Gospel—P. Glading
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May we sing together #4?
Hymn #4.
Christ is the Savior of sinners.
Christ is the Savior for me.
Long I was chained in sin's darkness. Now, by his grace, I am free.
I trust your friends that we can all sing this with truth tonight. If not, it would be far better not to sing it.
#4 Christ is the Savior of Savior.
Pride is the sailor.
Was changing since the rest.
Nobody is grateful, I am afraid.
Brother was praying for the sin bound sinister Hale. Now friends, are there any lost here tonight?
Perhaps, you say. What do you mean, offering the lost souls here? Well, if you haven't received Christ as your Savior, my friend, you're lost and you're on the road to hell. And so we want to solemnly warn you tonight to free from coming judgment and take shelter beneath the precious blood of Christ and receive the Lord as your Savior. Now, this very moment, you have no lease on life, my friends. We've been reminded of that solemnly lately for our dear brother.
And so your turn might come tonight, and where would you spend eternity? Friends, face the matter tonight and have it settled before God as to where you're going. At the end of the journey. Everyone here is going to one of two places, either heaven or hell, and you cannot avoid it. You may try and persuade yourself there's no such place as hell that, my friends, there is. God solemnly warns you of it, and He's made provision for you to escape it.
And it's only through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, my precious Savior, that you'll ever escape the damnation of hell. But oh, how we can thank God tonight. There is a way of escape still.
And but tomorrow may be too late, or how solemn a thought that even tonight the Lord Jesus Christ may come and call his own away in a moment of time, in the twinkling of an eye, And you, your lost souls, what will happen to you?
You'll perish in hell. That's what will happen to you, but there's no need for that to happen to anyone here.
God, I say in his infinite love and grace, has provided A Savior for sinners, and it's the Lord Jesus. And there is no other Savior but He. Neither is there salvation in any other. There is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. Dear sin, a friend, if you're going to be saved tonight, you must be saved God's way through faith in Christ to acknowledge yourself. As we reminded this morning, the Israelites said we have sinned.
And that's the acknowledgement, friend, you'll have to make before a holy God and receive His beloved Son as your Savior. Then you can go on your way, rejoicing in the knowledge of sins forgiven and peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
May return to the 13th chapter of Luke.
Luke 13.
They were present at that season, some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood pilot had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things, I tell you, Nay, but except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish all those 18.
Upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them. Think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem, I tell you, Nay, but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. He spake also this parable. A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
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Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none. Cut it down. Why, Cumber hit the ground. And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it and dung it. And if it bear fruit well, and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath, and behold, there is a woman which had a spirit of infirmity.
18 years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.
And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight and glorified God.
And the rule of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work in them, Therefore come and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.
The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou, hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox, or his ash from the stall, and lead him away to watering? And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound lo these 18 years the loose from his bond on the Sabbath day? And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were shamed, and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things.
That were done by him.
We find in the first verse.
There were those who came to Jesus and told him the sad story of these Galileans whose blood pilot had mingled with their sacrifices.
No doubt this incident had some political significance.
These Galileans undoubtedly were Jewish sea lots and the.
Engaged in so-called worship, and it was at this time.
That Pilate had them slain.
This would suggest, I believe, dear friends, that you could be a worshiper of God in outward form and still perish.
These men perished.
And it tells us here.
Or Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners?
Above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things, I tell you, Nay, but except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish.
Now these men who told Jesus this sad story undoubtedly expected him to rebuke Pilate and possibly to take up the cause of these unfortunate people who had been slain.
But the Lord said to Pilate later, my Kingdom is not of this world.
The Lord had not come at this time to put things right in this world, but rather to seek and to save the lost friends Israel, lost soul here tonight. If so, I plead with you to face the stern realities of eternity.
Because they are before you. And if you die in your sins tonight, you're going right to hell. Yes, you're going to hell Or you say there's no such place.
Well, I'd rather believe God than I would you, If that's your argument, friend. I believe what God says.
He says there is a heaven. He says there is a hell, and they're going to last as long as one another. Yes, heaven will last as long as hell, and hell will last as long as heaven. And I repeat, every one of us here without exception, No exceptions here. You're either going to heaven or you're going to hell. Now, friends, which is it?
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Do you have that assurance in your heart that you're going to heaven to be with Christ, that precious Savior?
You can have that assurance if you have received him as your Lord and Savior. But if you have not received Him, friends, you're on the wrong Rd. You're on the Broad Rd. which leadeth through destruction, and I would not change places with you for the world. If that's the road you're on tonight, friend, get off that road at once and get onto the narrow Rd. which leadeth to life eternal. And so when these men came and told Jesus this sad story and expected him to take it up, no doubt.
He just refused to take any notice of the.
Political angle of the story and he.
He spake these solemn words.
Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all Galileans, because they suffered such things.
I tell you Nay, but accept you, repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Now the word perish here does not mean merely death. I'm sure of that. Otherwise the Lord could not say these words. Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. How did they perish? They were slain with a sword.
Is everyone here tonight going to be slain with a sword?
On the other hand, are we going to be killed by a tower falling upon us? The Lord did not mean that. I'm positively sure the Lord is referring to something far more than that is referring to their a sad end to which they came as sinners. Or you say, how do you know they were sinners? Well, the Lord has mentioned it himself. He says in the second verse, the posi that these Galileans were sinners.
Above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things. Now the Lord tells us they were sinners.
And they not only perished with regard to their bodies, but they perished eternally. They perished in unbelief, unrepentant. And so the Lord turns this, this political angle into a solemn warning to those still alive. He says, except ye repent, you'll perish too. And he was not referring to death only. No, He's referring to the eternal state. Yes, friend, and that's what we have here, the eternal state. Those men perished in their sins unrepentant.
Are you going to die unrepentant and perish in your sins and be punished for them to stand before the Great White Throne in the coming day?
To be judged for your sins finally cast into hell all friends. What a solemn thought.
What an awful outlook for you, if that's all you have before you. And so I do believe the Lord was referring to something beyond death. He undoubtedly was referring to the fact that they died unrepentant, and they went to a lost eternity. How solemn. And so he turns the occasion to a solemn warning, For there was still alive. And you, your friends, are still alive. Take the warning to heart tonight from the lips of the Lord Jesus Christ. Except ye repent.
He shall all likewise perish. And it does not mean merely to die. No, it doesn't. It means to die in your sins and perish eternally.
And so the Lord here solemnly warns them.
And what a solemn warning it is. Except you repent. This is what God commands, you know, friends, God now commandeth all men everywhere to repent. It's a command of God.
And dare you disregard a divine command, A command of God?
It's a solemn thing. If you do, it's a command of God. Dear Sinner friend, you who are lost here tonight, that you should repent.
God commands you to do it.
And you refuse to do that at your eternal peril if you refuse to repent and turn to God.
And Christ, you'll perish in your sins.
We cannot improve on the Apostolic method, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. That's the way. Have you repented of your sins yet? The Lord said to those people who came and told him the sad story. He said, Do you think they were sinners worse than the others? No, he said. Except you repent. You'll perish too. And that's the message, friends, from God's Word in this chapter. Except you repent, you will all likewise perish. It does not mean merely to die.
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It means to perish in your sins unrepentant.
And now the Lord goes a little further. He comes near a home now because, you know, the those of Jerusalem looked down on the Galileans of a lower grade of society.
There was men in Jerusalem, where the proud men of the holy city, and they looked down upon these other people.
And no doubt these Galileans who were slain possibly had rebelled against the.
The Roman yoke. This was very frequently done, as we get in Acts 5. Yes, there are many who rebuild against the Roman yoke and perished, and so these may have done the same any way they perished. And you know, a man might argue this way and say, well, were they not real men of God? They were engaged in religious ceremonies and service and worship when they were slain. Well, there must have been men of God, No, not necessarily Friends.
Are there any religious people here tonight, yo, who are satisfied with religion? They had religion, but they perished in their sins. And I repeat, friend, you may be a worshiper of God in outward form and still perish in your sins. You may be highly religious like Nicodemus, but the Lord said to him, Nicodemus, you must be born again. You must. There's no doubt about it. And the same thing applies to you, dear friend. You must be born again if you do not know Christ as your savior.
You must be born again. And what a terrible thing it would be to have just enough religion to deceive the heart.
To deaden the conscience and ruin the soul.
I believe you've heard me tell this little story before, so forgive me. I met a dear colored person on the street in Trinidad, offered her track and she took it with a smile and he said, what is it? I said, Justin Gospel track, She said, I'd like to tell you something. I said I'd like to hear it. She said 25 years ago I had religion, but today I have Christ. She said Today I have Christ and a dear old face beam with joy. Can we all say that here tonight? Today I have Christ.
Well, friends, if you have religion, that will only land you in hell. If that's all you have, you might be highly religious like Nicodemus. Where would you find a better sample of human religious nature than in Nicodemus? I do not think you'd find a better sample of it anywhere else. But the Lord had to turn to him and said, Nicodemus, you must be born again. Must have been a shock to that dear man. Maybe it's a shock to you, dear sin, a friend. But it's true. You must be born again.
Now the Lord comes near a home here in the next few verses He says all those 18.
Upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them. Think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem, I tell you, Nay.
Except you repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Now these were not Galileans.
They were not slain by a foreign despot. No. This was the act of God. Yes, God came in here. And these were the proud men of the Holy City. What happened to them? A tower fell upon them, and they were crushed to death. And the Lord says, except you repent, you shall all likewise perish. Now, do you think the Lord meant that you and I and everybody here is going to die through a tower falling on us? No, I'm sure he did not refer to that at all.
Merely death as we speak of it? No. He's concerned about eternity, and he's concerned about Judea. Send a friend.
He wants you to accept his beloved Son as your savior now, if you have not done so.
And have the joy and assurance of knowing that your sins are blotted out and that God will never bring them up against you again. That you have forgiveness and redemption through His blood. Yes, even the forgiveness of sins. All friends, let us challenge our hearts to night and ask ourselves this question in the presence of God who knows our hearts. If I die tonight, where shall I go? It could happen to anybody here. You may die tonight, Dear Sinner friend. I may die tonight.
But thank God I know where I'm going. But do you know, have you that assurance?
Well, it's a grand thing to have that assurance, Not to say as many do today. Well, I hope I'll get to heaven. That will never take you there, friends. You'll never get there by hoping to be there. The only way you can get there is by taking yourself without making yourself as a lost, guilty Sinner before a holy God, and by receiving His beloved Son as your savior. And do it now, my friends, Right now, this moment, this very moment. Delay is dangerous.
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And you dare not, and must not trifle with God's grace.
And so he warns these proud men of the holy city. He says, Do you think those who died in Jerusalem were worse than the others? I tell you, nay, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. This was an act of God here the other was an act of pilot, allowed by God, of course. But now he brings home the solemn truth that if the others did not repent, they would perish likewise in their sins. Old friends were a terrible thing to perish in your sins.
To die in unbelief, rejecting Christ the Savior. And there's only one Savior.
And you may only have one more chance of accepting him now he got that in the next few verses. Maybe just look at them.
Verse 6.
And you know the Blessed Lord. He does not will the death of a Sinner. God is not willing that any should perish. No isn't God is not willing that you should perish your friends. He loves you. Christ died for you gave his life to redeem you, to save your soul. But you might spend an eternity with him in the glory. And so it's not God's wish that you should perish. It'll be your own fault. My dear friend, I must speak plainly.
If you perish in your sins, it will be your fault entirely. God has made provision for you.
He offers you a loving Savior tonight and the gift of eternal life, forgiveness of sins.
With God a home in the glory. These are free gifts that God is offering. But they may be withdrawn by tomorrow, may be withdrawn in half an hour's time. Who can tell? Many of us here, thank God, are waiting for the shout to be caught up, to meet our blessed Lord in the air, to be forever with him. And you, dear friends, what about you? Will you be left behind for God's judgment? You will, if you haven't received Christ as your savior, or to think of the judgment of God to fall upon any here. How solemn it would be.
And if you can find that terrible place called hell, let me solemnly warn you, dear friend. You'll have your memory there. And you remember this very day. Yes, you will. Or what a solemn thing to think, those who go to hell or retain their memory. Yes. You remember the words of the rich man in hell. Son, remember thou in thy lifetime. What happened in his lifetime? I had lots of opportunities. He lived from himself. He left God out. He died his sins. He went to hell.
Remember, remember, you had lots of opportunities, and I believe that will be part of the torment in hell, the memory of the lost. To remember that they had opportunities like this to accept the Savior, and they put it off. There are millions of souls bartering their eternal happiness today for a few hours of guilty pleasure and the crafting foe of mankind. Satan is making them believe that there's plenty of time, there's no such place as hell, and he uses God's word to to deceive them.
He says if God is a God of love, he'll never consign his creatures to hell.
It's contrary to his benevolent nature, friends. It's a lie of Satan. Do not believe it. God is a God of love, and he's proved that by giving his Son to die for you and me. What greater proof of his love could we have than that he gave the greatest gift his heart of love could give and the person of his son to die for you on the cross? That your sins might be blotted out, That you might have eternal life as a free gift?
But now there's six verse he spake. Also this parable. A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard. This is unusual, isn't it?
A fig tree planted in the vineyard entails privilege and responsibility. We do not often see a fig tree in a vineyard. It's usually in the open field. But here we read of a fig tree in a vineyard.
And he a certain man, had a fig tree planted in his vineyard. And he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none. Cut it down. What solemn words? Cut it down. Why cometh at the ground?
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And the answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it, And if it bare fruit well, and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
What a solemn statement this is. The elect nation of Israel is likened in scripture to three trees, the fig tree, the vine and the olive. And we find the fig tree was barren. Matthew 21 We find the vine brought forth wild grapes. Isaiah 5 and we find the olive tree failed. Romans 11 and they all noticed that their beautiful fruit. Now this man says he had a fig tree in his vineyard.
He came seeking fruit.
Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and fine nun cut it down. I suppose this may have referred to the Lord's three years of his earthly ministry among the nation of Israel. But nevertheless, I believe the subject of discussion here is not merely A fig tree. It's the fate of a soul. Yes, the fate of a soul.
Man is like a fig tree.
Man has borne no fruit for God in his natural state and cannot. And, dear friends, I do not agree with the expression you'll never be saved by your good works. I believe that's unscriptural. How can a Sinner bear fruit at all? How can a Sinner bear good fruit? The only fruit he can bear is sins. He's a sin tree, and all he can produce is sins. Not good works. And so, if you'll excuse me, I do not agree with that statement.
That we often hear it, though, You'll never be saved by your good works to a Sinner. The Sinner cannot produce good works to begin with. He has not the life and the nature to do it. Good works are by the spirit and the believer, and not in the unsaved, the last.
And so we find here all the wonderful grace we see in this verse here.
I come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down.
And the answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also one more year. Friends, there's no promise that you'll have another full year in which to turn to God and accept Christ. There's no promise of that in the word of God. Here, this is just a picture, I believe, of infinite grace and patience. Infinite grace and patience, giving the fig tree just one more chance. But remember that chance is air. The tree is cut down.
Yes, of how solemn the thought. But all the wonderful love and grace of God give it another year. Dear friends, it may be that this is the end of that year for you tonight. Perhaps the year is up right now. And so we warned in time. And do not put off the matter of your soul salvation. You may never have another chance. After tonight, this may be your last chance. You remember when Noah had built the ark?
Everything was completed. Then what happened? The Lord waited seven days more.
That speaks of a period of grace, a perfect period of grace on the part of God to this poor world.
Before He destroyed it. And friends, this may be the 7th day of the seven days of grace. This may be the very last day that you and I will ever have of accepting Christ the Lord Jesus as our Savior.
All friends, you're going to put this matter off. You're going to die in your sins and perish in hell when you have the opportunity right now, here and now, to accept that precious savior as your own before it's too late. Oh, I plead with you, dear lost soul, to face the realities of eternity now and do not go out of that door in your sins. I plead with you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, not to go home in your sins, because you may perish in your sins tonight and go to a lost eternity.
And I believe that's what we have in the first few verses. Yes, those poor souls went to a lost eternity. They didn't merely die, but they went to a lost eternity. They died in their sins. The Lord calls them sinners. And who could know where they went? Apart from the Lord himself? He knew where they went.
And he knows where you are going to, friend. Do you know where you're going?
Have you had it settled?
Or are you just thinking about it? You're going to wait to a more convenient season, Friends. You'll never have it. You'll never have a more convenient season than this moment. Never. God has brought you here tonight to give you one more chance before the tree is cut down. Yes, cut down in judgment. One more year. All the pleadings, the love, the grace, the patience of God. And I say again, we're not reading merely about a fig tree.
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This is a picture of man in his sins, the grace and patience of God with him giving him one more chance. Ah, yes, but before the tree is cut down, yes, and then you notice the solemn word.
If it bear fruit? Well, if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down. What solemn words cut it down?
To me that's very, very solemn. Cut it down. What would it speak of? I believe it would speak of the judgment of God. The judgment of God. Patience exhausted, the day of grace gone. Now cut it down, old friends House solemn. And he turned into his solemn. We're living in solemn days.
This very moment is a solemn moment. We're here before God, and he knows every heart here. We're all here, present before God. He looks into every heart. He knows everyone here. Whether you have rejected his beloved Son or whether you have accepted him. And you know, friends, let's be clear about it. If you have not received Christ, you've rejected him.
You've said no to him. Or what a solemn thing to say, no to the only savior of sinners.
As a young man in our Gospel meeting and our little meeting some weeks ago.
After the meeting, even one of the sisters said to him, Are you safe? Would you like to be? No, not yet. Not yet. What solemn words? Not yet. Why that dear young man may land in hell? Not yet. Why not yet? Why not now? Behold, now is the accepted time. Behold, now is the day of salvation. God holds no hope for tomorrow. Friends, I dare not stand here until you can be saved at.
8:30 I wouldn't dare to tell you that. I have no authority to tell you that, but I can tell you this with all the authority of God's word. You can be saved now, right now, this very moment. Wouldn't you like to be? I am too proud to own yourself a lost, guilty Sinner. I am too proud to accept Christ as your savior. Are you, dear young ones, afraid of what your neighbors will think or your friends at school if you confess Christ as your Savior?
Oh, don't not be a coward.
Confess him now as your own precious Savior. Receive him by faith.
And go on your way rejoicing and know the full assurance that if the Lord comes tonight, he'll be caught up to meet you in the air to be forever with him.
Well, we find here then, the subject of a discussion is the fate of a soul. Watch you live, provider man, if he gained the whole world and lose his own soul. Dear friends, do you realize that you have a living soul and that soul is going to live on forever in one of two places? Yes, your body may die. Your soul lives on.
As you solve and save.
What shall a man give an exchange for his soul? God breathed into man's nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul.
Not a dying body, a living soul. And I tell your friends, everyone of us here are going to live on for eternity. Yes, but where? But where? Ask yourself the question now, friend, In the presence of God. But where shall I live for all eternity? Is it to be with Christ in the glory or in hell For the devil and his angels? Well, it must be one of the other.
Now it says here in verse 11 and behold, there is a woman which had a spirit of infirmity 18 years.
Now this number must have some special significance, I would think, because we find it in a very short compass. In this chapter, twice 18 is mentioned. Well, we might look upon 18 as three sixes. The youngest would know that three sixes are 18. And that's the famous number of man spoken of in Revelation 13. Verse 18, man's number is 666. What does it convey to us?
Our spirit of weakness falls short of seven perfection. Man is a weak creature, good for nothing. Here we have this poor, poor woman, It says she had a spirit of infirmity 18 years and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.
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In Spider-man's amazing attainments and accomplishments.
He has always failed to reach the goal he craved. Perfect bliss, rest and satisfaction. It's impossible for man to find that he a friend, and in spite of all his accomplishments, he cannot find that down here.
He's seeking for it in the wrong direction. Bear with me if I say this.
A man on board ship, as we were going out to China, was on a world tour to get some kind of satisfaction.
That was his goal, to get some kind of satisfaction. And he spent, I suppose, thousands of dollars for a world tour. And he said to me, you know, I haven't found it yet. We've come a long way. I haven't found it yet. I said no. Friends, you're going the wrong direction. What do you mean? I'm going around to China. I said yes. You're going the wrong direction to find satisfaction. It's not found in China. It's not found in any port in the world. It's found in Christ.
That's where you'll find satisfaction, and nowhere else. But the poor man was spending thousands of dollars to find something to satisfy his poor empty heart, and he didn't find it. And neither will you, dear friend. If you're seeking satisfaction, bliss, and rest outside of Christ, you'll never find it. It's found in him and Him alone. And so man is ever seeking this, but he cannot find it. No, he's looking in the wrong direction. He goes to the wrong source.
Satisfaction, blessed peace and joy is found in the knowledge of Christ as my Savior, and that fills the heart with joy, not only for time but for all eternity. Oh friends, the joy of knowing Christ as Savior, to know that our sins, which would have dragged us down to hell and shut us out of heaven, are all washed away in His precious blood, and that God, a holy God, has nothing more against us now as believers. How wonderful it is.
How precious it is. Well, this poor woman then.
Six speaks of shorter perfection. 7 And so she was.
Doubled up for 18 years. This is a long time. Poor soul, to have this spirit of infirmity. I visited a dear person in the hospital once. She'd been in bed nearly 70 years. Paralyzed. Nearly 70 years. The moment you mentioned the name of Christ, she looked up and beamed and shook her head as much to say. Yes, I'm going there.
Dear soul, 70 years on her back. Think of it. This poor woman was bowed together 18 years. In other words, she was always looking down. That's typical of man, isn't it? And this dear woman to her case is typical of man in his sins bowed down, not able to lift himself up. In John eight we find on 2 occasions the Lord bowed himself down and lifted himself up. And he's able to lift you up, dear Sinner friend too.
Indeed, he is well. This poor woman was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself, Or how this speaks of absolute weakness and helplessness, but all how precious to see here When Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou loose from thine infirmity.
How wonderful a news. Do you think she was pleased to hear this from the lips of the Savior woman that loose from thine infirmity? But you'll notice he did not say from the spirit of your infirmity. No, she was loose from her infirmity, but undoubtedly the spirit of weakness remained. And there was a good thing for her too. And it's a good thing for us friends as believers to know that we're still weak, although we were bowed down with a load of sin and.
Before, but now through grace, we are saved. But then we still have a spirit of weakness. And that's important, isn't it? We need to have a spirit of weakness to keep us independence upon God who has saved us, to give us the strength and grace for the pathway.
And so we do not read that she was relieved from the spirit of infirmity that possibly remained with her. But the infirmity was removed. And this was all in wondrous grace, was it not? And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight and glorified. God, dear Sinner friend, God is able to make crooked sinners straight. Tonight he's able to do that for you. If there's a crooked Sinner he had bowed down with a sense of your sin and guilt. He's able to make you straight that you may walk and glorify God.
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What a different picture we have now, this dear woman bent down double for 18 years. And not only that bound by Satan, remember?
Have you been bound by Satan for 18 years?
Would you like to admit that that you have been bound by Satan for 18 years? Maybe a little longer perhaps, or a little less? But nevertheless, if you're in your sins, you're being bowed down by Satan. Yes, you're under Satan's power, and he'll drag you down to Hell. Friends. He'll keep you down if he can. He wants to take you into Hell with him, but do not let him. One way of escape, that's all. And that's available tonight. Friends to every one of us here. One way of escape only.
From hell and all this terrible consequences.
It's by simple faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and his shed blood, yes, but do not forget what God commands Sinner. He commands that you should repent and he gives the reason for it too. He says because he have a point of the day in which he will judge this world in righteousness by that man.
Which man is this? It's the Lord Jesus Christ by that man.
Whereof he has given assurance unto all men in that he has raised him from the dead.
Yes, friends, God is going to judge this world in righteousness and be careful that His judgment does not fall upon you. It will if you pass away in your sins.
Or a terrible thing to die in your sins to be a stranger to God's grace? Or what pictures of grace we see here with regard to the fig tree typical of man. And this poor woman, that's what she needed, the grace of God.
And help from him. And he was the only one. The Lord Jesus Christ was the only one who could make us straight. And she glorified God. Lemmy got the usual opposition here. And the rule of the synagogue answered with indignation, and said, There are six days in which men ought to work, and then therefore come and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day, though this answer of the Lord just bowed them over. The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite.
Doth not each one of you on the Sabbath Lucy's ox, or his *** from the stall and lead him away to watering? And ought not this woman being a daughter of Abraham? Why a daughter of Abraham? Why not a daughter of David? You remember what we get in Luke 19? Zach, yes, Is called the son of Abraham. Here we have a daughter of Abraham. Why? It tells us, I think it's Romans 4, that Abraham was the father of all then that believed.
I take it that Zacchaeus was a believer. This dear woman was healed and glorified God, and she was the daughter of Abraham whom Satan hath bound, or how solemn to be bound by Satan.
Dear friends, is that the case with you tonight? Are you bound by Satan?
You are bound with the chords of your sins.
Proverbs 5 Maybe just read that verse.
And there's only one who can release you.
Proverbs 5 verse 21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings. His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall beholden with the cords of his sins.
He shall die without instruction, and in the greatness of his folly he should go astray, tied with the cords of our sins. What a solemn position. There's only one friend who can release you. The Blessed Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any that did understand that seek God. He had to say. There is none that doeth good. No, not one. They're all together become filthy. Then later on we read that he looked down again from the height of his sanctuary.
To behold the prisoner, and those that are appointed to death to deliver the prisoner. May we read it? I haven't.
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Quoted that correctly. Psalm 102.
Verse 19.
For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary, from heaven to the Lord. Behold the earth.
To hear the groaning of the prisoner, and to loose those that are appointed to death.
Now the Lord first of all looked down to see. Then he looked down to hear.
And he looked down to hear on this occasion, to hear the groaning of the prisoner, and to loose those that are appointed to death. Who are they?
Who is appointed to death by the Sinner. It's appointed unto man once to die.
But after death of judgment? How solemn, Friends, People think today that when they're dead, that's the end. That's the devil's lie. It's not so. God says after death there's something more the judgment. Or how solemn to think of that. If you and I merely had death facing us and nothing more, it wouldn't disturb us too much, would it? But what about after death? The judgment? Yes, those who die in their sins are going to be raised in the sins.
To stand before a holy God in the person of his Son.
We read in John 5 The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.
And have given him authority to execute judgment also because he is the son of man. There we have two verses. I believe it's John 522 and 27.
Father judges no man. He's committed all judgment of the son and he's also given him the authority to execute it.
Yes, the Lord Jesus Christ has been given the authority to execute God's judgment, but in between those two verses I love to think of it. There it is. Verily, verily, I say unto you now, these are the words of the judge, the man who is appointed to be the judge. He turns to the Sinner, and says, Verily, verily, I say unto you, hell, very personal, how precious he that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me.
Have everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, shall not come into judgment, but is passed from death unto life. Or what a wonderful statement, friends, to think that the one who is appointed to be the judge in the coming day turns to the Sinner, and all the love and grace of his heart. He says, I want you to listen to me. I am the judge in the coming day, and that's what he says. He appeals to him. He pleads with the Sinner before he perishes in his sins.
Old friends want marvelous grace and love of God. Have you tasted of that love? Are you the recipient of God's grace? Or have you rejected the grace of God? If so, friend, you're going to have the judgment of God. Yes, you are. I tell you that again. If you refuse the grace of God, you'll have the judgment of God. There's nothing in between. It's either grace or judgment from cover to cover. In this blessed book, there's a red line running right through from cover to cover Speaks of the blood of Christ.
Which can wash your sins away and make you fit for God's holy presence. And then you can know that you'll never go to that awful, terrible place where we read of the rich man who cried for mercy. Yes, there are 7 cries for mercy. In the Gospels. 6 cries were heard and answered. The 7th was not and never will be. It was the rich man cried for mercy and hell was he in earnest. I'm sure he was. There was no answer, no mercy for him.
There is mercy for the other six who cried old friends. He cried too late. That's the point. See to it that you do not cry too late for mercy. Mercy is available now. The salvation of God is available. A Savior is available. The pressured blood of Christ is available. All friends receive him right this minute. And do not I plead with you, Go out of that door on your sins. You'll perish in hell, and God loves you and Christ died for you and he wants to save your soul tonight.
Friends, acknowledge yourself and lost guilty, helpless Sinner, and take Christ as your Savior. For as many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name. Oh, He plead with you in the name of that precious loving Savior who stands with open arms ready to receive you, He says him that cometh to me. I will in no wise cast out. Oh, can you not rely upon that promise, that loving invitation?
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Can you not venture on such a promise as that, that if you come, He said. I'll never turn you down. Never. And friends, I've never in my life heard of anybody who's ever been turned away by Christ who came as a lost, guilty Sinner. No, he's received everyone. Even the chief of sinners, the beloved apostle. He was a chief of sinners. The Lord might well have said you. Why you persecuted my people in the church. I won't think of having you. But no, He received him and saved your soul.
And that deal man is going to be in the glory and I'm going to see him there. Will you be there?
Well friends, let's have it settled tonight As to where we're going, it's so important. There's nothing more important than the history of your life than have the matter of your soul salvation settled the question your sins put away through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. God now, now commandeth all men everywhere to repent because you have the point of the day in which you will judge this world in righteousness by that man, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Oh friends, He loves you. Christ died for you. The whole world has incurred the penalty of sin, which is death. But there is redemption. In Christ Jesus. There's a Savior available to night. Friends, do not turn him down. Do not say no to him. Open that heart of yours and let him in. Go on your way, rejoicing in the knowledge that your sins are forgiven, the questions being settled, and now your pace with God.
Because by nature remember you are at enmity with God. What a solemn position to be in. And not only that, as an unbeliever you are condemned already. Condemned already.
What a solemn position, just awaiting the execution of God's judgment upon you. Condemned already? I haven't condemned you. God has.
I was in a for a haircut some time ago, and the Barber said he's a churchgoer. He goes to the method of driving. I forget to know exactly which church anyway, and he said the person was telling us that.
God doesn't frown upon sinners, doesn't frown upon sin. Neither should we.
He doesn't condemn sinners. God doesn't condemn sinners, he said. We should. Well, is that true?
How are we going to prove what he said by John Three? Maybe just turn to it.
Verse 18 John 318 He that believeth on him is not condemned.
That he that believeth not is condemned already. The person says God doesn't condemn the Senate. What does the Bible say? What does God say? He that believeth not is condemned already, friend, Is that your position tonight?
How dare you put your head on the pillow tonight when you know you're away from God in your sins and hell is just ahead judgment waiting for you, friend.
But there's someone else waiting for you. The blessed Savior is waiting to receive you, and He wants to save you tonight. He wants to bless you eternally. He wants to put away all your sins. He wants you to help to swell that company in the glory. He says that my house may be filled, and He wants you to fill it.
Will you be there?
May we sing that little hymn?
#13
man, I'm sorry.