. We just say, well, I'm not trying to stand for anything. We are standing for something. We're seeking to stand for the truth of God. We're seeking to stand for a kind of conduct that is pleasing to God. And it's a fight sometimes, isn't it? Because all the forces of this world are against us. I know you young people going to school and college, you find all the forces are against you. You have something to stand for.
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You believe your Bible, you stand for the truth of God when they try to pressure you into something you say.
Like the three friends of Daniel, no, I can't bow down to that image. And so the Christian has a fight, a spiritual warfare, and Timothy is exhorted. He's not just to be a spineless believer. He has a man, a purpose, and he's a man who has truth to stand for.
And then in the 17th verse, charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy. That they do good, that they may be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate, laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
Or what is really life. Isn't this very lovely too, as we see here that there is?
A foundation, a good foundation against the time to come. And I believe The thing is that a Christian who perhaps has been given a little more than someone else, he has the responsibility of stewardship. And here we find that instead of becoming high minded, it says that we are to know how to use what God has given to us in a way that is for his glory.
And so.
Ought to see with those who have been given anything a different attitude in the world. The world is thinking of themselves, and making very important men out of themselves. But Christians look upon themselves as those who are only stewards of what has been given to them, responsible to use it for God's glory. And then last of all, in the 20th verse.
Oh, Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings and oppositions of science, falsely so-called, which some professing have heard concerning the faith. Well, this seems to be just a little warning in connection with science. You know, we can be very thankful for things that God has allowed men to discover. We're very thankful for lights in this room.
Thankful for the carpentry ability that we have chairs and many things that we're very thankful for. But whenever science opposes the truth of God, then remember, don't listen to science. Listen to the word of God. Shun anything. Whenever you find science takes the attitude of trying to question or set aside the word of God, don't listen. Follow the word of God. Here we have the truth of God.
As I say, we can be very thankful.
For all that God has allowed men to discover but whenever we find anything in science that opposes the word of God, just turn a deaf ear and listen to what God's word says and it says those who don't it says some professing have heard concerning the faith yes, real Christians have been turned aside because they've allowed some professor to sow a doubt in their mind about the inspiration of scripture about something that the.
Speaks about and I wish to exhort you always follow the light and wisdom of this book. Thank God for young people who when there's something brought up in the school they say well I take my stand on the word of God. That is what characterizes those who belong to the Lord Jesus. Those who are part of this model home. If I may so speak again for those who recognize that there is something in this world that God has established and it is responsible.
To do those two things, and May God exercise myself and each one of you, may we be exercised about these two things. On every hand the truth of God is being given up. Let us firmly stand for the whole truth of God. The assembly is responsible to be the pillar and ground of the truth.
And then secondly, may we be exercised to act in such a way that we display before an ungodly world?
A pattern of what is pleasing to God, A pattern of what he has established.
In our home life, in our assembly life and the way we handle our business, everything that we do.
Even in our fun, we are a pattern here in this world. And so as you as I say it said at the beginning, you walk into that model house. We walked into one not too long ago to somebody asked us to look at this particular home for them and we walked in and I was really amazed to see everything fixed in it and such a tasty way to the idea of the way the man who builded thought it could be set off to the very best advantage and it makes me think of.
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Say that God has set a people in this world to show that He has a wonderful pattern, a pattern that you and I have the privilege and the responsibility to follow. And I want to tell you, dear friends, young and old, it says her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace. We just looked at this home and we thought, oh, I don't think we could furnish the home as nicely as this and we wouldn't be in there very many days and it wouldn't be just.
Nice as it looked when we saw it in the pattern. Well, we do fail, don't we? But there it is. There's God's pattern and it works. It is a blessed thing. May we not follow the wisdom of man, but may we follow the wisdom of God and walk in His ways for the little time that remains to us. The world is all in confusion. They're looking for a good pattern. We have it in God's Word, and we have the power to carry it out because we possess eternal life and we know what is real.
Lessons From the Birth of Jesus
Address—G.H. Hayhoe
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I'd like to turn tonight to the second chapter of Luke's Gospel.
Like to read part of this chapter in Luke's Gospel, chapter 2. And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. And all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea under the city of.
Which is called Bethlehem because he was of the house and lineage of David.
To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered, and she brought forth her first born son.
And wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a Manger because there was number room for them in the end.
And there were, in the same country, shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And all the Angel of the Lord came upon them. The glory of the Lord shine round about them. And they were 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. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you. He shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling.
Lying in a Manger, and suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace, goodwill toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven. The shepherd said, one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord hath made known.
US And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and a babe lying in a Manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things.
They had heard and seen as it was told unto them. 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. As it is written in the law of the Lord, every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord.
And to offer a sacrifice, according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. The same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel. And the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death before he had seen the.
Christ and he came by the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him, after the custom of the law, then to key him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said.
Lord, now let us, thou thy servant, depart in peace, according to thy word, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people, a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. And Joseph and his mother marveled at those things which were spoken of him, and Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother.
Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel.
And for a sign which shall be spoken against a sword shall Pierce through thy own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. And there was one Anna Prophetess, the daughter of Fanuel of the tribe of Asser. She was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity. And she was a widow of about four scored in four years, which departed not from the temple, but.
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God with fastings and prayers, night and day, and she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord.
And spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
Well, I'm sure that this is a chapter that is well known to many of us, but I just like to look at it tonight in connection with many lessons that we can apply to our own lives that perhaps will be a blessing and an encouragement to us as we see this wonderful event when the Lord Jesus, the Lord of glory was born here into this world. Surely when we think of all this world's history, we can speak of that event as one of the most important events.
I say one of because I believe his death upon the cross was the center of two eternities. But the coming of the blessed Son of God into this world, how important it actually changed our calendar. We're living in the year AD 1979. The very coming into this world of the precious Savior change the calendar. And So what an important event it is and what lessons we can learn by what the Spirit of God has been.
Pleased to record here in the Gospel of Luke we see first of all that.
The decree went forth by Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed or enrolled. And I think there's something that we can learn from this. We see God moving behind the scenes. That's very blessed for us to see because.
The whole world is set in motion because the Scripture must be fulfilled. Sometimes when we see something take place, we look out. Men of the world make Satan certain statements, do certain things, and we look on and perhaps comment about these things and whether they're wise or unwise. But it's very blessed for us as Christians, brethren, to see the hand of God moving behind the scenes, just like in that first chapter of Ezekiel.
There were a lot of movements taking place, wheels within wheels, but the man of faith, Ezekiel, looked above.
And he saw the semblance of a throne and of a man upon the throne. And what to me is more wonderful, and all this is to know that that man who is on the throne is now revealed to us, as we have in Hebrews 2. We see not yet all things put under him, but we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor. And still more it says.
That he's head over all things to the church.
Which is his body. He's not only there as head of all things, he's not only in control of all things, but he's working things out for the good and blessing of his church. He's accomplishing his own purposes. As another has said, we need to think less of man's busy movements. They will but accomplish gods. And so here this.
Wise Caesar Augustus thought now it would be a good thing to have the world enrolled and taxed.
And so he passes a decree. He sets a certain time when this is to come into effect. It was to take place when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. He passed the degree, he said a certain time. And then the man of faith says, oh, why did it take place just then? Why was the taxation delayed until Cyrenius was governor of Syria?
And all because the Old Testament scriptures had said.
And thou bestly him in the land of Judah, though thou be little among the Princess of Judah, yet out of thee shall come a governor that shall rule my people, Israel. And things weren't in order among God's people. And so the one who was really in the royal line was not in Bethlehem, the city of David, but was down in Galilee, down in Nazareth. And so God, I say.
Whole world in motion to accomplish his own purposes and more than this he had it timed. If there's some taxation come about, we're perhaps likely to find fault and say why did this happen? But isn't it good for us to see as a scripture like this brings before us that God's hand is in all these things? And so it says all went to be taxed or the margin says enrolled everyone.
Own city and Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea under the city of David, which is called Bethlehem. And so we see that this took place just at the right time so that Joseph and Mary would make this journey up to up to.
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Bethlehem of Judea for this enrollment or taxation.
How lovely it is to see God's hand in timing things.
You know when you read the 1St chapter of Daniel, what strikes me is that it says the Lord had given Israel into the hands of the king of Babylon. And then when the three Hebrew children went to college, why the Lord gave them favor in the eyes of the Prince of the eunuchs, and then when their lessons had to be reviewed, the Lord gave them.
And wisdom and understanding, oh, how lovely it is to see God's people in captivity. Had the Lord forsaken them? Oh no, here things were in disorder in Israel. But we see the hand of God moving behind the scenes and bringing this about just at this time that they had to make this rather difficult journey. And especially so because it says she was great with child to make this difficult journey at times.
Traveling was not easy to come up to Bethlehem. And then I suppose perhaps thinking about Joseph and Mary, that maybe as they thought about this matter, they thought, well, if the Lord has planned that we should come up to Bethlehem at this time, He'll certainly make it easy for us, He.
Won't he want to make us make this journey and then no place for us to stay when we get there?
Did you ever make a journey and perhaps you found the last, last motel room and oh, you were just so thankful found the last motel room, you came and you thanked the Lord. But this wasn't the way it worked out here. When they came up to Bethlehem of Judea, there was no room for him in the end. And it's often been said there was only one person who was ever born into this world that chose where he should be born.
And that was the Lord Jesus. He's the one who upholds all things by the word of His power. Where did he choose to be born? Oh, not in a grand place, but in a Manger. If you and I had the choice of it, we would choose to be born in some very grand place and have the grandest of clothing and everything waiting for us but here.
We see, and I believe this is brought before us because it tells us.
That the Lord Jesus passed through these things, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest. Have you had a disappointment in your life and you thought, oh, the Lord wouldn't let something like this happen? And yet it did happen. And here we see that this was all in God's ordering to bring the Lord Jesus, the time the Lord Jesus would be born.
There according to the word of God.
In Bethlehem. And also that he would be born in poverty, because it tells us He was despised and rejected of men. A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And so here we see they got there, and there was no room for them in the end, and so they had to go and find a place in the Manger. But it was all perfectly timed.
This was the very time that the precious Savior was to be born to this world.
Well, I say this, brethren, because sometimes it's hard for us to bow to God's hand in circumstances, to see that it's Him that overrules everything, even the unpleasant things. And here.
It tells us she brought forth her first born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a Manger. And I believe the reason it mentions too about the swaddling clothes.
No, we had three children born into our home and there were nice clothes waiting for them.
It wasn't very long that we were very, very glad to put on those best of clothes that we could have to put on our dear children whom we loved so well. But who is this? This was the Lord of glory, and there was nothing but swaddling clothes. I believe it means that there were just simply sheets that were wrapped around him because he was a heavenly stranger.
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Yes, he was the one who had come down into this world a stranger.
Here among men.
Well, now we come to the eighth verse, and it tells us, And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. Now to whom were all these wonderful things revealed?
Were they revealed to the great and mighty of earth? There were a lot of great and mighty people at this time. Why, if you were to read about it in the in the next chapter, the third chapter in the first verse, we have.
It says now in the 15th year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being teach Rock of Galilee, and his brother Philip teachark of Idoria, and of the region of Trachinitis, and Lysanias Tetrarch of Abilene, Anis and Caiaphas being high priests, the word of the Lord came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. Why do you think the Lord tells us about all these?
Very, very important people, what the world would call top brass. Well, it's just a shell that his word didn't come to them. It came to one who was in the wilderness. And so, you know, we may be quite important in this world, but you know, if we are in the position to have ears to listen by, God delights to make these things known to us.
It says when the Lord Jesus was here upon earth. I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent.
And hast revealed among the babes, and so in our chapter, who were the ones that found out about the birth of this blessed person into this world, there were shepherds who were abiding in their in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night.
I've often thought about these shepherds because that was their occupation, you know, and in this day of Russian bustle, isn't it very true that we can allow our occupation to take up so much of our time that we don't have that time to listen to the message that God has to say to us?
Tells us in 12Th chapter of Hebrews See that she refused, not him that speaketh. That is, He speaks to us now from heaven. That voice from heaven reveals so much to us. Are we so busy that we don't have time to listen? It isn't a good thing for us, brethren, to allow our occupation to come between us and the Lord.
So that it hinders us from hearing his voice when he wants to speak to us.
And so these shepherds, they had an occupation that didn't keep them so involved that they couldn't listen to the message that God wanted to say to them. It tells us. And lo, the Angel of the Lord came upon them in the glory of the Lord, shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. Here was a message brought to them. An Angel of the Lord brought it to them on this occasion.
And it tells us.
They were so afraid. Oh, why were they afraid? Well, with any person, when they are first brought into the presence of a holy God by we do feel afraid, it says in Romans 3 and 23. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. And any one of us, if we got into the presence of the glory of God, unless we knew that our sins were forgiven, it would make us.
We find all through the Scripture, take the case of Isaiah, he had been pronouncing wool upon all the nations around, but when he got into the presence of the Lord, he said, woe is me, for I am undone, for I am a man of unclean lips, for I of mine eyes have seen the king, the Lord of hosts. We find too with Peter, when he got into the presence of the Lord, he said, depart from me, for I am a sinful man.
Oh, Lord. And so to get into the presence of the glory of God is indeed a solemn thing. But isn't it wonderful now that it tells us in Romans 5? Romans 3 says, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Romans 5 says that we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Why the change? Well, he's told us in the intervening passages.
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How? What Christ has done of that wonderful work of redemption.
So that we can be in the presence of his glory and know that we're fit to be there, not afraid. Because as it says in first John one and seven, if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. That verse is really telling us that we have been brought into the very presence of God into the light.
And the eye of God sees us as perfectly fit for it.
Because the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin. So they were afraid, and the message that was given to them was fear not. For behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
What was it dispelled fear from their minds? Any feeling that they were better than others? Oh no.
What dispelled fear was the glad, the marvelous announcement. Unto you is born a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And what is it that has removed fear from our hearts? Little Him, says the trembling Sinner, feareth that God can never forget, but one full payment cleareth his memory of all debt. And so we know that the whole matter has been settled. Isn't it blessed brethren, to know that is not?
According to your knowledge or mine of sin? Because if it was according to our ideas, why very many of us would have to acknowledge that it might be quite a bit lower than God's holy standard. Sometimes we think things aren't too bad in God's sight. They may be exceedingly sinful. That which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
But I'm so glad that the question of my sins does not settle according to my knowledge of sin and guilt.
But it's settled according to God's knowledge, because it was the Lord that laid on him the iniquity of us all. And to know that God who knows everything about me, who has searched me and known me and can say everything about me, He's the one that took my sins and put them upon Jesus. So surely this removes fear.
Good tidings of great joy, and not only to Israel.
Because Israel with especially favored nation, but to all people a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And so this was the most wonderful announcement made in this world, that through the Old Testament over and over again, there had been promises of a coming Redeemer. But now he's come. He's come, He's been born in Bethlehem.
And it says, And this shall be a sign unto you. He shall find Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a Manger.
Does it tell us this shall be a sign unto you? Why was a sign like this given?
Well, let me put it this way. If the Queen of England was going to visit Vancouver and I said, well, you'll find her tonight sleeping in a Manger in rags, you'd say, don't believe it. That wouldn't be the Queen of England. No, no, she'd be in the best place in Vancouver. And So what a surprise for these shepherds to be told at the Lord of glory, the Savior of the world, was to be found.
Lying in a Manger in swaddling clothes and dear friends, I say again, he's still the rejected savior he's still rejected here. Many people would like to have a popular Christ, but the Christ of the Bible is not a popular person he is despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, and so tells us even as to our.
Gathered to his precious name. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp following a popular Christ, no bearing his reproach. We have to expect people say, Oh well, I think if you had the truth that it would be a very grand hall and it would be lots of people, because I think there are a lot of people seeking truth. Oh no, we know that the one who came into this world, the Lord of glory.
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Everything in his life was to the praise and honor of God his Father, but he was despised and rejected. There were only eight people in the whole world at the time of the flood. We must not expect, I mean eight people of faith in the world at the time of the flood. We must not expect to be identified with one who's popular, but one who is rejected. And so they were told this would be a sign they must not expect him to be one.
Who would be widely accepted but rather despised and rejected so?
But if man didn't recognize his creator when he came into this world.
The angels did, and suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying glory to God in the highest on earth, peace, goodwill toward men. I say again, if man didn't recognize his Creator, for John one says he was in the world and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not, God would see to it that that one was praised.
And so here a multitude of the heavenly hosts.
As Mr. Darby put it in his little poem, more just those acclamations than when that glorious band chanted earth's deep foundations just laid by God's right hand. It tells us that when the foundations of the earth were laid, the sons of God shouted for joy.
But here is something more wonderful still. This is not creation, this is one come down as our Redeemer and a multitude of the heavenly hosts to claim Him. When he bringeth in the first begotten into the world. He sat and let all the angels of God worship him. If blind man didn't recognize him, God would see to it that He was praised. And when he was going up to Jerusalem.
And there were those who found fault because he was being honored.
The Lord said if these hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. Oh God is going to see to it that His beloved Son is honored. It's your privilege in mind to honor Him now.
Well, notice their message. Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace, goodwill toward men like you to turn over to the 19th of Luke. And there's a little different expression here that I think we should notice. 19th chapter of Luke.
The 37th verse. And when he was come nigh, even now, at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice.
For all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest. You notice here when he was born, the message by the angels was.
On earth, peace, goodwill toward men. But in the 19th chapter it says peace in heaven and glory in the highest. Now why has this changed? At this season of year we're going to hear many, many people singing peace on earth and Mercy Mile. God and sinners reconciled. But you know that didn't take place by his birth. When he came into this world, he was despised and rejected and the world has cast out the.
Of peace. There is no peace on earth. Look any place where you like in this poor world.
It's not peace today. The Prince of Peace has been cast out, but just before he went to Jerusalem, why the multitude of the disciples were shouting peace in heaven. And that's what we know to night as it tells us in Ephesians chapter two. He is our peace who has made both one and has broken down the middle wall of partition between us. Where is our peace on earth?
No, He's crowned with glory and honor at the right hand of God, and there will never be peace for this world until He comes back. To talk about peace on earth while Christ is rejected is only to be deceived. It can't be. All the peace treaties and all the plans of the best politicians and diplomats will never bring about peace on earth.
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There can't be peace until the Lord Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
Has his rightful place, but you and I know him now at the right hand of God. And we can say peace in heaven. We can also have it in our hearts, because before the Lord went away, he said peace I leave with you my peace. I give unto you not as the world give us, give I unto you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
If you're saved, you have peace with God and if you're walking in the enjoyment.
Of your portion in Christ. By then the peace of God rules in your heart.
So pieces in heaven tonight.
Well, now we find in the 15th verse the effect that this had upon these shepherds, says, And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven. The shepherd said, one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. Well, to me this is very heart searching.
Every one of us have learned a certain measure of truth, some perhaps more and some perhaps less.
But I wonder if we could ask our own hearts, how has that truth that we have known affected us? How did it affect these shepherds? They didn't know very much. They had heard the announcement that Christ the Lord had been born. And first of all, they start to talk about it. And the second thing is they say we want to go and see Him.
I think this is beautiful and you know my God makes known peace to us.
Grant that we may desire to walk in the truth that we know. I heard it said that the truth was in a happiest state when it knew the least.
And that's going back to the day of coming off. They didn't know very much of the truth of God and the day of Pentecost, but they were very, very happy. And I suggested the reason that they were so happy was because they were walking in the streets, that they knew it, was fairly enjoying it in their souls. But the trouble is that as God reveals more fear, sometimes we don't walk in it, sometimes we don't talk about it. We have it in our head.
Down into our hearts and into our feet from An Israelite brought an offspring of birds to the offer. There's a bird offering. The priest was told to take the crop on the feathers and put it down in the place of the ashes and off of the rest of the sacrifice. Why did you do that? Well, I guess most of us know what the crop is in the bird. The crop is the undigested food. The bird goes around and picks up things in the yard and.
Haven't yet got into his stomach. They're not digested by the serve out of his belly. So slow rivers of living water, but.
When that bird was back to the police, he took the Cliff and threw it down in the place of the ashes.
We can get a lot of food into our crop too. We can get a lot of knowledge that hasn't really done us any good because we haven't digested it. We haven't made it our own. And then what are the feathers? Well, a bird without feathers is rather rather an unsightly thing. The feathers are all the oceans gel. And so, you know, there's a lot of this about it too. We, we put on quite a fun sometimes. We have a lot of studies and I I like.
Bird, they really make it beautiful, but it had no pot in the sanctify. The police had to take them, throw those shutters down in the place of the answer. And so all those kind of things that we know that haven't affected our lives, it seems to me they're like the trap and the feathers. But here we find that these shepherds, when they heard these things, they wanted immediately to go to Bethlehem and see the things.
Lord have made known to them. It had been made known. Now they wanted to go and see, and they came with taste beautiful 2 words with haste. Sometimes we hold back when it rolling at once to laugh in truth when God makes it known to us. When God told Abraham to go and OfferUp his son.
Did he delay a week? Well, I'm sure he did have delayed a week. He would have saw up many excuses why he shouldn't do that.
But when the Lord told him to do it, it says he rose early in the morning, sidled his *** to kill his young man, and started out the same with Gideon. When the Lord said Gideon, throw down that altar, your father has to bail and build him out into the Lord. He did it the same night.
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And so whom the Lord makes something known to us? Don't we all know that there's a danger?
In delaying obedience to his word, 50 says the sluggard have more wisdom and his own eyes and 10 minutes And when the reason when we don't want to do something, why we we have all kinds of excuses for it, but it's because there's really a bit of sluggishness in our hearts. Early shepherds, they heard these things, they started to talk about them. They plan to.
Do what the Lord had made known to them.
And they came with faith. And they weren't disappointed. They signed the bed.
Lying a Manger, how beautiful it was. And you know when we take steps in obedience, we're not disappointed. No Christian at the end of his life would ever say, oh, I wish I hadn't walked in obedience to the Lord. We all see the blessedness of the truth of God when we walk in it. So when they came.
They're all abandoned and all how their hearts were stared. They saw the Lord of glory. And I've often said the first meeting around the Lord Jesus here upon earth was just a very few humble people in a mansion. It shows us that the place where we meet isn't the building. I mean is not the important thing. It's not the people that are the important thing, but it's the Lord in the mid.
For two or three are gathered together in my name. They're in the midst of them.
Mango was none other than the Lord of Glory, the one who had come down and heavenly stranger into this world.
Then he appointed his voice, and only had seen it in a known abroad. The saying which was told on concerning this child, and all they had heard it wonder that those things which were told them by the shepherd. Now first of all they talked about it among themselves, but now after they had seen it and they found in the verse, they started to make known abroad.
And he first of all talked about these things. They put the truth they knew into action. And now they can go out and play a plane up to others. And if anybody said, have you seen him?
They can stay warm.
And Paul said, I believe, and therefore have I spoken, remember hearing about.
A man who was teaching and he wasn't even said he delivered a sermon on being born again. And he delivered it with such eloquence that a man in the congregation was feared. And he went over to his home afterwards and said he was very much concerned about it because he didn't feel that he had been born again. And he asked the preacher just what it meant. And the preacher was a little bit uneasy.
Tried to explain it and so I say high terms and so on. And at last the man, feeling that he wasn't really helping him, said, well, have you been born again? All that truck right home to him. He hadn't been. And as the story went on to tell, the pulpit in this man's place was empty for a few weeks. But thank God, the arrow went right to his heart. He got saved. He returned as one.
Who had tasted and seen for himself all taste and see that the Lord is dim. So these shepherds went back, not just talking about something that was just a a matter of history. But that's all the birth of Christ is to some people, just a matter of history.
It was everything to them, and I believe that's why it tells us that the ones that heard it wondered, why did they wonder? Well, I believe they saw that it's so effective, these shepherds, that it was a real thing to them.
I often thought about that simple woman in the 4th chapter of John when she went back to the man and said come see a man that told me all things that ever I did. Is not this the Christ? What made them want to come? Oh I believe as they saw a glow in her face they said something happened to her. Let's go and see what it is. How is the reality to knowing the Lord Jesus?
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There's a reality to being in his presence.
And I thought that we'll have the joy in our own souls of not only being able to say, but I know him as my failure, but all the bless of my of gathering around him burden as we sit in his presence and think of what he's done for us. The one who the holy and the cruel, the one who's heart is full of love and grace without to spare our hearts more and more.
When we find 2 in the 20th, where is something more and the shepherd's returned glorifying praise?
For all the things that they had heard and seen, it led to pray. Now there was praise from their hearts too. They returned glorifying and praising God. And so you and I need to cultivate that too in our lives. More pray, more Thanksgiving. Little hymn says this is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.
I like the color of a more strong for praising spirit. I think very often we get so occupied with the troubles of this world that we forget to praise them.
Going on in the end of this chapter here tells us about how the Lord Jesus was brought up and passing on to the 24th verse to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtle dogs or two young pigeons.
I believe there's a purpose why the Spirit of God calls attention to this. If you were to go back to the Old Testament, you would find that when a child was born, that is a man child was born, why there was a brain, a prescribed sacrifice.
There might be one out of their plot, or there might be one from the turtle of the young kids. And if the man was a little more prosperous, he brought a larger sacrifice. If not, he was permitted to bring a smaller sacrifice. What is the Spirit of God? Call attention to this here or this again, to remind us of the poverty into which the Lord Jesus.
Came in this world. Oh, how marvelous when we think the Lord of glory come down to this world.
I noticed the only people that knew what was happening that night were the Shepherd, not all those people that we read of at the beginning of the of the third chapter. And indeed it wasn't until two years later when those wise men came from the east of that Herod was even concerned about what had happened. 2 years had elapsed and Herod who was one of the top ones there.
He wasn't even concerned until he saw that perhaps somebody was going to have a place of honor beyond themselves.
And then he was concerned. But it only shows us that this truth is made home because those who were, as far as we might think so, not on the top of this world list, but are those who were among us. The Lord Jesus said he made these these things known to the poor when Paul wrote to the.
Assembly of Corinth that says, Do you see your calling, brethren?
Many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty not many know that doesn't say not any, but not many, because God has chosen the poor of this world of Houston. And so here we find that the offering that was brought turtledoves the young children. But now we find something that I think is very precious and interesting. Two people are brought before us.
I believe the reason that there's only two.
And a man and a woman, I might say, is because of the very, very exceeding weakness of things in Israel. There was certainly nothing that we could glory unless to the state of the nation. It was down at a very, very low end. We just mentioned how the only ones had heard about it, this time with a shepherd, and the only ones between the valley of the temple where the Lord had placed His name.
No sister whose name was Anna, but you know, they were rewarded for their faithfulness. And may the Lord give us grace to go on for him. And even in these last and closing days of the churches history, the Lord is coming soon. And what really counts and what the only thing that does really count is to have the Lord's approval. That's all that's going to count in that bill.
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It tells us in First Corinthians chapter 3.
If any man's work abide which you have built there upon, he shall receive reward. If any man do it be burned, he shall suffer less, but he himself shall be saved that fell by fire. We're only saved through the work of Christ, but the work that abides is that which has the Lords approval, which is according to his word.
They can put a great deal of effort in the wrong direction, you know.
I I would say that the appearance of a lot of wood hay and subtle why you could fill this room with wood horn shovel and it'd be worth a very, very small amount. But you could have a piece of gold in the corner. This room so small that nobody would even notice it would be worth all more than all the wood. Hence trouble in the whole room. And so let's remember this present. It isn't how much we do.
It tells us if a man flies to the mastery yet is he not crowned except to strive lawfully. We want to have the Lords approval. We want to do it according to his word. Back in the city of Ottawa a few years ago, I knew a brother who was a plumber and he was telling me about a large building that was being arrested and they hired some plumbers from Montreal to do the work and.
These this plumbing company didn't look into the city bylaws.
And they went ahead and did a great deal of work on this building that was being constructed. And then after it was almost finished, that is their plumbing work, the inspector came in and he said that this doesn't pass the city code. It's going to all have to be taken out. Now, newly flexing on how well those men work, I would say they perhaps were very good workmen, but they should have appointed.
For the city bylaws before they could all that work in and it had to be torn out. Isn't it better rather than that we should acclaim to ourselves or the will of God is revealed in his word and we're going to serve him. He has not said a password and we are responsible to be obedient to Him and we can leave the rest to him.
As far there is another man had done half as much.
And.
Perhaps the other name might tell him that he was slow or something like that, but half as much that would abide would be far, far better than a great deal of work that didn't abide. And so the scripture shows us that what God values his obedience, sees us that if he loves me, keep my commandments. So here we find these two people who.
Valued God's presence.
And it tells us about Simeon that he was just and developed. Now, there was a lot of things going on that were not according to God. But here was one that sought to walk before God, just like it tells us about Enoch that would mention the other night Enoch walked with God. What about the standards in the world that didn't matter to him. He walked before God. He walked with God. And so here we find that Simeon could have said, well, things are going down.
I'll just go along with what's going on in Israel. But no.
It says he was just and developed. That means he was walking before God. He was seeking the Lord's approval.
And what was he waiting for while he was waiting for the consolation of Israel?
And what are we waiting for? Well, perhaps I could say we're waiting for the consolation of the Church.
The consolation of Israel was Christ to come as their Messiah to bring blessing to the nation. And what are we waiting for? Always, Miss Lovely, We're waiting for the consolation of the of the church.
And when he comes, it tells us in First Thessalonians 4 or 4 comfort one another with these words.
For a moment it'll be if tonight the shout was heard, all his people would be gathered around him. Well, that's what he was waiting for. And more than this it was revealed to him that he should not see death before he had seen the Lords Christ when? Now there may be some of us here. If the Lord doesn't come soon, they have to pass through death. But there are those who will be alive when the Lord comes. And that was the hope of this man.
He wasn't looking for death, he was looking for the Lord's Christ. And every one of us are entitled, young, old to be looking for that. We're not looking for death. That's the force of that expression in 2nd Corinthians 5.
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Not that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
As believers, it is our proper hope to be waiting for that blessed moment of the Lord's return.
And this was so Athenian.
And it says he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him after the custom of the law, how did he know just what time to come? Was there some kind of an announcement made that he could say, well, I know what time they're going to bring the Lord Jesus into the temple and I'm going to want to be there at the time. No, he didn't hear any kind of announcement like that, but.
That says, the steps of a Goodman are ordered of the Lord, and he delighteth in his way. Read in the 24th chapter of Genesis, and you find that servant who went down to get a bride for Isaac, and he didn't just know exactly what well side to go to, and he didn't know the brethren of Abraham, but it says I being in the way.
The Lord led me and burden is something comforting for us in this. There are things that are clearly outlined in the word of God.
And that we ought to walk in simple obedience to. But there's such a thing as being so close to the Lord that He didn't direct our step. And that's really blessed. And I'm not saying that it's always so with me, nor should any of us do any boasting. But I do say this, that they're oftentimes that if we just look up to the Lord, we'll see how He does graciously come in and direct it. Simeon just came in at the right time and when he.
Lord Jesus there it tells us that he took the babe up in his arms and blessed God and said, Lord, now let us sell thy serve and depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation. I often say salvation is not a feeling, it's a person. If you have Christ, you have salvation. If you don't have Christ, you don't have salvation.
Your feelings don't enter into it at all. It's a question of a person having him.
He is God's salvation. And so as Simeon looked at that Dave in his arms, he said, Mine eyes have seen my salvation. And no too he's taught of God. He said, Lord, now let us sell thy servant, depart in peace according to thy word.
Her mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people, a light to lighten the Gentiles on the glory of Thy people Israel. Now I would say that if he were following his own thought, he would have mentioned Israel 1St, and then the Gentile. Why did he mention the Gentile first? Well, he was taught of God.
He taught, he was taught of God, and so he speaks of the light to lighten the Gentiles. Gentiles, we're living in the time of the fullness of the Gentiles.
The blessing of Israel is going to follow. I say, how did he know those things? Well, He was taught of God. And how do we know these things well? If we're just humble and seek to learn, God will teach us through His word. We won't learn a lot of these things through the daily newspaper or through man's wisdom, but he sought to go by the word of God. He was taught.
And so it tells us in the 34th verse. And Simeon blessed Salman said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall, and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be spoken against, that is, he foretold how the Lord Jesus would be the despised and rejected one, the stone that was set at not by the builders, and he filled his fires.
He was really telling his parents. Now you can't expect that this child, even though he is the Messiah, is going to be popular. A sword is going to Pierce through your own soul. That is, he's talking about Mary's soul here. When Mary saw the precious Savior there upon the cross, how there must have been a sword go through her own soul, and the thoughts of many hearts are revealed.
When you talk to people and you mention the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, you immediately find out where they stand. It doesn't take very long as soon as you mention the name of the Lord Jesus.
You find out because every person in the world is on one side or the other of the Cross.
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Either on the side of the unrepentant thief or on the side of the repentance thief. Both sinners. But one was repentant and on his way to glory. The other was unrepentant and on his way to a lost eternity. That cross divides the whole world, so the thoughts of many hearts are revealed. And notice that a few comments about Anna here says she was a prophetess.
I believe that shows that she was in communion with the mind of the Lord.
He had had a very sad and lonely life. Tells us that she was of a great age, 84 years old, and she had only been married for seven years when she became a widow.
But I've enjoyed thinking about this, that the trial of her life didn't make her better. Sometimes, you know, the trials in our lives can make us murmurs and bitter, but it didn't have that effect with.
With Anna, instead of this, we find that it caused her to turn turn to the Lord and it says that.
He departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And we can ask our own hearts. Have the trials of our lives made us better? Or have they drawn us nearer to the Lord? Have they caused us to get discouraged and throw up our hands and say it's no use, I have more than my share of trouble? Or have those trials done for us what they did for Anna?
It tells us that she turned to the Lord.
Over and over again you would find her in the temple, and her steps too were directed of the Lord, for she came in that instant, it says, the very time when this was taking place. And she heard.
A simian blessing God, and it says she coming that instant, gave thanks likewise unto the Lord. How nice this is to say. We see that the more public part was taken by Simeon. It's rather interesting to see he was the one that took the babe in his arms and spoke all these things.
Awkwardly and Anna, although she was a prophetess here.
In the temple see we find her making quiet spirit. She just gave thanks to the Lord. She said I'm thankful that I'm here. I've seen him too. I've heard this testimony through Simeon of this wonderful babe. How in the picture everything is in such perfect order, but he wasn't quiet when she got her sign ** *** wasn't a gossip either tells us he spake of him to them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem, I don't think.
He could have had a lot to say about the sad, sad condition that Israel was in for it. Why? It wasn't a very sad condition, but it was very beautiful to see that she speak of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. It shows that there were people that she knew in Jerusalem, although they didn't have a spiritual energy that Simeon and Anna had.
That is, they apparently didn't come to the temple with the same devotion that these two did.
But he knew them, He talked to them. There may be Christians that you know, perhaps they're not following the Lord as devotedly and obediently as they should. But it's nice when we meet them to be able to talk about Christ, to say a little word for him because he's everything and God delights to honor him. And often said, brethren, that I believe we can say this, that.
Persecution or rejection?
Is proportionate to the measure in which we give Christ his rightful place.
If if you confess the Lord Jesus as your Savior, why you'll bear a certain amount of reproach.
If in your life you want to honor the Lord Jesus and give him his place, he will suffer more reproach. And if you tell your friends were gathered only to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, you'll get still a little bit more reproached because you know Satan is the God and Prince of this world. He doesn't want to see the Lord Jesus have his rightful place.
But how blessed it is for us that we have the privilege of giving him the place that he's worthy of the highest place. No place too high for him is found, no place too high in heaven.
So I believe, I trust everyone here has confessed him as Savior. Are we willing to give him the place in our lives of Lord, asking Him His direction in everything in our lives? And do we value the blessed privilege of acknowledging no other name as our gathering center and as the person around whom we gather, but the Lord Jesus himself?
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Well, I believe we could say in this precious chapter we see how.
God was revealing these things to certain ones there in Israel, but everything centers around the One whom He delighted to honor His own beloved Son.
David's Mighty Men
Address—D. Bilisoly
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Luke 22 and we'll begin at verse 19.
And he took bread, and gave thanks, and break it, and gave unto them, saying, This is My body which is given for you. This do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the New Testament in my blood, which is shed for you. But behold the hand of him that betrayeth me.
Is with me at on the table. And truly the Son of Man goeth, as it was determined, but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed. And they began to inquire among themselves which of them it was that should do this thing. And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles.
Exercise lordship over them.
And they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.
But ye shall not be so.
But he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he that is chief.
As he that does serve for weathers greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth is not he that sitteth at meat. But I am among you as he that serveth year. They which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a Kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me.
That she may eat and drink at my table.
In my Kingdom and sit on Thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel. Now, brethren, I've had a certain line of things on my heart lately, and we'll go to the Old Testament in a moment. But I believe that we have a portion here that corresponds with the Old Testament in a very remarkable way.
And, you know, it's lovely to notice that in reading in the Old Testament because, you know, the Old Testament, really.
Describes New Testament truth really brings before us important things and gives us detail it's good if we read the Old Testament and know a little something about it and see the lovely, lovely lessons that God has for us in the. The Old Testament word of God, because you know it says very plainly in Romans 15 it says the things that were written before time were written for our learning that we through patience and.
Of the scriptures might have hope. Yes, we like to think of those passages in that way that would give us comfort.
And give us hope, and indeed we should get real comfort and hope in reading those accounts of those Old Testament personalities, because they were people just like we are, and they had feelings just like we had, and they had fears and infirmities just like we do. They were very much real.
And we don't want to just detach ourselves from those Old Testament personalities.
And think that we're any different. Oh no, it's only by the grace of God that we know what we do know. And God values faith wherevers to be found. And there's some real Old Testament worthies and oh, what faith they exercised under such circumstances and with a little light and knowledge of God that they had. Well, that's one way to think of those passages in the Old Testament that they're written for our our.
Our learning and comfort. But then, you know, there's the warning side of things too, because.
Paul says over there in first Corinthians, he says these things happen unto them for examples to the intent that we should not lust after the same thing. Now that's a warning. That's where we have the Old Testament Scriptures as an example or a warning to us. And brethren, we need that too. We need that too. If we read of things in the Old Testament where they failed and they sinned in certain ways, then it's a good warning sign for us too. And we we need to remember that our.
They're no different. I was reading in the synopsis in connection with Jonah, the book of Jonah.
And brother Darby terms that the history of the human heart.
And honestly, isn't it true? It is indeed the history of the human heart. And you see as you read through that book that it is just that reflection. But it's lovely to consider this, that, you know, how did the book of Jonah get penned? Well, well, Jonah must have had a change of heart. He must have repented at the hardness of his heart. And then he told all these things on himself, as it were. And I tell you, that's real.
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I believe that's real progress when we recognize the treachery of these hearts and are able to judge them before God and able to to overcome for his glory and own up to these false and failures that we have. Well, so then we have these lovely Old Testament scriptures. But this is an important thought here that the Lord brings before us. First of all, you see, he's talking about his suffering.
The very institution of the Feast of Remembrance in verse 19 is proof of his sufferings, proof of his death. And we may think it's strange that the disciples would hear these things over and over again and it didn't seem to register and they were really taken back when the real test come. Why was that? Well, it's because, you know, their minds were so set on an unearthly things, an earthly.
And even after the Lord's resurrection there in Acts chapter one, they said to the Lord, they said wilt out all at this time, restore the Kingdom unto Israel. You see, their thoughts were in connection with the earth. And so they just didn't want to believe or accept the fact of what had to take place. But how could there be any blessing even for an earthly Kingdom apart from the death of the Lord Jesus Christ? Oh everything.
Centers around the death of the Lord Jesus. Believe it. Without the death of the Lord Jesus Christ, there is no blessing. Absolutely there is no blessing. But of course the resurrection is foundational, because where would be the hope without the resurrection? So all of this has been so fully taken care of according to God's determinate counsel and foreknowledge.
So here the Lord Jesus, he speaks of his death.
It refers to it, implies it, and then on top of that in verse 21.
He talks about being betrayed, you see.
And this was a distressing thing to his heart. You know, the Lord Jesus felt these things, brethren, He really felt these things keenly. And he speaks of Judas as his own familiar friend, my own familiar friend hath lifted up his heel against me. And the Lord keenly felt that his betrayal in that way and how responsible a person Judas was that he could witness those miracles, that he could hear the.
Words that proceeded out of his mouth as the others did, and yet turned so against Him in greed. Oh, how treacherous is the heart. And so here the Lord Jesus speaks of all of these things very plainly to the disciples. But then we come to verse 24. Now, brethren, when we read a verse like verse 24.
Let's not shake our heads at the disciples because that kind of thing is gets into our hearts.
If we're honest about it, that kind of thing gets into our hearts. Maybe we would, in the light we have. Perhaps we'd hesitate ever to say so. But oh, that treacherous.
Comparing, as it were, gets into the hearts of the Saints of God, and you know it says in Two Corinthians.
They that compare themselves with themselves are not wise, are not intelligent. Is the thought is not intelligent to be comparing ourselves with others and saying, do I have something a little more than this brother or is that brother more than it'll either puff us up or it'll discourage us because, you know, there aren't many real gifts among the Saints of God. It's a day of great weakness and I don't believe that God is raising up.
Real gifts, I believe it's mostly in the category of helps in this day and age, but the helps, all of them certainly are needed. So it's a day of of great weakness. But yet this is a terrible spirit of things. And you know, God, it says, has placed the members in the body as it hath pleased him and not us. So you know, I've just got to live with who I am.
And accept that from the Lord and just.
Go on by his grace, you see, but God has put each one of us in the body where he wants to see for his glory, for the glory of his beloved Son. And O brethren, if, if this is what's before our hearts and if this is satisfies us, we'll go on in a steady way and we'll go on to his glory. Instead of being concerned that we were this person or that person or had this gift or that gift, why don't we just go on and.
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Serve the Lord and serve the Saints, and it will all be rewarded.
In due time, and the Lord will give the right appraisal of the whole thing. And brethren, we know that he immensely values faithfulness even in little things. I trust will notice that in a moment as we go over to the Old Testament, we'll see that the Lord values little things.
And the Lord Jesus would even speak of a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple. Here's a I found a cup of cold water and I kind of need this because my throats bothering me a little bit. And I'm very thankful that that cup of cold water was put there just because I'm a disciple, just because I belong to the Lord Jesus. But the Lord values that you see, and even just a little thoughtfulness like that is going to have us reward. That seems unbelievable, but it shows just how.
He really appreciates little things and I am convinced, brethren, that we're really going to be in for some surprises in that coming day. We're going to see, I believe, where the true values are. I believe sometimes certain things get a lot of attention and yet, who knows? But these quiet things done for the Lord maybe are the things that are really registering as it were, and the Lord counts them well.
He'll rightly appraise all in that coming day.
But here's our hearts, brethren, we read this verse 24 and we just have to hang our heads and admit that these kind of thoughts come into our hearts. But the disciples were unfeigned. They just blabbed it out. See, in their simplicity, they just said, I think we I should be greater. And here comes Zebedee's two sons, you know, and the mother brings them and, and she wants one to sit on his right hand and the other on his left in the glory.
Oh, no wonder the other disciples were so indictment.
At that sort of thing because they probably thought I should have that place, I should have that place. Oh brethren, what hearts we have. So here's this kind of discussion, but always in the Lord channel in the way he deals with his disciples. Oh, what lessons, what examples we have in the Lord Jesus in every respect, from every point of view. We see perfection in that person. We see absolute perfection in that person.
In his ways and dealings with people and with these disciples, no thought of harshness or severity with them, but he reminds them in a very plain and a very pointed way that this is not according to the mind of God. He says this is exactly what the Gentiles want. And we know what it's like in the Gentile world. We know what it's like in the working world. We know what it's like in the schools and all and wherever it may be in the neighborhood.
And wherever it may be, there is is it where that vying for a place and prestige and status symbols and positions and what have you not. The spirit of it is so strong in the world. And I know what it's like. I've worked when I worked for the state of Colorado and all there were those, what we would call opportunists, men that just looked for chances to muscle ahead and get ahead of the others and to play favorites with the supervisors and and work this thing.
Work that thing and, and wedge and muscle and, and work their way ahead. And I just watched one after another go past me and this is the way it is, you know. And you think, oh, it bothers you sometimes. Ah, that fellow so unqualified and, and how did he get there? And oh, you shake your head at some of these arrangement of things. And yet amazingly so things do seem to get done.
But this is the spirit of the world. This is the course.
And they vie for these places of position to exercise, as it says, Lordship, to be called benefactors. But what does the Lord Jesus say in all gentleness? I'm sure he says, But it shall not be so, He says. But she shall not be so, he says. But he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger.
Oh, now we're getting divine qualifications on this matter. Divine qualifications?
Ah, he that is greatest, let him be as the younger. That's a little humiliating, isn't it? That's humiliating. And he that is chief as he that does serve. Oh, the flesh loves to be served. Not to serve, really, but the flesh wants to be served. But here is the test.
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To true greatness, and attest to those accounted as chief by the Lord Jesus. He that does serve. Now, if there's any question about it, he can freely give himself his example, because there was always perfection there. For weather's greater. He that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth is not he that sitteth at meat. But I am among you as he that serveth. And that is a marvelous thing, is it not, brethren, to consider the.
That the Lord Jesus will remain a servant forever in a certain respect, all how he loves to serve. So you know here then in verse 28, what does he say? Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.
That is pure grace that made that statement. Pure grace. Here they're talking about who's the greatest when he speaks about his sufferings and all. And then he credits them with continuing with him in his temptations. Oh, brother. And I think that's lovely to consider and think what that means. You know, there's deep meaning to that, I believe. And I believe the application is far reaching because.
To take a place.
Outside the camp.
The systems of men to go on with the truth of the one body holding no other name as a gathering center, but the name of the Lord Jesus is going to cost reproach. It's going to bring us into a certain temptation or trial and I believe that there can be a present application to what the Lord Jesus says in verse 28 year they which continued with me in my temptation.
O brethren, if there's faithfulness in going on right to the end until the shout is heard, if there's faithfulness continuing on with a little testimony, though it be despised and weak, and though Satan would make an attack at it from 1 angle after another, it doesn't have to be but even a fragile and a very weak little testimony, it has to be even but a literal two or three, and he'll attack it. He'll make an attack against it because he hates the truth of the one body.
As it was mentioned at a conference I believe in Montreal one time, I'm not sure.
A brother raised the question, why is Satan so opposed to the truth of the one body? And a brother answered, because it's a truth that draws the Saints closer to Christ. See, it's a truth that draws the Saints, as it were, closer around the person of Christ. So it's a truth hated of Satan, but it's lovely the thought of continuing with him in his temptations. And so the Lord then speaks of greatness.
He speaks of honor, see, He can speak of it, and this is what was to come. Verse 29 I appoint unto you a Kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me, that ye may eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom, and sit on Thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel. Now, brethren, that is the very Lord with whom we have to do, the one who could speak in such ways to the disciples, when they would speak of among.
Of who should be greatest then the Lord Jesus on the other hand, says I'm going to bring you into real honor and real greatness. I'm going to establish you in my Kingdom. You're going to sit on Thrones. Isn't that marvelous? Oh brother, and are we not willing to continue with him now in his temptations? Let's go over to the Old Testament now and let's read a little bit about some who continued with David in his temptation. Let's read over in.
In Second Samuel.
Chapter 23.
Second Samuel 23.
This whole 23rd chapter, so lovely. I think we should just read a little of it to begin with here, though I was going on actually to verse 8. But let's read the first part of it because you'll see that it does tie in with the thought the Lord spoke. You remember to the disciples about the appointed Kingdom and about them sitting, as it were, on Thrones in that Kingdom.
And of course, we know that that's our portion too, because.
We are going to reign with Christ also in royalty as kingly priests.
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So it says verse one. Now these be the last words of David. David.
The son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel said, the spirit of the Lord spaken by me, and his word was in my tongue. The God of Israel said, the rock of Israel spoke to me. He that ruleth over men must be just ruling in the fear of God.
And He shall be as the light of the morning when the sun rises, even a morning without clouds, as the tender grass springing out of the earth by the clear shining after rain. Although my house be not so with God, yet He hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure.
For this is all my salvation and all my desire, although he maketh not to grow.
Notice David's words here. By the Spirit of God, they reflect upon the true king.
The true King, he that ruleth over men, must be just ruling in the fear of God. Who else could meet those qualifications but the Lord Jesus? The man according to God's choice, just like David was the man according to his choice. And so it says that he shall be as the light of the morning when the sun rises, even a morning without clouds over a day that will be when the Lord Jesus.
Asserts his power over this world. Brethren, do we long for that? Do you understand? Do we understand?
What the apostle Paul is speaking about in Two Timothy 4, when he says and for those also who love his appearing, what's he talking about? There's a crown of righteousness reserved for those who love his appearing. Why? Because the love of his appearing, I believe has to do more with the the establishing of all things in righteousness, the putting down of all unrighteousness. And there is so much unrighteousness in.
World. And if we knew but a small part of it, we would be so distressed and distracted.
I don't think we could stand it, but when the Lord allows us to get a little glimpse of it, as it were, a little taste of it, it is absolutely shocking. And when we see how so often the courts of the land are perverted and how there's a bribery with authorities and how things are done unfairly, and oh, the cries and groans that must go up as a result.
But isn't that comforting to think?
That when the Lord Jesus takes his Kingdom and asserts his power and authority, that all of this kind of thing is going to be absolutely put down. I love to think of that. I love to think of that. Of course we're going to be with him, which will be far more blessed, and we're looking for the Lord Jesus to come and take us to be with himself. But remember that God's thoughts reach on to the end. That God's thoughts reach on to the fulfillment of all these things that the Old Testament speaks so much.
About And here we have it here, another reflection on that coming time of the true King, the Lord Jesus Christ, the one who will bring in a mourning without clouds. You know, we live in a place where we see lots and lots of clouds and sometimes it's a little depressing because it's so cloudy so much of the time. And it's nice, as I was doing this afternoon, just to sit out that sunshine and let it kind of penetrate it and it helps, you know, and it feels.
Good but clouds, you know, kind of bespeak in this way of of troubling things and things that are not pleasant, but all how lovely that will be when the Lord Jesus asserts that authority and power and removes all of this hindrance in these clouds and it'll be like the clear shining after rain. See all what refreshment what refreshment but now David has to frankly admit in verse.
That it was not so according to his house. Oh no, he saw ruin and failure in his house. So it has to reach on to a future time. It has to be David's greater son, not David's direct descendant as it were, but David's greater son, the Lord Jesus Christ himself. And so David frankly admits that his house, as it were in verse five, the end of verse 5 isn't was not growing.
No, it was not heading that way as it seemed. But notice 2 verse six certainly bespeaks of the putting down of all these rebels, these worthless as it were, billials. And he'll put them down, and he'll put them down by the word of his mouth. It won't even require a hand. And so then.
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We see that that He will, with power, establish all of these things in verse 7.
And there'll be real judgment brought about.
Through the resistance now in verse verse 8 here we come to our review. It's almost as it were a little bit like the judgment seat of Christ because here we have a review of these men who continued with David in his temptations. See just like the Lord Jesus spoke of the disciples year they which have continued with me in my temptations. Well here's a list of.
Those that continued with David in his temptations. And you notice that it says that their mighty mighty men. Now you say, what made those men mighty?
I don't think they were super men. I don't think they were abnormal men. What made them mighty?
It was because they were associated with David. They were associated with David. That's what made them mighty.
And not only that, how was it that they accomplished the things that we read of here? How was it that they accomplished such marvelous, almost inhuman victories? They have as their example, David. See, David was their example, you say? What do you mean David was their example, David? David was the one who went down into the Valley of Elah and met the power of the strongman.
And met the power of Goliath, and he overcame the strongman. Oh, that's the way the Lord Jesus did, who through death, it says, annulled him. Or that had the power of death and delivered them, who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to *******. And so we see what a reflection this is upon the Lord Jesus, and how these men that were David's mighty men derive their power.
Their energy because of their connection with David, and two, their attachment to David. Oh surely this is of key importance, brethren, that there cannot be the real victories over the enemy. There cannot be apart from real communion with the Lord Jesus, attachment of heart to Christ. I believe that's the key thought in these things, that they were attached in heart to David.
And they had as an example David in his power over the enemy. So here in verse eight it says these be the names of David's mighty men, whom David had the Tacmonite that sat on the seat, chief among the captains. The same was a Dino, the Ease knight. He left up his spear against 800, whom he slew at one time. What a victory. Just think, what a victory.
All those men accomplished this marvelous things, but as I say, I believe it was all because.
They had David as their example and there was true faith with them, faith in the God of Israel that enabled them to accomplish such things. There's faith behind all of these things. Don't think that they were doing any of these things in human strength. And if, if we are confident in the flesh, if there is this confidence as it were, in human strength, cannot the Lord make us really feel that? I don't know if you've had experiences like I've had, but.
Sometimes you know, if I if I'm putting confidence in in.
My own strength. Oh, how the Lord can frustrate that and make us feel that we're weak as water. Absolutely weak as water.
But, you know, if we derive our strength from him, then we're empowered to do things that might be even humanly speaking, impossible. And I think we see a little reflection of that as we read through here and just the fact that this man could overcome the enemy himself. 800 what a victory that was. It is significant, but he did it, I'm sure.
Because of attachment to David, faith in the God of Israel, and David as his example.
So then we have Eliezer in verse nine. And after him was Eliezer the son of Dodo, the whole height, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away he arose and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword. And the Lord wrought a great victory that day, and the people returned after him.
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Only to spoil. Now what does it say? It says the Lord brought a great victory. Now if we hadn't read that, we might have said, oh, how daring this man was, how bold he was. Was it foolhardy? No, no, no such thought as that. But that man had real faith in God, just like Jonathan at the time. You remember when he went up to the Garrison of the Philistines, He says the Lord.
The Lord is able to save by few or by many. What is it to the Lord? He can get the victory, whether it be few or whether it be many. And sometimes, you know, the Lord may have to reduce the numbers, as it were, to put down pride, to minimize pride. Just like with the Gideon's men, they, they just had to be sifted and sifted until they were brought down to 300 men. And those 300 men didn't even have to lift.
The initial time that was all they had to do was what seemed to be a very humiliating thing, but it was according to the mind of God, it was divine instruction what they were to do. And all they had to do was to do it in obedience, foolish and and ridiculous as it may sound to to break a Lantern so that the light could be seen and to blow on a trumpet. Now that sounds like like as we might say, children.
Play, but it was nothing of that sort. It was all according to the purpose of God, but it was done in humility. God had to do that because there was too much pride with the people. And they were really in no state for such an overwhelming victory, though they got the victory, but they got it in humility. Oh, brother. And there's some real lessons in things like that.
So we see here this, this Eliezer. Oh what a victory God accomplishes.
With that man battling the enemy and I like to think about these things and picture.
What that man experienced at that time, can't you just see him with the enemy trying to get at him from every point? They probably come from behind him and from the side and front of him and on every hand. And can't you just picture that man of God withstanding those enemy and fighting on every side, Wheeling that sword around and skillfully and this one, that one, and just constantly trying to get at him and, and to do away with him.
But they can't do it. They can't do it and he accomplishes the victory. But poor, poor Eliezer, you know, can't you just see him? After all these enemy are dead and down on the ground and slain. Can't you just see Eliezer laying down there and, and just exhausted and, and his hands hanging out, You know, like you would do after you've had a hard day's work and just sitting there and exhausted and he can't let go of his sword.
Sword clamped into his hand. He wouldn't dare have laid it down. It would have been instant death.
Had he said, I'm too tired, just a minute. And lay a sword? No, no, no. His whole life depended upon it. It was urgency. And he wouldn't dare lay that sword down and a clay to his hand. His hand was locked to the sword. And I know I've done carpentry work and, and wood cutting and things like that. And I have found that that if I've used an axe a long time or a hammer and then you stop, oh, it hurts. When you unfold your fingers, it hurts.
Painful and it hurts when you use something that long. You don't realize how clenched up your muscles were and your tendons. And so you go to put it down and oh, it hurts like. But he couldn't even let his sword go. It was in the death grip, as it were. But old brethren, what an immense lesson. What an immense lesson we have in this little passage of Scripture. Because here we have in our hand the sword of the Spirit of God.
How is it? Are we using this word?
Do we value it so that it cleaves to our hand? And is it what we use skillfully against the enemy? Oh, it's good to read our Bibles and to know these passages of Scripture. And when people confront us on the street or wherever it may be, and ask questions and throw infidel things at at, at us, are we able then to refer them to God's precious words? See Eliezer.
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Certainly accomplished this victory by the power of God.
And in true faith and confidence and with David as his example and his devotedness and attachment to David. But I'm sure he was a skillful warrior. Let's not underestimate it. I'm sure he was a very skillful warrior, but he didn't become skillful in one night or in one day. And so also, beloved brethren, you know, how is it? How are we going to be able to, to withstand the enemy with the word of God unless we know our Bibles, the Spirit of God is not going to use something we don't know.
The Spirit of God will take the Word of God and, and enable us to use it if we've never read it or, or enjoyed it or, or used it. You see, and so there must be the skillful use of God's precious word. But let me tell you this. If God's precious word is used skillfully, they cannot withstand it. I don't care how keen they are in infidel arguments, if you just keep bringing the word of God before him against their human wisdom and.
Intelligence they cannot stand it. They may say I don't believe that I don't I don't I admit just wrote that that's I don't believe that don't listen to them just read the word of God skillfully to them. Just quote those verses to them and they'll be done with it pretty soon. They don't like it. They can't stand it because it is the the living word of God. It is sharper than any two edged sword. It pierces as it were to the dividing asunder of spirit and soul of the joints and Morrow and.
Is a discerner of the thoughts and the intents of the heart. So let's not be afraid to use God's precious word and don't even pay any attention to their arguments against it because it speaks right to the heart and to the conscience of man. And this dear man of God, Eliezer, he valued that sword and he used that sword and God accomplished a great victory. But then we've got Shama and these men are singled out and marked out as.
Being outstanding, prominent men in the ranks of David's special warriors, his mighty men. And it was a select group. And you know, it seems like every country likes to have a select group of soldiers. I wouldn't want to speak disparagingly of any country, but we think of those like the Green Barrettes and, and men like that and, and the French Foreign Legion and other groups like that. And we see breakdowns. We see breakdowns.
In all of those things and we see human failure come in man can't achieve.
A class, A army like that. But here these men were outstanding. And Shama, what about him? Well, if we didn't know the circumstances of this, we would say, why, Shama? What a foolish thing to do. Because the people retreated. They went away. But Shama stood his ground on this little patch of ground. What was it? It's called? It's called a piece of ground full of.
Have you ever seen lentils? They're just like a tiny bean. They're ever so insignificant. And you might say, why would a person risk their life to defend a little patch of ground, a little patch of vegetables, of food? Why? Well, you notice what it says in the end of that verse 12. It says, and the Lord brought a great victory, Shama.
Did that in faith. He It was not foolhardy. It was not boldness.
It was not human bravado. It was nothing of that sort.
He did that in faith and you say, why would he not yield that ground? Well, I enjoyed what another brother said. He said simply because it was food for the people of God. That was reason enough, was it not? Because it belonged to the God of Israel? It was his possession. It was their possession, the people of God. Why should he yield that to the enemy? Let the people retreat if they want. They're not going to get this ground of lentils. He stood there and.
It with his life and God calls it a great victory. God values.
That person's fate, Shama's faith and desire to preserve.
That which belonged to the people of God. Now, brethren, how are we going to make this a practical application?
Do we value that which belongs to the people of God? Do we value the food?
That God has given to us his precious word. Are we yielding any of this to the enemy? Are we holding fast the truth that God has entrusted to us? Will we have the same truth when we get home to glory? You know, when Ezra and the others came down from Babylon, the gold was weighed weighed out to them. They were held responsible for those precious things and so when they got to.
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They had to weigh it in again. Why? To make certain that nothing was lost on the way.
Now brethren, that is a searching thing to my own heart and conscience. When I get home to glory, will I have all the truth that the Lord has entrusted to me while I was here in this world as a believer? Will I have it all? Will I? Will you have it all? Will you have? Will we have all that the Lord is entrusted to us? Or will something be missing? See.
Will something be missing? Oh brethren, how we need exercised hearts.
To hold fast that which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. That was said to to Philadelphia a time of a week in a in a small remnant testimony, a time of the very last days. Are we holding it fast, or is this letting loose little here and there? Oh, this is searching to our hearts, but not Shama. No, he wouldn't budget a bit of it to the enemy. And this is something that is.
Lovely to consider and read. And the Lord valued it. The Lord valued it and called it a great victory. He called it a great victory. We were not told how many He slew. We're not told anything like that, but rather the fact that He stood and held that ground. But now when we get to verse 13, now we're going back to what I was referring to when I talked about this cup of cold water in the name of a disciple.
And it's so delicious. It's good water, see, and I enjoy that. And it's nice to have refreshing water at hand. And look what we've got here. This is interesting because more is said about this than the others. And yet what did they accomplish? Verse 13. And three of the 30 chief went down and came to David in the harvest time to The Cave of Dellum, and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of.
And David was then in a hold and the Garrison of the Philistines.
Was then in Bethlehem and David longed and said, oh that one.
Would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate, and the three mighty men breakthrough the host of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem.
That was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless he would not drink thereof. It poured it out unto the Lord, just like a libation or drink offering, and he said.
Far from me, O Lord, that I should do this. Is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? Therefore he would not drink it. These things did, these three mighty men.
Now, do you remember what we read there in Luke 22?
The Lord Jesus said he that is chief as he that does serve well. Here's three chiefs, and they come to David Ware at The Cave of Adela. There should be no question at all that that was a time of David's rejection. There was a twofold reason why David couldn't enjoy the waters of the well of Bethlehem.
Number one, Saul was after him, chasing him like a Partridge.
On the mountains he had to hide out from Saul. 2 The Garrison of the Philistines were in the land, and they were blocking all the way. It was inaccessible. Humanly speaking, it was inaccessible.
Why did David long for those waters of the well of Bethlehem? I've tasted good water in other places and this seems like very good water up here this morning or this this evening.
But why is it that David marked that out and mentioned that particularly well? Because that's where he spent his boyhood days. He knew something about the sweetness of those waters of the well of Bethlehem. I can just picture him as a young boy shepherding the sheep in the heat of the day, finding his opportunity to get over there and get to that well of Bethlehem, draw up those sweet waters and take a nice cold drink.
Where my grandparents used to live up in Leiden Junction.
In Colorado, Granddaddy had a well underneath a railroad trestle and it was just a choice place. And once in a while we used to like to go with him down to that well. And we he would toss the bucket down on a line and he would draw up that nice cold clear water up out of the bottom of that well. And my brother Bob and I used to just love to put our faces right down in it and drink that water right straight out of that bucket.
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And it seemed like there was number water that tasted quite as sweet as that, if you know what I mean. Oh, it was so good on a real hot day. And so that leaves boyhood memories of such times as that. And I can just believe that David, you know, reflected back on those boyhood days. And here now he's separated. He can't get to his beloved Bethlehem, as it were, and enjoy those sweet waters. And so he is thinking out loud, I don't believe.
He shouted that out. I don't believe he spoke very loud at all. I believe it was just the longings of his heart. And I like to think of it this way, that these men, these men were so drawn to David. See, they had place, they had rank in the armies of Saul, But they come to the conclusion that David was really the man of God's choice. And we better share with him in his rejection now because one day he's going to take that Kingdom. And those men, you know, they gave up.
Position and rank as it were to identify themselves with David in his humility, which we can do now, brethren, in this day of his rejection, the Lord Jesus. And so here they are attracted to David and I can just believe that they were as close to him as they could be. Can't you picture that? They are taken up with David, They're attracted to him. They said, well, here he is and his roughness and simplicity. But this is God's true man.
And they must have gotten close today because they wanted to hear Him. They wanted to hear things that he said. And so they overheard the longings of his heart. I can just picture them and those three men when they overheard the longings of his heart, that was a command to them. And it's just like his wish was their command. Oh brethren, is that our attitude toward the Lord? Jesus Is my will so subject to His will that his.
Wishes it were is my command. Can I say that? Oh, I have to hang my head in shame and and own up to the fact of how much I have acted in self will and contrary to what was the will of the Lord Jesus. Oh brethren, but here you know they act immediately upon the wishes of David and in jeopardy of their lives. What a risk they took. There's none of the enemy defeated, no great battles won, nothing of that sort.
Was nothing but purely an act of devotedness. Purely an act of devotedness. How much did David value that? How much did God value that? That he recorded this in his Word? He valued it very, very much. It was an act of devotedness. And God knows these things and values every little act of devotedness. Maybe no one else knows anything about what you have done for the Lord. Maybe it was done purely out of.
Devotedness to the Lord Jesus does evaluate it. It's all recorded above, brethren. It's all recorded above. And they'll be reward for all faithfulness in acts of devotedness. Now you know, I've enjoyed this thought too. There must be a prophetic sense to what is uttered here, a deep prophetic sense. And I think we can see this connection.
And that is that Bethlehem has real significance prophetically.
You know, because it says in Micah's prophecy, it says in now O Bethlehem.
Ephrata, though thou be little among the the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall come forth. He who shall be ruler over my people, Israel, who's going forth are from everlasting, from old, from everlasting. Well, what a striking prophecy that is, because it foretells of the true king, springing as it were.
Out of Bethlehem and who is that true king? It's deity. It's the Lord Jesus Christ God manifest in the flesh, whose going force are of old from everlasting. It's the Lord Jesus, the Lord of glory. And so here I I see a connection, a link as it were to that prophecy, to that thought of God's true king. Here he's in rejection, as it were. And Micah's prophecy anticipates as it were the coming of the.
Springing from Bethlehem and you notice that these men come to David in the time of harvest. Well, that's what it is. Now as far as the gospel is concerned, it is the harvest time and yet the rejection of the Lord Jesus. And so you know, we're fast approaching the time as it says in in Isaiah or Jeremiah, it says the harvest is passed, the summers ended and we are not saved.
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Oh, how tragic that would be.
If that were true of anyone here in the room tonight, I trust those not. So we see that this is a marvelous and a mighty act of devotedness. Now, I believe that the apostle Paul himself, in his devoted, untiring laborers for the Lord and to the Saints of God was just at the point of being poured out as a libation, a drink offering. He says that in Philippians. He says that I'm ready to be.
Offered up.
So he knew what this was, he knew what might result from this life of devotedness and all, but oh, how worth it was, because he could say to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better.
Now brother and I hate to bring up a sad note here, but here you know in verse 18 we have Joab mentioned but only mentioned in connection with his brother Abishai.
And also, if we read on, we'll see Joab as mentioned in verse 24.
But only in reference to his brother shell.
And we read on, and we see that Joab is.
Is mentioned in verse 37 but only in connection with his armor bearer. Joab was not one of Davidde mighty men. But you say wait a minute, didn't Joab accomplish some great victories and all? Yes he did. But why is he not included as one of David's mighty men? Because he had no real heart for David.
Because he, in the end, was really opposed to the throne of David.
And proved himself to be a true rebel against the throne of David. God keeps track of all these things. God keeps track.
And he knows the heart. And these brethren, are most serious matters, to see how that this is like the manifestation, as it were, a little glimpse, as it were, of the judgment seat of Christ. And we see the seriousness of this matter, how that Joab put on a good front.
Through many years, but when the real test comes, his true colors were shown. Oh, how sad and how solemn. But now as far as Benaya here is concerned, in verse 20, it's interesting to notice that he slays 2 lion like men of Moab. Or a better thought would be, I believe heroes. Those that could really pride in the flesh, outstanding men in the flesh, as it were, heroes. And there's lots and lots of heroes.
In the world today, but what is it worth in the sight of God? What is it worth? These heroes? And so he overpowers the strong ones, these heroes of Moab, as it were. And then we see that that also he slays a lion in the midst of a pit in a time of snow. While we talk about handicaps, we talk about.
Disadvantages. You know, it'd be a terrible thing to meet a lion under any circumstance.
Let alone in a pit and on a snowy day where you couldn't keep your footing and where who knows what could happen? You see, So what a what an unusual thing to accomplish in God's word records such a thing as that. We don't know what the circumstances were in connection with it. Maybe the pit was made to trap an animal or something. And maybe, maybe he been beneath, maybe accidentally tripped and stumbled and fell into this thing and here he was.
Face to face with the lion. What's he going to do? Well, he he defeats the lion. That's it, see. And then we notice another thing that he does in verse 21 and that is that he slays an Egyptian, a goodly man, it says, and it describes this Egyptian and he's no pushover. He's a giant. He's a he's a fearful man, but yet he accomplishes these victories. And here these all these things are noted that Vinaya did well. It's just a little reminder, is it not?
That in type in picture here he met as it were, the power of the enemy. And you know, brethren, we have 3 foes, the flesh just like these heroes of Moab, the power of Satan, like the lion in the pit on a snowy day. And the world that's a real, a very real enemy to overcome figured in this Egyptian. How was it that Binaya accomplished such remarkable things?
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It was by faith and confidence in God. It was by David as his example and his attachment, his devotedness.
To David, one of his three mighty men. Well now our time is up. But you know, as we read on here, it is a lovely thing to notice that there are Gentiles involved with David, even an Ammonite in verse 37. And then we got Uriah the Hittite, which account we know is very sad as far as David is concerned. But still Uriah as a person was a devoted man to David and classed as one of his.
Mighty men. Well, these are things to think about, beloved, and to consider, and God has given us this little record, and we ought to be exercised by it, and we ought to see where the true values are, and what the Lord's thoughts are about these things. Shall we just have a word of prayer?
Two Natures
Address—G.H. Hayhoe
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And with the two natures in the believer.
And let us start first of all with the third chapter of John's Gospel. There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher, come from God, for no man can do these miracles that thou doest except God be with him.
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, unto thee.
Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit.
Marvel not that I said unto thee, He must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth. So is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, And we speak, that we do know, and testify that we have seen, and you receive not our witness, if I have told you earthly things and you believe not.
How shall you believe if I tell you of heavenly things?
And no man hath ascended up to heaven but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of Man, which is in heaven. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, Even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
When we hear a bit, quite a bit today about being born again, and in the minds of many people, it's just sort of a new way of life. But you know, in the Scripture teaching, it is the giving to us of an entirely new life. It's not an improvement of the old nature, but God imparts a new life to the one who is born again. And when Nicodemus came to the Lord Jesus here by night, he was looking to the Lord as a teacher.
One who would teach him the way to God. But the Lord Jesus immediately replied to show Nicodemus that it isn't just teaching that the natural man needs, he needs a new life. And nothing can be more clear from the word of God than the fact that you and I, every one of us, were born to this world with a sinful fallen nature. And it says very clearly in Romans chapter 8, they that are in the flesh.
Cannot please God now that is, there is absolutely no fruit for God from our natural first.
Natural life that we receive by our first birth into this world. And that's what the Lord is bringing before Nicodemus here. And so a Nicodemus asked about these miracles, the Lord said except the man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.
Well, Nicodemus did have some understanding and that the Lord was speaking about getting a new life because he knew how a baby was born into this world. And he said, how can a man be born when he is old? He knew how when a child is born into this world, it's born with a certain kind of life and nature. And we know very well that that is a nature that is.
Characterized by disobedience, None of us who are parents ever had to teach our children to be naughty.
We didn't have to teach them to be disobedient. We didn't have to teach them to do wrong things. They, like ourselves, were born with that kind of a nature. As we read, we read in the 51St Psalm that we are born in sin, conceived in iniquity.
And So what the Lord is telling Nicodemus is that what is necessary is an entirely new life. Nicodemus couldn't understand. And the Lord said, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. Now when the Lord said that, he is Speaking of the fact that God.
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Uses His word by the Spirit for the new birth of a soul.
When he speaks of water here, he's not speaking about baptism. Christian baptism hadn't even been instituted at this time. What the Lord was speaking about is the application of the Word of God. I say this because in James it tells us that we are born again by the word of truth. We're told in Peter's epistle that we are born by the word of God.
Which live us and abide us forever. So what God uses is His precious word applied in the power of the Spirit of God. And by this he gives new life to a dead soul, because naturally we have that fallen nature. We're dead in trespasses and sins and what God does.
Is not attempt to improve the old nature. He tells us very clearly here that which is born of the flesh is flesh. What do you do when you have a pile of rotten lumber? You don't try to improve it, you condemn it. And this is what God tells us that he has done tells us in Romans chapter 8 God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh.
When the Lord Jesus said, and now also the axe is laid at the root of the trees. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. The axe is laid at the root because it's the root of man's nature is bad. It's the fact that he has this fallen nature now that God himself has not.
Attempted to improve. Now, through the Old Testament, we know that man was under trial.
And God was testing man as to whether he could live up to God's holy requirements. But what did the test prove? Why? It just proved that man's nature was bad, and that he wasn't able in his natural state to live up to God's requirements. And so it tells us the law worketh wroth by the law is the knowledge of sin.
So the Lord made it very clear to Nicodemus.
That what was necessary was not good teaching. It was not the improvement of the old nature, but a new life. And so I say again, God uses His precious word, applied in the power of the Spirit of God, and imparts new life to a dead soul.
Wonderful thing it is. We spoke a little of this last night of the wonderful fact that when we are saved we receive a new life. We are new creatures in Christ Jesus. We have a new song. We have new power. Why, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. All things are passed away. Behold, all things are become new.
Well then, in the eighth verse it says, The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth?
So is everyone that is born of the Spirit. I think this is a very important verse because.
Many people are occupied with having some kind of an experience, and they wonder if they've had the experience of being born again.
And many who have been brought up in Christian homes are often quite distressed because they wonder if they've had the right kind of experience and if they're really born again. But what the Lord is saying very clearly here is that the evidence of divine life is the result that is seen in a person's life. Did you ever see the wind? Well, I never did, but I've often seen the results of the wind. I've often seen the.
I've often seen the trees bending down in the wind, but I never have seen the wind.
I say I've seen the results and so when a person is born again.
We can expect to see the results and there might be someone here and you say well I can't just remember when it was. Well this verse says thou canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth, but you can certainly tell the result and what is the result in a believers life.
It tells us unto you, therefore, which believe He is precious. And again, we know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. Know before you're saved, why you have no desire to be in the company of those that love the Savior. I remember reading a story about Doctor Woolston and he was visiting in a certain place holding some gospel meetings.
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And there was a boy in the home where he was staying, and he did his best all the time, that Mister.
Doctor Wolston was there to avoid getting talking to Doctor Wilson. Wilson personally. Every time when the meal was over he disappear. Why was that? Well, he didn't want to talk to Doctor Wilson. He was afraid he would speak to him about the Lord and he would feel uncomfortable. But the last day, just when Doctor Wilson was going to leave, why the boy came down for breakfast and.
In those days, of course, they didn't have automobiles and Doctor Wilson was going to the station.
And there he was, volunteering to take Doctor Wilson's bags and help carry him to the station.
What had happened? Oh, the boy had been brought to know the Lord. And now the first thing was he enjoyed the company of this person who wanted to speak to him about the Lord Jesus. And you know, if, if the name of the Lord Jesus isn't precious to you, I'm not going to ask you what kind of an experience you've had, but I really doubt if you're saved at all if the name of the Lord Jesus.
Is not precious to you, it says, if any man love not our Lord Jesus Christ.
Let him be Anathema Maranatha, because how could you be happy in heaven?
If you don't love the Savior, sometimes you go to a Funeral Home and people start to tell you about that good living person whose body is lying there, and they're sure that person has gone to heaven. But perhaps you've had a little acquaintance with the person and he never wanted you to speak to him about the Lord Jesus. He changed the subject every time you tried. And yet how could such a person be happy in heaven, I say.
Just like a fish out of water, he wouldn't feel happy there at all. He must have a new life to enjoy those things. And when a person has passed from death into life, he enjoys the things of the Lord. And so here it tells us how that new birth is just like the wind blowing. In other words, you see the result.
And I very seldom ask people if they're saved. I watch to see the result in their life.
And if I see a response to the name of the Lord Jesus, I desire to please Him.
I feel pretty sure that they have passed from death unto life. I'm saying this for perhaps some who've been brought up in the meeting and you say, well, I just can't remember when it was. But the question for you is not whether you remember when it was, but is the Lord Jesus precious to you tonight? Can you really from your heart join in that little song? There is a name I love to hear, I love to sing. It's worth it.
Like music in my ear, the sweetest name on earth, and so here.
He was just like a man. Let me illustrate it like this. Here is a man and he was drowning and he's going down to the third time and he's rescued and he's pulled ashore and he's safe on the shore. I don't suppose he would remember much about the person that pulled him in. Probably was unconscious when he got pulled in. But is there any doubt that he's safe when he's there on the shore? And so do your friends.
It is. The question is, are your feet safely on the shore, not how much you remember about how you got there.
And so here the Lord makes it very simple for Nicodemus. And then he goes on, and Nicodemus asks, how can these things be?
And I believe the Lord brings before us two very important things.
In the 13th and 14th verses, The 13th verse says, And no man hath ascended up to heaven.
But he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man, which is in heaven.
I remember a good many years ago I was speaking about this 13th verse back in Ottawa and there were a group of children there and I said what? How could this be? The Lord Jesus was talking to Nicodemus and he said that he was in heaven at the same time he was talking to Nicodemus. Notice what the verse says.
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He that came down from heaven, even the Son of Man, which is in heaven.
And I was talking to Nicodemus, and I said, Is there anybody here that can tell me how the Lord could be talking to Nicodemus and be in heaven at the same time? And one of the little boys put up his hand and said, because Jesus is God. Well, dear friends, that's very important.
Because we find people today who deny the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ.
They tell us that they will acknowledge that he was a Goodman. They'll acknowledge that he was the Son of God. But they will not acknowledge that the Lord Jesus is truly God himself. He was on earth and in heaven at the same time.
While he was there asleep in the boat, he was upholding all things by the word of his power, as we read in Hebrews chapter one. You say, how can you explain that? I don't try to explain it because God is beyond your mind and mine. But the Lord Jesus was perfect God and perfect man at the same time. And so the Lord brings this before Nicodemus because I would question whether a man is.
Really born again? If he denies that Jesus is God, it says who is a liar. But he that denies that Jesus is the Christ, then the next one is the 14th verse. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, Even so must the Son of Man be lifted up. You remember how?
The Israelites were bitten by the serpent, and God told Moses to make a serpent of brass and put it on a pole.
And anyone who looked at that serpent of brass lived.
He just needed to look at that serpent of brass, and he lived well. That serpent of brass is a little picture to us of the Lord Jesus lifted up on Calvary's cross to die as a substitute for your sins and mine if you know Him as your Savior. Oh, what a wonderful thing. And the Lord brought before Nicodemus 2 very important things, and that is the person and the work of the Lord Jesus.
For it's necessary that we should understand those two things, who the person is and the work that he has done. Do you know that Blessed One, as the one who is God, come down into this world to accomplish that work of redemption? And can you say he bore my sins in his own body on the tree where the Lord brought these two things before Nicodemus? And I bring them before you, if there's anyone.
Tonight, who hasn't passed from death unto life, I want to bring before you the glorious person of the Lord Jesus Christ and that finished work that he accomplished. And if you believe that you will be born again, you'll be brought into the family of God as the Lord goes on to say in the 16th verse, for God soul of the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not.
Perish, but have everlasting life, everlasting life. And now this everlasting life that he imparts is this new life that I wish to talk a bit about tonight.
As it says in this chapter of that which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit, so I was born into this world with a fallen nature. When I was born again, I received a new life.
Eternal life, if you'll turn with me over to the First Epistle of John and the first chapter in the first verse, that which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and our hands have handled, of the word of life. For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness and show unto you that.
That eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested unto us.
Now, if you look also at Colossians and the third chapter.
The third verse.
Ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
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When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall he also appear with Him.
In glory. Well, we see here from the first epistle of John at that eternal life is the very life of Christ. And this is made still clear in that verse in Colossians 3 that says when Christ, who is our life shall appear. So when you receive eternal life, you receive the very life of Christ.
What a marvelous thing. Then everyone who has received the Lord Jesus as his or her personal Savior has within him eternal life. And that life is the very life of Christ. And that's why I often say that when you're saved, your body is like a house with two tenants. You have within you that fallen nature that you receive by your natural birth, and you also have the.
Life that God gives when you are born again. And so within you are those two natures, those two different lives, if I can speak in that way. And that's why a Christian has a conflict.
Because He has those two natures within him. Now, it's very important for us to say that at the cross of Calvary, God not only took up the question of our sins, but He also took up the question of the nature that produces those sins. And it's very blessed for us to see this. There are many who know that when they're saved, all their sins are gone. What a wonderful thing to be able to.
Say the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sins.
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. And every believer in this room tonight can say.
Everyone of my sins is gone. That is your present standing before God.
Even when you have sinned, you're standing before God is that of a forgiven Sinner, a child of God. By one offering, He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. That is where God has brought you, and so you are before him as one who has been forgiven. But oh, there's more than that.
God also has imparted to you a new life.
And he sees you in that new life before him, and that's why it tells us, as we were, some of us were looking in the Bible class at that verse in Romans 5 that speaks about justification of life. That is when God Forgives, He does more than that. He places you before him in that new life and sees you in that way. And that's why it tells us.
In the epistle of John it says that we may have boldness in the day of judgment because as He is, so are we in this world. Notice, so are we in this world. We don't have to wait till the day of judgment to find out how things are going to be, but we are before God, already forgiven.
Justified from all things before him in an entirely new life. That is the position.
In which he has brought us through the work of Christ. Now I'd like to look over at.
First of all, Ephesians chapter 4, verse 22.
That she put off concerning the former conversation the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness.
And true holiness, then, if you'll turn over to the Epistle of John.
First Epistle of John and the Third chapter and the ninth verse.
Whosoever is born of God does not commit sin, for his seed remaineth in him, and he cannot sin because he is born of God.
Now in this passage in Ephesians chapter four, we see the character of these two natures. One is spoken of as the old man and the other is the new man. God describes the character of the old man as being corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and he describes the character of the new man as being created in righteousness and true holiness.
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And he tells us in that passage in First John chapter 3.
That what is born of God cannot sin. So you and I have by our natural birth the nature that loves sin, that can't do anything else but sin, that has never yet and never will produce any fruit for God. In me, that is, in my flesh dwelleth no good thing.
God has condemned sin in the flesh. He's told us it's corrupt according to the deceitful lusts. Are we expecting something good from it?
Are we expecting that there's going to be something good from that which God has so totally condemned? He gave the law, but what did the law do? Well, it didn't improve the fallen nature. It just showed what it is. Just like a mirror. If my face is dirty, the mirror doesn't wash my face, but it would certainly show how dirty it is. And the law entered that the offense might abound, but where sin abounded.
Grace did much more abound. So let us be very clear about this that.
God isn't expecting anything good from that fallen nature. He has totally condemned it. He has shown us what He has to say about it. But He has also told us that those who are saved possess a new life that is created in righteousness and true holiness, a nature that cannot sin. And every believer in this room has already the life, the very same life that.
Going to have in heaven the very life of Christ and the Lord Jesus could not sin. And so when we get to heaven, we have a nature that's perfectly suited to it because it's the very life of Christ. It can't sin. It loves holiness. It's created in righteousness and true holiness. Now what has God done in connection with the old nature? Let's turn then to Romans and the 6th chapter.
Will begin at the third verse.
Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death, That like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, Even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection.
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin, for he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him, knowing that Christ, being raised from the dead, dies no more, death has no more dominion over him.
For him that he died, he died unto sin once, but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lust thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin, but yield yourselves unto God as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of.
Unto God, for sin shall not have dominion over you, for ye are not under the law, but under grace. Now here he tells us what God has done with the nature that produced those sins. Perhaps we could think of it this way. You have an apple tree. Why, there's a number of apples on it in the fall, and you can take off every apple. But next year, very proud, you'll have another crop of.
Because the tree is still there. And you know, God takes away our sins, but he has also taken up the question of the nature that produced those sins. And that's what he's telling us here in the sixth verse. He says, knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him. That is at the cross of Calvary.
God not only took up the question of my sins about in the death of Christ.
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It was the end before God of my standing as a child of Adam. I no longer a child of Adam. And how did I get from the position of being a child of Adam to being a child of God? God sees me as having died out of that position and brought into a new position through the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And what a wonderful thing it is to lay hold of this.
Sometimes, perhaps an illustration helps.
And I have sometimes used the illustration of a citizen, you know, I'm a citizen of Canada.
But supposing now that I were to decide that I would like to become a citizen of the United States, and I'm accepted as a citizen of the United States. Well, when I'm accepted as a citizen of the United States, I am brought into an entirely new standing in the eyes of the customs authorities. Now when I cross the border, I have to declare myself as being a Canadian citizen.
But if I were to change.
Why, I could go across the border as an American citizen. I'm the same person and I haven't physically died, but I have entered a new position. And if the customs officer were to say to me, well, there used to be a man crossed the border here, his name was Gordon Hagel, and he was a Canadian citizen. And now you say.
Gordon Hale is an American citizen. Well, I could say to him something like this.
Well, as far as you're concerned, Gordon Hale, the Canadian citizens, Dad, there's no such person anymore. Gordon Hale, the American citizen, is alive now. I want to use this as an illustration. That's what happened at the cross. God tells us that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed. And so you notice three things.
God condemned that fallen nature.
In the death of Christ, he put an end to it. And in baptism we recognize the end has come just the same as when a man is has died. What do we do? Well, we bury him. Why do we bury him? Because he's dead? Because he's dead. And that's many people don't understand baptism, but really it's the acknowledgement of that. There's nothing good from that fallen nature. And as long as a man is sick, you're always hoping.
Perhaps he'll regain his strength and be well again, But once he's died, there's nothing to do but bury him. And so God condemns in the flesh. He crucified the old man, and he says in baptism we recognize that by burying him. That's why the scriptural way is immersion, because it's a sign of burial, buried with him by baptism into death. And so here we find what God has done.
With the old nature, perhaps some of you have read a book called Pilgrims Progress. And John Bunyan had a great bundle of sins on his back in the story. And he's pointed by the evangelist to the cross, and he comes to the cross and sees the Savior dying for him. And his great bundle of sins rolls into the sepulchre, and he's rejoicing because his sins are gone.
But if you've read the Life of John Bunyan, you'll find that he was not a happy man. Even Lloyd knew his sins were gone. And you know why? Because he spent the rest of his life in what he called the holy war, fighting with that old nature and not realizing what God had done with it. But I, my father, used to put it like this, he said when he came to the cross, if he had tumbled into the sepulchre.
Himself, sins and all, and come out a Newman. He would have been a happy, delivered man, but he never saw the end of John Bunyan. He saw the end of his sins. And you know, there are hundreds and hundreds of Christians like this and they know their sins are gone, but they spend the rest of their life wondering what to do about that old fallen nature. And what God says is now just stand still.
I'll tell you what I've done about that fallen nature. He put an end to it. And just like I died out of that position as being a Canadian citizen and I entered a new position as an American citizen, I say I've died out of the position of being a child of Adam and before God. I am now a child of God, but I still have that old nature within me.
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Just as I might still have feelings toward Canada even though I have accepted American citizenship.
And the this believer still has that fallen nature. So what is he told to do?
God says, Reckon ye yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin. So every time I approach the border to go in the United States, I have to do some reckoning. I say, I have to tell this man now that I'm an American citizen and not a Canadian one. And I have to reckon that before God. God has seen the end of that at the cross, and he says now.
Yield your members as instruments of righteousness.
Unto God those hands once wanted to do, and once did.
What the fallen nature within me wanted to do. These feet took me where the fallen nature wanted to go.
These ears listen to the things the fallen nature wanted to listen to. But God says, now I put a new tenant in your body, you reckon that old man dead, and you just rejoice in the fact that I have given you a new life, and you yield your members to what the new life wants to do.
And so this is what he is telling us here. He is telling us that we are to yield our members as instruments of righteousness unto God. And every young believer in this room can just rejoice that God sees you as having your sins all gone. He sees you as a new creature in Christ Jesus. He's put an end before him to that fallen nature. And now he says you can just yield your.
Your hands, your feet, your eyes, your ears to do what that Newman wants to do. And why does he say we're not under law? Well, because the new man doesn't need a law. You don't need a law for someone who always wants to do what's right.
And so the old man couldn't be corrected by a law, and the Newman doesn't need a law.
What the Newman needs is to know what's pleasing to the Lord, and that's what we learned through the Word.
And that's why James speaks of the position of the Christian as being keeping the law of liberty. The law of liberty If sometimes said like this, God will never ask you to do anything that the new life he has given you doesn't want to do.
And so I asked my child to do something he wants to do. That's not hard. That's liberty. I say, would you go down to the store and buy yourself an ice cream cone? Why, if he loves ice cream, that's just what he wants to do. And so that's exactly what God does. He said I've given you a new nature that wants to please me. And now if you'll read my words, you'll find out what pleases me. And isn't this true? Don't you find this when you.
His word doesn't the Newman within you respond when you find out what the Lord wants you to do.
Someone desires to remember the Lord in his death. What produced that desire? The Lord produced that desire. And then maybe the person reading the Word of God found out that this was his privilege. So he responds. The new man always responds. The Lord Jesus could say, the good pleasure of Thy will, O God, is my delight. It was his delight to do his Father's will.
I delight to do thy will, Oh my God, ye thy laws within my heart, He said. And so that's true of every believer. The most worldly Christian in this room tonight has within him that new nature that wants to please God, but the old nature still there, the old nature, that fallen nature. And now in the 7th chapter, I believe we learn some things that help us to understand.
How we can live in the enjoyment and in the power of that new life that God has given to us. And I'd like to just begin with the 18th verse of the 7th chapter. It says here. For I know that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing, for the will is present with me. But how to perform that which is good?
I find not.
Perhaps I could say that in the 7th chapter of Romans we have the experience of a person brought before us who hadn't laid hold of the blessed liberty that was his in Christ. He had new life, but he didn't have liberty. Perhaps you could compare him to Lazarus. When Lazarus was called forth out of the tomb, it says he came forth.
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Bound hand and foot with grave claws.
And there are many many Christians like that. Did he have life? Oh yes. Did he have life from the Lord Jesus? Yes the Lord had said Lazarus come forth, but he was still bound hand and foot. And the Lord said to the disciples, loose him and let him go. And now what is it that lets that looses us? It says you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. The truth of God is what sets us free. When we learn what?
Has done why we're set free and so here we find the very first thing that we need to realize.
Are you expecting something good from that fallen nature? Or to put it a little more practically, did you ever have a bad thought come into your mind? And then you said, oh, I never thought a Christian would think a thing like that. Well, if you said that you didn't believe this verse because this verse says.
That there's nothing good in the old nature. I'm not surprised at any thought that might come into my mind. What concerns me is what I do with it when it comes.
But the enemy knows how to work upon that fallen nature, and that which is born of the flesh is flesh. Here is the great apostle, perhaps one of the most spiritual men, whoever lived. And he says, in me, that is, in my flesh dwelleth no good thing. Did he find something good? Always remember the illustration, our brother.
Wilbur Smith The spa there Mr. Morris Smith used told the story about.
Two men and here was a railway man and he had a very good watch and he told this man the time and this other man pulled out his watch and he said well the time according to my watch is such and such and he was 5 minutes difference and he said what's more this watch has never disappointed me.
Well, I looked at him. This watch never disappointed. He looked at the watch. It was one of those.
Cheap watches that people used to buy for a dollar in those days, and a watch at a dollar. Never disappointed. And here's a man with a railway watch. He said It never disappoints me because I never trust it. Well, dear friends, are you expecting something from the old nature? Well, that which is born of the flesh is flesh. In me, that is, in my flesh dwelleth no good thing. Peter trusted the flesh. And what happened? It broke down.
It broke down and Peter didn't think he would deny his Lord, but he did. So let's remember this.
In me, in me that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing, for the will is present with me. You say I want to please the Lord, but there is that fallen nature.
Unimproved and unimprovable. And now we come to the 20th verse, It says.
Now if I do that, I would not. It is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. A few moments ago we spoke about the body being like a house with two tenants, but there's only one tenant that God recognizes as the lawful tenant, and that is the new life. And that's where He sees you. He sees you in Christ. He sees you in that new life.
That never sinned, and that cannot sin. And so he says, when I sin, it's no more I, but sin that dwelleth in me. Now when you read the chapter through, you'll see that in one breath he calls the old nature eye, and in the next breath he calls the new nature eye because he doesn't understand what God has done with that old man.
That old man was crucified with Christ, and we're told to reckon ourselves to be dead indeed unto sin.
And so when he comes to this 20th verse, all he says, I, I see something now. It's no more I, it's sin that dwelleth in me. It's that which God doesn't recognize as being the lawful tenant of my body. It's the fallen nature. And so perhaps someone comes to you with a temptation, suggests that you do something and you know it's wrong. And so you say, no, I don't.
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To do that, I'm a Christian and I want to please the Lord. And after the friend has gone away, maybe the devil comes to you and says he didn't tell him the truth. You wanted to do it. You know you wanted to do it, and you told him you didn't. And you feel quite upset because you didn't know whether you did answer the right way. Yes, you did answer the right way. You just let the right tenant answer the door. Did the new life within you want to do that thing?
No, what wanted to do that wrong thing was no more I but sin that dwelleth in me. And so that when you said no, I don't want to do it, you were just letting the new life answer. Just like here's the house with the two tenants. One tenant answers one way and other the other answers the other. Be sure the right tenant answers because.
The Newman, I say again, is created in righteousness and true of holiness. So isn't this a wonderful thing? You didn't tell a lie at all.
You just let the Newman answer the door. It's no more I. So first he has learned that there's nothing good in the flesh. Now he says that that old man is no more I, but sin that dwelleth in me. It's that fall nature that's there that God tells us. He condemned that in the death of Christ was crucified, and in baptism we recognize that it was death.
And now it tells us here in the.
23rd verse But I see another law in my member war members warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death, I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind, I myself serve the law of God.
But with the flesh, the law of sin, there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.
Who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Perhaps we could say that he has come to the point that he realizes there's nothing good in the flesh. He's come to the point where he realizes that when he does what's wrong, it's the sinful nature. It's no more I. But he's still troubled, he says.
This I see this law on my members that keeps bringing me into captivity to this law or this principle of sin which is in my members. And he says, Oh, wretched man that I am.
But notice now he doesn't say, how shall I get deliverance? But who shall deliver me? Who shall deliver me? Up to this point, he's been trying to get deliverance by fighting with that fallen nature. Now he looks outside of himself for deliverance. He looks outside of himself.
I believe it was brother Dunlop that used to make the comment. You get just as dirty fighting a chimney sweep as hugging him.
And what he was Speaking of was just this very thing that I'm talking about. Did you ever have a bad thought come into your mind and you tried to fight it away? And what kind of success did you have? Well, you just felt like fighting with a chimney sweep, didn't you? The more you tried to fight it away, the more blackened up you got because you couldn't fight it away. But what would you do if the chimney sweep comes and he's all filthy dirty?
Why? I suppose you'd turn and try and get away from him, wouldn't you? Instead of fighting with him, you'd try and get away from him.
And now isn't it a wonderful thing that when that bad thought comes, and that God gives you the privilege of turning away from it to be occupied with Christ, and the way of deliverance is not fighting away the bad thought for just giving thanks that God doesn't see you in that fallen nature, but he sees you in Christ Jesus?
I've often used the illustration.
Supposing that you were going to.
Will say that you're going to build a garage for your car and you had some lumber in your backyard and you thought you'd like to use this lumber. So when you get the Carpenter, you tell him that you'd like him to put up a garage and that you have a pile of lumber there that you'd like him to use to construct this garage as much as he could. So he goes out to examine your pile of lumber and.
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After a little while he comes in and he says, well, I guess I have some bad news for you.
Your lumber is all rotten. We can't use that lumber at all.
Oh, you say, I'm so disappointed. I thought we could use that lumber and be quite a saving. He says it's no good. There's not one good solid piece of wood in the whole pile. But he says I have good news for you today, too. He said I've brought you a new pile of lumber and it's all good, sound lumber. It's not going to cost you anything and we'll use that in putting up your garage.
Oh, what do you do? You do just what he did here. You start to give thanks, don't you? You say? Oh, thank you very much.
You just thank him. Did that improve the old pile? No, not at all. But instead of getting occupied with this old pile, now you're giving thanks that he's brought to that new pile and that he's going to use that new pile to put up your garage. And now can't you see the thought? God's telling you just the very same thing. You and I thought there was something good in that old pile of lumber, and God condemned it. And if you've been feeling.
Condemning yourself and everything about that old pile will start tonight to give thanks. God's given you a new pile. God's given you a new pile. He has given you a new life, and that new life is created in righteousness and true holiness. And so can you see very simply what he's saying. He said, I found out there's nothing good in me that is in my flesh. Well, there's no good thing.
I found out that when I sin, it's no more I but he said I'm still wretched because.
I did think there was something good in that old pile. All says the apostle, don't try to improve it, don't try to expect something good from it, just give thanks. So here he says, I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Now does that improve the old pile somehow? If you leave that old pile of lumber there for 10 years, is it going to improve?
And if you've been saved 10 years?
Perhaps you said, well, I thought that I wouldn't have any more of those thoughts from that old nature.
No, that lumber doesn't improve in 10 years. Probably get worse. Probably get worse.
And perhaps you're feeling bad the next day about it. And so you go out and you get up on the pile and you start to pull the pile down yourself. And you're looking through the pile to see if you can't find a, a good piece of lumber in it. And the Carpenter comes by and he says, what are you doing? Well, And you say, I really couldn't hardly believe it, that there wasn't anything good in that pile of lumber.
So I just thought I'd look it over for myself. Well, he says, now get down off that pile. You're not going to improve it and you're just making yourself unhappy for nothing. Why don't you just give thanks for this new pilots here. And he throws a tarpaulin over the old pile. It's still there. It's still as bad as ever. But now you can start giving thanks for that new pile of that new pile of lumber. And so I.
That's I believe, what God is telling us. Here I am before you tonight.
I've got that rotten pile of lumber inside of me. It hasn't improved since I've been saved. I'm ashamed when I think of how bad it is, but I rejoice that God says there is now therefore no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. And if I can put it in this way.
I'm not condemning myself for having a fallen nature because God says I don't see you that way. He says you just give thanks that I have put an end to that before me now. The old nature still there. And how are we going to get deliverance now? And just notice this second verse of the 8th chapter and perhaps that helps us to understand.
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.
Hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
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Here away speaking in this second verse, he is showing the work of the Spirit of God. When it says the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, it's used there in the same sense as we would speak of the law of gravitation. Now if I let this book go down, if I let go of this book, you know what would happen? The law of gravitation would take it down. And when he speaks about the law of sin and death, what he's really saying.
Is every time the old nature acts it sins, and the wages of sin is death? How could I set that book free from the law of gravitation without changing that law of gravitation? Oh, you say you couldn't do it. Well supposing I attached a balloon with helium gas on and you saw this book start to go up.
Have I changed the law of gravitation? No.
But I've brought in a new law and that the book is set free and the book starts to go up. Without changing the weight of the book or changing the law of gravitation. The book is set free from that law and it goes up. Now you and I have that fallen nature within. What does the Spirit of God want to do?
Have you looking for something good in the flesh? Now the Spirit of God wants to occupy you with Christ. Every time that old nature pops up. Remember, God tells us what He's done with it. If we allow it to act, then we have to confess it and be restored. But when it when it displays itself immediately you and I have the privilege of allowing the Spirit of God through the new man to occupy.
Christ and the next time a bad thought comes into your mind and just give thanks that it's sin. It's that fallen nature that God is condemned and he's crucified and that you showed an end to it in baptism. And that just look up and say, oh thank God, God doesn't see me that way. And then start to sing a little hymn or repeat some verses of Scripture. And you don't have to fight away the bad thought. You get deliverance.
By allowing the Spirit of God to occupy with Christ, you say have IA right to do that. That's what God is telling you is the only way of deliverance. If you try to fight away those bad thoughts, they'll keep coming back. But you can just bow your head tonight and give thanks. That'll lower the rotten piles there. And it hasn't improved. And that God has given you a new life. He sees you in that new life.
He's giving you the power by the Spirit of God to be occupied with Christ.
And not speaking tonight of failure in the believers life, but I just add this little comment that supposing after the Carpenter starts to put up your garage while you go out one day and after he's gone and you pick out a couple of pieces of lumber out of that old pile and you try to fit them into the garage after he's gone.
The next morning, you'll have to tell him you're sorry for what you did.
You shouldn't have tried it because that lumber was number good. And so when we allow the old nature, God's made provision that we should confess it and be restored. But he has shown us what he has done in order that we might know God's way of deliverance. Oh, it's very precious. It's very wonderful. Dear friends, I say there are hundreds and hundreds of Christians who don't know this precious truth, and they're spending so much time trying.
To find a way of getting rid of the old nature, instead of doing what God said to His people of old, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. Just stand still and listen. Let God tell you what He has done about it, and look up and give him thanks, and stand fast in the liberty where with Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of *******.
Live for Eternal Things
Address—G.H. Hayhoe
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2nd Corinthians chapter 5 meaning at the first verse.
We know that if our earthly House of this Tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God and house not made with hands eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan earnestly, desiring to be clothed upon with our host, which is from heaven, if so be that being clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this Tabernacle do groan, being burdened not for that we would be unclothed, but.
Called upon that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Now he that hath brought us for the self, same thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be.
With the Lord, Wherefore we labored that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that everyone may receive the things done in His body, according to that He hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest unto God. And I first also are made manifest in your consciences.
For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion the glory on our behalf, that she may have somewhat to answer them with glory and appearance, and nodding heart. And whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God, or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. For the love of Christ constraineth us, because we thus judge that if one died for all, then we're all dead.
And we died for all that they which live should not henceforth live under themselves.
But unto him which died for them, and rose again, wherever henceforth know we know man after the flesh. Yeah, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we Him no more. Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away. Behold, all things are become new, and all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ.
And have given to us the ministry of reconciliation, to whip that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, And hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us. We pray you in Christ, then be reconciled to God.
For he hath made him to be sin for us.
Who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
I like to look at this precious portion of God's Word as perhaps bringing before us three reasons why we shouldn't live for the present, why we should live for eternal things and for eternal values. And I believe it's very clearly brought out before us in this chapter, and surely a lot to speak to our hearts too, because we're in a world where materialism is taking over and people are living for things that pass away.
About how blessed that you and I have something worthwhile to live for.
Or should I say someone worthwhile, the Lord Jesus himself, the one who accomplished that mighty work of redemption for us. And so I believe in this chapter. Perhaps we could look at it this way. But first of all, we are constantly reminded by these bodies with their aches and pains and groans that were not here to stay. I suppose every one of us today have had some reminder that these bodies are bodies of humiliation.
Bodies that are subjected to the effects of being part of a grown creation.
And every day reminds us that we really are not here to stay, we're just here for a short time. And what is the ordinary pilgrimage? 3 score years in 10. What is it compared to eternity? But the results of our lives are eternal. That's often said, you know, that every act in our lives has a present and an eternal consequence. And so this being sold heard me constantly.
Every day at our time here is so short and eternity is so long, and then the next thing that is brought before us is that at the judgment seat of Christ, our lives will pass into review. Everything that we have done will pass into review at the judgment seat of Christ. Isn't that also something that would make us think now that it's very important how we spend our time, how we use our energy when we think that?
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Things are going to pass into review as they will at the judgment seat of Christ. And then perhaps we could say that the third reason that is brought before us is and it's surely the motivation for everything we do, and that is the love of Christ constraineth us. In other words, we're not just living in view of eternity in a sense of beauty or in a sense of fear because of our lives passing into review, but there is a strong motivating force for the Christians life.
That is the love of Christ. There's every reason why when we think of how much He loved us and what He has done for us, that we would want to use our lives and spend our time in view of eternity. Really just mention those things because I think it's very lovely to see those things brought before us in this chapter and surely they do speak to our hearts.
Notice how the chapter begins before we know that if our earthly House of this Tabernacle were dissolved.
We have a building of God and house not made with hands eternal in the heavens.
Many people give up their present, and that is they'll give up present pleasures, they'll give up present comforts.
In order to have something down here in this world, it's all filled with uncertainty. Many men work hard and prepare for their retirement, and when their retirement comes, it's a big disappointment. It's not what they expected at all, and very often it's much shorter than they expected to. But how different for the Christian we know. Isn't that lovely? We know. And what do we know? We know the future that's ahead of us, not just a few years.
Are not just a few years to enjoy something that we've worked hard to get but if our earthly House of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have we don't hope to have we have it belongs to us just as if you own the home in another state and someone says have you been there yet you say no, but it's my home and I'm going to be there to enjoy it well there's a lot of uncertainty about things in this world but.
We know that we have a building of God and house not made with hands eternal in the heavens. We know it on the very best of authority, because the Lord Jesus, before He went away, said that I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go away, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there you may be also. Truly we can rely upon His Word.
The word of man may disappoint us, but all when we rely on His word, it's sure.
And I often have said those two words characterize Christianity. We know it's not something that is full of uncertainty. We know that we possess eternal life. We know that we have a building of God. We know that all things work together for good. Life for the Christian is not filled with uncertainty. It's filled with certainty because God has given us.
Assurance about the things that are most important. Paul spoke about the body in which he lived as the earthly House of this Tabernacle.
He looked upon his body as a mere tent in which he lived temporarily and saw he knew that beyond that there was a house not made with hands. And so in this world in which we live is full of groaning and suffering. But it's just a tense. You know, when you when you go on a vacation and you sleep in a tangent, right, there's often a lot of inconveniences and.
Times it rains and so on, but you always say to yourself, well, it's only for a night or two or I'm going to move on and you're hoping that the next place will be a little better. And so if you put up with a discomfort and the inconveniences, because it's only temporary. And so Paul spoke of his life in that way. And the earthly House of this Tabernacle, this body in which we now live, is only a Tabernacle.
Attempt in which we live, but we have a building of God. Oh, what a blessed thing to have this assurance. And then it says eternal in the heavens. I just mentioned this because I believe it's very important that we see this and our portion is eternal in the heavens. Many people think about some future on the earth, but our portion is eternal in the heavens.
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When the Lord Jesus sets up his Kingdom, we're not going to reign on the earth, we're going to reign over the earth. Our home is there. It's true. When the Lord comes, we'll come with him for the setting up of the Kingdom as it tells us. The Lord my God shall come, and all the Saints with thee. But this is never going to be our home permanently. It's only a temporary thing. Our home is eternal in the heavens.
So he says in this we groan earnestly, desiring to be clothed upon with our host, which is from heaven.
That someone has said God permits us to groan but not to grumble. We shouldn't grumble, but it's not wrong to groan and tells us about the Lord Jesus. He groaned in spirit and was troubled. The Lord Jesus wept at the grave of Lazarus. The Lord Jesus felt things he even said.
Reproach had broken my heart. I am full of heaviness. I look for some to take pity. And there was none, and for comforters and I found none. The Lord Jesus's man here has through every form and kind of suffering that it was possible for him.
As the blessed of the Holy Son of God to pass through down here in this world, He went through these things that he might be merciful and faithful High Priest, that he might know what we passed through. Only He passed through it all apart from sin.
And so as I say again, we do grow on. We're not made without feelings. We not only feel pain, but we feel as I say things that happen that first, perhaps even emotionally, as the Lord said, reproach hath broken my heart. That wasn't a physical pain, but he felt it and said he approaches to them that reproach me. They are falling upon me. When God his Father was reproached, the Lord Jesus felt it.
He entered into these things and he said lover and friend thou is put far from me and mine acquaintance Into Darkness isn't very blessed to enter into these things and to see that the Lord knows what we can go through and our feelings and and he doesn't may as without feelings. He has given us these feelings, but let us be careful, Brandon that we don't allow these things to make us murmur. We need to learn as the Lord Jesus.
Perfect Pathway told us when the nation rejected him, he looked up and spoke to his Father and said, I thank the Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hit these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in my sight, and so when someone hurts you.
When physical pain comes, may we have the grace to say Even so bothered, for so it seemed good in Thy sight to be able to take that which happens as from Him. And yet we do groan, and we long for that time when we will be clothed upon with our house, which is from heaven, and that will be at the coming of the Lord Jesus.
When at his coming will be caught up and changed, He'll change these bodies of humiliation.
To be fashioned like unto His own glorious body. We'll have bodies in glory like Him. We won't have physical suffering. We won't groan, we won't have pain in that scene because God himself will wipe away all tears from off of all faces.
Now there's a little warning in this third verse, I believe. If so be that being closed, we shall not be found naked.
Beating clothes means that.
As he says, clothed upon with our house, which is from heaven. And there will be a resurrection of believers, There will be a resurrection of the unbelievers. The Scripture speaks of the resurrection of the just and the resurrection of the unjust. And so I believe there's a little warning here that there might be those who had taken the place of profession and to them they would be raised. They would come forth in resurrection.
But they would be found naked. Those he refers to in the end of the in the 11Th verse. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade man what a solemn thing for those who come forth out of their graves to stand before God and in their sins found naked. Oh, how dreadfully solemn. And if there's anyone here tonight as I talk of this.
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Blessed fact that we have this building of God, this home above. Is there anybody here that is only a professor?
And you will come forth in resurrection, but he stand before God in your sin, naked, with no robe of righteousness. Oh, how dreadfully solemn where we find these warnings, because God constantly brings these before us, lest there might be some who take their place among Christians, but are only empty professors.
Well, it's not too late. The door is open now. The best robe of heaven awaits the returning prodigal. Everyone who comes will receive that best Grove.
And be made, as we have the end of the chapter, the righteousness of God in Christ.
But now the fourth verse says, For we that are in this Tabernacle do groan, being burdened.
Not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up with light. This verse is very instructive and striking. It says here we've grown, but it says not for that we would be unclawed, but clothed upon. Now death is the unclothed state, clothed upon his resurrection. And so.
When a person dies that is spoken of as the unclosed state, the body is laid in the grave. The spirit is absent from the body and present with the Lord.
That is the unclosed date, but notice the way it's worded here. Not that we would be unblocked, but clothed upon. I think this is very beautiful, brethren. In other words, the hope of the Christian is never going through death, but always the Lords coming. And so you can visit a a sick Christian in the hospital and while you can present to him the confidence that he has that he doesn't need to fear death because.
Death for him is to be absent from the body and present with the Lord.
We can always set before that Christian the blessed fact now that the Lord is coming. And so he says not that we would be on the cloth, but clothed upon. So the Christian hope is always the Lord's coming. And this is very lovely that we can go on from day-to-day and as we get older we can say, well, it's not death the world.
Calls it sunset and death and so on. That's what they have before them. But as Christians, we should always.
Young girls have the hope of the Lords coming in sickness, not the thought. Well, this is a terminal case.
We always are to have, not that we would be unemployed, but close the time. It tells us, as it goes on to say, if death should come. We are confident. There's no question of certainty in the presence of death, but it is not the proper hope of the Christian. I think it's quite interesting because I remember hearing of a man who said to a believer one time.
He said many believers talk about how wonderful it is and that if you should die, you would be with the Lord and glory and that it's far better. I said when you get sick, you all run to the doctor. He said how is that you're you're not consistent. If you really believe what you said, you would be very anxious to get go through death and be with the Lord. Oh, this Christian, I thought.
And replied to him very intelligently, he said. But you unbelievers, you know you won't read the Bible carefully.
The Bible never tells me to look for death, and if the doctor makes me better so that I can live a little longer, I'm hoping that I'll be alive when the Lord Jesus comes. And the Bible so perfect in everything. We have No Fear in the president's death. We're confident.
But what we look for is not the unemployed state, but the cold upon state. Now that will take place right there again, when the Lord Jesus comes, and will change these bodies of humiliation to be fashioned like unto His own glorious body. And so he goes on to say, Now He could have brought us for the self. Same thing is God.
Who also have given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
We know that when the Lord cleaved us, we received the salvation of our souls, such what Peter refers to when he says receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. But Romans says now is our salvation here than when we believe. What does he mean by this? Well, we only have part of our salvation.
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You're waiting for the completion and that will be when the Lord Jesus comes, and then we'll have not the only the salvation of our souls which we have now.
But we don't have the salvation of our bodies. And so that is what he is Speaking of here when he says either that brought us for the self same thing and that is to have these glorified bodies to be clothed upon in bodies like Christ. He says that's why he has saved us, not to leave us part of this groaning creation, but.
To give us the assurance that our salvation will be completed another day, and we will be with him like Christ in this lovely. What kind of an earnest has he given?
Sometimes a person is going to buy a piece of property and he gives a certain sum of money as the earnest money if he should decide to back out of the deal. Maybe if he's only given a small amount, he figures well, better to lose the money than go through with the deal. But supposing that you were going to buy a piece of property and the real estate agent said, how much money will you put down for?
As earnest money on the property.
And you say, well, I'll give you twice the value of the property. Police said you don't need to give that much. Well, I want to be sure to get it. So we'll say it's $25,000 piece of property. And you give them a check for $50,000. And this is the earnest money. This is the assurance that you're going to complete the deal. And the next day somebody says to him, you think that man might back out of the deal.
I said never, never. Why he didn't place the value of the property?
There isn't a chance it's going to back out now. What kind of an earnest did God give to me to give me an assurance that He's going to complete? What have you done? Isn't this blessed? Is given the Holy Spirit of God, a divine Person, one of the Persons of the Holy Trinity, to dwell in your body as the pledge that He's going to complete what He has become. Therefore, we're always confident.
Therefore, we're always confident knowing the clouds were at home in the body. It hasn't happened yet.
I haven't got my glorified body, still have some aches and groans, but I'm confident because I have the earnest, the Holy Spirit of God dwelling within me as the assurance. And then he goes on to say that whilst we're at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord. We want by faith, not by sight. The deal hasn't yet gone through.
When the money is there, but it's going to be completed all right. And we are confident that we walk by faith.
We haven't seen our precious Savior. We haven't seen that glorious home of her confidence.
And then more than this, if death should intervene before we are brought into this blessed home and glorified bodies, then we know that we'll be absent from the body and present with him in spirit, so that the state in which the believer is, while he waits, the Lord's coming, if he passes through death.
Is to be absent from the body and present with the Lord so he's he's confident he's not looking for death if he comes he's confident because.
He knows that death for him is to be absent from the body and present with the Lord. But the assurance that he has by the Spirit is that he is going to another day have a body of glory like Christ and speaks of this in Romans 8. It says He shall quicken your immortal bodies by his spirit that dwelleth in you. That same blessed spirit in dwelling the believer is going to complete that word. That's very precious as.
Think of it so we can see how that believer who knows the Lord is his Savior. Everything is confidence. But I say again, isn't all this a reason, brethren, why we should live for eternity? We know that our time here is so short. Some of us are a few years older and we hardly know where the years have gone. They just flown by. We look at the younger people and we think.
All they only realize how life short, how short life is. They want to spend their use for the Lord.
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Because you get older, you begin to say where is my life? It's just flown by. It's gone by as a job sense like a Weaver shuttle fly so quickly. But surely when we think of this and think of how these, these aches and pains every time you have a toothache, every time you have a headache, the Lord is saying, I'm just reminding you that you're not here to stay on a Gray hair comes in your head. Remember, the Lord is saying, remember, you're not here to stay.
You're just passing through. So all these things are given to us as reminders that we should live in view of eternity.
And now Patty says in the ninth verse, Wherefore we labor, that whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him, or another translation says, agreeable to him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done, whether it be good or bad.
Now there's another reason brought before us here.
It has nothing to do with our confidence. Our confidence all rests upon what Christ has done upon His precious word. But because we have this confidence, therefore we labor. Notice if you read the 1St 3 verses, the words of the eighth verse we are confident, and then the ninth verse, wherefore we labor.
Some people say that your labor is so you can have confidence, and if you labor enough, then you can be sure that everything will be all right in the end. But God reverses the order. He says we're confident and therefore we labor. Or as someone have put it in a little bomb, I could not work.
My soul to save for that my Lord has done, but I would work like any slave for the love of God's dear Son. So that we're confident. And that's why we labor. And God always starts us with that confidence. We're saying we know we're saved, we know our home and we know what Christ has done for us. And now because of this, we we labor. And now this brings us to the second point.
Paul desire that, whether present or absent.
He would live a life that was agreeable to the Lord. And surely as we think of what the Lord has done for us, and then when we think that our lives are going to pass into review, perhaps you're allowed to buy a present for somebody and it's somebody you love very much, somebody you think a great deal about. And all the time you're buying that gift, you're saying, oh, I hope they like it. I hope they.
You haven't yet given it to them, but you're thinking about whether they like it or whether they're going to like it when they see it. And you deliberate and you think about how you'd like to show them that you think a good deal of them, you pay a good price for them, and so on. And then they waited for the next thing. When they receive it, you're wondering what they're going to say.
Are they going to tell you that they like it? You want them to really, honestly tell you whether they like it or not.
You want some talk that they are just putting on. You really want to know. You really want to know whether what you have got for them is pleasing to them. Well, this was Paul's life. He said that I saw. I see whoever is in the present in such a way now that I have the sense in my soul of the Lord's approval. But he said, I'm waiting for the day when my wife passes into review and then I'll find out, but I don't.
Till that day, I want this to be my earnest desire now while I'm here, so that when in that day my life has been reviewed, there will be that confidence that I have sought in this life to live to please Him and speak to your hardened mind that we might live our lives and such.
That's why Paul speaks so often of that day, he says about the crown of righteousness which the Lord shall give in that day, he said, and not to me only, but to all them that love is appearing. He really desire to live his life in such a way as to have the Lord's approval, because he knew that his life another day was going to pass into review and surely.
Think of this. It does speak to us, doesn't it, that our lives are going to early living during this life in such a way as to seek to be acceptable to Him? Well, He's given us His word so that we might know what is pleasing to him. He's given us his word to tell us not every detail of our lives.
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I like the way I believe it was Mr. Darby put it, he said. There's some things that God has told us very, very definitely.
That such things pleasing and such things don't please him. He said there are other things that he wants us to discover by a close walk with him. Now, isn't that true in a love relationship? You know, in a love relationship, why usually the husband and the wife. There's some things that you know your partner definitely likes and definitely dislikes, but there's only things you only discover about living with them. They they can tell you, but you just want.
Right, just get into a master, perhaps dishonor the Lord when you get over involved in making money or something. It's so hard to make a right balance in those things of all of us who have tried to be provided in the home realized. And so we need a right way for all our substance ourselves.
Our children and all our substance, well, they pray they passed them. They realized that this was no easy matter, but they turned to the right person to get guidance. And it says here, for I was ashamed to require the kids, advances, soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way, because he had spoken unto the King saying.
The hand of our God is upon all things with goodness.
By his power and his broth is against all, and must forsake him. Well, isn't this a good thing? He was ashamed to go to the king and ask for a band of soldiers and horsemen. And I didn't mean that he didn't recognize the powers of Bee. Notice the last verse of the chapter. And they delivered the king of commissions under the King's lieutenants into the governors on this side of the river.
And they further the people in the House of God.
This is very interesting to see that they recognize the powers that be as being ordained of God, and we should too. We should never forget this, our attitude toward government. We have to be careful that we don't sign folks because we might see the misuse of power. There's plenty of it in those days.
And so we might find fault that they recognize the powers that be, that they were not pretending to come. And that's good for us. Rather, we're not dependent upon the world. The world may have a lot of plans and ideas, but you and I are not becoming upon man. We can have that full dependence upon the Lord. Now He may use the, He may use the powers of these. You might find that you read in Nehemiah that.
Asking the king provided soldiers and horsemen for Nehemiah and sometimes were very very thankful for protection that we get protection we we're things that we can meet together here in peace and quietness but it's another thing to count upon the world we count upon the Lord we count upon his power and his might to protect us there's a perfect balance in scripture there's a full recognition of the powers that they but the.
Independence upon the Lord.
And so it says in the 23rd verse, going faster than besought our God for this. And he was entreated of us. God answered their prayer. He came in and delivered them, and undertook for them in this serious and difficult journey from Babylon up to Jerusalem.
Now tells us what Ezra did here, and he had some vessels of silver and gold, as that were to be carried up to the House of God at Jerusalem. And these vessels were weighed into the hands of these chief of the priests, and tells us that a great responsibility was laid upon them. And the three of verses mentions.
So took the priests and the Levites the way the silver. So we can see that this little company that went up, they had these vessels.
They were given to carry and I believe if I could apply it in this way, that they represent to us the truth of God that has been committed to us, it tells us.
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Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast received with me. No verses holding fast the faithful word. We find today in wisdom that there's a tendency to compromise the truth of God.
And we have a responsibility. The scripture says the Church of God is to be the pillar and ground of the truth. Never expect unbelievers to support the truth of God. Who is going to support it? The only people that are doing the responsibility of supporting the truth of God. As the Church of the living God, we have a responsibility. And what a sad thing on those who profess the name of Christ. Let's slip some part of the truth of God.
We have no rights with this at all. These people were given these vessels and they were not their own. They were given to them to keep and the brain of the Jerusalem. And we have no right to make any compromises in regard to the truth of God. It has been committed to us. The Church does not teach.
But I say again, the Church is responsible and to keep the truth that has been committed to us. And more than that, the truth is never spoken of in the Scripture in the plural, because we use the expression often, well, that person has a lot of truth where that person goes to certain truth.
But the Scripture speaks of it in its entirety. Jesus said I am the way, the truth and the life, and it speaks, and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. When he speaks about the faith, it says earnestly contending for the faith. The world talks about a different faith and Scripture. There is the truth, there is the faith, there is the way.
It's in the singular, and I say again, it's most important.
That human eye should realize his responsibility in breaks one's heart and finds those who profess the name of Christ gradually letting part of the truth of God slip away. Even find in recent times that people are beginning, even in places where we hardly ever expected it, to question whether the Word of God is fully inspired, whether we can rely upon it fully.
Oh, my sadness is, oh, brethren, I say, there's something been waved to us.
We have been given this precious book and Paul exhorted Timothy, Paul, Timothy, he thought was just coming into my Christ and brethren, may we realize this great responsibility that has been given to us. So if you wait to them the silver and the gold and the vessels that were taken.
And all the number of vessels and the weight was all written down. It says you were three things.
There was the gold and the silver, and there was a copper. I believe those three things are very, very important. The goal representing divine righteousness, the glory of the person of Christ, because he himself is the one who is truly the fine goal. And then the silver that represents redemption, and then the copper represents the righteousness of God's judgment. And we see those things living alone.
We find people setting aside parts of the glory of Christ, some teaching that our blessed Lord Jesus could sin. We find new things creaking in the gold, cutting off the little parts. When they came up, it wasn't just do you have the same number of vessels that were given to you, but the vessels were way because a man might take a gold vessel and he might cleverly cut.
Little bit of that normal vessel and think it would never be noticed and perhaps it wouldn't be noticed, but it would be noticed when it went on the scales. They noticed that then. And when we think of what gold is worth in the market today, we can see how it wouldn't take very much to run into a little bit. And so we think of those vessels that were given to them. So we speak of the glory of the person of Christ.
Let's not compromise or give up any part of it when we speak of redemption.
The people who say that you're saved but you could be lost again, I believe they've taken away some of the silver, they've spoiled the redemption work of Christ. And then to where those come realize that the Lord Jesus on the cross was there under the judgment of God, bearing the wrath and judgment of God against sin. And so these things were committed into the hands of these.
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Jerusalem and it was all written down and it's all written down here.
It says forever our Lord, thy word is settled in heaven, and I expect them to get to glory, that God is going to remind us that we had his word and this will be the standard by which everything is properly managed. And so with those who are judged. It says the Lord Jesus said the word which I have spoken the same shall judge in the last day, not the opinions of them.
That I've spoken the same shall judge it in the last day. So these were given to these people, and in the 28th verse it says, And I said unto them, We are holding under the Lord. The vessels are holy also, and the silver and the gold are a free rental, offering unto the Lord God of your Father's. Now that is, we are a holy people.
It tells us in Peter's epistle, Be ye holy for I am holy, and exhorts us that we are to walk as obedient children.
Because we are home. And then the first Super Bowl, the truth was home, and it was a legal offering unto the Lord. That is, Christianity is holy liberty never, liberty for the flesh never, but liberty, true liberty, Because what is true Christian liberty?
Why someone has said that if it were possible to rob the Lord Jesus of his liberty, it would only be to rob him of his ability to do his Father's will. There was no other liberty to him. We speak of liberty meaning that we have certain rights to do things on our own, but the Lord Jesus blessing pathway all through this world was a path of perfect liberty. Because he said I would like.
Thy will, my God, it's always limited to do what you like to do. And to the Lord Jesus that was liberty, and for us it's liberty, It's ******* to do our own will. It's liberty to allow the new man to act. If the Son therefore shall make you free, we shall be free of need. Remember when Lazarus was raised, the Lord said lose him and put him under some new laws. No, loosen and let him go.
He had a light now in resurrection.
That way and now if life was a life of liberty and that's the path of the Christian. And so they were to watch these and keep them for how long until they were weighed in in the chambers of the House of the Lord of Jerusalem? And are we just because we're living in the last days of the church's history and legacy and days?
Are we allowed to kind of sort of make compromises?
Just because it's near the end and a lot of other people are doing it, Thou shalt not follow another Cheers to be able, however, to watch them until they were way in at the well. It wasn't easy. It wasn't easy. It says unless 31St verse.
Then we departed from the river of the harbour on the 12Th day of the first month to go under Muslim and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and such as laying wait by the way, and we came to Jerusalem, and a vote there three days have beautiful.
Here they were, they started out, they didn't have any protection from the king. They didn't have a band of soldiers and horsemen, but there were plenty of enemies in the way. What enabled them to make this journey? Well, they had to be sought, the Lord.
He was included for them. And brethren, who are we the most? Can we say we can do anything of ourselves? Do we have any strength of our own? Can we say it would never happen to us? We have to be constantly dependent upon the Lord constantly. And I can just feel that all those people made that journey up to Jerusalem, that they were constantly depended, looking up to the Lord and saying Lord their enemies.
Can keep us. We can't handle this situation. We don't have any soldiers and horsemen with us.
But we have the Lord our God with us that fight us, that did help us and to fight our battles. And so we made the journey. We got there to Jerusalem. How long was the journey? I was threatened when I was reading that. It doesn't tell how many days it took. Now there are many times that it tells how long the journey took, but here it doesn't tell because we don't know.
00:45:06
And to me it just suggests that the fact that we only have the rest of our time, I don't know.
It might be a day, might be a month, might be a year, might be several years, I don't know. But I didn't know this, that whatever have had the Lord is sufficient. Whatever enemies will spring up. And I don't expect things to get easier. I expect them to get more difficult. You often find that you're traveling along the highway, that there's a truck just before the end of the next day, isn't it? You just think, oh, I'm just about to do it. There's a truck just before you enter the next.
The enemies along the way.
I've done pretty well. Let's be careful as we get near the end why the enemy has a threat. He's trying to catch us. And so we need to be constantly dependent upon the Lord walking to please him for all to walking to please him. We don't need you don't need to fear a trap if you're always doing the right speed. And so we don't need to fear if we're going on in obedience to the Lord.
We can count upon him along the way. He is the one who protects us Well they came there and then business. They have all three days in tents and they came to Jerusalem. They bought 3 days doesn't say intense because they were in Jerusalem. Now they're in Jerusalem now I think this is very lovely that they have load there and to me it suggests this thought and just passed on this little thought that when.
Jesus comes for his own and give that show. It's not with any plot of responsibility. Did you ever notice that all the scriptures that that speak about the rapture always are the thought of joy and comfort and meeting the Lord. The responsibility always comes after himself and is always in scripture associated with the appearance because when the Lord gives the show, faithful and on faithful Christians are all going to love.
And I just like I sometimes said when I was away from home.
My children was naughty when I was away. I never wanted that to come up when I first got home because I wanted to return home to the the joy of being with my wonders and children again. I wanted to give joyful greed. And isn't it lovely to know that when we meet the Lord in the air, there's nothing to be raised at that point it will be just the joy of meeting you and being with you. So they got there.
In three days, answering no doubt to this wonderful truth of the Lord work for us.
They just stayed there for three days. Then on the 4th day, now with the rest and between the rapture and the appearing, the judgment seat of Christ was in place. Between the rapture and the appearing, our lives will pass in the review on the 4th day, then something happened. It tells us that they.
The gold and the silver was weighed in the House of our God. The 34th verse by number.
And by weight of everyone and all the weight was written at that time. It had been given to them and it had been way before they started. And now there's going to be again a weighing in. First it was weighed to the people, now it's weighed in Jerusalem. Is this something for us to consider?
When our lives pass into review, how we act and how we treated the truth that had been committed to us.
The knowledge that God had given to us in His Word, how did we treat it? Did we, did we really seek to value it and walk in or did we give up articles or just what was our attitude? Well, along the way, whatever they did is not mentioned, but it is mentioned. What happened at the end? It was way in brethren, there is a manifestation going to take place. There is a manifestation.
That Ohio, how we need that word is spoken to, Philadelphia says.
All that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy ground.
The enemy wants to rise of the preciousness of the truth of God. He wants to rob us of the privilege of walking in the path that God is marked out for us in His precious word. The value of blessing who we really desire to give the Lord Jesus His rightful place in our lives.
Oh, May God grant and you'll not only know the truth, but walk in it to not only be like this little remnant. They were going up to Jerusalem, but they needed they needed Levites and we need to be devoted. We devoted to the Lord. We were willing to have that self denial in our lives. And so they finally reached there. Everything was written down and that tells us in the 35th verse.
00:50:20
Also the children of those that have been carried away, which were come out of the captivity.
Offered burnt offerings under the God of Israel for all the bullets for all Israel 90 and six rounds 70 and seven lambs 12 He goes for a sin offering. All this was a burnt offering not to the Lord. It seems to me that this is quite instructive too, because actually the ones that came back were really from the two tribes, but when they came back they.
Recognized that God's people were one and some.
They offered 12 bullets for all Israel. They could have said not really faithful ones, but they didn't. It tells us here. They offered twelve books for all Israel and the heart of the Christian and thought of God takes them all equal of their life. We certainly will and have you because they'll all be there.
Yeah, I'll be there from every kindred and time and people and nation, right will be presented there and all her glory. But he runs into the practical thought for us that these who have come out from the captivity now they offer these 12 bullets, the largest type of burnt offering that was, and they offered it for all Israel and then 90 and six rounds. You notice here that this also is a multiple of 12.
12 * 8 makes 96 and eight in the Bible is a figure of new creation. The first day of the week is the 8th day. The Lord rose and appeared to his own on the eighth day. And so here we have the thought brought before us of the the new creation, and there again is as well. And then the 70 and seven land seems to me to represent perfection.
There were seventy and seven. Seven is the perfect number. And then.
Well, eagles were a sin offering. Isn't this lovely to see this recognition of all that perfection in Christ of the 12 tribes, the whole company of God's people and those who returned from the captivity had this largeness of heart.
Took in all the people of God as soon as we speak this way this afternoon. May the Lord enlarge our hearts too, when He give us the view. The people of God rejoice that there is one body, Rejoice to know that they are one. But knowing all this kind of should never in any way affect our desires a lot in obedience. We thank God that there is one body, but there is a path of obedience.
Now these perhaps you could say to you that went off in this journey. They had the privilege and the joy of fulfilling a responsibility that was laid upon them, but their hearts went out to all the people of God and Father used to often have a level of expression rather than you said we need large hearts and narrow feet. And I thought that was perhaps very expressive of what we have here. Here were large hearts, the whole of Israel.
But Thief had lost in God's ways that made that journey that humbly sought of Him.
Right way for themselves or their little ones, for all their substance, devotedness, all this brought before us in such a touching way. Oh brethren, may it speak to our hearts. We're not making a physical journey from the river of the habit to Jerusalem, but we're going through one of these land. We're on our way to the heavenly Jerusalem. May the Lord granted we will.
Value the privileges and feel responsibilities that are ours until that day when the manifestation takes place.
You can tell how much you owe him gladly. Let us bring it to one all we have.
The last verse Then we shall be where we would be. Then we shall be what we should be. Things that are not now, or could be soon, shall be. All 256 will say.
Queen of Sheba
Address—A.C. Hayhoe
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Could we turn for a little time to enjoy a few thoughts from First Kings?
Chapter 10, First Kings, Chapter 10 and verse one. And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, he 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.
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 Solomons wisdom, and a house that he had built, and a meat.
Of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cup bearers, and his assent, by which he went up unto the House of the Lord. There was no more spirit in her. And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in my own land.
Of the accent of thy wisdom, how be it? 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 prosperity exceeded the fame which I heard happy.
Are thy men happy? Are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom? Blessed be the Lord thy God.
Which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel, because the Lord loved Israel forever.
Therefore made he the king to do judgment and justice. And she gave the king and 120 thousands of golden of spices, very great store and precious stones. There came no more such abundance of spices as these which the Queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
What an event when a queen comes to visit a king. It must have been a very, very remarkable occasion. The Queen of Sheba accustomed, I have no doubt, to all the splendor and beauty of her own court in that far away land. But she heard of something which caused her to leave that land, and.
Out seeking the truth of that of which she had heard.
She heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, and that which she heard so stirred in her heart that she just had to come and see it for herself.
Oh, my dearly beloved brothers and sisters, I believe you and I know that this world has a great deal to offer, and it's busy trying to offer more and more and more.
All the time. But have you ever seen anyone who has been able to amass what this poor world has to offer and looks upon it and says, I'm satisfied. It's all I ever expected. It satisfies me completely. All dear brothers and sisters, I'm sure you and I know that's the very best.
That this poor world has to offer has never, never satisfied the heart of anyone.
News came to this queen of Sheba that there was one named Solomon who had fame concerning the name of the Lord, and she left her far away land to come and see it for herself. I believe I ought to take this to heart.
Perhaps you feel you ought to take it to heart too, as we realize that we are surrounded by those who have tried and are still pride to find that which would satisfy them in a world apart from Christ. But she hears of a fame concerning the name of the Lord, and she comes to see for herself.
00:05:09
Why do I say this up to search my heart? Because they're ought to be with me.
And there ought to be with you that which would display before others a beauty, a joy, a happiness, a satisfaction concerning the person and name of our Lord Jesus Christ that would make them feel in their heart. I want what He has. I want what she has.
Or could I look at the beloved young people here? For I think you realize you special you face.
A special day of difficulty and challenge, Yes, that's true. But a special day of wonderful privilege? Because.
Because I hope that those who know you best, those who watch you from day-to-day, those who listen to your conversation from day-to-day, would say within their hearts, what does he have that I lack? What does she have that I lack? He seems to be happy, she seems to be satisfied. And as far as I can tell, it is associated with.
Not a religion, but a person who bears no other name.
Than the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh beloved brethren, would God, if we're more true of us that our testimony as we pass through this world, for we are only passing through, would be that which would exalt the person and name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In the assembly, yes. In the neighborhood where you live, yes. In the school that you attend or the shop where you work, yes, there should be about you and me that which would attract attention to the person and precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now she came all the way from her far off land to Jerusalem, and she brought with her great and wondrous gift.
Gifts.
But you know, it's very, very noticeable that when she arrived there, there is no mention of her presenting these gifts. I think when she got into the presence of Solomon, she felt I am the one to receive from him. And then did She did. And when you and I come into the presence of the Lord Jesus.
Oh beloved, what do we find? We find we're in the presence of a giving God.
We find we're in the presence of one who loves to bestow upon us that which cannot be measured. I say that which cannot be measured. You cannot find a believer who can fathom the height, the depth, the breadth, the length of their wondrous heritage in Christ. It cannot be measured. We know.
A living and a giving God. Now please notice.
In verse four, that which first of all attracted the attention of the Queen of Sheba, she had seen all Solomons wisdom.
No, this was much the thought that our brother expressed in reading from the book of Proverbs. In all thy ways, acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy path. Sometimes we find ourselves turning to those more experienced than ourselves in this or that line of thought. We asked their counsel. We seek their wisdom.
But isn't it wonderful at the very one whose name is Counselor?
The very one who of God is made unto us, Wisdom, wants us to come into his prison and to receive from Him that wisdom that is far above and beyond anything that you or I could ever, ever learn from this poor world that knows Him not.
We read in Colossians wherein our head all the treasures.
Of wisdom and knowledge. Do you want to be reckoned as knowledgeable and wise in the eyes of the world? Then go to college and get all the education you possibly can and you'll be honored. You'll be recognized as a wise and knowledgeable individual.
But you'll have missed a great deal. You will have missed the true knowledge, the true wisdom that comes from the God who is Wisdom himself.
00:10:08
I may have mentioned some time ago that I was visiting in the home of a dear, dear brother, whose occupation required that he be.
Thoroughly informed in certain areas.
And he had two large bookshelves, one on the right hand side, the other on the left hand side of the room in which the two of us were sitting. Very, very large bookshelves. They were filed high with books, on one side the books concerning his education and occupation, and on the other side books that exalted the Lord Jesus Christ.
And unfolded the precious treasures of truth from this book. And he saw me look at the books on this side. He saw me look at the books on the other side. And he shook his head. He said, brother, these are the books that I must read in order to carry out my occupation. But everything I learned from those books will someday be left behind. And no use to me up there. These are the books that present Christ to my soul and open up.
Me the light and wisdom of the word of God, he said I wish, oh how I wish that I spent more time enjoying what is on that bookshelf that ministers Christ to my heart. Oh my dearly beloved brethren, you and I know that it is necessary to be informed as to certain things to make our way through this world. But when I see the queen of Sheba come all the way to the court of Solomon and there first of all.
His wisdom, all I say to my own soul, and I trust I say to yours in a way that will touch your heart. All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, all of them are to be found in this precious book and in Him of whom it speaks. Everything else you know and I know will someday be absolutely left behind.
His wisdom and the house that he had built.
She was accustomed to the very best, I have no doubt. I suppose she herself came from a grand palace, but when she saw the house that Solomon had built, it was beyond her imagination. Ah, beloved, there is wisdom to be found in our precious Savior and in this book that He has entrusted to us. But when I think of the house that he has built, when I think of the purposes and counsels of God made known to.
Precious book. When I see that with, I believe would be compared to the house that Solomon built when I see the purposes of God.
And the habitation of God, through the spirit of which you and I, dear fellow believer, are a part, living stone in that which is being erected to his eternal praise and glory. I say, everything that man has ever set up fades into utter nothingness before the glory of that which is his house.
I must admit I think of this sometimes when I go to these cities that are growing so rapidly that each time you go the skyline is different, taller and taller buildings. Were you thinking of Calgary, Kim? Well, that's an example of it. Every time you go back it's changed and you see more and more great buildings going up. When you see them going up, you shake your head and say it won't be long till they all come down. Yes they will. They'll come down to.
Fashion. But all my beloved brothers and sisters, that which is in the counsels of God, that which was in those councils from a past eternity, will stand for ever, ever. You and I are not going to simply stand back and admire it. You and I, by the very wonderful and matchless grace of God, are part of those purposes, and have been before ever the foundations of the earth were laid.
What amazement filled the heart of the Queen of Sheba.
As her eyes looked upon all this, and then the meat of his table, and I say she was accustomed, I have no doubt, to the very best, but she was thrilled with the meat of King Solomon's table.
Have you and I an appetite for that?
If it were.
Polite. To put it the other way around, I'd put my own name first.
I an appetite have you an appetite for the meat?
00:15:00
Of his table.
Forgive me please for mentioning what just stands out in my mind at this moment and thinking of a dear, dear Aztec brother whom I saw sitting and meeting one day.
One of the villages in Mexico, he was sitting there listening so eagerly, but he had neither Bible nor hymn book. So I went to him after and I said to him, brother, I noticed you didn't use a Bible. And he said I used to, but I can't see anymore.
We were able, with the Lord's help, to take care of that problem for him, and I remember when he received the glasses that were made for him.
And he picked up that precious book that he hadn't read for a long time.
It was too sacred a sight to take a picture of. But the look on his face as he saw those precious words and he walked away from me with that Bible in his hand, he wouldn't even set it down to walk off to be by himself, squatted there down on his heel. And the rest of the day, every time I saw that man between meetings, he was off in a corner by himself, squatted down on his heels, pouring over the pages of the precious.
But he hadn't been able to read for a long time.
The meat of his table. Oh, I want to tell you, my beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, old and young.
Read this precious book, feed on it. There is food to be found in that precious book that will strengthen you and gladden your heart and guide your footsteps. That I greatly fear, my beloved brothers and sisters, that we and I lay my hand upon my heart. That we are neglecting the prayerful, the diligent, the meditating reading of this precious book.
The living Word of God.
When your Bible wears out, you can always get another one, and I hope you wear it out.
Reading it with diligence and with love them meet of his table. You remember Paul said to the Corinthians, I have fed you with milk and not with me or hitherto. You are not able to bear it either. Yet now are you able, for ye are yet carnal. Oh, there was something wrong there. Paul could not feed them upon the meat of the word of God, because there was.
A carnal.
Condition among them.
And they had lost their appetite, nor could they be fed upon the meat of his table. Again, in writing to the Hebrews, he says, when for the time he ought to be teachers, he have needed one teach you again, which be the first principles of the oracles of God, and are become such as a need of milk, and not of strong meat.
What was wrong there? Not carnality in the same sense in which it troubled the Corinthians, but I believe there was the, shall I say, the grave clothes of our religious system that they couldn't seem to get rid of and leave behind. And I believe these two things can often be a hindrance to our appetite for the wholesome meat of the table of our Lord.
His.
Table.
Shall I say anything about that or shall I just leave it to speak to our hearts? The meat of his table? Oh I know as you look at those words, many of you here bow your head and thank God with all your heart that you share.
In the precious joy, the wonderful privilege of being able to sit down at the table of the Lord. Now we've gone a little farther and the sitting of his servants isn't that delightful? The sitting of his servants. That is a bit unusual, isn't it? You don't usually read about servants sitting. You don't hire a servant to sit down in your presence. You hire a servant to be.
About those things that concern your needs. But that which was observed by the Queen of Sheba was the sitting of his servants. Why did the Lord pick you up? Why did he pick me up? Because he needed another servant. He needed some work done. So he picked me up and put that work before me. Not so.
Excuse this little illustration. No doubt you've heard it before.
00:20:04
Sometimes I see folks wearing a little button on their dress or their lapel. Sometimes it says Jesus loves me. Sometimes it says Christ died for our sin. I have seen various buttons. He used to wear one myself when I was a young fellow.
But there's one of those buttons that I don't recommend that you wear. It's for sale, but I don't recommend you wear it. It says on that button save to serve what you say. What's wrong with that? That sounds good. Yes, it does. And the one who had it made-up had every good thought in mind. But I'll ask any husband here, would you like your wife to go around wearing a button?
Married to Sir? Oh no, you say I wouldn't want my wife to wear that. I didn't marry my wife because I wanted a servant.
I married her because I loved her and wanted her company, wanted the joy of sharing our love together. She serves me indeed she doesn't. I appreciate it. And there'd be something wrong if she didn't. But did you marry her because you needed a servant to cook the housekeeper? And I know you didn't. And the Lord didn't pick you up because he needed another servant, The sitting of his servant. I believe the thought is that joy of.
Company and his joy, my dear brother and sister, His joy in having you in his presence. That's why he sought you. That's why he found you. That's why he paid that great price, because he loved you so much. May I say it with all reverence? And he would be.
I hope I may be forgiven. He would be lonesome without you in the glory. He loved you so much that heaven wouldn't be complete without you. And I think I can also say he doesn't want to have to wait until.
We reach home to enjoy your company. He wants it here and now. And so there was the sittings of His servants. You remember in Marks Gospel when the Lord Jesus chose the 12, it says of them He chose 12 That they should be with him and that he might send them out to preach. Oh that does come, it rightly follows. Notice the next statement and the attendance of His ministers.
Are sitting in His presence comes first.
The activity follows and flows from it, and I believe there would be something seriously wrong if there was number desire on your part and mine to be used of the Lord in whatever place, whatever sphere He may choose for you or me to serve. Let us fill it with a glad heart, but let that service flow from the joy of sitting in the Presence at the feet of the Lord.
And the.
Of his ministers and their apparel.
What shall I say about this?
And their apparel. This impressed the Queen of Sheba. There was no description given whatever. I have no idea what the apparel of the attendance of King Solomon might have been like, but I believe I can say this, and I believe you would agree with me.
Their apparel reflected the honor and the glory of the court of King Solomon.
And I would just like to say this.
May there be about you and me, beloved brothers and sisters, at all times, that which would be suited to one who bears the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
So we just leave it at that, that there ought to be the outward evidence before everyone. I want to please the Lord Jesus Christ even in the appearance that I present to other people so that nobody would ever say, oh, I, I, I'm surprised. I didn't know he was a believer.
I, I, I didn't know she was a believer, I believe.
Perhaps there ought to be. I'm not surprised. I always thought she was a Christian. Something about us, beloved, that perhaps would display at all times the fact that we want to please the Lord Jesus, his attendance and their apparel and his cup bearers. Again, I feel this is so very, very beautiful, the cup bearers of King Solomon.
00:25:09
I believe I see in this.
The very honored privilege of those whose delight it was to present to King Solomon that which was a picture of joy. Oh, you say, what an honor that would be to go into the presence of so great a king as Solomon, and to present to him that which was a symbol of bringing joy to his heart. Oh, what an honor.
Oh, what a privilege in the Queen of Sheba noted this. She looked upon those men and admired their privilege.
Cut bearer to none other than King Solomon, that God's word would remind us that greater than Solomon is here. Yes, but in what way could I be a cup bearer to the Lord Jesus Christ? In what way shall I put it this way? In what way could I bring joy to the heart of the Lord Jesus? Oh, now I believe you and I can see an answer.
Shall I put it this way?
You're very attendance at the meeting, I believe, brings joy to the heart of the Lord either. You know, when you lost someone very, very much and you're not sure perhaps whether they're going to be a meeting, and you watch the door and watch the door and watch the door and at last in they come. Have you ever seen that expression of joy and delight on the face of someone who sees a loved one walk in the door?
Oh, let me tell you this his attendance.
And their apparel and his cup bearers again. I feel this is so very, very beautiful.
The cup bearers of King Solomon.
I believe I see in this the very honored privilege of those.
Whose delight it was to present the King Solomon that which was a picture of joy. Oh, you say, what an honor that would be to go into the presence of so great a king as Solomon, and to present to him that which was a symbol of bringing joy to his heart. Oh, what an honor, Oh, what a privilege. In the Queen of Sheba noted this. She looked upon those men and admired their privilege.
Cut fairer to none other than King Solomon that God's word would remind us at greater than Solomon is here. Yes, but in what way could I be a cup bearer to the Lord Jesus Christ? In what way shall I put it this way? In what way could I bring joy to the heart of the Lord Jesus? Oh, now I believe you and I can see an answer.
Shall I put it this way?
You're very attendance at the meeting, I believe, brings joy to the heart of the Lord either. You know, when you lost someone very, very much and you're not sure perhaps whether they're going to be a meeting, and you watch the door and watch the door and watch the door and at last in they come. Have you ever seen that expression of joy and delight on the face of someone who sees a loved one walk in the door?
Oh, let me tell you this, You bring joy to the heart of the Lord Jesus.
By your desire to be in his county, you can be a cup bearer to the King, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Forgive this family illustration.
My brother and sister don't need to worry, it's not going to be anything to do with either of that.
But I remember my father mentioning that years ago when he in Toronto was courting Irene, who later became his wife and my mother, that I think he allotted himself two evenings a week to go and visit her.
And transportation in those days was not at all the same as it is today. It meant a good long walk. And he said, you know, one day when I was planning to visit Irene, I opened the door and there was a howling Canadian Blizzard blowing. So I stayed home. No, he didn't. No, he didn't. He pulled his hat on a little tighter, tied his scarf around his neck, put his hands deep down in his pocket and took off through the Blizzard.
Irene And he said, when I got there and knocked on the door, Irene opened the door and took one look at him covered with snow and said, Harry, I didn't think you'd come to visit me on a night like this. And he said, son, that was one of the happiest evenings we spent together. He didn't go into any more detail, but I think I know what he meant.
00:30:09
Irene realized there must have been a love in his heart.
Bring him out under conditions such as those to come and enjoy the company of someone who he loved. Would you like to be? Would I like to be a cup bearer to the Lord Jesus Christ? It brings joy to His heart when you open this precious book and sit down to read it. It brings joy to your heart when you kneel down.
And speak to Him in loving, thankful reverence. It brings joy to his heart when you walk up that road and come in this meeting room because you want to be where He would wish you to be.
Those days are not going to be hours much longer. Beloved brothers and sisters, we're going to look back on the little span of time entrusted to us here, and we're going to realize how many times we missed the opportunity of being a cup bearer to 1. So much greater than Solomon and his ascent by which you end up out of the House of the Lord.
Oh beloved, when I think of my precious Savior returning to the glory.
And the wonder of his welcome there and the fact that but a very matchless and wonderful grace of God. I am you are accepted in the beloved seated together in heavenly places in Christ. I feel like saying there's no more spirit in me.
I don't know what to say when I read a verse like this. All I know is I believe it was put here in order that this poor heart of mine that might go after those things which this poor world has to offer. And indeed it does. But when I see that which far outside anything that this poor world has to offer, when I see a person that stands far and above.
Any in this poor, disappointing world, you, my dear brother, you my dear sister, have found a person.
That can feel and satisfy your heart. I wonder if others looking on say of you, as the queen of Sheba said, of those who had been in the presence of Solomon. Verse 8 Happy are thy men. Isn't that nice, thy men?
Does that apply to you? Yes, it does. If you have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, this is true of you. Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which span continually before thee, and that here by wisdom?
Oh, in a world of restlessness, disappointment, frustration, isn't it delightful? Isn't it wonderful to be able to be in the presence of one who can fill our hearts with happiness, joy, gladness? And not only your heart, my heart, by matchless grace, filled with this joy and gladness.
But his heart, his heart filled with joy.
In having your company, I say again, he died, that you might be forgiven.
He's waiting to call you to that home where you're going to be united to him forever as his beloved and redeemed bride. But with all reverence, may I say it, he looks down this very night, he looks at me this very night. He looks at you and says, I don't want to have to wait till I have you home. I want the joy of your company.
Now.
How much of it did he enjoy today?
How much of it did he enjoy yesterday? Oh well, yesterday was Lord's Day.
True. What about the day before and the day before? We can't look ahead and speak of the days that fly ahead. We might be here for a few more, I don't know. But if we should be beloved brothers and sisters, may we be found like the Queen of Sheba, in the presence of the one who can feel and satisfy the heart after all that which was lavished upon her astonished heart and all that which Solomon bestowed.
Her then she opened up her treasures and gifts and gave to King Solomon, but not when she first came into his presence. Isn't that lovely? Oh, when you came to the Lord Jesus, what happened? He gave and gave and gave and gave again. Isn't that true? And I trust there may be with us, as there was with the Queen of Sheba, a response that would lay her very best at King Solomon's feet too. And he appreciated it. It's listed here.
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And he wants, He would love to have from me, he would love to have from you, that response to the love that has so lavishly bestowed upon us.
Walking Worthy of Our Calling
I.H. Klassen
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Well, we saw the subject this morning about, which makes for unity.
And again, I say that unity really comes from submitting ourselves to the Word of God. It doesn't come just because we think it ought to be, because it has to have a righteous basis in order for there to be unity. And so I just want to read a verse in Ephesians 4 to begin with.
And I might say.
Where the practical unity is destroyed in the assembly. Sometimes it isn't because two brothers can't seem to get along.
No, this begins further back than that until Ephesians 4. It tells us. Therefore, I therefore the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation with your call. Now that's one expression there, isn't it?
Walking worthy of the vocation were with your called the 1St 3 verses.
And in Ephesians is that vocation.
Uh, then verse 2 with all lowliness and meekness and long-suffering.
Or bearing one another in love. Now, do those words mean anything to us, or are they just there in case I'm in a good frame of mind? No, again and again we need to recall those words and act according to it. And then it says, endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. Well.
No, I see a lot of young folks here and I see older ones too. And both of us.
Those of us that are young, those of us that are old, we need help. And I'd like to bring out especially that the power of the believer, whether old or young, really lies in his manner of life.
Now we might get a little pictures a little bit in Caleb and Joshua. Caleb and Joshua were two men that went through the wilderness to the glory of God, but they both speak of a little different line. Joshua speaks of the official side.
That speaks of the Apostolic side of things. Joshua had power to command the children of Israel, but Caleb was a man that wholly followed the Lord. Three times it says he wholly followed the Lord. Well, that's what we have left today is the Caleb. Now if you would look on Scripture, you would find the death of Joshua. And the day came where the apostles passed off the scene, but you look in vain for the death of Caleb.
Now we know Caleb died, but we don't get it in Scripture that Caleb died. And so that character of things, that Caleb character, things who wholly followed the Lord, is where your power and mine lies today in the Christian course. Now a word to young men in the 4th chapter, First Timothy.
And.
I trust that these aren't just words to us because.
The clothes of the history.
It's under and see a man that's running a race. We sometimes see a horse race maybe.
And it's the last lap of the journey that the extra energy is put on to come out, as it were, in the front lines. Well, this is the way it ought to be with us. I believe this last leg of the journey, there ought to be special effort, as it were, to be found in the current of God's thoughts. And what a joy it would be to finish the race that way.
Now it says here to young men in verse 12 of the 4th chapter of First Timothy.
Let no man be despised by you.
Now, why would anybody despise your youth, young man?
Well.
Many times there's quite a reason Noah, a brother that was his parents were after and his brother were after him to turn to the Lord, turn to the Lord, turn to the Lord, well finally turn to the Lord. And he went on happily, but immediately he began to instruct the brethren and criticize in a way, and then he began being rejected.
And he said to me one day, he said they all begged me to go on with the Lord and I'm going with the Lord now. They're putting pressure on me. Well.
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I said, brother, it's good to remember one thing, that God requires that which is passed. And we need to realize that young men, that if maybe somebody does sort of press us down, that they have perhaps a good, pretty good reason. And if they don't have a reason, maybe it's good for us anyway.
And so it says here, be an example of a believer in Word, in conversation, in love.
In spirit, if ever a thing is important today, it's a man's spirit. What kind of a spirit do we have? The Lord had to say to the apostles, Once you know not what spirit, you're all.
A right spirit is something that God honors and that God will stand with Is a is a right spirit and a wrong spirit He won't stand with It might be ever the truth that you contend for, maybe ever so right.
But if your spirit isn't right, if you're in the flesh, the Lord will not identify himself with it. Then in faith and purity. Now with the young man, Timothy was told a number of times to keep himself pure. And purity is very important in relation to bearing testimony. We had some about this morning. Righteousness must be at the bottom of anything. That's going to have a good foundation.
Now it says, verse 15, Meditate upon these things, give thyself holy to them, that thy profiting may appear unto all. Well, the principle with God, that you and I can never raise anyone any higher, and we are ourselves.
You know, I may come forth with very, very good ministry sometimes.
But if I'm not in the good of it myself, I'm not going to put anyone else in the good of it.
And then he says, Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine, and continue in them. For in doing this thou shall both save thyself and them that hear me save thyself. Yes, it says that save thyself and save others. Yes, save those that hear you. I sometimes say, We say that the poor Sinner and the gutter.
The love of God can reach you down there no matter how low you are.
You can be raised up to be with Princess. Can't we say that to us? Think that has fallen?
Or I sometimes say, why get new recruits if we can't keep those we have? It's a real exercise to see things falling. By the way, Do we say, well, maybe those?
Those overseers and so forth are not careful enough. No, well, Timothy wasn't an overseer. But we, we are men like Timothy. We need to help one another in these things. Now turn to something for those of us that are older.
And Peter in the first Peter 5.
Now how how important it is that?
Like verse two says.
Now these are the ones that have, we might say the older one.
Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof not by constraint, but willingly, not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind neither as Lords over God's heritage.
No, but being in samples or examples.
And it says, And when the chief shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory. That they did not await. Likewise the younger submit yourselves unto the elder. Yeah, all of you be subject 1 to another. So it brings them together now, old and young. This verse brings them together. Now with this I'd like to turn to several portions in the Old Testament that.
Again, we might say our principles that have been laid down.
For us and there were never wiser than the Word, and it's really only by the word of God.
And obedience to it, that we're going to be a help to one another and that we're going to bear testimony. So look at the 20th of Deuteronomy.
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And now when the children of Israel were to come into the land, there was going to be conflict. There always is conflict. You'd go on with the Lord and you're going to have some pressure put against you.
It's Satan is against everything that Christ is for, and so these pressures are going to be against you and against me as we want to go on with the Lord.
But the 1St 4 verses the priest is at work, the verses after that the officers are at work, but each of their plates and each bring out really an important side of the truth. Now when thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and see his horses and Chariots and our people more than thou, it always looks that way. That they won this against you is more.
And so we need help. Be not afraid of them, for the Lord thy God is with thee.
Which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and it shall be when ye are come nigh unto the battle.
That the priest shall approach and speak to the people, and shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, he approached this day to battle against your enemies, but not your heart faint. Fear not, and do not tremble, neither be terrified because of them. For the Lord your God is he that goeth with you to fight for you against your enemies.
Enemies to save you.
Now if you want a picture of that, you would look at first or Second Timothy, one where it says and call comes forth as the priest.
And he says to Timothy, God has not given us the spirit of fear.
Let a power of love and a sound mind, and he says to Timothy, Be not ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me. His prisoners will, though the opposer may be great. Remember the apostle Paul as he encourages Timothy in those last days.
And he says, don't be ashamed, because the Lord's going to stand with you.
Well, that's wonderful, but now we come to a little different side of the truth, and I trust you'll understand me, right?
God is for us, but God has an order.
I often hear a brother say when he changes jobs, goes on a new job, that's the his company is sending him to school to learn, learn how to operate the computer or whatever it is. Well, when God is going to use you or me, isn't it fair for him to send us to school? Well, he does. He send us to school and all this one going to school.
He has to bound to the orders of the company, the rules of the company, until you and I have to too. And so it takes up the offices of the people.
No, here the officers come forth and.
Not they don't speak like Paul does to Timothy, but it's more like Paul maybe speaking to Mark in the 15th of March where he said to Mark, Mark.
Yeah, a nice brother, but you know, I don't think you're quite ready for the for the path that your your uncle wants to take you on. And it ended up kind of sad for a while anyway. So the officer shall speak unto the people saying what man is there that hath built a new house and has not dedicated it?
Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in die in the bathroom.
And another man dedicated. Now the first thing we want to learn from that is.
Well, I might suggest the building of a house.
You might have a structure of truth, you might have read Good ministry, and You have a nice house to build as it you have a nice house built.
And I sometimes marvel at young men. They could layoff the book of Ephesians far beyond me, and that's all right. But there's just one thing that I'm interested in is that if they're living in that, they're living in the house that they have built.
And now I'd like to see this one thing here that.
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It says lest you die in battle and another man dedicated. Well, the thing of it is God is going to have all his order, all his principles, all his thoughts carried out and we need to receive the sovereignty of God, especially in our day, realizing that God.
He doesn't need me, as it were, to work.
Contrary to his thought or to his his order in order to get his work done? No, he's going to have his work done. But it's a privilege to do it and we have the privilege to do it. But here's a brother that has built a nice house, as it were.
A man has built this house, but he hasn't lived in it. He's never really made it his own. He has never really been in the good of it. And you know, that man is very in a very critical place. He may, he may get into conflict and he might die in battle because he he just went out to battle before he made these things good.
Now it's wonderful that we have the ministry.
Ministry, God has given it to us and and we wouldn't want to be without it and neither would I discourage any man from searching the ministry. But turn over to chapter 23 to get a little warning there, chapter 23 and verse 24.
Now when thou cometh into thy neighbors vineyard.
Then thou shalt, thou mayest eat grapes thy fill at thine own pleasure.
But thou shalt put, thou shalt not put any in thy thusful, or in thy best get. Well, what does that mean? The brother asked me once what that meant. Well, there happened to be Mr. Darby's 34 volumes, or 35, and the index, the side of the room. And I said there is Mr. Darby's vineyard, and you can go to it and you can eat all you want.
And you know, whatever you eat, you simulate, assimilate, and you get the good of it. But supposing you put it in your basket, should we say maybe in your notebook? And then you go out and you begin giving the faint.
The grapes you put in your basket, well, it isn't going to work.
No, there's a warning against that, beloved young brothers.
To search the word, now is the time. To search the ministry, now is the time. Don't wait till you're my age to do it because it's too late then. But remember.
That you go into your neighbor's vineyard and you eat the grapes all you want. You know the love and the courage of the land were such.
That what was mine was yours in a sense, but it wasn't due to carry at all. It go down the street with a basket full of grapes and people think, well what lot of grapes you raised when it wasn't wouldn't be true at all. It wouldn't be your grief, it would be your neighbors grades.
So this has caused many a dear brother to topple over, as it were, because he hasn't really assimilated it, not really lived in it. Now let's turn to the 14th of March to get a picture of a man there.
Now whoever that man was, I quite likely think it could have been Mark installed as Mark brings out the failing servant.
But in the 14th of Mark and verse 51.
And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloud cloth cast about his naked body. And the young man laid hold on him, and he left the linen cloth and fled.
Fled from them naked. Well, you know the linen speaks of righteousness.
And it's wonderful to have be clothed in a practical righteousness. By the grace of God. We are clothed in the righteousness of God, but we need to be clothed in practical righteousness. But this man, he only had it cast about him. He had never really worn it. It's like the man that had never lived in his house. He built a house, but he didn't live in it.
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Until he was a man that just had cast this linen garment or linen cloth about him.
And how easily it came off just at a very.
Time where maybe he wanted to really be faithful, he wanted, no doubt here to follow the Lord. But there were those young men that pulled it off of him because it wasn't real.
And beloved young folks.
You know there's such a thing if you've only got a linen cloth cast about you. It's like a brother said once, he says.
When I went into a place of amusement, I took the Coughlin cloth off and I hung it on the coat rack. Is that what you can do? Is that what I can do? Perhaps Peter kind of did that one time, but don't have a linen garment that comes off that easy.
No, he said. When I came out, I put it back on. He said I was connected with brethren. Well, what a what a sad thing to have only.
Linen cloth cast about you and never really have worn it. Now if you turn over a page you would find some men that were wearing.
Wearing this linen. Chapter 16.
And verse.
Yeah, when they were verse four and when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away.
For it was very great. And entering into the supper curve, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment. Here's a man that was clothed in it. And they were frightened. And he said unto them, Be not afraid. As you see Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified, He is risen, He is not here, and so forth, while he was a man that was clothed in linen, and he could give the message.
Of the Lord's resurrection. So the warning here is.
If.
If you build a house, wonderful, but try it out.
And I sometimes say that you might build a new house, but you don't know what that house will take until it's gone through The Four Seasons of the year. Well, the pipe will freeze, or whether roof leaks or whether the wind blows into it. And so it's the same with a Christian. They have to go through those Four Seasons of the year. Now, they're not all the same. Winter's far more severe than summer, perhaps.
But still the apostle Paul could say, he know what I have been among you at all seasons, whether it was winter, summer, or fall or spring, the apostle Paul could say, Ye know, and he was the same as it were. And so these testings come to the house, and I just might say that.
When Paula and Timothy and Mark.
No, Paul and Barnabas and Mark were together.
And you know, you can just see Paul as he was somewhat distressed when.
Barnabas was bringing Mark and Paul said, you know, Mark, I don't really think you've lived in your house. I think I think you're on the right track and I think you're you're coming along and I think someday the Lord might use you. But right now I can see, remember a while back you turned back when going got kind of rough. And so I just feel you haven't really.
In your house. That would be nice if you went back. Well, I can just see Barnabas get quite upset over that. But I believe Mark went home and turned us over in his mind. And you know sometime later on Paul could say bring Mark with you for he is, he is profitable unto me. So we do profit by these things and.
And even if afternoon we might be able to profit by them because we want to be used, don't we?
Dear young brothers, if the Lord leaves us here, we want to be used for Him.
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But there has to be. We have to come God's way. We have to come his way to be saved. We have to come his way to be servant.
Well, now you come to verse six. What man is he that have planted the vineyard, and hath not yet eaten of it?
Let him go home also go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man eat of it. And really solemn, isn't it, to die in battle?
Oh, I'm I really am grieved when I see anybody turn aside, but especially a brother that seemed to have died in battle. That is, he went out to fight.
They went out to meet some of these things before he was ready.
He had lived in his house before he had eaten of his vineyard.
Now there's a good lesson I think learned in the vineyard, and if you turn to Leviticus, you will find.
Something about a vineyard there. I think it's the 19th chapter of Leviticus. Yeah, Leviticus 19.
Now you know Vineyard speaks of joy.
In Revelation 6.
It is that they think they're going to mark in their forehead. Well, they didn't get a literal mark there, but their countenance manifested the joy of the Lord.
And so in this vineyard in verse 23.
And when you shall come into the land, and shall have planted all manner of trees for food.
Then he has uncircumcised unto you it shall not be eaten, but in the fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be holy, to praise the Lord with all. And in the fifth year shall ye eat of the fruit thereof, that it may yield unto you the increase thereof.
So yeah, if you came into the land of Canaan and you were a bit slow.
Planting your vineyard, it was five years that you'd have to be there before you could eat of it. If as soon as you come into the land and you planted your vineyard, in five years you could eat of it. But you know, some of us were very slow, as it were, when we came into the land and perhaps we spent don't take five years. And I think we learn a lesson here.
In all the first three years.
It was uncircumcised, it wasn't really fit for God and you know, three speaks of death and resurrection.
And there again, young men and older ones, us older ones too, have we gone through those three years of learning that in me, that is, in my flesh dwelleth no good thing?
That process has to go on and.
It's wonderful if we can come to realize it. We may break over the traces, but we again have to be recovered to realize that that those first three years are uncircumcised. They're not fit for God at all.
Well, I believe when we come to those three years, the end of those three years.
Then we realize that everything belongs to God. You come to the 4th year.
And isn't it really a delight when we come to the end of ourselves and we see that all glory and all praise belongs to the Lord Jesus and.
Anytime we reflect on ourselves, we, we, it comes to our mind. No, no, everything belongs to the Lord. Well, that's the 4th year. Well then you come to the fifth year and as it were, you get the nourishment from the Lord.
That is, the Lord hath had his portion, and so He, as it were, gives it back to us.
Well, I believe if we realize something of the truth of the vineyard.
Why, we might realize that as we give the Lord his proper place, and I don't mean just because the Bible says to give him his proper place. I mean that it has affected our hearts in such a way that we we realize that all glory is to him. Well, then we take the fruit of it in a different way altogether. We take it as from his hands and.
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Then there's real joy.
You know, some think of a man that was you know, he was preaching the gospel and he was he was every time you met him. Isn't it great to know the Lord and and this kind of thing? But one day when he was laid aside on a sick bed while he went up to visit him and you'd say, well, where's all this joy? He was all he was down and nothing was right and all well, it showed that he hadn't.
Eaten of the vineyard. It appeared that He had, but he really hadn't. But I think it's a wonderful thing when the Lord puts us into pressure and trial to be able to submit to it. And if we do submit to it, it's because we realize something of having eaten of our own vineyard. Well, now we have verse 7.
What man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her?
Let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her. Well, what would we learn from that? Well, the thought of a wife would speak of increase at home.
Children. And so I believe it's very important and very wonderful that any of us might bring forth fruit at home first.
I may go across the country to serve the Lord, but how about serving the Lord at home? How about starting at home? It may, it needn't be in any great thing, but in perhaps in a very little thing that we might serve the Lord. But it's wonderful to bring forth fruit at home first now.
I don't mean only in the assembly, but that's nice. But in our own homes it's nice to be fruitful.
And then in the assembly at home, I always like to see a young man start at home.
You know, I talked to the children, perhaps maybe opens a gospel meeting, maybe occasionally gives out of him. You never like to see a brother very forward, a young man. But it's nice to be having exercise to sort of fill a little place at home. And I believe if you're born fruit at home, you might go to battle, as it were, and not die in battle. Well, one more test is put on.
And the officer shall speak further on the people, and the they shall say, what man is there, that his spirit is fearful of faint hearted?
Let him go and return to his house, lest his brethren's heart faint as well as his heart. Well, the officers of the people are still putting forth a test, and now is the final Test. Is there a man that's fearful and afraid?
Oh, I'm really worried about those men that are fearful and afraid. You know why? Because they make one fearful and afraid man can make ten others fearful and afraid.
And how wonderful to come in on the positive side and the way of encouragement like the priest instead of being fearful and afraid sometimes. But here are certain ones that, as it were, they just hang crepe over everything. The number of Saints of God, there is a lot left, yet there is a lot left for the Lord here and.
Wonderful to use what we have, encouraged what we have.
And not to be fearful and afraid. Oh, there's been that idea, you know.
Of we're just at the end, let things go kind of carelessly.
That's real dangerous. You know, some brethren taught that 50 years ago. That's the Lord's Cummings right around the corner. While we're not going to seek to keep things in order in the assembly, but what are we're reaping for that now? And so we have no right and it's very, very, very dangerous to in any way let down or to.
Lower the standards today, if anything.
We need to raise them.
And so we know Gideon's men were put to the test, and when they were put to the test, I think he had.
Well, 32,000, yes, and the test was put. Every man that's fearful and afraid go home. Well, 22,000 went home and of course that left 10,000.
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And the Lord said, well, 10,000 is too many, and so he applied another test. It brought him to the water.
And you know, it was the way they drank water that determined whether they'd be in Gideon's army or not. Now, can you think of anything less than drinking water? No. In the harvest fields, you have maybe a dozen men. They all drink water a little different. Some just golf it down. You think they're going to take the whole jug, and others take their time. And you're real thirsty. But you have to wait till he's through.
And so.
It's a very insignificant thing. And yet this determined whether they'd be in Gideon's army.
And you know, below the Saints of God and young brothers, perhaps some time we see a brother used for a little blessing to somebody. Maybe a soul is saved through them or somebody has helped through them. And we say, well, why didn't the Lord use me?
Well, I believe that what we learn in drinking water is the little things. We think of great things, young men, but it's the way we do little things that God honors. You know, He even says in Timothy, be courteous. Can a young man be courteous? It goes a long ways with an older one to see a young man courteous.
A young man.
Well, when I think of home, I'm away from the assembly there, and all the other brothers are gone too. Some have gone to Phoenix and California.
And so it's left the middle-aged brothers there.
But those that the Lord is using for the ministry, there are those that wash the dishes and swept the floor at our team meetings or all day meetings. Well, there were those that came and ate their dinner and were all the next meeting and as soon as that meeting was over, they were off and they were sure to be back for supper, but they had no thought of cleaning the table.
Or washing the dishes.
And so where are they today? So, beloved brothers, don't be afraid of these little things. Those were the ones that were chosen for Gideon's army. So we have living in your house, eating of your vineyard, marrying the the wife. And then be careful about being fearful and afraid and be careful how we do little things.
Insignificant things all.
To me, they're the important things.
Man gets up and preaches the gospel. That's nice, but to me that isn't near as great as perhaps helping an elderly sister or comforting someone and something that nobody else exactly sees. Now I'd like to speak a word to those of us that are older in the 17th chapter of the same book.
Now you get the thought of administration here in 17 and verse 14.
And.
We know it was in God's thoughts to have a king.
When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee and shall possess.
Possess it, and shall dwell therein, and shall say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me.
Now notice these that are set there are only 17 verse 14 these that are set up in administration.
Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the Lord thy God shall choose now.
You know it says an axe. Feed the flock of God over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers.
Not where your brethren have made you an overseer, no.
And.
The time came before Paul's departure that the apostles didn't choose overseers anymore.
Paul could say over which the Holy Ghost have made you overseers. So we have to be careful in oversight that I don't step into oversight because my father was there no or maybe even because I'm the oldest brother and I I say this carefully, but.
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It's one that the Lord puts there and then it says.
From among thy brethren shall thou set king over thee. Thou mayest not set a stranger over thee which is not thy brother.
Well, how important that this one that is, as it were in administration, is a brother.
Now there's no better place to look to find the definition of things in the Word of God. Whether it's foot washing, you turn to Genesis 18 and many other things. You go back. But to find what a brother is you would go to.
The 4th chapter of Genesis.
And we find there that Cain is never called a brother, but Abel is called a brother 7 times and you can count them.
Verse two of chapter 4 and she again bare his brother Abel.
And then verse 8, Cain talked with Abel, his brother.
And came to pass when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel, his brother.
And slew him. And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not.
Am I my brother's keeper? And he said, What hast thou done? The voice of thy brother's blood crieth into the me from the ground, and thou art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand. Well, I think 7 times Abel is called a brother, but Cain is never called a brother. So I think what we would learn from that is that a brother?
Must have the right sacrifice. Abel had the Lamb. And so our brother all by all means has to be saved. He couldn't be a brother otherwise. But furthermore, I think Cain was seeking the welfare of, I mean, Abel was seeking the welfare of his brother Cain. He doesn't call Cain a brother, but he was seeking the welfare of Cain.
So I believe you might get the definition of a brother from that one.
That has the right sacrifice and one that has an interest in another.
To help them.
Well then it says in verse 16.
But he shall not multiply horses to himself.
Nor cause the people to return to Egypt to the end that he should multiply horses. For as much as the Lord has said unto you, ye shall henceforth return no more that way. No horses. What do horses speak of in Scripture? Horses speak of a natural force, natural strength. And so when it comes to the assembly, when it comes to administration.
You may be a very good manager in a store. You may be very good at handling men in construction.
And you might be a doctor and able to direct your patience and all, but if you bring that into the assembly, it doesn't work.
Thou shalt not multiply horses. I don't say that a brother with these managing abilities can be used.
You know, and maybe a building or something, but in when it comes to administration of the Saints, we cannot use natural force and natural ability. We have to say, Lord, what do you want us to do? And how many times we have caused things to go back to Egypt, back to the world.
Because we have used means.
And things that that.
Have stumbled them so one in administration was not to multiply horses. Oh it's really sad when we think of some that we have cause to go back to Egypt. You know if they're out of Egypt, let's keep them out of Egypt. But again I say when it comes to acting administration.
The flesh has no place.
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And if we're going to use natural means and natural forces?
We're up to to turn people back the way they came.
Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart be not turned away. Wise. That's an unhappy thought, isn't it? Wise?
Well, where do I speak of a divided affection?
You know we're living in.
A strange day in a way, as I've come through the families in the Western Canada and a good many places the Saints are related in certain assemblies in assembly there's the Johnsons and the assembly, there's another name and so on. Well, so we have to be careful as to.
When we have a judgment, as it were, in administration.
That we are not partial. Now naturally, if you had wives, that certainly would bring in the thought of partiality.
But the scripture says to be without partiality and so.
There is real dangerous as it were in the present day to as it were multiply wise.
Well then, it says, neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.
Well, you know the world has a slogan. Money talks.
Now I'm not saying it's wrong to have any money, no, But remember, money doesn't give you prestige.
Not when it comes to assembly administration. That's wonderful to see a brother who who has money that's able to be unaffected by it and when he, as it were, carries out his his place of administration in the assembly that he isn't in any way affected by his prestige.
So it's very nice to see a professional man that's not affected by his prestige.
And it's danger. They're in a hard spot because of the way they help the Saints free of charge many times. But when it comes to administration, we need to be very careful that we don't.
Put money.
As a as a pedestal, as it were, so they were not to multiply horses, not to multiply wise, not to multiply southern gold. And then it adds in verse 18, It shall be when he sitteth upon the throne of his Kingdom, that he shall write.
In a couple law in the book, out of which out of that which is before the priest and the Levi, yes, they were to take the original book.
And the king was to copy that book.
Well, if you want to get acquainted with a book, you certainly would by copying it. And so this would be involved that the man in administration needs to know gods and God's order.
And remember, he was not to copy what the king before him had copied or the king before him. No, no, because, you know, the first king would make some mistakes. We can be sure that. And so the next one would make those mistakes plus his own. And pretty soon, what do you have? And so we need to be very careful that we always return to the original. What does the Scripture say?
It certainly solves a lot of things.
If you can say what does the scripture say and then it adds here.
Verse 19 It shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes to do them.
Well, you know another beautiful thing there is that God has given us a good book here, a good translation, and there's real safety in staying with it. We know that men have translated and interpreted till there's what they call the Bible that if you pick it up and read it, you hardly recognize it. All the beauty is gone. Why is because they've made it to fit the 1St man and.
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Not as.
As a word of God really is that it's taught us by the Spirit. Well anyway to read in it. And now notice verse 20 that his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turned not aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left to the end that he may prolong his days in his Kingdom, He and his children in the midst of Israel.
You know, I'm thinking of how it was that perhaps I know of six assemblies that are there no more.
Well, really what has happened is because of a breakdown in administration.
People were turned back to Egypt and the young were spared and consequently.
They're they're gone and so it says that you may prolong your days in a nice to see an assembly grow and prolonged.
Well.
I trust that we might get a little glimpse here that the young man, and of course that's to us too. But remember to live in your own house. What is truth if you don't live in it? What is truth if it isn't practical? Thank God that we have positional truth and we need that first. But then.
Deuteronomy 20 tells us how we might live in that we may eat of our own vineyard and be careful about our neighbors vineyard. Let's go eat of it, but let's not put it in our basket.
And then to bring forth fruit at home. And remember especially how little things are done. Little favors, little kinds. Kindness to your mother.
Sometimes the things laying around in the house wouldn't be wonderful for a young man to pick those things up. He might say, well, that's a girl's job, but really not, not any more than yours or mine. We can do those little things and they'll.
They, as it were, will give a little power to what we have to say and then to remember those of us that are older in administration.
Not to multiply horses and to be a brother, a true brother.
And multiply wives, multiply sovereign goal. Don't use that in administration, but to copy the word and to get the good out of it.
Clean and Unclean
I.H. Klassen
DISCLAIMER: The following has been auto-transcribed. We hope it will help you to find the section of this audio file you are looking for.
In the last part of the 10th verse, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly loss, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.
Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, or a special people, zealous of good works?
Now we know that the world doesn't read the Bible, but they do read the believer and it's a real exercise as to what kind or what do they read.
And.
The word here is to adorn the doctrine. Now how could we do that? Well, it really would be by walking in the truth, or in the doctrine. And so he does bring in the fact that the grace of God that brings salvation hath appeared into all men at one time, in all that God had to do with Israel.
As one nation, as it were, but now the grace of God appears to all men.
Well, it's wonderful, isn't it? It's not now a particular people, but it's to everybody.
And what is the grace of God do when the grace of God teaches us, it not only saves us, but teaches us.
It's so different to be taught by the grace of God than by legality. Should we say by the law?
And so.
The word there is teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly loss, we should live soberly, righteously and godliness present world. And I'm thinking especially of a verse 14 that says to purify unto himself a special people.
What God is doing that? And we have a scripture to turn to in the Old Testament. But first I'd like to turn to Philippians.
Chapter 2.
Now again I say that the world does not read the Bible.
Nor could they understand it if they did. But somehow they can tell the believer just how he ought to walk. And the moment a believer steps out of the line, the world right away can will point the finger and say, well, what are you doing? How come you're doing that? That's kind of strange that the world knows that, but they do. But now in verse.
Two for instance.
Still a little pursuing the adorning the doctrine verse 14 of chapter 2 Do all things without murmuring and disputing. Well, what a word that is. Wouldn't that adorn the doctrine?
And that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God. Now notice the sons of God there without rebuke.
When you get the children of God, it's relationship. When you get the sons of God, it's testimony.
That the sons of God without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine as light.
In the world or stars?
Holding forth the word of life, that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither have labored in vain. So again you get that side of things of shining as stars in this world. Now it's a real exercise, isn't it, as to what kind of a light I'm giving off.
And.
Paul here to the Philippians tells them said that you are the lights of the world and if you don't give the light, the world won't have it.
And the Lord was here and saw He was the light of the world. But now you and I are.
Well, we might say, well now, how can we render a testimony? How can we be a light? Supposing I set out to be a testimony for the Lord or a light, I'll never be one. If I make that my object, I will never be one.
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And so I believe we learn from the 14th of Deuteronomy how that we can be a light or a testimony in this world.
Should we say almost without knowing it, but I believe every person that has set out to be a testimony.
Falls by the way, because the object is really wrong right from the beginning.
Now this first verse should really read Sons if you look at the.
J&D translation. You would read songs. And so we had in Philippians sons, your sons, and in Titus we had that we were a special people unto the Lord. Ye are the sons of the Lord your God. He shall not cut yourselves nor make boldness.
Make any baldness between your eyes for the dead now.
In this verse.
Sons, you know, speak of well, a son delights, I mean a father delights in the son who serves him, it says in Malachi. So how wonderful to be sons, to be representatives of these, of the father. You might see a son, you might say, well, he looks like his father, he talks like his father, he acts like his father. Well, that's what God would have this would be.
Rendering testimony.
But how could you do that? It can only be done by acquaintance with the father, as it were.
And so.
It's a little bit, we might say a little bit negative here now that it says ye are the sons of the Lord your God. You shall not cut yourselves nor make any boldness between your eyes for the dead.
Well.
To disfigure ourselves for the dead. Now who are the dead? Well, the dead are the world. They're dead and trespasses and sins and how easy it is sometimes to disfigure ourselves for the dead. That is, and I've been guilty of it, that to hide the fact that I'm a child of God. Sometimes in a certain company as a as a young man especially or a boy I would I didn't want.
Know that I was a Christian and sometimes I would act in such a way that they wouldn't think I was one. Well, in a way I was disfiguring myself for the dead.
And.
We can do that, you know, in our work or business or anything. We can, we can somehow.
Deter people's thoughts as to.
Away from the Lord, or at least not bring the Lord before them. So it it's not impossible, as it were, to to disfigure ourselves in some way in order that people might not think that we're believers.
Well, the warning is here not to do that.
No, I trust that I wouldn't do that now. But there were times where the reproach was so strong that I didn't want people to think that I was a Christian.
And.
So I purposely, as it were, it is figured myself. Well, I'm ashamed of it now.
And then he adds, For thou art and holy people unto the Lord thy God, and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar or a special people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth. Well, it's a remarkable thing that God has chosen you, and he's chosen me, that I might be a special people.
A special one to himself and.
What a privilege it is we need to be a representative of the Lord Himself.
And speaks here of God, having chosen you and chosen me.
For this special place, well, how am I going to meet it? How am I going to handle it?
Now, there's one statement here. You know, this whole chapter speaks about eating and sometimes said we are what we eat.
This is a saying just in the world that we are what we eat, remember?
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The man I used to work for, he said if you want to feel good at 20, start eating right. I mean, if you want to feel good at 40, start eating right at 20. And he said if you want to feel good at 60, start eating right at 40. Well, there's some truth to that, you know, And but there's one statement here. Now, this is what thou shalt not eat abominable things. Now that's one, one negative thing here.
Thou shalt not eat.
Any abominable thing so to.
Well, perhaps I can tell you an example better, but I was in a home in Phoenix and was invited there for dinner that night. I came in around 4:00 and the lady put an ice.
Plate of chocolates in the living room on the coffee table.
And I know she was trying to do me a real favor, but I knew better than to eating those chocolates before dinner. But she had two children that came and helped themselves. And she came in the room and she said, no, children, don't eat those chocolates. You want to spoil your supper, spoil your supper. And so she went out again.
And pretty soon she came in again and they had helped themselves. And so she just scolded him, said you're going to not want your supper.
Well, then me, I'd have taken it up and put it up someplace where they couldn't reach it, but I don't know why she didn't do it. But anyway, supper time came and sure enough.
They tried to make them eat and they cried and everything, and pretty soon they had to put them both to bed without any eating supper. But.
This happens in our lives to we can spoil our appetite for the things of God.
And the world has designed many things to give us, to give us to spoil our appetite for reading the word.
And we have to admit it. We can come into our house. The Bible might be laying here and there might be a magazine there or a newspaper.
And we pick up the newspaper first, or the magazine. Why do we do that? Then afterward we might take up the Bible to read it. And somehow the appetite isn't there. It's been spoiled. So we have to be careful not to expose ourselves to things that would ruin our appetite.
Somebody said to me the other day, you know, I read the Bible. I just don't get anything out of it. I just can't get anything out of it. Well, I just thought, well, maybe you have spoiled your appetite for the Word.
And so I believe it's very timely before it says what you can eat for, it says what you shouldn't eat.
And so then you come to verse 4.
These are the beasts which ye shall eat, the ox, the sheep, and the goat. Now these were clean animals.
And they could be eaten.
And now, of course, in just a historical sense, if you'd want to take it that way, well, you wouldn't get too much out of it. But when you see that each one of these animals represent the Lord Jesus Christ in a special way.
You first have the ox. Now the ox speaks of strength. It speaks of that animal that can pull a load. A member of my brother-in-law saying that he used to skid logs out of the mountains. He said two oxen could pull skids, more logs than four horses. And I said well how could that be? Well he said the ox just lays down in the yoke until the log gives, but the horses that the log doesn't.
Began to seesaw. And unless you have a very good driver, you really can't do very much with them. And so when we think of the Lord Jesus going through this world, how many times we need to feed on him as that one that was had endurance, the one that went steadily forward.
Our eyes just have to in certain problems, we just have to get a vision of the Lord before us and to say, well Lord, how did you meet this and learn from his word how these things were met? Now I think 40 times.
In the book of Mark alone you get expressions like immediately.
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Forth with a non the Lord was going forward and.
The.
It speaks really of endurance.
Now what does it say in Hebrews that we count them happy that endure?
And so you might say, I might feel like giving up or falling by the way, but how wonderful to get a little meal of the one that never turned back, that had every reason to turn back. But he didn't. He went forward. And so in the ox you get the Lord represented in that way.
Now you come to the sheep, and the sheep is that patient sufferer.
Well, there the Lord Jesus Christ again, we have him how many times in scripture as that patient sufferer, you know, a sheep. Again, I'm thankful that I'm acquainted with some of these animals. It really helps. I sometimes hear sheep stories from people that live in town and they're really way wrong because they they have not really known what sheep are, what sheep will do.
But a sheep is a very patient.
Animal and.
If you have noticed in Isaiah 53.
It speaks of he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, and the chess man of our peace was laid upon him, and by his stripes we are made whole. It's always he, he, he is. But now you come to a verse a little further down and it says, let's turn to it, maybe to get it. Isaiah 53.
Now notice how it says here in verse 7.
He was oppressed and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth. He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as the sheep before his shears. No, her shares is done, so it changes from his to her.
Shares is done so he opened not his mouth.
Now, if that would have said his, one of those Eastern shepherds would have said, well, there's something wrong there.
Because.
A male will not go willingly to the shearers or to the slaughter. They fight. I've I've worked with them and it's it. Unless you're strong, you have a hard time getting a male into the sharing pen. But are you just? If you open the gate, she walks right in.
And she doesn't say anything, as it were. She takes the shearing without a struggle, but the ram won't.
Know my my nephew told me that they charge twice as much for sharing a ram as they do for a you because the ram fights well, you can see the picture. It wouldn't have been a true picture of the Lord Jesus if it would have said a male because the Lord did not resist.
He and that word is really you There, you lamb. It's a female.
And so he walks, and the Lord just went patiently forward.
And I might say at this time, why was it that though?
A deer or a row?
Those wild animals in Song of Solomon, for instance, and we have them here too.
Why weren't they used for?
US burnt offering.
Never. They were clean animals. They divided the hook, they chewed the cod, but they were never used for a burn off.
Well, I think the answer comes quickly. You have to take those by force.
You couldn't. They're not. They're not domesticated where they will.
Where they're tame, where they walk, as it were, into the slaughter, you would have to take them by violence. And the Lord Jesus was not taken by violence. He went.
Steadily forward and he went to the cross and so now you might say well in in Acts 8 it says before his shares, but you can see the picture in Acts 8 is that the cross is passed and the Lord has returned to all the strength of Iran.
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There and so it says his shares in act were Phillip is relating it to the Ethiopian unit.
So here what a wonderful meal one could have as you, as you ponder that lamb that was led as a sheep to the slaughter of that one that was patient. I get impatient just to get a glimpse of the patient one. It does something for me. And the thing of it is, it's nice to be acquainted with a patient one before we get impatient. Then we might not even get impatient.
Well, the next is the goat. Now what is said about the goat is that it's stately and going.
Proverbs 30 speaks of the gate, the goat, as stately, and so the Lord Jesus was stately and going there wasn't a discordant note in the Lord's life, as it were.
A boy of 12, he sat in the temple.
And he and he and it says that he, he both heard them and asked them questions.
His conduct there was just imperfection, as it were.
And you know the blessed Lord.
Adam could never have felt for that little baby over there.
Adam could never have felt for a six year old boy. No, because Adam was created a full grown man. But the Lord Jesus came in this world as a baby and that he could feel, he could feel the feelings of a boy of 12. He was there at once. He could have the feelings of a of a child at four years old. He was there once.
Isn't it wonderful to have such a savior?
And how they're to feed upon him what it does for you.
Well, there's a work of God in the heart as we feed on these animals. Think of the Lord Jesus before Pilate, how he conducted himself before the Sanhedrin. There was there was something stately about the Lord. There was something that was perfect in going. And so these animals.
To to eat them, to live on them. It's just wonderful, isn't it?
Now somebody says sometimes what? Preach Christ, Preach Christ, Preach Christ. Well, I say, you can't leave me blank, just Christ. But if you can see Christ in these animals and in some of these, these scriptures that we have, why, that's what enlarges the heart and fills you, then you have something to eat.
Well then you come to to the heart.
Now there's one outstanding thing said about the heart, and that's in Psalm 42. It says as the heart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. Well.
How there was ever that longing, as it were.
With the Lord, his relationship with his father.
Before I came away, a brother came to our house and he said I want to, I want to want to give you something. And so he lived far away but.
And so I unpacked it and here was a text that he had made.
And instead on this text.
He arose a great while before it was day, and went into a solitary place.
To pray well I don't know how I could given me a better text. I just they just touched me when I thought of how unfaithful I am and hear the blessed Lord.
I need to do that really, I need to raise a rise a great while before day and pray. But the Lord, I would say, well, you wouldn't need to do that. And yet the Lord didn't.
And so those things are just.
It just melts the heart, and then you have the Roebuck and the fellow deer and the wild goat and the pieguard and the wild ox and the chamois.
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Then I would have to admit that I know very little about these animals that are here. I know the ox and the sheep and the goat and the and not too much about the heart, but I believe it's something that.
When we get to glory.
There will be no end of revelation of things.
Of the hymn puts that their new wonders daily learning and when I was down in San Diego there was an advertisement came out in the paper of a preacher and was going to have.
Some meetings, wherever he is.
And he just in bold letters put there, he said.
Something like this, Who wants to go to heaven anyway? It's what? What's there to do up there? Just, you know, people have that feeling already. What am I going to do and have them?
Well, he, I never saw this before, but he was actually preaching on that line.
What are you going to do in heaven? Well, beloved Saints of God, you and I tonight might enjoy a little portion. Thank God for that. But heaven will be a just a continuation of enjoying these things, different things. They'll be like I said, their new wonders daily learning as the hymn puts it. And so I think in a lot of these things that we really don't know much about them. Why?
In that scene of glory there won't be one dull moment if we think about it in any way. What will I do there? Why? I'm sure that we don't know the Lord.
You know, it's strange that men have that thought, those thoughts. And I, I can sympathize with them. Here's a man that that wants to, he's looked forward to retiring, retiring. Oh, I'm going to do this and I retire and do that when I retire. And so I get 65. And so he retires and pretty soon it's true. He's done all the fishing he wants and he's done all the traveling he wants. Now he doesn't know what to do.
Well, he thinks heaven is like that, but heaven isn't like that.
So let's not be deceived by these things. So you come then to the the characteristics of the clean animals.
The animals that you may eat, every beast that part of the hoof and cleave at the cleft into two claws, and chew the cud. Among the beasts that you shall eat. So there you have the clean animal. The animal you could eat was one that had a divided hoof.
And one that killed the cub.
And so the chewing of the cod is like we might say, were you you masticate the food with them now.
You know the cattle will go out in the Meadow and they'll graze the cows.
No 'cause they'll graze.
Then they'll lay down and they'll chew the cotton. You know, a cow has four stomachs. And so all the food goes into the second stomach to begin with. And then when she's resting, she coughs that up and re choose it and then she swallows it and then it becomes beneficial to her. And so the cow, as it were, she she grazes in the Meadow, she takes in food.
She lies down, she chews the cod, and then she gets up and the milk maid comes along.
And gets the milk. And what does she do with the milk? Well, maybe, maybe 25 or 30 people will get the benefit of the milk of that one cow. Well, the cow isn't aware of it, is it? There's really the thought of testimony, if I'm going to be a testimony, isn't to set out to be one, but if I am, as it were, eating these animals.
Well, there's going to be a testimony without me as it were being aware of it. And so the the cow dispenses milk and many get the benefit of it and the cow could she's she's really.
Unaware of it. And so again, I say as we eat these clean animals, as we feed on the Lord Jesus, there's going to be a Saber of Christ given off and there's going to be there's going to be a testimony. It's going to be a light. But you don't say, well, I'm a light of the world because it doesn't work that way.
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So it takes both the divided loop both speaks of a walk and separation.
Now again, I remember in my own life where where I read the word quite a bit and I had a chance to read it. The fact is.
I was driving 12 head of horses and driving in the hills and you had to rest those horses every 10 minutes or every 15 minutes as they because it was hard pulling over the hills and all. And so I had a testament in my back pocket and I pulled out and read it and sometimes we had to rest in 5 minutes or so and then we went on. But I was, I was amazed at how little I grew in connection with them. I thought that there ought to be some.
I thought there ought to be some retention of the Word and some profit from it, but really the Lord convicted me that I was not really walking a separated walk. There was a divided wolf was lacking, and consequently.
So it doesn't mean how much you eat that helps you, it's how much you assimilate. A cow gives milk according to what she assimilates, not what she eats.
And so it's the same with a believer. It's what we assimilate that that is a help. But it does call for separation. You just cannot go on with one foot in the world and profit by the things of the Lord.
Well, then it says what you should not eat. Verse 7. Nevertheless these you shall not eat of them that chew the cud.
Or of them that divide the cloven hoof, as the camel, the hare, the pony. For they chew the car, the divide, not the hook, therefore they are unclean unto you. So here are some animals that chew the cod, but they have a solid hoof, they don't divide the hook. And so there's an appearance of taking in the word, but there's not a walk according to it.
And as we already mentioned, this is this is very destructive and detrimental.
Now these, these animals, you know, they might look ever so well, but.
And it's quite a serious thing, isn't it, To be able to eat as it were, to take in the word, to read the word and not walk according to it. That's really a serious thing. And yet we find souls that way. I do, and perhaps others have, especially in our day, that they talk in a religious way. But the fact is, a man told me.
That I'm always a believer.
And I hadn't, I hadn't seen him for a long time. But he said, you know, Clawson, my wife got saved, I got saved, my wife got saved, my boy got saved, my daughter got saved. And he just went right down the line of everybody getting saved. Well, I thought that was wonderful. And finally he told me, says.
Will I give him the gospel? I don't say you have to change your ways. You can live just like you're living now.
But accept the Lord as your savior and all is well. Well, in a certain sense, you know this is true. We're not saved by works, but there's no scripture to back that up to say you can get saved and just carry on as you ever did. There's no nothing to block you to do just like you used to do. Well, even the even the ranked unbeliever knows. Like I said to a man.
Why don't you accept the Lord as your Savior?
And, and he said, well, I have changed my ways. I said change your ways. Who told you you have to change your ways? Well, he knew there was, there was, he knew in himself that it would call for a change of ways. So those that can take in the word or take up the word and not walk according to it, well, we're not to eat them.
As it were, and nevertheless now it says verse eight and the swine, because it divided the hook.
You have not the cut. It is unclean unto you. He shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcasses. Well, here we have the pig, the swine, and.
We've raised a lot of them and they have a divided hook.
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But here they are down in the wallow and their nose is digging up.
And continually and you hear a crackle, crackle, crackle. And you say, what are they eating anyway?
They're getting something out of the mire, but yet they have the divided book.
Well, this is real serious again, isn't it? We do have a very large The fact is, we have a city that's inhabited by a certain cult.
They they.
They are all shut down tight on Saturday and Lord's Day. They start their business until Friday afternoon, then they shut down again.
And we've had quite a few, quite a bit to do with people like that. And sometimes people say, well, are you one of those people?
And I say, well, no, What makes you a thing? Well, you're kind of goody goody, and you're kind of pious and so.
They link you up with with those folks.
But it's a solemn thing, and I say it with sadness, that there is no apprehension with them of who the Lord is. When I was in the hospital, my son brought in a text, and he hung it on the wall. And it said unto you, therefore which believe He is precious. Well, these nurses, you know they'd come in and.
Before that was put up, they'd come in and they'd read me some nice poetry about the Lord and they'd pray at the bedside and, and.
All kinds of nice things. But when he brought that verse in, I said, look at that verse. Isn't that a nice verse? And they just grew up blind. Just a blank came over their face because they don't know the Lord. And the serious thing is that God does not manifest Himself to them.
And it's just so evident that they may have everything outward, but they don't know the Lord. Well, we have the warning not to eat those things.
Now you come to the fish. These you shall eat of all that are in the waters. All that have fins and scales shall ye eat, And whatsoever hath not fins and scales ye may not eat. It is unclean unto you.
Now I think here in the fish especially.
It brings out.
Should we say how we are or how we may act in our natural habitat now? Water is a is a very it's it's the fish's home.
It's the fact is it couldn't live anyplace else but in the water.
And So what? It seems to me this brings us right down to our everyday living. It's where our habitat is, where we live. How do I conduct myself?
Where I live, where I work, I can't get out of it. I've got to work for a living and I've got to live and I have a wife and I have children and so.
How, how testing those circumstances are. Sometimes I might be able to act much better here in the meeting room or even in public than I do at home. And many a brother has injured himself in his ministry and his power is because he failed in how he acted at home.
Well, he might have a wife that doesn't tell on him, but still.
There is an eye above that sees all those things, and what a testimony I can be in my very circumstances, and how many times maybe our children have been turned aside because we have not carried out a little testimony or a little light in our everyday circumstances.
But this isn't easy because it's a place, you know, I come home tired from work and I let my hair down, as it were, and.
And the children are noisy and I get provoked. Well, all those things that we have no excuse for before the Lord. There might be, if there's exercise, a remedy for them. But anyway, they had to have fins and scales. Now a fish with just fins was an unclean fish, and a fish with just scales was an unclean fish. But they needed both.
00:40:03
And so this the the Finns.
Or that which would give them to go upstream. You know, any fish can go downstream, any fish can float with a tide, but it takes a good fish to go upstream. And the the scales are there for protection because the enemy is always there trying to get in his his sphere or dagger or his his weapon.
And so those scales as what keeps it out.
So I believe the fish is a real test as to our own.
Personal habitats.
And I sometimes say.
We probably fail the worst there at home.
Well then, we come to the birds. Now the birds speak of.
Of doctrines you know in the 18th of Revelation, the tree there, a tree of profession, was the hold of every unclean and hateful.
Bird. And it speaks of doctrines, that it's doctrines. But now it says here of all clean birds ye shall eat. And then it names 21 unclean birds. And then it says again, But of all clean falls ye may eat.
Well, why? Why doesn't it say, well, I don't eat the ball the.
These are the of which ye shall not eat. Now I believe the the point that's made there.
These 21 birds speak of of of false doctrines or that type of thing. And if we feed on the clean birds that's reading this says thou shalt.
All clean birds you shall eat.
That's like my mother told me once a year many years ago. And when working in the bank, she didn't work there, but.
Someone she knew had worked there and he went to work and the banker gave them.
Money for a day to put in their pocket and to feel sober. Dollars quarters and dollar bills and all that.
And so in a couple days, the new man that was hired there, he got the feel of that money.
And then when they passed counterfeit money, then immediately protected by the feeling. And so if we feed on the clean birds which speak of Christ, while there again we can detect it the moment that something false is inserted.
Well, it's really the way now. Some people remember we had a sister in the meeting about 40 years ago.
And she can be in Lords Day and I hear say to my father, well, you know, I heard about this false religion and I looked into it and, oh, it's awful. And then again, she'd come along and she would tell about another one. Well, finally my mother said to her, now if you get acquainted with the good birds, you don't have to.
Even investigate these others, you know that they're bad. Oh.
The Lord has raised up some brothers have have investigated some of these cults and things, but we don't have to go and and find out what they're like because you know what kind of dangers that might suck us in.
It's amazing. I was back east and then the South and everywhere and here you'd find two boys with a nice haircuts and clean shaven riding on bicycles going from house to house.
Giving out certain liturgy. And they were. They were nice appearing boys.
And.
You get some other literature and you know what it was? It was an evil doctrine that they had. And yet they had every outward appearance of being attractive. And it's it's amazing this was nationwide that that's what's going on. We had them in Walla Walla and went to Denver and there they are. And you go to Des Moines and there they are. And so.
But you don't have to read their literature to find out what it is You you can you can feed on the clean birds. And just in a moment you can see that they don't have a savior. Well, now just notice some of these birds, the eagle, for instance, and the osprey and the Vulture.
00:45:09
And the Raven. Now something interesting about these animals.
The ego especially, you know.
I sometimes go in the field, maybe early in the morning. We had the 600 acres to cover and he said I see three or four vouchers flying around and I'd say to myself, a dead animal someplace and sure enough you're down there and there was a cow that had died or a calf had died. But they're right there. They won't feed on anything living.
A cow can lay there like dead and they won't touch him, but the moment that cow is dead, they're there and they're eating it.
Well, how that gives them away that they'll feed on dead stuff?
Now you come to the Raven. For instance, the Raven can eat both. The Raven can eat wheat, and it can eat dead stuff.
All be careful of people that can feed on wheat. You know, wheat speaks of the word of God. Feed on that and then they can turn around and feed on corruption.
So it's a warning there, isn't it? Then you come to the owl. Well, it was about the owl. The owl does its work. At night. We have owls. All of a sudden you see a little light, almost flown down, grab the mouse, gone back to his roost.
They have a very keen eye, but they do their work in the night, men of darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil.
Well, then you come to the Swan, for instance.
You're a pretty animal. My what a beautiful, beautiful animal.
And so you say, well, what's wrong with that? Anything so graceful and beautiful as that sure must be. All right. I'll tell you one thing. Let the Swan open her mouth. She's a very grating voice.
It reminds us of the Antichrist, doesn't it then?
He had two horns as a lamb, but.
He spake as a dragon, so we have to be careful about these things. They all have a way of exposing themselves.
And so it says, but all clean for all she may eat.
Now you come to verse 21. You shall not eat of anything that dieth of itself.
Thou shalt give it unto the stranger that is in thy gates, that he may eat it, or thou mayest sell it to an alien without a holy people, unto the Lord thy God. Now will we learn from that you shall not eat anything that diet of itself.
Well, there again, it's a little hard to explain it. We know literally it means an animal that would would die of itself wouldn't, should not be eaten by an Israelite. But to us, what does it mean? Well.
Maybe I could put it this way?
There was a man that was driving a school bus the same time I was and.
He was exercised about being saved, but he turned it away and turned it away all the time because he used tobacco.
And so finally he came to the fact that he needed to be saved, and he got saved.
And so he told me this. He says I took my pipe and my candle back and I put it up on the refrigerator. And he said the first day passed and I saw it there and, and I left to go. And the second day passed and I left it go. But he said the third day I got such a hunger for it, I went over there to get it. But lo and behold, my wife had taken it and lifted up the stove lid and dropped it in.
And the thing was was gone. So he was through. He made a sacrifice. See, there's no sacrificial value to something that has died of itself. There's a.
And sometimes, you know, a person might say, well, I know I'm involved in something that I shouldn't be involved in, but but I just can't give it up. And so when I retire, I'm glad I'll be able just to get rid of it. Now, Brother said this to me once. He said, I know I'm involved in a situation that's not of the Lord, but he said, I'm just looking forward to retiring to get out from under this thing. And so just about two months before.
00:50:02
Never, as it were, got out of the situation.
It just he wanted to get out of it without it costing him anything. Now there's all kinds of reproach that we can bear or come upon us and we may evade that reproach or we may pay the price. So if it dies of itself, well, I may lose the taste for Princess. Speaking of this man that threw his his pipe away and that type of thing. At the same time there was a brother in the meeting.
The doctor told him that if he didn't.
Quit using this.
Why he was a candidate for lung cancer.
So we got rid of it but still there was number sacrificial value connected with it.
Well, he says you might sell it unto a stranger, an alien. How could a stranger an alien might get some good argue? Well, they could, you know, even if they if they after they retired, they got rid of it, as it were it it didn't. There was no sacrificial value to it, but they profited by it anyway. Might think of a man that lived maybe to me that that was a drinker and he was.
I was sad really, how his children suffered from it and everything and.
Finally, he decided to give it up, as it were, and the whole family profited by it. He's unsaved man, he still is, but anyway, the whole family profited by it. So an alien or a stranger might profit by it, but it's no sacrificial value, as it were to one of the Lord's people that.
Eats that which die of itself. Now I suppose I didn't make that plain, but you'll have to take it that way.
Ask some questions afterward. Now here we come to a phrase, Thou shalt not see the kid in its mother's mill.
My brother once told me that if you find a thing three times in scripture.
It means that's very important. And three times in Scripture this this verse comes, thou shalt not see the kid in its mother's milk.
And you say, well, what does that mean anyway? Well, I think there are a lot of practical thoughts in connection with it.
Now.
One thing.
The milk was to sustain the kid, wasn't it? Instead of boiling him with it.
And I believe that many parents have taken the Word of God and they destroyed their children with it rather than nourishing them with it by the way that it was applied to the children.
So we need to be careful that we don't destroy our children with even with the word of God. I stopped in one day to pick up a little taller, about 8-9 years old to take a little taking a little outing. And he says to me, I can't come. And I said, what's the matter? And he said, well, I, I did something wrong and my.
The lady he was staying with wasn't his mother. Never.
His mother was unable to take care of him. He said I disobeyed and this lady is making me write a scripture, quite a long scripture, 100 times. And so he said, I'm sure that'll take me a whole day. He wasn't a good writer anyway. But in a way she was using the word of God in the wrong way, I feel.
Anyway, she would almost turn him against it rather than.
Prophet by it, and so there are many and now when it comes to that verse that we said adorn the doctrine of God.
Now we have that. Now we need to adorn the doctrine of God or we might turn people off.
My neighbor might say, well, if if you're if you're a Christian, I don't want to be one. Maybe I've got a cluttered house and everything is sloppy and he might.
He might, I might be witnessing to him and all that, and yet I just turn him off because I'm not really adorning the doctrine.
And there are many ways you see, this is really something unnatural. It's very unnatural to to boil a kid in his mother's milk because you might say, well, the mother doesn't know anything about it. The kid doesn't know anything about it. But still the Lord knows something about it. And it would be a very, a very repulsive thing to take the very milk of the mother and to boil the kid in it.
00:55:14
And so there are a lot of little ways and I'm sure, brother, that you know.
Better than I do some of the ways work. You make Christianity obnoxious.
And.
It's like a brother that got saved and.
And he wanted to go home and tell his folks. And I said no, Walt, when you go home.
When you present the word to them. If you want to do that, do it in a way.
That you know that isn't obnoxious. Don't do it in a big proud, bold way and don't try to cram it down their throats. Well he did exactly the opposite what I told him and the first thing he did he cut the ears off of his of his loved ones and they have no use for him till this day.
Whereas if he could have gone in there and been an example.
To a believer first and be kind to his parents instead of telling they're all wrong and just a lot of little things would have given him an end. But he didn't do that and so he didn't get any. Well, in a sense, he was seething a kid in his mother's milk.
And I'm thinking of another case where a brother came to the conference with his family, had I think maybe 5 little children.
And on his way out, he stopped in a city, and this city was hot weather was June, and the hairy wife and the five children in the car. And he parked them along the street there in a hot place. And he gets out, he blows out a lot of gospel tracts, and he disappears for a couple of hours. Well, you wouldn't say, well, I don't have our gospel tracks.
But it actually turned his wife and his family against those things.
So in a way, instead of adorning the doctrine.
He made it really distasteful to the family. Well, there are just a lot of things, and Christianity is very practical. And I'm telling you, it's no use doing a lot of fine preaching if there's no consistency with it. Remember again, in a family where this kind lady had invited the company.
And.
Dinner was ready, she had on the table and she said about John.
Come on to the table he was visiting with the company.
And he said, we're visiting. We're visiting over the word of God. And so she waited for a little while and didn't come again. She said, well, everything's getting cold, won't you come? And you just cut her off, you know?
The man was visiting over the Word of God, but what was he doing? Was he adorning the doctrine? No, he made it obnoxious.
Well, it's serious. The Lord has a way of dealing with these things.
Real serious, this man that I'm talking about, they gave out the tracks. He's losing his family.
And the poor man that wouldn't come to dinner, he lost his wife very shortly after that. The Lord took her home. So that's by the way, but.
It's really very important, as it were, to adorn the doctor. The man looked at you and said if you're a Christian, I don't want to be one, There must be something wrong.
So.
Again, we have it now. Ye are the sons of the Lord your God and we're to shine as lights in the world.
And so it tells us what not to eat, and then what we can eat.
And then to remember those birds get acquainted with the right and everything else will manifest.
And then again, remembering there are things in our lives that it would be to the glory of God if we gave them up. There have been some sacrificial value connected with them. But.
If we're not going to give them up till we lost a taste for them, or till we retired while they've been almost sacrificial value connected with it. And then let's not forget, thou shalt not see the kid in its mother's milk.
Hebrews 2:9
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It goes to.
In verse nine, what we see Jesus.
It was made a little lower than the income crowd with glory and honor.
And he, by the grace of God, should taste death for every man or everything.
460 men for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, and bringing many sons of the glory.
To make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
For both he that sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all at once.
For which cause he is not ashamed to call him. Brethren, say, I will declare thy name unto my brethren in the midst of the church will I say, praise unto thee?
And again I will put my trust in Him. And again, behold, I am the children which God has given me.
For as much sin as the children are particulars of flesh and blood.
He also himself likewise as part of the same.
That through death he might destroy him. That had the power of death. That is the devil.
And deliver them who, through fear of death or all their lifetimes, have become *******.
For verily He took not on him the nature of angels, but He took on him to speak of Abraham.
Wherefore in all things, and behold him to be made like unto his brethren.
But he might be a merciful and faithful High priest in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
For in that He himself has suffered being tempted and is able to suffer them that are tempted. I enjoyed the comments that were made about the Lord Jesus being already placed in that wonderful and exalted position.
I thought of the last verse of first Peter chapter 3, where we read who has gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
Even though we do see all around us a great deal of disorder and anxiety in the world.
Yet isn't it a comforting thing to the believer to know that He is there, and that these things are not out of His control? He is there, angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him.
And it's really a contradiction for a believer to be anxious and troubled about the affairs of this poor world. He is still above them all and over them all.
We also read in Ephesians chapter one that he is head over all things to the church, which is his body, so that he himself is not openly interfering in the affairs of the world, but he is specially caring for his people. The passage you referred to in Peter has to do with baptism, and that is taking that name of Christ upon us in a world that's hostile to him.
We're taking on the name of the one who is there.
Above all, and who, although he rules behind the scenes, is still in control.
And then going on, as we remark, head over all things to the Church.
He has a special care for his own, though not interfering openly in the affairs of the world, he does have a care for us. And as we have in the end of the first chapter, even the angels, it says they're sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation. We see little pictures of it. For instance, in the Old Testament there was Daniel in captivity in Babylon.
But when he cries to the Lord on behalf of the people of God.
We see how that God was over all the Princess and all the authorities that seemed to be hindering the blessing of God's people in an earthly way.
How much more so where there's a risen man now at the right hand of God.
Caring for the members of his body now, this is what gives us courage and confidence, isn't it?
00:05:04
Apostle Paul in writing to Timothy.
Exhorted him to pray for those in authority. Pray. Pray for King. Well, if everything was going smoothly in this world, I don't believe we as children of God would feel an exercise about praying for them. But perhaps God is allowing things to go the way they do.
That we might be exercised about it and pray. Sometimes we say, well, we don't deserve it any better than we have it. But still I believe God allows circumstances.
And the pressures to come that we might be exercised about praying for the powers that be, because after all, the powers that be are ordained of God and He sets up the basis of men to rule in the kingdoms of men. God is the one that puts them in. He allows a basement to be there. Well, we should pray for them. God can keep them in control.
And maybe they're not kept in control as much as they should be because we're not exercising enough about praying for them.
We do need to be exercised to pray for the powers that be that we might live a quiet and peaceable life and all godliness and honesty. And as long as there are Saints of God here praying, I believe God will keep things in control. Oftentimes in praying, I feel like praying, asking God to keep all things under control until we're taken out to be with the Lord in glory.
While the Church is the special object of his care.
We also know that even during the tribulation period, why we find the earth helped a woman and opened her mouth to swallow up the flood which the dragon put out so that until this time comes that the Lord Jesus takes everything in hand. Why he's over all and he's caring for his own, whether as I say.
In the Old Testament in caring for his people, Israel.
Now in a special way, caring for the church, which is his body, and during that tribulation period for that remnant who are his and who are going to be brought into that special place of blessing in the earth. So it's always good for us to realize this, but we can look up by faith and know the person. It's interesting to see in the first chapter of Ezekiel.
The prophet saw wheels and wheels within wheels and light and many things that seem very, very perplexed.
But then he looked above and it says he saw as it were the.
Resemblance of a man upon the throne. He didn't see clearly. He saw that there was one who was above it all. But this is the contrast to it, what we have here that we look up and see that one. He's not one that we see through a glass darkly, but we can look opposite were and it says we all with open face, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord.
Now we look up and we see a real person there. We know who that man is.
Ezekiel just saw the resemblance of a man. For us, it's the man who died. For us, it's the man Christ Jesus. What a consolation to our hearts. Everything is put under him.
It isn't time for everything to be manifested that's been under him. I believe that's the meaning here, isn't it? The time will soon be, will soon be here when it'll be manifested in every detail as to what's put under. But still, he's over it all and he's, he's ordering it all from above, is he not?
You see the foretelling of it in the second Psalm, don't we says, Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. And that is what is taking place today.
Man is trying to cast aside all restraint.
But there prophetically it says, yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. And so there's the one there who is above all. And then the Father says, Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance. That is the time that is not yet come.
And that is why in the 17th of John, the Lord Jesus said, I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me, for they are thine.
00:10:08
It perhaps stands out in contrast with what is called the Lorde prayer. In the Lorde prayer, the Lord taught the disciples to pray thy Kingdom come, and if Christ had been received as the king, which he really was, then there would have been blessing brought to the earth.
But they rejected the king. So before the Lord went away, he said that he was not of this world. He said My Kingdom is not of this world. If I were of this world, then would my servants fight? And he didn't ask for the kingdoms of the world. He asked for his own. And that is the place that we're in now. He has that special interest in his own. And for them who shall be heirs of salvation.
I like that little word. Shall be heirs of salvation.
Maybe some can look back and see how even in their unconverted days, God preserved them and kept them from many things. They were to be heirs of salvation now. They hadn't yet been brought to the knowledge of the Lord Jesus, but God's care was over them. His hand was upon them. Finally He brought them to that, and then they can enjoy these things before His care was over them unknowingly to them.
Now we look up by faith and see Him crowned with glory and honor. Man, He always takes the place of subjection to the Father, doesn't He?
And that's a special glory that is his.
And I think it's wonderful to see it.
That even for his coming again, he's waiting the father's time. He doesn't move without a word from his father.
So that it's the beauty of of perfection in manhood that we see, is it not? He became man and there's no other man ever liking in any way. It's only because we have a new nature. We've been given that nature that the same.
Characteristics are seen in the believer in measure, but it's only because of giving, given the new nature and also the life that these things are seen. Because all that's true of him is man is really what characterizes the believer. He gave himself. I believe that includes that thought he gave himself this whole person.
And so we're associated with him and we have the very same nature.
And of course it isn't manifested with us now, it should be. But we do have that same very same nature in connection with the place of subjection. We know that the Lord Jesus, though perfect God, and never having left his place in Godhead, nor ever will He, remains a man forever. And so we read in First Corinthians 15.
Might be good to notice that.
1St Corinthians 15.
And verse 24.
Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the Kingdom to God, even the Father.
When he shall have put down all rule, and all authority and power, For he must reign till he has put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death, and he 40th Put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is accepted which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall.
Himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be All in all. These are wonderful verses, because they carry us right into the eternal state. They bring before us what the purposes of God in connection with His Son.
Or he's going to reign until all enemies have been put under his feet, every bit of opposition, everything that is the result of sin.
Is going to be subdued by this blessed One who became a man, and God is not going to be frustrated in any of His purposes. His purpose was that there would be a creation with man at the head of it, and this blessed One who is God himself and who is also man.
Fill the place of a man perfectly. And so since the place of man is subjection, think of it. It's almost beyond our minds to comprehend that this One who is God is also going to be that One who will remain in that place of man for all eternity, to have the company of redeemed men in association with Himself.
00:15:19
When it says in the 26th verse.
The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. That is the great white throne, and that is the end of all God's dealings as regards to sin and its results. And then we see the introduction of that scene where God is All in all. And we might comment here that when it says that God may be All in all, it's not God the Father merely in this thought, but rather the whole Trinity.
The Father who had counseled all this, the Son who has carried out the Father's counsels, the Spirit which is the power. And as our brother brought before us, nothing has been accomplished at all by the 1St man. Everything under him was ruined. So God steps in and fulfills His purposes, and the whole Trinity is involved in the fulfillment of these purposes of God, which will have their eternal display.
And the marvel of it all is that you and I, in association with the sun in that place, that He has taken to have our company and to have a share in the joy of his toil and victory, and he shall see of the travel of his soul and shall be satisfied. Well, it's overwhelming. And brethren, when we think of it, as we said, and it's good to dwell on it.
This person who's going to do this, who's going to carry it out, is already there, crowned with glory and honor.
It's not merely that God is purposing this. He has already laid the groundwork for it and is just waiting the time when those purposes will be fulfilled according to his own mind and his own counsels.
A little expression that you have in that verse. Even the Father.
1St Corinthians 15 where you were reading just recently.
Even the father, now that carries with it something very precious because.
When the Lord.
Undertook this work.
He added something that was never known before.
And that was a relationship.
A man had never known or entered into before.
Even the father.
Otherwise would be no reason to use that expression here.
God is to be All in all affinity, but then he says in the 24th verse lived up the Kingdom to God.
Even the father, now that's relationship that's being brought into the place of nearness.
Intimacy.
We get more detail that in the third chapter of the Epistle of Ephesians.
Where we're brought right into the very innermost sanctuary, shall we say, Father's house.
With all the joys, and all that belongs to his whole belongs to the believer. And so it isn't that he's sent us again in a place of merely a created being, but he's brought us to himself.
He brought us into that place that his own son enjoys.
Accepted in the beloved had been brought to the Father. I think this is very precious. I believe that will be also true of all redeemed creation, according to that passage in Ephesians chapter 3. For it says in the 14th verse for this, 'cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family, or of whom every family.
And in heaven and earth is named.
It is particularly characteristic of this present dispensation to know God as Father.
But I believe in the eternal scene of blessedness all will enter into the fact that the heart of the Father was the source of all this blessing, and they will enjoy that knowledge in eternity. Every family in heaven and earth.
And perhaps in a little different way, though, in the 25th of Matthew is that come you blessed of my Father. That's just a little difference than the position of the church, isn't there? So every family will have their own position. And I believe even the angels have a blessing greater than before. I believe the whole creation has a blessing greater because of the work of Christ.
00:20:17
Brother Lundeen, this morning you mentioned something about, I believe you made a statement about four results of the suffering, death and death of the Lord Jesus Christ, as mentioned here.
Yeah, perhaps you could tell us, Brother Anderson. The first one is in verse 10, isn't it?
That this that the Lord did is suffering and death was the thing that was suitable to God, it became Him.
He was doing this for God's sake. And of course when he when he's talking to the Father about it, he says not my will, but thine be done. And we read about him laying down his life at the command of the Father. So it was he was doing this because this was the thing that he knew was pleasing to God, his Father.
So that's why it's brought in here, I suppose. For it became him for whom are all things, and by whom are all things.
In bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through suffering.
So God did something for and with the Lord Jesus Christ and the Lord vows to suffering and to death, and there was a completed work done then so that he could be the leader of a whole, a whole company. Well, in connection with those four things we have.
The Lord Jesus is the one and the only one, as we noticed this morning.
Who would fulfill all the counsels of God? But it was through his death.
And then?
He makes atonement. That's the basis of all blessing. Then he announced the power of death, or at least the one who had the power of death.
And delivers all surround it.
Under that fear of death, the last of all we have in the latter part of the chapter.
That he might be merciful and faithful high priest. And that's what really opens up the book to us because it's the subject of our approach to God. And he's the one who who makes that connection for us. He's the one who is merciful and faithful high priest. He's now interceding for his people up there.
So it's really to fulfill the counsels of God, make atonement, and to know the power of death to destroy him that have its power deliver those who are under it. And then the 4th one would be that he might be a faithful, merciful and faithful high priest as things pertain to God. And we have also the work of Christ in that verse to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Like the sin offering, for instance, he makes reconciliation. It's nice to know too that.
These chapters seems A1 introduces the next and and at the end of this chapter we find that which really introduces the the following chapter that takes up the apostle and high priest and so on.
There are four things mentioned here. I think that.
Brought him down to die.
To fulfill all the counsel of God, to make atonement.
And to to know and destroy him that had the power of death and all that power, and then that he might be a merciful and faithful. I treat you think the change of God, this expression here, the captain of their salvation made perfect through suffering. Everything that God does, he does and must do perfectly. So there's a perfect sacrifice. There's a perfect work we find.
Chapter 6, he speaks about going on to perfection. That isn't any perfection in the flesh, there never was or will be, but it gives the believer a perfect standing before God. And so this is something that was never so, as it tells us in the Old Testament under the sacrifices it could not make him that did the service perfect as pertaining to the conscience.
But it tells us in the 10th chapter.
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By one offering he has perfected forever. Them that are sanctified by the Holy Spirit were brought into the knowledge of this perfect standing and this perfect work, and the one who has done it in perfection. But I think this is a lovely expression here. The captain of their salvation, perfect through suffering. The Lord Jesus ever was and always is perfect in himself.
But in order to take that place as our great High Priest.
He humbles himself and as it's often been remarked, He could have come down from heaven and gone straight to the cross, accomplished the work necessary for our salvation as He did in those three hours of darkness. Why those 33 1/2 years in His blessed pathway?
All this ought to encourage our hearts, brethren. He's been through everything that we have to pass through.
Children, young people, full manhood, that precious Savior sent apart has walked through this world and knows everything that we have to meet in every stage of life. And He's been made perfect through suffering. Now we must of course, carefully guard the fact that the Lord Jesus never did and could not sin, but He knows what the path of obedience costs.
A captain might order his man into an engagement in warfare.
And not fully know just what the men are going to have to face in that engagement. But not so with our blessed captain. If he has marked out a path for us and it involves suffering and perhaps death in that path, he knows all about that. He has faced every form and.
Of suffering that a righteous man could go through, and so he is perfectly fitted to fulfill the place of one who sympathizes, one who is able to supply grace to help in time of need and the thought of being made perfect through suffering.
Is regard in regard to His present place as our great High Priest, and in that way the Captain of our salvation, leading us on through this world, supplying all that we need able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by Him.
Seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for us. And so none of us could sit in this room today and say, well, my circumstances are unique. No one ever experienced such a time. Oh, the captain has. He's been through it all. He knows just exactly what we have to face in our pathway and is there as our great high priest, it's been remarked and perhaps bears repeating, that we don't have.
Advocacy of Christ brought in in Hebrews because the the subject of Hebrews is the perfect work that gives the believer that perfect standing before God, and he is there in perfection before God as to his standing, so the priesthood of Christ.
Keep us in the enjoyment of all that He has done for us to supply the grace that we need is brought before us. But it isn't until we come to John's epistle, where we have the family, that we have advocacy and restoration. When we have failed, that doesn't enter into the subject of Hebrews.
Because it's all that God has done to provide for us a perfect sacrifice, all that we need for the pathway to bring us home the glory. Very precious how the truth is kept in this way. And the word perfect is so often used through the epistle as presenting to us.
Perfect one, and that perfect work, and that perfect standing, and the imperfection of His priesthood, all in contrast with that under the Law which made nothing perfect. You can understand how the presentation of this to these Jews who had professed faith in Christ.
And we're now suffering. We can begin to understand how this would be a real encouragement to them to find out that the one who is the Messiah, their Messiah, the King of Israel, yet having died and become their Savior and had gone through all of this. And if they would look to him, they would be encouraged and he would carry them along. Because over in the 10th chapter we read about their suffering and their trial.
In verse 32.
But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, he endured a great fight of affliction, partly while she were made a gazing stop, both by reproaches and afflictions.
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And partly once he became companions of them that were so used, well, they were really going to do a lot of trial and suffering and persecution that they had taken a stand now and they were tempted to to give up and to go back to the old form of things. But all they're being encouraged now by the apostle and writing all of this about the Lord and his sufferings and how he can sympathize with them.
And that they should go on. Not go back, but go on.
And go on to perfection, That is, get occupied with the one who had completed all the work and who had done it perfectly. What an encouragement it must have been to many of them. Perhaps some of them did go back, I don't know. But the apostle encourages them to go on.
And it's prosthetic very difficult to submit to someone who doesn't understand you.
Doesn't love you, perhaps is just interested in seeing how much they can get out of you. Perhaps to work in a situation where the man who is your boss is the managers son and he just stepped into that place right from college and knows nothing about having come up through the experiences that you have to face. So that in beautiful contrast we see the one who actually is.
And of our salvation. And to me it's very wonderful, as you have remarked, to think.
That he created Adam, a full grown man, and he couldn't have come into the world in the very same way.
But he chose to come into this world and go through those years and face those experiences and learn the meaning of obedience and of suffering in order that we might look up and say there's one up there.
Who loves me perfectly, understands me thoroughly, and has been through what I'm going through. Oh, how different it is to submit to and to obey someone with a heart like that. Something for the children. Remember that the Lord was a child and He went through things in that childhood that could be a help to you children.
We read of him as a boy of 12.
And we find that he was obedient. This could be a help to teenagers, remembering that the Lord has gone that pathway and he was obedient. He was subject to his parents. He's gone through all of that. He he's gone through young manhood. We forget that sometimes, but he's gone through all of this. And he did it all in a way that was absolutely pleasing to God because we read it, it always those things.
That pleased the Father for what an encouragement that should be to everyone of us, from children on up.
There's a little verse in the 88th Psalm I think is exceedingly precious.
In connection with these thoughts.
In the 88th Psalm, the first part of the 15th verse speaking, I believe, of the Lord, it says I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up. Well, why wasn't he taken earlier and offered up? He was ready for it. He was ever perfect, but here it says.
At least in the 5th chapter Hebrew says being made.
Perfect there when we think of the Lord Jesus, a perfect man, always a perfect mind. But he went on and lived here for 33 years and a bit, 30 years old when he entered his ministry. Why? So that he might go through the same experiences that you and I. He knows them. Oh, he's a perfect high priest and he's the author of eternal salvation and all the way.
Savior, and he's there. He's already home, the man in the glory, and he knows the feelings that we go through in the way. Oh, what a captain we have, beloved.
This this person Hebrews you quote 6th chapter takes him further.
Than anything that any of us would ever experience.
Because if that refers to Gethsemane.
Not to the three hours exactly, but to Gethsemane. That's the.
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The 5th chapter in the nine first the notice the seventh verse. Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered a prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears on him that was able to save him really out of death. I believe it should read and was heard and that he feared.
Though he were Son, yet learned the obedience by the things which he suffered, and being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey Him.
We'll never know what he passed through in Gethsemane.
Of course, we'll never know what he passed through those three hours, but in Gethsemane, where he was anticipating being made sin, for instance.
Think of that, Holy One. He made sin for us.
So He went way beyond anything you and I would ever call it upon to experience. He was went through the perfection. Speaking of the Lord Jesus being subject to his parents. I like the connection where it is particularly mentioned. I'll just read. No need to turn to it. His mother had just said to him.
Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us?
Behold, I, Father and I have sought thee sorrowing. He really didn't deserve that rebuke at all, did he?
He said unto them, How is it that he sought Me, wished He not that I must be about my Father's business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them there He is as a boy, being accused by his dear mother in a way that he was not deserving of.
His parents didn't understand his answer to what she said.
But he went down to Nazareth, and was subject unto them. Thus one of those beautiful little touches that bring out the perfection of the Lord Jesus.
Even though he was at that time but 12 years of age.
The 17th verse that was already mentioned we have the two parts of his priesthood brought together.
A merciful and faithful high priest and things pertaining to God and to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted. We know that Aaron offered up a sacrifice on the Day of Atonement.
And that sacrifice was for the sins of the people. Well, the Lord Jesus himself fulfilled the type and shadow of Aaron, and he offered up a sacrifice not for himself, but for the sins of the people. A perfect sacrifice, so perfect that it says by one offering you have perfected forever them that are sanctified. And now the priesthood that he carries on does not have to do with our sins.
But has to do with our infirmities. And that in that connection, he's a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek, that is to minister blessing. He has fulfilled that part as regards the ironic priesthood in the sacrifice of himself. But now he's there as a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
You go back to Genesis, the victory had already been won.
And we find Melchizedek comes and meets Abraham and tells him that he's supposed that he is being brought into blessing. He's, he's blessed by the possessor of heaven and earth. And so I think it's nice for us to see those two things. That part that has to do with the question of sin has already been settled. But the high priest in Israel was also to have compassion on the ignorant and on them that were out of the way.
He was also to enter into what the people were passing through. We find that Eli failed in this and didn't understand what was going on.
In the heart of Hannah and accused her of being drunk. But not so with our high priest. He's up there and he's living. He's been through the path, as it was remarked. He fully understands all about us. He'll never be like like Eli. Who thought that?
Was drunk, you understand this perfectly and supplies that grace to help. So it's very precious to think of that part which is completed, which made reconciliation for our sins, and that part which He is now carrying on for us, living for us at the right hand of God.
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To supply that grace to help.
The church is mentioned only twice in Hebrews, is it not? It's not exactly the subject of the church, although it is the church.
But that isn't the side of things we haven't mentioned here in the first saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren. In the midst of the Church will I sing praise unto thee, and that that day is coming, although I like to think of it now too.
In the midst of the church that the Lord is there, where two or three are gathered. But how precious it will be in the day when the whole church will be assembled in one place in presence. I suppose 11 first has to do with the thought of of.
Kind same nature.
And for that reason, he's not ashamed to call them brethren. Is that right?
It's not, it's not the first man anymore. First man is gone. We're we're in Christ, we're in a new position before him. We have a nature and he took part in our nature, but we have also now been given a nature that's of God.
He took part as to our nature send a part of course, but.
It's for this reason now that he is not ashamed to call them brethren, one-of-a-kind. Still, the Spirit of God guards here, it says, are all of one.
Of 1 instead of 1.
We might make a comment about that word. Rather you notice it's not capitalized, it's the small B.
And all will belong to Christ are his brethren. Sometimes that term gets applied just to the gathered Saints, and.
Sometimes we.
Apply it to ourselves and call ourselves the president. Well, we don't find it that way in the word of God. All who belong to the Lord Jesus Christ are his brethren and he's not ashamed to to call them brethren. That I I think it's a word that we should really rejoice in sometimes folks say to us.
Are you one of the brethren? Well, I'm very happy to be able to say yes. Thank God I am, and so are you.
If you know the Lord Jesus as your Savior, I think we need not shrink from accepting and enjoying that happy scriptural word, but to make it clear that it rightly belongs to every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, thank God I am, and so are you if you know the Lord Jesus as your Savior.
What about decapitalizing one body? You see it sometimes.
We heard so much about the One Body in Kentucky that the neighbor said that the One Body Church.
It's sad, isn't it, that there are many believers today, real believers in the Lord Jesus Christ that don't know that truth, that we're all members of one body by 1 Spirit. Are we all baptized into one body?
One body, yes, all who know the Lord Jesus Christ. All were the Lord seen by the Spirit of God.
They're part of that one body. We mustn't forget that, that there are others beside ourselves that are members of that one body, and we can't claim that just for ourselves.
We must have eyes to see and hearts to see.
That all are members of that one body and we need to have a heart for them and try to help them. We know of course there are some that can't be helped, but once in a while there is one that we can be helped and I believe we should be exercised before the Lord about.
Being guided by the Spirit that we might meet these who are in exercise and try to be a help to them.
We're thankful for those who were a help to us.
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The Lords Table is the testimony to that truth, that there is one body. In fact, the only place where the Lords Table is mentioned in the New Testament in First Corinthians 10, is the very place where it says we being many, are one bread, one body, for we are all partakers of that one bread. So I say again, the Lord's Table is really the testimony to that truth.
Wherever anything is set up which is a testimony to a human organization, it is a denial of what the Lord's Table really is.
It testifies to the fact that the coming down of the Holy Spirit of God is to form all believers into one body in Christ, and the one loaf on the table is to symbolize that blessed truth. So I think it's very precious to see, and we should always bear in mind just what that one loaf is the symbol of. And that, I say again, is the only place in Scripture where.
About the only place in the New Testament where we read about the Lord's Table.
16 Psalm that gives us the life of the Lord Jesus in a very few sentences, begins with this expression.
I will trust.
In him Lord put his complete trust in God. He he always walked down here as in complete dependence.
On the On the father.
That was the perfection of manhood seen in here.
I admit that I misunderstood this 12Th verse of our chapter for quite a long time. What shall I say? I'm almost glad I did because of the joy I got when I saw what it really did mean. I had simply thought of it as being our joy in being able to praise the Lord and sing of Him when we were gathered together in His presence. But it's most obvious, is it not, that?
This really is the Lord Jesus.
Speaking from the joy of His own heart, I will declare Thy name unto my brethren. In the midst of the Church. Will I sing praise unto Thee. Isn't that wonderful, beloved brethren, that the Lord Jesus is so filled with joy at being surrounded by His own, that He.
Sings praise unto God his Father, because of the joy of his heart.
All that to me is so very, very lovely. I was glad to give up the previous thought I had had because it was so wonderful to think of the Lord Jesus experiencing that joy, perhaps.
Is it something like what you get in the 22nd Psalm? In fact, I suppose it's a quotation from there.
Fulfilled in John chapter 20 where the Lord Jesus.
Presents himself to his own, and says, I sent unto my father, and your father to my God, and your God.
Proclaiming the name unto his brethren.
That joy continue now in the next verse, Brother Albert.
The same thought, is it not? It's his. His joy in connection with. I will put my trust in him. I'd like to do thy will, Oh my God. And then behold, I and the children.
Which God has given me is that moment of joy when He presents His people to the Father. Is it not so? These three thoughts go together, I believe.
I think this is exceedingly beautiful, to think of it as we have been told, as concerning the Lord, His thoughts and His feelings, they always exceed ours anyway. And to think of Him.
And his thoughts were of us, and our of us.
He is saying.
I uh.
And the one that's getting the joy of singing in the midst of the church, in the midst of the church, when I sing praise unto thee.
And then again he says I will put my trust in him. The Lord feeling his departure from this scene, I believe, or at least I like to think and refer back to the Lords Prayer in the 17th of John where he does that I will put my trust in him. And he does that in the 17th of John in connection with his own.
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In the time while he is away.
On the 17th of John and verse 11.
At the end he says, Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are one. There He is trusting his own to the Father, to be kept until that moment when he will introduce us into the Father's house.
Oh, it's just delightful to think of the Lord's thoughts and what he says about his own.
And looking forward to that moment which could be today, when he introduces his own, he turns to the Father and says, Behold, I and the children whom thou hast given me. We are the love gift of the Father to the Son. And he is thinking of his own joy in that moment when he brings us into the Father's house.
It's the beloved Son.
Beloved family around himself, beloved of God. What a seed.
Does his delights were with the sons of man in the Proverbs?
And so much so that he partook of flesh and blood.
As we have in the next verse.
For then, as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same through death. He might destroy him that had the power of death as the devil.
It really is taking away his power. He's destroying the devil, taking away his power. And this is what kept us in ******* was it not the fear of death, but because the children were partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same thing. And this was even to death, so that he might to take away everything that hindered that.
Joy and eternal blessing. Joy for Himself and joy for His people.
Because.
His delights were with the sons of men.
Satan is really a defeated foe now, isn't he? He was the one who was responsible, tempted Adam and Eve and brought him death. And now there must be one who could go into Satan stronghold, as it were, and overcome. And there's one who has done that. He has gone right into Satans stronghold. He has overcome the power of Satan so that for us he is a defeated foe. And so it tells us in first.
Corinthians chapter 3. All things are yours, whether life or death.
In the Old Testament they feared death. That was the king of terrors. But how different now? It is actually the believers servant. The Lord Jesus went into death and rose triumphant. And so through that mighty victory, death has no sting for the believer. Death for the believer is to be absent from the body and present with the Lord.
Taken out of a world of sorrow to be with the one whom we love.
And it so much belongs to us now that is possible. We may not go through it at all. If the Lord should come now and then death is really ours. And we don't look for death. We look instead for the Lord's coming.
If we go through it, the sting has been taken out of it and that's why it goes on to say deliver them who? Through fear of death. It was so in the Old Testament. It is so for man and nature. He fears death. He does everything he possibly can to try and hinder death. Book The world is full of all kinds of attempts to try and live as long as possible and to enjoy life to the full. Whereas for us all that we hope.
Look for is beyond this world who counted a privilege to be here and to be able to live, to please the Lord Jesus and to be waiting and watching. But it's lovely to think that death belongs to us and the power of death has been removed because Satan's power has been annulled. He has not only defeated Satan, but he has taken away from him his armor wherein he trusted. Let's look at a couple of verses.
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Luke 11.
And the 11Th of Luke versus 21 and two.
When a strongman armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace, but when a stronger than he shall come upon him and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armor, wherein he trusted and divided his spoils. In the first of revelation we read of the Lord.
Saying I am he that liveth and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And have the keys.
Hell and of death.
Well, apparently the armor we're in, this strongman trusted, who we believe was Satan, was death. He had brought death in through sin.
And the day thou eatest hour of thou shalt surely die or dying, thou shalt die with truth. So Satan, introduced by deceit, sin, and the wages followed death. And the Lord entered right into Satan's stronghold, went right down into death.
And overcame death. And he is alive forevermore. But now he has the keys of it. It all belongs to a man now, a victorious man. And Satan has lost his armor too, hasn't it?
It was a great comfort to those believers over in the Congo when we brought this before them, that the Lord Jesus Christ had overcome Satan. He had taken his armor away from through death. He took his power away and know the power of him that had the power of death.
Well, up until that time, they hadn't known anything about this. They didn't know anything about what God had done. They had never heard the name of Jesus.
And they were so afraid of death. And I stood at gravesides of children and others that died, and the people were beside themselves. They were looking into that grave and it was all darkness ahead of them. They had no hope, no light. And it was a privilege to tell them about the Lord Jesus Christ who had come.
To annull the power of Satan, take his power away from him.
That they did not be afraid if they were just trusting the Lord Jesus Christ receive him as their savior, that he would take care of them. He had taken away Satans power and Satan could have no power against him. Well they knew they knew what Satans power was because they had their witch doctors and they were afraid of evil spirits and and they were worshipping idols and.
And they knew something about this power, the spiritual power, which was Satan's power.
I know I kept them in fear, but when they received Christ as their Savior and knew that the Lord Jesus Christ had died for their sins and settled the sin question and that he dealt with Satan too, taking his power away from him, that they could trust in the Lord.
And even though they died, they'd be raised again. The Lord would come and get them. What a comfort it was to them. What a message we have to give people that are in darkness like that.
No such thing as annihilation.
Man love to teach that doctrine. Believe if you could.
Because he doesn't know Christ, doesn't know what's ahead. He only knew Christ and knew what was ahead. He wouldn't for a moment, counting on such a doctrine. But it's spreading and people like to believe that. It's like blindfolds over their eyes.
But notice here Abraham is connected with this subject.
That we have here.
In the days of Abraham, we have the whole world given over to demons.
And Abraham was called out.
God of glory.
All right out of idolatry and demon worship and he starts he begins a new.
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Line of things in this world.
That is, he was the father of faith. He believed God was counted in for righteousness.
And so Abraham then is really the head of a of a of a race in a sense, not like Adam, but the head of a race of faith.
No, the Lord passed by angels.
And he took.
On him the seed of Abraham.
Entirely new order in which man's connection with God is not on the basis of what He is in Himself.
Or what man has done, but on the basis of faith simply.
On what God has done.
And the message that God has given to man in relation to it.
And no salvation for angels of sin.
God has taken up the violent Sinner who believed.
And survived salvation all through the death finished work of Christ is being raised from the dead and seated on high. The work is complete. It doesn't matter how vile a man is, he takes Christ as his Savior. He has eternal life. But this is not provided for angels.
Purposes of God in connection with blessing, whether mankind or angels are according to election, though, aren't they? And so we read about the elect angels, and God has preserved a certain number of the angels from falling. They surround the throne there in the 5th of Revelation and praise God for his greatness and power.
And they have experienced this because?
They have been preserved. They are the elect angels, as we're told in Timothy. But with mankind, God acted in a different way. He allowed the whole human race to fall, and now he acts in election. And saving out from the human race are those whom he has afore prepared under glory.
And so that the whole scene is going to be to the glory and praise of God for us. We will know his heart in a way the angels never will. Because having been saved through that glorious work of Calvary, we're going to know the heart of God that told itself out in his giving his Son and the Lord Jesus taking our place and bearing the judgment.
So in that 5th of revelation we have those that sing.
Thou art worthy, for thou was slain, and has redeemed us to God by thy blood. Out of every kindred tongue, and people and nation. They are the elected from among men. And then we have the angels, who praise God for his greatness.
But I say it's all to his glory and praise. Nothing of nature will be able to praise God. Whether it's the nature of angels or of men, it's all to his glory and praise in that day, isn't it?
What would you say in answer to a question that's often raised as to why did God allow sin to come into the world?
Well, I suppose we just have to say that like it says in Job, why dost thou strive against Him? For He giveth not account of any of His matters that God hasn't been pleased to tell us why He has done things in a certain way. We know the results of what He has done, and so, as I say, we're going to see the results of that electing grace in that coming scene of glory. But why He has been pleased to do it in the way that He.
I believe it brings added glory to His name, but it's for us just to accept that that's what He has done. However, I think it is important for us to see that the creature is always looked upon as responsible. And so that election has nothing to do with those who are unbelievers. And the Bible never speaks of people being elected to be lost or predestined to be lost.
In the whole human race Christ died for all. The salvation is offered to all. God is not willing that any should perish. But if, to use the illustration, if some people broke into your home and you offered to pardon them all, and they all refused.
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There is no display of your kindness at all because they've all refused. Now if you pick out some of those men and display your kindness to them, the others cannot say they didn't have a chance. They had the opportunity. And so if man, if God had left mankind to himself, the whole human race would have been lost, because no one of his own free will would ever come to God, Jesus said.
Not come unto me, that you might have life. No man can come unto me except the Father which has sent me. Draw him so the heart of man, so alienated as it is from God, He never would come. So if there's going to be any blessing for mankind, God must act in electing grace.
And I believe the same applies to the angels that left to themselves they fall. So God acts in his power and preserves a certain number, but the others who fell are responsible and will be judged as responsible created intelligences.
Why God has pleased, been pleased to do it in that way, I don't believe it's for us to question. But it is strange when men speak of these things that they talk of their own rights, they talk of their own rights. They choose friends, they choose partners, they choose a job, and they say no one should interfere if I wish to choose to make a certain person my friend or my husband or wife.
That is a right that they claim they have the privilege to exercise, but they say God has no right to say who He's going to have in heaven. He He isn't. He doesn't have that right. Well, if all refuse and He chooses to act in that way, those of us who have been brought in by His grace can only praise Him and thank Him. But one thing we can see, the whole scene is going to redound to His glory and not to any glory.
Creature.
Usually when a question like that is raised, it's raised by someone who wants to blame God for something.
And.
It would be, I suppose, wise for us to try to answer the state of soul that caused them to raise that question.
To answer in a way that would perhaps touch their conscience instead of just trying to.
Present some answer that we who know the Lord really recognize and enjoy.
Because really, when you spoke a moment ago, husband and wife, what husband is there here who would like to think that he.
Claimed a wife whose emotions and attitudes he controlled just like a robot. It was far, far more wonderful and delightful and pleasing to be able to win the affections of someone.
Who becomes your wife? And so I believe, when we look down and see the wonderful heart of God.
In preparing a way of redemption and working in our hearts to win our poor cold hearts by that which has been done.
It will certainly result in that which will be to the glory of God and a praise from our hearts that otherwise would never be so. Furthermore, if a man says why did God allow sin, does that man really and honestly wish that God had created him, incapable of doing anything but what God would require of him?
The man knows very well that he wants his own way. He wants to sin and then look up and say, Why did God make me this way?
And heaven has declared the glory of God that makes every man responsible.
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting his soul that makes the Jew responsible.
Then we have Christianity. God has spoken.
From his son.
Here on earth and then now he's spoken from heaven.
So we have 3 testimonies for this present day.
And the plan rejects these three testimonies. He certainly is responsible, is he not?
We're Cinder bounded grace did much more abound.
Sin coming in, sin being allowed of God to come in. Give God the opportunity to display His grace.
And we can't question that.
01:10:01
This is God's doing, and I think that's the important thing, as has been mentioned, not to question what God is doing, but bow to God, submit to him, and then we get the blessing.
It seems to me there's enough revealed in the word of the results of that plan and allowing sin to come in and redemptions work.
To give us a little satisfaction as to why God allowed it.
One thinks of this grace you're Speaking of. You might just notice in Ephesians 2 what it says about we poor Gentiles and the results of this plan of God to say that in the seventh verse of the second chapter it says that in the ages to come He might show.
The exceeding riches of his grace and His kindness toward us.
Through Christ Jesus.
God opened the heavens and said, This is my beloved Son, in whom is all my delight.
And he had such delight in that.
Son of his that he has determined to display through those eternal ages that riches of his grace. And I hope I'm right in saying it, that we who were just poor Gentiles so far away from God, going down in sin to its depths.
Were objects upon which that heart of God could display those exceeding riches of his grace, and lifting of us up from such a low place, and giving us the same place as his beloved Son in the glory. Well, if we had been maintained innocence, this couldn't have been brought out. And God is light, and God is love, and when He manifests, He must manifest himself in these.
Things that he is light and light and love and it has all come out.
And the glorious plans of the pages of this book to the glory and honor of His Son forever. It seems to me that satisfies my heart, as if why God allowed it anyway. The holy angels through God's will, but still they don't see and enjoy what we do.
Because.
They're not the subjects of redeeming grace. They can look on and wonder at it all and praise God for, but as to being in the enjoyment of it for themselves, they they can't be. But we. We've had the experience of being lost, guilty sinners before God, and we have experienced God's graciousness to us.
And we can sing unto him who loved us and washed us in his precious blood.
We can sing that song. The angels Can't Sing it. Well, how wonderful it is. Well, it's all part of the plan of God. And what can we do but humbly, humbly bow before God in view of the whole faith?
Hebrews 2:9
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I enjoyed the comments that were made about the Lord Jesus being already placed in that wonderful and exhausted position, and I thought of the last verse of first Peter chapter 3 where we read who has gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him.
Now, even though we do see all around us a great deal of disorder and anxiety in the world.
Yet isn't it a comforting thing to the believer to know that he is there, and that these things are not out of his control? He is there, angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him, and it's really a contradiction for a believer to be anxious and troubled about.
The affairs of this poor world, he is still above them all and over them all.
Also read in Ephesians chapter one that he is head over all things to the church, which is his body, so that he himself is not openly interfering in the affairs of the world. The body is specially caring for his people. The passage you referred to in Peter has to do with baptism and that is taking that name of Christ upon us in a world that's hostile to him we're.
On the name of the one who is there above all, and who Elohim rules behind the scenes is still in control. And then going on, as we remark, head over all things to the Church. He has a special care for his own, though not interfering openly in the affairs of the world, He does have a care for us, and as we have in the end of the first chapter.
Angels, it says. They're sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation.
We see little pictures of it. For instance, in the Old Testament there was Daniel in captivity in Babylon. But when he cries to the Lord on behalf of the people of God, we see how that God was over all the Princess and all the authorities that seem to be hindering the blessing of God's people in an earthly way. How much more so?
Where there's a risen man now at the right hand of God, caring for the members of his body.
Now this is what gives us courage and confidence, isn't it?
Their thoughts will fall in writing to Timothy.
Exhorted him to pray for those in authority. Pray for King.
Well, if everything was going smoothly in this world, I don't believe we as children of God would feel an exercise about praying for them. But perhaps God is allowing things to go the way they do, that we might be exercised about it and pray. Sometimes we say, well, we don't deserve it any better than we have.
But still, I believe God allows circumstances and the pressures to come that we might be exercised about praying for the powers that be. Because after all, the powers that be are ordained of God and He sets up the basis of men to rule in the kingdoms of men. God is the one that puts them in. He allows.
A basement to be there. Well, we should pray for them.
Keep them in control, and maybe they're not kept in control as much as they should be because we're not exercising enough about praying for them. We do need to be exercised to pray for the power to be that we might live a quiet and peaceable life and all godliness and honesty. And as long as there are Saints of God here praying, I believe God will keep things in control. Often times in praying, I feel like praying.
Asking God to keep all things under control until we're taken out to be with the Lord in glory.
While the church is the special object of his care, we also know that even during the tribulation period why we find the earth helped the woman and opened her mouth to swallow up the flood which the dragon put out. So that until this time comes that the Lord Jesus takes everything in hand while he's over all and he's caring for his own.
00:05:08
Whether, as I say in the Old Testament, in caring for his people, Israel.
Now in a special way, caring for the church, which is his body, and during that tribulation period for that remnant who are his and who are going to be brought into that special place of blessing in the earth. So it's always good for us to realize this, but we can look up by faith and know the person. It's interesting to see in the first chapter of Ezekiel.
The prophet saw wheels and wheels within wheels and light and many things that seem very, very perplexed thing.
But then he looked to God, and it says he saw as it were the.
The resemblance of a man upon the throne. He didn't see clearly. He saw that there was one who was above it all. But this is the contrast to what what we have here that we look up and see that one. He's not one that we see through a glass darkly, but we can look opposite were and it says we all with open face beholding us in a glass, the glory of the Lord.
And we look up and we see a real person there. We know who that man is.
Ezekiel just saw the resemblance of a man. For us, it's the man who died for us. It's the man Christ Jesus. What a consolation to our hearts. Everything is put under him, but isn't time for everything to be manifested that's put on him? I believe that's the meaning here, isn't it? The time will soon be will soon be here When?
It'll be manifested in every detail as to what's put under him, but still, he's over it all and he's he's ordering it all from above, is he not?
You see the foretelling of it in the second Psalm, don't we says, Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and castaway their cords from us. And that is what is taking place today.
Man is trying to cast aside all restraint.
But there prophetically it says, Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
And so there's the one there who is above all. And then the Father says, Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance. That is the time that has not yet come. And that is why in the 17th of John the Lord Jesus said, I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me, for they are thine.
It perhaps stands out in contrast with what is called the Lord's Prayer.
In the Lord's Prayer the Lord taught the disciples to pray thy Kingdom come, and if Christ had been received as the king, which he really was, then there would have been blessing brought to the earth. But they rejected the king. So before the Lord went away, he said that he was not of this world. He said, My Kingdom is not of this world. If I were of this world, then would my servants fight?
And he didn't ask for the kingdoms of the world, he asked for his own. And that is the place that we're in now.
He has that special interest in his own. And for them who shall be heirs of salvation? I like that little word, Shall be heirs of salvation. Maybe some can look back and see how even in their unconverted days, God preserved them and kept them from many things. They were to be heirs of salvation. They hadn't yet been brought to the knowledge of the Lord Jesus.
But God's care was over them. His hand was upon them.
Finally He brought them to that, and then they can enjoy these things before His care was over them, unknowingly to them. Now we look up by faith and see Him crowned with glory and honor as man. He always takes the place of subjection to the Father, doesn't He?
And that's a special glory that is his.
And I think it's wonderful to see it.
That even for his coming again, he's waiting the father's time. He doesn't move without a word from his father.
00:10:01
So that's it's the beauty of perfection in manhood that we see, is it not? He became man, and there's no other man ever like him in any way.
It's only because we have a new nature, we've been given that nature that the same.
Characteristics are seen in the believer in measure.
But it's only because of.
Giving, given the new nature and also the life that these things are seen, because all that's true of him as man is really what characterizes the believer he gave himself. I believe that includes that thought. He gave himself this whole person, and so we're associated with him and we have the very same nature.
And.
Of course it isn't manifested with us now, it should be, but you do have that same very same nature.
In connection with the place of subjection, we know that the Lord Jesus.
Though perfect God, and never having left his place in Godhead, nor ever will.
He remains a man forever. And so we read in First Corinthians 15.
Might be good to notice that.
1St Corinthians 15.
And verse 24.
Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the Kingdom to God, even the Father.
When he shall have put down all rule, and all authority and power, for he must reign to leave, put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death, and he 40th Put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is accepted which did put all things under him, and when all things shall be subdued unto him.
Then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him.
That God may be All in all, these are.
Wonderful verses because they carry us right into the eternal state. They bring before us what the purposes of God in connection with His Son.
Or he's going to reign until all enemies have been put under his feet. Every bit of opposition, everything that is the result of sin, is going to be subdued by this blessed One who became a man. And God is not going to be frustrated in any of His purposes.
His purpose was that there would be a creation with man at the head of it, and this blessed One who is God Himself and who is also man.
Will fill the place of a man perfectly, and so since the place of man is subjection.
Think of it, it's almost beyond our mind to comprehend that this one who is God.
Is also going to be that one who will remain in that place of man for all eternity, to have the company of redeemed men in association with himself. When it says in the 26th verse, the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death, that is the great white throne, and that is the end of all God's dealings as regards to sin and its results.
And then?
We see the introduction of that scene where God is All in all.
And we might comment here that when it says that God may be All in all, it's not God the Father merely in this thought, but rather the whole Trinity, the Father who had counseled all this, the Son who has carried out the Father's counsel, the Spirit which is the power. And as our brother brought before us, nothing has been accomplished at all by the 1St man. Everything under him was.
So God steps in and fulfills his purposes, and the whole Trinity is involved in the fulfillment of these purposes of God.
Which will have their eternal display. And the marvel of it all is that you and I in association with Assad and in that place that he has taken to have our company and to have a share in the joy of his toil and victory. And he shall see of the travel of his soul and shall be satisfied. Well, it's overwhelming. And brethren, when we think of it, as we said.
00:15:06
And it's good to dwell on it now. This person who's going to do this, who's going to carry it out, is already there, crowned with glory and honor. It's not merely that God is purposing this, and He has already laid the groundwork for it and is just waiting the time when those purposes will be fulfilled according to his own mind and his own counsel.
That little expression that you have in that verse, even the Father.
On the paper 1St Corinthians 15.
For your reading just recently.
Even the father.
Now that carries with it something very precious because.
When the Lord.
Undertook this work.
He added something that was never known before.
And that was a relationship.
That man had never known or entered into before.
Even the father.
Otherwise there'd be no reason to use that expression here.
God is.
To be All in all the Trinity. But then he says in the 24th verse lived up the Kingdom to God.
Even the father, now that's relationship.
That's being brought into the place of nearness.
Intimacy.
We get more detail that in the third chapter of the Epistle of Ephesians.
Where we're brought right into the very innermost sanctuary, shall we say, the Father's house.
All the joys and all that belongs to his whole belongs to the believer. And so it isn't that he's set us again in a place of merely a created being, but he's brought us to himself.
He brought us into that place that his own son enjoys.
Accepted in the beloved had been brought to the Father. I think this is very precious here. I believe that'll be also true of all redeemed creation, according to that passage in Ephesians chapter 3. For it says in the 14th verse for this, 'cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family, or of whom every family.
And in heaven and earth is named.
It is particularly characteristic of this present dispensation to know God as Father.
But I believe in the eternal scene of blessedness all will enter into the fact that the heart of the Father was the source of all His blessings, and they will enjoy that knowledge in eternity. Every family in heaven and earth.
And perhaps in a little different way, though in the 25th of Matthew is that come ye blessed of my Father, there's just a little difference than the decision of the Church, isn't there?
So every family will have their own position and I believe even the angels have a blessing greater than before. I believe the whole creation of the blessing greater because of the work of Christ. Brother London, this morning you mentioned something about, I believe you made a statement about.
4 results of the suffering death of the Lord Jesus Christ, as mentioned here. Yeah, perhaps you can tell us, Brother Anderson.
The first one is in verse 10, isn't it?
That this, that the Lord did in suffering and death was the thing that was suitable to God. It became Him.
He was doing it for God's sake. And of course when he, when he's talking to the Father about it, he says not my will, but time be done. And we read about him laying down his life at the command of the Father. So it was he was doing this because this was the thing that he knew was pleasing to God, his Father.
That's why it's brought in here, I suppose, for it became him for whom are all things, and by whom are all things.
In bringing many sons under glory to make the captain of their salvation perfect through suffering.
And so God did something for and with the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Lord vowed to suffering and to death, and there was a completed work done then so that he could be the leader of a whole, a whole company.
00:20:21
Well, in connection with those four things we have, the Lord Jesus is the one and the only one, as we noticed this morning, who would fulfill all the councils of God, but it was through his death.
And then he makes atonement. That's the basis of all blessing.
Then he announced the power of death, or at least the one who had the power of death.
And delivers all surrender.
Under that fear of death.
The last of all we have in the latter part of the chapter.
That he might be merciful and faithful high priest. And that's what really opens up the book to us because it's the subject of our approach to God. And he's the one who who makes that connection for us. He's the one who merciful and faithful high priest, He's now interceding for his people up there.
Does really to fulfill the counsels of God, make atonement, and to know the power of death?
Destroy him that had his power deliver those who are under it and then the 4th one would be.
That he might be a faithful, merciful and faithful high priest and things pertain to God.
And we have also the work of Christ in that verse to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Like the sin off in, for instance, he makes reconciliation. It's nice to know too, that.
These chapters seems A1 introduces the next and and at the end of this chapter we find that which really introduces the the following chapter that takes up the.
Fossil and high priest and so on.
There are four things.
Mentioned here, I think that.
Brought him down to die.
To fulfill all the counsel of God to make its own.
And to know and destroy him that have the power of death and all that power, and then that he might be a merciful and faithful, I treat, he thinks the thing to God.
This expression here, the captain of their salvation made perfect through suffering. Everything that God does, he does and must do perfectly. So there's a perfect sacrifice, there's a perfect work. We find in Hebrews chapter six, he speaks about going on to perfection.
That isn't any perfection in the flesh. There never was or will be.
But it gives the believer a perfect standing before God.
And so this is something that was never so, as it tells us in the Old Testament under the sacrifices it could not make him that did the service perfect as pertaining to the conscience, but it tells us in the 10th chapter by one offering He has perfected forever them that are sanctified by the Holy Spirit were brought into the knowledge of this perfect standing and this perfect work and.
Who has done it in perfection? But I think this is a lovely expression here. The captain of their salvation, perfect through suffering. The Lord Jesus ever was and always is perfect in himself. But in order to take that place as our great High Priest, he humbles himself. And as it's often been remarked, he could have come down from heaven and gone straight to the cross.
Accomplished the work necessary for our salvation.
As he did in those three hours of darkness. Why those 33 1/2 years in his blessed pathway?
All this ought to encourage our hearts, brethren. He's been through everything that we have to pass through. Children, young people.
Full manhood, that precious Savior sent apart, has walked through this world and knows everything that we have to meet in every stage of life, and He's been made perfect through suffering. Now we must of course, carefully guard the fact that the Lord Jesus never did and could not sin.
00:25:12
But he knows what the path of obedience costs. A captain might order his men into an engagement in warfare.
And not fully know just what the men are going to have to face in that engagement. But not so with our blessed Captain. If he has marked out a path for us and it involves suffering and perhaps death in that path, he knows all about that. He has faced every form and kind of suffering that a righteous man could go through. And so he is.
Perfectly fitted to fulfill the place.
Of one who sympathizes, one who is able to supply grace to help in time of need, and the thought of being made perfect through suffering, is in regard to his present place as our great High Priest, and in that way, the Captain of our salvation, leading us on through this world, supplying all that we need able to save to the uttermost, all that come unto God.
Him seeing he ever liveth to make a recession for us and so none of us could sit in this room today and say, well, my circumstances are unique. No one ever experienced such a time. Oh, the captain has he's been through it all. He knows just exactly what we have to face in our pathway and is there is our great high priest. It's been remarked and perhaps.
Repeating that we don't have the advocacy of Christ brought in in Hebrews because the the subject of Hebrews is the perfect work that gives the believer that perfect standing before God and he is there in perfection before God as to his standing. So the priesthood of Christ to keep us in the enjoyment of all that He has done for us to supply the grace that we need is brought before us.
But it isn't until we come to John's epistle, where we have the family, that we have advocacy and restoration. When we have failed, that doesn't enter into the subject of Hebrews because it's all that God has done to provide for us a perfect sacrifice, all that we need for the pathway to bring us home the glory.
Very precious how the truth is kept in this way, and the word perfect is so often used through the epistle.
As presenting to us that perfect one, and that perfect work, and that perfect standing, and the imperfection of His priesthood, all in contrast with that under the Law which made nothing perfect.
You can understand how.
The presentation of this to these Jews who had professed faith in Christ and were now suffering, we can begin to understand how this would be a real encouragement to them to find out that the one who is the Messiah, their Messiah, the King of Israel, yet having died and become their Savior and have gone through all of this.
And if they would look to him, they would be encouraged and he would carry them along. Because over in the 10th chapter we read about their suffering and their trial.
In verse 32.
But called remembrance the former Dave in Greece after ye were illuminated.
He endured a great fight of affliction, partly whilst you were made a gazing stop, both by reproaches and afflictions, and partly once he became companions of them that were so used. Well, they were really going through a lot of trial and suffering and persecution that they had taken a stand now, and they were tempted to to give up and to live back to the old form of things.
But all they are being encouraged now by the apostle in writing all of this about the Lord and His sufferings and how he can sympathize with them and that they should go on, not go back, but go on and go on to perfection, That is, get occupied with the one who had completed all the work and who had done it perfectly. What an encouragement it must have been to many of them. Perhaps some of them did go back, I don't know.
00:30:01
But.
The apostle encourages them to go on, and it prostitution.
It's very difficult to submit to someone who doesn't understand you, doesn't love you, perhaps is just interested in seeing how much they can get out of you. Perhaps to work in a situation where the man who is your boss is the managers son and he just stepped into that place right from college and knows nothing about.
Having come up through the experiences that you have to face.
So that in beautiful contrast, we see the one who actually is the captain of our salvation.
And to me it's very wonderful, as you have remarked, to think that he created Adam a full grown man, and he could have come into the world in the very same way. But he chose to come into this world and go through those years and face those experiences and learn the meaning of obedience and of suffering in order that we might look up and say there's one up there.
Who loves me perfectly?
Understands me thoroughly and has been through what I'm going through.
Or how different it is to submit to and to obey someone with a heart like that.
Something for the children. Remember that the Lord was a child.
And he went through things in that childhood that could be a help to you children.
We read of him as a boy of 12 and we find that he was obedient. This can be a help to teenagers, remembering that the Lord has gone that pathway and he was obedient. He was subject to his parents. He's gone through all of that. He he's gone through young manhood. We forget that sometimes, but he's gone through all of this.
And he did it all in a way that was absolutely pleasing to God because we read it. It's always those things.
That pleased the Father for what an encouragement that could be to everyone of us, from children on up.
There's a little verse in the 88th Psalm I think is exceedingly precious in connection with these thoughts. In the 88th Psalm, the first part of the 15th verse.
Speaking, I believe, of the Lord.
It says I am afflicted and ready to die from my.
You stop. Well, why wasn't he taken earlier and offered up? He was ready for it. He was ever perfect. But here it says.
At least in the 5th chapter Hebrew says being made perfect.
There, when we think of the Lord Jesus, a perfect man, always a perfect mind, but he went on and lived here for 33 years and a bit, 30 years old when he entered his ministry. Why? So that he might go through the same experiences that you and I, He knows them. Oh, he's a perfect high priest and he's the author of eternal salvation and all the way home, Savior.
And he's there, he's already home, the man in the glory, and he knows the feelings that we go through in the way, oh, what a captain we have.
Of this this verse in Hebrews you quote the 6th chapter thinks him further.
Than anything that any of us would ever experience.
Because if that refers to Gethsemane.
Not to the three hours exactly, but to Gethsemane. That's the.
The 5th chapter in the.
Time first, but notice the seventh verse, who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered a prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears on him, that was able to save him really out of death. I believe it should read and was heard, and that he feared.
Though He were Son, yet learn the obedience by the things which He suffered, and being made perfect, He became the author of the eternal salvation to all them that obey Him.
00:35:01
We'll never know what he passed through in Gethsemane.
Of course, we'll never know what he passed through those three hours, but in Gethsemane, where he was anticipating being made sin, for instance.
Think of that, holy one.
He made sin for us.
So he went way beyond anything you and I would ever call upon to experience. He was went through the perfection.
In Speaking of the Lord Jesus being subject to his parents.
I like the connection where it is particularly mentioned. I'll just read. There's no need to turn to it. His mother had just said to him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? Behold, thy father and I have stopped thee sorrowing. He really didn't deserve that rebuke at all, did he?
He said unto them, How is it that he sought me, wished he not that I must be about my father's business?
And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them.
There he is as a boy, being accused by his dear mother in a way that he was not deserving of.
His parents didn't understand his answer to what she said, but he went down to Nazareth and was subject unto them. Thus, one of those beautiful little touches that bring out the perfection of the Lord Jesus, even though He was at that time but 12 years of age.
The 17th verse that was already mentioned we have the two parts of his priesthood brought together.
A merciful and faithful high priest and things pertaining to God and to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted. We know that Aaron offered up a sacrifice on the Day of Atonement.
And that sacrifice was for the sins of the people, well, the Lord Jesus himself.
Fulfill the type and shadow of Aaron. And he offered up a sacrifice not for himself, but for the sins of the people. A perfect sacrifice, so perfect that it says by one offering you have perfected forever them that are sanctified. And now the priesthood that he carries on does not have to do with our sins, but has to do with our infirmities.
And that in that connection, he's a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
That is to minister blessings. He has fulfilled that part as regards the ironic priesthood in the sacrifice of himself. But now he's there as a priest forever. After the order of Melchizedek, you go back to Genesis. The victory had already been won, and we find Melchizedek comes and meets Abraham.
And tells him that he's the that he's being brought into blessing. He's blessed. He's blessed by the possessor of heaven and earth.
And so I think it's nice for us to see those two things. That part that has to do with the question of sin has already been settled. But the high priest in Israel was also to have compassion on the ignorant and on them that were out of the way. He was also to enter into what the people were passing through. We find that Eli failed in this and didn't understand what was going on in the heart of Hannah.
And accused her of being drunk.
But not so with our high priest. He's up there and he's living. He's been through the path, as it was remarked. He he fully understands all about us. He'll never be like, like Eli, who thought that Hannah was drunk. You understand this perfectly and supplies that grace to help. So it's very precious to think of that part which is completed, which made reconciliation for our sins.
And that part which He is now carrying on for us, living for us at the right hand of God, to supply that grace to help the church, has mentioned only twice in Hebrews, is it not? It's not exactly the subject of the Church, although it is the church. But that isn't the side of things we haven't mentioned here. In the first thing I will declare Thy name unto my brethren. In the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
00:40:08
And that that day is coming, although I like to think of it now.
In the midst of the church that the Lord is there, where two or three are gathered. But how precious it'll be in the day when the whole church will be assembled in one place in presence. I suppose 11 first have to do with the thought of.
Of the same kind, the same nature.
And for that reason, he's not ashamed to call them brethren. Is that right?
It's not it's not the first man anymore. The 1St man is gone. We're we're in Christ, we're in a new position before him. We have a nature and he took part in our nature. But we have also now been given a nature that's of God and he took part as to our nature send a part of Taurus, but.
But.
It's for this reason now that he's not ashamed to call them brethren, one-of-a-kind. Still, the Spirit of God guards here, it says, are all of one.
Of 1 instead of 1.
We might make a comment about that word. Rather you notice it's not capitalized, it's the small B.
And all who belong to Christ are his brethren. Sometimes that term gets applied just to the gathered Saints, and sometimes we.
Apply it to ourselves and call ourselves the president. Well, we don't find it that way. In the word of God. All who belong to the Lord Jesus Christ are his president and he's not ashamed to to call them brother. The very lovely word is that I, I think it's a word that we should really rejoice in.
Sometimes folks say to us, are you one of the brethren? Well, I'm very happy to be able to say yes, thank God I am, and so are you if you know the Lord Jesus as your Savior. I think we need not shrink from accepting and enjoying that happy scriptural word, but to make it clear that it rightly belongs to every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Yes, thank God I am, and so are you if you know the Lord Jesus as your Savior.
What about capitalizing one body? We see it sometimes.
We've heard so much about their own garden in Kentucky that the neighbor said that the One Body Church.
It's sad, isn't it, that there are many leavers today, real believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, that don't know that truth, that we're all members of one body by 1 Spirit. Are we all baptized into one body? One body? Yes. All who know the Lord Jesus Christ, all who are the Lord.
Filled by the Spirit of God.
They are part of that one body. We mustn't forget that, that there are others beside ourselves that are members of that one body, and we can't claim that just for ourselves.
We must have eyes to see and hearts to see that all are members of that one body and we need to have a heart for them and try to help them. We know of course there are some that can't be helped, but once in a while there is one that we can be helped. And I believe we should be exercised before the Lord about being guided by the Spirit, that we might meet these who are in exercise and try to be a help to them.
We're thankful for those who were a help to us. The Lord's Table is a testimony to that truth, that there is one body. In fact, the only place where the Lords Table is mentioned in the New Testament, in First Corinthians 10, is the very place where it says we being many, are one bread, one body, for we are all partakers of that one bread. So I say again, the Lord's Table is really the testimony.
Truth, wherever anything is set up which is a testimony to a human organization, it is a denial of what the Lord's Table really is.
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It testifies to the fact that the coming down of the Holy Spirit of God is to form all believers into one body in Christ, and the one loaf on the table is to symbolize that blessed truth. So I think it's very precious to see.
And we should always bear in mind just what that one loaf is the symbol of. And that, I say again, is the only place in Scripture where we read about, the only place in the New Testament where we read about the Lords Table 16 Psalm that gives us.
The life of the Lord Jesus, in a very few sentences, begins with this expression.
I will trust.
In them the Lord put his complete trust in God. He always walked down here as in complete dependence.
Upon the Father.
That was the perfection.
Manhood you've seen in here. I admit that I misunderstood this 12Th verse of our chapter for quite a long time. What shall I say? I'm almost glad I did because of the joy I got when I saw what it really did mean. I had simply thought of it as being our joy in being able to praise the Lord and sing of Him when we were gathered together in His presence.
But it's most obvious, is it not that?
This really is the Lord Jesus speaking from the joy of his own heart.
I will declare thy name unto my brethren. In the midst of the church. Will I sing praise unto thee. Isn't that wonderful, beloved brethren, that the Lord Jesus is so filled with joy at being surrounded by His own, that he sings praise unto God his Father?
Because of the joy of His heart, all that to me is so very, very lovely. I was glad to give up the previous thought I had had because it was so wonderful to think of the Lord Jesus.
Experiencing that joy, perhaps.
Is it something like what you get in the 22nd Psalm? In fact, I suppose it's a quotation from there.
Fulfilled in John chapter 20 where the Lord Jesus presents himself to his own and says, I attended to my Father, and your Father, to my God and your God.
Proclaiming.
Name unto his brethren.
Let that joy continue now in the next verse, Brother Albert.
The same thought, is it not? It's his, His joy in connection with. I will put my trust in him. I delight to do thy will, Oh my God. And then behold, I and the children.
Which God has given me is that moment of joy when He presents His people to the Father. Is it not so? These three thoughts go together, I believe. I think this is exceedingly beautiful.
To think of it as we have been told, as concerning the Lord, His thoughts and His feelings, they always exceed ours anyway. And to think of Him.
And his thoughts were of us, and our of us.
He is saying.
I am the one that's getting the joy of singing in the midst of the church. In the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
And then again he says I will put my trust in him. The Lord feeling his departure from this scene, I believe, or at least I like to think and refer back to the Lords Prayer in the 17th of John where he does that I will put my trust in him. And he does that in the 17th of John in connection with his own.
In the time while he is away.
The 17th of John and verse 11.
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At the end he says, Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are one. There He is trusting his own to the Father, to be kept until that moment when he will introduce us into the Father's house.
Or it's just delightful to think of the Lord's thoughts and what he says about his own.
And looking forward to that moment which could be today, when he introduces his own, he turns to the Father and says, Behold, I and the children whom thou hast given me. We are the love gift of the Father to the Son. And he is thinking of his own joy in that moment when he brings us into the Father's house.
It's the beloved Son.
To belong a family around himself, beloved of God.
Does his delightful with the sons of man and the proverbs.
And so much so that he partook of flesh and blood.
As we have the next verse for then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood.
He also himself likewise is part of the same through that he might destroy him that had the power of death really is taking away his power.
Destroying the devil, taking away his power, and this is what kept us in ******* was it not the fear of death? But because the children were partakers of flesh and blood, he and also himself likewise took part of the same. And this was even to death, so that he might to take away everything that hindered that joy and eternal blessing.
Joy for himself and joy for his people.
Because.
His delights were with the sons of men.
Satan is really a defeated foe now, isn't he? He was the one who was responsible, tempted Adam and Eve and brought him death. And now there must be one who could go into Satan stronghold, as it were, and overcome. And there's one who has done that. He has gone right into Satan's stronghold. He has overcome the power of Satan so that for us he is a defeated foe. And so it tells us.
First Corinthians chapter 3 All things are yours, whether life or death.
In the Old Testament they feared death. That was the king of terror. But how different now? It is actually the believers servant. The Lord Jesus went into death and rose triumphant. And so through that mighty victory, death has no sting for the believer.
Death for the believer is to be absent from the body and present with the Lord.
Taken out of a world of sorrow to be with the one whom we love, and it so much belongs to us.
Now that is possible. We may not go through it at all if the Lord should come now.
Then death is really ours and we don't look for death. We look instead for the Lord's coming. If we go through it, the stain has been taken out of it, and that's why it goes on to say deliver them. Who? Through fear of death. It was so in the Old Testament. It is so for man and nature. He fears death. He does everything he possibly can to try and hinder death.
Book of the World is full of all kinds of attempts to try and live as long as possible.
And to enjoy life to the full, whereas for us, all that we hope for and look for is beyond this world.
Encountered a privilege to be here and to be able to live, to please the Lord Jesus and to be waiting and watching.
But it is lovely to think that death belongs to us, and the power of death has been removed because Satan's power has been annulled. He has not only defeated Satan, but he has taken away from him his armor wherein he trusted. Let's look at a couple of verses in Luke 11, in the 11Th of Luke verses 21 and two.
When a strongman armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace, but when a stronger than he shall come upon him.
And overcome him, He taketh from him all his armor, wherein he trusted and divideth his spoils. In the first of revelation we read of the Lord saying, I am he that liveth, and was dead. And behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen. And have the keys of hell and of death.
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Well, apparently the armor we're in this strongman trusted who we believe was Satan.
Was dead, He had brought death in through sin in the day thou eatest hour of thou shalt surely die, or dying thou shalt die was truth. So Satan introduced by deceit, sin and the wages follow death. And the Lord entered right into Satan's stronghold, went right down into death.
And overcame death and he is alive forevermore. But now he has the keys of it.
All belongs to a man now, a victorious man. And Satan has lost his armor too, hasn't it?
It was a great comfort to those believers over in the Congo.
When we brought this before me, that the Lord Jesus Christ had overcome Satan, he had taken his armor away from.
Through death he took his power away, and all the power of him that had the power of death.
Up until that time, they hadn't known anything about this. They didn't know anything about what God has done. They've never heard the name of Jesus.
And they were so afraid of death. And I stood at graveside of children and others that died, and the people were beside themselves. They were looking into that grave and it was all darkness ahead of them. They had no hope, no light. And it was a privilege to tell them about the Lord Jesus Christ who had come.
To annull the power of Satan, take his power away from him. That they did not be afraid, that they were just trusting the Lord Jesus Christ.
Receive him as that stated that he would take care of them. He had taken away Satans power and Satan could have no power against him. Well they knew they knew what Satan power was because they had their witch doctors and they were afraid of evil spirits and and they were worshipping idols and and they knew something about this power, the spiritual power which was Satan's power.
And always kept him in fear.
But when they receive Christ as their savior and knew that the Lord Jesus Christ had died for their sins and.
Settle the same question. And that we dealt with Satan too, taking his power away from him. That they could trust in the Lord, and even though they died, they'd be raised again. The Lord would come and get them. What a comfort it was to them. What a message we have to give people that are in darkness like that. No such thing as annihilation.
Man would love to teach that doctrine, believe if you could, because he doesn't know Christ, doesn't know what's ahead, the only new Christ, and knew what was ahead. He wasn't for a moment counting on such a doctrine, but it's spreading and people like to believe that.
Like blindfolds over their eyes.
Notice here Abraham is connected with this subject.
That we have here.
In the days of Abraham, we have the whole world given over to demons.
And Abraham was called out.
By the God of glory.
All right out of idolatry and demon worship.
And he starts. He begins anew.
A line of things in this world.
That is, he was the father of faith.
He believed God was counted in for righteousness.
And so Abraham then is really the head of a of a race in the sense.
Not like Adam, but the head of a race of faith.
No, the Lord passed by angels, and he took.
On him, the seed of Abraham, entirely new order in which man's connection with God is not on the basis of what he is in himself or what man has done, but on the basis of faith, simply on what God has done.
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And the message that God has given to man in relation to it. There's no salvation for angels who've sinned. God has taken up the vile of Sinner who believe and provide salvation. All through the death and finished work of Christ is being raised from the dead and seated on heart. The work is complete.
It doesn't matter how vile a man is, he takes Christ as his savior. He has eternal life, but this is not provided for angels.
Purposes of God in connection with blessing whether mankind or angels are according to election though, aren't they and so we read about the elect angels and God has preserved a certain number of the angels from falling they surround the throne there in the 5th of revelation and praise God for his greatness and power and.
They have experienced this because they have been preserved. They are the elect angels, as we're told in Timothy.
But with mankind God acted in a different way. He allowed the whole human race to fall, and now He acts in election and saving out from a human race of those whom He has a four prepared under glory. And so that the whole scene is going to be to the glory and praise of God for us. We will know His heart in a way the angels never will.
Because having been saved through that glorious work of Calvary, we're going to know the heart of God that told itself out in his giving his Son, and the Lord Jesus taking our place and bearing the judgment. So in that 5th of Revelation we have those that sing as thou art worthy, for thou hast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred tongue, and people and nation. They are the elected from among men.
And then we have the angels who praise God for his greatness. But I say it's all to his glory and praise. Nothing of nature will be able to praise God. Whether it's the nature of angels or of men, it's all to his glory and praise in that day, isn't it?
What would you say in answer to a question that's often raised as to why did God allow sin to come into the world? Well, I suppose we just have to say that like it says in Job, why dost thou strive against Him? For He give us that account of any of his matters that God hasn't been pleased to tell us why He has done things in a certain way. We know the results of what He has done. And so, as I say, we're going to see the results of that.
Electing Grace in that coming scene of glory. But why? He has been pleased to do it in the way that he has.
I believe it brings added glory to His name, but it's for us just to accept that that's what He has done. However, I think it is important for us to see that the creature is always looked upon as responsible and so that election has nothing to do with those who are unbelievers. And the Bible never speaks of people being elected to be lost or predestined to be.
In the whole human race, Christ died for all. The salvation is offered to all. God is not willing that any should perish. But if, to use the illustration, if some people broke into your home and you offered to pardon them all, and they all refused, there is no display of your kindness at all, because they've all refused. Now if you pick out some of those men.
And display your kindness to them. The others cannot say that they didn't have a chance.
They had the opportunity, and so with man. If God had left mankind to Himself, the whole human race would have been lost, because no one of His own free will would ever come to God. Jesus said He will not come unto Me, that she might have life. No man can come unto me except the Father which has sent me. Draw him so. The heart of man so.
Alienated as it is from God.
He never would come. So if there's going to be any blessing for mankind, God must act in electing grace.
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And I believe the same applies to the angels that left to themselves they fall. So God acts in his power and preserves a certain number, but the others who fell are responsible and will be judged as responsible created intelligences.
Why God has please been pleased to do it in that way. I don't believe it's for us to question.
But it is strange, when men speak of these things, that they talk of their own rights.
They talk of their own rights. They choose friends, they choose partners, they choose a job, and they say no one should interfere. If I wish to choose to make a certain person my friend or my husband or wife, that is the right that they claim they have the privilege to exercise. But they say God has no right to say who he's going to have in heaven.
He he isn't, he doesn't have that right. Well, if all refused and he chooses to act in that way.
Now those of us who have been brought in by His grace can only praise Him and thank Him. But one thing we can see, the whole scene is going to redound to His glory and not to any glory to the creature. Usually when a question like that is raised, it's raised by someone who wants to blame God for something and.
It would be, I suppose, wise for us to try to answer the state of soul that caused them to raise that question.
To answer in a way that would perhaps touch their conscience instead of just trying to.
Presents some answer that we who know the Lord really recognize and enjoy.
Because really, when you spoke a moment ago, husband and wife, what husband is there here who would like to think that he.
Claimed a wife whose emotions and attitudes he controlled just like a robot. It was far, far more wonderful and delightful and pleasing to be able to win the affections of someone who becomes your wife.
And so I believe when we look down and see the wonderful heart of God.
In preparing a way of redemption and working in our hearts to win our poor cold hearts by that which has been done.
It will certainly result in that which will be to the glory of God and a praise from our hearts that otherwise would never be so. Furthermore, if a man says why did God allow sin, does that man really and honestly wish that God had created him, incapable of doing anything but what God would?
Require of him. The man knows very well that he wants his own way. He wants to sin.
And then look up and say, why did God make me this way?
And heaven has declared the glory of God that makes every man responsible.
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting your soul. That makes the cue responsible.
Then we have Christianity. God has spoken.
From his son while here on earth, and then now he's spoken from heaven.
So we have 3 testimonies for this present day.
And the plan rejects these three testimonies. She certainly is responsible, if you know.
We're Cinder bonded. Grace did much more abound.
Sin coming in, sin being allowed of God to come in, gives God the opportunity to display His grace.
And we can't question that.
This is God's doing, and I think that's the important thing that has been mentioned, not to question what God is doing, but bow to God, submit to Him, and then we get the blessing.
It seems to me there's enough revealed in the word of the results of that plan and allowing sin to come in and redemptions work.
To give us a little satisfaction as to why God allowed it.
One thinks of this grace you're Speaking of. You might just notice in Ephesians 2 what it says about we poor Gentiles.
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And the results of this plan of God to say that in the seventh verse of the second chapter, it says that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace, and his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
God opened the heavens and said, this is my beloved Son, in whom is all my delight, and he had such delight in that.
Son of His, that He has determined to display through those eternal ages that riches of his grace. And I hope I'm right in saying it, that we who were just poor Gentiles, so far away from God, going down in sin to its depths, were objects upon which that heart of God could display those exceeding riches of his grace and.
Up from such a low place, and giving us the same place as his beloved Son in the glory. Well, if we had been maintained in innocence, this couldn't have been brought out. That God is light and God is love, and when He manifests, He must manifest himself in these.
Things that He is light and love, and it has all come out in the glorious plans of the pages of this book.
To the glory and honor of His Son forever. It seems to me that satisfies my heart as to why God allowed it anyway.
Hebrews 2
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2nd Corinthians and chapter 2 The last verse. Second Corinthians 217 for we are not as many.
Which corrupt or the margin says deal deceitfully with?
The word of God.
But as of sincerity, but as of God in the sight of God speak we in Christ chapter 4 verse one. Therefore, seeing we have this ministry.
As we have received mercy, we think not, but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
And now First Thessalonians chapter 2.
And verse 13.
1St Thessalonians 2.
13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because when he received the word of God, which he heard of us, you received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth.
The word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. Now shall we pray?
Chapter 2. Therefore we ought to give the more honesty to the things which we have heard.
Unless at any time we should let them slip, or if the words spoken by angels was steadfast.
And every transgression and disobedience receive a just recompense of reward. How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and that was confirmed unto us by then? The herdies, God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders.
And with divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost.
According to his own will, for under the angels, that he not put in subjection in the world to come, where off we speak.
But while in a certain place testified, say, what is man, the dark minds will be, or the Son of Man, that Thou visited him, thou reached him a little lower than the angels, thou foundest him with glory man, and this sitting over the works of thy hands.
Thou must put all things in subjection under his feet.
Friend that he put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him.
But now we see not yet all things put under him, but we see Jesus.
Those made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death frowned with glory and honor that he, by the grace of God, should taste death for every man.
For became Him for whom were all things, and by whom are all things, and bringing many sons under glory, that makes the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
For both he that sacrifice, and they who are sanctified are all one. For which 'cause he's not a shame to call them brethren, say, I will declare thy name unto my brethren. In the midst of the Church will I sing praise under thee, and again.
I will put my trust in him, and again, behold I and the children which God hath given me.
First much then, as the children are particulars of flesh and blood, He also himself likewise took part of the same the truth, that He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil, and deliver them, who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to *******.
For there he took not on him the nature of angels.
Took on him the seed of Abraham.
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Wherefore in all things have been moved him to be made like unto his friends, that he might be merciful and faithful high priest, and things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Or in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to suffer them that often.
The expression therefore no doubt refers to what we have in the first chapter. The 2nd chapter that we are reading brings before us the Lord Jesus as a man.
And whom is found? All the counsels of God, the one who completes the work, the one who brings glory to God.
And in the following chapters we notice the offices that he takes.
But it all depends on the glory of the first chapter. That's his personal glory.
Now in the first chapter, just to get the connection, we have the Lord Jesus seen as the sun.
That is, he's the Son of God, but he's the full expression of all that God is as man.
Beside, he's the heir, and in this first chapter he's seen in different ways as superior to angels because the Jew to whom this was originally written revered Angel. They thought of angels as being in that superior place and bringing to them the law.
And the various appearances of angels like to Abraham and so on, Naturally they thought a great deal of angels.
But the Spirit of God now is bringing before us.
Regardless of who or by whom He spoke before, He is now speaking in his Son, and we have the glories of Christ as the heir and also.
As God Himself.
In the first chapter.
Who has an eternal throne and also as the the Messiah of Israel or the Jehovah?
That was a known relationship to his people.
But.
Now that God has spoken in his Son.
We have the 1St.
First Verse. Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard less than anytime we should let them slip. Now that, I suppose, would suggest apostasy, or the giving up of the truth completely of those who had made a outward profession. And so he contrasts now with the words spoken by angels.
And.
It was steadfast disobedience received his just reward.
Now how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?
I know that most of you are safe, but still the word here has a an edge on it for the conscience, I believe, of each one of us.
And we find that the Spirit of God has confirmed this word, not only the word spoken.
By the Lord in the third verse, but also by them that heard Him, and then with all the signs and the wonders.
That we have the glory of the person of Christ before us in the book of Hebrews, and then we have the.
Necessity, the absolute necessity of our giving ear to what God has to say as He speaks in and through His Son. The Scripture says, unto whom much is given, of the same shall much be required. And so they were very responsible, as having the oracles of God, and the judgment of God upon them as a nation was much more severe than on any of the other nations around about them.
But now, as you remarked, God had spoken in Son, and all that One who not only created all things, but upholds all things by the word of His power, had become a man and walked here upon earth. And what a great responsibility to reject him.
If it was serious to break the law, how much more serious to reject the Lord Jesus?
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And then to that the Holy Spirit of God had come down saw that those who had testified about Christ in the early part of the Acts, it had been by the power of the Holy Spirit of God, who was here upon earth as a divine person.
So to depart from the truth of God in this present time is far, far more serious. In fact, in Acts Chapter 11 in Paul's speaking there to the Athenians said.
The times of this ignorance God winked at, but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent. And Speaking of this in a practical way, brethren, how much more for ourselves, because having been gathered to the precious name of the Lord Jesus, and having known so much precious truth.
We're much more responsible than even those who have not known these things and entered into them.
As we have. So what a responsibility. I might just mention here that in the new translation, in the last part of this second verse, it's where it says at anytime we should let them slip, and it says at anytime we should slip away. It's really not just letting the truth of God go about ourselves, slipping away from a place of privilege into which we have been brought. And as our brother remarked, that is.
That's what we see happening in Christendom. They're slipping away, but not only giving up the truth, but they themselves are slipping away from all that wonderful place of being under the sound of the Word and knowing the truth of God, and we see it being set aside and laughed at.
On every hand well may it speak to us, because the judgment of Christendom. It will be the most severe judgment of all when the Tribulation comes, as reported to us in Revelation. The most serious part of the judgment falls upon the two especially privileged parts of the earth, that is, the Jews, who to whom Christ was presented as their Messiah, and also.
Christendom, who have had all the privileges of an open Bible of the truth of God, proclaimed God, is going to bring the most awful judgments upon those two privileged parts of the earth. Well, this surely has a voice to us, and yet also sets before us an object for our souls, that one who is up there crowned with glory and honor.
That one was able to fill and satisfy our hearts no matter what the world has to offer.
He's far above it all.
It seems to me that.
Part of the slipping away from the truth is seen in the desire in Christendom to have different translation.
And in translating watering down the word of God.
And using what they say. Simpler expressions, simpler words. But in many cases when they do that, they change the meaning of it altogether.
And this is a solemn thing to be doing, and then to be addressing God and the Lord Jesus Christ with familiar terms, as though they like to bring God down on the same level as they are.
Well, this is part of this slipping away, and it's a subtle thing.
And we have to be careful how we handle the Word of God. I remember in in Africa when I was translating the scriptures into the language of the Bayaka tribe.
I was impressed with that, that it wasn't enough just to translate word for word. I must seek to get God's mind what was in that portion of Scripture. And so when it came to a a verse like John 316.
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that who shall believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. That word love was difficult to find and I didn't find it right away because they were not used to using it.
It was not a common word.
They used other expressions for want and desire, but I couldn't use the word like that in that verse of Scripture. I had to find a word that had a deeper meaning that really set forth what was in the heart of God.
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So I thought of an illustration, just making up a story and giving it to those two that were helping me in the translation work.
I said to them, there was a woman that was down by the Riverside with her little boy. She'd gone down there to wash her clothes in the in the river.
And the little boy was playing around on the sand there by the water on the beach.
And while she was washing her clothes.
There was a there was a crocodile that came up and grabbed the little boy and pulled him of course back into the water and and ducked him under. And then I said, the mother seeing that she dashed into the water after that crocodile.
Well, she knew all the dangers because there were other crocodiles around, but she was oblivious to all the dangers.
What made her do that to save her boy?
Thought of why once the boy wouldn't be enough. To desire the boy wouldn't be enough.
They they came up with this other word that I was looking for.
Love, they said. She loved that book. There was something inside of her that yearned for that boy.
So I used that word. It was a word they were not used to, but they learned it. They found out that God's love was a deeper love than just simply desire and wanting them. But God had such addiction, movement of soul.
Love them so much He gave his only begotten Son.
See what would have been lost if we hadn't found that better word? All we need to leave the Word of God like it has been translated. And we believe that those men that translated the scriptures into the English language way back there in 1611.
They were really guided by God in translating, and it's so hard to improve upon the translation that when you're sitting here.
Within our hands. But I believe all of this desire for something new, something different, is slipping away from the truth of God.
So important to have the person.
Before us, and especially here in this chapter.
The Person of the Christ.
There it great. Helps a great deal too. And the understanding of the translations you say.
With the person that's before us, and also his work, but chiefly the person that the Spirit of God brings before us 1St and that in connection with all his glory.
Now, in the first chapter of John, we won't turn to it, but.
We find the Spirit of God speaks of His greater glory as the Son of man.
We have the Son of Man here in this second chapter.
And in this chapter, all that, all that the Jew rested upon.
In connection with His worship, He had the law given by angels.
We learned in the 7th of Acts otherwise.
All that they rested upon.
The ordinances.
Everything is set aside, the angels are set aside in this second chapter, and from now on we have just one person before us. And what he is to the heart, not only of the Jew, but to all who believe.
Find us. We go on through Hebrews, that the Lord Jesus replaces everything that before was used in a religious way to guide the Jew in connection with his worship. The ordinances are gone. Moses is gone, the one who gave them the mind of God.
The Aaron is gone, the priest, the sanctuary.
That's Christ, the altar. The apostle says we have an altar. That's the 13th chapter. It's Christ. And so everything disappears in Hebrews.
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And Christ is the one that takes over, and he becomes the object of the heart. Now we may know a lot of doctrine, brethren, but if we don't have Christ as an object of the heart, it isn't going to do us any good. And so here we have in this epistle.
Here, the person of Christ we see Jesus.
All important. This is for us. Today we see Jesus.
There are verses in the 12Th chapter that seemed to bring out these same truths and perhaps help explain these primary verses in the chapter two. I thought of them in connection with the person in the 12Th chapter.
Toward the close, you have what we are brought to or the, it says.
But ye are come in verse 22 and let's a few things that were come to and in verse 24 it says and to Jesus.
We are come to that person, the mediator of the New covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of evil. And then this 25th verse seems to me to connect back with our second chapter. It says, See that ye refuse, not him that speaketh.
Or if they escape not who refused him that spake on earth much more shall not we escape now notice the words if we turn away from.
In our chapter it's let them slip or slip away or give up, but here it's turning away from a person.
If we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven, what's going to be the result? He's going to be the judge. He's going to shake this scene, not heaven as well. So that that certainly brings in an exceeding great warning as to the Word and the person of Jesus. It's important in that connection to see that verse in Hebrews 12.
It's he who speaks from heaven.
And this is brought before them in the end of the 5th chapter of Hebrews, and the first part of the sixth. He says, leaving the word of the beginning of Christ, let us go on under perfection, that when the Lord Jesus was here upon earth, he said, the Pharisees sit in Moses seat. All therefore, that they bid you observe that observe and do. In other words, when the Lord Jesus was here, he did not lead them out of the sheep.
Judaism encourage them to go on with that which God had established until the work was accomplished. And that glorious work that we've been speaking about, that one who is the true sacrifice, that one who is the altar, that one who has done it all, has now completed the work. All the types and shadows of Judaism have been fulfilled.
And that's why it's so important to recognize.
That that which is brought before us in the Epistles is the voice of a glorified Christ speaking from heaven.
Let's remember that I believe that there are many who don't enter into the blessedness of Christianity because they hear what the Lord said on earth. Blessed and precious truth it is, but it isn't until He is up there glorified.
Remember that verse? I believe it's in the 16th of John. I have many things to say unto you, but you cannot bear them now.
I'll be it when He, the Spirit of truth is coming. He will guide you into all truth. And brethren, that's hearing the voice of a glorified Christ speaking from heaven. That brings us into the fruit of that work, the position that we are brought into as justified from all things.
Members of the body of Christ, a united to Christ as the head in heaven and waiting for him to return. All this is that which we learn from the one who speaks from heaven, those precious revelations given to Paul that he speaks of as my gospel.
And so that there is what the Lord spoke upon earth here, and how many precious things He did bring out, but there is also the fullness of what has been revealed by that same blessed person glorified at the right hand of God.
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Would you not say that the gifts of the Holy Ghost referred to the ministry of Paul particularly? It all began with Christ ministry and confirmed by those that heard him. But then the gifts of the Holy Ghost after he'd gone on high brings in the new ministry. The heavenly line of truth, is that it?
Well, I'm sure that's true, although of course there were many signs that were wrought to confirm the Word by the power of the Holy Spirit.
It isn't until we have the ministry that was given to Paul that we have the completing of the Word of God.
I think there's rather important to see that those signs were given to confirm the word as it says signs and wonders. Now the word has been confirmed, we don't have the promise of the continuance of those signs, do we?
I was speaking with a man over in Ghana who was connected with a group that were looking for signs and wonders speaking in tongues.
And I referred you to this scripture.
And pointed out that the reason for the signs and the wonders there in the beginning was, as her brother said, to confirm the word of God, to confirm the scripture.
And I said, now that the scriptures have been confirmed, why are you still looking for signs and wonders as though you have to have a word confirmed again? Does it mean that you doubt that it's the word of God? When Moses went up on the mountain to receive the Law, that was accompanied by science and wonders too. But why was that?
To confirm to the people that God was speaking to Moses and the word that Moses brought to them.
Was the word of God.
And when it was once confirmed, they didn't look for more signs and wonders. And it's true that leaving Jews.
They put their trust in the Old Testament. They believe it is the word of God. I know much of much of it is just dead orthodoxy, but still they believe that that is the word of God. Now these that we're reading about here, they were the ones who had professed, made a profession under Christianity, and now they were leaving it. They were tempted to slip away.
And so they have to be reminded of Israel. God has confirmed the Word concerning His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. And if you give him up, well, there's nothing else for you. It's complete apostasy.
Him that speaketh from heaven to would make very, very important the accepting of the ministry that we have in the New Testament through the servants of the Lord, Paul, Peter, John, and so on.
It's very, very disturbing, is it not, to hear people speak slightingly of what Paul wrote? They're really speaking slightly of what an ascended Christ speaks from heaven. And the warning against it there in Hebrews 12 is very solemn, is it not? I was thinking to hear in the first verse.
We ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard.
It is almost humbling to read that exhortation.
Because when we think of what a wonderful revelation of the person of Christ and the truth of God has been presented to us, and then we need to be reminded that we should give them more earnest heed to this. When we read in first Peter one of the various hints of this given to us in the Old Testament, we read that.
The authors themselves search their own writings with a real interest.
What are these things that we are writing about? And even the angels desired to look into it.
And now that it has been made known to us, now that the person of the Lord Jesus Christ has been revealed to us and our wonderful heritage of truth in Him, it's almost humbling to think that we should need to be reminded to give more earnest heat.
I feel this sometimes when I picture the Old Testament authors searching their writings, the Angel desiring to look into it, and then we discover why this has now been communicated to us.
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How wonderful it is and how humbling to think that we should be told.
That we should give them more earnest heed to it.
My brother Lundy was speaking about.
That it pointed to the person of Christ being occupied with him, that makes me think of Mary Magdalene.
He was not the two of the Lord, but she wasn't very intelligent about that, but her heart was set upon the Lord Jesus Christ.
She was occupied with him.
And she just spoke of him with that. So now him, if thou has borne him and tell me, where's our slave in? There wasn't anybody else. Because she was concerned. Well, it was all without intelligence, but it led to intelligence.
That's the point.
The Lord Jesus Christ is the key to the scripture. Someone came around one time selling a big book.
And they called it the key to the scriptures.
Well, I learned that that wasn't what the key to the scriptures is. The key to the scriptures is the Lord itself.
We find them all the way through the Bible, from the beginning of Genesis to the end of Revelation. It's the story that we, if we call it that, the story about him is a hidden book.
It's about him, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Luke, Luke puts it that way. He said you have set aside the key of knowledge. That was Christ, wasn't it? They stood in the way so the people couldn't believe on Christ. But here I believe as we come to this next verse, we we find the beginning.
This person, Jesus the man Christ Jesus.
The beginning of He's the Heir. It's the full revelation of all of the purposes and councils, the glory of God, they're all found in this person. But He has come to reveal all this as a man first on earth and then ascended into the heavens.
And so everything that demonstrates the power.
Purpose and glory of God is found in Jesus.
They were looking for the Messiah to come. That was their hope, and for the Kingdom to be established. All this they knew and were looking for, but they didn't see His coming in humiliation. And yet that was equally as plain in the Old Testament scriptures as the ones that spoke of His coming and glory.
And so he has to bring before them how their scriptures had told them so often.
About his humiliation, then his exaltation, and so these Jews who profess to believe in him, to realize that now it was a question of going on to him without the camp bearing his reproach, was being identified with one whom they couldn't see.
That is what characterizes Christianity, that, if I could use the expression, it's a religion of faith. It's not like that in the Old Testament. There was much that they could see that there was that wonderful Tabernacle, there was the temple, there was the appearance of angels. There was all so much associated with what they could see. But now Christ had come. He had accomplished the work. He had gone up on high.
And now the signs have confirmed that he was there. But now it was a question of faith, of just resting upon what God had said, and to know that that one who was up there is in a coming day going to be displayed as the one who will have all things under him. But we don't see that yet.
Now it's a question of recognizing that He's there, having our eyes upon Him as the object walking in the truth that has been revealed to us by that voice from heaven. But it's it's a time when we walk by faith, not by sight.
The book of Hebrews brings before us.
Somewhat the Kingdom line of things as well.
And that which has to do with the coming public glory of the Lord Jesus and of the Kingdom on the earth. And so he tells us that all this is not in the hands of the angels.
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It's going to be in the hands of man, the man Christ Jesus.
Now that's according to the 8th Psalm I believe.
Everything, even the fishes of the sea, the birds of the air, the beasts of the field.
Everything will be under the dominion of man as it was originally intended.
Only in a much fuller and perfect and permanent way.
That is the millennial day and what follows. So the angels here are set aside completely and now everything falls into the hands of man. We learn here that that the Lord Jesus took a place lower than angels for the suffering of death.
These this is one of the marbles, one of the things that we.
So, so marvel at that. That Jesus would come down so low.
For the suffering of death and why? Because that's where we were. We learned that in this chapter later, that's where we were down at the very bottom. So he's not only going to, not only has he done the work that would bring us back to golf and we've been brought back to God.
But also that he would associate man with himself by first becoming man to complete all of these things that are mentioned in this chapter.
I believe four things when he died so that we might be associated with Him in all the glory connected with His person as the Son of Man.
All that's coming.
There's an expression here used as the world to come.
This word world means the earth.
And it's referring to that time when the Lord Christ will reign. The whole sea will be put into subjection under Him. That's the world to come.
Millennia, 1000 years reign of Christ, when the Lord Jesus Christ will have his rightful place here where he was rejected. Are we lying for that?
To see that time that you have his rightful place here where he was rejected, oh, what a joy will be for him to be given that place. And so it's brought before us that we should anticipate that together with him.
That the word is going to be subjected to him, not to anyone else, but to Him, the Son, the Son of Man.
In the Genesis chapter one we find in Genesis chapter 2 we see man was created and there's no mention there of the angels. It's the man man Adam placed him headship over the whole scene and then sin came in and spoiled it.
And then through the Old Testament over and over again we have about the angels and what an important place they played in Israel's history and in the giving of the law. But then when the Lord Jesus came, he's the 2nd man and last Adam. And so in that millennial Kingdom, why it's going to be man again who will be at the head of everything. And we see this brought before us.
In the way the scene opens up in Revelation.
And there we find the Lord Jesus as the Lamb upon the throne there the Lamb that had been slain. And nearest to the throne are the four and 20 elders, which picture to us the redeemed around the throne, praising. Perhaps we might say that I believe the reason there are 4 and 20 is that in the temple there were 24 courses of priests who praised in the temple. And so every.
Will enter into and enjoy His full place as a worshiping priest in that day. Every heart will be tuned, it says, having a golden harps and vials full of odors. What a wonderful time it will be when all the Saints enter into and enjoy now that which has been brought to us through that glorious work of Christ. But I just call attention to the fact that we have the Lord in the midst, and we have the four and 20 elders.
We have after that the angels, and that is really what is referred to in that 12Th of Hebrews that was mentioned and you just turn over to it. And I'd like to call attention to the way it reads in the new translation. Hebrews chapter 12 But ye are come unto the Mount Zion under the verse 22 of Hebrews 12. But but you are coming to the Mount Zion and unto the city of the living God.
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Heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels. The universal gathering. The comma should be after the word assembly there and then the Church of the first born, which are written in heaven, and to God the judge of all that is, the angels are doubted in and.
He's contrasting sin, the eye where there were periods of angels, but now he sees the angels gathered in and those who occupy the important place are the Church of the first Moart and the spirits of just man made perfect.
So that it's very precious in Hebrews to see that this blessed one whose glory is set before us in the first chapter, becomes the man at the head of this whole new creation scene. And what a place to think that we.
Who have been guilty of rejecting and crucifying the Son of God are brought into association with that second man and last Adam to share that place of glory that he will take in headship. And this is what is particularly brought before us. Must have been a wonderful.
Thought to those Jews who believe to see that God had planned to bring man into such a wonderful place of association with His man, the man of his counsels who was going to do all his will.
In Luke's gospel, there's an expression.
That when the largest.
About to enter Jerusalem.
Coming from the Mount of Olives.
It says peace in heaven.
What you've been Speaking of, there will be complete peace in heaven before any peace can be established on earth. That is there. There will be a change in the heavens, We learn in both Matthew and Mark and other places.
That change will be the angels being set aside their present place and work, and everything will be placed in the hands of the Lord Jesus.
But his Saints.
Now there can never be peace anywhere until the Lord Jesus has everything in control, and it'll start in heaven, peace in heaven, and then he goes and marches into Jerusalem and takes over his earthly Kingdom. As we have expressed in Luke's Gospel. These truths have been illustrated in this way.
In the world, amongst the nations, we have sometimes a change of administration.
For instance, when our nation changed from a Republican to a Democratic administration, the ambassadors were recalled and new and sent out. Well, that's what's going to take place. When the Son of Man comes to reign, the angels will be called in. Now, we're thankful for the angels and we believe in them, and they're here.
And they're serving us, ministering servants and forth to minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation.
They are here and God controls the earth now during this dispensation with angelic care. We see it all through the Old Testament we might say, and this will go on until we are called home 1St and then the Lord begins to deal with the earth and has cleansed it.
And comes forth to rain. He will fall in the angels. And I believe that's the reason that that it says in this verse.
Our brother just read in the 12Th of Hebrews to an innumerable company of angels.
Which verse is that?
22nd to an innumerable company of angels. Those angels have been called from the earth to heaven. We're up there too. They're there waiting for the son of Man to come forth and to reign. And then the.
He must reign until.
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His enemies are made his footstool, and he takes the earth.
And he uses the church, he he takes it in association with the church. And so our part then will be to reign with Christ. That man, the one who came as man, The word was made flesh. He became a man. He died as a man. He rose as a man. He's the first born.
He is the ascended man, the exalted man, and the coming man to reign as the Son of man. So God is not defeated by the failure of the first man, is it? No, the 2nd man brings all the glory to God as man.
You have 6 verses, a quotation from this, the 8th Psalm I believe, is it not?
Refers to the.
To the Lord in that position as Son of man.
And then we have before us the.
The purpose of his coming in this chapter.
And the purpose of his death?
In four ways.
He is the one and the only one.
Who can complete and fulfill all of the councils of God?
They will be fulfilled in a man, the man Christ Jesus.
And all to the glory of God.
But by way by means.
Of his death and resurrection.
Now there's something for our consciences here.
Because.
In the first place, as our brother referred to Genesis, man was placed in the position of authority here in this world.
In connection with glorifying God and also over all of the creation.
And man failed. And so the Lord Jesus comes.
And he restores that which he took not away. He adds to it, but he restores that which he took not away.
We took it away.
But God will never be frustrated in His purpose. Purpose is to man have man over it all. And so when the Lord Jesus comes, he not only restores, that is heaven and earth, but He adds something to it which makes it richer. That is, we won't be like Adam in a garden surrounded by earthly temporal things with the possibility of failing again.
But now we have been given an entirely new life, and God is now our Father.
Now that's a tremendous change that's taken place for man so that we're associated with the Son himself, the Lord Jesus.
And actually, according to Pauls ministry accepted in the Beloved One, what a marvelous change has taken place because of the work of Christ. And that reminds us of the fact that when when the Lord Jesus undertakes to do something where man has failed.
And this is true in our failure day by day, that He always brings in something richer for us.
We may have to suffer for our failure, but he always brings in something richer.
Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound than to think that the whole human race was fallen. And then God should not lay hold upon the angels who have not, that is, the elect angels who had not fallen, but instead to reach out to fallen man.
To pick out from man who was of a lower order in creation, the thought in that expression, he was made a little lower than the angels. There are two groups of created intelligences, angels and men. Angels are of a higher order in God's creation than mankind tells us in another place. They're greater in power and might. And Satan, who is the greatest of all angels.
Tells us that he was full of wisdom, perfect in beauty. It was the most marvelous of all God's creation. But God passed the angels by, and his Son became a man took a place and identification with man in that a law order in creation. And then till we see that blessed One at the baptism of John identifying himself.
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Though perfect and holy with that remnant who were confessing their sins.
And taking his place with them, because that was the only right place to acknowledge their true position. But he had come. He was baptized of John and Jordan. But the Spirit of God marks him out as one who was a delight of his Father's heart.
And then he goes on to Calvary. He not only identified himself with that godly remnant, confessing their sins, but wonder of all wonders, He was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. So he took the place lower than the angels.
Deemed man then goes above and takes a place higher than the angels because of who he is. He's God and he's perfect God and perfect man. So now he's taken the place higher than the angels and to bring us into association with himself in that higher place.
And that's why, as it brings before us here, What is man that thou art mindful of him. Spirit of God speaking through the psalmist would say, Why would God find delight in man? He might think of him finding delight in unfallen elect angels, but in man it always be better and said this is the wonder of all wonders. And then to think that.
To prove his delight in man, he goes to the cross.
And as soon as he rises again, he says to Barry, I ascend unto my father. Go tell my brethren, I ascend them to my father, and your father, and to my God, and your God. Oh, and we start to think of these things, brethren, just overwhelms us, that God should have such delight in man, and that all man's sin.
Would not turn away those purposes of love and grace. And so the cost was that his own son should become a man.
To identify us with him in the fruit of the victory that he has won.
It's in the sense of companions in Hebrews, not the bride. I think that's very precious.
Both are precious, of course.
But when you think of one, who?
It caused his people out as his companions.
Those that would be associated with him.
It's marvelous to think of this.
Place of enjoyment with Him, just as we see the disciples here on earth walking with Him.
In his ministry now we're going to be associated with him in this close way.
In connection with all the administration of his government, which of course is involved in this book when he goes forth over the whole inheritance will be associated with him as his companions, his bride. It's true, and all the affections, but think of of that place that we have is his companions. I believe that's one of the reasons it says Jesus here.
It doesn't say the Lord or God.
Although God is before us all through the book but.
He's seen here as Jesus, the one his personal name made known to man.
At the very beginning, when he is born in this world, his name shall be called Jesus.
Is that thought of companions? What is meant in the 11Th 1St brother? For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one, one in kind.
Yes, it's F1.
Yes, I believe we have oneness brought before us in three different ways. We have oneness in John's ministry, that is in the family.
That is, we possess the very life and nature of God Himself. Christ is that eternal life. And so we have been brought into the family, possessing the life and nature of the family. But then there's more than this. We are also one as members of the body of Christ.
That is another thing. You might be one in a family. The relationship of husband and wife being one is a still nearer and more wonderful relationship. But then there is also what we have here, as you mentioned, one in kind. That is, we're not united to an Angel, we're united to a man, the man Christ Jesus, and that's what he brings out here.
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So that he has taken this place as a man. I can't understand the thoughts and feelings of an Angel. But I can't understand the thoughts and feelings of a man.
Because I am one myself and God himself became a man, and the person of Christ enters into all that we have to pass through here and all that we feel as part of mankind. Oh, it's so marvelous when we think of this.
And in this 7th and 8th verse two. And it says it sent him over the works of thine hand house put all in subjection under his feet. We know that when Adam was created, he was put in headship over the whole creation. He could call any animal to himself and give it its name, and did, and he was the head over the whole creation. But when Adam fell, the whole creation suffered the results of his fall.
And so every sick beast, every sick bird, everything that's suffering in the whole creation, not merely mankind, is all the result of the fall of the head of creation, the whole Lord creation, as we are told, need Chapter Romans, the whole creation grown up and traveleth and pained together until now. But when it says in the end of this.
Ninth verse should taste death for every man. It's really for everything.
So that his going into death and rising triumphant has brought in a blessing not only to bring man into place of association with him, but since Adam was created, created and placed in headship over the whole long creation.
Christ, as we have at the 8th Psalm, is the one who is head of creation. He shows that Himself, when here upon earth, He could ride upon the back of that little ***. Even though Lord had never been broken in. All is in control. He could send Peter and have control over the fish and Peter could cast in a hook and there was the money to pay the tax. He was the one who was in headship overall.
And now wonderful fact, He has gone up there, He tasted death for everything, and the Lord of creation, as well as we who are intelligently in the enjoyment of this, are waiting for the liberty of the glory of the children of God always should enter into more Foy this so great salvation. What a marvelous work it was. It was wrought to undo the works of the devil.
To bring man into a place higher than if he had never fallen.
In association with the 2nd man and last Adam and the whole Lord creation blessed through it. What a place. And when we think of this, why it's surely humbling to us, but it also ought to encourage us as we living in a day when we see so much increasing sickness.
Man incapable to govern himself or the world, just everything going to pieces to know that what we're talking about is true. And we look up and we see the one as a man like Steven. He saw the Lord Jesus there. We can look up by faith and see him. We don't see everything yet, but under him. But we're not looking to some earthly man, some new.
Governor, Prime Minister, President to set things right.
We see the one who's going to do it is already laid the foundation for it. And this really, brethren, is what lifts us above this world and all its great system. And this is what the Spirit of God brings before us here, to encourage us to look above these things and to be occupied with this glorious Person who's now crowned with glory and honor.
The 8th of Romans gives us the complete deliverance, doesn't it?
In fact, the 5th, 6th and 7th and 8th chapters take up the subject of deliverance, but the 8th chapter gives us the full deliverance and there we have the whole creation waits for the manifestation of the sons of God.
As I think next to the verse you quoted in the in the eighth of Romans. That is until Christ comes forth.
With his pride or companions if you wish.
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Until He takes that place publicly, there won't be any relief for the creation. But the moment that takes place, then everything else will fall into its place under Christ and the Church. And you know, brethren.
We better look up for our redemptions drawing nigh.
There's every indication today rather than we may not finish this meeting.
They may be caught away.
I say that because there's a tendency of our hearts.
To settle down into this world as though we were going to stay here, but we're not going to stay here. The prophet says it's polluted. We know it. If we look around, we know it's polluted. We're not going to stay here. We won't be here much longer.
I think it might be helpful just to mention here in passing that we can see the significance of the signs that were given when we speak of what we're talking about right now.
Now that is the gift of tongues that was given. Where did tongues come in?
Certainly not in the Garden of Eden. It came in as the result of man's pride and self exaltation at the Tower of Babel. And so we find that one who could remove those barriers to communication and all could understand the wonderful works of God in their own language, because in having all aligned in heaven is one. And God was showing that He was reaching out beyond the bounds of Israel.
Right out to the nations and that he is going to gather together in one all things in Christ.
Them to where did sickness come in? Was that there before sin ended? Not at all. Well, here's this one who has triumphed over the power of Satan, has gone into death and risen triumphant. How significant that these two signs should be given to show who this person was.
And what is going to be accomplished through him now, we don't see the full fruit of that now, but there's going to be when he takes the place of headship. But the sign given to confirm the word that announced this was very important and significant and related, I say, to the very place that he has taken as the head of all where it's not going to be, as I say.
Just Israel that will be blessed, but all the nations will be blessed in association with Christ.
So I think it's very lovely to just see this, and I think it simplifies the whole thought of why those signs were given. And now there's no necessity that they should continue because they're going to be, shall I say, introduced when perfect communication is brought about in all nations of the earth. Come up to Jerusalem and worship at the Feast of Tabernacles. The inhabitants shall not say in that day, I'm sick people.
The land will be forgiven their iniquity, what Scripture says, who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who heal us all light is diseases will be fully displayed when the Kingdom is established. And I think to see this and to see the purpose to show to that nation, because it was particularly assigned to Israel, who are the center of the earthly glory.
That all this was going to be accomplished through the one who has gone up and is exalted there now at the right hand of God.
It's important for us to remember, though, as we think of Israel and their portion, that the church will be already in the glory with Christ. And what we're waiting for is to hear that shout that calls us away, and then everything else will take its place, but not until then. So our hope, We have one hope. We learn in Ephesians 4.
That one hope is Christ coming for us to take us home.
Now this we should have clearly in our minds before we ever think of that which is going to take place on the earth.
Sometimes in the present day we hear, well, this is a sign of the Lord's coming. That is a sign of the Lord's coming. Well, there isn't any sign to be given of His coming for us. We're caught up to be with Him in the air. There is no sign that we can find.
That points to that. That's why the Lord has told us to wait and to watch and expect him any moment because the brother said he may come before the meeting finishes. But if there are signs and people do think of signs, they're pointing to what's coming after work and we see events moving in that direction.
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Like toward establishing, reviving the old Roman Empire.
Well, they're talking about unifying the money now over Europe. That's another step in that direction. Well, those are the signs of what's coming after the Lord has come to take us home. So we don't want to get confused by science because there is no sign to be looked for now.
The only thing is the Lord's own word. I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also. When we think of the removal of all the evidences of sin, and the hushing of every groan, we think of how very pleasant it would be to us to see all this. But I suppose it's even more wonderful to think of how it will reflect to the honor and glory of.
The Lord Jesus, when someone whom you love very much has been falsely accused and maligned and utterly rejected, it's something to look forward to, to think that there is a day coming when that one will be honored and vindicated. And so in connection with what has been said, the setting right of those things that now are in such disorder.
What a wonderful thing it will be to actually see it with our own eyes, but to realize that this is to the honor and glory.
Of the Lord Jesus. He will be vindicated. He will be honored. He will be the head and center of the whole thing.
Now Joe Job says, oh, that there were a man.
And there is a man if they're not.
A man who and his own person.
Is filled with all glory, all power, all authority, every gift.
Grace.
Whatever you might name that would be desired in connection with man, Job is going to have his answer, and it's found in Christ. And you know, brethren, that man will be the Sinner of our attention and glory and the glory through all eternity of man. And the subject that will occupy us will be the subject we have here of his going down, down, down.
Into death.
Raise us up and to take us to be with Him in connection with all that glory, and this is to the glory of God the Father.
Little ham we sing, says Christ of God. Our souls confess the King and sovereign even now. So although we don't see him in that place of headship openly displayed, our own hearts ought to acknowledge his authority in every way now. So that our whole life ought to be the display before the world that we acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that he's the one who has authority over our life.
Every detail, he's going to have supreme authority in that coming day when he reigns as universal Lord from sea to sea and from pole to pole. And if we really acknowledge that, then we are to seek to acknowledge that now in a practical way in our lives.
In fact, it's associated with salvation itself. If thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shall believe in thine heart that God has raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. And so unsolved Tarsus was saved on the roads of Damascus. Who art thou, Lord? So we speak of this time. We love to look forward to it when He is acknowledged in every place in this earth.
Blessing that will flow out when He has that place. Are we seeking to acknowledge it now? We see not yet all those things, but under Him. But we see Jesus, who has made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor.
Always say that you need a great deal of help to do this, and the chapter goes on to show us that this person who has taken that place is there to supply all the help we need. Is the pathway difficult? There's one who's trodden it before, is one who knows every problem, every difficulty, and as the great high Priest and advocate now is there for us.
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It's so beautifully brought out, not only the future place that he will occupy.
But the place that he's occupying now on our behalf in this chapter.
In the 10th verse, these words in bringing, I think it's just a wonderful to look at them and to think of what Jesus has undertaken to do.
To bring many sons to glory.
Isn't that a wonderful thing? Can he fail in that? No, he can't fail in that. And so we're on the way. But it says it became him for whom are all things is becoming to God that he would have that man Christ Jesus, just as he is one who is the captain?
Of our salvation, He's a perfect man.
To make the captain of their salvation perfect through something. Our Savior knows what sufferings are, He feels with us in them. And he has made a contract, you might say, to bring many sons to glory. And we're on the way, and we could be there very shortly, as we've heard. But in connection with these words in bringing, I like to look at the 1St chapter.
In the sixth verse where you have.
It says bringing in.
The first chapter in the sixth verse, and I think it's what's just been spoken of.
When the Lord is brought into this world in a future day.
Says again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he said, Let all the angels of God worship him. Oh, the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. Those angels will be there just to worship.
It doesn't say Sir, they are servants now, but then they'll just be standing back in worship. He will be supreme that day of manifestation, and He is all and shown to be so. First born and our first begotten is really the thought of the place that He has the title to everything.
And then Speaking of the sorrow and his death here.
There was only one who could say, Is there any sorrow like my sorrow?
No one else could utter those words with Jesus. He took upon him all the sorrow of these many sons.
I think it's there's a distinction here between verses 9 and 10 that are very solemn. The end of verse nine it says that the Lord Jesus by the grace of God should taste death for every man, but it says in verse 10 in the middle, by whom are all things in bringing many sons unto glory.
For all creation.
But unfortunately, not all will come to glory, because I do not accept the Lord Jesus as their Savior. So he dies for all, but solemnly, not all except that wondrous salvation. And we see and hear the perfection of God's Word, and it makes that distinction. So if there any here who have not yet put their trust in the Lord Jesus, it's very clear that there is salvation.
For you.
But you have to accept Christ to be one of the men.
There's a fluff Dr.
I'll just book the second verse.
It says, Looking unto Jesus, the offered and finisher, our faith.
Look at Under Jesus, the author. Well, it seems that this word captain is a is a similar word. That's the same word the captain or the leader.
After here the Lord has seen then as a leader, the author, the one who goes before.
And of a whole company of sons.
And surely in that day when the Lord looks at us, what's going to be his feeling? What's he going to say? Well, surely he'll say, look at all of these that God has given me.
All here you've rejoiced in that day to have us all around himself associated with him in that glory.
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In that coming scene, when he will be the head, when he will be the center, when he will be the object of attraction.
We read in Second Thessalonians when he comes to be admired in all them that believe that he's in the midst of us. He'll be like a diamond in a in a ring. The diamond is put together in the ring, but it has pearls all around it. Why are the pearls there?
Well, the pearls are there not to attract attention to themselves, but to display the diamond. Why are we going to be there to display Him? You've got us around himself to display himself. But it's all in God's purpose. It became him.
That he just became God, That it should be this way.
The Lord Desires Our Company
Address—G.H. Hayhoe
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The turn tonight to the 12Th chapter of Hebrews. Hebrews chapter 12, beginning at the first verse. Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which does so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.
Joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest she be wearied and faint in your minds. He have not yet resisted unto blood striving against them, and you have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children.
My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him.
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons. For what son is he whom the Father chasteneth not?
But if he be without chastisement were of all our partakers, then are ye ******** and not sons. Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh, which corrected us, and we gave them reverence. Shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure, but He for our prophet, that we might be partakers of His Holiness.
Now no chastening for the Presence seemeth to be joyous, but grievous nevertheless.
Afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, as that which is lame be turned out of the way. But let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord, looking diligently, lest any man fail of the grace of God.
Lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.
Lest there be any fornicator or profane person as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright, three know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected. For he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. For you're not common to the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor with unto blackness and darkness, and Tempest.
And the sound of the trumpet and the voice of words, which voice they that heard and treated that.
The word should not be spoken to them anymore. They could not endure that which was commanded. And if so much as a beast touched the mountain, it shall be stoned or thrust through with a dart. And so terrible was the sight that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake. But ye are common to the Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem.
And to an innumerable company of angels, to the General Assembly and Church of the first Born, which are written in heaven.
And to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of justice, men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of evil. Well, I read this portion of God's word here tonight because I believe it's a very precious thing for our hearts to know that the Lord desires our company. We know that when sin entered the world.
The very first words that God spoke were.
Adam, where art thou? God became a seeking God, and the cross of Calvary shows that not only.
As God in his wondrous grace delivered us from coming judgment, but he has prepared a way that we could enter into all that was in his heart for us. As one has sometimes said, when man forfeited all of God intended for him in the Garden of Eden by God made the promise of a coming Redeemer. And in reality what he was saying is you've spoiled this world, but I have something better for you than what you've spoiled and at great.
To himself, the redemption was far greater than creation. He provided a way.
That you and I could have a place in that coming glory, in the nearest possible place of relationship that His love could provide. Oh, how wonderful when we get hold of this, because I say again, it shows to us that what God desires is our company.
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We find that the Lord walking in the garden and the cool of the day was just to show Adam.
But he didn't just want him to enjoy all that his hand had provided those good things in the garden, He wanted him also to enjoy his company. But Adam, as we know, hid from him, and man's been doing the same ever since. He's been running away and hiding from God. And how wonderful if someone has put it.
The difference between a Sinner and a St. is that a Sinner hides from God and a St. hides in God. The Sinner runs away, where for us your life is hid with Christ in God. But you know, Lord, the Lord has provided this wonderful future for us where we're going to enjoy His company forever on the ground of redemption.
Because in that coming day, it tells us, the triumphant voice in heaven says.
Behold, the Tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and God himself shall be with them and be their God. That's the eternal state. That's the fulfillment. Shall I say of all the purposes of God that we should enjoy not only the wonders of new creation, but that we should enjoy the company of the one who made it all and who provided a way in grace that we could be there? But Brandon, the reason I read this chapter is.
Because I believe this shows us that he also wants us to enjoy himself and his company on the way. You know, you can, you can go to see a friend and you can have a very happy time in the friend's place, but a very miserable time getting there. But the Lord not only wants us to have a happy ending to the journey that's assured through the work of Christ, but He also wants us to have a happy journey there.
The Christian is the only person who really has a right to be happy.
The man of the world doesn't. If he only knew what's ahead of him, he couldn't be happy. It's only because the God of this world hath blinded the minds.
Of them that believe not that people of the world can be happy. They don't realize the awful future that's ahead of them.
But isn't it also true that we who know this glorious future are often not in the enjoyment of our portion? We're not walking as we should in the company of the Savior. Oh, you say it's a difficult day. So it was an Enochs day. But Enoch walked with God. That's what Enoch enjoyed even in a day when in ungodliness was filling the earth. Violence and corruption previous to the.
Enoch walked with God someone wrote a little poem he walked with God could grander words be written not much of what he did or said was told not where or what he wrought was even mentioned He walked with God brief words of faithless gold what a marvelous thing in the midst of it all here was a man who walked with God and I might say for those who are parents, but it's very interesting to notice that the.
He began to walk with God was after he begot his first boy, Methuselah and then it tells us that after he had had his first child, he walked with God for the rest of his life, 300 years. And so, you know, sometimes the Lord teaches us things in this way. He brings us his parents to feel a different sense of responsibility when we enter into family life. Well, in Enoch's case it was.
Thing when that first child arrived, it evidently created a stir in his heart and he began to walk with God. Well, how important that this should be so well, as I say, this chapter brings before us, if I could put it in this way, the two means that God uses to draw our hearts after himself. And I believe this is a very serious and yet blessed thing for us to consider first of all.
He seeks to draw us after the Lord Jesus.
Looking unto Jesus, he seeks to draw us, as the Scripture says, with cords of love.
Just as He did with Israel just before they were carried into captivity, He entreated them. In these words I have loved you with an everlasting love, therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee. In other words, He wanted their hearts to respond to His love and be drawn by those cords of love after Himself. But we know that it wasn't always so. And if we're honest, we have to confess it isn't always so with us.
We're not always responding to His love like we should. And so it tells us in Hosea that he said, therefore I will hedge up their way with thorns. Why did He do that? If he loved them? Why did he hedge up their way with thorns? Well, it was to make them realize that they had left Him out and that they had made all their plans and done all their arrangements without Him. And isn't this sometimes true of us?
00:10:28
We lose sight of the Lord like Peter we seek, we start to follow a far off and then the Lord does just that with us. He hedges up our way with thorns. A lot of things crop up in our lives and we begin to be concerned why this and why that? But why has it been allowed? Well, it tells us here whom the Lord loveth, He chasteneth. And if you read the prophet Hzea, why?
You see that the book closes with Israel saying, Take us words and let us return unto the Lord.
Yes, after hedging up their way with thorns them he used these trials and already passed them through to bring them to the point where they would say I'll come and let us return unto the Lord, for he has smitten and he will heal us. And so there was a return to the Lord and they said we'll what have I to do anymore with idols? And then he says.
We'll offer to to the Lord the calves of our lips.
That is what set them free from these things. Well, now, it should have been the attraction of His love, but instead the Lord had to use thorns, the thorns of the wilderness. And I say again, He often has to do this with us. But as dear Mr. Darby once said, He said the worst of all chastisement is that the Lord should leave us to our own ways, to leave us alone.
In a path that is not for His glory and for our blessing.
Would not be a real kindness any more than it would be a kindness to a parent for a parent to leave their child uncorrected. The scripture says he that loveth his child chased nothing be times it's love that leads him or that should lead him to bring about correction. Now no parent ever wants to do that. Every parent desires that the child would be attracted to them and drawn to them by love. But.
Sometimes the other is necessary. And so this is what is brought before us in this very interesting chapter. I believe the two ways that God uses, and I believe we ought to realize them. And first of all, isn't it nice? The chapter doesn't begin with the chastisement side. It begins with with what I might call the objective side, setting an object before our hearts, setting the one before us who is the one who has run the path of faith.
Has walked the path of faith perfectly as our example, and who loved us enough to go to Calvary for us. So when he begins here by saying, wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses. Let us lay aside every weight. Well, this cloud of witnesses, I believe, refers to what we have in the 11Th chapter.
We're all quite well acquainted, I think, with the 11Th chapter of Hebrews.
We often call it the faith chapter and traces from Abel downward, and shows a number of names of man who before had walked the path of faith, and often in very, very difficult days, days when all was against them, but they went on in the path of faith, and God has been pleased to record that, and He calls that a cloud of witnesses.
Just as if you were going to go on a road for the first time.
And you said, can I find anybody that's gone on this road before? They'll tell me a little bit about it. And a dozen people come up and say, well, I can bear witness. I've been over that road before. I know what it's like and I'm sure it's a good Rd. Well, that's what God has done to us. There's a great cloud of witnesses behind us. There are those from Able downward who blocked that path of faith and they have found it to be a blessed path. There's no one that ever sought to go on for the Lord.
Life that at the end of his life ever said, I'm sorry I did it. I wish I had chosen a path of self will. No, not one Christian will speak in that way. And so we have that great cloud of witnesses, so to speak, from the past. Certain names are recorded here, but certainly not all. And perhaps we can think of people even in our generation who are part of a cloud of witnesses who walked in that path of faith and bear witness to the blessedness of it.
00:15:07
I believe Mr. Darby once said the path of faith is worthwhile if it were 1000 times harder than it is. And he also said another thing. There are joys in the path of faith only known to those who walk in it. Because you can describe a rod, but you never really know it full well until you've been over it yourself. And so there are joys in the path of faith that we can only know and experience by walking in it. And so.
We have that cloud of witnesses to the blessedness of the path of faith. And now he begins this exhortation. Let us lay aside every weight. Well, we've often said there are two things in this verse. There are weights and there are sins. Let us lay aside every weight and the sin which does so easily beset us.
There are many things in life that are not wrong in themselves.
There are many things that we could say. I don't see anything wrong in that, but we also find that they're a hindrance to us in following Christ. They're not wrong in themselves. As I've illustrated. Sometimes if you were going to run in a race and you have on a heavy pair of boots, you throw off the boots and someone says what's wrong with the boots. They say there's nothing wrong with them, but I want to run the race and these are only going to hinder me running the race.
And so there are things that we can argue up and down, There's nothing wrong with them, but they're hindering us perhaps from following Christ. They're hindering us because they come between US and the Lord. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. And so there are so many little things like this in life that can be called weights, hindrances, and.
Someone said that a weight has three marks. We argue for it.
Against conscience, we are uneasy about it and we go about seeking people's advice if we can keep it without harm.
I thought that was very well defined. We argue for it, and yet our conscience says, yeah, but you shouldn't be doing that. And we're uneasy whenever we think about it. We just don't feel thoroughly at peace doing it. But we're still trying to prove to ourselves there's no harm. And then if we can only find one godly Christian who says there's nothing wrong with it, then we think, well, that must be all right because so and so said it was all right.
We we know that it's a hindrance right from the start. It's a weight. Well, the apostle here writing this epistle says, let us lay aside those kind of things, those things that we know hinder us in following the Lord Jesus because to walk in his company, to run with patience, the race that is set before us is truly the only happy path.
And then it says, And the sin which does so easily beset us.
Now I know there are many that take this to refer to the sin of unbelief, and I'm sure that is a very, very serious sin, the besetting sin of Israel, because it tells us they didn't enter into the land because of unbelief. But could I apply it in another way? Because I think this statement is true, that every person has some besetting sin. He has some weakness that he perhaps himself is quite well aware of something that he knows.
Own life that is springing up. It could be a lot of different things, and so I don't intend to enumerate them, but there could be a lot of things. And what might be a snare to you, perhaps is not to me. But every one of us has something, and it just seems that every once in a while this thing crops up in our lives. We really have to get before the Lord to judge it. Or as it says in the 19th Psalm, if we don't judge it then.
It has dominion over us, it gets the upper hand in our lives and we can spoil our whole life and testimony because.
We didn't judge it when it was small. Just like in our garden, if we don't pull out the little weeds then they grow into big ones and they choke out the whole garden. But if you pull out the little ones, the garden prospers. And if we watch ourselves to be in self judgment about little things, they will not grow into the great things that hinder our Christian life. So we have weights and sins and then let us run with patience. The real word here is.
Endurance. Endurance because that's what we need in the Christian life.
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We all know that very well. We're not living in Canada in the days of what we might call the martyrs.
When in the days of the martyrs, why they were often brought up before the council and they had to make one decision. They had to say yes or no as to whether they were going to be loyal to Christ. If they said yes and they were taken out and burned at the stake or beheaded. And it was a, shall I say, one supreme and wonderful decision that they would rather die than deny their Savior. But you know, we're living in days of endurance.
We are living in days, brethren, when it takes a lot of endurance. You don't just say no.
Once or twice it's day after day the thing springs up and you seek to be faithful. And as you hear young people say, I can't always be saying no. Well, we need insurance. We need insurance, our precious Savior. And that's what it means when it says you have not yet resisted on the blood striving against sin. Now the Lord Jesus would rather die than disobey.
And his whole pathway was one of pleasing his Father, and over and over again, as he met different situations in life, his supreme desire was to do his Father's will. And so I say the Christian life today is one of endurance. And you know that yourself as well as I do. You know very well that especially as we get near the end, the pressures become greater.
And the tricks of the enemies seem more subtle.
And we just, we just feel that we have to be constantly cast upon the Lord that we would have the grace to be faithful. I believe that's why I might just mention here in passing that there are different crowns mentioned in the scripture and there there's only one crown that's mentioned twice and that is the crown of life. In Revelation chapter 2, it says.
Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
And then in James it says, blessed or happy is the man that endureth temptation, for when he has tried, he shall receive a crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Now why is that crown mentioned twice? Well, I say again, you might say, well, that's one crown. I don't suppose there's any possibility of us getting here in Canada, because we.
Don't really expect that we'll have to be martyred for Christ.
But what the apostle James is saying, Oh yes, you can have that crown. You may not be like the martyr who makes the one time decision and is burned at the stake. But to go on day after day with all the pressures of life, with all the pressures that are brought to bear so constantly, and look up to the Lord in these new temptations day after day, and say, Lord, help me not to yield to this, but to please thee.
The apostle James rather says.
Well, if you're faithful, I'll give you the martyrs crown, the crown of life. Oh, how blessed it is. Then to see how the Lord values it says which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Why does it say them that love him? Well, because if we love a person, we don't want to displace them.
If you really love somebody, you just feel very badly when you displease that person because you love them. And so that is the desire of the heart of the one who's in communion with the Lord, and that he wants to please the Lord. He loves him. He'd rather say no to a friend than say no to the Lord. So he endures temptation in order that he may be faithful. And so it tells us here, let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher, you have a margin in your Bible. You notice it says the beginner and finisher and it says of our faith. It's really of faith. The thought in the verse is that these that have been mentioned in the 11Th chapter, many of them walked the path of faith, but some of them began well and didn't finish so well. Others didn't begin so well but finished well. And so there was one.
Who began well and finished well because he walked it perfectly. And this is what it means. Because if you look at someone like me and why, then you may get disappointed because we've often looked at somebody and they started well but didn't end so well and then we get let down. But there's one person that we can look to. He began and he finished. The path of faith God has set before us a perfect example for our pathway.
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The beginner.
Share the path of faith. Let's not make any other brother or sister our example. Let the Lord Jesus be the pattern and example for our pathway. So we're looking under Jesus the author or the beginner and finisher of faith, proof of the joy that was set before him. And I believe the thought here, the joy that was set before him primarily refers to his joy.
In doing his father's will, it gave him joy.
He said the good pleasure of thy will is my delight. It was really his joy. He didn't do it out of the sense of Judy. He did it because he loved his father and he wanted to please his father. And that's what it's brought before us in the opening part of this chapter, that he's drawing us with cords of love.
And so the Lord Jesus, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame. We don't despise the shame, we really hate the shame. We hate to be put to shame before our friends and before others. We hate to have other people reproach us and look down on us. But the Lord Jesus endured shame. He was despised and rejected of men. A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. They laughed into scorn. They.
They did everything they could to show their not only their enmity, but how they despised Him and he endured the shame. But where is He now? Oh, he sat down at the right hand of God. Where did the path of faith end? Oh, it ended there, in the full approval of His Father, because when he returned back as the one who had fully done his Father's will, even to the cross.
Then tells us in another place that will make me full of joy.
With thy countenance, that is, as He returned, as the one who had glorified His Father in every step, and glorified Him about the question of sin. Father's countenance was fullness of joy, and He was made full of joy with the Father's countenance. What a blessed thought. And so this is the example that set before us. This is the one.
He sat down now at the right hand of the throne of God.
Or consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest she be wearied and feigned in your minds. I'm sure all of us have experienced something of this. We're living in days when there's a tremendous amount of discouragement. People just are discouraged because we're looking around and we see in ourselves and in others so much in these last days to cause discouragement. But he says, consider.
Consider him a last she. Be wearied and faint in your minds next time. You and I just feel that discouragement, that depression, as we see how everything is breaking down and we find a lot of coldness in our own hearts. Let's think about him. He was the one who did his father's will in an exceedingly difficult day.
When the nation was out about its lowest ebb, and when the leaders all gathered together against the Lord and against his Christ.
When even the disciples were supplement fled, what discouragement as you looked at people, as you looked at the condition of the nation. But what an example, I say, for our hearts to have the Lord Jesus before us, lest we be wearied and faint in our minds. Or let us keep our eyes upon him like David, when things went so badly for him, and says, but David.
Encouraged himself.
In the Lord his God.
You have not yet resisted unto blood striving against sin.
It simply means that the Lord Jesus would rather die than disobey. He resisted unto blood. He would rather die on Calvary's cross than disobey His Father. He knew fully what it would cost, but He was obedient unto death.
Brings us to the second point that I spoke of, and that is another way that the Lord has to speak to us. First, in the beginning of the chapter, He sets before us this blessed object for our hearts, this One who began and completed the path of faith, who went to Calvary out of love for us. He sets Him before us as our example.
But then, as I said at the beginning, sometimes we lose sight of him.
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Sometimes we get our eyes upon the waves. We look at the things that might discourage.
And then the Lord has to begin to bring trials into our lives to draw us back. He brings in situations and difficulties that would ensure that. And He have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children. My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him. I don't mean to suggest in reading this that every trial that comes into our lives is necessarily.
Chastisement. But I do say this, and I believe it's good for us to bear in mind.
That every trial that comes into our lives ought to produce an exercise. It is allowed for a purpose. Absolutely nothing happens by chance. All things work together for good. And so, as I say, I'm not saying that every trial is necessarily chastisement.
Scripture speaks of how the Lord might deal with us to prune us or to prevent something in our lives, or He might deal with us for correction, but it's all to do as good at our latter end. And so when these trials do come, there are three different ways in which we can accept them. We can despise them, we can faint under them, or we can be exercised by them if we despise them.
It's just like as if we're saying, well, trouble comes to everybody and I suppose I have to have my share.
And if we take that attitude, we get no profit from the things that come. We just look upon them as the ordinary ups and downs of life. That's what Job felt when the trial came and he was missing the blessing because he said this. If the scourge slay suddenly he will laugh at the trial of the innocent. He said God isn't now, God isn't dealing any special way with me. And all this he said if one thing happens, why it happens to everybody. If there's a scourge, comes like a.
An earthquake or something, Well, it might strike me, it might strike my neighbor. It's just sort of a matter of chance.
Oh no, Eli, you said, John, you ought to ask God why this came, not just say that this was something that came by chance. And brethren, I think it's very easy for us to take that attitude in trial, and that is to despise the chastening of the Lord, not to see his hand in it, not to see that God allows it for our good when Job.
Realized the purpose that God had in it, and I say in his case it wasn't for something that he had done.
But it was to correct something that was altogether wrong in his heart, and that was a lot of unjudged pride. And there may be something in us that God sees that we don't see ourselves. And so God saw this. And it was no accident that the civilians came or that the wind came from the wilderness. God had his hand in that. It tells us when that the Lord said that he's the one that says to the snow, be thou on the earth.
And he says that he orders the place where lightning strikes. But he was really telling us is.
That these things don't happen by chance. And so let us not despise the chastening of the Lord. Oh, but you say I have more than my share that's fainting when we're rebuked of him. Sometimes a child will get that attitude and there's nothing that a parent feels more badly about than when the child feels it's getting an over amount of correction. The parent who's seeking the good of the child feels broken hearted. When the child feels, well, he's got to pick on me and.
What we're really seeking is they're good and we feel badly and can I say it, bread? And the Lord feels grieved.
When we kind of take that attitude to we faint, we get discouraged. We say, I have more than my share. And so he says, don't despise it, don't faint under it. Who gets the blessing from it? It yields the peaceable fruits of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Now that is, God intends us to be before him, and to see his hand in every circumstance in great.
And small to see that he's behind the scenes and everything is allowed of him for a purpose. And so I see again if he has in some way brought something into your life or mine. May we have grace to be exercised thereby.
In jobs cases, I say it wasn't something he had done and that was what was hard for Joel because he searched his life and and he said.
He said I'll hold fast my integrity as long as I live. My heart will not reproach me. He he he looked over his life and he thought he was all right. But the Lord saw something in job as I say that he was seeking to correct. And when Joel humbly took the place and said, well, he asked the Lord that he would teach him he'd been.
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Saying a lot of things himself, and then when he said to the Lord.
Teach thou, may thou. Then he began to get the blessing, and so here we find that it's the ones who are exercised thereby. And the sixth verse says, for whom the Lord loveth, he chasten us. I never undertook to chasing any of the other children on the street.
Only my own. And I did it because I love them. And so it is, you know, if the Lord puts his hand upon us, it's in love. It's because he loves us. And there's always that purpose of love, as my father used to often say, I need to be on our part and a purpose of love on God's part. And we need to always realize that when the children of Israel came to Mara and the waters were bitter.
Then the Lord told him to cast in the tree.
And when he cast in the tree, and then the bitter waters were made sweet. And perhaps it teaches us this, that there are times when we cannot perhaps see God's love in our circumstances, but we can always see it at the cross. If somebody does something and it seems like a mean act, and you look at that person and all that they've done for you before, and they've always been kind to you. They've always thought you're good. And something that you can't understand turns.
You say, well, I know that person well enough. They've always been kind to me. I don't believe they meant any harm by this. And so, you know, when we look at the cross, there's where we see God's love. The hymn writer put it like this. We cannot always trace the way that thou art gracious Lord dost take. But we can always surely say that God is love. We can say it because it's approved love if he loved.
To give His own son, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things whom the Lord loveth He chasing us.
And so he says, if we endure this, God deal us with us as with sons.
And then in the ninth verse, furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence. Shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live for they verily for a few days, chasing us after their own pleasure, but He for our prophet, that we might be partakers of His Holiness? You know, sometimes we as parents don't. We don't always correct our children for their good.
Sometimes, as it says here, we do it for our own pleasure. You know, sometimes you come home and you're feeling tired and children making a lot of noise. You tell them to be quiet. Well, that's not for their good. That's for your own pleasure. It's it's not very pleasant to have a lot of noise and say quiet them all down, but it's really for yourself. But isn't it nice that God, our Father never does this? He never does this. If he ever has to correct us, it's always for our profit. This exposes a little bit of.
How human fathers and what he is saying.
We respect our earthly fathers even though we know they're not perfect. We value the fact that they have done a lot of good things for us. We think of all the kindness and things they've done for us, but they weren't perfect. Well, if we do this to earthly parents, how much more to the Father of spirits, the one who knows all about us? I believe when it says the Father of spirits, it's rather bringing in the thought in the Scripture when?
The human is.
Spoken of in his three parts, spirit, soul and body, the spirit is the God conscious intelligent part of our being and just as we often say with our children, when we correct them we want them to understand why we have done it, that it's for their good. And so God wants us to see that he has a purpose and that we can intelligently.
Be before him about what he is trying to show us.
In the trials he is the father of spirits, and so as we accept these things from him.
Then it's that we might be partakers of His Holiness. 11Th verse now. No chastening for the present.
Seemeth to be joyous, but grievous nevertheless. Afterward it yielded the peaceable fruits of righteousness to them which are exercised thereby. Sometimes I've heard a a person say, a Christian say, Well, we should always be happy and buoyant and above things.
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Well, I believe this verse shows us that there are times when the Lord intends us to feel things just like it says here, no chastening for the presence seemeth to be joyous but grievous. Let me illustrate it very plainly and you'll see the point. If I punish my children, one of my children, and he turns around and smiles and says, Dad, that was fun. I know he missed the point altogether. He didn't get any good from it. And you know, the Lord does intend.
Sometimes feel things he doesn't intend that we should at once be above the circumstance, but my father's with the Lord and but I look back and I realize that things that he corrected in my life were for my good afterward afterward it yields the peaceable fruits of righteousness. Many of us as we grow older, we look back and we think, well, our parents really tried hard for our good, but at the time, perhaps it was hard for us.
See it. And so as we are exercised like the child that comes and perhaps afterwards and says to the parent, well, I know I needed it and I know you were trying to help me. Oh, how glad we are. At the time they couldn't say that because they didn't see it, but afterward. And so the Lord at the time puts his hand upon us. And at the time it's not joyous, it's grievous. We've all felt those things in our lives when things have.
Joyous. They were grievous, and the Lord wanted us to feel it so that we would turn to Him.
And then afterward, and I've often said too, it doesn't say after we have learned the lesson. It just says afterward, it yields the peaceable fruits of righteousness. Because sometimes, you know, I think we can weary ourselves trying to find out just exactly what the Lord had for us in it. But we can be exercised and get a blessing. I remember a brother said to me.
Passed through quite a bit of trial and he said, well I don't know whether I could exactly say why the Lord.
Put all this upon me. But I know one thing. It has made me relax my grasp on some of the things here. Well, he didn't see some particular failure in his life that the Lord was dealing with, but he did see that it had turned to a blessing. And those who observed him saw the peaceable fruits of righteousness as he was exercised thereby. And so if there's something happened in your life and you don't perhaps know why it happened.
Lord shows us sometimes we may not find out until we get home to heaven, but it always, brethren, it always can result in blessing. It can cause us to be drawn nearer to Him. It yields the peaceable fruits of righteousness to them which are exercised thereby. And that's why He goes on to say, wherefore lift up the hands that hang down on the feeble knees. That is when trials come in our lives. It's so easy as we.
Saying just let her hands hang down and say has no use. I'm not going to do anything anymore. And we just kind of let our hands hang down. Our knees become feeble and first thing you know, we get utterly discouraged or more than this, but we might have an effect upon others too. It says and make straight paths for your feet last that which is lame be turned out of the way.
But let it rather be healed.
Now that is, we need to be exercised so that the result would be blessing. And we make straight paths for our feet because very often in a time when trial comes, perhaps in a home or in an assembly, a discouraged person will be turned aside and leave. And perhaps we, instead of taking it from the Lord, we contributed to that lame person being turned aside. Instead of being healed, instead of being drawn back, we.
Contributed to it and so it shows here that we need to be careful in these times that we don't become so discouraged that we ourselves give up and perhaps we discourage others too because you know it tells us in Romans it says no man liveth to himself and no man dies to himself. Our lives have an influence upon others when Daniel was faithful when he was.
Going to school in Babylon.
His life had a result, and three others were encouraged to take a similar stand with him and Janelle. I sometimes said that as I look back at even my father's life, I know there were trials that came. But perhaps one of the greatest blessings to me in observing his life was to see the way he met the trials, the way he met them. That that to me was real blessing to my soul.
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I perhaps didn't understand why the trial came.
Even as a boy, but I could see that the spirit in which he met it, and that was a blessing.
And so we need to be careful in these things, not only for our own sake, but there may be some weak brother, that which is lame, some weak brother or sister. And our attitude in the midst of the trial perhaps will cause them to be turned aside. Or it may have. And there's another sad thing that's brought in here. Roots of bitterness come in. This is sad too. Sometimes the lame person is turned, or perhaps some roots of bitterness spring up.
Because of things that are said and done well, how careful we have to be. I don't think there's any more dangerous time in our own lives than when trial comes or any assembly. When trial comes, there's no more dangerous time because if we take it from the Lord, there's a real blessing. If we don't, who can tell a sad results that can flow from such things. And so there's just a little warning here because.
Just as looking under Jesus, following him.
We're going to be an encouragement to others. That great cloud of witnesses encourages us to follow the Lord. We say, oh, no one knew all about this. Enoch knew all about this, so we're encouraged. But for those who left, their hands hang down and their knees become people and say what's the use? And not only get the scurries themselves, but they discourage others. They contribute to things that are a hindrance instead of a blessing in God's assembly. And so here we find that.
We failed and of the grace of God because.
All God's ways with us, brethren, are in grace. We didn't deserve anything but His judgment, His His mercy and His goodness is entirely undeserved. We deserve nothing, I say, but judgment from Him, and in His grace and His mercy he has dealt with us. And so it tells us here about Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright, if you know how, that afterwards, when he would have inherited the blessing he was rejected for, he found.
Place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. Now we know that Esau was not a believer, but I believe it's brought in here to show that.
To show how when this situation arose and Jacob was at fault, you know, Jacob didn't do the right thing at all, but it upset Esau and Esau turned aside. And then when he, when he wanted to come back, it says he found no place of repentance. It doesn't mean that God wasn't willing to receive him.
About what he really thought, as it says here, he sought it carefully. It wasn't repentance. He sought carefully.
It was the missed blessing that he sought. He sought, he said to his father, haven't you got a blessing for me? He didn't say, Dad, I'm sorry he didn't say that. No, he said, haven't you got a blessing? That's what he was seeking after. And sometimes that can be the way with us, too. We're more concerned over missed blessings than telling the Lord that we're sorry. And so here we find that that has brought before us here, just as a warning, what happened between Jacob and Issa.
Now, I just read the end of the chapter, and I just mentioned a couple of points that I think are rather beautiful. In this end of this chapter, there are two mountains brought before us, Mount Sinai, that was where the law was given, and Mount Zion, and that's where the temple was established. When the people had failed under the law, failed under the judges, failed under the priesthood, failed under the Kings, everything had broken down.
And then God in grace.
Tells the Mount Zion that he loved and I think this is very beautiful. I believe there's a little lesson in the end of this chapter.
And that is that the way to correct these things is not to get back to Sinai with its thunders, not to get back and place ourselves or other people under law, but it brings before us what God has called us to, and that is grace.
And so when we have had trials and difficulties and they have come into our lives, how good it is to when we come back to know that we come to Mount Zion that the Lord meets us in grace. I think this is very beautiful to see how that he says you're not coming to the Mount Zion. If God dealt with any of us according to what we deserved. And that's what the law was God's requirements for man in the flesh in which.
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Utterly failed and couldn't produce any fruit for God. And it will might make us afraid if we thought of having to meet God at Mount Sinai. It even made Moses afraid. And if I thought of if I thought of how I had failed and Mount Sinai, boy, it would make me fear and quake. But isn't it very blessed to know that what he is bringing before us in this chapter.
Is God's grace is being brought before us?
And the way he deals with us, as I said, is to do us good at our latter end, because we have been called to Mount Zion. And so we know that in the coming day of glory, every one of the redeemed are going to be there. Every one. If the shout happened while I am standing here, faithful and unfaithful Christians would all be caught up. They that are Christ that is coming. We're going to be there because of the blood of sprinkling. That speaks better.
And that of Abel. But I say again, brethren, this is the point that I feel is in the chapter. God wants us to have a happy path on the way there. He wants us to have a happy path on the way there. And he has marked out a happy pass for us. He set an object for our hearts. He's given us a great cloud of witnesses. And when he sees a string, he puts out that.
Crook to correct us and bring us back because he hasn't called us to Mount Sinai.
Where it would be judgment, He's called us to Mount Zion, the city of the living God.
The heavenly Jerusalem, isn't it a wonderful end we're going to have? And the journey and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, the vast company of the angels not occupying the nearest place to the throne, but the Church of the first born, which are written in heaven. What a glorious scene opens up to us here. What a prospect we have before us. And when we think of the grace that has called us, I say again, not to Mount Sinai to condemn us.
The called us to Mount Zion in grace. Surely when we think of this.
By then it does touch our hearts and make us think of the wonders of His love and what He has done for us. So it says.
In the 24th verse, and to the and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speakers better things than that of Abel. That is, when God looked at Abel's blood, he said to Cain, The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. He was blood called for judgment.
But isn't it wonderful, Christ blood spilled upon the ground of this world, For the soldier pierced his side, and the blood flowed out, and the wire. And what did it call for? God looked upon that blood, and instead of calling for vengeance, he said, there's blessing, there's pardon. The little hymn says The very spear that pierced thy side drew forth the blood to save.
Well, may the Lord grant that as we meditate upon a chapter like this, it will speak to our hearts.
As I've said several times late and I lately and I feel oppressed in my mind it's only a little time that we have left. We only have the rest of our time and events in this world make us all think that the Lord's coming must be very near. And don't we want to be like Enoch walking with God as it tells us in another place that we ourselves might be likened on demand which.
Wait for our Lord.
And so in all that he sees fit to pass us through, may we realize his love, that He's doing us good. And then again, I wish to say.
May our lives also be an encouragement and blessing to others. Oh, how often some brother or sister, by his godliness, by his patience in the midst of a trial, has spoken loudly to our hearts and encouraged us to go on in the path of faith. Well, I say again, His coming is near.
May He keep us till that day.
John A Model for Us
Address—P.L. Johnson
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And so the first thing we have is that he hears a voice behind him. And that would suggest in my mind that John had John was looking, as it were, in the wrong direction. He had to be turned to look in the right direction. That's the first step, you might say, in the, in the adjustment of John in communicating something to his brethren.
And before I go on, I'd like to say this that one might feel that.
John can't be a model to us in this way. For John is going to write something to these seven churches and and how do we fit into that? We can't sit down and write these letters to churches. And, and one might say I'm a sister and I, I can't even take part in the meeting that is verbally. And one might feel that he has nothing verbally to communicate in the meeting, even a brother, a young brother perhaps.
But there is a sense in which each one of us communicate something to the assembly. We communicate something. We either communicate.
Of God are we communicate what is of the flesh, we can communicate a spirit of devotedness and of loyalty.
We can devote, we can communicate a spirit of faithfulness.
Or we can communicate to the assembly a spirit of indifference, carelessness.
You see, we're all communicating something and I believe that. I believe that's something to think about. One may feel that you're you may think that you're an insignificant member in the church or assembly, that you really don't count, but every member affects the others. If one member suffer, then all suffer. And I believe that even refers to the spiritual state.
Of individuals, one may think that you're communicating nothing to the assembly, but you can help to communicate a bad state. You can help to contribute to a bad state. You can help to contribute to a good state.
We are all communicating something and we may not all write letters like John.
We may not all communicate something verbally, but we are communicating by our attitude, by our spirit, by our state of soul, by our associations, by our walk, and by our ways. We are communicating or supplying something in the assembly, good or bad. Well, John is going to communicate and he needs to be properly adjusted. And the first thing in that adjustment is.
If I may be allowed to use the word orientation?
Maybe that's the word I ought to explain. He needs to be properly oriented. That is, he has to be looking in the right direction.
Now I know that in the United States, I can't say about Canada, but the Army.
Uses that expression orientation.
They when one joins the army.
They, they go through a series of orientation lectures or something of this art and the object is this to Orient them to, to look at things from the military standpoint. No longer as a civilian, you know, they say you're, you're not a civilian anymore. You're a military man and you have to look at things from the military viewpoint. That's orientation. Well, that's used even in in civilian circles, I know to properly.
One means that they're looking in the right direction. That is you. You get them in the frame of mind to look at things in a certain, in a certain light and in a certain way. And so it is with the John here he was looking in the wrong direction and he heard a voice behind him. And you'll notice what it says.
In verse 12 and I turned to see, now that's the thought of orientation. He had to turn and look in the other direction.
Well, why is there this great need of being turned and looking in the right direction? I'll tell you why.
You see, we all have the flesh in us. We have that human nature is born into this world, and it is only human.
It is a characteristic of human nature that we look at things in human eyes and in a human way rather than looking at things from the divine side. And oh, I think this is very, very important, to look at things from the divine side, to look at things from God's side. You say, well, how can I do that? Well, that's the importance of this word. It's the word of God that gives us to see things from his viewpoint, and things may not.
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Always look the same. We can look at things through human eyes, and then we look at things through the Word of God and we see them from God's side and they look entirely different. And in the assembly we need to be properly oriented so that everything that comes up and arises in the assembly should be viewed from God's side, that is.
Are we looking at it from the side of what God has shown us in the Scriptures and what is for His glory?
And for what is the honor of His beloved Son? Or do we take them up merely according to human feelings and human thought?
And human philosophy and things of that nature, it must be looked at from the divine side. Well, that's the first thing. But now notice in verse 12 what he saw.
When he turned he saw 7 golden candlesticks and the last verse of this chapter tells us what these are.
At the end of verse 20 it says the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
The seven churches.
Now you will notice.
That he doesn't see one Candlestick or lampstand. The word property is lampstand. He doesn't see one, he sees 7.
And someone says, well, I thought there was only one church.
And if these if the lampstand represents the church, why isn't Why wasn't it just one instead of seven?
Well, there is in Scripture the truth of the one church.
The Body of Christ, the one Church on earth, composed of all believers, indwelt by the Spirit of God.
For by 1 Spirit are we all baptized into one body. That's true, but when we view the church in its responsibility.
And when we view the Church as a responsible light bearer, it has to be taken up in a local way. In other words, the one Church, the body of Christ, never convenes. You know what I mean? Now, I know that in in Christendom they think it does. They try to have an ecumenical council that represents the one Church. And Rome thinks so too. But in Scripture we do not have the one Church on earth composed of all believers ever.
Or assembly. What we have are the members of that church in each locality Assembly.
The Church of God, which is at Corinth assembled, and those that are in Ephesus assembled. We read in Acts 11 That Paul and Barnabas assemble themselves with the church there in Antioch. It was the believers in Antioch. And if there were believers in Lystra, Derby, Iconium, wherever they were, they assembled and you we find in Scripture that responsibility lies with the local assembly.
The local assembly when Paul wrote to Corinth.
About the difficulty there in that assembly.
He did not call upon Ephesus to do something. He called upon Cornup. They were responsible there. And when he sets forth in the Epistle to the Corinthians the ardor that was to prevail in that assembly.
How that the spirit dividing severity to every man as he will when they came together.
And they came together to remember the Lord and that there was liberty for prayer and praising.
And there was even opportunity for an open meeting where the prophets might speak two or three, and all of these exercises, you might say, of the service of God. When the assembly came together, he gave the order that was to prevail in that assembly at Corinth.
You see, he didn't give that order to the whole church, but he gave it to that assembly. Well, does that mean then that that all of these seven churches or assembly are separate and distinct and unattached and independent one of another? Not at all. But what it does mean is this, that each one is responsible.
For maintaining the light and the testimony in itself and its own locality.
The Saints gathered to the Lord's name here in Vancouver. We would not arrogate the title of assembly to such a company.
That is, we wouldn't take the ground of saying that we are the whole church here in Vancouver. No, we know they're true believers. But we would be on the ground of the assembly here and walking in the light of the assembly so that the assembly here is responsible to act for the glory of God and to act according to the due order that is set forth in Scripture. The assembly in Seattle and wherever they were Saints gathered.
To the Lord's name, walking in the light of the truth of the assembly, they too are responsible.
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But not independent one of another. Turn back to Corinthians.
I want to show you how that the apostle, while he lays upon the Corinthians, the church at Corinth, their responsibility.
And This is why I believe there were seven lampstand scenes, because each assembly was responsible itself.
But we cannot use that to deny the unity that existed between those seven assemblies.
We see that in Corinthians. Notice in the first chapter in verse two he writes under the Church of God which is at Corinth.
So he localizes it. You see, he doesn't write to the Church of God over the whole earth.
He's not writing this epistle to the one church composed of all believers on the face of the earth. No, he says, I'm writing this to that assembly and current that local assembly sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be Saints. But now notice with all that in every place, call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours right from the outset. He says while I write these.
Instructions to the local assembly in Corinth.
It's for all the Saints everywhere. It's it applies equally to those who call upon the name of the Lord in every place.
It's not restricted to Corinth so that the unity that exists between them is that what is what Corinth is responsible for in their area. The other assemblies in their area were responsible for as well. Now the several times turn to chapter 4.
Several times the apostle links up.
His instruction to the Corinthians with the Saints elsewhere. Verse 17 for this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways, which be in Christ as I teach everywhere in every church. You see, it wasn't left for this assembly to choose how they wanted to meet and how they wanted to conduct the service of God and then it was left to.
To to act according to their own as men speak, to dictate to their conscience and so forth, and to carry and to meet according to what they thought was right. Paul says no. It's what I teach everywhere in every church. What Timothy is going to bring down there to you, what I'm bringing before you is what I teach everywhere in every church.
The same set of teaching everywhere. Now turn to the 11Th chapter.
And we see that the Corinthians were seeking to introduce something that was unscriptural.
That sisters would appear in the presence of the Saints.
Where the Word of God was read or spoken on and where prayer was made without a head coverage.
And he's correcting that error and he ends up by saying in verse 16. But if any man seem to be contentious, in other words, he has presented the argument, you might say are presented the case for wearing a head covering on the part of the sisters. Now he says if there are those there that that still want to be contentious, if you want to contend about this thing, let him know this. We have no such custom, that is we apostles.
Neither the churches of God. He reminds them that all of the Saints, all of the assemblies everywhere followed this order, and if they were going to have another order, they were out of line and out of step and out of unity with their brother and elsewhere. You see how he's emphasizing the fact that while each assembly is responsible in their locality, they're not independent of their brethren gathered elsewhere. They're not independent of assemblies.
Elsewhere there is a unity that links them together as members of the body of Christ.
That's why there's that unity. They are all, they are the members of the body of Christ in this locality, this locality and that locality, and they're all governed by the same truth. And in the 13th chapter.
Or rather the 14th chapter.
And verse 34.
Let your women keep silence in the churches.
Or rather verse 33. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace.
As in all the churches of the Saints, then he says, Let your women keep silence, and know that he had been speaking about the ardor that was to prevail in the assembly. There was not to be confusion. Everything is to be done unto edification, and everything is to be done decently, in order and under the direction of the Spirit and according to spiritual understanding. Now he says.
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That as in all the churches or assemblies.
Of the Saints, he reminds him again that if they do not follow this order that he is setting forth, they're out of step with their brethren elsewhere. They're acting independently of their brethren. And this is not according to the mind of God. God's mind is that while there is local responsibility.
Yet we are not independent of our brethren elsewhere. We're all acting.
You might say on that principle of the one body, we are all acting as those who are united together as members of the body of Christ, though it's carried out in a local way. Well, back to chapter one. I'm not going into great detail in all of these things, but just to point out some of the things that I think are most important in regard to being properly adjusted.
In supplying or communicating something to the assembly, we need to see assembly responsibility. And that's really what this vision is about, the fact that these assemblies were responsible as light bearers. That's why they're seen under the figure of lampstands. They're not seen under the under the figure of the body of Christ, under the figure of the House of God or the bride of Christ, but under the figure of lampstands.
For they are responsible as a witness for Christ.
And in fact, the Lord Jesus presented here as being in the midst.
Is in the midst, not ministering blessing to His people.
We know He does, and we know He is in the midst of that. He's not in the midst.
To give authority, but he's in the midst to make an assessment as to how they have.
How they have maintained the responsibility that was theirs locally to maintain the light for Christ. He's there in the midst, as judge, in the midst of the assemblies. And so we need to recognize the fact that there is assembly responsibility.
And the Lord Jesus takes account of it. But at the same time, and I want to impress this, that independency is not taught here. The fact that there were seven different lampstands does not mean that each assembly of the Lord's people is independent of the other, but it merely brings out the fact that each one has its own responsibility. But as we've seen in an in Corinthians, they are united together as members of the body of Christ.
Well, now notice these lampstands in verse 12.
Are spoken of as being golden.
I suppose that most of us, in reading the scriptures, have discovered that gold is a type of that which is divine.
That which is divine, being a precious metal it is, speaks of that which is divine. And so John was to see it that these assemblies were not just groups of brethren, if you want to use that expression.
Not just a gathering of Saints, but it was that the assembly.
He wanted to impress upon him and upon you and me that the assembly is a divine institution.
That's why Paul writes to the Church of God, which is at Corinth. You see, the Church of God is more than just a title. You can have a building and you can put a sign out front and say Church of God, but that isn't what he's talking about. It's God's church. It means that it's it's not a human institution. It's not a voluntary association.
You see, man can. Man can have a voluntary association.
Even Christians, they can band together, they can say, well, we believe in in the the missionary activity. So they band together and form a a missionary group for the furtherance of missionary work. But that's just a voluntary association. Now, I'm not going to say that there hasn't been some good done from by these things, but that's not the assembly.
All sorts of organizations are have been farmed by men and and God has used some of them in his sovereignty. But the thought is that the assembly is a divine institution and we we don't farm an assembly. The Saints in a locality can't farm an assembly even where the we know that.
00:20:11
As we sometimes speak of a new gathering being farmed, it isn't that we have farmed a new assembly.
It is that the Saints in that locality have learned that they are a part of the assembly which God is already established.
They have learned that Christ has a church and that they're of it. They belong to it, you see, And so they withdraw from all of the organizations of men. They gather simply to the name of Christ on the ground of the one body, owning that they're a part of that assembly which God has set up in this world, that assembly which Christ that I will build. They're a part of that Church of God.
And they seek to function and to and to walk in the light of that.
And to carry on the service of God in connection with that. So we want to look on it as a divine institution.
And if we do, I believe this thoroughly, and one can never anticipate what we might do. And I'm not going to say I can anticipate, but I do believe that if we really hold firmly in our heart and conscience that the assembly is a divine institution, we won't be too quick to leave it. We won't just get up and leave it over flimsy things and flimsy reasons because we recognize that it's that which God himself has instituted. Now, again, I'm not saying that.
Any gathering of the Lord's people today can arrogate to themselves the title of being the Church.
In the sense of including all believers, but I do believe it is the privilege.
Of those who have faith, to act upon it, to gather on the ground of the Church of God, and to walk in the light of the Church.
And act according to the principles of the assembly. And those who do so, I believe are held responsibly by God to act for the church and on behalf of the Church of God. And it is our privilege to view the actions of such as having God sanctioned and the sanction of Christ as being his assembly.
Again, we never want to exclude those who are true believers in our thoughts.
And we know that if those, all of those who were the Lords.
Were on the right ground, they would all be gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. That's where He would have His people be.
We know that well, we want to look on it as a, as a divine institution, not just a group of Christians that meet seeking to carry out certain truths or principles, but we're we're seeking to carry out what is of God, divine. Well, I've already anticipated the Lord in the midst as a judge, because when John sees the Lord, he sees him not as the head of the church or as the Son of God, he sees him.
Son of Man in the character of a judge with the his garment right down to the feet.
Not the garment was not girded up for service because the Lord here is not seen in his wonderful care of service of his Saints. No, the garment is down because he's in the under the figure of a judge and even his affections are as it were restrained with that girdle about the pact we read with a golden girdle that means that he he is not here now to.
Display all of his affection for the church.
But he's here to to take account of how the church is fulfilled its responsibility how each local gathering has fulfilled its responsibility as a responsible light bearer. And I'm sure all of these figures of his head and his hair is white like wool. Perhaps Speaking of maturity and his eyes is a flame of fire would speak of of discernment penetrating discernment feet like a debris. We know that brass is a type.
Of divine righteousness and dealing with man and responsibility. Because you see, if the Lord takes an account of things and however He judges of things, his judgment is going to be righteous.
And again, we want to look at things from the Lord's side, and in a sense, you might say if the Lord is seen in this character taking stock of the state of the assembly, this is the way in which we we should too. We should have some maturity of judgment, we should have some spiritual discernment, and we should have that ability to judge things righteously.
And then we read that the voice of and sound of many waters, that perhaps dignity.
And majesty. And then we see that responsibility is in His hand with the seven stars, and He judges everything according to the Word. He has in His hand a sharp 2 edged sword. And we know this refers to the scriptures. The Word of God is spoken of as being sharper than any two edged sword. So you see, everything is judged according to scripture, according to what He has set forth and the Scriptures. Now notice the attitude of John.
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And here he's a model for us. John falls at his feet, is dead. What does that mean?
I think that is a figure of self judgment in other words, instead of judging.
Others. The first action of John is to judge himself, judge himself in a spirit of self judgment. And so John gets the comfort and power of the Lord. The Lord lays his right hand upon him. That's the hand of power.
Because the place of power is the place of self judgment and loneliness and humiliation, and in the right hand of power is placed upon him. And the Lord says, fear not.
You see, he gets that comfort and he knows that he has the Lord's support, and I feel that this is a moral principle.
If we're going to have the support of the Lord with us, we need to take this attitude and spirit of self judgment, knowing that the Lord is in the midst and he's in the midst here discerning everything. He knows everything that's going on. He knows all about the state of everything. He knows every heart. He knows every bit of progress we've made. He's know He knows every bit, everything that hinders and all, everything about us, everything going on in the assembly. And so we take a low place.
Judgment and humiliation, and then we have the sense of His power and His support.
And he will put forth his hand, right hand of power, and he will support those who take that place. But if we, if we're insensible to his being in the midst to discern these things, and if we're careless and indifferent, we'll lose that sense of comfort, that sense of support and that right hand of power that he gives. Well, what a model John is, is for us.
Not only as we had the other night, but as we have him here now.
In this vision of the Lord and taking the right attitude, falling at His feet as dead, and to have that wonderful experience of the Lorde support and the Lorde power and the Lorde comfort, even though we are made aware of the fact that He observes and knows everything. Well may we be those who communicate what is according to the mind of Christ and the assembly and supply that and that we see things.
Right perspective from God's viewpoint and see the assembly as it is a divine institution.
And be on that right attitude of self judgment before the Lord.
John Brother and Servant
Address—P.L. Johnson
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Read in the first chapter of the Book of Revelation.
Revelation chapter one and we'll read the 1St 11 verses.
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass.
And he sent and signified it by his Angel unto his servant John, who bear record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein, for the time is at hand.
John, to the seven churches which are in Asia, grace be unto you, and peace.
From him which is, and which was, and which is to come, and from the seven spirits which are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness and the first begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth.
Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests. Unto God and his Father, to Him be glory and dominion, forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him.
And they also which pierced him, and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.
Even so, Amen.
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord. Which is and which was and which is to come, the Almighty.
I, John, who also am your brother and companion in tribulation in the Kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the aisle that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and heard behind me a great voice as of a trumpet.
Saying I'm alpha and Omega, the 1St and the last and what thou seest writing a book.
And send it under the seven churches which are in Asia unto Ephesus, and under Smyrna.
And under Pergamos, and under Thyatira, And under Sardis, and under Philadelphia, and under Laodicea.
It isn't my purpose to.
Take up the Book of Revelation and speak of it in a prophetic way.
What I really had before me is to.
Speak about John and the way he presents himself here.
In this first chapter, especially in verses 9 and 10, which we will.
Take up the Lord willing in detail where we see the way in which John presents himself, in the circumstances in which he is found and the position he occupies.
And the condition.
Of soul, if you want to use that expression in which he is found here in this first chapter of the Book of Revelation. But before we take that up, I'd like to just in a general way, make some remarks in regard to these verses that we read that might be of help to those who are.
Concerned about reading the Book of Revelation? And we really all ought to be, because notice what it says in verse 3.
Blessed is he that readeth. There is a blessing pronounced upon the reading of the Book of Revelation.
We know, of course, that it's probably one of the most neglected books.
And but a blessing is pronounced.
And not only that. And they that hear the words of this prophecy.
And keep those things which are written therein.
Well, I'd like to make this remark in connection with the Book of Revelation, while it is primarily a prophetic book.
That brings before us events that are future in the in the largest part of the book. We know of course that the 1St 3 chapters.
Are not future chapter one, of course, being the vision that John had of the Lord, Chapters two and three giving us the history, the moral history of the church from Ephesus through Laodicea, but after that it's chiefly prophetic.
But you know the very title of this book. Now I'm talking about the true title, not the title that we have in our King James translation, but the true title of this book gives us the the theme and the subject of the Book of Revelation.
00:05:06
And the title I believe is found in verse one, the way it begins the revelation of Jesus Christ. In other words, the object of the Spirit of God in the Book of Revelation is not merely to tell us of coming events.
So that we would be knowledgeable of prophecy.
Many times the Book of Revelation is taken up entirely in this way. We know there are those who even use it in a sensational way. I have seen announcements.
In front of so-called church buildings, if you want to use that expression announcing.
Some subject like this What will be the end of Russia?
Come in here.
And many times there are those who like to take up the prophetic events of the Book of Revelation and and.
Create an interest for people to come in about current affairs and things like that. Turn over to the 19th chapter. I want to connect a verse there with what we just read, the revelation of Jesus Christ. In other words, that's the object of the Spirit of God in the Book of Revelation. It's to to make him known.
In the 19th chapter.
And verse 10.
John, Speaking of himself, says I fell at his feet. That is the feet of the Angel.
To worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not. I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus, worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
That's really the key to the Book of Revelation.
In the Book of Revelation, the Spirit of God is spoken of as the Spirit of prophecy. That is, He is revealing prophetic things.
It is a prophetic book, it's true, but the object of the Spirit of God in revealing these prophecies, the object is to exalt Jesus, the testimony of prophecy.
As we read here, the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy, and really it's an expression that could be reversed. That is, the two things are equivalent. The Spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus.
So that the object of the Spirit of God is to make known the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. And if one reads the Book of Revelation.
And they come away from the reading or the studying of the Book of Revelation only with a knowledge of coming events.
They have really missed the mind of God in regard to the Book of Revelation. The object is to show.
That that one who was rejected here says the testimony of Jesus.
Not the testimony of Jesus Christ. It brings before us the one who was here in humiliation, here in loneliness, and rejected Jesus of Nazareth that despised and rejected man. The Spirit of God would would emphasize that that man is the one who is going to be in the place of power.
And honor and glory, not only as he is now in heaven.
And known to be there by faith on the part of believers, but to be universally declared as Lord of Lords and King of Kings, and to be publicly acclaimed, every knee bowing in every tongue confessing to Jesus, Jesus of Nazareth, the one who was rejected, the one of whom they said away with this man.
You see, that man was the one they didn't want, and that's the man that's going to take.
Charge of everything in this world, he's going to have a great world Kingdom. And so the Book of Revelation really has that as an object.
So back in chapter one, the title to the book really ought to be the Revelation of Jesus Christ because that's what it reveals. And it's really a little unfortunate that the King James translators put Revelation of Saint John the Divine. Now I know they had in mind, I'm sure they, they, they put that title there.
Because John was the writer of the book. Which is true. John is the writer of the book.
But the subject of the title really is the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him to show unto His servants.
00:10:03
And we read that he said, and signified it by his Angel unto his servant John. So John is the writer.
But John is not presented here as Saint John the Divine.
I suppose that title is given because.
The thought was to give him the dignity of an apostle.
Which in a sense is all right. I mean in the fact that we would give to John the dignity of an apostle because he was an apostle.
And as an apostle, he had a position that really was.
Above the other believers, all of the apostles, they had a special place.
There was a position and place that the apostles occupied.
Given to them by the Lord, of course, directly commissioned by the Lord Jesus himself.
Now not all of our own commissioned by the Lord on earth. Paul was commissioned by the Lord from heaven, but every one of the apostles were, you might say, personally and directly commissioned by the Lord Jesus to be in a place of authority as his representatives here in this world to establish his testimony in Christianity. So they had a unique place.
And John was one of the apostles.
But you know John does not write the Book of Revelation as an apostle.
You'll notice in verse one it says that he sent and signified at the end of the verse.
By his Angel unto his servant John.
In other words, he doesn't say that he sent and signified it by his Angel unto his.
Unto the Apostle John, but to his servant. He doesn't take the place in the Book of Revelation as an apostle.
Now he was, but he doesn't present himself as an apostle. He presents himself first of all as a servant, as a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now I mentioned this because I want to take up John in this first chapter.
As a model for you and me today.
A model that we might emulate, that we might seek to imitate.
John in the way that he presents himself, and you can see that if he had presented himself as an apostle, why he wouldn't be a model for you and me.
But we're not apostles, and we can't be apostles. And there is no one today who is an apostle. In fact, there have never been apostles since those apostles commissioned by the Lord passed away and left this scene. There's never been an apostle since there have been servants of the Lord that the Lord has used, but there's never been an apostle.
I'm not saying that there haven't been those who have claimed to be apostles, but there has been no legitimate.
Commissioned apostles, since those who were commissioned by the Lord left the scene. So if John had presented himself as an apostle.
Why, we would have to say when he speaks of himself here and when he presents himself in certain circumstances and in a certain position, we'd have to say, well, that may apply to John as an apostle, but it has no real bearing upon us as believers on the Lord today.
But now notice in verse nine, in the ninth verse, John.
Presents himself as a brother.
I, John, who also am your brother.
He's writing to the Saints, and he presents himself as your brother. Why? He comes right down, you might say, with within our reach. He comes right down on our level.
Not as an apostle, but as a brother and as a brother we can say, well, that's true of me. And I'm sure we understand now we're not restricting the thought of a brother to the males, that is those who are literally brothers. But there is a sense in which the brother, the expression brethren, would include the sisters. You know in Hebrews too, when the.
When it is said that the Lord Jesus is not ashamed to call us brethren.
Why he's not excluding the sisters? No, he means all of the Lords people. So in that sense, when John says you're a brother, we don't want to limit this in our thoughts to the what we speak of as the brothers, the males.
00:15:07
He's bringing himself down within the range of everyone of us who are brethren of the Lord and brethren one of another, as the Lord says to his disciples that that year all brethren, they have only one master and year all brethren. And we're we're exhorted in Scripture to love the brotherhood.
Well, again, that would include the sisters, would it not? And we're to love as brethren.
Another exhortation that would include the sisters. So what I'm saying now?
We want to keep in mind includes all of the Lord's people when he speaks of being a brother. Well, this would.
This would indicate, I believe, that John is a.
Presenting himself in a way in which he can be a model for believers who are living in this world.
In the days of the ruin and failure of the church, when everything that is official.
Has passed away. You know what I mean by that? There was, in the beginning, in the early days of the church, as I've already said, there were.
There were officially appointed apostles, those who were directly commissioned by the Lord to be apostles, and they had authority. You remember what Paul says to the Corinthians on one occasion, says, am I not an apostle? Have not authority. You see, he was an apostle.
And also in the early days.
In the Church of God, there were those who were officially designated and selected as elders.
While I'm making statements, but maybe we ought to read some scriptures. Turn back to Acts 14.
Where we have.
That mentioned the 14th chapter of Acts.
This is an account of Paul and Barnabas.
After they had gone out in preaching the gospel.
And.
Souls had been saved and gathered, and on their return back through the cities where they preached the gospel on their return to Antioch.
Why we read.
In verse.
What we might read.
Verse 23 and when they had ordained them.
And I'm going to have to put a little word in here that belongs there because the word them.
I don't want to get into English grammar, but it's, it is what we would call an English grammar, the indirect object that is you, you do something for someone, and that's what it is here. When they had ordained for them, that is for who? For the Saints, those Saints in these various cities. You see, they returned again in verse 21. In the middle of the verse, they returned again to Lystra and to Iconium.
And Antioch confirming the souls of the disciples and comforting them.
They had gone through those cities initially and preached the gospel.
And souls were saved, and those souls who were saved, of course, came together and assembled.
Because God's thought is that his people should assemble. Not only that, they should be saved.
And on their way to the glory and blessed with blessings, but that they should assemble and and function as members of the body. Well, they were doing that when they were saved. Now then Paul and Barnabas returns to these cities on their way back to to the church at Antioch from which they had been recommended by the grace of God. And as they come back they verse 23 they ordained.
For them that is, for the Saints elders.
In every church or assembly. But you'll notice who did the ordaining here. It was Paul and Barnabas. In other words, those those Saints in the gatherings at Lister and Iconium and Antioch, they didn't choose for themselves elders. These elders were chosen and designated by the apostles.
Now we might turn to the book of Titus, the Epistle to Titus.
Where we have another.
Occasion of.
Are pointing at what the word ordained really means, or designating elders. And here we see that while Titus is to do this, he does it at the express command and charge of Paul.
00:20:10
Verse five of chapter one.
For this cause left four and creep that thou should have set in order the things that are wanting and ordained or appoint elders in every city. Well, it's because you see, he says in every city.
Far there was the assembly or church in that in each city where there were believers, they constituted the assembly of the church in the city. And now Titus is commissioned by Paul to ordain or appoint elders. Now these men were officially designated as elders and they had an official place, you might say.
I know we're living in a day and this has been true for.
Really. Many hundreds of years.
We're living in a day in which we have neither apostles or elders.
We have neither apostles or elders in an official sense that his elders officially, we do not have anyone who can take the stand that he has been officially appointed as an elder and take that place. The turn to the 20th chapter of Acts.
Or in the in the 20th chapter of Acts, we see that while we do not have anything official.
There is still a sense in which there could be those who.
What should I say function?
Are to do the work of an elder or an overseer in the 20th chapter of Acts.
We read in verse 17 that from my elitist he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church. That's Paul.
Now he says in verse 28, and I might mention that before verse 28 he tells them.
That.
In verse 25, that they wouldn't see his face anymore. He was, he would be no longer with them. In other words, Paul is speaking to these elders in view of his departure, in view of the absence of himself and all Apostolic authority.
So he says, Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers. And I notice that expression over which the Holy Ghost has made you overseers. And I don't want to get all involved on this, on this point. That is, I don't want to get too much away with the subject I really had before me. But I will say in passing that in Scripture, elders and overseers.
Bishops, as we find an expression in the King James.
All refer to the same person.
In other words, will you have the expression elders? We've already read that in Titus as well as Acts 14, and perhaps that would have a reference to the maturity that was involved. And they're being chosen as elders now. Here they're called overseers. That would have reference to the work that they did.
Now I know in the King James Version in Timothy, it says if any man desires the office of a Bishop. You remember that verse. I'm sure most of us have come across that verse in First Timothy chapter 3 if any man desire the office of a Bishop.
And that's too bad, isn't it such a translation? Because there's no such thing really in scripture as the office of a Bishop. Literally, it should be translated if any man desires oversight.
He desires a good work.
And that's what Paul is talking about here to these elders. They were overseers who were doing the work of oversight. Now, today we do not have any official elders designated and appointed as such because we have no appointing authority. We have no no one to Commission elders, the apostles.
Only had that had such an authority, but we can have overseers.
Raised up by the Holy Spirit to do the work of oversight. We should have. There should be.
In every gathering, those who have an exercise to overtake oversight that that's that's not any any thought of ruling, but it means that they take their place as a brother. And I really believe that's what John is seeking to do in the Book of Revelation. He's taking the place of a brother, but he's doing the work of oversight because he's going to write something to these.
00:25:02
Assemblies, and he's going to present to them.
What is the mind of Christ in regard to their state in each one of these assemblies? So he's really kindly doing the work of an overseer without any such official title. But in this 20th chapter of Acts, the apostle is looking forward to the to a a day.
When there would be no longer any apostles and any official authority.
Because he goes on to say in verse 29 I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock also of your own self, shall mineralize, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
Well, it doesn't sound like it isn't, Doesn't sound very encouraging, does it, for the apostle to speak in this way. And you would think then that if this is going to be the case, if there's going to be grievous wolves enter in and there's going to be men arising speaking perverse things, well, we certainly would need some disciples, or rather apostles who had authority, and we certainly ought to have some official elders who could.
Convene together.
And make authoritative decisions if such a condition is going to come in. But the apostle does not make any provision for a succession of apostles. He doesn't make any provision for one to succeed him as an apostle. He doesn't say to them, well, now we're going to appoint apostles to take our place, so you'll have authority. He doesn't say to them.
We we want you to appoint elders in your place so that you can perpetuate.
The office of an elder. But what does he say in verse 32? And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. As if to say that in this day of ruin and failure, when these conditions come in, there will be nothing official.
There will be no official power to deal with the evil.
Settle questions that might arise among the Saints of God. But you have God and the word of His grace. Well, now that brings me back to Revelation 1, to the thought of the brother.
And how would we connect it up with the thought of the brother in this way?
John in writing now.
He is, as it were, acknowledging.
That there is no official authority.
Because he doesn't write in an official way, though he himself personally had that authority.
He's writing just as a brother and while apostles have passed away, while official elders have passed away.
Well, we can say that we still have the brethren.
Your brother, and this indicates, to my mind at least, that it's the spirit in which the Saints seek to walk together in a day of ruin and favor as brethren, he says.
I, who also am your brother.
Indicating that he is.
A model for us here that he wants us to realize that we walk together as brethren. Now that doesn't mean, of course, that that maybe one brother has more power or more influence than another. But if one has influence and power among his brethren, it is not because of any official place that he has. There is no such thing as an official place if one would have any power and influence among his brethren.
It would be because of his walk, It would be because of the moral qualities of the brother. It would be because his brethren would recognize that this is a brother who is walking with the Lord and he understands the mind of God and he's seeking to carry out the mind of God. And really, this is the way things are settled among the Lord's people today. Should be. It's not by taking any official place.
Or someone.
Feeling that he has a particular place because of some circumstances or if you want to use the expression, even by having seniority, it might be that a brother might be in a meeting for many years, but he doesn't really have power and influence with his brethren because he hasn't really gone on well. So we we can't speak of any official place.
00:30:09
You know, I thought sometimes that that perhaps we would think it would be a lot easier if we had.
Some official authority. And I am convinced that the reason Christendom and all of the systems of men have developed as they have is because they have felt the need of some organization, some official authority, so that when something arises that constitutes a difficulty, why, they can refer this matter to those who are.
Leaders or who are in charge and who are in official place of authority.
And it's a little bit easier, isn't it? It would be a little bit easier if you had something like that and.
There, there. We know that this is what is going on in the systems of men, but we can't, we can't function that way. If we're going to function according to the mind of God, we function as it were, as brethren. And so John doesn't take an official place, but I think there's another thought too in in connection with his Speaking of himself as a brother.
You'll notice he doesn't just say he's a brother, he said. I also am your brother.
As if to say to them, I want you to know that I'm standing with you and I'm supporting you. We have a verse, I think it's in Proverbs 14 that goes something like this, that.
A friend, or there is a friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for the day of adversity. I may not have quoted that exactly right, but the last part of that verse I know goes like this. A brother is born for the day of adversity.
Well, that indicates to my mind that a brother is one who supports you, your brother.
We know that this is a.
This is in a human way very common. One who has a brother, he has one who to stand with him and to support him and in the in the family of God here John says I am your brother. Well, I'm sure that this was meant to encourage those to whom he's writing I am your brother. I am set to support you and to go on with you in the truth because he says not only your brother, but he goes on to speak of himself.
As a fellow companion, it should read.
In the tribulation and Kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ.
Maybe you'll notice that I changed a little of the reading there, but that's the correct reading. The word thee should precede tribulation.
And it has the force of linking together three things, tribulation, Kingdom and patience are endurance of Jesus Christ, Tribulation Kingdom, endurance.
Well, what is John trying to bring before us? I think John is Speaking of the circumstances in which not only he as a model brother. Because keep in mind now that John is, is presenting himself here as a, as a model brother for us. And he's Speaking of the circumstances in which he is found along with all of his brethren.
In this day of ruin and failure.
And what is involved in such a day? Tribulation and endurance?
In connection with the Kingdom, because the Kingdom here is associated with tribulation and endurance.
Turn to the 12Th chapter.
Where we have a celebration in heaven when Satan is cast out of heaven.
And we have the Kingdom mentioned in verse 10. But here it's the Kingdom in a different way. It's the Kingdom as it will be when the the Lord Jesus returns and sets up what we speak of is his millennial or 1000 year reign. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven now is come salvation and strength and the Kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ.
Now notice the expressions that are associated with the Kingdom. Here the Kingdom is spoken of, but we have salvation or deliverance and strength and power, because here it's the Kingdom set up in public glory and power at the return of the Lord Jesus.
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But we know that isn't true today.
We know that the Kingdom in power and glory has not yet come, the Kingdom in that aspect, but there is a present aspect of the Kingdom.
There is a present aspect. For instance, we have in Colossians one that we've been delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the Kingdom of the Son of his love. And we read in Romans 14 that the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. That is, the Kingdom today is not one that is set up in power and glory where righteousness.
Covers the earth as waters cover the.
See. But it's a time when the Kingdom is moral and spiritual.
But you and I are in that Kingdom as those who have been born of God, and as those who have, as I said, been translated in the Kingdom of the Son of his love, You might say the Kingdom today that is associated with the Lord Jesus.
And he has a Kingdom. It's not of this world, it's true, but he has a Kingdom and those who are associated with it are involved in tribulation.
And why are they involved in tribulation? Because while those who are.
Subject to God in the Kingdom of God.
And seek to carry out the principles of the Kingdom today Because we do, we should. The Kingdom of God is righteousness. It's not meat and drink, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. And the the primary principle of the Kingdom, even when it's set up in power and glory, is found in Isaiah 2, when it says that the lofty looks of man shall be brought low.
And the Lord alone exalted in that day. Well, now this is the this is the manner in which those who are in the Kingdom of God today seek to live. You and I seek to.
Honor the Lord Jesus.
The Lord alone being exalted, and we seek to be subject to Him and to follow His will.
And to carry out the principles of the Kingdom of righteousness.
Well, when we do that, what happens? It brings us into collision with the world round about. And why is that? Because the world is operating on different principles. The world is operating on the principles of exalting man.
And lifting manner. And the world operates on the principle of unrighteousness.
And the, the believer, you see, is it has to go through this world and he's in contact with this world. And so we find that there is tribulation involved because he belongs to the Lord and he's seeking to follow the Lord. He's seeking to follow the principles that are found in the word of God for the people of God. And this, as I say, brings him into collision with the world. And so there's tribulation.
Well, John says. I'm your fellow companion, I'm your brother to support you.
And I'm a fellow companion with you in that. And so this is what we should take up to with our brethren, that we are fellow companions with those who are seeking to walk according to the principles of the Kingdom of God. And endurance means that with all of the opposition, there is a need for for being. Endure hardness, as Paul says to Timothy, endure hardness as a good soldier.
Jesus Christ. Well, back in that first chapter, again, the circumstances that we find in connection with John is that there's tribulation and patience or endurance. But notice in the middle of that ninth verse the position that he occupied. He says he was in the aisle. That is called Patmos.
Well, perhaps.
Some of us who have looked at the maps in the back of the Bible.
I know a little bit as to where this island, this little Isle of Patmos is located.
If you look at a map sometime where the picture the journeys of the apostle Paul in his gospel preaching, most of them will give.
A section of the.
That Roman province of Asia, which is the modern state of Turkey today, and there's a little island just off the mainland called Patmos, not far from the city of Ephesus.
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Which was, as I say, at this time, the Aroman Province of Asia. And in our modern geography, it would be just off the mainland of Turkey in the Aegean Sea. It's just a little island.
And when John was there, it was a vacant island. I mean, there was #1 inhabiting that island.
John was on that island and what was he there for? Oregon. Why was he there? He wasn't out there just as a retreat, you might say. He gives us the reason he is in the aisle. That is called Patmos for the Word of God, our own account of the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus. John was banished to that island. He was exiled. He had been serving the Lord.
In the Roman province of Asia.
He had been serving the Lord in the very area of these seven churches, to which he addresses the letters that we have in chapters 2 and three. And on account of his faithfulness to the Word of God, he had adhered to the Word of God. He was faithful to the Word of God.
And he was faithful to the testimony of Jesus. He wouldn't compromise the truth. And so he was banished. He was exiled.
You see at this time.
Declension and departure had already set in. In this area Paul wrote to Timothy his second epistle. In chapter one he said all those that are in Asia.
Are turned away from me now. It doesn't mean they gave up Christ. It doesn't mean that they gave up Christianity, that they became apostates. But he says they've turned away from me. They were no longer going on in the truth that Paul had brought them. They were no longer walking in the light that God had given them through the ministry of the apostle Paul.
I have no doubt but what they preferred an easier path than.
Of what they would find in following the truth as brought out in the ministry of the Apostle Paul like demons.
You see, Dimas, Paul had to say of him, Dimas hath forsaken me. Having loved this present world, he wanted a little easier pathway. But John would not compromise the truth. He was in a position of reproach.
To be banished to that island was a matter of reproach.
Those who were over on the mainland would feel that John had been exiled as a as one who was not wanted. That's a matter of reproach. And not only that, but think of how restricted he was on that island.
He was in a place of reproach and restriction.
What I thought here that John would be a be a model for you and me today, for we find that if we follow the word of God, if we're going to maintain the word of God in the testimony of Jesus, we're going to find ourselves in a position, I'm speaking now ecclesiastically, if you want to use that expression. We find ourselves in a position of reproach and somewhat of restriction too.
Not only reproach, but restriction.
It isn't that one would choose this. I'm sure that John if he had his choice, if John had his choice, he would have preferred to remain on the mainland of Asia there with all of the liberty to preach and to move about and to serve the Lord in in in in the greatest liberty, but.
He had no choice because his faithfulness put him in that position. Well, I've often thought in regard to those gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We know that there is a reproach connected with it. There is a reproach connected with it.
And if we if it's the word of God that puts us in that place, we can bear the reproach. If it isn't the word of God that puts us there, we'll.
We'll find the reproach perhaps too much, but also there is a certain restriction.
In being gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus. And you say, well, how is that? And why is that? Because we find that in Christendom.
There's so many things connected with the service of God that is unscriptural that a believer who wants to follow the word of God and be faithful to the testimony of Jesus, he finds he can have no part with it and he has to stand apart from it. And in standing apart from it and having no part with it, it restricts him somewhat or how we would love to be able to.
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Join with the Lord's people everywhere in the work and service of the Lord.
But we find if we're going to be faithful to the word, we can't do it.
Because what happens this method or this way or this association which is unscriptural and Christ is honoring?
Is brought in and connected with the work and service of God. And to be faithful to the Word of God one has to say.
I cannot join with that and go on with that, and so it necessarily results in a certain amount of restriction.
And I have no doubt, and I don't believe I'm exaggerating saying this, that if we compromise the truth.
And took up with the methods the human methods that are used in the systems to.
Gather an audience and a crowd and so forth that we could have a far greater audiences for our meetings and for our gospels than we have.
But in order to be faithful to the Word of God, we have to reject those things that are not according to the Word of God.
And that puts us, like John, in a restricted position, and perhaps reproach too.
You know, there is a little bit of reproach even in coming into the meeting rooms of those who would be gathered to the Lord's name and going on according to the truth of God. Sometimes people feel more comfortable in going into a large gathering, and especially where perhaps there is.
A organ and all sorts of music and there's there's a special singers and they're they're very good artists and speakers. They're far more comfortable in certain in those circumstances.
Than they would be coming into a little meeting room where the numbers are few. Well, we have to accept these restrictions if we're going to be faithful to the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus and accept them.
And serve the Lord in them. And that's what John is, a model for us here, I believe.
In the aisle that is called Patmos. I'm, I'm, I'm emphasizing he didn't choose that, you know, he didn't choose to be there. But if that's where the word of God put him, put him it, he accepted it. He accepted it. And if it's the word of God and testimony of Jesus that puts us where we are, we can accept the reproach and the restrictions and go on with the Lord because you'll notice.
In verse 10.
We see that not only was he in a position that was according to the word of God.
And faithful to the testimony of Jesus. But he was in a right condition. There He was in the Spirit.
Now we know that.
As we read correctly here in verse 10 that the Spirit has a capital S for it's referring to the person of the Holy Spirit, God of the Spirit.
We know that every believer has the spirit.
As Ephesians 113 tells us after we.
Believed the truth, the gospel of your salvation. It says you were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.
And we're exhorted to not grieve the Holy Spirit, whereby we're sealed under the day of redemption. So every believer is sealed with the Spirit. He has the Spirit dwelling within him. But John says I was in the Spirit. Now that speaks of a condition that means he was in, in this condition of being in the Spirit.
It's a spiritual condition. It means that the IT was the power of the Spirit of God that governed him in his thoughts and in his actions and everything there on that day as he speaks of it as the Lord's day. I was in the Spirit. Well, you know, it's one thing to be, if you want to use the expression in a right position.
And I do believe there's such a thing as being in the right place. John was in the right place here.
Because it was the place that the word of God and the testimony of Jesus put him. But it's one thing to be in the right place, but it's another to be in the right condition. And so John is a model here, shows us that we should be exercised as to the spiritual condition in which we're found in being in the right place. I was in the Spirit. And it would bring before us the fact that we too should be those who are in the Spirit, not only having the Spirit indwelling us, but.
We would be governed by the Spirit rather than the flesh.
Well, I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day.
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He mentions this particular day, the Lord's day, and it's the only time in Scripture that we have this expression. This is not the day of the Lord. You know that we have an expression like that, the day of the Lord.
The day of the Lord is future. It's the day when the Lord appears.
From heaven in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
But this is the Lord's Day he speaks of here. It's the first day of the week.
It's called the Lord's Day here because I think John is indicating to us.
That he recognized that day as being the day that is associated with the Lord Himself in a public way. You see, there are seven days in the week.
And God, as it were, allows the six days.
That man can, as it were, used for himself, for his own. But there is one day of the 7th that the Lord attaches his name to, and that's the Lord's day. That's the first day of the week. It's what's said on the calendar, Sunday, the first day of the week.
Lord's Day, and what it indicates, I think, is that John recognized the rights of the Lord and that that day, I think is the indicative of that. The Lord's Day means that when we, when we respect that day, when we acknowledge on that day that this is the Lord's Day, we're owning his right and his title as Lord, it's the Lord's Day.
Now there's a day coming when when you might say in a public way.
Everything is going to be identified with him as Lord. Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess. They're all going to own his rights, the whole world.
But in this day in which we live, we know that the world does not.
Accept and own the rights and title of Jesus as Lord. And it seems to me that as believers, John would say as a model brother, we would acknowledge that the first day of the week is the Lord's Day.
By owning it in a public way so that we do not do on the Lord's Day.
What we would do in the six days during the week in which we are occupied with the ordinary affairs of life, the Lord's day, the first day of the week, is a special day that indicates that that we acknowledge the rights and title of the Lord. And I believe this should be a real testimony that those who do not know the Lord might see in the Lord's people.
That there is a day that they own now. Not enough in a way, like the Seven Day Adventists on Saturday.
You know, they have a special day that they own, but they connect that with the thought of their salvation. And it's an entirely illegal thing, but it's the privilege of the believer to own on the Lord's Day that this is a day that the Lord has put his name to. He's attached his name to that as being the Lord's Day. And we would recognize it as John does. When that day came around, that first day of the week, he recognized it as the Lord's Day.
And he was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day.
Well, John, as I say, as a model, he's a brother, he's a servant, He's not an apostle nor an elder. So he's not in that sense elevated above us, but he's presented here as one whom we too are. We are to emulate. We are to follow him, to imitate him. We're in similar circumstances of tribulation that requires endurance in connection with the Kingdom of God.
And we would want to be in the right place according to the word of God in the testimony of Jesus.
We would be exercised as to our condition there too, and own the rights and title of the Lord on the Lord's day.
Revelation 21
Reading
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1St chapter of Revelation.
Demo here's the deal. No pain and the passage we had before us yesterday. It had to do with the time on the Lord, which they'll have is rightful place and this passage carries us right into the eternal state Revelation 21 The first office degree the first date versus and then I wonder if we could just read the from the 22nd Vermont to the end.
21St chapter. Revelations Chapter 21.
The first date versus and then from the 22nd verse Revelation 21 one and I saw a new heaven and a new earth for the 1St heaven and the first earth were passed away.
And there was number more seed, and I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God on heaven.
Prepared as a bride, adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the Tabernacle of God is with men.
And he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them and be their God.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
And there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain.
For the former, things are passed away.
And he that sat upon the throne said.
Behold, I make all things new.
And he said unto me, Right.
For these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done.
I'm alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.
I will give unto him that is a thirst of the fountain of the water of life. Really, He that overcomes shall not, and he that overcometh shall inherit all things, And I will be his God, and he shall be my Son.
But the fearful and unbelieving?
And the abominable and murderer, and ************ and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all lying shall have their part in the lake, which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
Verse 22.
Night saw an old temple there in.
For the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon to shine in it.
For the glory of God enlightened. And the Lamb is the knight. There are.
And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it.
And the kings of the earth to bring their glory and honor and do it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day.
For there shall be no night there.
And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations.
Into him, and there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie.
But they which are written in the Lamb's book of life, not like it just mentioned greatly that in Hebrews chapter 2 we were noticing the Lord Jesus as the one who is now brown with glory and honor. We see Him as God's man, a man of his counsels who is going to send everything right in this troubled world.
But now is the captain of our salvation. He's bringing many sons home to glory.
That is a merciful and faithful high priest, but when he gives a shout and calls us home to be with himself, and then it will be the beginning of events that lead to his taking that place that is rightfully his, so that the judgments on the tribulation are the opening of the seals, so to speak, by which he declares and takes his rights to the earth.
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And then, in the millennial age, he reigns. He reigns from sea to sea and from pole to pole.
And all of us recognize his rights and his authority, and through the revelation we read about those judgments and tell the events carry on to the marriage of the Lamb. Then in the first part of the 21St chapter, where we have the reigning for 1000 years, and then we have a judgment of the wicked Dad, and then we have the commencement of what we.
God is an eternal state at the 1St 8 verses of this chapter, The 21St of Revelation bring before us the eternal state, the eternal state of those who are blessed in both Hammond and earth, and also the eternal state of the lost, solemn as it is in that eighth verse, that in the latter part of the chapter.
We have the position of the heavenly city during the millennial age.
And that's why I want to read in the latter part of this 21St chapter. We have about the temple and we have about the.
The city and the nation blocking in the light of it and bringing the glory and honor of the nations up to it. And we see a little picture of the physician that we haven't, we see will occupy the millennial age.
But when the eternal state is brought before us, then we see as it were. Heaven and earth are presented as being in perfect harmony. It's not the nation. Nations are the result of sin, and there will be no nations in the eternal state. The Tabernacle of God is with men, and then too there is no thought of reigning, because there's nothing to reign over.
The Kingdom has C stands Kingdom character and has been delivered over to the Father.
And then everything is restored, everything is suited to the mind and character of God. And now God is All in all. And what we had in First Corinthians 15 brings us to that time when this will take place.
And this.
This first eight verses of the 21St of Revelation is one of those few portions in the Scripture which spring before us the eternal faith. And I think it's most blessed for us because the law, we're going to be caught up and the judgment seat of Christ will take place, the marriage of the Lamb, the rainbow of the earth for 1000 years.
The ultimate average is before us. Is this wonderful time when?
God is All in all, when, as we often say, all taint of death shall be removed, all evil done away. But as we think of this, brethren, we think of the importance of time, because everything that will be established there eternally is the result of events that have taken place in time. And so we think of how.
Them came in. Think of that Marley's word to calibrate Calgary.
We thank you caught up. We think of our lives passing into review. We think of all these things that take place in time, and then when the eternal state comes, then all it is taking place in time is now brought to its end and all the result of it. The expression has been used that every act in our lives has its presence and eternal consequence.
And I think we should think of that because everything that we do today as a present result, either drawing us near to the Lord or perhaps getting away from Him and perhaps bringing His glory and blessing into our lives, or perhaps His half upon us.
It all has a cursive result. It also has a future result because it will be manifested in that day. And it has an eternal result because it says either doeth the will of God abideth forever. Again it says.
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Again it says to in the 22nd chapter, And we shall reign forever and ever. It says to he that sought to the Spirit shall of the Spirit leave life everlasting. So how important that we should live in that little bit of wildlife we have in time. The rest of our time, brethren, may not be very long.
The rest of our time, not to the will of man, not to our own wills.
To the will of God. And I think if we really thought that our present actions are going to have eternal consequences, they would want to live in view of eternity. So this chapter then I say, and I think treasures for us to meditate in mind, bringing before us eternity and the whole position of the blessed in eternity.
As long as you enjoy thinking of the Bible and this way that it begins with God and.
Man at the end with all that Smith. But in between there's a lot and.
I wondered. I'm back, The question comes up. And how long was my innocence?
As far as we know, I believe there's no suggestion in the Bible about that for the time after really begun, I don't know. But at any rate, when sin came and it's really hit, of course there is a creation account. I just mentioned this, but then then worked and of course God went to work.
And man departed farther and farther from God, and there was a nation.
And then?
God shows out one people out of yours. So then there was they may say, besides the nations, there were, there was Israel, the Jews who might say Israel and the Gentiles.
And then?
Christ and finished his work and went fast and the Spirit of God came down and formed another group. The church so that we have on the earth is available and the Gentiles and the Prince of God during this period. But then the church is going to be caught out of this sea and then in the millennial age on the earth, God will take up into Christ the throne of the earth.
Israel being the center of the nations around that but.
We come down to where we have begun here, and after the millennial age, that goes right back to the original state in that sense. Broad Amin. And that's a wonderful review of the whole book. And what happens in time certainly does have its consequences, doesn't.
This is what Peter speaks. All this and as the day is broad now.
That begins the day of God for the eternal wrath.
God has not been able to rest in the sense that He had to do a sin, Isaiah, because I was weary. He was thy sin.
Going to be a wonderful day for God and all things will be put down all the time.
And as righteousness is suffering now.
Righteousness will reign in the Millennium, but righteousness will dwell. It'll find its proper dwelling place in the eternal state, all that rest.
But we just can't imagine what that's going to be because we don't have that kind of thing now. But we know that because knowing the Lord is our Savior, our sins have been washed away. We have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We're justified, and we're righteous before God and righteous standing in the right, and we're blessed in our souls. We have rest now in our souls.
Our conscience is at rest, we have peace with God. Well, it's a little poor taste of what it's going to be like then in the eternal state, but it will, the whole sea will be pervaded by peace, no unrest and.
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Well, it's good for us to be occupied with that because when we look around we get to serve and perhaps we say a lot of things we shouldn't say, but it's good for us to look ahead and see that it's all going to translate just like it says here. I I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the 1St heaven and the first earth were passed away.
McDonald's and all things will be new. We sort of linked up there.
What we have second Prince is Capital Five, verse 17.
Therefore, if any man give crazy, there is a new creation, old things are passed away, they will. All things are becoming new and all things are of God. See how God is linked with that statement there?
David's Followers
Address—D. Bilisoly
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Now let's turn over to 1St Chronicle Chapter 11, chapter 12, First Chronicles chapter 12, verse one. Now these are they that came to David to ziglag while he yet kept himself close because of Saul the son of Kish, and they were among the mighty men, helpers.
Of the war.
They were armed with bows and could use both the right hand and the left in hurdling stones and shooting arrows out of a bow, even of Saul's brethren of Benjamin. Now, before we go any farther, brethren, let's think about this a little bit. Let's think about this. You know, last night we had before us a review of those that had identified themselves with David.
But that was more at the time when David.
Was in The Cave of Adelaide and you remember that those that came to David, I like to think of him as kind of a 3D army. That is they, they were those that were in distress. They were those that were discontented. They were those that were in debt. Oh, what a what a group of men. We might kind of shake our heads at them, but you know, it's a marvelous and a most wonderful thing to consider.
That that was just the sort of person I was in. The Lord Jesus took me up.
In his grace and in His mercy. How about you here this afternoon, do you know? Do you, have you experienced such grace as that? Oh, what marvelous and wondrous grace. But these men, you know, were drawn to David. They were attracted to him. They might have been, in a certain sense, social outcasts. Maybe they weren't all together acceptable and they had their faults. Surely we know that. We can see that. But they certainly came to the right one. They came.
David there in The Cave of Adelaide. But that was a time when David was really freshly in rejection, as it were. But here this is considerably later. This is when David was in ziglag. That was there in the land of the Philistines, and this was right at the close of his rejection. But he is still in rejection, see, He still has to keep.
Closed, as it says, because of Saul. Saul is still after him.
But he still in rejection. But I've thought of it this way, that the time was near hand when he would no longer be in rejection. It was as it were, the very last opportunity for those to recognize God's true King and identify themselves with him. Now I'm going to try and speak very plain, but I don't mean to offend anyone I.
Want to do that? But you know, dear young people, listen now, listen. The Lord Jesus is coming very soon and.
We're going to be with himself, and from then on out, you know, it's not rejection, but rather the Lord Jesus will assert his rights. He'll come. He'll come to this world, He'll set things straight and we'll be with him. He'll establish his Kingdom, He'll put down all rebellion and resistance, and he'll be exalted.
In the eyes of all, it won't be rejection any longer, and I would just say this very plainly.
That now is the time that we can share His rejection. What are we going to say when we get home to glory? What are we going to be able to say to the Lord Jesus if we were unwilling to be identified with Him in His rejection now, if we were unwilling, as it were, to take our place at the Lord's Table to remember Him according to His request?
And to walk in separation from all its hateful to him.
Down here, what are we going to say to Him in that coming day? All beloved brethren and dear young people, and I say this to my own heart and conscience too. Are we really bearing His reproach? Isn't that a searching thing to search our hearts with? How much do we really know about bearing His reproach if I start reviewing my life and my circumstances?
My my working experiences, My school experiences.
My neighborhood experiences, oh, how much am I really bearing his reproach? Were just so afraid of what people might think, aren't we? We're just so afraid that we might, we might receive a little bit of scorn and and rough treatment. Oh, shame on us. Shame on us that we're not more wholehearted in these things than that. We're not really as we ought to be bearing his reproach. Oh, may the Lord stir us up and give us.
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That were right on the threshold of that coming time of great glory and the Lord Jesus is associating himself associating us with himself in his Kingdom. We're going to reign with him. You see, but the pattern according to God's word is if we suffer with him then we shall also reign with him. You see, this is truly the suffering time now. But oh brethren, I say for my own.
And conscience that we just reign as it were like kings without him. It's just a time almost of reigning like kings. And we need to be exercised about these things and realize that the Lord Jesus is still in rejection. And we know that there's a lot of the thought of a popular Jesus in connection with modern evangelistic ways, but the truth if it's really held and given out.
Still brings reproach. The Lord Jesus is still.
In reproach. And so here it says that these are they that came to David, to Ziklag. Well, they were men of real ability. We can see this. But what were they doing all that time? They were identified with the wrong man here. They were men that had ability, no question about it. You read what they were able to do and you think, well now who could withstand? Who could withstand?
Such skill and ability as that, and truly we know if we read back in Israel's history when that terrible thing came about there in the Book of Judges, and when the tribe of Benjamin fell in with it, and as it were protected the wickedness and were identified with it. They had their skill, then they used their skill, but God had to put them down. He had to put them down and He had to humble.
Israel in connection with putting them down and they were put down to such an extent that as a tribe they were nearly destroyed out of Israel. So you know what does this all count? These skills and ability if they're not really according to the mind of God, if it isn't used as it were to the glory of God, they were identified here with the wrong man. They were identified with the man after the.
Saul And so it is, dear ones here this afternoon. How are we using those God-given talents and abilities that God has given them? Is it just strictly to gratify the man after the flesh, as it were? Well, these things search my heart and all. Is it for our own material gain? Is it for our own advantage or is it being done with a view to his glory? Oh brother, and you know.
These things ought to search our hearts out, and I'm speaking to myself as much as to anyone here this afternoon, surely. But we need some fresh exercise about these things, do we not? Because it's so easy to fall into the thinking and the pattern of this world. That's why I believe that that Romans chapter 12 is really a fresh and a daily exercise. That is where the apostle says, I beseech you, brother, and I beseech you by.
Mercies of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable or intelligent service. Why, What was he beseeching them by the mercies of God? What mercies? Those mercies that would reach out to poor sinners of the Gentiles, such as ourselves. It's hard to realize what the condition of the Gentile world is really like, since we have been raised, as it were, in a land of Bibles where there's been the profession of Christianity.
And I don't think many of us have any idea what the Gentile world was and how corrupt, how absolutely corrupt it is. And those that have had any kind of contacts in these places where Christianity is not the prevailing thing, why then they see more of what really exists and probably existed back in the earlier days when God raised up Israel as a testimony against it. And they should have been a testimony, but we know how they fell in with.
Those things and how there must have been terrible intrigue and attraction to idolatry, how they were so drawn into it. And it's a very real thing, though Satan is subtle and it takes different forms and characters. And now we know that the apostle John would advise the Saints of God. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Well, anything that displaces God in the heart, that displaces the Lord Jesus Christ in our affections.
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Is an idol in a certain sense, all we need to be exercised about these things is their beloved is there with you or is there with me something that is dividing and stealing my affections away. All that that needs to be searched out and judged before God. We need our our minds renewed about these things that we might prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God and it goes on to say and be not conformed to.
World but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. You see, it's so easy to fall in to the conformity of this world. And I believe that it begins with our thoughts falling into the current of of their thoughts here in this world. And so the man of the world, of course, he sets his horizons here and his ambitions are all in connection with this world. Getting ahead in the company, getting ahead in school, getting ahead in one way or the other.
Neighborhood or whatever it may be, is the very natural object of the man of the world. And oh, how pathetic it is when we fall into this thinking and it's very real and dangerous thing because we're constantly with and around those in the world and we can't help but but be influenced and affected, especially when you're working every day and, and you know, and meet different ones and, and we must make livelihoods and this is all understandable.
But there is a very real danger we know, of falling right into the very thinking of this world. And so, you know, here we see that that these men of Benjamin, they indeed were connected with the wrong man, the man after the flesh. But now they're being aroused. They're being aroused by the Spirit of God.
And they're being drawn to David. They're realizing that David, David is the man.
According to God's choice, maybe they recognized that earlier, but they could not seem to make a clean break. There was too strong a tie, a hold. But they're realizing that things are changing. They can see that Saul is diminishing and they're realizing that David is being divinely protected and that David is being sustained and they're being attracted to David. But you know, lest we.
That this was the majority of the Benjaminites. Just take a look at what verse 29 says. Verse 29 says and of the children of Benjamin. And that's what we were just reading, the kindred of Saul 3000. For hitherto the greatest part of them had kept the ward of the House of Saul. Just what does that mean?
For hitherto the greatest part of them had kept the ward of the House of Saul.
There's only one simple way that I know how to express that, and that is family fidelity. Now, brethren, I wouldn't for anything want to cast a slight on families. Oh, how gracious God is in working in families. If it weren't so, you would despair of raising children. You would just despair of it if it was only a chance thing, as it were, that they might go on for the Lord. But I do believe that the word of God.
Would encourage us to raise them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord with hope and with confidence and with real faith that God would work in the heart and in the conscience of the young people. And so we see God in his great mercy delights to bless families. But then, isn't it a most tragic thing? Isn't it sad to consider that then a family might rally together, as it were?
And rise up, almost as it were, in opposition to the Lord.
Now you say, what are you talking about? What are you driving at? Well, you know, I can't think of a greater test, but that is put to when it comes in into connection with some matter of assembly, discipline, something that really tests these things out. Are we going to hold to the truth of the ground of gathering the Lord Jesus as being in the midst of the two or three gathered to His name, or are we going to take sides with the family?
Oh, brethren, isn't that searching to our hearts? And that is a real test, is it not? Because we love those, and especially the tie. The bond is stronger when they know Christ and when we have that fellowship with them too. And then to be put to a test like that, I suppose the natural tendency is to want to take sides, as it were, with the family.
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All brethren, you know I admire. I really admire.
Those that that would take a stand in faithfulness for the Lord Jesus, even though it may cost a certain alienation or total alienation from members of the family. Oh, how hard that would be. But oh, the Lord values that kind of fidelity to himself and put it giving him the 1St place he's able to work. He's able to work in in the hearts of of those of the family and give them to see.
That they were wrong, that they made a mistake and took a wrong course. He's able to do that. Why don't we count upon him for such things as that rather than taking sides with the family? That's exactly what we have here in verse 29. These kindred of Saul, they were dedicated. They were dedicated to the family, dedicated to Saul. They wouldn't break away. They knew, I have no doubt they knew, many of them knew that David was the true man. He was the one that God.
Had established in the Kingdom he was the man of God's choice but family dedication.
Wouldn't allow them to break away. Sometimes we see that where I come from in a striking way. I've seen situations where I doubt whether there was really that much true love in the family, but yet there's a certain dedication that's remarkable. It's nice to see the older ones cared for.
And it's nice to see them take in a little children that would otherwise not have a proper home and to raise them, as it were, like their own children. It's nice to see such dedication as that. But sometimes I wonder if there's any love behind it at all. It's just kind of a dedication, as it were, a family obligation. Oh, dear ones, you know, where the Lord is, is brought into all of this. It's another thing. And there is certainly we know.
She was very plain about that as to responsibilities in family, especially where one is left as a widow and so forth, and even nephews have a certain responsibility in that connection. Yes, God is a God of order. We know that. But this I believe, is a different thing. This is where it's a question of, of the priority. Where is it? Where is it? Does the Lord have that first priority for our?
In our hearts, or is it that we're going to allow the family to have it first?
Oh, I trust by the grace of God, if I'm ever put to such a test as that, that I'll hold true to the Lord Jesus. It'll be a test, I know, and especially when all kinds of questions arise as to this matter and that matter and so forth and technicalities and all. But in the final, in the final analysis, is it really a matter then of holding to the Lord Jesus of going on in the truth of a true recognition?
Of where he is in the midst of the two or three gathered to his name well.
That's a sad note at that point, but yet there were those of Benjamin.
Who made the break, as it were, There were those who were attracted to David.
And God is pleased to give us their names. And he mentions, he mentions.
These different ones by name. Oh, this is interesting to notice. God is aware of all these things. You know, sometimes we come across these lists of names and we think, oh, why so many names? Well, we could have learned this at least from it. And that is that I believe the Lord is so pleased, is so pleased with.
Faithfulness with purpose of heart, that he would give the name.
There's another thing I've noticed that really impressed me and that is over in the book of Ezra. I think it's in chapter 3. I'm not sure there's a list of names. That is a list of those families that came from Babylon to Jerusalem who had a willing heart to return and to re establish the testimony according to the mind of God.
And so they are numbered. God has a Italian, as it were. He has a count.
Of every person that returned at that time, because he valued that he valued those that came with a willing heart, see, as the King's decree considered, it says, of their own free will. And so God was pleased to list.
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Each name, each number of those that came back of their own free will. And so, you know, as we go over to the book of Nehemiah, lo and behold, here's the same list. And they find the list and it's got the names on it, but there's something wrong. As you read through the list in Nehemiah and compare it with the list in Ezra, you see that there's a discrepancy in the number.
With each family, not always, but there is in several instances a difference. In some cases there's more names or more the numbers higher included, and in other instances it's less than what we had in Ezra. You say, well, what is the difference? I don't know if I can tell you the difference, but here's the thought that comes before me, and that is that perhaps the list that we have in the book of Nehemiah is like a revised list.
A revised list, in other words. Perhaps there were those who started on their way down to Jerusalem but lost heart.
And went back.
But yet, on the other hand, perhaps there were those that didn't come at first, but a little later became exercised and pulled up and came on down to Jerusalem and so then their names were included in the list. Oh brethren, if that's what it is, should that not speak to our hearts and how the Lord would stir us up and give us to realize that He values?
Every name connected with the little remnant testimony, those desires to go on bearing His reproach.
In this last and closing day of the Christian testimony. And how sad it is to think on the other hand, of those turning away, going back, as it were, to the beggarly elements of the world, because you know, that's just what is suggested to us in in that whole matter. You know, Babylon, when you have the thought of Babylon brought before us, it certainly is the thought of this world and its greatness in its position.
In its boasts and its claims. And it's that which is really in opposition to God. And so there were advantages in their staying in Babylon. No doubt in 70 years they had well established themselves and so there was advantages. And it was to no advantage to break away and to come to a despised place like Jerusalem. But God valued it and recorded their names in faithfulness. And so when we.
These records of names, surely it would draw our attention to the fact that God values each one that was willing to identify themselves with David and in effect the lesson is identifying with the Lord Jesus. Now in verse eight it says they're separated themselves unto David, unto the whole to the wilderness.
Men of might and men of war fit for the battle.
That could handle shield and buckler. That's not by accident that we have a passing statement like that. They separated themselves. Now, you know, brethren, the truth must be held in separation. It must be held in separation. And it seems like that is not a very popular subject. But oh, if there isn't that going on, that maintaining the separation.
It's ruinous to the testimony. Absolutely ruinous.
To the testimony, we need exercise of heart as to that. So we see that these men are mentioned more and more as men that are really fit and ready for military service. They're ready for the battle as it were. And so the numbers are mentioned here in verse 14 and then in verse 15.
It says these are they that went over Jordan in the first month when it had overflowed all its banks.
And they put to flight all them of the valleys, both towards the east and towards the West. Now you know, Jordan always suggests to us the death of the Lord Jesus and our death with Him. And so we have, I'm sure, that thought brought in here, that there must be that reckoning ourselves is dead indeed, under sin, and alive unto God.
And so there is that important thought in connection with the testimony.
But now in verse 16, I had this before me in connection with this precious little hymn.
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You know the little hymn says, Lord, we are thine bought with thy blood. And it says in verse 2, Lord, we are thine, thy claims we own. And then the close of the verse says, when thou shalt own that we are thine. Well in verse 16 it says there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the hold unto David.
And David went out to meet them, and answered, and said unto them.
If you become peaceably unto me to help me, mine heart shall be knit unto you. But if ye be, if you become to betray me to mine enemies, seeing there is no wrong in mine hands, the God of our fathers, look thereon and rebuke it. Now you know David had a right to be suspicious of these Benjaminites. He had a right because.
They were true to Saul. They had been clear up to this point. Now.
And so he doesn't trust their motives. Have they come to search him out and to betray him to Saul? Well, he questions them and he puts these things before their conscience. But the answer that Amazon here gives in verse 18 is very lovely. He says, then the Spirit came upon Amazon, who was chief of the captains, and he said.
Thine are we, David?
And on thy side, thou son of Jesse, peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers, for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received them, and made them captains of the ban. Well, you know, David discerned that this was really the voice, the mind of the Spirit of God, that this was from a true and a sincere heart, that there was no guile in it that these men had really.
Surrendered, as it were today.
It was, as it were, a total surrender. The way they expressed themselves left no shadow of a doubt in David's mind that these men had totally given over and submitted themselves to David. Oh brethren, what a lesson that should be for our hearts. Have we unconditionally, as it were, surrendered our wills to the Lord Jesus? Oh, that searches my heart when I say that, because I know, brethren, I know a little bit about.
This deceitful heart of mine. And I know how often my own will comes in and asserts itself and all. Then I feel bad about it and the Lord brings it before my conscience and I have to judge the thing. But oh, how gracious He is and how patient He is. And I think of those words there in Psalm 23. He restoreth my soul. You know, that's just unconditional, isn't it? And it doesn't define the time. Just over and over again.
The Lord restores our souls, doesn't He? How often we get away from the Lord, how often things come in that crowd out the enjoyment of Himself, and then we're dependent upon Him to restore our souls. There's nothing that we can do to restore our own souls. It's just like salvation. And sometimes, you know, if we're just so willful and we get so far away from the Lord asserting our own wills.
He may not, He may not allow us to to have the enjoyment of himself right away. He may allow those clouds.
And to teach us a valuable lesson that we are not careless about communion and that we just don't go on in a careless manner about these things. We would like to think that it's just as it were a mechanical process and that we when we get away from the Lord, then we just simply judge those things before him and automatically were brought right back into sweet fellowship. But sometimes the Lord in his wisdom allows us to remain at a distance that we might feel.
Of the results of our ways. But that should make us a lot more careful then about our carelessness and about asserting our wills. And if we go on in the Christian pathway, hopefully we learn a few of these things and we become a little more watchful. But sometimes we just have to learn things all over again, over and over again. And yet how patient the Lord is with us, how patient He is.
And so we see that these men came to David and just made an absolute, unconditional surrender.
As it were. And David has such confidence, such confidence in their words of submission and all that. He puts them in places of leadership. That is an amazing thing, you know. Would we have that kind of confidence? Would we have that kind of confidence? But oh brother, and just think of what the Lord does. Just think of what the Lord does, how that we're such rebels, you know, and how the Lord would subdue these spirits of ours.
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And bring us into blessing, and then entrust to us His service. And all is marvelous grace, is it not? And it should just overwhelm our hearts in confidence of the Lord.
So they said.
Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse, peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to the thine helpers, for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received them and made them captains of the band. And then we see that continuously, verse 19, they're beginning to fall away to David. This is a striking thing as you read this account, because it tells us that these men, men that were men of rank, their captains, their chiefs, their.
There are men that are men of rank are realizing that if they don't identify themselves with David, they're going to be on the outs.
They're going to be in a very unfavorable position when the time comes that David is established in his Kingdom and they realize and they recognize that they better they better link up with David before it's too late. And I really feel that there is a lesson in this force and I believe that the Lord is so merciful and he would appeal and and even to men that are in stations in life, you know, and in positions.
He would exercise them and we can thank God for all that come to the Lord Jesus and for all.
That are willing to be identified with him and I'm so thankful to see how the Lord is working here and there stirring up hearts exercising them while there's still time as it were before his coming. And so it says in verse 22. It says for at that time day by day there came to David to help him until it was a great host like the host of God.
And it says in verse 23 and these are the numbers of the bands.
That were ready armed to the war or another rendering could be fit for military service. They're ready for the battle. It's just like what we have there in in Ephesians 6 Take unto you the whole armor of God that she may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand and so forth. And it lists the armor. So we see these men ready for military service and where is it they come. It says they came to David.
To Hebron, to turn the Kingdom of Saul to him according to the word of the Lord. This is interesting to have this connection. Again, I may have mentioned this when I was here four years ago, but there is a lovely and a striking lesson in connection with this subject of Hebron. I believe the word carries the thought of communion, of communion. But what does it teach us as a subject? Hebron. Well, I believe, if we trace, if we.
The history of Hebron, we can see that it is one in the same place as the burial place of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And so it's the place of death, so to speak. And as we read on through the account, we can see that when Caleb went through the land with the other spies, he saw something. What was it that he saw? He saw a certain mountain that he knew.
To be the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And it was Hebron, and he wanted it and he wanted it. Of course, it was under the control of a strongman. It was under the control of giants. And this is true, isn't it? To Satan certainly has the power of death. We know that. And he keeps captives who through fear of death, were all their lifetime subject to *******.
And so we see that Caleb, by the power of God.
Was able to overwhelm and to take that as his possession. Oh, all through that time in the wilderness for 40 long years, what kept Caleb strength like the strength of young man. I believe it was the prospect of securing Hebron for himself. He had his affection set upon it. He had it his affections in true faith, recognizing that this was of God. This was his land.
And this was what he valued, as it were, the place of death.
Now there's one other thought that I have certainly enjoyed, and I'll pass it on to you again, and that is over in Numbers 13. In Numbers 13, we have the spies going through the land, you see. And so when they come near this place called Hebron in verse 22.
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Then these giants are mentioned by name and you notice in the end of verse 22.
There's a little parenthesis.
And if I question the importance of any passage of scripture, here is just a little case in point.
It says now Hebron was built seven years before Zoon in Egypt. There are no unnecessary, superfluous words in the word of God.
Hebron was built seven years before zone in Egypt, just notice.
Isaiah, hold your place in Chronicles and take a look at Isaiah chapter 19.
Notice the language of Isaiah 19 here and verse 11.
It says, Surely the Princess of Zohan are fools. The council of the wise counselors of Farrell has become brutish. How say ye unto Pharaoh? I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings. Where are they? Where are thy wise men? And let them tell thee now, and let them know what the Lord of Hosts hath purposed upon Egypt.
The Princess of Zone are become fools, the Princess of Naf are deceived, and so forth. Now where is this language employed in the New Testament? If you'll pardon me, brother, and let's just turn over now to First Corinthians. Hold your place here in First Chronicles, but go over to 1St Corinthians and let's see where we have this language of Isaiah 19 employed.
I believe it's right here in First Corinthians.
Chapter One.
And there it is in connection with the cross of Christ. See verse 20. Verse 20 says, where is the wise?
Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? It says the Princess of Zohan are become fools.
And it says for after that in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God. It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. Now you say, well, what? What is the connection then what? How does that take us clear back to Numbers 13? Well, I believe it's this that the Spirit of God would bring this thought before us. Now Hebron was constructed seven years or built seven years before, so on.
In Egypt, I've thought of it this way.
That in the counsels of God.
His purposes in connection with the cross of Christ, the death of the Lord Jesus Christ, wherein all their perfection 7 years we're in all their perfection before this world and all its boasted wisdom ever came into existence. Hebron was built seven years before Zohan in Egypt. So this brings surely before us in a very strong manner the importance of the death of the Lord Jesus.
Christ and all blessing is dependent upon that, see.
Here's the thing, David was established in his Kingdom at Hebron. That's where it had to begin. And there can't be blessing for people in a millennial day apart from the death of the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary's cross. All of that rests upon the cross. The blessing of the Old Testament Saints way back to the day of of Abel and perhaps Adam is all a result was all resting.
Were upon the future work of Christ, and so in Romans 3 it speaks about the sins.
Past God was patient as it were forbearing with those sins of those that had faith way back in the Old Testament in view of the work of Christ. Marvelous isn't it? To think how all depends upon that and it's like the center of two eternities. That's why when brethren speak about the cross being the center of two eternities, that's the truth of the matter because.
There could have been no Old Testament people brought into blessing apart from the death of the Lord Jesus.
We know there can be no blessing at the present apart from the death of the Lord Jesus. And even those in a future day, in a millennial day, come into blessing as a result of the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. And even though they'll take up the worshipping of animals again, they'll be sacrificing those animals and all, but it'll be in a commemorative way. It'll be as a memorial of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. Whereas those sacrifices they made in a in a past age.
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Looked ahead to that time, but now in Christianity it's not animal sacrifices, but rather the sacrifices of praise, giving thanks unto our unto him, the fruit of our lips. You see, that's what it is. Even though there is the material sacrifice to to do, to communicate and do good. Forget not for which such sacrifices God is well pleased, but are the sacrifices to now.
At this present time in the main.
Are the fruit of the lips giving thanks to his name? So we see that here David's Kingdom was established in connection with Hebron. Oh, that's lovely to think about and to dwell upon. And so now they're of a very positive heart to turn this Kingdom, as verse 23 says unto David, the Kingdom of Saul to him according to the word of the Lord. And now we have a description of those different ones who.
Were linking themselves with David who were identifying themselves with David and each one is valued and we notice like in verse 28. It even specifically mentions a young man it says and the doc a young man mighty of valor and of his father's house 20 and two captains. Another rendering could be.
Ends the doc. A valiant young man.
Oh, brethren, listen, God values these young men. How Satan would try to turn away the young men. We know that Satan makes a special attack on the boys. Oh, we surely see it where I'm from. We surely see it. It's nice we're we're thankful to have the the dear girls interested, but it is sad to see so few of the boys and the young men that want to go on. Why is that? Oh, Satan makes.
Special attack, I have no doubt, against the young men, because they must be the responsible leaders. And he knows that by turning aside the boys and the young men, How can the testimony go on? See, how can the testimony go on? Oh, what an enemy we have. But listen, you dear young people, listen, you young men and young sisters too, that God values.
Valiant young men, men, young men that are ready to serve the Lord and to to do engage in his warfare.
It were and to be wholeheartedly identified with him, just as this young man was identified with David and he's mentioned by name. The Lord values every interested, faithful young person. Don't think that he doesn't. He values them highly. And then as we read on down here, we can see that.
There are men that are famous. Verse 30.
Of Ephraim and all. Well, what a mercy it is that they they would come, that they would recognize David. These Ephraimites had a difficult time, you read back in the days of the Judges and they got themselves into lots of trouble because they had the wrong spirit, the wrong attitude, and God had to really lay it heavy upon them.
We can see that that Gideon had wisdom in answering these Ephraimites. They were dead wrong.
But Gideon used wisdom, he gave them a peaceable answer, and it turned away the wrath, you see, But Jeffetha wouldn't do it. Jefetha was a different spirit, and he wouldn't answer them peaceably. And it resulted in a terrible war and destruction. But they brought it upon themselves, these men of Ephraim. But still that we see there are those mentioned.
And included among those that associate that affiliated with David.
In the Kingdom and then in verse 32 it says and of the children of Issachar.
Which were men that had understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do. The heads of them were 200 and all their brethren were at their command. Now it's a very interesting thing. Now that didn't just happen by chance. No, those men of Issachar, I believe were men that were concerned about the Lord's glory. And we can see that they were men who who recognized and.
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Who supported Deborah and Barrack back in the days of the judges. And so they gained this wisdom, as it were by their right attitude and submissive spirit. And so here they're spoken of as those that had understanding of the time. Oh how this is so needed today, isn't it men that have understanding of the time that know what ought to be done. You know if we were into our.
More, if we were before the Lord and really concerned about these matters that are for his glory, why then there would be understanding given, I believe. But you know, it seems like sometimes a real crisis arises and there isn't the wisdom. There isn't the understanding. Why is that? Because maybe there was not the exercise of heart in preparation for the crisis when it came about. See, and this is something that ought to search out our hearts. Well, there are.
Those that have been diligent and the result is that they have the understanding of the times and the result is that they're at the command of their brethren. That is, they're recognized. Their brethren recognize that they have the wisdom of God. Oh dear ones here, if we just go on in faithfulness, if we meditate and read God's precious word and seek help and wisdom from Himself, you know it fortifies and He'll use us and He'll use us to His glory.
They were at their command, it says. How about these Zebulunites in verse 33, such as went forth to battle expert in war with all instruments of war 50,000 which could keep rank. They were not of a double heart. Well, there again, that didn't happen by accident, because these Zebulunites, they proved their wholeheartedness. They proved.
Their sincerity back in those days of the judges.
When there was real war, and when there were those unwilling to give up their advantages, unwilling to come aside from their various occupations, unwilling to give up their comforts, there were those like the Rubenites that rode upon white ***** and what have you not. They just didn't want to to give up their comforts and advantages and engage in the battle. But these faithful men of Zebulun, they jeopard.
Their lives, you see, they really jeopardize their lives and they're given credit for that in that song of Deborah and Barrick, the song that they sing of victory, they're given the credit for being men that jeopardy their lives. So it's not surprising that we should read that they were able to keep rank. See, they were not of a double heart.
Now that should speak for itself. That should speak for itself.
What does it mean? They were able to keep rank. They were not out of step with their brethren. Oh, brethren, I know what it is to be out of step with my brethren. And it's a horrible, it's a horrible thing. It's a terrible thing. And I have experienced the governmental hand of God upon me for such an attitude. Oh, brethren, you know, it's lovely to see the keeping of rank as it were, rather than going contrary to what?
The brethren, what our brethren think, that is where they have the mind of God, and always in opposition, as it were. God wants this keeping of rank, as it were. But now, look, it will not be any problem to keep rank if there is not the double heart, you see, what does it mean? They were not of a double heart. Oh, they had one object before them, these Zebulonites. It was plain and simple, David. David was their object of hearts. See they.
Had no other motive. They had no other person before them, not Saul, surely. And so David was the only object of their hearts. And so it was no difficulty to keep rank. And God is not the author of confusion. You know He won't lead brethren one way and another with single hearts, not at all. And so there will, I believe, be that keeping of rank when the Lord Jesus has.
The first place in our hearts is that plain enough, brethren, all that kind of hits my conscience when I mention that, because, as I say, I know what it is to be out of step and it's hard and it's a terrible experience and I don't want any more of that.
And it's good if we learn these lessons that God may allow us to pass through so.
00:50:02
We have Napoli mentioned too, they were faithful men of God and surprisingly some Danites are included in verse 35, all the tribe of Dan, how quickly they went away, how quickly they got into idolatry and how sad their experiences were back in the book of Judges. But this is to their credit here and the men of Asher mentioned in the Reubenites.
So it goes on to say in verse 38, all these men of war that could keep rank. It's mentioned again showing us I believe, how important this is the keeping of rank. They could who could keep rank kept with a count came with a perfect heart, a perfect heart to Hebron. What was the perfection of their heart? It was David, simply David.
To make David king over all Israel.
And all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king. There it is again, brother. That's the secret of the whole thing. It's that one object of the heart. And for us it's the Lord Jesus. And if we truly have the Lord Jesus as the object of our hearts, there will be no problem at all. There'll be no problem about these things. There will be indeed harmony. There will be a continuing on together.
And there will be real blessing. There can't be anything else but blessing if the Lord Jesus is the single object of the heart of each one. And so it says in verse 39. And there they were. I like the way that's expressed. Don't we have some interesting expressions in the Word of God? It's just as though the Spirit of God is saying, take a good view, brother, and just take a look. Look at this harmony in the Old Testament. They don't have nearly the light.
That we do from the Word of God and from the revealed mind of God and the truth that we have in this day. They didn't have nearly the light but brother, and just take a look. There they are. It says there they are with David. That's where their harmony was. That's where their happiness was. That's where their their oneness of mind, oneness of heart and keeping rank and step. There they were and there they were with David. 3 days.
Eating and drinking for their brethren had prepared for them Now if anybody asked me if I could give them some kind of a a scriptural principle as to.
Special meetings, conferences where the brethren are invited to come together and to be over the word of God for say like 3 days or so. I think. I just take them right to this verse in the Old Testament. This is just as plain as any verse I know of that would give us an Old Testament assurance in principle of the value of such occasions and above all.
When the Lord Jesus is the the object of the heart of all, where much is being made of Christ.
In those days together, our hearts are warmed up, are they not? Oh, many a time, many a time I've come to some special meeting somewhere and I come with a heavy heart, you know, and maybe distracted with my, the cares of the job and things bothering me. I'd come and then sit under the sound of the word of God, sit in the Lord's presence for one, 2-3 days.
Perhaps. And have my soul fed and all of my heart would warm up and warm up. And then you just hated to go back to things again after you'd been in such an atmosphere as that and all. How precious.
And how sweet it is. I just can't imagine anybody saying that such a thing as special meetings where the brethren are invited together are not necessary. I believe it's a special provision of God in a day of weakness and something that has been used much of God to strengthen the testimony and to maintain and help establish the link between the assemblies. And so we see that there they were and their brethren prepared for them. Well, we experienced a little bit.
Of that some of us that came here this afternoon as visitors, we can see. And what a lovely manner the brethren made preparation. And it was delicious, wasn't it? We'll just have to admit that it was delicious. So it's hard to refrain from eating too much, as it were. But they had a mind to their physical needs. Sure, that's all part of it. That's part of the fellowship and our enjoyment together. And so it says that moreover, they that were nigh unto them, even unto is a car and Zebulun and.
Bread on ***** and on camels and on mules and on oxen and meat and meal cakes of figs, bunches of raisins and wine and oil and oxen and sheep abundantly. For there was joy in Israel. Isn't it just like our God to give a description of the very things they had to eat? He's interested in things like that. Oh, of course there's deeper spiritual lessons in this, we know. And surely these things all figure to a spiritual things. There was food there was.
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That which would fully satisfy the wine, the joy, the oil, the Spirit of God. We know that that all figures things like that to us. But isn't it lovely to see how there is that exercise of heart, that making provision, as it were, for the brethren? And what else can there be but great joy in Israel? That is when David was the center of attraction, when there was that harmony, that keeping rain, when there was that consideration one for another preparation being made for their.
Their needs, their physical needs, and so forth, and what else could there be but great joy? Oh well, I believe that's the lesson, brethren, that we have from such a lovely portion as this.
David's Followers
Address—D. Bilisoly
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First Chronicles, chapter 12.
Verse one.
Now these are they that came to David to ziglag.
While he yet kept himself close because of Saul the son of Kish, and they were among the mighty men, helpers of the war. They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in hurdling stones and shooting arrows out of a bow, even of Saul's brethren of Benjamin.
Now, before we go any farther, brethren, let's think about this a little bit.
Let's think about this. You know, last night we had before us a review of those that had identified themselves with David, but that was more at the time when David was in The Cave of Adela. And you remember that those that came to David, I like to think of them as kind of a 3D army, that is.
They they were those that were in distress.
They were those that were discontented. They were those that were in debt. Oh, what a what a group of men. We might kind of shake our heads at them, but you know, it's a marvelous and a most wonderful thing to consider that that was just the sort of person I was in the Lord Jesus took me up in his grace and in his mercy. How about you here this afternoon? Do you know, do you, have you experienced such grace as that?
Oh, what marvelous and wondrous grace. But these men you know.
Were drawn to David, they were attracted to him. They might have been in a certain sense, social outcast. Maybe they weren't altogether acceptable and they had their faults. Surely we know that, we can see that. But they certainly came to the right one. They came to David there in The Cave of Adela. But that was a time when David was really freshly in rejection, as it were. But here.
This is considerably later. This is.
When David was in zig lag that was there in the land of the Philistines and this was right at the close of his rejection. But he is still in rejection. See he still has to keep clothes, as it says, because of Saul. Saul is still after him, but he still in rejection. But I've thought of it this way, that the time was near at hand when he would no longer be in.
It was, as it were, the very last opportunity.
For those to recognize God's true King and identify themselves with him. Now I'm going to try and speak very plain, but I don't mean to offend anyone. I don't want to do that. But you know, dear young people, listen now listen. The Lord Jesus is coming very soon and.
We're going to be with himself and from then on out, you know, it's not rejection.
But rather, the Lord Jesus will assert his rights, He'll come, he'll come to this world, He'll set things straight and will be with him. He'll establish his Kingdom, He'll put down all rebellion and resistance, and he'll be exalted in the eyes of all. It won't be rejection any longer. And I would just say this very plainly that now is the time that we can share his rejection. What are we?
To say when we get home to glory, what are we going to be able to say?
To the Lord Jesus, if we were unwilling to be identified with Him in His rejection now, if we were unwilling, as it were, to take our place at the Lord's Table to remember Him according to His request, and to walk in separation from all, its hateful to Him down here, what are we going to say to Him in that coming day? All beloved brethren and dear young people, and I say this to my own heart and conscience.
Who are we really bearing his reproach? Isn't that a searching thing to search our hearts with? How much do we really know about bearing His reproach? If I start reviewing my life and my circumstances, my my working experiences, my school experiences?
00:05:01
My neighborhood experiences. Oh, how much am I really bearing his reproach?
We're just so afraid of what people might think, aren't we? We're just so afraid that we might, we might receive a little bit of scorn and and rough treatment. Oh, shame on us. Shame on us that we're not more wholehearted in these things than that. We're not really as we ought to be bearing His reproach. Oh, may the Lord stir us up and give us to realize that we're right on the threshold of that coming.
Time of great glory and the Lord Jesus is associating himself associating us with himself in his Kingdom. We're going to reign with him, you see but the pattern according to God's Word is if we suffer with him, then we shall also reign with him. You see this is truly the suffering time now but oh brethren, I say for my own heart and conscience that we just.
We're like kings without him. It's just a time almost of reigning like kings. And we need to be exercised about these things and realize that the Lord Jesus is still in rejection. And we know that there's a lot of the thought of a popular Jesus in connection with modern evangelistic ways, but the truth if it's really held and given out.
Still brings reproach. The Lord Jesus is still in reproach.
And so here it says that these are they that came to David, to Ziklag. Well, they were men of real ability. We can see this. But what were they doing all that time? They were identified with the wrong man here. They were men that had ability, no question about it. You read what they were able to do.
And you think, well, now who could withstand? Who could withstand such skill?
And ability is that. And truly we know if we read back in Israel's history.
When that terrible thing came about there in the book of Judges, and when the tribe of Benjamin fell in with it, and as it were protected the wickedness and were identified with it, they had their skill. Then they used their skill, but God had to put them down. He had to put them down, and He had to humble all Israel in connection with putting them down, and they were put down to.
Extent that as a tribe they were nearly destroyed out of Israel.
So you know, what does this all count, these skills and ability, if they're not really according to the mind of God, if it isn't used as it were to the glory of God, They were identified here with the wrong man. They were identified with the man after the flesh, Saul. And so it is, dear ones here this afternoon.
How are we using those God-given talents?
And abilities that God has given them, is it just strictly to gratify the man after the flesh?
As it were. Well, these things search my heart and all. Is it for our own?
Material gain, is it for our own advantage, or is it being done with a view to His glory? Oh, brethren, you know these things ought to search our hearts out. And I'm speaking to myself as much as to anyone here this afternoon, surely. But we need some fresh exercise about these things, do we not? Because it's so easy to fall into the thinking and the pattern of this world. That's why I believe that.
That Romans chapter 12 is really a fresh and a daily exercise.
That is where the apostle says, I beseech you, brethren, I beseech you by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable or intelligent service. Why, what was he beseeching them By the mercies of God? What mercies? Those mercies that would reach out to poor sinners of the Gentiles, such as ourselves. It's hard to realize what the condition of the Gentile world.
Is really like since we have been raised, as it were, in a land of Bibles where there's been the profession of Christianity.
And I don't think many of us have any idea what the Gentile world was and how corrupt, how absolutely corrupt it is. And those that have had any kind of contacts in these places where Christianity is not the prevailing thing, why then they see more of what really exists and probably existed back in the earlier days when God raised up Israel as a testimony against it. And they should have been a testimony. But we.
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How they fell in with those things and how there must have been terrible intrigue and attraction to idolatry, how they were so drawn into it. And it's a very real thing, though Satan is subtle and it takes different forms and characters. And now we know that the apostle John would advise the Saints of God. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Well, anything that displaces God in the heart that displaces.
Jesus Christ in our affections is an idol in a certain sense. All we need to be exercised about these things is their beloved is there with you or is there with me something that is dividing and stealing my affections away. Oh that that's needs to be searched out and judged before God. We need our our minds renewed about these things that we might prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
And it goes on to say and be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. You see, it's so easy to fall into the conformity of this world. And I believe that it begins with our thoughts falling into the current of of their thoughts here in this world. And so the man of the world, of course, he sets his horizons here and his ambitions are all in connection with this world.
Getting ahead in the company, getting ahead in school, getting ahead in one way or the other in the neighborhood or whatever it may be, is the very natural object of the man of the world. And oh, how pathetic it is when we fall into this thinking and it's very real and dangerous thing because we're constantly with and around those in the world and we can't help but but be influenced and and affected, especially when.
You're working every day and.
And, you know, and meet different ones and and we must make livelihoods. And this is all understandable, but there is a very real danger, we know, of falling right into the very thinking of this world. And so, you know, here we see that that these men of Benjamin, they indeed were connected with the wrong man, the man after the flesh. But now they're being aroused.
They are being aroused by the Spirit of God and they are being drawn to David. They are realizing that David, David is the man according to God's choice. Maybe they recognize that earlier, but they could not seem to make a clean break. There was too strong a tie, a hold. But they're realizing that things are changing. They can see that Saul is diminishing.
And they're realizing that David is being divinely protected and that David is being sustained and they're being attracted to David. But you know, lest we think that this was the majority of the Benjaminites, just take a look at what verse 29 says.
Verse 29 says.
And of the children of Benjamin. And that's what we were just reading. The kindred of Saul, 3000. For hitherto the greatest part of them had kept the ward of the House of Saul. Just what does that mean? For hitherto the greatest part of them had kept the ward of the House of Saul. There's only one simple way that I know how to express that, and that is?
Family Fidelity.
Now, brethren, I wouldn't for anything want to cast a slight on families. Oh, how gracious God is in working in families. If it weren't so, you would despair of raising children. You would just despair of it if it was only a chance thing, as it were, that they might go on for the Lord. But I do believe that the Word of God would encourage us to raise them in the nurture.
And admonition of the Lord with hope.
And with confidence and with real faith that God would work in the heart and in the conscience of the young people. And so we see God in his great mercy delights to bless families. But then isn't it a most tragic thing? Isn't it sad to consider that then a family might rally together, as it were, and rise up almost as it were, in opposition to the Lord?
00:15:17
Now you say, what are you talking about? What are you driving at? Well, you know, I can't think of a greater test, but that is put to when it comes in into connection with some matter of assembly, discipline, something that really tests these things out. Are we going to hold to the truth of the ground of gathering the Lord Jesus as being in the midst of the two or three gathered to His name, or are we going to take sides?
With the family, oh, brethren, isn't that searching to our hearts? And that is a real test, is it not? Because we love those and especially the tie. The bond is stronger when they know Christ and when we have that fellowship with them too. And then to be put to a test like that, I suppose the natural tendency is to want to take sides, as it were, with the family.
Oh, brethren, you know I admire.
I really admire those that would take a stand in faithfulness for the Lord Jesus, even though it may cost a certain alienation or total alienation from members of the family. Oh, how hard that would be. But oh, the Lord values that kind of fidelity to himself and put it giving him the 1St place he's able to work. He's able to work in in.
Of those of the family and give them to see that they were wrong, that they made a mistake and took a wrong course. He's able to do that. Why don't we count upon him for such things as that rather than taking sides with the family? That's exactly what we have here in verse 29. These kindred of Saul, they were dedicated. They were dedicated to the family, dedicated to Saul. They wouldn't break away. They knew. I have no doubt they knew.
Many of them knew that David was the true man. He was the one that God had established in the Kingdom. He was the man of God's choice. But family dedication wouldn't allow them to break away. Sometimes we see that where I come from in a striking way. I've seen situations where I doubt whether there was really that much true love in the family, but yet there's a certain dedication that's remarkable.
It's nice to see the older ones cared for, and it's nice to see them take in little children that would otherwise not have a proper home and to raise them, as it were, like their own children. It's nice to see such dedication as that, but sometimes I wonder if there's any love behind it at all. It's just kind of a dedication as it were, a family.
Obligation. Oh dear ones, you know where the Lord is.
Brought into all of this, it's another thing, and there is certainly, we know Scripture is very plain about that.
As to responsibilities in family, especially where one is left as a widow and so forth, and even nephews have a certain responsibility in that connection. Yes, God is a God of order. We know that. But this I believe is a different thing. This is where it's a question of of the priority. Where is it? Where is it? Does the Lord have that first priority for our affections in?
Hearts or is it that we're going to allow the family to have it first. Oh I trust by the grace of God, if I'm ever put to such a test as that that I'll hold true to the Lord Jesus. It'll be a test I know and especially when all kinds of questions arise as to this matter and that matter and so forth and technicalities and all but in the final in the final analysis, is it really a matter then of.
Holding to the Lord Jesus of going on in the truth of a true recognition of where He is in the midst of the two or three gathered to his name. Well, that's a sad note at that point. But yet there were those of Benjamin who made the break, as it were. There were those who were attracted to David, and God is pleased to give us their names.
And he mentions, he mentions.
These different ones by name. Oh, this is interesting to notice. God is aware of all these things. You know, sometimes we come across these lists of names and we think, oh, why so many names? Well, we could have learned this at least from it. And that is that I believe the Lord is so pleased, is so pleased with faithfulness, with purpose of heart that he would give.
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There's another thing I've noticed that really impressed me and that is over in the book of Ezra. I think it's in chapter 3. I'm not sure. There's a list of names. That is a list of those families that came from Babylon to Jerusalem who had a willing heart to return and to re establish the testimony according to the mind of God. And so they are numbered. God has.
Tally, as it were. He has a count of every person that returned at that time because he valued that.
He valued those that came with a willing heart. See, as the kings decree considered, it says, of their own free will. And so God was pleased to list each name, each number of those that came back of their own free will. And so, you know, as we go over to the book of Nehemiah.
Lo and behold, here's the same list, and they find the list.
And it's got the names on it, but there's something wrong. As you read through the list in Nehemiah and compare it with the list in Ezra, you see that there's a discrepancy in the number with each family. Not always, but there is in several instances a difference. In some cases there's more names or more.
The numbers higher included and in other instances it's less.
Than what we had in Ezra, you say, well, what is the difference? I don't know if I can tell you the difference, but here's the thought that comes before me. And that is that perhaps the list that we have in the book of Nehemiah is like a revised list. A revised list. In other words, perhaps there were those who started on their way down to Jerusalem but lost heart and went back.
But yet, on the other hand, perhaps there were those that didn't come at first.
But a little later became exercised and pulled up and came on down to Jerusalem. And so then their names were included in the list. Oh brethren, if that's what it is, should that not speak to our hearts and how the Lord would stir us up and give us to realize that He values every name connected with the little remnant testimony, those desires to go on bearing His reproach in?
Last and closing day of the Christian testimony and how sad it is to think on the other hand, of those turning away, going back, as it were, to the beggarly elements of the world, because, you know, that's just what is suggested to us in in that whole matter. You know Babylon, when you have the thought of Babylon brought before us, it certainly is the thought of this world in its greatness in its.
In its boasts and its claims. And it's that which is really in opposition to God. And so there were advantages in their staying in Babylon. No doubt in 70 years they had well established themselves and so there was advantages. And it was to no advantage to break away and to come to a despised place like Jerusalem. But God valued it and recorded their names.
In faithfulness and so when we read these records of names, surely it would draw our attention to the fact that God values each one that was willing to identify themselves with David and in effect the lesson is identifying with the Lord Jesus. Now in verse eight it says they are separated themselves unto David, unto the whole to the wilderness.
Men of might and men.
Of war fit for the battle that could handle shield and buckler. That's not by accident that we have a passing statement like that. They separated themselves. Now you know, brethren, the truth must be held in separation. It must be held in separation. And it seems like that is not a very popular subject. But oh, if there isn't that going on that maintaining the separation.
00:25:09
Its ruinous to the testimony, absolutely ruinous to the testimony. We need exercise of heart as to that. So we see that these men are mentioned more and more as men that are really fit and ready for military service. They're ready for the battle as it were. And so the numbers are mentioned here.
In verse 14 and then in verse 15.
It says these are they that went over Jordan in the first month when it had overflown all its banks and they put to flight all them of the valleys both towards the east and towards the West. Now you know Jordan always suggest to us the death of the Lord Jesus and our death with Him. And so we have I'm sure that thought brought in here.
That there must be that reckoning ourselves is dead indeed unto sin.
And alive unto God. And so there is that important thought in connection.
With the testimony. But now in verse 16, I had this before me in connection with this precious little hymn. You know the little hymn says, Lord, we are thine, bought with thy blood. And it says in verse 2, Lord, we are thine, Thy claims we own. And then the close of the verse says, when thou shalt own, that we are thine.
Well in verse 16 it says.
There came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the hold unto David.
And David went out to meet them, and answered, and said unto them, If you become peaceably unto me to help me, mine heart shall be knit unto you. But if ye be, if you become to betray me to mine enemies, seeing there is no wrong in mine hands, the God of our fathers, look thereon and rebuke it. Now you know David had a right to be suspicious of these Benjaminites. He had a right.
Because they were true to Saul. They had been clear up to this point Now.
And so he doesn't trust their motives. Have they come to search him out and to betray him to Saul? Well, he questions them and he puts these things before their conscience. But the answer that Amazon here gives in verse 18 is very lovely. He says, then the Spirit came upon Amazon, who was chief of the captains, and he said, Thine are we?
And on thy side, thou son of Jesse, peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers, for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received them, and made them captains of the band. Well, you know, David discerned that this was really the voice, the mind of the Spirit of God, that this was from a true and a sincere heart, that there was no guile in it that these men had.
Surrendered as it were to David, it was as it were, a total surrender. The way they expressed themselves left no shadow of a doubt in Davis''s mind that these men had totally given over and submitted themselves to David. Oh brethren, what a lesson that should be for our hearts. Have we unconditionally, as it were, surrendered our wills to the Lord Jesus? All that searches my heart.
When I say that because I know, brethren, I know a little bit about this deceitful heart of mine, and I know how often my own will comes in and asserts itself and all, then I feel bad about it and the Lord brings it before my conscience and I have to judge the thing. But oh, how gracious He is and how patient He is. And I think of those words there in Psalm 23. He restoreth my soul. You know, that's just.
Conditional, isn't it? And it doesn't define the time. Just over and over again the Lord restores our souls as me. How often we get away from the Lord, how often things come in that crowd out the enjoyment of Himself, and then we're dependent upon Him to restore our souls. There's nothing that we can do to restore our own souls. It's just like salvation.
And sometimes, you know, if we're just so willful.
00:30:00
And we get so far away from the Lord asserting our own wills. He may not, He may not allow us to to have the enjoyment of himself right away. He may allow those clouds and to teach us a valuable lesson that we are not careless about communion and that we just don't go on in a careless manner about these things. We would like to think that it's just as it were, a mechanical process.
And that we, when we get away from the Lord, then we just simply judge those things before him and automatically were brought right back into sweet fellowship. But sometimes the Lord in his wisdom allows us to remain at a distance that we might feel of the results of our ways. But that should make us a lot more careful then about our carelessness and about asserting our wills. And if we go on in the Christian pathway, hopefully we.
A few of these things and we become a little more watchful, but sometimes we just have to learn things all over again, over and over again. And yet how patient the Lord is with us, how patient He is. And so we see that these men came to David and just made an absolute unconditional surrender, as it were. And David has such confidence.
Such confidence in their words of submission and all that. He puts them in places of leadership.
That is an amazing thing, you know, Would we have that kind of confidence? Would we have that kind of confidence? But oh, brethren, just think of what the Lord does. Just think of what the Lord does, how that we're such revels, you know, and how the Lord would subdue these spirits of ours and wills and bring us into blessing and then entrust to us his service. And all is marvelous grace, is it not?
Should just overwhelm our hearts in confidence of the Lord, so they said.
Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse, peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to the thine helpers, for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received them and made them captains of the band. And then we see that continuously, verse 19, they're beginning to fall away to David. This is a striking thing.
As you read this account, because it tells us that these men, men that were men of rank, their captains, their chiefs, their their men that are men of rank, are realizing that if they don't identify themselves with David, they're going to be on the outs. They're going to be in a very unfavorable position when the time comes that David is established in his Kingdom. And they realize and they recognize that they better, they better.
Up with David before it's too late. And I really feel that there is a lesson in this force and I believe that the Lord is so merciful and he would appeal and and even to men that are in stations in life, you know, and in positions he would exercise them. And we can thank God for all that come to the Lord Jesus and for all that are willing to be identified with him. And I'm so thankful to see how the Lord is working.
Here and there stirring up hearts, exercising them while there's still time, as it were before his coming. And so it says in verse 22, it says for at that time, day by day, there came to David to help him until it was a great host like the host of God. And it says in verse 23, and these are the numbers of the bands that were ready armed to the war.
Or another rendering could be fit for military service. They're ready for the battle. It's just like what we have there in, in Ephesians 6. Take unto you the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand and so forth. And it lists the armor. So we see these men ready for military service, and where is it? They come. It says they came to David, to Hebron to turn the Kingdom.
Saul to him according to the word of the Lord. This is interesting to have this connection again.
I may have mentioned this when I was here four years ago, but there is a lovely and a striking lesson in connection with this subject of Hebron. I believe the word carries the thought of communion, of communion, But what does it teach us as a subject? Hebron. Well, I believe if we trace, if we trace the history of Hebron, we can see that it is.
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One in the same place as the burial place of Abraham.
Isaac and Jacob. And so it's the place of death, so to speak. And as we read on through the account, we can see that when Caleb went through the land with the other spies, he saw something. What was it that he saw? He saw a certain mountain that he knew to be the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and it was Hebron. And he wanted it, and he wanted it.
Of course, it was under the control of a strongman. It was under the control of giants. And this is true, isn't it? Satan certainly has the power of death. We know that. And he keeps captives who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to *******. And so we see that Caleb, by the power of God, was able to overwhelm and to take that as his possession, oh, all through that time.
In the wilderness for 40 long years, what kept Caleb's strength like the strength of a young man? I believe it was the prospect of securing Hebron for himself. He had his affection set upon it. He had it his affections in true faith, recognizing that this was of God, this was his land, and this was what he valued, as it were, the place of death. Now, there's one other thought that I have, certainly.
Enjoyed and I'll pass it on to you again. And that is over in numbers 13.
In Numbers 13 we have the spies going through the land, you see, and so when they come near this place called Hebron in verse 22.
Then these giants are mentioned by name and.
You notice.
In the end of verse 22, there's a little parenthesis.
And if I question the importance of any passage of scripture, here is just a little case in point.
It says now Hebron was built seven years before Zoon in Egypt. There are no unnecessary, superfluous words in the word of God.
Hebron was built seven years before zone in Egypt, just notice.
Isaiah, hold your place in Chronicles and take a look at Isaiah chapter 19.
Notice the language of Isaiah 19 here and verse 11.
It says. Surely the Princess of Zone are fools.
The Council of the Wise Counselors of Farrell has become brutish.
Say ye unto Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings. Where are they? Where are thy wise men? And let them tell thee now, and let them know what the Lord of Hosts hath purposed upon Egypt. The Princess of Zone are become fools, the Princess of Naf are deceived, and so forth. Now where is this language employed in the New Testament? If you pardon me, brethren, let's just turn over.
To First Corinthians, hold your place here in First Chronicles, but go over to.
First Corinthians and let's see where we have this language of Isaiah 19 employed. I believe it's right here in First Corinthians chapter one.
And there it is in connection with the cross of Christ. See verse 20. Verse 20 says, where is the wise?
Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? It says the Princess of Zoon are become fools.
And it says, For after that in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God. It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching.
To save them that believe. Now you say, well, what? What is the connection then what? How does that take us clear back to Numbers 13? Well, I believe it's this, that the Spirit of God would bring this thought before us. Now Hebron was constructed seven years or built seven years before. So on in Egypt. I've thought of it this way.
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That in the councils of God.
His purposes in connection with the cross of Christ, the death of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We are in all their perfection. 7 years. We are in all their perfection.
Before this world and all its boasted wisdom ever came into existence, Hebron was built seven years before Zoon in Egypt. So this brings surely before us in a very strong manner the importance of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. And all blessing is dependent upon that. See, here's the thing. David was established in his Kingdom at Hebron. That's where.
Begin and there can't be blessing for people in a millennial day apart from the death of the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary's cross. All of that rests upon the cross. The blessing of the Old Testament Saints way back to the day of of Abel and perhaps Adam is all a result was all resting as it were upon the future work of Christ.
And so in Romans 3 it speaks about the sins that are passed. God was patient, as it were, forbearing with those sins.
Of those that had faith way back in the Old Testament in view of the work of Christ. Marvelous isn't it? To think how all depends upon that and is like the center of two eternities. That's why when brethren speak about the cross being the center of two eternities, that's the truth of the matter, because there could have been no Old Testament people brought into blessing apart from the death of the Lord Jesus.
We know there can be no blessing at the present apart from the death of the Lord Jesus.
And even those in a future day, in a millennial day, come into blessing as a result.
Of the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. And even though they'll take up the worshipping of animals again, they'll be sacrificing those animals and all, but it'll be in a commemorative way. It'll be as a memorial of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. Whereas those sacrifices they made in a in a past age all looked ahead to that time. But now in Christianity, it's not animal sacrifices, but rather the sacrifices of praise, giving thanks unto our.
To Him, the fruit of our lips, you see, that's what it is, even though there is the material sacrifice too, to do, to communicate and do good. Forget not for which such sacrifices God is well pleased, But are the sacrifices to now, at this present time, in the main, are the fruit of the lips giving thanks to His name. So we see that here David's Kingdom was established in connection with Hebron.
Lovely to think about and to dwell upon. And so now they're of a very positive heart to turn this Kingdom, as verse 23 says, unto David, the Kingdom of Saul to him according to the word of the Lord. And now we have a description of those different ones who were linking themselves with David, who were identifying themselves with David.
And each one is valued. And we noticed like in verse 28.
It even specifically mentions a young man it says and the doc a young man mighty of valor and of his father's house 20 and two captains. Another rendering could be and Zadok a valiant young man old brethren, listen, God values these young men how Satan would try to turn away the young men. We know that Satan makes a special.
Back on the boys, oh we surely see it where I'm from. We surely see it. It's nice we're we're thankful to have the the dear girls interested, but it is sad to see so few of the boys and the young men that want to go on. Why is that? Oh, Satan makes a special attack. I have no doubt against the young men because they must be the responsible leaders.
And he knows that by turning aside the boys and the young men, how can the testimony go on?
How can the testimony go on? Oh, what an enemy we have. But listen, you dear young people, listen, you young men and young sisters too, that God values valiant young men, men, young men that are ready to serve the Lord and to to do engage in his warfare as it were, and.
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To be wholeheartedly identified with him, just as this young man was identified with David and he's mentioned by name.
The Lord values every interested, faithful young person. Don't think that he doesn't. He values them highly and then as we read on down here, we can see that there are men that are famous verse 30 of Ephraim and all well, what a mercy it is that they they would come that they would recognize David.
These Ephraimites had a difficult time, you read, back in the days of the Judges.
And they got themselves into lots of trouble because they had the wrong spirit, the wrong attitude, and God had to really lay it heavy upon them. We can see that that Gideon had wisdom in answering these Ephraimites. They were dead wrong. But Gideon used wisdom. He, he gave them a peaceable answer and it turned away the wrath, you see, but.
Jeffetha wouldn't do it. Jeffetha.
Was a different spirit and he wouldn't answer them peaceably and it resulted in a terrible war and destruction, but they brought it upon themselves. These men of Ephraim but still that we see there are those mentioned and included among those that associate that affiliated with David that joined in the Kingdom and then in verse 32 it says and of the children of Issachar.
Which were men that had understanding of the times?
To know what Israel ought to do. The heads of them were 200 and all their brethren were at their command. Now that's a very interesting thing. Now that didn't just happen by chance No, those men of Issachar, I believe were men that were concerned about the Lord's glory and we can see that they were men who who recognized and.
Who supported Deborah and Barrick back in the days of the judges?
And so they gained this wisdom, as it were, by their right attitude and submissive spirit. And so here they're spoken of as those that had understanding of the time. Oh, how this is so needed today, isn't it? Men that have understanding of the time that know what ought to be done? You know, if we were into our Bibles more, if we were before the Lord and really concerned about these.
Letters that are for his glory. Why then there would be understanding given, I believe. But you know, it seems like sometimes a real crisis arises and there isn't the wisdom. There isn't the understanding. Why is that? Because maybe there was not the exercise of heart in preparation for the crisis when it came about see. And this is something that ought to search out our hearts. Well, there are those that have been diligent and the result is that they.
Have the understanding of the times and the result is that they're at the command of their brethren. That is, they're recognized. Their brethren recognize that they have the wisdom of God. Oh dear ones here, if we just go on in faithfulness, if we meditate and read God's precious word and seek help and wisdom from himself, you know it fortifies and he'll use us and he'll use us to his glory. They were at their command, it says.
How about these Zebulunites in verse 33 such as went forth to battle expert in war with all instruments of war 50,000 which could keep rank. They were not of a double heart. Well, there again that didn't happen by accident. Because these Zebulonites, they proved their wholeheartedness. They proved their sincerity back in those days of the judges when.
There was real war, and when there were those unwilling to give up their advantages, unwilling to come aside from their various occupations, unwilling to give up their comforts, there were those like the Rubenites that rode upon white ***** and what have you not. They just didn't want to to give up their comforts and advantages and engage in the battle. But these faithful men of Zebulun, they jeoparded.
Lives, you see, they really jeopardize their lives and they're given credit for that in that song of Deborah and Barrick, the song that they sing of victory, they're given the credit for being men that jeopardy their lives. So it's not surprising that we should read that they were able to keep rank. See, they were not of a double heart.
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Now that should speak for itself.
That should speak for itself. What does it mean? They were able to keep rank. They were not out of step with their brethren. Oh, brethren, I know what it is to be out of step with my brethren. And it's a horrible, it's a horrible thing. It's a terrible thing. And I have experienced the governmental hand of God upon me for such an attitude. Oh, brethren, you know, it's lovely to see the keeping of rank, as it were.
Rather than going contrary to what the brethren, what our brethren think, that is where they have the mind of God, and always in opposition, as it were. God wants this keeping of rank, as it were. But now, look, it will not be any problem to keep rank if there is not the double heart, you see. What does it mean? They were not of a double heart.
Oh, they had one object before them, these Zebulunites. It was plain and simple, David.
David was their object of heart. See, they had no other motive. They had no other person before them, not Saul, Shirley. And so David was the only object of their hearts. And so it was no difficulty to keep rank. And God is not the author of confusion, you know He won't lead brethren one way and another with single hearts, not at all. And so.
There will, I believe.
Be that keeping of rank when the Lord Jesus has the first place in our hearts. Is that plain enough? Brethren, all that kind of hits my conscience when I mention that. Because, as I say, I know what it is to be out of step and it's hard and it's a terrible experience and I don't want any more of that. And it's good if we learn these lessons that God may allow us to pass through.
So.
We have Naphtali mentioned too. They were faithful men of God.
And surprisingly, some Danites are included in verse 35, all the tribe of Dan, how quickly they went away, how quickly they got into idolatry, and how sad their experiences were back in the book of Judges. But this is to their credit here. And the men of Asher mentioned in the Reubenites. So it goes on to say in verse 38, all these men of war that could keep rank.
Again, showing us, I believe, how important this is. The keeping of rank they could who could keep rank kept with a comp, came with a perfect heart, a perfect heart to Hebron. What was the perfection of their heart? It was David, simply David to make David king over all Israel.
And all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king.
There it is again, brother. That's the secret of the whole thing. It's that one object of the heart.
And for us, it's the Lord Jesus. And if we truly have the Lord Jesus as the object.
Of our hearts there will be no problem at all. There will be no problem about these things. There will be indeed harmony. There will be a continuing on together and there will be real blessing. There can't be anything else but blessing if the Lord Jesus is the single object of the heart of each one. And so it says in verse 39.
And there they were. I like the way that's expressed. Don't we have some interesting expressions in the Word of God?
It's just as though the Spirit of God is saying, saying take a good view, brethren, just take a look. Look at this harmony in the Old Testament. They don't have nearly the light that we do from the Word of God and from the revealed mind of God and the truth that we have in this day. They didn't have nearly the light. But brethren, just take a look. There they are. It says, there they are with David. That's where their harmony was. That's where their happiness was. That's where.
Their their oneness of mind, oneness of heart, and keeping rank and step. There they were, and there they were with David. 3 days.
Eating and drinking for their brethren had prepared for them. Now if anybody asked me if I could give them some kind of a a scriptural principle as to special meetings, conferences where the brethren are invited to come together and to be over the word of God for say like 3 days or so, I think I just take them right to this verse in the Old Testament. This is just as plain as any verse I know of.
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That would give us an Old Testament assurance in principle.
Of the value of such occasions, and above all, when the Lord Jesus is the object of the heart of all, where much is being made of Christ in those days together our, our hearts are warmed up, are they not? Oh, many a time, many a time I've come to some special meeting somewhere and I come with a heavy heart, you know, and maybe distracted with the cares of the job and things.
Bothering me, I'd come and then sit under the sound of the Word of God, sit in the Lord's presence for one, 2-3 days perhaps, and have my soul fed and all, and my heart would warm up and warm up. And then you just hated to go back to things again after you'd been in such an atmosphere as that. And all how precious and how sweet it is. I just can't imagine anybody saying that such a thing as special meetings.
Where the brethren are invited together are not necessary. I believe it's a special provision of God in a day of weakness and something that has been used much of God to strengthen the testimony and to maintain and help establish the link between the assemblies. And so we see that there they were and their brethren prepared for them. Well, we experienced a little bit of that. Some of us that came here this afternoon as visitors, we can see.
What a lovely manner the brethren made preparation. And it was delicious, wasn't it? We'll just have to admit that it was delicious. So it's hard to refrain from eating too much, as it were. But they had a mind to their physical needs. Sure, that's all part of it. That's part of the fellowship and our enjoyment together. And so it says that, moreover, they that were nigh unto them, even unto Isakar and Zebulun and Napfly, brought bread on ***** and on camels and on mules and.
On oxen and meat and meal cakes of figs, bunches of raisins and wine and oil.
And oxen and sheep abundantly. For there was joy in Israel. Isn't it just like our God to give a description of the very things they had to eat?
He's interested in things like that. Oh, of course there's deeper spiritual lessons in this, we know. And surely these things all figure to a spiritual things. There was food. There was that which would fully satisfy the wine, the joy, the oil, the Spirit of God. We know that that all figures things like that to us.
But isn't it lovely to see how there is that exercise of heart, that making provision, as it were, for the brethren? And what else can there be but great joy in Israel? That is when David was the center of attraction, when there was that harmony, that keeping rain, when there was that consideration one for another preparation being made for their their needs, their physical needs, and so forth.
And what else could there be but great joy? Oh well, I believe that's the lesson, brother.
That we have from such a lovely portion as this.
The Present Testimony
Address—C.E. Lunden
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Second Chronicles, 17.
We have in these chapters, they're going to notice a few verses in each, something along the line, what we've already had in connection with the truth of the one body.
But rather, the principles here forth in the Old Testament, long before that truth is no principles in the Old Testament that would help us especially in the dangers of the pathway.
Of that testimony, which is the present testimony of the Church, the truth of the one body.
So we'll read a few verses here and there to comment on them. The 17th chapter.
Of Second Chronicles and the first verse. And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel, and he placed forces in all offense cities of Judah.
Third Verse. And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, who sought not unto Balaam, but sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel. Therefore the Lord established the Kingdom in his hand, and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presence.
And he had riches and honor and abundance.
And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord. Moreover, he took away the high places and Groves.
Out of Judah also in the third year of his reign, he sent to his his Princess, even to Ben Hale and to Obadiah, to Zechariah and to Nathaniel.
To my Ki and to teach in the cities of Judah. And with them he sent the Levites, and so on 9th person. They taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the Lord with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah and taught the people.
12Th 1St Wash of fat wax grayed exceedingly. And he built in Judah castles and cities of store, and he had much business in the cities of Judah. And the men of war, mighty men of valor, were in Jerusalem. 18th chapter. Now Jehoshaphat had riches in honor and abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab.
And after certain years, he went down to Ahab, to Samaria.
And they have killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that he had with him.
We persuaded him to go up with him to Ramoth Gilead.
And Ahab, king of Israel, said unto Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, Will thou go with me to Rammeth Gilead? And he answered him, I am as thy thou art, and my people as thy people. We will be with thee in the war. Now we'll go on, and in the end of that chapter.
We find that.
The battle is turning against Jehoshaphat.
30th verse Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the Chariots that they were that were with him, saying fight she not with smaller great save only with the king of Israel.
And it came to pass, when the captains of the Chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said it is the king of Israel. Therefore they compassed him about to fight. But Jehoshaphat cried out, and the Lord helped him, and God moved them to depart from him.
But came to pass it when the captains of the Chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel. They turned back again from pursuing him. Next chapter.
And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, returned to his house in peace in Jerusalem, and Jahil the son of Hannah, and I the Sarah, went out to meet him.
And said to King Jehoshaphat, Shouldst thou help the ungodly?
And love them that hate the Lord, therefore his wrath upon thee from before the Lord. Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, and that thou hast taken away the Groves out of the land, and has prepared thine heart to seek God.
And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem, and he went out again through the people from Beersheba to Mount Ephraim, and brought them back unto the Lord God of their fathers. Chapter 20. And it came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them others beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.
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Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side of Syria.
And behold, they be hazard zon tamer, which is in Gidai. And Jehoshaphat fear, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaim the fast throughout all Judah. And Judah gathered themselves together to ask of the Lord. Even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.
And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem.
In the House of the Lord before the new court, and said, Oh Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven, and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? And in thine hand? Is there not power in mind that none is able to withstand thee? Art not thou art God who just drive out the inhabitants, this land before thy people, Israel?
And gave a step to the seed of Abraham, thy friend forever.
And they dwelt therein, they built thee of sanctuary therein for thy name, saying, If when evil cometh upon us, as of the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, for thy name is in this house, and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.
And now behold the children of Ammon and Moeb, and Mount Seir, whom thou wouldst not let Israel invade.
When they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned them from us. They turned from them and destroyed them. Now behold, I say, how they reward us to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit.
Or God, wilt thou not judge them? For we have no might against this great company that cometh against us. Neither know we what to do, but our eyes are upon thee.
Judah stood before the Lord with their little ones, their wives, their children.
Then upon Dehaziel the son of. Zechariah the son of Benaya the son of.
JL The son of Madonna, Levi of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the Lord in the midst of the congregation, And he said To hearken ye all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou came Jehoshaphat.
Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed.
By reason of this great multitude, For the battle is not yours, but God's.
Tomorrow go ye down against them. Behold, they come up by the Cliff of Ziz, and you shall find them at the end of the brook.
Or valley before the wilderness. As you rule, you shall not need to fight in this battle.
Set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord.
With you, O Judah and Jerusalem, fear not nor be dismayed.
Tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord will be with you.
And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground. And all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the Lord, worshipping the Lord. And the Levites of the children of the and of the children of the chorites stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with the loud voice on high. And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Toccoa.
And as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah.
And the inhabitants of Jerusalem believe in the Lord your God.
So shall you be established, believe his prophets, so shall he prosper. When he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers to the Lord that should praise the beauty of holiness as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord for his mercy endureth forever. And when they began to sing and to praise the Lord, set ambushments against the children of Ammon.
In Mouse here, which would come against Judah, and they were smitten, for the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Cyr, utterly display and destroy them. And when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Sere, everyone helped to destroy another. And when Judah came toward the watchtower in the wilderness.
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They looked under the multitude and behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.
And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves more than they could carry away. And they were three days gathering the spoil. It was so much. And on the 4th day they assembled themselves in the valley of Baraka for blessing. There they blessed the Lord.
Therefore, the name of the same place was called.
The valley of Baraka under this day. Then they returned every man of Judah in Jerusalem.
And Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them to go again to Jerusalem with joy.
For the Lord has made them to rejoice over their enemies, and they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets under the House of the Lord. And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries when they had heard that the Lord fought against the enemies of Israel. So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet.
For his God gave him rest round about. Just want to call attention to a few things that we have here, dear brethren. Denise, passages that we've read that I feel are important. This young man about 35 years old.
Was suddenly entrusted to a Kingdom. A Kingdom.
Now, what were his first thoughts? You know a man loves power.
He loves greatness, but we find with Jehoshaphat that the first thought that he had was to strengthen himself against Israel. Now why was this so important? It was to him.
He strengthened himself against Israel.
We here today a great deal about.
How all the children of God should be together?
And it will be so when the Lord comes.
But in the Book of the Kings and Chronicles we have the subject of government.
Of responsibility.
And, dear ones, is the day coming when everything will be rehearsed at the judgment seat of Christ?
The conduct down here, all that concerns God's people, our actions, how we respond in the situation in which we're found, they'll all come in review.
What is the most important thing for a King of Judah?
What was first for him to do?
To honor the Lord in connection with the position that God had put him in.
That not so there are some confuse Israel with Judah.
Israel, of course, is the title given to the whole nation when they were together.
And will be in the coming day.
But there came a time when there was a division among God's people.
The visions are very sad, but sometimes necessary.
And so that those that are approved might be made manifest.
Now in the division we find there was wrong on both sides, which is often the case.
But there is such a thing as God maintaining a testimony to the name.
His name or the name of Jehovah in that day?
And he was very particular that that precious truth.
And center be maintained. Judah, Jerusalem.
Israel had turned away after another leader.
Not the House of David.
And besides turning away, they have turned.
To idols.
Because, beloved, when you and I turn away from what the Word of God tells us, we're going to take up with something.
For a substitute, that's for sure.
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We're going to try to replace.
What we had was something that's almost like it.
But isn't the same thing?
They were told that Jerusalem was the center.
And we find that there was conflict between these two groups.
And this young man comes into the Kingdom, and that's the first thought that he has.
That.
To strengthen himself.
Against Israel.
And he goes about it as his father had done.
We find the Lord was with Jehoshaphat.
It is a wonderful thing to know that the Lord is with you. Now how can we know that the Lord is with us?
Well, the first Epistle of John tells us, of course, if we keep his commandments.
If we keep His commandments, we have that assurance. If we have His word, we are assured that He's with us.
That's the only way we'll know.
To have his precious word, to follow his word. This Jehoshaphat did, and he had that consciousness that the Lord was with him and it says thought to the Lord God of his Father and walked in his commandments and not after the doings of Israel. Now we have the walk. It wasn't simply that he set up a theory, but he walked in it.
It's a wonderful thing to know the truth of separation and the truth of the one body.
And we hear it everywhere.
But the testimony today is The Walking in it.
Not simply knowing it.
The Walking in it, we find that.
This young man was given riches.
And honor and abundance.
And God, as he did to other kings who had honored him.
He subdued all the nations round about, because when a man's ways pleased the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
That's another principle we need to know.
So now he's a wealthy young king.
But you know, everyone will be tested.
This young man is tested.
He was a good king, but he may not have been as good a father as he was a king. We all have our weaknesses, you know.
And we find that his son married.
The daughter.
Of Ahab.
From Israel.
In other words, Jezebel's daughter.
The kind of a thing is this Here's a man who starts out in the right way, and yet something comes into his family and spoils the whole thing.
Did you ever think, dear young people, when you make your life decisions, how it will affect the assembly?
How it will affect your father and your mother. That decision isn't simply for you, it's to be for the glory of God.
That's what it means to marriage Mary and the Lord, this young man.
Did not marry in the Lord, he married into that which would bring him into idolatry.
And when years later he got to reign and got to have the throne of his father, he reigned only eight years and.
He died, I believe he was the one that says not desired, not desired. He made a wrong choice, but he had brought trouble to the people of God. How solemn this is, and what a consideration for each one of us in every step we take.
It affects all the people of God.
In fact, once we are found in that place, gathered to the precious name of the Lord Jesus.
We find that everything that we do effects.
Every member of Christ, how important this is for us to consider.
And how guarded we should be as to what we do.
Now he joins Affinity. The father joins Affinity with Ahab. Oh, what a terrible mistake. What a contradiction to his start. He starts out to strengthen himself against him, and now he joins Affinity. Why?
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Well.
He had introduced honey into the offerings of God, in other words.
That's what that means.
Natural sweetness had come in.
Putting family first, you can't do that in the things of God. Oh, how much sadness has come into this world because of these things. And families have been separated where there's been faithfulness to God. And here's a case where Jehoshaphat had allowed his son to turn his heart toward the enemy's camp.
Well, he almost lost his life over it, but he didn't.
Because you see, God's eye was upon him.
And if we would examine ourselves this afternoon, dear fellow Christian.
I'm sure you, like myself, would have to say.
Oh, how many times I was just at the brink and the Lord turned me back. Maybe you've never had that experience. I have.
Oh, how many times?
Not realizing that the next step would be fatal. What a wonderful thing it is.
To put your trust in the Lord.
But even though there are mistakes.
What a wonderful savior we have. What a wonderful savior. But we find that the Lord turns the army away from him. Because you see, the king of Israel had put a disguise on and.
Made it as though the king of Judah was the king of Israel.
It's something like some of us were noticing recently with Jacob when he went to deceive his father.
He had skin of hair on his hands. His father was deceived. It was Jacob's voice all right, but it was Esau's hands. He deceived his father. Here we have the same thing we have.
Duplication.
Oh how far we might go when we get out of the path duplication.
Not being real, and dear fellow Christian, may I ask you this afternoon?
Do you not want to be real? Moses made a choice.
And that was that. He was number longer to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He was not the son of Pharaoh's daughter, but he'd been living all those years as a son of Pharaoh's daughter. But he made the choice.
And he made that choice to rather suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. He made the choice. He made the break.
If you were to read ordinary history, you would find that Moses.
Had become a great man in Egypt.
But if he hadn't chosen affliction of the people of God, his name never would have been in the book of Hebrews.
And which record would you like your name in?
Man's or gods?
But now we'll go on with our account in the 18th chapter, or rather in the 20th chapter. We'll notice first a few thoughts in the 19th.
That God sends a prophet to him.
And what I want to gain from my own soul is this from this passage.
No matter who God sends, and he sends two different prophets here to him.
No matter who God sends, are we willing to listen? That's the point.
Are we willing to listen? God is going to.
In his marvelous grace he's going to see to it that his people are cared for, and he's going to send a word of warning before trouble comes. And again, after there's been difficulty, he sends a word of warning. Shouldst thou help the ungodly and love them that hate the Lord? That's pretty strong language.
Help the ungodly.
Love them that hate the Lord.
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Oh, but you say we are talking about God's people, Israel. Yes, but what are they doing? They were worshipping Balaam.
They had taken a new position that was contrary to the word of God.
I'm sure if there were any among them that it would come and repent as some did later.
On another occasion, I'm sure that Jehoshaphat would have embraced them, and even the prophet would have if there were repentance.
That now they're in a wrong position worshipping Balan.
And so the word to the conscience.
Of Jehoshaphat is must thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord?
But an awful position for one to be in. Who makes a profession to be one of God's people?
And that was a rebuke. And he takes it. Now in the 20th chapter, we find.
The enemy comes against all Israel, three enemies at once.
This is a real test.
Has Jehoshaphat learned any lessons?
We trust he has.
Are we learning our lessons day by day?
Brother said to me concerning a remark that was made, I think this morning, he said my, he said, I'm sure. I'm glad I got that. I never knew that before. Some brothers made a remark. It just opened a new truth to him.
Are we learning? Is there an exercise of soul with us?
Should be.
Jehoshaphat was learning. Now, as the enemy comes and the report is given, it says he feared he might well fear.
The host was greater than his own.
He might wealthier now what does he do? We have already read of how he had a he had warriors, men of valor, probably a very large army.
What does he do? Does he say get the men out? Get lined up for war?
No, that isn't what he does.
Though there was something real deep down in the heart of Jehoshaphat.
Failed. Yes, it failed. So do we.
But deep down in his heart, he knew there was only one resource.
And that was the God that dwelled at Jerusalem.
In the midst of His people.
Your only resource, beloved, you say there are problems in my assembly. There may be.
Or your assembly here or there.
God is the only resource.
You can scheme and plan and do as you please, but God is the only resource and His precious word.
And this we learned from the following verses.
Jehoshaphat feared and set himself to seek the Lord.
And proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
Well, those two things go well together, don't they? Seeking the Lord and proclaiming of facts. What is the facts? It's an indication that I'm real.
I'm willing to deny myself because the matter before me is a serious matter and I'm an earnest about it. He proclaimed it fast. Now fast, of course, in one term would be denying one food, but also it would be taking.
Looking over my life to see if possibly there might be something interfering.
With the problem in my own life.
Evaluating things in my own pathway, setting things aside that possibly.
I do better without. Oh, how many things lend themselves to difficulties among the people of God.
But here's a man who fasted proclaimed the fastest.
And the whole of Judah gathered together to ask help of the Lord.
He came out of the city.
They came to seek the Lord. What a happy time in Judah.
You know, Judah had many kings, but they weren't all of them good kings, really.
Israel had many kings, but I do not think there was one good one among them.
Maybe that's why God sent Elijah and Elijah there, because of the Super abounding grace of God to a people who needed those two prophets so badly.
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Yes, there were some good kings in Judah, and there were some very wicked kings like Vanessa.
But I believe that Jehoshaphat is a good king.
And.
Going on.
He goes to the people and he tells them.
About their God.
And he stands in the court.
And prays to God on the basis of what God had promised long ago.
That is, back in Leviticus and other places, God had promised that if his people were in trouble.
They could always come back to him.
All they had to do was repent and they could come back to him and cry to him and he would deliver them. Now in the coming day, if you read the 2nd chapter of Joel, you'll see that's what the whole nation, or rather the tribe of Judah and Benjamin will do.
They will cry to the Lord, and He'll deliver them in the coming day.
Well, this was carried out here.
Instead of getting out of his arm his Jehoshaphat Christ to the Lord, he prays to the Lord.
And we've already read the passage. We won't read it again.
And it says here.
12 Verse. Oh our God, wilt thou not judge them? For we have no might against this great company who had cometh against us. Neither know we what to do, but our eyes are upon thee.
And that lovely dependence.
Is this better than the armies that he could muster? I'm sure it is. Oh, how little we realize our resources as the people of God. We say we're few in number, that's true. But oh, what power? Oh what power. Don't you believe it? Read the story of Daniel.
What did he do, Joseph? What did he do? They shook kingdoms, one man alone, because they believed in that power.
And now in the year 1979 has that power lessened? Not one bit. In fact, we should be able better to use that power today than they did in that day. With all the instruction besides the fact the Holy Spirit indwells every believer. Oh how clever men are, and the things of business, and yet when it comes to the things of Christ.
How feeble we are.
How feeble. But here's the formula.
Jehoshaphat gives it to us, or rather the prophets. 14 First, then upon Jahaziel, the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaya, the son of jail.
Storm came the Spirit of the Lord in the midst of the congregation.
That's where you want to look for it. In the midst of the congregation car can you Judah inhabitant Jerusalem, and alkane Jehoshaphat. Thus saith the Lord unto you. Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God. Tomorrow go ye down. Notice that word down.
By the Cliff says and when you shall, and you shall find them at the end of the.
Brook or valley?
He doesn't say that you shall find them at the valley. It says you shall find them at the end of the valley.
The Valley speaks to us of self judgment taking a low place.
It's down at the end of that valley where you'll find the enemy.
At the ends of the valley you won't need to fight. Set yourselves. Stand you still and see the salvation of the Lord with you. O Judah and Jerusalem, fear not nor be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord will be with you.
Jehovah bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the Lord, worshipping the Lord.
Go on.
20th First they rose early in the morning, went forth into the wilderness of Toccoa, and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O ye Judah, the inhabitants, Jerusalem believe in the Lord. Notice that word believe.
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It's the prophet that spoke. Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established. Believe his prophets so.
Shall you prosper?
And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers under the Lord. Notice that singers unto the Lord.
That should praise the beauty of holiness. And they went out before the army, and to say, praise the Lord for his mercy endureth forever. And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Hammond. Sorrow. So these two slew those of Mount Seir, and then they slew one another, and then they were all slain. 24th 1St. And when Judah came toward the watchtower.
You get the watchtower and the thistles. You know the watchtower.
Watch unto prayer.
Elijah when there was a promise of rain.
He said. You go out until they have, it's going to rain.
And Sabbath got up to eat and drink, but Elijah put his face between his knees.
Bowed himself.
Until the rain came.
He watched.
For the prayer.
Here's the Watchtower.
That's when the blessing comes. The Watchtower.
Now where is the Watchtower?
In the luxury of the present scenes through which we are passing? Or is it in the wilderness present?
Do we feel it? Do we feel the path of rejection? That's where the Watchtower is.
The Wilderness.
The place of rejection is difficult in the days of prosperity to feel.
But our true place is.
As believers gathered to the precious name of the Lord Jesus and separation from this world.
The Lord Jesus could say, if they have hated me, they will hate you also.
Watchtower in the Wilderness and what's the result? Well, they have all the.
All the bounty, everything is provided for them that once belongs to the enemy, is now taken, belongs to Israel.
He didn't use one soldier, as far as we know, to down the enemy.
Know the Lord did that.
Oh, what a wonderful thing it is.
And to see this truth, and how many times, dear brethren, when we try to use natural methods.
In the things of God, to use our own wisdom, we only make things worse.
But we will find that there will be one or more in the midst of the congregation that God gives his mind to.
That we will wait for that and we'll get the right answer.
It takes patience.
But oh, how good it is to get the right answer and have it said, thus death the word of the Lord.
To have someone bring a scripture that settles the whole matter because it's only the Word of God that can settle spiritual basis. Only the Word of God in the midst of the congregation.
And to get the blessing, we have to go to the Watchtower.
And then four days they assemble in the Valley of Blessing.
But the valley of Bracket, valley of blessings.
Isn't that where God wants us to be all the time? Yes. And what is the valley of blessing really for us today? Well, it's something like we've had in these meetings. It's to have the person of Christ before our hearts continually. The enemy would try to disturb this and to occupy us with anything and everything.
But to have Christ before us. Now, I say this not simply because it's said many, many times.
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And it is.
But because, dear ones, Christ is the one who fills all things, and He's the only one that can fill your heart and mind.
Is the only one, and if he is sufficient for all eternity, will he not be sufficient for this afternoon?
To fill your heart and mind.
Christ.
Yes, it's Christ, and so they find that the.
Though the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet for his God gave him rest round about.
Bride of Christ
I.H. Klassen
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13th of Matthew and verse 46.
Or verse 45 again the Kingdom of heaven is likened to a merchant man seeking goodly pearls, who when he had found one Pearl of great price.
Went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Now let's turn to the 4th chapter of Song of Solomon.
Now in the soul of Solomon we get something of the bride of Christ now.
We might say, well, is it the Jewish bride? Now there is a Jewish bride, there's going to be a Jewish bride. And perhaps we might allow that the Song of Solomon is speaking.
Of the Jewish bride. But if he thinks this of the Jewish bride, what must he think?
Of should we say the bride of Christ?
And the.
There's a thought in the scripture.
Of the two brides, both the heavenly bride and the earthly bride, and they're pictured in Leah and in Rachel.
And so the Lord Jacob finds Rachel, and he loves her, and he wants her for his bride. But instead of getting Rachel, he gets Leah. Now Leah is a type of the Gentile bride and so.
With.
This was that way with the Lord. He came here really for his own.
But His own received him not at the moment, and so, as it were, he is given the Church, the Gentile bride.
And.
It would if you'll allow me to take my coat off if he can help I get a little warm but.
We can't really think, you know, the thought of two brides in eternity. And so we find that.
There won't be in the eternal state. There's only one bride. That's the church, the bride of Christ, and it's kind of pictured in this.
It came to pass that Rachel died, but you never read that about Leah.
Of course Leah did die, but you don't get.
Leah Leah's death. And so in the eternal state there is only the one bride, and by the grace of God, you and I are part of it.
And so we'll read a few verses here.
And we learn here what the Lord thinks of us. Now we read it, and we realize that that we are unworthy of such love and attention and affection.
And yet.
It's here and we have the privilege, as it were, of enjoying it.
Now it makes me think a little bit about what happened and maybe some of you know about Brother Dunlop.
At one time in the meeting, he was in the meeting at home, in someone's home, breaking of bread. And after the breaking of bread, the sisters got up to prepare the dinner, and he kept sitting there with his eyes closed. And finally one sister couldn't stand it any longer, so she went.
Said Brother Dunlap, aren't you feeling good? And he said Oh yes, I'm just letting the Lord kiss me. Well, I believe that's the thought here in this this chapter we get 7 features here. And in these features the Lord is giving expression as to what he thinks of us. Now again we might say well.
How could it be? But it's really what the grace of God has made us.
And I mentioned it last night, and I think it bears mentioning again.
We sometimes feel that we have to sustain the testimony. We have to keep it right side up. That's what the disciples felt when they when they cried to the Lord when the the boat was filling with water. And the cares thou not that we perish, but how can the boat capsize or tip over as long as the Lord is in it?
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It couldn't. And the disciples, if they could have entered into it, we might say and have said.
Like it said in the Song of Solomon the 2nd chapter, I charge you by the row in the hind of the field, that you wake not my beloved till he please. And so if they could have taken that feeling, the disciples and being perfectly confident.
Even though the Lord was asleep.
That they wouldn't perish.
And so it seems today sometimes in the testimony that's left, that the Lord is asleep, but he isn't asleep. He knows what's going on and he's going to preserve the testimony. And it's wonderful to have this confidence to be able to.
To say like as she said in chapter 2, I charge you by the role in behind the field that you wake not my beloved till he please.
Well.
And so mentioning in chapter 21 of Revelation.
There you see the church coming out of heaven from God.
And when did John see that?
John saw that shortly after the church was formed on earth, he saw the finished product coming out of heaven from God. Is it going to be any different when when that day comes? No. And you know, this gives us peace. Now, it doesn't give us in any way to be careless, but it gives us peace as to the winds and the waves that are tacting the Lord's people today.
And so I think again and again we should find a view, the end of the story. You know, sometimes in arithmetic books we had them, those kind of books sometimes. And that was you get the problem in Page two or three and you turn back and you get the answer. But you know, that had to be worked out.
The answer just wasn't enough. But anyway to see the church, it's it's really the answer.
And now we notice that.
He speaks of her features. There are 7 features here. There's her, her eyes.
And her hair and her teeth. And her lips.
And her temples, her cheeks, her neck and her breasts.
The five features are the mean, the seven features that he is bringing out here as he views the bride. Now first it says, behold, thou art fair, my love, my love. And then nice expression. You know, sometimes a young man has so many loves he don't know which one is the one he he really loves.
But the Lord had won, as it were, my love.
Behold, thou art fair, thou hast dove's eyes within thy locks. Now the eyes speak of discernment and perception. Oh, how the Lord delights in hasta in having some perception.
You know, someone might come to you and say, why are you going on separate from the world? Why don't you mix in with the with politics and everything?
Well, you have some discernment. You realize that everything here is going to come to not.
And that.
Well, think of the discernment God has given us as to what's going to come on this world.
The the rapture help you know the truth of the rapture, and yet you and I know that God delights in that perception and the great tribulation that will follow the rapture and the millennial and the the heavenly calling of the Church, all those things.
And by the grace of God, you and I know and how the Lord delights in us having this perception.
And now it comes to the hair. The hair. Thy hair is as a flock of goats that appear from Mount Gilead.
Now here, you know, speaks in in perhaps some different thoughts and connection with it. But first we think of it as each hair is attached to the head, isn't it?
And so it brings out the truth of the body of Christ, that each member gets its sustenance from the head.
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Each hair is is rooted as it were in in the head. And so how the Lord delights in us in any way having.
Seeing this precious truth of of the truth of the one body of Christ and every member.
Composes that body, and I've sometimes said when it comes to the bride of Christ, it speaks of affection.
When it comes to the the body of Christ, it speaks of unity. Now the assembly spoken in in that way as the bride and the the body, and then it's also spoken of as the House of God. And so when it when the church is looked at as the House of God, its behavior, how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the House of God. Timothy 3.
Well.
So the hair would speak of unity. Well, what a joy it is when you see Saints go on in unity that.
And realizing that we each need to be fed from the head and if we all have the same source.
Why you can't help, as it were, but to go on together in unity. And then the hair speaks of subjection too.
How the Lord delights in subjection. You know, it's one thing to know the Lord as our Savior, and another thing to know Him as Lord.
But again, he's viewing her in that light, as one that's in subjection.
Now I might say, well, I come far short of that, but yet.
This ought to give us an incentive to be like the Lord talks about us like he has made us by his grace. When I brag a little on my wife why she just goes overboard to to do.
What?
You know to to even be more than what I said.
Well, that's where the Lord would have us as He, He looks at us and values us. Why there ought to be with us just a greater desire that we might comply to with these things.
And then it says as a flock of goats that appear from Mount Gilead. Now if you know anything about goats or sheep or cattle, which I've had to do with.
And they?
They're very much the same, you know.
We often speak of sheep and there is something about sheep that's something a little bit different than than a cow, but their habits are a lot the same. And so if you would see a flock of goats grazing on the hillside, for instance, we've got a lot of hills. Or the cattle, if one of those cows would turn around, they'd all turn around. They're all grazing back this way, and then they turn around again and then they all graze back. Sometimes I get kind of.
That the fact that they just stayed together all the time, why not get some grass over here and so forth. But the only time you had that problem is if you've probably bought a new animal and they wouldn't fit in with the with the rest, they'd be off by themselves someplace.
But hear how the Lord delights in the Saints moving together.
The goats, he's liking them to a flock of goats that they they, they move together.
Well, we say we're going to do that someday, just to perfection. But is there an exercise that we might move that way? No, we say it's impossible. Well, really, it isn't.
You know, each one of us, as it were, takes our place and then we move together. And how sad if we don't move together.
Well, a thing. There's something really necessary to when you speak of Mount Gilead. It's a place of good pasture.
Remember that the 2 1/2 tribes stayed on this side of Jordan because it was a place of good pasture.
And how necessary good pasture is feed the flock of God over which the Holy Ghost have made you overseers. Is there any?
Real exercise and desire that the flock might be fed. Now the flock is not fed by debating the truth, no, And who is right and who is wrong. We might say, I don't say there's any condition like that here, but I'm just bringing that out.
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That is real serious to take up the word in a way of argument or debating and seeing who is right and who is wrong because.
The Saint starve and that kind of a feed that kind of food they starved to death, but in the wonderful to have an exercise that we might feed the Saints of God feed the Church of God. The Lords ministry, you know, was pretty much carried out in three ways and that was that the Lord healed.
He fed and he talked.
Now, many other things are involved, but those were the three major things.
And if you had a thick sheep or a thick cow.
She didn't need food, but she needed healing and so every St. can't take in food but.
There is such a thing as one being healthy enough to take in food, but many times we need healing first, then food, and then we're in a state or condition that the Lord can teach us.
Well then, if you have a place of good pasture, you need good teeth, don't you? You might have all kinds of good feed food in front of you, but no teeth domesticated. So in the next verse you get the teeth. Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep.
I'm sure one thing you we all know this, that if we're going to take in the food that God has, we have to be sheep.
The man of the world cannot take in the things of God. The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, neither can he know them for their spiritually discerned. And so we do need to be sheep. And as I look around here, I feel sure that everyone is a sheep. But in many cases and many companies, they're not all sheep.
But now the sheep, they it says, thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn.
Now.
Here is a sheep that has yielded something for their master. Wool. Wool speaks of warm. Wool speaks in a certain sense of love to us. Well, isn't it wonderful if we could yield something like that for our master?
Yield some some warmth, some some something for him.
And.
Then it says they're further. Well, my teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn.
And I might say that we can't yield much wool.
If we don't have good teeth, we can't yield much wool if we don't eat.
You know, the word of God is food. Now sometimes, you know, you find a sheep that was kind of looking old and thin and the wool was all scrawny. And you say, well, what's the matter with her? And so you get up and catch her and look at her mouth and see that her teeth are gone. Well, you know, a sheep loses their teeth after a certain age. And then of course they their wool is really very poor.
But.
I believe it's wonderful if we can yield something for the Lord, something for our Master. And how would that be? How would we on love? Can we love the Lord? Well, really not in a sense can we? But how do we love the Lord is by loving one another.
Our interests are, or his interests are our interests. Is it our desire that the Saints go on together, that they move together? This should be my desire. This should be our desire.
Were of everyone their twins? Well, first it says which came up from the washing. Well the washing you know, speaks of self judgment. Now brother Ryan used to make this statement. We are washed by blood once, a believer is washed by blood only once.
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Were washed occasionally by the ashes of the red heifer. That's in relation to restoration.
But we are continually washed by the Word and how that again and again we have to go down to the washing. Now some poor souls I feel when they've fallen, when they've become defiled, that they've lost their salvation because they don't know this truth of going down to the washing. If any man's sin, we have an advocate with a Father.
Jesus Christ the righteous, you know you're privileged, and we're privileged wonderfully to know that truth.
Because many just struggle over that and struggle and they feel that they're lost and they don't realize that when defilement comes in that it calls for the washing of water by the word and not the application of the blood again.
And now it says everyone bear twins, and none is bearing among them.
I've often thought of this and it's a rebuke to me, but.
If every believer could win two souls for Christ, how rich heaven would be Here, everyone bare twins. Well, it's an exercise, isn't it, that, that there might be such a thing that we would win some salt for the Lord?
And now it speaks of the lips. Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet.
And thy speech is comely. Well, wouldn't that follow on? If there was in any way the, the perception and the the subjection, the hair and the eating, Why then what would the lips speak of? What would the lips say? Well, it says thy lips are like a thread of scarlet.
Thy speech is commonly.
As I think in Psalms 12 it says our lips are our own, but is that true?
Man World says that he said my lips are my own, but the believers lips are not their own. They really belong to the Lord too. But I thought of how wonderful to be able to speak of some of the glories of Christ. You know Scarlett speaks of that. Remember in Rahab she was told to hang the scarlet line out of her window.
And.
Actually, that scarlet line as much as said.
Those people, those people that were marching around Jericho, those people are my people. She identified herself with royalty. She identified herself with the people of God. But I think it's wonderful that Rahab had not only a door in her house, but she had a window.
Now there's a brother once said to me, he says I'm saved and satisfied.
Well, I'm saved and satisfied. There he was, as it were, just got inside the door and he didn't want to go any further. But Rahab had a window in her house, and a window speaks of an outlook, a window speaks of what's in the future. And so how we need to have.
Not only a door in our house, but also a window. I think many Saints sort of halfway fall, by the way, because they don't have a window.
They're not looking beyond this long dark night and hailing the coming day well.
Rehab. She could see the priests, she could see the ark being carried around there, she could see the trumpeters, and she identified herself with the people of God.
Well.
Scarlett, you know, speaks of royalty in a certain sense, and also in a gospel sense. It reminds us of the blood of Christ. But.
Here I believe in our chapter, the thought is that those lips really spoke of the glories of Christ. Well, do we do that? We'd like to, wouldn't we? We'd like that.
When we come to the judgment seat of Christ.
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That we wouldn't have to face all kinds of failures there, but that we might face where are we, as it were our lips, whereas a thread of scarlet and had.
Had spoken of those precious things of Christ and the precious things that belong to us as children of God.
Well, there speaks of cheeks or temples. I think the word really is cheeks. They're thy cheeks are like a piece of pomegranate within thy locks.
Now the.
The expression within thy locks is really within the veil. She had a veil on, as it were, and those cheeks were within the veil. And so.
The cheeks really speak of health, don't they? You see a little girl here like that. She has rosy cheeks. Well, you see that she's a healthy child and so a believer.
May it's really the only the Lord that can.
Can, as it were, diagnosed the spiritual health.
And.
The thought of it being within the veil is that it's really for the Lord.
Now, you know, we can be deceived about spiritual health. We might think that, well, here's a really a very healthy believer and we find out, we may find out that it isn't true.
It reminds me of a of a situation where a brother came in meeting kind of late and he grabbed a hymn book and he was just his face was just shining. He was just look real bright and happy and and you naturally thought that he would just.
Rejoicing in the Lord. And so he sat down and his face continued to look bright. And so as one meeting was over, when he came up to a brother and he said.
I sure had a good stroke in Business Today.
So in a way.
We can't altogether discern spiritual health, but the Lord can, and it's really for the Lord to diagnose. So here it says, within thy locks or within the veil.
And then it speaks of the neck. Now we know the neck speaks of purpose.
Thy neck is like a tower of David building for an Armory were on their hang 1000 bucklers, all Shields of mighty men.
Now all those expressions are very militant, aren't they?
And I believe the reason for that is that in order to pursue.
The path here, we have many adversaries that would try to deter us, try to turn us aside. And so he brings in these militant notes that the 1St place, the next speaks of purpose.
You know, Pharaoh hardened his neck. Well, that wasn't a good thing for him to do. But then it brought out what the next speaks of, that there's purpose. He was determined in that. But Priscilla and Aquila, you know, they laid down their necks for the Saints.
Well, at the judgment seat of Christ and Priscilla stand there, will they be sorry that they lay down their necks for the Saints though they want?
And neither will you and I.
And how we need, as it were, one another, and to encourage one another. And so much the more as we see the day approaching. What is that day? That day is the day of manifestation, the day of the judgment seat of Christ.
And so these expressions here.
An Armory and bucklers and Shields and mighty men.
You know, in the book of Ephesians we have a little something about our enemies.
Spiritual enemies in high places.
How that Satan is against Christ. He's against everything that would promote the Lord Jesus. Satan is against that and so.
It takes courage and grace and strength to press on.
And are those from the outside that would like to sort of neutralize our stand would like to hinder us from going on happy with the Lord and they may argue logically say well.
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Whatever argument they might use.
But you know the natural man does not understand the path of separation.
No, they, they would, they would hinder us from the path of separation and.
And squelch the testimony. And so again, how wonderful.
The Lord is the making expressions here as he looks at the bride and he's saying all kinds of nice things. But you know, it's a real exercise. Do I add up?
And how important it is to keep the end of the journey before us, the judgment seat of Christ, all beloved Saints of God.
Paul lived in view of that day.
And it puts a different perspective on everything, as it were.
They're so easy just to pick up the ways of the world and live like the world does and give way to our own feelings and all that.
But one day, the judgment seat of Christ, everything is going to be manifest. We're going to see our whole life.
And ever since that, I've gotten a hold of that a little. It's been a real exercise that I might in this scene already live in view of the judgment seat of Christ. Somebody asked Chapter Brown once he said that.
Mr. Brown, how do you figure your income tax? And he said I figure it in view of the judgment seat of Christ.
Well, now it speaks of the affections in verse 5.
Thy breasts are like two young rolls that are twins that feed among the lilies.
Well, there the breasts are spoken of as twins.
And sometimes we hear about a balance. It's it's really true. It's good to be in balance.
Now.
What one brother might say, Well, I think the gospel is the most important.
And another brother might say, well, I believe the ministry is the most important, but really when it comes to the things of God, you have no expression like the most important. It's all important.
There's a. There's an evenness in relation to it.
And so it speaks of the affections and how the Lord delights in our affections.
Thinking of Mr. Dunlap again, said. I'm letting the Lord kiss me.
He had a sense of the love of Christ.
And then there is a response to that, isn't it? Our affections go out. And that's really the theme in the Song of Solomon. It isn't exactly justification or atonement or forgiveness. No, the theme is really, I love them that love me, and they that seek me early shall find me.
Now we know. The truth is we love him because he first loved us.
That's understood in Solomon. But now someone Solomon. But now as his affections go out, well, there's a response. And it likens them to two young roles that are twins. Now, Rose. All right, there's a wild animal. It's a it's a deer.
I suppose a kind of a deer and.
They're very sensitive to danger, these little animals, they they can perhaps sense danger before even even a dog would.
Especially before a human.
And so it's nice for us to be sensitive when we see some friction coming in or something that's liable to raise havoc with a Saints.
It's wonderful if we're sensitive to that and perhaps be able to.
To nip it in the bud, as they say.
And then it says they feed among the lilies. Now if we read in the second chapter, we would see that theirs were the bridegroom fed, he fed among the lilies and that's where we need to feed is where he feeds.
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Well, then it comes in, you know, if these things are true, if the Lord really thinks these thoughts about us.
Why? I believe that verse six comes in until the Daybreak and the shadows flee away. Now we know the day hasn't broken yet and the shadows haven't flown away. They're still with us. But one of these days there's going to be a Daybreak.
And that's the rapture, the coming of the Lord. But how wonderful, if I could be so affected by the love of Christ and his interest in me and His care for me, that I would say, until the Daybreak and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of Myrrh. Mountain of Myrrh. Now what is Myrrh Speaking of?
Well, Myrrh speaks of the sufferings of Christ.
And it's more than just sufferings. It's love, suffering.
When the Lord wept over Jerusalem, it was love that was suffering.
And sometimes parents see their children go off into things that they know are going to be destructive. And so it's it's love that suffers and.
But as she she comes to that point until the Daybreak and the showers flew away, she was so affected by his thoughts of her that ** *** said, I will get me to the mountain of Myrrh.
Now we could never measure the sufferings of Christ. It would be impossible. We have mountains, and you do too. But I might say, well, I went to the mountain.
Or I saw the mountains today, but what did I really see?
There are millions of acres of mountains around our city.
The two mountain ranges, there's just no end of acreage. Well, I might go up. I might see 10 acres, I might see maybe 100 acres, whatever. But the point is that we could never, as it were, we may get to the mountain of Merba to apprehend it or to enter into it. It would be impossible.
And yet it's a real redeeming feature and keeping feature to realize something of the sufferings of Christ.
Some of the things that the Lord went through.
And then and to the hill of Frankincense.
Now the hill of frankincense.
You know, whenever it's when you ever get frankincense, it has the thought of the priests, the priest, you know how to do with frankincense. So it brings out the priestly service of the Lord Jesus. Now it isn't only that we get to the mountain of Merb, but to the hill of frankincense.
Here when I see what the Lord thinks of me, what he thinks of us.
I say, how can I ever be preserved? Well, we have the blessed Lord.
Who is ever living to make intercession for us, to help us? We're not left, as it were, to go on a long no. The Lord is there to intercede for us and to help us as we, as we go on through this scene.
And really, very shortly to be raptured to glory. But how the Lord would have us to.
Appreciate these things that he has brought us into.
And now we come to verse 8.
Well, even verse seven, think about Thou art all fair, my love, There is no spot in thee. Now He comes out that way, you know. She responds, as it were, to all these precious things that he has said to her. She responds and so she says, I'm going to get me to the mountain of Myrrh and to the hill of Frankincense.
And so he comes forth with that expression when he sees that energy as it were, and he says, Thou art all fair, my love, there is no spot in thee. Well, unbelievable, isn't it, God?
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Has a spotless bride.
But you know in every case of marriage, you know you have the bride 1St and then you have the wife afterwards.
When it comes to the things of God, you have the wife first. His wife hath made herself ready, and so the Church is looked at as the wife now.
And when it comes to the wife, it speaks of devotedness and service. And it's a lovely picture in the 31St chapter of Proverbs as to the wife.
But then we know after 1000 years, it says that the church comes down as a bride adorned for her husband. So first she looked at as a wife because it's a relation to service, and then she's looked at as a bride and there's no deterioration. After 1000 years, she still looks like the bride adorned for her husband.
And now you come to verse 8.
Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse with me from Lebanon. Look from the top of a manna, from the top of Shiner and Herman, from the lion's den, and from the mountains of the leopards.
Well, in the kind of remarkable that you get lions and leopards spoken of in that verse.
But before then you get those four mountains spoken of.
And you know, I like to think of those mountains as the precious truth that we have in Ephesians and Colossians and other places too.
Well, like Lebanon means white, white think of of.
It reminds us of Ephesians, one, you know, chosen in Christ.
For the foundation of the world accepted in the beloved were white.
And.
Amana speaks of stability.
Oh, I think of a soul secure.
One that has accepted Christ as the Savior, knows that He's secure for heaven, secure for ever, and.
And then not only that, as we go on through this desert scene, the rock might, we might tremble on the rock, but the rock won't tremble under us. It's stability.
What God has done, He has done all together.
And then light, Shinar speaks of light. Well, what light God has given us and how he's given us his word, and which is a is a light. And then we have Herman, which speaks of devotedness.
But now there's the lines and the leopards there.
And I believe the secret is in the first part of verse 8. Come with me from Lebanon. Come with me twice, he says, Come with me.
So.
I've had to take this to myself and I've often spoke to young brothers along this line.
That as we traverse these precious truths that we have in the word of God.
We must take the Lord with us. Come with me.
In the first chapter it's he, he brought me, it says He brought me into his chambers. And it's true. The Lord has to bring us into these things, otherwise it may become just an intellectual thing. And if it is that, then we're in danger.
Because we know, as we already said, that everything Christ is for, Satan is against. And so as you traverse these precious truths, these mountains.
Let's let's go with him with our blessed Lord, then their safety. There's no lion or leopard that can can destroy them. But how many dear souls and St. young men have fallen by the way, because.
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They traverse these truths and paths without the Lord.
And Enoch, you know, it says Enoch walked with God, whether it was real safety in that. And so the word to us here is come with me. Now the lion, you know, speaks of that animal that that you meet head on, as it were. He comes, he comes head on and.
But the leopard is that animal that comes with steel.
He comes very unexpectedly.
It reminds me of.
And brother, we have in our assembly that his name is Mr. Bland. I know, I think some of you have met him.
But he was a man that lived in the in the in the mountains, in the wild country. He was, he was.
That was his job to work in the mountains and the hills and and he had a lot of experience that way. But he was telling me one day about he said his mother came out of the house and said, Bill, we need some milk. And I wish he'd go home and go out in the field and and run in a certain call that.
That they were going to keep up to milk for the family. And so he was breaking a cold and he thought, well, let's be a good opportunity to take my colt and to, to train it, you know. And he said that as he was coming back with a call from these hills. Why? Due to a flood of water, why a tree had fallen over.
And uprooted and went over the path.
And so he came to the just about two of this tree and then the whirled around and ran back and he thought, well, it was just being disobedient. He says, well, I'll fix you. So he turned him around and made him go back to the tree and he got a little bit closer, but all of a sudden the the cold world and ran back again. And so he just looked up and there was a cougar laying right across the top of the tree ready for him.
For a good meal, well, sometimes an animal knows more than we do, but but it was a real lesson to him, you know, which sometimes determined in a certain course and then we're we're apartment to be taught by a situation that we weren't expecting. And so, as it was in his case, well anyway.
We feel how important it is.
I don't care if you learn, you know it's line upon line, but.
To to go, as it were.
Where the Lord isn't really with you, then you're in real danger. You're in real danger of these enemies. You know, they both picture Satan, but Satan is always there to try to destroy anything that's of God. And so how many have been caught, as it were?
By the enemy, by the lack of watchfulness as traversing these wonderful, precious truths that God has given us. So I just mention again the seven features of the Bride.
And how that it was the grace of God that has made us that way. We can't claim any credit.
But I'm sure there's an exercise with us that we might, as it were, respond to it, the eyes, which speaks of perception. You know, if you don't know where you're going and what's going to happen, you just go around in circles. But it's wonderful to get our eyes on the on God's purposes and what he's going to carry out in this world.
And then the the hair speak again of the of the unity of oneness.
And the goats that feed together, they walk together. And the teeth are necessary, good teeth are even with good food. And to yield a little something for the master, yield a little wool or even shorn. And then, as it were, to, to have an exercise that we might not be barren, but that we might bear twins, that we might bring someone.
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Else into the family of God.
And then our lips. Our lips are not our own.
No, they belong now to to our Master and our cheeks, which would speak again of of hell and the neck.
Speak of purpose.
Oh, how wonderful to purpose that was, Barnabas that told the Saints at Adiol with purpose of heart to plead to the Lord, and then our affections how the Lord delights in them.
And then again until a Daybreak. Now the day hasn't broken, not yet, but we're looking for it to break any moment. But until the Daybreak, you know, brother once said to me, I don't know, maybe next year I won't be in the meeting. Well, I didn't think, I didn't think much of that statement. I would have rather have heard him say till the Daybreak. The shadows flee away.
I'll get me in a safe place in the mountain of Murray to the hill of Frankincense.
And then again, let's remember that as we traverse those precious truths in Scripture.
Which are ours. Let's have the Lord right by our sight.