Des Moines Conference: 1966
Table of Contents
1 Samuel 13
2 Natures
Gospel
Gospel—G. Hayhoe
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Shall we sing together #14?
#14 Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? Number what number 14?
Have you been told Jesus for the class thing? How are you lost in your?
Mind.
Are you finally?
How I was in my heart.
Well, I'll cry.
When you're wrong.
In the world.
Making me cry.
Out to be quiet and.
How are you?
So we turn to the Book of Numbers.
Chapter 15.
Numbers chapter 15 and verse 32.
And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness.
They found a man that gathered sticks upon the Sabbath day.
And they that found him gathering sticks, brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation, and they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him.
And the Lord said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death.
All the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp, and all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died.
00:05:08
As the Lord commanded Moses.
How shall we turn to John Chapter 8?
John, Chapter 8.
And verse one.
Jesus went unto the Mount of Olives, and early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him. And he sat down and taught them. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us.
That such should be stoned.
But what sayest thou?
This they said, tempting him that they might have to accuse him.
But Jesus stooped down and with his finger rolled on the ground as though he heard them not.
So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down and rolled on the ground. And they, that which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest even unto the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee. Go, and sin no more.
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 light.
And in Galatians.
Chapter 3.
And verse 10.
For as many as are of the works of the law.
Are under the curse, for it is written curse. It is everyone that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them, but that no man is justified by the law. And the sight of God it is evident. For the just shall live by faith, and the law is not of faith, but the man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us.
For it is written curse, that is, everyone that hangeth on a tree, that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Well, I'm sure that as we look at these two different instances, first in Numbers 15 and then in John chapter 8, we can see a very marked contrast. Here. We see in the 15th of Numbers a man that in the eyes of society would be looked upon as committing a very small sin to this man who just simply picked up sticks on the Sabbath day.
And he is stoned to death.
Whereas we come the 8th chapter of John and we see someone taken in sin.
A sin which perhaps even society would look down upon. And the Lord Jesus says to this woman, neither do I condemn thee. And yet we know that the law is wholly just and good. We know that the law stood in its full force while the Lord Jesus was here. And yet we see how the Lord could deal with this guilty soul. Well, dear friends.
How many people we meet today?
Who put themselves in the position of standing before God through works of their own?
How many we see who are attempting to make themselves fit for God by good works, good character, law keeping, and such things as this? But, dear friends, it's most important for us to see that if we stand before God on that ground, we are guilty.
00:10:12
It says in Romans chapter 3.
For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. It says in Romans chapter 3 also by the deeds of the law.
There shall no flesh be justified in his sight.
And so tonight, as we stand up here to tell forth a glad tidings of the gospel, how needful it is that we see how God has taken up the sin question and settled it for his own glory and for your blessing and mine. Because people cannot understand the Bible, they would perhaps say, well, this is a contradiction. Here's a man on the 15th of Numbers stoned to death.
And in the 8th chapter of John the Lord saying, neither do I condemn thee, but to your friends. It's just because man does not understand the ways of God. Man is ignorant of God. Satans great aim has always been to keep man in ignorance of God and of his character. We know that when he came into the Garden of Eden, away back there in the book of Genesis, he whispered in the ears of Eve.
And said.
Uh yeah, hath God said? He raised a question about God's word, and the next thing was to flatly contradict what God had said, and to say, Thou shalt not surely die. In other words, he put a doubt in Eves mind as to the word of God.
And then he flatly contradicted it, and he made Eve think that God was a hard God.
Actually, God had given to them everything in the garden that was good for them, and the only thing that He had withholding was what was not good for them. But Satan is whispering the same lie today in the ears of men and women. That lie that worked so successfully with Adam and Eve is still being whispered in the ears of men and women and boys and girls today.
He first puts a doubt in your mind as to the truth of God's Word. Is there really a heaven? Is there really a hell? Is there really the assurance of salvation for the one who believes? Or if he can just get you to doubt God's Word, he doesn't care what he gets you to doubt if it's any part of it. Because if you start doubting God's Word, then you set yourself as being superior to it.
If you told me 5 different things and I said, well, I can believe three of them because I know they're true, but I don't know about the other two, you might well answer me and say, well, you're not believing anything because I said it. You believe three things because you know apart from me that they're true. And the moment you set yourself in the position of judging this book, you're setting yourself up as being superior to this book.
This book is from God. God speaks to you, friends, and that's why I don't stand here to try and prove to you that the Bible is true. Because if I could prove to you it was true, then you would rest on my proof and not on the fact that God has spoken.
And it's important that we should realize that God has a right to address man, and He has addressed him through His Word, and He commands all men everywhere to repent.
Is not something that is optional. This is not something you can pick and choose about. You have to do with God. You have to answer to Him. And when the Thessalonians long ago heard Paul preaching, it says they received it not as the word of man, but as it is in truth the word of God which effectually worketh in you that believe. What we find with so many people is that they demand some proof that the Bible is true.
They demand the proof of science, or if you meet some people, they will demand the proof that their church says it's true.
But dear friends, I speak to you tonight and address you from God's Word, and the Spirit of God even now can apply that precious word to your conscience and bring you into the presence of God to have to do with him. For when you stand before the great white throne, if you die without Christ, you won't need any proof from science or any proof from any church that the Bible is true. You'll know it's true then when it's too late.
00:15:10
Why not right now?
Listen to what God has to say to you through His Word. He addresses you, He speaks to your heart, He speaks to your conscience, and He has a right as your Creator to demand your attention. I say again, it's not something that's optional, it's something that God commands you.
And you have a responsibility to him when you get a demand from the government to pay your taxes. Why? It's not something that's optional. It's something you must do. And when God speaks to you through His word, you have a responsibility to him. Well, in this portion that we have before us here in the 15th chapter of Numbers, here was a man who was breaking one of the commandments.
God had said.
That God had said that thou shalt. They were to remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. They have put themselves under the law. They had said all that the Lord has spoken we will do and be obedient.
And now, seeing they had entered into this agreement, God takes them up on the ground that they had taken.
And I say again, before I go on, if you are taking the ground of being good enough for God, God is going to take you up on your own ground. Yes, He's going to take you up on your own ground. And if you have committed one sin, that is enough to shut you out of heaven, because it distinctly says and revelation, there shall in no eyes enter into heaven anything that defileth neither whatsoever worketh abomination.
Maketh a lie, but they that are written in the Lamb's book of life. Is there a boy or girl here who would say I never did anything wrong?
Is there a man or woman here who would say I never told a lie, I never answered my parents back, I've always honored them? Is there one here who dared to take such a position before others, much less before God?
No, all have sinned and for man to put himself under the law and to have to do with God.
As in connection with his own ability to make himself fit for God is only to be condemned.
And so here was this man. He was found picking up sticks.
You know, people talk about little sins and big sins, but when God wants to show us how the law stood and the serious judgment that must come upon sin, He picks up what man would call a very small sin.
All you say, just imagine that wasn't anything very much.
Nobody would think that was a very great sin just picking up six on the Sabbath day.
But this man was brought then to Moses, and they put him in war. That is, he was shut up, he was imprisoned.
And Moses didn't take it on himself to decide the case of this man. No, Moses inquired of the Lord.
And the Lord said.
The man shall be surely put to death.
Why? Well, because the law said what a man should do, and the penalty of a broken law was death. And if that man was under pure law, then the penalty was just what the law said it was, death.
Oh, happily for Israel, they were never placed under pure law as a nation, because God in his goodness.
Provided a way of approach, not by their good works.
Through the sacrifices and through the sacrifices, God could look upon the blood of the slain animal.
And could accept it to make an atonement until the Lord Jesus came.
But if they, the man was to be dealt with as under law, this was his judgment. And yet there are many people today who are doing just exactly this. They're taking the position of making themselves fit for God by their own works.
00:20:04
How often when some friend or relative or neighbor has passed away and you walk into the Funeral Home, you put out your hand and shake hands and express little sympathy, and then you undertake to say a little word for the Lord Jesus, and you get back and answer something like this.
Oh well, he was such a Goodman. I'm sure he's all right. I'm sure he must have gone to heaven, or they'll say something about the church that he belonged to, or something else about the man's fitness in himself.
Dear friends, if your salvation and mine depends upon her own fitness.
Then we're all condemned.
It says, Enter not into judgment with thy servant, for in thy sight shall null flesh living be justified.
Again it says, if the Lord should mark iniquity all Lord, who should stand?
But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. And so I would say before I go any further, that if there's anyone here tonight and you're attempting to make yourself fit for God by any works of your own, that right at this moment you're under the judgment of God.
Because God's judgment of sin is certain, and God has distinctly said in his word, it is appointed unto man wants to die, and after this the judgment. And you may be the best living person in Des Moines. You may have a fine record with your fellow man.
But it doesn't satisfy God, it doesn't measure up to his standard, it says.
They they measuring themselves by themselves are not wise. And if you're measuring yourself by your fellow man, you're not going by God's standard, because his standard is the standard of his own holiness, a standard of His own righteousness and His requirement for man in the flesh.
Set forth in the law.
And no one has measured up to God's standard. And God gave manna ample opportunity too. For when the law was given, it was about 1500 years before Christ. And so for all those years, men had the opportunity of showing if it were possible for one person to keep the law, and no one did.
No one did, not a person. And so when the Lord Jesus came into this world, he came into a guilty world, He came into a world that was ripe for God's judgment. He came into a world of that deserved judgment, but all he didn't come to judge, it says in John chapter 3.
That he came not to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. Well, isn't it lovely to turn over from this to this beautiful passage that we have read?
8th chapter of John.
Here it begins by telling us that Jesus went unto the Mount of Olives.
This was because, as the Scripture says, foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests. But the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head. That precious Savior came down into this world, come in grace, not to condemn, but to save. And what kind of a welcome did this world give to him? Why, He went about doing good. He went about in perfect grace. He healed the sick, He raised the dead, He cleansed the lepers.
But when the end of the day was come, the people didn't even invite them to their homes, and he had to go and sleep in the Mount of Olives. Did he turn back? He could have gone back to heaven in his own right. Because of who he was. He had a perfect right to go back to heaven. He was the Sinless 1.
But all did he go back to heaven. Oh no, He had come to save. He had come to bless. He went out to the Mount of Olives and slept, and early in the morning He came into the temple to the very center of their worship. And He came to teach them. He had come for the blessing of man. Oh, dear friend, what wonderful love there is in the heart of God. I feel how unable I am to tell out the love that was in His heart.
00:25:13
I find with myself when I get rebuffed that it's awfully hard for me to continue to show love when people rebuff and show their lack of appreciation. But as I trace the pathway of that precious Savior, no room for Him in the end. Growing up in the manhood and in all his works of grace, yet despised and rejected of man. But as it says, many waters cannot quench love, nor can the floods drown it.
Always thought of God's grace something like this.
Like a little stream coming down the side of a mountain. And you know, if you try to block up the stream, what happens? Well, you put a little blockage in front of the stream and the water rises higher and it goes over the top. And then you try it again. You go a little farther down and you put a still larger blockage in front of it. And after a little while the water goes over the top. And so you get down to the bottom of the mountain.
And you build a great big dam.
And you're going to try and down it up. But if there's plenty of water in the source, the bigger the dam you build, the wider the spill when it goes over the top. And dear friends, that's just what man did. All through the history of man. He did everything he could to stem the course of divine grace. Why have he sinned in the garden? And God promised that the seed of the woman would bruise the serpent's head.
Abel was born and then Cain killed him. And over and over again we see the attempt to get rid of the ones who through whom blessing would come to man and to the nation of Israel. But what? What did it do? All the only show that God's grace was greater than all man's sin. But finally we come to the cross, and there we see where man did his best to get rid of the blesser.
The one who had come in grace. He's going to get rid of him now.
But what happened there?
First in abounded grace did much more abound.
Poor friends, what love, not love, is reaching out to you? The little hymn says. The river of God's grace through righteousness supply is flowing over the barren place where Jesus died. Can you resist love like that? That love that came for you, to bless you, to save you?
Dare you to talk about your own good works? It's only to put yourself under condemnation.
It says distinctly in Ephesians chapter 2 by grace we saved through faith, and that none of yourselves. It is a gift of God, not works, lest any man should boast.
Well, the Lord sat down and taught them.
And the scribes and the Pharisees brought unto him a woman.
Taken in adultery. Now you see, in the instance that we read in the 15th chapter of Numbers, here was a man picking up sticks. As I said, it seemed like a a small sin. But here this woman, they thought, will Now the Lord will have to say that this woman must be stoned. He cannot set aside the law. The law was there in all its full force.
And the law was holy, just and good. And so they thought, now we have a clear case. This woman's guilty. And they brought her and set her in the midst and said, now Moses said that this woman should be stoned. But what sayest thou? Well, it wasn't Moses that said she should be stoned. If you read carefully in the passage, it was the Lord that said she should be stoned. It was the very same person.
Who was there in their midst in grace?
The very same person who had said in the 15th of numbers that that man was to be stoned, was now come down in grace to bless man, and there he was in their very midst. And so they have found that she's guilty now. But it says this, they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him.
All dear friends, they didn't think that the Lord was looking on their hearts at that time.
And you may, you may pretend to be very religious. You might even shake my hand at the close of this meeting and say it was a nice meeting. But God looks on your heart. He knows whether there's been a transaction between your soul and the Lord. He knows whether the Lord Jesus is your own personal savior. You may deceive your parents. You may deceive your your Sunday school teacher. You may deceive me.
00:30:27
But you can't deceive the Lord.
He's looking right in your heart at this moment, and he was reading the hearts of those men who came and pretended that they were so pious, pretended that they really wanted to do what was right and that they wanted to fulfill the law, and that they were really good men with good intentions. But all the Lord knew the hypocrisy. He knew the evil that was in their hearts, and He knows everything that you and I have ever said.
Done and thought. When a man pretends that he's doing the best he can, I know that he's not upright because I don't believe there's a person here who would dare to say well.
I never did what's wrong knowingly. I never did what's wrong knowingly. If you didn't know it when you knew it was, you shouldn't. But then you didn't do the best you could. Because if you knew it was wrong and you still did it well, then you didn't do the best you could.
So there is no one who is honest who would ever say I've done the best I can.
You know that there are many times in your life when you could have done differently, know all your friends and were guilty, and every one of us is guilty before God.
Well, it tells us here that they said it, that they might accuse him.
But Jesus has stooped down, and with his finger roll on the ground, as though he heard them not. The Lord gave them time, as it were, to realize in whose presence they were the attorney to Jeremiah. I'd like to read a verse of passage there.
Jeremiah 17.
And verse 13.
Oh Lord, the hope of Israel.
All that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the Lord.
The fountain of living waters. Well, notice this verse is remarkable, isn't it? Oh Lord, the hope of Israel. If they could keep the law, then they didn't need the Lord to save them because they would be good enough in themselves. Thought the Lord was the hope of Israel, and the Lord was the one in whose presence they were at this very moment. He was the only hope of Israel, and He's your only hope, dear friend and mine.
We have no hope apart from Him, it says in Ephesians 2, describing our natural condition having no hope. And without God in the world, such as our natural condition, we have no hope in ourselves. But here was the hope of Israel. Here was the only one who could bless a guilty Sinner, the only one who could bless you or me.
And so it tells us here.
All that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth. Well, it tells us here. That's what the Lord was doing with His finger rolled upon the ground as though He heard them not. Perhaps He was writing their names there on the ground. Perhaps He was writing their names right there in the earth while He looked on.
You may have your name in some very important places in the earth.
Some people are very pleased when they get their name into important places in this world. Is that as far as your thoughts go? You might become the president of the United States, You might climb to a very high position in this world, but unless you know the Lord Jesus as your Savior, your name is only written in the earth.
Well, I suppose every boy and girl has his name written in the earth. When you were born, it was registered. When you started school, it was registered again.
00:35:04
Over and over again, your name is written in the earth.
But the Lord Jesus said, rejoice rather that your names are written in heaven. Is your name written there? Can you say thank God my name is in the Lambs book of life?
All If so, you have reason to rejoice, you have reason to be happy. But if your name is only written in the earth, you may be a great man.
You may be well educated. You may have be well thought of by your neighbors.
But has it only been written in this earth?
Well, the Lord wrote on the ground as though he heard them not. Well, as I said, I believe perhaps the Lord was giving them time to reconsider. You know, sometimes we do things rashly and it tells us in Revelation chapter 2.
God gave space to repent.
And it's a principle in God's ways that he never judges until iniquity comes to its full, it says in Job 33.
God speaketh once, yeah, twice. Yet man perceiveth it not. And so he gave these people opportunity to reconsider. He gave them an opportunity for their consciences to go to work.
And I suppose that God has spoken to you at different times. Perhaps there's some person here and you remember how God spoke to you. Perhaps you had a close call. Perhaps you were just face to face with death and the Lord spared your life. Perhaps some time in a gospel meeting, the Lord spoke to your soul in a special way, and perhaps you didn't heed the way he spoke to you at that time.
All there are times, I believe when God specially speaks to every man's soul. I don't say it's in every gospel meeting. I believe there are special occasions. I remember a man saying after a gospel meeting, he said to his wife, for he had resisted the Spirit of God for a long time. He said he nearly got me tonight. What an awful thing to say.
But God spoke to that man. As far as I know, he's still unsaved.
What an awful thing when God speaks to your soul and you don't hate it.
You pay no attention, all boys and girls and all the ones here tonight, I warn you.
It's a solemn thing to have to do with God. It's a solemn thing. You're all interested in how you're going to get along at school, whether you're going to pass your year, if you're interested in material things down here. But what about your soul?
What about your soul?
The little poem says to lose your wealth as much.
To lose your health is more to lose your soul is such a loss as no man can restore. No man can restore. Well, perhaps these people looked and saw him writing their names so when they continued asking.
They continued asking, as I say, they had the opportunity, but they went on asking Him because they thought they were going to put the Lord of glory in a difficult spot.
Oh how, how man thinks that he can mark and scoff at the Lord, not his word. We're living in days when people like to make jokes in the Bible. They like to make jokes in the Bible.
As if they could ridicule the Bible into a into the past as all they could talk about the Lord Jesus so lightly and it didn't seem to matter at all.
All dear friend, you're going to face this book someday. The Lord Jesus said the word that I have spoken the same shall judge him in the last day, and it was remarked in the meeting today.
You're going to see the Lord Jesus, it was remarked about how Pilate has stood.
There and condemned the Lord, but the time is coming when Pilate is going to stand before the Lord Jesus.
And what an awful moment it's going to be for some people who have made jokes about the Bible and who are scoffed at the Lord Jesus when they stand there at the great white throne and see the book open that they scoffed at. Look into the very eyes of the Savior whose name they used so lightly. Oh, there's a time coming.
00:40:15
With your friends, God's giving you another opportunity.
Tonight may be your last. Tonight may be your very last opportunity of salvation.
And so the Lord looked up.
He lifted up himself.
And said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
Yes, the Lord looked at himself up, and I believe he looked everyone of those people.
Light in the face, I believe that he looked into their very eyes and took them up on their own ground. He that is without sin. Now some people take this passage as though.
Well, you shouldn't be too hard on other people because you're just a failure yourself, and so you should just look very lightly on sin. Well, that isn't the point, dear friends. It's true that we're no better than others.
But it isn't that we should look lightly on sin, and the Lord Jesus did not look lightly on sin. When the Lord Jesus faced the question of sin in the Garden of Gethsemane, he sweat, as it were, great drops of blood falling down to the ground. When he was forsaken in those hours of darkness on the cross, he cried out in agony of soul. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And don't you ever take this story to mean.
That we're just to look lightly on sin because we're no better than the other fellow. No, dear friends, none of us dare to take a position of being better than others. But it does not intend and it does not teach that we look lightly on sin or the God looks lightly on sin. God hates sin. He's of two pure eyes to behold evil and cannot look upon iniquity. But what the Lord was really saying was like this.
That if it was a question of the getting what they deserved.
Who would be have a right to judge the other person? That is, if they were going to take this woman up on the ground with law, then what about themselves? What about themselves? And dear friend, I wouldn't dare to stand before you here tonight and pose to be any better than others. Just a Sinner saved by God's grace. I can remember when I first stood up to preach back in the meeting in Ottawa and I thought the people look at me and think that I feel that I'm better.
But I'm just a Sinner saved by grace. One time a preacher named Brown Law N stood up to preach over in England many years ago. And just as he came up to the front, someone had put a little note on the desk. And he had lived in that town before, and there was a big crowd of people that had come to hear him. And when he picked up the note, the note said.
Do you remember you did such and such a thing? You did such and such a thing, and you did such and such a thing.
And this person knew him in his unconverted days and he had written out some of the things that he knew about Bromley North.
Yes, he picked up the paper and he said.
Every word that this person has written down here is true.
Every word is written is true, but he said, I can say that the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.
Spite of the fact that it's true, God in His wondrous grace has saved me. My dear friend, if any of us were to be taken up on the grounds of what we deserved, what we ourselves were guilty of before God, why we couldn't cast a stone on others? Because the stones would have to be first casted us. And so the Lord put them in this position of realizing that they were all.
Guilty, they were all guilty. And again he stooped down and rolled on the ground. Oh, I think this is so touching. I think this is so lovely. He didn't. He gave them an opportunity for their consciences to go to work. Then he looked up and looked them right in the face and said, He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone. And then he looked down and gave their consciences.
00:45:15
Another opportunity.
The God work to go to work well what did they do well at verse that we read in Jeremiah said all are the hope of Israel.
All they that forsake thee shall be ashamed. The Lord Jesus showed that every one of those scribes, and every one of those Pharisees, and all the people that were there except himself were guilty, Were guilty, yes, every one of them were sinners.
And now the question was.
Were they going to forsake the hope of Israel? Were they going to turn their back upon the fountain of living waters, or were they going to stay there and get the blessing? That was the question now, and that's the question tonight, friends, that's the question. We're all guilty. I'm guilty, you're guilty. But the question is, what are you going to do about the one who is your only hope? What are you going to do about the one who is the fountain of living waters?
Are you going to do like these other people did? When your conscience convicts you, you're going to turn and hurry out as quickly as you can. Many a person has come to the gospel meeting and when a solemn word of warning was issued, couldn't get out the door fast enough. Couldn't get out the door fast enough.
The young lady back in Ottawa was asked to come to the gospel meeting and she said I don't want to come. It makes me feel too wicked.
Yes, she and she'd rather turn her back upon her only hope. And so I say here was a challenge. Here was a moment that could have been a moment of blessing for every scribe and every Pharisee and every one of the people that were there as it was for that woman. But what did the rest of them do?
When their consciences went to work, when they were convicted, they turned their back upon the hope of Israel. They turned their back upon the fountain of living waters. And now you've come to your friend to a very solemn moment. Are you going to turn your back upon the Lord Jesus?
When I speak to you about sin and judgment to come, and God speaks to your conscience, I ask you, what are you going to do? What are you going to do? When the Lord Jesus in the 4th chapter of John, uncovered the life of that woman and told her all He knew about her, what did she do? She remained right there. She remained right there.
Yes, she stayed and she got the blessing and all. Tonight I hope that you won't run away from the Savior. When Adam and Eve sinned and the Lord walked in the garden, what did they do? They hide from Him. Are you hiding from Him?
You turning your back upon the Lord Jesus, you're going to walk out of those doors without Him as your Savior.
Well, it tells us in the ninth verse and they being convicted.
By their own conscience went out one by one. What was it convicted them? They were in the presence of the light of the world. It says in that 12Th verse, I am the light of the world. They were in the presence of the light of the world.
And the light of the world is the Lord Jesus. This world cast him out. They said we don't want him by his light is shining into your conscience. If it's making you miserable, I'm glad, because it's better to be miserable tonight and to come to Christ than to be miserable forever in a lost eternity. It's better to be miserable now and it's stay and get the blessing than to find yourself in a lost eternity.
Where there's no hope of salvation.
No blood to cleanse you from sin, No opportunity to know that one as the fountain of living waters who can bless you.
Well, it says they went out one by one, beginning at the eldest even unto the last. Yes, the older we get, the more sins we have. The older we get, the more sins we have because.
Every day.
Every hour fly how often we think and do what is wrong. And so these people, the oldest, the youngest, they were all guilty. Doesn't take long for sins to pile up, you know.
00:50:04
And so it says here they went out. All I ask you again, are you going to go out or are you going to do what this woman did? Isn't this lovely? And Jesus was left alone and the woman standing in the midst, oh, this is the most wonderful thing in the whole story.
Jesus was left alone and the woman standing in the midst. Have you ever found yourself alone with the Lord Jesus?
And have him search your heart and laid bare in his presence all your sins and then to have him turn to you and tell you there's no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus all. What a Savior, what a blessed Savior. I commend him to you tonight. This woman was left alone in the presence of the Lord Jesus.
Oh, how grand it is when that moment comes.
Dear friends, the devil will do everything he possibly can to keep you from that time when you get alone in the presence of the Lord Jesus. He'll keep you so busy with your work, your homework, He'll keep you so busy with your business. He'll keep you so busy with entertainment, anything. He doesn't care what it is. It may be things that are quite harmless in themselves. Anything he can possibly use.
To keep you from being alone in the presence of the Lord Jesus.
Moment for her alone with Jesus, standing in the midst. And when Jesus have lifted up himself and saw none but the woman, he said unto him, unto her woman, where are those thine accusers of all those people forsaken the fountain of living waters, of all those people turned their back upon the one who had come to bless. Well, she didn't, and the Lord said.
Hath no man condemned thee? She said. No man, Lord. Why didn't she turn? She knew it was the Lord.
Yes, she owned Jesus is Lord. What a blessing for her soul. She owned him as Lord. And hasn't it said, if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God has raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. She turns and says Lord.
And said there in that verse in Jeremiah.
Oh Lord, the hope of Israel. She was in His presence. She knew it.
She wasn't going to forsake the Fountain of Living Waters, and he turned to her.
And Jesus said unto her.
Neither do I condemn thee always say, Did he look lightly on her sin? Oh no, God hates sin. God must punish sin. It says in Hebrews 2. Every transgression and disobedience receives a just recompense of reward.
And God did not Passover her sin. God does not Passover your sins or mine.
Thought this precious Savior came to earth to settle the sin question. And I say again in the Garden of Gethsemane, as he anticipated that awful judgment, he sweat great drops of blood as it were falling down to the ground.
Whose sins? Mind through grace, That woman's through grace? Can you say a mind to mind too? And then he went to that cross, and God placed upon His blessed Holy Head the judgment that those sins deserve until the Lord Jesus said it is finished. It is finished.
All dear friends, we preach a finished work tonight.
Now no longer under law, Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, as God set aside the law. No, but the Lord Jesus bore the curse of the broken law. He bore the full penalty. And now he can come out in perfect grace and say, neither do I condemn thee. Listen to that lovely verse in John 5 and 24.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me.
Everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation.
00:55:03
But is passed from death unto life. The father had committed all judgment into the hands of the Son. And so he turns to the one who believes and says, And there's no judgment, no condemnation for you, I often say.
I'll never be condemned for my sins, and the judge himself has told me so.
He asked the judge himself, the only person who had a right to condemn this woman. The only person said, I don't condemn you always not blessed all. If you can look into the presence of that Savior, look into the face of that Savior by faith and know that he bore the condemnation for your sins and hear him saying, neither do I condemn thee.
Again, Romans 8 and verse one.
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. Oh, it's the judge that said it. It's the Lord Jesus why He bore the condemnation himself. He said it is finished and God has glorified him, and He's at His right hand. He's raised for our justification. Neither do I condemn thee all, dear Sinner, won't you believe it tonight?
Or you say, I'll still try to do the best I can. Then there's judgment ahead. Judgment ahead, One is often said, judgment is either ahead of you or behind you. If it's if you're still in your sins, it's ahead of you.
If you can look to Calvary there you can say like a little him. What's it? Death and judgment are behind me. Grace and glory are before all the billows rolled Or Jesus.
There they spent their utmost power.
Or how grand if somebody met that woman the next day and said, well, how is it with your soul?
All she should say, the hope of Israel, the fountain of living waters, the Lord of glory said.
There's no condemnation for me. No condemnation is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? Some people would twist this verse around as though it read, if you don't sin anymore, I won't condemn you. Oh no, that's not the way God works. He said neither do I condemn me. Go and sin no more. Because when the Lord Jesus puts you in this new position where there's no condemnation, he also gives you new power. He gives you new life.
He gives you everlasting life, and the next verse says, He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
The unsaved man is afraid of the light. These scribes and Pharisees forsook the light. They turned their back upon the light, but she stood in the presence of the light and the light. The one who is the light said there's no condemnation. Could she dare? Could she be afraid of the light again? Did you ever think of that lovely verse in First John One and Seven? It says, if we walk in the light, the sea is in the light. We have fellowship one with another.
And the blood of Jesus Christ his Son, cleanseth us from all sin. Yes, all of the light of God's presence makes manifest. The blood is cleansed from. Could she, could she be afraid of the light? Now she was perfectly fit for it. She was in the presence of the light of the world. And he said, neither do I condemn me. And he gave her a new life, so that when she went out and faced the world again, she had Christ as her Savior.
She had a new life. She had power so that she could please him. Your friend, that one wants to be your savior. He wants to be your savior tonight. He says whosoever will let him take the water of life freely. It wasn't only for those scribes and Pharisees. It wasn't only for that sinful woman, but it's for you tonight. I say again, dare you to stand on the before God through your own works or merits.
Dare you to take your position?
Doing the best you can or keeping God's law, you're condemned.
But if you'll come into His presence and acknowledge that what He says about you is true, take your place as guilty. He'll save you. His blood will cleanse you. His word will assure you that there's no condemnation, and He Himself will be your life and power to please Him. He wants to be your savior tonight. Don't walk out of this room like those other people did.
And forsake the fountain of living waters that come right to him tonight, and say, like the little hymn puts it, whole Lamb of God, I come.
01:00:07
Think that him is here just as I am.
Without one plea. Thank you.
#12 just as I am without one plea, but that thy blood was shed for me, and that thou bids me come to thee, the Lamb of God I come #12.
Yeah.
01:05:20
Now.
Gospel
Gospel—A. Hayhoe
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Shall we open the gospel meeting tonight by singing #35?
#35 oh what a savior that he died for me.
From condemnation he hath made me free.
He that believeth on the Son says He hath everlasting life.
All my iniquities on him were laid.
All my indebtedness by him was paid.
All who believe on him, the Lord has said, have.
Everlasting life, could we rise and sing #35.
What the saga that he died for me?
Have made me pray.
I've been even on my son.
Forever lasting.
Oh heaven. Unbelievable.
My son.
And grow.
I'll never.
Mind.
My one go away and simple I believe.
His.
Word.
Warm eyes and message every.
Morning.
I'll never.
Life.
Everywhere.
I say.
No, Marilyn. Marilyn.
Ever knew?
Ever.
00:05:00
God knows.
How everlasting.
Life.
My.
Relations.
Could we also sing hymn #4?
Hymn #4 Christ is the Savior of sinners. Christ is the Savior for me.
Long I was chained in sins darkness.
Now, by His grace, I am free. Oh, I hope we will all be able to sing these words and sing them truthfully.
Just remain seated please, while we sing #4.
Christ is the Savior of sinners.
Right in the Center for me.
Long I was named in Sinbar now.
My life is great, I am free.
Savior.
Save your sinners like me.
Shave and blunt on my.
Ransom.
This is on savior for me.
Now I can say I am.
Happy and adopted by free.
Save by my glass and reading.
Her message on Savour for me.
Savior.
John, stand by my wife, he received me.
Seeking from the.
Queen.
Mahler and Malta.
Leslie la Sega for me.
Savion.
Sinners like me.
Sharing his love for my.
Ransom.
This is a savior for me.
Like.
Me having his blood for my ransom.
Let's dance the singer for me.
Isn't that grand? This is the Savior for me. Just as personal as that, wouldn't it be precious if every one of us here could just repeat those words now, from the very bottom of our heart? This is the savior for me.
00:10:16
Every boy and every girl, everyone of you, dear young people, as well as those who have passed that stage in life.
To be able to say this is the savior.
Me as we were gathered upstairs in prayer for this gospel meeting, we could hear the happy voices of the dear children out there on the lawn in that delightful sunshine, playing and enjoying the God-given health and sunshine. And we thought as we heard their happy voices.
That those voices.
Everyone of them.
Yours too, and mine too.
Will for all eternity.
Be engaged in singing the praises of this glorious Savior.
Or engaged in what the Lord Jesus Christ himself describes in this language, weeping.
And wailing and gnashing of teeth.
A gospel meeting is a very solemn occasion, for that is the destiny before you and me, before everyone in this company tonight.
Eternal glory, redeemed with the precious blood of Christ.
For eternal darkness and torment.
With those strains of sin still upon your heart.
Could we open our Bibles tonight? First of all to the book of Isaiah?
The 5th chapter of Isaiah.
Perhaps the verses that I trust are laid on my heart tonight.
May seem a little unusual at first.
But that which I have before me is this.
That God loves you and God wants your company. He has a home up there and a welcome there for you and a welcome there for me.
But that welcome will only be enjoyed, and that home will only be your portions if if you are willing to bow to the conditions which God has established.
Many of us have homes of our own and we feel entitled to have something to say about who shall cross our threshold.
Sometimes we have to close the door to someone who might really want to enter in. We have a right to close that door, do we not? And a home that I'm Speaking of tonight is God's own eternal home of glory and joy and happiness.
And God has a right to establish.
That which will permit you the joy of crossing that threshold and being welcomed or finding that door closed forever.
Shall I state as simply as I can, the one condition that God has laid down? That one condition is this, that you, my dear friend, might give God the joy?
Of blotting out all your transgressions through the precious blood of Christ.
On that condition hinges. You are welcome into that home.
Or your forbidden from it? Have your sins been washed away in the precious blood of Christ? Have you entered this room tonight with that heart of yours?
Still stained with sin. Perhaps you don't like the sound of this language.
Perhaps you feel that you're not numbered among those who ought to be spoken to in such a way as this. We meet many folks like that.
All the very sound of that word Sinner causes them to rise up in indignation.
00:15:05
You mean to suggest that I am in need of forgiveness? You mean to suggest that I am classed among those sinners which would be kept out of heaven and banished to eternal hell? Let's see what the word of God has to say. Isaiah 5 and I'd like to read verse 20.
Now verse 18, first of all.
Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin, as it were with a cart rope.
Let's say, let him make speed and hasten his work, that we may see it, and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it.
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil, that put darkness for light, and light for darkness that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter. Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes and prudent in their own sight. Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine and menace strength to mingle strong drink. Chapter 6.
And verse.
In the year that King Isaiah died, I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne.
High and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the Seraphim. Each one had six wings. With twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy.
Is the Lord of hosts. The whole earth is full of his glory, and the pulse of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I Then said I.
Woe is me.
Then said I.
Woe is me.
For I am undone.
Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips.
For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts. Then flew one of the Seraphim's unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar. And he laid it upon my mouth, and said.
LO, this hath touched thy lips, and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send?
And who will go for us then? Said I here am I send me. And he said go.
I believe there's a very solemn warning and a very wonderful message for us in these few verses.
First of all, we have read the message of the prophet Isaiah directed toward others. Can you not see this prophet with his God-given message pointing his finger of woe and accusation to right and left?
Well, on this hand, and woe on that hand, a God-given message it was.
A warning sent from Jehovah himself. And Isaiah faithfully delivers that word of warning to the right hand and to the left. But God had a lesson to teach his Servant. And we find in this 6th chapter that Isaiah, the man who had been pronouncing war and warning to others.
Finds himself.
In the presence of the Lord. Have you ever found yourself in the presence of the Lord? We heard last evening of a man who was found guilty of picking up sticks on the Sabbath day, and I greatly fear there may be those in this company who feel that your offenses are no more serious than perhaps that which was described last evening.
But as you read the third.
And the 4th verses of this chapter. And as you realize that the one who is described here.
Is the one, my beloved friend, who has watched every day that you have ever done, has heard every word that you have ever uttered, and has recorded every thought that has ever passed through your mind.
00:20:09
For according to the 6th chapter of Genesis, man is responsible for the thoughts which he entertains. Every imagination of the thought of man's heart was only evil continually. God knew all about it and God recorded it as sin.
How far back do you have to go, my friend, in the pages of your memory before you're willing to bow your head and own that you are guilty?
Shall we start with your first conscious moments this morning?
The Lord's Day.
And shall we allow the Pen of God to record here on this wall that which he has seen and observed in your life, this day, the Lords Day?
Surrounded by every influence that would perhaps shelter you from that which is evil. Turn back the pages.
Turn them back, my friend, and allow the eye of God to rest upon those pages. Let me tell you this.
That page after page in the record of your life history is stained with sin in the sight of Him who is described here as holy, holy, holy.
Or there is this glorious alternative, and I claim it as my own, as page after page is turned back in the record of my life.
I claim the glorious promise of the Word of God, that the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin.
Twice we read in this very prophet Isaiah I even I am he that.
Blotted out by transgression for my own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Isaiah finds himself in the presence of him who is.
Holiness itself.
Oh, my dear young person, have you been in the presence of the Lord about the true condition of your heart in His sight? Perhaps you have been brought up in a Christian home, perhaps, like my own experience, for which I thank God, publicly brought up under the restraining hand of a father and the mother, both of whom, with singleness of heart, sought to restrain us.
From those things which would not be for his glory.
In spite of all that, in spite of the atmosphere of the home in which I was brought up.
I grew up with a heart stained with sin in the sight of this holy God whose eye was upon me. And I stand here tonight and say once more, with all my heart, I thank him that the stain is gone forever. It cost him the death of the cross of Calvary, that that stain might be taken away. But gone it is, and gone.
Forever. Is it possible to know this all? Thank God it is.
How strange that we should need to speak this way in a Christian land with Bibles on every hand.
And yet we've all met it from time to time.
I was speaking in California not too long ago and a lady came forward after the meeting and she said, now I am bewildered, She said. I have been to ever so many services and I have listened as carefully as I could to all the requirements that I felt were necessary in order to have some hope of forgiveness in heaven at the end.
And I have so far found myself quite incapable of fulfilling the requirements that were demanded. But tonight?
For the first time.
I have heard that there is nothing for me to do, but it has all been done for me.
By the Lord Jesus Christ. And she proclaimed herself bewildered. In a Christian, so-called Christian land, the news of a finished work and accomplished redemption, an eternal pardon through the blood of Christ was pronounced new and bewildering.
00:25:02
Lest anyone think I'm pointing the finger at the United States, I'll mention this fact that I was standing outside Exeter Cathedral in England sometime back, and a very old lady came out the door, bent with age.
And I had in my pocket a little gospel booklet and I offered it to her with some comment which I have forgotten.
But she recognized what she considered to be a very strange accent. And she said, thank you, Sir. Where are you from?
Well, I said I'm from Canada, but I'm more interested in where I'm going than where I came from.
Where are you going? She said.
Well, I said, lady, I'm on my way to heaven. And you know, those who was bowed with age, her head went lower still and she said, oh, I wish I could say that, but I am a Sinner. I wasn't that unusual. I am a Sinner. Oh, I was glad to hear her say that. Have you ever said that to anyone? Have you ever said that in the presence of God, my friend, I am a Sinner.
We sought to tell her.
Of the cleansing power of the precious blood of Christ. And although she had attended that cathedral from her girl, that she'd never heard it before. Never, never, never heard that the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanseth us from all sins.
Now the fifth verse of Isaiah 6. Then said I.
Woe is me.
For I am undone.
No excuses, no pointing of the finger to the right hand or to the left, but with bowed head in the presence of a holy God, the prophet Isaiah says Woe is me, for I am undone.
Is there blessing for such and one of this? Oh indeed there is and there is blessing for you, my dear friend, Eternal blessing, blessing such as my poor heart can never tell forth for you this very night and from henceforth forever.
If you will say, as Isaiah said this day.
I am undone. To bow your head in the presence of a holy God, and own your guilty for Him will bring immediate pardon. Notice what happened the sixth verse. Then flew one of the seraphim. Isn't that glorious language? There's an eagerness, there's a haste here. There's something that must take place, and promptly.
Then flew out of the seraphim's unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar.
A live cold.
Speaking, I have no doubt a sacrifice.
Offered and consumed.
And a blessing that results from it. And the only blessing that God has for you or for me this night is based upon the fact.
That the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, came down from those courts of glory, took my place, took the sinners place, and there bowed His head, while the waves and billows of God's wrath and judgment swept across His holy soul.
The sorrow of judgment that you and I deserve went into the very bosom of that One who was ever the delight of God's heart from eternity. Why would he do this?
In love to you, in love to me, so that you and I might hear the glad tidings of His matchless grace.
I see in this live coal a picture of a sacrifice offered and consumed upon the altar. And now the seventh verse He laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips, and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. All what definite language this is, and do we not find the most conclusive?
And definite language in the Word of God when it comes to the question of our position before Him. Are we left in any manner of doubt whatever? Oh, just to open this wonderful book and read the statements there concerning what God has done about the question of sin would leave none of us in any manner of doubt whatsoever.
00:30:21
Just let me quote a little from the Word of God.
Be it known unto you, therefore, man and brethren, that through this man the Lord Jesus is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins, and by him all that believe are justified from all things from which he could not be justified by the law of Moses.
God commandeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord. Though your sins personal, isn't it?
Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they be red light Crimson, they shall be as wolf. The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. Tell me, have I any right to look up from these and many more similar verses with doubts in my heart?
There could be, I suppose.
Adults suggested by the enemy himself that perhaps this might not somehow mean you.
I must admit that when I was a young fellow, those thoughts assailed me. The word whosoever is indeed a grand word. But somehow or other I did have a feeling that if only I could turn to a certain chapter and verse and find my own rather unusual name there, with the certainty that I was going to be in heaven.
That that would be grander still. That would just be the last touch of assurance that I needed, and then I'd never have a doubt again. Am I the only one that ever thought that?
Well, you know, one day someone showed me a letter.
Letter was mailed from a city which I had never visited in my life.
Written in a handwriting which I had never seen before.
I began to read it in the content of the letter had of no interest to me and I said, why have you given me this? Well, they said look at the signature and the signature was Albert Able. Who it is I don't know, but there must be someone else with the same unusual name that I have. And when I saw that letter with its signature, I thought now where would I be if I saw that name here within the covers of the word of God? Oh, I think it probably means.
The other one and not this one.
I'm glad that the word of God says Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. I can fall right there and lay my hand upon my heart and the other upon the word of God and say thank God for that verse. It means me. That settles everything.
Well, notice 3 little words here which I enjoy connecting. The one is the word whoa.
Whoa, says Isaiah. And he says it about himself.
Woe is me, for I am undone.
And then if you go down a little farther, the seventh verse, you'll find low this half touched, thy left sign iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
A glorious little word and a very wonderful statement of assurance to this dear servant of God. And then may I just mention what we find in verse 9. And he said, go.
Do you mind my mentioning that word, dear fellow believer?
I believe we ought to take this to heart.
The day came in your life and in modern we do thank God for us when our heads were bowed in his presence and we were willing to say with Isaiah, woe is me, for I am undone. We have no excuse to offer whatsoever. We were found guilty before God, and God in wondrous matchless grace turned at once and gave that certainty, that assurance of sins forgiven through the precious blood of Christ.
00:35:01
And there is the one more little word that I would like to leave with you, dear fellow Christian.
First of all, woe, and then lo thine iniquitous, purged, and then the next one is go. Will you take it to heart? May God grant it, I shall take it to heart.
At school, at work, in the community where you live, Is there not this responsibility and privilege address to each and every one of us, which I hope we may remember with greater earnestness as we realize the door of mercy is soon to be closed?
Back to the book of Job.
The 40th chapter of Joel.
And the first verse.
Moreover, the Lord answered Jove, and said, Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? He did reprove with God, let him answer it. Then Job answered the Lord, and said, Behold, I am vile, what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.
The 42nd chapter also.
And the first verse Then Job answered the Lord, and said, I know that thou canst do everything, and that no thought can be withholding from thee. Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? Therefore have I uttered that I understood not things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. Here I beseech thee, and I will speak. I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. I have heard of thee.
By the hearing of the ear. But now my eyes seeth thee.
Wherefore I abhor myself and repent.
In Dust and Ashes.
It took a long time for job to reach this condition, but not last.
Job finds himself not in the presence of his neighbors or of his friend, but he finds himself in the presence of God and this man who had defended himself.
This God fearing old patriarch Joe finds himself at last in the presence of God and side by side with Isaiah, his head goes down and he says here in the 40th chapter of the fourth verse, behold, I am vile. That's a pretty strong word.
Job had nothing.
For he knew that nothing could be hidden from the eye of God.
We have been reminded already of Adam who sought to hide himself from the eye of God. And Adam has had many followers from that date of this. And I'm wondering, are there some in this company tonight who perhaps have entered at the invitation of a friend or of a neighbor?
And you wonder why that friend, why that neighbor is so concerned and has invited you so often and so earnestly.
To come and hear the gospel. You have the opinion they're trying to win a member for a new group of people or some such thing as this. No such thought at all, my friend. I want to tell you why that friend and why that neighbor has so often spoken to you of these matters, have invited you. And here you are in the gospel meeting tonight because we know on the authority of the word of God.
The kind and upright and honest and religious though you may be, if you know not the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior.
If your sins have not been washed in the precious blood of Christ.
Your soul is lost.
And you are on your road to eternal Hells.
Its solemn language, and I would not dare to utter it if I did not know it to be the truth of the Word of God opened before me. Here was a man that I doubt anyone here could measure up to, a man of whom God himself said that he was a perfect and an upright man, and one that feared God and eschewed evil.
00:40:20
Chapter after chapter he proclaims his own righteousness, but at last Joe binds himself in the presence of God. Oh, my friend.
Bring you this night into the presence of God, whose eye is looking at this moment upon you and upon the unabridged.
And stained record of your life.
His eye looks upon that record. His eye looks upon you. And he loves you. Yes, he does. He loves you and he longs to bless you. He longs to see you. Pardon then forgiven.
He longs to see you numbered among those who are going to spend eternity in those courts of joy and glory, these waiting for one thing. He's waiting for that proud head of yours to bow down and for your heart and lips to say, I have sinned.
You haven't said it yet, have you?
All perhaps you've said in a church service, God be merciful to us poor miserable sinners. That's not what I mean. I mean, my friend, that not with language such as is so often uttered, but with the language of sincerity and truth, and in the presence of God, and with no excuses offered, you may take your place beside these two men whose testimony we have read tonight. Isaiah says I am undone.
Job says.
I am vile. Could we turn over to the New Testament and find their further testimony?
The Gospel of Luke.
And the 5th chapter.
I'm sure these witnesses have often been brought forward in the gospel before, but I believe they're presented to us in the Word of God for this very purpose. The 5th chapter of Lukes Gospel and I'm just going to read the eighth verse.
And in that verse you will find the name of a man who is highly honored and esteemed in Christendom. Today. You will find the name of a man who has often spoken out as a Prince of the Apostles.
And who is honored by millions in Christendom?
Simon Peter.
When Simon Peter saw it he fell down at Jesus knees saying.
Depart from me, for I am a sinful man. Oh Lord, down comes Peter. Isaiah head went down in the presence of the Lord. Job's head went down in the presence of the Lord, and now Peter.
Down he comes, down to the very knees of the Lord Jesus.
And with all his heart he says, I am a sinful man, Oh Lord.
Again, I ask you, has this taken place yet?
In your experience?
Have you owned yourself, lost and guilty and undone and sinful, without those excuses that you so often attached to your failures in the presence of the Lord? Have you owned it? Peter did, and I expect to meet Peter someday. Yes, and Isaiah and Job too. For I stand here and say by the matchless grace of God, that my head too, has bowed in the presence of God.
My heart and lips have owned before him my lost and ruined and sinful and guilty condition in His sight.
And he knows it better. Far better.
Than I know it myself and I thank God with all my heart.
That there is as my present joy, the certainty that my sins, which were many, have all been blotted out by the precious blood of Christ. What about Peters taste testimony later on? If you were to turn to first Peter two, you would find that there he is addressing. We won't take time. He is addressing others and giving them that which the Lord has entrusted to him. And down through that chapter he says you and ye in verse after verse until he comes to the end of the chapter and then he says Christ Jesus.
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Who his own self bear.
Our sins in his own body on the tree. I love that.
Ah dear Peter, who was down here at Jesus knees owning his guilt, picks up his pen and writes Christ Jesus who his own self bear.
Our sins. Peter just loves to say mine too. And I say it again tonight. Yes, mine too. His own self bear our sins, his own body on the tree that we turn over to.
First Timothy, Chapter One.
First Timothy, Chapter One.
And verse 12.
Now we have the writing of the Apostle Paul.
And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me for that He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor and injurious.
But I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love, which is in Christ Jesus. 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.
Isn't that a remarkable statement? We have seen Isaiah bow low before the Lord, and we have seen Job also bowed before the Lord. Peter has taken his place with the other two and now we have a proud a self-righteous religious.
Heresy. Will this man bow? Indeed he did bow.
Down he went on the road to Damascus. All the way down he went. And what does he say about himself?
I am the chief of sinners, the Apostle Paul. Yes, the Apostle Paul. Down comes his head too.
I there says I am undone.
Job says I am vile. Peter says I am a sinful man. Oh Lord, Paul says I am the chief of sinners. What do you think of that testimony? Are you willing, my friend, to take your stand along with these four men? Here they stand before US1 by one. In the presence of the Lord, their heads go down.
And they own their guilt.
They own their guilt and their words are recorded for you and me to read tonight, and I know that we're going to meet them in the glory.
What does Paul say concerning his certainty of this matter? The Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. That's what it took to redeem the chief of sinners. And by the matchless grace of God, I said that I too have been redeemed by him who redeemed the chief of sinners. There is a man whom I know very well.
I'm going to give you a little of this detail, for I feel the Lord allows these circumstances to exercise our hearts.
Our telephone rang one night in the wee hours of the morning.
My wife picked it up and answered it and a very faint voice was on the other end of the line and.
She said yes, Mr. Hay who is here, and then the phone went dead and she hung it up again. Well, that left us rather disturbed. Someone phoning to know if I was home and then hung up immediately.
A short time later, the phone rang again.
And my wife picked it up.
The question again, is Mr. Hayhold there?
And she promptly handed me the phone this time, and I heard an almost unintelligible voice.
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Ask me a question, I answered. I said yes, yes, who's speaking, please? And the phone went dead. And that's all we knew about it for the rest of the night.
The next day we got a phone call that explained it.
There was a businessman in our town and a very successful businessman who had, as you are to night, come to the gospel meeting. He had sat under the sound of the gospel. He had heard of what it meant to be saved and what it meant to be lost.
And he went out in that condition.
And he woke up that night with the horror that the Lord had come.
I shouldn't say that night because I believe if I remember correctly, it had happened three nights before and he'd been without sleep and without food for three days and three nights in agony. And this last night he finally felt sure the Lord had come.
I don't like to mention this part, but he said to his wife.
Would you phone and see if Mr. Hayhoe is still here?
Well, that was the first call, and apparently he wasn't content with my wife's testimony that I was there. He wanted to hear the voice.
And when I heard what was taking place in his soul, I went to see him.
And we knelt down together, and I never saw a man such a soul, such agony of soul. He began to tell me about the wasted years of his life. Then he said, time and again I've gone past the door of that meeting room when I knew the gospel was being preached. And I've gone my own way and lived in pleasure.
Now I know, in spite of all you tell me, that there's no hope for me.
Call that, I said, Sir, instead of driving past the door. If you had stopped your car, if you had come in, if you had mocked the preacher, if you had upset the whole meeting and driven everyone out on the street and done it time and again, do you think there'd be any hope for you then?
Oh no, he said, of course not. But I said, I know of someone who did just that and did it time and again, and the Lord saved his soul and we read.
Wonderful story of the love of God to Saul of Tarsus the chief of sinners and how he ends by saying Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief are with all his record God was able to bring blessing to the chief of sinners.
And I say would be Thanksgiving that that dear man now also is resting with a thankful heart.
Upon the fact that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and that that wonderful statement included Him in all his need.
Are you willing my friend, this night? Are you willing to stand up here beside these 4 witnesses?
Joe, Isaiah, Peter, Paul, each of whom in turn, in the presence of God, own their guilt and receive the blessing. There's one more witness to be called.
And I hope you're not going to wait and take your stand beside him. We'll find about this last witness in the Gospel of Luke.
The 18th chapter of Luke.
And the eleven verse, perhaps the 10th verse.
Luke 18, verse 10.
Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one of Pharisee and the other Republican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself.
God, I thank thee that I am not. That's pretty strong language, isn't it?
Imagine telling God.
Telling God I say I am not and God had the whole record naked and opened before him.
Do you not know, my friend, that the word of God says all things are naked and open unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do in the face of that? Would you stand up here beside this proud man, and say, God, I thank thee that I am not?
Not as other men are extortioners, unjust adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week. I give tithes of all that I possess. Haven't we heard this kind of language? We've heard it very awesome. We've heard it far too often in this so-called Christian land. I hope that that is not the language of anyone in this company tonight. See the company you're in.
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Joe, Isaiah, Peter, Paul with one heart they bow in the presence of God, and they say, I am One man stands alone, and he says, God, I thank thee that I am not.
This proud Pharisee went down to his house as guilty as the moment he laughed. And my beloved friend, when you left your home tonight to come to the gospel meeting, you left it either guilty and on your road to eternal condemnation.
Or you left your home, redeemed by the precious blood of Christ and on your way to glory. Now the time has come for you to return home.
And which is it going to be?
Which is it going to be if you came in here not knowing the Lord Jesus as your Savior? Must you go out the same way?
You know, just a week ago we were trying to tell us the glad tidings.
To a company gathered together in a little town Strong in the state of Maine.
And it was a dear boy sitting listening so eagerly on the front row. I would guess he was about 13 years of age.
And just as soon as that meeting was over, that dear boy did not wait one minute. He just came right forward with hand outstretched.
He said, Sir, I would like you to know that I have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior.
A 13 year old boy. Have you ever done that? Have you ever done that? Come now, my dear boys, girls, young people.
When did your lips last open to confess with loving reverence the precious and wonderful name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Oh, you say, I've never done that yet.
Would you do it tonight?
It causes joy in the presence of the angels of God. I speak to you lovingly. I speak to you with a prayer from the depths of my heart, that there may not be one boy, one girl, one youth, not one in this company.
That will go out into the night without the happy assurance in your heart.
That those sins which were many and which you unreservedly own, are staining your heart at this moment.
That they're all gone forever by the cleansing power of him who died upon Calvary Cross, the Lord Jesus Christ.
You know there is that eternal destiny that lies ahead.
I dare not exaggerate.
And I dare not withhold the truth.
Of that which you must face, my beloved friend, if you take your place alongside this Pharisee and refuse to bow your head in the presence of God.
If you refuse to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior to open your lips and confess Him, if you refuse, I say.
There is a destiny before you.
And I feel I ought to tell you this.
That God has told us in the most unmistakable language in Scripture.
At the last sight.
The last sight that everyone will see.
Before being cast into eternal darkness is a sight of the face of Jesus Christ.
To me, that's a solemn thought as I look into your face tonight. If you don't know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, you're going to stand before him. You're going to look into his face.
The last sight you'll ever have.
And from one last look into the face of him who sits upon that great white throne, it will be replaced by eternal darkness. Eternal darkness.
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With the memory of the face of Jesus Christ and the last voice ever heard.
Last voice ever heard the voice of Jesus Christ?
I am not exaggerating, my beloved friend, I am warning you in love to your soul, that God has prolonged the day of matchless, long-suffering grace until this very hour, in order that not one of this company might share that awful portion for eternity. For I believe with all my heart that the most fearful whales that will rend those caverns of eternal darkness.
Will come from the lips of those brought up in Christian homes. Think of it as you sit here tonight. There are those who sat as you are sitting, and they're gone now. And where have they gone? They've gone already into a lost eternity. Where are they? They're lost now, my friend, and lost forever.
And God in grace has lingered over you, has spared you, has brought you to here once more.
The pleadings of his love for God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting.
Could we just sing? The first stands up only.
Hymn number.
Some of the hymn sheets I believe have a misprint.
I'll try to quote this first standard, as I believe it should be almost persuaded now to believe.
Almost persuaded Christ to receive the next line should read. Seems now some soul to say, Go, spirit, go thy way.
Some more convenient day on the I'll call Could we rise and sing the first stanza only?
Oh no.
Open Mtg.
Open
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72 in the back of the book.
Just turns on the ace that genesis for a few moments.
Genesis 8.
Beginning at bar 6.
And it came to pass at the end of 40 days.
That Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made.
And he fell for the Raven, which went forth to and fro until the waters were dried up from off the earth.
Also, he sent forth a dove from him.
To see if the waters were abated.
From off the face of the ground.
But the dove found no rest.
For the sole of her foot.
And she returned unto him into the ark.
For the waters were on the face of the whole earth.
Then he put forth his hand and took her.
And called her in unto him into the ark.
And he stayed at the other seven days.
And again he sent forth a dove out of the arm.
And the dog came into him in the evening.
And no, in her mouth.
Was an olive leaf blocked off?
So no one knew.
That the waters were abated.
From all the earth.
A brother mentioned this morning in his prayer.
In giving thanks for the load.
We thank the Lord that He had exhausted all the judgment.
Of a holy God against sin on our behalf.
And that brought this scripture to my mind very forcibly.
And the few verses in the 9th chapter.
Here we have.
Nor sending Afghanistan from the off. There isn't time to go into all the details, but we know the history of this chapter very well.
The earth was covered with waters of judgment.
And Noah sent this little dog out.
First time it came back and found no rest for the sole of its foot, so it returned to him in the arm. After seven days, Noah sent the dove out once more.
This time the dove returns with an olive leaf blocked off.
In her mouth.
It does not say that the dove found the olive leaf floating on top of the waters.
No, but it's paying back with an olive leaf clocked off.
So this little dove had found a place. Now to rest.
And it found a green debris.
In the midst of that scene of death and desolation, there was 1 green tree.
All how that speaks so out of Christ.
The blessed Lord said himself in Luke 23 if they do these things in a green tree.
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What shall be done in the dry?
So I do believe that green tree speaks of Christ.
And that green tree had been covered with the waters of judgment.
As not our blessed Lord passed through the waters of judgment.
Is he not the green tree? And Kim was light? Everybody else was dead in trespassing sins.
In him was life.
And as evidence that the dove had seen and found this green tree, it brings back the leaf to prove it.
And as I said before, that tree had been covered with the waters of judgment.
And all, beloved, when we think of that, that green tree which speaks of Christ.
Who could say all thy waves and billows rolled over me?
And we're reminded this morning that that blessed, precious Savior.
Has exhausted all the judgment of a holy God against sin.
Is born all the righteous indignation of a holy God there in the cross of Calvary?
And all that judgment you and I deserve was born by him.
Beloved, if this does not produce in your heart and mine eternal praise, what will?
To know that there was 1. The eternal Son of God was ready and willing to take our place and to bear that awful judgment which we deserve.
There on the cross of Calvary, under the hand of a holy God.
And so we find here the little dove in bringing back this olive leaf. Plucked off, not picked up, plucked off.
Would witness, I believe to us that the judgment was passed.
Yes, the judgment was passed. Now the green tree can be seen.
And the waters for then passing away.
And so if the little dove witness that the judgment was passed, how precious to see in the next chapter.
That the bone, the clouds. Witness the fact that there is no more to come.
Or how precious.
For the believer, how true this is, the judgment is passed in him who bought us with his blood, and there's no more to come for the believer.
And it's only through the precious person and work of Christ of Calvary.
Let me just read a few verses in the 9th chapter.
Verse 9 And I behold, I will establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you, and with every living creature that is with you, of the foul of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth.
With you from all that go out of the ark to every beast of the earth.
And I will establish my covenant with you.
Neither shall all flesh be cut off anymore.
By the waters of a flood.
Neither shall there be any more.
Neither shall there anymore be a flood to destroy the Earth.
And God said this is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you.
Called perpetual generations.
I do set my bow in the clouds.
And it shall be for October of a covenant between me and the earth.
And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud.
And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh.
And the waters shall no more.
Become a flood to destroy all flesh.
And the bow shall be in the cloud, and I will look upon it.
Isn't that precious?
To know that when you and I looking in that beautiful rainbow, the eye of God is looking upon it too. He says, I will look upon it and remember my covenant with you. How wonderful and precious to remind us, shall we say, that for the believer there is no judgment whatever?
But, dear friend, if there is an unbeliever here this afternoon, remember that there is a judgment coming.
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And that judgment will be executed upon you unless you turn to Christ and receive Him as your Savior.
Yes, there is a judgment coming, but here we have the wonderful promise from God to man that He will never destroy the earth with a flood again.
So can we not gather from these verses, from the little dove bringing back that leap, that leaf from the trees, that green olive leaf, Can we not gather from that that the dove witnesses to the facts, that the judgment is passed, proof of it? There's a green olive leaf. I found a tree. Was it covered with the waters? No, the waters had receded.
And so the dove declares that the judgment is passed on the bow, and the clouds declare there's no more to come. Oh, thank the Lord, beloved, but there's no judgment for the believer.
No, it was born by Christ, the Lord Jesus on the cross of Calvary, in order that you and I might never, never come under the judgment of God for our sins.
All how thankful we should be, what joy should bring to our hearts to read simple, precious portions like this.
To know that for the believer, and I repeat for the believer only, there is no judgment. There is therefore now no judgment to them which are in Christ Jesus. Dear young people, are you in Christ Jesus? If not, you are in your sins. And remember there is a judgment coming.
The law does not go and destroy the earth with a flood again, but he's coming to judge the world in righteousness. Yes, God is going to judge this world in righteousness by that man, the green tree, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Is going to judge this world by and through him. Do you know him as your Savior? If not, my dear friend, now is the time. Do not put it off for another moment because you are exposed to the judgment of God. If you're in your sins, but all thank God for we who know the Lord Jesus Christ, we can revel in the fact the truth of these precious verses 1 declares that judgment is passed the other no more to come.
No, the judgment of God will never fall upon the believer, but it will upon the Christ rejector.
And I love to think of that that when I see the bow in the clouds.
The eye of God is looking upon it too. And he says, And when I look upon it, I'll remember. I'll remember my covenant with you, how precious these things are. Well, I do not wish to take up any more time.
But the mention of that in my brother's prayer brought these scriptures before me this morning, very importantly.
We look rather than.
3 portions, first of all in Genesis.
Chapter.
3.
And verse 8.
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.
And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
And so we turn over to the 18th chapter of Genesis.
The 18th chapter of Genesis and the first verse.
And the Lord appeared unto him of Abraham in the plains of Mamre.
And he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day, and he lifted up his eyes and looked and lulled. Three men stood by him. And when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground, and said, My Lord, if now I have found favor in my sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servants. Let a little water, I pray thee, be fetched, and wash your feet.
And rest yourselves under the trees, and I will fetch your morsel of bread and comfort to your hearts. After that ye shall pass on, for therefore are you come to your servants. And they said, So do as thou hast said.
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And the eighth verse. And he took butter and milk, and the cap which he had dressed, and set it before them, And he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat. And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy white? And he said, Behold, in the tent. And he said, behold. And he said, I will certainly return unto thee, according to the time of life. And lo, Sarah, thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door.
Which was behind him.
The 16th verse. And the man rolls up from thence, and look towards Sodom. And Abraham went out to them to bring them on the way. And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do, seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him, For I know him, that he will command his children in his household after him.
And they shall keep the way of the Lord.
To do justice and judgment, that the Lord may bring upon Abraham's that which he has spoken of him.
The 23rd verse And Abraham grew near and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?
Her adventure there be 50 righteous within the city. Wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the 50 righteous that are there in that, that be far from thee to do after this manner to slay the righteous with the wicked, and that the righteous should be out of the wicked.
That be far from thee, shall not the judge of all the earth? Do write now the next chapter.
And there came two angels to Sodom at even, and lots that in the gate of Sodom, and Lots seeing them, rolls up to meet them. And he bowed himself with his face toward the ground. And he said, Behold, now, my Lords turning, and I pray you into thy servants house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early and go on your ways. And they said, Nay.
But we will abide in the street all night.
And he pressed upon them greatly, and they turned it unto him, and entered into his house. And he made them a feast, and it baked unleavened bread. And they did eat. But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round about.
House round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter.
Well, in reading these three portions I was thinking of three different instances here. In the first instance we have the Lord coming in the cool of the day and talking to Adam and Eve. In the second instance we find the Lord with two angels coming to Abraham's 10th door in the heat of the day. And in the last instance we have those two angels coming to Lot in the even.
And I was thinking how they bring before us, but we might say as three different positions, shall I say, in the case of Adam we see one who had sinned, who did not know redemption, and he hid from the Lord. In the case of Abraham we find one who knew the Lord. And so when the Lord came to him, when he rose up to meet him, Abraham, Adam rather hid, but we find Abraham.
Rising up to meet the Lord and communing with Him.
But in the case of Lot, we find the true believer in a wrong position unhappy.
And so when those two angels came, there was a state of uneasiness. It's true that he wanted them to come into his house, but we can see the lack of ease as we look at it carefully. We'll notice many things that shall. There's a difference between the state of soul of Abraham and the state of soul of lots. And so perhaps we could say in this meeting this afternoon.
There may be some who are still in the condition that is set before us here about Adam. Adam had sinned. He and his wife had partaken of that fruit that God had forbidden, and they were guilty. And now the Lord comes down in the cool of the day. Perhaps we might say the very best part of the day, the cool of the day, the time when we might say a person would ordinarily look for visitors.
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Because in each one of these instances, we have visitors coming, visitors coming to the home. Well in the cool of the day, perhaps some, some of us, if we're going to visit, we say, well, how the day is over now let's go and visit so and so and, and we expect and welcome. And how wonderfully God had provided for Adam and Eve. He had given them everything that was possible for him to give and love for their blessing and for their happiness.
And yet when he comes down in the pool of the day, the best part of the day these two creatures have who have been so blessed, and they hid from him. What a picture, I say, of the natural heart, your heart and mind by nature. And if there's any one here who's unsaved.
I know that it's your position too. No matter how much God has displayed himself in grace, and He has displayed himself in the most marvelous and wonderful way in His goodness, and yet are you still hiding from him? Is it because you're like Adam and Eve? They were physically naked, but perhaps you, if I'm saved, you are physically.
Not physically, spiritually naked before him.
That is still in your sins.
Having no role of righteousness, unable to stand before him, and fearing him because of your guilt.
What a sad thing. And so all we find is the story goes on that.
Adam couldn't hold any sweet communion with God. No, instead of this, the sense of his guilt pressed upon his conscience. And so there was no happy communion with God. And more than that, could he intercede for others as Abraham did?
Oh, no. He blames his wife. He blames the serpent. He seeks someone else to put the blame upon for his sad conditions, and perhaps is an unsaved one here, and you're doing just that. Perhaps you're blaming the devil for your condition. Perhaps you're blaming some other person who has stumbled you or hurt you or done some wrong to you, and you're blaming them. Well, that was the condition in which Adam was found here.
And yet how lovely it is to see at the same time.
God's grace reaching out in spite of Adam's sin Adam couldn't hold communion with God. Adam couldn't intercede for anyone. Adam was unhappy and uneasy in the presence of God, but all how wonderful at such a time God brings a message of blessing to Adam. He says in his hearing that there would be.
That one who would come the promised sea.
Who would, who would bruise the serpent's head? And so on the miserable condition in which Adam and Eve were found, there was a promise of a Redeemer and all. I can tell you more. The Redeemer has come and that our brother has just brought before us. He's born all the judgment. The work is done now, and you can have him as your savior. You don't need to hide from Him any longer. You can hide in Him.
You can find your place as our brother brought before us in him. Oh, how lovely. There is now, therefore no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. And so in this first instance, we see the Lord walking in the garden, the cool of the day, this beautiful place that had been made for man and man so abundantly blessed, but now because he's guilty, hiding from God in this very best part of the day.
But now, isn't it lovely here when we come to this next instance in the 18th chapter of Genesis?
Here we find.
Abraham and Sarah and.
These three men come to them in the heat of the day. What would this remind us of? The heat of the day? Well, perhaps some of us feel the heat of the day, so to speak. But the world this is in which we live, a world that has been spoiled by sin, a world where we see around us so much of the sad results of sin. And there isn't a person here, young and old, but we will feel the pressure of circumstances.
In these days in which we live, it just seems as if, as if there's pressure put upon us in every hand. And the Lord spoke about a persons work being during the day. But it seems now that the pressure is on our children, it's on our homes, it's everywhere until there's so little spare time. It's the heat of the day isn't it? But here we find in the very heat of the day, these three men came along.
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And Abraham, it says, when he saw these three men, he rose up and went to meet them, because he recognized that of those three men, there was one whom he could address as my Lord. Yes, and he could address 1/2 of them are angels, but one he could address as my Lord. Yes, the Lord had come to visit Abraham.
And Sarah in the heat of the day.
All He has come to visit us, brethren, in the heat of the day, and no matter how much we have felt the pressure of life and the circumstances, why He has come to visit us, the whole communion. Are we going to rise up to meet Him? Are we going to enjoy this communion which He desires to have with us?
All it's true, there had been failure in Abraham's life. We know the sad case about Hagar Ishmael. We know how Abraham had previously gone down into Egypt, how he had told a lie about his wife. All remembrance of all that must impress home upon the mind of Abraham.
How? Why didn't he hide from this one who came to visit him? All he had learned to know that one in grace he had learned to know through what goes on just in the chapter before of the one who passed between the pieces, the one who has who grace accomplished redemption for us. All this is set before us and figure. And though Abraham, in spite of his own failure, had learned to still have confidence.
In the Lord, and perhaps there is not only the pressure of circumstances, but perhaps there is a sense in your soul and mind that we fail, that there are things that we might say, well, I can't hold communion with the Lord because my life has been a failure. Oh, he's coming.
He wants to have communion with you just the same. He wants to talk to you and you with him. Are you going to rise to meet him? Are you going to enjoy, in the heat of the day this week, communion with him? And then perhaps we might say there was more than this. There was lots of sad conduct. A law had turned his back and gone down towards Sodom. And more than that, Abraham had gone after.
Lawton had rescued him.
And the law had turned back and gone to live and saw him again. So he not only had his own failure, but he had the sad sense that the only other person that he could have any kind of communion with as a man of faith had disappointed him.
All that the Lord hadn't disappointed him, the Lord was the same. And rather, isn't it lovely we failed? Perhaps someone else has disappointed us and grieved us. But there's one a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. There's one who's come in but all these things, and he is as a word, come to our camp door. Abraham was a Pilgrim and a stranger you and I saw to speak.
Up to the camp dwellers too. So about this Paul the by his occupation.
He was a pet maker.
And so this is the position, whether in the old or whether in the news, that we ought to occupy here in this world, that is, that we're only pilgrims and strangers here. But all, blessed be his name, we can hold communion with the Lord.
And it says that Abraham saw them and he ran to meet them from the pet door and bowed himself to the ground and said, My Lord, I call attention to this because you'll notice when the two men, which were just the angels came to Lot in Sodom, he addresses them in the plural and calls them my Lords, whereas Abraham.
All three people came to his tent door. He uses the singular and only addresses one of them as my Lord. Yes, he recognized.
There was One who was the Lord. He rammed me him, He bowed himself before Him. And this is our place surely to bow before the One whom we acknowledge is our Lord. All what reverence, what honor is due to Him, how He is abound His presence, how we need to take the low place before Him, and the low place is always the place of blessing. We know that Mary is not a Jesus faith and heard His words.
00:30:31
Martha wanted to rob her of that, but the Lord said that Mary hath chosen that good part which shall not be taken away from her, and you and I shall. Isn't that good part? Have we, so to speak, taken our place in his feet? Well, that's what. That's what Abraham did here.
And he said, my Lord, if now I have found favor in thy sight, pass not away, I pray from thy servants. Doesn't this remind you of the tune, the road to a mass, how they constrained the Lord and said to abide with us all? He said, pass not away. And perhaps as we attend these three days meetings and enjoy this season of fellowship, the same thought comes in our hearts. Pass not away, I prayed he from my servant, and he doesn't want to.
He wants us to have communion when the time came that.
The Lord and these two angels must leave. We find Abraham rising up and going along with them as they went towards Sodom, how much he crazed their company, and we have to leave this happy place. If the Lord doesn't come, we're going to have to leave this happy place. But so to speak, we can still have His company. We can still have the sweetness of His company and commune with Him about those things that are upon our hearts and that press upon us in this life.
Let a little water, I pray ye be fetched, and wash your feet and rest yourselves under the tray. All can, can we?
Refreshment and joy to the Lord. We think of the Lord Jesus in the 4th of John, but he came to the psycho as well. He said to that woman.
Give me the drink. Is it possible for us to give refreshment to the Lord? Or you say, I know he brings refreshment to me. Can I actually give refreshment to Him?
Yes, every response in your heart and mind to Him and to His love brings refreshment to Him.
For he finds his joy and his delight in his people. The Lord will take pleasure in His people. He not only died to save us from hell, as one of the children remarked in the Sunday school group this morning, but he also died because he wanted our company.
For all these terms he wanted our company, and thought it's nice to see Abraham conscious of the fact that he was not only finding joy in having the Lord come to his tent, but that he was going to give refreshment to the Lord. And so he said, Terry, let a little water be fetched. Rest yourselves under the tree, and I will fetch your morsel of bread and comfort to your heart. After that you shall pass on, for therefore are you come to your servant.
And they said, so do as thou has said. Yes, he wanted to.
Provide comfort and soul with haste this.
Little meal is prepared. Prepared.
And it tells us here in the seventh verse. And Abraham ran into the herd, fetched a calf, tander and good gave it unto a young man. Then in the eighth verse, And he took butter and milk and the cap which he had dressed, he had dressed.
Before them, and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat for a contrast to Abraham, A to Adam. Rather Adam hid behind the tree. Adam prepared nothing Adam, Adam was unhappy in the presence of the Lord. Adam, as I say, was blaming others. But here how different we find with Abraham, that he prepared this all for the Lord.
And then he stood by them.
By the tree. And oh, isn't it lovely for us just that we can stand by Him. And if we might think of the tree, if we might think of that cross of Calvary as we sing sometimes, all cross of Christ, so glorious tree. What place can be compared with these, where God's own Son was crucified, and for our sins a ransom died. So he stood there by the tree, and then he provided for them.
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And tell us here about the trouble that they went to. You know, I think this is very sweet here. Perhaps some person, some sister might invite you to their home. And perhaps the sister goes to a lot of trouble to spread a nice meal. Isn't this lovely to think that the Lord takes the trouble here to tell us all that was served? All you think, is the Lord interested in what I planned for my menu?
Is he interested in whether the meats tender and good? Yes, He tells us here that it was tender and good. He tells us about the trouble that she went to, and the hurry, the haste with which it was all prepared. All. There's no detail in our lives that is too small for his all seeing eye. You can never do anything for the Lord Jesus, but he won't notice it, And not only will he notice it, but he'll notice how we do it. He'll notice the care that we take.
All what a precious Savior we have, what pleasure he takes in his people. And so here we find Abraham enjoys this sweet communion with the Lord. And now something more in the ninth verse. And they said unto him, where is Sarah White? And he said, behold in the 10th. Well, the Lord knew that there was something that Abraham and Sarah wanted.
Very, very much.
All how they have longed to have a child and the Lord up to this point hadn't allowed them to have a child. And perhaps there's some desire that is pressing upon your heart too. And to say as the Lord interested, I've asked him so many times, is he really concerned and interested about that desire that presses upon my heart. Oh, I think this is sweet too, that when Abraham and Sarah had received the Lord.
And when they had prepared this meal.
When they had, so to speak, made him welcome at their 10th door.
Then the Lord told them that He knew about that desire that was in their heart, and that He was going to come in and grab that desire for them. Oh, how precious it is. And perhaps there's some desire in your art. Well, if it's good for you, the Lord will grab us, because He tells us that we know that all things work together for good.
To them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. It says again in the 84th Psalm, No good thing will he withhold from them, but walk uprightly. Of course, you know, sometimes we want things that isn't or not for our good. And no doubt Abraham wish that this child had come long before there had been a time in which faith was really tested.
But the Lord knew all about this desire that was upon the heart of Abraham. And so I say again, the Lord knows all of those things that are upon our hearts too, those desires that are pressing, and according to His own perfect will, He grasps them. You know, I just like to mention in that 8th chapter of Romans the verse I just quoted, it says.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. The next verse I always like to read with it. It says for whom he did for no, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first born among many brethren. Did you ever notice the connection between those two verses? Well, it's been very sweet to me.
Because I illustrated something like this. Did you ever read a storybook? And you came to a very sad chapter in the storybook and.
It concerns us so much that you turned over to the end of the book to see how the story ended.
You haven't even finished reading the third chapter until you went over to the end of the book. And then when you found out the story ended all right, you went back and you read that sad chapter with confidence.
Well, that's just what God is telling us. We come to a place and we say, well, how can this work for good? God says, I'm going to tell you at the end of the story.
What's the end of the story? It says whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate.
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To be conformed to the image of his son. That's the end of the story, brethren. So at the end of the story is all right. Why? Just like ourselves. But we know the story ends and we go back and we read that sad chapter. Maybe the tears run down our cheeks like remembers a boy reading sad stories. And yet when I knew it was going to end all right, even though the tears may be came into my eyes, still confidence that it was going to be all right in the end. So perhaps there's some here.
And you're at some sad chapter in your life.
Remember, God's making all things work together for good and He knows what's at the end and He knew just what was pressing upon poor Sarah heart and I think it was so compassionate here without Sarah even raising the question. The Lord says call Sarah and he told her that she was going to have that which he desired and the law. We may not have all that we desire down here. There's going to be a land where we'll dwell eternally.
And our hearts will be abundantly satisfied. There will not be an ungrounded desire in that home.
Now, as the children of Israel get into the Promised Land, what did they say? They said there have not failed one word of all his good promise.
So how blessed and all about every desire of our hearts will be answered someday in God's time.
Well, and as I say.
Tell this in the 60s first the men arose from sense and looked toward Sodom and lot went with them. Well, we have these times of sweet communion with the Lord, but then these times have to come to an end.
And the Lord looked towards Sodom. Judgment was going to fall, and this world in which we live and through which we pass is under judgment.
And you and I can't help but feel the judgment is drawing here. A storm clouds seem to be gathering. And so here we find that the Lord starts towards Sodom, and it says that Abraham rose up to go along with him. And so the Lord said, shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do? Oh, here we find God communing with Abraham.
As his friends and isn't it lovely? He says that Abraham is called friend of God.
And it tells us in John the Lord said, I have not called you servants, for a servant knows not what his Lord doeth. But I've called you friends, because all things that I've heard of my father I've made known unto you. And so he's called us his friends, that all that we might walk in his company, and then he would commune with us. How many dear Christians there are that allow they're saved like lot was in Sodom.
They're not walking in communion with the Lord.
They're not walking in communion with the Lord. They're not intelligent about his mind. But it was because Abraham desired the company of the Lord that the Lord then made known to him what was coming. And one has sometimes said that the Christian thought of God is the only person that has an intelligent outlook on what's going on in the world, the only person who has an intelligent outlook. Men of the world don't know what's coming.
Christians who don't read their Bibles and who don't walk in the truth don't know what's coming. Confusion reigns in their minds. But all. How different with Abraham. The Lord said I won't hide from him, and he hasn't hidden from us. Where He has made known His mind to us, He has given us the privilege of walking in company with him.
In this the seed of his rejection. And so the next thing is we find that.
In the 21St verse, Abraham drew near and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? And here we find them, Abraham interceding for his brother Lock. Abraham interceding for his brother Lot.
How all this stands out in such contrast with Adam who was blaming. Now we might ask our own heart to question, Are we interceding for our brethren?
Killing all some of our brethren that are getting away, getting cold, losing the joy of the Lord's presence, are we understanding for them? It's easy to blame them. Doesn't take much, doesn't take much spirituality, as another has said, to discover the flesh in another. It's easy to see that.
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Test, because they can see the flesh in us too at times. And so we find here with dear Abraham, even a little lot have been so unappreciative of his kindness. Even lawyer separated from him. Even though he had not responded to his kindness when he delivered him on a previous occasion, he still interceding for his brother. O'Brien. How much do we look to the Lord?
For one another, how much do we look to the Lord seeking the blessing of our brethren? And they might be kept, for it is the heat of the day. It is an evil day, it's a difficult day. And perhaps those people and all dear brethren may be placed in very trying circumstances.
That we need to intercede for them. And we find that when Abraham interceded here, he didn't mention anything about the failure of Lot at all. He just simply spoke of the righteous. He asked the Lord, when you destroy the righteous was awakened, who did he refer to?
Well, we knew the lot was there and he called lot who had been so unkind and thought appreciated the righteousness all isn't this lovely? He saw what was a faith he saw as we've been having in our chapter, but was commendable. He looked upon the quality of another and oh how beautiful it is to see that he interceded all. It's true. He didn't go far enough. He went down down until he got down to 10 and then he left communing.
But nevertheless, we can say.
He did intercede and I say that sometimes we fall short just like Abraham did. We have received for them, but we don't realize how wonderfully gracious the Lord is. I'd like to put beside this the instance that we have. I believe it's in Ezekiel where the Lord said to his servant, He said, go through the city and if you find one righteous person, I'll spare the city. It seemed to me that's an answer here.
That love didn't go low enough. He went down to 10 and then he stopped. But the Lord, Speaking of the grace that was in his heart, he said, if there's only one righteous person, I'll spare the city all His grace. His kindness, His willingness to bless brethren, always exceeds our thoughts. May our hearts rise up more in His thoughts as we seek the blessings of one another, because He's able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.
Well, then in the next chapter we find a very sad thing here. These two angels came not in the cool of the day as it was with Adam, not in the heat of the day as it was with Abraham, but it even, and it seemed to me it was spiritual even time in poor Lot's life, spiritual event. He had kind of, so to speak, allow the sun to set and there he was.
He was.
Just trying to find a place and perhaps to help and improve Sodom very saddened the Gates as opposed. He had something to do with the affairs of Sodom, thinking that he might improve it by being there, but all he couldn't improve it.
And these two men came and hit theirs that he rolls up to meet them. And he wasn't intelligent. He called them my Lords, as I remarked before, even though the Lord wasn't there, he called these angels my Lords. And then they said that they wouldn't come into his house.
All what a sad thing. What a sad thing. The condition of Lord's house was such that the angels didn't even want to come into his house. They didn't even want to come into his house. Or how far away we can get from the Lord. And he was a true believer. We're going to meet Lord and glory, but he missed a great deal here on earth. And thank God, every blood bought child will be in glory as our brother brought before us.
There can be no judgment. It's all passed for the believer.
But we can lose a great deal down here. We can have a saved soul, but a lost life. And so it was with your lucky. Well, finally, when he pressed them, they did come into the house. But all that uneasiness.
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It says a man of Sodom gathered around and pressed in and the doors were open and he couldn't, he couldn't shut the doors. Apparently the doors had always been open. The people of Sodom would go in and out as they wish.
And so when they came around, they were going to just press into his house, even though he didn't desire it. Well, I don't intend to say much about four lots case here, but as a picture of one who has got away from the Lord, who doesn't enjoy the Lord himself, whose home then sinks down such a level that the Lord didn't come to visit the home and even the angels.
Didn't seem at the field at all. At ease in his home.
A lot in ******. What a loss. But all how different I say the case of Abraham. May the Lord give us grace then to know something of that which Abraham enjoyed. It may be with some of us that we feel the heat of the day. It may be with some of us that there are desires in our hearts that the Lord hasn't granted. It may be that some other Christian.
Has disappointed us and grieved us.
Like lot of grieved Abraham, it may be that we have consciousness of our own failures. Abraham did but all. May the Lord 'cause that our hearts will still turn the hymns and find in him the one who loves us with an unchanging love. When we have failed, we can come and confess it and be restored. But I say, brethren, he wants our company, and he finds his own delight and joy.
In our company, may we know what it is to rise and meet him, so to speak, to welcome him, and to know some of these precious things that characterize Abraham.
Giving refreshment to the Lord, providing a meal for the Lord, having the Lord tell him that he knew about his request and telling him to that.
He was going to destroy Sodom, but that Abraham had the privilege of interceding for his brother.
Give us the dollar. One is walk so the union with the Lord in these difficult days, that when he comes that we will have the sweetness of the enjoyment of His company here in this scene, as we shall soon have about.
Luke 3 and 23 Aversion was read to us already today.
And I'd just like to make a few remarks in regard to it.
Jesus himself began to be about 30 years of age.
Toilet feed in numbers.
The 4th chapter.
Now brother in commenting on this meeting spoke of it is an assembly gathering for instruction for the assembly as well. And I thought this.
1St, that our brother quoted in the young people's meeting might be carried just a little further in his connections.
It might be instructive for us.
In the 4th chapter of Numbers.
And the Lord spake unto Moses, and unto Aaron, saying.
Take the Psalm of the sons of Korah from among the sons of Levi, after their families by the House of their fathers.
From 30 years old and upward even as of 50 years old.
All that enter into the host to do the work in the Tabernacle of the congregation.
I'm sure that there are many young men here this afternoon.
That are about 30 years old.
You know, we don't go by numbers in the New Testament exactly, but we do have that instruction in principle for us.
And possibly.
As we see the Lord Jesus here before us.
And we notice what it says. Jesus himself.
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Now, there's two or three other verses in Luke that speak of Jesus himself.
And so we're told to follow in his death.
You're 30 years old, you young men.
Have you ever thought of your particular responsibility in the assembly?
There will be others who will drop off.
And you'll take up their responsibilities.
If there's an exercise in your heart.
After the things of Christ down here.
30 years old and upward.
Has it ever entered your mind that you were to follow in his steps, dear young man?
Oh, what a privilege you have.
When you get home to glory, it says, his servants shall serve him.
But not like you can serve him down here.
There are battles to be fought.
In those first 30 years of your life, have you?
By the grace of God, read the scriptures that on your knees before God so that when that year comes.
You commend yourself to your brethren.
30 years old and upwards.
Well, that's all I have to say about that. But now let's turn to an illustration in the 21St chapter of First Samuel.
Perhaps we might find something also.
For.
The older ones.
First Samuel.
The 21St chapter.
I'm sorry, it's the 22nd Samuel, the 21St chapter.
2 Samuel 21.
The 15 first. Moreover, the Philistines had yet war again with Israel.
David went down and his servants with him and fought against the Philistines.
David Waxbank.
And this by Vinod, which was of the sons of the giants, the waiter, whose fear weighed 300.
He, being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David.
But a fishy eye, the son of Zara, suckered him and smote the Philistine and killed him.
Then the men of men of David swear unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle.
That thou quench, not the light of Israel.
And it came to pass after this that there was a ghetto battle with the Philistines at Gough.
Then.
Civic AI, the Oceanside slew Sapp, which was of the Sons of the Giants.
And there was again a battle in Gobble of the Philistines.
Where El Hayden, the son of Jerm of Bethlehem, I slew the brother of Goliath the Gitite.
The staff of whose fear was like a weaver's being.
There was yet a battle in Gath where the man where was the man of great stature that had on every hand 6 fingers and on every foot six toes. Born 20 in number, he also was born to the giants.
When he defied Israel, Jonathan, the son of Shamea, the brother of David, slew him.
These four were born to the Giant and Gap.
Fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.
Now who is God using?
David No.
He is using the young man.
That had been experienced in war.
And they were coming up in the ranks to take the place of David.
What happened to David? Wasn't it David that slew Goliath?
01:00:04
Ah, yes, but in whose power?
It was the grace that God gave him was.
Or to have wisdom to know where we belong and when we belong there. To know when to go out and when to come in.
And to have that grace to wait upon God for our instructions.
And there may come a time.
When one was older.
Would be wise to take up what David does in the following chapters.
When he takes the place of the sweet psalmist of Israel.
When he ministers those things that lead the hearts.
Upwards into the heavenly things. The type, I mean.
Richer, fuller things.
Not just going out to battle.
It is necessary these battles.
Because there's a warfare going on in this world and it must be fought and God has his man.
But oh how nice it is.
To have wisdom, to know where we belong.
And to know what to do at the right time, and to know when God has given us grace for that work to do.
How instructive this is.
But now I'd like to turn to the last chapter of Luke.
Just a few more thoughts and possibly to continue with what we've already had before us.
In all of these meetings, but especially what was brought out this afternoon in the young people's meeting, I was rather impressed that how the.
Name of Jesus was mentioned so much.
And in the last chapter of Luke we have again what we have mentioned in this.
This verse. This 23rd verse of the third chapter. Jesus Himself.
Our brethren, how sweet that is.
That is Christianity.
To know Jesus himself.
And we have 3 expressions in this 24th chapter.
It's Jesus himself.
And if we don't get anything else from these meetings, dear ones, I trust that it's to go away with the consciousness of the presence of Jesus himself.
Possibly we've come to these meetings like these two that are on their way to Emmaus in this 24th chapter.
The 15th verse.
And it came to pass it while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near and went with them.
Then there was a day like today for reasoning.
And I'm sure that oftentimes as Saints, when we get off by ourselves.
And problems arise. We begin to reason.
We get out of communion.
And even though we may continue to find our place at the table physically.
Our spirits have gotten away.
And I find from my own soul how good it is.
Be with my brethren, that I might be preserved.
God has provided this for us.
We might be preserved in our souls. Can't walk alone down here.
Elijah tried it.
He got discouraged and he wished that he might die.
No, we can't walk alone.
We'll have to go on with the people of God and all their weakness.
Or to walk in the spiritual wilderness alone. One of the two.
And so how good it is then?
To be bound together among the Saints of God.
But these two were on their way to a mass. You know the story better than I perhaps, but I just want to call your attention again.
That is Jesus himself. Now we don't have that expression too much in the body of the book of Luke, I suppose.
But we have it at the beginning, where the Lord Jesus is brought before us at the beginning of his ministry at 30 years old.
And then now we have it again in the last chapter. I don't know how much we have it in between, but we do have it, these two places.
And I believe we have a pattern here in this 24th chapter.
01:05:04
It's the advocacy of Christ.
Is restoring the souls of his disciples.
In those forty days.
Between his resurrection and his ascension.
Why didn't the Lord Jesus go straight into the glory?
Now he would have left his disciples out of communion.
Does he want us to go out of communion? No, because we won't have any joy down here.
Do you think you'll find joy in the things around you in this sad world? No, you won't.
You'll have heartaches, that's all.
Heartaches.
But when Jesus himself draws there, it's different.
And if your Christianity is simply a matter of doctrine, Dear one, this afternoon.
You don't know what Christianity is.
Jesus himself drew near. Wasn't so much what He said that through their hearts, No, their hearts burned in his presence.
And what was he doing?
What he always does with his own those weapons.
He goes with.
Oh how how we see all through the Gospel of Luke. Grace, grace, grace.
In that second chapter of Philippians we were reading in the meetings, we have the graciousness of the Lord Jesus.
And there is the example for the Saints. We have the subject of graciousness presented to us for our walk down here.
Not thinking of our own things, but on the things of others.
Oh, how much we have to learn, how far off we were the sons of Adam.
Let the Lord Jesus here Stoops to go with these two on their way to Emmaus.
Were they going the right way? No, they were going away.
He went with them, but how long?
Make himself known to them, and then he leads them.
Y will turn down now.
To the 36th verse.
36 verse.
In the mean time, the Lord Jesus.
Is not among his disciples.
1 by 1.
Won their hearts back again.
Are they on the way? No, Maus now. No, they're on the way back to Jerusalem. Why? Because he's made their hearts burn within them, that's why.
They're back on their way to Jerusalem.
When someone is interested in the truth of gathering, do you tell them about all the divisions of the Saints so they'll be sure and get the right path?
But if you do, you've made the mistake to start with.
Ah, dear brethren, what we need is to present.
Practical Christianity.
Practice of Christianity? What is this?
If you and I in any little way can reflect Christ, that's the way to lead souls to the true center.
Reflect Christ.
Well, here they are.
And as they thus faith.
What are they talking about now? Reasoning. You know this speaking about Jesus.
They're speaking about how he appeared to Simon. Who's Simon? He's the one that said I don't know that man at the cross.
He's restored now though, isn't he?
Restored in his soul.
Here they all are gathered.
Together.
And Jesus himself drew near.
But now he stands in their midst.
Well, I'd say there's a pattern here.
First the soul restored, and then with Jesus in the midst.
All you dear young people here, and older ones too, have you found your place?
Where Jesus stands in the midst.
This morning were you here as those who were gathered through his precious name?
01:10:02
Are you still following men?
And the things that men would present to your soul.
Does Jesus mean that much to you that you would be gathered to His precious name down here, the one thing he's asked you to do?
Just do in remembrance of me.
Are you listening to man's words, or are you listening to God's word?
As Jesus drawn near to you in these meetings, so much so that you now say, well, I'm going to take my place, gather to his precious name.
Is that so with you?
I'll tell you the result will be finish the verse.
And said unto them.
He's beyond the hands.
Hey, beyond to you.
All what a calm comes over the soul and the light to be obedient.
Through the word of God, to walk down here as he walked in the obedience of Jesus Christ.
That obedience that was always looking at dependence on God for the next step is that your path is the path of peace.
And you'll never find beach anywhere else.
Peace beyond you.
In Philippians, 4 pieces mentioned.
As the peace.
Here's peace.
The peace of God.
That that's in connection with our circumstances.
And the peace of God.
Those who just cast enroll their circumstances on him. They have the feast of God.
But then it speaks of the God of peace. What's that?
Those who obey his word, those things the apostle says that you've seen in me do.
The God of peace shall be in with you.
Isn't that precious?
But now one more thing, because the time is up.
And as we read it, the 39th verse.
I want you to see the difference, the change in the wording, although it's the same in a sense.
Behold my hands and my feet.
That it is I.
Not himself, but myself.
Now, brethren, I believe this is a picture.
Not only of the experience of one who has been gathered to himself.
I'm not talking about positioning merely.
But I'm talking about what that is to himself.
Where Christ now is everything to the soul.
But it also, brethren, I believe it's a little picture of Heaven himself.
And what's he doing here?
Ah, he's taking him, breaking the fish.
An Indian restaurant.
Our brother in our communion in heaven.
Is going to be with himself forever. Jesus personally.
Not just about him, beloved.
But in his presence, I myself.
But are we going to wait till we get home to glory for this?
Oh, I trust, brethren, this has been your experience in these meetings.
That the Lord Jesus has been made precious to your soul. That it is I myself.
24.
The back of our pinnacle fighting for.
Nothing but.
Nothing but.
God.
Gospel
Gospel—P. Glading
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May we sing together 25.
#25 on the hymn sheet.
Life at best is very brief.
Like the falling of a leaf.
Like the binding of his sheep.
Be in time.
Fleeting days are telling fast.
That the dye will soon be cast.
And the fatal lion be passed.
Be in time 25 May we rise and sing this hymn.
The best in varying brain, like the falling of rain.
In my heart was killed with you.
I'm in Blinding's well played hard.
And God's unwell.
You'll be honest.
Turn to the Second Book of Kings, chapter 6.
2nd Book of Kings and Chapter 6.
And the sons of the prophets.
Said unto Elijah.
Behold now.
The place where we dwell with thee is too straight for us.
Let us go.
We pray thee unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam.
And let us make us a place there.
Where we may dwell.
And he answered, Go ye.
And once they'd be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants.
And he answered, I will go.
So he went with them.
And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood.
But as one was spelling a beam, the axe head fell into the water.
And he cried and said, alas, master, for it was borrowed.
And the man of God said where Philip?
And he showed him the place.
And he cut down a stick and cast it in thither.
And the iron did swim.
Therefore, said he taken up to thee.
And he put out his hand and took it.
There may be other interpretations of this scripture.
But, dear friends, maybe look at it simply from the Gospel point of view tonight and leave the other interpretations for the moment.
And here we have a very solemn warning.
And the chapter begins with. And the sons of the prophets said unto Elijah.
Sons of the prophets, not necessarily prophets themselves, but sons of the prophets. Now there are many dear young people here tonight.
And you may be sons of Christian parents, but not Christians yourselves. Is that the case with any young one here?
Christian parents, but not a Christian yourself.
If that's the case, my friend, you're in a very solemn position.
And I tremble for you, because the Lord may come at any moment and take his own home to glory. And you, dear young people who are merely sons and daughters of Christian parents, are not Christians. Yourselves will be left behind for God's judgment.
Yes, we've just been singing about death and judgment.
A man before you, dear young people, if you reject Christ, you're heading for death and judgment.
If you believe not that I am, the Lord said, ye shall die in your sins.
Is that the end?
Many people would like to think so.
That's the devil's lie. You know when you're dead, that's the end. You're done for.
Old friends, no such thing, God says after death.
Something else? What is it?
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A second chance, No judgment.
Or how solemn the thought that there may be some here tonight, or lost on the road to hell. You may be a son of a Christian father and mother.
But if you haven't received Christ yourself, my dear young people, your last, your last, you're condemned already.
And you are just awaiting the execution of God's judgment upon you.
Can you go to bed tonight with them on your mind, with that solemn truth before you? And it is a truth.
We're not here tonight to express our opinions or ideas. We want to bring the solemn truth of God's Word before you to awaken you, dear young people, to a sense of your need.
Nothing, because your parents are Christians. You are.
Their faith does not cover your head, it's a personal matter between your soul and God.
Yes, the matter of your salvation.
Dear young people, how is it with you tonight? Are you saved, if not your last?
You're on the road to hell.
Not your solemn eyes, your heart, your debts.
It did mine for a long time.
I remember creeping up to my dear mother's bedroom door more than once.
And listen through the keyhole.
And I thought I couldn't hear Mother's voice or Daddy, that I knew the Lord had come and they were gone.
I was left behind for judgment. Oh, Howard stirred my heart. Howard solemnized me. I remember one night I couldn't hear a sound.
I thought, oh Lord has come and taken them.
I'm left behind for judgment.
Our friends, these are realities. Oh how I thank God for the moment.
When he convicted me of my sin, and of my need of that seed of my mother's Saviour.
Yes, and thank God my mother's savior is mine.
And my Father's Savior is mine, not because they were Christians.
Merely because I had faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
And that's where my faith is.
And I have received my dear mother's Savior.
And he is mine.
The sons of the prophets said unto Elijah.
Behold now the place where we dwell with thee is 2 straight forests.
That has been the language, sad to say, of many a young man and many a young woman.
The place where we dwell with you, Dad and mom, is too straight for me. Let's go.
Is that the language of anybody here tonight?
Are you tired of Christian influence in the home?
Do you rebel when your dear daddy or mommy gets out the Bible and read a few verses and pray?
What do you say? Do you say like these did? Let us go? Where will you go, friend?
I remember meeting a young serviceman in Shanghai.
He was on an aircraft carrier and the Fleet Air Arm.
And we knew some Christian sailors on this boat and they came to us one night and said, Brother Gladding, do you mind if I bring another young man along tomorrow night? We have a young man on board. He is absolutely miserable.
He said yes, bring him by all means. He said you have a talk with him.
Well, they brought this young man from the Fleet Air Arm.
And we had supper together in the restaurant. And then these sailors said, now you walk in front with him and I talk with him, see what you can get out of him.
So I did.
And I asked him where he came from. He said well from England. And I said what part he told me.
I said the parents still living. Oh yes, sure they are.
Christian people, he said. My parents were Christians.
And I was fed up with it, he said. Everyday. Bible, Bible, Bible, Prayer, prayer, prayer.
He said my language was let's go.
Here we have it. Let us go. They said the place where we dwell with thee is 2 straight forests. And that was the language of this young man. It was too straight for him. He said I'm going to join the Navy and see the world, get away from that Christian stuff.
00:15:08
And he did join the Navy, and the Lord ordered that he came out to Shanghai.
And got in company with some young sailors, young Christians. So we walked up and down Nanking Rd. till after midnight with this young man.
He told me quite a bit of his life's history, that his father and mother were Christians and they're always reading the Bible and praying.
And he said I got fed up with it, I didn't like it. I resented it.
He said. And I thought myself, let's go.
And he went.
He said, But now I'm absolutely miserable. I said, oh, what's wrong?
Says well I've tasted the lots of things out here, been dabbling with sin.
He said. And everything I taste leaves a bit of taste in my mouth and I am miserable. And he was almost on the point of weeping.
I said, My dear friend, it may be at this very moment your dear praying father and mother on the knees, crying to God for you to save your soul.
The dear mind was impressed, of course, thinking that his dear Christian father and mother, who loved him so much, might at that moment be on their knees crying to Lord to save him.
Well, we walked up and down this street till after midnight pleading with him, and then we finally stood at the bus stop and all the buses had gone back home. The sailors were late.
We stood at the bus stop talking with this young man.
And we said, you know, if the Lord Jesus came this moment.
Your dear young friends, my wife and I would be gone in the twinkling of an eye. You would stand your loan to await the judgment of God.
And it seemed as if the devil was.
Struggling to keep him from making any confession and so he just hung his head and almost wept and said nothing.
So he had to bid him good night. He went back to his ship.
And we went back home with sad hearts, I can tell you.
Because he reminded me so much of my own dear brother who was in the Navy.
My brother joined the Navy when he was 15 1/2.
Put on board a training ship and that was his language. Let's go.
He had Christian parents. He wanted to get away too, so he joined the need.
He was put on board a training ship.
The training ship was anchored about 1/4 of a mile from shore.
And this is true.
They used to have a marine band on board playing while the boys were being flogged so the people on shore wouldn't hear the shrieks and cries from the lads because they were being punished and that was the outfit he wanted to go to and he went.
And I can see my dear father and mother now on their knees, crying to the Lord to save that dear boy.
And he was in the Navy many years and then spent 25 years in the police.
And my dear mother was just on her death bed.
I was up in the bedroom with her.
My brother came home unexpectedly, came upstairs, opened the door, and saw my dear mother about to pass in the Lord's presence. He said, Mother, I'm going to meet you in heaven. I've accepted Christ as my Savior.
And my dear mother wept for joy, friends, she wept for joy.
I'll never forget that scene.
On this young man I'm Speaking of, after a few days the ship left and I thought Will may never see him again to plead with him.
But we had a letter from one of these dear young Christian sailors.
They said, Brother, you'll be so happy to know that all the pleading was not in vain.
They said he has accepted Christ and he's happy.
Have you accepted Christ? Dear young people, are you happy? You never will be unless you accept Christ as your Savior.
There is absolutely no happiness in this world without Christ.
When we're going out to China, I met 2.
Very well to do people on board.
And I got into conversation with them. They said, you know, we're on a world tour. I said, oh, that's interesting, what's the object of it? He said, well, we want to find something to satisfy our hearts.
00:20:13
He said we are going round the world.
And we are then just on the coast of China and he said we haven't found it yet. I said, no friend, you're looking in the wrong direction. He said, what do you mean? What direction should I look then for happiness? I said above, look to Christ.
Happiness is only found in Him, in the knowledge of Him as your Lord and Savior.
Dear young people, you may be seeking for happiness here. You'll never find it. You'll find, like this young serviceman, that everything thing you taste and touch will leave a bit of taste in your mouth.
Everything outside of Christ is useless. Nothing trash, everything. Yes it is.
There's nothing but Christ can satisfy your heart or mine. I've tried lots of things in my young days to satisfy this empty heart. It didn't work.
It worked, lots of sorrow and you will have the same experience.
If that's the one you're seeking.
Well, the place where we dwell with thee is too straight for us. Let us go.
Is that the language of anyone here tonight? Be honest now. Have you ever had such a thought in your heart being a young person? Let us go.
Dad and Mom are too strict. They keep bringing the scriptures before us, speaking about the Lord and salvation. Let's go.
Can you honestly say that you have never had such a thought? I trust you can.
But if you have had such a thought, friend, tell me where you will go.
Where will you go? You know, the greatest blessing, or one of the greatest blessings you could possibly have is to have dear godly Christian parents, it is.
And if you go from that home, where will you go?
Will you go into the world like this young man did and taste the bitterness of it? He did indeed.
And you will still, friend, if you pursue that course. You will taste the bitterness of this world. That's all it can offer you. That's all Satan can offer you. Everything that's bitter, nothing that's good. And he'll drag you down to hell if he can. That's his object, to keep you away from Christ.
And we urge you tonight to your friends, in the name of that blessed Savior, to come to Him.
To come to him now, this moment.
Or you say, why the hurry?
Ah, there's not a moment to lose, my friend. Any moment now the Lord may come. Any moment.
Are you ready for him?
Have you set your seal that God is true? Have you believed on the Lord Jesus Christ?
Have you been at His feet in repentance and faith?
Or has this been the language of your heart? Let's go.
Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan. Note the place where they went, Jordan.
Speaks of death and judgment, doesn't it?
How many there are today?
Seeking a place to dwell in this world which is doomed for judgment.
Yes, friends, judgment is soon going to fall upon this Christ rejecting world and upon the Christ rejector.
Are you a Christ rejecter? Be honest now.
This is no time to deceive one another, and do not deceive yourself. You'll never deceive the Lord.
Are you a Christ rejecter or a Christ receiver?
Have you received Christ as your Savior, friend? If you haven't, you have said no to Him.
Or how solemn to say no to the only Savior of sinners. There is only one Savior, friends, and He is available tonight.
But he may not be available tomorrow.
We dare not none of these brethren here.
They dare not stand up here tonight and tell you you can be saved tomorrow. Not one of them dare say it.
I have no authority from God's word to say so.
But we have all the authority of God's Word to tell you, friend, that you can be saved NOW.
That's all as far as we can go.
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You can be saved now, and that's the word God uses.
Behold, now is the accepted time.
Behold, now is the day of salvation. Now is the day of salvation now.
The Lord says, come now, let us reason together, saith the Lord.
A quaint now thyself with him, and be at peace.
Will you not come to him now, dear young people?
Are you like these sons of the prophets, Not necessarily prophets themselves?
And you not necessarily Christian yourself, but you could be sons and daughters of Christian parents.
And yet not Christians yourself.
Can you go to bed tonight knowing from Scripture that if that's the case with you, you are condemned already?
I was in a Barber shop recently.
And the Bombers? A churchgoer.
And we usually talk together about things of the Lord, although he's, I don't know the man, saved or not, he said. You know what the minister said yesterday? He said no.
He said the minister said that God doesn't condemn the Sinner and we should not do so.
Well, is that true?
Is it true?
It's a lie.
We read in God's word, he that believeth not is condemned already. Who says that? I didn't.
It's the word of God. Friends, if there is an unbeliever here tonight, let me solemnly remind you, you are condemned already.
By God himself.
On the other hand, he that believeth on the Son is not condemned.
What a vast difference between those two statements.
Condemned or not condemned, Which is it with you friends tonight?
Are you condemned or not condemned? If you're an unbeliever, you are condemned.
By God.
And you're just awaiting the execution of God's awful judgment upon you.
Think of.
Does that exercise your heart?
That's your true condition and position. If you are without Christ, condemn.
I remember going into some cells in Bahamas and the prison.
And the ward was taking me round and there were lots of cells there too, he said. Now I want to take it to some others. I've been going around for about an hour or so.
And he took me to some cells. They not only had huge bars for the doors, but they had thick wooden doors over the vars.
And when he opened that wooden door, there were these poor fellows in those cells, tormented to death with mosquitoes in total darkness.
And it said over the top punishment cell. Punishment cell.
And those poor men looked at me as if not as they all pity me. Can't you Get Me Out of this?
I could do nothing about it. They had committed sin and they were going to be punished for it.
And they are in the punishment cell. But oh how my heart ached for those poor men.
They look like more like beasts than men. They've been shut up in the total darkness in a small cell, bars and a wooden door over that. No daylight, not a streak of light in total darkness, and terribly hot and the place full of mosquitoes.
Poor man Punishment sale. All friends.
When one thinks of hell and what hell will be like there, you know you'll be shut up in total darkness, in the blackness of darkness forever.
There is a limit to the time these men would be shut up in darkness.
The time would come and then be brought out for punishment.
The friend if you find yourself in hell, there will be no coming out there.
Being an end to it, The blackness of darkness forever.
Why?
Because you have neglected this great salvation. Because you have not accepted Christ the Lord Jesus as your Savior.
00:30:01
Old friends, I plead with you, the dear young ones here particularly.
You have heard the Gospel many, many times in your homes.
In the assemblies, What have you done about it? Have you turned a deaf ear to the message to the Word of God? Or have you opened your ear and your heart to receive the person of whom the gospel speaks? Because the gospel is the gospel of God concerning His Son.
And we read in Thessalonians. I'd like you to turn to it, please, if you will.
And see the terrible result and the consequences of those who believe not the gospel.
The Epistle to the Thessalonians.
2nd Epistle.
First chapter, the middle of verse 7.
The Lord Jesus.
Shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels.
In flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God.
And that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
What will happen to such?
Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction?
From the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power. All friends want a solemn thing to disbelieve or reject the gospel. I repeat, it's a gospel of God.
Concerning his son.
That blessed One who came down from that scene of glory to Calvary, to die for your sins, to die for your sins, that you might be delivered from all the consequences of your sins and guilt. That your sins, my friend, which would shut you out of heaven forever and take you into hell forever, might be washed away.
In his precious blood. Such is the love of Christ for you, dear friend.
Yes, God loves you. Christ died for you. He invites you to come to Him now and receive Him by faith as your Savior.
And if you fail to do this, my friend, and reject him, or neglect this great salvation?
You are without hope. Yes, you are without hope.
You know, it tells us in the Gospel that the Son of Man have power on earth to forgive sins. I said reverently. He has no part of a gift. Sins in heaven, there'll be none there to forgive, though He has no power to forgive sins in hell. No, there'll be no forgiveness of sins in hell. My friend, the Son of Man have power on earth to forgive sins.
And He'll forgive yours tonight, if you'll only come to Him, as we reminded last night so solemnly about those who did come and acknowledge their guilt before God.
Yes, what a blessing they received.
And we're reminded of one who did not.
That proud Pharisee who said I am better than the other men. He began his prayer really with a lie. He said I am not as other men are unjust.
For whom did Christ die?
The just one for the unjust.
And by this man saying he was not unjust, there is no chance of salvation for him.
He did not acknowledge that he was a lost, guilty Sinner. There's no hope for that man. But the poor publican hangs his head in shame. He smote upon his breast. He wouldn't even lift up his eyes to heaven.
He traced into its sauce as much as the troubles he had gone. The trouble is here. I have a simple heart, he said. God be merciful to me, a Sinner.
What does the next verse say? The Lord says I tell you.
This man.
Went down to his house, justified rather than the other.
Are you willing to take this in his place, dear friend, tonight?
And own your guilt that your last helpless man doesn't like to think he's helpless.
We hear so much today about people trying to work their way into heaven. What a positive insult to the person of Christ.
He has completed the work that will take you to heaven, and man says, oh, I must do it. His is not sufficient. I must do a little bit towards this. What an insult to Christ. And that perfect work which he accomplished on the cross of Calvary, Why He cried out, It is finished.
00:35:16
All friends, God through the person of Christ has finished the work of redemption and now God is able to come out and all the love and grace of His heart.
And receive you as a lost, guilty Sinner through simple faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, his beloved Son.
Is your faith in Him or is it in yourself?
Of people know the way to heaven.
Again, I was in the Barber shop last week.
A church minister came in, sat down.
And the Barber said to him.
Sir, it's going to cost you more this week. I saw your picture in the newspaper.
And his remark was rather a good one, I thought He said. Well, my picture in the newspaper reminded me I needed a haircut.
Now your picture, friend in the Word of God, should remind you that you need a savior.
Your pictures in here, yes, from the crown of your head to the soul of your feet, it's all pictured in the word of God.
And that should remind you that you need a savior. And you do. If you haven't received the savior friend receiving this moment or you'll perish, you're in danger of perishing in hell.
Is the one here the knight who would dare to stand up and say there is no hell?
If you do, friend, you're calling God a liar.
God says there is a heaven and there is a hell.
And hell will last as long as heaven.
And there will be no forgiveness of sins in hell. There will be no mercy in hell. Be no water in hell, be no blood in hell, be no Christians in hell.
No. So I listened to this minister for a few minutes. I turned around the bombers chair. I said Sir.
Can you please tell me the way to heaven?
He looked down and he said, are you serious? I said I am. I'm very serious about it. Can you tell me the way to heaven?
He hung his head and looked on the floor.
For quite about a minute.
Well, he said, I suppose get in touch with God.
I said well that doesn't help me much. How can I do that?
He said, you know, this is heaven down here.
This is heaven down here.
I said, oh, you're going to embrace then all the murderers, the drunkards, the blasphemers, they're all in heaven.
Nothing that defiles shall ever enter heaven, and heaven is not down here, Sir.
Heaven is where Jesus is.
And he had nothing more to say. A minister, an up to date minister in the church in our little town, didn't know the way to heaven.
No, he didn't, he considered. Heaven is down here.
I'll tell you what the Barber said. I didn't say it.
Said well show me the other place.
As much as I say if this is heaven, I'd like to see the other place to compare them.
Well, how terrible a church minister does not know the way to heaven.
And I met another church minister. I'm not here now, friends, to condemn church ministers. Do not think that for a moment.
But I met another one in Bermuda.
I've been to visit the dear brother who had lost both his legs.
I came downstairs and there was this church minister of colored man waiting to see the same brother.
I said Sir, I've had a very enjoyable visit with brother.
Virgil upstairs, he said yes, I'm now going up to see him. I said you know of the subject of our conversation was. He said no. I said, well we've been talking about the Lords coming for his people. Isn't that a bright and blessed hope, Sir?
And this year man hung his head and said, Well, I hope I'll be among the number, I said, Sir.
You're living in a state of uncertainty.
You only hope you'll be among the number. I can say by the grace of God and from the word of God, I know I'll be among the number.
The number of the redeemed I have been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ. And again he repeated.
Well, he said. I hope I will be among the number. And that's all he could say.
Now friends, who are we can listen to?
00:40:01
Men's opinions or the Word of God?
God tells us we can know the way to heaven. The blessed Lord could say I am the way.
He is the way to heaven, the way to salvation, the way to eternal blessing.
I'm sure you young people here know the way, but have you stepped into the way?
Have you?
If I were to come round and ask you, dear young people individually, have you received Christ as your Savior?
I wonder what your answer would be.
Well, that's your responsibility, isn't it?
Think about it, but do not be too long in thinking about it. Time is short.
The day of grace, dear young people, will soon be gone, and gone forever.
The Door of Mercy will still be closed and closed forever.
See to it that is not shut in your face.
It could be if you procrastinate. I can hear a dear old brother now in England.
Very old brother.
Used to say, you know friends. Procrastination is the recruiting Sergeant for help.
How true I did.
You know what a recruiting Sergeant is? The young men do, I'm sure.
Procrastination. What does it mean? Put it on. Put it on Plenty of time, Put it up.
And that may be the very thing that Satan is saying to you tonight. Put it on.
You're only young yet.
That may be you have no lease on life. We've been singing. Life at best is very brief.
Is that true?
You know it's true.
There's a dear lad in the Sunday School in Bermuda died suddenly, nine years of age.
Another boy fell in a pit was drowned.
I can tell you of many gone in a few moments. Young people thought they had a long life before them. They were cut off.
Now, dear young people, if you were called away tonight through death, where would you go?
Where would you go? Have you had it settled yet?
You know, friends, everyone of us here tonight are on a journey. You will not dispute that, will you? You cannot dispute that.
Where will a journey end for you?
I know when the journey of life will end for me through grace.
Glory to be with Christ, the one who gave himself for me. What about you?
If your journey ended tonight, where would you go?
Where will you spend eternity? Where? Where?
It is one of two places. Friends there are not 3.
A man on the train suggested to me. He told me first of all there were two places, then he wanted to make a third.
He said I believe there is a heaven and a hell. Don't you, Sir? I said I do because God said so. He said I believe that.
I said, well friend, to which of those places are you going?
Well, he said. I'm sure I don't want to go to hell. I've heard such about that place. I'd like to go to heaven.
And he said, I guess I'm between the two now he's creating a third place. Neutral ground friends, there's no such place.
You cannot stand on neutral ground before God.
You are either bound for heaven or hell. Everyone in this hall tonight without exception, young and old.
Heaven or hell? Which is it?
Old friends, have this matter settled before you go out of the door tonight.
Acknowledge yourself, a lost, guilty Sinner, and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior.
Do not forget that solemn verse in Acts 1730.
God.
Now.
Command them.
All men.
Everywhere.
To repent.
Have you done that yet?
It's a command of God, my friend.
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Are you going to ignore the command of God and perish in your sins?
Or are you going to listen to his voice and repent of your sins and turn to Christ?
The apostle preached repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
We cannot improve upon Apostolic means of breaching. No, we cannot.
Have you repented yet?
Have you turned to Christ? Have you acknowledged yourself and lost guilty Sinner?
If not, do so tonight, this moment, before it's too late.
It may be too late tomorrow, maybe too late at 8:00 even.
Yes, could be.
Well, we're getting away from our chapter.
Just turn back to it.
Let us go, we pray the under Jordan and St. thence every man of being, and let us make us a place.
Let us make us a place.
As I said, there may be other interpretations of the Scripture, but I'm just merely looking at it from the Gospel point of view. Let us make us a place.
Well, God in his infinite love and mercy, has provided a place for the Sinner.
Through the person and work of Christ.
You know, we read, I think it's 115th Psalm Prime member correctly says the heaven and the heavens are the Lords.
And the earth has been given to the children of men.
Now man has lost his right to live on Earth through sin, and so he's taken away by death.
And yet God, in his infinite love and mercy.
Has made provision for man who is unfit to live on earth.
He's made provision through the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ at Calvary for man to live in heaven. Yes, he has.
You can have the assurance of going to that place, providing you accept Christ as your Savior.
And do not think you are doing him a favor by accepting him.
He loves you and He desires your eternal blessing.
He died to save you, and he is willing to save you right now.
Will you not come to him right now?
Is the one who dare stand up and say yes?
I don't think Jesus is my savior now.
I heard a dear little girl say that in West Indies. Brother Albert knows a well. I won't mention the name.
Should be about 9 then.
Her little friend was killed on the road.
She went running home to her mommy and she said, mommy, you would have thought you would have said, mummy, my little friend has been killed.
Instead of that, she said. Mummy, I want to be saved.
Her mother said what's the matter? She said. Then my little friend was killed and I want to be saved, Mummy.
But she was not saved at that moment. But the next Lord's Day afternoon. I'll never forget it.
The joy it gave us all. She sat there looking so serious, listening to every word. And as soon as the meeting was over, she stood up and she said, I take Jesus as my savior now.
No, dear father and mother sat there and wept with joy.
So here this dear little girl of nine, confess faith in Christ and say I take Jesus as my Savior. Now will you do that, dear young people?
Good. Many of you here are older than that.
What have you done about it?
The only Savior of sinners is the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.
If you refuse to accept him, my friend, you have no other.
You may search from one end of the world to the other. You will never find another savior.
Because the scripture says in Acts 4 and 12, neither is there salvation in any other.
For there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
If you're going to be saved, dear young people, or older ones for that matter, you can only be saved through the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:50:02
The Savior of sinners.
Let us go, and let us make us a place there where we may dwell.
I repeat how many there are today who are happy to dwell in this scene which is doomed for judgment. I remember a poor old woman in a poor house in Bermuda.
After a gospel meeting, she came up to me and said, you know, I thought she was going to tell me something good to hear. She said. You know, I'd like to live here forever.
I get 3 meals a day here in the poor house and sometimes I steal and get a little drink.
I'd like to live here forever. Think of it, do you want to live here forever? You never will, friend. The end of the journey will come for every one of us in this hall tonight, sooner or later.
And I repeat, you're either going to heaven to be with Jesus.
To enjoy all the pleasures of that place and his presence. Or you'll go to the other place, which is hell. Hell.
We were preaching on the street in Mansfield, England.
After the gospel meeting, a man said, I don't believe in God. I don't believe there's a God.
I said friend, would you be interested to know your name is in the Bible?
What do you mean? I said Yes, your name is in the Bible.
So I opened the Bible and read it to him. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.
I said you have said it with your lips. I am not calling you a fool. I got him to read it and he did. He hung his head and had nothing more to say.
God says the fool has said in his heart there is no God. Or what a solemn experience it will be for that man to meet the person whose existence he denies.
Yes, everyone of us must give an account of ourselves to God.
Everyone here is going to meet the Lord Jesus Christ. He is to be the judge. You're going to meet him either now in grace or meet him in judgment.
Why not meet Him in grace tonight? He loves you, my friend. He came down from the glory to die for your sins in order to put them away, that you might be forgiven and saved eternally.
He offers you the gift of eternal life, forgiveness of sins, and peace with God.
For by nature you are at enmity with God.
He wants you to be at peace with God.
Remember another dear man in Bermuda who was dying of cancer?
We said, friend, your burial, aren't you? He said. Indeed I am.
He said. Have you thought anything about the future?
He said, indeed I have, he said, what have you been thinking about?
He said, well, you know, I've been trying hard to make my peace with God before I go.
And the dear man was in earnest too. I could see it in his face. He was in dead earnest.
I said friend, give it up.
Give it up, try no longer.
And he looked at me astounded. I said yes, may I just read a word from the Scripture? So he read that verse in Colossians one. I think it's 21, is it?
Having made peace through the blood of his cross.
By him to reconcile all things unto himself and you.
And I read it to him and I said, now are you able to read this? And he did.
And he said, I see it now. I've been trying to do, he said, what Christ has already done for me, and I accept him.
What a joy to witness there was a dear man in dead earnest to you, soon to pass into eternity.
He said. I am trying hard to make my peace with God. If that's the thought of anyone here tonight, give it up, friend. You'll never do it. It's impossible. It's been done.
It's been done.
Through the death of Christ at Calvary.
He has made peace. Think of it all, how he should thank him tonight. He has made that which we couldn't make.
He's made peace for us with God by his death and the shedding of his precious blood. Now you can have that peace.
And Ephesians tells us He is our peace. Think of it, He is our peace, the Lord Jesus Christ. Can you say that tonight? He is my peace?
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Made peace for me through the blood of his cross. All what had caused him to make peace for you, my friend? You're going to despise it. You're going to turn it down. You're going to ignore it. What he's done, all the suffering of Calvary, the hiding of God's face, bearing all the awful judgment, the righteous indignation of a holy God against sin was poured upon his blessed, devoted head.
And that was after man had done all that he possibly could in his hatred and enmity against him.
Then God poured the judgment upon him. Oh, how solemn thought. And dear friends, He went through that for you.
That you might be saved. That your sins might be blotted out.
That you might be eternally blessed.
Yes, and salvation is a gift.
You cannot work for it. The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Well, our time is just about gone, but we haven't got far.
And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go. So he went with them.
How often a deer praying father and mother.
Has followed their son or daughter in a downward power in prayer, Yes.
I look back in my own family, mighty a father might like to see them now on their knees, pleading with the Lord to save my brother.
And he did. Dear parents, do not give up praying for your children.
Pray on trust the Lord to save them. He is able.
It was took many, many years for my dear brother to see his need and to feel it, but the time came when he did. My parents prayed on and on and on faithfully.
I can hear my dear old father now saying, Lord, oh grant that we may be an undivided family to dwell with thee forever.
And the Lord heard his prayer and answered.
Well, says, and when they came to Jordan they cut down wood, but as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water. And he cried and said the last masterpiece was borrowed. Yes, friend, your life is loaned to you by God. How are you using it?
And the man of God said, where fell it? And he showed him the place, and he cut down the stick.
A branch of life was cut down and cast into the water. And the axe said, says. And the axe said, did swim. The iron did swim. Therefore said, he take it up to thee. He put out his hand, he took it.
Now we get in the 21St of Revelation. May we just turn to it for a moment, please?
We will very soon close now.
These words remind me very much of this precious verse.
21St chapter of the Revelation.
Verse 6, The middle of the verse, I will give unto him, that is a first.
Of the fountain of the water of life freely. What precious words, friends, I will give.
Here the man of God put out your hand and take it. And now in the 22nd chapter of Revelation.
And verse 17, the middle of the verse. And let him that is a first come.
And whosoever will let him take of the water of life freely, the blessed Lord says, I will give name take.
The man on God said put out your hand and take it, friend, are you going to take salvation tonight? The Lord says I'll give it to you, why not take it?
Whosoever will.
That means everybody here, that's all you have to do, Take what God is offering you through the person of Christ.
Take salvation, take it now, and happy thee. And that's the only way to be happy. The knowledge of sins forgiven and peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Put out your hand and take it. You have to take it, friend, with a hand of faith.
God is offering your salvation tonight, dear young people. You may not offer it in the morning.
May be your last chance tonight.
Remember a young man driving up to a gas station?
The wild kind of a fellow he was, he said give me gas quickly.
01:00:01
It's Holland or hell, in one hour, Holland or Haley said. Give me gas. I want to get away.
The man, the gas station put the gas in his car and he started off and he went terrific speed.
The few 100 yards up the road, the car overturned. He was killed, he said. Holland or hail in one hour.
Oh friend, if you were called into eternity within one hour, where would you go?
It's not Holland or hell, it's heaven or hell.
It's heaven or hell. Which is it, dear people? Tonight, you dear young ones, I plead with you.
Sons and daughters of Christian parents, and perhaps not Christians yourselves, I plead with you tonight.
That you turn to Christ, earn yourself lost and guilty and helpless, the guilty Sinner, and accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior. Put out your hand and take it. The Lord says, I will give, let him take. And remember, the Lord will have every right to say to you in the coming day if you stand before him at the great white throne. I would, but ye would not.
It will be your fault entirely. All we dread to think that there may be some young people here tonight who are still rejecting God's grace and mercy.
And neglecting this great salvation, being deceived by the enemy of your soul, that there's plenty of time, dear friend, There is not, I tell you.
Well, our time is gone. I'm sorry I've kept you 5 minutes late, but do not be 5 minutes too late to come to Christ.
Could we?
Could we? Will you be gracious with me and let us sing just a little hymn?
#17.
Have you any room for Jesus? Now this is a challenge, isn't it? Have you? How personal? Any room for Jesus?
He who bore the load of sin, as he knocks and asks admission, Sinner, will you let him in?
We sing the last verse now.
I Want to See Jesus Face to Face
Children—R. Groth
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.
Number six on the ham sheet.
God and mercy sent his Son to a world by sin undone.
Jesus Christ was crucified.
Cause for sinners. Jesus died.
We'll sing the 1St and the last verse of number six in the chorus.
God and mercy sent his Son.
Jesus Christ.
Was thrown away by.
What I said.
In Jesus life.
All the God.
Of the brain shining.
And.
A ****** face.
That makes sense.
Jesus Christ.
Lord, come on the grave.
Shining.
And all, thank you.
That's a nice gospel message to start our meeting with.
Now then, how about a girl? Do you have a favorite?
Plenty of girls, all right.
#4.
Well, that's a good one, number four.
Annual Sing The first and last verse of #4.
Christ is the Savior of sinners.
Christ is the Savior for me.
I wonder if he's your savior this morning.
Boys and girls.
He's my savior.
Christ is a savior for me.
While I was changing since darkness.
Now, by His grace, I am free. Well, let's sing the first and last verse and #4.
Christ is a Savior.
Christ is the state of.
And I like me.
Sharing this platform.
And as I'm saying, you're for me.
Love when I'm out last night changing.
How can I help?
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With praise.
And as a savior for me.
How about one more?
Who has the for him they'd like to give off?
A boys or girls this time?
Or you gave out number one.
We don't. All right, there's a little hand.
That's my favorite.
#40 And I think we better sing the whole hymn this time.
The back part of the of the of the sheep #40 Jesus loves me this I know. Do you know that one? You know that song? Well let's, how about you? Do you know that one? Well, let's all sing it good and loud so we can hear it.
Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so little ones.
To him belong they are weak, but he is strong all right #40.
Yeah.
Yeah.
My God help me go.
Change my.
Halo.
1.
Way.
Yeah.
I won't help me long.
The way to make me cry, wait to call me and their heart.
Hate me, say from every heart.
Yeah.
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AM I proud and shall I die?
Hey, wow, Take Me Home.
On my way.
Yes, he is now about me.
Now I'm going to ask for volunteers again.
Who would like to give their first?
You say verses here in Los Angeles we have children all say versus.
Do you have one all right?
Good and loud.
Well, that was very good. It was a hard first, too. What was your verse?
You just put your hand up. What's your verse?
I'll help you. The shortest person. The Bible is 2 words. Jesus wept. Now you say that.
That's right, Jesus wept. Not about some of the girls. One of the girls.
You have a verse for us this morning, girls.
Anybody all right?
Very good, very good.
If I asked you boys and girls a question.
I'm going to.
Can I ask a question? I'm going to ask several questions this morning because I like to hear what the boys and girls.
Have to say I'm going to ask you one question first.
How many of you, boys and girls want to go to heaven?
Well, it looks as if all the hands are up.
You know, I asked that question some time ago, the little audience like this.
One little girl, she refused to put up her hand.
And I said to her, what's the matter? Don't you want to go to heaven? What do you think? She said.
No, she said. I want to be where my father and mother are.
Well, I knew very well that their father and mother.
Was going to was on their way to heaven and so this little girl wanted to be where father and mother were. Well, I trust that that is true with every one of you boys and girls here this morning.
That if your parents are saved, shouted under the precious blood of Christ and on their way to glory heaven, that you want to be there too.
Now then, I'm going to ask another question. Why do you want to be in heaven?
That's a good question, isn't it? Why do you want to be in heaven? You said you want to go to heaven. Now why do you want to be in heaven? All right, boys.
00:15:08
Can you tell me?
You had your hands up.
All right, here's an answer.
Beg pardon.
So we have eternal life. Well, that's a good answer. All right, one more.
Why do you want to be in heaven or go to heaven?
Well that's another good answer. So we don't go to hell because there's only two places, boys and girls, that we can spend our eternity. One is up in heaven with the Lord Jesus or the other is down in that place which the Lord Jesus said on several occasions held.
Eternal.
Judgment.
Eternal separation from God and His love. But I want one more answer. Why do we want to go to heaven?
All right, do what?
Do we trust well?
That's a good thought, but I don't quite understand it. All right, what are we? What's your answer?
Well, we've had that one, boys and girls. You know why I want to go to heaven?
I want to see the man who died for me on Calvary's frost.
Love me so much.
To come down from heaven.
Go to Calvary's cross.
Shed his precious blood.
That I might have all my sins washed away.
And then to see that one who loved me and gave himself for me.
All these other answers were good and proper, but I want to see the man who died for me.
I was outstanding one day.
Like you boys and girls do, I dove in. I thought I had lots of strength.
And I was trying to swim out to the second raft at the beach.
And something happened. I lost my strength. My strength gave out.
And I went down once, I went down twice, and I went down the third time.
And naturally speaking, all hope was gone. But a man dove in at that time.
And he got ahold of me.
Annie brought me to the shore.
You know, he's that man didn't stay around. I wanted to see that man who saved me.
Yes, I want to see that man who saved me. I want to thank him.
But I couldn't find him.
All in appreciation for what the Lord Jesus has done for me.
And for you boys and girls on Calvary's cross, I want to see the man that died for me.
Now then, I want to speak very briefly.
On two men at least that wanted to see Jesus.
One was a king.
A very wicked king.
And the other man was.
Republican.
And a rich man.
Who can tell me the name of the king that wanted to see Jesus for a long season?
For a long time, he wanted to see Jesus.
And then the time took place when he saw Jesus.
But he did not learn to know Jesus as his Savior.
Anybody know the name of the king?
Starts with.
H.
All right, that's right, King Aaron turn to the.
Lukes Gospel.
And the 23rd verse.
23rd chapter.
And you boys and girls, turned to Luke 23 quickly.
And verse 8, we'll just read a few verses in connection with King Herod.
00:20:00
For those of you who do not have Bibles, you better listen hard because I might ask you some questions.
And when Herod saw Jesus?
He was exceeding glad.
When Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad, for he was desires to see him.
For a long season, that's a long time.
Because he had heard many things of him, and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.
Here is this man, Herod the King.
He was a very cruel man. All the Herods were cruel men, cruel kings.
You read the scripture over and over again about the Herods. Ah, they were cruel man, and God had to come in at the end and speak to them. And some of them have all very untimely deaths.
But here was a man, King Herod, that wanted to see Jesus. But what do you want to see him for?
Wanted Herod want to see Jesus for.
Yes, out of curiosity, Herod wanted to see Jesus.
And he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.
Well, that isn't a very nice thought, is it? Because this very man Herod.
That's before us.
At one time.
Way back in the 9th chapter of this same book, we find him beheading.
A servant of the Lord.
Beheading a servant of the Lord John Baptist.
Oh, he was a wicked, cruel man.
But you know, he had a heart.
Just like yours.
Just like mine.
A heart. A work of heart.
And you have all these herods. They were idumians.
Or Edomites.
And some of them lay claim to the Old Testament, some of the Old Testament scriptures, Judaism.
And.
They were responsible to God for the truth which they knew about God.
And yet, on the other hand, they set their truth all aside, and did all these wicked things to the people, and to some of the servants of the Lord.
This man, Herod, he beheaded John Baptist.
There is another Herod spoken of in.
The book of Acts and he beheaded or killed James.
All such wicked men, and yet, boys and girls, God gave this man as well as the other Herod's light in respect to himself.
But they turned it all aside and did these terrible, terrible things.
Or the man that is before us.
When he saves Jesus.
And Jesus here is before Pilate.
When he sees Jesus, he was exceeding glass.
Or if the Lord Jesus came down here this morning.
Would you be exceeding glad to see him? Would you be glad to see the Lord Jesus? Would you?
Well, Herod was, but I'm afraid that this world would not be exceeding glad to see the Lord Jesus.
Because this world is is responsible for his crucifixion on Calvary's cross.
This world set him aside and crucified him on Calvary's cross. And I find that apart from grace, apart from the sovereign grace of God, my heart is no better than their hearts.
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. Who can know it?
But now, boys and girls, we want to get make a point here.
So I look into your bases.
As I look into your faces this morning, I am assured that you all have heard the gospel of God's grace.
00:25:07
Once, twice, or many more times.
You sat in Sunday school just as you are this morning, and you've heard the simple message.
And not only that, you have a Bible, God's word, to look into.
And to read and to know God's terms of salvation, how we can be saved from our sins.
Saved for glory.
I.
Wonder. I wonder now.
How many of you boys and girls have closed in?
And God's offer salvation.
You sang a few minutes ago from your hearts I trust Jesus loves me. This I know.
For the Bible tells me so.
What if that was true?
And we trust it was then you have that blessing.
But if you have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior.
Knowing all the scriptures that you do know.
Sitting under the sound of the gospel over and over again. Don't point your finger at this wicked man, Herod.
Because if you're refusing God's salvation.
Ah, then.
If the Lord Jesus should come just before we close this meeting.
Or if you should pass out of time and into eternity.
It would be forever and eternally too late for you if you're still in your sins.
Because in order to find yourself up in heaven.
We have to get rid of our sins.
SINS. And how do we do that?
All right.
That's right, we have to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Have our sins washed away in his precious blood. Is that right?
Our passport to heaven.
Is the blood of Jesus Christ.
Now then, you have Bibles.
Herod didn't have a Bible like you have.
You have Christian parents.
Fathers and mothers, and perhaps brothers and sisters who, like Timothy, Timothy's grandmother and grandmother, brought the Scriptures before Timothy over and over again.
And Timothy not only heard the scriptures, but he found out that they would make him wise unto salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus.
Well now boys and girls, don't be like Herod. Don't miss the blessing of salvation, sins forgiven, and your eternal destiny up in heaven with our Lord Jesus Christ. Don't miss the blessing by refusing God's salvation.
Now then, I want to turn to another man.
Who wanted to see Jesus?
In the 18th chapter of this book.
Rather the 19th chapter.
You know the man's name.
All right.
Nicodemus No, that's John 3.
Try it again. Zacchaeus. Yes. You ever hear about Zacchaeus? I suppose Zacchaeus was a man about 6 feet 10 inches tall.
What's the script you say about them?
Yeah, it was just a little follow and there's several little fellows here this morning and you know that I like that because the Gospels for the little fellows as well as the big fellows.
Little boys and girls, middle class, the old folks. You know, in Matthew 11, we have a word. COME. What's that?
COME.
Come. That's right, children.
All folks middle-aged.
Now what about E?
Everybody.
Children all come, Come to the Savior. Make no delay, all folks. Yes, come.
Middle-aged yes, come, that's the blessed word of the gospel. Boys and girls has come, come unto me, says the Lord Jesus, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Well, we must go on to this 19th chapter of Luke and see a little bit of a a bottom man who wanted to see Jesus.
00:30:19
Oh, I want to see this same blessed one.
Elf in glory.
First verse Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
That verse is full of meaning.
And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was.
What does it say? A poor man?
He was rich.
And he sought to see Jesus.
Now does that, does that stop there? That sentence stop there, girl, You have your Bible open. What's it say? What's the rest of the sentence?
All right, yes, who he was.
He sought to see Jesus, who he was.
Or how different than Herod?
Herod, out of mere curiosity.
Wanted to see Jesus for a long season.
He had heard of the many things which Jesus had done.
And now he hoped that some miracle might be performed.
Before his eyes. But Jesus didn't answer to his curiosity.
No, the Lord Jesus will answer to the poor sinners cry God, be merciful to me, the center, but he's not going to answer to any curiosity, any question that comes up out of mere curiosity and know the Lord has no time for that. He wants to see repentance in our little hearts.
While he sought to see Jesus, who he was, and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before and climbed up into a Sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must abide at thy house. And he made haste and came down, and received him joyfully.
The 10th verse. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. Now let's all say that verse together. I'll read it again, Then we'll all repeat it. For the Son of Man is come to seek and to say that which was lost are altogether.
For the Son of man is come to see and to save that which was lost, not just the children.
For the Son of Man.
Has come to seek and to save that which was lost. Little week.
Tell you're not on the football field.
Well, we have a beautiful account of a man named Zach Giss.
Who wanted to see Jesus, but wanted to see Jesus who he was?
Like King Herod.
No doubt Zach is heard of the many, many things which the Lord Jesus accomplished.
In his 3 1/2 years of service.
In this world.
The raising of the dead.
The healing of the sick.
And afflicted ones.
Restoring sight to the poor blind man.
And all these marvelous things which the Lord Jesus in one place, it says the people wondered, and they well might.
The people wondered.
Well, Zacchaeus not only wanted to see Jesus in connection with all these things which the Lord Jesus did, blessing upon blessing, but He wanted to see Him who He is, who He was.
And you know that would tell me, boys and girls.
That Zacchaeus learned.
Some way, somehow?
That the one.
00:35:03
That he wanted to see.
Was not none other than Jesus?
The Son of Man.
For Luke presents the Lord Jesus Christ to us as Son of Man.
In all his beauty and in all his glory as Son of Man.
Now you may not be able to enter into that.
How little we do, those of us are older. But he entered into the blessed fact of his being Son of Man.
And come down to seek and to say that which was lost.
And so he wanted to see him who he was.
He wanted to know this Blessed One as his Savior.
And his Lord and boys and girls, let me tell you this.
That the Lord Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. What was going to happen at Jerusalem?
This is the last time the Lord Jesus went along this dirty dusty Rd.
From Jericho up to Jerusalem and it is a dirty dusty Rd.
Why was the Lord Jesus going up to Jerusalem?
And why was this the last time?
That.
Blind Bartimaeus in the 18th chapter and Zacchaeus in this chapter had this opportunity.
All the Lord Jesus was going on up to Jerusalem.
There to be rejected, there to be crucified. Crucified not only by the Jews but also by the Gentiles, for the Gentiles had a part in that crucifixion.
And boys and girls, this is the last time the Lord Jesus passed this way and this may be your last occasion boys and girls, of hearing the gospel of God's grace for Jesus of Nazareth is passing by. He may come this this morning to receive all the bloodbath redeemed home to be with himself in the Father's house. Will you be there and I.
Always important boys and girls to listen to God's Word, and when God says behold, now is he accepted time, behold, now is a day of salvation.
He wants us to consider these things and He wants us to make haste. He wants us to make haste, just as the Lord Jesus said to Zacchaeus.
Well, Zacchaeus was a poor Sinner.
You don't want to this. He was little of stature.
He was a little fellow. Here is this big crowd milling around the Lord Jesus as they went along this dirty dusty Rd.
Jack is couldn't see the Lord Jesus. What did he do?
All right.
Yeah, but he did something before that. Come on, girls.
He did something before he climbed up into the Sycamore tree, and I hope everyone of you boys and girls will do the same thing this morning.
You want No, he didn't pray yet.
Yes, he ran before he got in a hurry about this condition. He got in a hurry about seeing Jesus and boys and girls. You better get in a hurry and I speak reverently. You better get in a hurry about your soul salvation, for Jesus of Nazareth is passing by, and you may not hear the blessed Gospel message this afternoon or this evening or at the close of this meeting.
For the coming of the Lord draweth nigh, and you don't know whether or not you will be here tomorrow or this afternoon.
For the issues of life and death are not in the doctor's hands. The issues of life and death are in God's hands. And he knows just exactly when to stop that little heart of yours. Yes. And so Zacchaeus got in a hurry about these things.
And so he ran before.
He climbed up into this tree, the Sycamore tree.
And now do you think the Lord Jesus as he came along?
Do you think that he saw Zacchaeus up there?
Do you think the Lord Jesus saw him up there?
Yes, and not only that, he came to the very spot. It says here he came to the very spot and he looked up.
00:40:05
He looked up and saw him.
Boys and girls, the Lord Jesus knows all about you this morning.
As it were, he's stopping right here.
And he's looking you in your very face.
And he's bidding you come, He says, Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. And furthermore, as the Lord Jesus, He knows your thoughts and the intents of your heart.
All things are naked and open unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do, and He knows your name.
Who told the Lord Jesus that Zacchaeus by name was sitting up there in the street?
No one, The record doesn't say.
But Jesus looked up, he saw Zacchaeus, and he said, Zacchaeus, make haste and come down. And boys and girls, the Lord Jesus knows your names this morning. Mary, come, Timothy, come.
And that's what the Lord Jesus is saying to each one individually this morning.
Because He wants to bless you.
Oh, He's the blesser. He wants to bless you. He wants you to wash away your sins in his own precious blood and make you fit for heaven. And soon we're going to hear that voice of joy, that voice of power, when He calls all the redeemed home to be with himself. Make haste and come down.
For today I must abide. At thy heart was Zacchaeus obedient to the word.
Our brother London mentioned yesterday, as well as others, about obedience to God's Word. Obedience.
When Jesus says come, he doesn't say it doesn't mean go away, he means come. Did Zacchaeus obey his word?
Yes, Zacchaeus obeyed the word, and he made haste, and he came down.
All boys and girls, we plead with you this morning and those of you who are older, if you're still outside of Christ.
Make haste and come down, come to the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ.
And accept Him as your Savior and Lord.
So you have King Herod, first of all, missing the blessing. On one of these days, King Herod is going to stand before this same blessed Jesus as Son of Man, and he's going to be judged and he's going to be eternally separated from God and his love.
But here is Zacchaeus. He obeyed the word. He came down.
And he received the blessing, for he realized the truth. The Son of Man has come to seek and to save. That which was lost came down to seek. Yes, and he came down to save. And where did we see? Where do we see that that Blessed One on Calvary's cross?
During those three hours of darkness as he accomplished the work of salvation, and when that precious blood was shed from his Riverside flowed down.
Oh, now we can say that the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanseth us from all sin, not not just a few.
How many is all?
All right, how many is on everyone of them? And they're removed as far as the east is from the West. They're buried in the depths of the sea, never to be remembered again. And we're on our way to glory. I trust, boys and girls, if you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, that you'll be like Zacchaeus. Make haste and come down. I see our time is up. Just one short.
Course.
#46.
#46 in the back.
Backpage.
Plenty.
I I KFIVRIK.
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Way.
Obedience and Dependence
YP Address—C. Lunden
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.
Oh Jesus, grand, unfailing, how dear to me.
Our cares or fears of sailing. I find my strength in thee. Why should my feet grow weary of this? My Pilgrim way, Rough though the path and dreary it ends in perfect days #16 In the back of the book.
I wonder, as we sang that sixth verse, if we.
Really sung this from the heart.
For every tribulation.
For every sore distress.
In Christ I've full salvation sure help.
Some quiet rest.
No Fear of false prevailing.
I triumph, Lord, in thee.
All Jesus friend unfailing.
How dare art thou to me?
Shall we turn to the Lord?
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Shall we turn to the 15th chapter of First Samuel?
You know, just before this meeting, your brother said to me.
Why were there two trumpets, especially in the 10th chapter of Numbers?
And I'll have to confess, I've never thought of it, but I answered him this way, that it's the same as it is in the second chapter of Joel.
For God is going to recover his people.
There's a trumpet of alarm.
And then there is a trumpet of calling together the assembly for blessing.
Well, we need these two trumpets.
God's grace and God's government.
And we have it in the Word of God.
This afternoon I'd like to speak a little bit along these lines.
And then this 15th chapter of First Samuel.
There are things that bring back memories in my own life of over 40 years.
When I sat in a meeting room in Los Angeles.
And I listen to dear old brother Nersbaugh. Some of you may remember him.
And he took up this chapter.
I was quite young then.
But it made a lasting impression on my soul.
It was one of those times in my life when I needed the Word of God in a very special way.
Because of problems and exercises.
And isn't it wonderful that God has principles that fit every need of his people?
And if we seek His face, He will, in the right time and in the right way, give us that which we need.
There are two things that I would like to emphasize this afternoon as we read this and as we speak together.
The two things that mark Christianity out in a very special way.
And one of them is dependence.
And the other is obedience.
Those are not hard things to remember.
And so I would like to read a little bit about Saul.
And also about David?
But I'd like to read about times of crisis.
In their lives.
When decisions had to be made.
And the way they made these decisions.
And then the end of their lives as the result of these decisions. Oh dear young people, you're at the time, perhaps now when you're making decisions.
What are they going to be?
With the old who were all saved, they will affect your eternal destiny.
You are Christians.
Decisions that you make at this time will affect your happiness down here in Christ.
And it will affect whether you go on triumphantly as a Christian, as a testimony.
Or whether your lives are wasted.
The 15th chapter of First Samuel.
Samuel also said unto Saul, The Lord sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel. Now therefore hearken down to the voice of the words of the Lord.
The Lord of hosts. I remember that which Amlich did to Israel, how he laid waste for him in the way when he came up from Egypt.
Now go on smite Hamlets and utterly destroy all that they have.
Spare them not, but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ***.
We saw gathered the people together and numbered them in the Lamb. 200,000 footmen.
10,000 men of Judah.
And Saul came to a city of Amalek and laid weight in the valley.
And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them.
For Ye showed kindness to all the children of Israel when they came up out of Egypt.
So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.
And sausage both the Amalekites from a villa until thou comest too sure it is over against Egypt.
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And he took Agag, the king of the Malachites, alive and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.
But Saul and the people spared A gag. And the best of the sheep and of the oxen, of the fatlings and the lambs.
And all of us good would not utterly destroy them.
But everything that was vile and refuse.
That they destroyed utterly. Then came the word of the Lord unto Samuel, saying.
It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king, for he has turned back through following me, and hath not before my commandments.
And it greens Samuel and he cried with the Lord all night.
And when Samuel rose up to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel saying Saul came to Carmel.
Behold, he set him up a place, and has gone about and passed on, and gone down to Gilgor Gilgal.
And Samuel came to Saul. Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou the Lord.
I have performed the commandment of the Lord.
And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleeding of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?
Saul said they have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice them to the Lord thy God, and the rest we have utterly destroyed.
Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay.
And I will tell thee what the Lord hath said to me this night.
And he said unto him, Say on.
Samuel said when I was little in thine own sight.
Was thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel?
And the Lord anointed the king over Israel, and the Lord sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.
Wherefore then dost thou not obey the voice of the Lord, but this fly upon the spoil, and this evil in the sight of the Lord?
Saul said unto Samuel, Yeah, I have a bade the voice of the Lord, and have gone the way which the Lord sent me, and a broad agag, the king of Amalek.
And have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.
But the people took of the spoiled sheep and oxen the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed.
To sacrifice unto the Lord thy God and Gilgal.
And Samuel said.
Half the Lord is great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord.
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of Rams.
For rebellion was as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, He also hath rejected thee from being king.
And Saul said unto Samuel.
I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and thy words, because I fear the people and obey their voice.
Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord.
And Samus said unto Saul, I will not return with thee.
For thou hast rejected the word of the Lord.
And the Lord hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.
And as Samuel turned about to go away, he Lloyd to hold upon the skirt of his mantle in a rent.
And Samuel said unto him of the Lord, that hath read the Kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and has given it to the to a neighbor of thine, that is better than thou.
And also the strength of Israel will not lie nor repent, for he is not a man that he should repent.
Then he said, I have sinned yet honor me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people.
And before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord thy God.
So Samuel turned again after Saul, and Saul worshiped the Lord.
Then said Samuel.
Bring ye hit her to me, Agag, the king of the Amalekites.
And a guy came unto him delicately, and Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past.
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Samuel said, as thy sword hath made women childless.
So shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel Hugh de Gag and pieces before the Lord and Gilgal.
Samuel went to Rama, and Saul went up to his house to give you of Saul.
And Sam became no more to see Saul the day of his death. Nevertheless, Samuel mourned for Saul.
And the Lord repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.
Now I'll turn to Second Samuel with me please. And the 12Th chapter, few verses.
We find David here.
Has come to a crisis in his life. He sinned.
And now the prophet comes to David.
The seventh verse.
And Nathan said to David.
Thou art the man.
Thus saith the Lord God of Israel. I anointed the King over Israel.
And I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul.
And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives unto thy bosom, gave thee the House of Israel and the Judah.
And if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.
Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord to do evil in his sight? Thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with a sword, and has taken his wife to be thy wife, and has slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
Now, therefore.
Swords will never depart from thine house.
Because thou has despised me and has taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.
Now the 13th verse.
David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord.
And Nathan said unto David, The Lord has put away thy sin, thou shalt not die.
Albeit because by this deed thou has given great occasions, the enemies of the Lord to blasphemy.
In the 24th chapter, a few verses.
We find David comes to another crisis.
Another time in his life when he failed.
And the Prophet comes to him with three things, that he has a choice.
Three things.
The tan reverse of the 24th chapter.
And David's heart smote him after that. He had numbered the people.
And David said unto the Lord, I have sinned greatly in that I have done.
And now I beseech thee, O Lord, take away the iniquity of thy servant, for I've done very foolishly.
For when David was up in the morning, the word of the Lord came unto the prophet Gad David's ear, saying.
Go and say unto David, Thus saith the Lord, Ioffer thee three things.
Choose the one of them, that I may do it unto thee.
So God came to David and told him, said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land?
Or wilt thou flee 3 months before thine enemies while they pursue thee?
Or that there be 3 days of pestilence in thy land. Now advise and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me.
David said unto Gad, I am in a great Strait. Let us fall now into the hand of the Lord, for his mercies are great.
And let me not fall into the hand of man.
We find in the 9th chapter of one Samuel.
Possibly the first note of Saul.
And in connection with his household, he came from a family of faith.
He was the son of Ke$ha, powerful man in Israel.
Well, now we find this afternoon that in this room there are many young people.
Who have come from families of faith.
They have had many advantages that this.
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The young people of this world have never had.
And of course, when God gives life, he expects something of man.
We find that Saul when he was going to seek his father's *****.
He was suddenly finds himself.
Before the prophet Samuel.
And so unexpected to himself.
Samuel tells him that he's the one to be chosen to be the king of Israel.
Well, this was rather a surprise to Samuel, I'm sure.
And when he finally was set before the people, they couldn't find him. He was hiding in a tent.
Timothy. He was little in his own sight.
At the beginning.
But you know, it wasn't for two years.
And this mighty man whose head and shoulders above all the rest, a man that was the choice of the people.
Goodly to look upon a man that could be held up as an ideal.
Turned away from following the Lord.
Who was it that chose him in the 1St place for blessing?
Why was the Lord?
But couldn't the Lord expect dependence and obedience?
From what he had chosen.
Oh dear, young people, remember dependence and obedience.
Is what characterizes.
A believer's walk down here. It's the way of happiness.
It is the way of blessing and fruitfulness.
It is that which before God manifests fruit.
In the believer Christ replaced in the vessel.
You will get the doctrine of it in Hebrews the 5th chapter.
Was what characterized the Lord Jesus as the captain of our salvation.
Dependence and obedience, even to the cross.
But Saul was a man after the flesh.
And although God had given him every opportunity, he had been privileged, brought up with this background. Yet there was something lacking.
He probably was like the young man in the Gospel of Mark.
The Lord could say, as he looked upon him and he loved him, one thing thou lackest.
Oh dear young people, is there one thing you're lacking?
Just because you are brought up in a Christian household doesn't mean you will see that glory land.
Oh no.
There has to be personal faith and trust in the Lord Jesus. Owning yourself as a Sinner in the presence of a holy God. You have to have a Savior.
You have to be born again.
Because without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins, and the Lord Jesus came down from the glory so that he might.
Die and take your place and do a work that you never could do before. A holy God.
That you might be presented.
In God's presence, without spotter stain.
That's the first thing.
I'm not trying this afternoon to tell you that Saul was not a saved manner, that he was. I'm not going into that.
The subject we have here is God's ways, his government.
In the Old Testament, those things are not brought before us like they are in the new.
But it is the pattern of his life that we want to notice this afternoon.
And what was that pattern?
Disobedience.
Yes, and independence.
Oh, how important these two things are.
And how they mark out a man either for blessing or sorrow in this world.
In connection with the things of God.
How was it with David?
Ah, David replaces Saul.
He takes his Kingdom. He was a man after God's own heart.
But we have noticed also that the record of David as a man.
Could hardly be spoken of as any better than Saul's.
No, David gave occasion to the enemies.
Of God's people.
To blasphemy.
David's life was checkered with sin.
00:30:05
And the government of God was upon him, and followed him all his days because of it.
A solemn this is.
For those who look at David's life and they say, well, David did it.
I certainly. It wouldn't be too bad if I sinned too, remember?
God's government is sure.
And all the sorrows.
Year after year as a result of disobedience to the Word of God.
Taking up our own pathway and independence. Disobeying the Word of God.
There is a verse in the book of Mark that tells us everyone shall be salted with fire and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.
Well, I can't say all that that means, but I believe it means this at least.
That everyone who professes to be one of God's people are going to be tested.
To see whether they have that character or not. To see where there is a new nature that responds to the things of God, that loves the things of God.
You know what the Prophet says in the 119 Psalm? Thy testimonies are wonderful, therefore doth my soul love them. Oh no, he doesn't.
Thy testimonies are wonderful, therefore does my soul keep them.
Hate them?
The Lord God is the Son and shield. No good thing will He withhold from them. That what?
Walk up rightly.
Oh, how good these things are to be reminded of them.
And now Saul is being tested.
Turn to the 13th chapter just for a moment.
We find that Saul is in trouble here.
And he hasn't been king very long.
We find also that Samuel had appointed certain days for solitary and weight to get a word from God as to what he should do.
And so he did wait till seven days, but he couldn't wait a minute longer, not a minute longer. He was impatient.
And notice what he says in the 12Th verse.
Now this is what characterizes the flesh.
12 verse I forced myself therefore an offer to burnt offering.
I forced myself. Is that dependence?
Do you think God would ever call you to walk in a path that he wouldn't sustain you in?
May I add one more thought, supposing that you had failed.
You think God will leave you?
All you might feel is government, but dear ones, he'll never, never, never leave you.
Never leave you.
And he will open the way for you, even though you have sinned.
If you own your sin.
If you don't think so, read in detail the third Psalm. There you'll see David.
Another experience in his life where he married a Syrian woman and he had that son, Absalom.
That took the throne away from.
That was disobedience.
But in that lovely third Psalm we see David's heart just blossoming like a flower in the midst of all the government of God that was upon him, still running from his Son.
Oh Lord, thou art is shield from me.
Oh how the Lord loves to see in His children faith.
A little simply trust Him no matter what. Hasn't he taken us up for blessing? Didn't he know what we were? Oh dear young people, put your trust in Him. Dependence.
How lovely to see David in his extremity in second.
Kings. He finds himself in a dilemma. He has three choices.
Because he had numbered the people.
You know this could have been David's greatest sin.
The number of the people without giving to God a ransom for Him.
Piece of silver.
Yes, and now his heart had smitten him, he realizes, having a nature that's of God, he realized that he'd sinned.
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And so he tells the prophet, he says.
Have God take away my sins. But God can't do that, you know?
It is only through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ that it can be put away.
But the government of God was upon David.
And so God says I will give you 3 choices.
Why? Because he was going to test David so that David could learn where his heart was.
Yes, just like a flower to the sun, David's heart turns to the Lord.
And that precious?
Is that where your heart is turned and your extremity today?
Don't say there are no extremities.
Because there are in this very room this afternoon, I'm sure, with some of these dear young people.
Problems.
Yes, I have letters at home to prove it problems.
Are you turning to the Lord in your extremity? Are you giving up? Are you saying it's no use?
Ah, there is a way for faith.
And David gives us, even though he had failed himself, David gives us these.
Principles in his life because he was a man after God's own heart. Why?
He loved.
To have mercy shown to him, and he loved to show mercy.
And besides that.
The moment his sin was brought to life, he confesses it and he gets down before God.
Turneth me to the 51St Psalm.
Now this is the Psalm that was written.
When David was in trouble.
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness.
According unto the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions and my sins ever before me.
Against thee the only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight, that thou mightest be justified when our speakers, and be clear when our judges. Behold, I was shaping an iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Behold, thou desireth truth in the inward parts and in the hidden part. Thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
Herds me with hyssop.
And I shall be clean. Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me to hear joy and gladness at the bones which thou hast broken. May rejoice.
Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from thy presence.
And take not thy Holy Spirit or the Spirit of Thy holiness from me.
Restart of me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with Thy free spirit.
And so on.
We find David here pouring out his soul to God as a result.
Of what? The Prophet?
I had said to him.
Thou art the man.
But now, going back to our 15th chapter, you'll notice a few things.
15th Chapter. First Samuel.
We find in the ninth verse.
That everything vile and refuse.
Saul destroyed.
And he thought that he had done the Lord's bidding.
Because he was acting according to the dictates of his natural heart.
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And you know, that's a fatal thing for a Christian to do.
If it were a case of mathematics.
Or something that had to do.
With such things.
God has given wisdom in these things in a natural way.
But when it comes to moral issues and that which has to do with God.
There's only one place that we can get instruction for our path, and that's the word of God.
Never, never has there has there have been a thought in man's mind, naturally, that please God, not one.
The only thought that could please God would be that which is the result of reading God's word.
Because when man fell, he was left immoral, derelict. There's not one thought towards God, and it's only the instruction of God's precious words that enables him to walk pleasing to God down here.
And saw a man after the flash.
You know what Paul says about the flesh in Romans 8.
If you live after the flesh, you shall die. That is eternal death.
But after the spirit life.
Yes, the one who was after the flesh is in the path of death.
Well, Saul gives us that pattern then in his life.
Of one who walked according to the flesh instead of according to the word of God.
He didn't follow the path as we see in the 13th chapter of Dependence.
Nor did he follow in the path of obedience as we see in this chapter.
Dependence and obedience.
Oh, how important they are.
And the spirit that David showed.
Of his heart, clinging to the Lord is what preserves the soul.
In this bath.
Is Christ the object of our hearts?
All may be sought continuously.
And if that be the case, as we have in the.
In the 27th Psalm, the Lord is my light. Here's the strength of my life. But how does David end the Psalm? Wait.
I say on the Lord that's dependent 7 days, yes.
Then keep on waiting.
Keep on waiting.
That is what Elijah did, and when he waited, then the word of the Lord came to him.
And if you wait, and if I wait, then the word of the Lord will come to us.
That Saul in this chapter, he doesn't obey the word of the Lord, he just partly obeys it.
And those things that seem so pleasant to the natural eye.
Oh, he thought, won't this be wonderful to offer to the Lord?
Is that right?
Oh, you say, yes, he made a mistake, but how about your life and mine now?
These are principles, aren't they, that are for us.
How about those things in our life that belong to this world that we have allowed?
Do you think God can use them in our lives?
By taking part of the world and linking up with that which is of God.
No, the cross was severed between the believer in the world. There's a distinct separation.
The Word of God is that which determines whether The thing is right or whether it's wrong in our lives.
Not our own thoughts.
Not that would seem so good that we could offer to the Lord. No one has to go.
Just as much as that which is via.
And I believe the enemy is coming in the last days.
As an Angel of light to deceive souls.
And to partly use natural wisdom.
And partly use the things of God.
And so I believe the Spirit of God would encourage us this afternoon in this scripture.
To examine the Word of God and to see what it says.
And then to seek grace, to act on it in his fear.
And if we have fail.
That we might return immediately.
Confess our sins.
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The 28th of Proverbs says.
He that hideth this sin shall not prosper, but he that confesseth and forsake of them shall find mercy.
And when you get time, read the next verse too. It's important.
Well, now we find that the crisis has come and solves life.
Saul has been tested.
He's been tested as to dependents. He's been tested as to obedience.
And his sin is manifest.
Here is the bleeding of the sheep that were supposed to be destroyed. So on the evidence is here.
Before the prophet, you know, it's remarkable how things come out in the presence of God.
When we're alone, we think things are right.
But get into the presence of God.
When you young people are seeking companions.
And you have your little times together. Do you get into the presence of God together? Do you do that?
Or you leave God out of it.
Oh, you'll say you're going too far, aren't you? No, I don't think so.
Are you bringing the Lord in at the very start?
You're going to end up the way you start, remember that.
You're going to end up the way you start.
Are you bringing the Lord into everything in your life? Is it a practical thing with you?
And now this 22nd verse.
You know Saul.
Is quite ready to blame the people, isn't he?
Before we read this verse, I'd just like to comment on that.
The people have taken.
Doesn't that sound?
Like Adam?
Doesn't that sound like the old man?
What did David say?
Again, Steve, the only have I sinned?
Done us evil in thy sight.
Oh, what a difference of spirit.
The willingness to take the low place and to be nothing that we find to David.
Why? Because he was a man after God's own heart.
God had wrought in his soul, and he had seen the end of himself, at least in measure.
But that's all. He blames the people. He wants to justify himself. He wants himself to look as good as possible.
But that's the wrong spirit.
And Samuel said, Hath the Lord his great delight and burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken.
Than the facts of Rams.
This is God's estimate of it.
To obey His voice is far better than anything you could ever bring to God.
You know when just a little thing to notice when the people anointed.
Or accepted Saul as king. They had peace offerings.
That's liberty in God's presence.
But when Saul went to offer ahead of time, he asked the people to bring a bird offering at peace offerings.
But you'll notice he didn't offer the peace offerings.
He didn't have liberty.
He forced himself.
That's the 4th chapter of Philippians.
You have peace with God, or you have the peace of God, and you have the God of peace.
In the 4th chapter, Philippians.
Ah, dear young people, do you have the peace of God in your hearts by putting all your cares upon Him?
Do you have the God of peace with you because you obey His word?
Are you walking in peace?
Are you going on day by day in peace, or is your conscience smiting you because of unjudged sin?
Or it may be a little thing you say.
00:50:02
But that's what's hindering your joy in Christ.
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. Is it a little thing?
You sent a little thing just disobeying the word of God. A little thing.
It is as the sin of witchcraft.
Why does the word of God put that in?
Well, in the 10th chapter, First Chronicles, you will see why.
Where does Saul spend his last days?
The last night he passed over Shunam.
Shunam, that city that was specially blessed of Issachar.
Remember where that great woman lived? Unum.
And he saw that rest was good, and the land that was pleasant. That was the prophecy concerning Issachar.
But Saul goes over Pastors Shunam that night to search out the counsel of a witch.
And here the Spirit of God tells him ahead of time.
What his course will be.
Oh how solemn it is to disobey the Word of God.
Yes, Saul ends up asking counsel of a witch.
But how does David end his life?
Not in possession of the Kingdom.
And the one who has an heir promised that would sit on his throne forever.
That's the way David ends his life.
And what was the difference?
Ah, the spirit. It was in David.
That God gave him its truth, but that willingness to take a low place and own what was true of himself.
To to own when he'd sinned.
And to honor God in it. He was a man after God's own heart. And then to seek the mercy of God.
Oh dear ones, it is only mercy that will do for four sinners ourselves saved by grace, mercy, mercy to save us, and mercy to keep us day by day till we're home in the Father's house.
May God give us that tender, tender spirit to wait upon Him continually.
No matter what it is in our lives. Even though we've failed.
Stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, He hath also rejected thee from being king.
And now Samuel Saul tells out before Samuel.
His very character and what is it?
Honor me now before the people.
That was the.
Motive behind his actions?
You know there is a difference in repentance.
There is such a thing as being sorry for your sin.
And it may not go very deep.
How many a person that was unsaved has been sorry for their sin?
But just being sorry for the sin, you may repeat it.
That there came a time, you know, in Peter's life, when the Lord called him before all the others on the 21St of John.
And he said, Peter, do you love me more than these?
Peter said he had, you know that much. To say he was better than the rest was pride.
And now the Lord is getting down to the roots of it, and Peter was going to have to judge the roots.
It's only that blessed Savior is our advocate that can restore our souls and to give us to see light as He sees it.
And to be not only sorry for our sin.
About to judge the very roots of it.
To be free of it, Oh, how good would it be.
The Lord to give that with each of us.
Honor me now.
Before the people.
And that I may worship the Lord.
Worship the Lord. Think of Saul worshipping the Lord.
Harmony today think they can worship the Lord.
But to worship the Lord?
It must be in sincerity, It must be in truth.
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In spirit and truth.
To worship the Lord.
We find David after he's confessed his sins.
In Second Kings there he has an altar.
It is not in Israel, though it is on the threshing floor of a run of the Jebusite, the Gentile.
David owns that according to the instructions of God. He owns that the blessing must come on the ground of God's sovereignty.
Then he offers burnt offerings.
But he also offers peace offerings.
Oh, how good it is to again have liberty in the presence of God, because that's what peace offerings would suggest. Liberty to have the soul completely restored and have liberty. David had that.
But not solve.
But instead, Saul had a jealous spirit the rest of his days.
Besides that.
He took his dagger to throw at David what he played before him in the heart.
David ran for his life.
Never again in the House of Saul did he have a heart.
The harp was gone.
It suggests to us the replacing of the Spirit of God with an evil spirit in the life of Saul.
Oh, how sad.
The end of that man who stood head and shoulders above all the rest.
That man who came out of a Christian heritage, shall we say, with every.
Thing behind him.
That would mark him out as the man of the hour.
The end of Saul was terrible.
He takes his own life, you know.
And as he dies, not only do the rest of his sons.
Fall but dear Jonathan.
Do.
Taken with him, the whole family wiped out, as it were.
Of his immediate sons.
As the enemy takes over the land at the death of Saul.
But we say again, it wasn't so with David.
In his latter end.
No, David ends his life and blessing.
Because there was true repentance that was owning himself.
Before God is just exactly what he was.
32nd verse tells us how Samuel takes care of Agag.
What God was going to do to slay all the Amalekites children of Esau, you know.
Unless their king was gone.
No, the king has to go.
The king has to go.
And Samuel isn't isn't through with this matter until Agag is slain and the will of the Lord has to be done.
And now the children of Israel are free from that which was a menace to them, the Amalekites.
Well, may the Lord use these few scriptures then that we have read.
To remind us of how important it is.
Each one to take our place in dependence upon God, to realize that the only source that we have is that supply which we get from heaven, and we get it through His precious Word and on our knees before God. But also to seek grace to walk in the truth.
That we have received.
Because remember, the first step of departure is to hear the word of God and refuse to act on it.
And the second is.
To find ourselves in paths that are not according to the word of God.
And the third is the wicked heart of unbelief that departs from the living God.
That we find in Hebrews 3.
Yes, the pattern of turning away from God starts with refusing to act on the known truth that we have. May God give us grace then, dear young people and all.
To to act on the truth.
He's bought us with his precious blood and the right place for a creature.
Dependence and obedience.
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Shall we sing that little hymn #10 in the back of the book?
The Assembly at Ephesis
YP Address—W. Smith
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Turn to hymn #224.
#224.
Oh, that we never might forget what Christ has suffered for our sake to save our souls and make us meet of all His glory to partake.
But keeping this in mind, press on to glory and the victor's crown. Someone started, please.
Don't say why.
I got me.
A water and.
Rain.
It's my thought this afternoon.
Dear friends, Brethren.
To trace through the scripture through the New Testament.
00:05:02
Some of the history.
And God's thoughts concerning.
One of the churches.
That are brought before us in the scripture.
I'm speaking in particular.
Of the assembly at Ephesus.
The place where Paul labored so long.
And that place which was so highly blessed.
For three years of the ministry of the apostle.
And I thought it might be for profit.
To consider.
What the scripture tells us concerning.
That assembly.
So we might turn first to the Acts of the Apostles.
Chapter 19.
Verse one.
And it came to pass that while Apollos was at Corinth.
Paul, having passed through the upper coast, came and came to Ephesus, and finding certain disciples, he said unto them, Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?
When they said unto him, We have not so much had heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
And he said unto them, Under what then were ye baptized?
And they said unto John's baptism.
Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people that they should believe on him which had come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
When they heard this, they were baptized.
In the name of the Lord Jesus.
Now in verse 18.
And many that believed came and confessed and showed their deeds.
Many of them also, which used curious arts, brought their books together and burned them before old men in the count of the price of them.
And found us 50,000 pieces of silver.
So mightily.
Grew the work of God and prevailed.
Here we find the Apostle Paul.
Coming into.
They're notoriously.
Wicked heathen city.
City given over to idolatry?
A study.
Which could claim as they said.
Artemis or Diana of the Ephesians.
What do you find somewhere in that city?
Whose hearts God had touched.
They believed the testimony that they had received up to that time.
And how good it is.
When we receive the word of God.
Simply.
As it is given to us.
How many there are?
In various places.
Who have received little light.
But they have believed the testimony that God has sent amongst them.
And God has given further light.
It was that way with those at opposites.
They had believed.
That which have been spoken amongst them, calling for repentance.
Their hardware right towards God.
And God now.
As his servant.
To send into their midst in order to bring them to Christ.
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So if I the apostle by the Spirit of God.
Being directed to Ephesus.
He finds these here, who had been baptized into John's baptism.
And as he says, there was that which pointed on.
To the Lord Jesus Christ who was to come.
But when Paul arrived in Ephesus.
The Lord Jesus Christ had come. The work was finished.
And now he can preach to them.
The gospel of the grace of God and point them.
To the one who alone was the savior.
And the one who not only had completed the work of redemption, but now.
Had gone on.
They received the word of God.
They believed.
And all we can thank God for everyone who has.
Believe the Word of God in this company.
But I do wonder.
As we stand here, if there are any.
So having been brought into the place where the word of God is spoken.
And I am sure heard in the homes daily.
I wonder if there is a young man or a young lady.
That is not yet.
What his or her trust?
In the Lord Jesus Christ.
The one that Paul preached.
To these at Ephesus.
Or, you know, the solemn thing.
To sit under the sound of the Gospel, under the sound of the word of God.
And not to receive it.
It's a solemn thing.
Having heard the word of God.
And to turn away from it.
All the words of the Lord Jesus.
Has spoken.
The word of God.
Will judge.
In the day of judgment.
Oh, how solemn.
But all we can thank God for everyone.
That has been raised in a Christian home.
Has heard the Word of God and responded to it.
Taking the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior.
How happy.
That these that emphasis.
Turn to God.
Yeah, it's like the Thessalonians. They turn to God from their idols.
And as we read in the 18th verse.
Here they come, owning what they had been.
And giving up.
All these curious arts that they had been identified with before.
You know it costs them something.
It cost them something to give up these things.
And we find that God takes note.
What it cost them?
We have it recorded here on the pages of Inspiration.
That the value of these things.
Which they consigned to the fire.
Was 50,000 pieces of silver.
For whatever is of value.
Of that money today.
We don't know.
But we were speaking this morning.
Of what the Apostle Paul had before his conversion.
But what an advantage it was to him as a man down here in this world.
A man who was headed for the top.
As far as his nation was concerned.
He was one who could go to the authorities in that day.
An eager got letters.
Giving him authority.
To bring prisoners those whom he would find.
00:15:03
Oh yeah, he was a prominent man.
But when he found Christ.
That was lost to him.
To have retained that which was for his advantage as a man down here in this world.
To retain that would have meant that he couldn't have Christ for his game.
And so these at Ephesus.
They gave up that which had been for their supposed advantage.
In that city.
They gave it up as worthless.
And they burned it.
Oh, here's a company of young Christians.
Just like some in this room today, young Christians.
All we don't know their ages as far as their birth was concerned.
But as Christians.
They were young.
They were young and the truth.
All we find, do we not?
That affection.
For the Lord Jesus.
To enable them to give up.
That which we had been of worth to them.
And now to consider. But loss.
For the Excellency of Christ.
Such was the beginning.
Of.
The assembly at appersence.
The apostle had been in their midst for some years.
Three years he had been there.
Teaching them the word of God.
Now let's turn to the next chapter.
Verse 16.
Paul has gone away.
And now he is on the road to Jerusalem.
For Paul and determined assailed by Ephesus.
Because you will not spend the time in Asia, for he hasted if it were possible for him to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.
And from my leaders he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church.
And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all season.
Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears and temptations, which bellow me by the lying and weight of the Jews.
And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you.
But have showed you and have taught you publicly and from house to house.
Testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks.
Repentance towards God.
And faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ.
Now, verse 25.
And now, behold, I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the Kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.
Wherefore I take you to record this day.
That I am pure from the blood of all men, For I have not shunned to declare unto you.
All the counsel of God.
Take heed, therefore, unto yourselves, and to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers.
To feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
For I know this, that after my departings of grievous wolves enter in among you.
Not sparing the flock.
Also of your own sounds shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
Therefore, watch and remember that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn everyone.
Night and day.
With tears.
And now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace.
Which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them.
Which are sanctified.
This was the apostles last message.
The last oral message to this.
Wonderful company of Christians.
00:20:07
He had been with them.
As such was her state of soul.
That he could present to them some of the highest truths.
Which we have in the scripture.
He had been faithful in their midst.
Yeah, you've been there as an example to them.
Serving the Lord, as He says, with all humility of mind.
Than with many tears and temptations.
All these things they could see.
In him.
They can see the reality.
Of what the apostle was teaching.
They could see it in himself.
He left them that example.
For our wonderful to think that such was the grace of God that He would provide a servant for them.
Who could be an example to them to show them just what was God's mind for them?
Now he said, I kept back nothing profitable unto you.
Oh, you know, sometimes.
When a message is given to this one or that one.
Perhaps it's unwise, but nevertheless it is so dumb to present what we think.
Might be something that they can bear.
But the apostle Paul kept nothing back from that was profitable to them.
He went from house to house admonishing.
And teaching them.
Oh yes, they were dear to the heart of the apostle.
And the Provident by his teaching, by his ministry, deproverted by it.
And now he says I'm going away.
You won't see me anymore.
For research I have not shown to declare into the whole council of God.
Oh, how wonderful it is, dear young Christian.
That you and I.
Have been given in the Scripture the whole council of God.
God has kept back nothing.
From you and me, that would be for our prophet down here in this world.
And to give us a triumphant entry.
Into the glory above.
A wonderful idea.
How much do we avail ourselves?
Of what God has given to us.
We were reminded this morning.
About Abraham.
Was given the whole arm of Canaan.
But he was told to walk through it, the length and the breadth of it, to walk through it, that he might enjoy it.
The obvious state in the place where he was.
How could he enjoy that which God had given to him?
And dear young Christian, how can you and I enjoy what God has given to us?
By his.
Unless we feed and meditate upon the wonderful truths of God.
But you know, the enemy is ever busy. The enemy likes to undermine our faith. He likes to discourage, to say well.
Must not be occupied with that.
Nor the apostle tells thee.
That were so favored. Take heed.
The enemy is busy. Take heed.
Under yourselves know that all the flock.
00:25:04
Over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseer, to feed the Church of God, which hath purchased with the blood.
Of his own.
Boy says I know that after my departing.
Grievous wolves.
Shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
All we see the truth of this today.
How do the worlds have come in?
Of how the word of God.
The testimony.
Has been so deluded by these.
That's to make the word of God of none effect.
To the unwary.
Yes, it is.
To the point of denying.
The very inspiration denying the truth of the Word of God.
Also of your own selves shall men arise.
Speaking for various things to draw away disciples after them.
All we need to be careful, we need to be on our guard.
That we don't allow these things which we know have come in amongst the people of God.
To allow these things to disturb, to undermine our faith.
But you know, there's one sure thing.
The apostle in the face of all these that would come in.
To destroy.
To harass the flock.
There is one resource that he has.
He says I commend you to garden.
And to the void of His grace.
What better place could there be? What better refuge?
Could there be for you and me?
You know the enemy.
Is a wise being.
He had lots of experience in deceiving people.
Yes, sometimes even deceiving the Lord's people.
Oh, how sad do you think that the enemy can get in his work?
Amongst the people of God.
But there's a resource that you and I can rely upon.
A sure resource that will never fail.
He says I command you to God.
And to the word of his grace.
Which is able to give you to be able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among them.
All them that are sanctified, oh how blessed.
See, our time is moving on.
We'd like to turn to the Epistle to the Ephesians.
Not to go into any details at all about it.
But just to point out some of the things that the apostle was able.
To present to these dear souls.
In the Epistle to the Ephesians in the first chapter.
All we find there.
In the 16th verse or 15th verse.
Wherever I also after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and love unto all the Saints.
Cease not to give thanks for you making mention of you in my prayers.
How good it is?
To be able to pray for one another.
Not only for those that are going on.
Bad course.
Not only for those in trial, but for those that are going on well.
To pray.
For the whole Church of God.
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation of the knowledge of Him.
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened.
00:30:01
That you may know what is the hope of his calling.
And what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints?
And what is the exceeding greatness of its power to us right, who believe according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places?
Far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.
And has put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth All in all.
The apostle presents to the Ephesians the truth.
That Christ is now in the heavenly places, seated in the heavenly places.
In the highest places, exalted above all.
As we saw Saturday.
In the second chapter to the Philippians.
Of how that he's been given a name which is above every name.
The name of Jesus exalted above every other name.
So that all will bow the knee to him.
But for you and me.
He is up there in the glory, seated.
There in the heavenlies.
And the desire of God is that you and I might have our understanding opened to enter into the blessedness of that truth.
Oh yeah, she wants us to enjoy.
That which is given to us.
So the apostle be praised without ceasing.
That you and I as well as the Ephesians.
Might enter in and enjoy all these things.
Lord, God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing.
In the heavenlies in Christ.
For that is.
Return to the second chapter.
We won't take time to read, but we find there that not only is Christ seated there in the heavenlies.
For that, you and I.
Who once were dead in trespasses and sins.
Going on in the course of this world.
Oh God, rich and mercy.
Has saved us.
And he seated us together with him.
In heavenly places.
All blessed truth.
That that's our possession now before God.
Seated alone with Christ.
In the heavenly places.
Can your father it?
Can you lay hold of it?
So we can enjoy it, can we not?
That God has so blessed you and me.
Now, so unite us to Christ.
See us with him up there.
And at the end of the second chapter.
We find that you and I, who once were strangers to that place.
Had no right.
In the glory, no right to heaven at all.
But we find no more strangers and pilgrims.
In the 19 verse of the second chapter.
Fellow citizens were the Saints.
And of the household of God.
Oh what a place we have been brought into.
No more strangers and pilgrims.
No.
Heaven is our home.
That's where we belong.
Built upon the foundation of the apostles and province.
Jesus Christ himself.
Being a chief cornerstone.
So all there's a building going on, yes.
It isn't complete as of this moment, but we anticipate that it will very, very soon be completed.
00:35:06
Building growing up.
Into a holy temple in the Lord.
There, when the Lord comes, that building will be completed.
And seeing that holy temple in the Lord, in the glory.
All fitly framed together.
Oh, that's what God desires for us to be there with Him.
That mighty edifice.
To the glory of God.
But even now down here.
We're building together from habitation of God through the Spirit.
God dwelling in the midst of His people down here in this world.
Not some of the truth that's been presented to the Ephesian Saints. And such was their spiritual capacity that they could take it in.
But is that all? Oh, we turn to the third chapter.
And we find that this is in the purpose of God.
From the foundation of the world. From before the foundation of the world.
And the very angelic beings.
Can sing through the church.
The manifold.
The all various.
Wisdom of God.
In uniting.
Together in one.
Both Jew and Gentile into the Church of God.
Oh, God had it in mind from before the foundation of this world.
To have a people united to Christ.
Yeah. And then in the 4th chapter.
We have presented to.
The truth is A1 body. There is one body.
But again this morning we were reminded.
Of the calling wherewith we have been called.
The first verse of the 4th chapter says, I therefore the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation.
Wherewith ye are called.
And how is it to be?
With all loneliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love.
Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the uniting bond of peace.
Oh, we have a vocation. We have a calling.
The refers back, I think.
What we have in the end of the second chapter.
That holy temple in the Lord to be manifested in the glory.
The truth that even now down here, God dwells in the midst of his people.
Now he says walk worthy of that.
I wonder.
If we walked worthy of it.
May God help us.
To walk in the good of what we have here.
Of the vocation, where was we been called?
The day is coming when the Lord Jesus Christ is going to bring his own with Him out of glory, and He's going to be admired in his Saints in that day.
What a wonderful thing it is that when the Lord Jesus comes with a train of his redeemed ones.
The wandering eyes down here in this scene are going to see him in all that glory.
And.
That He is the one who has accomplished the work of redemption, and He has worth of a train, the trophies of his glory, trophies of His grace.
Adding to His glory.
In that day.
I wonder.
If they'll see you or they'll see me there.
You say, well, I didn't know that he was going to be there. I didn't know that she was going to be there.
But he is going to be admired.
In his Saints.
00:40:00
How blessed it is.
Now you know, in the same chapter.
Having presented these wonderful truths.
The Apostle.
Has to say to them.
Let him a stole steal no more.
Hassan, in the midst of the knowledge of all this wonderful truth.
As there has to be that that he established, let him as Dole steal no more.
Oh, he says to putting away a lying. There was lying savory in their midst.
How sad do you think that even amongst those who have the knowledge?
Of these wonderful truths.
But the enemy gets the advantage.
We need to be on our guard, the apostle told him to take heed to themselves.
And you and I need to be on our guard, too.
Because I know your heart and my heart.
Are capable.
I'm doing some of these very things that we see in others.
And we look down upon them for what they have done.
Oh, our hearts are no different from anyone else.
And as a dear brother one time said.
And that because it doesn't come out in me as it does in someone else.
Is only a matter of what eggs have been hatched.
All the capability.
Of wrongdoing. Of sin.
Evil is in my heart.
And the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.
Thus your heart and mind.
But you know, if there are those, that God's mercy has come.
And now as those who have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior.
He's given us a new life.
Capable of entering in and enjoying the truth that we're Speaking of here.
In the 5th chapter he reminds us that Christ also has loved us and given himself for us.
An offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor.
All he brings before is the love of Christ.
He loved us.
Then in the same chapter he speaks that Christ also loved the church.
And gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it.
Of the washing of water.
By the word.
Oh yeah, Christ has loved the church and given himself for it.
And now shall we turn.
To the second chapter of the Revelation.
Under the Angel, the church in Ephesus write.
These things that he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand.
Who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks?
I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil.
And thou has tried them which say they are apostles and are not, and has found them liars.
And has born, and has patience. And for my name's sake hast labored, and hast not fainted.
Nevertheless, I have against thee.
Because I was left thy first love.
Remember therefore, from whence thou hast fallen, and repent.
And do the 1St works.
Or else I would come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy Candlestick out of his place, except our effort.
But this thou hast. Thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
He that hath an ear.
Let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches.
To him it overcometh Will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God?
00:45:09
Some few years have gone on.
Since the apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians and presented to them these wonderful truths.
Here we find possibly 30 years later.
The Apostle John writing to the same city.
To the same company.
But how different the tone?
That is manifest here.
This is a word directly from the Lord Jesus Christ.
From the one who's walking in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks.
He holds the seven stars in his right hand.
We find him spoken of in that character in the first chapter.
As the one.
Walking in judicial robe.
Taking account.
Of that which is down here in this world.
And as the apostle Peter says, judgment must begin at the House of God.
And so before the judgments which are about to fall upon this world take place.
The Lord is taking account.
Of that which is amongst his own people down here.
The state of soul.
Now I know that this is spoken here particularly in a collective way.
But I believe that there is a state of soul with each of its individually.
Which can correspond.
With perhaps one or more of these.
Seven addresses to the assembly that are given here.
And I trust.
That we may find something for our individual profits.
The Lord Jesus Christ.
The one who died on Calvary's cross.
Has been given the.
In virtue of his work that Calvary.
To judge.
And his own.
He takes account of and he presents to us his thoughts.
Concerning our ways.
Than our thoughts to down here.
Now he says to them, I know thy works.
Oh yeah, you've taken account of all that they had done.
He had taken account of their faithfulness.
Of how they'd gone on.
There were works.
There was labor.
There was patience among them.
They had not been negligent of that.
But you know even in this that the Lord can command.
There is a note here.
To exercise a heart.
The word written to the Thessalonians Saints.
Similar.
But with a marked difference.
God by inspiration through the Apostle Paul.
To speak of the Thessalonians Saints.
Speak of their works of love.
The works of faith, the labor of love and patience of hope.
Take us big of these. They too had been newly converted.
And they were going on in the enjoyment of all that God had given them.
Here are the Ephesians.
There were their works.
So the faith was gone.
The love was gone.
The patience was gone.
00:50:01
There had been declension.
Something had come in in that assembly.
The very spring.
Of all that should have been, their activity was gone.
The Outward.
Part of it was all the same.
But all that we should have been in the heart was gone.
Oh, how easy it is, you know, to go on outwardly.
With all that our fellow Christians and others can say, well now that person certainly is going on well.
As a Christian.
And yet.
Is that what should be in the heart?
That which goes upward to gone.
Is gone.
Oh yes, they could not bear those that were evil.
No, they set aside all that.
They had tried. Those that had come in amongst them said they were apostles and were not.
They had proven them to be liars.
They had shown the false doctrine that they had tried to bring in their midst.
All this God can commend. The Lord Jesus sees it all, and he puts it down to their account.
They had borne, they had patience, they had labored, they had not fainted. All this they had gone on with.
All these years they had gone on with that.
Oh, but he said, nevertheless I have against thee leave out that word somewhat.
It doesn't belong there.
All there wasn't anything light that the Lord had against them, I have against thee. He says that thou hast left.
Thy first love.
So how sad it is.
That they had left their first love.
And the way it's put here, I believe rings before us the fact.
That it was something that they had turned away from.
Not something that had been removed from them.
But they themselves.
Had grown so cold in their hearts.
That they left. They turned away.
From that knowledge had been theirs in the days when the apostle Paul had been in their midst, and when they had taken all those books and burned them.
Because of their faithfulness to the Lord Jesus Christ.
All this was gone now.
Oh, how is it with us?
Do we have that enjoyment of Christ?
Does His love mean as much to us now as it did in the days?
When we first knew the Lord Jesus Christ.
As our Savior.
Let's ask ourselves that question.
Though it's true, you know that love can become deeper.
Perhaps more quiet.
Than when we first learned to know the Lord Jesus Savior.
But oh, how blessed it is.
To find that love deepening and increasing.
Define our enjoyment of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Increasing day by day.
All these ones to whom the Lord Jesus Christ is sending His message through the apostle John.
They had become cold in their hearts.
They had left their first love.
And the Lord Jesus Christ treated as something that is serious.
Is the beginning of the downfall.
Losing that first love.
Now I said, remember therefore from whence I was fallen, and repent.
And do the 1St.
Or if we become cold in our shoulders.
00:55:01
Let us remember, let's recall to our own hearts the love of the Lord Jesus Christ for us.
How that he gave himself for us.
How much do we value the fact that he gave himself?
Oh, sometimes you know we say yes. The Lord Jesus Christ gave his life for me.
Gave more than his life.
He gave himself for you and for me.
The Lord Jesus Christ had dedicated himself.
To your service and mind, not only the work of the cross.
But today, as our high priest, as our advocates.
And the day is coming when he's going to have us in the glory and he's going to come forth.
And service.
Do the 1St works?
Or is it? Or else I would come under thee quickly, and will remove like Candlestick out of his place, except our repent.
You know the Apostle Peter.
Speaks of those.
Who had become so cold in their hearts?
That they had forgotten that they were purged from their old sins.
Going on here in this world, just as part of it.
Just as though the Lord Jesus Christ.
Had not died for them.
So if we allow the love that's in our hearts at first love, if we allow that to become cold, oh, how easy it's going to be to slip into such a state as that.
To forget.
The very fact that the Lord Jesus Christ is the one who's died for us. Oh, it's Syria.
See, our time is gone.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit sat into the churches. Do you have an ear?
Is your ear open to the Word of God?
Are you willing?
To take what the word of God says, the warnings that it has for you and me.
Oh, take deed.
Let's not forget the enemy is ever busy.
Trying to turn away our ears.
But let's hear.
What the Spirit says to the churches, the Lord Jesus Christ himself said.
Take heed how he here.
Take it how ye hear. Nor may it be.
Where the heart warmed by the affection of Christ.
To take heed to his word.
And then there's a word to the overcomer.
And what's an overcomer?
Oh, I believe is.
Who goes on the path of faith perseveres in the path of faith in the midst of the circumstances in which he's vulnerable?
There is a path of faith for you and me.
And if we're willing to walk in it, by the grace of God.
All will be overcomers.
Yes, very well.
And there's a promise to the overcomer here.
To read of the Tree of Life which is in the midst of the paradise of God, or to enjoy.
That which God has for us, waiting for us in the glory and to enjoy the blessings of God, the spiritual blessings which has given us today.
For me, we'll be exercised to go on and persevere in that path.
Shall we sing #197?
Oh God, what cords of love are thine, How gentle, yet how strong.
Truth and grace are strength combined to draw our shoulders along.
The Guild of twice 10,000 sins one moment takes away and when the fight of faith begins.
Our strength is as our day 197.
Naaman the Leper
YP Sing Address—Graham
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Thank you for the 2nd.
Maybe your heart is correct when time.
I'm going to increase the doctor.
On this case of them electric.
5th chapter, second thing.
It won't be all of it.
We know the story of how the Assyrians the enemy of Israel.
Had come in and taken captive, as we find here, a little maid. Remember the Hampton we say about the little maid who needs God's name? And she told her mistress about the prophet who is in the land of Israel.
If that's all word God for this mighty cat. He was a mighty man.
He probably stood at the very top of the government.
Aside from the King himself.
But he was elected and leprosy in scripture states of sin.
Well, we know then that while this story is a name, and it's true of all men too.
This little girl tells about the prophet and finally this proud man comes into the before the king of Israel.
And they seek that he might be healed of leprosy. And the king thought that the Assyrians were trying to pick another quarrel.
So however, the word got around to the Prophet, and he was sent to the Prophet.
Now, if we don't get down to.
The 10th verse. And Elijah sent a messenger unto him, saying.
Go and Washington Jordan 7 times and thy place shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.
But nailing was wrong.
And went away and said, Behold, I thought he would surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leopard.
Are not Avena and far? Are the rivers of Damascus better than all the waters of Israel?
May I not wash in them and be clean? So they turned away in a race, turned and went away in a rain, And his service came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, would as thou not have done it, how much rather than when he said to thee, Wash and be clean?
Do we have a man that was a great man and he wanted things done in a great way?
And I'm afraid that this is some of our own thoughts sometimes that we think, well, if God was assigned to me, some great thing to do.
Then I would be glad to do it.
Well, do we have the ability to do these things? No. We do not have for God except to give it to us.
But still, I suppose every one of us has bought some time or other. If we had the If we were called on by God to do some great thing, we'd do it.
But we think of the small things and we say, well.
I don't know about doing these small things. If I were just called upon to do the big things, then I think I could do it. But let's turn to Romans 12.
And we'll read first and second verse.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies the living sacrifice.
Holy, acceptable under God, which is your reasonable or intelligent service?
And be not conformed to this world.
But be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
That he may prove what he is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
00:05:01
Now we're living in a day when we hear a great deal of non conformance.
Well, here's here's an opportunity for each one of us. Now, we can't do these things in our own strength.
It's only independence for the Lord.
But here is the word be not conform.
Well, we think of people saying today, well here is a person and he's a non conformist.
Well, if we were to analyze these non conformists, I believe we would find.
That they are conformist even though they say they're not conformist.
Well then, why then are they conformist when they determine to be non conformist?
Well, the whole thing of it is is feeding the flesh.
And this is the way of the world.
So that when these individuals who.
About their non conformism.
They're only proving to us that they are conforming to that which we know is through the world.
Because it acts in its own self will and in opposition to God.
But even God here has said be not conformed.
But it's be not conformed to the world, the world which is.
Governed by self will.
Self seeking.
Getting a name for oneself.
Whether it be a good reputation?
Or whether it be an infamous name just so they're not conforming, but in each case it is conforming to that which is off the plane.
But to each one of us, whether we have the ability to do some great things here is something that God has.
Giving us the ability with the strength of Christ. We can't do it ourselves.
But He has given us to do something that in His sight, is not so small.
And when we try to follow his word.
We need his help. We'll find it some great thing.
So that we don't need to seek for some great thing to make a name for ourselves.
If we would look to the Lord, we are who are His.
If there are any here that are not the Lords.
There's not one thing you can do to please him.
Until you receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, or without faith, it's impossible to leave God.
But those of us who through his wondrous grace have been brought to a saving knowledge of Christ, he says to us, Be not conformed to the world.
But he transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will God.
How do we dare?
To be non informed as far as the world is concerned, not in our own spring.
But if we look to him who is our strength, the Lord Jesus Christ.
And we're walking in communion with God.
You will give us that which is necessary.
For he will not ask us to do something that's impossible.
But he will give us strength in Christ, and so he says, be not conformed to this world.
May we look at Romans 8.
And.
The 29th November.
Or whom he did for. No, he also did redesign and be conformed.
Not the image, obviously. Now we have the pharmacy.
We had non performance now we have conform.
And so that's what we see about us today in the world.
00:10:03
But let us not be like the world. Let us listen to the Word of God. We want joy and happiness in our souls.
And we must do according to the word of God.
So we had the non conformist. Now we have the conformist. But this is according to that which God has ordered for each one of us.
Or what we did, for I know he also did the destiny to be conformed to the image of his son.
That he might be the first born? How many branches?
Of this we can't do in our own spring if you need to be kind of funny. And this is what we've heard so much here, especially our brother London, how he passed on us as the dependent ones.
Who belongs to the dependence man, the Lord Jesus Christ?
Now then, if we will look to second Timothy.
And the second chapter.
And this will take a great deal.
Of.
Faith, and he fed up the farm, the Lord.
To be conformed to the image of Christ.
We will be criticized.
Ridicule. We'll feel that we're left on the outside, but once that's not the true of our blessed Savior when He was down here.
There was none that understood him. He had to walk, for the most part, alone.
But he ever was doing the things that lead the father.
And his joy and delight was to do the Father's will.
And as we seek to walk in communion with him.
We will find delight if we have strength in Christ to do the will of God.
So therefore, in the third verse, the second chapter, a second Timothy.
Thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. It's not an easy thing, you know. We all have the question. Us and the flesh and the devil are working against us.
The new man.
And it's the easiest thing for us to take one step out of the pack.
The moment we do so.
Then we have no weapons to fight against safety.
So it's going to cause us to fight like a soldier. A soldier being tried, not one who uses.
The sword by the government.
As a true soldier of Jesus Christ and then down in the 12 verse.
And if we suffer?
We shall also reign with him.
If we deny him.
We also rolled in my up. Well, it means the other translation increased that a little differently. But the thing of it said is that they that suffer with him shall reign with him, and we're called upon to suffer.
With the Lord Jesus Christ.
And the scene of his rejection.
So that just these few words to encourage our hearts in these days when we see everything.
Headed for destruction on every hand.
We who know the Lord ought to be a testimony in this scene.
Will be excluded from the friendship of the world, but we know that the friendship of the world.
Tell we're told that it's not the love of God if we have the love for the world.
So we who know the Lord and have gone through years with the Lord.
Would just say to you young people.
That unless you put your trust in the Lord and seek to be pleasing to Him and not try to conform yourself to this world.
You'll only have happiness in following him.
But you'll only have sorrow if you try to conform.
In this world.
1 more version 211 Which one brother?
00:15:00
#3.
Verse 3 of 211.
Laodicea
YP Address—G. Thompson
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#166.
Lord, thou hast drawn us after Thee.
Now let us run and never tire.
Thy presence shall our comfort be thyself, our hope.
Our soul desire our present Savior, while nor fear, nor sin can come, if thou art near 166.
00:05:49
May they?
I'm close.
Shall we turn together?
To the third chapter of the Book of Revelation.
Revelation chapter 3 and we'll read from.
Verse 14.
And unto the Angel of the Church of the Laodiceans, right.
These things saith the Amen, the faithful.
And true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.
I know thy works.
That thou art neither cold nor hot, I would thou Wert cold or hot.
So then because our Luke warm and neither cold nor hot.
I will spew thee out of my mouth.
Because thou sayest I am rich.
And increased with goods.
And have nothing need of nothing and knowest not.
That thou art wretched and miserable, and poor and blind and naked.
I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich and white raiment that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear. And anoint thine eyes with eyesab, that thou mayest see as many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Be zealous therefore.
And repent, Behold, I stand at the door, and knock if any man hear my voice, and open the door.
I will come into him and will Sup with him.
And he with me, to him that overcometh. Will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame.
And am sat down with my father in his throne.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit said unto the churches.
Now I think most of us know.
That in these addresses to the seven assemblies in Revelations chapter two and three, we have an outline.
Of the history of the church down here, beginning with Ephesus and then Smyrna and then Pergamos.
These are successive stages of the churches history. One succeeded the other. And then we come to the last four via Tyra, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.
The one which we have just read. These last four go on together simultaneously.
00:10:06
Until the coming of the Lord.
And I suppose that all here this afternoon will agree.
That Laodicea.
Has crept in upon us.
And what danger there is of that Laodicean spirit character characterizing us? And what is the Laodicean spirit? That Luke warmness. Thou art neither hot nor cold.
Indifference to the truth and how encouraging it is to see that the the way in which.
The blessed Lord presents Himself to this assembly.
He presents himself as the faithful and.
True witness.
And then in the close of that address.
He says.
To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame.
And am sat down with my father in his throne. And so we're reminded that he is the one who has fraud, the powers of this earth. He is the one who walked in this very scene midst.
His own, and he was familiar with all the weakness and the difficulties and the infirmities along the way.
He was familiar with all of the evil that was present in this scene into which he came.
But he's presented to us as the one who has overcome and has now seated.
On the Father's throne. How encouraging it is as we look about us and see the failure that has marked the history of the Church.
In this world.
To see the Lord addressing us.
In this touching way, the faithful.
And the true witness.
Faithful amidst unfaithfulness.
Missed darkness, only light. Thou didst thy father's name confess.
And in his will delight.
But we've been occupied in our meetings with the Lord Jesus.
As the Exalted One, the one who, after he took.
That last step in his life, that step of obedience and devotedness.
To the Father's will, the last step in that life of faithfulness.
Which was unto death, even the death of the cross. Then we see how that God stepped in, and highly exalted him, and has given him.
A name which is above every name, the name of Jesus, and so the Lord Jesus.
Now, as the overcomer occupies the Father's throne.
Isn't it lovely?
As we go through the Epistle to the Hebrews to see how that the Spirit of God fixes our gaze on that man up there in the first chapter he's presented to us.
As the heir, and he's presented to us as the Creator, the one who made all things. And then we're told that he is the out shining.
Of God's glory.
Express image.
Of his person, that is, He was here in this world.
As the perfect representation of God, so much so that he could say to Philip.
00:15:04
He that hath seen me.
Have seen the father.
And then not only is He presented to us as the Creator.
But we are told that he upholds all things.
By the word of His power, how dependent we are upon Him, the very universe in which we live would collapse apart from the fact that He by divine power sustains that which His very hand had made. And then we learned that He is the one who, when He had made purgation for sin.
Sat down.
At the right hand of the majesty in the heavens.
All look up with the eye of faith and see Him there. The point that we're to gather in that scene is the glory of His person.
As we sometimes sing together, we love thee for the glorious worth.
Which in thyself we see.
And then when we come, I think it is to Chapter 8, we read, we have such an high priest. And where is he? He is seated at the right, on the at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens. And then when we come to the 10th chapter, we look up again and we see him. This time not so much.
In connection with his person, who he is, but rather in connection with what he has done. For there we read that when he had offered one sacrifice for sin, forever sat down.
On the right hand of the throne of God. See him there, See his position. He sat down.
That is in contrast to those priests who stood daily offering sacrifices which could never take away sin. But we were reminded last night in the Gospel address that the Lord Jesus has accomplished a finished work. He has offered himself.
A sacrifice for sin, and he has sat down.
That work is finished. He will never, never rise again to repeat it.
Oh, behold Him there we love thee for the glorious worth which in thyself we see. We love thee for that shameful death.
Endured so patiently. And then we go on to Chapter 12 and we see him again.
This time.
As the one who began a life of faith.
And who completed that life of faith?
And in him there was no failure. Who for the joy that was, sat before him?
Endured the cross despising the shame, and has now sat down on the right hand of the throne of God.
All beloved friends, dear young people, look up with the eye of faith. Look up often.
And see him there, that one who is.
The man who has been in this very scene in which we live and who has now gone back into that scene, he's there. And then we read further in that 12Th chapter of Hebrews, therefore.
Wherefore being encompassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses.
Let us run with patience the race.
That is set before us and then we are told to lay aside every weight.
And sin, which doth so easily beset us.
I hope that all of you young people in our audience this afternoon.
Has began that race. I hope that you're running that race.
00:20:04
That is sat before you and when we run the race we must have the prize before us, we must have the goal before us. And what is the prize? What is the goal looking?
Unto Jesus.
What a great cloud of witnesses we have in Chapter 11 of that epistle.
All of those Old Testament worthies.
But.
We could take each one individually, single out their lives, examine them.
And we could find some point of breakdown exhibited. But here's one who began that life, who completed it.
And in him there was no failure. He's the one that has sat before us looking.
Unto Jesus.
But what one wanted to get at in reading this passage in the Book of Revelation?
Is not so much.
To unfold.
The history of the Church.
Black as it is.
Strewn with failure.
But what one wanted to call attention to was the way in which the Lord Jesus presents Himself on such an occasion. Oh, doesn't it touch our hearts? Doesn't it encourage us to look at Him, the faithful One, the true witness, the one who is now seated on the right hand of the Father's?
Throne.
And as he looks down upon each one of us just in measure that we to our faithful in our Christian pathway.
So do we, minister, pleasure and joy to his heart.
Now I want to turn you back to the Gospel of Luke for a moment, to the beginning of the pathway of the Lord Jesus, and see how that feature of faithfulness was marked out in his walk.
The Gospel of Luke.
Chapter 2.
And we will read from.
A verse.
Well, we might read from verse 41.
Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover.
And when he was 12 years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.
And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus carried behind in Jerusalem, and Joseph and his mother knew not of it, but they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey, and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem.
Seeking him. And it came to pass that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors or teachers.
Both hearing them and answering them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and the answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed. And his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us?
Behold.
I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them.
How is it that you sought me and how lovely the answer we get here?
Whiskey not.
That I must be about my father's business.
00:25:05
What a lovely answer.
This is.
My father's business.
Is this not the very thing for which he came into this world?
We read in Hebrews chapter 10.
Lo, I come.
In the volume of the book, it is written of Maine.
Said dude.
Thy will, O God, and how lovely to see.
The Lord Jesus, how the boy merely 12 years of old.
This is the thing that governed every motive, every thought, every word, every action that was displayed in that lovely life down here.
Law, I come to do thy will. I must be about my father's business. This was.
His object.
In the firm with which I am connected, I used to have a boss who, at the beginning of each year, required that we write an objective report.
We had to list.
All of the things that we hoped to accomplish during the ensuing year and then at the end of each month.
We had to write a status report.
As to how much had been accomplished.
Toward these objectives.
And so this kept us in the channel, it kept us from squandering our time, from wasting our time aimlessly.
Well, dear young Christians.
Those of you who stand at the very threshold of your Christian life, should the Lord tarry, what object do you have before you? What is what are the motives that are going to govern your life in your journey through this world down here? The Lord Jesus had an object before him.
My father's business.
LO, I come to do thy will. What is your object?
Suppose that we were to ask you this afternoon to record on a piece of paper.
What your object is.
For the ensuing year, what would you put down?
I think would be most interesting to read the answers.
Would it be that my object is to be faithful and loyal and true to the one who loved me and gave himself for me? Would that be your object?
Oh, I trust. So I trust that that is the desire of every young believer here this afternoon.
Is to live a life of faithfulness. Faithfulness to the one who loves you and gave himself for you.
And not only faithfulness to him, but faithfulness.
To your brethren and faithfulness to one another.
Oh, how the Lord values faithfulness in our life down here. One thinks of an example in the Old Testament in connection with Naaman the Syrian how that when the host of the Syrians went off to the land of Israel, they brought back captive.
A little maid and she waited on Naaman's wife.
And how lovely it is to see how that this little maid.
Was faithful.
No doubt that they were able to tell.
By her dress.
By her conduct.
By her.
Demeanor.
That she belonged to another land. She was a stranger where she was, but in the midst of those circumstances.
She demonstrated this one quality faithfulness.
00:30:03
Surely she had much to discourage her.
Surely she could have been very highly irritated. She was taken away from her family, her mother and father.
Perhaps brothers and sisters?
But when the opportunity came, she was faithful.
What God, she said that they knew of that prophet in Samaria. He could heal the leprosy. And so she took advantage of the opportunity to be faithful. Faithful to the one whom she knew. Oh, how many opportunities we missed.
Dear young Christians.
Because of our lack of faithfulness.
Oh, is it that we shun the reproach of the name of Christ? I know that that is frequently my case, and I'm sure that it is yours too. But may we take every advantage that crosses our pathway to be faithful, to have a word to say that would speak well.
Discerning our Lord Jesus.
Well, the Lord says, wished him not that I must be about.
My father's business.
And then we read that he went down with them.
And came to Nazareth.
And was subject unto them.
Now I want to pause here for justice a moment. We know that we are living.
In the last days.
And what are one of the marks of the last days?
Disobedience to parents.
Rebellion.
Against parents.
Oh dear young Christians here this afternoon.
May you learn to honor your father and your mother. May you learn to be subject to them. Here is the example that is set before us by that one who was the faithful.
And the true witness.
How many a year has been wasted because.
This was not considered faithfulness.
Faithfulness to our parents.
That subjection that is due them.
That obedience that should characterize us.
The Lord Jesus.
Was subject to his parents.
And that of all that is recorded to him, of him during those hidden years.
But we must pass on now to another incident here in the Gospel of Luke.
Verse 23. Jesus himself.
Began to be about 30 years of age. Josh, think of that.
For 30 long years.
He had walked under the eye of his father, the one whose will he came to do.
And he says at the long toward the clothes of his life down here.
He said he that sent me is with me. The Father hath not left me alone.
And then he adds, I do always.
Those things that please him.
What a lovely word that was.
I do always.
Those things that please him, What faithfulness characterized his life.
Lo, I come to do thy will.
I must be about my father's business.
I do always.
Those things that please him.
Now we have Heaven's confirmation of that in verse 22 of the third chapter.
And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven.
00:35:06
Which said, Thou art my beloved son.
In the I am well pleased. Isn't that lovely? I do always those things that please him.
Said the Lord Jesus.
Back comes the rejoinder.
I am well pleased. Oh dear young Christians, how lovely would be if this could be said of each one of us.
I am.
Well pleased.
This is what was said concerning the Lord Jesus. He was the faithful.
And the true witness, there was number failure in him, no departure in his life, but it was one of perfect.
Obedience and devotedness to the will of the one who sent him.
And then we go on further over.
Into the 4th chapter.
And it says and Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost.
Return from Jordan.
And was led by the Spirit.
Into the wilderness.
Being 40 days tempted of the devil.
And in those days he did eat nothing, And when they were ended, he afterward hungered. And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that have been made bread. And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written that man shall not live by bread alone.
But by every word of God.
Oh, what a lovely answer, This word this was. What faithfulness we have here.
When tempted by the devil, he was the special object of the devil's attack. The devil was bent on seeking to cause him to swerve from that pathway of faithfulness, that pathway of obedience. But how did the Lord meet him? He met him by the written word of God. Man shall not live by bread alone.
But by every word of God.
Oh, I wonder.
If we have learned this lesson in our lives, I wonder how many times we have been confronted with situations in which we failed.
Because we were not able to put the Word of God into practice, that which would have preserved us, that which would have kept us, and as the Word says, resist the devil.
And he will flee from you now, if you belong to Christ.
The devil is not going to leave you alone.
He knows that he cannot rob you of your salvation, but he's going to seek to mar that life of yours. He's going to seek to rob you of the joy of your salvation. And be sure of this fact. You're going to have to meet him.
But don't try to fight him, but resist. And how are you going to resist?
By the word of God.
Resist the devil.
And he will flee from you. Oh, how lovely it is to see the faithfulness of the Lord Jesus in this temptation, in these 40 days spent in the desert. He had that word to say, just the right word at the right time. And what was the secret of it? I think Isaiah the prophet tells us.
Morning by morning my ear is awakened to hear as the learned or as the instructed one. All ponder that for a moment, for it says that they wondered at the gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth. Where did he get those words he had been that very morning in the presence of God?
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And he had received those words, those words which sustained him.
For we must remember that while the Lord Jesus was God.
Still, he was man.
While he was divine, yet he was perfectly human. The Angel could announce air, his birth into this world.
That holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. That holy thing which shall be born of thee, that is to say, He was to be perfectly human, shall be called the Son of God. He was to be entirely divine. And so we see the Lord Jesus here. In his humanity He was man, and as man he walked.
As we heard in our meetings yesterday.
As the dependent 1 morning by morning.
He wakeneth my ear to hear as the instructed, and then we think of those wonderful miracles that he performed in that same chapter. Chapter four we read.
And verse 33 And in the synagogue there was a man which had a spirit of an unclean devil.
And cried out with a loud voice saying let us alone.
What have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth?
Art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.
And Jesus rebuked him, saying.
Hold by peace.
And come out of him. And when the devil hath thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him. And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this? For with authority and power he command the unclean spirits, and they come out.
Oh, how lovely to ponder this, to think.
That the Lord Jesus that very moment was in the presence of the Father.
And receive the instruction how to conduct himself on this very occasion. Oh, we may we remember this, dear young people.
Mourning by morning, he opened up my ear to hear.
As the instructed. Perhaps that's why we so often fail.
In our Christian testimony is because we are not near enough.
We have not been in His presence, seeking the words for the day, seeking the guidance for the day, seeking to be fully instructed as to what may lie before us all. If we're going to be faithful in this world, faithful to God, faithful to Christ, faithful to our brethren, our ear must be opened morning by morning.
How much time?
Did you spend this morning reading the Word in the presence of the Lord, seeking His mind, seeking wisdom, seeking guidance for all the circumstances of the day? Oh, if we're going to be faithful, we must do this. We must not neglect the Word of God. How else can we resist the devil if we do not have the word with which to resist him?
All at last we are able to resist him. He will win the victory.
He will cause us to fall, to stumble and astray, and to bring.
Dishonor to the name of our Savior, the one whom we follow. So may we not forget this passage in Isaiah?
Morning by morning now, openness my ears to hear as the instructed and may we be faithful in seeking wisdom for each day that lies before us.
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Then I want to give this as well a practical aspect. For after all, Christianity is practical, isn't it?
You young men.
Oh, how valuable a faithful young brother is in an assembly. I was introduced to a young man yesterday by an older brother and he said to me, this is one of our faithful brothers.
I don't know what we would do without him, but a lovely commentary that was on that young brother. He was valued in the Assembly.
Because of his faithfulness.
Are you interested in the Father's business? When there's a little job to be done at the meeting room, Are you ready to volunteer, to take your box of tools and spend your time and your energy?
To accomplish that little job, you young sisters.
When there is a team meeting, are you willing to put on your apron and to go down to the meeting room and go to work and afterwards to help clean up the dishes and put things in order? This is faithfulness. Faithfulness.
I must be about my father's business. 01 is not interpreting Scripture now, but rather applying it. We need to apply these things to our daily walk, to our daily lives.
How valuable a faithful young brother or a faithful young sister is.
In the assembly.
Well, may the Lord exercise our hearts as to this. You know, we would rather leave this perhaps to some brother, some older brother. Oh, he always does it. We'll let him do it.
Ah, that's not being faithful. Be interested in the things concerning the assembly and have your share in it. Be faithful. Be faithful to God, faithful to Christ.
Faithful to your brethren, and I will tell you, you will prove that it will produce happiness in your life.
And how grand it will be if in that coming day, when we stand before the judgment seat of Christ to give an account.
How lovely it would be if we could hear those words.
Well done.
Thou good and faithful servant, oh young Christians, be faithful in the small things, and then the Lord will entrust to you.
The greater things, but you must first prove yourself in the small things, so let's not forget.
To have an interest in the assembly affairs and to be there and furthermore.
Let us try.
To always be present at every meeting that we can. How easy it is to have outside interests that make demands on our time. And so the Lord has denied His part. The Lord loves to see you there at that prayer meeting.
At that Bible reading, at the gospel meeting. Oh, as we travel around and visit some of the assemblies, we can always count on seeing.
Certain individuals there, they're faithful, this is their place, this is where they are, and unless there are there are some circumstances that prevent their being there, you'll always find them present.
And isn't it lovely to see how the Apostle Paul addresses the Saints at Colossia? He says to the Saints and.
Faithful brethren, all we need to be faithful in these days of small things, these days of weakness, these days of failure, and think how the Lord Jesus gives us His voice from heaven.
From the Father's throne.
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I am the faithful and the true witness. Faithful amidst unfaithfulness.
Midst darkness, only light. Oh dear young believer, how about it? Do you desire to be faithful? Is this going to be your object? To be faithful to Him who loves you and gave himself?
For you.
And then one thinks two of the address.
I believe to Smyrna in the second chapter of Revelation. Smyrna, you know, is that period in the churches history when it costs something to be a Christian.
The Saints of God suffered great violence during those days, and isn't it lovely to hear that voice from heaven saying.
Be thou faithful.
Unto death.
And I will give thee a crown of life.
Faithful unto death, just as if to say, never mind if you're called not to die. Be faithful, Be faithful. I have a crown for you, A crown of life. Oh dear young people, I would like to impress this upon you this afternoon.
Be faithful in your Christian walk.
Interest in the things of the Lord. Take an interest in the assembly affairs. Remember, we don't belong to this world. Our home is in heaven. We're only passing through. And what a privilege it is to be a part of the testimony of the Lord in this scene, in the little while that we're here. So let us seek to be active. Let us seek to be faithful. Let us seek to be pleasing.
To him.
And then in closing, I want to read just one word.
From the Epistle to Timothy.
I think it is the first chapter.
Of First Timothy.
The first chapter of Second Timothy it is.
Verse 13.
Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love, which is in Christ Jesus.
That good thing which has been committed unto thee, keep in the Holy Ghost that dwelleth.
In US.
And then in the last chapter of the first Epistle and the 20th verse.
Oh, Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust. Now this is true, no doubt, of Timothy in a very special way. But I think, dear young people, that we can apply it to ourselves as well. Timothy was a young man.
And Timothy lived in difficult times.
When Paul's doctrine was being set aside.
And that the apostle says to that dear young man.
All Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust. What was it that was committed to his trust? It was the whole truth of Christianity.
Paul says it was Timothy.
In the midst of the breakup, in the midst of all the unfaithfulness.
All be faithful.
With that which has been committed to thy trust, keep it, Don't let it slip away. And so I would give this word to you young men here this afternoon. Keep that which has been committed to thy trust the whole truth of Christianity.
What a legacy has been left with us through facts, Facts in which we can rely, facts upon which we can rest.
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Facts to which we can cling. The Lord Jesus Christ as the Incarnate Word, His atoning death, His resurrection, His perfect life, His ascension, His exaltation to the right hand of the majesty in the heavens, His coming again.
Oh, keep that which has been committed to thy trust. These are difficult times, and if the Lord leads us here.
We do not, we do not know what we may have to pass through.
As the enemy is closing in to make his last effort, his last attack as it were, before the Lord comes, how it becomes us to keep that which is has been committed to our trust, to be faithful, faithful followers of the Lord Jesus, faithful to our God, faithful to our brethren.
Oh, may this characterize each one of us and as we go home to our various assemblies.
Where there are many things to discourage, where many of us go on in great weakness.
It doesn't require any gift to be faithful.
All it requires is that desire, that desire to be pleasing to the blessed Lord Jesus who gave his life for us.
If he was willing to do that for us, oh, should there not be some response in our hearts?
That desire to be faithful followers of him.
To be disciples indeed. Well, may the Lord bless these few rambling remarks to our.
Shall we sing?
#230.
Oh Lord, when we, the path retrace which thou on earth hast to man thy wondrous love and grace.
Thy faithfulness to God.
Lord, when we.
Fall great noise. Oh.
Philippians 2:1-8
Reading
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I suggest Philippians 2 are leaving this morning.
Chapter 2.
If there be, therefore any consolation is right.
Any comfort of love?
If any fellowship of the Spirit, any bows and mercy, fulfill ye my joy.
That to be like minded.
Having the same love being of 1 accord of one mind.
Let nothing be done to strive for vain glory, but in loneliness of mind that needs to seem other, better than themselves.
But not every man on his own thing, but every man also on the face of others.
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.
Who, being the form of God, thought of not robbery to be equal withdrawn, but made him come with no reputation?
And took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.
And being found in faction of the man, he humbled himself and became a beat. Another death, even the death of the cross.
Warfare God also was highly drawn in him and given him a name which is above every name, that is the name of Jesus.
Every nation found.
Of things in heaven.
Things on earth and things under the earth.
And that every tongue could confess of Jesus Christ and Lord to the glory of God and bodies.
Wherefore my beloved and ye have always obeyed not as in my presence only.
But now I'm much more of my actions work on your own salvation with fear and friendly Lord is God working in you both your will and to do them with good pleasure.
Do all things without murmuring and disputing that you may be blameless and harmless.
The sons of God without rebuke in the midst of crooked and perverted nation, among who needs 9 Is life in the world holding forth the word of life, that I may rejoice in the Bay of Christ, that I am not running vain, neither labored in vain.
Yeah, you know, if I be offered upon it sacrifice and service of your faith, I enjoy enduring and rejoice with you all for the same cause also to you joy and rejoice with me.
But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy shortly unto you, till I also mean to be a good comfort when I know your state, for I have no man like minded who will naturally care for your state.
All seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ.
But you know the proof of him, that is the Son of the Father. He had servant me in the God.
Him, therefore, I hope to send presently, as soon as I shall see how it will go with me.
But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly.
Yet I suppose, if necessary, you send me your pancreas, my brother and companion and labor and fellow soldier, but your messenger indeed administered to my wife.
For you, long after you all, Northern was full of heaviness.
Because he heard that he had been sick.
For indeed he was sick Nigh and Adam.
And not on him only, but on me also.
Lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
I sent him there for the more carefully that when you see him again, you may rejoice that I may be the less sorrowful.
Receive him therefore in the Lord, and all gladness, and hold such a reputation.
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As well for the work of Christ. He was nine of them.
Not regarding his life. This is why your lack of service toward me.
There are a few things that stand out very prominently in this chapter.
Among other things.
One of them is that the apostle.
Is deeply moved.
And he's passed away here because I believe we do have Christian experience here.
But it's buying his eyes being fixed on Christ.
And all the apostles imprisoned himself, as we see in the first chapter.
He sees one who went much lower than himself.
And he sees the end of the pathway.
He sees the Lord Jesus exalted to the highest place.
Now this is more than mere teaching. This is the heart moved by it.
And that this is the very spring of his activity. And so as we go down in the chapter.
He finds himself.
In the 17th verse, completely closed in, he was given a dispensation of the gospel and was committed to him. And now he's tired, he's in prison, and he cannot carry it out.
But in his extremities he discovers that the Lord is working for it.
And the Lord has moved the hearts of the Saints of Philippi to take up the very work that the apostle could not do.
I made these these two points especially together with the papaditis that before us is the example here of Endeavor.
Would help us in our Christian pathway.
Lest we be discouraged, and we find all our answers in being occupied with that one object that tries to set before our hearts.
We find that when man in the early days after the flood began to turn their eyes away from God.
They began to worship demons.
Well, it's always a result when the eye is taken off of Christ.
That we decline immediately, but the apostle here.
All of his activities praying from this one thing, He's occupied with Christ as the object, and he sees the end of the pathway.
With Christ in glory, and he sees also as what he could not do himself here.
God under thanks for it.
The first version of the chapter.
Tells that there was something that he did correcting that vilified.
And I think what he is referring to in that first word is in connection with the audience in the 4th chapter in the second word and syndicate who are not of the same mind in the Lord.
Come disagree.
Come in between these two.
And as have been mentioned.
Now that have given us instruction at the assembly of philippi was in such a.
Remarkable state of faithfulness.
Going on with the Lord that the apostle could take up a matter between two cities.
Doesn't do that. As far as they were serious, matters had to be correct there.
But still little thing that not just been corrected can lead to much sorrow and even division among the people of God.
And I believe the president that we see the apostle in wisdom leading up to this.
Word of Corrections. Notice how it reads there. Get there and be there for any constellation in Christ. Any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, any bowels of mercy, fulfilling my joy as He be like mine.
Well, the first chapter where Harry has been preparing him for this word of imagination.
And we find how the apostle as their prisoner forms, and his heart goes out in such loving desire.
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For these Saints who are so dear to his heart and he commend them for things that he could happily commend them for before he leads up the walk needs corrected and I believe that.
Yes, Brian, wisdom that before.
The correction is given that the Lord would have us encouraged in every way those that we want to help.
In the pathway and getting their hearts in happy accord with himself.
While then he can bring a matter that distressing because of this divided state caused Iran, my two sisters in disagreement.
And you know, that's a way of approach.
The Apostles have appealed to them as to his imprisonment.
All that and now he will seek to bring before them that he had these joy in the Lord.
Fact is more about joy. I believe in this special than any other epistle. But now he says my cup isn't quite full.
I want you to correct this matter all that my cup, as it were, will be.
Over running.
And nothing to hinder the outflows, the full joy and the light. His heart.
This feeling had already spread beyond the two sisters too, haven't it? Because it says in the first chapter that there were those preaching Christ even of enemy and strife.
Because it's impossible for a thing to be confined to a couple of people like that. It always spreads, doesn't it, if it isn't judged. And so there was a general state in the Assembly that needed this, wasn't there. But it's lovely the way he brings it before them.
And seeks to correct it by sending the Lord Jesus as the first example before their souls.
I suppose who were preaching some Indian strike wasn't just the sofa, more a general state among the assemblies everywhere that the apostles had in mind that he speaks of that way. Perhaps they're at home too. Where?
There were those who were taking advantage of the apostles imprisonment to get up funds that they couldn't have when their possible was given. Was enjoying his full liberty and ministry of St.
Probably don't mentioned in Israel this morning, but we are well we're passing through the wilderness. We have all that we need in the world and in Christ and it's good to notice I leave in this official. We have Christ mentioned that 40 times.
And in each chapter, he's mentioned in a very special way.
First chapter verse 21 we have Christ, the purpose.
The second chapter.
And.
The first time we have Christ, the pastor let this mind being used, which is also in Christ Jesus.
We have Christ the prize, verse 14.
And the 4th chapter we have Christ the past verse 13.
And the same chaplain privacy provisions and I don't like all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
And nursing tools that lead every epistle. The apostle Paul ends with grace.
So we have Christ and His grace for the journey, and that should be sufficient for every one of us.
I think every epistle ends with great suddenness. Impossible.
And he is one who certainly has truth. The grace of God is saving his soul.
And the grace of God and sustaining in every step of the journey, although we had a very rough journey.
And yet he can speak so much of grace and passed on to us to encourage our house in our journey.
The Spirit has the power of that.
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Light, and in the circumstances here is brought out quite prominently, I believe, in this vessel.
You know we could.
We could be very accurate in doctrine.
But we don't have the spirit of this second chapter.
There isn't much fruit or blessing.
Because Christ is the object, the spirit of man is the candles of the Lord.
And.
Searching out all the innermost parts of the belt.
How often things are done right, but not in the right spirit.
And how important to have the right spirit and that's only found this is not in communion.
To be an employment impossible once here.
Of that right option.
And.
Himself in the in the good walking in the path of the that the Lord Jesus took down near rejection and that's what gave him power, moral power Roosevelt.
The powers of the enemy around about and he could even set the terms of his own destiny as it were on earth. Here at the end of the first chapter, he could decide his faith. He could say it's more profitable than I remain with you.
Every day he could expect the executioner to welcome to that.
But the apostle here is living in a in a plane higher. It's a result that's found only in having Christ as the object and walking to some union with him. And that's a little expression in the 4th chapter that I think gives us the thought the Lord is at hand.
Now I don't mean to take away from the thought of that the Lord's coming is there, but perhaps the thought there could be.
That the Lord is present, and the consciousness of it with us here gives us power.
Well, when we need consolation, it's surely Christ needs to turn you, for he has probably pathways. He knows all the sorrows exercises we have through.
And occupied with his love, well, we're comfortable for the tribe and distressed soul. Then there's facilities of the spirit.
The Spirit of God.
Here dwelling and believers and when gathered together, he is his presence with those things. So when we're going on our of an unreached spirit, while there is that precious fellowship of heart and mind of Christ and there's the author John says if you walk in the light and he is in the life we have fellowship one with another.
And then instead of being troubled about the same question.
I you can say that the blood of Jesus Christ His Son granted us from all that question that could come and would mar the intelligence is all settled in the depth of Christ.
Of the helmet of salvation.
It's the it's the consciousness of the full work being done for us and that we're saying, but also that we have complete deliverance.
Down here and our Christian experiences.
I was thinking in this first and second verse, 2 Perhaps this first verse had reference to the kindness that had been shown to him by the Saints of Philippi. They had sent him a gift and they had comforted his heart. They had shown fellowship in the Spirit. They had shown mercy toward him and his affliction.
And now he asks them, seeing they have this love for him and this interest in him, to fulfill his joy in going on happily with one another. I think this is a great challenge to each one of our hearts. Sometimes a person might be very nice to us and treat us well.
But perhaps is not being so nice to another one of our brethren. But we have the grace to say to him, Well, it would make me fully happy if you were as nice to each one of your brethren as you are to me. And it seems to me there's something of that thought here fulfilling my joy.
00:20:10
That you be like minded. He didn't question their love toward him and their thoughtfulness of him.
But he desired that this same love might flow out to each one of the brethren. Well, how lovely it would be, and how quickly these things would often be corrected if there was more or less free flow of love. Every one of us, I believe, do have a love towards some brethren.
Who perhaps have been a help to us or been kind to us, but there are some that it takes a little more grace to show that love to, but He give us more grace.
He emphasizes that quite often, I think. Does he not hear in Philippians?
The first chapter in the eighth verse. God is my record. How greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.
Expression is used quite often here. It must have been.
A good example that he himself established, for I wouldn't be surprised if the Philippian tailor were among those who heard this official race for the first time. And to think that the apostles fall in love with me after the way I treated him.
I believe that there was that example before them. Was there not in the very testimony of the apostles?
Lovely how the Christian Taylor evolved after having put all the silence in the inner president made their big class in the stock.
Because he says he takes him into his house and feeds them and voices disgust.
But marvelous being very much airman, feeding those men unmercifully, and then parking them by putting them in the stock. Here we see the same man.
Wiping the stripes? I doubt not they were. Tears fell from his eyes as he thinks the boy had an inflicted gold strike on these men. Well, the answer is to what made the change. We're here to come as a poor lost city.
And accepted Christ and received.
The man that, while a marvelous change, that surely is being the hardest of cynics. How he's the most tender hearted, merciful.
Man among God's children.
The very ones that he wants hated and persecuted.
The old nature has no capacity for Christian grace, but when the Apostle Paul himself was converted.
He had been insolent and over buried man, but we find him in Thessalonians.
Speaking of caring for the Saints as as a nurse would care for her own children or as a father would care for his own children. Well, that's why the change was taking place in the apostle and that's what that's what really is true, isn't it? Before God, that didn't simply work. That's true. And it's Christ replaced in the vessel of the sun and that's what God desired with venue.
Nothing takes place in everyone of us finally get saved we we have leave on nature.
That takes God naturally we're we're enemies of God and mission our mind by wicked works hidden God. But when you got saved.
We became God's children. We we got a new life and a new nature.
As the Word tells us, God is love. That's his nature.
And we are partakers of the divine nature.
And we're naturally love each other.
Not to say they not make their discipline. We love each other.
And we're we're not good upon us believers at all unless we really love our brother. So with the love one another as I have loved you.
Where the same nature of the blessed Lord Himself.
As as the Son of God were partakers of that divine nature.
And the apostle John over and over again emphasizes that He tells them that God is love, and then he tells him to love one another for lovers of God.
So that's just showing forth. That's the new nature we have when we do love each other.
00:25:00
Of course things come in sometimes that may irritate, but still the lovers there. The number of brother in England telling of a case that he knew.
Two brothers.
That were staying at the same home.
This is in Brothers.
They get into an argument.
And they argued quite hotly for a while.
And they parted that night, went to the room, went to their beds. Expect a different room.
And they hard quite feeling quite hot for each other.
And then in the night time.
Or very early in the morning.
Customers, you know over there that when you retired, you took your shoes off and let them outside the door, and in the morning when you're rising, you open the door and then your shoes were shined outside the door. That's a good old English custom. They don't carry attackers in this country very much, but that's the way it was over there and those early days.
Well, early in the morning, one of these brothers thinking late awake a good part of the night, worrying about the way it treated his brother.
And how he lost his temper, which is very on price sight.
And he thought, well, I'll show my love for my brother by slipping down the stairs before he gets up out of bed for you in a week, slip down the stairs to the kitchen.
On the shiny shoes for and then laying up in his door to wake us up there he'll find his shoes almost shine. So then he goes with his brothers shoes down to the kitchen by the Captain Black legacy and the polishing stuff you know.
I'm really gotten the kicks open and quiet. Open the kitchen door. There he found his father and the Lord down there with his shoes, chaining them. The Bullets had the same thoughts. Well, there was that united work and both of us.
On the irritation.
Subsiding or fully subsided and that long shining.
Do we not say the beautiful picture of the apostle Paul in Romans chapter 15?
Along the same line.
Romans chapter 15 and verse 30.
Now I beseech you, brother, while the Lord Jesus Christ says.
And for the love of the Spirit.
That he strives together with me.
In your prayers to God for me. Well, they're striving together with the apostles in prayer.
Verse 31. That I may be delivered from them, and do not believe in Judea, and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the race.
That's not all verse 32.
That I may come unto you with joy, by the will God, and may with you be repressed, may with you be refreshed, you would have the Saints of God.
And the same enjoyable Christ as he was. And enjoy that same refreshment.
Many clothes now the God of peace be with you all.
It's nice to see how the Apostle.
Well, we might say the apostles.
Encourage the Saints to go on. And their hearts were refreshed. They were filled with joy as they saw the Saints going on.
In Christ.
The blessed Lord to study himself. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if you have loved ones.
Thinking of the first part of the first verse, it says, If there be therefore any consolation in Christ?
There are 4 certain questions in the fixing the girls.
And verse 11.
Are the consolations of God small with thee?
That's a very surging question.
What's their time in the history of mine when Christ was small? French drums and now?
The next question is, is there any secret thing with these?
Well, are we going on with anything in secret that would hinder our enjoyment of Christ?
00:30:02
And then it's and why don't I carry me away?
First, our hearts are not occupied with Christ. We soon will be carried away.
And then the 4th question. And what do thy eyes wink at?
Well, do we wink at things today that we used to frown upon years ago?
Questions, beloved, are the consolations of God small with thee?
They should start John House.
Person all right to do and then the second official job.
And the fifth word.
Second job first.
And now I'm the 16 lady. Not until I hope a new command and reach, but that which he have without which he has probably that he loved one another. But to find his awful doesn't stop there. Because we might get a wrong call about love, because there's an ecumenical spirit in the world of all to unite and.
A broad minded idea of how to show love.
Let's see what the apostle says in the next verse, six verse. And this is love, that we walked after his commandments. This is the commandment that as he have heard from the beginning, he should walk.
Which they heard from the beginning as first pages as Christ Himself.
That is in His walk, and going on in obedience to His demand is what really gives the strength of what is meant by Divine Love.
So if it's a love, that isn't it.
Being guided by the Word of God.
Well, it's not the love the apostles they're talking about at all.
Could it be also Brother Mary, that a person may be so enthusiastic in serving the Lord? And I have no doubt that these sisters are among those women mentioned as helpers.
That they go beyond their own spirituality.
And they get active.
Rather than having Christ as the object.
Now in the 9th chapter of Luke, where we have those moral principles so important.
It won't take time to assert it to read them, but we find in the first part of that chapter, the 9th includes, that the apostles were given power and authorities cast out demons and do the various things that were assigned to but after they come down from the mountain, Transfiguration.
They're unable to do them and the Lord has to cast out the demon. We find also they're opposing some who were casting out demons.
There were difficulties arise and so the Lord has to call that to their attention.
I believe it is that their their own hearts were sore because they didn't seem to have the power to carry out.
What they had been given the authority to do.
Well.
The exercise with us should be.
To be in that state of soul that we're able.
To carry these things out even before the Lord independence. Otherwise it's the flesh act and we get the sad results of Syndicate and Jodius here.
Coming in and spreading out through the assembly.
Bringing in things that would occupy with the mere flash instead of the famous Christ.
He's going a little further, further.
Monday and the 45th verse last chapter, after the Lord had told him the son of man told him delivered into the hands of men, says that they understood not this thing. It would get promised as they perceive it enough, and they feared to ask him on that thing. Well, that wasn't the fear that that Sweden to the Lord.
That's the result of a state of soul, that's if they went to the Lord, they would get a correction. Perhaps they were not.
00:35:03
Ready to accept then read the next person who's trying what the real difficult it was then there was a reasoning among them which of them should be the greatest.
Going that there was.
Desires to be.
Foremost among the large societies.
Plan any of the large people get into that state of seeking a place or self and self the object before them, and then they're in a state where.
It's when they're not able really to understand the word of the Lord and there isn't the exercise of the entire to inquire of it, and then the soul gets alienated from the Lord and appear awakened.
The last I hear, many of God's children don't want to be disturbed when they're going on.
In a long course and then there's a fear of having to do with the Lord and getting his mind because it was.
The counter to the course that they have taken.
In this same chapter that you're Speaking of other very it seems that the Lord is praying twice before it disciples. That is, they're with me, but they're not praying, which the 9th chapter of Luke was referred to.
The Lord is praying.
And the disciples are not praying.
And they make a number of mistakes in this chapter.
It seems that Luke grows together these moral principles.
For our property.
But you notice also, and I think this is so important, that the Lord brings before his disciples in this state of soul in which they're found his death three times in this capsule.
So we have in our chapter this morning. I don't mean to digress and simply get the principle.
In our chapter this morning, the apostle is seeking to bring before.
These two sisters and the assembly.
The one thing that will correct everything and that is the Lord is the object. Now if you notice sometime with reading the 11Th of the blue, you'll see the disciples say teach us to pray.
And the Lord answers them, Which of you shall have a friend?
So rather do we go to the Lord?
As a friend because we have a need. Or is it a formal thing with us? When we get home from work, do we drop to our knees? Get into communion?
We know all of us that there's much in this world, even passing down the highways that break communion, our souls that we allow, but how good it is to get before the Lord that the day, the rest of the day again, right? You be profitable to us and we might have that joy that the apostle speaks of in this chapter.
Continuous through the day.
As easy as it not to get into the spirit of Vainglory and where there is that is found to be strife.
I set myself up as something someone that is better than someone else.
And try to resolve myself. Well, isn't that the what is behind all these petty differences of mind?
That we've been Speaking of the the example we have in the Lord himself who never.
Exhibited that spirit, there was always a loneliness of mind.
So the expectation that we have here.
Is to let agency mother.
Better than himself.
Well, if the Spirit is exhibited.
In us what the difference it would make to find my brother as one that I can esteem better than myself and to listen to him and do with enjoy communion with him.
Kelly Brown, one fast other part of the question.
According to this first that he has seen other better than themselves.
Because so the Potter, does that mean that we're considered that we know more about the Bible and and you know, about the Bible?
00:40:05
Mr. Potter said no, that's not the thought at all, He said. I know what's in my own heart, and so he says I better be careful how I treat my presence.
So I'm going to think lots in our own heart of four things we are and how much we have failed and how much we could fail if it wasn't for the Lord keeping grace. So when we think of what we are in ourselves, we can well esteem of it better than ourselves.
That's a very good principle and that was found in the Scripture. Be kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ sake hath forgiven you. Our brother Gladding mentioned how Paul exalted the grace has gone, and it said in First Timothy 1.
I'll ask. Grace was exceeding abundance.
Toward the apostle personally in ever picking him up. And I suppose that it's a measure in which this sense is endured in our own soul.
That we find ourselves as feeding others in that light and loving others because there might be a little danger in our becoming occupied with how much we love our presence.
We might even have some threatened thoughts at taking pride in the measure in which we love our brethren, and trying to love them more in the such thoughts as that. Is it not better for us to be occupied with the person of the Lord Jesus Christ?
And the wonderful love of matchless grace that was displayed toward us.
In the measure in which we enjoy that and fully realize it. In that manner where we not find ourselves as steaming others in that light and loving others.
It doesn't fair 5th chapter receipt when the second verse really.
Give what you're thinking of those who and walk in love.
As Christ also have loved us and given himself for us, and offering and a sacrifice to God.
So.
The way that love is bigger just according to the love the Lord tells the God to follow first that comes.
1St is and it has its primary importance.
And it was first known to the father or love goes out.
Not himself 1St and the heart is true and and.
Filled with his mind where then it goes out in the proper channels and reach the desire among further.
I believe there is two sides right here, side by side in the 3rd, 3rd and 4th verses.
In the third verse, it's the truth that has been mentioned that if we have the sense of the grace of God in our souls, we realize how much has been done for us and how unworthy we were of it, and this makes us lowly in the presence of God. Sir, loneliness is not something that we just pretend. It's a reality when we are in the presence of God because we know that we are nothing and the grace has been shown to us.
But now in this fourth verse, look, not every man in his own things, or the new translation is look not every man in his own qualities, but every man also on the qualities of others. That is, we're conscious of our own failure, but we're also conscious that our brother has some good points.
He maybe has failures, so have we. God has been gracious to us, but now there's another side. It's not only overlooking His failures, but it's seeing that there is something of Christ manifest in that. Brother. We look at that so often. We make a great deal out of the failure of another and completely overlook that which is was of grace. How different it was with the Lord in the portion that was mentioned to us in Luke.
They were quarreling over who should be the greatest, and the Lord certainly looked on their quality that one could speak in that way. He says He are they which have continued with me in my temptations, and I appoint under your Kingdom as my Father has appointed me. What condescending grace that he would take notice of the devordedness that there had been, even at a time when their failure seemed so glaring.
00:45:12
Well, this is what enables us, I'm sure, to go on with one another, conscious of our own failures, conscious also of the fact that our brethren do have qualities. How we're not speaking, of course, of positive sin. That may require judgment, but I don't think that's the point here. It is little things that hinder oneness of mind and fellowship, and certainly if we wait until all our bread and are perfect.
Why it'll never be. We're far from it ourselves.
Not until we get to glory, but there is much that we can see in one another that is a Christ. Let's look for it and commend it and be also conscious of the fact that we have our own shortcomings.
It's possible here was trying to correct this before. It didn't grow, didn't.
With the passage of Jesus both and Luke is the second step in the 22nd chapter that Peter did not take heed to the first.
And so the 22nd chapter instead of.
As it wasn't the 9th.
Where they were murmuring, now they're striving.
The third step was when Peter denied, he said, I don't hold this man. And that's what it will lead to in our lives if we don't take heed to the corrections that we receive from our brethren, and we may receive them from some brethren that we're not particularly fond of as to their ways, and God will use that to humble us. If we don't receive these corrections, we'll find we're taking the second step until final run of the discipline.
Of God himself, and it's sad to see Peter.
There not taking me to those corrections. So finally he denies when he ever knew the Lord Jesus.
Sometimes the things that are said may be untrue, but even then they are of God to correct the flesh within us. That is, if some brother accuses me of something of which I'm not guilty, instead of getting annoyed if I just said to myself, well, it could have been true.
And it would have been true but for the grace of God. The very fact that I show resentment shows that even though I perhaps didn't display the flash of that occasion, it was there. And I'm so proud. I think I would never do a thing like that, but I would if the Lord didn't keep me.
Let us drop it even by the things that are said that are not true. There are occasions to discover to us whether the flesh is really in the place of death. Far better to be accused of something we didn't do than to be accused of something we did. And if we are accused of something we didn't do, let us seek race them to just get before the Lord and thank them for preserving grace that has kept us from doing that thing.
I heard of her brother once but but being accused of certain things and he didn't know all the details but someone came to him and mentioned to him.
Some of the things that were being said about him, well, he said to this one.
That they really knew me, they could say things a lot worse about.
When we get to the fifth part of our chapter, let this mind the Hindu, which was also in Christ Jesus.
Not us, Christ Jesus.
I've been here in the way when you had Christ put forth all of my Jesus.
The apostle was occupying us with the glorified Christ and Jesus Christ the man down here.
All that man in the glory.
Have run the whole time here below and now he is seated.
At the highest place in the whole universal dog. But he was praised to have leaves up to the place of highest honor and glory, and we find that clock LED up to that place.
From that he always took me lowest place.
So when he says, let this mind be in you, it's the mind of Christ.
Who was always ready and willing on everything to step down a little lower.
00:50:06
Or as I believe we have.
The seven steps of Christ downward.
Until we find him there on the cross.
And during the more shameful deaths.
That error invented by a man.
More shameful than curiously suffering as to death. This were engaged and blessed Lord. So that's how low the Lord stepped in grace and all on our behalf. We love it.
Because he saw us down here.
Roan will sing and was having the judgment and damnation before, so he came as holy grace.
First mark out a pathways and would be entirely for his Father's goal, and then in love to take up the question of our sins to several last questions divinely and evangelist all that we could be in the enjoyment.
Of what we are now considering the Lord pathway.
From God, his highest glory we sing. Sometimes the Calvary is testable.
Rather if they have the word on the little word lab.
Line in the third verb of our pastor. Let nothing be done to try our bank boy.
In the Pittsburgh, we have left this mind being used.
Let me also have.
In another book.
Any word black?
The 4th pastor of Columbia.
Words Let your moderators be known on the old man.
Doctor thinks rather that roughly see it all the time.
And driving through the city is the word yield.
Always, always having your own way.
Time for driving long business were healed.
Well.
It's our safety.
It's for our good.
To obey that injunction, and it surely is our safety and for our good if we obey godless.
Times when there's nothing right, when there's nothing that bring this honor on the name of Christ. It's best to yield. And I'll always insist on having our own way.
Very good effect on on others to yield.
Notice sometimes as we're driving along.
There's a There's somebody who wants to get rid of a driveway for innocence.
But the sixth block cars are moving along and no telling when you let me get out.
Well, you come along, you see this, You see the man's predicament.
And you stop, lock the traffic behind you, and let us get out.
I've done that sometimes.
Did more probably.
But I tried to do things like that.
Realizing this, we ourselves oftentimes getting the same particular and I've noticed over and over again a look of gratefulness comes over the face and they'll wave and get you, I said. Where little Lord of thanks.
Just that that small act of kindness.
Well, that's yielding so you can keep it going. Oh well, he can get out. We I have to go to and I can heat you look and he can normally go.
That's not yielding well, little things like that and our daily life as Christians as you contact people and.
We let the nose belong to the Lord.
They expect, they expect that we should show the reality.
00:55:04
And we get off and show that the Spirit of Christ and that simple quiet way.
That no doubt has its power, and it's a testimony. These little things are the testimony to the to the Lord's glory.
Christianity.
Yes.
Brother McMillan will back them up with the judgment seat of Christ.
Said act well I'm sure that every time we act for the glory of Christ and seek act because the Christians that do it like where these lacks of kindness.
I believe that praising the Lord no God because there's much selfishness in all of us. You know, by making there may be a little difference in the impressions in the second verbs of our or the 3rd verbs of our chapter and then what we have our brother referred to in the 4th chapter. We have Westminster moderation. We know healing this. There may be also this thought with our first in our chapter that.
If we're not in communion, if we allow, some little things come in.
And the truth is before us. We may not bow to it.
The The natural man always resists the truth of God and will resist every truth.
Unless it's only the Spirit of God that enables us to lay hold the truth. And if we have this mind that the apostle speaks up submissive.
We will yield to the truth itself and bow to it. And it says here in particular the particular thing before us in this second chapter.
And let nothing be done through strife or Vainglory. It's it's the pausing and reflecting and realizing that.
It's the mind of God we want. The apostles commends their faith.
In the 17 verse, the service of your faith. What is faith? Well, faith comes by hearing, hearing by the Word of God. There is no such thing as faith unless it's based on the Word of God.
His soul of the soul and the Wretch is arrested to see what God has to say. And then there is the obedience.
If we're walking in communion and seeking his mind to battle that through if we have here.
I've enjoyed the thought in this 4th chapter of Philippians and the fifth verse of his Virtue Lecture. Moderation be known unto all men.
Are you healing us as have some suggestions but couples with a thought of gentleness.
Using this coupled with the Father of gentleness and that brings the person of Christ before us again.
Of Christ.
Thank you.
Let instead of doing something in a legal way.
Compelling by ourselves.
Carry out certain things that our thought is by itself to let this.
This it comes from Christ take position. It's there. All we have to do is to help. Wow. Anything about resisting or just letting it come in and and act in our lives. We find the same kind of expressions in the first chapter polite.
15.
And left a piece of dog rule in her heart.
And the 16th verse let the word of Christ well in the rich place.
Or instead of my putting myself in the Lord?
And.
Enjoy this peace. Why just like the air and the vacuum is really all you need to do is just release.
How about And there it is. But just Anderson, Bill.
And you have the peace of God in our hearts right here surrounding us. Is there anything that's hindering or enjoying that peace and our soul? Here's the word of God in our hands, and it speaks to us. I'll let the word of Christ well with us. Let's please.
01:00:06
That's so very, very different to the natural reasoning of man's man seem to recognize the beauty of the Christian principles and they write all kinds of books such as how to win friends and influence people, books of that sort in which.
Principles are put before us for conduct that will make us accepted in society and looked upon as people who are kind and forgiving and thoughtful. That the whole principle is entirely contrary to Christianity. Isn't this here? In Christianity we have been made to realize that we are.
Actually worthless and staged and guilty in the sight of God that have been picked up and redeemed. And now we have this wonderful principle before us that we are partakers of that which.
If it is allowed to be displayed, will actually be pleading to the Lord and will also be a blessing to others.
Being in the forms of thought is not equal to God.
Well, that was the mark was gone.
Any doctrine that brings any?
Any concrete teaching? Absolutely.
Christ.
Something that comes directly from the enemy of our souls, not one might require.
Why does it say here?
Thought it's not robbery?
And be equal with God or I believe the word.
Is seizing upon something that you have not cared before for this?
I think it's Brother Libert Crown.
Do nice illustrations about Queen Elizabeth.
He doesn't aspire to be clean where he is.
And so the Lord, it wasn't something that he aspired to be equal in God before he was equal with God.
But in wondrous, marvelous grace, that one who was God.
For equal with the Father himself.
Fumble himself and takes the form of a surf being found in fashion. As a man, he humbled himself.
Becomes obedient of its death eaten the death of the cross.
It was, I suppose it would be in contrast with the first Adam, the first man, why he was placed in the garden. He was not equal with God. He was only a creature, and God had breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. So he aspired to be like God.
For the serpent suggested that they should be as God's knowing good and evil. He aspired after that, and he fell in it. But here was one who came into this world who was equal with God, and yet he took the position of a man. He was the 2nd man, the last Adam. There was no robbery for him to be equal with God.
His course was the very opposite of the first man who tried to exalt himself. Here was the one who was really God, and he went down, down in the path of obedience that in which Adam, the first Adam, failed. The Lord Jesus perfectly fulfilled, but he fulfilled as man.
We're liable to act as natural men, we're liable to live like the first Adam, but if we're walking in communion, we're allowing the Spirit of God to lead us. Our course too will be humbling ourselves. Not that we're equal with God, the Lord Jesus alone was that, but we fulfill the preachers place in the proper way of being humble.
Some of our friends have had the experience of going to places where they had to put up with things they weren't used to, possibly down in Bandingo or Libya or China.
North Borneo and other places, and they found it perhaps at first by distressing to to accustom themselves to different circumstances.
In which they were dropped suddenly and that no doubt was trying for them.
And what must have been for the Lord Jesus as a man to leave the course of Florida and to come down in this world?
01:05:05
And missed all the ruin that he found. And then on top of that.
To humble himself.
And when some of raining under death, then it says even the death of the cross. Now that means that he was a total outcast from this world. So he was hung on the cross. So that's the path of the Lord Jesus that so inspired the apostle Paul that he's willing.
To set everything aside down here, that he might know Christ.
In the 6th, 7th and 8th verses.
We have the four prominent characteristics with which our Lord is betrayed in four gospel verse. Our brother Barry just frozen through being in the former song.
That's the enjoyment he presents, His Majesty. He was born a king.
And then it says robbery to be or with God. That's John Scott. You see it?
Made himself of no reputation, and took upon him before the servant that Mark Scott.
Has been being found in fashion as a man that Snoop stocks presented there to man.
So we have a 400 characteristics of the Lord Jesus portrayed in these three verses in the Gospels.
Very helpful.
No, the only man that ever lived, God didn't pass the mountain.
God has to humble your me. I'm a very pleasant experience. So it's called Jesus that.
And we will thank him for it in the end.
Here was one man.
God never had the humble, but he humbled himself.
The long period takes the very long place possible for man's taste.
Thinking of what he said on the cross, Father forgive them. He never had to pray. Father, forgive me, did He?
Is the settlers response 1 undefined and servant here is really a bomb slave?
He was the only one that had the right to do this. Man could never leave his place.
Efficiently the angels tried to leave their place and there any change. The Lord Jesus took this slice voluntarily.
And everything self tumble itself.
And show the apostles has these. I think now of the place of the Lord Jesus is gone.
The Father glorified.
And has often been said that he emptied himself of God, he humbled himself with land.
They empty themselves. All that glory that was hit by right and it still hidden by right. Right, when he made all rabbit files, emptied himself.
And saw those who saw him in his pathway down here, they saw a humble man.
But there were times when His Godhead glory would shine out.
And his moral glory was seen all through his pathway down here.
When it came to the glories that belonged to him in the past eternity, he veiled all that glory, emptied himself.
And then became.
A mom slave in this scene.
Tony positionally that he emptied himself. Elizabeth.
Never.
The Lord Jesus never apologized.
For making the mistake, that is.
All they'll have also hypothalized.
Paul himself that I dear mind of God, I told several times that he didn't what he shouldn't have done.
For instance, when he called the high priest a white war.
A whitewashed hypocrite. A white and wall.
He had to apologize. I I what not, I knew not that this was the high priest or written. I shall not speak evil of the rules of thy people. He he confessed to that. And then they also made the confessions of having stirred up the crowd, and the once there was before a crowd a mob, and the mob was divided.
01:10:15
Car seats and sight to seas. And Paul saw that.
And so he made an extension that.
Turned the piracy from society seats against each other.
And almost cleared himself.
Given freedom almost, he had to own the Roman those things and mistaken me. But the blessed Lord was the perfect one.
And the Lord humbled himself and came down very low. He never owned that he had made an instance.
Because he didn't. He was the boy and the spotless 1 so.
Mistakes of the apostles fall and others are ******** to magnify the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the perfect service.
Yes, that's accepted to me, the same flower.
Offering in the Old Testament.
No.
All.
Fine and and the same all the way through. No, no grit and hard numpty pieces in the flower as the fine flower. Well the blessed Lord in his life was the perfect one in every attribute.
His patience, love, grace.
Hispanic sympathy.
Almost always infection and hints.
Well, as you're saying, a while ago I was saying that and all of us.
There are qualities that are of Christians if there were not.
But the end of our human beings press gets in and works.
And sometimes we may lose our patience and say things we shouldn't say.
Lose our tempers, as they're sometimes called. Lesson. Find them again.
Can lose. Can lose them quite often.
But.
Many qualities and and.
And different ones. One is that we sometimes make you say anyway.
Because we don't have them. And then the causes and Oscar they see that they may appreciate.
But sometimes, sometimes up and sometimes down.
That's innocent. There's all the flesh showing itself out, and then once of God showing itself out too. But a mixture.
But the blessed Lord always perfection.
And even on the cross with a more a more grown.
Holy mob yet that love his was on them and he says Father forgive them, forget who? Why that holy mob that's just Lord for shouting crucify and crucify and those that.
Cry Don't. All of those in the place from don't the cross will believe on me and teasing and challenging and challenging him.
Well, none of those things disturbed that law.
Many waters cannot flinch low. Not love. That was divine. Nothing could quench.
And he says, Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. Well, I heard not the one on the day of Pentecost.
Among that great throne with Haircut giving his talk, no doubt there were many of them that had taken part. And the crucifixion.
Because when the apostles told them, they crucified the Lord of glory and rejected the Prince of Life.
Why they they said, finally, what shall we do?
They were convicted of the law of their ways and we have told them what to do.
Tendency, but thank everyone of you for the mission of Sins.
And 3000 of that crowd.
No doubt many of them I've been in that law took part of the law, they they attended of their sins have been crucified the Messiah, and they were forgiven.
They knew not what they do. They didn't know they were so deceived by Satan. They didn't know that that was really the Christ. But now they see it and they repent and the Lords Prayer Doctor on on the part of men, they're forgiven.
01:15:07
What you've been telling us, brother, in the first chapter of Solomon, Solomon.
With regard to our.
Following this in Christ and our evil nature.
First chapter Solomon and verse 5.
I am black.
But humbly.
Was that expected that you thought?
Yes, definitely.
What we are in ourselves with Conway talk, they are in the.
I'm thinking when you were talking, Brother McMillan, our blessed Lord, how long the apostle says we be held His glory, full of grace and truth.
The Lord Jesus was the only one that.
Sometimes we'll err on the side of grace. And again.
Will occur on the side of the truth, but there was perfect planning and you said, giving the illustration of the fine.
All the quality.
Honorable and.
West God would see of his people I was thinking of.
Of that being full of great children connections with with famous.
No one Peter had to give them already gave him a home, gave him review, said get these behind me, behind me straight.
Of course in where give Peter deceased, I need plenty of telling the Lord how to do.
Well, the very next chapter, that's in 1716, the mask you find the Lord taking reduced fear up to the mount of configuration.
Very great.
Bryson said nothing behind me instead of empty hands like he did to say it's wrong translation and see their message or this way, he said to get me behind me they can simply get me hindered.
The Lord here and in our chapter is seen as a man and a servant.
For these servants, now Isaiah 49, Kelso conservative, he's not served.
And it's never said that he said the other service, any other one served. But isn't it nice to think of his taking place in Grace to serve his own?
He has served us what He has accomplished, and He is now serving us in the glory.
And our great high priest and also is our advocate. But in Luke, well, he's coming back to he made himself known in that way that he'll come more concerned again.
So the Lord Jesus will take this place.
Forever will he not if we have in First Corinthians.
15 and the illustration in the Old Testament. In two places we have.
Where that serpent was put his ears to the door.
Through the door.
That he might be that servant forever servant body.
Philippians 2:9-30
Reading
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.
Along with Veterans 2.
Where should I start reading?
My first.
Within two verse 9.
Word for God, Ultimate fighting. Exalted hymn.
And given him a name is above every name.
That is the name of Jesus, every nation bound.
Of things in heaven, things in earth, and things under the earth.
And of every tongue could confess in Jesus Christ is more into the glory of God the Father.
Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always was made not as in my presence only.
But now, much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Lord is called this worketh in you vote for will, and to do of it good by you.
Do all things about murmuring and disputing, that you may be flameless and harmless. The sons of God without recovery in the midst of the person. Crooked and perverse nations mungoing Chinas life in the world, holding forth the word of life, that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, That I'm not run in vain, neither labored in vain.
Yeah, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith?
I joy and rejoice with you all with the same God over your yeast. Joy and rejoice with me.
Put our customer, Lord Jesus, to send the Moses shortly unto you, that I also may be a good country when I anoint your state.
For I have no man like minded who would not really character yourself. They all take their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ.
But you know the proof of the evidence that as a son with a father, he has served with me in the gospel.
Give. Therefore I hope to send presently so soon as I can see how it will go with me.
But I trust in the Lord, and I also myself will come shortly.
The other suppose it necessary to send to you a popular diners, my brother training and labor, and fellow soldiers.
Of your messenger indeed administered to my wife.
Pray alone after you all. And was full of heaviness, because he had heard that he had been sick.
For the 169 of the devil of God and mercy on him, and not on him only for me also.
That I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
I sent him there more the more carefully that when you see him again, you may rejoice.
That I may be the left sorrowful receive him. Therefore the Lord is all gladness and hold such in reputation, because for the work of Christ in mind of death, not regarding his life is it why your life of service for meaning?
I'd rather mention the seven downward steps of the Lord Jesus this morning.
Do we not have the seven upward step here from verse 9?
Put together your brother Gladys.
Well, in the eighth birth, and it's the final, he became obedient under death, even the death of the cross.
Now the ninth verse, when all God also have finally exalted him. That's only one step.
In the name, which is about every name and another that was the name of Jesus. Every bounce another some things in heaven.
Another things in Earth.
Kind things out of the earth, and finally that every town should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. The glorious God passed.
What we must say that there are seven amount of steps.
One couldn't have gone lower than our blessed Lord and could want to go higher.
00:05:05
Savior.
And that's the pattern, of course.
We take the little place the Lord and give us.
Our place that he gives us a place of exaltation.
This is his actual piece of I said God, he couldn't be any higher.
In the beginning, was the war the worst? What God in the world was God?
And nothing higher than that, no place higher than that. Ours and his Godhead. He talks about Robert and equal with God like.
In the same place of authority and glory as a Father.
But then he came down, way down.
To the lowest place, the death of the cross. The death of a wicked criminal.
That is, that is a criminal of death, of course, and the Lord took that place, the Holy One cure the holy, the truth and don't like lowest place.
So that as you're saying to the very bottom.
It's Manhattan. He lay in a borrowed grave well.
Then go on off with highly exhausted him, the father.
Has seen as having raised the son.
And of course, another 62° he lives himself.
Destroy the temple armed. I will raise it again.
Three days out of race again the Lord arising by his own power.
But the Father seemed here God has seen as the one that give the piece of exaltation. Well, that was in His own right hand and glory. I am said under my Father's floor, he says of revelation.
And so God takes that lonely man, the one that takes the lowest place, and he gives him the highest place.
And all that for the diamond was having tongue contested the whole the whole universe and every created being.
Owns His authority, His Majesty and glory.
But as a man, he gets that place of exaltation.
The one that would go to death.
Is the one that gets the highest place in the universe the ball, but all things into the hands of the sun?
Those had a threads. I never forgot that. If you would your arrow fly high.
You must draw your full string low.
So that gives the boss.
Taking the Lord took the lowest place that anyone ever has or ever could make, and he occupies the highest place.
Than anyone in everyone, right and in proportion as we are imitators of God.
Falling in the pathway of Christ and His humiliation will have a great honor for that coming day when the guard report his people.
Yes, that's true.
Of the Romans 2 dimensions given here.
Now Abraham was given, I suppose, that mark the South and the East and the West.
But when it comes to the security of the labor and the almost full deliverance, we have these two dimensions added.
We have the depth and that's where the Lord went to redeem us, but we have the height too, and that's where he is now. And he says, because I leave, you shall live all.
Might be well here to mention too, in connection with the 10th verse at the name of Jesus, every nation, all things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth.
In New Translation, it's infernal beings.
In Colossians 1, where we have reconciliation.
All these things in earth and things in heaven, but when it speaks above bowing to me, it speaks about the infernal beings.
That is, the loss will never be reconciled, but they will have to bow to me, and not one person will be cast into a lost eternity before you bow to me and all Jesus is Lord. The world rejected Him as man. They rejected Him coming that lowly grace and put it on the cross.
00:10:16
And so God's answer is that as man he is going to be the judge, and as man they're going to bow to him and all that name that he took as man to be in the very highest place for it says Jesus, the Lord Jesus Christ, that he sits there and takes that place of headship.
We can, surely.
Magnify the grace that have led us the bound of the need of this day of three or having filed the need of price, honed in his Lord and Savior, the glory of God the Father, and as a result.
And the salvation of our souls, right, our Savior, we're on the way to the glory that he has ended and the rewards are waiting for available when you arrive there.
So we have accepted the offer now.
So the last for those who neglect the offer and recuse about the.
Awkward solemn time there at the Greek white souls and that immense motive stand there before this very long to be just they'll have to bound to keep on him that he has the rightful Lord of God, the name of Jesus.
It's the name that he took down here.
Name not barely titled, but his name. He took his man.
Spies, the one who was spit upon, the one who crucified.
That's the name that.
God.
Is going to solve him in.
And also, it's the name that will be written on his people in the coming day.
It's a, it's a privilege now to have it on our foreheads and I suppose all these honestly straight from.
The play There's a day coming when that name will be written on our foreheads and God is might exalt the name of Jesus, sweetest name that was ever on human life.
Thank you. There's none other name under heaven given amongst men whereby you must be saved.
Name of Jesus and despite me.
Satan hates that name, and we see the evidence of his work the result of his work.
And Christians on today.
Many who profess to be the Lord.
Seeming to find it a matter of reproach to own only the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
And so calling themselves by other names.
Well, it is a matter of reproach.
Forth unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach, not our reproach, but his his reproach.
And when did he get that reproach? When he was here as a man? When he was here in Jesus? Well, that's the name that is my privilege to bear. Now to all that we belong to him. Jesus that rejected one only, no other name but his, that one name for salvation and that one name for being gathered.
I was thinking too of our brother London message in connection with this portion.
But here we have the perfect the dependent man.
And we have the perfect obedient band. And then we have the reward.
For such a man.
Well, it just fits in with that message that we had this morning.
He was dependent as a man, an obedient even under death.
And wherefore?
God, apparently.
Every step in humiliation the Lord Jesus took bottom fairly, and every step, if it might be said in that way of exaltation, is the Father's answer to the place the Lord Jesus took, and I believe that's why it's brought before us in this chapter. We don't like to take those voluntary steps down while we can count upon God if we take those steps.
00:15:12
If there is any place to be had where there's been something that's pleasing to him in our lives, it will be his delight and his joys to acknowledge that in the coming days.
So in this portion here we don't have the thought of.
The Lord Jesus work of atonement here because it's his example that's brought before us and now his exaltation has a man and it's set before us as a pattern for us.
It's definitely too isn't that, that there is a very definite way granted to us of showing the honor that we feel is worthy to that name. Now, as our brother Anderson remarks, we look back to the time when leaders were numbered among those.
Despite that name, we see it mailed over the cross.
This is Jesus, and we know that we were the very same as those who nailed that name there. Then we read this passage and we rejoice to know that that very name is going to be the center of all that worship in the coming day. The very name of Jesus is now so despised is going to be.
Owned and recognized and honored. And I believe that in the measure in which we.
That man and that measure will eagerly look forward to this day that we're reading about. How does though the Lord would say you need not wait until this day?
The children value of that name. So there is granted to us the privilege of honoring that name in the way of his own appointment here, where it still is rejected. What a privilege it is.
That must refer to Lisa's art revelation.
Three have kept my word and not despise my name.
Was thinking of the soul of Tarsus, the one who hated the name of Jesus, they're so bitterly and expressed it in the persecution of the Christians that time and how when the Lord met him on the way to Damascus.
And spoke to him. He recognized the voice of the Lord.
Written Who art thou, Lord? Designed Jesus.
What a revelation to Him it must have been at that moment to find that the one that he described was actually the Lord. Then we find him bowing a knee there doing nothing. Lord, what will tell have me to do?
Well, there is objective to the voice of the one truly and despised before them.
Now we find the same one writing these words.
And he must have thought about it tonight.
Nicely connected with Romans 79 also, isn't it? If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, or Jesus as Lord?
And shall believe in my heart that God has raised from the dead. Thou shalt be saved. Notice, in conversation with people who are not saved, they'll speak about God and about Jesus. Sometimes about Christ.
But very, very seldom do you hear an unsafe person say the Lord Jesus.
Well, I believe there's a special delight to the heart of God and should be to us to confess Him as Lord, the Lord Jesus. I think we're conscious when we speak this way that it takes courage.
We can speak to our friends about Jesus in a general way with little reproach, but to say the Lord Jesus, you almost notice how they kind of start when you say that people just never speak that way who are not the Lords. No man can confess that Jesus is Lord, that by the Holy Ghost. I believe it's a good habit for us as Christians to cultivate in talking with others.
To speak of the Lord Jesus.
Remember Brother Brown? I were on the bus of Colorado Springs going up to give away track and we got some conversation with a woman on a big extra.
And we could see that she had some strange religion, Brother Brown said to her. Can you say, Lord, you know, she couldn't say.
00:20:06
Just ask if you could.
Could not say after Michael's story told by a summer law. There's actually a couple of years ago.
Kind of an APC, the story from a Christian man in England.
And this Christian brother, the Lord of England?
Told him this story says I have a young friend, a dear godly Christian, no matter the young Presbyterian minister.
And he said he the the there were a second group of homeless people had come into the neighborhood.
And they profess to be able to speak in tongues.
4 tongues, and that they had received a special gift of the Holy Spirit in that way.
Well, this young minister who apparently.
Pardoned my very much teaching in the world, at least these things.
And he felt he's a godly young man, I believe, and he felt that.
If there's anything that God has for me, I'd like to hug. I want to have all the God harsh forming. So he went to leave the kings and he came on to the influence of the meetings.
And in a short time you stayed all hours a night along the rest of breathing for the the Holy Spirit to give these gifts, the gift of tongues. And we speak and have all the power that God could give us. And it began to speak.
A good honor and tell themselves. Honor of power it never felt before. And it began to speak in strange tone.
Well, he met his friend, this Christian man I'm talking about, and he told him what happened.
And ask his advice, he says. You know, he says I'm not just clear. He says something. There's something about all that. I just don't feel too happy about it, although I can speak his tongues now.
I I just wondered about it and I'd like to ask your advice. She's an older man, that's the gentleman was.
Well, he said, I'll tell you what to do, he says. I believe at all of Satan myself.
And you shouldn't go back and call to those wings.
What he says that you do go back.
And you get on the power.
He says wait it onto the power.
You call Jesus Lord.
And see what happens.
In a day or two we conducted.
And he said, I took Judaica, I went to the meeting, and he said, Lord to the power.
And I remembered your words and I tried to call Jesus Lord, but he said I couldn't say the word Lord, I couldn't speak on the call. And he says I saw that it was not of God and I got out.
I hope to say it, he says. I've discovered it was not of God. Well, I thought that was quite a remarkable incident that has taken place. That was just a short time ago over in England.
It couldn't call Jesus Lord when they get on to that, that power that he thought was of God.
Under the Spirit of God.
There are only two occasions I believe in scripture where the Lord Jesus calls himself Jesus, as in the night of Acts when Saul said, who are their Lord said I am Jesus.
And the response from Saul was Lord, not Jesus. Lord, what will I have?
And the other engage is in the last chapter of the translation where the war says IG.
16 firsts have sent my name to the testified use evenings in the churches and the response again from those who are heard him say that was Even so come before Jesus.
Very striking, isn't it? Of course we have to the number not to put extremes on any any line of things.
That the the apostle Paul and his writing was oftentimes.
Speaks of Jesus and here's one verse and are very Catholic that the name of Jesus.
Having besides and we're playing in our Him, which oftentimes the name of Jesus stands alone.
But there's no doubt the contact shows the reason why.
And Speaking of speaking the gospel, for instance, and Jesus.
00:25:05
Said unto them and so on. And oftentimes you find the name Jesus alone myself in the gospel. Well that refers to his I believe to him as a man here and there has the servant of of God taking the place of servant, the place of obedience and dependence. His husband got before us today already.
And oftentimes it's called Jesus in that way. And so the apostle Paul sometimes calls them Jesus. And here it is in this this verse. Well, what we have here as a fellow saying the one that was the lowly one, that is his name as a man on the earth, although it means Jehovah Savior, yet it was his earthquake name as as a boy.
Line on there. Well then, when he speaks of his earthly light.
And his glorious the name Jesus had brought before us, as it is here the standards at the name of Jesus. Everybody shall bow. Are things in heaven Think there's something gone there? Even the internal beings, the satanic being, the infernal beings.
I want to bow to him who was a lonely man here on earth.
But then when you come to the 11Th verse.
Not one has been exalted.
To God's right hand and glory.
And so he's the Christ, the Anointed One, the King, the Lord of glory. And so every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The the world after all, that lonely man of Galilee and and of the Calvary, that loli man is the one whom God is exalted to be Lord and Christ.
And the one that has the highest place in the universe.
The Exalted One, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
So I believe we'll have to recognize that there are times when.
The name of Jesus is quite in in order.
And then?
Jesus Christ and Lord Jesus Christ, the three combination.
Gives us over and over again.
So that I think that we have to keep those things clear.
Otherwise, there's otherwise the confusion and sometimes you know.
Sins have passed the remarks that we ought to always speak of Him as the Lord Jesus Christ.
Well, by inspiration.
So I think that we have to have.
The Word of God addresses and all these things.
Thanks to God, yes, yes, indeed. I just talked about I'm speaking to the people of the world who give him his title. But I I agree and I have had some even believers that think that you should always say the Lord Jesus Christ. Well, there is a connection in which they're used in different ways and Scripture isn't there?
I think it's right in the garden to to let the world know that we all have the Lord of glory that in the Lord Jesus to us when before the world because the world doesn't give me that place. I mentioned the other because I know that there is an extreme in it, the field which we have.
The whole title especially.
5.
Apostle learning this truth very quickly after is converted, turn to the 9th chapter of Acts.
I'm Catherine back.
1St 5.
All The Who are the Lord?
And then in verse six, he's trembling, Sonny said more.
Probably know what what transpires.
Of the redounding.
Haven't made the version.
And Ananias went his way and entered into the house, and putting his hands on himself, brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus.
That appeared on to be in the way about cameras have sent me, that thou might have received thy sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
00:30:03
On the 20th verse.
And straightway he preached and leave. It should be Jesus here.
Straightway he preached Jesus in the synagogue, that He is the Son of God. 22nd verse. But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews, which dwelled at the masters.
Proving that this is.
Mary Christ.
So immediately the apostle starts out.
He brings to court the Lord Jesus Christ. He learned very quickly, I was thinking in connection with this that we're Speaking of, that to solve Tarsus, it was important that he should learn that Jesus is Lord. When Philip was preaching to the Samaritans, it says he preached Christ to them because they they proposed to be looking for the Messiah.
Was necessary for them to see that the one who had come was the real Messiah, as the woman in the 4th of John found out. Then in the case of the Ethiopian eunuch, here was a man who knew nothing about the Lord Jesus at all. And so it says that Philip opened his mouth and began at the same Scripture and preached unto him Jesus. Well, he started at the very beginning.
Child about that one for the 53rd chapter of Isaiah told about and how he came, and the name that he took in humiliation was Jesus, but that was the one who had settled the question of sin. And so each case was different according to the circumstance of Putnam.
27 verse of Acts 9.
And the bottom of took him, that's Paul Saul, and brought him to their boss, and declared them how he had seen the Lord in the way that he had spoken to him, and how he pitched boldly at Damascus and the name of Jesus.
There you are. Well, he was. Hasn't been any hidden.
Solar, cautious, the name of Jesus.
And now you proclaim that that that name, the name of Jesus, that's the one that's Lord. So that they they either say the connection is contemplating and the beauty in the name as well as the power.
Of power in the name of Jesus.
Having the third chapter back.
That lowly namelessness, the people that visited, the Jews, the spies hidden.
That's the name that the whole universe going to ask without you.
That one, the one that they were nailed to, calories cross.
And her old brother, old brother Wilkins, many years ago in the old.
Doctor said God with the Lord over 30 years ago.
But remember him telling at one time many years ago, there was a famous picture.
Of Christ.
Before Pilate, pinned by some great artists and that picture was being exhibited all over the country.
Very large pictures and it was used.
Got the use of it in their store and the man was bringing around explaining and is to be unsure and the Yonkers store building.
On a certain, at a certain time, a certain day.
And the people were going in close see that famous world famous picture Christ before fighting. Well some acquittance at the our old brother Wilkins.
Brother Wilkins, have you been to see that wonderful picture there at Yonkers?
Trace the four files, he said. No, I haven't, he says. But he says as I am waiting to see another picture.
And that is and when you see the time when when Pilot will be before Christ.
After Great White Throne.
Well, that is coming by and by.
Well, that's a 12Th 1St. The apostle begins to make the city.
Protect the.
Pattern for the Christians.
Before them that passed a low enough to see of our blessed Lord always willing to pull down.
00:35:09
So he face his exitation con map and he said wherefore my desert?
The.
The effects on the apostle test for the same. And he touches according to dresses. In that way prepare their hearts to listen and heed the word. No heart, no, no severity, but in deepest love for their blessings.
Says, Wherefore, my beloved, as he always will be, not as in my presence only, but how much more in my absence. Workout your own salvation with fear and trembling.
I was almost thought, you know that this.
Refers to working out the salvation we receive when we accept Christ as ourselves.
High school is in a certain way that is true, that they don't work for salvation.
But we should work it out practically in our life.
But the true subject before us in this version.
Has the the difficulties and the.
Affairs of the Assembly.
For now they no longer have the apostle Wisdom as they once had with him and when he was free to visit Philip High.
They would come to the apostle Paul with their problems and difficulties, and as an apostle of Jesus Christ he could give them thanks and instructions.
To know what the mind will of God was to their affairs.
But now that the apostle was the prisoner's role, it wasn't possible for him to go to them.
So all he says now you'll have to work out your own salvation with their and trembling. They were cast now on the Lord instead of having an apostle turned into.
Yes. How many difficulties quickly straightened out if we had the example of the Lord Jesus before us?
Many difficulties don't get straightened out because we're unwilling to take them all place.
But here was one who deserves the highest place and he takes the lowest. We're so slow to go down and so the difficulties remain because we're not willing to take that humble place.
But if there was that, the difficulties would be removed and then made thirteen first. For it is God that worketh in you fall to will and the two of his good pleasure. Because we might say, well, I just can't do it. It's all very well to speak of those things, but I I couldn't do that. It'd be too much for me. Well, it's God that worketh in you. The Lord Jesus did it and we have his life. We're partakers of the divine nature.
So he not only gives the power, but he has given us the willingness to to do of His good pleasure all. I believe this is a very powerful and practical exhortation, and I'm sure that if we're all destroy the Lord, many things would be cleared up by being willing to take the whole place and sleep the Lord's glory and the blessing of his people.
And it's a matter of fear and trembling.
A snow like thing to have to do with difficulties in the assembly.
Just reading that.
Paper recently published. I hope all we get it and read it some of the last ministry of our brother Eric and he calls special attention in connection with the difficulties there in parks.
When evil was in their midst, it hadn't been judged. And what he is stressed from this, he said he have not more.
There was more about the mourning over failure instead of a.
I had his way and like a legal court dealing with things, it was willing, getting humbly before the Lord. A lot of great differences might make. So there is that fear and tremfya where there is any question that concerns the glory of Christ among these people.
00:40:02
Paul himself says in writing to the Corinthian, I think it's First Corinthians who I was with you in weakness and in fear, and his much trembling.
Your thoughts with himself, said an only example of that in the weakness and fear and much strengthening.
In connection with the other thought that is sometimes read into this verse.
Work out your own salvation.
I remember his brother, Baylor.
Mentioned the fact that he raised the question about this years ago when he was a boy. I believe in England, he asked an older brother.
About this matter of working out your own salvation with here and trembling. It sounded very strange to Brother Baylor and his boyhood.
So he said the older brother put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a sixpence and offered it to us. But when he went to take it, the man put it back in his pocket. He said now go and spend it.
Well, that left Brother Baylor very bewildered. He said, pardon me, but I don't know what to mean. So he pulled a six pence out again and offered it to him. Just as he went to take it, he put it back in his pocket and said, now go and spend it. And that's all he would tell brother Baylor. But I believe he he got the message. But the Lord would never, never tell us workouts your own salvation as though were something we did not already possess.
And brother Baylor is very bewilderment about the man telling him to spend that which he hadn't already received answered the question that was in his boys mind.
Used to illustrate the gospel.
About the teacher, he has classes for him and there's a very difficult problem.
And he knows that there's one very bright color in the class that has mastered his his problem. Now he says, George, you get you go to the blackboard and you work out this problem before the plants.
Well the reason why George can work it out is because he has already the mastered the problem himself. So he just works out, but he already possesses.
Well.
It's important to get this matter clearly before us because all over Christmas this verse is used as proven that we need to work in order to get saved, but it never has to work for salvation. It doesn't make it work out.
That is to work it out in the practical results. So if we look at the word pathway, where it can be very helpful.
And.
Absolutely refuting that the teaching of working in order to be saved.
Salvation scene. There's maybe three ways.
That is a work of Christ on the cross forum and that our presence passed through the wilderness like we have in Hebrews.
Looking on to the rest of humane and then their salvation at the end of this epistle. Is there in connection with the body, or is that in.
That in Glasgow.
Chapter 3, yeah.
I think salvation and Philippians always salvation looked at as the end of the pathway.
In Romans chapter 5 and verse.
Verse not verses 9 and 10 here at.
Romans 5, verses 9 and 10.
Much more than being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from rock through for it. When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son. Much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Now we have through His blood we have been saved from raw, but saved by His life is the Lord Jesus present work for us on high as our great High Priest and Advocate?
And were saved from dishonoring him. Were saved from things that sweetened to him.
By his present work for us up there is our great high priest. There's no thought in the 10th verse of being saved from Rob that's through his blood. But being saved by his life is saved in the same sense that we have in our chapter. Anything in our lives is Christians who would dishonor him. We need grace that we might be saved from those things. Well, that's why the Lord Jesus is up there on high for us, and that's why his example is set before us.
00:45:21
Showing us how we would act here so that we would be saved from things that was displeased and dishonor him.
There are those that teach.
Those that teach.
That much more so it was saved by his life that were saved by seeking to live like Christ here and there on the negative earthly light.
But as the contact shows that it's his life up there and God made hands and glory, because first of all were justified by his death, blocked by his blood, and then much more shall we could see it by his life. His life and glory comes after his death from the cross.
I'm just as we're justified and get salvation through the death of Christ upon the cross, the sword, her brother was saying the Lord and glory.
Preserves us, delivers us in salvation. That sense delivers us from sickness, power, and the power of sin day by day.
As easily up there in the glory, he's our high priest.
To send us down they grace and sanctuary from day-to-day.
Helping a stupid problem and then it's an advocate to.
Present us before the Father and to make things right gets gets the humble ourselves. We go wrong and get made right through that. Good to see up there at the right hand of God.
And God who have got food author a lifetime's journeys journey. Some of us have been Christians for many, many years.
And we have no more power in ourselves today than the day we started. But the Lord has kept His own throughout the years. And all kinds of trials and difficulties, persecutions, misunderstandings, temptations, and citizens power, the power of the world, the Lord has got us through all through the years.
And it's his advocacy and he speaks to their glory that our forests and thus we are able to get the victory and we can say thanks be to God.
To always cause of the triumph in Christ is always victories through Christ.
7th of Hebrews and the 25th verse I'll just read. It is well known but.
It's exactly what you were saying, I believe.
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God, by him, seeing he ever liveth, to make intercession for them.
That would make it so very, very clear that it is his present life of intersection.
Isn't there a helpful word in First Peter on this subject too?
In connection with the.
Aisle of your face, the seventh verse.
That the child you're faith being much more precious than a gold department, though it be tried with the farm. I could found that the praise and honor and glory at the peering of Jesus Christ.
Whom not having seen your love, and whom so now you see Him not be believed with, yet believing you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, Who prophesied that the grace should should come unto you?
And the point is that those prophets knew salvation from the trials and difficulties of the Way, but soul salvation was a thing that was not revealed in that day.
They understood this salvation that's here in our portion.
Which was deliverance that God gave me by name in that passage.
We have the two views of salvations to have in the fifth verse, who are kept for the power of God through faith under salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time.
00:50:08
So salvation looked at in that way we have not yet received. So when it's the salvation of the soul, it says receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your soul.
So if we have as the four Sinner, except for Christ as a Savior, we have already here and now the salvation of the soul. But as to the final deliverance?
When we receive our glory.
And they're taken out of this world.
Of sin and sorrow.
We are waiting for that salvation to be brought out when the Lord returns and in the book of Philippians the same truth carried out. If you look at the third chapter, the.
The 20th 1St.
For our conversation read that citizens it is in heaven from when also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
It's a better translation. It should read the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior.
What we as a Savior here see it doesn't the Father salvation we received when we accept the Christ of the Savior.
Let's read this 21St verse and we will find what he means.
Who shall change our body, that it may be fast back into His glorious body, according to the working whereby His cable, even this will do all things unto Himself.
The salvation of the bottom.
Now it's our salvation nearer than when we believe that's true.
That's a saving of the soul. Now we already possess that 13.
As opposed what we have to end release first chapter philippians.
The apostle Speaking of the same conflicts in the 30th verse.
That is suffering for Christ sake. He's in prison.
And he speaks of salvation in the 28 verse.
But then he speaks of the same concept that she saw in me and now here to be in me.
There is such a thing as individual trial and testing in connection with the path of faith.
But I believe what Brother Mary was bringing before us beginning, we took up this 12Th verse. Is that the professional aspect? Is it not also?
Connects with the assembly.
And now we lose. Our Christians should think in terms of the assembly, not simply as individuals.
That is, we have the privilege of that fellowship one with another, going through this world, with the Assembly here that has its problems and exercise well, and so the impossible is not going to be with them.
They have these exercises as to troubles that arise in the assembly when they're ready of another character. In a way they they cause real exercise sometimes.
And to the solving of them, and being before the Lord corporately.
As an assembly to find his mind, not just an individual deciding, but the assembly together, coming together and having one mind after these things.
Believe we have that here if you not.
Not why it's mentioned at the end of the false version here. Trembling. Yes, on the reverential field of fear.
On our forest glory.
And then trembling, trembling at his word.
Realizing His word, part of the words in our souls.
The question manifests itself in the assembly as well as in the individual we need to be.
We need to be in a in a statement when these things come before us that we wait upon God gives grace take away.
Well, that's all Conway, so that we might have his mind.
And in getting his mind there, there is this Crossy 4th.
00:55:02
Or the gods which worketh in you the will and the do of his good place. I think another translation of the willing and the doing of His pleasure. So if there's really the humbling of ourselves before the Lord in the assembly went difficulties arise. And when things were coming on that dishonor the Lord, there is that.
Quiet, humble, waiting in his presence.
They they primary thought will be what will be to his good faith.
And then when the decision is made by the assembly.
And let's leave off the murmurings and disputing. Let's bow through the action of the Assembly.
Very important.
Well, how is it that God works?
In.
Us both the willing to do this with pleasure. Is it fine what we've already had before us putting crazy before us as an example in his loneliness taking the low place.
And consequently being exhausted.
How are we going to be become exercised in a godly way that we might do his place? Well, I believe the key is by having Christ before.
Right before it has the example.
And certainly we cannot have our thoughts upon praise for very long at a time before it's going to affect your life some way.
Brother and I have noticed in visiting some of the homes that on March day morning the the what you're reading is transferred from.
Whoever it might have been, and during the week to one of the Gospels connection with the death of the Lord or to such a passage as this, the second chapter of Philippians because.
The heart of the labor is especially affected, I believe.
As we come to the before the Lord, remember Him instead having these thoughts before us.
Not that it shouldn't be before us all the time and I have noticed that as I've gone into different holes and this seems to be a pattern with some. Should I believe it's a good one?
I believe it's in connection with having the Lord before us as a pattern here that is important, that we not only have them before us as the pattern, but He Himself is our life. And so in John the vessel, it says He. That said, He abideth in Him on himself also, so to walk even as he walked.
We can speak about the example of Christ, but then when problems arise, we are able to say, oh, well, I just couldn't do that. That's that's a little bit too difficult. Well, not only do we have the example that we have the power and the Lord Jesus himself is our life.
The Spirit of God dwells in us. So when a problem confronts us, let us not say, well, I haven't the grace for this situation, but let us look up to Him because we have his life and he will give the grace. And I don't believe that there is a difficulty that has ever risen in any assembly that could not be cleared up if there were these two things.
The example of Christ before us and acting in the power of the new life that he has given.
But if we are, if we don't have him before us, if we don't judge ourselves or be no power to judge another properly, you remark that Brother Barry, and I believe it's very important because we find in the last of the judges there was a case of clear evil among them in Israel, but there was no power to meet it until they had really humbled themselves.
And then the Lord gave grace to meet the situation.
So in dealing with anything, whether it's individually with my brother or in the assembly collectively, the first step in straightening the thing out is the judge self. Get before the Lord, get back to Gilgal where the knight was first lifted on salt.
And then when we take that place, then the Lord will enable us to straighten the thing out for His glory and for the blessing of those involved too. Those two things we desire, don't we? And to acknowledge the Guild ourselves as having a part in it, like Daniel.
01:00:02
I, my Father, have sinned spirit of looking on others as though they were responsible, and that I myself were not guilty in the assembly.
All the assembly is called nothing worn there at the Carnegie, Yeah.
It shows that Watchmen exercise each one in the assembly that this makes the thing within their midst and allowed to unjust in their midst and humble everyone to think that they had been in such a size des horrible state.
Put evil, so dishonouring the name of Christ should have been committed, continues. And there were cops up boasting of their gifts, and so on, and this sad condition was in their midst.
I suppose it's a question of are eating the sin offering?
I was thinking of a can. When we sin, the Lord said Israel has sinned.
Well, in actual fact, if they can. But they're all responsible or guilty.
You often find whenever there is an exit tape given by the apostles and in giving the Interstate and you soon discover that really he's giving us.
A picture of Christ himself.
Or when you read these verses, do all things without murmurings and disputing. Well, there is there we see Christ.
That he may be blameless and harmful? Well, wasn't he blameless? Harmless. Harmless even in the presence of the high priest and the fire.
Saying nothing that according to God.
Sons of God without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom He shine as lights in the world.
Reading that, I was thinking of the case of Abraham Light. There was the quarrel between the herdsman.
Because their possessions were so great, and it says the Canaanite and the parasite was then in the land. You may think that these things aren't noticed by the world, but when difficulties come among the people of God, the world looks on and they see the spirit in which we act in these things.
And so it seems that Abraham was conscious of this fact that the world was looking on. And what a lovely gracious spirit he showed. He said to lie. He said you have first choice Lot. And so Lot shows what was in his heart. And he turned towards Sodom. But there was no dishonor so that the Canaanite and the parasite looking on say, oh, those two president, they can't even get along, they fight with one another.
Now here he takes the lonely place, and so instead of the world witnessing a man who was not willing to take the humble place, here is the oldest 1 Abraham willing to give in and give first choice to Lot. Well, I was honoring the Lord, wasn't it?
We do need to remember this brother was quoted already in these meetings. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if you have love unto another. And the world does notice, and they see. And we need to act in faithfulness many times, just as we need to correct our children.
And faith in us, but let us do it in humility and love too, and the world will see that. And there will be a testimony that we are seeking God's glory and the blessing of others.
You see the same thing in the early part of the Acts when they had to.
The sad situation in connection with Ananias and Sapphira, instead of it hindering the testimony in Jerusalem, there was further blessing afterwards, wasn't there? Because it was dealt with according to the mind of God.
You'll notice too, that it says that you have great fear there are funds of the people and no one starts joining himself to the but N, added Moses at that time.
So what work was accomplished was real and that it was not real was checked and didn't.
Come in to mark. The testimony shows how faithfulness is honored of God and real blessing.
01:05:02
Never be afraid to stand the process for the Lord. Glory to Goddess upon the cause.
In the 15th 1St, is it not the sons of God displaying their relationship by the conflicts and believe no roof removed in the midst of a crooked and diverse nation?
As we should read Children of God, which confirms what you say.
Generation too, shouldn't it? Not exactly nation.
Generation.
The world hasn't improved since the days of the apostles.
It's always this press evil world.
And it's just as much cooking and perverse nation now. And it was when Paul was writing to leave Philippians saying.
But where to China's right, endless darkness that we see on every half.
And our danger is either covering up our Mike.
And so, the Lord tells, is not to hide their life under a bushel or under a bed.
Two ways that we could cover up the light that should be shining.
That is where we kick our E so we may get so careless, so lazy and indifferent that we neglect the things of the Lord, and the voice will have something that we use in our business.
And we may cover up our life by being so, so engrossed in business that we have in time for the things of the Lord.
So there are those two ways that we're warned against.
Well, I was thinking of the Lord Jesus too, in connection with Judas, when Judas betrayed his true character and the Lord said that God, thou doest too quickly. No one could say that the Lord had driven Judas away, because the very last act that the Lord did to Judas was an act of special kindness. He gave him the thought when he addicted.
That there was a testimony even when the Lord was faithful and must be faithful and always would be faithful. Why He did it in such a way that Judas had to see that there was kindness in the Lords heart and so how important it is for us.
Then I was thinking of the two things that we have here in this 15th and 16th verses. In the 15th we have the testimony that we live and in the 60s of testimony that we speak like Gideons men. They had a lamp in one hand and an empty and and trumpet in the other. Well, the lamp would speak of the testimony that we live. The trumpet would speak of our.
Shall I say our spoken testimony?
That was that was the way they went out against the enemy and that's the way too, that we should go out and appear before the world.
In one hand, the testimony we live, in the other hand the testimony that we speak. And that's really what consecration is, isn't it? Consecration means four times full.
And so here we see him, and exhorting them to this consecration.
Then you get to.
Large 7 your loins Curtis and your lights burning. Curtis Law and speaks of everything in our lives being regulated.
By the word of God, and if we're walking and submission and obedience to his work and then the next thing is to light burning. But I believe that order you mentioned, Brother Hale, is very important.
The first thing the Lord would fall our attention to as the walk that honors him. The bells and the pomegranates. A good illustration of a day. The bells speak of testimony, the pomegranates of fruitfulness.
And they were talking about.
They went 2 bells to every pomegranate.
But a bell? A golden bell, Golden two. They weren't iron or bronze.
That which is a God.
Divine righteousness.
A golden bell and a pomegranate and a golden bell and a pomegranate round about the hand there off. It's noticeable there too, that when he tells them about the making of them, he says a pomegranate and a bell. And then he says the bell and the pomegranate and he turns it around. So when he speaks about making it, he says make prominent Radisson then bells so that we have the same order. But as far as the world is concerned, they hear the testimony to speak, then they look for our lives to correspond with what we say, don't they?
01:10:31
Me of when I was over in England one time.
Gave an address.
Before a congregation of Christians.
And.
During the week after this.
Address.
It was a good candles.
I was visiting a home and they sister in the home.
Says I enjoyed your address on Wednesday evening.
I enjoyed very much, but I've enjoyed a good deal more. I would have enjoyed a good deal more. And missed their sword so hadn't said Amen so all.
Well, I said what? What? How's that?
Well, she says every time you said Amen.
I thought the money here with me.
He ordered a bill and he had to pay. So that's the word dog. Pay our bills before we ring the bell.
Possible. Here is is rejoicing.
And that's one of the things that's prominent in this epistle. This is not the rejoicing is rejoicing because even though he's in prison, he finds that it works out for the presence of the gospel. And those who are were before not taking any part in the gospel, now it's come to the front and taking their place until he refers to it here and this verse, no doubt.
Mom will keep shine as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life.
That I may rejoice in the day of Christ, That I have not run in many relations in vain, that is.
The apostle was in a position now where he could not.
Do anything and pray.
Sign that shall we say hand and foot.
And I believe these things are giving us in Philippians in connection with our Christian experience.
As that we might benefit individually as well as the assembly.
There may be a time in our lives when we find ourselves in such conditions, circumstances that we can't move and that which would be the desire of our hearts to accomplish.
And we may even feel that the Lord has laid it on our hearts to accomplish it, and yet we do not see any way out.
The apostle here is rejoicing.
And the fact that when he was in this position, God undertook for him, and he aroused the Saints to take up the work that he was not able to do.
Now that brings out this drink offering, as it were, in the next verse.
Now that is, it's a picture, I believe, of the drink office.
And may I just take a moment, rather, to refer to a drink offering in the Old Testament in connection with Jacob's life? It's in the 35th chapter of Genesis.
Jacob had been wandering away from Bethel.
You remember the 28th chapter of Genesis? God had given an unconditional promise to Jacob. Jacob had reversed put conditions on.
With Jacob's conditions didn't work. Jacob could not fulfill his part.
And beside that, there were many things in Jacobs life that weren't right. Jacob wouldn't like to see them different. He was disappointed with himself I'm sure.
And with all his failure.
For brethren, Elizabeth Soul of many of us that we find as we look back over our lives that there's been much space.
Well, what is the result? Are we to be discouraged?
Notice here.
35th chapter And God said to Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, dwell there, make their daughter under God that appeared under thee will not pleasure in the face of he saw thy brother.
Then Jacob said unto his household, to all of her with him. Put away the strange God that are among you, will be clean and change regardless. And let us arise and go up to Bethel, and I will make there an order of the God who answered me in the days of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.
01:15:15
And they came unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their errands which were in their ears. And Jacob hit them under the oak which was by Shexham, 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 objective came to love for that one, which is an emotional cane and that is Bethel, he and all the people that were with him.
And he built there in order and called the place in El Bethel and so on.
Now, Jacob.
Finds that God does for him here, but he could not do himself. He could not set his house in order. He could not do these things. Apparently he was too weak.
I know it's not exactly the elevation of the Apostle Paul, but I think the principle here is the same.
And I'll notice further on in the chapter after God had brought him to Bethel.
God appears to him in the ninth verse.
And he reminds him of his name, of Israel God had given him.
The 11Th verse And God said unto him, I am God Almighty, be fruitful and multiply a nation, and a compilation shall be of need. King shall come out of thy loyal.
And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, today I will give it to thy seat. After thee will I give the land.
God went up from him to the place where he talked with him. Jacob set up a pillar in place. We talked with him, even a pillar of stone, and he poured out a drink off in there on, and he boiled there on.
Jacob called the name of the place where God spake on the end Bethel of the House of God. I believe here we have Jacob so overwhelmed.
With the goodness of God.
That God was fulfilling every promise that He never made to Him.
Even though Jacob had miserably failed that there's no more spirit in it, and he pours out a drink, offering it to work.
Still destroy.
Philippians 3:1-8
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Deal credit like going off in Philippians 3.
Philippians, Chapter 3.
Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord.
To write the same thing to you, me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.
Beware of dogs. Beware of evil workers.
Beware of the concessions.
And we are the circumstances which worship God in the Spirit and rejoice in Christ Jesus.
And have no confidence in the flag.
Though I might also have confidence in the flag.
If any other man thinketh that he has whereof he might trust in the collection more circumcised the 8th day.
Of the stock of Israel, Of the tribe of Benjamin.
And Hebrew to Hebrew.
Touching the law of Pharisees.
Concerning zeal persecuting the Church.
Touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
So what things were gained to me? Those I counted lost for Christ?
When I count all things but lost to the Excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.
For whom I suffered the loss of all things, and to count them but done, that it may win Christ, and be found in him not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law.
But that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God my Savior. But I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death, if by any means I might attain under the resurrection of the dead.
Not as though I had already attained either. We're already perfect. But I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended as Christ Jesus.
Brother, I count out myself to have apprehended.
But there's one thing I do.
Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth under those things which are before, I press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God, and Christ be them.
Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded.
And if in anything you'd be otherwise minded, God will reveal even this unto you.
Nevertheless.
Where do we have already attained? Let us walk by the same rule. Let us mind the same thing.
Brethren, the followers together with me, and mark them which walked. So if you have us for an example.
For many walkers whom I have told you often, and I'll tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of God, who then does destruction, who have guarded their belly, and it was glorious in their shame through mind earthly things.
Where our conversation is in heaven.
From whence also we look for the sage of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We will change our vile bodies, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body.
According to the working whereby he is able even to do all things unto himself.
Seeing that this after almost with a expectation based on.
Has already been bought the same.
In the second chapter.
00:05:00
And probably didn't mention it or if I remember.
That we have 4 towers for the Christian law in that second chapter.
The first is the garden itself.
Then we have the Apostle Paul.
Who was willing to be just the library poured out on the sacrifice of the Saints on the tumble holy place he took himself back to with his hair ministry to the face. He could only be a library poured out being this sacrifice. He is a library or to punish. And we have Timothy.
From the apostles, we have no man like mine who actually care for your faith.
And in contrast with chemistry's faithful walk behind the state of death.
In the midst of such equation and departure where he had the same and all seek their own opposition through Jesus Christ and I've spoken about the people of God.
Getting into a such a worldly law states the present things before.
But here was a pattern for the Saints, a man of lonely apocalypse who will naturally care for your state. You have a heart for the people of God and sought to encourage them and help them on without any problem of being of any importance Himself.
Well then we have half tonight.
In order to carry the contribution that was sent from Philippi, Patrick Davis had gone in person. He couldn't get his mail, the money order, express orders and the impossible role. Someone had to go and take that.
Help for the apostles and such was the rigor journey that he took it home and cost in his life.
That probably means when he established.
Because of the work of Christ, He was nigh on his death for the work of Christ.
And that shows that the work of Christ isn't always.
And the gospel.
Or ministering the Word. It's looked upon here just as much of the service in Christ.
Servant with Christ in connection with His financial affairs.
As it was to be serving in the mighty way, the apostle himself was serving dogs.
And this touching pill in connection with the catalyst.
That you are sorry.
For it says for He longed for you all at 26th verse of chapter 2.
And were full of heaviness because that he's heard that he had been sick.
The sorrow wasn't because of the sufferings and bodies he had experienced but but the sorrow of heart he experienced. What you think of the sadness in his home local assembly where his brother would have heard about his business and be sorry about his condition? So again we have another lovely pattern.
The one who thought not of self, who was thinking of Christ and what promoted His glory.
So we have the friggin patterns.
In Christ have the dear of Consul himself, and then Timothy, a young man.
To serve the Lord in such a devoted way, knowing that young man cannot call upon to wait till they get in advanced years before they can be among the faithful service Christ. It was the young man that was serving Christ and that formally positive and was not only preaching the gospel, but he cared for all their needs.
Well, the same to God and then his dear pastor divers.
00:10:06
Who had served the powerful at the time of trade the stress need or would you find that the last chapter must be apartment that's an important.
In in the Gospel of Matthew we have various parables and one of them is the referral of great prize.
I believe a Pearl is a symbol of feminine graciousness.
Let's leave it here. Consider that.
In this second chapter, we've been to had before us.
We have the subject of graciousness.
It's the Lord Jesus coming down in his grace to man.
And so, as our brothers expressed, the Apostle Paul.
Has been set before us as as an example of pattern too in his life.
Of what the Spirit of God has brought through grace.
And so, Timothy?
And.
Sophoditus, now the apostle Paul, was an insolent, an older, very man.
Before he was converted.
Let's see what the Spirit of God has done.
In our chapter that we're considering today.
We have contrast.
Between that which is simply legalism of the flesh.
And that which is the result of the grace that God himself imparts to his people. But it's the assembly but not.
And so we have now this grace manifested and the exhortation in this third chapter of Philippians, no doubt based on what we've had.
Before.
How you and I should conduct ourselves here as Christians.
Manifesting.
Just in the measure in which grace has given us.
Christ be played to the message, and it isn't becoming for us as Saints to show a legal spirit.
But it's always the natural tendency for our communion.
You know, instead of of Jacob his sons at the time of famine.
That they looked one upon another and it usually is an indication rather than our souls of families when we begin to look at others and and pick at them.
And find their faults. But isn't it nice that all the horses of the Tabernacle?
Were covered over with gold. There were knots underneath, but the bars were covered with gold. And we have the right to consider our president in that life. Now I know that in our third chapter, it isn't the gross things of evil that the apostles calling before us, rather those religious things that the flesh trusts in.
But still, it's legalism that he calls to our attention and the energy of the spirit now that will fix its eyes on that one object so that we might be delivered from that spirit of legalism.
As the law here is presented this way.
Really says rejoice in the Lord.
Time is the first chapter.
At the enemy had thought to discourage the apartment by.
Having been walking and to add affliction to his heart.
We pretended to be very into the problem, but the impossible to rejoice that even Christian and their intention, and then in the 26th verse.
One, he says that you're rejoicing, maybe more abundant in Christ Jesus by my coming to you again. Well, they could look forward to rejoice, Father once more having a visit from their dear Father.
Now the impossible gives us.
The highest?
00:15:01
You know he can reach and he said finally my bread and rejoice in the Lord.
I'll let you know the privilege that never denied the Saints of God.
And they may not always be able to resource in our circumstances.
And sometimes our brethren breathless, so we can't rejoice in them, but we can always rejoice in the Lord. And you see that spirit of rejoicing.
And having Christ as the as the object before the soul all through this person. So when he gets to the last chapter, he says rejoice and the Lord always and again I may rejoice.
And that was another asset. There's no epistle.
Like the person to the Philippians.
Where where you can hear the clanking on the chains all through this vessel. For Paul was a prisoner at Roll. But there isn't another temple where there's so much joy, so much about rejoicing.
There's always that that lifts the heart, but.
Farrow difficulties of this thing have blessed man not a fall, not a failure seen in his blessed life the more we look into his pathway.
Consider His ways, for our hearts are filled with joy and rejoicing. There is an object that never fails and never disappoints the one who is occupied with Him.
I was noticing in the second verse there are three things, three warnings there.
Which would hinder our rejoicing in the Lord Father not.
Second verse Beware of dogs.
Well, dogs are hooked upon in these, particularly as unseen things.
And verse and so forth would have a defiling of films upon once and so hinder they're rejoicing in the Lord.
Since beware of evil workers, those in whom evil is actually working.
And then healing influence over others.
And there is be Beware of the concessions.
Well, the apostle says information fine.
To behold by fall sound to you, that if he be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
Speak so that coming off of the flesh doesn't not but the apartment could say in the next verse or we are the circumcision which is God and Spirit and rejoice in Christ need doesn't have no confidence in the flesh.
So these are three important warnings something.
These things work in the are rejoicing in the Lord.
Daughter, what Gentiles are before they receive Christ.
There's no sense of grace because there's no grace in the natural man. Or there might be.
Things that show out in natural.
The things that you've called race, but it doesn't last. And as soon as one is tested, we see the flesh coming out. But it's only in Christianity that the Spirit of God makes control of Amanda, that these things.
Are manifested, it cannot be in the play.
Mr. Darby says that if the dogs are those who stand around and bark at the inconsistency of Christians.
I think it's really his own studio icing teachers that were ever collecting the Saints, just as you were saying from the plumbing by singing to bring the Saints under law, legalism and the apostle here has seen so much.
Of their wretched ways and the sad consequences of their including into the working Lord.
And he doesn't hesitate to speak of it in this way. Beware of dogs.
Course the dog today is my attention. In those days it was a scavenger. A registration is not around.
8 bottles unclean.
So if possible, doesn't hesitate.
More than them as to the danger of those who come around with a legal system, but the same under the law, instead of giving them the ministry of Christ.
00:20:12
Of grace for their soul.
Consisting on the on genealogy and so and those things that had to do with a system that now was set aside.
The Jewish system.
Its traditions and all offered observances were set aside.
And the law as a basis of receiving eternal life.
And never could give.
If you're talking sees here and set aside, there's a new righteousness that he knows. But those who would insist on on their family, their heritage.
There the concession. They insist on these things.
And you know, really if if the Jew would search back far enough that he would find he had no claim on that basis at all, because it was only Ishmael would have the claim at the basis of of nature. And that's taken up in Galatians. The apostle takes out carefully to show that if the Jew is blaming anything but the ground of faith and he had no claim at all. So Christianity shows us that was true basis.
And that is the the simple, childlike faith of the work that Christ has done. And then trusting in the righteousness, there's not a man at all, it's a God.
Always afraid of that, we have here in the third chapter rejoice in the Lord, and then again in the 4th chapter.
Of the precious truth which we've had in the second chapter.
Christ himself.
And the sacred of our rejoicing to the Lord.
With me as we are in subjection or submission.
To to warns well, and as we are in obedience to His word for we define both.
And Christ submission as well as obedience. And it's all right to read these chapters over and emphasize, rejoice in the Lord.
When we're not going on in the in communion with that question one.
I find that it's very easy to sit in the reading meeting and make these or whoever these precious purses.
But the secret of it all is in connection with our communion and walk with right and subjection or submission to His will and obedience to the Word, then there would be no room for that whole legality that will refer to them.
It would be a price where the price will not be.
Legality, old as it is.
That White Brother and Mary, yeah, I think health will illustrate as to the difference between the town season and the circumstances.
To think of a tree.
Well, if it's a tree, that bearing only weren't the truth.
Someone might say, well, that's grown the tree and fix it up. Well, that's that's what you have this beauty I consistent and is improving the old man in the place trying to make something good out of the place. So that's just pruning up the trees.
That there is nothing but bad truth but circumstances, meaning of which is cutting off and is digging an axe and cutting the street completely down just down the back itself to act now. Also the axe was made under the roof of the tree, and every tree that bringeth not the corn foot truth is groomed down the passage of the pirates.
All that circumcision being done of the lake.
In every Africa you can think of it where it's religious inflation or whether it's social deflation, various place appears something that Panama needs thought they letter in the place.
Cannot please dog.
That's man energized only by the old lady. He cannot breathe dogs.
00:25:07
But we also say that perhaps dogs would bring before us the thought of shameless evil, because they're the two extremes that were liable to go to. We can drift to the extreme of the galloping, or we can drift to the extreme of positive carelessness about evil, and both are warned against. I believe in this verse. I was thinking too of it in connection with the disciples.
On the mouth, how happy they were on that mount of Transfiguration when they saw the Lord Jesus in his glory. But then when they came down to the mouth from the from the mount, they found their weakness to meet the situations that they had to face down at the bottom of the mountain.
So we and these things, we have been occupied with the Lord Jesus and I'm sure in our measure, each one of us have been glad to rejoice in him. But rather than these meetings are not going to continue. If the Lord leaves us here to the end of the day, we're going to, as it were, come down from the mountain and we're going to have to face the realities of life. And there are snares that beat us. There are the there's a shameless evil in which the world walks.
And let us not think, because we have been enjoying these happy meetings that were automatically protected against all these things, we need to be warned. The flesh is still in us, and unless we keep it in the place of death, why often we'll find their own weakness right after such a happy time as this.
Just like the disciples, for them we can drift into the other extreme of setting up certain standards of legality. This also is another thing that could be a snare to our hearts. And so I believe that He brings before us. Rejoice in the Lord. He warns us of these two extremities.
Then goes on to occupy us with the Lord Jesus, the object before us, the object in glory. But let us never forget that the flesh is still in us. And as it's been remarked, it's not just correcting the flash, you're helping it. It's seeing where God has put it in the death of Christ and judging it and turning from it to be occupied with the Lord Jesus, but never trusting the flesh at all.
Have no confidence in the place and in order just before that, for we are the circumcision which wishes gods and the spirit. Be that my experience.
And rejoice in Christ Jesus, and give no confidence to the plain. Know when the Lord was talking to the woman at factors.
He said that neither at this mountain or yet at Jerusalem.
Well, we might turn to it before.
The 21St 1St.
Jesus said unto her, one believe me, they are coming when he shall be there in this mountain there yet at Jerusalem worship the problem. He worth it. He know not far we know about we work.
Salvation is of the Jews, but they are common, and now is when the true Worcestershire works. The problem is spirit and in truth, for the Father sicketh us to worship him. God is a spirit, and they that worship Him must work in Him and Spirit and His truth.
So that is a very clear verse and sure enough that any kind of of work.
So-called and pressing them to say that he is an imitation of the Jewish system.
Gorgeous temple.
Or trained fire. Or they had the markers and all kinds of musical instruments and the worship of Jehovah.
But the Lord sets all that in the side when he says neither in this mountain.
But that was only a false religion and that the Lord didn't recognize. But Jerusalem that time was the center that God had given for the worship of his people.
But that kind of a worship is set aside, and he speaks over time.
00:30:05
When they would worship the Father in spirit and in truth.
Now there is private distinction there.
From the worship of the Old Testament.
To see they find the people of Israel worshipping afar off. It has never entered the sanctuary.
But now that Christ has died, the veil has been wrapped from top to bottom. We're permitted to worship within the veil.
That is the veil with friends. Our souls draw near unto and from the great marvelous truth, that by faith we can go into the coldest all and work. I notice this distinction too. It says that the worshiper is here worship in spirit and in truth. Now you could say of the Old Testament Saints that they did worship in truth when they carried out the.
Requirements that you find.
Given the rules and later today they were worshiping in truth because they were following the commands of the Lord, but you couldn't say that they weren't by the Spirit. That definitely belongs to this present dispensation.
Since 25 and the Holy Spirit has come down.
To like a well of art picks off to the woman, he says. This water shall be in him, a will of water springing up into everlasting life. So we have the well of springing wells.
To fill our hearts and minds and lead out the phrases of the assembly. So when he speaks here we are the circumcision which worships God by the Spirit harvesting is that when we meet together as we did yesterday morning.
Remember the Lord in His death, that the blessed Lord Himself was in the men according to His work, and also the Holy Spirit was was present too through time with worship.
And that goes up to the father.
So that we worship in spirit and in truth. And that's why there is that waiting on the Lord. And remember is waiting on the Lord. He is the hit and He is the heaven glory guides by the Spirit.
The day in which we're living is called Man's Day in First Corinthians.
The 4th chapter of third verse.
New translation. It's man's day.
Now everything today is ordered.
By the God of this world, as a Prince of this world, so that man's judgment.
Is.
That this decides everything.
There's a day coming when there will be a Superman that everyone who are left here in this world will bow to.
Grace, the Spirit of God, has given us His precious Word.
And we have no other guy but the word of God by the Spirit today for faith.
And we're told how we should worship.
Man is controlled by public opinion unless it's his lust.
And so he acts according to what man thinks.
But the one who walks by faith will act now.
Before God.
Not before man's judgment, but before God. Possible it may.
The man of faith will act according to what God's Word dictates.
Carry it out as we're taught here.
In the assembly considering one another.
We have to remember that we're a part of the body and we have to walk together, according to the.
51St.
Of our chapter.
And so these things are tempered by the word God here. Let us there for as many as be perfect.
Be thus minded, if anything he be otherwise minded. God, to reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, where until we have already obtained, let us walk by the same rule, let us find the same thing.
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And then the apostle speaks of the example that.
Consider as an assembly that we're a part of that assembly and we cannot be independent, and that when we judge another one in the assembly, we're judging ourselves. We're part of the assembly, and if one is able to admonish another, it's because he's taken off his role and girded himself.
Would it be right to say that?
Rejoicing in the Lord is truly hindered by those things that are mentioned in the second verse. And also to say that.
Rejoicing in the Lord would spare us from being taken up with those things that are mentioned in the second verse. It's a bar and protection for us, so that it is a very equal thing for us to be reminded of this joy and privilege of rejoicing in the Lord. I was just thinking that it was read.
Connecting it with what we have in the well known verse in Romans 10 and 9 and it is the very beginning of our Christian pathway is found in that statement. It found out confessed with my mouth Jesus as Lord.
Then we find our believers in Colossians. One walk worthy of the Lord unto all, please.
That is something that I'm sure in front of you. Well, the exercise is fast because having respect the name of the Lord fever, there is that responsibility.
Walk worthy of the Lord. And then in Ephesians we be strong in the Lord.
Perhaps these things lead up to what we have here is a rejoice in the Lord because I don't suppose we can simply hear an exhortation in meeting.
Has to rejoice in the Lord and go home and say, well, I'm going to do that. I'm going to rejoice in the Lord.
It can't simply be done because we heard someone tell us how important it is.
There is. That which precedes it is enough.
Also told and walked where he has a vocation, where.
Endeavoring unity of the Spirit and uniting bomb of peace.
So that this rejoicing is not something that we just.
Have individually.
Rejoiced in our daily life, but together it's a matter of the wrong folks together.
So there has been severing to keep the unity of the spirit, the uniting bomb of peace, so that we can have one body, one company.
Lift our hearts and praises to our blessed Lord, because the hearts of the Saints are occupied for that pleasant one.
It might be well, Brother Barry.
To to point out those passages my mother Hales referred to.
One of the people born is not.
Walking worthy of the Calling The location in the first verse of season 4.
They subject to an abatement. Is that marvelous?
It's really good for us, but healthily calling.
And.
So in keeping with that, as our brother has called our attention to, where's the walk now worthy of that location?
I just thought it'd be nice to point out the scriptures then in the Colossians.
The first chapter.
Where's your hand? Where's 10? Yeah.
The Lord Jesus is seen here in the head and all our supply.
God, why? And then in the first part of the chapter, the hope which is laid up for you in heaven.
God wash worthy of the Lord.
All. Well, that simply means saving the Lord and everything. Yes, and that comes down to the minor details of life.
There's nothing that we can do to express life, but if we can do it in a way that's worthy of him.
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That is Thessalonians, the third one.
In First Thessalonians.
The.
12Th verse that she would walk worthy of God, who had called you under his Kingdom and glory.
Now you'll notice in the first part of Thessalonians.
The church has seen in the first verse as in God the Father.
And the second epistle is in God our Father, I believe.
A little advance the warmth to the truth of it. But the point here is that think of what a position these young Christians were. They've just been converted, no doubt, many of them successful nightness.
Where? Where are they in God the Father?
Well now walk worthy of.
And how the Spirit of God draws out our hearts that way. Not legalism, but the heart responding because there's a nature there.
The instructions in the New Testament are not an eye for an eye on a tooth for a tooth.
There are the instructions to a new nature that loves to please God, but these instructions, so he says in our epistle, these things for you are saved, they're safe.
The muscle didn't have a date to go over and over these things did he? Well would not grieve it to him because it was safe for them and how they needed the warning. How we need the warning in a day like this when there is so much of religious activity.
And so much literature that sounds on the face of it to be plausible and to be very good.
How many times we have had various ones there hand us a pamphlet or a book of some kind, say, what do you think of this? But doesn't it sound good?
What would you find as a rule? There's something there which.
Is not.
Will not stand the test of the Word of God.
So we need those warnings. There's usually something of legalism that is brought in.
To these things.
Something which we can.
Satisfy the flesh and you're expecting something from it.
So they yeah, possibly warns against it and is willing to go over it time and time again that we may be spared.
The.
Going getting into and getting mixed up with these things.
Describe that set the bottom of the whole thing. And that's what we have here is not the apostle says you have something glory in. I'll show you what I have the glory in in the flesh.
But it won't do me any good, he said. I just counted all film. It's not worth considering.
But it was pride, and that's what God made. Oh, he wasn't.
Presenting something to the thing that he hasn't thoroughly just felt. And as you said before, it isn't.
Evil, corrupt things that he mentioned here, but things that were a Kingdom as a national man. So he enumerates me.
8th 1St circumcised of the 8th day of Israel of the tribe of Benjamin. Well the tribe of Benjamin doesn't go straight and set up a king in Israel. So they had a fanning and a position that the other prime except Judith that he has.
And Hebrew of the Hebrews, and threatening the law of the Pharisees.
Concerning the.
The.
Concerning zeal persecuting the Church, I suppose that was one of the most outstanding of always assault parties attained.
That he was so zealous for the religion of his forefathers.
Persecuted Christmas because we talked here was the system that was denied.
The what had been given to his father through the people of Israel, well, that marks him out in Israel has a very important land here stood out to champion for the doctrines of Israel persecuting the Church.
00:45:13
Concerning touching the righteousness which is in the law of language.
Hey, in the car and outwardly, one could live up to the commandment of the law.
And hadn't been stealing or didn't take the name of the Lord in vain. He kept the Sabbath day and all that is hard as possible for a man to keep the law.
All have a thing to that in his unconverted days.
Well, you you have a very similar.
Character.
The young man who met the Lord and said, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
Well, the Lord says voted the commandments to him, and he says always have I kept for myself as far as.
Good man in the world, why he has pain the highest stance.
But here we have the end of all that the natural man, the poster.
While things were gained content those I counted the law for fire, he met Christ on the road through the masters, and I was with everything for his soul. And he saw in him a righteous that was all superior to any righteousness that a Jew could attain.
That those things that he most valued them had given him such a place of renown in his name.
He counts on the bills that he may win, right? Nothing. But Christ is always said. We could only learn less because that's the secret of happiness in the Christian life of the God. Could we at this point just call attention?
To this righteousness that.
We have here and connect it with Romans. I think it would be very profitable.
Especially for the young people, because.
I believe the subject of righteousness is not very well understood.
Now God has the righteousness of his own.
I suppose gold is a picture of it in scripture.
The book of Romans.
Takes up the subject of righteousness. It lays the very foundation, the relationship between God and His creature man, the only relationship in which man can never enter into blessings with God.
And the apostle is given by inspiration to lay down in detail.
All is in God's heart in connection with that subject, first clearing the ground and showing how everyone is guilty before God and showing the difference between man's righteousness and God's righteousness. Now that's what we have here.
There is a difference between the two subjects of righteousness.
Man's righteousness is based on what he can do.
That is, according to the law, the one who does these things shall live by them or in them, as long as the man kept those things.
He would continue on this earth, but I don't know of anything in which the Spirit of God, the Old Testament, suggested that one would have eternal life by keeping the law.
It is simply the continuing of that life that they have.
But the apostle here is Speaking of a righteousness that has nothing to do with man at all. As far as keeping a law. It's true. This righteousness is found in Christ Jesus, and we'll only get it through believing in Jesus. This is a righteousness that can only be given.
It's God's own righteousness, and we find that in.
Romans 3 We have the secret of it. I think you should turn to it just for a moment. I believe it will be helpful.
I.
The 19 first with the start this line.
Perhaps we should reverse in the first chapter first.
00:50:04
The first chapter of Romans.
16 birds.
For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God and the salvation to everyone that believeth, to the Jew 1St and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed.
I'm the principal faith to faith.
As it is written, the just shall live by faith.
Now the third chapter.
19 first, now we know.
That what things soever the law set itself to them, who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped in all the world, may become guilty before God.
Now where is the righteousness of the law? It's gone. No one can keep it.
So.
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
But now the righteousness of God.
Without the Law is manifested being witnessed by the Law in the prophets.
Even the righteousness of God, which is of my faith in Jesus Christ unto all and upon all of the belief, there's no difference.
For all of sin that comes short of the glory of God.
Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, who God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His life.
To declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are passed through the forbearance of God.
You declare, I say at this time his righteousness, that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
The one who is simple and simply trust God. He tries and he has a savior to believe in God's word. But it's on the principle not of the law or human righteousness, but of the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Is that right? Yeah.
Other Potter used to say that he's a nothing that Christ ever did in life or death is our righteousness. What is our righteousness?
Parents to 1St Corinthians one, there you will find what our righteousness is.
First character of the Corinthians and the 30th First form of him are ye in Christ Jesus?
What God is made under wisdom and righteousness.
And redemption.
So Christ is our righteousness, and we are in Him before God.
There is a doctrine.
In Christendom, that terrorism bleeding, and that's the righteousness of Christ.
Now the teaching here.
What we don't complete in our walking ways.
Right has completed that for us so that you're always seeking the righteousness of Christ. Our shortcoming she makes up for us.
But that isn't true at all.
He did the whole work on the cross and now we get a new standing in before God in Christ. So everyone who has accepted the Lord Jesus as a personal savior not only possesses a perfect.
Eternal salvation, but he has a standing now before God, and that's in Christ.
And if in Christ we stand by the impossible 7 the 8th chapter in first verse. There is therefore now no convenience to them which are in Christ Jesus. So condemnation, he is born with judgment. He's risen from the dead. And you notice in my first I read there in first Corinthians 30 of him are he in Christ Jesus.
As we mentioned before, when you get Christ Jesus, you have them. That is your university. You have the glorified man. Man is born up, defeated. That God's right hands when you have Jesus Christ usually refers.
00:55:08
To his pathway down here.
God doesn't see us in the Lord Jesus when he was on his way to the cross. The judgment wasn't foreign then. The song sees us now as that man in the glory.
That's our expense. That's our righteousness before God.
So that's what the impossible is speaking about here.
Can we also say that in Galatians we have the subject of righteousness, but it's the thought of a person keeping the law for righteousness after he is saved? In Romans it's the thought of a man trying to be righteous before God.
And for his salvation, after we're saved, there is a danger of us putting ourselves under law to obtain a practical righteousness. And I believe that subject is also brought in here, that the Lord Jesus has not only settled the question of our sin and guilt, and that now we are made the righteousness of God in Christ, but our whole conduct is to flow from the enjoyment of the standing. And so the practical righteousness is not by keeping some.
Colder rules.
By having Christ Himself before us, we are in Him. And as we walk in the power of that new life that we have been given by the Spirit, practical righteousness is seen in our life. And so that when He speaks here in Philippians 3 about what He could have bolstered, I believe there were those who were true believers of Philippi who were trying to produce a practical righteousness.
And he is seeking to show that we have this perfect standing, but now practical righteousness, a life that is pleasing to God is by having Christ himself before the soul. And this is complete deliverance from the law, either as a way of salvation or as a rule of life afterwards saying.
You'll notice in Romans that there are.
The 5th chapter and the 6th and the 7th.
Before the complete deliverance of the soul, and before a soul can say I know I'm safe. And in the 7th chapter all wretched man shall deliver me out of this body of death.
Knowing a soul has the helmet of salvation on.
It's not only that he says, yes, I know I'm saved, but he has a sense of complete deliberates, complete deliverance. That's the helm of the salvation.
It's with that that he can go out and meet the enemy and work up all the darks of the enemy. His mind is at perfect rest as well as his heart.
He knows now that he is fully delivered, not because of anything that has to do with human righteousness, but because the righteousness of God covers the whole thing, and he sees himself as a new creature in Christ Jesus the Holy entire on the basis of that redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Trying to attain righteousness by our own efforts, even as believers, will only lead to pride. But if we see where God has placed us in Christ, and our life then flows from the liberty of the enjoyment of that position, why? There's nothing that ministers to pride in this.
It's all occupation with Him. And so it says in John. I believe it's the 16th chapter. When the Spirit has come, He shall glorify me.
And I've often said that we can make a simple test of any doctrine that is presented by asking, does does this exalt matter? Does it exalt Christ?
Make anything.
As something in which the flesh can glory, and it's the exaltation of man teach that a person can be lost again because of his own unfaithfulness, and then he can glory in the fact that he has kept his salvation and this pleases the flesh. Man has kept his salvation.
Teach that salvation and that baptism is necessary to salvation.
And you have brought in there is something that a man can do to complete your salvation and give you a perfect standing before God. So anything at all is introduced that even after we're saved that adds to the work of Christ or the Texas field of our own efforts, we're going to have something new before God is a denial of the place that we have been brought into Allah blessed and holy liberty we find here.
01:00:10
A soul completely set free from all those things that we come to Florida.
And desiring that one thing, that he might fully apprehend Christ, and have him as the object before his soul.
Being in Christ Jesus.
Carrying up saying that salvation comes through Jesus Christ but is secure in Christ Jesus the United States.
And thy Kingdom.
Thinking about that righteousness.
Even considering and the third first last chapter.
It says for what the law would not do in that it was weeks through the place.
God sending his old Son from the likeness of sinful blank, and pour sin condemned sin in the quake.
Lord forgives our transgressions, our failures, even as His own, when we come and confess to Him our.
Waves, the way of the old nature that produced those. God doesn't forgive that, but he comes down.
That whole nature that we all have and have, all that sad truth every morning, that whole thing has been condemned and that was right. But he doesn't put us under another law.
In order to obtain to a certain standard of Christian.
Progress. But in the next verse you need that the righteousness of the law.
Might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the place, but after the Spirit.
Remarkable, isn't it, that after having told us that the law couldn't do anything if your man because of the place that old nature which is not subject to the law of God either in being canvassed, But then he tells us how we can fulfill the righteousness of the law.
I believe a better translation reads the righteous requirements of the law.
That is where certain rights requirements.
They always say.
I shall not cover before all these things are just as much.
According to the holiness of God, as they were in the old national.
But the way it's possible for us to carry out that righteous requirement?
Is to walk in the spirit and not in the place.
Who walked in the strength and in the spirit?
And we could ask the question then, how? How can we walk in the spirit?
Well, one thing is very important and that's being subjected to the Holy Word, to have no will of our own when we face something that the Word of God.
There's a list of that word, or if we go on and in visions, we certainly are not walking in the spirit fan. Oh, it's a subject of mine. There's a large will and occupation with Christ before it says an essential thing too.
And that way, democracy of the law never been producing man. Now we see that you're a believer who is going on in this way.
And of course we have in and 2nd Corinthians 3 that we all was unladen. Faith, beholding the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory.
That is, when we're occupied with Christ, we're not saying to ourselves, well, if I go to a store, I must not feel.
Thou not steal or not.
Going on day by day in a legal way. Time to keep the law, but it's just occupation with rights and learning more of him. The more we learn of him by the Spirit, the more we desire to please him.
And then unconscious as to ourselves, why we're keeping those righteous requirements of the law.
This was spoken of in relation to the fruit of the Spirit is enough.
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We read all our righteousnesses, our filthy ranks. I was looking at the verse in My Design 6110.
I was a great neighbor. Rejoice in the Lord.
Not in my own efforts.
My soul have been joyful in my God.
For he has clothed me from the Darwins of salvation.
He had covered me with the robe of righteousness.
Now we have nothing to do. I'm thinking of the particle two in the 16 to 2. The father said. Bring forth the bedroom and hurry up and get an answer. Put it on Now, he said. Bring forth the bedroom and put it on him.
So the poor language boy had nothing to do with that.
It was put on him in this case without listening. He had nothing to do with this right God.
Even in the very first instance in the Garden of the East, when God made those coats of skins keep clothes them, he didn't give them the goats of skins, He clothed them. Very lovely. It's nice too to see how personal this seems to be to the apostle and writing about it.
For in writing of these things, which he sets to one side so disdainfully, it isn't because he feels he optimism. It seems to me they go lovely the way he speaks of it.
In the seventh verse of our chapter. What super game To me, that's the way he used to recognize.
Though like sounded lost for Christ.
Interesting to notice that that's written in the past tense, as though the apostle in writing looked back to that day on the road to Damascus when he met the Lord, and that which had meant so much, so much to him up until that point.
Suddenly.
Was seen in an entirely different flight and erased what things were going to be those like houses, he reckons at a time long past in his life, these things were now lost. But then in the very next verse, the eighth verse, he said, yeah, Douglas and I count it's not past tense now, it's present tense.
I'm an old man now and I'm in prison and I still feel the same way about it. I reckon it lost phone though and I still feel the same way.
Why? For the Excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. Not simply because there were certain principles that told me often do this, but because there was something so very practiced before Him.
For whom I have suffered the laws of all things, and just count them. But no said I mean, we destroyed. That's quite strong language, and I wondered in reading it, could the apostles all for absent been thinking of?
That with which I don't know he was familiar.
The building of the Sun Gate in the third chapter of Nehemiah don't need to turn to it, but I believe there's a very, very instructive lesson. Fair, the great deal of detail given in the building of that wall. But there's one thing quite striking that there are no dimensions and no measurements of any kind in the building of that wall except one. That is the measurement that leads to the donkey. It's all to be.
A bound cubic, it went from the Valley Gate to the Dung Gate.
The man who built that gate was a ruler, man of good importance. He built it all alone.
And he put locks and bars on it. And it seemed to me quite significant that there would be given in that instance alone of measurement. And perhaps it would suggest that God has that purpose in each of our lives. And there's something indefinite, something vague about the ways of God with us.
It's all for known to him and wisely measured out to us to the intent that we do by having each of our lives.
This same dungate and all that which man and ourselves make glory. And to be on the outside of that gate with locks and bars between.
In order that we might enjoy the caution that was so real, the apostles, the excellence of knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. For the very next gate after the gun gate was the fountains gate.
01:10:06
I believe that's what perhaps we have taken.
And be found in him in that lovely.
What a one place to hide, you know in the Old Testament. Isaiah for Israel in the coming day.
When the battle is raging and Jacob struggled, he's at its height.
It says a man should be a hiding place for the storm in the temple.
And isn't it so in God's ways for all of his children? Christ is the hiding place and we need to be simple in our soul. We need to be in the enjoyment of this or we will not understand any truth properly if this isn't the basis we have in here with great apostles.
Be found in heaven. How sweet and how precious the truth, brother, that we can enjoy together today.
And be found in Him, and not even if anything of any righteousness or anything that we can do.
But just to be in the enjoyment.
He found in him and then.
The apostle goes on in the 10th verse.
To what he's occupied with, it seems to me that we have in this chapter.
Set before us.
On account of the conflict, the necessity for an energy.
Keep us in the right path.
If it's a question of grace and the previous chapter now is energy, that will enable us to go on in that pattern that's been sent before. So the second chapter.
Now in Hebrews where we have faith set before us.
In the life of Abraham we have patience. How many instances there we have of patience with Abraham?
Brother Hale brought us before us yesterday how Abraham took the second place and gave Lock the first patients. He waited upon God on these things and he was the he was the one who won out in the end. But with Moses, it wasn't so much that.
It was the energy that pursued in the midst of all opposition, all the power of the enemy, Pharaoh. And that's where we are today, brother. The power of the enemy is increasing around us, and that is in its open manifestation.
And he wants to rob us of the precious truth that we've held so dear for so long. And the way he's doing it, he's allowing the Saints to become, he's causing the Saints to be occupied with present things.
To be overcharged in the cares of this life reward. In Luke's Gospel, 21St chapter, we're not going to be overcharged compared to this life, but the enemy would occupy us these things, so we lose.
This energy the apostle speaks out here, though he has one thing before him in this chapter. That's right.
Found in you.
Now you live here.
If it were possible for him to obtain a righteous God, good excess.
He saw a righteousness all far.
In the righteousness of God.
That he would give the whole thing up. Well, this was quite an answer to those who are being misled by Judy Eyes and teachers. They came down to Jerusalem among these guesthouse believers.
And they said, well, for himself, all right, but now we have something superior to belonging. We must eat the wall. And they could, they could make quite an impression. We came from Jerusalem.
If they could carry their minutes and their.
Family tree back to us, all the patriarchs and soil, they had quite a placement for buses. The apocalypse, that's what you're following. Why? He said. I have obtained a higher position, higher position than any of those men who are talking to you.
What did I hear about it? I himself, when I saw in Christ the righteousness of God, because I just gave a thing all up, and my one desire now is to press on. When that blessed one.
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Has the object before my soul.
The enemy doesn't want us to enjoy this truth. Many dear souls are and believers.
Are in respect to the very truth that we're going over.
And has already been mentioned that this is a religious flesh.
And I suppose the religious question, some are harder to cast aside or give up and the deceitfulness of the flesh or even perhaps the sinfulness of flesh, because the enemy will not and will do everything possible to keep our eyes and minds from the glory and the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.
And that's the only way that we can be.
Set aside these things which the apostle could boast in, and the apostle has much to boast in.
That which we're going over.
When he saw something far far better, a person and the glory connected with us. It's heavily calling. So ours is a heavenly calling calling online and the enemy was occupied with things down here rather than our heavenly portion to see that especially from the Saints at vessel naked.
When he says here that I may win Christ and be found in him.
And in the 10th verse.
That I may know him, there was number question as to Him already having Christ as His righteousness or knowing Him. But it was something like Abraham when the whole land was set before him. It was his, but he was told to walk through the lengths and the breadth of it. And it's blessedly true of everyone who has received the Lord Jesus as His Savior, whether he enjoys it or not.
He has been made the righteousness of God in Christ. That is his standing as it was radulous. And Corinthians of him are he in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. But it's been remarked here that he's speaking in the singular in the eighth, in the end of the 8th chapter of Romans.
He said.
Variety and persuaded that neither task nor life. And then in the end, he says, shall be able to separate us. It's quite an interesting thing in the end of the 8th of Romans to notice the change from the singular to the plural. That is, Paul said, I am persuaded, but he said shall be able to separate us. That is, it's true of every believer that nothing can separate him from the love of Christ.
But everyone is not persuaded of it. Happy the experience in the soul when he can say I am persuaded. And so it's true of every believer that he has been made the rights of this, of God in Christ. But what Paul desired for his own soul and for all the Saints that they would walk in the enjoyment of this.
And that he might win Christ, that he might have Christ so completely before his soul, and enjoying the righteousness that he had before God in Christ, and that he might know him better, that he might be more conformed to him. This was a practical side of the thing, and that was really walking through the layer and breath of the land, but it was his before he started to walk through it.
Philippians 3:9-
Reading
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Right first.
Look in three verse 9.
And be found in him.
Not having my own righteousness, which is of the law.
But that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.
But I made no Him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his suffering, being made conformable unto his death, if by any means I might attain under the resurrection of the dead.
Not as though I had already attained either. Already perfect.
But I follow after if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
My brother and I count not myself with apprehended.
But this one thing I do.
Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth into 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 peace of minded.
And if in anything you be otherwise minded.
Yours will reveal even this unto you.
Nevertheless, where do we have already attained?
Let us walk by the same rule. Let us mind the same thing.
Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as you have us for an example.
For many a walk of whom I have told you often, and now tell you, even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ within the destruction.
God is our belly and whose glory is in their shame through mind earthly things.
For our conversation is in heaven.
And with also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Who will change our vile bodies, that it may be fashioned like under His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself?
Could we say that in chapter two we have the manner and in chapter 3 the old form of the land?
Just the two Christian humiliation, chapter 3 we're trying to resurrection.
Would that be your right thought? I'm sure he'll tell her bloody because now.
Right down here.
And the old corn of the land.
It's right up there.
That's just the character of these verses where we're reading now, isn't it? Particularly that is, it's bringing that out. It isn't so much that.
The mirror that we enjoy.
The truth of it practically in our souls, that's that's wonderful. But it's the fact that Paul is pressing on any thoughts and reaching out until that moment.
When you'll even have the body of glory and everything complete, well, he'll be in the rest. When he'll be with the Lord Jesus, just like him, with him, and everyone like him in every way. The full realization.
00:05:14
Of of what that you speak of it heavily side effect.
I was thinking in the maximum brother father, that nothing that Christ ever did in life or death.
Is our righteousness and Christ Himself that we should be clear on this?
That without faith in Christ we never could possess that right with every believer has now.
Before God, being in Christ.
Notice how it's worded in that nice word.
To be found in him, not having my own righteousness with this of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ.
The righteousness which is absorbed by faith.
So every center who has accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as a personal Savior possesses that righteousness.
Or who knows where it saves? God sees us in Christ before God.
Well, what was said about the Prodigal?
The reaches of all their house, and Father runs to meet him. Father says, bring forth the best robe and put it on.
Though he doesn't enter the house in the ranks that he was wearing when he was feeding the swine in the far country.
He comes into his father's house in the very best room. The father has to provide for it.
I suppose the reason the removal of the racks and the dirt is not mentioned is because God would have a not confined positive blessings. Not the righteous things we lose, but the things we gain through coming to Him.
And you're trying to and.
And Joshua the high priest was clothed in filthy garments.
My parents killed the same cost of of the best role.
And the coats of skin.
Say.
3rd chapter I think of Zechariah.
The third first our Joshua was low with filthy garments, then before the angels the answer is bigger. The world that stood before him saying, take away the filthy arm determined and under him he said, Behold, I have thought an equigated pass from thee, and I will close thee with chains of Raymond.
So as the Lord Himself.
That gives him the change of drink clothes.
And father his iniquity to pass from him.
But with the the prodigal, our brothers veterans, there's there's more additives or not. Yeah, that completes the whole picture until the the.
Saint of God is sitting and feeding on the fabric calf.
They don't have that here, do we? In Zachariah, there we have the rain. First, the cast shorts the factions of the ring, Eternal relationship. And you'll notice too, it says bring forth. It's all new.
Brought forth for the first time for the Prodigal.
And then you have the shoes on the feet. Perfect liberty forever the Father's house, never again to feel, never to feel. When I wonder, thought, see something on me that he disapproves of. Never perfect liberty there and then to sit down and feed on the fatty cap, the Excellency.
Of Christ.
The enjoyment, those hidden things.
The enjoyment of in our souls forever those hidden things that.
We're not seeing under the law they weren't allowed.
And yet two of the most phony men would tell them to take their shoes off, Weren't they? Verses and Joshua.
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Have enjoyed through the contrast between that which we received and that which we actually were guilty of, of giving to the Lord Jesus.
They departed, my garments among them, and cast lots upon my investors.
And in return he said, Bring forth the best robe and put it on here. They pierced my hands and my feet, put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet. Every blessing we receive seems to be the opposite to that which was given to the Lord Jesus in shame and suffering when he was here. And your marvelous thing to consider that perhaps all those soldiers were saying.
Because the Lord told his disciples to go out, but he says beginning at Jerusalem.
Go right back to the very place where they had crucified Him and when they had shouted away with Him. He will not have His plan to reign over us.
I'll have to wear the gospel of First to be sold out.
So there was an awkward faith, you know, the various soldiers pierced the side that he could have.
That crime forgiven could have a very landing period. Have your personal savior.
There is something in this scripture that our brother Barry Cooper attention to in Zechariah.
That isn't seen in the.
The simple translation we have here.
But where it speaks of a change of Raymond, I believe it should read Costly Raymond.
For festival Raymond, well, that's in line with what our brother Hayhoe was Speaking of.
The raiment cost something. The Lord Jesus Christ suffered from God over a Christian age. We might have this range. It's not just a mere change of Raymond, but look at the Raymond. We got costume and it's festival too. There's to talk about it and it fixes for glory.
I remember years ago hearing brothers go to give a talk on the prodigal son.
Bringing out God's power.
And he called attention to the fact that when the prodigal arrives.
That he didn't have father, he doesn't have to send to the store and have made it for the prodigal. He had a rope hanging up exactly finish that he didn't have to send through the shoes store and get shoes for it.
To the jewelry store to get a ring for him. That was all waiting and they plan following, he said. I believe that father was up on an elevated place looking out down the road for as soon as he comes in sights he doesn't fall the sword. But he said that wasn't all the father provided. He said he sent that family to the into the far country to bring him home.
It looked nice to notice too, that there will be one thought again.
Of being a certain.
And all that is said there in that scene is that that which expresses the joy of heaven.
Interaction with that parallel.
Because it is one parallelism, the sheet and the piece of silver.
And the God of the sun, it's really one parable, but it's all the joy of heaven. It's what it's what is found there in the heart of gods. His own heart is is satisfying.
When these children from all satisfied, and they'll be just like Christ with the sun, he greets him, he dresses him son. It's in the dignity of the one who has the inheritance, not a servant. That was the sons thought. But he doesn't express about. No, he can't express it now because he knows better now.
He's not observant, his son.
It began to be married, yes. And so I never ended.
And our joy will never end begins down here.
When it's for lesser measure in the father's house.
There's too solemn beginning there.
Says first in the far country he began to be alone.
Then you have a second they began to be married.
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For instance, the beginning.
Of misery for those on Christ. If he hadn't turned to the Father of His type, that beginning of misery would have continued.
And want to have lasted forever.
But all in the Father's house. It was just the beginning of the joy.
That never ends.
When he said make me as well as I am servants, it sounded like true humility, but it was really rich and try it after all thought he was still well enough and good enough to be a servant anyway.
And all he could look at now was the best role could look at those old rags with brass making feel humble.
Poor Sinner, he thin smile. He sees himself just as the following has the very best role he could provide.
One of the prominent things that we have in Luke is repentance.
And we find in connection with the piece of silver. I would just suggest this.
Consideration that it's a picture of what goes on.
As the prodigal is on his way home.
The woman sweeps the house.
It's a picture, I believe, of the work that's going on the Spirit of God is doing today. It's true, very true, that when that son sees the Father and the Father encloses things, covers him with kisses, he can't say, make me a higher shirt, he can't say. But it's just as true, brethren, that there was a sense of grace produced in his heart on the way home.
The work of the Spirit of God and our soul. And that's why the Word gathers us on occasions like this.
And that which was lost in the garden.
That was so precious.
I'm not setting aside controls of the Law Center precious to God, but I'm thinking too of what we have in the general character of Luke Gospel. There was something that had to be recovered, and that was the sense what grace would do.
And so the work is done in his soul. Does the woman sweep the house? There are two brooms in Scripture. There's one here in Luke. And that every heart must be slapped with that room. Otherwise if we swept with the bees of destruction, that's the broom of destruction. Isaiah 14. What a terrible day that'll be for those who have never repented, never confess themselves sinners before. Holy God.
Well, we have it here in Lucia.
Professionals of guilt 0. And now we find the father gardens. This best growth in Luke 15 was dropped out of the father's house.
Brain work the best role if they were told.
And.
That's why we have it now. We have righteousness in Christ. Now foreclose that righteousness because the role has been brought out and we've been closed in that race. That's why we're ready to to go to glory. And the apostle is so taken up with it that he wants to to get there and to see that one who paid the price that he might have this righteousness.
I mean no him know that Christ.
Satisfied with the heart.
Your father, old man now you young man, when he left right on his way to the past.
And read his voice and knew his and proved his love. Now we look over his life, all the hardships.
Persecution, stoning, being beaten with rocks and shipwrecks.
And danger everywhere he went. But we find that Christ hasn't failed to be the opposite of his heart and sex. He still wants to know more kids.
And that's my object, that it's possible to satisfy the long of a human heart, Christ himself.
This is the light that shining just a little brighter as we near that that moment is that what we have here in Colombia St. as we near home, the light gets brighter to us doesn't after the justice was like the shining light shining more and more under the perfect day.
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That perfect day when it was when we have reached the major of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
Power of His resurrection here, I suppose, is in two different ways too. Now we can experience this in a spiritual way. Now that is walking the power of the new life that God has given to us. And then it's also in a physical way here, I believe.
And the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable unto his death, he had Christ so much before his soul, that he desired that Christ might be manifested in his pathway. And if going through death was necessary in the path of following Christ, he could rejoice in that, because he would experience the power of his resurrection in a physical way. The out resurrection one would call him out from among the dead to be thoroughly like the object that was before him.
At this time he could rejoice too, in being made the righteousness of God in him, but he was going to have the same righteousness too, when he stood before him. Because this is lovely for us to get hold of, will not have any better standing or any better righteousness, even in glory than we have right now. And if we lay hold of this in our souls, there will be a power that will sustain us in our walk down here.
Another is said that the devil said to Paul, if you go out and that's had your following why they'll kill you or because the apostles, then I'll be left much more like Christ because he was martyred in his pathway. So that was defeated the the efforts of the enemy to discourage him going on.
You might be conformable under his death.
Well we know the apostles is need a marker set when he doesn't second Timothy. The last chapter I'm ready to be offered up in the time of my departure is here.
Nothing good that glorious ends before him, he say. None of these, none of these things moved me.
Two things that the apostle at least two things that the Apostle never forgot.
His life one was the way he persecuted the Church of God.
The second one was when he was caught up in the paradise we have recorded in the Second Corinthians chapter 12.
There where he sees all that, he was caught up in the paradise and heard unspeakable words, which it is not awful for manned water.
Such a wonderful life. Glory. Isn't that the what we have before us here?
The glimpse of that blessed woman glory. And now he wants to know more of him. And we found in him.
Well, this is good for us all to remember that death is no loss to the believer, it's actual gain. And even though a believer is looking for the coming of the Lord Jesus all through his life, it's no loss if he should pass through death.
In First Thessalonians 4 it says the dead in Christ shall rise first, then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds. And if death should come in the path of the boldness and following Christ bias game because as the apostle brings before us here, he would experience the power of his resurrection that would take him right out of death.
For it says in First Corinthians 3, all things are yours, whether life or death. Death belongs to the believer, it's actually ours. So that whether we go through it or whether the Lord should come and take us without going through it, there's nothing to fear. It's gain no matter what way the Lord may call us home, and whichever way we go, if again like us to Christ.
Called through death, Well, he's been in death, and if we're caught up to meet the Lord in the air while he was out with his disciples as far as Bethany and was caught up into heaven.
So it's it's like us to Christ, which ever weighing God with me to take us out of this thing.
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That's the thought, Brother Perry, in the Second Timothy chapter 4. You've already referred to it of the 18th First Second Timothy chapter 4, verse 18.
You referred to verse 6.
I'm now ready to be offered my the time of my departure, the past but in verse 18.
The apostle seems to have confidence. He says that the Lord shall deliver me from every evil worker, and he we know all of these.
The headed suffered martyrdom for Christ's sake, yet knowing too that he passed through the article of death, he knew that that would bring him into the very presence of the Lord, to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better. So with the evil work.
The Lord shall Remember Me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly Kingdom.
And to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Speaking of death.
And I think just a moment to.
To speak of it in this way.
You know when you go to the cemetery sometimes.
You see little graves.
And some of us have experienced.
That you know.
There's little ones laid away.
And we wonder sometimes about these things.
And of different ages.
The church is likely to know to a Pearl of great price.
And the jeweler was showing me once a string of pearls.
Very precious, costly pearls.
And I spoke of the different sizes of the Pearl, always said that doesn't make any difference, he says. They're all just as important. You wouldn't put that big one down on the end of the necklace.
He says those pearls are all just as justice, beautiful justice.
Full as they'll ever be, no matter what stage.
They're still just a complete burden, whether it's a small one, whether it's a big one, and the the Lord is going to have each one in that glory just as it pleases Him.
So let's remember brother, the Lord is doing all things he doesn't right? And he may take a little one home.
But it's according to his plan at purpose.
I'd like to ask the question is next with the power of his resurrection from Ephesians 1.
Verse 19.
By the exceeding greatness of His power to us were who believe according to the working of His mighty power, which He rock in Christ, when He raised him from the bed.
I have wondered why it is that the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ is spoken of as being a subject of such mighty power.
I just asked this question. Would it have anything to do with the fact that he actually took our place and died as our sin bearer? That such mighty power is spoken of his connection with his resurrection?
Never heard that Sonic Express, but I have one.
Mighty power that took Christ out of the dreams, seated Him in glory as the power that's working in the believer knowledge.
Or we are already on resurrection ground.
I see me when I go up. Remember that in the second change. So that's the that's the whirlwind.
That we're seeing there that took Elijah and and he crosses Jordan in that same power.
Does he know we connected with the Hebrews 2? Perhaps it would shed some light on it and Hebrews 2 and verse 14.
And I think it's a little different than the new translation. I'll just read it as it is in the new translation.
Hebrews 2 and verse 14.
Since therefore the children for take a flash of blood and flesh, he also in like manner took part in the same.
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That through death He might annul him who had the might of death, that is, the devil, and might set free all those who through fear of death, through the whole of their lifetime, were subject to *******. Satan was the one who led Adam and Eve into sin, into sin, and in that way death was brought into the world. And so he has spoken of as having the might of death. Well, it was only by that mighty victory that the Lord Jesus accomplished.
By taking up the question of sin, glorifying God about it, settling it, now there's a power that can come in and know the whole power of Satan that had brought death into the world. And the Lord Jesus rises triumphant. He went into, if one could speak in that way, Satan stronghold.
Rose triumphant over it, and that might that raised him, and now is seated in there is the same power that is toward us and is going to deliver us. But when we come to the final judgment of the loss, it says, and the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death, and not until the great white throne where the Lord Jesus sits is judged is the final penalty in connection with death.
Meted out and those who have died in their sins will be cast into that awful place of torment with Satan and that will be the complete, shall I say, victory over death by display. But for us, for us, it was all settled at the cross. And so it's death is our servant. Satan is a defeated false and that power is now working in US. The Lord Jesus is up on high. He is entered there as the forerunner for us and he is going to take us out of the power of death.
And associate us with Him in that glory. But all how awful for those for whom death has not been at all. They will have to meet that awful judgment of eternal death.
Well, the Lord himself has the key of death now.
That's the dominant fell at his feet is dead. I am he that liveth and was dead and behold I'm alive for evermore and have the keys of death and hating. I believe that the Lord took those keys away from Satan and straw.
Well now they can no longer have that micro death that he wants, that the keys are in the hands of the blessed convert over Satan and all his power.
And that's why death houses the terrorist rule of Christians that had to an old heaven saying.
3 heavy cars, mournful fears of death when he was told to make ready his house and he was to die. And then read about Steven looking up into heaven and saying Lord Jesus received my spirit on a difference.
Is it not also the same thought in Ephesians 2 where it speaks up in leading captivity captive?
That the Lord Jesus said death was what held men in captivity and Satan had that power because our brother Barry just remarked, the Lord Jesus has taken that power from him. Now he has the keys and he's gone up on high and the gifts have them to proclaim this victory.
And actually, those who have received gifts from an ascended Christ art are to proclaim his victory here in this world. And this way we are brought into the good of that victory. And as we enter into these precious truths in the word of God, we are brought into the liberty. Just like when they returned and said, well, there's a complete victory over Cicero and Oswald sister has been put to death. Well, people now can rejoice.
In freedom, liberty.
While the Lord Jesus has done that, and we who are his ought to be telling on his victory, whether it's as a evangelist, the sinners, or the pastors and teachers to the Saints, to enjoy what Christ has done.
I probably see the the.
The Mastering.
The truth the believers in in the resurrection of Lambda.
The Lord said to others, rolled you away the stone. He didn't roll away the stone himself.
But then he speaks the word of power and brings ladder for him, but the Lord doesn't listen.
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Lazarus when he came forth mount hand and crooked grave clothes, and asking about his face couldn't seem they couldn't use his arms or weights. Well, the Lord says to his disciples.
Seven and wagon door all their their definitely two works. The Lord is his service. One is to prepare the way thoughtful as we heard it last night I'm sure.
There was a powerful way that God says of rolling away the storm, opening the way it's all about that that glorious Savior can speak the word of life into a dead into a dead soul.
Then the last soul is walk more in life and it's a privilege to service others to lose it, and much of that's going on now. Connection with the Lord. Where is the loosening?
Sinners who have been given life, bringing them into the liberty and enjoyment of the mighty glorious victory that Christ as trumpet. Those were rolled away. The stone wouldn't be very popular, would they, because that exposed ladders in this corrupt conditions.
And so the preaching of the gospel that exposes sinners is not a popular gospel and will not be popular when we preach that kind of about.
In the very close would suggest, at least partially, that which would attach us to the earth here, the scene of death in a religious way, would it not? There are many things that would hold us here, and it's the privilege of one another.
To help one another.
And having our hearts fixed on heavenly things, being separated from this world. The man say this in that connection.
It wasn't the thing that was done suddenly.
And we mustn't expect.
That all this happens in one minute.
So in this same chapter.
We're looking ahead a moment these verses that were read this morning.
15 flat snippers many to be perfectly thus minded, and if anything you'd be otherwise minded. God shall reveal even this other you. But He does use the Saints. And then nevertheless, brother, we have already attained. Let us walk by the same rule. Let us mind the same thing.
And we have to be patient with one another and we have to be able.
By our own state of soul walking with God.
To to know when the right time to be a help to one another in these states.
What if one might ask the question and connection to a verse on the left, that verse in the second chapter of Ephesians?
5th 3rd.
Is that?
That indicates that the power is spoken of in the first chapter was an exercise here in our behalf.
Even when we were dead and sins had quick enough together with Christ.
That would be in his resurrection, but it's not.
And are being raised with him out of the place of that.
Reason.
Not only yes please.
The subject of getting life of its life and association with Christ himself so we can together that's behind us all together, but it's with Christ.
It's spoken out in two ways of the 5th and jar. I suppose that is that the hour is coming, but it also now is.
That is, there are those in the turn to the 5th is John.
The art of Gospel.
25th 1St barely barely I understand you of the hour is coming and now is dead, shall hear the voice of the son of God and they adhere to live.
00:40:02
For as the Father hath lightened in himself, so He also given to the Son that I have life in himself, and I've given the authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.
Marvel not at this for the hours coming in which all that in the grave shall hear his voice.
It shall come forth. They have done good on the resurrection of life. They have done evil of the resurrection.
Of damnation so I believe in the first part and Speaking of the actual giving life the subject to this chapter that it needs to click there but also.
He's going to be the one that will.
Raise the damn and raise Lazarus, because he named Lazarus.
If he had just said come for it, all would have come for it. But he named lives Well, that's that's the first of all coming out from above the dead. But all those are in nice and be raised out through among the dead. And then we have the other class mentioned here 1000 years later too. Two parts to it, But I believe we do have life.
In nations too, but it's in association with the Lord Jesus.
It's in here.
Well, in Ephesians 2, I believe it's the spiritual side. When the Lord Jesus comes, it will be the physical thing, so that we're already seen as being seated in heaven, in the heavenlies in Christ now. But when the Lord Jesus comes, we'll be there, like the little hymn says, in soul and body, perfect, all glorified with thee. But now it's the same power that has raised us up now.
But it's only a spiritual thing, and our souls ought to be in the enjoyment of that now spiritually, but soon physically.
And the American experience of our chapter. You read it by any means.
I might obtain under the resurrection of the dead.
We have a goal before it.
Elections in South Here it's a little man in a race.
And he's straining every nerve to bring that prize at the end. And no matter.
How many difficulties? How many trials? Why he presses on?
And it's been said that one who is eager to win a race would throw away a bag of gold as quickly as he would the bag of pebbles, because it would only hinder him to gain the race. Oh, that's where the apostle has had objects, right?
And he wanted to attain to that glorious time in Christ will be displayed in all his power and glory.
My.
Power will be displaced on the Lord gives that shout in the air, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
He can feebly conceal of what that means. Think of all the Saints exodus all over the earth that have.
Have laid there for centuries, yet everyone can be raised. Come forward, you give that chance.
Interruption.
And the word for resurrection here is, I believe, the Spanish word.
And it means the resurrection from among the dead or that one out from among the dead. And really the thought here, So it's a specific resurrection, not a general resurrection. It's the specific one, the one that the apostle Paul had the revelation about.
As a bolt of John 5, the 1St is the same, then those that are done good, and then those that have done evil.
Are the last one that is those who have rejected all festivals, overtures of mercy, but John given you know when the Lord came down from the Mount of Transfiguration. He told his disciples that they were not television. So after the resurrection after his resurrection from the dead.
And the disciples questioned among themselves what the resurrection from the dead should mean. Well, they were not in front of the truth of resurrection.
Every Jew that was talked in the synagogue knew that it was a resurrection. Marley had the general idea that you.
00:45:09
Well, we're taught in those days, she said. I know that he's arrived again in the resurrection.
In the resurrection but when the Lord hope of our resurrection from.
The dead or from among the dead I believe is the more correct question. That was something entirely new to this time.
That mom of the dead would be raised and others would be left behind.
And that part is brought before here. It's a New Testament.
The Lord is coming, and He will call all the sleeping things immediately, and He will take them to the Father's house.
To the last three verses of last 28 tests on our 7th.
Matthew, 2018.
Came with the state under that debate. All power is given underneath him.
That was.
Certainly take that in.
Whole subject where his power is exercised.
87 the 12Th verse. Not as though I already have seen either. We're all perfect, but I follow after you find me an African. I think it's really lay hold.
That which I am late full of Christ Jesus.
Well, we're very conscious that we haven't obtained for that glorious moment when you see the Lord in our glorified bodies.
Always pressing on with that.
Before it's sold.
To take into session like the children of Israel. Isn't it that the land is there her brother attention to that this morning. The children of Israel had to land all right theirs.
My craft got given to them, but some of them didn't even cross the jargon, didn't they?
Exercise.
They lost out in their experience down here in connection with it, didn't take possession of it until the apostle here is going to take possession of it now by faith. But there's such a thing as.
It's expecting that moment when you have full possession.
And there's then you'll have a body just like that body of body who doesn't say you will have full possession. That's what he's looking for.
I was just reading the other day in the book of Joshua, and I was quite impressed there that when they gathered together at Shiloh, the land was divided among them by lots before the Lord, That when their portion was made known, least tried. There was one tribe, the tribe of Judah, that said, we have more than we need. We could gladly let someone else have part of our inheritance.
And they gave away part of their inheritance because it was too much for them. That's the language the Scripture uses, too much for them. There was another tribe, the tribe of Dan, that said we would like still more. They heard it on their stores and went up into the Hill Country and enlarged their inheritance.
I thought it was so impressive to read the difference between the energy of those two tribes, one of which said this is more than we need, we gladly let someone else have part of it, and the other said we would like to have still more. Well may the Lord grant that as a result of being together at these meetings.
We may actually feel that this is truly a mind wealth and spiritual wisdom that we have here and that we might seek to lay hold its possessive and enjoy. Could we look for the person that connection Albert with physique the last chapter?
But it's more showing the.
The sovereign grace is actually with the final.
Setting form of the land to Israel.
And I believe a little picture of what will take place when we arrive at full.
00:50:02
And the first verse of the 48th chapter of Ezekiel.
Now these are the names of the trials.
From the North End of the coast of the Way of Heplan that's on goes to Hammond Hazer and the border of Damascus, N to the coast of Mammoth.
These are his sides, east and West.
A fortune for Dan.
Now the question arises.
Why is it that Dan comes first? Why not Judah? Or why not the oldest?
Well, we have part of the answer.
In Revelation where we find the 144,000 minutes.
12 drive to the 7th chapter.
There Dan is missing.
When it drives your seal, the drive of dam is missing.
Well, there we have God's government.
And when it's God's government.
Dan is missing.
And his name means judgment, I believe. And there may be some association of that tribe, according to the prophecy of Jacob, with the Antichrist.
But after man's history is over.
God now deals out the land according to His own thoughts and grace, as He promised to Abraham and His sovereignty, not on the ground of their merits.
Damn, it was left out in Revelation against the first place.
And I'd like to speak to our hearts.
There might be those experiences we go through here that are very trying and we feel got in the hands of God's government and we may be left out of some things here that we like to have part in through that government.
But there's a day coming when he's going to deal with according to with us according to the dictates of his own heart, not our ways. He's going to pour out his heart of love from his people and deal with us according to that great heart of love.
And blessing.
Rather than our count, not myself to us apprehended the 1St 13.
But the one thing I do? Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth into those things which are before I press toward the mark.
Of the prize, the high point of the calling, high God in Christ.
So we get that part of one who was running in a race.
With the goal before him, we really get the.
The picture that this capture presents one draining every nerve.
To win last great time to how thy soul and the goal was before they wanted this great is Christ and glory.
We found Christ so precious. Now he's become the goal of the race, and he's right. And so he forgets the things that are behind.
I don't take that as.
The as the.
Wretched thing that one would gladly forget and never remember again, but it's those things that were really again with what is already mentioned that would have given me my high place of honor and distinction in this world. He forgets all that and he keeps survived fixed. Unless gold.
Glorify the Christ before it, and that's really what keeps us deadly on the pathway down here.
You ever want to make a beeline where you got to have your eye fixed on some object?
Get your eye over that object, you can make a very crooked pathway.
I thought of every boy has tried that and the soul and sometimes in his life.
And he can obviously for him and seeing how strange he could mark out of past in the snow.
Well, if his eye got off of that object for one moment.
Who's against to make a very crooked pathways? All conversions started out that way, didn't It started out by seeing Christ in glory and he wanted it to continue that way.
You want to continue having his eye on the Lord and glory, and that's what he's looking forward to. He was looking forward to.
00:55:06
Ritchie, Christ and Lord, that was the prize before he speaks of it in the.
Yang first end of it, but I'm going to win Christ.
Father have Christ for my game at the end of the road and verse 12 not before hath already I paid or received the fries, but he says I'm pressing forward. I want that right. That's what I want to read, but that means.
Going toward that goal, he fixes his eye on.
Some of us have been farmers and some of the brothers here are farmers, and I think they know something about clouding the horses. I don't know if they do this thing with tractors or not.
But sometimes when we started blowing the field, we would start down the middle of the field.
We figure out just about what the middle was and we wanted the first person to be straight for that. I probably would would look like something. It would appear nice.
So we would put in mark at the opposite end of the field.
And we would start driving for that. Ozzy. Perhaps a white flag on a post.
And we try to guide the horses right for that, that flag at the end of the field. And if we kept our eye on that goal at the flag, the fur would be straight. But I remember once as a young fellow when my father was starting me out following.
I was to do that very day and when I got through about the middle of the field, I thought I'd look back and see how I was coming along.
Well, I found that when I got to the end of the field, I was a little crook in the fur right there where I looked back. I'd forgotten to keep my eye on that. Goal ahead continues. I remember the experience I had on the farm. I put a flag, as you say, up at the end of the field. But they were.
There were trees all back there, and instead of getting my eye on the plague, when I got my eye on the plate object in the trees and here I discovered that I played a client steering clear off from the what I intended to the fur I intended to make.
So there's a real warning for us.
There's danger of getting along. Many of us can get to the wrong object.
If it's making money.
It doesn't certainly price is the option getting a position in this world and getting.
The arm respect of others.
Anything that we can think of that becomes another object in Christ will lead us astray.
I think there's a warning here too, in connection with things like Victorious Life books, because they occupy us with our own progress and they lead to either discouragement or pride. If we get occupied with our own progress, we may get very discouraged because we feel we haven't been what we should be, and rightly so. And if we think we have been what we should be, then we get filled with pride.
How blessed it is that God sets Christ before us, and if we keep Him before us, although we have failed, there's restoration. But if we get occupied with ourselves and our own progress, it's certainly getting the eye off him. And indeed, this is the subject, is it not, brethren, of the whole chapter where we have been brought, we have been made the righteousness of God in Christ, and now our whole pathway flows from this.
Gratitude for what He has done for us. We get our eyes upon Him, the one who has accomplished this work and is glorified. And now we go on, conscious that we're not perfect, conscious that we're far from being fully like Him, but keeping our eye upon Him.
Perhaps this high calling?
Is contrasted with.
What we have, as Paul speaks of forgetting those things which are behind all the things that in the religious way would make something of a man down here. And so it's the pie falling.
Congress with the Jewish daughter.
My calling, but it's of God, you can be sure of that. And the skin Christ Jesus. So the believer now has his eye fixed on Christ, but he remembered that he has called, he has instructions.
01:00:13
Vocation of Ephesians, so on. He has a calling. He has various instructions of the word of God as to Christian desimboli and the end of it. It's Christ and glory.
To the new translation is the Kalahan high is an entry that is that's where the Lord Jesus path ended.
Now that's where it's going to end for us, and we should have that before us. And the end of the chapter brings that before us when we will be like him, not only morally but physically, fully like him. But there's the the calling on high. We're just waiting for that moment when we're going to be called into his blessed presence and we're pressing on with that before us.
Thoughts in the 15th 1St you get that therefore as many as we purchased and if we turn back to the cross first, the process says now the though I had already attained, neither were already perfect.
All that's all that we need.
Discernment in connection with the things of God.
And we have to see what the Apollo is talking about.
Seeing the 12Th verse, he is, he says, and he is perfect, yet he is.
Fully conformed Christ, He has the body of glory, yet by Christ.
But Internet 15 First he says, let us therefore, and he includes himself among a certain class, As many as he prayed, he thus minded.
I behave that perfect in the 15th verse means having Christ as one comment. Now there's no question that the apostle Paul definitely had a Christ as his honor from the moment he met Christ there on the roads of the masters.
He had Christ before his well, he says as many as he was minded.
That is all who are like the apostles, with Christ as an object before their souls.
And he had been anything he be otherwise minded. God shall reveal even this unto you.
That's the way true unity among the things is maintained is by having Christ with novels and if we have different thoughts about different subjects and different things connected with.
The.
The things that are concerned the Christians, while the Lord will bring us more and more, have one mind.
About divine things.
But we say that the perfect Christian state is to have praise as the object the moment the eye is off him. Well then.
There has been departure from that, but when the eye is upon him, by one who has his eye upon the Lord won't sink. But alas, the work of the enemy is to get our eye off the Lord. And so if we don't see alike in things, it must be because there is some measure in which self has a place in US, and Christ isn't fully the object before us. Because one thing we can be sure that the Spirit of God is not going to teach.
Two believers, two different things about his truth.
Now we're not to try and force others to accept something, we have to.
Present it to them and allow the Spirit of God to work. Maybe it's ourselves that need to learn. It's the it's the point that when we go see like we seek to turn the eye to Christ.
Because in all truth, Christ will be the object. Christ will be the one who is before the soul.
And so he says, if in anything he be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
The distinction is then between that which is perfect and that which is otherwise.
It wouldn't quite leave leeway for.
Various.
Conflicting thoughts as the scripture. At least I wouldn't think it to be that way.
We do need very much grace and forbearance because we are so very, very often in need of being corrected and instructed ourselves. But the thought is otherwise mine. It seems to be in contrast with being perfect. Is that so?
01:05:13
There are certain fundamental truths, as there's only one way to consider them.
But there are many interpretations of portions of scripture where one gets one view and another gets another view. Well, we shouldn't insist on our view and not consider the view of another reason.
I was just recognized that.
The cost of fall here, and it's a special place I suppose, as an impossible goal in setting an example.
Not only himself having taken the place of death, but being delivered to death that Jesus say, and his whole life being sent forth as a an example.
Delineation for those who after we should believe.
And so he sets this condition up.
Is seeing price of the body of the object and now he says for those who follow in that way in contrast with those who would set their hearts on earthly things especially.
Those religious things down here that would hold them to the earth in a religious way instead of having heavenly things before them. And not only did they have the truth of it, but the apostle here is an example of it.
In his life.
No, the apostles. Paul is the only one of the apostles who tell others follow him, follow me even as I follow train. Peter doesn't use language like that.
I believe the reason why the apostles fall is the only one of the apostles that is looked at as the parent Saints. It's because.
He's the only one that called Christ glory.
And the man to call.
Is the man who has seen Christ and glory and.
Such was the.
The the wonderful experience of having seen Christ and glorious.
To cover all. And he suffered. To count everything lost that was dear to his heart in this world, and to have only Christ.
As the one before it. And yet having seen Christ in glory has had such an effect upon one man, and the only man the dog took up there brought him back.
What want to speak to?
Me and that seat, and to be acquainted with that pleasant one, if he was so infused and fulfilled with the cost of the wonders of that person and his glory.
That nothing else with any value to it, just going on with Christ before dad and that brother barely practice truth. The end of the fall verse Paul realized.
Very definitely.
And he hasn't taken possession off by Christ Jesus. I believe that's the new translation thought there's possession of by Christ Jesus.
And him, and him alone.
Was his desire served and glorified?
I was thinking this 16 verse is very important in connection with this the 15th verse. Nevertheless that is in the end of the 15th verse it says if in anything he be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you nevertheless.
Where two we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. We'll never find the perfect group of Christians who will always think eyes. Why, if we were all in communion by the Spirit and had Christ as the object before us?
Why God would reveal these things to us so that we would go on together? But if we don't, isn't this lovely? In the 16th verse, where do we have already attained? In the family of God there are babes and young men and fathers. Can we not go on with those who perhaps haven't made the progress that we might like to see? Oh yes, we can, unless is our brother very remarked. There are certain fundamental things you have to stand for.
01:10:16
But there are many things in which some of us certainly should be growing more than we have. Well, we can go on. And it says here, where do we have already attained? Let us walk by the same rule. So here is another. And he hasn't made much progress in the things of God.
What am I to do? Well, I seek to set the rule of the Christian life before him.
And the rule of the Christian life is to have Christ as his object. And what will be the result of this? Well, it says.
Let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. And so if I can get my brother, and if I can seek my grace myself to have praise with the object, why we go on. And I was thinking of even Paul when he was going up to Jerusalem that time.
He didn't realize that he had his eye upon his brethren instead of upon the Lord. He had such a love for his Jewish brethren that he wasn't really rising to his full privilege as the apostle of the Gentiles. Well, some sought to bring us before him and press upon him by the Spirit that he shouldn't go. And when they saw that he didn't receive it, they left and said, let the will of the Lord be done. Well, I think we have a beautiful example there of just what we have here. They didn't get angry with fall. They didn't press and say, you must accept this.
They left it and the Lord worked out in Paul's life in a in.
Allowing him to be put in prison, and then in prison he rolls to the full height of his ministry. And that which wasn't accomplished at that time was accomplished in God's ways with him. And so we see him in this beautiful epistle in prison.
But now he has learned to rise to his full, his full place as the apostle of the Gentiles, and he has Christ fully before him. Well, I think there's something instructive for us too, with dealing with our brethren and seeking to go on together. And remember, there's one rule of the Christian life, and thou is to have Christ as the object before the soul. His word is a guide for our feet.
This principle should be applied in the assembly and the exception also to the Lawrence table, because we receive one another to the glory of God.
And unless there's some evil connect to that person, that would prohibit their being gathered.
Their case should be considered.
And you know.
There's such a thing as learning.
At the table, that's where we learn, that's where the Spirit of God is free to minister the things of Christ to our souls and how many a person has had the grave control has taken off afterwards after they find their place and the the truth is ministered. Now when it comes to doctrine, it has to do with the personal Christ for everything evil and a moral way, of course.
Care of you received but there are many things that one could overlook knowing that the the spirit of God is in the midst who worked in the soul and to reduce that which would be pleasing in God's sight. The story you know is told of a.
My brother who came.
In the early days in England, with uniform on and he was all dressed up with his medals, one of the brothers felt that he shouldn't break crab.
But another brother said, well, leave him alone, he'll mole. Which he did. It was one of those medals in the mainland.
Something old brother, that'd be a different thing. Much different. Are you getting into that? Which is not right for the glory of the Lord Jesus.
Neither something very evil connected with evil.
And there are times, I believe when there is wisdom is waiting if there's any uncertainty about.
One path or whether one has.
Is going on with something very questionable.
A little time of waiting when I say much or later on and it won't hurt the ones who is has asked for services who have to wait until or clear it satisfied about the case. Especially in these days. In these days, yes, when there is so much.
01:15:08
Mixing up with evil.
And I remember in Shanghai, I believe you've all heard of Brother Jansu, haven't you?
Chinese brother who died in prison camp, so he came to the meeting in Shanghai.
And also we received the Lord stable and the Chinese reverend said, well, we don't know too much about you, we'd like to prove you first.
They said be nice if you'll wait a little while, he said. I'm happy to do that.
I'll wait the Lord's time.
And that dear brother came to the Lord's Day morning meetings for six months and sat behind and waited.
Patiently and I'm going home. I said, well, we've certainly put it in the past. We've proved now we'll receive him. I mean one of the greatest blessings that little meaning ever had. A real godly man and a great help.
Isn't it true, brother? There were one.
Is unwilling to wait in a case like that. That definitely shows that they're not true reality in the heart. They don't value the first price or the place.
They have suddenly a nomad.
A good practice will be guided by today.
I knew another case where brothers were seeing the telephone. What you think of that brother?
I don't think we can lay any laws down. I don't think we can say that they have to wait six months or they have to wait two weeks or they have to wait any special time. But I do think that there is such a thing as a priest today that is moral judgment in the assembly where the Lord is in the mid believe that's what the priest is today is.
But as far heats and so often say you can't make rules, he said that you make truth be responsible for your rules.
Who said that well apart?
Haven't you heard him say that?
So many times rather than can't make rules, that's the only rules to make this the only rule to harvest the harvest.
Last Lord, say a strong man, that was a dear couple who had asked for their place and had been waiting for a little while, and they weren't just sure what the seating arrangement was for the remembrance of the Lord and that they came to me and said, would it be all right if at least we sat in the same room? We're waiting and we're willing to wait, but we would like to be as close as we can.
I thought it was such a lovely spirit. We're willing to wait, but we would like to be as close as we can.
Yeah.
Joy in God's Presence
Fellowship with Christ
Philippians 2:9
This Place is Too Strait