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John's Gospel chapter one and verse 35 again the next day after John stood and took his disciples and looking upon Jesus, I could walk, he said. He told the Lamb of God. The two disciples heard him speak and they followed Jesus, then Jesus.
Turned and the son of the following, and said of sin.
They said unto him, Rabbi, which is the saving and temperature master where?
He said from them, come and see.
They came and saw when he drove and the boat was in the day.
What was about to his own? One of the two which heard John speak and followed him with Andrew, signed me to his brother.
He first started his own brother Simon on the state of the anthem was found on his eyes, which is being interpreted with Christ.
And they brought him to Jesus.
When Jesus renewed, he said Lord Simon, the son of Joseline.
That will be called secrets, which is by interpretation of stone.
The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee and Congress. Philippine, follow me.
The city of.
Philip, Prime Minister signed me one shares on hand. We found him on motion and law, and the prophets did write Jesus of Nazareth, son of Joseph.
The messenger said I'm doing good. Things come out of measure.
Phillips 7 and come and see.
Jesus saw the thighs were coming to him. If all the natural light and date until there's no God.
I thought you said that I am, which don't sell me.
Jesus answered and said unto him, before the truth called me, when thou, son of the victory, I saw.
Nathaniel, I answered and said, Anthony 7:00 AM Rabbi, thou is not God, Lord the King of Israel. Jesus answered and said to me, And because I said to thee, I saw the end of the victory. Believe us down. Russia secreted things in these.
Very, very nicely under you.
You're after, you shall see Pendleton over and the angels of God last ending and descending upon the Son of Man.
Expression I knew him not really belongs to the.
Time of the baptism of the Lord Jesus, which is not spoken up here, but at that time we have the.
Expression of what the Father had said, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining on him, same as he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
Now it's a little difficult to.
To determine the exact timing in John, In fact, perhaps purposely so, because the Spirit of God is not occupying us here with time, He's leading us into that which has to do with eternal life. And it's the the deep precious principles involved that should engage us, not time, although it is important to see the setting.
And.
We find that at the 29th verse.
It begins a period where it's really the ministry of the Lord Jesus in contrast with John's ministry. That is the John who was the forerunner before that.
But really, the Spirit of God would engage us with the person.
And that which has to do with the person, his glories.
And what He has come to bring us, that he has himself enjoyed in the bosom of the Father.
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And so John's Gospel gives us.
The sun revealing the Father, it's the subject of life, of course, and leads on into that full subject of eternal life which we value so much and they're looking forward to.
I like to think of this expression, Behold the Lamb of God as being an expression of worship.
Occupation with the person who is here identified as the Lamb of God. No reference to what he has done or is doing, but just a heart. Occupation with the person.
I don't know how it would be in the original, but here in the English it happens to have 5 words and when I read it I like to think of Pauls expressions. I'd rather speak 5 words that with my understanding how I teach others also that that false words and songs. And here it does a little expression of five words.
A heart occupation with the Lord Jesus.
And the happy result of it, brethren, it doesn't take any gift to give expression to a spot like this. It doesn't make any gift. It's just heart occupation with a person that is seen here in the practice words.
The whole Alaska. I don't like to speak as though everything must be categorized by.
Perhaps we might suggest that the difference between praise and worship would be with some flexibility.
Praise is that which extends to our Lord Jesus because of that which He has done, that which He is doing for us. Worship is that which ascends because of who He is.
Perhaps an illustration might be used. Suppose that how White is very, very kind and able in her administration toward her husband, toward her husband.
And if things are in order, he will praise her for her housekeeping, her cooking, and the kind and thoughtful things that she does for him. But we will suppose that that same dear wife is temporarily laid aside with illness. She hasn't been able to do this housekeeping. She hasn't been able to put those favorite specialties before him on the table.
And he stands by her bedside.
Does he have anything to say to her? Is there any feeling in his heart toward her which he wants to express? You know there is. There's something in his heart toward her because of who she is.
Having nothing to do with what she is doing or hands up. Simply a feeling of love expressed because of who she is.
I asked you, which do you think she appreciates the more, the expression of love because of who she is or the expression of Thanksgiving because of what she's doing? So I just love this expression.
The toll, the lack of God, I said here, just require any gift to utter an expression such as this. I wonder, dear brethren, do we lack in this? Do we lack in those expressions?
Worship of which he is so worthless. The difference we get in this expression and that's a pilot about it. When he said, behold the man. This is the difference, is it not to the to the Saint of God as he looks upon the Lord Jesus, he sees him as the Lamb of God, but the man of the world looks at him. He says beholder man, that's all he sees.
Word here as he walked away.
It wasn't only that John saw him come taking steps toward me, but it was the Lord's Portland, his demeanor, the attraction to his person as he came towards John.
Meat offering and being the fine flower that speaks to our hearts of his walk, always delighting the Father's heart. Here it was given to one in the Spirit to see Him as He walked. It's not a wonderful view to get of the Lord Jesus all his pathway as he walked. So in contrast with our.
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Walk hit her and hit her and yawn. Our inconsistencies and all. There was one.
They could gaze on John, could gaze on him and.
Just be all lost in view.
The offering was deep enough to death with the all the way to death.
In fact, it's at the close of that walk which was the most beautiful before God of the pathway of the Lord Jesus. When they know perfect obedience without showing any will of His own, He goes to the cross. I do think, brother too, that you mentioned it.
That they they pattern. The picture we have here is what characterizes Christianity, no matter who it is.
And the walk.
Gives evidence as to what we are now we should walk as he walked, it says in the Epistle of John. And when you come to the latter Epistles, or the latter part of the epistles, where the of the false teachers and imposters have made their inroads, the apostles immediately speak of how they walked.
Because they didn't walk according to the truth. There is a walk that characterizes Christianity and we see it in Jesus.
And to take our pattern from another brother or sister, it may, it might be false. Paul spoke of to follow Christ even as he followed, follow him even as he followed Christ. So he still directed the heart to Christ, even if he was to be a pattern in his life. And he was a pattern.
But still he directs them to Christ, to walk as he walked. How important that is.
Now the Speaking of the affections. I think this is a very important point that was brought out by our brother the the love.
And the motives of it, because love is the spring of every activity of God.
And this is the, this is what should characterize the believer.
Not to act according to something another person has done.
But to act?
Because this is the nature we have, love. Now let me turn to one verse.
1St Corinthians 13.
We have here the subject of love.
And I just want to call attention to the 7th verse.
Beareth all things. Now if you'll read in another translation carefully, you'll see it says covers all things.
Love.
Covers all things.
There is such a thing, you know, as certain things having to be settled.
And once they're settled by Paul says in Second Corinthians, why don't you show your love to them?
Our hearts are so hard that we carry grudges, and we should not, brethren, we should not carry grudges.
We have love there and it covers all things.
After the matter has been settled, then love covers all things.
And so this is the way God has acted towards us and is acting towards us continually. He doesn't cover evil, but once there's been the exercise and repentance, love covers all things.
And this is what brings the quiet in the land, as we have in the Old Testament then had the the quiet in the land.
And this is what we need, brethren, to quiet in the land. I like this portion. The next day does he? Yes, and again the next day after John stood and two of his disciples looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God.
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And then again, in the 11Th chapter of John's Gospel, there's a verse regarding Mary.
Which strikes me very similarly. Verse 45. Then many of the Jews which came to Mary and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. Mary was characterized by quietly sitting.
At the feet of the Lord Jesus and learning of him. And when Lazarus died, her brother, she quietly waited, and there was no anxiety or hurry about her activity.
And here John stood.
And declared to the two that were with him, behold the Lamb of God, and result was these two followed the Lord Jesus.
If one is exercised to be very, very active, that's between them and the Lord. Not everyone is.
If so, those who quietly go on.
With their hearts attached to Christ.
There is going to be results.
And the Lord will be glorified in it in the end.
As our brother said yesterday afternoon, draw me and we will follow thee. How good it is to just.
Be quiet, go on in faithfulness and allow the Spirit of God to do the work with your heart attacks to Christ believe. We see a lovely example of that in the 5th chapter of the Song of Solomon in the Solomon Song chapter 5 and verse 9.
It says, What is thy beloved more than another beloved? Oh, thou fairest among women.
What is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us?
And then we see how.
Bride. Here she gives expression to what the bridegroom means to her heart.
He, my beloved, is white and Ruddy, the chiefest among 10,000. And then she goes on to describe him. His head is his most fine goal. And so on down to the 16th verse. His mouth is most sweet. Yeah, he is altogether lovely.
This is my beloved and this is my friend or daughters of Jerusalem.
And then the very next verse says, Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou fairest among women?
Whither is thy beloved turned aside, that we may seek him with thee?
Well, we see something of that here in the first chapter of John's Gospel, don't we? We see the all that comes out that the John the Baptist was given to see in the person of the Lord Jesus. Behold, the Lamb of God. All that that simple, precious expression contains reveals that the John the Baptist was able to see and enjoy in the person of Christ.
And the effect of it is that these.
Two disciples seek to follow him. I think that's so very, very sweet bread. And some of us were talking about this yesterday and about some of the very unusual circumstances in which some of the Saints find themselves in. Perhaps they may find themselves in a situation where they they they have come to know the Lord as their Savior, but their husband is not saved or their wife is not saved.
And there is nothing that is going to have more of an effect.
In more of a testimony in drawing the unconverted 1 to Christ, then the personal enjoyment of Christ, the seeing in the life that Christ fills and satisfies the heart like it's been doing in the past minutes. The Lamb of God. And we always think of the Lamb of God.
As the one who is perfectly subject to God, and yet the evenness of Him, as has been mentioned.
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It seems almost a paradox to me, and I'm asking in Revelations 11 at the Revelation 6 at the end, why do they want to hide from the faith and the expression of the Lamb of God and from the wrath of the Lamb? It doesn't seem right that it should be the Lamb.
Who is the one with the wrath rather than the sun? And I'm just asking. Well, that's their thought. It isn't the time of the lambs coming, but the judgments already are so great at the beginning of the tribulation that they suppose that the lamb was coming. But the thing, brethren, that touches the heart so much.
Which is that this might be the voices of some of the Saints children.
Have heard the gospel over and over again and rejected it.
They know that the Lamb is coming. Who else knows but those who have had the testimony we have here? It's a day of judgment and it's the very beginnings of the day of judgment.
They have a conscience. It's not so at the end of the book the conscience is gone, practically. But here the conscience is still an exercise, and it's only those who know these truths that are crying out, as they have in the last of this 6th chapter.
Said to the mountains and rocks fauna.
It's an Old Testament scripture fulfilled and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. Oh, how solemn that scripture is. Because there are so many who come and sit in a gospel meeting and they know all about it.
And yet there's absolutely no concern or exercise of soul as to their sin and guilt before a holy God. And just because we're surrounded by those things that give us ease and pleasure and quietness, remember, everyone has to do with God about their sins.
And May God exercise the consciences of each one of us here, and especially those who are still in their sins without Christ, because this may be the last day.
We recognize too, that the expression, even though in the English it's the same Lamb and Revelation as we have in John's Gospel, it's really two different words and in the Book of Revelation.
When he's presented as the Lamb, I think it's a little different thought from what we have here as behold the Lamb of God.
It I have likened it to the two psalms 22 and 69.
In Psalm 22, we have the Lord Jesus in his sufferings and atonement, and the result is there's blessing. And so here in John's Gospel, the Lamb of God is that one, the Lamb of God's providing, the one who is the sacrificial lamb that satisfies all of God's holy and righteous claims, that one who.
Answers to all of the offerings of the Old Testament that ascended up to God as a sweet smelling savour.
But in the Book of Revelation, it's the Lamb from the standpoint of the one who suffered here from the hands of men, the suffering one. And he's the one that's going to judge the one who suffered. They said away with this man. We will not have him to reign over us, but that's the man who's going to reign. So in the Book of Revelation, it's more like in the 69th Psalm, where we have his suffering from the hands of men and the result.
Let their table become a snare. In other words, on Psalm 22, the suffering there as the Lamb of God, of God, God's providing, and as our substitute in accomplishing atonement, the result is blessing. But in Psalm 69, where he suffers from the hands of men, why judgment is the result. And that's why in the Book of Revelation, the Lamb is seen there as the one who's going to bring in judgment, the very one that they.
Rejected and cast out here, the one who suffered as lead is a lamb to the slaughter, a sheep to the slaughter. In other words, the one who patiently endured all that man brought upon him. He's the one who's going to reign and bring in judgment. But that isn't the view here, is it? Here it's the Lamb of God as that one who.
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Satisfied everything that God looked for, everything that would bring satisfaction to the heart and mind of God and to.
To satisfy all of His attributes, love, holiness and everything finds its its satisfaction in this blessed One that is the Lamb of God.
In connection with the fact that in Revelation 1.
We have the Son of man and his eyes in verse 14 were as a flame of fire. Well we know the Son of man presented revelation one is the same person who stood before them in John chapter one the very same person who it says in our chapter. Then Jesus turned and saw them following and sent on to them. What seeking if you.
Particularly thinking of those that are younger, if we could but think of the way in which the blessed Savior would have looked at these following, and the eyes, and the expression and the care, and the way in which He would have said to them, What seek ye?
We could think of the way in which those eyes of the very same blessed Son of God looked at Peter. What kind of eyes were they? What kind of expression was it that love, that glorious provision, beloved brethren, that has occupied our souls?
Right, and all the glory of His person before them. But when we turn to Revelation chapter one. When therefore judgmentary aspect is introduced, then we have some of them with eyes as a flame of fire. We do have that in John's gospel, because we have in chapter 5 that all judgment has been committed under the sun.
But isn't it a glorious thing this morning?
That you and I right now have that opportunity, as it were, to recognize that as the blessed Son of God, the Son of man, the Lamb of God would look upon us and we prove grace. Have thy privilege to gaze upon Him.
How different it is now, beloved brethren, from what we would have. And that judgmentary aspect, oh, it should be thrilling to our hearts to think of that question asked. What Seek ye? And beloved young brethren.
How would we honestly answer that question?
I was in a Center City area some time ago and needed to go by taxi just a few blocks. And the young man was there as a taxi driver and said, I'm sorry Sir, I can't take you a few blocks because you see, I have to get back in line again at the hotel, I wouldn't earn any money. Another young man overheard and said where did you want to go? I said, well, I have to go only two blocks.
Fine, he said. Get into my taxi and I'll take you. And as I got into the taxi, he said.
You see, as a taxi driver, I've agreed to take anyone anywhere, and as one who loves the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior, Sir, I am happy to take you there. And if it only costs $1.10, I will leave that with the Lord. Practical application, you can be sure that the Lord will never be our better brethren because it would be my answer to.
My beloved brother in Christ, I am thankful to go two blocks, and you can understand that I have the privilege before a holy God to provide much more than a dollar and a few cents as unto the Lord. Beloved young brother, what seek ye are we seeking after the things that have been set to forest? Is Christ precious? Are the truths ours to accumulate? Simply to be clear, brethren.
Are they ours to accumulate through matchless grace, to occupy our souls with the person with whom we will spend all eternity? Where, whilst thou and all, how much we long to be where he dwells?
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And we're going to be there through our own eternity.
Brother bomb on it. Specifically as to your question, would you consider that in the 5th chapter, verse five goes with verse six and verse five comes first. Revelation 5, verse 5.
And the character of the one who is the Judge is the one described here. Weep Now behold, the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David hath prevailed to open the book. Then we have him in the sixth verse, as the Lamb had been slain. But all think of him, He has the right.
Tribe of Judah now there, as I believe reflected the fact that David came to the throne, but first was a rejected man, horrible for years and entities before he came to the throne, and now he's taking his power when he came to that throne. Here we see the Lord Jesus in that capacity.
So what is said in the sixth verse? The Lamb that had been slain, which is precious to us. It is preceded by His kingly position and power, by which He appears in this book. I believe the Lord has allowed this 6th of revelation to come before us. We might remember that the very One of whom we are speaking is in the coming day, as we have been reminded.
Going to have to act as.
Just and these last verses of Revelation Six came much before me.
In visiting a week or two ago in Saint Vincent, when those dear folks described to me their error when that volcano erupted and the sound of it, the sight of it and the darkness of it, and the hail of stones and ashes that began to fall.
And their abject terror as they tried to flee from that thing. And I thought of that verse in the end of Revelation 6. And I said, just think the day is coming when instead of fleeing from such a thing, men are actually going to call upon the rocks and mountains to fall on them and hide them from the base of the citizen on the throne and from the wrath of the land.
And game opportunity to speak.
Words that we trust may be with awakening and blessing in those areas where that happens, where they fled in terror and when they were reminded that they would come when they would prefer that.
To the wrath of the land I can only trust that it may have had its effect. It was an opportune time that seemed to be to present that message to them, and as our brother-in-law Eight had remarked, that it will be those who have heard these very things that we are speaking about.
And our lefty hunt that have the most awful terror of all when they realize who it is that is coming forth in judgment. Oh wonderful. And what a precious thing it is. Know that He is not only the Savior who loved us and lie to Edema with whom we are going to dwell forever.
But, as our brother has remarked, will not be a vain thing for you or me.
To say that we look forward the dwelling with Him forever and then fail to enjoy the provision of His presence years. Thomas said one thing, have I desired the Lord? That's when I see capture that I may.
Dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of my life. To behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire of Him and his sanctuary.
There was that desire to dwell, not when our days are all ended, but here, all the days of my life. We do have the privilege of as much of the company of the Lord Jesus as we want. True ministry does not attract.
Souls to the one who is giving that ministry. True ministry attracts the souls to Christ, and this is what we have in this 3630 seventh verses. The two disciples heard him speak and they followed Jesus. Now John was taken up with one subject and that alone.
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His mission and that was to introduce Jesus.
To point out the Lamb of God, but by baptism of repentance and so.
He did have disciples, but they were in view of what his mission was.
Now this is rather an interesting subject.
Because sometimes we get puzzled when we read those verses. This is John, this is Elias, which was to come. The Lord said that of John the Baptist.
But we read clear clearly in this first chapter that he said I'm not Elias.
Now how are we going to bring these thoughts together?
Because he certainly wasn't Elias in his person.
But I think it'd be good to look at Luke the 1St chapter.
And it might help in the understanding of this problem. The 17th verse of Luke 1 begging of John the Baptist.
Before he was born.
And he shall go before him.
In the spirit and power of Elias.
To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the justice, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. Now I'll turn to Malachi, where we have the prophecy in the third chapter. At the beginning you have the messenger. That is, Malachi apparently is known as the messenger, but.
Christ is the messenger, but he has one who goes before he moves, a messenger as well.
And when we come down to the.
The last part of the 4th chapter. Fifth verse. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord, and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
Now if you look at Acts the third chapter, I believe it will solve if there is a difficulty with any, it will solve that difficulty. As to this is Elias which was for to come the 19th verse of Acts 3.
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, not when, but that the times of refreshing might come.
From the presence of the Lord, and he shall send Jesus Christ.
Which before was preached unto you, whom the heaven must receive until the time of restitution of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. And Moses truly said unto the fathers of prophets, Shall the Lord your God.
Raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me him shall ye hear in all things, whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass that every soul which will not hear that prophet shall be destroyed from among his people. The people, yeah, and all the prophets from Samuel, and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.
Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our Father, saying of Abraham, And in thy seed and all shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. Now notice unto you first, God, having raised up his Son, Jesus sent him to bless you in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
Now that's why the earth was not been smitten with a curse.
It's because he sent Jesus.
Prophet like unto me, shall God raise up the Lord Jesus came.
As the last of the prophets, we speak of John as the last, and that's true in a sense. But you see, brethren, all the prophets that ever lived.
Those that followed Samuel are specially mentioned.
We're only little pictures of the one who was to come, who was to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to their fathers. No one else could do it. And so when John the Baptist comes, he comes in the spirit and power of Elias.
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And so does the Lord Jesus.
See, Jesus is the one and only one who can accomplish.
What the prophets were said to do, He was the only one who could accomplish what Israel was said to do. That's why it says in the 49th of Isaiah, Thou art my servant, O Israel, referring to Jesus.
Our brethren, what we need is to have our eyes on Christ. He's the only one who can complete what man has undertaken and failed in, and he will complete it to the glory of God. Every purpose of God will be completed.
All the promises of God are ye and our men in him and no one else. And that answers the question of this is Elias, which was for to come in the next section. We have something very precious that's condensed in just a few verses, but it opens to us that which has no limits. It's a little picture to us, beloved of communion.
With the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ, as John gives us in the his first epistle and 1St part of it, it's being brought into that place where Jesus dwells. It's no no place in the sense of given street or number.
But is that which the soul is brought into when he is occupied with Jesus?
And you cannot specify any limits here. It's it's what the soul enjoys.
In the presence of the Lord Jesus because he and he alone can give satisfaction to the human heart and the reason we don't have these little sessions, brethren, as we have mentioned here where it says.
Whom seek ye?
Or what? Seek ye.
They sat on a rabbi, which is say, being interpreted, Master, where dwellest thou? He sent them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelled, and abode with him that day, for it was about the 10th hour. And the reason we don't is because we fill our lives so full of present things that we do not have time.
For this little period, spoken up here, not told what went on.
But it was deeply embedded in the hearts of those disciples, what they experienced on that day.
And it's a little picture, beloved, of that moment when we hear the shout. We're caught away to be forever with the Lord. It's that little anticipation of that moment in His presence come. It was about the 10th hour. The margin of my Bible says that is 2 hours before night.
Somehow when I read that I feel that those two powers are dust about ended.
They're just about ended, those two powers. There's still the privilege, by the very wonderful grace of God, of having a taste of this before those two hours are ended. And I do trust and pray we love the brothers and sisters that with the last moments of those two hours quickly ticking away, you and I who have been gathered together here at Wheaton may know something of the company of the Lord Jesus.
He yearns for it, he doesn't force his company upon anyone, but it really must delight his part when anyone would really want his company, as perhaps we noticed the other day in connection with those that he may have.
When they came to that place where they were going to spend the night, the Lord Jesus made as though he would have gone further, but they constrained him saying abide with us against the night was approaching so beloved when he's meeting straw were closed. If we are left here when you and I pack up and return toward our home. If we're left here.
We're going to be able to very great grace of God to have something of this in our hearts toward the Lord Jesus.
To constrain Him and you let. He wants our company and we can trust that as there is only me, there may be a desire in our hearts to enjoy what these two enjoy.
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And the Lord said, come and see.
Is that so much the thought that He would occupy them with what He was doing, even in His disciples? That would not be the thought, would it? But to see the Lord? I'm thinking of John chapter 20, when the Lord in resurrection came into the midst of His own.
Then where the recycles glad when they saw the Lord?
When souls become exercised as to the place where the Lord would have them to be, it's certainly wonderful to see what the Lord is doing in other believers. But it's important that the eye be directed to the person of Christ and that we really in our souls come to believe and to know that we are we're here.
To see him.
And Jesus only in a certain sense. We can always rejoice in what He's doing in others, but the important point is to be where He is to see Him. We will be disappointed in our fellow brethren at one time or another, but we will never be in Him. And if we do not get to that point, there won't be stability in our course. We will waver back and forth.
I think it's even significant, brother, where you go to.
Came Jesus and.
Stood in the midst, then more the disciples flat when they saw the Lord. Very interesting little change there came Jesus.
That wondrous person that stood in the midst then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord. Oh how wonderful it is. Beloved by the very wonderful grace of God, is out that to be in the presence of that One who bore the name of Jesus.
And to enjoy the sweetness of it brings with it, I believe, the delight and privilege of owning him as Lord. Will that also give a happy stability? He is the Lord and we're happy to see that and about.
Also, perhaps a further thought in this expression, where he dwelt, they came and saw where he dwelt.
At least I have enjoyed in my own soul. In meditating on this, they the thought that the Lord Jesus dwelt every moment of His lifetime here. He dwelt in the sunshine, the enjoyment of His Father's love. He was in the sweetness of communion.
All during his pathway here and so we find that they come as after they hear the expression behold the Lamb of God and they say to him where dwelleth now and he invites them to come and see and brethren, isn't that exactly the thing that the Lord has done for us? He has invited us to come and to be in the enjoyment of the Father's love as he enjoyed the Father's love to enjoy the relationship that.
Enjoy to be brought into that very place of favor that was his. So he says to them, Come and see, and they came and dwelt with him. So in dwelling with him they have the sweet, precious enjoyment of His own person.
But at the same time they have the sweet and most precious enjoyment of the dwelling place that he enjoyed in all the sunshine and sweetness of the Father's love. The parallel word is used, abide, which also strengthens the thought of a continuance of dwelling, doesn't it? It's, it's just as though one were at rest there, and that's where he always was. He never left that place, never.
And so it's a wonderful thing that the Son of God has come down into this world.
To find those that he can take back with him into the very place where he dwells. It's a marvelous thought, but first he has to give a nature.
That is fits that dwelling place, and so we find that.
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John, John's Gospel at the very beginning, takes that subject up, like the third chapter, the subject of new birth. There must be a change, as was told in Jeremiah and also in Ezekiel to the Jews, that their God would the coming day give them a new heart. And there were those at the time when Jesus came who were ready.
To receive this and we're born again. And I suppose they were the ones who had listened to John's ministry. So there was a new heart. And now we find him leading to into the very place where he himself abides, dwells. Place he enjoys, the place he never left. And then this is where ministry begins from.
And it's Andrew who goes to his brother Peter and so on.
The whole thing has its source in the place where he lives the the heart being taken with the person, but not in this world merely, but in the place where he lives. And that's that's true Christianity for the believer and not simply to say, well, yes, I'm saved, but we have our Commonwealth in heaven.
And that's why in the Old Testament the the types which were given for us to learn by.
The children of Israel were to to have a ribbon of blue attached to their garments.
The constant sense in the soul type for us that we are a heavenly people.
We don't really keep our secret unless we do. The way we keep our secret down here is with that ribbon of blue. We're a heavenly people and this should be associated with the fact that we are saved. Maybe we relate that too to the place where the Lord Jesus says there am I in the midst of them when there's an honest, inquiring soul where the Lord would have them be.
Rather than trying to within our within our own intellectual, shall we say?
Bring before them where the Lord would be in the midst. Can we simply say, come and see?
Bring them to the meeting. It does exercise our hearts, does it not, that our state of soul, when gathered through His name, may be such that the presence of the Lord may be manifested too?
There may not be a hindrance to her inquiring soul, but he is in the midst. Is that true?
The Holy Spirit draws to the person of Christ in that sense. Certainly right, isn't it?
Isn't it sad that the only thing that they could show Jesus?
When?
In the 11Th chapter of John.
When they said to him, come and see it was a.
Lazarus dead in the tomb, come and see. But here when he says come and see, he lifts the soul above everything here.
That speaks of death. He takes the soul completely out of this scene. Come and see, because it's in His presence and the Father's presence where he takes them. Now we're not told what.
What they saw, we're not told the experience.
But we know that it was above everything here that had to do with the 1St man.
The obedience of faith would certainly bring us into this position. They came. There was that desire of hearts, and there was that diligence than to simply fall along. And were they disappointed? Would you or would I ever be disappointed, brethren?
In following the Lord, well, it tells us plainly that they came and saw where you saw.
He'd make it real to them. He would display it. The glories of his person, the wonder of that.
Spotlight of the Father's glorious purpose, in which the blessed Savior resides, would clearly be made manifest to our hearts. They saw where He dwelt, and they abode with Him that day. I like to think that the principle, perhaps in picture, is set before us, that the glorious.
Savior is having his own weapon, they will dare abide with Him.
00:55:05
That day, what day? The current day, the day of grace, that day, until there is that eternal sphere, and then forever with him there. There is, I believe, young brethren, a very important principle seen in Israel in connection with abiding or dwelling they were given.
Glorious privileges. They were given a land. God gave them that land.
For their rightful possession, and they could turn to one another and say the land in power, but they were instructed to possess it. Maybe we should look at it. The end of Deuteronomy Chapter 11 is perhaps as clear as any other portion might be. Deuteronomy Chapter 11 and verse 31.
For ye shall Passover Jordan.
To go in to possess the land which the Lord your God giveth you, and ye shall possess it and dwell therein. There is a difference between title and possessing it in the sense of making it our own and dwelling therein.
How wonderful to have a diligent purpose before God to seek grace.
To be occupied with the person of Christ, not only to be able to come and see, but to abide there for that day. I suppose your thought, brother, in bringing in the two or three, was that we have here a little picture of the assembly down here.
I believe we do.
Was this question made necessary because of his rejection? Everyone knew the location of the temple and the way to it and what was going on there. But to be with the Lord?
Is necessary to follow him. He never went into the temple. Did he accept into the outer court? Then he looked all around the bottom and went out and went into the House of Mary and her sister Martha and Lazarus.
To spend the night. He was never at home in the temple. But marvelous grace it is, brethren, to be given to see the present truth, the present truth where God is gathering to the person of Jesus, to that name alone, outside of all that which man would set up and what man would use to make something of himself.
And all the simplicity.
That scripture says forth just to be gathered to the person of the Lord Jesus alone. And that's enough for us, brethren, just enough. We don't need any more.
The Old Testament we have all of the forms, the rites, the ceremonies, and they didn't bring one soul nearer to God.
But we have been brought to a place where we can just sit in his presence.
And we should bring our baskets of first fruits, and that is, that which has been gathered during the week which we have enjoyed of Christ we bring with us, and then the Spirit may even call forth praise.
From one or another of those who have gathered those baskets, I suppose it's one of the hardest things to start your evangelistic work at home, isn't it? And that's where Andrew started. He started at home.
Everyone knows you're there.
Goes all about you to confess Christ at home. Sometimes it's a very difficult thing, at least for some, but that's the place Spirit of God sets before us here to start and think of Peter. Andrew wasn't really prominent like Peter was, but Andrew was the one who was used to lead Peter to the Lord Jesus. So we find that God is not looking at the amount of work of a believer does he's looking at.
Heart and whether he's in the right place at the right time to do the thing that God wants him to do. And this is a lesson that's very hard for us to learn because we we look at others and we see how productive their lives are, how full they are, how rich they are. But that's not the standard.
Are we in the place that God wants us to be now? What doest thou hear, Elijah?
Is a question that resounds and resounds on the heart. Elijah should have been in another place. Place of rejection, sure, but he should have been in another place. He shouldn't have been discouraged.
01:00:13
Well, we we shouldn't be discouraged either, but the little work that we feel God wants us to do, it might be going home to our brother.
Telling him about Jesus, whatever it is, that's the work we're to do.
I think that comment about beginning at home is a very, very searching and necessary one. Perhaps could even be applied to the beloved parents who are here to remember in the days of the Passover they were told if the household be too little for the land.
Then let him and his neighbor next to your house make your account for the land.
Needs of that immediate household where the first responsibility and if those needs were met then let him and his neighbor 3 miles down the road doesn't even say that. Next under your house make your account for the land I say that.
Because I feel, dear young fathers and mothers, that if the Lord has given you a family, that verse should really be months upon your heart. If the household be too little for the land, then the needs of the household first met. I was speaking with a brother some time ago.
Who, it seemed to me, was totally neglected the spiritual responsibility of five children that had been entrusted to him and spending his time going thither and thither preaching the gospel. I admired his seals. I admired the hardships that he endured in fulfilling that deal. I felt that he was.
Neglecting if the household be too little for the last.
I pointed out to him, and at first he didn't like it at all. Are you suggesting that I ought to be in the other place that I said? That's what the Scripture says, Brother. I do believe that you are neglecting your spiritual responsibility toward your home.
Household and thankful to say that I believe he and his dear wife together took it to heart and just let me pass that off because like it would be legal is important. It ought to begin at home and then what was next? And your neighbor next to your house.
One thing to go far away, but I do believe again, ourselves, our households, and perhaps those who are around us. If the Lord should call someone to present Christ in other areas, so be it. We can pray for such. I do believe, dear brethren, that what we have just heard is.
A very, very important and final challenge to everyone of us.
The household be too little for the last, In other words, in the needs of the hostels have been met. Then let him and his neighbors next of your house make your cup for the land. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house is what he told that dear man. And I believe there was a thankful claiming of that promise with regard to that principle that I'd like to just refer to Luke 4.
Where we have the Lord as a model in that.
As it were, beginning at home, and the 4th chapter, we have him in verse 16 and he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up.
That's where he starts his ministry here in Nazareth, where he had been brought up and as his custom was. I've enjoyed that expression.
Sometimes.
They're young people grow up, children grow up and they say, well, I just I've been going to the meeting just out of custom. My parents took me there. But we see that the Lord Jesus said here as his custom was I'm sure that referred even to his childhood there in Nazareth. His parents took him to the synagogue and he recognized as it was of course, at this time that was the.
Appointed place for the people of God at this time, so as his custom was. And here he is now in full maturity, a man in the power of the Holy Spirit. And where does he go? He goes back to Nazareth, where he was brought up and into that synagogue where he was, had been trained to go, where he had been accustomed to go. And I've often thought that that.
01:05:23
A young man or young lady growing up in a Christian home and been.
Having been brought to the meeting as a child and as they grow on and mature, we trust in a spiritual way and like the Lord Jesus here and the power of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes there is a fault then that they have to go out into far away countries.
But they can continue right in that very city, that very assembly where they've been brought up. And just as their custom was as a child and as a young person, now as a mature adult and in the power of the spirit to be in that same area, that same assembly. But as the Lord gives the example here, he he, he has something now to to give and to deliver.
And no doubt, I'm sure that all in that synagogue.
They knew about him from a child and they knew that the the pattern of his life and we it's remarkable how that when the book was delivered there to him and all eyes were fixed on him because it was the place where he had been brought up and he had he had increased in wisdom and stature and favor with God and man. And now he continues in that place. His ministry starts there.
Thought of this as an encouragement to those young persons that as our brother Ahoy brought out, it is true, the Lord may lay his hand upon one to send him out into regions beyond, but he doesn't necessarily have to be. That is, 1 can be in the power of the Spirit of God, and as it were, the Spirit of the Lord upon him, and he remains in that assembly where he was brought up.
But he's there in the power of the Spirit.
I think there is a danger of our slipping into the the custom of things in the systems.
That where there are young persons who show any interest in the things of God and they're they're a spiritual minded and and are interested in the things of God, the thought is they must be a missionary or they must be in some public service, but it's entirely within the.
Range of the will of God for one to be spiritually minded, interested in the things of God, and thoroughly devoted to the things of God.
And in the power of the Spirit, and yet remain in that assembly where you have been raised. And to go on with the Lord there as the Lord here returns to Nazareth where he was brought up and goes into that synagogue as his custom was, but he's there as a man and the power of the Spirit of God.