Glendale Conference: 1962
Table of Contents
Continue Thou
Address—G. Thomson
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Shall we turn to the Book of Acts?
And.
Chapter 20.
And we'll read from verse 22.
And now, behold, I go, bound in the Spirit, onto Jerusalem.
Not knowing the things that shall befall me there, say that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city.
Saying that bonds and afflictions abide me, but none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
Now the second Epistle of Timothy for a few verses there.
Two Timothy, chapter 3.
Verse 13.
But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned, and has been assured of knowing of whom thou hast learned them.
And that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make the wise unto salvation.
Through faith which is in price visa.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God.
And is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Verse six of the next chapter.
For I am now ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course.
I have kept the faith.
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness.
Which the Lord, the righteous Judge shall give me at that day, and not to me only.
But unto all them also that love.
His appearance.
In these scriptures that we have read together.
We have brought before us two men.
The beloved Apostle.
Who has reached the end of his course?
Down here.
And Timothy, a young man.
Who, so to speak, was just beginning his career?
And it's lovely, is it not, to see the Apostle Paul?
That grand old warrior of the cross.
That one who had fought many a hard campaign.
He had won many a victory but now he stands and he says I have finished my course.
In chapter 20 of Acts, he says that I might finish my course with joy.
And here we see him laying down his weapons, so to speak. I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the face.
And then he, as it were, turned to Timothy, this young man.
And he says, Timothy, now you go on, Continue thou, in the things which thou hast learned, knowing of whom thou hast learned them.
One's encouraged to read these scriptures this afternoon, beloved friends, because.
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Within the last year, we have seen.
Some of the Lord's servants finished their course with joy.
We have seen our brother Hey Ho and our brother Gil.
And others finish their course with joy.
16 years ago I visited these parts and I remember sitting under the ministry of our beloved brother Brathwaite and our brother Chanel. But today they're not with us. They finished their course with joy. They've left this scene.
And now?
To you, dear young people here this afternoon, and to myself.
One would say that it's left to us to continue.
On in the things that we have learned and we feel more and more.
The responsibility of this, especially in view of the character of the times in which we find our lot cast.
And so one would seek to encourage the dear young brothers here this afternoon, and the young sisters as well, to weigh these matters in the balance, to consider them, and to continue on in the things which thou hast learned, not knowing where thou hast learned them, but knowing of whom thou hast learned them. Where did Timothy learn these things? He learned them from the apostle Paul.
Ah, but it goes higher than that. Where did Paul learn them?
He got them by direct revelation from the Lord.
In glory. So the things that we are to continue in dear young people are the things that come right down from the very heart of God, the truth of God. The truth that never changes. For there is no advancement in truth. There's no development in truth. The truth comes down from God in all its purity, and it's the same today as the very day that it was given.
Know the truth doesn't change.
I remember a few weeks ago my little grandson, just 16 years old.
Came to me and holding up three fingers on each hand, he says, grandpa, what is this? Why I said three and three is 6. Oh, no, he said, you're wrong. These are equivalents. Three and three are equivalent. Oh, don't you see? They've changed their system now of teaching. They've made progress. They've advanced. And so if we were to go back to school today, we would find that there are many things.
That we would have to learn over. I pick up the textbook on physics.
I see that we have now a new subject called nuclear physics. I didn't learn that when I was school. In school there's been an advance, there's been progress in the things of man. But all when we come to this book that we hold in our hand the truth of God, there's no advance in that. It came down from the heart of God in all its purity, and we possess it today.
We ought to treasure it more, so the apostle says to Timothy.
And that's my child. Thou hast known the Holy Scriptures. Timothy had a wonderful background. He had a godly grandmother. He had a godly mother. But that didn't save Timothy. And the fact that, dear young people, that you have godly parents will not suffice for you. There came a day when Timothy had to weigh matters. There came a day when Timothy had to learn in the presence of a righteous and a holy God.
That he had sinned. There came a day when he had to make a choice. He had to own the Lord Jesus as his own precious Savior. That was Timothy starting point and that is your starting point if you have accepted the Lord Jesus as your Savior. And if you haven't, you have not yet started. In fact, you're still traveling that broad Rd.
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That leads to destruction, but to you who have accepted the Lord Jesus.
As your own personal Savior, this is your starting point. And isn't it interesting to see here how that that the apostle Paul, in view of the last days, brings the Holy Scriptures before Timothy as a young man? Or would you say this is the Old Testament Scriptures? Well, to be sure, Timothy was acquainted with the Old Testament Scriptures, but one believes.
That it goes farther than that. For what we have here is a broad statement concerning the entire revealed Word of God, the Holy Scriptures. All Scripture is given by the inspiration of God. Oh, dear young people, let us lay hold of that fact. Let us learn it well, that this book that we hold in our hands, all Scripture is given.
By the inspiration of God, it gives us the mind of God, the will of God, it gives us God's counsels and God's purposes. And beloved friends, let us remember this, that the Scriptures carry with them the highest authority. It's the authority of God. All how we ought to treasure them, more how we ought to value them.
How much time do we spend reading the scriptures?
We had it brought to our attention this morning in the meeting, did we not all we're living in a busy scene, but yet let us not be so busy that we find no time for reading the precious word of God. And let us not only find time for reading it, but let us find time for meditating it. Meditating in it. The prophet Jeremiah could say, I found thy word and did eat them.
That's what we need. We need to read the precious word of God. We need to assimilate it. We need it. We need to allow it to become a part of it so that our thoughts are formed by it and our lies are molded by it. All Scripture is given by the inspiration of God. Let us remember that. And they carry with them the authority of God.
This is the highest authority. Everything that we hear, everything that we've read must be tested by the scriptures and that they are in disagreement with the scriptures, then we must let them drop. They're of no value whatsoever.
We find much said about the Word in the 119th Bomb. Wherewithal tell a young man, cleanse his ways by taking heed, according to thy word. Thy word is a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our path. And again, the entrance of thy word giveth light. It giveth understanding to the simple. Oh, what a wonderful treasure we have in the Word of God.
And what little time we spend in reading it and meditating upon it.
Well, may we eat one and be encouraged to read it more, to meditate upon it more, and in it to get light and wisdom for our pathway through the darkness that is enveloping the scene about us.
Well, one wanted to call attention to some of the things that Timothy learned, continues all in the thing which thou hast learned until we turn for a moment to Galatians chapter one.
And verse 11.
But I certify you, brethren.
That the gospel which was preached of me is not.
After man, now let's get that the gospel which was preached of me.
Is not after man, for I neither received it of man, neither was I caught it, but.
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By the revelation of Jesus Christ.
All that wonderful message, the gospel of God's grace, that which has broken our stubborn wills.
And has won our heart had its source in the very heart of God. It was received by the apostle Paul from the Lord in glory. It was not the fruit of his imagination. He didn't get it in any theological books, but he received it directly from the Lord in glory. And what a wonderful gospel it is. One loves that 5th chapter of Romans which begins.
Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus. Right wonderful message, Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
All we learn that God delivered Jesus for our offenses and that he raised him again.
For our justification, therefore, being justified by faith, that is, on the principle of faith, we have peace with God.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, we were reading in our meeting this morning that lovely verse in the second chapter of John's first epistle. I write unto you, children, because your sins are forgiven.
We deserve it, No forgiven for is.
Name Faith. I love that. Don't you? Forgiven are forgiven.
How many of them all of our sins are forgiven for?
His name faked wonderful truth to lay hold of.
But in the 5th chapter of Romans, we go a step further, and not only do we learn.
That our sins are forgiven, but we learn that we have been justified from all things.
We learn that we stand before God as though we have never committed one single.
Sin justified. Justified.
Ah, how wonderful one thinks of Abraham in the 22nd chapter of Genesis.
When God told him to take his son, his only son.
Whom he loved and to offer him for a bird offering in a place that he would show him.
And so we see Abraham and Isaac taking that three days journey.
And then when they reached the place, Abraham Isaac turns to his father.
And he says.
Father, here's the word for the burnt offering, here's the fire. But where is the lamb? Where is the lamb? And Abraham says, My son, God shall provide himself a lamb. And then turning Abraham, after he had laid his son Isaac and bound him on the altar, and had taken the knife in his hand to slay his own son, and was stopped.
By the Angel voice.
He turned and what did he see? He saw a ram caught in the thicket by its horn. Oh, wonderful picture, beautiful picture. The Lord Jesus could have gone back at any moment during His life down here. He could have gone back from whence He came because He was the one who knew no sin, who did no sin in him was no sin.
He was that holy thing, but what was it that detained in here? Oh, he was caught in the thicket by his horn. The horns speak of power, and the Lord Jesus was held here by the power of love. Love for who? Love for you, love for me, held by the power of love. And then we think.
Of the Hebrew servant.
Saying I love my master, I love my wife.
I love my children. I will not go out free. And so the true Isaac was laid on the altar. He was bound by the cords of love, and the knife was raised, but there was no voice to say it. It was he in his holy bosom. Jehovah lifted up his rod all Christ. It fell on the thine. Open bosom was my ward. It bore all I'll for me.
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A victim LED thy blood was shed. Now there's no load for me. Yes, the blessed Savior, the Son of God became my substitute. He took my place. He stepped into that awful breach that my sins have made. He bore my sins in his own body on the tree. Or can you say that, dear young people here this afternoon.
Can you say that he bore my sin in his own body?
On the tree, that's where we start. All that wonderful message that comes down from the glory, down from the heart of God, that wonderful gospel. Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ah, but there's more. We have access by faith now into this grace wherein we stand.
And rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Think of that. We stand now in grace. We stand in all God's favor. Access by faith into this grace wherein we stand. We've been taken, as it were, out of that place of death and condemnation, and we've been put in that place of life and righteousness. Now we stand in all God's favor.
In Christ, the weakest child stands in all God's favor. But there's more. We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. As the past, our sins are gone, gone forever. As to the present, we stand in all God's favor. As to the future, we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
And then, step by step, we climb the ladder of blessings until we're left, as it were.
Rejoicing, rejoining in our God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Isn't this wonderful? The very God whom we dreaded the thought of having to meet, we now find our joy and our delight in Him. Oh dear young people, continue thou in the things which thou hast learned, knowing of whom thou hast learned them.
And there's more. We haven't found it all yet before we find.
That there is now a divine Person dwelled within, shedding abroad in our hearts.
The love of God. And so we start our course.
As Christians, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we start our course.
With this wonderful knowledge that we stand in all God's favor.
And that we have that consciousness in our heart that God loves us.
Now having started in that course continues. Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned.
Knowing of whom thou hast learned, then.
Now shall we turn to 1St Thessalonians chapter 4?
Verse 15.
For this we say unto you.
By the word of the Lord. Oh, don't you see again?
Here is that message that has its source in the very heart of God coming down through the channel.
Now to us, by the word of the Lord, this ought to increase our confidence.
That we which are alive, and remain unto the coming of the Lord.
Shall not prevent or precede them which are fleet, for the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout.
With the voice of the archangels, and with the trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first.
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Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds.
To meet the Lord in the air. So shall we ever be.
With the Lord, I know you've read these scriptures many, many times, but all beloved friends, they have a message in them that deepens and increases as the days will by. For that moment is growing nearer. When that one who was once held to the cross by the cords of love, that one who has risen from among the dead.
By the glory of the Father has gone back from whence He came, and soon he's coming again.
To take, to be with himself those for whom he has died. Yes, the Lord is going to descend from heaven with a shout. And I wonder if everyone here in our audience this afternoon is ready for that event that is so imminent. The coming of the Lord draweth nigh. A little while, and he that shall come will come.
And will not carry and so as we journey.
On our way.
Wherever it may be, whether it's in school, whether it's in the shop, in the office, in the factory, wherever it may be, we can go our way with the consciousness of the fact that at any moment, at any moment, we might hear that. And we learn in the third chapter of John's first epistle, Beloved, now are we?
The children of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear.
We shall be like him, or we shall see him as he is.
He that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure. So as we have the imminence of that hope before us, it has a sanctifying, a purifying effect on our lives. For the brighter that hope becomes, the less attractive the things of time are to these hearts of ours. It has a sanctifying effect.
And you recall the prayer of the Lord Jesus in the 17th chapter of John.
When he had on his heart his own who are in the world.
Did he say sanctify them through thy truth? Thy word is truth. What does that mean? Sanctify them through thy truth? Ah, dear young Christians, it simply means this, that what we went on with yesterday, we must drop today because we have learned more of the precious truth of God.
And so as we learn the truth, little by little, line upon line, precept upon precept.
Here are little, and there are little, for we are slow to learn. It should have. It must have. It will have a sanctifying effect on our lives. Do you want to finish your course with joy? Oh, then you must learn to walk.
And separation from this present evil world. You cannot go on with the world and be a happy Christian. Know it impossible. If you want to be happy, if you want to finish your course with joy, then let us allow the precious word of God to have it sanctifying effect upon our heart. All one thinks of a number of young people.
In his own history.
Because of allowing the world to allure them.
Into the byways Instead of staying on the highway, they were drawn into the byways, but pursuing the pleasures of this world. Perhaps the first step was an innocent step, but it led to another and another, until at last they found themselves drawn entirely aside, going on with the world so that you can scarcely distinguish the fact that they belong to Christ. To call, and we have to leave them here.
The Lord knoweth them that are his. Oh how sad it will be.
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To find that like the Apostle Paul at the close of his careers.
At the end of his journey, how sad it would be to have to look back with a heart.
Filled with regret because you had been careless in your walk, because you had taken a wrong step which led you into the byways of this world and robbed you of the joy of your salvation. Oh thank God, if we belong to Christ, we can never, never be lost. He has died for us. He has undertaken the full responsibility for us. Where the Father's gift to the Son, and he'll see to it that we land safely.
Home in the glory. But I'm sure it's the desire of each young person here this afternoon to walk a happy Christian life and to finish your course with joy.
Now we look at another passage in.
First Corinthians.
Chapter 11.
Verse 23.
For I have received a man. Is that what it says?
No, I have received of the Lord that which also.
I delivered unto you that the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he break it and said, Take, eat. This is my body which is broken for you. This do in remembrance of me.
And after the same manner also he took the cup when he asked when he had stopped saying.
As the New Testament in my blood, this do ye as OFT as you drink it in remembrance of Me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord best.
Till he.
Now we were to turn over to the 22nd chapter of Luke. We would find that the Lord Jesus, ere He left this scene, instituted.
This beast of remembrance, all he knew, these four hearts of ours.
How prone they would be to forget, how prone to wander. He values our affections. And so he has instituted this piece himself before he left this scene. And then he gives it to us the second time through the apostle Paul. That message comes down from the Lord in glory. And he says this do in remembrance of me.
All continue thou in the things which thou hast learned, knowing of whom thou hast learned them. Now the Lord leaves us here in the morning. We'll be assembling together. What for to respond to this request.
This do in remembrance of Maine, we'll have the loaf on the table, that loaf which speaks of that one body, and we will see representatively in that lobe every member of the body of Christ.
We will have the cup on the table, that cup which speaks to us.
Of His precious blood shed on the altar of Calvary Cross, that cup which reminds us of that bitter cup of judgment that He drained to the last dark bitter drop. Oh dear young people, are you going to be amongst that number who will gather together on the Morrow if the Lord leaves us here with the assurance of Himself in our midst? Are you going to be amongst that number?
Who will remember him?
In there.
Or will you be amongst those who will sit back and take the outside place?
Oh, the Lord values your affections. Do you want to minister joy to his heart then? If so, why not respond to his request? This dude in remembrance.
Of me continuous vows, in the things that thou hast learned, and if time would permit.
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We could turn over to the Epistle of the Ephesians and again see how.
That the truth concerning the one body of Christ laws received by revelation.
My Apostle Paul from the Lord in glory and these.
Dear young Christians, are the things which you and I.
Are to go on in where to continue continue in Bell.
In the things that thou hath learned, Knowing of whom?
Thou hast learned them. These are things that we must cling to.
As we see the truth being let go on every hand. As we see.
That grand mixture things as we see the confusion that exists about us.
All we must cling to these things tenaciously. They come directly from the Lord in glory, the precious gospel of God, grace, the coming of the Lord, the remembrance of the Lord, and death. The truth is to the one body of Christ. We must hold these at all costs if we want to finish our course with joy, and I'm sure that's the desire of every young believer.
Here this afternoon, and may the Lord in his grace and mercy.
Satisfy that desire, may he cast his.
Wings around you, and may He protect you and shelter you from the evil influences that abound on every hand.
And may He preserve your steps in that path of faith.
That path that leads home to the glory, all the end is near. The coming of the Lord draweth nigh. And dear young people, I know that the opposition is great. I know that the problems are many, but all, as we heard this morning, the Lord has equipped us, fully equipped us or the way, and His grace is sufficient to preserve and to keep us.
Until at last we are home in the glory, when with unwearied eye we shall gaze on His face, not face that was once marred more than any man. When we shall be with him to be His eternal companion, When we shall share all the fruit of his atoning death on Calvary Cross, When we shall rest with him in his love. Oh, what a wonderful.
Wonderful prospect.
Lies before us and may each one hear this afternoon.
Dear young believer, cling to these things that we've been considering together, Nathan your own, and never, never let them go until he comes.
Now we sing.
#16 in the appendix.
O Jesus, friend unfailing, how dear art thou to me Our cares or fears of failing. I find my strength in thee. Why should my feet grow weary of this? My Pilgrim way, rough though the path and varies, it ends in perfect day. I'm gonna start it, please.
Why close my feet? You're always.
Of this my building work.
Hard. I'm rearing.
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With me.
I love.
Where can I look?
In Vadnais.
Our.
By my side.
Rambling.
Love you.
By my mind, what are taken?
Where Christ place?
Prepare.
There is.
More.
Where shall I save?
Up where God is well with me.
All right, brave, you like God.
Lord, pray for this rap.
In price.
Salvation.
For help and quiet.
Oh dear.
I cry of Lord and me.
Unfailing.
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Our dear heart about you.
Revelation 1,2 and 3
Address—C.H. Brown
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.
Pursue 7.
And shall we see thy face, and hear thy heavenly voice well known to us in present grace? Well may our hearts rejoice.
White Lord Jesus, we shall watch and spotless in that heavenly light of all thy suffering, thoughts, and so on, #270.
Our blessed God, our Father.
We do thank thee for such a prospect as thou had put before our soul.
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We thank you, blessed God, that thou hast given to us and for us to do the subject of our house, when my beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
To be our failure.
And you could be the logic of our hearts while we're here and through eternity.
We thankfully blessed God that thou hast given to us Thy Word, and now it's given to us.
The guests of thine own Holy Spirit to give us capacity.
Who understands to apprehend?
That which will allow concerning our Lord Jesus and all thy purpose is in him.
And now our blessed God will.
Let's agree for the Arthur's report.
And we thank you, bless the job that as thou hast blessed us hitherto.
We can trust things for this hour that thou works the.
Yes, we needed energy.
And guide me to our dear brother as he takes up the word.
And presents for.
Something out of the word for our soul. We just look to the our gracious God.
That Dalek died in blasting all things, and for everyone of us too, we look to thee that we might have.
Here, here is a receptive heart.
To take the word in that we might grow, embrace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus.
Before we commend ourselves to.
For the RV 4 is an aside, blessings, and the precious name of our Lord Jesus. Amen.
I expect that the Lord's help to speak from the first three chapters of Revelation.
Natalie, you wouldn't expect the very detailed commentary when they take in such a compass?
But we do desire to hit.
There are certain important points there that.
We believe would be for our mutual education and blessings.
So shall we open to the first chapter of Revelation?
By the way, this is the only book.
Of the 66 books in the Bible that one recalls has a definite blessing pronounced.
Upon reading it well, we should give special attention to it blessed third verse and the first chapter, as we that read us and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things that are written therein, for the time is at hand.
There's a message there for us.
Read, we hear, and we keep these things.
How do we keep the things that are written in the book Revelation?
I believe that it brings before us for a week this present scene in which you and I move.
I believe that it gives us a look down to the corridors of time.
So that we can estimate just how much work this present scene is compared to what Oasis and the glory above.
And if we are saturated with the spirit that Phil John's soul when he wrote this?
Will not find too much joy in this present evil world. It will have a tendency to take our hearts out of this world.
But it's rather remarkable.
That this man John was chosen for the task of writing this book.
John, you know, is one of the three favored apostles of our Lord, along with Peter and James.
We find them together over and over again. We find them together in the amount of Transfiguration wonderful privilege.
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And yet God has his ways that are inscrutable.
Why was it that John's old brother James?
Should be taken out of the steam fairly at the start of his career as an apostle.
At the same time, his brother, his old brother.
When we might call gentle John.
Was kept in this scene long after the other apostles were gone.
And he said to have lived at Ephesus.
And that's those great aims, perhaps 100 years.
And to maintain the same lovely character. So tradition tells us right down to the end.
Finally, he had to be carried to meeting on a stretcher.
And there he would lie and repeat to the dear children of God his lovely words. Little children love one another.
Gentle John chosen to open up the Vista of judgment on an apostate world on an apostate prisoner on an apostate church. He's the one that commissioned so to do.
And now, before he enters on this solemn topic, before they go into that arena.
Of judgment over the archway there.
Is lovely, lovely motto.
Oh, how it warms our hearts as we read it.
First verse John to the seven churches of Carnation.
Grace videos and peace.
From him which is, and which was, and which is to come.
And from the seven spirits that are before his throne.
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness and the first begotten of the dead?
And the Prince of the kings of the earth.
Now here he breaks out into this doxology.
Unto him that loved us, or unto him that loves us, hasn't ceased. The good you know unto him that loves us.
And has washed us from our sins and his own blood.
And it made us, kings and priests, sentence God and his Father to him big glory and dominion forever and ever.
Isn't that precious?
Unto him that loves us, and has washed us from our sins in his own blood.
John's going to take us through some solemn judgment.
But he said, I want you to be assured before we enter this territory, it's all well. The blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanses us from all sin.
Now we find where John was when he got this revelation.
Ninth verse I John, who am your brother and companion in tribulation and in the Kingdom and patience of Jesus.
Was in the aisle that Paul Patmos.
For the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus.
Now they'll stop there for a moment.
I Don your brother.
And companion and tribulation.
In the last chapter, John's Gospel.
Peter was nominated for martyrdom.
But John was commissioned for a different kind of thing than Markerman.
Perhaps two it was more difficult than martyrdom.
He was to continue right on down to the end. What does that mean?
All to him it was commissioned that he should.
Give us the final end of all esteem and the bringing in of the new heavens and the new earth.
He's going to take us right on into eternity.
Where we find him here.
Not as enjoying popularity in this world. Far from them.
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Ninth verse, I jumped your brother and companion in tribulation.
Brethren, do we realize a little of it?
Your brother and companion and tribulation.
They that will to live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
I suppose that we are living, you and I, in the most favor naked.
And in the book savored Land as far as our Christian liberties are concerned.
We're not persecuted in the sense that they were persecuted back in the days of the early church.
But ours is a different kind of a danger.
Perhaps it's more subtle.
As we trace the history of these seven churches, we find out that once the brightest of the seven.
Is a church that passed through that period of 10 persecutions.
And in the address that's true. Not one thing is said critical of them. Not one charge is laid against them. No, they were being persecuted for Christ sake, and there was very little temptation then to have an empty, hollow confession of Christ, because if you had it, it cost you something in this world.
Well, it was John, your brother and companion in tribulation.
And in the Kingdom and patience of Jesus.
Now Jesus has a Kingdom after a sort. Now it's a Kingdom and mystery.
His Kingdom is.
A rather a contradiction whose subjects are down here and he's up in the glory hidden. He's not seen.
So it's not a permanent position.
It's a Kingdom and patience of Jesus.
What does that mean?
Well, it means that our blessed Lord, and let me say it very reverently.
Is exercising patience every day.
He's patiently waiting for the moment.
When he can walk out on the clouds of glory and give a shout and call home his beloved, his beloved from the grave, his beloved from the face of the earth, he's waiting momentarily when he'll be able to do that.
Isn't that a solemn thing? And isn't it a precious thing to think that while I'm addressing you this afternoon, we may hear that shout every one of us?
That knows and loves our Lord Jesus Christ.
Suddenly caught up with him all. We're getting very near brethren. Everything points in that direction.
The one that isn't alerted is expecting the Lord now must be a very bad, sad state of soul. Everything about us tells us a near approach of the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Kingdom and patience of Jesus.
We are waiting patiently down here.
He's waiting patiently up there, but it's for the same event.
The time when he can have his bride.
Within the aisle, that's called Patmos. That's a rocky.
Very desolate island up in the Aegean Sea.
About the last place you'd ever choose to spend a vacation.
Shut off their lonely even to this day, they point out a cavern there where John was supposed to be when he wrote this wonderful revelation.
Be that as it may, he tells us very definitely where he spent the time when he was riding this wonderful revelation in the aisle that's called Patmos.
Why was it there for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus?
Well, beloved, how about it?
Are you and I suffering for those two things, the word of God?
And the testimony of Jesus.
How far is the word of God having a definite?
00:20:03
Active power in your life and mine.
All right, see her and I'll plead guilty myself.
I fear that we neglect God's word.
I wonder if we wouldn't be farther along in our spiritual lives if we'd given more attention to the precious blessed word of God.
All you young folks here, I press it upon you.
You need the word of God.
Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.
We need it in a world like this.
But if you and I welcome the word of God into our hearts and into our lives.
It marks us off from the rest of the world.
You can't associate with the world on its own terms. If your heart is filled with the word of God, you can't do it.
You will be most miserable and unhappy. You know that potential.
Oh, how good it is to have the word that sends our past day by day. Now are you clean through the words which I've spoken unto you. There's nothing like the word of God applied by the Spirit of God. You're walking mine to cleanse our ways and associations and make us happy in our souls.
You know, I can tell you who's the happiest person in this room this afternoon. Yes, I can.
It's the person that has been enjoying Christ's rule in his individual heart and life.
That's the one that's the happiest. I mean, truly happy. Oh, there's no substitute for it.
If you want to live a happy life.
Yield to the Blessed Lord Jesus.
Let his words form your life and form your thoughts.
For the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus. Oh yes, he's rejected.
These are injected.
The brother in Des Moines.
Works in an office.
One day, his boss walked into the office.
In more or less of a unpleasant attitude, called him by his name and he says, if you're Jesus came back to this world, I'd be one of the first to crucify.
Now, as I remember, that man was.
Not a Jew, but a Gentile.
And the only spreads of truth. The world does not want Christ.
Young was on the island of Tetanus for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus, all that precious name.
You know, I thought our morning meeting here this morning.
With one of the sweetest, happiest morning meetings that I've been in a long time. Why, oh, there was so much made of the name of Jesus, every hint, every praise, the weather is magnifying that blessed name.
Oh, that name came from heaven, you know. Oh yes, he was named.
This parents work for everybody's name was to be.
What does it mean Means savior?
With all the Savior.
And oh, what a savior he is. And you and I here this afternoon.
Because that being was born in Bethlehem, Because God sent his son into this world.
And his name is Jesus, a Savior. And here we are tonight, this afternoon, enjoying the public weather hours as Christians because of that blessed heavenly visitor that came down and stayed here with us for 33 years and 1/2.
10th verse I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day.
And heard behind me a great voices of trumpet.
19th verse.
The 18th verse.
I am he that liveth and was dead, and behold, I'm alive forevermore. Amen. And have the king of death and Hades.
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I have the keys. Oh how solemn he has the keys.
Your eyes ever see the inside of that glorious heaven for the weights of redeemed?
It'll be because our Blessed Lord Jesus, use the key, lock the door.
And the 13th of Luke.
We find them. Perhaps we could turn to it in Luke 13, just for a moment. It's a different scene there.
25th verse Luke 1513, Luke 13.
Verse 25.
When once the master of the house is risen up.
And is shut through the door, and we begin to stand without.
And knock at the door saying Lord, Lord open to us.
And he shall answer and say unto you, I know not when she are.
Then shall you begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in my presence, and Dallas taught in our streets?
And he should say, I tell you, I know you're not which ye are. Depart from me, workers of iniquity. Isn't that solemn? That's the one that has the key speaking. Depart from me today, he said. Come unto me, all ye that labour nor heavy laden, and I'll give you rest. But here he says he's back from me.
Now they were pleading the privileges that they had enjoyed here.
Would it not be a terrible thing to contemplate?
If there might be a soul here that's gone in and out of these lovely meetings, enjoyed these conferences.
Heard the Ministry wet The soul has never been touched. There's been no surrender. There's been no work Brought the soul. And when the moment comes.
And the call is given.
Then shall we begin to cry, Lord, Lord, open to us.
But no admission, Or if there's one such here that's living carelessly and you've been associated with all this blessing, let me warn you solemnly this afternoon.
Don't take the risk.
I'm hearing the Lord Jesus say to you, depart from me. Oh, I can't think of anything worse than that. Can you to have him say depart from me?
Don't take the risk.
Now we go on into the second chapter.
Well, in this chapter.
The Church Ephesus.
And there's something said there that.
Is touching.
Now let's let thy first love.
It's horrible when you see that I'm reading the fourth verse.
Nevertheless, I have against thee. Thou hast left thy first love.
Emphasis, you know, was the Church of wonderful privileges.
The highest truth that we have in the apostles writing. The highest truth is given to that Church eczema Truth, the heavenly side of things.
And yet, in spite of all that privilege, here we find that they left their first love.
I recall a case of the brother that.
Used to come to meetings like this and sit just like you're sitting. A tentative I've seen him sit there and justice, just his eyes glued on the speaker.
Man with a family.
Wonder where he is today.
Been out of the meeting for years, the last time that a brother and I went to see him.
The TV machine was running.
The home had the appearance of.
00:30:00
All right had the appearance of anything but a Christian home. The atmosphere was also different.
Now the children have grown up and they've begun to scatter, and I won't tell you the whole story. I wouldn't identify them for anything. I'm just using the illustration. I'm talking about a case that I know of personally.
He left his first love without something come in.
That took him away from Christ.
And you know, when you start that world, you don't know where it's going to end.
All you say. I'm only going to go so far.
You don't know how far you're going.
When once you and I deliberately enter on the path of self will and disobedience, we have no choice how far we're going to work.
Well, we won't say much about Smart enough.
They had so much persecution that they kept them bright and happy.
You know if the Lord should see fit to postpone his coming.
Some of you young people.
And I think you'll remember what I'm saying to you 50 years from now if the Lord should not come.
If you're not going to have that easy, prosperous time as Christians that you're having now.
I believe the time is not far distant.
To make a full confession, an uncompromising confession of Christ, and walk in the path of truth as it's laid down in the world that's going to bring sense right here in our own nation. It's on the way.
I won't enter into the details, but Brother Wilson and his magazine has been tracing some of these things. The word of God being ruled out of the school are various things that show they were on the road, the very same condition that exists in other nations of the world.
If God be set to proponent, we'll praise him for it. We're not asking for it, but I believe it's on the way.
Well then, when we go to pregnancy.
In the 12Th verse of the second chapter.
We have the Church that.
Came out of the persecution.
Constantine.
Made love to the church and they accepted his advances.
And the sort of a marriage took place between Constantine and the Church.
And the result was that the church began to go down, down, down.
Credulous means much marry.
And married. They joined up with the world at that time.
And see what's said here.
In the 13th verse I know where thou dwelleth.
Even where Satan seat is.
I know where thou dwellest, where Satan's seed is. Oh, what a solemn place as well. Now further down.
That seems worse.
Thou hast them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans.
That is looseness there. They've given up the truth of God. They've been throwing down the bar. They were letting moral looseness come in carelessness in Boston.
16th verse Repent or else I will come under the quickly and fight against them with a sword of my mouth.
I ought to go on to the next church by a tower.
The long time and a great deal on this Church.
I think we all realize that.
This side, Tyra.
We have the introduction into this world and that great system that's become the most powerful church system in the history of the Church of God on earth.
Wells that have worked in South America.
Down in Mexico and.
Here and there, nations of the earth can bear testimony.
As to what they find in connection with Thyatira.
Now fire, The word Cyrus. Sarah means burning incense.
00:35:00
And on the 20th verse of the second chapter.
Notwithstanding, I have against thee.
Because thou suffers that woman Jezebel, but follows himself a prophetess.
To teach and to seduce my servants. To commit fornication and reap things sacrificed unto idols.
22nd verse Behold, I will cast her into a bed in him that commit adultery with her into great tribulations. It's it's.
Kept the repent of their Dean.
And I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts.
Well, thank God, even in the midst of such awful corruption.
Let her son that will read. Thank God for that.
24th word, but on the UI, say the rest in Siren Tyra.
As many as have not this doctrine, which have not known the depths of Satan as they speak.
I will put upon you none other than.
But that would she have already whole fast. Will I come?
Oh thank God mixed up and all that ritual.
And all that display is pumped and possession with.
Women said that there are a few that more and love our Lord Jesus Christ.
Thank God for that.
And he gives them the promise that which you have already hold fast.
Till I come, when the Rapture takes place, when the Lord summons the church.
They'll go along with the rest of it.
Then we go into the third chapter.
To find ourselves inside us.
I'm sorry, this is the reaction against that awful, corrupt system of firepower.
And all was very promising at the start.
There was much the planes gone for.
But oh, what a failure man is what a failure man is.
Very soon, Sardis began crystallizing into dead journalism.
They carried over wisdom out of the system from which they came.
Many things unjust contrary to the word of God.
And before long, they themselves were just, well, see what he says in the first verse.
For example.
Under the Angel of the Church of Stardust Rights.
These things says he that has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.
I know why works, that thou hast a name, that thou liveth and are dead.
That Sardis a name of our lives and our death.
Some of the things that are coming out today.
In connection with.
Churches that are represented and decided I almost unbelievable.
Open blasphemy.
Not coming from some careless member of the system, but from the top.
They're head man coming out in open blasphemy.
Oh, what days these aren't, but you live.
Now we're going down.
The seventh verse under the Angel in the Church of Philadelphia, right?
Philadelphia means brotherly love.
Now Philadelphia has this in common.
Let's learn there's no criticism offered to Philadelphia.
Not one word of criticism.
There are certain things that characterize it. We can notice them here.
Unto the Angel of the church in Philadelphia, right?
These things that he that is holy and he that is true, he that has the key of David even open up, And no man shut us and shut us, and no man open us.
When I learned across the different churches, he takes a character that's in keeping with the condition that's in that church.
So here, as he presents himself to Philadelphia, he's the holy and the truth. In other words, you have holiness and truth.
00:40:01
Now if you don't have.
Those two things You can't have Philadelphia.
As I read the story of these seven churches.
There is Kindle in my heart.
A deep long, a deep purpose. A deep conviction.
I want to be a Philadelphian when my Blessed Lord comes back to get the Church.
Don't you?
Is there anything wrong about longing to be a real Philadelphian?
Well, I'm confessing to you. That's my longing of my heart.
But don't let anybody ever go away from this meeting.
And quote Brother Brown is saying to the Philadelphia, But to do that, I'm making no such precision, but it's a deep longing in my heart. When my seizure comes, I might be found.
That He that is holy and he that is true.
Now do you notice that word holy?
Coil in this.
That which no man shall see the Lord.
What is holiness?
Its separation from evil with delight in good.
All beloved Saints and God, and I'm thinking of special new young folks.
Link up the idea.
Our being in the Philadelphian position.
With a life of unholy.
Don't be guilty of it is blasphemy.
Oh no, if you and I have a desire.
We have the Philadelphian testimony.
There must be fully separation in our lives, holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.
Oh, how full the word of God is answered this question of Poland.
Deuteronomy 7.
Just a couple of verses there.
Deuteronomy 7 and verse 6.
Deuteronomy 7, verse 6.
For thou art and holy people unto the Lord thy God.
The Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself.
Above all, people are above the space of the Earth.
The Lord did not set His love upon you, nor choose you, because you were more in number than any people, where you were the purest of all people, but because the Lord loved you.
You know, one of the saddest things in the world is the sin against love.
The sin against love.
I've often been struck in reading the Epistle to Malachi.
Where the Lord has so many sad things to lay before his people.
One thing after another he brings before them to shore. How unfaithfully been.
And yet, how does it begin? How does it begin that epistle?
The first thing he says to them I've loved them. I've loved them.
Oh, you're tempted to go on in a life of sin, Unholiness. You're spinning against infinite love.
It's a solemn thing, the holy and the truth.
All of the Hebrews.
12 was already put in this verse, but I think it's good to read it.
Hebrews Cloud verse 14.
Follow peace with all and the fullness.
Without which no man shall see the Lord. Now that's the word of God.
00:45:01
If you're going on in a path of unholiness, are you going to see God?
Are you?
Holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.
I'm just putting forth these words that the word of God.
And I hope it will search our consciences.
Now we go on to the next thing.
We have here in this address the Philadelphia.
He's the truth. Oh yes, I am the way, the truth and the life.
A young person in connection with your contacts, with the world and especially your educational life.
I want a beseech you to trust your Bible.
You know Scripture is given by inspiration of God, Holy man of God, Speakers ever moved by the Holy Ghost.
Learn to trust your Bible. Believe it.
Keep you from a great life of sorrow as you pass through this world.
We've known some of our young people.
They were brought up in the meeting and no matter where the school.
And they listen to the.
Temptations of the enemy as their professors attacked the word of God.
The lesson was open mind.
And presently they found themselves doubting the words.
Then they stopped reading it.
Then it seems to have its power in their lives.
And where are they today?
Do you think that you could go in canvas, those young people about whom I'm speaking?
And find one of them.
That's happy. No, you cannot.
All he might say was happy.
But the no conscience never turns into this.
Your head may turn into them, but never your conscience.
And all the time you're saying, oh, I'm so happy.
Down on the inside, you know it's not true.
We can't have heard these things and brought been brought up in the nurtured admonition of the truth.
And then turn aside the Satan's Law.
And go on and live a happy life. It just can't be done.
All right, gorgeous. Stay by the word of God. Refuse to let anything enter your mind.
Doesn't cause you to doubt what God is listening. Let God be true and every man alive. Don't be afraid of it.
Just take that the term and stand right at the threshold of your Christian life and don't let anything offer it. You have nothing to fear.
You know the day is coming.
When the Lord Jesus Christ.
Is going to publicly membership. He's going to do it.
Is going to put you on this floor public display.
He's going to come to be admired.
Is going to come to to have the multitudes of Maine as they return.
And.
This display of the Lord returning is in the midst of all the redeemed that are coming back with it to be admired in all, I believe because.
They breathe the dust.
Now it's not to be admired by them that believe, but admired in them that belief. It's the diamond set in the cluster of souls. And you admire the diamond in the Pearl. You and I will be the Pearl. Christ will be the 90, but he's going to surround us with an addiction and put us on the spray before they were.
Oh yes, he's going to vindicate us. Don't tamper with the unbelief of the world.
Oh, what a sad thing it would be to come down to the end of your life here.
And have to acknowledge to yourself, I have betrayed my Lord.
00:50:03
Now the Lord says.
Here to this Church of Philadelphia, I know thy works.
Behold, I said before the an open door. No man can shut it.
Now he said that.
What do I learn from that?
Brethren, I learned this from.
If you and I want to walk.
Philadelphian Pass. It'll always be there.
We'll never wake up some morning and say well.
I'm so sorry. I wanted to be found a Philadelphian when the Lord comes but the path of Cease.
There is no such opportunity. I can't be a self happy. It since appears that can't be not if our Lord speaks the truth here.
I have set thee before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.
All that's comforting.
Long as you and I are here, we'll be able to find that pathway.
Thinking you shall find Now can it be opened unto you? It's there.
For thou hast the little strength, and has kept my world.
Not denied my name.
Now, those are the three characteristics of the Philadelphia testimony. What are they?
A little strength.
Philadelphia Testimony will never be a great, powerful, proud marching band.
The Philadelphian testimony will always be a despised rim test.
A remnant festival.
God has always had remnants here in this world, if I remember rightly in the first chapter of of Isaiah. Let's turn to that for a moment.
The first chapter of Isaiah.
Yes, here it is.
Are there 19?
Except the Lord of Hosts had left us a very small remnant.
We should have been a Sodom. We should have been like the more well beloved. That's what's taking place around us and Christians today.
Where the pension is awful.
And it's going on at an accelerated pace.
And the brave ecumenical movement is tearing down some men that formally seem to have a major strength. It's pushing them to compromise.
Oh, thank God for the one that said, I've set before thee an open door. No man can close it.
Thou hast a little strength, nothing to boast God.
How did they use that little strength?
To keep my words and not deny my name.
Or how precious that is to keep His word. The Word of God is true as it's pure forever. Thy word is settled in heaven.
Thank God for that.
When I don't have to fear the time when you stand before God.
That where we'll obey the word of God, that we're going to be reduced, we're never going to be reduced to the gentleman seat of Christ for going by the book.
Thou hast a little strength, and has kept my word, not denied my name.
Oh, how wonderful it is.
Not to go wearing a name that honors some man or that marks out some party.
Would just be satisfied with the name of the Lord Jesus Christ? Are you satisfied with it? Are you satisfied to confess it? Or do you like some kind of a cover up?
And you like to shrink from letting people know where you are.
I willingness to tell them the plain truth.
I am gathered by the grace of God.
For the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:55:01
Or could we ask anything better than that?
I believe that's the happiest confession you could possibly make, because it has its own word to back it up for where true or through. That's not many of them. We're two or three gather together unto my name. Where am I? In the midst of them precious blessed privilege.
Not denying my name.
Now, he says, I'll make them of the synagogue of the state.
That say they're Jews and they're not. I will make them to come and worship before thy feet and know I love thee.
That is all the ritualistic powers around us.
That are presentable and irritated by our simplicity.
Times come when they're going to own publicly that path is the path of God.
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all worlds by the earth. Brothers.
The hold I come quickly.
Hold that fast. Without half that, no man takes that crown.
Oh, let me sound it again and again.
And remember, as I'm speaking to you this afternoon, beloved Brandon, I'm talking to the speaker too.
I'm just sitting right down there with you. I mean all this.
Hold that fast that thou hast that, Lord thy crown, it's worthwhile to keep his word and not deny his name.
Now the problem. And as I read this this 12Th verse, I want you to notice this little word MY.
The close personal attachment of Christ to his own, how he's associating us with himself in this verse.
And that I was cometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God.
And he said, well, no more out.
And I will write upon in the name of my God.
And the name of the city and my God.
Which is really little.
Which cometh down out of heaven from my God, and I will write upon him My newness isn't that blessedly personal?
Has to learn, so to speak, throwing his arms around close to him.
9/9.
Even half an year. Let him hear what the Spirit set under destruction. All I trust.
But here this afternoon.
Those are hearing.
I trust there is. It's worth it, brethren. The time is short. We're nearing the end.
Or let's not give up. Let's not let the hands hang down. Let's strengthen the people needs. Let's make straight paths for our.
But that took his lane be turned out of the way.
Shall we pray?
Prepare to Meet God
Gospel—R. Rule
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.
My desire, dear friends.
To bring before you the gospel of the grace of God tonight.
In all its simplicity.
I know that there are many here that have heard the gospel many times.
For this is my desire to bring out anything new.
I have been told by several that they were expecting friends.
In are those that they were in contact with. I've been told by several our souls expected in the night that don't know the way of salvation.
God has made the way very clear in his book.
And it's the desire of the one that's going to speak to you that you.
If you don't know the way of salvation, that you might know it. And if you do know the way but of up until now, turn to deaf ear. Our desire is that God might give you to realize the importance.
Of closing in with his offer of mercy and taking the Lord Jesus before it is too late.
Now I was reminded driving to meeting tonight of.
A little signboard that I saw traveling along earlier this year.
I believe it was in the province of Ontario in Canada.
It only had five words on it.
But all how?
Important is the message to those 5 words.
There are 5 words that originally were penned by the Prophet Amos over 2500 years ago.
And here's what was on that little signboard.
Prepare to meet by God.
Friend, you have to meet God. Are you prepared?
What's your answer to that question? Are you prepared to meet God tonight?
If you're not, May God bring those 5 words.
And the importance of them home to your heart and conscience.
Prepare to meet thy God.
You know, someone mentioned this afternoon.
But atheism is on the increase.
The atheist would tell you.
That you live a few years down here and then death comes in and then your body returns to dust and that's the end of everything.
Friend, that's a lie. It's a lie of the devil. It isn't the end, it's the beginning.
Of eternity.
You have a soul.
And death can't touch your soul. It's an immortal soul.
You're going to live forever. Yes, you may. And especially if you're without Christ, you may, you will go through the article of death.
Ah, but your soul. How about that soul of yours? You're going to continue?
To live.
The word of God said is appointed unto men once to die, and it doesn't say that's the end, it said, It is appointed unto men once to die, but after death.
The judgment.
And my dear friend, if you let those words home into your soul, I believe you might realize a little more the importance of what one has just said. Those 5 words on that sign board, 5 words from the book of Amos. Prepare to meet thy God friend, are you prepared?
Oh, May God give you to prepare tonight. You can, you may say no, I'm not prepared.
But I tell you this, you can be prepared by the time you leave the door of this room tonight.
If you'll just trust in the savior that I'm going to seek to bring before you.
I'd like to especially bring before us tonight from the word of God.
Two men.
00:05:01
Before making any comment about them, let's read, let us read at least concerning one of those men in the 12Th chapter of Luke's Gospel.
Luke's Gospel, chapter 12.
And verse.
13.
One of the companies said unto him, Master, speak to my brother. They divide the inheritance with me. And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge, or a divider over you? And he said unto them, Take heed.
And beware of covetousness, for a man's life consists of not in the abundance of the things which he possesses.
And he spake A parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth Pentecost. And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do?
Because I have no room where to bestow my fruits, he said. This will I do. I will pull down my barns and build greater.
There will I bestow all my fruits, my goods, and I will say to my soul, soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years. Take thy knees, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him.
Fool. This night thy soul shall be required of thee. Then who shall those things be which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Now here in this portion we have brought before US1 That I might refer to as a rich fool.
He probably was respected by his fellow men.
And he certainly was living in comfort and ease.
He thought he had provided for the future.
And perhaps he had, as far as this life goes.
But there came a moment when he died.
An eternal bankrupt.
Now I'm going to turn in the same gospel. Will comment further on this. I'm going to turn in this gospel. Would you turn with me to the 23rd chapter?
We're going to read here in this chapter.
About a poor man, a poor thief.
Right at the end of his journey.
A criminal.
Dying a criminal's death on a cross.
But in the closing hours of his life.
He came in contact with the blessed Savior that we wanted to bring before you tonight.
He put his trust in that savior.
And he died.
To enter.
Into a scene of into paradise. Into a scene of eternal bliss.
Into a wealth of blessedness.
All because he had learned to trust.
In the one, dear friends, that's the savior of sinners, and the one who came and who died for you, that you too might be saved.
Now, going back to the 12Th chapter of Luke for Justice a few moments. I won't take too long on this portion.
We find here that apparently someone had died and left an inheritance.
The two brothers, apparently one of them, somehow had taken over the lion's share.
And the other one came to the Lord to have things set right.
Told the Lord.
He said. Speak to my brother, we divide the inheritance with me.
Well, you know.
00:10:01
Man, today everyone wants their rights.
You hear of various rights that people seek to preserve.
And this one was number exception.
And he thought the Lord was the right one to set things right for him. Did the Lord do it?
No, he didn't.
No, he didn't. And thank God he didn't. You know, dear friends, the Lord Jesus didn't come here to set things right.
And I'm glad he didn't. If he had come here to set things right, you know what would have happened.
Every man living on the face of the earth would have been cut off in judgment.
Yes, and if you and I had got our rights, everyone of us here tonight.
It would be the judgment of God for eternity, but that isn't why the Lord came the first time.
He's coming back as a judge and I hope you're prepared when he comes.
But that isn't why he came the first time.
No.
The Lord Jesus, when he was here the first time he came to give up his life.
In order to establish, we might say in order that God might have the right to act in mercy.
Towards you and me, without compromising the claims of His Holiness.
I ask the Lord Cain to give his life, that you and I might have life, you and I who deserve nothing but death and judgment.
No, he didn't come here to set things right the first time.
And he took occasion to speak this parable that we read about the rich man.
The one who had prospered under the hand of God.
You know, no farmer really prospers without the hand of God being involved, for God has to set God that provides the sunshine and the rain.
And so forth. Yes, he had enjoyed the goodness of God in a practical sense.
But he had no thought about God or God's claims.
All he had any thought about was himself, You know, that's like the natural man, all he thinks of himself. Did you notice as I read it, how many times you said I and my very self-centered? It says he thought within himself saying what shall I do because I have no room where to be stole my fruit.
And he said, This will I do, I will pull down my barns and build greater there will I be stole my fruits and my goods. Then I will say to my soul, soul now has much goods laid up for the many years Take thy knees, eat, drink, and be merry.
I don't find much about God in there. Do you all about himself?
He gave no thought to God or God's claims, Friend, what thought have you given to God and his claims in your life?
Like a bolt out of the blue, God said unto him, Now fool, this night shall I, soul, be required of thee?
Suppose God said that to you tonight, friend, you have no lease on life. You couldn't, you could not ensure at any cost the fact that you would be here tomorrow morning. I ask you, if God said to you, fool, this night, shall I soul be required of thee?
Are you ready?
God wouldn't call you a fool. If you're ready. I didn't put that question very intelligently.
Why did God call this man a fool? Because he left God out of his thoughts.
He had no thought of God.
He had no thought as to his soul.
Fred, let me ask you, what thought have you given to your soul? What importance have you put on the question of your immortal soul and where you will spend eternity?
Oh, if you have never thought seriously about your soul, I plead with you.
To take these words from the word of God seriously, tonight you have a soul and a mortal soul, and you are going to spend eternity in one of two destinies.
An eternity of bliss in heaven.
Or an eternity of woe in hell.
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This poor man had left God out of his thoughts.
He gave no thought to God in his claims. And God says, thou foolest night, shall I soul be required of thee?
Oh my friend, don't stay in company with that man if you've never given any thought to your soul.
May God give you to realize tonight that you have an immortal soul and that nothing is so important as to where you're going to spend eternity.
This man was occupied with as well. You know what the word of God says.
What shall it profit a man if he gained the whole world?
And lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give an exchange for his soul?
Well, dear friend, I'm sure this man had his opportunities.
But he didn't avail himself of them. You have an opportunity tonight, my friend.
You can be saved tonight. See that you avail yourself of that opportunity by coming to the Savior.
That we now want to speak a little more of. Will you turn with me to the 23rd chapter?
Of Luke's Gospel.
Verse 33.
I.
And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the Vala factors, one on the right hand and the other on the left.
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do, and they parted his raiment and cast lots. And the people stood beholding, and the rulers with them derided him, saying, he saved others. Let him save himself, if he be the Christ, the chosen of God.
And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him and offering him vinegar, saying, If thou be the king of the Jews.
Save thyself.
And a superscription also was written over him in the.
Letters of Greek and Latin and Hebrew. This is the king of the Jews.
One of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be the Christ.
Save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Does not thou fear God?
Being thou art in the same condemnation, and we indeed justly.
For we receive the due reward of our deeds, but this man hath done nothing amiss.
And he said unto Jesus, Lord, Remember Me when thou comest into thy Kingdom.
And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee.
Today thou shalt be with me in paradise.
And it was about the 6th hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the 9th hour.
And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hand I commend my spirit, And having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying Certainly this was a righteous man.
Well dear friends.
This is a wondrous scene that we have brought before us.
One feels his inadequacy to bring out the fullness, the blessedness of what we have here.
I know of nothing in the word of God, but brings out more.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the grace that was manifested.
To this poor thief who heard from the lips of the Lord Jesus those words.
Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
It's a remarkable scene we find.
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I didn't read from the beginning of the chapter because of the length of it, but I do wish to comment a little on some of the earlier verses.
We find in this chapter.
That everyone was against the Lord Jesus.
And if you're not aware of the fact, I'm sure most are, but I would say this dear friend, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Who is the creator of this world?
And in grace.
He became a man, was born in Bethlehem. He had gone through this scene.
A true man, and yet God manifest in the flesh.
And here we find him on this cross of shame.
The one perfect, sinless man.
Dying for sinners.
That sinners might be brought into blessing.
And have salvation and have the forgiveness of sins.
That blessed One we find here.
If we were to read from the beginning of the chapter, we'd find that.
That the chief priests and elders were against him.
Pilate was against him, Herod was against him. The common people were against him.
And at first, even the two thieves We learned from Mark's Gospel, the 15th chapter. But even the two thieves blasphemed him at first. Those who were themselves crucified on each side of Him. All the world was against him, we might say.
But in the closing hours of his life here, one of those thieves apparently was brought to realize.
That the one on that center cross was the Son of God, he was brought to realize.
That there was one who had done nothing amiss.
And he took sides, as it were, with the Lord Jesus. He came out in the testimony for him.
And said this man has done nothing amiss, and then he owned him as Lord.
And learn to know that he was indeed his savior because he trusted in the Lord Jesus.
Oh dear friends.
It's a wonder scene and there's never been a moment in the history of time. There's been no event.
In the history of this world that can compare with what we have just read about in these verses.
It was there that the mightiest transaction that was ever transacted took place.
And I wish, as we go on, to tell you a little more about it now I said that all were against him.
Others have pointed out that there are four prayers 4 requests in this chapter.
And the first one shows how all were against them. It's found in the in the 21St verse of the chapter.
We find there.
They cried saying crucify him.
Crucify him.
I might say that Speaking of the four prayers, we might look at them.
The first was the prayer of hatred. That's what we have here. Crucify and get rid of them. We don't want him.
Prayer of hatred.
The next prayer is one of fear.
We find in the 29th and the 30th verses where there's a time coming when they're going to say to the mountains fall on us and the hills cover us What for? Oh, they're afraid. We learned from Revelation 6 that that's the time when this Blessed one is coming back in judgment, says there to the mountains, fall on us and hide us from the wrath of the Lamb. A prayer of fear.
And the next prayer we get in the 34th verse that we read the prayer of love or request of love, Father, forgive them.
And the 4th one we find the prayer of faith.
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In the 42nd verse it says, he said of us this thief said unto Jesus, Lord.
Remember Me when thou comest into thy Kingdom. Ah, that's the request of faith.
Well, going back to the beginning of the chapter, we find that all are against him.
You know, dear friends, the natural mind, the natural heart, is enmity toward Christ.
And here was that blessed One, the one who had given sight to the blind hearing to the death.
Even raise the dead.
And now, at the end of his journey down here.
The heart of man comes out in all its wickedness, and man cried.
Crucify him, crucify him.
If we had read the few verses earlier in the chapter, we would find reference to Barabbas.
But before mentioning Barabbas.
I would like to call attention to this that.
I mentioned that Pilate was against him. In one sense he was. But I should mention this pilot knew that he was a just man.
Three times Pilot referred to him as a just man.
And on one occasion we get it in another gospel his wife had come to him and told told Pilot to have nothing to do with that man she knew. She had had a vision that he was one sent from God.
And she warns Pilate.
And Pilate wanted to let him go at first.
It says here.
In our chapter.
Let's see.
Yes, it says in verse in the middle of verse 14.
Behold, I have examined him before you and have found no fault in this man.
Touching those things where I've you accused him.
But we learned this.
In another gospel, it's developed more clearly.
They told Pilate if you let this man go, you're not Caesar's friend.
Who was Caesar? Oh, he was the Roman emperor. Roman governor.
Pilot was his delegate. Bare Jerusalem.
If you let this man go, you're not Caesar's friend. Now, he was concerned about what Caesar would think about it, and he gave in to their requests. Dear friend, let me ask you something.
Are you fearful of taking sides with Jesus because of what some of your friends might think?
Don't make a mistake. Pilate did.
Yes, he was supported by Caesar.
And he was afraid.
To do what his conscience told him to do.
Because of the the effect on Caesar. Are you afraid?
To take sides with Christ tonight because of what your companions will think.
Pilate is going to spend an eternity in hell because he listened to wrong advice.
Fran, don't be his companion.
Don't let what your friends will think about and hinder you from.
Closing in with God's offer of mercy tonight.
Open your heart to receive this blessed Savior.
We find that Pilate suggests that I think he thought, maybe here's an out.
At that time of the year, it was a custom at the feast to release some prisoner.
And so.
He brought two before them, the Lord Jesus Christ and Barabbas, and said, Whom were ye that I release unto you?
Barabbas was a robber. He was a criminal, I suppose, Pilate thought. Well, surely they'll choose Jesus as compared to a criminal.
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It was well known the fact that Jesus here had blessed many.
And there was number fault found in him. But do you know what the chief priests and the elders, they had encouraged the people to say? Not this man, that is not the Lord Jesus, but Barabbas. Oh yes, this world would rather have a criminal released and have the Lord Jesus Christ put to death.
Friend, whose sides are you on tonight?
Are you on the side of the Lord Jesus?
Are you still on the side of this world that crucified him?
Oh, it's a serious thing.
To side in with the world.
Against Christ, my friend, because your eternal destiny hinges.
On whether you will have the Lord Jesus as your savior.
Now I mentioned that there are four prayers or 4 requests.
The second one, the 1St, as we said, they said not this man but Barabbas. And as to the Lord Jesus, they're in their hatred. They said crucify him.
Well, it says in verse 26 that they led him away.
They laid hold upon one Simon and Cyrene coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus.
There followed a great company of people and of women, which also bewailed.
And lamented him.
But Jesus, turning unto them, said Daughters of Jerusalem.
Weep not for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.
For behold, the days are coming, in which they shall say, Blessed are the barren.
And the wounds that never bear in the paps, which never gave suck, then shall they begin to say to the mountains fall on us into the hills cover us.
For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?
Oh yes, these women, they came where be as it says here.
They came weeping, but the Lord said, don't weep for me, weep for yourselves.
For the days are coming. What days are coming? Ah, friend, there is a day of judgment ahead.
God hasn't forgotten what took place at Calvary. No, my friend and he never will forget what took place at Calvary.
There's judgment ahead for this poor world.
And that's what the Lord is referring to here.
When he says, they will begin to say, and here's their prayer of fear. Mountains fall on us.
And as I said in Revelation 6, it goes on to say and hide us from the face of the Lamb.
For the day of his wrath has come.
There is a day of wrath I had, my friend, for the Sinner that rejects Christ. Are you ready?
Do you know him as your savior? Oh, I hope you'll not be among that number to leave and look to the mountains to shelter from the wrath of that blessed one. He came in grace the first time, But you know, if you don't receive him in grace, you will have to meet him as your judge.
For God has committed all judgment under the sun. That's under the Lord Jesus Christ.
He goes on to say, if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?
What do you understand by that?
Well, you know, a green tree.
As life freshness, it bears fruit.
The Lord Jesus was the green tree. In him was life.
And his whole life was one of bearing fruits for God.
Yes, he was the green tree.
Well, who is the DRY?
Everyone of us here, by nature, are the dry trees. You know, a dry tree doesn't have life.
There is no SAP, no life.
We have a number of trees on our home, on our property, at home.
Every once in a while we've cut one down for various reasons.
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But we don't use the wood when it's when the tree is first cut down. We let it dry out first.
Why? Well, you know, a dry tree is very good for firewood. We have a fireplace.
You know, dear friend.
The dry tree speaks of you and me by nature.
And fire in the Word of God speaks of judgment.
And all the Sinner is good, for is the judgment of God.
The Lord Jesus said if these are done in a green tree, that's what he was. What should we done in the drive?
You have no life. God word friend. You're dead in trespasses and sins.
But you may have life if you will trust in the Savior. If you give your heart to him and take him as your savior tonight, you will be born again.
You will have a life from God and you will no longer be viewed as a dry tree.
But I say to you, if you're not born again, if you don't receive a new life, you're one of the dry trees referred to here in the Lord. Jesus said, if this is happening to me, a green tree, how about the dry?
Old friend, I couldn't begin to tell you the awfulness.
Of the eternity that are that the lost are going to spend.
In that place of outer darkness, where there is nothing but weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth under the judgment of God.
May God give you to feel your need of life.
I sometimes thought of this verse in connection with a 53rd of Isaiah.
Isaiah was a prophet among the Jews.
And what a prophecy he gave us in that 53rd chapter.
It starts out this way.
Who has believed our report?
And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?
For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground.
He hath no form, nor lordliness, and when we shall see him, there's no beauty in him that we should desire him.
He is despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
Now just a few thoughts on that what that prophet brought before us.
Isaiah said.
Who hath believed our report? You know, generally speaking, God's earthly people are Jews. They rejected that blessed One. It was only here and there that they had faith to trust in him. Thank God, there were many that did. But Isaiah, foreseeing the fact that generally the nation would go on in unbelief, he said. Who has believed our report?
And to whom is the arm of the Lord? Revealed the Lord Jesus was God's arm.
You know, a businessman, especially an executive, you often hear him say, well, so and so. He's my right arm. In other words, I can depend on him if I give an assignment to him to get it done. Well, the Lord Jesus had the greatest assignment that was ever given to any man. God sent that blessed one down here to go to Calvary's cross and give up his life. That you and I might have life. He was the arm of Jehovah.
And it says he shall grow up before him as a tender plant. Ah yes, that one that was born in Bethlehem.
And laid in a Manger, grew up before God, a tender plant. There was life there, and there was freshness as a root out of a dry ground. What's the dry ground? This earth and mankind on it. A dry ground, no fruit for God.
But here was one a tender plant as he grew up before him.
And now a green tree in his manhood. We find him dying on that cross. The green tree, friend, if that blessed one had to suffer on that cross, what will be the portion of the Sinner who dies in his sins? That's what that 31St verse means. And if you're today part of that which is spoken of is agree as as the dry tree, but for nothing but the fire of God's judgment.
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May God waken you up to feel your need, my friend, and trust in that blessed Savior.
Well, it says.
Further down in this chapter in the 38th verse, we read it.
A superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek and Latin and Hebrew.
This is the King of the Jews.
I suppose that was the crime that he was charged with.
Being the king of the Jews.
Friends, he was the king of the Jews.
He was there, Messiah, their king, but they rejected him.
And another scripture we have I believe that Jesus of Nazareth. This is Jesus the King of the Jews. This afternoon someone mentioned Jesus means with a Jesus was Jehovah. Yes, Jehovah the Savior.
And yet they crucified him and nailed him that cross, and they are written over him in letters of Hebrew, it says, And Greek and Latin, the three dominant languages of the day. The Jews were the leaders religiously.
The learned Greek and the martial Romans, they all combined all were one and saying, we want to have done with this man.
All friends want to see.
This was at a place called Calvary. The marginal reading in my Bible says the place of a skull.
And I believe that's what it means to Calvary, Golgotha, and another gospel the place of a skull.
You know a skull speaks of death.
And I have sometimes wondered if the place they chose for this scene.
Was not to further the mockery that was carried out on this occasion.
We find much mockery in in connection with the death of the Lord Jesus, the first thing.
We find that they brought him out in purple robes. Purple speaks of royalty.
Royalty.
And they brought him out in purple robes.
In Mockery.
Saying in effect, yes, a king, a royal one, and we're going to put him on a cross.
Friend, I want to say this tonight that God is highly exalted, that blessed one in 110 Psalm. It says sit down on my right hand until I make thine enemies, thy footstools. He's coming back as king. He's coming back and he's going to reign. But they mocked him.
They put the crown on his head. A crown of thorns and mockery. Why a crown? Oh, he said He was the king of the Jews, and to mock him they put a crown. But it was a crown of thorns was in derision, in mockery.
They take him to a graveyard, the place of a skull.
In mockery, perhaps he was the one.
Who is the author of Life?
In him was life we read.
In him was life. He's the upholder, the sustainer of life, as well as the creator.
When he was here, he spoke of life, He said, I am the resurrection and the life, and in mockery they crucify him in that graveyard, the place of a skull.
Oh, they spit in his face.
They seek to deride him.
Oh my friend, this world has a lot to give account for to God. And May God give you to realize if you're still a part of this world, you're in the wrong company.
God hasn't forgotten what took place here.
And there, over his head in those three languages, this is Jesus. This is the king of the Jews in another scripture.
They told pilots to say right not this is the king of the Jews, but that, he saith, I am the king of the Jews.
Pilate says. What I have written, I have written. I have often thought that trial probably Pilate knew.
That he was what he claimed to be the king of the Jews, Whole house solemn.
00:45:08
Well, let us look at that third prayer, verse 34, after all this.
Awful treatment that the Lord received. We have the prayer of love now.
What does he say, Father? Forgive them.
All my friends, what a prayer.
To come from his blessed lips at a moment like this, when he's receiving the treatment that he received. Father, forgive them.
Now, my friend, that's grace. That's the grace of God.
When the Lord Jesus came to die, that you and I might be forgiven.
He came to give his life that you and I might have life.
Someone quoted this afternoon.
He bore our sins in his own body. On the tree, Yes, on that tree. He took the sinner's place. He stood in the sinner's room instead, in order that the Sinner might go free. I was just reading. I just ran across recently.
A little story that was printed recently. I was glad to see it in print.
About a man who was in a courtroom in London, England, some years ago, quite a few years ago.
And there was a man who was on trial.
For stealing a large he was a cutter in a tailoring firm and he had been charged with stealing a large roll of of material worth 25 or $30.
And he was brought before the judge, and the judge asked him if the charges were true, and he bowed his head and said something inaudibly.
When the judge went on to say, I understand you worked 15 years for this man.
Did he always pay you fair wages? Yes.
Well, don't you think it's a pretty low, a pretty mean thing for someone that treated you fairly for 15 years?
To steal from him, I'm going to find you $25.
Or he said, Judge, I don't have a penny to my name. Well then, it's 10 days in prison.
And at that moment, in the back of the audience, a woman burst into tears.
It was the wife of that poor man.
And it broke her heart to think of her husband going to jail.
But just after that outburst on the part of this woman, a man stood up in the audience.
Man of about 65 years old.
And he said, your honor.
I want to make a request to this court.
I want to pay that $25 fine.
So that this man can be discharged and I want to take him back.
As my employee. And then it was the man's turn. He burst into tears.
And sobbed. He recognized the grace on the part of his employer.
The employer stepped up to pay the debt for him.
And the employer, the judge says.
Your request is granted, and this employer walked up to the prisoner's dock.
They took him by the arm, he handed the judge the $25 and he walked out.
Well, someone had said that juncture, I think the one who wrote the story said.
Surely that man ought to be one for life.
Yes, my friend.
Because of the love and the grace that had been shown toward him in his need.
Well, dear friend, the gospel is like that, but it's more wonderful. What have you done against God?
You have not committed one sin. You've not committed 5 sins. There are too numerous to mention all of sin and come short of the glory of God. But here we find one who came from glory to answer to God for those sins.
We read further down in the chapter about that there was darkness over all the earth from the 6th hour to the 9th hour. What took place in those three hours? It was there that the Lord Jesus answered to God in the sinner's room. Instead, God forsook him In another scripture it says he cried out. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
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Do you know the answer, friend? If you don't, I will tell you.
God forsook him there because he was there in the Sinner stead, taking the sinner's place.
He was there for me. He died for me, and he died for many in this room, and he died for you. Will you have him?
All I have told you about the man that was charged and had a death that he couldn't pay, how grateful he was to his employer for paying that debt, that he might go free.
Friend, have you ever thanked God? Have you ever thanked the Lord Jesus for paying the debt for you at Calvary? He died for you. Will you have him as your Savior?
That's a very important question I've asked. That's why I hesitate. Will you have the Lord Jesus as your savior?
He died for you. And if you turn your back on him, my friend.
Then because of the righteousness of God when you meet him as judge.
He will have to cast you out into that place of outer darkness, where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched.
Will you have him? Will you receive him tonight?
That brings me to this fourth prayer.
The thief on the cross.
The moment comes this moment when all seem to be against the Lord.
And here he was, at the very closing hours of his life, this thief apparently brought to realize that he was the Son of God because.
Perhaps it was from that prayer from the Lord's lips. Father forgive them. Father, He knew he was praying to God. And if he called God's Father, could it be he was the Son of God? Perhaps that's what reached his heart.
But anyway.
He changed company. We said in the 15th of March. He was one of those that cried out.
If one of those that mocked him, like the soldiers they said it saved others, let him save himself. If he be the Christ, the chosen of God, friend, he couldn't save himself. You know why? Because his love for you and me was too great. If he had saved himself, he would gone to glory alone.
He would have been on the throne alone. Oh, he wanted you and me as his companions, And this poor thief on the cross was to be a companion now, because he turned to him. He was brought to realize his condition. He said. We indeed justly.
But this man has done nothing amiss.
What a statement this man has done. Nothing amiss.
Everybody was against him. And here this poor thief comes out on the Lord's side. He said is that we're all vouch for him, all vouch for his life, all vouch for his character. I will vouch for his perfection. This man has done nothing amiss. Oh, what a statement of faith, The blessed of the separation of faith trend. He did do nothing amiss. He did no sin. He knew no sin.
He was the holy, spotless one, but he died in the sinner's room instead.
And if you will have him, you can spend an eternity of bliss with him in that place of eternal joy.
That one thief turned to him. He said. Lord, Remember Me when thou comest into thy Kingdom.
What faith here is a man dying? Everybody seemed against him and he called him Lord.
And he called him a chain. He said, in effect. You're dying, but I know that the Kingdom belongs to you. You're going to come back and reign. And when that happens, will you Remember Me?
Oh, my dear friend, thank God there was one that stood for that blessed one when all were against him there on that cross.
And he learned to know him as his own Savior, and would to God that you might learn to know that blessed 1:00 tonight.
As your Savior, Lord, Remember Me when thou comest into thy Kingdom, or the Lord had something more better than that He didn't know about it when he said it, the Lord said today. You know it doesn't take a long time to be converted, friend. You can be converted as you sit in your seat. If you just give your heart to the Lord Jesus and claim him as your savior, put your trust in him, you'll be converted.
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That beef chains company right at this moment when he took sides with Jesus.
Will you take sides with that blessed savior tonight? Will you have him like the poor thief receive him?
What a blessed word the Lord gave him today. Shalt thou be with me.
In Paradise, Paradise means place of delight.
This poor criminal at the end of his life.
Being cast out because the kind of life that he lived.
But the Lord says, I want you to be my companion in eternity. Today you'll be with me in paradise.
Old friend, are you going to spend eternity with that same blessed Savior?
I mentioned earlier about the rich fool. You know what it says there, the Lord said this night.
Shall I soul be required of thee? He went out into the night, and it's been night ever since.
And he's going to spend 1 eternal night in outer darkness, and so will you if you reject my Savior.
Now the thief, the Lord says today. Not tonight, today.
He died that day, and it's going to be an eternal day of blessing for that poor thief.
Well, dear friends, whose company are you going to be in? The Savior and that poor thief, or the one that God said, thou fool?
Oh, I trust. But there's not one here that is going to reject the Savior. If you do, friends, if you don't close in with God's offer of mercy.
God's word would indicate that you're a fool. It says there that he was not rich toward God. No, he had it in Dad. Death toward God.
And he done nothing as far as making payment on that debt goes. He couldn't do anything.
That's what the Lord Jesus came to do, to pay the debt, and he did that at Calvary and all those who received him are those who know that the debt is fully paid. And the 7th of Luke, the Lord tells a woman similar character to this speech, She was a woman of the city and she was recognized as a Sinner. Everybody that knew her knew she was a Sinner. She was living an open sin and the Lord told her.
That when they had nothing to pay.
He freely forgave. He's speaking. I can't take time to tell the whole incident. But he said when they had nothing to pay, he freely forgave them both. Our friend, you don't need to pay anything to get a title of glory. The Lord has paid the whole price. He's met all God's claims. He suffered the awful judgment of God, forsaken of God in those three hours. And then we finally shed His precious blood that you and I might be brought into blessing.
When you have the Lord Jesus tonight.
I remember.
Reading one who once said in connection with that thief, he said. You know.
I hope when I get to glory, I'll be able to find that thief and I'm going to go and put out my hand and say thank you friend, for maintaining the character of my Savior in a day when everybody was against him.
Well, you know.
You can be among the number that will be with that blessed savior, and also with that thief who was saved. If you'll just close in with God's offer of mercy tonight, well, you have the Lord Jesus friend. What are you going to do with him? The other thief had his chance. The other thief had his chance his own, the thief that received Jesus said.
Don't you fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
Don't you fear God? Oh no. He had No Fear of God before his eyes. You know, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, that is.
When we realize we have to do with God, that's the beginning of wisdom, all friends.
I come back to the verse I started with. You have to do with God. Prepare to meet thy God.
Are you prepared? There's only one way to be prepared, and that's by trusting.
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In the Lord Jesus Christ, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
And thou shalt be saved.
Shall we pray?
Our blessed God and Father, we thank thee for the Lord Jesus.
We thank thee for everyone in this room tonight that knows him as their own precious savior.
And now our God and Father, we ask that if there are any here that are.
Undecided.
All thou give them to close in with thine offer of mercy.
Will thou give them to feel their need? Give them to realize the awfulness.
A wandering into eternity lost.
We ask thee now that thou just use thy word and.
That some needy hearts may close in with Thine, offer mercy, and believe on that blessed one, and be saved. We do command Thy word to Thee for thy blessing. We ask Thee to bless Thy word wherever it is gone forth this day. Now we commend us each to Thee. As we go our several ways. We ask Thee to go with us. We thank Thee for Thy mercies.
This day and for all that we have enjoyed, those that are thine that which we have enjoyed concerning.
Our blessed Savior, the Lord Jesus, may those of us that are His seek by His grace to walk down here in a way that would be pleasing to Him. Now we just ask all, giving thanks and His precious and worthy name. Amen.
Two Men
Address—R. Rule
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To bring before you the gospel of the grace of God tonight.
In all its simplicity, I know that there are many here that have heard the Gospel many times.
So this is my desire to bring out anything new. I've been told by several that they were expecting friends in of those that they were in contact with. I've been told by several or souls expected in the night that.
Don't know the way of salvation?
God has made the way very clear in his book.
And it's the desire of the one that's going to speak to you, that you, if you don't know the way of salvation, that you might know it. And if you do know the way, but it's up until now appearing to deaf ear, Our desire is that God might give you to realize the importance of closing in with His offer of mercy.
And taking the Lord Jesus before it is too late.
Driving the meeting tonight of.
A little signboard that I saw traveling along earlier this year.
I believe it was in the province of Ontario in Canada.
It only had five words on it, but all how important is the message of those 5 words?
There are 5 words that originally were penned by the prophet Amos over 2500 years ago, and here's what was on that little signboard.
Prepare to meet by God.
Friend, you have to meet God.
Are you prepared?
What's your answer to that question? Are you prepared to meet God tonight?
If you're not.
May God bring those 5 words.
And the importance of them home to your heart and conscience. Prepare to meet thy God.
You know, someone mentioned this afternoon that atheism is on the increase. The atheist would tell you.
That you live a few years down here and then death comes in and then your body returns to dust and that's the end of everything.
Friend, that's a lie. It's the lie of the devil. It isn't the end, it's the beginning of eternity.
You have a soul.
And death can't touch your soul. It's an immortal soul. You're going to live forever. Yes, you may. And especially if you're without Christ, you will go through the article of death.
But your soul.
How about that soul of yours? You're going to continue to live.
The word of God said is appointed unto men once to die, and it doesn't say that's the end. It said it is appointed unto men once to die, but after death.
The judgment.
And my dear friend, if you let those words home into your soul, I believe you might realize a little more the importance of what one has just said those 5 words on that signboard.
5 words from the book of Amos. Prepare to meet thy God.
Friendly you prepared.
Oh, May God give you to prepare tonight. You can.
You may say no, I'm not prepared, but I tell you this, you can be prepared by the time you leave the door of this room tonight.
If you'll just trust in the Savior that I'm going to seek to bring before you.
I'd like to especially bring before us tonight in the Word of God.
Two men.
Before making any comment about them, let's read. Let us read at least concerning one of those men in the 12Th chapter of Luke Gospel.
Luke's Gospel, chapter 12.
And verse.
13.
Why? The company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, who divide the inheritance with me. And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge, or a divider over you? And he said unto them, Take heed.
And beware of covetousness, for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesses. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth tentatively.
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And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do?
Because I have no room where to be stole my fruit.
He said this will I do. I will pull down my barns and build greater.
There will I bestow all my fruits, my goods, and I will say to my soul, soul, Thou hast much good laid up for many years, Take thy knees, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him.
Fool.
This night thy soul shall be required of thee. Then whom shall those things be which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Now here in this portion we have brought before US1 That I might refer to as a rich fool.
He probably was respected by his fellow men.
And he certainly was living in comfort and ease.
He thought he had provided for the future.
And perhaps he had, as far as this life goes.
But there came a moment when he died.
An eternal bankrupt.
Now I'm going to turn in the same gospel. Will comment further on this. I'm going to turn in this gospel if you turn with me to the 23rd chapter.
We're going to read here in this chapter.
About a poor man, a poor seat.
Right at the end of his journey.
A criminal dying A criminal's death on a cross.
But in the closing hours of his life.
He came in contact with the blessed Savior that we wanted to bring before you tonight.
He put his trust in that Savior, and he died.
To answer.
Into a scene of into paradise. Into a scene of eternal bliss. Into a wealth of blessedness.
All because he had learned to trust in the One, dear friends, that's the Savior of sinners, and the One who pains.
And who died for you? That you too might be saved.
Now going back to the 12Th chapter of Luke for Justice, a few moments, I won't take too long.
On this portion.
We find here that apparently someone had died and left an inheritance.
The two brothers, apparently one of them somehow had taken over the lion's share.
And the other one came to the Lord to have things set right.
Told the Lord.
He said speak to my brother, they divide the inheritance with me.
Well, you know.
Man, today everyone wants their rights. You hear of various rights that people seek to preserve.
And this one was no exception.
And he thought the Lord was the right one to set things right for him. Did the Lord do it?
No he didn't. No he didn't. And thank God he didn't.
You know, dear friends, the Lord Jesus didn't come here to set things right, and I'm glad he didn't.
If he had come here to set things right, you know what would have happened.
Every man living on the face of the earth would have been cut off in judgment.
Yes. And if you and I had got our rights, every one of us here tonight.
It would be the judgment of God for eternity, but that isn't why the Lord came the first time.
He is coming back as a judge and I hope you are prepared when he comes.
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But that is why he came the first time.
No.
The Lord Jesus, when he was here the first time, He came to give up his life in order to establish, we might say, in order that God might have the right to act in mercy towards you and me without compromising the claims of His Holiness.
I asked the Lord came to give his life, that you and I might have life, you and I who deserve nothing but death and judgment.
No, he didn't come here to set things right the first time.
And he took occasion to speak this parable that we read about the rich man.
The one who had prospered under the hand of God.
You know, no farmer really prospers without the hand of God being involved, for God has to set God that provides the sunshine and the rain and so forth. Yes, he had enjoyed the goodness of God in a practical sense.
But he had no thought about God or God's claim.
All he had any thought about was himself. You know that's like the natural man, all he thinks of himself. Did you notice as I read it how many times you said I and my very self-centered?
It says he plot within himself saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to be sold my fruit. And he said, This will I do, I will pull down my barns and build greater. There will I be bestowed my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much good laid up for many years.
Take thy knees, eat, drink and be merry.
I don't find much about God in there. Do you all about himself?
He gave no thought to God or God's claims. Friend, what thought have you given to God and His claims in your life?
Like a bold out of the blue, God said unto him, Thou fool this night to my soul, be required of thee.
Both. God said that to you tonight, friend, you have no lease on life. You couldn't, you could not ensure at any cost the fact that you would be here tomorrow morning. I ask you, if God said to you, fool, this night, shall I soul be required of thee?
Are you ready?
God wouldn't call you a fool if you were ready. I didn't put that question very intelligently.
Why did God call this man a fool? Because he left God out of his thoughts. He had no thought of God.
He had no thought into his soul.
Fred, let me ask you, what thought have you given to your soul? What importance have you put on the question of your immortal soul and where you will spend eternity?
Oh, if you've never thought seriously about your soul, I plead with you.
To take these words from the Word of God seriously, tonight you have a soul and a mortal soul and you are going to spend eternity in one of two destinies.
An eternity of bliss in heaven.
Or an eternity of woe in hell.
This poor man had left God out of his thoughts. He gave no thought to God and his claims. And God says, Thou fool this night, till I stole be required of thee.
All my friends don't stay in company with that man if you've never given any thought to your soul.
May God give you to realize tonight that you have an immortal soul and that nothing is so important as to where you're going to spend eternity.
This man was occupied with his will. You know what the word of God says.
What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world?
And lose his own soul? Or what? Shall a man give an exchange for his soul?
Well, dear friends, I'm sure this man had his opportunity.
But He didn't avail himself of them. You have an opportunity tonight, my friend. You can be saved tonight. See that You avail yourself of that opportunity by coming to the Savior that we now want to speak a little more of. Will you turn with me to the 23rd chapter?
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Of Luke's Gospel.
Verse 33 And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, there they crucified him and the Vallefactors, one on the right hand and the other on the left.
Benton said. Jesus, Father.
Father forgive them, for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood beholding, and the rulers with them derided him, saying He saved others, let him save himself, as he be the Christ, the chosen of God.
And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him and offering him vinegar, saying, If thou be the king of the Jews.
Save thyself.
And a superscription also was written over him in the.
Letters of Greek and Latin and Hebrew. This is the king of the Jews.
One of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be the Christ.
Say thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God?
Being thou art in the same condemnation, and we indeed justly.
For we receive a due reward of our deeds. But this man has done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, Remember Me when thou comest into thy Kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today thou shalt be with me.
In paradise and it was about the 6th hour and there was darkness over all year until the 9th hour.
And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried, with a loud voice he said, Father, into thy hand, I commend my spirit. And having said thus, he gave up the ghost. Now when the centurion saw what was Johnny glorified God saying, certainly this was a righteous man.
Well, dear friends.
This is a wondrous scene that we have brought before us.
One feels his inadequacy to bring out the fullness, the blessedness of what we have here.
I know of nothing in the Word of God but brings out more the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the grace that was manifested.
To this four feet, who heard from the lips of the Lord Jesus those words.
Today shalt thou be with me.
In paradise.
It's a remarkable thing we find.
I didn't read from the beginning of the chapter because of the length of it, but I do wish to comment a little on some of the earlier verses.
We find in this chapter.
But everyone was against the Lord Jesus.
And if you're not aware of the fact, I'm sure most are. But I would say this dear friend, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Is the creator of this world.
And in Greece he became a man.
Was born in Bethlehem. He had gone through this theme.
A true man, and yet God manifest in the flesh, and here we find him on this cross of shame.
The one perfect, sinless man.
Dying for sinners.
That sinners might be brought into blessings and have salvation.
Have the forgiveness of sins.
That blessed one we find here.
If we were to read from the beginning of the chapter, we'd find that that the chief priests and elders were against him, Pilot was against him, Herod was against him, the common people were against him, and at first even the two seeds we learned from Mark's Gospel, the 15th chapter.
But even the two thieves blasphemed him at first, those who were.
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Themselves crucified on each side of him. All the world was against him, we might say.
But in the closing hours of his life here, one of those thieves.
Apparently was brought to realize that the one on that centered cross was the Son of God.
He was brought to realize that there was one who had done nothing amiss.
And.
He took sides, as it were, with the Lord Jesus. He came out in the testimony for him.
And said, This man hath done nothing amiss.
And then he owned him as Lord and learned to know that he was indeed his Savior.
Because he trusted in the Lord Jesus.
Oh dear friends.
It's a wondrous thing, and there's never been a moment in the history of time. There's been no events in the history of this world that can compare with what we have just read about in these verses. It was there that the mightiest transaction that was ever transacted took place.
And I wish, as we go on, to tell you a little more about it.
Now I said that all were against him.
Others have pointed out that there are four prayers 4 requests in this chapter.
And the first one shows how all were against them. It's found in the in the 21St verse of the chapter.
We find there.
They cried, saying crucify Him, crucify him.
I might say they're speaking the poor prayers. We might look at them.
The first was a pair of hatred. That's what we have here. Crucify him, Get rid of them. We don't want him.
Prayer of hatred. The next prayer is one of fear.
We find in the 29th and the 30th verses where there's a time coming when they're going to say to the mountains fall on us and the hills cover us. What for? Oh, they're afraid.
We learned from Revelation 6 that that's the time when this blessed one is coming back in judgment says there to the mountains fall on us and hide us from the wrath of the Lamb. A prayer fear and the next prayer we get in the 34th verse that we read the prayer of love, the request of love. Father forgive them.
And the 4th one we find the prayer of faith.
In the 42nd verse it says He said of us. This he said unto Jesus Lord.
Remember Me when thou comest into thy Kingdom. Ah, that's the request of faith.
Well, going back to the beginning of the chapter.
We find that all against Him. You know, dear friends, the natural mind, the natural heart is enmity towards Christ. And here was that blessed One, the one who had given sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, even raise the dead.
And now, at the end of his journey down here, the heart of man comes out, and all its wickedness.
And man cried there. Crucify him, crucify him.
If we had read the few verses earlier in the chapter, we would find reference to Barabbas.
But before mentioning Barabbas.
I would like to call attention to this.
That.
I mentioned that Pilate was against him. In one sense he was, But I should mention this pilot knew that he was a just man.
Three times, Pilot referred to him as a just man.
And on one occasion we get it in another gospel. His wife had come to him.
I'm told told Pilot to have nothing to do with that man. He knew she had had a vision, that he was one sent from God.
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And she warns Pilots and Pilot wanted to let him go at first.
It says here in our chapter.
Let's see.
Yes, it says in verse in the middle of verse 14.
Behold, I have examined him before you, and have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof you accuse him.
But we learned this.
In another gospel, it's developed more clearly.
They told Pilate if you let this man go, you're not Caesar's friend.
Who was Caesar? Oh, he was the Roman emperor, Roman governor. Pilot was his delegate there. Jerusalem.
If you let this man go, you're not Caesar's friend. Now he was concerned about what Caesar would think about it. He gave in to their request. Dear friend, let me ask you something.
Are you fearful?
Of taking sides with Jesus because of what some of your friends might think.
Don't make a mistake, Pilate did.
He was supported by Caesar and he was afraid.
To do what his conscience told him to do because of the effect on seizures? Are you afraid to take sides with Christ tonight because of what your companions will think? Pilot is going to spend an eternity in hell because he listened to wrong advice.
Fran, don't be his companion.
Don't let what your friends will think about it hinder you from.
Closing in with God's offer of mercy tonight.
Open your heart to receive this blessed Savior.
We find that, Pilate suggested. I think he thought maybe here's an out.
At that time of the year, it was a custom at the feast to release some prisoners.
And so.
He brought 2 before them, the Lord Jesus Christ and Barabbas, and said, Whom were ye that I release unto you?
Barabbas was a robber, he was a criminal. I suppose, Pilot thought. Well, surely they'll choose Jesus as compared to a criminal.
It was well known the fact that Jesus here had blessed many.
And there was number fault found in him.
But you know what? The chief priests and the elders, they had encouraged the people.
To say not this man, that is not the Lord Jesus, but the rabbits. Oh yes, this world would rather have a criminal release.
And have the Lord Jesus Christ put to death.
Threaten Whose sides are you on tonight?
Are you on the side of the Lord Jesus?
Are you still on the side of this world that crucified him?
Oh, it's a serious thing.
To side in with the world against Christ, my friend, because your eternal destiny hinges.
On whether you will have the Lord Jesus as your Savior.
Now I mentioned that there are four prayers, there are four requests. The second one, the 1St, as we said, they said not this man, but the rabbis. And as the Lord Jesus, they're in their hatred, they said crucify him.
Well.
It says in verse 26 that they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon of Cyrene coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.
There followed a great company of people and of women, which also bewales.
And lamented him.
But Jesus turning unto them, said daughters of Jerusalem.
Weep not for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.
For behold, the days are coming in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren.
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And the wounds that never bear in the paps which never gave, suck then till they begin to say to the mountains fall on us, into the hills cover us.
For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?
Oh yes, these women, they came where it be, as it says here, they came weeping. But the Lord said, don't weep for me, weep for yourselves, for the days are coming. What days are coming? Friend? There's a day of judgment ahead. God hasn't forgotten what took place at Calvary. No, my friend, and he never will forget what took place at Calvary.
There's judgment ahead for this poor world.
And that's what the Lord is referring to here when he says they will begin to say, and here's their prayer of fear. Mountains fall on us. And as I said in Revelation 6, it goes on to say and hide us from the face of the Lamb, for the day of his wrath has come.
There's a day of wrath ahead, my friends, for the Sinner that rejects Christ. Are you ready? Do you know Him as your Savior? Oh, I hope you'll not be among that number. They'll leave and look to the mountains to shelter from the wrath of that blessed One. He came in grace the first time, but you know if you don't receive Him in grace, you will have to meet Him as your judge.
But God has committed all judgment under the sun. That's under the Lord Jesus Christ.
He goes on to say if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the drive?
What do you understand by that?
Well, you know a green tree has life, freshness, it bears fruit. The Lord Jesus was the green tree. In him was life.
And his whole life was one of bearing fruits for God.
Yes, he was the green tree.
Well, who's the drive?
Every one of us here by nature.
Are the dry trees. You know a dry tree doesn't have light?
There's no SAP, no life.
We have a number of trees on our home on our property at home.
Every once in a while we've cut one down for various reasons.
But we don't use the wood when it's when the tree is first cut down. We let it dry out first.
Why? Well, you know, a dry tree is very good for firewood.
We have a fireplace.
You know, dear friend.
The dry tree speaks of you and me by nature.
And fire and the word of God speaks of judgment.
And all the Sinner is good for is the judgment of God.
The Lord Jesus said if these are done in a green tree, that's what he was, what should be done in the drive.
You have no life, Godward friends.
You're dead in trespasses and sins, but you may have life if you will trust in the Savior.
If you give your heart to Him and take Him as your savior, tonight you'll be born again.
You will have a life from God and you will no longer be viewed as a dry tree.
But I say to you, if you're not born again, if you don't receive a new life, you're one of the dry trees referred to here in the Lord Jesus said, if this is happening to me, a green tree, how about the drive, old friend, I couldn't begin to tell you the awfulness.
Of the eternity that the lost they're going to spend.
In that place of outer darkness, where there is nothing but weeping and wailing and gnashing of peace under the judgment of God.
May God give you to feel your need of life.
I sometimes thought of this verse in connection with the 53rd of Isaiah.
Isaiah was a prophet among the Jews.
And what a prophecy he gave us in that 53rd chapter.
It starts out this way.
Who has believed our report?
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And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? For He shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground. He hath no form nor lordliness. And when we shall see him, there is no beauty in him that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.
Now just a few thoughts on that, what that prophet brought before us.
Isaiah said.
Who has believed our report? You know, generally speaking, God's earthly people are Jews. They rejected that blessed one. It was only here and there that they had faith to trust in Him. Thank God there were many that did. But Isaiah foreseeing the fact that generally the nation would go on in unbelief, he said. Who has believed our report?
And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? The Lord Jesus was God's arm. You know, a businessman, especially an executive, you often hear him say, well, so and so. He's my right arm. In other words, I can depend on him if I give an assignment to him to get it done.
The Lord Jesus had the greatest assignment that was ever given to any man.
God sent that blessed one down here to go to Calvary's cross and give up his life, that you and I might have life. He was the arm of Jehovah, and it says he shall go before him as a tender plant. Oh yes, that one that was born in Bethlehem and laid in a Manger grew up before God a tender plant. There was life there, and there was freshness as a root out of a.
Ground. What's the dry ground? This earth and mankind on it. A dry ground. No fruit for God, but here was one, a tender plant as he grew up before him, and now a green tree in the in his manhood.
We find him dying on that cross, the green tree. Friend, if that Blessed One had to suffer on that cross, what will be the portion of the Sinner who dies in his sins?
That's what that 31St verse means. And if you are today.
Part of that which is spoken of a degree as the dry tree, but for nothing but the fire of God's judgment. May God waken you up to feel your need, my friend, and trust in that blessed Savior.
Well, it says.
Further down in this chapter, in the 38th verse, we read it.
Or a superscription also is written over him in letters of Greek and Latin Hebrew.
This is the king of the Jews.
I suppose that was the crime that he was charged with.
Being the King of the Jews.
Friends, He was the King of the Jews. He was their Messiah, their King.
But they rejected him.
And another scripture we have.
I believe that Jesus of Nazareth or this is Jesus the King of the Jews. This afternoon someone mentioned Jesus means where the Jesus was Jehovah, Yes, Jehovah the Savior. And yet they crucified him and nailed him that cross, and they are written over him in letters of Hebrew it says, and Greek and Latin.
The three dominant languages of the day.
The Jews were the leaders religiously.
We learned Greek and the martial Romans.
They all combined, all were one and saying we want to have done with this man.
All friends want to see.
This was at a place called Calvary. The marginal reading in my Bible says the place of a skull, and I believe that's what it means to Calvary, Golgotha and another gospel, the place of a skull.
You know a soul speaks of death.
And I have sometimes wondered.
If the place they chose for this scene was not to further the mockery.
That was carried out on this occasion. We find much mockery in in connection with the death of the Lord Jesus. The first thing we find that they brought him out in Purple Rd. Purple speaks of loyalty.
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Royalty.
And they brought him out in purple roles in mockery.
Staying in effect, yes, a king, a royal one, and we're going to put them on a cross.
Friend, I want to say this tonight, that God is highly exalted, that blessed one.
In 110 Psalm it says, Sit thou on my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstools. He's coming back as king. He's coming back and he's going to raise. But they mocked him. They put the crown on his head, a crown of thorns and mockery. Why are crowns? Oh, he said he was the king of the Jews, and to mock him they put a crown that was a crown of thorns.
Within the religion, in mockery, they take them to a graveyard, the place of a skull.
In mockery, perhaps he was the one.
Who is the author of Life?
In him was life to read.
In Him was life. He's the Upholder, the sustainer of life, as well as the Creator.
When he was here, he spoke of life. He said I am the resurrection and the life, and in mockery they crucify him in that graveyard, the place of a skull.
Oh, they said in his face.
They speak to deride him.
All my friend, this world has a lot to give account for to God, and May God give you to realize if you're still a part of this world, you're in the wrong company.
God hasn't forgotten what took place here.
And there over his head, in those three languages, this is Jesus, this is the king of the Jews in another scripture.
They told Pilate to say, right now this is the king of the Jews, but that he saith, I am the king of the Jews, Pilate says. What I have written, I have written. I've often thought that trial probably Pilate knew.
That he was what he claimed to be the king of the Jews. Oh, how solemn.
Well, let us look at that third prayer, verse 34, after all.
This awful treatment that the Lord received. We have the prayer of love now. What does he say? Father, forgive them.
Oh, my friend, what a prayer to come from his blessed lips at a moment like this when he's receiving the treatment that he received. Father, forgive them.
Oh, my friend, that's great. That's the grace of God.
And the Lord Jesus came to die, that you and I might be forgiven.
He jained to give his life that you and I might have life.
Someone quoted this afternoon.
He bore our sins in his own body, on the tree, yes, on that tree. He took the sinners place. He stood in the sinners room instead, in order that the Sinner might go free. I was just reading. I just ran across recently.
A little story that was printed recently. I was glad to see it in print.
About a man who was in a courtroom in London, England some years ago, quite a few years ago.
And there there was a man that was on trial.
For stealing a large He was a cutter in a tailoring firm, and he had been charged with stealing a large roll of of.
Material worth 25 or $30.
And he was brought before the judge, and the judge asked him if the charges were proved, and he bowed his head and said something inaudibly.
The judge went on to say, I understand you were 15 years for this man.
Did he always pay you fair wages? Yes. Well, don't you think it's a pretty low, a pretty mean thing for someone that treated you fairly for 50 years?
To steal from him, I'm going to find you $25.
Oh, that judge. I don't have a penny to my name. Well, then it's 10 days in prison.
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And at that moment, in the back of the audience.
A woman burst into tears.
It was the life of that poor man.
And a broke her heart to think of her husband going to jail.
But just after that outburst on the part of this woman, a man stood up in the audience.
Man of about 65 years old and he said, your honor.
I want to make a request to this court.
I want to pay that $25 fine.
So if this man can be discharged and I want to take him back.
As my employee.
And then it was the man's turn. He burst into tears.
And sobs. He recognized the grace on the part of his employer.
The employer stepped up to pay the debt for him.
And the employer, the judge says.
Your request is granted and this employer walked up to the prisoner's dock.
They took him by the arm, he handed the judge the $25 and he walked out.
Well, someone had said that juncture, I think the one who wrote the story said.
Surely that man ought to be one for life.
Yes, my friend.
Because of the love and the grace that had been shown toward him in his need. Well, dear friend, the gospel is like that, but it's more wonderful.
What have you done against God? You've not committed one sin. You've not committed 5 sins.
There are too numerous to mention all of sin and come short of the glory of God.
But here we find one who came from glory to answer to God for those sins.
We read further down in the chapter about that there was darkness over all the earth.
From the 6th hour to the 9th hour. What took place in those three hours? It was there that the Lord Jesus answered to God in the sinner's room instead.
God first took him in another scripture that says he cried out. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
You know the answer, friend. If you don't, I will tell you. God forsook him there because he was there in the Sinner said, taking the sinner's place. He was there for me. He died for me, and He died for many in this room, and He died for you.
Will you have him?
Oh, I've told you about the man that was charged and had a death that he couldn't pay, how grateful he was to his employer for paying that debt that he might go free. Friend of the other, thank God. Have you ever thanked the Lord Jesus for paying the debt for you with Calvary? He died for you. Will you have him as your Savior?
That's a very important question I've asked. That's why I hesitate.
Will you have the Lord Jesus as your Savior? He died for you, and if you turn your back on Him, my friend, then because of the righteousness of God, when you meet Him as judge, He will have to cast you out into that place of outer darkness where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched. Will you have Him?
Will you receive him tonight?
That brings me to this fourth prayer.
The Thief on the Cross.
The moment comes, this moment when all seem to be against the Lord, and here he was at the very closing hours of his life.
This thief apparently brought to realize that he was the Son of God, because perhaps it was from that prayer from the Lords lip. Father, forgive them Father, he knew he was praying to God, and if he called godfather, could it be he was the Son of God? Perhaps that's what reached his heart.
But anyway, he changed company, we said in the 15th of March he was one of those that tried out.
If one of those that mocked him like the soldiers, they said it saved others. Let him save himself. If he be the Christ, the chosen of God friend, he couldn't save himself. You know why? Because his love for you and me was too great. If he had saved himself, he would gone to glory alone.
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He would have been on the throne alone.
He wanted you and me as his companion, and this poor thief on the cross was to be a companion. Now, because he turned to him, he's brought to realize his condition. He said We indeed justly, but this man has done nothing amiss.
What a statement. This man has done nothing amiss. Everybody was against him and here this poor thief comes out on the Lords side, he said. Is that we're all vouch for him, all vouch for his life, all vouch for his character. I will vouch for his perfection.
This man has done nothing amiss. Oh, what a statement of faith, the blessed of the separation of faith. Friend, He did do nothing amiss. He did no sin. He knew no sin. He was the Holy Spiritless 1.
But he died in the sinner's room instead. And if you will have him?
You can spend an eternity of bliss with Him in that place of eternal joy.
That one thief turned to him. He said, Lord, Remember Me when thou comest into thy Kingdom.
Faith, here is a man dying. Everybody seemed against him and he called him Lord, and he called him a king. He said, in effect, you're dying, but I know that the Kingdom belongs to you. You're going to come back and reign. And when that happens, will you Remember Me? Oh my dear friend, thank God there was one.
That stood for that Blessed One, when all were against Him there on that cross.
And he learned to know him as his own Savior. And would to God that you might learn to know that blessed 1:00 tonight.
As your Savior, Lord, Remember Me when thou comest into Thy Kingdom.
Or the Lord had something more better than that. He didn't know about it when he said it, the Lord said today.
You know it doesn't take a long time to be converted.
Friend, you can be converted as you sit in your seat, if you just give your heart to the Lord Jesus and claim Him as your Savior, put your trust in Him, you'll be converted. That thief change company right at this moment when He took sides with Jesus. Will you take sides with that blessed Savior tonight? Will you have him like the poor? See, receive Him.
What a blessed word the Lord gave him today. Shall thou be with me in Paradise? Paradise means place of delight.
There's poor criminal at the end of his life.
Being passed out because the kind of life that he lived. But the Lord says I want you to be my companion in eternity. Today you'll be with me in paradise, old friend.
Are you going to spend eternity with that same blessed Savior I mentioned earlier about the the rich fool? You know what it says there? The Lord said this night till I soul be required of thee. He went out into the night and it's the night ever since and he's going to spend 1 eternal life in outer darkness. And so will you if you reject my Savior.
Now the feast, the Lord says today, not tonight, Today.
He died that day and it's going to be an eternal day of blessing.
For that poor feast.
Well dear friends, whose company are you going to be in? The Savior and that poor thing, or the one that God said, thou fool?
All right, trust, but there's not one here that is going to reject the Savior. If you do, friends, if you don't close in with God's offer of mercy.
God's word would indicate that you're a fool. It says there that he was not rich toward God. No, he had it, a debt toward God.
And he done nothing as far as making payment on that debt goes. He couldn't do anything. That's what the Lord Jesus came to do to pay the debt.
And he did that at Calvary, and all those who received him are those who know that the dead is fully paid.
In the 7th of Luke, the Lord tells a woman similar character to this feast. He was a woman of the city and she was recognized as a Sinner. Everybody that knew her knew she was a Sinner. She was living an open sin and the Lord told her.
Of that, when they had nothing to pay, he freely forgave speaking, I can't take time to tell the whole incident, but he said when they had nothing to pay, he freely forgave them both. Our friend, you don't need to pay anything to get a title of glory. The Lord has paid the whole price.
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He's not all God's claims he suffered. There are also judgment of God, forsaken of God in those three hours. And then we find he said his precious blood, that you and I might be brought into blessings when you have the Lord Jesus tonight.
I remember reading the one who once said in connection with that seat, he said, you know.
I hope when I get the glory I'll be able to find that thief.
And I am going to go and put out my hand and say thank you, friend, for maintaining the character of my savior in a day when everybody was against him.
Well, you know.
You can be among the number that will be with that blessed Savior and also with that feast who is saved if you'll just close in with God's offer of mercy tonight. Well, you have the Lord Jesus, friend. What are you going to do with Him?
The other thief had his chance. The other thief had his chance, his own. The feast that received Jesus said, Don't you fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation.
Don't you fear God? Oh no, He had No Fear of God before his eyes. You know, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. That is when we realize we have to do with God. That's the beginning of wisdom, old friends.
I come back to the verse I started with You have to do with God. Prepare to meet thy God. Are you prepared? There's only one way to be prepared and that's by trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
And thou shalt be saved.
Confess and Live
Address—A.C. Hayhoe
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I'd like you to turn with me, first of all, please, to the official to the Romans, the 10th chapter of the official to the Romans and the ninth verse.
Romans 10, verse 9.
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord visa, and shalt believe in thine heart, that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
There's nothing new about this verse, but I wonder, has it perhaps been to someone here? Simply a birth committed to memory?
Simply a text perhaps, and hangs on the wall of your home.
If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the bed, thou shalt be saved.
Saved. I have been so impressed recently with the number of prayers that have gone up.
On behalf of the unsaved children of Christian parents, those who are brought up in Christian homes, and perhaps there are those here present this afternoon, and your moth, you've never yet accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior. You'll never yet receive Him into your heart, nor confess with your lips.
That He who died upon the cross of Calvary is your Lord and your Savior.
And all the burden and prayer so many hearts this afternoon. I know is this that the deer boys and girls, the dear young people who have so awesome heard the gospel may receive a blessing to your soul that these meetings.
I say it with this conviction before God that there are many boys and girls and many dear young people who know this person can repeat it from memory.
Who at the very moment know in the depth of your heart that you have never yet accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior. You'll never yet opened your lips to confess Him as your Lord. Is that not true?
Asked this one and that one, how long have you known the Lord Jesus as your Savior? And sometimes there's a puzzled expression for a few moments and they say, well, I think I was saved maybe three or four years ago. They used that expression. I was saved. And that's a fine expression. My delight to use it too. But all I am so thankful when someone says I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ.
As my savior, it may be that you can't fix a very definite time. Let not that disturb you.
But be very sure of this, my dear young friend, no matter what Father may think or what Mother may think, no matter what anyone else may say.
Be very, very sure, my dear young friend this afternoon. But before we go on to look at other scriptures.
The Lord Jesus Christ is your own personal failure. At this very moment, I tell you solemnly, the eye of God is looking down upon you, that your heart is stained with sin and you are lost and you are on the road to hell.
Unless you personally have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior.
And at this very moment, the eye of God looks down upon that heart of yours and sees every stain of sin forever gone by the precious blood of the Lord Jesus. It is either one or the other. That Christian upbringing will stand you in no good state in that day when you meet God. The fact that you knew this verse by heart will stand you no good in that day when you meet God.
And so, my beloved friends, conscious of the authority of him before whom the beloved Apostle Paul once fell and accepted him as Lord and Savior, conscious, I say, of that authority, will you too not accept him as your Savior?
As your Lord, I believe we have an example of this in the thief who died beside the Lord Jesus Christ. What kind of life he had lived, the scripture doesn't fully disclose, but we know that he was being put to death as a malefactor. We know that his conduct was such that his fellow man condemned him to die, though he was hanging, hanging on that cross beside the Lord Beaver.
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And both hands of his, while he had the use of them, had been stretched forth in all kinds of violence and wickedness.
The low speed of his while he had the use of them had problem the hard path of the transgressor, and now both hands and feet were fastened to that cross and he could do nothing.
But his heart was free, his lips were free, and with a heart open, by the grace of God, he received the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior.
And with lifts also opened by the grace of God, he confessed him as Lord. And turning to him, he said in the hearing of the others, Lord, Remember Me when alchemist into thy Kingdom, as such a cry ever come from your heart, my dear friend.
With all the glitter and glamour and attractions all around us, perhaps?
Perhaps there is someone here who knows that I am speaking the truth, and you know that this matter must someday be settled. But you feel that you'd like to try a little of this world empty pleasure first. You know where that suggestion comes from.
Which comes from the same one who whispered in the ears of Eve and of Adam in the Garden of Eden. The same one who would seek to rob you of this glorious knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, of the glorious inheritance of a home up there with Christ forever.
And to give you instead that which can never satisfy your heart. So can we not begin then this afternoon with this verse, with the prayer in our hearts that there may not be numbered among the young people so much as one who cannot stay in truth? Thank God the Lord Jesus Christ is.
My own personal savior? Is there any harm in confessing that more than once?
Our dear brother Willie Martin, who is now at home with the Lord, used to confess the Lord quite often at the close of a gospel meeting. Quite a good many times. He's shaken my hand at the back of the meeting room. And with a happy smile he'd say, I just want you to know that the Lord Jesus is my own precious failure. And I think those of you who knew him could see the smile on his face when he said.
My dear young friend, is it a joy to you?
As it ought to be to confess that precious name, You tell us you belong to the Lord Jesus. When did you left last? Confess that name with joy and with love. What about today? Could you truthfully turn to that young friend sitting beside you when this meeting is over and say to them, Thank God, the Lord Jesus Christ is my own Savior?
Will you not do it, beloved friends? Will you not do it except the Lord Jesus Christ?
As your Savior and go on your way rejoicing, let's turn over to the Epistle to the Colossians, Colossians one and verse 9 for this 'cause we also, since the day we've heard it, do not cease to pray for you and to desire that you might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.
That he might walk worthy of the Lord, worthy of the Lord unto all, pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. Here, dear young believer, we have something else in connection with that worthy title, the Lord. Here we have the fervent prayer of the heart of the beloved Apostle Paul.
That he might walk worthy of.
The Lord thank God for everyone in this company who can say with joy and with confidence that the Lord Jesus is your own personal Savior. Now here's a prayer that goes up on your behalf, my dear young brother and sister in Christ.
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This was the burden of the apostle heart for these here Colossians believers, and it was a fervent and a ceaseless prayer that he might walk worthy of the Lord. He loved you, He died to redeem you. He shed his precious blood that he might have the joy of looking down at you and me this day and.
Claim us as his own, I say. I believe it brings infinite joy to His heart.
Look down upon this company and acclaim you individually as his own. It's the delight of his heart to have those who are his own redeemed people. And what about the response of our heart?
Ought there not to be in our lives, dear young people, that which would be the language of it, verse are walking worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, conscious of the glory of Him who has laid down His life to redeem us, conscious of His right over us as those who are His redeemed? Should there not be a response?
A loving, affectionate response from our redeem heart to walk worthy of Him who is now our Lord.
How can we do this? Where shall we find that which will enable us to walk worthy of the Lord? Well, I believe the prayer of the previous verse would give us some light on that.
'Cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that you might be filled with the knowledge of His will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. If I might put this in, in order that he might walk worthy of the Lord, how are we going to walk worthy of the Lord?
I met a lady not too long ago while I was on this trip.
He was at a gospel meeting when the meeting was over, she said repeatedly and with tears in her eyes. All There's nothing I want more than the will of my Lord in my life.
Well, there were some very obvious things about her appearance that didn't strike me as being evidence of the will of the Lord. Nevertheless, she kept saying repeatedly and with real tears, there is nothing I want more in my life than the world of my Lord, and I fervently pray that the will of my Lord may be made known to me.
And we asked her if she spent time reading this precious book. No, she said, I live a very busy life and I don't have time to read the Bible the way I opt to, but all I do want the will of my Lord for my life. We warned her that that was a very dangerous thing to do. We warned her that if she was going to wait to be led by some inner compulsion or some thought suggested to her mind.
But she might well be LED seriously astray. My dear young believer, do you really want to walk worthy of the Lord?
Are you willing even to answer that question? Am I, my beloved friend I hold in my hand are two edged swords.
And I don't want you to think for one moment that I'm addressing these words as though you needed them.
Any more than I do. I need these very words so deeply myself, and I confess it before you. But that's a solemn question. Do I want to walk through this world worthy of the Lord? That's a question. My dear young brother, my dear young sister, I believe you and I can answer on our needs in the presence of the Lord.
Has he not a claim over our lives?
The one who laid down his life to redeem us and now desires that we might walk worthy of him through this world. What claim does he have over us? Do you? Do I find it somewhat restricting to read this precious book?
And find in God's Word that which perhaps might change our conduct here.
And all to our plans there do we find that earth summoned, restricting that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. I have a nature, and you have a nature that would not be in accord with the will of God. No, What oneness, grace, that you and I, dear children of God, have been born.
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Anew you and I have a life and nature which delights to please the Lord.
And if that is not so, you are not one of God's children. Well then it says that he might walk worthy of the Lord.
Unto all bleeding Suppose I approach the young married couple here in this company.
I won't single any else that will say they've been married six months and I come to the young bride of six months and I begin to ask a few questions about their happiness together.
And I say now, is it true that you have done so far as to accept even the name of this young man to whom you're married? Oh, I guess I'm now known as Missus so and so. And she gives her husbands name. And is it true that from this day onward, respect even to wear a ring which will identify you as someone who has taken these bombs? Do you not find it rather restricting after those?
Months or years of liberty and so on.
I believe he'd interrupt me right there and say restricting. These have been the happiest months of my life. Why? It's a joy to me to realize that I now have one close to my heart who loves me so, Dear young believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. But a door it ought to be to your heart and mind to look up and realize that there is One who wants me to feel His.
Upon my heart so wants me to have the joy walking worthy of him in a world that is so marked by disobedience and self will. I plead with you, dear young brother. I plead with you, dear young sisters, as one who is not too far removed from the years of youth. If you want a happy past, if you want joy in your Christian.
Take heed to this verse. I don't want to speak to you as an old man, but I have visited in and out among the Lord's people for just a little while, and I find some of them so happy, and I find some of them.
For whom that word can scarcely be used.
They are not happy. They are not happy. And I wonder, why is God not able to bring happiness into your life? He is. He's able to give you the happiest pathway known upon His world of sorrow, and I believe it's to be found here, walking worthy of the Lord. Could I quote what I so often heard my father say?
No one ever lived.
To please the Lord and was sorry for it.
I have seen males who have grown old in the pathway marked out here.
They wouldn't dare to claim it for themselves, but they have stopped to walk worthy of the Lord from the days of their youth, and all the see the joy of their pathway as they get farther and farther along. My dear young brother, my dear young sisters, I know you want a happy pathway, and it is to be found walking worthy of the Lord. His claims upon you are for.
Good and for your blessings. I have found verses in scripture that disturbs me. Even dear old brother Dunlop, whom we knew and loved back, whom he lived right near where I live now.
He told us of coming across more than one passage in Scripture, that at the instant he read it, he almost wished that birth were not there during his early Christian experience. He realized the moment he read it that it was going to mean a very decisive change in certain things in his life.
And at first glance those things seemed to him to be so pleasant that he wanted to go on with them. But when he saw the will of the Lord in this precious book, when he saw that which would be worthy of the Lord whose he was and whom he served, he turned from those things and went on to please the Lord.
To serve the Lord, and now he's with Christ, which is far better.
And there's a day coming, my dear young believer, when you and I are going to be there soon. And as we were reminded in the meeting this morning.
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Our lives are going to be brought into review. What has been done in the body is going to be brought into resume. I'm going to stand back, if I may picture it rather realistically, stand back and see the beloved apostles Paul have his life reviewed in that day.
I am going to see the lives of some of those dear old brethren, such as Brother Dunlop reviewed in that day, and then my turn is going to come. And so is your so, your all, your child of God. You're going to look into the face of Him who loved you and died to redeem you.
You're going to look upon the male piercing hands and feet, and then you're going to watch your light brought into review.
What will it reveal dear young brother? What will it reveal, dear young sister?
Will there be found that this had a claim upon your heart and mine in that day?
You won't be able to add 1 day to your earthly pathway up there.
Sometimes when I write a letter and I read it over, I find that true forgetfulness or carelessness. I have omitted something that I intended to make much more. I don't suppose it would correspondence, but I've had to do it. They're right, the little letters. PS At the end of the letter and add what I omitted, and I don't think I ever do that.
Without thinking of the judgment, see of Christ, I put those letters. PS And I add what I had omitted through carelessness.
But dear child of God, when we get home to the glory, there will be no opportunity to add a PS to our pathway. There will be no opportunity to go over those last few weeks and make the changes that perhaps we would have made had we known that His coming was so near. With all my heart, dear believers, I am assured that the coming of the Lord Jesus.
Is very near at hand, and my prayer for you, when I trust your prayer for me, is this, that we might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleading.
Let's turn back to the seasons Chapter 6.
The Seasons chapter 6 and verse 10.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.
Put on the whole armor of God, that he may be able to stand against the Wiles of the devil.
First of all, we have that most vital step, confessing Jesus as Lord to the saving of your soul. Then we have walking worthy of the Lord through this pathway of darkness and sorrow. And here we have finally, my brethren, be.
In the Lord, would this not present to us our own weakness and His almighty strength and power? You and I can pass through this world, with all its difficulties, with all its distractions, in a strength and in a power quite outside of ourselves. Indeed, we know that we lean on any strength or might that we might think we have.
We soon find how quickly and how easily we are tripped up, how sadly we fall by. Dear young believer, there is a strength available for you, and there is a power available for me. If we will but lean hard upon it, be strong.
When the Lord and in the power of his might.
Your dear young believers, is this strength yours? And indeed it is that you've got to veil yourself of it. Do you want to go through this world with the glory of God? Every resource that you need is available in Him with only we realize our needs and desire to walk through this world for His glory.
There's all the strength.
You and I need to be found in Him who now live forth in the glory.
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As our great High Priest and as our advocates.
I enjoyed those truths that were brought out this morning. Those resources are good. Live for us in the glory. I greatly fear that there are so many of us. We thank God for the fact that the Lord Jesus bore our judgment on the cross of Calvary. We thank God that the stain and burden of our sins is gone.
And we thank God that our destiny is the glory.
Instead of eternal hell. But perhaps we fail to walk in the joy of the fact that the one who loved us and laid down his life to redeem us now lives forth in the glory as our great High Priest and as our Advocate. Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole honor of God.
That he may be able to stand against the Wiles of the devil.
I know you heard it often, but bear with me if I mention it again.
That our hearts go out to you, beloved young people. As a father of young people myself, perhaps we know just a little of what you go through.
I believe your difficulties are greater than we confronted when we went to school, when we started out to work. They were serious enough and difficult enough and numerous enough in that day. But all dearly beloved young people, the resources that are yours, the strength and power and might of him who loved you and died to redeem you.
Are still yours to lean upon, and I beg of you with all my heart, my dear young brother and sister in Christ.
Will lean upon Him to avail yourself of the strength of Him who loves to stand by Him. Will be with you, to encourage you and to fill you with joy.
I know the days are difficult. I know you often wish that things were not quite so difficult, but I believe that they're more difficult today, the more your strength will be made perfect in weakness.
The more the opportunity for you to bring honor and glory to him who loved you and died to redeem you by going your way through this difficult age for the honor and for the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. We look back to the days of the martyrs and we consider them heroes, do we not? We read of their faithfulness of death and we thrilled to read this. But dear young friend, you go away to school and.
There so many little points of compromise, invitations here and persuasions there, and then you go out to work and there's this, that and the other that often comes into your pathway and you wonder what to do.
Be strong in the Lord. In the Lord. I sat by the meeting room in Ottawa one time a good many years ago, and I saw two teenagers. There was a group of them there making plans for certain activity for the next evening. It was not a regular meeting night, and they were making plans, which I'm sure nearly all the young people felt quite content about.
But I heard one young man come up to a dear sister and say to her, How about coming along with the rest of us this morning, tomorrow evening, I'd be glad to call for you. And I saw her stand there and look puzzled for a moment. She said I'd like to go home and pray about it.
And you can phone me tomorrow.
And I heard his answers, he said don't do that. If you pray about it, you won't come.
I felt sad to hear him say that. I love that dear brother.
But he is far from the Lord now in his soul. He is no longer gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus. My dear teenager is now very, very happy sister and the Lord. There is a circumstance that he felt it would not be wise to pray about because he felt the decision as a result of prayer would not be that which would please him.
All, dear young believer, there is strength, there is every resort that you and I need.
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To be found in Him so long that we should have a happy path. As I look at those two dear folks now, neither one of whom are young people any longer, I see the one will pathway filled with joy, a whole of her own and a family walking in ways that please the Lord.
And I see this dear man also with a wife and family, and much sorrow, much sorrow. I suppose he thought he was having the happier evening to spend that evening where he had planned, rather than submit to that which was felt to be the will of the Lord. And I plead with you once more, and I feel the need of a fresh in my own heart.
Be strong in the Lord.
There is strength, therefore the difficulties of the pathway, their strength, therefore you.
To meet with those peculiar difficulties that are yours in your neighborhood, your, that school, yours where you work. I don't know your individual circumstances, but the Lord does. Have you ever wished that He would change them a little bit this way or that? I think we all have. I think we've all felt that the Lord would only just change my circumstances a little bit.
It would be so very much easier, but my circumstances are unusually difficult. My dear young believer, the Lord has allowed those circumstances.
In order that you may find his strength more than equal for them. So let us go over it again. First of all, if the house out, confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and then that you might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing. And here.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Let's turn to just one more Philippians.
Philippians, Chapter 4.
And verse 4.
Redo it in the Lord. Isn't that what we would like to do? Rejoice in the Lord.
Always and again I say, rejoice.
These words were penned from the darkness of a Roman prison by the beloved Apostle Paul.
Rejoice in the Lord always. And again I say, rejoice.
Word was the discourage and disappointed all the apostles trying to encourage other folks.
Not a bit of it. He was walking in the reality of it himself. His own soul, even in prison, was filled with the joy of the Lord. The joy of the Lord is that your experience, dear believers, is there in your life.
Is there a little perhaps in mind something which corresponds to this Rejoice?
In the Lord, if there is, let me tell you something. You can be happy when you're all alone. Are you only happy when you're in the company of other young believers? There's something very nice, very pleasant, and I rejoiced in it too. The privilege of Christian fellowship. We love it, we enjoy it. We go a long way to experience it.
But rejoice in the Lord.
If I were able to sit down beside my dear wife right now, it wouldn't take much Christian fellowship to make me enjoy her company. The two of us could just sit there alone and silently and feel delightfully happy in one another company. I'm sure many another would agree with that statement. Now, dear young believer, what about you and the Lord alone?
You and the Lord.
Alone are you happy in the presence of the Lord? Alone when you get in your room at night with this precious book and on your knees in the presence of the Lord, is there something of this first true in your soul? Rejoice in the Lord. All dear young believers, thank God for Christian fellowship. But if your heart doesn't respond to that suggestion.
If your heart doesn't know something about the joy of being alone with the Lord.
You are missing something very real and very sweet and precious that the Lord longs to have you know and share with Him. For I believe that isolation does not need to mean loneliness. I've visited many an isolated child of God and found them filled with joy. And so we have here rejoice.
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In the Lord always and again I say, rejoice.
The hand that penned these words is gone now. I wonder what he would say if he were able to speak to us from the glory the same words. They were true in the life of the beloved Apostle Paul. We've seen them to be true in the lives of God. Dear servants, some of whom are still here with us, we know that their pathway has been wrong and has been characterized by that which would perhaps naturally describe many a heart.
But we know that there is joy.
As they walk with the Lord and my dear young believer, I prayerfully covet this for you when I trust you'll do the same for me. I remember dear brother Jackson telling an illustration in our home one day. He found it difficult to tell the illustration. It was such an.
Two dear old Believers, sisters they were, who were arrested during the days of.
Religious persecution in Europe and they were both imprisoned together and finally they were both sentenced to be burned at the stake. The bake was set in the evening before they spent on their knees together, feeling their utter weakness and leaning upon the Lord and crying to Him for strength for that which they were to face on the Mall, and they made a pact with one another.
But they were told that the one was going to be burned while the other was made to stand by. And what?
They made a pact with one another that whichever one was burned first would please give some signal if for any reason she considered it was not worthwhile to go through with it. Dear brother Jackson told us that that one dear believer was held there while her beloved sister in Christ was tied to the state, and the ******* were lighted, and she walks and saw no signs.
And she listened and heard not a word. The flame goes higher and higher. And finally she heard a loud cry. Come on, it's true. Dear old brother Jackson broke down and he said that Come on, it's true. All your child of God, it is true. Dear young people, come on, it's true. Rejoice in the Lord always. And again I say, rejoice, that's not my language.
That's the language of a man who suffered must for Christ. It's a man who walks according to the truth that I've tried to bring before your soul. This afternoon. It begins, if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Peter, then if you might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleases.
That you might be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might, and if you might rejoice in the Lord always.
And again I say, rejoice.
How Do We Keep What Is Written in the Book of Revelation?
Address—C.H. Brown
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I expected of the Lords help to speak from the first three chapters of Revelation. Naturally you wouldn't expect any very detailed commentary when we speak in such a compass.
But we do desire to hit a certain important points there that.
We believe would be for our mutual education and blessings.
Thou shall be open to the first chapter of Revelation.
By the way, this is the only book.
Under 66 books in the Bible that one recalls has a definite blessing pronounced upon reading it, so we should give special attention to it. Blessed third verse of the first chapter is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things that are written therein, for the time is at hand.
There's a message there for us, we read.
We're here and we keep these things.
How do we keep the things that are written in the Book of Revelation?
I believe that it brings before us but a week this present scene in which you and I moved.
I believe that gives us a look down to the corridors of time.
So that we can estimate just how much work this present scene is compared to what Oasis and the glory above, and if we are saturated.
With the spirit that's still John's soul when he wrote this will not find too much joy in this present evil world. It will have a tendency to take our hearts out of this world.
It's rather remarkable that this man John, was chosen for the task of writing this book.
John, you know, was one of the three favored apostles of our Lord, along with Peter and James.
We find them together over and over again. We find them together on the Mount of Transfiguration. Wonderful privilege.
And yet God has his ways that are inscrutable. Why was it that John's own brother?
Right should be taken out of the scene fairly at the start of his career as an apostle.
At the same time, his brother, his old brother, whom we might call Gentle John.
Was kept in this scene long after the other apostles were gone.
And he said to have lived at Ephesus.
Lived to a great age, perhaps 100 years, and he maintained the same lovely character. So tradition tells us right down to the end.
Finally, he had to be carried to meeting on a stretcher, and there he would lie and repeat to the dearest children of God His lovely words. Little children love one another.
Gentle John chosen to open up the Vista of judgment on an apostate world, on an apostate Christendom, on an apostate church. He's the one that commissions.
So to do. And now, before he enters on this solemn topic.
Before they go into that arena of judgment over the archway there.
Is a lovely, lovely model.
Oh, how it warms our hearts as we read it.
First word, John to the seven churches which are nature.
Great videos and peace.
From him which is, and which was, and which is to come, and from the seven spirits that are before his clothes.
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness.
And the first begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth.
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Now here he breaks out into this doxology.
Untrue. Him that loved us.
Or unto him that loves us hasn't ceased to do it, you know.
Unto him that loved us and has washed us from our sins and his own blood.
And it made us kings and priests, and of God and his Father.
To him, the glory and dominion, forever and ever, isn't that precious.
Unto him that loves us and has washed us from our sins in His own blood.
John's going to take us through some solemn judgment, but he said I want you to be assured before we enter the territory. It's all well. The blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanses us from all sins. Now we find.
Where John was when he got this revelation.
Nine verse I John, who am your brother and companion in tribulation and in the Kingdom and patience of Jesus.
Was in the Isle of Karl Patmos for the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus.
I will stop there for a moment.
I Don your brother.
And companion. And tribulation.
The last chapter, John's Gospel Peter, was nominated for martyrdom.
But John was commissioned for a different kind of thing than martyrdom.
Perhaps this was more difficult than marching them.
We wish to continue right on down to the end. What does that mean?
All to him it was commissioned that he could give us.
The final end of all the scenes and the bringing in of the new heavens and the new earth.
Is going to take us right on into eternity.
Well, we find him here.
Not as enjoying popularity in this world far from.
Ninth verse I jumped your brother and companion in tribulation.
Brethren, do we realize the middle of it?
Your brother and companion and tribulation.
They that will to live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
I suppose that we are living, you and I, in the most favored age.
And in the book David Land as far as our Christian liberties are concerned.
We're not persecuted in the sense that they were persecuted back in the days of the early church.
Ours is a different kind of a danger.
Perhaps it's more subtle.
As we trace the history of these seven churches, we find out that once the brightest of the seven.
Is the church that passed through that period of 10 persecutions, and in the address to that church not one thing is said critical of them, not one charge is made against them. No, they were being persecuted for Christ sake, and there was very little temptation then to have an empty, hollow confession of Christ.
Because if you had it, it cost you something in this world.
Well, it was John, your brother and companion in tribulation and in the Kingdom and patience of Jesus. Now Jesus has a Kingdom after a sort. Now it's a Kingdom in mystery.
Kingdom is a rather contradiction.
His subjects are down here and he's up in the gory hidden. He's not seen.
So it's not a permanent condition.
It's the Kingdom and faces of Jesus.
What does that mean?
Well, it means that our blessed Lord, and let me say it very reverently.
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Is exercising patience every day.
He's patiently waiting for the moment when he can walk out on the clouds of glory and give him a shout and call home his beloved.
Was the love from the grave, is the love from the face of the earth? He is waiting momentarily when he will be able to do that. Isn't that a solemn thing? And isn't it a precious thing to think The file I'm addressing you this afternoon. Let me hear that shout. Every one of us but knows and loves our Lord Jesus Christ.
Suddenly caught up to me in all. We're getting very near, brethren.
Everything points in that direction.
The one that isn't gonna let it be. Expecting the Lord now must be a very bad, bad state of soul. Everything about us tells us a new approach of the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Kingdom and patience of Jesus.
We are waiting patiently down here, he's waiting patiently up there, but it's for the same event, the time when he can have his bride.
Within the Isle of Paul Patmos, that's a rocky, very desolate island up in the Aegean Sea, about the last place you'd ever choose to spend a vacation. Shut off there, lonely even to this day. They point out a cabin there where John was supposed to.
Be when he wrote this wonderful revelation.
Be that as it may, he tells us very definitely where he spent the time when he was riding this wonderful revelation in the aisle that's called Patmos. Why was he there? For the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
Well, beloved, how about it?
Are you and I suffering for those two things, the word of God?
And the testimony of Jesus, how far is the word of God?
Having a definite active power in your life and mine. Or I fear and I'll plead guilty myself.
I fear that we neglect God's Word.
I wondered if there wouldn't be farther along in our spiritual lives.
It had given more attention to the precious, blessed Word of God.
All you young folks here, I press it upon you.
You need the Word of God.
Thy word have I said in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.
We need it in a world like this, but if you and I welcome the Word of God into our hearts and into our lives, it marks us all from the rest of the world.
You can't associate with the world on its own terms. If your heart is filled with the Word of God, you can't do it.
You will be most miserable and unhappy. You know that solution.
Oh, how good it is to have the word to cleanse our past day by day. Now are you clean?
With the words which I've spoken unto you as nothing like the word of God applied by the Spirit of God.
Your walk in mind that threatens our ways and associations and make us happy in our soul.
You know, I can tell you who the happiest person in this room this afternoon. Yes, I can. It's the person that has been enjoying Christ most in his individual heart and life. That's the one that's the happiest year. I mean truly happy.
Oh, there's no substitute for it if you want to live a happy life.
Yield to the Blessed Laundry, Let his world form your life and form your thoughts.
For the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus.
Oh yes, he's rejected.
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He's rejected.
The brother in Des Moines.
What's in an office?
One day, his boss walked into the office.
In more or less of a unpleasant attitude. Called him by his name, and he says, if your Jesus came back to this world, I'd be one of the first to pacify. Now as I remember, that man was not a Jew, but a Gentile.
And he only spoke the truth. The world does not want Christ.
John was on the island of Tetanus for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus, all that precious name.
You know, I thought our morning meeting here this morning.
Was one of the sweetest, happiest morning meetings that I've been in a long time. Why?
Oh, there was so much made of the name of Jesus, every him, every praise the winter, it's magnifying that method name. All that name came from heaven, you know. Oh yes, he was named.
His parents were told that his name was to be. What does it mean means failure.
Have a savior.
No, what a savior He is, you and I hear this afternoon because that day was born in Bethlehem, because God sent his Son into this book and his name was Jesus, a Savior. And here we are tonight, this afternoon, enjoying the public weather hours as Christians because of that blessed heavenly visitor.
That came down and stayed here with us for 33 years and 1/2.
10th verse I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day.
He heard behind me a great voices of trumpet.
19th verse. Eighteenth Verse. I am he that liveth.
And was dead. And behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And have the team of death in Haiti. I have the key. Or how solemn.
He has the keys.
You or I ever see the inside of that glorious heaven for the weights to redeem. It will be because our blessed Lord Jesus use the key, knock the door.
The 13th of Luke.
We find them. Perhaps we could turn to it and look 13, just for a moment. It's a different scene there.
25th verse Luke 1513. Luke 13, verse 25.
When once the master of the house is written up and is shut through the door, and we begin to stand without and knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord open to us.
And he shall answer and say to you, I know not when she got. Then shall you begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in my presence, and thou is taught in our streets. And he shall say, I tell you, I know you're not what you are. Depart from me, you workers of iniquity. Isn't that solemn? That's the one that has the key speaking.
Depart from me today, he said. Come unto me, all you that labor, nor heavy laden, and I'll give you rest.
And here, he says, he packed something.
Now they were pleading the privileges that they had enjoyed here.
Would it not be a terrible thing to contemplate if there might be a soul here that's gone in and out of these lovely meetings, enjoyed these conferences, heard the ministry?
Get the soul has never been touched there's been no surrender there's been no work lost and when the moment comes and.
Is given, then shall they begin to cry. Lord, Lord, open to us, but no admission or if there's one such here that's living carelessly and you've been associated with all this blessing. Let me warn you solemnly this afternoon. Don't take the risk of hearing the Lord Jesus say to you, depart from me.
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Oh, I can't think of anything worse than that, can you? To have him baby part from me.
Oh, don't take the risk.
Now they go on into the second chapter.
We have in this chapter.
The church, Ephesus, and there's something said there that.
Is touching now it's left eye. First of all, it's sorrowful when you see that I'm reading the source word.
Nevertheless, I have against thee thou hast left thy first love. Ephesus, you know, was the Church of wonderful privileges, the highest truth that we have in the Apostles writing, the highest truth is given to that church. Eczema, truth, the heavenly side of things.
And yet, in spite of all that privilege, terribly fine that they'd left their first love. I recall a case of a brother that used to come to meetings like this and sit just like your settings attending. I've seen him sit there and just just his eyes glued on the speaker man with a family. Wonder where he is today.
Then how was the meeting for years the last time that a brother and I went to see him?
The TV machine is running.
The home had the appearance of Ohio. It had the appearance of anything but a Christian home. The atmosphere was always so different. Now the children have grown up and had begun scattering. I won't tell you the whole story. I wouldn't identify him for anything. I'm just using the illustration. I'm talking about a case that I know of personally.
He left his first love without something come in that took him away from Christ.
And you know when you start that world, you don't know where it's going to end.
All you say I'm only going to go so far. You don't know how far you're going.
When once you and I didn't liberally enter on the path of South will and disobedience, we have no choice.
Our fire was going to work well. We won't say much about.
They had so much persecution that it kept them bright and happy. You know if the Lord should be fit to postpone his coming, some of you young people.
And I think you'll remember what I'm saying to you 50 years from now if the Lord should not come, if you're not going to have a easy, prosperous time as Christians that you're having now.
I believe the time is not far missing. Does it? Make a full confession, an uncompromising concession of Christ and walk in the path of truthers that's laid down in the world is going to bring right here in our own nation.
It's on the way. I won't enter into the details, but Brother Wilson and his.
Magazine has been tracing some of these things. The word of God being ruled out of the school are various things that sold they were on the road. The very same condition that exists in other nations of the world.
If God sees fit to postpone it, we'll praise Him for it. We're not asking for it, but I believe it's on the way. But then when we go to Perkins in the 12Th verse of the second chapter.
We have the church that came out of the persecution. Constantine made love to the church and they accepted his advances.
And the sort of a marriage took place between Constantine in the church, and the result was that the church began to go down, down, down.
Furnace means much. Married and married, they joined up.
With the world at that time and see what's said here.
In the 13th verse, I know where thou dwelleth, even where Satan's seed is. I know where thou dwelleth, where Satan's seed is. Oh, what a solemn place to dwell now further down.
That things work.
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Thou hast them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans.
There was looseness there. They've given up the truth of God.
They were throwing down the bar. They were letting moral looseness come in, carelessness in doctrine.
16th verse Repent or else I will come under the quickly and fight against them with a sword of my mouth. Now to go on to the next church by a tower. The won't comment a great deal on this church. I think we all realize that.
With Thyatira we have the introduction into this world of that great system that become the most powerful foot system in the history of the Church of God on earth.
Those that have worked in South America.
Down in Mexico and here and there, nations of the earth and their testimony as to what they find in connection with Thyatira. Now fire. The word Cyrus Pharaoh means burning incense.
And in the 20th verse of the second chapter notwithstanding, I have against thee, because thou suffers that woman Jezebel, the following itself of property.
Teach and to seduce My servants to commit foreign occasions and toep things sacrificed unto idols.
22nd Verse The whole I will cast her into a bed amendment, commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repented their deeds, and I will kill her children with death. Nor will the churches unknown that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts. Well, thank God, even in the midst of such awful corruption.
There were some that were real. Thank God for that.
44 so, but under you I say the rest in Sarah Tyler.
As many as have not this doctrine, which have not known the depths of Satan as they speak, I will put upon you none other than. But that's what you have already. Hold fast till I come. Oh thank God, mixed up.
And all that ritual and all that display of pomp and possession.
With the mix of it, there are a few with more. Love our Lord Jesus Christ.
Thank God for that. And he gives them the promise. That's what you have already. All fast till I come. When the rapture takes place, when the Lord summons the church, they'll go along with the rest. And they go into the third chapter.
Find ourselves inside us now. Sardis is the reaction against that awful, corrupt system of Thyatira. And all was very promising at the start. There was much to praise God for. But oh, what a failure man is. What a failure man is.
Very soon, Sardis began crystallizing into dead journalism. They carried over wisdom out of the system from which they came.
Many things unjust, contrary to the word of God, and before long they themselves were just Well see what he says in the first book Word chapter. Aren't the Angel of the church and started right. These things that he that have the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know thy works that thou hast sudden name, that thou livethest and art dead.
That started a name that thou living and our death. Some of the things that are coming out today in connection with churches that are represented under silence are almost unbelievable.
Open blasphemy not coming from some careless member of the system, but from the top, the head man.
Coming out in open blasphemy.
What days? These aren't which we live now. We're going down seven. First under the Angel in the Church of Philadelphia, right? Philadelphia means brotherly love.
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Of Philadelphia has this in common with Smyrna. There's no criticism offered to Philadelphia.
Not one word of criticism. There are certain things that characterize it. We can notice them here.
Unto the Angel of the church in Philadelphia right these things, that he that is holy, and he that is true.
Even at the key of David, even openness and no man shut us and shut us and no man open us.
When our Lord across the different churches, he takes the character that's in keeping with the condition that's in that church.
So here, as he presents himself to Philadelphia, he's the holy and the truth. In other words, you have holiness and truth.
Now, if you don't have those two things, you can have Philadelphia as I read the story of these seven churches.
There is kindled in my heart.
A deep longing, a deep curse of a deep conviction. I want to be a Philadelphian when my blessed Lord comes back to get the Church.
Thank you. Is there anything wrong about longing to be a real Philadelphian?
Well, I'm confessing to you, that's that's my longing of my heart.
But don't let anybody ever go away from this meeting and quote, Brother Brown is saying it is a Philadelphia, but you do that. I'm making no such decisions. But it's a deep longing in my heart. Among my savior comes I might be found.
That he that is fully, and he that is true. Now do you notice that word Holy holiness, God, which no man shall see the Lord? What is holiness?
It's separation from evil with delight in good.
All beloved Saints of God. I'm thinking of special new young folks. Don't ever link up the idea.
I've been in the Philadelphian position.
With a life that's unfold, don't be guilty of it. It's blasphemy.
Oh no, if you die, have a desire.
To be of the Philadelphia testimony.
There must be fully separation in our lives, holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.
Oh, how full the Word of God is asked this question of Holy Deuteronomy 7.
Just a couple of verses there.
Water Army 7 and verse 6. Deuteronomy 7, verse six. For thou art and holy people unto the Lord thy God.
The Lord thy God has chosen me to be a special people under Himself.
Above all people are upon the face of the earth. The Lord did not set His love upon you, nor children, because you were more in number than any people where you were the fewest of all people, but because the Lord loved you.
You know, one of the saddest things in the world is the sin against love.
The sin against love.
I have often been struck in reading the Epistle to Malachi, where the Lord has sold many sad things to lay between people.
One thing after another he brings before them to show how unfaithful they've been.
And yet, how does it begin? How does it begin? That official?
The first thing he says to them? I've loved it. I loved it.
All of your tempted to go on in a life of sin unholiness. You're spinning against infinite love.
It's a solemn thing, the holy and the truth.
Now look at Hebrews 12 was already put in this verse, but I think it's good to read it. Hebrews 12 verse 14.
Follow peace with all and the holiness.
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Without which no man shall see the Lord. Now that's the word of God.
If you're going on in the path of unholiness, are you going to see God?
Are you?
Fair enough, without which no man shall see the Lord.
I'm just putting forth these words at the Word of God, and I hope it will search our consciences. But now we go on to the next thing.
We have here in this address the Philadelphia he's the truth.
Oh yes, I am the way, the truth and the life.
A young person in connection with your contacts with the world and especially your educational life, I wanted to seek you to trust the Bible.
You know scripture is driven by inspiration of God. Holy man of God, fake as ever, moved by the Holy Ghost.
Learn to trust your Bible. Believe it.
Act. It'll keep you from a great life of sorrow as you pass through this world.
Right now and some of our young people.
They were brought up in the meeting and no matter where the school.
And they listen to the temptations of the enemy as their professors.
Attack the word of God. They listen with open minds and present ladies found themselves doubting words. Then they stopped reading it.
Dad seems to have its power in their lives.
And where are they today?
You think that you could go in canvas those young people about whom I'm speaking?
And find one of them.
That's happy, no?
Cannot.
All he might say was Apple, but to no conscience never turns into this.
Your head may turn into the book, never your conscience.
And all the time you're saying once a happy down on the inside, you know it's Nazi what kind of heard these things and brought been brought up in the nurse and admonition of the truth and then turn aside to Satan's loss and go on and live a happy life. It just can't be done.
All I do are just stay by the word of God.
If you select anything, enter your mind.
That the cause is a doubt what God is looking. Let God be true in every man alive. Don't be afraid of it.
Let's take that the sermon stands right at the threshold of your Christian life, and don't let anything off it. You have nothing to fear.
You know day is coming.
When the Lord Jesus Christ is going to publicly litigation.
Who is going to do it? He is going to put you on display, public display.
Is going to come to be admired. He is going to come to have the multitudes amaze as he returns.
And this, this, this play of the Lord returning is in the midst of all the regimes that are coming back with it to be admired in all believe, because they beg the God.
Now it's not to be admired by them that believe, but admired in them that belief.
If the diamond set in the cluster of four, and you admire the diamond in the pool, you and I will be the poor. Christ will be the 90. But he's going to surround us with an existence and put us on the stray before the poor. Guilty work. Oh yes, He's going to vindicate it.
Don't tamper with the unbelief of the world. Oh what a sad thing it would be to come down to the end of your life here and have to acknowledge to yourself, I have betrayed my love. Now the Lord says here to this Church of Philadelphia, I know thy work. Behold, I have said before the an open door.
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No man can shut it.
Now he said that what do I learn from that, brethren, I learned this from.
If you and I want to walk the Philadelphian past, it'll always be great.
Will never wake up some morning and say well I'm so sorry I wanted to be found the Philadelphian when the Lord comes but the path is peace. There is no such opportunity. I can't be a such effort. It's disappeared that can't be not if our Lord speaks the truth here I have set thee before thee an open door and.
No man can shut all that comforting. Long as you and I are here, we'll be able to find that pathway.
Within you shall find. Now can it be opened unto you. It's there, for thou hast the little strength, And has kept my word, not denied my name.
Now, those are the three characteristics of the Philadelphia testimony. What are they? A little strength. Philadelphian testimony will never be a great.
Powerful, proud marching band.
The Philadelphian testimony will always be a despised remnant, a remnant testament. God has always had remembered.
In this world, if I remember lightly, in the first chapter of Isaiah. Let's turn to that for a moment. The 1St chapter of Isaiah. Yes, where it is.
I there 19 except the Lord of hosts had left us a very small remnant. We should have been a Sodom. We should have been like the more well beloved. That's what's taking place around us and Christians today. The expansion is awful.
And it's going on at an accelerated pace.
And the brave ecumenical movement is tearing down some men that formally seem to have a major strength. It's forcing them to compromise.
Oh thank God for the one that said I've set before then open door. No man control this.
Thou hast a little strength, nothing to boast God.
How did they use that little strength to keep my word and not deny my name?
Oh, how precious that is to keep His word. The Word of God is true, as is pure. Forever thy world is settled in heaven.
Thank God for that.
When I don't have to fear the time when we stand before God, that where we've obeyed the word of God that they're going to be reduced. We're never going to be reduced at the gentleman seat of Christ. For going by the book. Thou hast a little strength and has kept my word.
Not denied my name.
Oh, how wonderful it is not to go wearing a name, but honor some man or that marks out some particle, but just be satisfied with the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Are you satisfied with it? Are you satisfied to confess it or do you like some kind of a cover up? Do you like to shrink from letting people know where you are?
Are you willing just to tell them the plain truth?
I'm gathered by the grace of God for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Or could we ask anything better than that? I believe that's the happiest confession you could possibly make.
Because it has his own word to back it up. For where two or three, that's not many of them. Where two or three gather together under my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Precious blessed privilege.
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Not denied my name.
Now, he says, I'll make them of the Senate or the state.
But say they're Jews or not, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and know I love these.
That is all the ritualistic powers around us that are provoked and irritated by our simplicity.
Times come when they're going to own publicly. That path is the path of gold. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep you from the hour of temptation which will come upon all worlds by the Earth brothers.
Before thy come quickly.
Hold that fast, for thou hast that no man take thy crown.
Oh, let me sound it again and again. And remember, as I am speaking to her this afternoon's beloved bread, I'm talking to the secretary. I'm just sitting right down there. But I need all this.
Hold that fast that thou hast, that no man take thy crown. It's worthwhile to keep his word, and not deny his name and all the promise. And if I read this.
This blouse First I want you to notice this little word MY.
The close personal attachment of Christ to his own. How he's associating us with himself in this verse.
And that overcometh. Will I make a pillar in the temple of my God? And he said, go no more out.
And I will write upon in the name of my law.
And the name of the city of my God, which is new to this.
Coming down out of heaven from my God. And I will write upon Him my new message. Isn't that blessedly personal?
As the Lord doesn't speak, throwing his arms alone is supposed to him.
Mine, mine, even half an ear. Let him hear what the Spirit says in the Scriptures. All I trust appear this afternoon as we're hearing here.
I thought there is. It's worth it brethren. The time is short hearing the end. Or let's not give up, let's not let the hands hang down. Let's strengthen the people needs. Let's make straight paths for our feet. But that's what the blame be turned out of the way.