Lawrenceville Conference: 1997
Table of Contents
Doing What You Are Told
Philippians 3
Reading
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Like the Council to take up Philippians Chapter 3.
Someone read it for us please.
Chapter 3.
Finding my brother rejoice in the Lord to write the same thing to you, to me, and he is not evil, but for you is They were a dog, you were an evil workers, you were the decision. For we are the circumcision which worship God and spirit and rejoice in Christ. Jesus often have no confidence in the bless. So I might also have confidence in the flash of any other man thinking that he has where else he might trust in the flesh armored.
35G Day of the dark of Israel, of the tribes of Benjamin and Hebrew of the Hebrews, as touching the law of Pharisees, and turning the zeal for executing the church, touching the righteousness which is in the law blameless. But what things were gained to me, those iconic laws for Christ, J Dollars. And I found all things but laws for the Excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord.
The loss of all things, and you count them but young that I may win right, and be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, But that was just through the phase of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, the fellowship of his suffering, being made his warnful unto his death. If by any means I might have been under the resurrection of the dead, not as though I had already attained either, we're already perfect.
But I follow after that I may apprehend them. We call why an apprehended of Christ? Because.
Rather than I found out myself to have apprehended, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth on those things which are before I breath for the mark for the prize and the high, calling God in Christ Jesus. But therefore, as many as be perfect, he does mind it, and if in anything he'd be otherwise lying through, God shall reveal this unto you.
Nevertheless, where do we have already obtained Let's Walk by the same rules. Let us find the same thing, brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them with walk those you have offering sample for many water whom I hold you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the Cross, right? Whose answers destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, reminders everything.
For our conversation is in heaven from one where we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. We shall change our vile by fashion, like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
As we all know, the epistle to the Philippians is a very practical epistle, not so much the unfolding of doctrine as the occupation of the heartless person, the Lord Jesus, as the one who is our life, our example, our object and our strength. For the whole Christian pathways. And I think the Spirit of God is ordered that it should be between Ephesians and Colossians.
Because of we have the precious truth of the Church brought before us in Colossians, we have the headship of Christ brought before us, and in between we have this precious epistle that it might become practical to us. Because, brethren, just knowing doctrine will never keep us, never cause us to rejoice just knowing doctrine, but being enjoyment of the person is blessed One who is the head of the body, the church head overall things to the Church.
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It's the practical enjoyment of him and walking with him before us, with the hope of seeing him as we have at the end of this chapter that sustains us in the pathway. I just mention this because I think it's very precious that the spirit of God has ordered that in the way the Bible is put together. This should come between Ephesians and Colossians and should make Christianity not just a matter of knowledge, but a practical thing, a person who fills our hearts and lives.
God knows that everyone of us need enough. And the object you have that I have before me controls where I go and what I do. And God has given us these two creams, the perfect topic, Christ and glory. There is one man that finished the course. He is there just as you begun the course and I begun the course. We will end up there, but what will help us along the way is to have our eyes picked upon him there.
Paul here gives us a wonderful example of the fact that happiness and joy for a believer is not a set of circumstances. This is really the epistle of joy. But who would expect it to be written in prison? His circumstances were as bad as they could be. And yet we've got joy in this epistle 16 to 17 times. Join rejoicing. And I think it's beautiful to see that Paul wants us to know that joy never changes.
If your object and your eyes are on Christ, he says in the second chapter, fulfill ye my joy. Verse two, what would still have false joy? Well, if the people of God, his brethren, were going on according to the will of God in the mind of the Lord, that would fill up his joy even in prison. And so I just mentioned that he's showing us it's not a question of circumstances in our life, brother. It's Christ in our hearts.
And we in Christ that makes the difference, we have to keep an eye on him, to have that joy no matter what the condition is.
To see Paul's circumstances is really helpful because it adds really weight to what Paul says here when he says rejoice in the Lord here. To realize that he was perhaps in the lowest of circumstances that was humanly possible because the prison he was in was not like a prison that you, some of us have had the privilege of visiting today. I had the privilege of being in the new prison that they built in Bermuda in the last couple of years, and it's a fine facility compared to the prison cell that falls.
Often wrote from. And so it really adds weight to what is said here. And I often have contrasted 2 men in Scripture in this connection, because I've often thought, suppose Solomon in the Old Testament, who didn't withhold himself from any pleasure, who sat on the throne of Israel when it was at its pinnacle of human glory, and had all that his heart could desire. Suppose he had written rejoice in the Lord. Well, you'd say, of course he had everything his heart could desire, But what does Saul on the?
Solomon on the throne of Israel, Write.
Vanity and vexation of spirit. He tried it all. He had everything that was possible as far as circumstances in this life, but he writes across it that it was all empty and void. But the post Paul here had written. Vanity and vexation of spirit, we should say. Of course he didn't have anything anyway. He was in the lowest of circumstances. But it was just the opposite. Solomon who tried everything and all the pleasure of this world. He writes across it that it was vanity and vexation. But the Apostle Paul in these circumstances he writes to these believers who are in the joy of salvation.
And he says to them, rejoice in the Lord what weight it must have given to these words that he penned by inspiration as his brethren realized where he was writing this from. And I believe that it's good to see it. You take up a book to see the circumstances in which the writer was placed by God before he was used to pin the book by inspiration. Because I believe that it often adds weight and really magnifies what the spirit of God had for them. Depend.
We must remember Solomon failed grossly. Paul kept the faith and finished the course. That is really important, President.
I was thinking of this expression finally. My brethren, rejoice in the Lord, and I was thinking of that expression in the book of Nehemiah. The joy of the Lord is your strength. I believe in this. It's practical, shall I say, on our side. That is, what more could we have in this whole world than just rejoicing in the Lord? We may have nothing, as our brother has said, but we always have the Lord, and we can always rejoice the unsearchable riches of Christ.
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But I believe that verse, perhaps a little misunderstood at times. In Nehemiah, it says there the joy of the Lord is your strength. And I believe that's the other side. It's the Lorde joy in us that is brought before us in that verse. And that's a very precious thing for our souls, brethren. That is, that the Lord is finding His joy and seeing a company like this who comes apart from the world and are just sitting here to receive His words and to enjoy what He has for us.
The Lord finds joy in that, you might say. Well, just how does that fit to it, that the Lord is finding joy? Well, here, if you look back at that, we won't take time to look at it. In Nehemiah they were weeping. There was a sad condition existing among the people of God. They hadn't responded to the Lord's claims, just as we often have to confess that we don't. And yet the prophet could say, or at least Nehemiah could say.
The joy of the Lord is your strength.
Just compared it. Like supposing someone asks you to their home for the evening, but it turns out to be a very, very stormy evening. And you say, oh, it's such a bad night. Surely they'll understand if we don't come because it's such a bad night tonight. And while we're talking about it, the phone rings and they they're on the phone and they say please don't let the weather. India, we're really looking forward to having you. We really have planned a happy evening. We'll miss you so much. If you're not there, what happens?
A new shot of strength, you say. We've got to go. No matter what the weather is like. We've got to go. And that is the point rather than that verse we could well reap. If we thought of the condition of the people of God in our own too, we could well weep as we think of the trials the Lord is allowed among us. But isn't it blessed the thing that the Lord finds his joy and a few people who want to come together just to be occupied with him, to listen to his words?
And in the second thing we ourselves. Then you go for this evening, and you say, that was the happiest evening you ever had. You go, and you enjoy it too. So he says Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. So isn't it lovely to think the Lord's joy in us, and our joy responding? Shall I say we find our joy in him? And this is the exhortation to us given in this first verse, I believe.
Finally, my brethren here is connected with joy and rejoicing. 6 We'll find that finally, my brethren, there.
And instead of following with rejoice in the Lord, it says Be strong in the Lord.
Power of his mind. It's practical there and for us it compared to the.
Heavily positioned that we enjoy in Christ before we get there.
And it compares in the patients to the book of Joshua where they were going into gain control of the land and they had to.
Walk on the land in order to possess it and enjoy it. So they were going to be strong in the Lord and the power is mighty put on the whole armor of God. That is very practical and very necessary for us in that position that seemed brought into the heavenly position in Christ Jesus. But here is the person that is the object before us and it reminds one of first John. We might just turn to 1St John.
What that apostle brings before us.
He brings the person before us immediately in First John.
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon in our hands, have handled of the word of life.
Now notice the second verse where the lifeless manifested.
In these verses, the Apostle is bringing before us the weed, as those who broke to us through the Word what they had personally in walking with Jesus.
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For the life was manifested, while the apostle saw it, we have seen it we, and bear witness, and showing you that eternal life which was with the Father, was manifested unto us.
Think of what you and I have got through the apostles ministry that goes on that which we have seen and heard declare We under you. Don't you want to know it? Don't we want to know it? That he also may have fellowship with us, That the apostles fellowship and that agent is the next. Truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. These things are still true brethren, but the next verse of what I wanted to get.
And these things rightly under you that your joy might be good. There's the joy in rejoicing, and again it's the person of Christ brought before the soul. That's the goal that will help us through the circumstances to get into in the normal Christian.
Experience what we get in the Epistle of Philippi. This is normal Christianity and there is a full supply for us to carry us through. Hassle, hassle, rejoicing in the Lord.
Paul says it wasn't grievous to write these things to you, wasn't grievous for him. It didn't make him sad that he's in the prison and they're out there free and walking around, he says If you find your joy in the Lord, if you have everything in him in your life, that's safe for you.
They are safe. And brethren, that's the only way we can be kept. We can't be kept. We can't keep ourselves. It's the Lord that keeps us. We know how many are not here anymore. Why? Well, I believe they lost sight of Christ. You know, he's in our midst with the Lord. He's everything. And what was wrong with the Corinthians in the Second Corinthians? I think it's 11Th chapter.
You have left, I think, is the thought, the simplicity.
That is of Christ. That's it. They were bringing in everything else. And brethren, he says for you, it's safe. And if we minister Christ wherever we are, Old Testament anew, it doesn't matter. It's going to be Christ. We have our joy because the Spirit of God makes sure that's going to happen if we're occupied with Christ.
And we ought never to apologize for the repetition of the truth, because I think this little expression to write the same things is very, very important to see, because the apostle never apologized for ministering Christ over and over again.
The brother who suggested this chapter had no hesitation about giving out a chapter that we often take up on an occasion like this, because we need to have these things right before our hearts and our consciences over and over and over again. When the apostle Peter wrote to the Saints in the second epistle, he said, I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though you know them, he says. I know you already know these things, you've heard them many times, and not only that, but he doesn't be established in the present truth.
He said, you're even going on in some measure in these things. But he says, I'm not going to neglect to bring these things to you again and again. And the apostle John said no new commandment right I unto you, but that which ye have received from the beginning. When Jude wrote of appalling days of apostasy and giving up, what did he say? He said that he earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the Saints. In other words, these ones who rose by inspiration said, don't look for something new, because what we have in Paul's ministry, we have nothing beyond that.
It's all been given. And, brethren, we need to be on our guard. I know I've said this many times, but for those of us who are younger here, we need to be on our guard. If someone comes along and tells us they have some new truth or new revelation, we need to be very, very careful. God never gave fresh light at the end of a dispensation. It's a principle with God that he always gave light at the beginning of an administration and responsibility connected with that light. And at the end of the dispensation. When man had sailed under that dispensation, then he brought in judgment.
He never gave fresh light. Now it's true there's recovered light during a dispensation. You see that with some of the godly kings like Josiah and Hezekiah, and later on with Zerabavo and Nehemiah, Ezra, Nehemiah and those men that returned after the captivity. But it was a going back to what they had been established at the beginning, not fresh light given. It was going back and acting on that which had been lost and given up When they were there was a revival That was always the reading of the law in the ears of the people and so on, because it was going fast to that which had been established.
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Brethren, it's very, very important. And so I just say we need to make no apology for repeating the truth over and over and over again. And it ought to be. There ought to be an exercise that would be given out in a fresh way and in the power of the Spirit. But we need to stick to the book, because, brethren, if we stick to this book, we won't go wrong and we should believe.
Just like the Lord said to the woman in the 4th of John, woman believed me.
We don't have to apologize for God's words, and I don't think it's right to take up the fact that we should reconcile God's work. It is God's work. It's immutable. It's unchangeable. We don't have to reconcile the word of God. What we've got to do is reconcile ourselves to God. Believe this book.
And that portion a brother mentioned in Second Peter, chapter one, when he says, I will always put you in remembrance of these things, Then he said, though you know them now, notice and you could be established in the present truth. Now the present truth of Peter's day is the present truth of our day. And let's never forget that truth is always the same. It never changes.
The word of God is never changeable. It's the same present truth, and we just feed on it because we need it. And the reason we feed on it again and again is because we're forgetful people. That's why we need it again and again. I I think it'll be time.
Two Christians are talking together after a conference in the one at well, how was the conference? And they said, yes, it was very nice. What did they take up? And the first inventions, what they took up. And the first one said, oh, the same old thing. And I said praise the Lord.
Because that's what we need. If you look at the modern movements which have gained such a following, thousands and thousands following them, it's just what Jim was saying. It's it's not the old truth, it's fresh. It's something new that's not founded on the word of God and it's not present truth anymore, is it? It's an emotional kind of thing. And that's what gains the followers, that's what gains the numbers. So we we must not be discouraged because our numbers.
Are decreasing.
But thankful for those that are still going on in the past that God has marked out for us, it hasn't changed. It's still the same. And the recovered truth of the last century was going back to that which was from the beginning and establishing that which was always in the word of God, but had been neglected and lost through the ecclesiastical rubble that had acquired through the many years. So we're the word of God is our safeguard is in God.
One thing that's important. Have you noticed how often the brothers had mentioned truth? Truth is what we're talking about. The word of God is not necessarily it. System uses the Word of God, but man's thought applied to the word of God. It's not the truth. The truth is only applied and brought to us by the Spirit of God, no other way. And the truth is what we want is based on the words, of course, but many of them use the same scriptures in a different way.
And they do not have the truth. So let's remember that's the important thing, the truth. Could I also mention that the present truth refers to Christianity? There was that which was given under Judaism proper and right for the children of Israel in that time. But now God has given a further revelation of His mind and will. He has made it known in the truth of the Church. And very often the difficulty is not seeing what the present truth is.
That is not seeing that Christianity is not an extension of Judaism. It's an entirely new thing. Just as the Lord Jesus said the new line had to be put into new bottles, he also said that it wasn't a patch on the old, but it was a new, new piece of cloth. And so it's good for us to know what the price of truth is, and so that what we see around us is the mixing of the Old Testament state of things and what God gave to them as an earthly people.
And ourselves as a heavenly. 1 And so the Bible speaks of rightly dividing the word of truth. And I want to make it clear that it's all the truth and was all given of God, and what was necessary for the time in which it was given. But now in Christianity it has been given.
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A very helpful little book written by Charles Stanley. The First Years of Christianity and What is the Church? He takes us back to the beginning, for God always shows his mind, brethren, when he sets up a thing. The failure may come in, but what he has set up is always revealed at the beginning, and he never changes from that. And they asked him about marriage, took them right back to what God made in the very beginning. And so it's well for us to see if we're going to know what true Christianity, what the present truth is.
We go back to what God established in the beginning of the Christian dispensation with the coming of the Holy Spirit. I just mentioned this because a person might hold a verse from the Old Testament right and proper for God's earthly people, but it doesn't apply to us. We need to be established in the present truth.
And if we give up dispensational teaching, then we're going to become confused. And I believe there's many believers today who are completely confused as to our present position and responsibility.
As to the Rapture, as to the Tribulation, why are they confused? Well, if you talk to them, they've given up Dispensational truth. Because if you wipe away Dispensational guidelines as if they don't exist, then what you're really saying is that all Scripture and its strict application applies to us today, and we know that's not true.
Now all scripture is given for our prophet and for there is a present application. But as you say, there are many scriptures that apply to God's dealings with Israel. There are scriptures that deal with His working His judgment in this world in the coming day and His taking up Israel in the coming day. And if you don't see dispensational guidelines, you cannot rightly divide the word of truth or draw straight lines when it comes to the truth. But I'd like to say, just in connection with what Bob said a moment ago too, that the word proof, and it was help for helpful for me when I was a little younger to get a hold of this, that it's always in the singular.
We talk about sometimes people talk about the truths of God's Word, and I know what people mean when they say that, but it's always in the singular. When the spirit of proof is come, he will guide you into all truth. I am the way, the truth and the life. And I believe one of the safeguards is rather than when he take up any portion of the word of God, that we take it up in the light of the whole context. If we do that, we're not going to go astray. Timothy was told to hold fast the formal sound words or an outline of proof.
And so when we hear something in the meeting, the reason I say this is there might be a young person here, and you say, well, sometimes I sit in the meeting or I read my Bible and something comes to me. The Spirit of God reveals something that I never saw before. Well, that may be true, and we can have a fresh enjoyment of these things, and there may be things that we never saw before, but we need to. When we have something brought before us in that way, then we need to be sure that it's in the light of the whole context of the word of God.
If it doesn't fit with the whole pattern of things rather than, we need to be very, very careful and set it aside. I sometimes likened it to a jigsaw puzzle when we were children on a snowy evening. We used to do a lot of jigsaw puzzles and if you take a piece of a jigsaw puzzle and you put it in the wrong place.
Not only he has to force that peace, but nothing around it fits properly. You have to begin forcing other pieces. And I believe that every false doctrine that's ever been propagated, and Christendom is the director indirect result of taking scripture out of his context and building a doctrine on that without taking it up in the light of the whole word of God. So what was the answer with those jigsaw puzzles? Well, we had to go back to the original piece that was put in the wrong place and we had to take that piece out.
And when we took that piece out and put it in the right place, then everything else fit properly. And if someone has to try to force a point to make it fit the pattern of truth, rather it's a red light to us. We need to be careful. We need to have an outline of truth. And I realize you can spend your whole life and still only have an outline, but I believe that it's not very difficult to just have some outline of what the different writers their line of ministry and what they bring before us. I believe it will be a help with to us in taking up any portion of the word of God.
So we have the warning in the next verse, here, chapter verse 2.
Of the attacks of the enemy.
How you would like to take this joy away from us and the truth itself. And there are three of them. Beware of dogs, that shameless evil and the age in which we live. Anybody would disagree that there is shameless evil rampant in Christendom and they're they're evil workers Now that's that's those that bring in full ducks. And the enemy has done that over.
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Over again Paul warned about it. Previous call at her end up staring the block also of your own self, so grievous so men arise seeking her verse.
Full stop to draw away disciples after them. One of the best things that Christians can think of doing is getting together and starting a new church. If you don't find anything that's completely false, Doctor, we're going to be aware of these things and beware of the concision. I suppose that was setting them up.
To go on in Jewish tradition and the rules of men, well, we have to be aware of these things and stay with the truth. I'd like to turn to 1St John chapter 2. Somebody was quoting something of this after the Spirit of God.
He is here. He has written a book. God has given us the book, and the Spirit of God is here to teach us what he is writing in this book. We're here to hear what the fear of God has to say.
And this verse is so clear.
First John 227.
But the anointing of the ocean, now that's the Spirit of God sat down here, which he had. We have the spirit of God.
We see of him a bit of in you. The spirit abides here. We can't drive in the way. We might try to quit him and we might bring him, but he abides, and along with that the truth abides, talking much about the truth and not his children.
The President and in first in the end of Second Corinthians somewhere says we can do nothing against the truth but pour the truth. Whether we don't have to fight for this book, it'll take care of itself. Just read it and believe it. And how are we going to understand it going on with this 27th verse? Again the same the anointing which we have received of him a bit in you and he knew not that any man teach you, not a mere man.
He can use teacher, but the same anointing teaches you. That is the fear that God teaches.
Teaches you of all things. That's the fulfillment of John 16.
And then it says him is true. Who is truth? The Spirit of God is truth.
Let's go to the 6th chapter. The 5th chapter. You'll see that again.
He is true, the 5th chapter in the first John and the sixth verse.
Talking about Jesus manifest as a man, this either came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ not by water only, but by water and blood. That just means that Jesus came a real man. He wanted just words. He wasn't just a spirit, he wasn't just an impression, he had a body.
He came.
And then it goes on, says and it is.
The Spirit that Beareth witnessed. Why? Because the Spirit is true. We have the truth in the spirit of God. We have the truth in the word of God. And Jesus could say, I am the Christian now. We can't do anything against the truth. Get a bite. You're fighting against those. You fight against the truth. You can't do it later. You might tell a lie, but that doesn't do away with the truth. The truth is still somewhere.
And so that they had the Spirit of God. He is true, but we can do something for the truth, brethren. We can help the truth alone. Let's teach, Let's walk in. It is remarkable that that passage you referred to in First John Two is addressed to the babes. Not addressed to mature believers, but to the babes.
And I believe it in connection with the verse you also call attention to in John 16.
And that is, if I might read that again, because I think that those verses are important, versus John 16 verses 13 and 14 I'll be When he the Spirit of truth is come, he shall guide you, he will guide you into all truth, for he shall not speak of himself. But whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak, And he will show you things to come, He shall glorify me, for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.
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And some may have heard me remark this before, but I have often said you can make a simple test of any doctrine that's presented to you by asking Does this line of teaching exalt man or does it exalt Christ? If it exalts men, then it's not of the Spirit of God, because the Spirit of God delights to honor and exalt the Lord Jesus of Christ. And so that's why I believe it's written to babes. I say this because a lot of young people here, and you might say, how am I going to be able to deserve a lot of these things that come up?
Just ask this question. Does this line of teaching exalt man or does it exalt Christ? You'll find with everything that's false, it gives something to man. Just take one simple example of it, the doctrine that many teach that you can be saved and lost. Well, we go to the root of it. Maybe they'll be some perplexing verses that they'll bring before you, but go to the root of it and what is it? It's a little bit of glory for man. That is, the Lord saves you. But now, unless you do your part, you're not going to be in heaven.
He saved you by his grace, but you have to contribute your part or you won't be there.
So you can see that gives glory to man. Take the question of baptism.
Some think that's necessary to salvation. Then I couldn't be in heaven unless a man said certain words over me and put me under the water. That was the completion of my salvation by a man. And so I may not be able to explain all the verses that they bring forward, but I see there's something wrong here.
Preaching is giving glory to man. It's not giving glory to Christ. And I say this for the sake of those who are younger. When people come with these kind of things, get down to the root of it. Does this teaching glorify man or does it glorify Christ? If it's the truth of God, it will glorify Christ that you've been bringing before us, and that's important. And so beware of all those things. Beware of dogs, shameless evil. Beware of evil workers, evil doctrines, the concision. I believe that spiritual pride that you've cut off certain things and you're now doing this and doing that. It's really and a measure is returned to law.
But we are the circumcision. What is the circumcision? It's the knife on self. The children of Israel could not go forward to conquer in the land of Canaan when they entered it until they first lifted the knife on self. God said make sharp knives not for battle with the people of the land, but make the sharp knife for yourself. And when that's been carried out on yourself, then you go forward, counting on the Lord who is the captain of the Lord's host, and he was the one that was going to give the victory.
How wonderful is the word of God. It always gives glory to Christ. What is false brings man in, even if it's only in a little corner. Something that man can glory in, but he's a glorious setting. Glory in the Lord.
Brother, I would just like to add a word of what you had referred to, and to me it is the crux of this portion what we're reading. The fact that when you quoted the joy of the Lord is your strength to get the right perspective there, that it is his joy that in Psalm 104 says the medication of my shall be pleasant unto him.
It all reflects to him and if you have this portion before us and.
And as the young people, if there's anything they do, if it they find that it is joy to him that's going to motivate our heart. But when we have the sense that it is my love or my joy, he's lost his place. It's his joy and his life. And I believe that if he read this portion and please excuse me for making, for coming in here, but I just feel it's so important that we get that sense in our soul. If him, it's his joy and what Paul says in the eighth verse.
In this chapter is that that I may know him, That I may know him well, rather, that's what we need.
One thing to be aware of is how is truth preserved by the Lord among the gathered Saints? Because that's where it is. And you know, it's very important to realize this. It's by the Spirit of truth. That's how it's preserved. And if you realize the spirit of truth, that's the Spirit of God is in each one of us, each one of us. And when one speaks, the others are able to see whether that is according to the word of God in the Spirit.
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And that's a precious thing to preserve truth. Example is second team chapter 4. When they look, the sons of the prophets look to Elijah type of Christ. And she said bring the great plot and one went out and he got together. Gorge, wild gorge. You know, a laptop, not hard to get it out there in Christendom. You get a laptop, you get it at ease, sit down and get it. And he brought it and shred it in the pot. So nobody knew.
Now this happens, brethren. Does that mean we're helpless? Of course not.
Did one discern that there was poison in the spot? By the way? They didn't say poison, they said death, but all of them discerned. There was death in the pot. And when one speaks in assembly and thank God it's true, if we do not give the truth, it's going to be judged. It's going to be corrected.
That's how truth is preserved. They all knew there was death in that life, not just one.
What Bob is saying is so important that I think it shows out in John's ministry in a remarkable way.
Writings and the Epistles. He writes 1 Epistle to the Elect Laden, and her children to my loving the truth. Then he writes the 35th of John to the well beloved Gaius. And there was Demetrius there. Well, those two epistles make much of the truth, and when the situation got so bad, where diastrophe was.
John didn't go there and fix it up. He and he was an apostle. He had apostles authority but he didn't do it that way because it's written for us when we don't have a problem, but we do have the truth. It is the truth that holds the truth. Now we have the truth and the faith. We have the apostles, writings and the prophets writings. We have the word of God and thy word of truth.
So the way for poor brethren in 1997 to be kept?
Is through. The Trojans get obliged and it's strong enough to stand up against any of these evil workers and.
Please don't. And those who set up their own rules and have a moral way to answer questions. But it it won't hold the truth and it won't keep souls, and it won't make you happy. It'll put you under law and a burden. So how wonderful he is. He shall know the truth.
And the truth shall make you free. And this is the most precious thing that we have committed to us down here, to abide in the truth and notice the the word concision and the word circumcision. And the same CISION. They're related words with a different preposition in the front of them. And he says beware of the concision. Now these are the legalists.
These are those that.
Are they were pressing circumcision of the Gentiles because that mark in the flesh they felt made one superior to others. So they were trying to elevate these Christian Gentiles into a superior place in the flesh which they occupied with respect to the Gentiles. In the Old Testament, the Jews were the circumcised ones.
But Paul says beware of that legal spirit. He wrote the whole Epistle to the Galatians to refute that teaching of the circumcision and that they were. He says if he be circumcised, he are debtors to keep the whole law. You can't pick and choose like people do today.
They're going to pick this commandment or that one. If you if you're circumcised, if you're committed to that principle of circumcision that the Jews were pressing, that's the concision. And then Paul says we Christians are the circumcision. What is circumcision really speak of spiritually, a total cutting off and judgment on the flesh. So he said, we Christians are the true circumcision, and those that are pressing it after a physical sort are the concision, and they are not true to the gospel.
And he wrote that whole epistle to the Galatians. He says he desire to get the Gentile circumcised, that he made glory in their flesh. And that's what Gordon was saying. It's something that we can glory in in the flesh. And you look around with and Christensen today and you see.
00:45:13
Just about. And just I shouldn't say just about every false religion, whether it's Christendom or the world, whether it's Hinduism or Mohammedism or whatever, every false religion is based upon the flesh doing something in order to gain God's acceptance. And that's just the opposite to Christianity. That was the principle of Judaism too, and they had to learn that God gave that to show the man that he cannot gain acceptance with himself on that principle.
That's why the law was given. And now we have grace that brings us into blessing. We are the true circumcision, which worship God by the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. The true Circumcision are those that recognize that the flesh profiteth nothing.
So the two words are related, but they mean exactly the same. The opposite things don't. They can and circumstances. Circa means all the way around the circumference. We use that word there, but it's complete cutting off. It's any area.
All the way around there is no place for the clash. Confession itself need to just think of the little word cutting at the flesh. And so they cut acts and make rules and regulations to control the flesh because for them.
Their flesh is not entirely cut off. But to understand our position now in Christ is to recognize that God has set us in a place where he no longer recognizes the flesh in any way, shape, or form.
And he's made this way so wonderful that we can worship Lord and the Spirit, the highest occupation, the greatest joy we can ever have is to worship God in the Spirit. And he wants that. And you can't do that except according to God's way. There was one way to get into the Tabernacle. That was God's word. No other way would work. Typically, it was all there.
Of course it's people couldn't get in there. Well, let's.
Thing was standing, but the type of it was that we have to.
Come God's way, and that's the way of worship today. There are no details into the presence of God to be there because his glory to praise and to worship it has to be God. It's quite simple here in spirit and in truth.
I mean worship God in the spirit of putting out John Four what you want to get to. But there are three things here. It's in the Spirit what you have to have the Holy Spirit and he has to Your spirit has to be in subjective to his spirit. But if you got that, you've got to start. But we've got a person to bring. We don't come empty handed. We've got Christ Jesus to bring him in and worship comes that finally no confidence in the place but that.
Can't get you. Can't get to God.
Anything of the flesh, he won't let it, that no place should glory in his threshold.
So to the woman. The Lord has said the woman believed John four Do we believe God? Do we believe the Lord Jesus? Do we believe this word?
The hour cometh and now is when the true worshippers shall worship God in the Spirit. I better read that to get that let's John fool. Let's look at those words because they go somewhere with what we have here.
John 4.
Yeah, but.
Believe me 21 verse 21 Jesus say it under her woman. Believe me, That's where we start. We believe what the Lord Jesus has put down, believe me. And then he goes on and tells her.
The hour cometh, and when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem.
00:50:01
Worship the Father. Then the Samaritan said he worketh. You know not once they were all mixed up. Error come in way back in the we know what we work. If that is the Jews had a God-given book and they knew God in the type and God accepted them up to the point they believed God.
We know what we worship for salvation is of the Jews. The Lord brought the hour cometh and now is when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth. Now there are those two records you don't get to God in worship. Any other way have to be in by the Spirit and in truth.
The nice thing is coming up.
For the Father seeketh to worship him, we started out with the person of Christ. He's the object before us.
Now God set his object upon us. He isn't exactly asking us for worship. He's wanting us there. He wants his children there to bring the glories of Christ that we've enjoyed and put them in His ears. Wonderful. Thank you, Worship. You need to see the contrast between Judaism and Christianity, because in Judaism they did have those things ordered of God. The Tabernacle was made according to the pattern that was shown to.
Moses on the Mount and Solomon's temple was built according to a pattern given to Solomon by the Spirit. And so that order of things was given to test man in the flesh. Why did God give such a beautiful temple? Why did he give robes? Why did he give all those instructions? Man was under trial previous to the cross. Could anything good reproduce? Would Ban become a worshiper because he had a fine building? Because the singers had white robes? Because they had a multitude of instruments?
Would that make him a true worshipper?
For a nation that had all those things, with the very nation that rejected the Lord Jesus, he walked out of the temple and said, your house is left unto you desolate. And Paul, speaking on Mars Hill, says to the Athenians, neither is worshipped by men's hands as though he needed anything. Seeing he give us to all life and breath and all things, we have to see the difference between Judaism and Christianity. God did give a fine building. He did give roads, He did give musical instruments.
Those things. But now, as our brother is mentioned, he was saying to this woman, there's a new order of things coming in. Neither at Jerusalem, not in this mountain. The true worshippers worship the Father in spirit and in truth. And that's where the new wine is put into the new bottles. That's where the new garment of Christianity comes in. And so as we sang to him in the opening of this meeting, wasn't how well we could sing, it was whether there was true melody and worship in our hearts.
That's what God accepted. That is what is produced by the Spirit. I think it's so important for us to see that it was an order of things given of God in Judaism, but it's entirely set aside in Christianity and as we have.
In Hebrews chapter 13, we go on to Him without the camp. What do we offer? The fruit of our lips? Giving thanks to His name. Outside of our ritual of Judaism, we worship the Father in spirit and in truth. And that's what it was hard for the early believers to get hold of this. They still clung to the old thing, and in much of Christianity they cling to the old saying and even ourselves. Brethren, I say again, isn't how well we can sing. That's whether it comes from the heart, produced in the heart by the spirit of God.
That is true worship.
In that 13th chapter of Hebrews that you mentioned, the conclusion that the spirit of God brings to four both Hebrew Christians is that we have an alternative. Christians have an order at which they serve. The sovereignty will have the right to eat. There is no place in Christianity for bringing in Judaism. That's the conclusion. The Spirit of God constant.
When the Lord said in John Four, as then brought out, the Father seeketh such to worship him in spirit and in truth, That's what we do tomorrow morning and that's what the Father wants. And there's a beautiful thought in numbers. I think it's 28, numbers 28.
00:55:06
Verse one and two.
The Lord spake unto Moses, and what he said in verse two is Give me my prayer.
I put it in my words, command the children of Israel, and say unto them my office, my bread for my sacrifice made by fire, a sweet favor unto me. That's the burnt offering, That's Christ. It's all Christ. And I sort of put it that way on Wednesday morning. He really says, give me my bread, that's what I want. And you know, when we are occupied with Christ, by the Spirit on that, on that wonderful hour.
God gets his bread.
What is do is that's worship.
It's very important to see that because I believe that true worship springs really from a heart that has an appreciation of the person and work of Christ and really what the person and work of Christ means to the heart of God. Sometimes I come on Wednesday morning and if I'm really honest with myself, there wasn't as much worship. There wasn't a response in my heart like perhaps there ought to have been. Why was it? Well, I wasn't in the enjoyment of the person and work of Christ during the week, Brethren, we cannot expect to come on work day mornings and have something to pour out in praise and worship if we haven't been in the enjoyment of the person and work of Christ.
During the week it's unthinkable to think that we can come and sit down at 11:00 on Wednesday morning and then set aside all the cares of the world and all the things that perhaps are our responsibilities and so on. And never having had any thought of Christ during the week, so all of a sudden have a response in our heart. There must be that enjoyment of Christ during the week that we might have something to pour out. It says, let none appear before me empty rather than we ought to be exercised by that verse. Do we come on Wednesday morning? I say it to my own heart. Do I come on, Lord, see morning. And I don't have anything in my basket. I come empty. Brother, may it not be so with us. Why is it? I'm going to speak very practical for a moment.
One is that sometimes when we sit down collectively to worship the Lord on Lord's Day Morning, but there are long pauses at the breaking of bread.
I believe rather more often than not, it's because it's because of our own weakness. We haven't enjoyed the person of Christ individually. How can we come and collectively worship him? The assembly can be no more than the individuals that make it up. Now, I don't say that there isn't times we wait on the Spirit and so on. I don't want to take away from that. But, brethren, when we sit 10 or 15 minutes in the breaking of bread with dead silence, it ought to exercise our hearts. Sometimes I don't want to speak facetiously. Sometimes I think the chairs are going to cry out.
We sometimes sing that hymn brightness of the eternal glory shall I pray?
On uttered life, just if you allow me just to draw a little practical application from what you have in John chapter 2.
I know there's a prophetic character there to the marriage of Canaan and Israel and so on, but I've often barely thought of those six water pots that were set there at six days of the week. And when they lack wine, which speaks of joy and praise in the scriptures. What was the answer? Well, they were to fill the water pots and they were to fill them full, and they were to fill them with water. How are we going to enjoy Christ? It's the word of God because we have the scriptures before us and we are enjoying the person and work of Christ, which the water perhaps speaks to us of if we fill the six water pot 6 days of the week.
Then we'll have something, shall I say, on the 7th day to come and to pour out to the true governor of the feast. But if the water pots are full of water during the week, there's not going to be anything that he will be able to turn to wine to praise and joy. Well, I just say this to exercise my own soul. I believe, as I said earlier, that true worship springs from the measures which we have an appreciation and the measure in which we are in the enjoyment of the person and work of Christ, and what it means to God the Father.
I'd like to add one thought. There's so many here. We are all priests. We have all US standings to offer under God.
Worship has nothing to do with gift to the church, and so all the brothers and the sisters are priests too. They have their fart, and I believe sometimes it's greater than any brother. But that's not the point here. All of us have the privilege to empty our baskets that morning. Wonderful. And you should. It doesn't take gifts if the Spirit puts him on your heart to call it. It doesn't take gifts to praise a simple prayer.
01:00:05
Thanking God for his Son. It doesn't take gifts for these things, but the Spirit of God will let us then offer His bread to the Father. That's all we're doing. Give me my bread.
Says in Hebrews chapter 13, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually. And I think sometimes rather than the reason why we don't have much on Sunday morning is because we haven't really made it a practice of our lives to praise Him continually. Is it true in our homes there's a meeting or not a meeting? Brother, we need to praise the Lord. That's our testimony.
Sometimes we think of our we talk about our testimony, thinking about ourselves. Brethren, our testimony really is the result of occupation with Christ and letting the praises flow to the glory of his name. That's going to result in the setting forth of the Christ of God. And souls are going to be attracted. So often when we put ourselves forward, so are discouraged. The brethren is studying the Christ of God.
Before our souls, not only our Lord today morning like every day of the week. I just like to comment a little bit further on this. We worship God in the Spirit because I think it's important for those who are younger to understand why we don't use music.
Why we don't have fancy buildings like what's common in what? Like with characteristic in Judaism, as we've heard, it was proper in the Old Testament, and there was no more elegant building than Solomon's Temple with its great costly stones covered with gold and silver and precious stones. It was of God in that time. It was.
A worship. It was a service.
Worship that was adapted to man in the flesh and man in the flesh could appreciate it, and I'm sure if we would have seen that building we would have been amazed ourselves and impressed by it. But now it's totally different. The character of our worship is not that. It's in spirit, and I've heard sometimes young people say that they don't sing in the meetings because I don't have a very good voice to sing.
I really can't make much of music. I'm not gifted that way, so I bet just keep my mouth closed. I want to encourage you, even if you can't make a very good noise, to make it anyhow, because it's what flows from the heart that is pleasing to God. We do not come when we come to worship the Lord, to please our own ears. That's Judaism. We come to please God here and what pleases his ear as he looks down.
Into our mix when we're together to praise Him is not music that pleases Ari. We're so self-centered in this society that we live in that we often think of what pleases are you. That's not the point today. It's pleasing God's ear that counts when he sees a heart that is truly touched with gratitude to the Lord Jesus and to him for having given the Lord Jesus why, that is pleasing to his ear.
We need to concentrate, understand that.
And worship in spirit. Not told to sing beautifully. We're told to make a joyful noise under the Lord. We will be beautiful singers when we get home. But I suggest rather Bob that we're not the singers we once were. And I think this is a problem because when we were growing up. Thankfully I can look back to many times when there were impromptu him things around the brothers piano. He went out to visit someone in the evening and it ended up that you had a little thing brethren sing in their homes. But I'm saddened.
That there's a generation coming on that aren't the singers that Brethren once were. And I just encourage those of us who have families at the family reading Get out the little Flop hymn book. Get out the echoes of great hymn book. Really, we have a tremendous heritage of good scriptural hymns. Get it out and teach them to your children.
Tremendous blessing to my own soul, and I'm thankful that as I look back, I took the trouble when I was a little younger to memorize some of these beautiful hymns that we have. It says speaking to yourselves and hymns and songs and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart for the Lord. This is part of offering the sacrifice of praise to God, not just for one hour on Lord's Day, but continually.
01:05:05
Kevin 187, I just make a comment, Bob, in regard to what you're saying, very practical. My brother who had to do the truth and was brought for the first time in a conference in Chicago.
And the first time that he was amongst the brothers and.
A using statement was very helpful to us, I think, he said. He never sat in the midst of so many people who didn't know how to sing and yet how beautiful it sounded when they were all singing together.
187.
Perhaps.
After All This
Gospel—D. Nicolet
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.
Father, as we consider this blessed One Thy well, beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Now this one who?
In perfect obedience.
To be in love for us.
Became a man and walked among us lowly despised, rejected in every way. A man of sorrows. Oh blessed Lord Jesus, thou Creator of all.
Thou who dwelt?
From past eternity, and that bliss in the bosom of the Father.
Blessed Lord Jesus to think thou wouldst.
Walk in this scene and that tonight we would sing of thee as the man of sorrows. We know it's because of our sin that we pray that tonight.
Thou of whom it is said in thy precious word, Jesus wept.
We pray tonight.
That if there's a lost, needy soul in this room, still stranger to thee, Lord Jesus.
Now they might learn what it means when thou hast said in thy precious word.
Rejoice Evermore.
Thou has gone into such sorrow that we might have joy, we pray, Lord Jesus.
That there might one soul or more tonight.
As led by thy Spirit, turn to thee and put their personal faith and trust in Thee, Lord Jesus, as their Lord and Savior. We ask for this.
And look to thee for help.
In thy name, Lord Jesus, we pray.
Men.
I'd like you to turn.
For something that.
Was.
Made exceedingly.
Precious to my heart this afternoon, and it caused a rather solemn consideration. Our beloved brother who spoke to us on the life of Josiah. I don't intend to take that subject up tonight in the gospel, but I would like to turn back to that to notice 3 words.
I'd like to turn to Second Chronicles.
And I believe it's.
Chapter 3435.
Second Chronicles.
And it's chapter 35.
I'm looking at a room tonight that is largely populated by those who have many, many, many times.
Heard the gospel of the grace of God. Heard the story of the Lord Jesus Christ and His wonderful love.
Who have many times in meetings like this, many times perhaps in your homes as parents, have opened the precious word of God and read to you.
Perhaps many other times, times that were unexpected, meeting people even at your work or at school, who were Christians and in love for their Savior spoke to you about Him and about your need of accepting Him as Savior. I doubt anyone here would want to try to even estimate the number of times that during your life.
You have heard of the Lord Jesus Christ and his love.
Today, those of us who have sat in this room have been afforded such a spiritual feast as is very difficult to describe. What a joy it's been to sit here and have our hearts again warmed, and our eyes by faith, turned to such an object as the Lord of glory, our Lord Jesus Christ.
And now those 3 words.
In verse 20.
00:05:01
After all.
This.
After all this.
Perhaps there's someone here who has come as a guest to be with us tonight. We're thankful for that.
How do those words apply to you after all this?
You got up this morning, as each of us did.
Given the breath of life by your Creator God.
Given the health and the strength to go through the normal tasks of your day.
Able to enjoy at your leisure.
Food.
Clothing.
A place to stay, a home. Conveniences that you and I take for granted that the majority of the souls in this world tonight know nothing about.
Perhaps you haven't heard the word of God read to you today.
Perhaps you haven't had the wonderful privilege of having it explained to you, and you're heartwarmed by it, but you've had many, many blessings and privileges tonight during this day rather. And now you sit here tonight and I would direct these words to you, as well as to each one in this room. After all this, What do I mean by that?
Here was a King Josiah, who, as we heard, had at this point in his life, had some 30 years.
Of blessing after blessing grace after grace afforded to him.
And I'm going to apply this now, just in this way, after 30 years, after so long a time of blessing, after so long a time of the kindness of God being shown to him and guiding him and helping him in every circumstance of his life.
He made a decision.
After all this.
He made a decision.
And the decision he made.
Led to his death.
Now my question tonight is after all this, dear friend.
After all that God has shown you even today in His matchless grace and kindness, after the testimony from his precious.
On changing word.
Telling you of the glories and the beauties of his well beloved son.
And that freely, with No Fear of interference, with no concern about authorities, with no with no thought of anything but sitting here in comfort and peace.
And hearing all of this, whether you're 8 years old or 80 years old or more.
If you could sit here today and understand in some measure that which has been presented.
The question tonight is after all this.
What's your decision?
What are you going to do?
Are you going to leave this building tonight after all this?
Unchanged.
Is there going to be no exercise in your soul that you've heard something today that may have brought you to a crossroads in your life?
And that to leave this building making no decision is to leave it making a decision.
To leave this building tonight if you're here.
A stranger to the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal savior, or if you're here and you don't know for sure.
If you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal savior.
After all this that has been presented to you today either?
In this room or in the kindness of your creator God today in your life.
00:10:02
If you leave this room in the same manner, you've made a decision, and I tell you, dear friends, that decision can lead and may lead to your death, not death.
In this world, perhaps, though, that will come if the Lord Jesus does not come first for us.
Every soul sitting here is going to leave this world sooner or later.
And age is not necessarily a factor in determining the sooner or the later.
You may leave it at a very young age.
You may leave it at very old age, but leave it you will.
And after all this?
What will your decision be before you leave this world? It can lead.
To an eternity in hell.
A lost eternity.
Something incredibly more horrible if I can use those words than the thought of physical death after all this.
I will apologize to those who may have.
Heard this story?
I believe it's a true story.
Perhaps it will.
Under score.
What we're seeking to present.
With the Lord's help tonight.
This took place not many years ago, although I think perhaps.
30 or 40 years ago, at least in the nation of Japan.
And it happened among those who are of an evidently of a class of society there who adhere to certain social customs.
One being that parents.
Arrange with other parents according to what they consider.
Socially acceptable and financially acceptable.
Standards the marriage of their children when their children are just infants.
And so it happened in a family.
That a marriage was arranged between a little boy and a little girl.
And they had, of course, nothing to say about it, the parents of each child feeling this would be beneficial.
In its own way, to their families.
And time went on. And they grew older.
And the time came when the wedding took place.
And as I understand it, in this kind of a very formal ceremony, all that time the bride had never been seen by the bridegroom.
Very different from what we consider perhaps normal in.
The North American continent in Western society.
But the wedding ceremony took place. The bride was covered in all the.
Finery and so on. And totally hidden during the ceremony and afterwards. And then the ceremony was over.
And they were alone. And the bridegroom, now the husband, removed the veil from his bride's face to gaze upon her for the first time in his life.
And she was very, very homely.
So much so that.
His disappointment being so great by what he observed that he turned and left the room.
And it was quite some time before some days or so before he was willing to be in her company.
She never said a word.
She bore it very quietly.
Because of the social pressures of the society.
Divorce. Separation. Whatever you would want to call it was not.
00:15:02
A possibility?
And so this very, very strange, this very, very strained, this very, very unhappy union went on.
For many years.
Two sons were born into that union.
The father, the husband, never attempted to.
To hide his disapproval, his unhappiness.
Constantly finding fault, constantly criticizing.
Constantly letting his wife know how she had disappointed him.
She on her turn.
Quietly bore at all.
Never raised her voice.
Went about her chores, kept as good a house as could be kept. No criticism could be given for her housekeeping abilities, her cooking skills.
She took care of her sons, raised them.
All the while she did this, listening to the complaints of everything that could be complained about by her husband.
Things began to get more difficult for the husband, for he was afflicted with a malady which was afflicting his eyes and which was going to eventually end, He found out, in blindness.
This didn't make him any easier to live with.
He went to the medical authorities and was told that.
A transplant of some part of the eye, whatever it was, if a suitable donor could be found, had every possibility of at least saving one of his eyes and thus eventually saving his eyesight.
And so his name was put on a list of those waiting for a suitable donor.
But his troubles continued to grow. He continued in his frustration and criticism and anger.
And finally.
Not really. To his surprise, one day he arose to find that his wife had left him. She was gone.
He wasn't really surprised, but it certainly didn't make him any easier to get along with.
And so a few days went by and then the phone call which he had been awaiting for quite some time came and the hospital said we have found a suitable donor and you must immediately come to the hospital.
To have this procedure.
And so he went, and you can imagine when the procedure was finished.
And the time came whenever that was, that the doctors removed the bandages.
The expectation and tension that he was feeling, and it was already obvious as he peered out of that eye that had been fixed for only one, could be fixed with this donor.
As he peered out of that eye, he could already tell that there was an improvement.
And so after a week or so.
He was able to go home with every assurance that, with proper care and without complications, he could now look forward to the having at least the sight of one eye continue for the rest of his life.
And so he got home.
And he was there. And a day or so after he got home, he heard a knock on the door, and he went to the door and opened it.
And looked into the face of his wife.
And then fell weeping at her feet.
For she had a patch over one of her eyes.
And he said.
Why did you do that for me?
And she said.
Because I love you.
After all this.
00:20:05
What do you suppose?
The reaction?
Of that husband was.
For the rest of his life.
After all this.
You are loved tonight, dear friend.
With a love so infinitely greater.
And one has done something for you so infinitely.
More wonderful.
Not having given you.
And I.
Having given you himself.
On Calvary's cross.
Having suffered.
Scourge beaten.
Spit upon.
Knowing that when you first heard that story.
That history, that he man of sorrows passed through that you hearing that?
Would react in a far more callous manner.
Than that husband did.
Of his wife.
That you would spurn, and perhaps time and time again, as though it makes no difference at all to you that he was beaten.
That they spit in his face to show him how they hated him.
That they made a crown of thorns and put it on his head to mock.
The truth.
That he was indeed king.
That when he was hanging there on that cross in an agony you and I will never understand, physical and far more infinitely deep, I say carefully. Spiritual agony, suffering.
That a callous heart could be so hard that they would stand there and watch him and mock him in his agony.
Is your heart Is my heart one bit different?
You know it's not, you know, had you been standing at the foot of that cross.
You would have joined and so would I.
In the mocking and the despising of the Blessed Lord Jesus Christ.
And here you are tonight.
And you've heard such things today, if you've said in this room.
And after all this?
What has it done to your heart?
You know, there was much said today. Very helpful.
On worship.
As to the.
Object, the person our blessed, Lord Jesus Christ. And I thought as I listened to one and another sharing these things that were so heartwarming and helpful.
My mind went back to Joseph.
Joseph, who had been treated so cruelly by his brethren.
And who, when they came? And you know the story well. Most of you in this room, when they came to Joseph, found nothing but.
Love.
Though in his God-given wisdom.
They were taken through a path that caused a very deep and right repentance.
And then?
They're sent home.
Finally, Joseph having revealed himself to them, having said draw near to me.
Are you hearing that tonight? Not the speaker. Don't get your eyes on the speaker. That's weakness.
Listen carefully to see if the Spirit of God would speak to your heart, and you might hear the words of the Lord Jesus saying to you tonight. Draw near to me.
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Draw near to me.
He is saying that.
And those brethren drew near to Joseph to find love and forgiveness and compassion and blessing and joy. Do you think the Lord Jesus is able to show you that much?
The one who created Joseph, do you think he can show you, at least I say reverently, that much love and compassion and forgiveness? You know he can. You know that his treasure chest has an infinite depth in it.
You know that he will never.
You will never be able, I should say, to ask for or to need something he can't supply. And so Joseph sends the brethren, his brethren home.
And he tells them this and this is what I pondered today about worship.
He says to them.
Tell my Father of all my glory.
In Egypt and of all that you have seen.
You have something to tell. Do you have a Father? Perhaps we should start. Is God your Father? And do you have something tonight, in the praise and worship of your heart, to tell him about what you have seen, of the glories and beauties of one that you spurn for so long, and who quietly and in perfect divine love, never turned away from you and ended up giving up his life?
Because he loves you.
You have something to tell the father tonight?
I would like you to be very concerned if your heart has no Thanksgiving, if you have seen no glory in this beloved son.
Well, beloved Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, if you've seen today of his glory nothing, you have, as it were, to tell his Father and your Father.
I would like you to be very concerned tonight.
There are two glories that you can be occupied with this evening.
You can be occupied.
With the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, the only one who is worthy.
Of that glory.
Or you can be occupied with the glory that this world.
Has to offer, and that glory, fleeting as it is if you're here.
And.
Your heart is refusing to listen to the One who is in love and grace telling you to draw near to him.
Then the glory, the fleeting glory that the world has to offer, will seem very, very real.
And very, very important and when it comes time to speak of something.
When it comes time to tell someone of what you have seen.
What will come out of your mouth?
Is what you have seen of the world's glories.
And there are all kinds of glories in this world.
Some of the chairs in this room have a name with a little animal on them, yellow jackets.
The name of this school. It's a certain glory connected with this school, and those who go here probably are quite proud to be connected with that glory.
At various seasons of the year, it seems almost as though the whole world is taken up with various glories of various.
Athletic teams.
I have never seen even though now I'm teaching in a college. It used to be much more common in the high school, but.
I have never seen such a profusion and I don't tonight find fault with it, but I have never seen such a profusion.
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Of people wearing.
Articles of clothing proclaiming a name that has some sort of human glory connected with it.
Not very often you see someone, though you do once in a while. It's kind of a treat.
Wearing a shirt or a jacket.
That proclaims the glory of the only one who's worthy of it, the Lord Jesus Christ.
After all this.
What are you going to do?
God may in his grace.
Allow.
You to go on rejecting him, Being interested, taken up with every conceivable kind of thing.
Except.
Facing the issue and answering the question of what you will do with Christ.
What shall I then do with Jesus, which is called Christ? You got to answer that question sometime.
And as I said before, no answer is an answer, and it's an answer that God has heard, may I say very reverently and very carefully, if you give no answer to that question tonight, it's an answer God has heard loud and clear.
I'm very, very concerned. There are many who are praying with this concern. It's not unique to the speaker.
For those who sit here, we often say the young. I'm just going to say those who sit here.
In these kinds of meetings.
Or services, whatever you want to call them.
Where you hear about the Lord Jesus Christ and his love.
Time after time after time, you hear that story.
And there is no movement.
No change, something is more important.
May God by his spirit do a work tonight, stirring in souls here. It's not a work that I can do. It's not a work that anyone sitting here can do. It's a work that the spirit of God must do. But it means life or death to you if the work hasn't been done.
And I'm not here to scare anyone. I would like to somehow.
In what I say tonight.
Though very feebly share the glories I've seen.
In the Lord Jesus, I want to tell you he's, you know so many of you. When I say this, exactly what I mean he is so wonderful.
And he's not just wonderful to old people who don't have anything else in their old age to interest them.
He's wonderful.
I think I've mentioned this before.
But I remember some time back when I was teaching in.
High school, a student was saved. It was really, it was very exciting to see in. Anyone who has had the joy of seeing someone saved knows exactly what I'm speaking about.
But what was a real joy to me was the confirmation of this student's salvation, which came three or four weeks later. You know, sometimes there's an excitement and A and A and a bubbling that's going on, and you want to at least with.
With some, I felt you kind of have to wait just a little bit. But a few weeks later this student was sitting in my room and said to me out of the clear blue.
Looked at me and said, You ever just sit there and think about him?
Do you ever just sit there and think about him?
I'd like to ask you that.
You haven't just heard about the Lord Jesus in the last four weeks?
Do you ever just sit there and think about him?
Precious blessings, Savior.
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Who told me that he loved me?
And though I had a debt of 10,000 talents and not a way to pay 1 particle of one of those talents back.
He said. I'll forgive it all. Draw near to me.
What did it cost him to tell me? My load of 10,000 talents?
Was freely forgiven.
Something that can't be measured, His precious blood in value. God alone can measure the full value of that, but that's what he paid.
That I might have my 10,000 talent OR greater debt paid.
And after all this?
Is there anything?
Is there any response, I should say in your heart or in mine? Is there some response?
I say again, after all this, is there some response to the Blessed Lord Jesus? Oh, I tell you, dear friends, I'm not here. I say again to scare anyone. I don't believe you can.
Anymore scare anyone into being saved than you can talk them into being saved. But I tell you there's something tragically, terribly wrong if you're sitting here tonight having heard what you've heard today about the Lord Jesus Christ. And after all that.
There's just nothing but a cold rock.
Sitting in here.
We had a little time left.
I had.
Thought to speak about cities tonight.
And so perhaps we'll, just for a few moments, consider that.
But before we move on, I want to ask you one more time.
What's Your Reaction?
Don't forget this very, very solemn account of Josiah, who, after all that transpired in his life, made a decision that cost him his life.
I'd like to turn over to Genesis.
Chapter 4.
I'm going to briefly, as we close tonight, just make a an application of the thought of city. I understand that. I want my dear brethren and friends to understand this is not presenting a.
An unfolding of a doctrine in any way? I'm just going to make a simple application in the trusting that the spirit of God can use it to blessing of souls, but I want to look at the thought of a city for just a moment.
Verse 17 of chapter 4.
And Cain knew his wife.
And she could bear conceived and bear Enoch, and he builded a city, and called the name of the city after his son Ina. Now let's.
Turn over.
To the Gospel of Luke.
Chapter 19 Luke, Chapter 19.
And.
Words of the Lord Jesus being spoken here in verse 41.
Luke 19 verse 41 And when he Jesus was come near, he beheld the city and wept over it.
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You know.
Kane.
When he went out from the presence of the Lord, that was a willing decision he made. You're going to go out of this building tonight?
You don't have to go out from the presence of the Lord, though.
If you do, it's going to be a willing, conscious decision that you're making to leave the presence of the Lord.
And one of the things that he first did was to build a city. Something that he could take pride in. Would perhaps.
'Cause a certain stability, whatever it was.
He later, or his descendants later, brought into this world those things that.
Were calculated to bring joy and satisfaction in that place being a part out of the presence of God.
But he named his city after his son, Enoch, so I just want to look at that real simply.
A city named Enoch.
What's your city name tonight?
And is it a city that the Lord Jesus tonight looks at and weeps over?
Because he says, if thou hadst known, even thou at least in this thy day the things which belong unto thy peace.
But now they are hid from thine eyes.
Solemn. The one who would say, draw near to me looks, as it were, as a city named, If I can make this application in the gospel tonight at a city named Bill or Sally or Kathy or whatever your name is, looks at that city and weeps over it, because tonight you're not aware of the joy and peace.
He would bring to you.
If you would listen.
If after all this, he would listen to what he is telling you.
We will finish by there are so many cities in the word of God, it's. I've been impressed. It's an incredible as I suspect every subject in the word of God is. It's an incredible meditation. But let's look at a city in the life of David in this sense that we're looking at a city and closing tonight.
In.
First Samuel.
And.
Chapter.
Chapter 23 First Samuel, Chapter 23.
Then they told David, saying, behold, the flistines fight against Keila, and they robbed the threshing floors. You know, you may not know it or feel it tonight, but you're in a if you're here without Christ as your personal savior, you're in a terrible battle. And there is an enemy who is robbing your ability. Who is robbing you might say life.
From you, the threshing floors are being robbed.
There are so many ways they get robbed.
For those who are younger, the desire for a career or a companion or whatever, it is a car, I don't know. We all have desires. I'm not saying any of those things are wrong. In fact, some of them are very right and happy in their place. But sometimes those things become more than a right desire. And if you don't belong to the Lord Jesus, it can become that which robs you.
The threshing floor gets stripped. There's no food.
But you know, someone knows about that?
A David, the Lord Jesus. He knows what's going on. He knows the battle that's in array against you far better than you do.
And his heart is to do something about it.
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And I think this is lovely in verse two, he says. Shall I go and smite these Philistines? Why didn't he just go?
No. He asked God in perfect submission of His will. I want to be careful in submission of His will, reminding us of one who in perfect submission of His will came. The Father sent the Son to be the savior of the world. And so David asks. And we're going to skip very fast.
And those who follow him are afraid in verse 3.
You know, they say we're here in Judah and we're afraid Saul is chasing us and we're running away from Saul. We're afraid. Why are we going there to?
What's going to happen to us when we face this enemy, you know?
This isn't something, this battle, this enemy that is understood naturally, even understood perhaps by your friends in any way, But there's a battle and.
There is one who wants to come and deliver from that battle. Deliver you.
You can't deliver yourself. You're like that little city.
Keila and you can't deliver yourself. And so David comes and it says in verse five, he and his men went to Key Island, fought with the Philistines and brought away their cattle and smoked them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keila. But the story doesn't end there, and forsake of time I'm just. I will just finish it by telling you that Saul hears of this. Saul the the king.
Who is chasing David? And so now he comes to Kaia, There's the Kaia, there's a second battle.
And I want you to think now back to those 3 words that we started with after all this. Here's key Iowa. They didn't ask for David's kindness. They were suffering under the onslaught of these Philistines, their food being stolen from them, from the threshing floors, no way to sustain themselves. They didn't cry to God for help. They didn't ask for help. But David, in his love for his people, comes.
And as directed by God, in submission to God's will, he comes and He delivers them.
And he slays the enemy, and he it says he carries away their cattle.
Those things that were causing that.
Destruction of their food, all that.
He takes all that spoil and the battle is won. And they're free. They're at liberty now.
And now they're going to get tested after all this.
And Saul is going to come up because he wants David, and he thinks that he's got David in that city of gates and bars and David can't escape and he's going to be able to take him and kill him.
But this is incredible.
Then David said in verse 10, Oh Lord, God of Israel, thy servant, hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keala to destroy the city, for my sake.
Will the men of Keala deliver me up into his hand? These are the men that were just delivered from this horrible foe that was.
A stealing and taking their very life sustaining food away from them had delivered them with a great deliverance and now another foe is coming.
And the question is asked, are they going to deliver me up? And the answer is yes.
After all this.
They're going to give in and I won't go into it. It's just the personal thought anyway, but it seems to me.
They couldn't win the battle with the Philistines, and David won that for them, and now they're going to give in, as it were, to the flesh.
And they're going to give David up.
After all this, and they're going to save themselves.
And let David be taken.
Are you here tonight? Now? Not in a gospel sense, as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Are you like that little city?
In Ecclesiastes that a great king came against and there were very few men in it.
And there was 1 poor wise man in that city, who by his wisdom delivered that city. And are you like that city? A bill? A Sally, A Jane, A whoever here tonight.
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Who didn't remember what that poor wise man did?
After all this, there was no remembrance, no thankfulness for the deliverance, for what the Lord Jesus has done for you.
And you give in to the flesh and say I just am going to do what I want to do.
I don't have any special glory that I've seen of Joseph in Egypt. I don't have anything I can really tell my father about nothing that doesn't interest me. That's for the older brother who sit in the front rows of the conference and talk about doctrine. I don't have anything to tell the the Father.
Isn't it after all this, after all he's done, after the deliverance he's given, that there isn't one thing that you and I have to tell the Father about the glory, such as we can understand it, that we see in his well beloved Son, Haven't you seen something in the Lord Jesus that he's done for you? You know you have. Have you nothing in thankfulness in your heart to say, or are you going to be like Keala, like that city?
You may not be like the city that Jesus wept over.
Because you don't know him.
But are you going to be like Key Island? Say it doesn't really matter. I know I'm saved and now I want to live my life.
I know that others could say this better, but it seems very obvious to me that it's one thing to accept Jesus as savior and he will save you.
It's another thing to own him and bow to him as Lord.
I hope tonight that each one in this room.
Might remember what one has done for you.
In absolute divine sovereign grace and love.
And that's something by His blessed Spirit might stir your heart.
That after all this.
You might be able to say to the Father.
My Savior is lovely, Chiefest among 10,000 to me. Let's pray our God and our loving Father. We thank Thee for Thy precious word. We thank Thee for the one of whom it speaks and fathered out us know our hearts. Thou just know how very, very feebly we are able to say anything.
We are able to describe to thee any of the glories and beauties of thy beloved son. But Father, thou dost know.
That in these hearts of ours there is a desire to tell thee of the glory that we have seen in him.
Father, after all this, after all that thou hast done for us.
O our God and our loving Father, we earnestly beseech thee for each soul in this room tonight who may be sitting here not knowing Thee.
Not yet belonging to the Lord Jesus, not knowing thee as Savior, not owning thee as Lord, oh our God and Father. A city with walls and gates broken down.
A city to be destroyed. Oh, we pray.
Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that there might be a work in such a soul tonight, and there might be salvation.
We give thee thanks for this time together. We pray for each one.
Lord Jesus committing us to thee and thy worthy precious name.
Make Haste and Come Down
Gospel—J. Hyland
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Savior of sinners like me shedding his blood for my ransom. This is the savior for me. Hymn #4. If someone could please raise the tune.
Christ is the Savior for me.
And I get the ground sinner's side mirrors.
The 15th chapter of the book of Luke. We're just going to read the 1St 2 verses of this chapter.
Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him, and the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them. And then I want to read a well known story in the 19th chapter.
Luke chapter 19 will begin reading at verse one.
And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho, and behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus.
Which was chief among the publicans, and he was rich, and he sought to see Jesus who he was.
And could not for the press, because he was little of stature, and he ran before and climbed up into a Sycamore tree to see him.
For he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him.
Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down, for today I must abide at thy house.
And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they were all murmured, saying that he was gone to be a guest with a man that is a Sinner. And Zacchaeus stood and said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house.
00:05:00
For as much as he also is a son of Abraham, for the son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. Well, I know this is a very, very familiar story. I'm sure if I was to go up and down these roads and talk to the children here, they would be able to recount to me the story of Zacchaeus. You've heard it, many of you, from the very early days of your childhood. But you know these stories, these accounts, these actual happenings.
During the life of the Lord Jesus are given to us more than just interesting stories.
And historical facts, they're given to us more than just accounts of the Lord Jesus.
In his activity in dealing with men while he was here in this world, all they have a very, very important lesson and message for each one of us.
And God has recorded by divine inspiration the details of these stories.
And I love to be able to open to these familiar stories and to present the gospel of the grace of God. I read though in Luke chapter 15 to begin with, because, you know, when the Lord Jesus was here in this world, there were very, very few, generally speaking, who had time to listen to the words of the Lord Jesus. He could say on one occasion. Ye will not come to me.
That she might have life. He could weep over Jerusalem, that city, that he had come to bless those people that he desired to draw to himself. And he could say, How OFT would I have gathered you, As a hen gathereth her brood under her wing, and ye would not. It tells us that he came unto his own, and his own received him not. I only point this out to show that, generally speaking, as the blessed Lord Jesus walked up and down the dusty streets of Palestine.
He was, for the most part, the rejected one. There were very, very few who had time to listen to the words of the Lord Jesus as he spoke the very words that were given to him by God his Father. But you know, I'm I have been encouraged in reading the life of the Lord Jesus to find how many there were individuals who had time to get into the presence of the Lord Jesus and to listen to his words and oh what blessing the Lord Jesus had for them.
I'm not sure, as I look into an audience like this, why you've come to this Gospel meeting. I suppose there are a variety of reasons, secondary reasons, I really believe that firstly, God has brought you here tonight in His grace to hear once again from his precious word the blessed story of Christ Jesus, who came into this world to save sinners. But, you know, there may be many secondary causes. Perhaps a friend invited you here tonight. Perhaps someone dropped off an invitation at your door.
There are young people and children here tonight and you have come, perhaps because your parents have brought you.
There are young people who have come, perhaps because you know that it will please mother and Father. But nevertheless, you're here tonight with the precious word of God before you. God has brought you here to hear His precious word. And I'm thankful that you have come tonight. All we would that these seats in this room were filled tonight. But yet how thankful we are for each one who has come to hear the glorious Gospel. And we find here. We read in Luke 15 of those who amidst all the Mass, who rejected the Lord.
And had little or no time for him and for his word. Oh, we find those who did draw near to hear him. I'm thankful that tonight you come to hear the glorious gospel. I'm thankful that tonight we can open this precious book and present, though in a feeble measure, the savior of sinners. And here we find these publicans and sinners, those who recognize that they had a need. Because, you know, I've been impressed to realize that it's more than just realizing that we're sinners.
You know, I suppose if we were to go out on the streets of this town tonight, or if we were to go over to Vincennes, a larger city, or if we were to go to up to Chicago or any of the great cities in the United States, and we were to stop passers by on any busy St. and ask them if they were sinners. You know, it's few people who, if they're really honest with themselves, will deny the fact that they are sinners, but to realize that they are helpless sinners before a holy God.
Is quite another matter. And tonight I want you, dear friend, to realize in the presence of a holy God, that not only are you a Sinner, but there isn't one thing you can do to rid yourself of one sin. Nothing. All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. In other words, the very best things that you can do tonight are as filthy rags in the sight of God. All have sinned and come short.
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Of the glory of God.
How often in the scripture?
We read of the fact that we are born into this world with a fallen, sinful nature.
How often we read that we are sinners by practice. What about you tonight? Do you realize tonight that you're a Sinner?
You know, if I get sick, as long as I think there's something I can do to rid myself of that sickness, some home remedy or some cure that I can administer, I'm not going to seek the advice of a physician. But as soon as I realize that that sickness is beyond anything I can do, then and only then do I seek the advice of a doctor. And I'm afraid there are many people in this world tonight, and they realize that they're sinners, but they don't realize that they're helpless sinners before God.
And that there isn't one thing that they can do to get rid of one of those sins.
And here were those in the Lord's day who had a felt need. They realized that they were helpless sinners.
And feeling that need, they came to the one who could forgive their sins.
The one who desired their blessing, and they drew near to hear him. Are you listening tonight?
You know, I feel challenged sometimes when I look into an audience like this. An audience that has heard the gospel many of you, many, many times.
And you have been specially prayed for over and over and over again. And yet tonight, while your head is turned towards this podium, and while your eyes may be upon me, I wonder if you're really listening to what God has to say tonight. You know, I have been pondering in the past couple of days the number of young people in the last two or three years that I have known who are in eternity tonight.
Teenagers, men and women in their 20s.
And some of those young people are known to many in this room.
Within the last 24 hours, not very far from this school, there was a tragic accident.
One young girl, 17 years of age, I believe, is an eternity. Tonight, another is lying in the hospital. Critically, I'll.
I was solemnized when I heard that, and even more solemnized to realize that some of you young people know these two girls.
They were students. I understand that Red Hill High School, where some of you attend.
God is speaking tonight. What does God have to allow?
To wake you up tonight, are you listening to God's word? God is speaking through these tragedies, through these things that He allows in the community and in our life. They're not just happening that come and go. They're not just coincidences. God is seeking to solemnize our hearts tonight as to the reality of eternal issues. He's seeking to solemnize your heart and mind tonight as to the brevity.
Of life, all how brief life is. It says in the book of James, What is your life?
It is even as a vapor. You ever watch the steam from a tea kettle? You ever watch the vapor from a boiling pot? It comes up. God says your life is like a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. God says your life is but for a moment. And then it says we ought to say if the Lord will, we shall live.
Isn't that a searching statement? If the Lord will, we shall live. You know you're sitting in those seats tonight, taking one breath after another.
Do you realize that the very breath you're breathing tonight is given to you by your creator, God? You know, Daniel stood before the greatest king of his day, King Belshazzar, And he said these solemn words to Belshazzar. You know, Belshazzar was a man who had had warnings. God had spoken to him through his grandfather and through other things. But Belshazzar was going on like there was no tomorrow. He was living for the moment, living for self, fulfilling the lust of the flesh.
00:15:01
Living in sin. You know what Daniel said to him? The God in whose hand thy breath is and whose are all thy ways, Hast thou not glorified? As you take one more breath and another breath, do you realize that God, in his mercy tonight is giving you the very breath you breathe so that you can come and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior? He's giving you one more opportunity.
For that girl who was killed in the accident last night, it's over.
I don't know where she is. As far as eternity is, I didn't know that girl personally.
But it's all over for her. She's in one of two places. She's either in heaven or hell. You tonight have opportunity to come and receive the savior. Well, these Republicans and sinners drew nigh for to hear him. And then I read this little story concerning Zacchaeus, because here was one, a chief among the publicans and you know the Lord Jesus here as he entered and passed through Jericho.
Here was a man named Zacchaeus, and Zacchaeus wasn't going to miss this opportunity.
I believe that Jericho speaks to us of this world because there are two things that are outstanding in Scripture Concerning this city of Jericho, we find that on the one hand it was the city of the curse. You remember in the Old Testament how God brought judgment on that city, though he saved rehab in her house, Those that had the scarlet line in the window, A beautiful gospel story in itself. But judgment came to that city, and that city became the city of the curse. And I believe that it speaks to us very clearly.
Of this world under judgment tonight, as sure as we're sitting in these seats.
In this school, as sure as we're sitting here tonight, so just assure judgment is coming on this world. You know, I'm sure that people don't really believe that today.
You know, if people really believe that judgment was about to fall on this world.
Wouldn't they crowd into gospel meetings? Wouldn't they be concerned about their never dying soul? Wouldn't they be concerned about eternity if they really believe that he has appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousness?
And I wonder this too, if you knew that this was your last opportunity to hear the gospel.
Would it make a difference in the way you listen tonight? Would it make a difference in the way that you respond to the gospel message tonight?
If somehow you could have a glimpse into the future and find out that this was the last Gospel meeting.
That you were ever going to sit in, That this was the last opportunity that you were going to have to receive the Lord Jesus as your Savior. It may well be, it may well be. But if you knew that for sure, I wonder if it would make a difference.
Remember reading of a man one time who was traveling in a very remote part of northern Russia, and he was traveling on foot. And as he was traveling, night overtook him. And he knew that his only chance of survival from the cold and from the beasts that roamed that remote part of the country was to get some sticks together and build a fire to keep himself warm and to keep the animals away. And so he went about and he gathered up what sticks and leaves and twigs he could find.
And he brought them and put them in a pile. And then he reached into his pocket, and he pulled out a matchbook.
And he opened that match book and he found that he had three matches left.
In that book. But he thought no problem, shouldn't be any difficulty to light a fire and be safe for the night.
And so he took that first match, and he lit that match. And justice as he struck that match and lit it, a gust of wind came along and blew that first match out.
Now he had only two opportunities, two matches between him and Death.
And you can imagine how carefully he took that second match. He waited till he was sure that the wind had died down.
He took his other hand and he sheltered that match in that match book. As he went to strike that match, he struck that match and he put it to that pile of leaves. He saw the flames shoot up and then they died down and smoldered out.
And you can imagine how carefully he took that last match from his matchbook. You can imagine what must have gone through his mind as he carefully took that match. Wait until he felt the conditions were just right. In fact, he took those leaves and twigs, and he restocked them in a way that he thought would be most conducive to getting a fire going.
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And you can imagine his relief as he struck that match, put it to that pile of leaves and twigs. And as those flames shot up and caught hold, he knew he was safe for the night.
What about you? Is this your last opportunity? You have just one more chance? I don't know.
God only promises you now. Behold, now is the accepted time. Behold, now is the day of salvation. But you know, there was something else about Jericho. There's something else about it in in Scripture. It's the city of palm trees. You know, I pondered that the city of palm trees. In fact, I believe its name means a constant fragrance.
I wonder if there's someone here in this room tonight and you are staying away from the Savior.
Because of some very pleasant thing in your life, because you want the pleasures of this world.
You want the city of palm trees. You want, as it were, Jericho and all that it offers.
You know, this is a day when amusement is very, very prevalent. I see young people and older folks to go out for a walk, and they can't go for a walk around the block without plugging something into their ears. Amusement.
You know the word muse is the Latin word that means to think and the word amuse.
Means not to think. That's the attempt of the enemy this evening. He's placing all kinds of wonderful things, so-called things that seem so pleasant, amusement of every sort. And he's placing it before you to keep you from considering the Lord Jesus Christ. He's keeping it in front of you to keep you from considering your eternal salvation. Oh, what is that pleasant thing tonight that's keeping you from coming to the Lord Jesus?
You know, the Lord Jesus told about another man, a man who was in Jerusalem, and he decided that Jericho was his choice, and he started down that road from Jerusalem to Jericho. Perhaps he thought it was a place where he could have some ease and some pleasure. I don't know. Scripture doesn't tell him. But you know, he found out that to go from Jerusalem to Jericho was not worth the cost. And if you go on in your sins, choosing the pleasant and and amusing things of this world.
Oh, there is a day coming when you will lift up your eyes in a lost eternity and you'll say, I've lost my soul, I've lost my soul. Oh, I trust that there's no one who has something pleasant before their eyes. And that pleasant thing is keeping you from the Savior. What we find here that Jericho characterizes this world. And the Lord Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Oh, this is the wonderful story of the gospel tonight.
The Lord Jesus coming into this world to save sinners, Isn't that a glorious message tonight? Here is this planet that we stand on tonight, as it were, under judgment, cursed as it were, like Jericho offering the amusements and pleasures. Man featuring this world as a playground in which to indulge himself. But all this is the very globe. This is the very planet where the Lord Jesus came, The Son of God, God manifest in the flesh.
Come into this world as a man and all trace his life. What a life it was. Do you know this Blessed One of whom we're speaking tonight? Is he your savior?
I just read recently about Mark Twain when I was going to school. We studied some of the books that Mark Twain wrote.
And Mark Twain, as he became famous as an author, he traveled much through Europe and other parts of the world, and he was entertained by kings and Queens and nobility.
And one day at the dinner table in his own home, he was recounting some of his experiences.
And some of the audiences that he'd had with the wealthy and noble of Europe and his daughter was listening.
To these accounts, very, very impressed. And finally she looked up at him and she said, Father, you must know everyone in the world except God. Everyone in the world except God.
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What about you tonight?
Do you know the Lord Jesus? I don't mean Do you just know about him, as we were saying in the meetings? It's not just to know about him.
It's not just to be able to recount the Bible stories that we often have before us on occasions like this, but do you know him here the Lord Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
And there was a man in Jericho who had a desire to see Jesus, who he was, you know, in the pathway of the Lord Jesus. There were many who had a desire to see the Lord Jesus for various reasons. You know, we read of Herod. He desired of a long time to see Jesus, that he might see some miracle performed. You know, we never read that he had an opportunity to see a miracle performed in his presence. He never, I don't believe, had that desire gratified.
But here was a man, and he wanted to see this one that he had heard about, and as the Lord Jesus came and passed through Jericho.
Oh, he wasn't going to miss that opportunity. You know what? This is a solemn thing to realize that you never read of the Lord Jesus passing through Jericho again.
In his pathway Here, in other words, Zacchaeus had one opportunity.
But you know, there were hindrances, you know, as we opened this book and as we read it, and as we present the Savior of sinners.
The enemy is busy. There are hindrances. The enemy whispers in our ear. Put it off. Neglect things come into our minds. School, things that are going, we're going to face this week. And perhaps your mind is filled with all these kinds of things. All. There were hindrances for Zacchaeus too, but he wasn't going to let those hindrances stop him. Such was his desire to see the Lord Jesus and to know this person personally. Oh, I would trust.
That's your desire tonight, to know this person personally. And so Zacchaeus, this chief among the publicans, he'd heard about this blessed one. No doubt the fame of the Lord Jesus had reached Jericho. No doubt they'd heard something of the miracles, something of the teaching, something of his words and all. Zacchaeus, as it were said, this is an opportunity that can't be missed. I'm going to see see this person. I'm going to get close to this person no matter what.
Or there was a great crowd around Zacchaeus on this occasion.
But all he wasn't going to let that stop him. It's true he was of little stature. That was a difficulty, wasn't it? But he wasn't going to let his stature stop him from getting to know this blessed person. Oh, I wish and I pray, and I know it's the prayer of many in this room tonight that there would be those if you're lost in your sins, if you're on your way to hell tonight, that you would have a real, genuine desire to know the Lord Jesus.
Is that the desire of your heart tonight to know this blessed one? Or are you watching the clock and thinking that this meeting will be over sometime in the next half hour?
Two young people were heard to say just before a gospel meaning like this, well, it's just another gospel meeting.
It will probably be over around 8:00.
This meeting will probably be over around 8:00, but I want to tell you, no Gospel meeting is just another gospel meeting.
It is, on the one hand, a thrill to our souls to be able to speak of the glories and beauties of Christ. It is a thrill to our souls to speak of the cross where the Lord Jesus gave his life, where the Lord Jesus shed His precious blood. It is a thrill to ourselves to present a risen, glorified Savior, the one of whom we were saying tonight, the one who's there, seated, waiting, and ready and able to save. And on the other hand, it is a very solemn thing.
If you are lost and in your sins tonight.
Because tonight you are more responsible to a holy God than when you walked in the store.
I want you to consider that for a moment. Boys and girls, young people, older one here. Tonight you are going to leave this room.
In a little while.
And you are going to leave it more responsible.
Then when you came in.
Dacia. She runs before, and he climbs up into a tree. Oh, what energy there was with Zacchaeus, I say. He wasn't going to let anything stop him from seeing this blessed person of whom he had heard.
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But you know the wonderful thing is too, that not only was Zacchaeus desirous to see the Lord who he was.
But all there was one that was far, far more interested in the salvation and blessing of Zacchaeus than Zacchaeus could ever imagine. That's why it says at the end of this little story, the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which is lost would to God. That tonight you were in earnest. But all I want to tell you about one who's seeking for you, one who desires your blessing. Are you running from God tonight? Are you running from the Savior tonight?
Dwight L Moody, many years ago, was preaching from this very story in the city of Chicago to a vast audience who was making it the gospel message plain, and he came to this verse. The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which is lost, and as he was wrapping up the gospel service that night.
Someone pushed through the crowd and they had a young boy in their arms and they placed the young boy on the platform with Mr. Moody and explained that this was a young boy who had become separated from his father in the crowd. This young boy was lost.
And Mr. Moody picked that young boy up in his arms, and he looked out over that vast audience.
And he said, there is a father in this room who is more earnest in seeking this lost boy than this boy is in being found. You know, that boy seemed indifferent to his situation, really didn't realize the danger he was perhaps in, seemed quite content in Mr. Moody's arms. But all Mr. Moody knew that there was a father in that crowd who was anxious for his son. And it wasn't very many moments until that crowd.
Saw that father push his way to the platform. Saw that boy jump into his father's arms. Saw his father embrace him. How thankful that father was to have that son back again. Oh, I tell you that tonight, because God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ tonight are interested in your salvation.
You know, there may be individuals in this room who are burdened for your soul, someone who invited you here tonight, someone who brought you here tonight, who is silently and earnestly praying for your soul salvation. But I want to tell you this, that there is one tonight in heaven who is more concerned and more interested in your soul's salvation than even Mother or Father or the friend who invited you here tonight. Oh, he desires your blessing. It says that it is it is God's will that all men.
Be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.
Are you going to respond to love like that when we look at the cross?
When we see the Lord Jesus giving himself in love, does that touch your heart?
If that doesn't touch your heart tonight, I wonder what goes on within your heart.
And where is the heart so hardened? And who is so vile as he that seeth the Savior suffer and saith? It is nothing to me. No, There is an interesting and solemn question raised in the Book of Lamentations. It says, Is it nothing to you all ye that pass by? Many of you here tonight have sat in these meetings.
We have spoken of the glories and beauties of Christ. We had the privilege this morning of remembering Him in death.
As it were, passing by Calvary once again. Did it mean something to your heart? Is it nothing to you? Is it nothing to me, as we see the Savior suffer, as we see the love that took him there?
And not just the physical sufferings, awful as those were, not just the fact that they took him and nailed him to a Roman cross.
But the fact that in those hours of darkness He was made sin, the holy One who knew no sin made sin, that I might be made the righteousness of God in him. Can you say tonight that he bore your sins in his own body on the tree? This is a very, very personal thing. And we find here with the Lord Jesus how interested he was in Zacchaeus. He knew the desire of Zacchaeus heart. He knew the earnestness of Zacchaeus.
And as the Lord Jesus passes by that way, did he know Zacchaeus was up in that tree? Indeed he did. You know, Zacchaeus might have hid up in that tree and thought, well, no one's going to see me up here. My friends and my associates at work won't see me up here. I can get a good glimpse of the Lord Jesus as he has to pass right under this tree, but no one will see me. Oh, there was one who knew all about him, knew his name, stopped under that tree and looked up and called him by name.
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It must have startled Zacchaeus when the Lord Jesus said Zacchaeus. Oh, there's one tonight. He looks down into this room. You can't hide from him. He looks down into your heart, because he sees not as man seeth. For man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart All he knew the thoughts and intents of Zacchaeus heart. He knows the thoughts and intents of your heart tonight. And he stops under this tree. He had a personal interest.
In Zacchaeus, you know, as we trace the life of the Lord Jesus through this world, we find that often he addresses great crowds of people. There was a time when there was such a great crowd of people that he had to enter into Simon's boat and sit down and teach the people. On another occasion a great crowd came out to hear him on the hillside, and the Lord Jesus often addresses the multitudes, but I believe there was something dearer to his heart than addressing the multitudes.
And that was getting alone with the Sinner. Have you ever been alone with the Lord Jesus? Have you ever got right into the presence of that blessed one? How often we see, we see in the third chapter of John. He stayed up one night. Why? To talk to Nicodemus. Nicodemus had a lot of questions and Nicodemus waited till night. But never mind. He came. And the Lord Jesus was interested in Nicodemus. He stayed up that night to talk to Nicodemus in the very next chapter.
We find that the Lord Jesus having traveled a great distance, I've never figured it out, but a brother was telling me one time that the Lord Jesus must have walked all that night and that day.
To reach that very spot where there would be one woman.
One Sinner who would receive a blessing. That was the desire of the Lord Jesus, how it delighted his heart to sit there, and even though physically he was weary with his journey.
Oh, he had meat to eat the others didn't know of. Oh, how it refreshed his heart as he talked with that woman, and as she received a blessing. There was another time when he was addressing the multitude, and there was a blind man, And what did he do? All he took him out, apart from the multitude.
And he brought blessing into that man's life here, this great press that Zacchaeus thought was going to keep him from having an audience with the Lord Jesus, and from seeing even a glimpse of him all he found that the Lord Jesus was interested not just in the multitude, it was true he was interested in the multitude, but he was more interested in one who was truly seeking. You know, if some great personality came to this town tonight.
They wouldn't be interested in me. I might be interested in a glimpse of them. I remember one time when we were children.
It was published that the Queen that Queen Elizabeth of England was going to ride in a motorcade down the Main Street of Kingston, ON a city some 45 or 50 miles from where I live.
And I remember going with my parents, and there was a vast multitude of people lining the Main Street of Kingston, and we were able to find a vantage point some distance back in the crowd. And as that motorcade whisked along, we caught one glimpse of the Queen of England. She wasn't really interested in any individual in that crowd, and we only caught a fleeting glimpse of her. And I thought, there multitudes will flock to catch a glimpse.
Of some personality who isn't even interested in knowing them. But oh, here was the Lord of life and glory.
Here was the Savior coming to this world and all he was interested in Zacchaeus.
He stops right under that tree. He looks up. And what does he say? Let me read it in verse 5. And when Jesus came to the place, oh, I love that he came to the place, he looked up and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, and I want you to notice this phrase, make haste.
You know, there's always an urgency about the gospel. The gospel is always.
Make haste. We were saying earlier that we cannot promise you tomorrow.
We can only promise you this moment.
On March the 15th, 44 BC, Julius Caesar got into his chariot at his house to travel from there to the Senate to conduct the business of the Roman Empire.
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And as he was getting into his chariot that morning, someone came to him.
And thrust a letter into his hand and said Mighty Caesar read it immediately. Weighty matters depend on it, he said. I don't have time now. He thrust it into his belt. He rode off to the Senate, and as he was ascending the stairs of the capital, he came down under the Assassin's blow.
And when they came and took up his body, they found that in his role.
Was a letter warning him not to go to the Capitol that morning.
That there were those waiting to take his life, you say? How foolish. How foolish. Oh, if he'd only taken a moment and opened that letter and read the warning, perhaps his death could have been averted at that time. But what about you tonight? God in faithfulness is warning you. The Lord Jesus in love is saying, make haste and come down. All we do indeed have to come down, we have to put aside the thoughts of self and all that kind of thing.
You know the Pharisees and the Sadducees and many in the day of the Lord Jesus? Oh, they had pretty good opinions of themselves. They thought that their outward life of piety and all the things that they could do would gain them favor and merit with God. That's why you don't, for the most part read of them coming to the Lord, although we have exceptions, thank God for His grace, but for the most part it was the publicans and sinners, those who felt they had a need, but those who didn't think they had a need, those who thought they could.
Present a cloak of self righteousness.
To God all they didn't have time to listen. What about you tonight?
Make haste. Make haste and come down. Humble yourself before a holy God, but realize that he has salvation. You know, the gospel message tonight is really summed up in one verse. Repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Or have you repented tonight you realize that you're a Sinner?
Do you have faith in that blessed one? You know, there was a gospel message preached in a prison in Philippi. We've had the privilege of taking up part of the book of Philippians tonight.
But prior to the writing of that book, there was a gospel message preached in Philippi by Paul and Silas. It wasn't a very long gospel message.
Not a gospel message as lengthy as the one you're hearing tonight. It was short and to the point, and this is what it was.
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved. Some weeks ago I had the privilege of speaking in a prison in Bermuda, And as we presented, or sought to present the Gospels clearly and simply to the prisoners who came to hear near the end of the Gospel meeting, one man put up his hand and he said, Can you tell us?
How to be saved. You know, I was glad for that question. It wasn't the first time a question like that was raised in a prison, because that Philippian jailer said what must I do to be saved? And I was thankful that we could turn them to that question raised in a prison so long ago and present us simply and clearly as we could. The fact that it's simple faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes. To realize we're sinners. Yes, to repent. How necessary, How important that is.
But then to find that God has a remedy for sin all tonight too, before I go any farther.
I want to stress the importance of the blood of Jesus. You know, I sometimes wonder when the gospel message is presented, if we stress enough the blood of Jesus, you know it is not a cure for sin. It is the only cure. I've sometimes said to the boys and girls that your mother at home has a favorite detergent that she uses Tide or cheer or whatever you call it. And she likes that soap because she feels that it does.
A good job on dirty clothes, but suppose your mother goes to the grocery store one week.
And they're out of that particular brand of soap. Or she finds that another brand is on sale for considerably less sum of money. What will she do? Oh, she'll substitute. And she'll find probably that that substitute did just about as good a job, if not as good a job, as the brand that she usually uses. But I want to tell you tonight, boys and girls and young people and men and women, there's no substitute for the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the only thing that cleanse us from sin. The blood of Jesus Christ His son cleanseth us or cleans us.
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From all sin.
I want to ask you a question tonight.
What value do you place on the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ?
I'm afraid that many people in this world tonight place very little, if any, value on the blood of Jesus. Let me recount a little incident from history that perhaps I've recounted before. But you know, I was interested in reading about one of the famous presidents of the United States. I'm not from the United States, but I always enjoyed American history. And I remember reading about Abraham Lincoln.
And Abraham Lincoln was a very, very famous president here in the United States.
Still thought of and revered as, I believe his profile still appears on the American penny.
But you know, President Lincoln was shot at Ford's Theater.
As he was listening to a production that night, I believe the year was 1865. I think the date was the 14th of April. But however, at the end of that presentation, gunshots rang out throughout Ford's Theater in Washington, and those gunshots were aimed at President Lincoln.
And as he stumbled forth in his final moments, there was a lady in the next box.
Who had on a white silk dress?
But she took the head of the dying president and cradled it in her lap to make him a little more comfortable in his dying moments.
And later that evening, when she returned home, she found that that very, very expensive silk dress had been stained with the blood of the President of the United States.
And her first thought was to take that dress to the laundry and see if those blood stains could be removed.
But when she considered the matter, she decided against that. And So what she did was she took a scissors and she's cut out from that white white silk dress, an 18 inch square of cloth stained with the blood of Abraham Lincoln.
And then she packaged it up, and she sent it off to the city fathers of Springfield, IL.
Springfield, IL, as you know, was the home of Abraham Lincoln for many, many years.
And if we were to go up to Springfield tonight and we were to go to a museum in Springfield, a museum that is almost solely dedicated to the life and work of Abraham Lincoln, which I have not had the privilege of visiting. But if we were to go there tonight, I am told that under a glass case there is an 18 inch square of cloth with the blood of Abraham Lincoln. That is what the city fathers thought of the blood of that famous president.
That is what the people of the United States think of the blood of Abraham Lincoln tonight. But what about the blood of Jesus?
They will Revere the blood of some famous personality, someone who has done a great deal for the country.
But what about the savior of sinners? What about the one who shed his blood on Calvary's cross?
I love to read over and over and over again. I never tire of reading that last part of the 19 chapter of John.
Where that soldier with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith, oh, I love that word. Forthwith came their out blood and water, the crowning act of man's hatred. And yet if it said out came blood and water, I'd rejoice, and that would be enough to save my soul. But it says forthwith. In other words, God was in a hurry to bless. Oh, God is in a hurry to bless tonight. Do you realize that tonight the Lord Jesus, as it were, is bending low from heaven?
Just to hear a Sinner in their heart receive the Lord Jesus Christ, it's we're not going to ask for a public display tonight. It's between you and God. It's between you and the Lord Jesus. Oh, tonight, I beg of you, don't leave your seat until you come to know the Lord Jesus as your savior.
You know, I believe one of the greatest lies of the devil is wait until tomorrow. There's lots of time. We call it procrastination. When I was a child, I used to procrastinate at many things, and sometimes I got into difficulty. But all tonight I want to plead with you don't procrastinate with your soul's salvation. Because the word of God plainly says, how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation? You know what neglect means.
00:50:12
It simply means to put it off and I believe there are more people in hell tonight.
Who are there because they neglected, they put it off, the enemy said another time.
Another time when you get older.
Oh, I plead with you. Don't procrastinate. These things are real. No, I can't save your soul tonight. If I could, I would, but I cannot. Only God can save your soul. But oh, tonight, my desire and prayer is that you will not raise out of that seat until you know the Lord Jesus as your savior. I'm not going to tell you tonight to go home and think it over. I'm not going to tell you to drive down the road and consider these things that we've spoken of. I'm not going to tell you to step out in the hall or out into this parking lot.
Oh, tonight. If you're not saved, if you don't know Jesus.
Do like Zacchaeus, when the Lord said, make haste and come down. Oh, what was the response? Notice verse 6. And he made haste and came down. There was an obedience. There was immediate obedience to the command of the Lord Jesus. And tonight he commands all men everywhere to repent.
Are you listening to that command, Zacchaeus? Listen to this command. Make haste and come down. Oh, what an invitation it must have been, how it must have thrilled the heart of this dear man. He found out that not only was he seeking for the Savior, but the Savior was seeking for him and desired his blessing and all. What joy it must have been to hear the Lord Jesus say, Zacchaeus, make haste and come down. And he made haste and came down.
Are you going to come tonight?
You know, as a Gospel meeting draws to a close, there are really 3 responses.
To the Gospel Message tonight.
You are either going to go out of this room as a rejector. Oh, I trust there's no one here who is going to reject. You know, there was a man named King Agrippa. He heard a gospel message from the apostle Paul, and when it was all over, he said almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. But, you know, he really was a rejecter.
Set it aside, He didn't want it. And the Lord Jesus said, he that rejecteth me and receiveth not my word hath one that judgeth him the word which I have spoken the same shall judge him in the last day. You know what that means, that in hell you will have the memory.
Of verses from the word of God that you heard.
Won't it be a solemn thing in the coming day to remember this verse we've read together? The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which is lost. And yet, as you remember that in hell, you will realize that it is no longer applicable to you as to a point of refuge. It will only rise in judgment of you, condemning you, realizing that you had opportunity and you rejected the Savior. But you say I'm not going to reject.
Oh, don't neglect.
Don't neglect tonight. We have just quoted that solemn verse. How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation? I plead with you again. Don't neglect the Savior tonight.
The other response is like the Philippian jailer who heard that message. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.
And he believed rejoicing in God with all his house He accepted. And so tonight you're either going to reject, you're either going to neglect, or you are going to come and accept. Oh, Zacchaeus, here he came down, and what does it say? It says he made haste and came down and received him joyfully.
We were speaking earlier of the joys of this world, of the amusements and pleasures of this world and the pleasure that there is in sin for a season. But all I want to tell you tonight, at the close of this gospel meaning, there's one who wants to fill your soul with everlasting joy. It says your joy no man taketh from you. You can have a joy that doesn't depend on your circumstances.
All tonight be like Zacchaeus and come down, make haste.
Receive the Lord Jesus and receive him joyfully. Oh, what joy. And you just go up and down these rows and talk to those who are here tonight, who have known the Lord Jesus for many, many years, many more years than I have. Will they tell you they're sorry they came to know the Lord Jesus? Will they tell you that it's not a path of joy? Oh, it may be a difficult path, but I'm sure everyone here who knows Christ as their Savior will tell you that there's joy in knowing that our sins are forgiven and that we're on our way to heaven. And not only so, but there's one who cares for us, loves us.
00:55:29
Provides for us a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Maybe there's someone here and you say, oh, I just can't face school tomorrow. I just can't face the situation at work tomorrow. I just can't face going back home to where I live. Oh, if you have Christ. It's true there may be many trials and difficulties, but, oh, you'll have one that you can turn to in any difficulty, David said. Even when my mother and father forsake me.
Then the Lord will take me up, you know, sometimes at the end of a gospel meeting.
People talk about what they'll have to give up if they come to know the Lord Jesus. The only thing I gave up were my sins, and I'm glad they're gone. As far as the East is from the West, So far as He removed our transgressions from us. They're washed in the blood of Jesus tonight, and what I gained in return is so much greater. A home in heaven 1. To care for me all along the path of life. Joy in my soul. Oh, tonight do you have that joy? Are your sins forever gone?
Little boy came home from Sunday school one time and he was very, very excited because, you know, his mother at home had always taught him that God sees everything. We've mentioned something of that tonight. God sees into our very hearts and he knows even our thoughts. But this little boy came home very, very excited one day, He said, mother, they told me at Sunday school or something God cannot see. Well, his mother was very, very surprised. She said, now you know, son, I've always told you that God sees everything. No mother, he said there's something.
God can't see now, son. Mother, he said. It's true, she said. What is it?
He said it's my sins when they're washed in the blood of Jesus. Oh, how sweet, what peace that gives to the soul. I plead with you as we bow our heads and pray. If you don't know Christ as your savior, come to him tonight, receive him like Zacchaeus did, experience the joy that comes and sins forgiven, and be on your way to God's happy home in heaven when you leave this world. The Lord Jesus is coming very soon.
He may come tonight and the door will be forever closed. Come rejoicing tonight.
Decide for Christ today and God's salvation seed yields soul and body, heart and will. To him who died for thee shall we pray our God.
Josiah
Address—G. Hayhoe
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Other #100 and 66166 Lord, thou hast drawn us after thee. Now let us run, and never tire thy presence. Shall our comfort be thyself, our hope, our soul desire, our present Savior, while nor fear nor sin can come if thou art near. 166.
Lord, thou has drawn us after.
The.
Fire.
As much drown our hearts are feeling.
The eyes of all our whole our souls.
So many things are.
Our best day girl while warfare.
More slammed and strong.
Wednesday today.
Lord, breathe in love, the father of the rest of the fires Where the throws?
Are wiser.
Arms rest.
Day.
Are spreading our Shields, flowers, and you are the Lord.
I'd like you to turn with me to the Second Chronicles, Chapter 34.
Second Chronicles, Chapter 34.
As I've often said, brethren, I think it's very beautiful that God not only gives us His truth in the way of precept that is telling us what the path is that is marked out for us, He also brings it before us by way of example. And the word of God is full of instruction in this way as we take up the different lives that are brought before us in the Old Testament and also in the dew of those who sought to walk in that path.
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Of those who failed in that path, of those who didn't walk in that path. It's all set before us in the Word. And the scripture says whatsoever things were written before time were written for our learning, that we, through patience and comfort of the Scriptures, might have hope. For myself, when I read these stories, I like to put myself in the position of the people that I'm reading about, just as if I was there in Babylon, or if I was there in Buda, or whatever the place might be.
And apply the scriptures in that way to my own life. And I trust the Lord will help each one of us as we look at this life of Josiah to see ourselves and how God can instruct us through these things He's given to us in His Word.
Josiah, as we know, was one of the kings of Judah. The tribe of Judah had remained in the place where the Lord had put his name, and so these godly kings were often used of God.
But God also records the failure and lets us learn by that too. And so I just like to look at the different stages in the life of this king. He began when he was 8 years old, very young indeed, and he reigned until he was 39 years old. And so I would say that it's his life covers pretty well a scope of our lives, from childhood to maturity, and so I trust the Lord will help us to glean something.
That will be a blessing to our souls. So Second Chronicles, chapter 34 and verse one.
Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem one and 30 years. And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand nor to the left.
Here we see money was made king, just eight years of age, very young, and maybe there are some here that are 8 years of age. And it's beautiful to see that these things began right in his childhood. Bible says even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure or whether it be right. And so I believe I might be talking to some who are 8 years of age, perhaps a little more.
And I trust that this word will go home to you. I'd like to ask you as a child, how are you seeking to please the Lord? If you're 8 years of old age? You're not too young to make decisions in your life that you want to please the Lord. It's true that you don't engage in great service like those who are older, but you can be obedient to your parents. You can speak a word for the Lord Jesus to a friend that you have. There are many things that you can do when you're 8 years of age.
And so here we see this king brought before us. You say, well, no person today would be a king at 8 years of age. But it tells us, you know, in Revelation chapter one, that when we are saved, he has made us kings and priests unto God and his father. So even though you're only eight years old, you can be a little king. I think there's a book written about a little boy who's called a little king. And so, you know, it's very lovely to see it begin, even in childhood.
I'd like to encourage, I say again, are you seeking to do that which is right in the sight of the Lord? Even in little things, the surprising what you can do? And we who are parents delight when we see little things in the lives of our children that show us that they do have a desire to please the Lord Jesus, because that can start very young. You can receive the Lord, and I hope if I'm talking to someone here this afternoon, who is?
Just eight years of age and that you have already taken the Lord Jesus as your personal savior, that you can say, yes, I know him as my savior. And when it speaks in the Bible of confessing Jesus as Lord, it means that we give him the place of authority in our lives. That we say we want to do things to please the Lord Jesus. How beautiful this is. Well, this gives a true character to our lives.
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So he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and that continued through his life. Now we come to the third verse and in the eighth year of his reign. So here we see him. He's 16 years old now. It's a pretty important age in any young person's life, isn't it? 16 years of age, perhaps. When you come to that age you begin to feel well, I'm sort of on my own now. I can do quite a few things. Perhaps I can get a car license. I can do a lot of things now because.
I am 16 years of age. What was characteristic of this boy when he became 16 years of age? Notice what it says.
And the third verse four. In the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David, his father.
Well, that was very nice. And 16 years of age. Everyone could see that this young fellow, as he developed, he wasn't saying, Well, I've got to have my flame when I'm in this stage, after all. I'll settle down afterwards. But now I want to just do what I like because I have certain liberties now when I get a little bit older. But isn't it lovely to see what spirit of God comments about him? He began to seek after the God.
Of David his father. And so you and I can seek the Lord. We can put him first in our decision.
Oh, how many important decisions are made? You are in school. You're 16 years of age. You know that? You're beginning to think about what kind of occupation you're going to take up in life, perhaps even 2. But I hope it's true. You have learned that the Lord Jesus wants you at his table to remember him and his death. You really want to please him. You can respond to that precious request that he has.
Made to us and says, as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you do show the Lord's death till he comes. Isn't it nice to see that at 16 years of age there was a decision, a purpose in this young person's life? Well, I hope that'll be so with you and I would say too. And even choosing a line of work that you're going to follow or perhaps even beginning to think about a friend that you might like to have in life.
That you're thinking about pleasing the Lord because you can honor the Lord in your occupation.
He can study and get into some occupation where you may find it very, very hard to honor the Lord. Or you can, as you begin to think about what occupation you would like to take up, to think of something where you can do your daily work and be happy in it, and be honoring the Lord too as you go on in that occupation and in the friends that you form quite often, those who are very close to us through life we have first learned to know. When we were perhaps around 16 years of age, we made their acquaintance, we got close to them.
Oh, how beautiful it is to see this in this King Josiah. It isn't amiss that God has recorded this in His word. He has recorded it, dear young people, for our learning, for our instruction. He could have just given certain ages and given us certain direction. He's pleased to give it to us in his practical way. And, you know, we might have said, well, he must have had a good example. His father was no example to him at all.
His father was an ungodly king.
So he couldn't say, Well, I had the benefit of a Christian home. We might speak in that way, where I had all the advantages. He didn't have those advantages. I thank God that I did have a Christian father and mother. He rejoiced and were happy to see me, seeking to please the Lord. You say Well, things aren't so in our home, and I don't have the encouragement of my parents. But David encouraged himself in the Lord his God, and I'd encourage you that, even if you don't have.
The example that you might possibly like to have a desire to have.
He still can have the Lord, and He's a perfect example.
He left us an example that we should follow in his steps, so this young fellow didn't have that kind of example in his father, but nevertheless he began to.
Seek after the God of David his father, that was his great grandfather of what we might say. It was not his immediate father when it says that.
Then the middle of this third verse, and in the 12Th year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the Groves, and the carved images, and the molten images. And they break down the altars of Balaam in his presence, and the images that were on high above them he cut down, And the Groves, and the carved images, and the grave and the molten images. He break in pieces and made dust of them, and strawed them upon the graves of them that had sacrificed unto them.
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And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars, and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.
And so did he in the cities of Manasseh and Ephraim and Simeon, even under Naphthali, with their Maddox round about.
And when he had broken down the altars and the Groves and had beaten the graven images into powder and cut down all the idols through it all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem. Well, now, as we see, this is in the 12Th year of his reign. So at this stage it was 20 years of age. Pretty important time, wasn't it? 21 is a very important time, the young person's life. And here he was 20 years of age.
And he was acting in his responsible position. You and I are not called upon to go about and breakdown graven images and so on, but we can in our own lives not allow things to creep into our lives that we would be a hindrance to us. These graven images might have looked very beautiful. And all these things that had been built, they might have been very attractive. I'm sure that they were. And it must have been.
Difficult for him. He probably was very much misunderstood because.
As I say, his father before him wasn't a godly king.
And so he might have been misunderstood, but who was he seeking to please? Who are you and I seeking to please, Brethren, We sing a little song sometimes from various cares. Our hearts retire though deep and boundless. Their desire we've now to please but one. Him before whom each knee shall bow to him is all our business now. And those that are his own. Oh, I ask you. I ask myself too. Is it the Lord we want to please?
And at this age, why, you might have said, well, you know, I don't want to get in wrong with my friends. I'm going to lose a lot of friends if I take a firm stand for my Lord. And so he could have easily talked that way, you and I do. Sometimes we allow friends to influence us, lead us away, say we don't want to be different from the crowd, but sometimes we have to be different to please the Lord if we seek to please him.
We may at times be misunderstood, but one thing I assure you, the Lord will understand you perfectly.
The Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. He sees everything that we do. And so this was a very important time, I'm sure, in his life. But it was lovely to see this steadfastness. And again, I would ask you, be sure and read your Bible and find out what pleases the Lord. And there's another verse I'd like to quote to you in the.
119th Psalm. The 63rd verse, I think it is. It says I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts. That's a good definition, definition for a good companion, isn't it? I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts. So here he was at this important age of his life, and he's breaking down those things that otherwise might have seemed very attractive.
Probably very attractive to his father. Probably quite attractive to a lot of others. I'm sure they were works of art, these images. But he has broken down why he was seeking to please the Lord. Who may the Lord grant that we might have this desire to please him? And now he returns to Jerusalem. Perhaps we could see here that this was very important to him. Jerusalem.
Why would Jerusalem be important? Because it was a beautiful city or something? No, I believe that to him it was important because that was a place where the Lord had put his name. The Lord chose that city out of all the tribes of Israel, and that's why it was important. And that's the only thing that makes the things important to us is that it's pleasing to the Lord. And I trust too dear young people as you get older.
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That you'll value the precious privilege of being gathered to the name.
Of the Lord Jesus giving him his rightful place. You don't. We don't Read here that.
Josiah was puffed up. Her pride entered his heart. I think he was very humble at this time.
But he did desire to please the Lord, and I pray that the Lord may keep you and keep me too in that path that He has marked out. He were just noticing the other day, when we were reading the 27th Psalm, that there's a little expression there where David says, one thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after that I may dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of my life.
To behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.
That little expression, those two words, are used quite often in the scripture. One thing, there was a certain young man, I would say a very nice young man, says Jesus looking on him, loved him. He was a very nice young man. But the Lord had to say to that young man one thing thou lackest, and you may know some nice young people too.
But maybe they lack that one thing. Don't know the Lord. I have warned you to be careful.
No matter how nice that young person may be, if he or she doesn't know the Lord, be careful, be not equally yoked together with unbelievers. Then it says about Martha and Mary, Mary Charles. One thing is needful and that was to sit at Jesus feet and hear his words. The Apostle Paul in his Christian life said one thing I do forgetting those things which are behind.
And reaching forth unto those things which are before I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. I might just say that that's what it means when it says, if thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. You can't look at two objects at the same time and see them clearly. You just you could look at one and look at one, you can see it clearly. But if you try to look at 2:00 at the same time, you don't see either one of them clearly. And so.
We need to have the Lord before us, but this verse in the 27th Psalm that I mentioned is very lovely, I think. And that was the one thing he desired, was that he might dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of his life, and perhaps if we might apply it to ourselves.
I like to apply it in this way. May the Lord keep us in the path of His choosing as long as we're here all the days of our life. Very easy to get stumbled, very easy to get our eyes upon man.
Very easy to be turned aside, Any of us are capable of this. And so it says one thing. If I desired of the Lord, that I may dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of my life, says in the 23rd Psalm, and I shall dwell in the House of the Lord forever.
But here he's talking about all the days of my life. And why? Why did he want to be there? I think the two reasons he gives are very beautiful. To behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple to behold the beauty of the Lord. Come to the meeting to see the Lord.
They be disappointed if you put your eyes upon your brethren, perhaps, but you'll never be disappointed if your eyes on the Lord to behold the beauty of the Lord.
And then to inquire in his temple now that is to.
Have the answers from his precious word, because the assembly is responsible to be the pillar and ground of the truth. What a responsibility. Well, some we see here this He returned to Jerusalem, and we come to another phase in the eighth verse. Now in the 18th year of his reign, when he had purged the land and the house, he sent Chafe Ann the son of Azealia, and Maisia the governor of the city and the son of and Joa, the son of Jehovah, as the recorder to repair the House of the Lord his God.
When they came to Hilkiah the priest, they delivered the money that was brought into the House of God, which the Levites that kept the doors had gathered at the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and all the remnant of Israel, and of all Judah and Benjamin. And they returned to Jerusalem, and they put it in the hand the Workman that had the oversight of the House of the Lord. And they gave it to the workmen that wrought in the House of the Lord to repair and amend the house.
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Even the to the artificers and builders gave a it to buy human stone and timber for couplings and to floor the houses.
Which the kings of Judah had destroyed. Well, I think it's nice to see here that there was.
A desire that if there was anything that hadn't been looked after in the House of God, we see that the money was given and the workers worked together and they repaired the House of the Lord. Well, you know, that shows us too the importance of.
Everything being according to the mind and will of God, and if things have not been according to his mind, that there was an exercise here to repair them, Isn't it precious present that we should make the word of God our guide? Difficulties do arise even in the Assembly of God. And what is? The answer is that I think this, and I think that no, that house was not to be made according to a.
Humanly devised pattern. Pattern was given by the Spirit to David and if it was to be repaired, it was repaired and brought back to the original pattern. Word of God gives us instruction. Is it just that we have certain rules and regulations about how the assembly is to go on and walk? No, we have instruction in the word of God and it doesn't matter what difficulty arises and difficulties do arise.
Among those gathered to the Lord's name, where do we turn To human opinions? No, the word of God isn't that precious that we have the word of God that gives us all things that pertain unto life and godliness sometimes, Ferta said. Well, we've always done it this way. Well, if it's the right way, that's nice that we've done it that way. But our young people need to know why we do it this way and so.
If we turn to the word of God, we find this instruction for all the problems that arise.
Things the enemy is always at work to try and get us to depart from the pattern that is given to us in the word of God. And so I say again about Moses, see that thou make it according to the pattern which was showed to thee on the mount. And if they had departed from that, then there was a return to that pattern. So we see there were workmen there, and they worked, and they amended the house. They thought to go by the instruction.
The 12Th verse and the man did the work faithfully.
And the overseers of them, it mentions their name and then.
There's one other little thing that's noticeable too. In the end of the 13th verse, it says and the porters, well, perhaps we don't always think of the porters as they're brought before us in the word of God. But the porters were the doorkeepers. The doorkeepers in the House of God. The port is the door, you know. And so to him the Porter openness means the door at the end. There needs to be porters.
Calls the Psalmist rather sad.
I'd rather be a doorkeeper in the House of my God than to dwell.
In the tents of wickedness, remember an older brother saying one time it's not easy to be a doorkeeper.
It's not easy to be a doorkeeper, to seek to maintain and see that things don't creep into.
The assembly that are not according to the mind and will of God and so and their reporters. When Solomon built the temple, it tells us that there were 24 courses of singers and there were 24 courses of porters. That is the praise that's going to be carried on in the assembly. There needs to be doorkeepers, Paul warned when he spoke to the elders at Ephesus. And he said that the enemy would be at work to spoil that.
Happy and lovely testimony at Ephesus.
The very highest truth is given to us in the letter to the Ephesians. And yet it was to those of that very assembly that Paul warned him about two things. He said that there was an enemy would come with grievous wolves to scatter the flock. And then also of your own cells, shall men arise, speaking perverse things. And what does he give them? For the instruction is this. And now, brethren, I commend you.
To God and to the word of his grace. Isn't that lovely? That was the instruction.
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He gave them. And so I just like to encourage each one of us. Difficulties do come amongst us. And even as gathered to the Lords name, how are we going to meet them? By human prudence, this precious book gives us all that we need to know, and we need to have those porters, those who.
Seek to maintain that which is suited and according to God's mind in connection with his house. So there are reporters there.
And now we go down a little further.
In this.
Look. And in the 16th verse Chaffin carried the book. Well, I should have to the 14th verse. And when they brought out the money that was brought into the House of the Lord, Hilkiah the king found a book of the law of the Lord given by Moses. And Ilkaya answered and said to Schaeff and the scribe, I have found the book of the law of the House of God of the Lord. And Hilkiah delivered it, delivered the book to Schaffen, and Schaffen carried the book to the king.
And brought the king word back again, saying all that was committed to thy servants, they do it.
Then eighteenth verse and Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath given me a book, and Chafan read it before the king. Now we see there had been neglect here, because God had given instruction that when a king came to the throne in Israel, he was to copy out the book of the law of the Lord, not just read it, he was to copy it out. That certainly would impress it on his mind, wouldn't it? He copied it out. But there'd been a neglect here. But now in the book he's found.
Does is the King indifferent about this? Oh no, no. He's very much concerned about this book. It had been neglected. And have we been ourselves, perhaps individually? Have we been neglecting the word of God? May I just encourage everyone who's a householder to read the word of God in the home? And may I encourage you, dear young people, to read the word of God for yourself?
When I first started out to work.
And I met other people, so thankfully some Christians as I started out and we talked about things and they would ask me, well, where do you go and where do we go and so on. And if I was going to try and show them why I was in a different position with from them, There was no use to say, well, in our meeting we do it this way. No, I had to show them from the word of God.
And I tell you, it sent me searching because no use to say, well, that's the way my father taught me, because they would say, well, my father taught me differently. But have you read this book? If they ask you where you work, why you meet as you do, why are you so sure that you're saved? Can you show me from the word of God why a Christian cannot be lost again? Can you answer those questions from the word of God?
It won't be much use to help anyone to say, well, that's the way we do it in our meeting now. We need to have it from the word of God. And so I want to encourage you while you're young, for he was comparatively young at this point, to store your mind with these precious things that we'd be. It says be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you, a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. I just want to encourage you.
I may also say that there's plenty of good ministry that can be a real help to you too.
If you read it, do you read it? I know we're living in days when people don't do too much reading. They do a lot of watching and listening, but they don't do much reading. But I encourage you to read the word of God. Read it faithfully. Until someone has said you think in terms of Scripture. It's a good thing to have your mind filled with the word of God.
Well, now we see someone else introduced here in this 21St verse. Now go inquire of the Lord for me and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found, the great is the wrath of the Lord that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the Lord to do after all that is written in this book. And Hilkiah and they the that the king had appointed, went to hold as a prophetess the wife of Shalom.
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The son of Tigre, the son of Hashra, keeper of the wardrobe, How she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college, And they speak to her to that effect. And she answered them. Now sayeth the Lord God of Israel, tell ye the man that sent to you. Thus sayeth the Lord. Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king.
Of Judah, because they have forsaken me, and have burned in sands unto other gods.
That they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands. Therefore my wrath shall be poured out upon this place, and shall not be quenched.
And As for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, so shall ye say unto him. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, concerning the words which thou hast heard, Because thine heart was tender, and thou did humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place and against the inhabitants thereof. And humblest thyself before me is Rent thy clothes, and weep before me. I have even heard thee also, sayeth the Lord.
Behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace, because neither shalt thou see all the evil that I will bring upon this place and upon the inhabitants of the same. So they brought the king word again. Well, I think this is very lovely. There's a number of sisters here, and it shows how a sister in her quiet corner, she was just keeping the wardrobe. She wasn't occupying a public place, but I would say that she was one.
Who did know the mind and will of God? And I would say to you, dear sisters here.
That while the public place is given to the brothers, you have a tremendously influential place. And this is very beautiful to see that this lone woman, a keeper of the wardrobe, was intelligent about the mind and will of God and saying a message, he didn't take a public place, but she sent a message which affected the king and caused him to listen to what she said. And so I I just want to encourage you sisters here.
It's true that God hasn't given the public place to the sisters, but I want to say a tremendously influential place. We find it all through in the Bible, how often we see shine out in days of weakness and failure, ones whom God picks up instruments, women, sisters, who became a mighty influence among the people of God. And I want to just encourage you in this. And so here's how the just living there in Jerusalem.
In God's center, where he had placed his name, just quietly looking after her chores, he was a keeper of the wardrobe, and here she has the mind of the Lord. She speaks it to these messengers who came. They carry the message to the king, and the king is moved by this message.
Well then it says here in the 29th verse. Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem, and the king went up into the House of the Lord, and the man of Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and all the priests and the Levites, and all the people great and small. And he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the House of the Lord. And the king stood in his place and made a covenant before the Lord to walk after the Lord.
And to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all his heart and with all his soul to perform the words of the covenant which was written in this book. And it's lovely to see what took place here in the life of this Josiah. And now he stands up, takes his responsible place as the king, and he reads the word to the people and makes them realize that it's important that they should follow.
The word of God. Well, we see this lovely climax, we might say, in the life of Josiah and.
I would just suggest though, that when in the 32nd verse and he caused all that were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to it, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers. We know in the Old Testament they did make pledges and promises and owls and so on, but in Christianity I believe that our place is not to say we're going to do this.
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We know how it all failed. In the Old Testament. They stood at Mount Sinai and said, all that the Lord has spoken we will do and be obedient. Even Josiah will see that even He failed in the latter part of his life. Never make a pledge or a promise that you're going to do something. Just turn to the Lord and say, Lord, help me and you need His help every day. Preserve me, oh God, for indeed do I put my trust. This is a great day when people are trying to make pledges and promises of what they're going to do and commitments to the Lord.
They often say the Lord doesn't ask you to make a commitment of what you're going to do. He makes a promise to you. I'll never leave you nor forsake you. He makes the promise that if you walk in his ways that he'll keep you. But don't say like Peter did. Lord, I'll never deny thee. Other people might do it, but not me. How dangerous it is, It says, having no confidence in the flesh. The flesh profiteth nothing. God is not asking you to make promises.
And so I believe in this point here we find that making these people to make these pledges, we know they didn't keep them, but we can look up to the Lord and let that be our daily prayer. Preserve me, oh God, for in thee do I put my trust. We need His keeping grace. But at least it's nice to see what he did.
He read the book of the law and brought it before the people. And so when situations arise, it's good to just quote a verse and just say, well, this is what the Word of God says, and the word of God is the authority for our action.
Well then we find in the next chapter something very beautiful.
In the first verse, moreover, Josiah kept a Passover unto the Lord in Jerusalem, and they killed the Passover on the 14th day of the first month.
And I just mentioned this because there was a revival in the time of Hezekiah and it says they kept the Passover in the second month. Now it was true that God had made provision that it should, it could be kept in the second month if they were unclean, if they had been unclean, I should say when the first month came around. But here we see, and it's I think it's nice to see, he goes back to the very beginning.
God did grant a wonderful time in the time of the Reformation under Martin Luther and a lot of other leaders, and they brought forth a lot of truth. We can be very, very thankful for the truth of justification by faith. And a great deal of blessing came to Europe and England in the days of those reformers known as the Reformation. But they didn't go back to the full truth of God, but then in God in his goodness, over 100 years ago, granted a recovery.
They valued what had been recovered in the time of Luther and Calvin and other gaudy men. But there was something more. They valued also the whole truth of God. They were restored to, what shall I say, what God had set up at the beginning. This little book called The First Years of Christianity. And it was remarked in the meeting this morning how that when God brings the truth before us, it's the present truth.
If it's in Christianity, what are we going to go back to, to the days of the reformers? Now we go right back to what God established in the time of the apostles. There we have His mind and will very important for us. And so here we find that Josiah goes right back to the very beginning, and it was a great blessing when they did this, says in the sixth verse.
So kill the Passover and sanctify yourselves, and prepare your brethren that they may do according to the word of the Lord, by the hand of Moses. And Josiah, gave to the people of the flocks, lambs, and kids, all for the Passover offering, and all that were present to the number of 30,000 and 3000 bullocks, And these were of the King's substance.
Then going further in the 30, in the 11Th, 10th verse, so the service was prepared and the priest stood in their place, and the Levites in their courses according to the King's commandment, and they killed the Passover and the priest sprinkled the blood with their hands, the 13th verse. And they roasted the Passover with fire according to the ordinance. That was what God had ordered way back at the beginning.
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That was to be roast with fire, and but the other holy offering sod day in pots and cauldrons and in pans, and divided them speedily.
Among the people, then in the 15th verse and the singers, the sons of Asaf, were in their place according to the commandment of David and Asaph and Human, and Judith and the king Seer. And the porters waited at every gate that they might not depart from their service for their breath. And the Levites prepared for them. Notice that they kept the Passover just exactly as God had ordered it. But I think it's an interesting little comment. It says here the porters waited at every gate, at every gate.
You know, if there's one gate unguarded, that's where the enemy is going to come.
That's the idea in war is to find a weak point, always attack on the weak, unguarded point. But they kept every gate and saw That needs to be a warning. It is to me, brethren, we might be very faithful in one thing, but very unfaithful in another. The enemy knows our weak points, and we need to be constantly before the Lord, seeking the direction of His word in every matter. Let's not think anything is too small to be.
Observed that God has written in His Word. Every word of God is pure.
The Lord said that if they broke one of these least commandments and teach men's soul, the same should be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. You say, Well, I stand by the important truth, and we stand by the fundamentals. We need the whole truth of God because it was remarked in the meeting this morning. The word truth is always in the singular. They all stands or falls together and the assembly is responsible to stand for.
The whole truth of God, the assembly, is to be the pillar and ground of the truth.
The church doesn't teach, the assembly doesn't teach, but it is responsible to hold the deposit of truth. God raises up teachers to teach. But I hope when anything is said in the meeting, no matter who says it, that we don't just say, well, it must be right because brother, so and so said it. You know, the standard is the word of God. God may use teachers, but the word of God is the standard. And so this is a very lovely time that has taken place here. And then in the 17th verse, the children of Israel that were present kept the Passover at that time.
And the Feast of Unleavened Bread, seven days, seven days through the whole week. Just a little word. You know, we might be very faithful and come to the meetings very faithfully, But you know, I always remember a dear brother many years ago, when I was quite young. He's with the Lord for a good many years. But at the close of the meeting on Lord's day morning, he used to often pray these words. He used to strike me. He said, Lord, help us to remember that we are Thy gathered Saints seven days in the week.
Help us to remember that we are Thy gathered Saints seven days in the week, not just when we come and gather around the Lord Jesus, but they kept that Passover figurative, no doubt of the remembrance of their deliverance from Egypt. We keep the Lord supper remembrance of what the Lord has done for us.
But the seven days in the week, how do we act through the week? Is it always?
A path of separation, unleavened bread, is the thought of separation from evil. Leaven in the scripture, I think we all know, is a figure of evil. There was to be no leaven in the offerings of the Lord. It was to be offered without leaven. And so here everything was done in such a lovely way and everything went very well. Porters were standing at every gate.
They kept the Passover. They followed the word of God. They kept the feast of.
Of the unleavened bread for seven days, the 18th verse. And there was number Passover like that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet. Neither did all the kings of Israel keep such a Passover as Josiah kept and the priests and the Levites and all is all Judah and.
Israel that were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the 18th year of the reign of Josiah, was this Passover kept.
So we see he was 26 years old, and I think everything is going to go well from now on. It's given the Lord his rightful place. He's really been very faithful. But I want you to notice these little words in the beginning of the 20th verse. And after all this, after all this. Oh, you'd say, well, surely everything has gone so well. We can never rest upon our oars, brethren. We can never say, well, they've gone on faithfully for the Lord.
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I was sitting in a meeting one time. It's a good many years ago and I heard a brother say I've never missed a prayer meeting in my life unless I had a good reason.
To give the Lord why I wasn't there. But you know, it was within a year that Brother was no longer in the meeting, no longer in fellowship. Let us not boast. Let us not think that because we've gone on that that's going to keep us. Only the Lord can keep us. We need communion with the Lord day by day, all meant by moment.
And if we don't rise in the morning and commit our way to the Lord and seek the guidance and direction of His Word, they won't be kept.
Peter was perhaps the most outstanding and promising. The Lord had said upon this rock. I will build my church. Thou art Peter. He really gave me wonderful position and privilege. But Peter became confident. Peter thought that it would never happen to him. He would never, never deny his Lord. He had gone on too faithfully for that. Now. Peter had to learn his own weakness. And if we haven't learned that, maybe we learned it today that.
We won't be kept unless the Lord keeps us. Is He able to keep us now unto him that is able to keep you from falling? Mr. Darby's translation, stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy? Is he able? Yes, brethren, He's able to keep us, but let us walk in dependence, in self judgment, realizing that he alone can. Well, this is a sad part about We have to read it, though, because it's recorded.
20th verse After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Neko king of Egypt, came up to fight against Karkemish by Ephraitis, and Josiah went out against him, and he sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with thee? Thou king of Judah? I come not up against thee this day, but against the house that wherewith I have war. For God commanded me to make haste, purbear thee from meddling with God.
Who is with me that he destroyed thee not? Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself that he might fight with him and listen to what it says here. Hearken not under the words of Necco from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo.
And the Archer shot at king Josiah, And the king said to his servants, have me away, for I am sore wounded. His servants therefore took him out of his, that chariot, and put him in the second chariot that he had. And they brought him to Jerusalem. And he died and was buried in one of the sepulchers of his father's. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourn for Josiah, and Jeremiah lamented for Josiah, And all the singing men and the singing women spoke of Josiah and their lamentation to this day.
And made them an ordinance in Israel, and behold, they are written in the Lamentations.
Now the rest of the acts of Josiah and his goodness, according to that which was written in the law of the Lord and his deeds first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. Well, it's a very sad page in the history of this king. He started meddling with the world, getting mixed up in something that he should have left alone, and we see what happens. He was shot by The Archers. He fell down wounded.
He was brought back to Jerusalem. Beautiful. The little touches that the spirit of God gave, he brought back to Jerusalem. He died there. But what a sad thing at this very important stage of his life. 39, almost 40, because 40 is the period of testing in the scripture. Here he doesn't hearken. Sometimes it's strange whom God may use to give us a rebuke too. Sometimes even the world may know that we're doing wrong.
Sometimes even the world has to say, why don't you leave that alone? The son of your affair. Oh, how important it is that we listen and we walk humbly. But I believe dear Josiah got confident in himself at this point. He'd gone on so well all his time, like the dear brother I spoke of. I honor his name. I know I knew him well. He really sought to live for the Lord in his life. By the end of his life, it was sad to see that he should speak in that way. Well, only the Lord can keep us. And I say to everyone.
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Again, a beautiful That important verse preserved me, O God, for in thee do I put my trust. Well, I'd just like to say one other thing. Did God, so to speak, forget all that had been done before because of this? Isn't this lovely, The 26th verse?
Now the rest of the acts of Josiah and his goodness, according to that which was according to that which was written in the law of the Lord.
And his deeds, first and last, behold, they are written in the books of the kings of Judah and Israel. And Judah, isn't that lovely? The spirit of God makes this little addition because you might have written them off, so to speak, and say, well, yeah, it's sad the way his life ended in such a disappointment. But God hadn't forgotten, and he doesn't forget anything that has been done for him. If there's anything in your life and mine, the Lord has a record of it. And in that day of manifestation, whatever has been done for him will be manifested.
And then shall every man have praise of God? Sometimes I thought that was one of the most wonderful verses in the whole Bible. And then tell every man that's every believer have praise of God. To think that there won't be one single believer that God won't pick out something in his life, that he can reward that the judgment seat of Christ. There may be a lot that's burned up, but he'll pick out and he'll reward any little thing that has been done for him. But may you keep us, brethren.
May these things, as it says whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning.
That we, through patients and comfort of the scriptures might uphold. And so I want to say we have all ages here. This little story that God has recorded. It started when Josiah was eight years of age and it went on until he came to the age of 39, covered a very great number of years in his life. And it was very, very much that he's fruitful and is going to be rewarded in that day. May we also remember the Lamb of God still keep us close to thy pierced side.
Is only there in safety and peace to come find. Perhaps you could sing out here, 318.
I.
Joshua and Caleb
Address—N. Berry
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Might reopen our meeting by singing hymn #241 two 4/1.
Savior through the desert. Leave it.
Let's see who cannot go.
Thou from cruel chains, has freed us, and has laid the tyrant low. Let thy presence.
Terrorists all our journey through 241.
Savior through the heavenly living.
Heart.
And heart, may the Lord let the Lord where the thyroid cry.
My heart this afternoon.
Is 2 men walking with God for 40 years?
Yesterday we had brought before us so beautifully.
One other person.
Starting off when it was 8 years of age, going on until he was 39.
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I'd like to follow through on that and take up another person who starts in the story at age 40 and goes on till he was 85.
I want to speak with the help of the Lord about Joshua and Caleb.
Beautiful, surpassingly beautiful picture for us all of walking through this world with Christ.
Joshua.
LED God's people into that promised land.
The Lord Jesus Christ is leading you and me to glory.
And he's walking with us. Walking with us.
Peter.
First, in the chapter, First chapter tells us who we are to follow in his steps following this step.
Dear young ones, my heart goes out to you today.
You're growing up in a world that is filled with corruption and sin and as my son said, getting worse faster every day.
You're one resource is to put yourself this afternoon for this hour in the place of Caleb.
He walked with Joshua. Caleb didn't make decisions. He followed.
Joshua was the leader. Christ is your and mine leader.
Are we following him?
Let's turn to Numbers, Chapter 13.
Israel.
I'm going to surprise you. Vizio is starting out on a short journey.
From Goshen.
To the land of promise.
I'll surprise you when I explain it later. I just want to say that they started out across the Red Sea, opened up before them, God doing it. He wants to do this to your life, beloved young people and each one of us.
Were on that journey.
Across the Red Sea went down at the Sinai. There they built that beautiful Tabernacle dear to my heart. It took them two years to do it completed it according to the pattern that God had showed Moses. Exactly.
The Tabernacle mainly was for the priests.
And the Levites that guard it when it stood still. The priests.
Led the worship they had access into God's presence, the two sons of Aaron, a picture of the church.
Into the holy place, Aaron himself a picture of Christ. Into the holiest of all. We know that we are acquainted with that.
Caleb and Joshua, or I should say Joshua and Caleb were neither priests nor Levites.
Caleb came from the tribe of Judah.
Joshua from Ephraim. They were one of the people.
We've had so much in these last two days about walking. I have enjoyed the meeting so much, been a blessing to my soul. I trust to yours. Walking, walking.
This is what we're going to do now, with God's help walk.
With our Joshua with Christ.
They came to that promised land.
Exodus chapter 6.
Gives 7.
Promises of God saying I will seven times I'll take you out of Egypt, deliver you from the oppression there. Never a word about the wilderness. I will lead the end of the land, You'll be my people and I'll be your God and so on. 7 Promises I want to relate if you will pay a little attention to you, dear younger ones, to your life today.
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Caleb is you and me.
We are following our Joshua.
They come to the land to go in, should have gone right in to unbelief through doubt of the goodness of God.
Moses goes along with their desire and what do they do? If he does, he chose. He chooses 12 men to go in to.
Cute the land but for.
God said that there is a land flowing of milk and honey and so on.
Doubting they have doubts sometimes.
This is for you.
So God.
Those men were chosen. They made that beautiful search of the land of being in many parts of that.
Lovely land of Israel. They made a big complete circle and as they came back down South.
They came to a place called.
It's the first name of any of those places that are mentioned, Hebron.
12 men searching the land, and they came down to a place called Hebron.
Or Hebron, as they call it today.
And Eshkar.
Had the privilege of being in both those places, very fertile, beautiful fruit trees, there, now again in around.
That that place.
They see the fruit. They're so impressed. They said let's take some grit back to the people back home. So they agree. And why a man can't carry the the grapes, a stem. They have to get a pole and put the pole through the stem of grapes and two men have to carry it the rest of the journey. That's the fruit of the land. What am I saying? This is heaven.
Or this is the full enjoyment of heaven today, now, now, while we're waiting. That's what Canaan is for you and for me now.
They saw it.
They saw the beauty of that land. They went down. They arrived back down. Let's read a little bit now about it.
Verse 27 of #13.
26 And they went, and came to Moses and Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Parrin to Kadish, and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. Two things in order were for their ears, fruit for their eyes.
Two things.
All information, 85%, comes through the eyes to us. Of all information, 15 through the years they heard the report, the people did 3 million or so, 600,000 men anyway.
Waiting expectantly. And here they come, loaded here with this beautiful fruit. They hear the beautiful message. All the 12 men say. It's true. It's true.
You've heard older ones. You've heard your parents say to you it's true, the Lord lives. The Lord lives, Let's live for him. You heard them say that, haven't you? And you've seen the fruit. You've seen the fruit in your parents lives. Walking with Christ, you say, I want to get half what my father and mother have.
They saw, they heard.
The 12 Said.
Wonderful. It's true. Let's go down a little bit farther.
27 First says, surely the land flows with milk and honey. The verse 28 Oh, look at the first word. I think it's in the heart of some of us today. Nevertheless, oh.
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Yes, but in other words nevertheless.
The people would be strong and dwell in the land, and the cities are walled and very great. And moreover, we saw the children of Enoch there. Those were the giants and the Amalekites throughout there, and the Jebusites and the Amorites they had. They knew them all. They got all. Those enemies weren't thinking of what God said, they were just reporting what their eyes saw without faith. The Canaanites.
Six Nations there, they just saw them. And then they said, oh, the Giants.
And they said everyone of them is a giant. They saw everybody, in other words, difficulties.
They are getting it, dear young people.
I'm talking about your life and my life in this world, the difficulties.
Are they? Are we looking at the difficulties we have to face the world?
But two or one man?
One man is there. Are there some caleb's here this afternoon? You dear young ones?
Verse 30.
Cannon. What's he do?
See that word, Joanie? What's it say? That word? What was he doing?
Got to watch the revival now he still.
To the people who I ask you, I ask myself, am IA Skiller amongst the Reverend at the meeting?
Are you or you're disturbing here? Is Caleb now a follower of? Not yet, but he is.
As the Lord in his heart and Caleb still the people before Moses and Said let us go up at once and possess it, for we are well able. They said we're not able. The 12 Said, The ten said, Caleb says we are well able. What's that mean? It means confidence. Do you have that confidence? Do I have that confidence in the Lord facing the difficult? Everybody is becoming a giant. They weren't all giants.
That area where the fruit.
Verse 31 But the men.
That went up with him said we're not able and then they recite oh don't take time to look it up they recite all the difficulties and.
Verse 33 And there we saw the giants, the son of Enoch, and so on.
Everybody hears this. Their hearts are shattered. The people.
But one man said, we are well able. Are you one of those ones?
Am I? Do we have the courage to stand one man against twelve of them, or ten of them? You, you, and I are called off to go on to do this. We can do it with his strength, if you and I have Christ before.
This is the first of the areas that I'm speaking about. They searched the land, They came back. These two men stood firm. Let's go down a little bit farther.
And to the next chapter.
Verse 6 and Joshua.
The son of Nun, and Caleb, the son of Gephuni, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes, and they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land which we passed through to search, it is an exceeding good land. If the Lord delight in us. He didn't think the Lord delight in me collective if the Lord delight in us. Certainly the Lord delighted in them, He'd given them that great promise take you into that land.
They doubted. Are you doubting?
I know how to keep pressing this, but am I doubting the goodness of God that is able to take us through?
And then he will bring us not. We'll get there. We'll fight our way through. No beloved ones, He will take us through.
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Who do the people listen to?
3 million people out there in a great crowd. What do they listen to? They listen to the majority. Are you listening to the majority? Majority in the Bible is always wrong.
They listen to the majority.
They were saddened.
These two men had a purpose of heart pleasing to the Lord.
What are the people Do they pick up stones to kill these ones? Dear brother, we're facing violence. I believe it's coming fast. And you and I need what purpose of heart that leads to Christ to be able to stand in confidence, not in ourselves, but in Him.
The people say we're not able.
God said to them all right.
All right, you don't. You're making that decision. This is the people, not Caleb and Joshua.
He said You're going to, I'm going to take you out into the wilderness and you're going to wander around till every man that is over 20 years of age is dead.
That's judgment of God. That's the holy judgment of God.
I'm not saying.
Any more than God isn't trifling. Did he carry it out? Yes, he did. Did God say to Caleb and Joshua my, you've been faithful to me, I'm going to take you into the land. No, he didn't. He didn't. Those two men had to go with.
That proof of unbelievers, you and I are surrounded.
By unbelief in this corrupt world.
You have the courage.
He wants to give it to you, you dear young ones. Here. You're so much on my heart these days. I just trust you're getting this.
Want to?
Bring you closer to Christ to realize he's real. He's with you. Caleb and Joshua start out on that long journey. They didn't know how long it was going to be.
Round and around they went year after year after year after year.
1234303538 Years of Wandering.
And everyone of those people was dead.
How many men? 600,000 What does that mean? That means that 300 men a month died.
Stay on.
Or maybe it is a week, but 300 were dying.
This one, that one. I don't believe that they were getting sick and gradually because of the scripture in Psalm 105, it says there were no weak ones amongst them. I believe that I just just pass on this thought. I believe that the men just died suddenly 1 by 1.
Caleb and Joshua. What about them?
No blistering heat and sun and sands could dampen their vision.
Particularly, I should say exclusively, of Caleb. He had a vision of that one place Hebron he saw. Hebron means communion. He valued that above all else. He kept no doubt saying to himself as he went through that awful period of 38 years. Hebron, Hebron.
He had seen it. He had seen Hebron. What was Hebron?
For what was for Caleb it was the death, the the, the, the tombs of his fathers.
I've been there in that very room where Abrahams body and Sarah's and Jacob and Rebecca.
The six of them are there. Leah and Isaac, and Rebecca, I should say, and Jacob.
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Rachel is not there, but there they are. Their bodies are still there.
To Caleb, it was death.
Yeah, what am I saying? I'm saying that you and I need to realize that when the Lord Jesus Christ according to Romans 6, when he died, you and I died in that old life with.
I'll just say this, that do you believe that? I'll say this. Your life shows whether you believe it or not, my life shows it. Whether I believe that that old life is gone and dead and I have a new life. According to the First Epistle of John Chapter 5, that can't sin. You've got a life that can't sin. Do you believe that?
It says he that is begotten of God cannot sin.
We've got that life, but that old life is dead.
As it lost its attraction. As the world lost its attraction to you.
If Christ means what he is for us.
Surely we won't have any ambition to be something in this poor world.
So that's the second journey, second part of the life of Caleb.
38 years gone by.
God said he wandered around here long enough.
Now they're heading over into.
The land of promise.
All those men are dead.
All of them were dead. What about the new ones, All the other ones that have grown up? They had never gone across the Red Sea. They'd never gone through the waters of death.
Instead of God, I spoke a trust. I'm speaking reverently instead of his taking them right up to Kadish and into the land. No, he told them.
Told Joshua to Leah Moses to lead them around the bottom of a shiny eye and up on the West side to cross the Jordan. They had to cross the Jordan.
For themselves, the crossing of the Jordan, beloved younger ones, is a contrast with crossing the Red Sea. The crossing of the Red Sea is Christ, death for you and for me.
There they saw those great walls of water on either side, a picture of death they walked through on dry ground. That was deliverance.
In the land of Egypt, when they came out of it, that was redemption. When the lamb was the blood was shed and put on the door, that was redemption. But costing of the Red Sea was deliverance.
Now they've got another lesson to learn, and so have you and I, and that is that we have died with Christ on the cross.
If you and I grasp it, I know it's not very easy for me to talk about it because I have to confess how little there is in my life. But this is what Caleb only saw.
He grasped what Abraham had.
His faith had seen.
And that was that. Abraham saw only death there. He never possessed anything in the land.
So they coming. They're coming into the land now. Moses is dead. Let's go over to Joshua Chapter 13.
Verse 14 Joshua 14 verse 6.
Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal.
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And Caleb the son of Jefuni the Kenazite, said unto him, That's unto Joshua. Thou knowest the thing that the Lord saith unto Moses, the man of God, concerning me and thee in Kadish. Barnier now.
Chronologically verse, 740 years old. There he was when he started at 40.
He's reciting now his experience 40 years old.
Was I when Moses, the servant of the Lord, sent me from Kadish Berna to a spy or search out the land? Notice this particularly.
And I brought him word again, as it was in my heart.
Are you speaking out of your heart?
When you speak to a soul, is it coming out of your heart?
Or out of your mind. Oh, it must be out of our heart. Caleb told the secret that was the secret of his strength. He was able to say we are, well, able because he was speaking out of his heart. Oh beloved ones, may Christ become more precious to my heart, to your heart, as we pass on through this world subtle enemy.
So here he is reciting now this is looking into.
We might say your life, my life.
Is it worth it? I'm not going to ask you that to answer it.
Is it worth it? Was it worth it for Ken after all these?
Years and years and years. And if you read in Acts Chapter 7, there you would see what the people had turned to.
They would turn to idolatry. They were worshipping the moon as they went through the wilderness. That just tells me what the world is around me. What am I looking for? Nice things? No, it's a world of corruption.
Spiritual and moral evil.
That's what surrounded Caleb.
And the swoop out of what was in his heart.
And then he tells in the eighth verse.
A very lovely thing. Nevertheless, my brethren didn't call them nasty names.
He didn't say the rascals.
He said, My brethren, that respect for them, my brother.
That went up with me, made the heart of the people melt. But.
See what it says there but.
I wholly.
Followed.
Six times in Scripture. It says that.
Once.
God said it once Moses said it.
Twice Caleb himself said it, the other times it said in the scriptures 6 * 1 Time it says fully and I looked up.
The new translation to see if it is the same word. It was so seven times.
It was said of Caleb, he wholly followed the Lord.
Full beloved, once one of these days we're going to be in the glory. Your record, My record is going to be opened up before the Lord Jesus. What's he going to find? Is he going to see you and call you by your name and say you only followed me?
That's what I want.
What else is there in life?
Seven times.
He followed the Lord.
Was that brushed aside and said Oh yes, but the others had a rough time too.
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He's going to get what he deserved, and so are you and so am I.
We're going to get if you are faithful to the Lord. The Lord is writing it in his book, not a it doesn't miss a minute of your life.
Revelation 2 And also in three, seven times he said, I know thy works, He knows your life. If you have a heart there beating for Christ, young or old alike. It's recorded and the day is going to come when the records are going to be opened up. But I just want to don't want to confuse the issue a little bit because this being in the land when they had taken the whole land.
Is a picture for you and for me. Not many Christians get this, but it's a picture of our present privileges. Not to like the spiritual songs they say. You know crossing the Jordan is going into heaven when you die. No, your portion now is to be the enjoying, the fruit of the land. Now they don't have yet to glory.
What about this this man, Caleb? Now let's read a little bit more.
Verse 9 and Moses swear on that day. Now this is what Caleb is reciting to see of what happened 40 years before saying surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden. It's very beautiful. Can I digress for a minute? Joshua one and three. I often misquote it in order to emphasize the point.
The Lord said to Joshua.
Every place I'm going to misquote the verse.
Every place that the soul of your foot shall tread upon when he got into the land. Every place that the soul of your foot shall try it upon. That will I give you. You didn't say it. I'm not going to ask anybody to correct me on that, because I've done this many times. He didn't say that. He said. Every place of the soul of your foot shall tread upon that. Have I given you. You have it. You have the ability.
Have the ability. And here notice the significance of this wording. This is what Moses said before it happened and here he uses the expression. Surely the land were on thy feet doesn't say will tread tread. He says have tread. It's all present. You see how beautiful.
Beautiful. What confidence this gives you and me.
Shall be thine inheritance, and thy children's forever, because thou hast wholly followed the Lord.
My God.
Now then, a beautiful testimony to the preserving care of the Lord over those 38 years.
Searching in the land, but traveling through the wilderness, the going into the land, taking the whole land.
Let me just digress a minute again. Last verses of the 11Th chapter of Joshua.
It says that finally.
Joshua had conquered the whole land, and the land rested from war.
14th chapter and first verse says, the Lord said to Joshua, thou art old and well stricken in years, and there remaineth much land to be possessed. That seems like a contradiction, doesn't it? They've taken all the land, and he says much land. What's the key of it? I pass on a thought that I just have on that possess.
How can we relate that to our life yesterday and today, or at least yesterday, in the reading meetings and and and in the meetings we have had such beautiful, wonderful, delightful truth brought for us? We have it.
I've learned everything I've ever known in the 70 years that I've been at the Lord's table. From the assembly, from the assembly, from the brothers and the sisters, by their life and their words, have learned that they're from the assembly.
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Do I possess it? Do I possess it?
My life shows. Your life shows whether you possess the truth. Might say yes, I know this or not. I can give this brother. He left the Lord's table now. I certainly tried to convince him.
We must possess the truth. I read a very lovely statement. If a person has the truth, that person knows they have the truth. But they cannot convince anyone by words, only by their life.
Pull this Are you possessing? Are you walking John 7/17?
John Luke 818 says to him that hath shall more be given.
And he that hath not from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.
Am I living? Are you living in the truth that you know? If you are, you're going to learn more. No, you're not going to learn more. He's going to teach you more. Shall more be given. But he that hath not, I might know the truth, and I'm not possessing it from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have serious.
Can't trifle with God.
This is serious life we're in now. The Lord is holding out these glorious promises and showing us the fruit of joy.
Do we possess it? Let's go on.
Verse 10 Now behold, the Lord, oh this is beautiful, hath kept me.
Alive.
Didn't he? Because he did exercises every day in those 38 years in the wilderness. The Lord kept him alive. He keeps you and me alive in every way.
That was his testimony. Well, I don't want to take more time on that.
Verse 12. Now he claims it. He's not rude, but he says now. Therefore give me this mountain. What mountain?
Hebron Hebron communion is not an appealing word, A lovely word. I like that communion fellowship with Saints.
Come here, give me that, Jesus.
Did he deserve it? Yes, he did. Was he going to get it? Yes, he was. Are you going to get your reward for your faithfulness? Yes, you will. Yes, it will.
He wants you to have it too. He's with you.
Now the middle of 12.
If so, be the Lord be with not us this time Me is that nice first time collective us.
I saw their numbers 13.
Hears me very personal, beloved ones. Then I shall be able to drive them out.
Diana comes. Yes. Enemies, yes. Yes.
Verse 13 Here's the culmination. And Joshua blessed him and gave unto Caleb the son of Jeff Uni, Hebron, Hebron 4 and inheritance.
Egert, It's Peter. Tell us.
Saying to you he says that an inheritance.
Incorruptible and defiled waiting for you.
Waiting for you. I just trust beloved ones.
The children realize that the Lord is speaking to each one of us individually. I'm going to tell you another little secret, and that is this.
That these were the only two men.
Apart from Eliezer the priest, the only two men.
That got a personal inheritance in the land. The others got their inheritance through tribes. Everyone of the tribes was given a place. Here's Joshua and Caleb. Joshua at least Caleb here in the 13th chapter and Joshua in the 19th chapter. We don't take time to look at it there. He got his inheritance and.
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What about us? What about you and me?
Didn't tell you that secret, I forgot to tell you.
You know, we think of that journey from the land of Goshen. Way off to the land of Promise was so long it took them 40 years to get there. You know how far it was.
In miles.
You may be surprised less than 300 miles.
Yeah, about 11 days. Journey took him 40 years.
Was that in the purposes of God? No. No.
It was. It shows the ways of God.
God's purpose was to take them right in. And what am I saying? I'm saying this that when the Lord saved your soul and my soul, He wants you and me to be enjoying all that He has provided for us now in your life. And I am so happy to see some young ones going on for the Lord. We have a few of them there in Montreal, young brothers that are fathers in the to all the other younger ones got a heart for Christ.
The view of.
There they got their inheritance.
They got it, and you'll get it too. Don't lose courage, beloved ones, 1St Corinthians 1011 Says Now all these things happened unto them, for in samples, and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world order come all these glorious stories. They all are all happened, and they are all written for your and my.
To energize you and me, to give us the strength and the the energy to go on.
And I just like to say that I trust that what I have said this afternoon is here to encourage you.
We don't have much longer beloved ones.
I believe that I've heard it since I was a child.
The Lord is coming soon, but for I can just feel it in my in my heart that were in the last few days, and I just say to you, and love young and old alike.
Press on, keep on with the courage and strength that it gives, and don't forget, but Caleb walked with Joshua. They were inseparable for those 40 years. Inseparable. And that Caleb had locked in his heart.
Hebron, Hebron. And he got it. He got it and so will you if you with the strength that the Lord gives you.
You possess the joys now and the inheritance that's waiting for you. You are prepared for it, tells us in the scriptures, and the inheritance is waiting for you. Live it now, Beloved, warns Lift and Joy Christ.
Walk with him day by day. One of these moments will take a step, and it'll be right into the glory with our Christ forever. That's bound for her.
Philippians 3
Reading
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Praise Lord.
Let me begin.
The high glow and.
Philippians 3 and verse 3.
Chapter 3 verse 3 Where we are the circumcision which of God and the Spirit and the joy in Christ Jesus and no conscience in the blessing. So I might also have confidence in the flesh and the other man thinketh that he asked girl he might trust in the flesh I mourn.
The circumcised, the 8th day of the stock of Israel, the tribe of Benjamin and Hebrew, the Hebrews as touching the law of Pharisees concerning his deals, persecuting the Church, touching the righteousness which is in the law blameless. But what things were gained to me, those I common Law for Christ?
Yay, dollars. And I count all things but law for the Excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but the arms that I may win Christ and be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the face of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith that I may know him.
The power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of his suffering being made conformable unto His death, and by any means I might attain under the resurrection of the dead.
Not as though I had already attained either. We're already perfect. But I follow after that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus, rather than I come not myself to have apprehended.
But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind reaching forth, under those things which are before I press forward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Keith us. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded. There have been anything you'd be otherwise minded. God shall reveal even this unto you nevertheless.
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Where do we have already attained? Let's walk by the same rule. Let us mind the same thing. Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk. So she have us born in sample, or many walk, whom I told you often, and now tell you weeping, that they are the enemy, the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose God is rebellion, whose glory is in their shame.
Mind earthly things, for our conversation is in heaven, from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. We shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
There was much said this morning.
About worshipping on the Lord's Day.
And there's a meaning for breaking bread is indicated.
Fine. But that's not the only time or place that we can worship, is it?
Bob brought the force continually offering the sacrifice of praising God continually. Hebrews 13.
Maybe we could have some ministry as to individual worship and collective worship.
You're qualified? Well, I'll just suggest a place, because I've heard brethren here make it more clear than myself in the last chapter of Matthew.
I think we have individuals coming, prostrating themselves.
At his feet and Matthew 28.
And verse 9.
As they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them saying.
All hate and they paint and held him by the feet, and worship him.
The Lord says, Jesus said to them, Be not afraid, Go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me and come on down.
In the 16th verse.
Then the 11 disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them, and when they saw him, they worshipped him. I suggest this is collective worship at a place of his appointment somebody enlarged on those things.
Well, individually we see a nice example with Mary of Bethany, because it was read to us this morning. I believe in the prayer meeting that when the Lord Jesus came to that home in Bethany, perhaps for the first time in His pathway, we find that Mary was at his feet as a learner, she was there, occupied with the person of Christ and listening to His word. Then in the 11Th chapter of John is the next time she's mentioned by name, and we find her there, that she's at his feet again.
There she is at his feet and her sorrow and grief concerning the death of her brother. But it's interesting that the 12Th chapter of John, where she's mentioned again as the Lord Jesus, comes to that home for the last time before he goes to the cross, we find that it's true Lazarus sat at me. It's true Martha served. But what was married? She was a worshipper. She came with a heart overflowing with an appreciation of the person of Christ. And why is it that she came with that response of heart and poured out that costly ointment? Well, I suggest Brett. And it was because she was occupied with the person of Christ.
As he walked here in this world, and it was said this morning, But I think it bears repeating that there's only one way to be a true worshipper. There's only one way to have a true response in our hearts and on our lips. And that's to be occupied with the person and work of Christ. And the more we're occupied with that, and the little deeper that we enter into His person and work from day-to-day and what it means to God the Father, then like Mary, they'll they'll be a response. It's not that we try to generate a response of worship and praise within ourselves.
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David said all things come of thee and of thine own have we given thee. He also said in the 40th song he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praised to our God. So this morning we had it applied in connection with collective worship which our brother has brought out. But I think of that verse in Ephesians, in Colossians it says admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs that perhaps collectively, but I've appreciated how in Ephesians it says speaking to yourself in psalms and hymns.
And spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart unto the Lord. And having you experienced this, maybe sometime you wake up in the night and there's some real burden and trial. Something that you're just concerned about. And you, just the Lord by the Spirit, brought up the verse of a hymn to your mind. And you went over that hymn and you so enjoyed it. Didn't that give you a lift? So we can speak to ourselves in hymns and psalms and spiritual songs I appreciate sometimes when I'm visiting in a home.
And I hear the sister out in the kitchen peeling the vegetables, and she's just quietly to herself going over the words of some hymn. There's one whose heart is full of praise and worship, one who's speaking to herself in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. And we need this brethren. And if you just allow me to encourage, again, the young people here and the children learn these hymns, go over them and memorize them, because I believe that the Lord can bring them back to us.
At a time when they will be useful and applied in the power of the Spirit, we ought to be thankful for the good scriptural hymns that we have as many hymns that are sung as Christian hymns or psalms, But they often don't have the depth of spiritual truth that we have in these beautiful hymns that were written many years ago. It's not that we build doctrines on hymns, but I believe rather than we have hymns that are built on doctrine, they're descriptional hymns and I believe that the Lord can use them.
And we need to have that praise and Thanksgiving in our hearts as we go through the circumstances of life, whether it's in the home, whether it's at school, whether it's at work, wherever we are. Not to become burdened and overcome with the difficulties and problems, but be in the enjoyment of Christ. That there might be that sacrifice of praise to God, not just for one hour on Lord's Day, but continually. And brethren, I say again, too, in the family circle, I'm encouraged when I visit in a home.
And there's not only a family reading and a family prayer time, but one of these precious hymn books comes out.
And there's a time of singing and rejoicing around the table or around the living room. I believe it's sweet music to the ear of God.
In John 12 That you mentioned Jim.
It's not recorded that, Mary said.
One solitary word, but everyone in that place knew what Mary was doing because of her breaking that ointment.
And anointing the Lord Jesus. And I would like to say that.
Worship is more the sense of appreciation of the grandeur and the glories of His person. Somebody has said we worship God for who He is. We praise Him for what He has done. I don't say that praise is necessarily limited. We can praise him too for who He is. But there's both aspects. It's the glories of His person that gives value to his work.
Sometimes when I kneel down in my private prayer, I think just we just launch into asking the Lord so many things in our lives. But do you stop once in a while just to revel in the grandeur and the glory of our God? Think of the universe that he made. Necessarily, our God is greater than the whole universe.
What a great God we have. If the glory of His person would fill our souls more brethren, we would doubt less sense to His ability to perform the simple little tiny requests that we lay at His feet. Only the Lord help us to understand more of who He is, having to say this, that Judaism God was manifesting what man is.
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And man failed.
Utterly. And then, when that test was over, God in effect said.
The task for man is over. Man failed. Now I'm going to show you who I am, and that's what we have in Christianity. And we have hymns. You'll notice Hymn 150 speaks very little of the work of Christ. It speaks almost entirely of the person of Christ. And yet you don't have hardly, in the hymn book, a more exalted hymn than that. 150 And there's a lot of hymns that are worship hymns.
That speak of the glories of His person, it's not what we are, brethren, in this time, it's what He is. That's what God is showing to us. And the more we can exalt Christ, the more souls are going to be attracted to the glory of this great God and Savior that we have learned to know in our feeble nation.
Go ahead. We worship him for who he is, as demonstrated in the second chapter of Matthew.
You might just notice that.
It identifies these people.
In the first verse of Matthew 2 There came wise men from the east to go on down verse 11. And when they were come into the house I should notice what they were asking. Where is he that is born king of the Jews? They came into the house verse 11. Again they saw the young child with Mary his mother.
And fell down and worship him. Now these were individuals, wise men from the east.
They found Jesus, they came and worshiped Him, and they poured out, they opened their treasures. They presented unto him gifts, gold, frank incense, and murder, definitely worshipping him for who he is. So we worship God for who he is, and we praise him at the same time.
Hearts are touched, we can't help it. And you find Paul touched to open his mouth and praise.
Twice in Romans chapter nine, I think it is.
Because of his mercies collectively to the people of Israel.
The woman's 11 it is.
Now this is what will bring forth praise when we come to worship him, when we realize the mercies of God toward us, collectively or individually. And here it's collective in Romans 11.
Verse 32 God hath concluded them all, you and Gentile, and unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. Oh the depths of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God. How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways fast finding out.
For who have known the mind of the Lord, or who have been his counselor?
Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again. Now he has to break out and praise for all of him, and through him and to him are all things to whom be glory forever. Amen. Now if we go to Timothy, we find that he breaks out and prays again for the mercy of God in a personal sense.
And this suggests these things to show what will spread our hearts to better be ready to face and worship when we come before him.
In First Timothy.
And the first chapter.
And the.
16th verse all talking about himself, albeit for this 'cause I obtained mercy, person, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all long-suffering for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe. When he thinks about the mercy of God toward him, what would he do? He breaks out and prays now under the king eternals, immortal, invisible, The only wise God be honored and glory forever and ever.
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This produces out of our hearts praise when we think of the mercy of God collectively toward the masses or individually toward us.
And suits us for coming into His presence when we worship Him, to offer something to Him like those wise men that came from the East.
No wonder we could see three different characters in Ephesians 5 and verse 19.
Speaking to yourselves and psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. As it's been said, we worship God for who he is, we thank him for what he has done. And so here I believe this verse shows us and if you notice in the beginning of our hymn book, it says some hymns and spiritual songs and I believe the hymns are ones that are addressed directly to deity.
Praising God for who He is. But like has been mentioned, thou art the everlasting words, and we have different hymns that are addressed directly to the Lord. Some of them are spiritual songs. They bring before us our blessings. What we have in Him, our shepherd, is the Lord, the living Lord who died. That's learning what we have in Him. We thank Him for what he has done. But I think these, the Psalms, have more to do with practical things in life. So we.
Thank the Lord, and we sing how He guides us along the pathway of life. Our shepherd is the Lord, the living Lord who died. That's a practical one. That's a Psalm.
And so we can indeed worship him individually. We find, as it's a remark, many instances the blind man. When his eyes were opened in the 9th of John, he fell down and worshipped him. He recognized who he was. The Lord said, Dost thou believe in the Son of God? Said, Lord, I believe, And he worshipped him. The Lord said, when speaking to Satan in the temptation. Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
And perhaps the reason we associate it most with the remembrance of the Lord, is because if it is precious to our hearts that He's there in the midst, we're not just thanking him for that glorious work of Calvary and remembering him and his death, but there's a person there in our midst. As our brother remarked over and over again, when they saw him, they worshipped him.
Whenever he was before their view, then they thought, who is this person?
Not just what he has done, but that's the creator of the universe. That's the one who upholds all things by the word of his power.
That's the one who is only worthy of praise, of worship.
So I believe that worship, as it's already been remarked and just repeated again, is because of who he is. So we don't worship man. Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve. But I thank many people for what they've done for me. And we thank the Lord, this glorious person whom we worship. We thank Him for what He has done for us by his work on the cross. He has a put away our sins and His precious blood.
He's born all of judgment that we deserve, so we thank him for that and then we go through the experiences of life, how he helps us.
In so many different things in our Christian life. And so I think the reason that we connect worship more particularly with Lord's day mourning is because.
If it's really precious to our hearts that He's there in the midst, we're not just thanking him for what he's done, but there's a person there, and that person is the Lord of glory. He says, we have in Isaiah. It says unto us a child is born and then it says His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Father of Eternity, the Prince of Peace. That's the one when we worship and it comes specially before our hearts on Lord's Day Morning. But.
As it's been pointed out, there are many occasions where.
We feel we just are in the Lord's presence and we're occupied with Him, that glorious person, the Creator of the universe, the one who upholds all things. By the word of His power. He's the one who's become our Savior and our Lord.
I'd like to suggest one more thing. On the first part of this third verse we talked about that a little bit. See, we are the circumcision. I thought it might be a kind of a mark, but put upon a certain group of people that come into this place of being called the circumcision because of the rest of the verse.
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Circumcision for the Jew, was a mark in the place that identified him as not a Gentile.
Now the mark I would suggest that puts us, if we fall in this class, is what we have in John 17. Sanctify them through thy truth. Thy word is truth. Now that's like a mark upon you and I. If we have the truth and walk upon it and are known by the truth, it becomes like a mark. There are people that are set apart for God and set apart to worship Him.
And to praise him the highest calling that anybody can have while we're down here on the earth.
Today on Lord's Day, we do have that collective worship which speaks of the one body and the Spirit according to truth. And that's what he had in John. Four in mind, I believe.
There's only one only one time is the Lord's Supper mentioned. Only one time is the Lord's Table mentioned. Only one time is the Lord's Day mentioned because he wasn't going to give occasion.
For man's mind to start wrestling with comparing, there are two important the Lords Day, the Lord's Supper. The Lord's Table is too important, and if it isn't according to the truth, and that would be by the spirit of God in assembly, it's not worship. It isn't true worship, and it has to be that way. And God is not accepting it. He won't accept it unless it's that way.
We must remember there is now, today since the Spirit of God in Pentecost a way to worship and we should cherish it. You know, I won't go through it, It's 15th chapter of First Samuel, but.
Saul worship but he worshipped not according to the truth. He took what he should have destroyed and offered it as sacrifice and Samuel says.
Thou hast rejected the word of God. God has rejected you. So we have to be very careful when we. I know there's individual times we exalt God and we worship in that sense. But as we go around and visit, I know all the brothers who have this experience to get down to one brother like Fred Tansley and he worshiped, but he has the lope and the cup and he sits there.
He's a godly brother when you come, he says, Brother, I remember the Lord every Lord's day, but when someone comes, I break bread. I really feel it's worship according to true worship according to the Lord. And I don't know it. It's just wonderful that the sisters in places do that and they have a sense that they can go right up to the point. But they would be not according to the word of God if they broke that bread. And and there's everything has to be that way according to truth. That's what he meant.
By the Spirit and truth. In truth. And that's true worship. It's so precious to me. And that's our verse.
Let's see.
Where is it? Oh, we worship God by the Spirit. That's the thought by the Spirit.
Then of course, rejoice in Christ Jesus because there's no worship without him.
Yes, I like that's the new translation you quoted. We worship God by the Spirit, not just in the Spirit, but by the Spirit of God. In contrast with the Judaistic worship, where they worship by musical instruments and the choirs and things like this, we worship by the Spirit of God.
And we want to make it very clear so the young people and all of us do not misunderstand the we is Christians.
All save people, all who have been sealed by the Holy Spirit. It isn't us as a company, it's all the Saints wherever they are. This is what he's talking about when he says we in contrast with with Judaism, we are the circumcision and we worship by the spirit of God.
And let's not make the mistake of appropriating that to ourselves as a company, to the exclusion of other Christians. That would be a mistake. It is our privilege to realize this as we collectively need. Sad to say, so few other Christians meet collectively to put this into practice. As we have experienced and enjoy it. Lord's Day Morning and There's nothing like collective worship.
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We've talked a lot about individual worship, but collective worship when we're together around the Lord himself, as we will be in the morning.
Is, you might say, the highest form of worship, where the heart of one brother will praise him and a hymn will be given out and it'll awaken thoughts in another heart. And he'll receive praise after praise and worship and worship from the different hearts as the Spirit of God moves upon the whole assembly that is congregated there with one unanimous praise and adoration and worship to him who was worthy. There's nothing like that. The collective side of it, we don't minimize the individual side.
But there's nothing so precious as we experience Lawrence Day one. Isn't that so? And the theme is often, and perhaps always differs every Lord's Day. But the subject never changes. The subject is the person of the Christ. But the theme is what's so exciting, isn't it? The Spirit of God does that. And brethren, let really be aware of these things. It's the Spirit of God taking those envelopes that are before us.
And those emblems are really everything and friggin Christ to our hearts. And that's the bread. The Father wants my bread and it goes up and he's satisfied.
Is there not a distinction? I don't want to press this point, but they're not a distinction between doing homage and worship. In that verse that was quoted about the blind man, Mr. Darby translation changes that from worship to get him homage. Now, I had always understood that that was an individual thing, whereas worship is collective.
All the examples until Pentecost that we had were before the Spirit of God was indwelling so the body could express itself in worship and individuals, Of course. Did. God wanted his Son worshipped in that sense when at the very beginning. That's why those three wise men were brought there to worship. Particularly God wanted them to worship, He wanted his sons, his son exalted and God has his way. But now we're present truth. We're in Christianity.
Where we have it right before us, always the oneness. If we look to the Lord according to His word, we're going to have true worship. I think we need to recognize too, rather than the truth that the Spirit of God inhabits the house and wherever he sees, he sees fit to occupy souls with Christ. It's going to produce worship, not merely amongst those gathered to the Lord's name. It's going to produce worship, and we need to recognize.
That many souls, perhaps not with the knowledge of the place of his appointment, God produces worship in their hearts as well, and we need to recognize that as well.
Why does it say some doubted than Matthew 28? They worshiped him but some doubt?
I always just thought it was to show it wasn't the perfect company, because we expect to find the perfect company. We never will. And here at this company, right in the place, if there ever was assurance that they were in the place the Lord had appointed, it was there. It was the mountain where Jesus had appointed, and they saw him. He was visibly there in their midst, but still there were some that didn't rise to the privilege they doubted. So we mustn't expect the perfect company. But we're there because the Lord is there. Or at least should be.
I think.
It's rather dangerous, I hear a number saying in the last few years. Well, I worship the Lord individually.
I've taken the Lord's table with me.
Such expressions and I think it's very disturbing and dangerous.
The Lord doesn't appoint it that way. The Lord does not appoint it that way. That it's an individual, you know, and it's on a mountaintop. It's a pinnacle where the Lord is present and we lose the joy if we doubt. Faith gets the victory and the joy out of it.
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Perhaps we can also read in John's Gospel chapter 4.
While the speaking to the woman in Samaria is not the subject of worship with her, he says to her in John 4.
Says to him, verse 20, Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus said unto her woman, to believe me, the hour cometh when you shall neither in this mountain or yet in Jerusalem, worship the Father he worshipped. He know not what we know what we worship, or salvation is of the Jews.
But the hour cometh, and now is when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth. For the Father seeketh such to worship him God is the Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. Just as much that can be said. But there's two comments about it. The 1St is that God.
In the end of verse 23 the Father seeketh son.
To worship him, there's not only the thought of the worship itself, but the Father is seeking the worshiper, and he is seeking those that will worship him according to spirit and truth, according to the character of what he is. But the other comment, and I just want to leave a little emphasis on it, we worship the Father as well as our Lord Jesus Christ. As has already been said, it's wrong to worship a man.
Man should never be worshipped. We honor men according to the position that God has given them, we honor those in authority, and so on. But only God is to be worshipped, and we ought to remember in our thoughts and in our hearts. When our hearts are filled with Christ overflowing, we worship Him. But also we need to be careful not to neglect, as it says in every reference here.
Gets the Father that is worshipped as well and is brought before us. Particularly in this chapter is the object of worship and we need to remember that unless we not as it were, honor our Father and having our object himself as well.
There's also this be remembered as it's been said we worshiped by the spirit. There is neither precept nor example where the spirit is working.
Now Paul in the third verse here was emphasizing the spirit we worship by the spirit, and in the fourth verse he shows the other side which which not only quenches the spirit, but it grieves the spirit. And it doesn't let the spirit have liberty, though I might also have confidence in the place. If any other man thinketh he might wherever he might trust in the flesh. I'm more now Paul's talking about religious flesh.
Not talking about the evil wicked flesh because Paul's boasting here, he's not really boasting. He said he could. It's religious flesh, and religious flesh is contrary to the spirit.
Always. And that's the point he's going to bring out. He had everything to boast in, in religion, everything. But it was not according to the mind of God the Father. That's it.
What was a Hebrew of the Hebrews?
Suggest or bring before us.
Well, I believe he was looked up to, wasn't he, by all the Hebrews, I believe he was paramount. He had letters right from the high priest. He was one who they could trust and have faith in that he would capture Christians and bring them to be put to death. He was really working.
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Maybe that's not the thought, but that's what I thought it meant. What did you think? Hebrew of the Hebrews?
Believer we know is the father of Abraham, and it's just the fact that God had called that particular.
Supposed that particular people. And so the son of Abraham, the son of Abraham was Abraham. Paul had all those things behind him that he could have naturally bolstered him, but they were just nothing when it compared with knowing Christ. I think it's really the old order of things that God had established, because Judaism was really a religion for man in the flesh. It was, as it's already been remarked in these meetings, everything set up.
Would find music, make people worshippers.
Grand buildings make people. Worshippers would, knowing that they belong to a special nation, make them. Worshippers know they could have all that which Paul did, and his zeal led him to persecute the church. So all that might be given to a man in the flesh, a natural man, will never never make him a worshiper. The flesh at its best estate is altogether vanity, and I just thought of it that that God had called him. Notice how the soul spoke of the people of God as Hebrews.
He despised them. He looked at them as to what they were in nature, and they were descendants of Ebert. But faith saw them as the Israel of God, because God changed the name of Jacob to Israel, a Prince with God.
Beautiful.
So a Jew I fulfill all the other requirements of the law. He could be circumcised. The 8th day of the stock of Israel wasn't a proselyte. He belonged to the nation. The tribe of Benjamin was the one faithful tribe. When the division took place in Israel, the tribe of Benjamin was the only one that stayed with the tribe of Judah, and God sent her in Jerusalem. And so he could have a boast in that too, and that God had favored him.
Brought him into blessing out of the son of Eber, and then we might say he was touching the law, a Pharisee. And that is, there were Pharisees and there were Sadducees. The Sadducees denied the resurrection, but the Pharisees were sound. As far as the faith was concerned. They were hypocritical, but they were sound in the faith. We could be sound in the faith and not be a believer at all, not be a true worshiper. So there was everything he could have posted in But where did all this zeal read him?
To persecute what was dearest to the heart of Christ, and all this knowledge and a person could be very, very religious.
Use all that energy in the wrong direction. That's what Paul was. And thus he met that blessed one. The Lord Jesus meant everything was changed. His whole sense of values, his knowledge of what worship is, everything was changed when he met the Lord Jesus. The glory of that light shot into his soul. All of these things that he lists here are would be to his credit as a Jew. Persecuting the Church was to his credit as a Jew because he was trying to snuff out the despised new religion of the Nazarene.
He's not listening his sins here. He says elsewhere that because he did that he was the chief of sinners. But here he's listening. He says what things were gaining to me, he is. He's looking at his own righteousness. Keeping the law kept it blamelessly, outwardly.
He kept all the ordinances he didn't eat.
Impure meat and so on. He he followed it, and and these are all things to his credit. He's not contrasting. He's not contrasting the righteousness which he has now in Christ with his sins, but with his righteousness that he had under the law. He's contrasting what he's got now in Christ with what was again to him before he was a Christian. And he says, I'm willing to to lay all that aside and to count it, but done that I might have Christ as my my gain and my righteousness.
So he's not looking at his sins here and how evil he was that the Sinner in what he did, but he's looking at what was to his credit as a man in the flesh, a religious man, a Jew in the flesh. And he was hardly eclipsed by anyone. And now he's found something, someone rather in the person of Christ that so eclipses all that was a gain to him in Judaism that he counts it but loss and and dumb that he might have Christ as his gain. And that's the contrast that he hasn't flipped into three years.
00:45:11
And it's so beautiful to see that when he speaks of himself as a believer now in Christ, in contrast to Judaism and the chief of sinners.
What a low place to take everything. A high place takes a low place, and it's a question of Christ.
It's interesting that he takes the place of chief of sinners as to religious flesh. It's interesting that it was a religious aspect that he felt the worst as far to himself. And I think it brings out a principle because when he wrote to the Corinthians who had a lot of.
Sinful flesh and morality and and choosing sides and having the vision and hatred.
And.
Intoxication. That the Lord, I could go on. That's not the religious life so much.
Let's just flex. Paul could commend them over and over again as he brought through to exercise their souls.
Galatians, he couldn't commence one thing because we have now religion coming in, man working in order to keep himself.
As both increases of the day think you have to do and he said, I'm afraid of you, cannot commend you at all. And so there's a real difference, brethren. The flesh, if it gets in action, can be taken care of and the man restored.
And they can be taken care of and breaking of bread done properly and all that. But when it's doctrinal religious, it can't be corrected, It has to be excised out. And let's remember that the principle is very strong. Paul could consider him chief of sinners because he went against Christ and his people.
Considering Saul of Tarsus, he would be, you might say, the epitome of an example for the world to glory in.
He was He was a religious man, and he followed it to the utmost of his of his being. He gave his everything to it, and he lived for what he believed, the Lord says in John 16. The time cometh when he that killeth, you will think that he doeth God's service.
Saul of Tarsus thought he was doing God's service and he did it, he says. I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. He did not do that against the bad conscience. He thought he was serving God. Now he is found Christ.
On the road to Damascus, that light from heaven shone into his soul. Who art thou, Lord? I am Jesus.
Will thou persecute us, and that eclipse everything that he had had?
That he wants gloried in as a man in the flesh, religious man in the flesh. And as he says here he says I for whom I have verse eight. Yeah, topless. I count all things but loss for the Excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, that is so precious, my Lord, he says, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things. I don't think anyone of us in this room today can say that. Certainly I can't say I've suffered the loss of all things. Family, friends, everyone. He did.
He was cut off from all his acquaintances and all his friends, because he stepped over the line, took sides with those that the Jews hated, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung that I may win Christ, or have Christ as my game. He had found out another object, his very light, his very righteousness, this Christ, and he had found that eclipse the highest honors that he could receive as a as a Jew.
And he was willing to set that all aside in favor of Christ. It's comparative here, isn't it? It's what he had before and what he has now. And there's loss, and there's gain.
Verse 7 is past tense things that were gained to me, those I counted loss for Christ now over the course of time.
00:50:00
Did Paul repent of what cost him the loss of everything?
Verse eight. Yeah, doubtless. And I count there was not a doubt in his mind that he had done the right thing. I count all things but lost for the Excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus. My Lord, you could ask Paul, didn't you know Christ that time you came to know him on the way to Damascus?
Yes, but I want to know him and know him more. Oh brethren and dear young people and especially, I think it's so important to get the objective character of Christianity. It places an object before our souls, and our souls are drawn after that. It's not a system of rules and regulations in Christianity. It's an object that's set before us, priceless objects.
God's beloved Son and our souls drawn after that sometimes, and there is certainly place for it. Exhortation about worldliness. They sometimes say that if there's worldliness in my heart, you can look at me and say there's a person who is not enjoying the object that God has for us.
And that's what we long for more than anything is that you, dear young people would see in us who are older that we found something that is worth the whole world, worth losing it all. And if you get that before you, then those other things will drop off.
Paul says now about those things that were before gain to him, what are they like done?
Is it hard to get rid of Duncan? I don't think so. I think when we get the person of Christ before us, it will be evident where everything else belongs. Certainly not in our homes, certainly not in our lives. It's to get it as far away as possible, Anything that takes us away from the knowledge of Christ Jesus by our Lord.
Paul says, my Lord, But I just like to emphasize that the importance of seeing the objective character of Christianity, that's what Christianity is. It's not a set of rules and regulations. Sometimes I say to the brethren in South America, if you have a.
Hungry dog that has a bone and you go up to that dog and try to get that that bone away from him. He wrestles and he tries to keep that bone. Let's try a different tactic. Let's take a piece of juicy meat and throw it down in front of that dog. Is he going to let go of the bone now? Immediately he lets go. Why did he let go of that bone so fast?
Is He has something so supremely better. And if you and I can see that we have in Christ something so far beyond anything that this world has, we're not going to have to stand up here and exhort very much about worldliness. We won't be able to stop you in your pursuit of Christ, just as the apostle Paul pursuit. That's why Paul, writing to the Hebrews brought out something better, something better.
He was helping them to give up what they had in their hearts and put Christ in their hearts.
No matter what it was that they had, he had something better, so much higher than angels, so much greater than the priest. He was the priest. Like after the order of Melchizedek, everything was Christ, something better than that old order. And that's what you had in mind. You know, if we have an object that touches our heart, it's not giving up anything which is a no longer concern with it. We have no more concern with it. And it's not that you give up everything in that sense.
You begin to realize it all belongs to the Lord. You begin to use whatever you got for him. And that's the thought. He is everything. You don't have to sell your house. You'll use it for him. That's the thought. You begin to realize It's all of him, Paul said. By the grace of God, I am.
That's simple, isn't it? You see it too with the Thessalonians believers, because we've been talking about the contrast between Judaism and Christianity. But there were believers who were saved out of heaven, them. And if I had been writing that verse concerning the Thessalonian believers, I probably would have written it something like this. They turned from idols to God, but that's not what it says. They turn to God from idols to serve the living and prove God and to wait for his Son from heaven, those idols that they had been used to worshipping in heathendom.
00:55:21
No longer had an appeal. Why was it that they tried to get rid of them and that it was a hard thing? Oh no, they found what they had in Christianity was so much greater. When they turned to God and came into the knowledge of salvation, they found that what they had had didn't compare at all with those idols.
I'd like to say too, in connection with the life of the apostle Paul, as a believer, we've been Speaking of him, counting all things for but lost. And when you turn to 2nd Corinthians 11, we don't have time. But I just challenge you to read it, because in the last part of that chapter you find a list of things that Paul suffered in the path of faith and service for Christ. And again, as our brother's been saying, it's a list of things that I have never been called on to pass through in the path of faith and service for Christ.
And it's a tremendous list of things. Thinking another place, too, he said. In every city, bonds and afflictions sometimes wondered, If I knew and coming to Lawrenceville this weekend, there were going to be bonds and afflictions, would I come? You'd want to be pretty sure you had the Lord's mind and coming to Lawrenceville. But Paul said in every city, and you read that list of things that he suffered not just on occasions, but day in and day out and year after year. And you say, how could the apostle go on and serve the Lord and his brother with all those things seemingly against him? The very next chapter gives us the answer.
In the 12Th chapter he tells of that experience when he was caught up to the 3rd heaven and he saw a risen, glorified Christ at the right hand of God. And I can read brother, that's what preserved him. He had Christ before him, He'd seen him there, risen and glorified and seated at the right hand of God and brother. Well, we've never been caught up to the 3rd heaven, the dwelling place of God. Like the Apostle Paul, I believe that the book of Hebrews opens to us the heavens, so that by faith we can look up and be.
Occupied with him. It's why four times in that blessing.
Jesus is brought before us as seated at the right hand of God. He opens the heavens so that we can look up and be occupied with that man. Because faith always needs an object. All those who live by faith in the 11Th of Hebrews and they all had an object. We think of Moses who gave up the glory of this world and the throne of Egypt perhaps. How could he do it while he esteemed the riches of Christ a greater than all the treasures of of Egypt?
He had an object. Abraham looked for a city who had foundations, whose builder and maker is God. But I would just say this, that I believe there's only one way to be a true disciple and only one way to follow Christ in the path of faith here. And that's not only to have an object, but to have an object that attracts our hearts and to have only one object. Because I believe, brother, where our heart is, then our feet will follow. Why is it that sometimes I don't follow in the way I ought to? It's because my heart isn't fully attracted to Christ.
But I believe when the heart is fully attracted to that one and occupied with that lovely man in the glory, then I believe that our feet are going to follow. And it will take care of all the other things. It will take care of the worldliness that we've mentioned. It'll take care of those things that we once thought were.
Dear to us, those goals, the things that we had aspirations down here, it'll put all that in its proper place. If we have that one object and our heart attractive to that one object, and I say again, that's a risen man in the glory.
It's like a it's like a a general that has been awarded by the president the highest honor and his uniform is just laden with these prestigious metals that he has won and gained and the trophies that he's won in his service for the country. And he gets saved and they go into this room where all his trophies are and all his medals are.
And someone says to him, what are you going to do with them? And he says burn, though they have no value to me. That's what Paul is saying in Philippians 3.
In India that heathen land and they really have the idols and.
Among the not so much the Muslims, but the Hindus. When they take the gospel to a village and if a family, even especially the head of the family, the father. But sometimes it reaches both. If they really turn to Christ and get saved, it isn't very long. I don't think we're in a day That idol goes out the back into the yard and lays there.
01:00:16
It lays there. They just got rid of it and they want that testable. And you know when you go back with Israel to that same house, they have a crowd gathered around on the porch. They want that gospel preached to those Hindus, The crowd. It is wonderful, isn't it? But that testimony is they gave up what the Hindus so cherish the idol. It's out there in the backyard.
Have to 1St discover that he was lost in.
Goodness. If God leads to repentance, the light shone from heaven upon him. He was saved right there.
But a man captured his heart. After all that effort to serve God, a man captured his life, and Judaism was a God-given religion. And so when Paul saw the emptiness of all this, that was proper for them as a godly Israelite.
But when he looked upon it as having a righteousness that he could offer to God that he saw, it was only filthy rags. Just like we read in Isaiah, all our righteousnesses are as filthy Ray, and so here we might apply it. Here's a child brought up in the meeting, comes to all the meetings, reads his Bible and everything. But if he has never met the Lord Jesus, if he doesn't know him as his Savior, all that is not going to come for anything as far as fitting him for heaven or pleasing the Lord.
He's got to do like Paul Saul of Tarsus on the road to Emmaus. He's got to meet the Lord on the road to Damascus. Rather, he's got to meet the Lord. So these things we're talking about in the beginning of this chapter were not wrong things in themselves except persecuting the church, but otherwise all those outward things. They were what a godly Jew could value, but when they were accepted as a ground of righteousness before God.
They were only filthy rags. All our righteousnesses, not all our sins, but all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. So you meet people religious in this world. They have to come to the end and see that all a lot of things that they were gloring and may not be wrong in themselves, but they will not provide a righteousness before God. Their only filthy rags, if they're presented as a righteousness before God. Well, I say that because there are things that our brother's been talking about.
Vile things and everything that those idols glowed in the back, because they were idols. But here was a man that had things, shall I say, in a right way. But he was glorying in these things as though they provided A righteousness before God. Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
How beautiful and simple and sweet.
The two words that Paul says.
Win Christ.
May each one of us go from these meetings, have that those two words before us.
That I may win Christ. It's not salvation. So know that blessed One in all its beauty and loveliness, which will one of these days burst into our sight when we see His blessed face.
The wind Christ may be the desire of our heart.
This is not a competitive race.
It's an endurance.
And every believer is going to win Christ.
That Paul was anxious to get there because of who was there now. Our hearts ought to be like that here. My heart and my life dried up for the living if our hearts attracted to the gold before the silver, and we're looking to be there at any moment.
It will give us strength to go on through the wilderness journey until we're called out of it.
The difference between the word apprehend and comprehend is embraced in the same thought.
Comprehend is the circumference to have all apprehended to come up to, and that is what he is Speaking of here to win Christ.
It's an unattainable object, surpassing all that the human mind could ever conceive.
01:05:04
When Christ notice in verse 10 that I may know him the power of his resurrection, Notice the fellowship of his suffering. It's an interesting thing to put in there the fellowship by suffering, and if you look at it at Acts Chapter 9, you'll see what the Lord told Ananias verse 14.
Well, verse 15 the Lord said unto Ananias, Go thy way, For he is a chosen vessel unto me to hear my name, to bear my name before the Gentiles and teens, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how great things he must do. He must suffer for my name great things.
Paul lets us from my head and brethren, this is not raining tonight.
This is a privileged time to suffer for Christ. We can never suffer as Christ, but we can suffer for Christ in this world. That's why we're here. That's the light. That's the testimony. That's it. And that's Paul. How great things he must suffer for my name.
The fellowship of his sufferings.
Is balanced, I might say, by Philippians 21 having the fellowship of the Spirit. What a wonderful probation for us. For Paul, the fellowship of his sufferings. We all of us get some of it, but all the time we can be in the fellowship of history by walking.
According to the Spirit, the 12 sins, this little expression in verse 10 that I may know him, I think we ought not to pass over. Just let me connect it with a verse in Hosea. I think it's the 6th chapter of Hosea.
Hosea, chapter 6 and verse 3. Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord? I like this little expression because it's Paul's desire was not just that he would know about Christ, but that he would know Christ. There might be many children and young people here this afternoon, and if I were to talk to you, you could tell me many things about the Lord Jesus. You could quote verses of Scripture that bring before us the person and work of Christ. You know a lot about him.
You've heard those things from your parents and the family reading. You've heard them in Sunday school and in the assembly meetings. But do you know him? It's not just to know about him, but to know him. I read something of some of the royal family in Britain and I might feel that I know something about those people, but I don't know them personally. I believe there's a difference between knowing about someone and knowing someone personally. I've never met Queen Elizabeth or any of the royal family.
And not only so, but even if I had a desire to, they wouldn't be much interested in getting to know me and they wouldn't be interested in giving me an audience with them. But here's one Brethren. And we cannot only know about him. He's told us many things about him. Wonderful things. Some of these things we've had in these meetings, but rather it's our desire to know him. I believe there's only one way to know someone, and that is to walk with that person personally. You can read a lot of things about a person, but then you walk with that person, You become that person's friend and you spend time with them. You say, I know thought I knew a lot about them, but I really didn't know the person. Before I got married. I thought I knew a lot about the one who was to become my wife.
But as we've lived together now for 11 years, I didn't know anything about her at all. I've come to know not just about her, but I've come to know her. Brethren, we have this blessed opportunity and privilege while here in this world of walking in communion with himself. And I say that's the only way young people, that you're going to know him, and that is to walk in the power of the Spirit and to walk in communion with himself. Then and only then will you know not just about him, but you'll know him personally. This was the whole desire of the life of the apostle Paul.
The Lord gave us the formula when he said to his disciples, deny thyself, take up my cross daily and follow me. They can get to know him. Then you know it's really in trials and reproach and sufferings for his name that we get to know Christ. That's the best way I think.
01:10:03
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, New Jehovah, What he was, who he is, and so on.
But they never knew him like they did in that furnace. When he walked with them in that situation, they knew him. That. And you know, when you walk with Christ, it's not going to be an easy walk or an easy path. But he goes and you'll learn more of him then than in any other way. Well, that's why I read that verse in Hosea, because you'll only know him as we follow on to know the Lord that says only in following Him and walking in communion with himself.
But I think what you say is very good, because we can't expect to be popular in this world. When the Lord Jesus was here, he was the rejected one. He was the man of sorrows, and appointed with grief he had to say, show me a penny. He had nowhere to lay his head. He said the foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests. But the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head. And at the end of his perfect pathway they took him out. They cried away with him, crucify him, and they took him outside the walls of Jerusalem and had him nailed to a Roman cross. That's what this world thought of the Lord Jesus Christ.
And if they hated me, they will hate you. Also, we read the servant is not greater than his Lord. We cannot expect to be popular if we're going to follow a rejected Christ. Now he's still rejected. If he came back in loneliness and grace this afternoon, he'd be rejected again. Thank God he's not coming in that way the next time, He's coming in power and glory. But if he came in Lolita and Grace, the heart of man hasn't changed. And I think we need to be very careful that we don't give the impression that he's following the Lord. We're going to have an easy path for a popular pathway in this world.
Many Christians who are looking for popularity in this world, If you're really following a rejected Christ, young people, you're not going to be understood. You're going to be misunderstood by your schoolmates. You're going to be misunderstood sometimes even by other Christians and other young people. But if you reproach for the name of Christ, happy are ye?
Joy in following a rejected Christ here in this world. I'd like to comment a little bit about verse 9, a little bit further about the righteousness. And I think it's important that we that this comes before what it says about knowing Him, because unless we get the matter of our standing before God settled in our souls, we're not going to be at liberty and our conscience as to want to know Him more.
So he presents here what he had before the righteousness which was.
His own righteousness which was of the law, which was something to be coveted, he had in verse six. It says it was blameless. Nobody could point to Paul and say Paul you've offended in this point of the law. He was blameless as far as man was concerned, but as soon as he saw the righteousness that he could have by faith in Christ.
He completely refused that other righteousness, and I think that's so tremendous for souls to get ahold of. I find sometimes even young people are not settled as to the place of their as to their place before God in Christ. It's a righteousness that has nothing to do with what I have done. It's a righteousness that comes by simply.
Believing the testimony of God.
God points to me and says you are a Sinner. I'm done. Say I believe it. God says Christ died for your sins. I say I believe it. God says to me your righteous. I count you righteous not by your own means, not by anything that relates to what you've done, but by simple faith in Christ. You now have a righteousness which is of God.
By faith you cannot have a more perfect standing before God. How tremendous to stop and to revel in that place that God has put us. By faith in Christ, it belongs to every true believer. Whether you understand it or not, it's yours. Whether you enjoyed it not, it's yours. But let's stop and just enjoy it a minute, brethren. We stand before a holy God, a thrice holy God.
In all the righteousness which is of God by faith in the Lord Jesus. In fact, it says in other places that Christ is our righteousness. You cannot have a more perfect standing before God.
01:15:07
Fact that the Lord Jesus is there in the presence of God. Look up into the glory. See him there right now by faith. That's your standing. That's the way God views you in Christ.
And it's when we get that matter settled as to our standing in Christ, we can go on to pursue the object. If you don't have that matter settled as to where you stand and righteousness before God, you're not going to be interested in the pursuit of. This chapter talks about.
Romans 4 verse three is very important along that line. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God.
And it was counted unto him for righteousness. But even the faith to believe is a gift of God. It's all of God. We can take no credit for having believed. We have to just thank him and praise him for that even. But because we believe God.
By his grace is accounted for righteousness. We have that righteousness of God in Christ. So it's very simple. What does Scripture say? That's it. Faith.
That's the end of Romans 4, isn't it? It made him to their Second Corinthians 5. He had made him to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. And John's epistle says as he is, so are we in this world. We don't have to wait to have this perfect standing. We have it already. We won't have a better standing when we get home to glory than we have right now, because our standing is in Christ, the righteousness of God in him.
But I was thinking too, in connection with this, that I may know him and the power of his resurrection.
And the fellowship of his suffering. I was thinking of a little hymn that we often sing in the last verse of 278. Oh, teach us so the power to know of risen life with thee not. We may live while here below, but Christ our life may be. That's really the position that Paul desired to.
Manifest practically in the enjoyment of in his pathway, so that I may know him. The little song says, Oh, teachers saw the power to know of risen life with thee. I thought it was beautifully pictured in those ones who came out of their graves when the Lord arose. It says that they went into the holy city and appeared unto many. And the Bible doesn't tell us their names or who they were. But if anyone were to meet them on the street in Jerusalem, well, who are you? Well, I'm just alive because Christ rose.
And so there they were, living examples in the city of Jerusalem, that there was a risen Christ.
They went into the holy city and that's what you and I are, brethren, where's the display before this world that we have the risen life of Christ? We're we're dead and we're risen with Christ. And so Paul desired that this would be not only known in his soul, but would be a practical thing that I may know him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings. So if they identified themselves with that risen Savior, then they would get the treatment that.
He received, because this world had rejected him, He cried, crucify Him, and to have witnesses that this one and they crucified was risen again there in their very midst they would be treated as the one whom they had rejected. And that's why Paul goes on the fellowship of his suffering. So we barely reproach, if we display in this world that we're not just men in a natural sense, but we have a new life, a very life of Christ.
And we display that first, knowing our standing before God the brother Bob has been bringing before us, and that in a practical way, displaying our old self, not the old man which was crucified with him, but displaying resurrection life. And that's our position. And that's what Paul desired. It would be so in a practical way, in his life.
I think that's the Father verse 11. By any means I might attain under the resurrection, I think from out of the dead or out to among the dead.
That's a wonderful thing. To attain it is to really get ahold of it and really make it look to your soul. We were dead in our sins, and we're not only going to have bodily resurrection from among the dead. That's true.
That we have resurrection out from among the dead already in Christ. It's a wonderful thought, isn't it?
01:20:03
If by any means.
Would refer to the two ways that this would be accomplished. Either that he would die and then he would be with the Lord, or the Lord would come, and these are.
Sweet for us to to realize it doesn't matter whether we go through the Oracle of death or whether the Lord comes. The object is to be with the Lord.
278.
Oh, teach us so the power to know of risen light with thee not we may live, while here below with Christ our life may be 278.
Someone raised it too.
Say your way long term.
Today I called.
You.
Oh.
Philippians 3
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Philippians 3 verse 11.
If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Not as though I had already attained either were already perfect, but I follow after it that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended, but this one thing I do for getting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Let us therefore as many as be perfect, be thus minded, and if anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule. Let us mind the same thing.
Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an example.
For many walk, whom I've told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.
For our conversation is in heaven, from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like under His glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Perhaps we could say in that 11Th verse he comes to the point of the resurrection really from among the dead, and then he goes back, as it were, to our present pathway, until that glorious event takes place, which he speaks of in the last verse, Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working, whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. But he goes back in the 12 verse, and as it were, has the pathway before us.
Pathway through this world.
Having Christ as our object and going on with Him as our object and seeking to.
00:05:04
Be in our lives in all that, really. The practical part of it begins with the 12Th verse. Not as though I had already attained either. We're already perfect. That is, we're still here in this scene, and it won't be until the Lord comes that we'll be perfect in every way. Body we'll have. The old man will be gone, will be just like Christ. But we should have that desire to be like Him even now.
And this is the Christian pathway.
Will be perfect then, because we'll know as we're know now. We only know partly now, and dimly. But there is a thought of perfect as used in the 15th verse, but as therefore as many as be perfect. There is a thought there of a Christian today who's matured in the things of God.
Who's able to take in strong meat? And it's nice that we can all attain to that. It doesn't mean we don't sin, doesn't mean we don't make mistakes. It's not that kind of perfect. It's full grown or mature of by a believer. It's a beautiful thought. The first perfect, as Gordon said we'll have when we get to glory. But there is a perfect in a sense for a believer. And I believe in Matthew 5.
The last birds be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father, which is in heaven, is perfect. Now in that sense is to seek to follow Paul, he says. As I have followed the Lord. In that sense our walk would speak well and we could take in more of the truth. And that's really the thought of perfecting today.
God always sets a perfect object before us. While he makes provision for our failure, He doesn't say when any man said if any man sin. So God always sets a perfect object before our souls. Said to Abraham left before me. And be thou perfect, he said there is our brother just mentioned in Matthew. Be therefore perfect even as your Father, which is in heaven, is perfect. He doesn't say, Well, it's all right for you to fail occasionally, but be as nearly perfect as you can. God sets a perfect object before us.
He makes full provision, but alas, we fail. So provision is made for our failure, but God never lowers the standard. He that saith He abideth in him ought himself so to walk even as he walked. Christ is ever the perfect standard set before our souls. Provision for our failure, I say, but not excuse for our failure. It's because we didn't draw upon the resources that are provided for us.
It's interesting to notice that.
The Apostle Paul takes a very low place because he says in the middle of that 12Th verse, not as though I had already attained, neither were already perfect. He takes that little place. But when you go down to the 15th verse, he admits that there were some that were perfect, were mature. Let us therefore as many as the perfect.
So it shows that that is a condition.
That is attainable.
My brother Walter Carter talked a little bit differently than that 15th verse others that I heard, he said that that's perfect. In the 15th verse is those who have Christ as their property. They have got a perfect topic and it seems to me it fits better than full blown course, Paul would say.
As you say in the 12Th or not, as though I had already attained over full grown, he calls after that, and then going on in the trail first. But I follow after if that I may apprehend that for which I am apprehended. So it hits the 14th verse of his eye press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. He had that mark at the end of the journey, and God always has a perfect object before us.
So Potter's teaching seems to fit the 15th verse real well, I think. Let us therefore as many as be perfect, be thus minded, have that goal before the soul, the person at the end of a perfect object. Let us walk by the same move, let us mind the same thing. And Paul says, rather be followers together of me.
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Well, he had Christ as a goal before his soul. I pressed on the mark. So follow him and mark them which walked, so that you have us for an example. Don't change the object of God, Christ and glory.
If Christ is the sole object that would be perfect for a Christian, that's true. Also, if if you're able, if you're mature as a Christian, Christ would be the sole object. I believe it's probably interchangeable there. That thought I was thinking of Second Corinthians.
Chapter 3, Second Timothy, Chapter 3. I'm sorry, Second Timothy, chapter 310 and verse 16 and 17. All scripture is given by inspiration of God.
Profitable for doctrine, recruits for correction, for instruction in righteousness. That the man of God may be perfect, early furnished unto all good works. I believe that would be one who had Christ as his sole object.
I don't know what I grasp.
Excuse me, what you are saying? Well, was it that the the two perfects were slightly different in their meaning?
Brother Potter didn't teach it was full growth.
He thought that it was those who have Christ as their object, and it seems to fit because Paul says I count not myself to have apprehended, he says I'm not full grown.
But the followers of me, because I have Christ as my object.
But what do they mean when he said I am not perfect?
Which verses that 1212?
Not as though I had already attained either. We're already perfect, that is he. He hadn't come to the end of the journey yet, but he desired in the as he says here.
And I follow after it, that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. The thought in apprehended is, Why did the Lord lay hold of me, to make me something short of just like Christ now? And Paul hadn't fully laid hold of that, but he desired that it would be so I follow after it that I may, till I put it this way, lay hold of that for which I've been laid hold of by Christ. And so every believer in this room, why did the Lord lay hold of me?
To make me partly like his beloved Son, or to make me fully like his beloved Son. And now he's seeking to do this in our pathway here. It won't be until the end of the pathway that will be perfect. That is, we won't have any fallen nature. We'll have glorified bodies. Every believer in heaven will be just like Christ, morally and physically. All desire that he would lay hold of in his own soul the purpose that the Lord had in laying hold of him.
So he carries on the thought that he's seeking to produce that morally now, but in the end, in the last verse, it'll be completed when the Lord comes and we'll be physically like him. And I quote the verse again. It's in John's epistle. It says he that saith the abideth him in him ought himself also soda walk even as he walked. That is, God has given us a light that enables us to do that. He's given us the power.
But we all fail because we still have the old man within. So if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, but he never lowers the standard. I think it's very beautiful the way it's brought before us here.
Runner running a race and the prize that he's going for is not in this world, it's out of this world, it's in glory. And I think that's so important for us to keep in mind. So often we strive for things down here, things that are right.
Perhaps in their place, but they are not the ultimate goal of the believer in the Lord Jesus. The ultimate goal is Christ and glory.
00:15:02
The prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. It's not to be anything down here. It's to something up there in glory that He's pressing towards. And there's singleness of heart and his desire to do this is one thing I do.
It is only in the measure that their singleness of heart, that everything takes its proper light in this world. And I sometimes say to young people, it's really important that you stop sometime and think what is my object here in this light. Sometimes I see young people with the desire to get a good job, a good career, and those are proper things in their place. But that cannot be the right.
Overall objective of a believer.
It cannot if your sights are set on anything down here.
They're set too low. You may have other sub objectives, but they must all relate to that one overall objective and then to pursue it with all our energy. I still remember what Mr. Ch. Brown used to say the literal translation of verse 14.
Down to the goal I press. In other words, it's a picture.
Of an athlete on the last stretch toward the goal and he's putting everything he has into.
Brethren, if we would see the goal more clearly, nothing. Nobody could hinder us from running like Paul Rand for that prize because we get distracted by things down here.
All was raptured into the 3rd heaven. He saw the gold and nothing could stop it. Nothing could hinder him from running and it says.
That goal becomes clear in our souls, apprehension of it by faith that we too will run as we ought to run as Christians.
And our portion here, especially the 15th verse, it is individual. Paul is encouraging his brethren, and so he could say let us therefore as many as be perfect. It is something of individual attainment and desire. That's the thought.
There is a perfect applied to the Church and that will not be until we're in glory. The body of Christ is in glory and that's in Ephesians and Ephesians chapter 4. And I won't go into all of it, but the Lord when he ascended, gave gifts to the church and and for reason. And I'll read 12 for perfecting of the Saints for the work of the ministry.
For edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come in the unity of faith, of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man, under the measure of the status of the fullness of stature of the I think the stature really means age of something of the fullness of Christ. In other words, the body of Christ. The church will not reach that till we're home, but.
That he's provided what would make it possible today.
We have all we need and the Spirit too, but it can't be until we're presented to the Father as blameless, perfect, according to that perfect man. So it's nice to see that one as to the church, but individually it's a little different. And I do believe that Christ is the one object, but it can only be to those that are mature as a Christmas.
I believe that passage there in First Corinthian Ephesians 4 is that that is the object of ministry. That is, the object of ministry is that those who are listening and those who receive what is ministered would become more and more like Christ, and so not just partially like him. God would have us to give out the whole truth of God with that desire. So a brother stands up what is before him that the ones who are listening might be more like Christ.
And so that's the object of all ministry that there would be, that they might come to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. It will not be so down here. But that's the object of menstrual. And any brother that ministers seeks to present the full likeness, moral likeness, to Christ as that which is the object before our souls, even though we all fail. And so He even makes provision here, if in anything he otherwise minded God is able.
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Again, and all see things alike. But if we're willing, God will make these things clear to us. And that's very good for us to remember. Someone said, well, if such great man as Mr. Darby and Mr. Kelly Gifford, who are we? But the point to remember is that God is willing on his part, and He is willing. If there's anything that we don't see clearly, let's ask the Lord to help us to see it clearly. Because if there's any hindrance, it's not on God's part, it's our part.
And so we find the same in John where it says.
If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God or whether.
I speak of myself. If we're willing to do it, God is willing to teach us. We've already been carried.
Over to the last verse here where we get the new body and that's a further attainment, at least apprehension of perfection. If we go to the Hebrews 11 we see that in the last verse of Hebrews 11.
There's going to be a perfection as to the body too, and it says about those heroes of faith.
And ourselves in the last verse of Hebrews 11 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. That is, God doesn't bring their heroes of faith into the state of the new creation as to the body until he brings us in. We all arrive there at the same time. That will really be perfection as the body, soul and spirit in that glory face.
Nice to look on for that whole thing.
Will be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air. That is, we'll receive our new bodies. And it's true that those who have died in faith at this moment are in the conscious enjoyment of the presence of the Lord, absent from the body and present with the Lord. But they're not going to get their new bodies till we do. That's going to take place at the resurrection, at the shout. And we're going to get new bodies. They're going to get new bodies, and then we'll be caught up together with them. But I'd like to just go back for a moment and make a comment.
In connection with the object, because I think it's important, particularly for the young people to realize that faith always needs an object. We find that with the people of God in any dispensation, they always had an object. You mentioned the 11Th chapter of Hebrews, and as you trace those that live by faith and for God's glory, even against all kinds of odds and difficulties and problems and so on, it's true that Abraham went out not knowing whether he went.
But he had an object. He looked for a city which hath foundation to build her. And Maker is God. I heard someone speak one time, a blind faith. But I don't believe there's any such thing as blind faith. I even heard someone say one time that faith is a leap in the dark. I don't believe faith is a leap in the dark. Faith always has an object. We read two of those in Hebrews 11. It says they didn't receive the promises, but they saw them afar off and embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims. Moses who gave up the glory of Egypt, Why did he do it? He endured us seeing him who is invisible.
And we need to have that object before us. And I think it's good to realize too that our brethren are never given to us as the object for faith. Now it's true that in the 11Th chapter of Hebrews he mentions those men and women who live by faith and they're given to us as an encouragement. And it's true too. It says of those that we have known who have gone on in the past, it says whose faith follow And Paul as the model example here. I believe Paul was a patterned St. given to us his life, a pattern in the scriptures. And he could say the followers of me even as I am also of Christ. But I don't believe, brethren, that our brethren are given to us as the object for faith. They're given to us as an encouragement.
And no man liveth to himself and no man dieth to himself. Our lives are either in this encouragement or a discouragement to the people of God. We heard about those 12 spies that went in to spy out the land, Caleb thought to steal the people. But there's a solemn comment made about those other 10 spies in Deuteronomy. One it says they discourage the hearts of their brothers. It was one or the other. And so as soon as he completes that list in Hebrews 11, what does he do? Why he lifts our eyes and our thoughts above those men and women.
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As tremendous as their life was. And he lifts them into the open heaven. And he says, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of faith, we have the perfect example. It's not so much that he's the author and finisher of our faith, but he's the author and finisher of faith. Because, brethren, he's the only man that ever hasted through this world in the path of faith and service and never digressed from it. It was a perfect life of faith and service, and it says even Christ please, not himself.
Even at the darkest hour, when Calvary approached, and all that it meant to his holy soul, did he digress for a moment from the past that the Father had put before him? Oh no, He could say. Nevertheless, not my will, but the be done. And as the perfect example, an object God has set him at his own right hand, and He lifts our eyes by faith into the open heavens to be to see Him, and rather in the measure in which we have this perfect object before us.
In that measure, we're going to run with endurance, the race that is set before us. Why does he speak of the athlete or the runner? Because apart from a goal and a reward at the end, the athletes not going to strive. He's not going to go out and run the marathon 21 miles if there's not some prize or goal at the end. If he loses sight of the prize, then he's not going to run the race with endurance. The Christian pathway is a race of endurance. What is going to preserve us, brethren? It's to have Christ before us.
We sung that little prayer at the beginning of the meeting. I trust we sung it from our hearts. Oh, fix our earnest gaze so holy Lord on thee that with thy beauty occupied we elsewhere none may see. Brother, may we go home from these meetings with a fresh glimpse of the man in the glory. May he so captivate our schools and our hearts that we would have a desire to follow him. Because where our hearts are, surely our feet will follow in the past that he set before us going on.
With Christ there in Hebrews 12, you stop too soon looking under Jesus, the author and finisher of faith, super, the joy that was set before him, endured the cross. He had an object before him. And what was it? To get back to the Father who had sent him out of heaven to be our Savior, and he'd accomplish the work, and he looked for the much joy. Acts 228.
Explains that beautiful portion and sets before us. Praised as a man that even he had enough as an example for us, he had an option. He had a work to do and he had to endure it. But in Acts 228 we have the.
16th Psalm before us, I believe in resurrection.
Beginning with verse 25.
David Speaker concerning him.
I foresaw the Lord always before my faith, for he's on my right hand that I should not be moved.
Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad. Moreover, also my flesh shall reject rest in hope, because.
That will not leave my soul in hell. Ladies, that's great. That's either his word. Neither wilt thou suffer thine holy one to see corruption.
Then he speaks in the.
Past tense. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life. There's resurrection. And he says, Thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. That was a joy that was set before him to return to the Father with the greatest work that a father had ever given a son to do.
All done. And I think in his thought, the Lord thought He had the bringing of us into the Father's presence as well. In His joy that was set before. Not only did he return, but he's bringing many sons to glory to get that in the 2nd of April. So it makes it very, very full and wonderful to see that we need an object, and Christ even had an object.
That's the thought of the 14th verse. I press toward the mark.
For the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. That's the P That's the third P in this wonderful pistol. The first, of course, is purpose. Verse 21 of one for to me, to live is Christ. That's what our brother Bob would bring out. What's what's your priority?
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What's your purpose now that you're here as a Christian, not left but sent? Heavens are home and so it's wonderful. We have purpose. And then the second chapter brings out pattern. And of course that's verse five. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.
And if you look at that mind, it takes you all the way down. I mean, it makes nothing of self. That's what we need. The pattern is Christ. And now we've got the right. You have to put an object before us, and that's Christ. And of course the 4th is power. We're never left without power to do what he asked us to do. I believe that would be the 1St 13. Or I can do all things. That would be chapter 4. I can do all things through Christ.
Which strengtheneth me with a chapter three was price, price, price.
It's nice. I think it's illustrated too very beautifully with the children of Israel in the wilderness. Because you find in the 16th of Exodus they weren't very long as a redeemed people on the other side of the Red Sea, till they began to murmur and complain and become discouraged. And they cried to Moses, and Moses cried unto the Lord. And what was the remedy for their fault? Finding and murmuring and discouragement? Well, they were. First of all, they were to turn around. In other words, they were looking back. They were looking in the wrong direction.
They were looking back to Egypt from whence they had just been delivered, But when they turned around to lookout over the wilderness, what did they see? It says they saw the glory of the Lord revealed in the clouds. In other words, in some way Jehovah was pleased to reveal himself to them, and with that glimpse of glory they could press on. Even though the wilderness was before them, they were going on to something far better. They were going on to a land flowing with milk and honey, and as long as they had the goal in view, they were encouraged to press on from day-to-day.
When they began to look back or around, then they became discouraged. And so again, it just shows that we always think always needs an object. And I say again, the prize in the Christian life is always Christ. David said I had fainted, except I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. He had something before his soul. Brethren, are we going to go home with this before our souls? Maybe there's young people here and you're not looking forward to going home tomorrow or that later this afternoon.
You're not looking forward to going back to the difficulties at school and at college and at work and maybe sometimes in the local assembly, but don't become overwhelmed with those difficulties. God allows things to exercise this heart where it's true. But one of the last words that our brother Eric Smith ever spoke to me when I had the privilege of visiting him, he said. Jim, remember, we can still be overcomers, not be overcome, but we can only be overcomers rather than, as we have the perfect example, the perfect object before our souls, And as we're in the enjoyment of the person and worth of Christ, may the Lord give us this desire and keep us.
There are two companies of people said before the Philippians, Saints of those whom Paul refers to as perfect, and then those who were minding earthly things as God was their belly. But it ends up saying who mind earthly things. And in our chapter, as far as Paul was concerned, all that he had on earth was to be made conformable.
Unto the death of Christ and every day of his life was his actual physical life as we refer to it, was in jeopardy of being taken. But that didn't hinder his following of his in Christ, because he knew it was a risen Christ, and so if he did die, he would attain to the resurrection from among the dead. Now that's not the hope of us here.
This afternoon, if the Rapture takes place, we won't be resurrected. That's in connection with death of the body. We will be changed, but the dead will be raised and they that's resurrection. We won't be resurrected because we have, we won't die, we will simply be changed. But Paul said if I die and I have to go through death, I'll still attain by the resurrection this perfection.
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But later the perfection is not only having Christ before our souls, but I would add having Christ in glory before our souls. You might say you could read the 1St 3 gospels and have Christ as the manna come down to earth.
And feed on that in a proper way. But here in Philippians I think the thought is as far as Earth is concerned.
It's all over. It's not a part of our life. A Christ in glory. All he had here was death, but there He was raised from among the dead and in the power of that resurrection life. Paul went through this scene so that if they took his natural life that was all right by him. He was going to attain by resurrection to the perfect perfectness of the end of in Hebrews there that they without us should not be made perfect.
But perfection here that those who had attained to perfection were those.
Whose lives had apprehended the difference between comprehend and apprehended? My thinking is that when you apprehend something, it's that measure in which you are able to take it in. None of us could comprehend Christ and glory, that is taking all the fullness of what that means, but we can apprehend it and every believer that lays hold upon Christ in glory.
To such a degree that life down here is not our object. We don't have Earth as the goal of our life. We, you know you. You have a roof leak. You have to fix it, but you don't have to fix it in the spirit that this roof is important to me. This house is important to me. This is my life. Paul says Earth does not afford my life. All I have here is death.
And if by any means, if I have to go into actual death, resurrection will Take Me Out of it. But the perfection I think, is simply seeing Christ there in glory is our life resurrected from the dead, pursuing him and not minding earthly things.
That's good.
Seems like it's similar to the thought of first love, isn't it?
Well, if you were saved today for yesterday.
For a month ago or 40 years ago.
You could be capable of this verse to be perfect, to be thus minded. It wouldn't mean you're necessarily mature, but Christ is the object. That's first love, isn't it? For everything is for him. Remember years ago a sister was saved out of Catholicism and things were much more.
In contrast in those days. And so they sent a priest out to visit her and I think he came nine different times, forgot now, but anyway.
She was quite a simple soul, but she knew the Lord had saved her soul.
Constant answer to this man was Christ is all, Christ is all. And finally they left her alone.
She's with the Lord now, but the teaching, of course. Christ is everything grace is called. What a goal before the soul. He is the one man who has reached that ghost.
He's tried the whole course of.
Death, resurrection, ascension. Seated at the right hand of God. There's a man there. He's the mark before it, Moe says. He's so wonderful.
That you'll surely want this.
And if in anything you're otherwise minded, you'd surely like to know that so that you could get that straightened out. I don't think we'll lose our first love if we keep that object before we want to leave it, I should say.
They lost it, but they left. They they lost the sight of the goal before their souls.
I think it's beautiful to see the way Paul puts this, like mindedness in verse 15 speaks a lot of being like minded Thistle and certainly is something that is to be desired amongst God's people. But we're living in a day when there's a lot of what is otherwise sometimes and I think we have to face the reality that many times there is not like mindedness.
00:40:25
All fiction is, I think it's so beautiful. There's the same in the world that you can agree to disagree. Even in Christian circles sometimes that is used. But this to me is so much more beautiful than that attitude to agree to disagree. It is simply to say God shall reveal even this unto you. Sometimes there's differences perhaps because.
We have not become mature in the sense that we have in this verse and we need to allow some time for God to give that. God shall reveal this even in the evening. It's not that I can fresh my brother. You've got to think just like I think or we've got to think always just exactly the same. No, it's something that we grow into brethren. And I think there is the patience. It's nice to see that patience of Paul not to.
Agree to disagree, but to leave it in God's hands that he will reveal even this unto you. And as we grow on the things of God, the proper result will be that we will be like minded.
I think that fits us what I tried to say yesterday about you don't reconcile scripture.
Scriptures always write we are reconciled to God. We don't have to reconcile Scripture. We just have to believe. And in this case here the light comes in just like the Lord Jesus said to Mark, said I not unto thee if thou would believe, thou should seek So if you and I believe the scriptures, we'll get the same mind that Paul had and others who are on the right track. It may take a little while.
And we don't expect to understand everything we're in the primary grades.
And we're never going to understand everything. The person is so limitless, but it's good to be of the same mind, to be like minded with the scripture and those who have written it for us.
There is a measure in which you have a team to be like minded. Verse 16 where two we have already attained Let us walk by the same rule. Let us mind the same thing. There is much that we enjoy like mindedness about Let's walk in that like mindedness, right?
Paul said I believe God. When he was about to be shipwrecked, he didn't know what was ahead of him exactly. He didn't know something about it. He says, I believe God. And then he had the experience of going through it and he saw what God said was true. So you and I should believe this word of God, whether we understand it or not. And in his time he will give us the life that we need for our pastor.
We need to have willingness, don't we? We need to have a willing heart, willing to accept what God has said at His word. Our own wills are often the hindrance to the letting Him of truth. To this man will I look even to him that is foreign, of a contrite spirit, and the tremblant that my word. And so if any man will do his will, or as we have here, if in anything he'd be otherwise minded, that would be our own wills. God on His part is willing to reveal it unto us, isn't he? Yes.
We had some nice words read about understanding today.
In Matthew 15, I think it says these three words here and understand, listen to what God had to say and understand. And in the faith chapter it says.
Through faith we understand and the next last verse of first John says we know now the Christian gets to that place.
We know.
That Son of God is coming. Don't say the case that is come. That is, he came once as a man. He remains there. He is coming, and He has given us an understanding. Did you know that? He's given us an understanding that we may know him that is true and we are in him that is true even in his Son, in Christ Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
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So faith brings knowledge of God, Faith gives us understanding. As Brother Hale said, though, it takes the will, the willingness. And I think this verse has been quoted quite often the last two days. John 717. But 18 is important too.
If 717 If any man will do his will, that's it willing not to do his will.
Willingness to abide by his word, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God or whether I speak of myself. He that speaketh from himself seeketh his own glory, but he that seeketh his glory that sent him the same is true. Well, that's that's the wonderful thought. And we ought to mind the same thing, speak the same thing, because we have what we need for that.
We have the spirit of God and the word of God, and if we're willing to do and abide by the word of God, we will speak and do and bind the same thing. And that's the desire of the Lord, That's the desire of all. In fact, he says, I think it's in our own pistol Here fulfill you my joy. Do too ye be like minded of the same love of 1 accord of one mind.
That's it. And you know, it's precious. One brother was mentioning to me how wonderful it is. He was in Mexico recently and he said the crude setting and all this and that. I hadn't been down there. And what he said, it was exactly the same at the breaking of bread. Everything. Well, we find that all around the world because the doctor never changes, Truth never changes. And that's beautiful to see it, but our our apprehension of it.
Does.
Vary. And that's why he says if in anything he'd be otherwise minded. It's not that we agreed to compromise. Well, you understand it that way. I understand it this way. We'll compromise on each a halfway. That's the just the opposite of the teaching of this passage of this passage teaches that when someone is otherwise minded, God shall reveal it. That is, God reveals the truth to our souls. He reveals the truth to your soul, reveals the truth to my soul. There's no question of compromise.
In that case, and the measure in which we do understand the truth, we can have fellowship together and go on together. That's what Bob was saying, and that's really the teaching of this passage. But how deal with the truth as though we can?
Compromise The truth of God.
That is what this passage says you cannot do. God will reveal the truth to those that don't see it yet.
And in the measure in which each of us sees it, we can walk on fellowship together. That's the fourth point of the passage, isn't it? Yeah, that's important, brother Chuck. It's to wherever you have attained in your own soul light. But we're all here with different degrees of of understanding and experience and all sorts. But then I think that's why he says in.
It's verse 17, he followers altogether of Maine. That is Paul had really left them.
Well, as it says here, perfect example of Christian growth. And so he said. But don't be content to stay where you are if you're otherwise minded. God will reveal how you can come into this perfection. And I want you to be all together a follower of me, not don't stay where you are.
And I think that's the point here. He is seeking to help those along who may not have understood or grasped, and probably maybe none of us do this afternoon. But Paul would encourage us not to stop, but to go on to this perfection. Mr. Darby's translation of John 7/17.
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Was a great help to me.
It says if any.
Man, if anyone desires to practice his will, he shall know of the dark if.
As we go from these meetings, desiring to put into practice in our life those things which we know are pleasing to the Lord, if anyone desires to practice His will, he shall know of the Doctor. And in the Mr. Darby's translation followers is always rendered imitators. We're not to follow Paul or any other man. We're to follow Christ. But we can imitate Paul who followed Christ. And I think that's the point. There's a difference between following and imitating.
And the right word is imitate.
When we get home, the glory will certainly all be of one mind. And why will that be? Because we won't have any flesh in US. You'll have now we have the flesh in US. And sometimes the flesh asserts itself. And that's the hindrance, isn't it, brethren? Because God, as it's been said, he's willing on his part to make it known. So the hindrance is in US, and Paul is looking forward to that time when we get home to glory. And that's why I believe he speaks of the calling on high. That's the way Mr. Darby renders it in the.
14th verse The prize of the calling on high. The high calling. It's the calling on high of God in Christ Jesus. When we get there, we'll all have the same mind. In fact, I love to think there are many, many things, no doubt with all of us in Scripture that we don't fully understand. But I believe, brethren, when we get home to glory, we're going to understand everything that God had in his mind in giving us this precious book forever. O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven.
And in the measure in which our wills are subject to the mind and will of God, He'll teach us here, but we'll never come fully to that. But when we get home to glory called on high, then we will be fully like Him, and we'll think exactly according to his thoughts without any hindrance forever.
I might say that Hebrews 31 agreed very well about being said as to the high calling.
And.
The object before the soul.
A simple, lovely verse, Hebrews 31. Wherefore, holy Brethren? Now that's what he calls those of us who are of the brethren. Holy Brethren, partakers of the heavenly. That's that's where we're called to.
What are we going to think about? Consider the apostle. That's the sent one come down.
In the gospel and I preach, that's the there is one got up on high and God's right hand serving us there. Think about him.
High Priest of our profession. Praise Jesus.
I've often felt, brother.
Where there is a difference in judgment, though, I may feel that I have right to God my soul, which was.
Is any any telling of meekness and Moses after the parent of the Lord Jesus Christ, I have to consider I could possibly be wrong and that could lead to.
A happier and more peaceful walk for those who might be otherwise might.
All truth is spiritually discerned. That is, if you and I this afternoon have any enjoyment of the person and work of Christ in our souls, it's a revelation of the Spirit of God. If the Lord Jesus spoke of the coming of the Spirit, he said that when he was come, he would guide them into all truth. And so it's by the Spirit of God that we enjoy and understand these things. And the reason I say that is because rather than we should never argue the truth or seek to force a point. Maybe sometimes we so enjoy some point of Scripture.
And we see something so clearly for ourselves as a revelation from the Spirit of God, and we desire that others would see it. But it can lead to problems and difficulties. Never argue the truth. We should be faithful in presenting the truth. We read of the early apostles. They went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and they reasoned from the scriptures and presented the truth very faithfully. It's true, we're told, to earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the Saints. Never give up the truth. Hold fast.
Earnestly contend for the faith, but I don't believe that it's to argue the truth and to try to press the point. We ought to simply present the truth from the word of God and leave it for a work of the Spirit of God. The gospel is going to go forth here this evening. If the Lord leaves us here, we can't save a soul. I can't save a soul. You can't save a soul. You can be faithful in speaking to individuals and to preach the gospel as the Lord gives opportunity. They sow spake that many believed that's our responsibility, but that's all we can do.
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I'm thankful that my that the salvation of souls doesn't depend on our ability to present the Word. It depends on the Word itself, in all its perfection and a work of the Spirit of God. But, brethren, is it any different with the truth? I can't make a soul see the truth. I may present it clearly and faithfully, but I can't cause them to see that only the Spirit of God can do that. And I believe if you read 1St Corinthians 14, you see that Paul recognized that very clearly.
His desire was to speak words easy to be understood, so that he wouldn't speak into the air. Ministry has to fit the needs of those to whom it's ministered. Are you just speaking into the air? As doctrinally correct as it may be, as scripturally accurate as it may be, ministry has to be directed to those to whom it's ministered. And so his desire was to present the truth faithfully that later on in that chapter he'd rather speak 5 words in the church, but by his understanding he might teach others also.
Than 10,000 words in an unknown tongue and so on. But he recognized that that was all he was responsible to do.
To present the gospel and to present the truth faithfully and simply and clearly, and to leave it for a work of the spirit of God. And it helped me in my own soul when I was a little younger, to get ahold of this less young people. We ever become frustrated in trying to speak to souls or to encourage the other young people be faithful in speaking the truth, but then realize that you have fulfilled your responsibility, and now the Spirit of God can take over and reveal these things to the soul.
But Paul had the power as an apostle.
To correct what was terribly wrong in court. But he did not use that power. But he brought them the truth and he trusted that it would work in their conscience and they would act on it. And so that's the really the role isn't it is to bring the truth and then leave it with the Lord and the Spirit of God to use it. And I believe that's the pattern for all of us. I think it's important to see that in our like mindedness.
That much depends, as has been mentioned before, on growth and experience. We vary in that and that's why sometimes there's differences.
When Moses and Joshua were coming down from the Mount of Sinai and they heard the shouting in the camp, Joshua said this is a shout of a fight and Moses said no, it's a shot of those that sing.
And there was a difference there that it was Moses was more experienced, he had much more time than the things of God, and he could discern it better. And so there is such a thing as discernment that you need to recognize.
And realize that sometimes there's differences from lack of growth and lack of experience. But I do think it is important, Jim, what you say, to realize that the truth of God is the word of God.
That is the truth. We sit here in these Bible meetings and speak of the truth of God and trust that God can use it to make it clear to our souls that we can grow in it. But I just like to say for the young people what we say about the Scriptures.
May have something mistaken in it and that's why it's important you have your Bible open for yourself and look at the scripture and listen to what's going to say.
But don't get it just because a brother said such and such. Get it because God says it and you'll have something solid for your soul. Have to confess that I was brought up in the meeting and heard a lot of things, and I think I was well versed in what brethren thought about scripture, but when I got put to the test on some things, I found that I was shaking.
Because I really believe I wasn't grounded in what Scripture said in simplicity. I was grounded in what Brethren said about scripture.
And that isn't solid enough. What brethren say about Scripture is helpful, and it helps us to understand what God's saying. But what will hold the test of time and the attacks of the enemy is to simply be able to say it is written.
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Well, that was really the commendation to the Berean brethren, because they were more noble than those of Thessalonica. And why was that? Well, they listened to the Apostle Paul, minister, the Word. Who did they hear the truth from? They heard it from the apostle Paul. But that wasn't enough for the Berean brethren. It says they searched the scriptures daily to see if these things were so. What things? The things that the apostle had presented to them as the truth of God. They listened to oral ministry. Wonderful to sit in the meetings.
I look back and I am thankful for the exercise of godly parents who brought us to the assembly meetings and the meetings for ministry of the word of God. But that isn't enough. So the Bereans, they listen to Paul and then they went home and they got out the scriptures that they had and they searched the scriptures. And young people, you'll never really have it for your own soul till you get it out of this blessed book. Tapes are wonderful. I'm glad when Saints can listen to tapes of meetings and I'm glad that these meetings are being taped. And there's many who aren't here that perhaps will benefit by that ministry. But that too isn't enough. Brother, young people, you've got to get this blessed book out and read it for yourself.
I heard a lot of things in meeting when I was younger and sad to say, I didn't go home and search them out for myself. But when the spirit of God impressed upon me the need to read the scriptures for myself, that's when I began to receive a blessing. That's when you'll receive a blessing when you open this book. And I said this before, but I used to sit in the meetings and hear the brethren say that meditation is becoming a lost art rather than I believe reading is becoming a lost art too. This is the audio visual computer age when everything is before our eyes. But brethren, we need to read the word of God, Search the scriptures. Not just read them, but search the scriptures.
Do you really know what it is to get the word of God out and search it? Do you know what it is to study, to show thyself approved unto God, a Workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth? Sometimes we can open the scriptures and read a few verses in the morning and shut them and never consider what we've read. The truth is woven through this book in a way that doesn't encourage laziness. One time I was sitting with our brother Lundin and he was going over some of the precious.
Truth in the illustrations in the Old Testament. And I said this to him, I said, why is it that when you take up a story or an example in the Old Testament that a certain line of truth doesn't fit everything in that story or that?
Chapter. And he quoted me that verse in Proverbs. That was a great help to me. He said it's the glory of God to conceal the matter. The honor of kings is to search out the things. So God has woven the truth in a way that we have to search it out for ourselves. I just encourage you to go home from these meetings and diligently, consistently and orderly. Read the word of God and search these things for yourself. And when you avail yourself of opportunities to sit in the assembly under ministry, wonderful. But go home and search these things out. Be like the Bereans.
Make sure that these things are according to the truth of God.
Notice the walk here in verses 1617 and 18? That's before us.
We probably are impressed and learn more from each other by what we see than what we hear. Our brother Barry, I think said about 90% comes through the eye, about 15% through the ear.
Well, what are we, 858585? Maybe I earned 10%.
Okay the eyes is what we learned so much from. So how am I walking? Because that's what God is bearing before us. Do I walk even as He walked? John put before us? Do I follow his steps, even as Peter puts before us?
Well, somebody's watching, somebody's learning, and we have learned from others, so in verse.
16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, that is what has gotten into our understanding. Let us walk by the same river. Let us mind the same thing, Brethren, be followers together in the night. Followers together of me now, I said, You watch out, Mark them which walk so as you have us. For an example, there were professors in Paul's day.
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There was a Judas that walked along with Christ.
So we can't trust men, but we can learn from them as they follow Christ and imitate Him. But then the sad thing comes. In verse 18, Paul says many walk.
They talked, many walked, whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame.
Whose mind, Earthly things, their object is down here, and the sad thing is that we can trace these.
People right into many places in the Book of Revelation.
Those that were earth dwellers, they didn't want the cross of Christ and they don't get heavy, they want earth.
Would you say what you said before about the 17th verse? You know, whether they all drop that or not give followers together.
Oh God wants his people together.
The true testimony of the Church is the one body. It's a company that's in union with Christ by the Holy Spirit and with one another too as the body here on earth. Now that's the powerful testimony that God has. May I be in it, may you be in it, followers together. It's very impressive when we find people that agree with what the spirit of God teaches out of this book in practice, not just in words.
If we read that in the new translation, it's.
Pretty.
There's some significant changes in verse 17.
Be the imitators.
Altogether of me, I don't think it's so much the thought that together we are imitating Paul, but.
We're to follow him altogether. The thought of in every point, I believe.
And I might say about that the imitators, I think it's probably the same word and this is quite an exercise for those of us who are older and should be examples to those coming on.
In Ephesians 5, it's be imitators.
Of God as dear children. I think it's probably the same word, but anyway, it says here.
The imitators altogether of Maine brethren. And fix your eyes on those walking as you have us, Not me, but us. For a model in that little expression, fix your eyes. I've thought of it something like.
A teacher who or an instructor who wants to teach someone how to do it? Well, he'll do it before them and say you do, just exactly.
As I do. Or if you play that little childhood game of follow the leader, you say you follow me as I walk, or whatever I do, you do what I do.
And it's in contrast, as Brother Clem has said.
With those who were doing just the opposite. And we have to understand that the character of the dispensation is opposed. Satan knows what this dispensation is supposed to portray. It's supposed to portray a heavenly people. And so he's going to oppose it by negating that testimony and making us earthly minded.
And so when the revelation comes and the judgments fall, where the Christian profession has gone out, those that it falls on are earth dwellers. They've given up the heavenly calling. And Paul is portraying a man on earth for us who lived in the good of the colonial high of Christ Jesus or in Christ Jesus he portrayed that kind of a man for.
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And others too.
That kind of a man, the pattern of a life that lives with Christ as its object, and we have that, that we should be exercised about as older brethren who are a little bit further on perhaps, than some of the younger ones, to give them an object lesson as to how to follow Christ in glory to pursue him.
There's a sort of a contrast, isn't there, with where the path ends. Many of us are going to leave this meeting. We're going to be concerned about where the path is going to end. That is, we're going to Chicago or we're going to Saint Louis or somewhere. It's where the path ends that is important to us. And so he's contrasting. One path ended in glory, the other path ended in destruction and we need to discern. We're very careful that we don't get on the wrong path or even get on the path and go on the wrong direction, you know, and so.
I believe that's the way he's bringing it out here. The worldly minded, the earthly minded, all his thoughts. As our brother said, they're earth dwellers. They're seeking this earth. They're trying to improve this earth and make it a suitable dwelling place. But for us, we belong to heaven and we're to pursue that path that leads to glory. Now no true Christian will get to the end of the path. Lot was living in a city of destruction, but he didn't perish in that city. And so I might possibly get on the wrong path too.
But no true Christian will end in destruction. But I believe the thought in the passage is where the path leads and we need to discern that and if I'm getting taken up of this world I'm getting taken up with a place that's going to be destroyed and that was lots position a little real believer for Abraham as we read he looked for a city which had foundation whose builder and maker was God. And I think the contrast is drawn here and that is clearly brought out where our.
Citizenship is where our whole manner of life is and in glory and to be fully like Christ and the object before the one who's really seeking to please God and do His will.
Paul in 18 and 19, as you were mentioning, Speaking of those who took the place of being Christian but only professed they were not real. And it's a solemn thing what he says. There were many, many even in his days.
Who are actually enemies of the cross of Christ, though they were taking that place and you know that's the same today in prison. But the awful part is the end is destruction because God is their, their God is their belly, it's all flex thereafter and they might earthly things. Now we got the contrast next. But I would just mention the Old Testament example and that's the numbers and I believe it's the numbers.
Chapter 11. It begins with murmuring and lusting. And then God gave them up to their lust. He gave them flesh and let them have it. And that's the sad part. But notice in verse 33. And while the flesh is yet between their teeth ere it was chewed, the wrath of Jehovah was kindled against the people. And the Lord smoked the people with a very great place. And he called the name of that plane.
A kid brought out of a because there they buried the people that lost it. And you know that word, that name means the grave, the graves of the lusting, The graves of the lusting. You know, I believe that warning should be given always. Paul gives it here, but of course he then brings out the other side. We're not like that if we really have a vital life of Christ, if we're real.
Our conversation, our way of life, is in heaven.
That's not looking after earthly things, not lusting for things down here. Not earth dwellers, obviously. But I do think that if those who are real seek that course, they can lose their life, not their soul. They can lose their life for Christ, like demons, you know, for demons anymore. When he forsook false doctrine, having loved the present world, he lusted after those things. We'll see him in glory. And that's what our brother Gordon was bringing out.
A child of God can never be destroyed in that sense, but there is a warning.
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All wet. Didn't he think that's something to get a lesson? Sometimes you see souls going a different way and we kind of just let them go and don't feel much about it. Oh, wet, you really felt deeply their departure and they're going in that direction. Another thing to notice, I think is helpful. They were enemies across of Christ. It doesn't say enemies of Christ.
Enemies of the cross of Christ. The cross is that which separates us from this world, and I think that's a tremendously important thing to realize, that we as Christians are separated from this world. We do not form a part of this world's system.
We are not of this world, even as he is not of this world. And there's a tendency sometimes in Christian circles, OK, you can be a Christian, you can participate in a lot that we have for you too. Well, it's breaking down the distinction between what is Christian and what is this world. They were enemies of that which put a distinct division between Christians and.
Gods and and the world.
And another thing I think is good to think about is whose God is their belly? In Second Timothy chapter 3, it gives the characteristics of the last perilous times, and the first thing in that list is.
Lovers of their own selves.
I just feel a real burden, brethren, that we live in a society that is built on the premise of doing things for yourself. You are at the center of your world and you do things for yourself. You often hear in advertising. You owe it to yourself and so it's self that is in the pictures doing things for our own pleasure. We need to challenge ourselves constantly.
Are we getting caught up in that way of thinking? It's easy to happen.
I have to confess how much I've been affected by that kind of thinking. We live in this society and we can't say that we're immune to have been affected by it, but we need to be aware of it. This is the current of things in the age that we live in. We need to be aware brethren, and get on their faces and confess in the Lord. It does not bring satisfaction, self centeredness.
Is an empty life and if you want an empty life, a young person.
Dear older ones too live for yourself. It's an empty light. It will not bring happiness. Their God is their belly. That's what they go after, things that please them.
That was a happy ending to this chapter for those who seek to go on, and it's true of every believer. But we can walk in the joy of it as we're have the Lord Jesus as our object. That is lots going to be in glory and so is Abraham. But it's possible to have a saved soul in a lost life, isn't it? And So what is our only title to the glory is the precious flood of Christ. Everyone in this room, trusting in the precious blood of Christ will be there.
But will be a sad thing to meet the Lord Jesus and having see our lives burned up at the judgment seat of Christ. Benny Man's work be burned. He shall suffer loss, but he himself shall be saved. Yet so as by fire, it is God's desire, and I trust our desire that our lives would be preserved, so that when they're manifested, they'll be the praise and honor of glory, the revelation of Jesus Christ. So this is the happy ending here when we'll be. He's talking about being like Christ in our plans and our thoughts and our.
Understanding of the Scripture and getting the truth of God by the Spirit. But it ends here with glorified bodies. Who shall change our vile bodies, or bodies of humiliation, that it may be fashioned like under His glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. Now he's able by His spirit, if we're willing to produce moral conformity to Christ, but in that day he'll be full conformity. Bodies of glory. Everyone there will have a body of glory just like Christ.
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We'll all have only that new nature which we already possess. Now we won't have the old man. What a glorious day that'll be. That's what is before us. That's what we're pressing on for. And the desire of the apostle was it might be a practical thing in our lives.
This beautiful sea garden in that last verse, that Christ is the doer but all who who is this that will do it? Oh, the one that has occupied our hearts for the last few days here who shall change our body of humiliation, that it might be fashion like unto His His. Not that we will have glorified body, but it will be just like His.
Just like him, he's going to do it. But he might present to himself a church in glory.
It's going to present this church in perfection of Himself to himself. God the Father will afford him that privilege. For all his blessed work down here. He's going to have His bride presented, presenting her to himself. But it's also beautiful to see how much it's connected with him.
According to the working thereby he is able.
To subdue all things unto himself.
Is the object, is the doer.
So you have in this chapter so beautifully. Christ is our righteousness in contrast with a human righteousness, a legal righteousness. Christ is our object in contrast with other objects that this world would set before us to draw away our our hearts. And finally, Christ is our hope to be like him with him at the end of the journey. Those three things Christ our righteousness. Christ our object. Christ our hope. That's true.
Christianity isn't it?
They saved 260.
It's at 2:50 or 260.
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Come let us stand.