Kentucky Conference: 1965
Table of Contents
Isaiah 6:1
Gospel—R. Reeves
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On the cross, On the cross for us, He shed his precious blood. On the cross, On the cross #23.
Dear friends, will you please turn with me tonight to the?
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6th chapter of the book of Isaiah.
Isaiah Chapter 6.
The Gospel is found in the Old Testament.
And though we find the gospel many places.
Given to us in the Old Testament.
Sometimes in type, sometimes in in very, very plain terms.
I suppose that the book of Isaiah gives us the gospel.
In as plain a terms in the Old Testament as we can find anywhere.
And so may the Lord help us tonight as we go over a few of these verses in Isaiah Chapter 6.
May the Lord help us see and enjoy.
The Gospel message concerning his Son.
The Lord Jesus Christ.
Verse one.
In the year that King Uzziah died.
I would like to stop at that point and make a few remarks.
This was a special time in the life of Isaiah.
A time that had a great effect upon him.
It was in the year that King Uzziah died.
Death had entered the circle with which Isaiah was familiar.
Isaiah was a servant of God.
And he knew very well King Uzziah.
There are some things that we need to know about Uzziah.
Will not turn to the passage in Second Chronicles which tells us about this man, this great king.
But it would be very profitable for all of us to spend a little time.
Reading that at our leisure.
I'm not sure exactly what chapter it is in Two Chronicles. Perhaps the 24th chapter of the 26th?
But there we have a lot that God has to say about this man, Uzziah.
I would only like to say about him that there's a very solemn, solemn message that we need to know about him something very definite that would solemnize our hearts.
Uzziah was a great man.
He was an industrious man.
He was a man that God richly blessed.
He was a unique man.
He was a builder. He built great things.
He was a farmer, a cattle raiser, and the word of God is pleased to tell us that he loved husbandry, he loved his cattle, he loved his horses.
And the Word of God is pleased to tell us about Uzziah, that he was an engineer that his.
Man under his authority built engines to accomplish great things. And the word of God tells us about Uzziah, that he was a great warrior, a great soldier. And so he was a remarkable man. And it says about him that he was marvelously helped until he was strong.
But then his heart was lifted up in pride, and he fell into the snare of the evil 1.
And we find this great man even taking upon himself to enter the temple.
To offer incense, to do the thing that was not his right to do. And then, dear friends, we find that the judgment of God falling upon this great man, we find the word of God, tells us that the Lord smote him.
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Yes, sometimes God's hand comes down in a stroke of judgment.
It was sold with Uzziah.
The Lord smote him.
And we find that he was stricken with leprosy, and remained A leper until the day of his death.
And no doubt for that reason.
Uzziah was a great lesson to Isaiah.
And so we have a sobering thing brought before us.
In this first verse in the year that King Uzziah died.
In other words, dear friends, we see the hand of God acting strongly.
We see that God is not dead. We see that God is alive and has control of all things and his power is felt.
I do trust that.
If there's someone in this room tonight with whom the Lord is speaking, that you may not allow this time to pass without yielding to the Lord.
Of all the things that impress me as a young man, most solemnly dear friends.
It's this that there are times and seasons.
In our lives.
There are times when the Lord begins to speak to our souls.
There are times when God works in the hearts.
And consciences of young boys and young girls, men and women and all. I plead with any in this room, if they happen to be here at that time when God is speaking to your conscience, I plead with you with all that's within me, that you might listen.
To what God has to say.
And so there are solemn things to think about. To Isaiah, it was solemn that Uzziah had died under the judgment of God.
But let's go on in that first verse.
I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne.
High and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
We need to remember.
The greatness and the majesty of the Lord.
In these days of freedom of expression.
When even our own children are told in the schools to give expression to the.
Free thoughts that come to their minds.
There's often a tendency for us to forget the majesty of God.
To forget that there is a God in heaven and we are merely His creatures.
There's a tendency for us to forget how small we are.
And oh, how good it is for us at times to get out into the country.
On a clear night and just simply look up into the sky and.
And see the immensity of God's creation and all beloved Friends. When we do that, we realize how very, very small we all are. What are we, friends but worms of the dust?
Some of us have had the privilege of making.
A flight in some of the latest airplanes that man has invented.
I remember once flying as high as 39,000 feet. That's a long, long way up.
Perhaps they fly higher than that, but all beloved's friends, you don't have to even get that high.
Before when you look down upon the earth.
Man has faded into insignificance.
And he has faded into the dust. He can no longer be seen. Oh, it's good for us to realize how small we are.
My friends, we are very small, and it's good to remember that God is great. The Lord is high and lifted up, and we do well to speak reverently. When we think of God the living God. Well, it uses the word Lord here.
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Well, that's the title of Jehovah that we find often in the word of God.
And my friend.
I would like to tell you.
A very simple fact that has been a great blessing to me.
And that is that, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Is Jehovah.
It's good to remember.
The glorious person of Jesus. He is Jehovah.
And friends, we do well to give him every right and title that is rightfully his.
I know that it's not possible for our human minds to understand all that pertain to his glorious names.
We realize that in the word of God, even God the Father so to speak is term Jehovah. But all my friends soul is the Lord Jesus Christ given that glorious name and we do well to recognize it. We do well to recognize that the one we're speaking about tonight is the Lord Jesus Lord be found in Isaiah 6.
Yet, friends, we are talking tonight about that blessed one that we know as the Lord Jesus Christ.
So in verse one, we've found something about His Majesty as God.
But now let's go on in verse 2.
Where we have the throne brought before us, it says. Above it stood the seraphim. Each one had six wings. With twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet. And with twain he did fly, and one cried into another, and said holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts.
The whole earth is full of his glory.
All what a statement.
What a description of that glorious scene.
My words can't describe it.
But friends, what a majestic scene it was.
The glory of God, The glory of the Lord. It was there. And these unusual creatures that we have brought before us in this verse, they're called Seraphim.
We don't know much about these creatures.
The only thing we know about them is what God has been pleased to tell us.
There's this about them that the Seraphim are.
Living creatures created by God.
And when we find them in the Bible, we have brought before us usually something about the holiness of God, the holiness of the nature of the Lord.
Well, they have 6 wings.
And with two of those wings, they covered their face in humility or in reverence, I should say.
With two of those wings covering their face in reverence, as they were there in the immediate presence of the Lord.
With two of those wings, they covered their feet in humility.
And with two of their wings, they were ready to be speed along on any mission that the Lord should give them. Mysterious creatures they are but there we find them in the presence of the Lord, in the majesty of His throne, crying holy, holy.
Holy is the Lord of hosts.
I would like to ask a little question at this point.
How would you like to enter into that scene?
My friend, how would you like to be invited to that scene over which the cherry bombs were crying? Holy, holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts. Or is there that holiness in your life that would permit you to enter into a scene like that without fear?
Oh, I can say that there was a time in my life.
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When I thought about the holiness of God.
And I knew of my own unholiness.
And all it would have been the last thing on earth I would have wanted to happen to have been invited into that holy place, because I felt so unable, would have felt so unable, to enter into a holy scene like that.
Friend, would you like to be called into the presence of God?
Within the next 5 minutes.
You girls and boys in this room, would you like to be called into the presence of God?
Tonight.
With the holiness of His presence, be a pleasure to you.
Perhaps you tell me. Well, I'm always. I've always done the best I can.
I'm a church member. I read my Bible. I say my prayers. I've had a Christian, Daddy and Mama. But, friends, be that as it may, my question is this, Would you, would you feel comfortable?
To have been called into the presence of the Lord tonight.
Is there not within your soul yet that pang of conscience that says all is not well in my soul?
Not too long ago, I stood at the bedside of a deer relative of mine who was breathing.
What were to be her last breaths in this world?
And as I looked upon that.
Weakened body unconscious.
One thought came to my heart, and it was this.
It is well.
With my soul.
Friend, can you say that tonight? It is well with my soul.
Oh, I do trust that during the course of this meeting you may be enabled by the grace of God to say it is. Well, it is. Well, with my soul. It's all we have, the holiness of God's presence.
We have the whole earth moved and full of his glory. So what is the effect upon Isaiah of this scene of glory?
5.
Then said I woe is me.
For I am undone because I am a man of unclean lips.
Notice dear friends.
That this great man, Isaiah.
When he saw the holiness of God.
He could only think of his own wretched condition.
You know a gospel preacher.
Often feels very inadequate.
In facing a group like this.
He just longs in the very depths of his heart to be able to say something.
That would give his hearers to feel themselves in the presence of the Lord.
Yes, dear friends, I would love to say something tonight.
By the spirit of God, I would love to see something said here tonight that would give each and everyone in this room to realize.
That it is not my presence that counts. It is not the presence of certain friends that you may have here in Kentucky.
That count that all my friends made the Lord help each one of us.
Realize what we are in the presence.
Of the Lord.
Isaiah could only think of his wretched condition. Woe is me.
For I am undone.
Because I am a man of unclean lips.
You know, I'm so glad to see that Isaiah did not begin to criticize his neighbors.
I'm glad he didn't say. Well, I'm not so bad as there are other people. I'm a lot better than most, all my friends. That may be all right as we compare ourselves with others in this world.
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We can usually find most everywhere someone who in some things are worse than we are. Can't we?
Yes, we can usually find someone that is worse than we are in some things, and we do just well at that, as long as we forget the whole story. But oh, Isaiah was not doing that when he found himself in the bright light of the Lord's presence, he said, Woe is me, for I am undone. Oh, may the Lord tonight bring you into the presence of the light of his glory.
And then I believe, friend, that from your soul will come words like this.
War with me, for I am undone.
I am reminded of that account found in Luke's Gospel. I believe it is where that man who realized he had sinned, when he got into the presence of the Lord, he could only bow his head and smite his breast and say, God be merciful to me a Sinner.
All this is necessary.
Without this my friends in a measure.
Without this, there is no salvation for us. I have never heard of a soul being saved against his will. Never.
Never heard of a soul being saved against his will.
And my friend, I love to think of that little line of the song which says the only fitness he requires.
Is to feel your need of him. Oh, may the Lord make you feel your need.
Tonight of the Lord Jesus Christ may the brightness and majesty of His presence.
Bring from your heart words like this. Woe is me, for I am undone.
Because I am a man of unclean lips, it makes no difference What?
Is the condition of those around me. The condition remains within my own heart.
And friend, you know your own heart better than anyone else except the Lord.
And he goes on to say, I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips, for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. Yes, it was that glimpse of the glory of the Lord that gave him to see his own uncleanness. You know, I've got three children and I love them very dearly. And the Iowa soil is black and it's dirty.
And I find that my children look much dirtier to me after a day of play.
When I bring them inside under the light, all while we're playing together outside in the backyard, they may be smudged from head to foot, and they often are.
But all when we bring them into the light of the home.
Then we see the dirt as it really is, and the beloved friends. It's only when we find ourselves in the presence of God that a true estimate can be placed upon our true condition in His presence. You know this. This thing happened with Isaiah, but the same thing happened with a multitude of other servants that we find in the word of God. It was so with Job.
He said I repent in dust and ashes. He said that after he had said.
Mine eye seeth thee. It was after Job got a glimpse of God's greatness and his glory that he repented in dust and ashes. So it was with the Apostle Peter, who found himself in the presence of the Lord. And he said, depart from me, for I am a sinful man. Oh Lord, well, this is what we need.
May the Lord bring this to pass.
Tonight, in your heart, if you're here yet.
Unsaved.
Well, this seems to be a dark picture, but friends, this is a gospel meeting, and the gospel is good news.
And I love the gospel. It's God's good news.
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Now let's go on to see.
The positive and the blessed side of this picture.
Verse six Then flew one of the Seraphims unto me.
A messenger, messenger from God, The immediate throne of God.
Directly to Isaiah, then flew.
One of the Seraphims unto me, Notice how fast he came.
You know, God is so anxious.
To reach the need of those who feel their need, he flew.
We often wish that we would see people more feel their need of Christ.
And I believe, beloved friends, that this is what we need to see.
I would love to know.
That because of this meeting, I would love to know that someone.
Was made to feel their need of Christ.
For then I would feel that the meeting has been profitable and blessed of the Lord.
And it's when Isaiah found his true condition that the Seraphim rapidly came to meet his need, then flew one of the Seraphims under me. Now notice what he has having a live coal in his hand.
Which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar.
All that's a precious, valuable verse.
And how much it speaks of.
A live coal.
Something burning?
And where did he get this coal? Where did this coal come from, friend? Did it come from the throne?
Didn't come from the throne.
Ah, if that messenger from the Lord had come with something from the throne.
It could have done nothing but condemned and judge this poor man. But all I'm so glad to see in the word of God that this call is burning. Coal did not come from the throne, but it came from the altar. The altar.
What does the altar bring before us?
Friends, the altar was the place where the lamb was killed.
The altar was the place where the blood flowed.
The altar was the place and the only place that could supply a live coal to meet the need of Isaiah.
1900 and some odd years ago.
The Lamb of God.
Died on Calvary's cross.
That you and I might be washed from our sins.
It was the Son of God, dear friends, that stretched out his arms in love all that cross.
Calvary's cross is the altar.
The Lamb of God is the Lord Jesus.
And my friends, He cried. It is finished. He suffered all the burning judgment of God.
On that cross.
So that that live coal could be dispensed to the needy heart.
Oh yes, Calvary's cross is the altar. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Lamb.
Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures.
Friends, it's only at Calvary that blessing can come.
It does not come from the throne, for the throne could only judge us.
But all we have our need met from the altar.
It's the Blood of Jesus, the precious blood of Christ, that alone.
Can wash away our sins. No amount of religion.
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No amount of good works.
My friend, only that which happened at the altar, when that sacrifice was made, only through the value of the precious blood of Christ, can the need of a Sinner like you and like I am.
He met, and so he took that call from off the altar, and laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips, and thine iniquity is taken away.
And thy sin first.
It was very personal with Isaiah.
It touched his lips.
He touched his mouth.
You know, of all the things that we have in our bodies that are especially personal, it certainly is our lips and our mouth.
This matter speaks to us of the personal need of Isaiah and the personal dealing that Isaiah had with the Lord.
I would like to say tonight that I thank the Lord.
From the very depths of my heart for giving me a Christian father and a Christian mother.
I thank God for that.
I do not have words, Friends.
That I can use.
To adequately express the gratitude of my soul tonight that God gave me a Christian father and a Christian mother.
I thank God for that blessing, but at the same time I want to tell you that it was not my Christian father that saved my soul. It was not my Christian mother that saved my soul. It was the Lord Jesus.
My friends, it was very personal and real with me.
God made me feel my need, my desperate need of Christ.
God made me see my unholiness, my uncleanness.
And the time came when it was very real and personal with me.
When I put my trust in the Lord Jesus.
As my own Savior and I speak tonight to those who may be here that have Christian fathers.
And Christian mothers, thank God for that blessing. It's an unspeakable 1.
But don't be misled.
You must accept the Lord Jesus.
For yourself.
This hath touched thy lips, Thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Friends, because of what happened at the altar of Calvary, sins are forgiven.
When it speaks about the Lord Jesus, it says to him give all the prophets witness that through this man.
Through his name whosoever believeth on him shall receive forgiveness of sins. Yes, through the Lord Jesus sins are forgiven through his precious blood. For the word of God says the blood of Jesus Christ his Son, cleanses us from all sin.
Thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
It's a wonderful thing, dear friends, to know for sure that your sins are forgiven. All this is an unspeakable blessing to know for sure that your sins are all forgiven. Isaiah knew it because God said it, and this is the only way that anybody can know it is because God says it. I remember the case of the woman in the 7th of Luke who heard the words from the Lord Jesus.
Her sins, which are many, are forgiven.
My friends.
You can have the assurance tonight that your sins are forgiven.
If you'll put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, thine iniquity, iniquity is taken away and thy sin purged.
What a wonderful thing.
To have your sins forgiven.
And may the Lord tonight use these words to convict and convert, so that others may know the joy of sins forgiven. Now I would like to say a word about verse 8.
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Also I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send?
And who will go for us?
Then said I, Here am I. Send me.
Once we have our sins forgiven.
Once we're saved.
Then we have the opportunity of doing something for the one that saved us.
Isaiah wanted to please the Lord. Isaiah wanted to serve the Lord after he knew that his sins were forgiven.
And you know no one can serve the Lord until his sins are forgiven.
I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?
Then said I hear my send me.
Where? Well, I don't know. I don't know where he went. But this, I know that he was willing to go.
We find the record in God's word about a man by the name of Andrew.
Who had a similar desire? And you know where the Lord sent him.
He sent him to find his own brother.
Oh, he didn't send him to the North Pole. He didn't send him to the South Pole. He just sent him home to talk to his brother about the Lord And my friend, if you think the Lord wants everybody to go to the lost tribes of Africa, or the lost tribes of India, or the lost tribes of South America.
I think that you'll have a difficulty in the Word of God finding such to support your idea.
I believe the Lord would have every child of God.
Willing to do his bidding to go next door to go upstairs and talk to brother.
Ah, this is the place where we can begin to serve the Lord.
There was a man who was cleansed in a marvelous way in the Bible of a great affliction.
And the Lord Jesus said to him, go home.
Go home to your friends and tell them how great things.
The Lord has done for you and has had compassion upon you.
Well, are you here tonight, a believer in the Lord Jesus?
Can you say your sins are forgiven? Thank God for that.
Then ask the Lord to send you someplace where you can speak for him or do something for him, and you'll be amazed.
At how accurately he can send you to do a little thing for him.
It may not even be to speak a word. It may be to serve in a quiet act of blessing. And we thank God for every such servant that God has. You know, I've often thought about it this way. If everybody that was saved in the state of Kentucky were called upon to go to Iowa to preach the gospel, who would bear witness for the Lord in Kentucky?
And if everybody that were saved in Iowa were called upon to.
Go to the Belgian Congo to preach the Gospel. Well then who would bear witness for the Lord in Iowa? And if those over there in Nigeria that know the Lord, if every one of them were called upon to come to the state of Illinois to preach the gospel, then who would bear witness for the Lord in Nigeria?
Well, beloved friends, the truth is this.
If you know the Lord Jesus as your savior.
You're in a condition that you can be used of him and blessing, and he may just send you down the street. He may just send you to your brother or your sister with a message of God's love and grace and.
It'll be the joy of your heart to carry that message. For there's no sweeter message on the tongue of man than the message that God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. And I'd like to close with those lines from the little hymn that the children often sing. Tell it again. Tell it again.
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Salvation story Repeat Ore and Oregon.
Till none can say of the children of men nobody ever told me before.
Shall we sing the 1St and the last stanza of #10?
There is a savior on high in the glory. A savior who suffered on Calvary St. A savior is willing to save. Now as ever, His arm is almighty, his love great and free. Number 10 The 1St and the last stanzas only.
There is a savior on fire.
Luke 13
Gospel—P. Glading
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.
May we sing together #4?
Hymn #4.
Christ is the Savior of sinners.
Christ is the Savior for me.
Long I was chained in sin's darkness. Now, by his grace, I am free.
I trust your friends that we can all sing this with truth tonight. If not, it would be far better not to sing it.
#4 Christ is the Savior of Savior.
Pride is the sailor.
Was changing since the rest.
Nobody is grateful, I am afraid.
Brother was praying for the sin bound sinister Hale. Now friends, are there any lost here tonight?
Perhaps, you say. What do you mean, offering the lost souls here? Well, if you haven't received Christ as your Savior, my friend, you're lost and you're on the road to hell. And so we want to solemnly warn you tonight to free from coming judgment and take shelter beneath the precious blood of Christ and receive the Lord as your Savior. Now, this very moment, you have no lease on life, my friends. We've been reminded of that solemnly lately for our dear brother.
And so your turn might come tonight, and where would you spend eternity? Friends, face the matter tonight and have it settled before God as to where you're going. At the end of the journey. Everyone here is going to one of two places, either heaven or hell, and you cannot avoid it. You may try and persuade yourself there's no such place as hell that, my friends, there is. God solemnly warns you of it, and He's made provision for you to escape it.
And it's only through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, my precious Savior, that you'll ever escape the damnation of hell. But oh, how we can thank God tonight. There is a way of escape still.
And but tomorrow may be too late, or how solemn a thought that even tonight the Lord Jesus Christ may come and call his own away in a moment of time, in the twinkling of an eye, And you, your lost souls, what will happen to you?
You'll perish in hell. That's what will happen to you, but there's no need for that to happen to anyone here.
God, I say in his infinite love and grace, has provided A Savior for sinners, and it's the Lord Jesus. And there is no other Savior but He. Neither is there salvation in any other. There is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. Dear sin, a friend, if you're going to be saved tonight, you must be saved God's way through faith in Christ to acknowledge yourself. As we reminded this morning, the Israelites said we have sinned.
And that's the acknowledgement, friend, you'll have to make before a holy God and receive His beloved Son as your Savior. Then you can go on your way, rejoicing in the knowledge of sins forgiven and peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
May return to the 13th chapter of Luke.
Luke 13.
They were present at that season, some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood pilot had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things, I tell you, Nay, but except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish all those 18.
Upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them. Think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem, I tell you, Nay, but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. He spake also this parable. A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
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Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none. Cut it down. Why, Cumber hit the ground. And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it and dung it. And if it bear fruit well, and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath, and behold, there is a woman which had a spirit of infirmity.
18 years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.
And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight and glorified God.
And the rule of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work in them, Therefore come and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.
The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou, hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox, or his ash from the stall, and lead him away to watering? And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound lo these 18 years the loose from his bond on the Sabbath day? And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were shamed, and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things.
That were done by him.
We find in the first verse.
There were those who came to Jesus and told him the sad story of these Galileans whose blood pilot had mingled with their sacrifices.
No doubt this incident had some political significance.
These Galileans undoubtedly were Jewish sea lots and the.
Engaged in so-called worship, and it was at this time.
That Pilate had them slain.
This would suggest, I believe, dear friends, that you could be a worshiper of God in outward form and still perish.
These men perished.
And it tells us here.
Or Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners?
Above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things, I tell you, Nay, but except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish.
Now these men who told Jesus this sad story undoubtedly expected him to rebuke Pilate and possibly to take up the cause of these unfortunate people who had been slain.
But the Lord said to Pilate later, my Kingdom is not of this world.
The Lord had not come at this time to put things right in this world, but rather to seek and to save the lost friends Israel, lost soul here tonight. If so, I plead with you to face the stern realities of eternity.
Because they are before you. And if you die in your sins tonight, you're going right to hell. Yes, you're going to hell Or you say there's no such place.
Well, I'd rather believe God than I would you, If that's your argument, friend. I believe what God says.
He says there is a heaven. He says there is a hell, and they're going to last as long as one another. Yes, heaven will last as long as hell, and hell will last as long as heaven. And I repeat, every one of us here without exception, No exceptions here. You're either going to heaven or you're going to hell. Now, friends, which is it?
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Do you have that assurance in your heart that you're going to heaven to be with Christ, that precious Savior?
You can have that assurance if you have received him as your Lord and Savior. But if you have not received Him, friends, you're on the wrong Rd. You're on the Broad Rd. which leadeth through destruction, and I would not change places with you for the world. If that's the road you're on tonight, friend, get off that road at once and get onto the narrow Rd. which leadeth to life eternal. And so when these men came and told Jesus this sad story and expected him to take it up, no doubt.
He just refused to take any notice of the.
Political angle of the story and he.
He spake these solemn words.
Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all Galileans, because they suffered such things.
I tell you Nay, but accept you, repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Now the word perish here does not mean merely death. I'm sure of that. Otherwise the Lord could not say these words. Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. How did they perish? They were slain with a sword.
Is everyone here tonight going to be slain with a sword?
On the other hand, are we going to be killed by a tower falling upon us? The Lord did not mean that. I'm positively sure the Lord is referring to something far more than that is referring to their a sad end to which they came as sinners. Or you say, how do you know they were sinners? Well, the Lord has mentioned it himself. He says in the second verse, the posi that these Galileans were sinners.
Above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things. Now the Lord tells us they were sinners.
And they not only perished with regard to their bodies, but they perished eternally. They perished in unbelief, unrepentant. And so the Lord turns this, this political angle into a solemn warning to those still alive. He says, except ye repent, you'll perish too. And he was not referring to death only. No, He's referring to the eternal state. Yes, friend, and that's what we have here, the eternal state. Those men perished in their sins unrepentant.
Are you going to die unrepentant and perish in your sins and be punished for them to stand before the Great White Throne in the coming day?
To be judged for your sins finally cast into hell all friends. What a solemn thought.
What an awful outlook for you, if that's all you have before you. And so I do believe the Lord was referring to something beyond death. He undoubtedly was referring to the fact that they died unrepentant, and they went to a lost eternity. How solemn. And so he turns the occasion to a solemn warning, For there was still alive. And you, your friends, are still alive. Take the warning to heart tonight from the lips of the Lord Jesus Christ. Except ye repent.
He shall all likewise perish. And it does not mean merely to die. No, it doesn't. It means to die in your sins and perish eternally.
And so the Lord here solemnly warns them.
And what a solemn warning it is. Except you repent. This is what God commands, you know, friends, God now commandeth all men everywhere to repent. It's a command of God.
And dare you disregard a divine command, A command of God?
It's a solemn thing. If you do, it's a command of God. Dear Sinner friend, you who are lost here tonight, that you should repent.
God commands you to do it.
And you refuse to do that at your eternal peril if you refuse to repent and turn to God.
And Christ, you'll perish in your sins.
We cannot improve on the Apostolic method, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. That's the way. Have you repented of your sins yet? The Lord said to those people who came and told him the sad story. He said, Do you think they were sinners worse than the others? No, he said. Except you repent. You'll perish too. And that's the message, friends, from God's Word in this chapter. Except you repent, you will all likewise perish. It does not mean merely to die.
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It means to perish in your sins unrepentant.
And now the Lord goes a little further. He comes near a home now because, you know, the those of Jerusalem looked down on the Galileans of a lower grade of society.
There was men in Jerusalem, where the proud men of the holy city, and they looked down upon these other people.
And no doubt these Galileans who were slain possibly had rebelled against the.
The Roman yoke. This was very frequently done, as we get in Acts 5. Yes, there are many who rebuild against the Roman yoke and perished, and so these may have done the same any way they perished. And you know, a man might argue this way and say, well, were they not real men of God? They were engaged in religious ceremonies and service and worship when they were slain. Well, there must have been men of God, No, not necessarily Friends.
Are there any religious people here tonight, yo, who are satisfied with religion? They had religion, but they perished in their sins. And I repeat, friend, you may be a worshiper of God in outward form and still perish in your sins. You may be highly religious like Nicodemus, but the Lord said to him, Nicodemus, you must be born again. You must. There's no doubt about it. And the same thing applies to you, dear friend. You must be born again if you do not know Christ as your savior.
You must be born again. And what a terrible thing it would be to have just enough religion to deceive the heart.
To deaden the conscience and ruin the soul.
I believe you've heard me tell this little story before, so forgive me. I met a dear colored person on the street in Trinidad, offered her track and she took it with a smile and he said, what is it? I said, Justin Gospel track, She said, I'd like to tell you something. I said I'd like to hear it. She said 25 years ago I had religion, but today I have Christ. She said Today I have Christ and a dear old face beam with joy. Can we all say that here tonight? Today I have Christ.
Well, friends, if you have religion, that will only land you in hell. If that's all you have, you might be highly religious like Nicodemus. Where would you find a better sample of human religious nature than in Nicodemus? I do not think you'd find a better sample of it anywhere else. But the Lord had to turn to him and said, Nicodemus, you must be born again. Must have been a shock to that dear man. Maybe it's a shock to you, dear sin, a friend. But it's true. You must be born again.
Now the Lord comes near a home here in the next few verses He says all those 18.
Upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them. Think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem, I tell you, Nay.
Except you repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Now these were not Galileans.
They were not slain by a foreign despot. No. This was the act of God. Yes, God came in here. And these were the proud men of the Holy City. What happened to them? A tower fell upon them, and they were crushed to death. And the Lord says, except you repent, you shall all likewise perish. Now, do you think the Lord meant that you and I and everybody here is going to die through a tower falling on us? No, I'm sure he did not refer to that at all.
Merely death as we speak of it? No. He's concerned about eternity, and he's concerned about Judea. Send a friend.
He wants you to accept his beloved Son as your savior now, if you have not done so.
And have the joy and assurance of knowing that your sins are blotted out and that God will never bring them up against you again. That you have forgiveness and redemption through His blood. Yes, even the forgiveness of sins. All friends, let us challenge our hearts to night and ask ourselves this question in the presence of God who knows our hearts. If I die tonight, where shall I go? It could happen to anybody here. You may die tonight, Dear Sinner friend. I may die tonight.
But thank God I know where I'm going. But do you know, have you that assurance?
Well, it's a grand thing to have that assurance, Not to say as many do today. Well, I hope I'll get to heaven. That will never take you there, friends. You'll never get there by hoping to be there. The only way you can get there is by taking yourself without making yourself as a lost, guilty Sinner before a holy God, and by receiving His beloved Son as your savior. And do it now, my friends, Right now, this moment, this very moment. Delay is dangerous.
00:20:19
And you dare not, and must not trifle with God's grace.
And so he warns these proud men of the holy city. He says, Do you think those who died in Jerusalem were worse than the others? I tell you, nay, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. This was an act of God here the other was an act of pilot, allowed by God, of course. But now he brings home the solemn truth that if the others did not repent, they would perish likewise in their sins. Old friends were a terrible thing to perish in your sins.
To die in unbelief, rejecting Christ the Savior. And there's only one Savior.
And you may only have one more chance of accepting him now he got that in the next few verses. Maybe just look at them.
Verse 6.
And you know the Blessed Lord. He does not will the death of a Sinner. God is not willing that any should perish. No isn't God is not willing that you should perish your friends. He loves you. Christ died for you gave his life to redeem you, to save your soul. But you might spend an eternity with him in the glory. And so it's not God's wish that you should perish. It'll be your own fault. My dear friend, I must speak plainly.
If you perish in your sins, it will be your fault entirely. God has made provision for you.
He offers you a loving Savior tonight and the gift of eternal life, forgiveness of sins.
With God a home in the glory. These are free gifts that God is offering. But they may be withdrawn by tomorrow, may be withdrawn in half an hour's time. Who can tell? Many of us here, thank God, are waiting for the shout to be caught up, to meet our blessed Lord in the air, to be forever with him. And you, dear friends, what about you? Will you be left behind for God's judgment? You will, if you haven't received Christ as your savior, or to think of the judgment of God to fall upon any here. How solemn it would be.
And if you can find that terrible place called hell, let me solemnly warn you, dear friend. You'll have your memory there. And you remember this very day. Yes, you will. Or what a solemn thing to think, those who go to hell or retain their memory. Yes. You remember the words of the rich man in hell. Son, remember thou in thy lifetime. What happened in his lifetime? I had lots of opportunities. He lived from himself. He left God out. He died his sins. He went to hell.
Remember, remember, you had lots of opportunities, and I believe that will be part of the torment in hell, the memory of the lost. To remember that they had opportunities like this to accept the Savior, and they put it off. There are millions of souls bartering their eternal happiness today for a few hours of guilty pleasure and the crafting foe of mankind. Satan is making them believe that there's plenty of time, there's no such place as hell, and he uses God's word to to deceive them.
He says if God is a God of love, he'll never consign his creatures to hell.
It's contrary to his benevolent nature, friends. It's a lie of Satan. Do not believe it. God is a God of love, and he's proved that by giving his Son to die for you and me. What greater proof of his love could we have than that he gave the greatest gift his heart of love could give and the person of his son to die for you on the cross? That your sins might be blotted out, That you might have eternal life as a free gift?
But now there's six verse he spake. Also this parable. A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard. This is unusual, isn't it?
A fig tree planted in the vineyard entails privilege and responsibility. We do not often see a fig tree in a vineyard. It's usually in the open field. But here we read of a fig tree in a vineyard.
And he a certain man, had a fig tree planted in his vineyard. And he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none. Cut it down. What solemn words? Cut it down. Why cometh at the ground?
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And the answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it, And if it bare fruit well, and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
What a solemn statement this is. The elect nation of Israel is likened in scripture to three trees, the fig tree, the vine and the olive. And we find the fig tree was barren. Matthew 21 We find the vine brought forth wild grapes. Isaiah 5 and we find the olive tree failed. Romans 11 and they all noticed that their beautiful fruit. Now this man says he had a fig tree in his vineyard.
He came seeking fruit.
Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and fine nun cut it down. I suppose this may have referred to the Lord's three years of his earthly ministry among the nation of Israel. But nevertheless, I believe the subject of discussion here is not merely A fig tree. It's the fate of a soul. Yes, the fate of a soul.
Man is like a fig tree.
Man has borne no fruit for God in his natural state and cannot. And, dear friends, I do not agree with the expression you'll never be saved by your good works. I believe that's unscriptural. How can a Sinner bear fruit at all? How can a Sinner bear good fruit? The only fruit he can bear is sins. He's a sin tree, and all he can produce is sins. Not good works. And so, if you'll excuse me, I do not agree with that statement.
That we often hear it, though, You'll never be saved by your good works to a Sinner. The Sinner cannot produce good works to begin with. He has not the life and the nature to do it. Good works are by the spirit and the believer, and not in the unsaved, the last.
And so we find here all the wonderful grace we see in this verse here.
I come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down.
And the answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also one more year. Friends, there's no promise that you'll have another full year in which to turn to God and accept Christ. There's no promise of that in the word of God. Here, this is just a picture, I believe, of infinite grace and patience. Infinite grace and patience, giving the fig tree just one more chance. But remember that chance is air. The tree is cut down.
Yes, of how solemn the thought. But all the wonderful love and grace of God give it another year. Dear friends, it may be that this is the end of that year for you tonight. Perhaps the year is up right now. And so we warned in time. And do not put off the matter of your soul salvation. You may never have another chance. After tonight, this may be your last chance. You remember when Noah had built the ark?
Everything was completed. Then what happened? The Lord waited seven days more.
That speaks of a period of grace, a perfect period of grace on the part of God to this poor world.
Before He destroyed it. And friends, this may be the 7th day of the seven days of grace. This may be the very last day that you and I will ever have of accepting Christ the Lord Jesus as our Savior.
All friends, you're going to put this matter off. You're going to die in your sins and perish in hell when you have the opportunity right now, here and now, to accept that precious savior as your own before it's too late. Oh, I plead with you, dear lost soul, to face the realities of eternity now and do not go out of that door in your sins. I plead with you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, not to go home in your sins, because you may perish in your sins tonight and go to a lost eternity.
And I believe that's what we have in the first few verses. Yes, those poor souls went to a lost eternity. They didn't merely die, but they went to a lost eternity. They died in their sins. The Lord calls them sinners. And who could know where they went? Apart from the Lord himself? He knew where they went.
And he knows where you are going to, friend. Do you know where you're going?
Have you had it settled?
Or are you just thinking about it? You're going to wait to a more convenient season, Friends. You'll never have it. You'll never have a more convenient season than this moment. Never. God has brought you here tonight to give you one more chance before the tree is cut down. Yes, cut down in judgment. One more year. All the pleadings, the love, the grace, the patience of God. And I say again, we're not reading merely about a fig tree.
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This is a picture of man in his sins, the grace and patience of God with him giving him one more chance. Ah, yes, but before the tree is cut down, yes, and then you notice the solemn word.
If it bear fruit? Well, if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down. What solemn words cut it down?
To me that's very, very solemn. Cut it down. What would it speak of? I believe it would speak of the judgment of God. The judgment of God. Patience exhausted, the day of grace gone. Now cut it down, old friends House solemn. And he turned into his solemn. We're living in solemn days.
This very moment is a solemn moment. We're here before God, and he knows every heart here. We're all here, present before God. He looks into every heart. He knows everyone here. Whether you have rejected his beloved Son or whether you have accepted him. And you know, friends, let's be clear about it. If you have not received Christ, you've rejected him.
You've said no to him. Or what a solemn thing to say, no to the only savior of sinners.
As a young man in our Gospel meeting and our little meeting some weeks ago.
After the meeting, even one of the sisters said to him, Are you safe? Would you like to be? No, not yet. Not yet. What solemn words? Not yet. Why that dear young man may land in hell? Not yet. Why not yet? Why not now? Behold, now is the accepted time. Behold, now is the day of salvation. God holds no hope for tomorrow. Friends, I dare not stand here until you can be saved at.
8:30 I wouldn't dare to tell you that. I have no authority to tell you that, but I can tell you this with all the authority of God's word. You can be saved now, right now, this very moment. Wouldn't you like to be? I am too proud to own yourself a lost, guilty Sinner. I am too proud to accept Christ as your savior. Are you, dear young ones, afraid of what your neighbors will think or your friends at school if you confess Christ as your Savior?
Oh, don't not be a coward.
Confess him now as your own precious Savior. Receive him by faith.
And go on your way rejoicing and know the full assurance that if the Lord comes tonight, he'll be caught up to meet you in the air to be forever with him.
Well, we find here then, the subject of a discussion is the fate of a soul. Watch you live, provider man, if he gained the whole world and lose his own soul. Dear friends, do you realize that you have a living soul and that soul is going to live on forever in one of two places? Yes, your body may die. Your soul lives on.
As you solve and save.
What shall a man give an exchange for his soul? God breathed into man's nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul.
Not a dying body, a living soul. And I tell your friends, everyone of us here are going to live on for eternity. Yes, but where? But where? Ask yourself the question now, friend, In the presence of God. But where shall I live for all eternity? Is it to be with Christ in the glory or in hell For the devil and his angels? Well, it must be one of the other.
Now it says here in verse 11 and behold, there is a woman which had a spirit of infirmity 18 years.
Now this number must have some special significance, I would think, because we find it in a very short compass. In this chapter, twice 18 is mentioned. Well, we might look upon 18 as three sixes. The youngest would know that three sixes are 18. And that's the famous number of man spoken of in Revelation 13. Verse 18, man's number is 666. What does it convey to us?
Our spirit of weakness falls short of seven perfection. Man is a weak creature, good for nothing. Here we have this poor, poor woman, It says she had a spirit of infirmity 18 years and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.
00:35:14
In Spider-man's amazing attainments and accomplishments.
He has always failed to reach the goal he craved. Perfect bliss, rest and satisfaction. It's impossible for man to find that he a friend, and in spite of all his accomplishments, he cannot find that down here.
He's seeking for it in the wrong direction. Bear with me if I say this.
A man on board ship, as we were going out to China, was on a world tour to get some kind of satisfaction.
That was his goal, to get some kind of satisfaction. And he spent, I suppose, thousands of dollars for a world tour. And he said to me, you know, I haven't found it yet. We've come a long way. I haven't found it yet. I said no. Friends, you're going the wrong direction. What do you mean? I'm going around to China. I said yes. You're going the wrong direction to find satisfaction. It's not found in China. It's not found in any port in the world. It's found in Christ.
That's where you'll find satisfaction, and nowhere else. But the poor man was spending thousands of dollars to find something to satisfy his poor empty heart, and he didn't find it. And neither will you, dear friend. If you're seeking satisfaction, bliss, and rest outside of Christ, you'll never find it. It's found in him and Him alone. And so man is ever seeking this, but he cannot find it. No, he's looking in the wrong direction. He goes to the wrong source.
Satisfaction, blessed peace and joy is found in the knowledge of Christ as my Savior, and that fills the heart with joy, not only for time but for all eternity. Oh friends, the joy of knowing Christ as Savior, to know that our sins, which would have dragged us down to hell and shut us out of heaven, are all washed away in His precious blood, and that God, a holy God, has nothing more against us now as believers. How wonderful it is.
How precious it is. Well, this poor woman then.
Six speaks of shorter perfection. 7 And so she was.
Doubled up for 18 years. This is a long time. Poor soul, to have this spirit of infirmity. I visited a dear person in the hospital once. She'd been in bed nearly 70 years. Paralyzed. Nearly 70 years. The moment you mentioned the name of Christ, she looked up and beamed and shook her head as much to say. Yes, I'm going there.
Dear soul, 70 years on her back. Think of it. This poor woman was bowed together 18 years. In other words, she was always looking down. That's typical of man, isn't it? And this dear woman to her case is typical of man in his sins bowed down, not able to lift himself up. In John eight we find on 2 occasions the Lord bowed himself down and lifted himself up. And he's able to lift you up, dear Sinner friend too.
Indeed, he is well. This poor woman was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself, Or how this speaks of absolute weakness and helplessness, but all how precious to see here When Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou loose from thine infirmity.
How wonderful a news. Do you think she was pleased to hear this from the lips of the Savior woman that loose from thine infirmity? But you'll notice he did not say from the spirit of your infirmity. No, she was loose from her infirmity, but undoubtedly the spirit of weakness remained. And there was a good thing for her too. And it's a good thing for us friends as believers to know that we're still weak, although we were bowed down with a load of sin and.
Before, but now through grace, we are saved. But then we still have a spirit of weakness. And that's important, isn't it? We need to have a spirit of weakness to keep us independence upon God who has saved us, to give us the strength and grace for the pathway.
And so we do not read that she was relieved from the spirit of infirmity that possibly remained with her. But the infirmity was removed. And this was all in wondrous grace, was it not? And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight and glorified. God, dear Sinner friend, God is able to make crooked sinners straight. Tonight he's able to do that for you. If there's a crooked Sinner he had bowed down with a sense of your sin and guilt. He's able to make you straight that you may walk and glorify God.
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What a different picture we have now, this dear woman bent down double for 18 years. And not only that bound by Satan, remember?
Have you been bound by Satan for 18 years?
Would you like to admit that that you have been bound by Satan for 18 years? Maybe a little longer perhaps, or a little less? But nevertheless, if you're in your sins, you're being bowed down by Satan. Yes, you're under Satan's power, and he'll drag you down to Hell. Friends. He'll keep you down if he can. He wants to take you into Hell with him, but do not let him. One way of escape, that's all. And that's available tonight. Friends to every one of us here. One way of escape only.
From hell and all this terrible consequences.
It's by simple faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and his shed blood, yes, but do not forget what God commands Sinner. He commands that you should repent and he gives the reason for it too. He says because he have a point of the day in which he will judge this world in righteousness by that man.
Which man is this? It's the Lord Jesus Christ by that man.
Whereof he has given assurance unto all men in that he has raised him from the dead.
Yes, friends, God is going to judge this world in righteousness and be careful that His judgment does not fall upon you. It will if you pass away in your sins.
Or a terrible thing to die in your sins to be a stranger to God's grace? Or what pictures of grace we see here with regard to the fig tree typical of man. And this poor woman, that's what she needed, the grace of God.
And help from him. And he was the only one. The Lord Jesus Christ was the only one who could make us straight. And she glorified God. Lemmy got the usual opposition here. And the rule of the synagogue answered with indignation, and said, There are six days in which men ought to work, and then therefore come and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day, though this answer of the Lord just bowed them over. The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite.
Doth not each one of you on the Sabbath Lucy's ox, or his *** from the stall and lead him away to watering? And ought not this woman being a daughter of Abraham? Why a daughter of Abraham? Why not a daughter of David? You remember what we get in Luke 19? Zach, yes, Is called the son of Abraham. Here we have a daughter of Abraham. Why? It tells us, I think it's Romans 4, that Abraham was the father of all then that believed.
I take it that Zacchaeus was a believer. This dear woman was healed and glorified God, and she was the daughter of Abraham whom Satan hath bound, or how solemn to be bound by Satan.
Dear friends, is that the case with you tonight? Are you bound by Satan?
You are bound with the chords of your sins.
Proverbs 5 Maybe just read that verse.
And there's only one who can release you.
Proverbs 5 verse 21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings. His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall beholden with the cords of his sins.
He shall die without instruction, and in the greatness of his folly he should go astray, tied with the cords of our sins. What a solemn position. There's only one friend who can release you. The Blessed Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any that did understand that seek God. He had to say. There is none that doeth good. No, not one. They're all together become filthy. Then later on we read that he looked down again from the height of his sanctuary.
To behold the prisoner, and those that are appointed to death to deliver the prisoner. May we read it? I haven't.
00:45:03
Quoted that correctly. Psalm 102.
Verse 19.
For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary, from heaven to the Lord. Behold the earth.
To hear the groaning of the prisoner, and to loose those that are appointed to death.
Now the Lord first of all looked down to see. Then he looked down to hear.
And he looked down to hear on this occasion, to hear the groaning of the prisoner, and to loose those that are appointed to death. Who are they?
Who is appointed to death by the Sinner. It's appointed unto man once to die.
But after death of judgment? How solemn, Friends, People think today that when they're dead, that's the end. That's the devil's lie. It's not so. God says after death there's something more the judgment. Or how solemn to think of that. If you and I merely had death facing us and nothing more, it wouldn't disturb us too much, would it? But what about after death? The judgment? Yes, those who die in their sins are going to be raised in the sins.
To stand before a holy God in the person of his Son.
We read in John 5 The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.
And have given him authority to execute judgment also because he is the son of man. There we have two verses. I believe it's John 522 and 27.
Father judges no man. He's committed all judgment of the son and he's also given him the authority to execute it.
Yes, the Lord Jesus Christ has been given the authority to execute God's judgment, but in between those two verses I love to think of it. There it is. Verily, verily, I say unto you now, these are the words of the judge, the man who is appointed to be the judge. He turns to the Sinner, and says, Verily, verily, I say unto you, hell, very personal, how precious he that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me.
Have everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, shall not come into judgment, but is passed from death unto life. Or what a wonderful statement, friends, to think that the one who is appointed to be the judge in the coming day turns to the Sinner, and all the love and grace of his heart. He says, I want you to listen to me. I am the judge in the coming day, and that's what he says. He appeals to him. He pleads with the Sinner before he perishes in his sins.
Old friends want marvelous grace and love of God. Have you tasted of that love? Are you the recipient of God's grace? Or have you rejected the grace of God? If so, friend, you're going to have the judgment of God. Yes, you are. I tell you that again. If you refuse the grace of God, you'll have the judgment of God. There's nothing in between. It's either grace or judgment from cover to cover. In this blessed book, there's a red line running right through from cover to cover Speaks of the blood of Christ.
Which can wash your sins away and make you fit for God's holy presence. And then you can know that you'll never go to that awful, terrible place where we read of the rich man who cried for mercy. Yes, there are 7 cries for mercy. In the Gospels. 6 cries were heard and answered. The 7th was not and never will be. It was the rich man cried for mercy and hell was he in earnest. I'm sure he was. There was no answer, no mercy for him.
There is mercy for the other six who cried old friends. He cried too late. That's the point. See to it that you do not cry too late for mercy. Mercy is available now. The salvation of God is available. A Savior is available. The pressured blood of Christ is available. All friends receive him right this minute. And do not I plead with you, Go out of that door on your sins. You'll perish in hell, and God loves you and Christ died for you and he wants to save your soul tonight.
Friends, acknowledge yourself and lost guilty, helpless Sinner, and take Christ as your Savior. For as many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name. Oh, He plead with you in the name of that precious loving Savior who stands with open arms ready to receive you, He says him that cometh to me. I will in no wise cast out. Oh, can you not rely upon that promise, that loving invitation?
00:50:03
Can you not venture on such a promise as that, that if you come, He said. I'll never turn you down. Never. And friends, I've never in my life heard of anybody who's ever been turned away by Christ who came as a lost, guilty Sinner. No, he's received everyone. Even the chief of sinners, the beloved apostle. He was a chief of sinners. The Lord might well have said you. Why you persecuted my people in the church. I won't think of having you. But no, He received him and saved your soul.
And that deal man is going to be in the glory and I'm going to see him there. Will you be there?
Well friends, let's have it settled tonight As to where we're going, it's so important. There's nothing more important than the history of your life than have the matter of your soul salvation settled the question your sins put away through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. God now, now commandeth all men everywhere to repent because you have the point of the day in which you will judge this world in righteousness by that man, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Oh friends, He loves you. Christ died for you. The whole world has incurred the penalty of sin, which is death. But there is redemption. In Christ Jesus. There's a Savior available to night. Friends, do not turn him down. Do not say no to him. Open that heart of yours and let him in. Go on your way, rejoicing in the knowledge that your sins are forgiven, the questions being settled, and now your pace with God.
Because by nature remember you are at enmity with God. What a solemn position to be in. And not only that, as an unbeliever you are condemned already. Condemned already.
What a solemn position, just awaiting the execution of God's judgment upon you. Condemned already? I haven't condemned you. God has.
I was in a for a haircut some time ago, and the Barber said he's a churchgoer. He goes to the method of driving. I forget to know exactly which church anyway, and he said the person was telling us that.
God doesn't frown upon sinners, doesn't frown upon sin. Neither should we.
He doesn't condemn sinners. God doesn't condemn sinners, he said. We should. Well, is that true?
How are we going to prove what he said by John Three? Maybe just turn to it.
Verse 18 John 318 He that believeth on him is not condemned.
That he that believeth not is condemned already. The person says God doesn't condemn the Senate. What does the Bible say? What does God say? He that believeth not is condemned already, friend, Is that your position tonight?
How dare you put your head on the pillow tonight when you know you're away from God in your sins and hell is just ahead judgment waiting for you, friend.
But there's someone else waiting for you. The blessed Savior is waiting to receive you, and He wants to save you tonight. He wants to bless you eternally. He wants to put away all your sins. He wants you to help to swell that company in the glory. He says that my house may be filled, and He wants you to fill it.
Will you be there?
May we sing that little hymn?
#13
man, I'm sorry.
Born Again
Gospel—J. Lloyd
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May we begin by singing hymn #7 #7.
Know this little hymn?
Preaches the gospel within itself.
And all this is 1 hymn that.
I left to give out every time I stand up to tell out the good news.
Loved the world of sinners lost and ruined by the fall. Salvation full at highest cost He offers free to all, All towards love, towards oneness. Love the love of God to me. It brought my Savior from above to die on Calvary. Someone started with you.
00:05:43
Maybe we bow our heads in prayer, add some precious ministry here in the last two days, force. And we've had two wonderful gospel messages, Yes. Our brother Saturday night brought before us this sovereignty of God, yes. And a brother last night brought before us the judgment. Yes.
Those will go out of this world without the Lord Jesus and where they would go to.
Has So tonight I'm going to try to speak to you on going to heaven.
Yes. Where you'll go to, you know, there's only two places. You know, I'm talking to the people.
From day-to-day, about where you're going, where you're going when you leave here. That's a good question. Every once in a while you have an opportunity. Where are you going when you leave here?
Well, for a few moments they don't grasp what you mean. Then directly they'll say, well, I don't know, well, where can you go?
Well, almost everybody will tell you there's two places to go. Two places? Yes, there are only two places. Where do we find that? We find it from God's Word, don't we? Sure do. You know, yesterday a day, there was a little track handed to me.
Bye, brother. I think he's still here.
And so I just looked over the hidden of this little track and I find in it.
The Lord Jesus is coming to take all born again Christians to heaven. Arthur, what a wonderful thing that is. Yes, he's coming to take all born again.
Christians to heaven, of course you're a Christian when you're born again. Take all those that are born again to heaven. Now that's a wonderful place, isn't it? Yes. So we'll turn to the most familiar portion to all of us, the third chapter, the Gospel of John. Yes, the third chapter, the Gospel of John. That's where we get that record.
And Saul will look at it tonight.
And.
Yeah, in verse one there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher, come from God, for no man can do these miracles that thou dost except God be with him.
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Accept them and be born again. He cannot see the Kingdom of God. Nicodemus said unto him, How can a man be born when he's old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit.
He cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. That which is born to the flesh is flesh. That which is born to the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I say unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it lists, and thou hears the sound thereof, but cannot tell whence he'd come, or whether it goes. So is everyone that is born to the Spirit.
Nicodemus answered and said.
Unto Him how can these things be? I will go down to verse.
00:10:04
14.
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, Even so must the Son of Man be lifted up at whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. I'd like to tell us for the benefit of the younger ones.
The story went like this.
A country church.
And there was a brother who had been there.
And had pastored this for many years.
And the boys and girls there.
Had heard him since childhood.
And they had grown up, got larger, larger.
Every time this old brother would get up to speak, he would come across the phrase he must be born again.
Yes. Or whether it was Sunday school, or whether it was the morning preaching. Whether it was the night.
Well, a group of the young boys, they heard him there all their lives, and so they decided that perhaps it had just grown such a habitless brother that he didn't realize what he was saying.
They didn't want to hurt his feelings. They all loved him.
So they talked about it a while. They decided that two or three of them would get together and just.
Call his attention to it.
And remind him of it.
So they did. So they called this brother out and told him that my brother, we're all lucky and we wouldn't hurt your feelings for anything in the world, but we just wanted to call something to your attention that perhaps you don't realize.
So they said, you know, every time you get up to speak to us or anything while you come across this craze, you must be born again.
Why did you do it?
Well, the old brother stood there for a second or two and looked down, and he raised up and says he must be born again.
So that's why deny to ever get into heaven, you've got to be born again.
Sure is. He must be born again.
I went into a hall once and I saw over the door of it.
Bowling once and die twice.
Born twice and die once. Well, how true that is, Yes, You know, one that's not born again will never do anything but die.
That's right.
Because death starts off with you in this scene.
We look at these nice little babies and how beautiful and innocent they are, but just think that death is trailing right on with them and it's going to overtake them one day. Yes, it will. It's going to tell. It will take you one day and it's certainly going to overtake the speaker too one day. Yes, it is. But then if you go on without the Lord Jesus.
All you're doing is dying. And you know, here lately I've thought about those that die without the Lord Jesus. What happens to them?
They just.
Die, die, die and die. That's right.
Tracked, you go into a place of death.
That's right. Oh, what an awful thing it is. Yes.
But if you turn to the Lord, yes.
Receive the Lord Jesus Christ.
Then you can't do anything but live, live and live. What a wonderful marriage. Yes, what a difference.
00:15:02
You know, often say to the men in the jail.
The difference between heaven and hell.
Is not how good you've been or how bad you've been.
That's what we have taught all around us today. If I'm a good fellow, yes. Why then?
I'm all right, but if I'm a bad feller, I'm all on them.
You know, there's an expression in the world today.
And it's firmly believed that when the judgment day comes, my bad works will be put over here, my good ones over here. And if my bad ones outweigh the good ones, well, then I dump off in the pit. Yeah. But if my good ones outweigh the bad ones, then I go up to heaven. Yeah.
Well, you know, that suits the old nature. They'd like to think that I'm, as a fellow said to me once, be careful there. I'll have to go to step over. Phone imbalances there for you. Yeah.
So. But that isn't true. That isn't true at all. Oh no. The difference between heaven and hell is the Lord Jesus Christ.
That's right, the Lord Jesus Christ.
I might have told this before, but during the war I worked with a fellow. He was a fine fella.
And I talked to him yellow every day about the Lord.
And he'd been raised in a Christian home.
And I told him he needed the Lord his Savior.
And he would repeatedly say to me, I've got to do something.
Why he meant by works.
Our brother Gladding said last night they didn't believe there was any good works that the Sinner could do. But I don't believe there is either in the sight of God. But the show is in his own eyes. Yes, his show is in his eyes because he never has done nothing bad.
It's all good so.
And so he would point out here, I've got to do this, I've got to do that, got to do this. And I would say to him, Jack, you can do everything. You know what to do.
As long as you want to do it and leave the Lord Jesus out be lost, you be lost.
Yes, how true that is. So we live in a day when people were all around us, and you young people are not shielded from it, no more than anyone else. Yes, you'll hear it that you got to do something. Yes, good to be saved, but you know Christ died for sinners. Yes, I come not to call the righteousness, but Sinner.
So here's your night. We have a record of a man. No doubt he was a good fellow.
I have no doubt. But what if you had known Nicodemus in his lifetime? You would have known, as my father used to say, a high toned gentleman. You're welcome. You would have known a man that kept every bit of war went right along with it. A man that you couldn't point your finger at. Not at all. He was a model and an upright man.
We've got no words to doubt it at all, because we find that the Lord says to him, I didn't read that verse. Art thou a master or a teacher in Israel?
That's where you find any waltz. But we find something else about Nicodemus.
And that is, and what a glorious thing it is. He came to Jesus. He came to Jesus. Well, He come to the right source to get the right information as what to do. And I want to tell you tonight, if you're without the Lord Jesus Christ, if you'll come to him, it makes no difference on how feeble way you come, you'll get the right instructions.
You'll get the right way because he says in John 14th of John and verse six, I'm the way. I'm the way only not a wonderful thing. I'm the way. So we find that Nicodemus was a ruler. He says here are the Jews and but he came to Jesus by night.
00:20:24
Well.
He was in the darkness. He couldn't have come no other way.
No doubt it's dark like it is outdoors.
But every sinners in the darkness.
He never comes to the light until he comes to Christ.
Because scripture says of those that are saved, you pass from darkness unto light.
Pass from darkness under light. And what a wonderful thing it is to pass from darkness under light.
Now Nicodemus.
Was not satisfied with what he had.
Are you satisfied with what you got?
Now, you may be going on with something that seems all right and seems good, yes.
Now, many years ago, Preacher Wright used to use this phrase. I never did like it. It may be all right to live by, but it won't do to die by.
I didn't like that phrase. I never thought that something that wasn't all right to live by wasn't all right to die by.
Oh, I've got it reversed. It wasn't good enough to die by. It wasn't good enough to live by.
So Nicodemus wasn't satisfied, and you know, that's a wonderful state to come in and become dissatisfied.
Yes, now you know, as long as our Sinner is satisfied in the state he's in, why then are you not going to change him? No, he has to realize that he's a lost Sinner. And a dear old Brother Ryan says not only a lost Sinner, but a helpless lost Sinner. Brother Ryan says Satan will tell you you are sinners.
Satan will tell you your Sinner, but Satan will never tell you you are lost, helpless Sinner. Oh yeah.
So we must realize that we're not all lost, but we are helpless and we have to come to someone else for a source of help. So now here's a story that was told long before our saved, long before I was saved.
Brother Scott had lived it wrong. I suppose there's some in here. Couldn't remember Brother Scott.
Brother Scott was from Winnipeg, Canada. I'll never forget that. Yeah, Winnipeg, Canada.
And he preached the Gospel faithful that Rome.
In my father's home, you know, we had a he had the house built a great big room. He was built in an oxygen shape like that.
Well, the Hell Gospel meetings there every year held a series of them, and then periodically on Sunday nights while the room would be packed, Brother Scott would preach the gospel there. Brother Scott used more illustrations in the gospel.
Than any other one I ever heard preach the gospel in my life. Yes.
And many of those illustrations still linger in my mind.
And this is one of them.
And it comes to mind tonight.
There was a man on board of a vessel.
And he was very unruly and I couldn't get him to obey the orders.
And so they would take him and put him down in the Brig.
Put him down there and keep him so long. Take him out.
00:25:01
So they, they, they he'd go right back and disobey again. They put him back and put him on bread and water and things.
Didn't help with that.
Soil, one fellow suggested.
That they open the Hatch in the bottom of the ship down there, a hole what goes down under where the blast floor is, and put him down there where there's nothing but just old scummy water, you know, and creeping things and and dark and all. And maybe that would bring him to himself.
So the captain said, well, we've done everything else, let's try that too.
So they did that, put him down in that hole and he stayed down there a while and well, you're willing to obey orders and, and straighten up. I'm all right.
Well, they kept him down there several hours longer. Oh, he was all right. The captain got a little uneasy about it.
No stamp down there, so one of the other sailors says captain.
Let's bring a light and drop down there and let him see where he's at, yes?
So when the light shone down then he saw what a tolerable place he was in.
All those creeping things, all that squirmy water. He began to yell and cry. Yes, I'm willing to obey, yes, I'm willing. Yes, let me out. And I want to tell you now, if you are lost without Christ here tonight, let the light shine into your heart and soul. Yes, it will show you the place you're in, the position you're in. Until the light shines in, you'll never see.
Or don't close your heart, don't close your mind to the gospel of the grace of God. Don't close your ear to that little quiet, still voice that speaks to your heart and soul. But I want to tell you, man, I speak no more and I speak no more. None of us, none of us have a promise of tomorrow. How that has been stressed here. None of us have a lease on life.
None of us.
Have got a promise that will get home tonight. But is it? Dear brother said yesterday he didn't be home in the glory. Can you say that? Can you say that? Oh, what a wonderful hope there is for the believer. So Nicodemus here, he was unsatisfied. He wasn't satisfied with what he had. No, the law could never save nobody.
Could never take you to heaven. No, it couldn't give you a life here on this scene. Yes, give you a life here. But you had to be under a string always. But the Lord wants to give you life eternal in a place of perfect perfectness. Straighten it down. Oh, what a wonderful thing. So Nicodemus came to Jesus. Came to Jesus.
This is one of the three nights in Scripture. Surely you know three nights. One of them is when Judas betrayed the Lord and he went out.
Star was nice.
Helen, this man built a barn, you know.
Yeah, he had plenty.
So, so take thieves. Thou hast much goods laid up for many years. What's the answer to it? Yes.
Yes, this night thy soul shall be required to be.
What if that is said of you? Yes, and I'll tell you if you haven't come to the Lord.
You're still in the night. It'll be a required audience in the night. You'll never be in the light. You'll never know what light is. Never know. So now, though, as Nicodemus, he talks to the Lord here, You know, he knew there was something about the Lord that was different. He could see it. Yes, he could see it.
So then.
00:30:00
Hey, ask the Lord a question, but the Lord doesn't get in discussion with us. And so the Lord said to Nicodemus, I got to be a chain. I got to be a chain.
He must be born again. All that was news to him. He never heard of it. Never heard of it. And one of the first things Nicodemus does starts reasoning. Starts reasoning. Is that what you've been doing for many years? That's what I did.
I read yes, put it off.
I'll tell you there's a menu. Soul, menia soul in a lost eternity because they put it off one day too long. Put it off, put it off as I've told before.
One night is us going out of the jail many years ago used to go up there on the top floor. You know, they locked you up in it.
And then when you got through speaking, you had to shake on the door and.
Then wait till the jailer got through whatever he's doing and come unlock the door and let you out.
Well, I'd spoke to the men that night.
Fellow that I'd known a long time.
And he was there.
And I began and had to wait him again to talk to him.
I put my arms around him and said Bud, he was there for drinking. It ruined a life with drink, yes.
He was one of the best shoe salesman.
And every sold a pair of shoes and at once a business of his own.
They drank it up. He got a job, he couldn't hold it, drank it up.
And of course he wound up there. That's what sin does for you boys and girls.
It never stops taking you down till it gets you down in the lake of fire. That's what sin does for you.
So poor bud. I put my arms around him. He told me what he wanted to do. He lost his family, he lost his wife and children had left him. He didn't have anything.
And I said, God, what you need is the Lord. Won't you take the Lord a Savior?
And I pleaded with him there, I suppose, for 10 or 15 minutes. So I'll tell you what I'll do, John.
I'll take him next Friday night.
I'll take Jesus next Friday night, I said. But I might get back next Friday night.
The Lord might come from this Friday.
I take him now, but take him now.
No, he said. John, I tell you I'll take him next Friday night. You come back. I'll take you next, Bud. You end up be it.
Well, I went out to lock the door. I'll see you next Friday night.
On a Saturday night, they carried him out of that jailhouse. This is dead as he is right now.
Where he is, I don't know.
Or I trust that he took Jesus to save you. Don't put it off. Don't put it off.
Nicodemus didn't put off coming to Christ. He didn't put off coming to Jesus. Don't put it off if you are here tonight without the Lord Jesus. No, it's a sad and solemn thing because as we talk together there last night, few of us brothers got together. What an awful place.
Hell is the lack of what an awful place it is, Yes.
So now we must go on. So he says to him, except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.
Nicodemus said unto him, How can a man?
Be born again when he's old, can he enter the second time into his mother's womb and be born began to try to figure it out? Yes, don't do that. Don't do that. You can't figure it out. It's faith that saves you, not reasonable. Yes, faith that saves you. For by grace always saved through faith that not of ourselves. It's a gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. Jesus answered and.
00:35:05
Verily, verily, I say unto thee.
Except a man be born to water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.
The first thing, you can't see it.
You're not born again.
You can't see the beauties of Christ.
You don't know what there is for the believer.
Oh no, how people today would like to know of the things of the Lord, how they would like to enjoy what the believer enjoys, but they don't want Christ. They don't want him. But you can't have it without it. You can't have it. And so the Lord says, and you cannot enter the Kingdom of Walt. You can't get in either.
You can't get in.
Now you know I want to pause right here on this verse.
Because down our way, and I suppose they're here too, we have those that teach.
That unless you are baptized, you can't be saved.
And this is one of the verses they use, you know, Yes.
Well, I want to tell you, except a man be born to the water and I start talking about this water that I got in this glass or something like it. That's what I've got in this glass, as you children learn, is age too old.
But he's talking about the water of the Word. Yes, what the Spirit of God can take and apply to your heart and soul. Convict your conscience. The Word of God. He'll never use nothing else. Yes, the Word of God. And so it's the Word.
Except for this and the water and the Spirit, you cannot enter the Kingdom of God.
Nicodemus was a Jew and Nicodemus no doubt was looking for the Kingdom of God. Nicodemus heart was set on being in the Kingdom of God. Yes. Now are your heart set on going to heaven?
And all my talking, as far as I can remember, I never talked about one man that didn't believe there was no heaven. I've talked to plenty. They didn't believe there's any hell. But I've only talked to one that didn't believe there was neither one.
That's right. Well, I want to tell you the same book that tells you one tells you the other. Try. Without the word of God, we wouldn't know anything about either one.
So then why should we believe about one and not the other?
So.
Nicodemus here, but looking forward to going to the Kingdom.
Now you can take a canvas of this group of people, or any group of people and ask them do they want to go to heaven? And you'll find everybody wants to go to heaven. And 99% of everybody, whether they're saved or lost, are expecting to get to go to heaven when they die.
That's right.
For some way or another, they believe that God is going to let the gap down and let him in.
But that's not true. That's not true. Not at all.
And so.
Nicodemus now God was telling him the Lord was there had to be a change and there had to be a change in you and in me if I get to heaven. That's right.
I'm speaking about now in the natural way, thank God, 30 some odd years ago there was a change took place in me, yes.
And I trust that there has been in everybody in this room. But if there hasn't been a change, don't go out that door tonight without it. Don't do that. Don't do that, no.
Soul.
The Lord says to him, that which is born to the flesh is flesh, and it will always be there.
They'll always be there.
00:40:01
Now we know that there's every move on hand today to reform the flesh.
The old man. But the old man is not going to do a thing in the world, but die under the judgment of God.
It is certainly pointed out here that it was under the judgment of God. Yes, He's going to die under it. And if you stay that way, you'll die hungry and be hungry for all eternity. What a sad thing. What a sad thing. Oh yes, now that's why the Lord Jesus said to Nicodemus.
One time, not two times.
But three times? Oh yes, in the mouth of two or three witnesses.
Every word should be established. Scripture tells, oh, what a what a marvelous thing here that this is recorded three times. He must be born again. It's an important thing. It's an important thing. And how important it is. That which is born to the flesh is flesh, and that which is born to the Spirit is spiritual.
Two definite separate things. Oh yes.
Oh yes, we had pointed out here to us.
That there was who was it still about the dogs? Yes, The Indians. About the dogs in US, Yes. Two natures in us, yes, sure is. And so now if we're going to get to heaven, he must be born again.
He must be born again because.
The only people that have ever been there.
As sinners born again, that's all.
The only folks who will ever be there is born again, because in heaven God has got a family.
Got a family, that's what it is, and it's made-up of lost souls.
Washed in the precious blood of Jesus, the only way into the family of God.
Is to be born into that family. Now how simple this is. The Lord Jesus took one of the most simplest and the most common things to explain to Nicodemus how to get to heaven.
Try. There has been a change in most everything.
That man is done on Earth.
Except the way of being born into this world.
Attract. Yes. We've all come down the same channel. Yes. No difference. And I want to say to you, there's no difference in me, you or anyone else. Get into heaven. We have to be born again. They must be a change. Yes, there is not a reform.
Not a doing over. God doesn't take the old nature and do it over. Not at all.
Not any part of it is going to be there. Not any part of it. This brother sitting right here said to me, it's supper table later night. I believe it is there after 1000 years of the millennial ring. Perhaps he said it this afternoon here. I just thought about that. After 1000 years of the millennial reign, the old nature will not be changed one bit. It'll still at the end of that marvelous rain of almost heaven on earth, it'll rise up against God.
Yes, if you couldn't change a person in 1000 years, there's no change. No change.
So the old nature won't change. Got to be born again, yes.
God will have no product. He's got it brand new, brand new. Oh, what a marvelous thing. So that's what he says. That which is born to the flesh is flesh, and that which is born to the Spirit is Spirit.
00:45:05
Marvel not that I say unto thee, it's a personal thing. A personal thing.
Yes, ye must be born again. This is one of the must. In the Bible there's several arms, but this is one of them. No other way. My name is Lloyd.
61 years ago I was born in the low Ed family.
That's right.
And there's no possible way for me to get out of it.
And I want to say to you, there's no possible way for you to get in it either.
No, the only Ave. into the Lord family is by birth.
Unless you were born in it, you cannot get into it.
I ran into one of the most remarkable examples of that back during the winter.
There was a man had a tractor, we did some work on it or something, doesn't it?
And so he was a man about 50 years old.
I'm at 50 years old.
And I talked to him. He was there for several days.
And I talked to him about the Lord.
I asked him if he was saved.
He said no. He began to give me up a nice routine of how he had lived and what he had done.
Then I brought up to him, Ye must be born again.
That you cannot get in there without being born again.
A brand new start being a new God doesn't want the old.
So I used the illustration just what I've done the only way in.
You know, he says.
My name is not Dingler.
Ask Newham is Mr. Dingler. He'd give me checks and sign his name. Mr. Dingler. I got money on the checks, Mr. Dingler and I said, well, he's Mr. Dingley.
But I've got two tongue, tongue, he told me. It was tears in his eyes. He says I've never had anything that fits so in all my life, he says. You know, my name's not Dingler.
He told me at best, I remember his name was Wilson.
Because when I was born.
Why my mother was a dingling.
My father was a Wilson.
And my father was.
Drafted in the army.
As a young doctor.
And he stayed in the Army World War 2 until he was about six or seven years old.
And then?
When he came back out of the army.
My grandfather wouldn't give me up and so my mother and my father had to live in the house with them.
Are you gonna leave me there?
And says they wouldn't live there. My father and my mother just gave me to my grandfather.
My grandfather is named Dingler and said I took on the name Dingler but says I'm not a dingley and I can't get in the dingler family. No there was only one way. Well I trust.
That it reached his heart and conscience, I don't know, but I'll tell you what. He talked to me with tremble, with tears in his eyes. That is nothing that ever explained it. So in his life doing it, no, there was no way into the dingler family thing.
There's no way into the family of God for you.
00:50:03
Unless you are born again.
Yes, there's no possible chance for you to ever go to heaven without being born again.
No possible chance.
Yes, you may reform, You may change. You may live the most perfect moral life of anyone in your community.
And all of that. But that won't take you into the presence of a holy and a righteous God. No, it won't. There's no place there for the old nature. Not at all. When we are born again, we have a brand new start.
Yes, a brand new start.
Beginning a new life, and that life is found in Christ Jesus. God's beloved Son certainly is. Oh, what a wonderful thing, what a wonderful thing it is to know from the Word of God that you're one of the Lord, that you've been born again and on your way.
To help, yes.
We sing that hymn. Grace and judgment are behind us all. If I got it wrong in it.
Death and judgment are behind us. Grace and glory is before us all. What a wonderful thing. Yes, death and judgment are behind us. Yes. But I'll tell you, if you haven't been born again, it's death and judgments in front of you. Yes, in front of you. That's all the whole world has got to look for.
Of all the lost sinners got to look for is death and judgment. What an awful thing. What an awful thing. I'll tell you it's a good thing. You know the men in the jail, they all drooping on and feeling bad, and you can reach them very easily. Say, what does life hold for you anyway?
I want to say to you tonight.
Does life hold for you anyway?
Without your hope in Christ, what would it hold for you?
Colossians.
Says to us, Christ in you is the hope of glory. If you haven't got Christ in your heart and soul tonight, I want to say to you from God's word, you haven't got any hope for glory.
No, no real hope.
No, you may as I said a while ago.
The outer appearance may be fine.
Out appearance may be fine and how sad it is as we go about today to talk to real fine people, but to realize in your soul and to believe they've never been born again, what a sad, sad thing.
Now as we will close, I want to go down to this last portion, and this will tell us, yes, how we can be born again. Why? And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness.
Even so, must the Son of Man be lifted up?
Another must hear yes, before I could have that new nature, before I could be born again, before I could be on my road to heaven, there must be one would come down and pay the price to God for my sins. Yes, it was. And I want to say to you, the Lord Jesus Christ, God's beloved Son, was willing to leave the heights of glory.
Yes, leave the heights of glory and his dear old Doctor Dashwood could bring out, he would pray out to die dams of glory. I can't bring it out as he did, but you could just sit down, listen to him of what the Lord will the Lord lost.
Before he left it, he come down into this scene. When he come down here, he come down into sinning wool. That's what he did, Sin on every side, on every turn. That's what you see today. That's what he come. He left that place. He came down here and took a place as a babe in the Manger and grew up into this world and there went to the cross of Calgary.
00:55:13
Yes, and allowed man to lift him up. Lift him up? That's what they did as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness. 21 Numbers 21 tells us about it. Yes, Even so, must the Son of Man be lifted up? What for? To pay the price to God for my sins and yours, that we could be fit for that place.
Where he come from? Where he come from, yes. So must the Son of Man be lifted up. And that isn't all of it. Yes, that whosoever. Oh, you know.
Many years ago.
I was laying on a couch and reading the precious word of God.
Had I run across that word whosoever.
You know, I just rejoiced in souls for quite a while.
Because that took me in. You know, there was a time that you and I were left out, Yes, left out. But that takes you in tonight, Sinner friend. If you're here without Christ, yes, you're taken in. Whosoever believeth in him should not perish. And they're mixing up, but whosoever believeth in him.
Should not perish, but have eternal life, Yes. Not dying now, are you? No. No. If you've received the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, when you receive him as Savior, you're born again. Yes, you're born into the family of God. Then you have life, Life and life. Yes, never without it.
What a precious thing.
So in closing, I'll say again say be one here.
That's without the Lord Jesus tonight. Take him. Don't put it off. Don't put it off because.
Because we have no promise that any of us will get home.
So may we sing hymn #35, hymn #35.
Oh.
Four Anchors
Genesis 13:13