Montreal Conference: 2017
Table of Contents
1 Thessalonians 5:1-8
Reading
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Thing Together 288.
288.
All thou whose mercy spark, do all we can do or say, as in thy people Thou indeed just daily more displayed, let for our happiness of God and us while here below, by virtue of Christ, death and blood the riches blessings flow. 188.
Hold thou whose mercy is all.
We may be able to remember sighs loud from the ground and his throat and his name is the land of the placards, and then the number one man is the A1 who directions to all the.
Phone number 80693 10-4 37673932.
Call iPhone Raymond. Call 168.
Dollars per hour.
I would like to make a suggestion as to what we might take up.
00:05:02
I believe our brothers hymn that we just sung was very timely.
And I would suggest the chapter from which the lines in the last verse were taken.
1St Thessalonians 5.
It's a very practical chapter.
But we need that kind of thing sometimes in these last days.
And it is a chapter that deals particularly with.
Some things that are going on in the world today or potentially going on and.
Some of the things that are coming upon this world and our proper reaction to it, which of course is supremely important to us, how do we react to coming events in this world and the shadow of them that we are seeing rather vividly right now?
What do my brethren think of that?
Of the Lord sanctifying us fully. That last verse really spoke to my heart as we thank you.
Well, that's encouraging.
Or perhaps we could read for Thessalonians.
Chapter 5.
But at the time and of the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I read unto you, for you yourself know perfectly.
Day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night, when they shall say peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, to travail upon a woman with trial, and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in the darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. You're all the children of light and the children of the day. We are not of the night, nor of the darkness. But let us not sleep as do others, but let us watch and be sober, for they did sleep, sleep in the night.
And they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
Before comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also you do, we beseech you, brethren, to know them with your labor among you, and are over you and the Lord, and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work sake can be at peace among yourselves.
Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly. Comfort the feeble minded, support the weak. Be patient toward all men. See that you render evil or evil. See that none render evil for evil unto any man. But ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves and to all men. Rejoice evermore, Pray without ceasing.
In everything.
Give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit, despite not prophesying, Prove all things, hold fast that which is good, Abstain from all appearance of evil, and the very God of peace sanctify you wholly. And I pray God, your whole spirit and soul and body, you preserve blameless under the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. Brethren, pray for us.
Greet all the bread and with a holy kiss. It's hard to do by the Lord Jesus. By the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren, in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Before we begin the chapter, I would make one remark, and that is, let's bear in mind that we have only two reading meetings.
Not that we have necessarily to get through the whole chapter, but.
Uh, it's easy to get bogged down in a few verses and sometimes, uh, miss seeing, as we would say in common jargon, we miss seeing the forest for the trees. So it's good to get a picture of the whole chapter as much as possible. But also, of course, if there are important details, it's good to get into some of them too. And we allow the Spirit of God liberty to do that.
00:10:18
But as we know, the Thessalonians.
Had been brought right out of paganism by a visit from the Apostle Paul, which was fairly short.
He had been there, we find in the book of the Acts, only three Sabbath days, so that his visit among them was probably only a month or less.
And yet they were saved right out of paganism and brought into the light of Christianity. And no doubt in that time period Paul had given them a great deal of instruction about future events and about their proper hope in Christ. So that the Lord's coming, whether it is the appearing, as we often talk about it when the Lord comes to set up His Kingdom, or whether it is His coming for us, commonly referred to as the rapture.
Paul brings that in in every single chapter of his two epistles to them. But we know, of course, that they had gotten a little mixed up and.
Somehow had the idea that they were going through the tribulation, which of course was a rather serious error. And Paul seeks to correct that in this second epistle, among other things, because they had lost sight of the Lord's coming for them as an ever present hope. But having corrected that in the second epistle, I, I, I mentioned, uh, we find here in the first epistle.
He is bringing before them the precious joy of all that was theirs in Christ, all that they had to hope for, all the blessings that were theirs that were going to, they were going to enjoy in fullness in the coming day. But then very definitely, and this is where I suggest we come in, in these last days, there is a very definite emphasis on the.
State of soul and the lifestyle, if we could use the term, that was in keeping with those who were expecting the Lord to come at any moment and who were knowledgeable about the judgment that was coming on this world.
So to chapter one.
And to wait for it to come from heaven and be raised from the dead in Jesus, who delivered us reading from the last come.
In there just two verses, what's your positive words to develop all the paths to do constructive matter of detail?
He is the richest of the death and we have come together before. You believe God, we don't have the death and souls. Those are deadly fights. You kind of raise the death and he delivers. That's about to come.
Through this.
He delivers us from neurotic countries final salvation, the Lord coming and changing our body and taking us through the Father's house before the terrible justice comes right there and that beginning the opening versions right. There's one that doesn't come on the world.
Stop.
Well, it's so important, isn't it, for all of us to be clear on this.
As our brother has mentioned, at the end of the fourth chapter of this epistle, Paul gives us the wonderful details of how you and I are going to be called home.
What a wonderful hope that is.
And yet we are still here, and we marvel at it.
00:15:03
Permit a little reminiscence.
I can still remember back in 1970, the year my wife and I were married, my late father-in-law, Albert Hayhoe, wrote down that date as he was beginning a letter.
And I can still see him. He shook his head. He said. I can't believe it. I can't believe it that we're still here.
And then later on, a few years later, he gave an address to young people.
Who were in their late teens and early 20s.
And in the strongest terms, told them to take a good hard look at themselves because they had already lived.
More than half their life in this world already. The Lord's coming was that close.
But he was rough. Those same young people are now, in many cases, grandparents, and we're still here.
But the Lord is not slack concerning His promises. He is coming.
But he is long-suffering and not willing that any should perish. But then, as our brother has mentioned as we go into this 5th chapter.
The day of the Lord is brought before us, and the day of the Lord is the day of judgment, isn't it? The day of the Lord encompasses the judgments that.
Begin with the Lord's dealing with man in the latter part of the seven-year tribulation period, and it encompasses the whole of the millennial day and then the judgments at the end of the millennia, the day of the Lord.
It's when the Lord Jesus will have his rightful place, and it comes to this world like a thief in the night, unwanted and unexpected.
Never, never is the rapture the Lord's coming referred to in that way. It is always the Lord's coming in judgment, isn't it? But we are to be sensitive to the fact that it is very close. We are.
Intended to see, as Hebrews 10 and 25 brings before us, that the day is approaching the day of judgment, and I would suggest that some of the.
Very serious events that have taken place in the last few years.
Are the Lord warning this world?
Wildfires, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes even.
Very serious multi vehicle accidents such as we had just this past week.
Right here in Canada and in the province of Ontario.
God is warning man that far worse things are coming, and so we get a warning here about that which is coming and what God is going to do with this world that continues to reject His beloved Son. But again, there is a state of soul, there is a walk that is in keeping with those who know and understand that.
I was utterly shocked.
In reading the other day about.
About that massacre that occurred in Las Vegas, where a gunman from a hotel, having amassed a virtual arsenal of weapons, proceeded to break open a couple of windows and begin firing on the crowds.
And I can't remember the exact number, but it was.
Well up into the hundreds of people that were either killed or injured.
And yet someone called attention to the fact that within a day and 1/2 after that massacre, all the casinos in that hotel were being used in full force and the gambling was going on just as if nothing had ever happened. That's the kind of world we live in.
Well, there is good instruction for us here, for all of us, young and old, isn't there?
Interesting to consider.
00:20:03
Non believers were recent believers Monday For the youngest countries. There were no elders. There are little elders.
Concerning problems.
With confusion today, we consider that details of prophecy reason pretty simple.
The first thing that's coming back, someone who died before you on the cross. We showed his death, that he comes.
That's how simple it is. Put it before us, a personal door, looking back on the cross, looking forward to his coming on my heart to save enough to him.
I think that's right in the point, you know, we're looking at the world around and we got occupied with profession, terrible things. That's so powerful when we look up and say, oh, it's so wonderful. The Lord is coming on each one day passes, folks. That's important for people to talk to them for that.
It's interesting to observe the dispatch guitar has been mentioned at 17 that the scripture indirectly states that these brethren were noble in.
Korea were more normal, which means the brethren and petrol and ICE and were noble, but the characteristic, uh, and difference between those in Berea and those, in fact, Lanika were those in Berea searched the scriptures to see if these things were sold. And, uh, it's interesting just to observe along with what their brother Michelle just brought before us, if the brethren of Thessalonica had paid attention to what is written in the 4th and 5th chapter of the book we're taking up this morning.
There might not have been a need for the 2nd epistle because if they just listen carefully and read carefully what's been brought out already this morning about the difference between the Rapture in the 4th chapter and the Day of the Lord in the 5th chapter, they might not have gotten so easily confused. But what's the challenge for me and for you? And the challenge is, am I being a Marine? Am I going to go home later and look up all of the references, the places that have been referred to?
Am I going to search to understand whether indeed.
All the places where the Lord.
Coming for his Saints mentioned is never a surprise, but where the coming of the Lord in judgment and it's always a surprise. And we're going to go home and look those things up. That's the way to buy the truth. That's the way to be Berean and search the Scriptures and see if these things are sold. And in doing that, you'll get into your own heart. And when you're challenged by some of the false teachings that are so prevalent in the world around us, you'll have a basis of truth on the Word of God.
That will enable you to be able to hold firmly what you've been taught by the Spirit from the word of God and to be able to help others. And so I think there's a little lesson here in that we can learn from those brothers and sisters and best Lanika, to search the scriptures and lay hold on these things for ourselves to really get a great grasp on.
The day of the Lord, is it not when the Lord Jesus Christ will manifest Himself publicly to the whole world? And we read in the second epistle, chapter one and verse 7 how He's going to be revealed to this world.
Tells us here.
2nd Thessalonians 1 and verse 7. Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven.
With his mighty angels, Martin says, the angels of his power in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and then obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, and so on. Well, at the present time the Lord Jesus is hidden through this world.
But it's not hidden to faith. We sit here and think, joy by faith, that the Lord Jesus Christ lives, He seated on his Father's throne.
00:25:12
Citadel on the right hand of God in heaven is that which we enter into and enjoy by faith as believers. But the world knows nothing about this.
And I think of world leaders.
And how they struggle to deal with the issues that confront this world.
And how frustrated they become when?
It doesn't seem as though anything is working, but you know, the important thing here is to recognize that the Lord Jesus Christ is the answer.
To the problem.
But I understand in the United Nations.
Which is an organization established.
To bring peace to this world, the United Nations, the name of Jesus is not to be mentioned. Well, how is it that we can have peace without the Prince of Peace? So I'm thinking about the Thessalonians and how they entered into the truth as to the Lord's resurrection and ascension.
And you know the apostle, he says, you yourself know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For one day, one day shall say peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them. Well, apparently there's going to be a time in this world where there does appear to be.
A sense of of of peace, safety, but.
It's going to be short lived, sudden destruction.
You come with a condom as prayer bail upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape. But ye brethren.
In darkness.
That they should overtake you as a thief.
How wonderful it is to be in the light.
And to have the word of God illuminate.
Power of the Spirit of God.
The future as well as the present and the past.
This world lies in darkness.
This is a good description of the day of the Lord in Isaiah 13, starting with verse 6.
And I believe it's.
Perhaps the apostle was referencing this Scripture when he wrote to the Thessalonians. Isaiah 13. Six Holly for the day of the Lord is at hand. It shall come as the destruction from the Almighty. Therefore shall all hands be fainted in every man's heart shall melt, and they shall be afraid. Pangs and sorrow shall take hold of them. They shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth. They shall be amazed one at another. Their faces shall be as flames.
Behold, the day of the Lord cometh cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate, and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light. The sun shall be darkened and is going forth, and the moon shall not 'cause her light to shine. And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity. And I will cause the arrogancy of the proud deceased, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. I will make a man.
More precious than fine gold, even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of our place, and the wrath of the Lord of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger. And in Luke 21 we read that men's hearts are failing them for fear of those things that are coming upon the earth.
And in Revelation 3, in the letter to the assembly of Sardis, the Lord speaks to that assembly, and he says that He is going to come upon them as a thief in the night.
There is a portion of the professing Church of God that is going to be left in this world after the Saints are raptured, that is going to go on and be caught by the Lord when he comes in his days to execute judgment on this world. He's going to come upon that empty profession of Christianity as a thief in the night. And men's hearts are failing them for fear, those things that are coming on the earth, and they're looking for someone.
00:30:22
Who can keep a lid on things? Who can kind of take control? Because if there's one thing that man wants, it's peace.
It's the desire of all nations, Haggai tells us, that they're not going to have it until the Lord comes, but they want peace and they're willing to give up. We see in the day we live in, In my lifetime, we've seen an amazing change of such a insistence on certain liberties and privacy, especially in North America, given up in order to have peace and safety, willing to turn over.
Almost anything.
In order to have in exchange the promise of peace and safety. And there is a man coming who's going to promise that. You know, every politician today preaches this message. Put your trust in me. Vote for me, elect me. I'll bring you peace and safety. They can't. And there's one coming who's going to say the same thing. And the Western gentile world is going to put their trust in the beast who can make war.
With the beast, Oh, we've got one now that will provide us peace and safety and then sudden destruction. The Lord is going to meet the beast in his armies when he comes out of heaven. That peace and safety is never going to be realized though it be preached.
There is a God. Why is he allowing all the things that we see around us, the wickedness, vileness that we see every day? If there's a God, why does he allow that? And so there's a possibility with them that he would, he would look forward to a time where God would come and judge, as he says, the wicked from the earth. They don't realize that they themselves need a Savior.
They're self-righteous people like that that look forward to a time when the earth could be cleansed.
And if it was a God that would do it and they could be brought into peace through that way, they would desire it. And there's an interesting aspect in Amos uh, mentioned this Amos, uh, chapter 5.
Verse 18 of Amos chapter 5 it says Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord. To what end is it for you? The day of the Lord is darkness and not light.
If a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him, or went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him, shall not the day of the Lord be darkness and not light? He was very dark, no brightness in it.
When the Lord does come to judge every person that has not accepted the gospel.
As God presents it is going to come under the judgment of God. There may be those that would be looking for someone to come and relieve them of all the evil that's in the world. They may be looking for even the day of God to come that that would rid this world of all the evil that's in it. But what about what about themselves? Is there somebody here like that?
That has not put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. And you're looking for something to happen that's going to rid the world of all the evil. Well, we each one of us have to look within ourselves. We do. We want this because we want to see the Lord Jesus have his rightful place in this scene that rejected him. That should be our desire as as believers. But there is a world out there that's looking for, like our brother mentioned, peace.
In any way it can give it?
The righteousness of God.
One of the desires of the brother here in Montreal.
Through the gospel, and it was mentioned that there was a man who said he would come.
Praying for the gospel as it goes forth and the young people who are going to be handing up tracks and so forth. But it's important to see, I believe, in the second chapter.
00:35:08
Of the attitude in which that should be done.
After First Thessalonians 2 and verse 7.
They were just alone on you.
Even as a nurse, cherish the children.
So manufacturing desirous of you.
We are willing to impart unto you.
But also our own souls, as you were here.
That's the heart of the gospel.
And then I sit here not in judgment, and speak about the name of the Lord.
Talking about people.
Relatives, aunts and uncles, grandmas and grandpas, neighbors, they're going to come under the trust.
And we sit here sometimes as academic. There's no hurt, there's no heart from it. We can relish the facts and the position. We're going home and we're not going to be here. We're going to say seeing all these things that are going to be dissolved. The men are persons on you to be an all holy conversation and godliness is a practical walk for it. But for you who are going to present the gospel that you end up track.
Does the person see your heart in it? Does Do they see you really care for them? Do they real, real life? It's the love of the truth.
That they're rejecting and that love is manifested in the way you express that love. These were either worshippers. So much of the world today is called little children. Keep yourself revival.
But as we speak about the Lord's coming, we speak about the day of God, the day of wrath and all these things made me realize that a cable way the gospel is going more than may there really be a lot for these Pure souls that are going to come under this judgment that they would be delivered and that they would receive the love of the truth that they might be saved. So it's an encouragement to those years in Montreal tonight. Just want to present the gospel.
Presented with heart. Presented.
So.
Son of God, who left me. And that's the message you want to present from your heart as a nurse cherishes your children being affectionately desirous of you and willing to impart their own soul. It isn't that we just throw a track in somebody's face and say, read this, but it's the heart that needs to be reached. It's the response.
God, soul of the world, gave his only because of the thought. So as we continue this chapter and we have the thoughts about the day of God remembering the neighborhood that we're talking about, it's the people we work with talking about, we're going to come under the most solemn judgment.
It was part of the gospel that Paul three because they evidently and there was a week.
Business around Thessalonica was, uh, and the, uh, great, uh, Roman Rd. the Evian way went through that city and it was a crossroads. And so from that city went out the testimony of this people who had turned from idols that was surprising to serve a God they called the living God and contrast those dead idols to wait for his Son from heaven. So in the short time the apostle had been there, he told them of the Lord's coming for them, right?
And deliver who has delivered us from the coming wrath. So he had taken up judgment. And so these things in that short period of time to those young believers. He had laid out that whole order of things of the Lord's coming and judgment on this world. And when he preached the Felix, he, he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, and Felix tremble at the thought of it. And so I believe that judgment to come, not just eternal punishment in the lake of fire, but judgment to come upon this world.
Is very much a part of the preaching of the gospel and it reaches the consciences where the Spirit of God is working of men and women. So they had an understanding of these things and he could say, you know, the times and the seasons. Times and seasons have to do with the unfolding of prophetic events in this world, times and seasons. If you go back to Daniel's prophecy, we get days that represent certain periods of time.
00:40:14
There's times and seasons connected with the unfolding of prophetic events, the apostle says. You know those things. But we live not in that time of times and seasons. That's going to start after the Saints are gone. Those events are going to begin to unfold. There's so much today.
That is so readily available, and one gets the sense that the Saints so easily pick up on our swept away. A sister called me the other night and she said, do you know?
That the Antichrist is here. I said, really? Where did you hear that? On the YouTube? She said, OK, well that sounds kind of silly, but you know, there's things that are much more subtle and they're out there and they're available and they are seeking to look around at events in this world and to try and tag them with the prophetic scriptures. There isn't one prophetic scripture that's going to unfold or a prophetic event that is going to take place until after the Lord comes. That's the next event.
His coming for us, then those things are going to unfold.
Say a very high, hearty Amen to that because there is so much out there today that is mixing up prophecy with the church, period. And as we well know, the church being a heavenly company is not the subject of prophecy. And so the prophecies that are referred to in Scripture and that are referred to here have to do with the earth, with God's dealings with the earth, and as such.
If we could use the term, the clock of prophecy will not start until after you and I are called home, and I believe that's why it says here.
When they shall say peace and safety?
We hear a lot today about the cataclysmic events that are about to befall this world of how the economies of the United States or the economy of the European Union is going to fail. And maybe there's going to be a nuclear war now that North Korea seems to be getting worked up and rattling at Sabre, so to speak, and all this kind of thing.
You and I can go on in peace in spite of all of that. I am not suggesting that nothing serious will happen. But I do say, and I'm quoting also our brother, our late brother Norman Berry, who used to say the same thing. He said, don't look to see the economies and everything in this world to go down in one terrible fall before the Lord comes.
He said. I don't believe it can happen.
After we are called home, they are still going to be able to say peace and safety. And as Brother Steve has been bringing out, they will find a man in the beast who says let me have it, I'll fix it for you. I know how to do it and people will put their faith in him. We get in Luke's gospel. I think it might be Chapter 9 where it says as it was in the days of Lot social, the days of the Son of Man be they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they build it. They will continue to do all those things.
For a short time after you and I are called home.
The first horse of the the Apocalypse in Revelation chapter six, he goes forth conquering into conquer, but not with bloodshed. And so all those things would indicate to us that Satan is going to have a very clever lie, whatever it will be, to persuade this world that everything is going to be all right. Even though millions of people have disappeared, when the rapture occurs and life is going to go on, things are going to be all right.
Prosperity will still go on, and I have no doubt that just as men have become almost immune to the troubles and difficulties God is allowing in this world today, so they will get over the sudden disappearance of you and me very quickly. And Satan will persuade them. Let's go forward now. Everything is going to be all right, and then the Lord will step in and start to deal with matters.
00:45:14
And dismantle all the huge commercial and religious and other systems that man has set up. But for a while there will be peace and safety. But then, as has been brought out by our brother Richard, what is our attitude and spirit knowing that all of this is just around the corner?
It ought to solemnize it, shouldn't it, and at the same time energize us toward a lost world.
Something is terrible, and the Lord will take pleasure in judgment.
Of the world time period presents of other place freedom.
Seeks to wait next and I'm afraid to leave your Christian because of course he said that we're going to be our desire to bless each other. The momentum is what we experience.
All these things only because we have faith, We know the terror of the Lord. We know that, uh, what the Lord says he is going to do, he will keep his word. And uh, we walk by faith as believers and we know that, uh, there is a day of judgment coming. The world knows nothing of this. They, they don't have faith. They don't see God, God in his judgment and capacity, but we do, we know that God will judge evil. He has to righteousness. He imagines it and there is a coming day when he is.
He will judge this world and righteousness that tells us an acts, and that one whom he hath raised from the dead and preordained to do so in that coming day, a judgment will go forth. And here it says in the in the chapter that we're in.
There shall not escape. There's no escape.
And Hebrews chapter 2 it says, how shall you escape? You neglect such a day of salvation, and so there is no escape from God's.
Judgments. And so it should be terrifying for, for the world, but uh, because they're blinded, they don't have faith. It's not a terrifying thing, but it is to us because as I pointed out, we have long ones perhaps that do not know the Lord is our Savior yet. And so we realize that if they don't turn to the Lord, what will happen if they remain in an unsafe condition? So it should compel us to try to reach out to those that we are not sure about.
Steve disappeared. All emerges.
#634 Let's not see him other.
Last December.
Tonight.
Are you ready for the sweetheart seeks of immoral things and unconsciousness are really going on and sleeping darkness on life and then you have to sleep on the deeper.
Or we are living. We're going living with the world.
Came back. It's not, it's not. Doesn't really matter. Speaking with the world, you know, because they're embarrassed, unconscious.
00:50:19
Someone has said and uh, a couple of us were mentioning it just before the meeting.
Power in the Christian life comes first of all from taking the position consciously, taking the position into which God has already placed us.
And we could talk of many things where God has already placed us. It's not the subject of this epistle, but for example, in Ephesians 2 we're told that we are risen and seated in heavenly places in Christ.
Power comes when I say I am there and therefore I have the power through Christ to live in that position where he has put me. Christianity.
Is never striving to get something, but rather living out what I already have, because every exhortation in scripture, every exhortation is based on what I already possess. Do you remember someone saying that Stan Allen quite often to us.
Who was it?
Charlotte's grandfather, right? Your wife's grandfather too.
Harry Hao used to impress upon us. Every exhortation of Scripture is based on what we all ready possess, and we are in the light. Every believer is in the light, and now we're called upon to walk in that light, not in darkness.
There is a difference though, I would suggest, between sleeping and drunkenness, although they often bring about the same kind of situation. Sleeping is, at least in the daytime, is the result of laziness, of not realizing what needs to be done and having the energy to do it.
But getting drunk is the deliberate attempt.
To take something that dulls my senses to what is going on around me.
Both are wrong and the believer can fall into both.
Most of you in Montreal are very familiar with the name Van Horn. You've got a street named after him, William Van Horn, one of the men very much involved in the railway that was completed across Canada many years ago. And he was one of those unique individuals who could survive on about four hours sleep a night. Somebody asked him why he never slept much.
His answer was very significant, he said. Because then you don't know what's going on.
Of course, you had a habit of listening in on the telegraphs. Telegraph boys, when they were having fun in the middle of the night, sending silly messages back and forth. And suddenly he would get on the Telegraph and bang out a message at 3:00 in the morning telling them that he had read what they had been banging about and to quit the nonsense and get back to work. And it was quite a shock to them to realize that the CEO of the company had been listening in.
He knew what was going on.
You and I as believers ought to be like that. We ought to be sensitive to what is going on in this world and also seeking to look after the Lord's interest.
But the drunkenness comes from the deliberate attempt to dull myself so that I don't have to face, in many cases, the problems and difficulties.
Are we doing that? Are we deliberately doing that which dulls our senses to what is going on so that we don't have to face problems and difficulties? That's what the world does. It's out there taking drugs and alcohol and any other kind of thing. Why? In order to transport them into a state where suddenly those difficulties and problems and.
00:55:05
Things they cannot face for the moment are not occupying their mind.
There are difficulties in this world, there are difficulties in the Christian pathway and in unfaithfulness to the Lord. We can say I wanna get away from them rather than saying before the Lord. I have every resource to face them, to learn from them, and to deal with them in his strength. And so both of those states, I would suggest, are very easy for the Christian to fall into.
And yet neither one is right for us. We are to be alive as those that are in the day, even if it means facing difficulties.
Unconscious.
As illustrated too in Romans chapter 13.
Where it says there.
Uh, and that knowing the time, that now it is high time to weep out of sleep. For now is our salvation nearer than when we believe the night is far spent. The day as it has. Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk honestly as in the day, not in rioting or drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness.
Not in strife and in envying. I was thinking of this last verse particularly, but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill the lust through. I believe it's it's very easy for us to fall into the temptation of making provision for the flesh, but we need to take this exhortation seriously, don't we? To put on the Lord Jesus Christ.
To uh, wake up in the morning and seek to do His will and not fall into doing whatever we want to do. I just think these verses are important.
In 1945 converted by old comma respect.
They're not apparel now for today and Matthew's Gospel chapter 13.
Comment on in Matthew 13 we have this was a changing chapter chapter 12 and so in chapter 13 we have the parables of the of the Kingdom of heaven given and we read these verses here from verse 13 and verse.
10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in Caribou? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know.
The mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven. But to them it is not given.
Bruce ever asked to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance, and whosoever wrath not from him shall be taken away, even though he asked. Therefore be nice to them in parables, because they seeing see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And then them to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah's, which saith by hearing he shall hear, shall not understand, and seeing he shall see and shall not proceed. For this people's heart is black rose.
And their ears are yellow earrings, and their eyes that they closed best at any time. They should see with their eyes and hear with your ears. They should understand with their heart, and should be converted. And I should yield it, or blessed me. Blessed are your eyes when they see, and your ears for their ears. This kind of parallel to this damage we live, as well as the going forth in the gospel is falling in deaf ears.
01:00:30
Well, I believe that verse 12.
Is a universal principle, isn't it? That verse with slight variations is repeated, I think at least five times in the Gospels, under different circumstances and in different applications. But it's a universal principle that if we reject the truth that God has given us, God will not allow us to have, as it were, the theory of it in our heads without the practice of it in our walk.
And so here the Jewish nation had rejected the Lord Jesus after he had presented himself to them. And in that sense, in the 12Th chapter of Matthew, the Lord formally rejects Israel, and then in Matthew 13, as it were, goes out of the House of Israel and sits by the seaside of the world, where the truth goes out and the gospel ultimately to the Gentiles as well. And so it's a universal principle that if we turn our back on what God has given us.
And refused to walk in it. We are not going to get any further light. Uh, another verse, I think it's in Luke 8 says that to him that hath not even that he seemeth to have shall be taken away from him. And so I don't really have something unless I take it in and walk in and do I? And whether that were the Jew of the Old Testament or whether it is, uh, those today who don't want to walk in what God has given us don't want to enjoy their Christian positions.
Sad to say, there are many believers today that are not enjoying the light that is before them because they have chosen rather to walk in darkness and to ignore the Light. And there are many who have perhaps in one sense enjoyed the light and the blessings of Christianity, but who are not really saved and now who are horrified at the state of the world when Christ is being given up.
And God is beginning to let man see the effect of it. But this verse is a is a true picture, I believe, isn't it, of the way God deals with man at any time and in any dispensation?
Prepared for someone of them were sleeping these virgin neuropathy when you consider our responsibility. Certainly we can have our hands in so many ways and but they don't have to find the middle of the night there before the bedrooms and when the Lord is coming in for us and grace is responsible.
Great, I've got sensitive every deals brought back to us and emerged nothing from the administration because he is faithful and he wants people to be enjoyment of who he is and what he's done and so I'm considering meeting we open the century before the God. We can go back home to the last conference and forget about all that we heard we could be awakened. It's like your birthday. They've been relaxed in their life. What the Lord will give us to be sensitive to what he brings before us.
I have to ask this question, if I might and 1St Thessalonians 5.
Eight LED us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and her helmet the hope of salvation over in the first chapter.
For Thessalonians, one verse, one remembering without verse 3 remembering without ceasing. Your work is safe labor of love, patience, and hope.
You know, in First Corinthians 13.
What is the difference from the first chapter until this chapter? This chapter seems to be an armor versus the 1St chapter. Is a path and faith and past life the armor of God in view of the Smith chapter. Yet when you turn to Revelation sex and the armor of God is not listed as such in the breastplate of the righteousness.
01:05:31
Well I would suggest the thought and others can comment on it, but.
We know that faith, hope and love are characteristic, aren't they?
If we could say basic Christianity, very, very basic. And the Thessalonians had those three. They had their work of faith, they had their labor of love, they had their patience of hope. And as has already been commented, had they paid attention to Paul's words in the last two chapters of this epistle.
They might not have fallen into the difficulties.
Which necessitated the 2nd epistle because in the first chapter of the 2nd epistle, Paul mentions faith and love, but doesn't mention their hope. Why? Because they'd lost it. They'd lost that hope.
And so we need to have the breastplate of faith and love, and we need to have, as it says here, the helmet of salvation. But it's called the hope of salvation because here it's salvation looked upon as being at the end of the pathway, when the Lord comes, when we get our glorified bodies, and when we're perfectly like Him and also we're with Him. It's not the fullness of the armor that you get in Ephesians 6.
Because there they were receiving higher truth, a truth that they were capable of having, of being risen and seated in heavenly places. And in that sense the full armor is mentioned there, together with the sword of the Spirit, the preparation of the gospel of peace, the shoes, the shoes of the gospel of peace, and so on. Other things there and that are needed for the full armor.
But here for these new believers who hadn't perhaps gotten to that point yet, they needed protection for that faith, hope and love. But sad to say, I don't believe they took as they should the helmet of salvation. And as a result, they lost that hope, and Paul had to write to them and restore it to them.
And it's a sad thing in this world when a believer loses in his soul the present living reality of the Lord's coming. It's a sad thing when we lose the sense in our souls of the enjoyment of the love of God as a present, living, everyday thing. It's sad when a believer loses faith and starts looking at things around him or her and having, shall we say, confidence in that.
Which is around, rather than simply in the Lord himself. And the devil is right there seeking to take those things away from us.
It's not an injection, but.
Stress your affection needed to be protected and so they needed to have confidence in the person of the Lord, faith in Him and faith in Him.
You know his character, the kind of person he is. You feel himself to us and the love, the love of Lord Jesus for us. You love us so much. You love you so much and you work in 10 minutes and you were going on in sin. He died before you don't talk and it's not true.
Because it's out to you. We need to come on the breastplate of faith and not faith in our Lord Jesus. Enjoyment that is not Jesus, love those of our hearts that came in, but the helmet of salvation, hope, salvation, that's where it's not. So somebody could have confidence in the Lord and he trusts him and he did know that the Lord loves him, but he confused in his mind on what's going to happen.
I mean, it's it's robbed of that precious thought of the Lord's coming.
01:10:03
Oh, so in that one drive for you, he's coming for you. He died for me, he's coming to me. He sent me suppose to join when he said.
No other reason. I don't know who he is.
No, it's not appointed us the wrath.
Rapture.
It is a slight to the work of Christ on the cross to preach that the church is going to go through the tribulation, because the tribulation is the wrath of God poured out on this world, but Christ bore it for us.
The church may go through persecution, but it is never going to endure wrath. No Saints of God is ever in in that have put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as truly his is ever going to face wrath. He faced it at the cross. He bore it for us. We haven't been appointed to wrath. This world has, and the judgment of God is going to pour out upon it, but the Lord bore that for us.
We've not been appointed to it and it really is a slight.
On the finished work of the cross and its results. To think that the Saints of God are going to go through and endure the wrath of God in this world.
OK.
The context in order to understand the meaning of the word, uh, what just been brought before us is that, uh, the idea of the wrath of God.
And that's really not the thought of suffering for eternity and health is what we've been talking about this morning, which is what the context of our chapter is. And if you confuse those two ideas in this verse, then you get mixed up on what the verse means. Same thing with the idea of salvation as has been brought out already this morning, that it's the end of our pathway here, and particularly the fact that the Lord Jesus isn't going to allow His church to go through the wrath of God. So as long as you.
Understand the meaning of the word from the passage here, then you don't get confused. If you take the general meaning of salvation from sin and apply it here, then you could easily get confused.
Good.
The Lord coming for the Saints, which we look forward through the hope, and then the Lord coming with the Saints. We had both of these events brought before us.
In, uh, the chapter uh, four of our uh.
Chapter 4 We have, uh, the Rapture brought before us.
How that's all going to take place, the details of it. And then in chapter 5, we have the first part of that chapter being before us or coming with the Saints. We're coming in judgment. We have both events brought before us. They're mentioned in the Titus chapter 2 and verse 13. It says there that we're looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.
Well.
We're looking for that whole the Lord Jesus may come this very day and take the church home to be with themselves. But then there's the glory, glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. Two events are mentioned in that verse, but we know that there's at least seven years gap between the two or Jason will come first, the rapture will take place and then later to be followed by his appearing. And so as we read this portion that we had before us.
Keep in mind that speaking here, mostly in the first part of it about the Lord's appearance is when he comes with the Saints. And then it goes back to, uh, where you have here that he has not appointed us to rock. That is our hope again, brought before us. And we're looking for that bless the full to be delivered from the tribulation period, which is the time of God's wrath to be poured out here on this scene.
#46.
01:15:21
Yes.
We just commend ourselves, our God and Father.
Principles of Gathering
Address—Steve Stewart
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.
We start our meeting this afternoon by singing hymn #9999.
On Christ salvation.
Uh-huh.
But I am not a lot. Oh 1 hundred 500.
Oh, oh, oh.
Three.
And everything.
Right.
Just look to our God and Father for his help.
I'd like to start to have on my heart this afternoon from the Gospel of John in the first chapter.
Young brother.
Spoke in fellowship meeting recently that I was at and he took up from.
First chronicles chapter 12 The men who came to David and how there were those that understood the times and knew what Israel ought to do, and there were those who could walk and step with their brethren and keep rank and.
He expressed a concern, uh, how he felt many of his peers, uh, seemed to lack that understanding of the times and lack direction for their souls and to understand why they are where they are and where they are. And you know, as I thought about that, this line of things came before me.
Sometimes questions come up.
And we'd like to answer them connection with the truth of God. But there's no foundation to lay the answer upon.
00:05:05
And so there are questions in connection with where you are. Dear young brother. Dear young sister.
Here in this meeting perhaps is gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I would like to answer, but we need to lay a foundation first, otherwise there's nothing to lay that answer upon. And so we're going to go back, back, back to the beginning, as John said, that which is from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we have looked upon in our hands of handle to the word of life.
That life was manifest and we have seen it and in the Gospel of John chapter one, picking up from verse 31.
John Baptist says. And I knew him not.
But that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. And John Baer records saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him, and I knew him not. But he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining on him the same as he which baptizeth.
With the Holy Ghost and I saw.
And their record that this is the Son of God. Now let's just turn over and pick up another verse in chapter 3.
Chapter 3 and verse 34.
For he whom God has sent speaketh the words of God. For God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. One more verse in the Gospel of John, chapter 6.
John 6, verse 27.
Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of Man shall give unto you, for him hath God the Father sealed.
There at the river Jordan, the Lord Jesus.
God Incarnate, the Son of Man come into this, or Son of God come into this world, become Son of Man.
Made flesh and dwelt among us. He came to the river Jordan. And there were those who were had come repenting of their sins, waiting for the appearance of the Messiah that John had said would shortly appear on the scene. And there he comes, There he comes. It says in the Scripture, John did no miracle.
He didn't need to because what he prophesied of immediately took place. The Lord Jesus, of whom he was the forerunner, came on that scene and when John baptized him, says he saw, as we read, the Spirit of God descending. And that shape of a dove, well, what does a dove speak of?
Often used as a symbol of peace. But you know when scripture speaks of purity and you remember that dove that Noah sent out of the window of the ark?
And it didn't find any place for the sole of its foot because there were nothing but dead carcasses floating on the water. The waters hadn't receded and it came back to the ark.
Finally it returned no more after his Senate was at the third or fourth time, because it had a place that could land. It had a place for the sole of its feet all 4000 years. And the Spirit of God came at times upon men and moved them, and holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Spirit of God, and gave us the inspired Scriptures. But the Spirit came and He went.
And he never took up his abode in any one of them.
Though he moved them 4000 years, the Spirit of God found no place, so to say, as he could rest the sole of his foot like that dove that went out of Noah's ark. Till this day at the Jordan River there was a man, and for the spotlessness and holiness of his person, the Spirit of God could take up his abode and that holy man.
The Spirit of God descended down, and it abode upon him.
And he gave the Spirit of God, not by measure unto him, not to come and to go, but he took up his dwelling place in that beautiful, spotless Lamb of God.
00:10:10
He was sealed by God the Father with the Spirit for your blessing and for vine to become the bread of heaven, that he might give his life for this world. And all that the Lord did as he went through this scene was in the power of the Spirit of God. Great is the mystery of godliness. Paul writes to Timothy. God was manifest in flesh scene of angels.
Justified in the Spirit all that He did in His holy pathway.
Was in the power of the Spirit of God in Romans one we read declared to be the Son of God with power.
By the spirit of holiness. By the resurrection of the dead.
But he went into that for us.
And by that same spirit, by the eternal Spirit, he offered himself without spot to God.
What about after his death? He was raised from the death. He was raised from the death from death by the Glory Father. Let's read in Acts chapter one after he was raised.
Acts 1.
Verse one, the former treatise I've made or Theophilus of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which he was taken up. After that He, through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles, and he had chosen.
To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs.
Being seen of them 40 days, and Speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God, and being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which saith He, Ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days.
Hence.
There is the Lord Jesus with his own in resurrection, and it says through the Holy Ghost He gave commandments unto them. Raised from the dead, not yet glorified, He still was indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
And he tells them that they were to remain in Jerusalem, for they would be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days from that time. And then the Lord was received back up into glory. He went up in the cloud into heaven. And then we come to chapter 2 of Acts. And it says in verse one, when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind.
And it filled all the house where they were sitting, and there appeared unto them cloven tongues, like as a fire, and it sat on each of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
And so that moment came. The baptism of the Holy Ghost took place. They were all filled with the Holy Ghost. They were accused as they went out to preach of being.
Filled with wine and not the spirit. And Peter explained that that was not the case. And he does that by taking up.
In verse 30 that the Lord Jesus has was the one.
Who God had sent and who he would raise up to sit on David's throne.
Now verse 31, seeing this before, speak of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell or in the grave, neither is flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Wherefore therefore, being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he has shed forth this.
Which ye now see and hear.
When the Lord Jesus was received up into the glory and took His place at the right hand of the majesty on high, He entered into a glorified state, not only now in resurrection, but glorified.
00:15:13
And there in the glory, in that glorified state, God the Father gave to him the Spirit of God.
Which he sent down.
On that day of Pentecost.
And baptize those believers.
The first time the Lord Jesus was given the Spirit of God, it was for the holiness.
Of his person, the second time he was given the Spirit of God was in glory.
Because of the perfection of his finished work and the consequence of his glorifying God at Calvary's cross and in John Chapter 7 we read that he spoke of the Spirit which was not yet sent because that Jesus was not yet glorified. But upon his being glorified, God the Father gave him the Holy Spirit the second time.
And he sent him down, and he baptized those.
Believers.
They didn't know it at the moment.
But something had happened on that day of Pentecost when they were baptized with the Holy Ghost, that they found out later.
I don't think Satan was so slow to apprehend what had taken place on that day, and he began immediately.
Set about.
To destroy what God was doing. But let's read from 1 Corinthians 12 to find out what it was that took place on that day.
1St Corinthians 12.
And.
Verse 12 For as the body is one and half many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.
For by 1 Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free, and have all.
Been all made to drink into one spirit, for the body is not one member.
Buck Many This was what took place on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was sent down and baptized those believers. They were baptized into one body, all made to drink into one Spirit.
And that baptism of the Holy Spirit formed this entity in this world, the body of Christ.
Now the Lord Jesus we read in Ephesians was raised up, seated in heavenly places, made head over all things to the church, which is His body. There he was head in heaven, and here below was his body. Oh, Satan had made every effort to get rid of the Lord Jesus Christ. He finally got man to put him on a cross.
And there he laid down his head on his own breast, dismissed his spirit.
And they put his body in a grave. All good riddance. And I'm sure is what the enemy thought all in That wonderful first day of the week came. And he rose from the dead. There he is again. There he is again. I thought I got rid of them.
And then he went back up to heaven. Well, good riddance, He can stay up there, got rid of him. And then the day of Pentecost comes, and there he is again.
And the members of his body here in this earth, oh, Satan realized it right away. And he set about to destroy in any way he could what had taken place on the day of Pentecost. All just like you have a head and a body, and your body acts in direction from its head. And in your body anyone can see displayed what's going on in your head. And so it is.
Body of Christ here in this earth, receiving direction from the head, Christ is displayed the last thing Satan wanted.
00:20:07
But here he was again, and the members of his body here in this world.
I don't think, as I say, the believers realize that right away, but I think Satan did. Let's we're going to come back to First Corinthians. I want to look at a verse in Ephesians chapter one.
Ephesians, chapter one.
Verse 13 And whom he also trusted. After that he heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. And whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise. This is the order the gospel of salvation comes to the soul.
And where there is faith and belief in the gospel.
The Holy Spirit then seals that work.
Now let's connect that with First Corinthians chapter 6.
Not only does he feel that work.
But as well as sealing it, he takes up his abode in the Believer.
1St Corinthians 6 and verse 19 What know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own for your bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body. And then looking at verse 17, But he that is joined unto the Lord is 1 Spirit.
Just like your body.
And in your body you have a soul and a spirit, the spirit of a man, and it pervades your whole body from one end to the other.
So the Holy Spirit indwelling that glorified man in heaven, sent down to indwell the believers here below, has united every believer.
To their head in heaven he that is joined to the Lord is 1 Spirit, and there is one Spirit of God that pervades the whole body of Christ, that it might act in perfect direction from its head in heaven, that Christ might be displayed.
In this world. And that's what took place on the day of Pentecost.
I'm going to turn over to averse. We quoted already Ephesians 1.
Verse 22 and have put all things under his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth All in all the church which is his body, is his perfect complement, just like we have in Genesis.
God brought Eve to Adam. She was his perfect compliment.
He was not complete without her. Christ, the glorified man in heaven would not be complete without his body, his Bride, His Church. This word church I think many know, and if you don't ought to be rather translated assembly. It literally strictly means called out ones called out once.
The assembly which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth.
All in all.
This is what the assembly is.
This is how the assembly was formed, and that's why it's precious to the Lord Jesus Christ. It was to be a vessel of testimony for Him in this world. It was to be the pillar and ground of the truth in this world. That truth was Christ Himself at the same time the object of her faith.
That which she confessed before this world, the foundation upon which she was built.
His witness in this world.
00:25:03
I'd like to.
Move on a little bit and just look at a verse in Galatians 1.
Relations 1.
Verse two and all the brethren.
Which are with me unto the churches or assemblies of Galatia.
And then let's turn back again to 1St Corinthians 12.
There is one church, and we read in Ephesians 4 there is one body.
But that one body of composed of all believers, united to Christ in heaven by the Holy Spirit.
Is manifested in different local places.
And so the apostle speaks of assemblies in Galatia, and here in First Corinthians 12 he brings out a truth that.
In those various localities.
Where the there were various assemblies, the truth of the assembly, the one body of Christ, was expressed in that location.
Let's look at the verse First Corinthians 12.
And verse.
27.
Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
He's writing to the Corinthians.
He says Ye are the body of Christ.
Was every member of the body of Christ in Corinth only?
Of course not. Paul was writing from Ephesus. He was a member of the body of Christ.
There's no way really to translate this verse that it works in English. I don't know about French. Maybe it's better, but it could re really should read this way. Ye are body of Christ. Drop the the the would make it specifically just at Corinth E our body of Christ. We speak that way all the time.
In a different senses.
Up in Rome, NY, they have.
Uh, uh, Army base. United States Army base. And if you drove by that, you'd see a sign that says United States Army is the whole United States Army in Rome, NY. Of course not.
But it's still the United States Army in Rome, NY, and everything that's true of the United States Army should be true there in all its order, its discipline, its rules, its ranks, and so on.
It's the United States Army in that locality. And again, all that's true of the army should be displayed there. Uh, body of Christ, you have that character. You have body character. You are the local expression in Corinth of the one body of Christ. Not that they were exclusively the one body of Christ, but they were in that locality of expression. And so it was.
Every local assembly, the assemblies in Galatia, as we noticed in Galatians, local expressions of that one body, and all that should be true of the body of Christ should be true there and that locality. One more thing.
Chapter 14 of First Corinthians.
Verse 23. If therefore the whole assembly be come together in one place. Verse 34. Let your women keep silence in the assemblies. Chapter 11.
Verse 18 for first of all, when you come together in the assembly.
There is such a thing as a meeting of the assembly.
00:30:04
It's expressed in different localities and the assembly meets together.
It meets together.
What is the purpose of it meeting together?
And on what basis does it meet together? On what basis do those members of are those members of the body gathered together?
A little further, in Chapter 11, the apostle gives them instructions as to the Lord's Supper. That's the central thing. That's the main thing that the assembly does when it meets together.
As it has the Lord's Supper.
And Paul gives its order. It's the remembrance of the Lord that loaf.
Giving thanks for and broken, doing that in remembrance of him, of the Lord Jesus and the cup as well, and we show the Lord's death.
But there's another reason. This is the central thing that the assembly does.
When gathered together and let's look at chapter 10 to see that.
Again, it's connected with the loaf and the cup.
Chapter 10 and verse 16. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? When we give thanks for that cup and pass it around on Lord's Day morning, we are expressing fellowship, communion with, we are in hearty agreement with, and we are in the enjoyment of and have come under the blessing of the precious shed blood.
Of the Lord Jesus Christ that has washed us from every stain of sin we own were under the shelter of that block.
The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? When we break that bread and partake of it, we are owning. We have come under the value of the body of Christ offered once for all on Calvary's cross and all of the efficacy.
Of the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ on that cross. We've come under the good and blessing of it, and we are in fellowship with that. And then he adds an additional thought in verse 17. For we being many are one brand and one body, for we are all partakers of that one brand.
The other thing that the assembly does.
When gathered together and the Lord's Supper is there on the Lord's table and partaken of together, we show His death, but we all, and we express our fellowship and communion with His sacrifice on the cross. We also give expression to the truth of what we are.
We being many members.
Our one body, and in all of us, partaking together of one loaf, we express the truth that we are the Assembly of God.
That we are one body. That we are united to Christ and glory.
And we are part of that one body, and that there is one body composed of every believer in this world.
The loaf on the table reminds us.
Of that one body. But you know, if we just set the loaf on the table.
And.
Looked at it and we sang the Lord's praises and gave thanks and we went home. Two things would not have happened. We would not have remembered the Lord.
Because that's in partaking of a broken law and.
Partaking of that cup, and we would not have given expression to the truth that there is one body. Yes, that unbroken loaf reminds us of the one body, but it is in the partaking each one.
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Partaking together of one loaf that we give expression to this truth. There is one body, you know, early brethren and seek and kind of wrestling with us a little bit thought well, if we break the loaf then and it reminds us of the the one body of Christ, then we're breaking the unity of the body. So well, what what do we got? Well, let's just pass it around everybody take their own piece.
Mr. Darby said Ballot tried that, it didn't work.
No, it's in the breaking, partaking together of the broken law.
That we actually give expression to the truth that we are one.
That we are one.
And so this is the central thing that the assembly does when it meets together.
It is giving ex not only remembering Lord, but giving expression to the fact that we are all members of one body. So let's come back to that question. What is the basis?
On which the assembly meets, what is the ground upon which it meets? It meets on the ground on the basis of the truth that there is one body.
That is the only basis, the only ground given in the Word of God for the assembly to meet together.
The assembly meets on the ground that there is one body composed of many believers, united to a glorified man in heaven.
There is no other ground.
Of gathering.
For the Church of God in this world, Scripture knows none other.
Let's turn over and.
Gather another thought.
Matthew.
Chapter 18.
Matthew is the gospel that introduces us for the first time in the New Testament to that word assembly upon this rock. The Lord Jesus said in Matthew 16, I will build my assembly. It's in contradistinction to Exodus 12, the assembly of the congregation in the wilderness. There was an Old Testament assembly of Israel.
But in Matthew you get that Old Testament assembly, or the remnants of it rejecting the promised Messiah. And so this is the very appropriate gospel.
For that new assembly to be introduced in the gospel that takes up the rejection of their Messiah by that old assembly. No, he's going to build something new. He's going to build something new, and it's upon the foundation of himself, gone into death, risen triumphant over death.
The gates of hell, he says, shall not prevail against it. And so as the Lord unfolds, as we get Matthew unfolding the truths of the Kingdom of heaven.
The assembly, the truth of the assembly is woven into that and in Matthew 18 where we get the truth of taking care of personal trespass rather between brother.
In the Kingdom we find that he set such a high esteem upon this assembly that he makes it the very highest Court of Appeals in the Kingdom.
And then Matthew 18.
If a brother and a brother can't settle their difference, we're not going to go into that detail. He says in verse 16. But if he will not hear thee, and take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church, unto the assembly. But if he neglect to hear the assembly, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and republican.
Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven. Whatsoever shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth, as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father, which is, which is in heaven. For it's a connecting word. For where two or three are gathered together in My name.
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There am I in the midst of them.
And so they could bring this matter to the assembly, the highest court.
Of appeals.
There was power there, authority. There may be a better word to make decisions. Those decisions would be bound on this earth and bound in heaven. Why?
Because even if it be but two or three meeting in assembly, the Lord was there in the midst, and He was the authority for those decisions.
For where two or three, not for wherever two or three are gathered together. It's not just where two or three Christians happen to meet on a street corner intersection that the Lord is there in the midst. There's some who tell you that.
It's a place that he's Speaking of. It's a spiritual place for where? Where is that where? It's where the assembly is gathered together.
Where two or three are gathered together unto my name.
There am I in the midst of them, And He is the authority for those decisions. You know a better translation of that word too, would be unto. We used to have a thing we did every morning in school when I was a boy. We stood up behind our desks and the American flag was there in the corner of the classroom.
And we put our hand over our hearts and pledge allegiance to the flag, the United States of America. I love doing that. And I said, oh boy.
Could you do that and pledge allegiance to the flag of the USSR? Two, no.
It was implicit that it was to the exclusion of every other flag.
Where two or three are gathered together unto my name, to the exclusion of every other name. There is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved, and there is none other name than the name of the Lord Jesus Christ given to the Assembly of God to be gathered unto. There is no other worthy name than his.
And his alone.
We have two things. When the assembly is gathered together, is gathered together on this basis.
That there is one body composed of many believers united to Christ in heaven, and the central thing they do is gives expression to that truth.
The second thing is that they are gathered when gathered together in assembly unto the precious name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Let's turn to 1St Corinthians 5.
Dear young brother.
Your young sister. It's my desire.
Like the apostle Paul said to the Romans to impart unto you some spiritual gift.
To the end that you may be comforted, you may be established, both you and I.
Trust this lay the foundation for your soul, for the truth of God.
Let's turn to 1St Corinthians 5. And probably got there before me.
That's good First Corinthians Five. There we bring together these truths that we have taken up thus far.
There was.
Case of fornication that had come in.
Among the believers there in Corinth, among the assembly, Corinth and the apostle Paul writes to give them directions as to how they are to.
Take care of this before gone.
But we get principles and connection with it that apply to many a much broader sphere.
Verse 3.
Primarily as absent in body, but present and spirit have judged already as though I were present concerning him that hath so done this deed in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we are gathered together.
And my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ.
00:45:02
To deliver such and one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the Spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out there for the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
Verse 13 Verse 12. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without Do not ye judge them that are within them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that we could person.
The first thing we wanna notice is that when they came together.
It to deal with this issue.
It was in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. It was connected with His name here it was the assembly, acting really on the Lord's behalf, gathered unto His name, acting in His name.
To deal with this fee, that had been done.
And there was the power.
Of our Lord Jesus Christ, for the Assembly to take the action that needed to take place. What needed to take place? That evil had come in and it was incumbent upon them to deal with it and to put it out from among themselves.
Because the Lord Jesus was in the midst, God by the Holy Spirit has formed a unity in this world.
Composed of all believers united to Christ in heaven. And we read in Ephesians 2 That the assembly.
Is the habitation of God by the Spirit. And we read in Matthew, where two or three are gathered together unto my name, there am I in the midst of them.
God's holiness, God in all His Holiness, is incompatible with sin.
And sin must be dealt with all. God may have long patience, and so he did with Corinth, and so he does with us.
To seek to awaken us if we get in a sleepy state like we have in our reading meeting, to call us to repentance, to call us to spiritual exercise and judgment to deal with it. But there was a danger that if they did not respond, they would no longer be the expression of that one body and that locality. They would no longer be an unleavened love.
But they would be defiled. The Lord would not be there anymore.
And so they had, as gathered on the ground of the one body unto the name of the Lord Jesus, there was power to make a decision to and or not make a decision so much but as to act in connection with dealing with sin.
And we get the third principle that I wanted to bring out.
We are gather on the ground that there is one body. We are gathered unto the precious name of the Lord Jesus Christ alone, and we are gathered on this principle of separation from evil.
That is.
The ground on which the assembly is gathered.
In my town.
I grew up in there was a street called Church St.
Maybe there is in your town.
Church St. Although you can imagine what was on Church St.
Well, we have these principles that.
We've looked at in the word of God, Let's go down Church St.
Who meets here?
Who meets here?
Hope I don't offend anything. The Lutheran's. Oh, the Lutheran's.
Well, what's the basis?
Of the Lutherans coming together while that We're all Lutherans, you know.
00:50:06
I don't think we found the place where the assembly meets because the assemblies gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ alone.
The exclusion of every other name.
It's not a matter whether there's nice believers there or not. That's not the point.
Well, this must not be the place.
Let's go down a little bit.
Here's one that doesn't have some man's name on it, just says Independent Community Church.
Hi, Humi's here.
Oh, we have Christians from.
From all over.
What is that? What's your sign out front with? Says Independent Church. What's that mean? Oh, we don't.
We're completely autonomous.
And our church Constitution spells that out. We stand on our own. We're not relying on any other organization. We don't take directions from any other place.
Oh.
Well, I, I heard in this other little place down the street, there was a man in this, uh, situation we have in First Corinthians 5 and they put him out of fellowship.
Well, we're independent.
Umm, we'll set up and we'll, if he comes here, we'll judge that on our own and we'll decide whether we're gonna, we're gonna receive him here or not.
Well, that's not.
That's not the ground of the one body and one head in heaven.
If he's put away down there, wouldn't he be put away everywhere where the assembly meets?
Isn't it the same Lord Jesus in the midst?
Here is there. Isn't it the same head in heaven?
Are the start of independency there. That can't be the assembly. This must not be the place.
We'll go down a little further.
Lock on the door.
Come on in.
Come on, Ann, we, we welcome everyone.
Just come out, you know, just come on in and every man can just judge themselves and then you're welcome to partake of communion here. We don't worry about anybody's situation. You know, scripture says judge not that he be not judged, you know.
And there you see in the congregation that man who was put away for fornication down the street.
And he's partaking there.
All this, don't you know, you're just being judgmental.
And we got a nice preacher here.
You should hear him. Oh, he preached a lovely sermon last night.
He told us of the love of God and what great risk it was to God to send his Son into this world. Why, He could have lost him at any time. He could have sinned, and then he would have been cast off from God forever. What a risk for God to send his Son into this world. Thankfully, he didn't send. Oh, you know, oh.
I don't think this is.
The assembly.
They tolerate evil doctrine and they tolerate evil persons. They're not gathered in separation from evil. This can't be the place.
And go on down the street, here comes a man.
Well, let's ask this fellow where the Assembly meets.
Sir, can you tell us?
Where the assembly meets.
Oh, that's past. This is not the day of the church is gone.
This is a day of individual faithfulness.
Besides that wonderful ideal, the beginning of Pentecost is good for that. You just can't expect that could happen today.
It's you can't get all the Saints together again.
You just pick one of these churches and he's fine. There's things that bother you, don't you know? You just got to some things you got to put up with, you know?
But the scripture says judge not.
Doesn't it, lest she be judged?
Oh, I know you. You're the deceiver of the brethren, you're the discourager of the Saints, and that's your favorite verse, judging on lest ye be judged.
00:55:15
But you could get mighty discouraged, couldn't you?
I'll let this little door here.
No, no sign. Doesn't look like much.
Go in.
Not too many there, the singing is pretty bad.
But you know, we ask.
And they say you're welcome here as a member of the body of Christ. If you're walking in separation from evil, we'd like to take a little time to get to know you and your testimony before you can remember the Lord here.
We gather on the ground that there is one body and.
Each member of the body of Christ is welcome here, walking in a way worthy of the Lord.
And we don't take a name. You won't see a name hanging out front, so we take no other name than the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
All that man out in the street he said there was no way for.
Assembly to meet together anymore in that way that that was all done.
All that old deceiver is always walking the streets.
Second Timothy.
Second Timothy 2.
I'm going to close with this scripture.
Verse 18. Who, concerning the truth, have erred?
Versus the end of verse 18 and overthrow the faith of some.
Well, that's the enemy's effort. You'd like to overthrow the faith of the Saints of God. My desire, dear young brother, dear young sisters, to give you a foundation.
From the scripture on which your faith can rest.
Nevertheless, the foundation of God.
Stand assure.
Having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his.
Or we can leave Church Street where it is.
Many lovely believers, the Lord knoweth them that are his, but you and I have a responsibility before God.
Let everyone that name us the name of Christ, or the name of the Lord, depart from iniquity. What is iniquity?
In the context of Timothy, it is man's will intruding into the things of God.
That has resulted in professing Christendom.
Let everyone let name of the name of Christ apart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but and some to honor and some to dishonor. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel, and to honor sanctified and meet for the masters use and prepared unto every good work. Pleas also youthful us, and follow righteousness.
Faith, charity, peace with them.
That call on the Lord out of a pure heart, he started with Speaking of those men of Zebulun that were not of a double heart. They didn't have mixed motives when they came to David. Oh, the apostle says, call on the Lord out of with those that call on, go on with those that call on the Lord out of a pure heart, not mixed motives.
Not double minded.
Out of a pure heart.
To intrude on our time to stand and sing 210.
There is a path.
For faith.
Even in this day of the church's ruin, 210.
One spirit will.
01:00:26
It's on a day and I'm getting a promise.
And so if I saw him followed by thyroid.
And 1005 alike to get his forever in the home. And so we're always going to go home and prepare and we're going to give him a double and we're done with this.
Yeah, absolutely. Swelling drain. Uh-huh. 3007. What I just what I I don't know.
Out of our normal player by 10-4 Oh, oh, oh oh Oh yes it's oh, oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh Oh my God. Together in the world.
Duprey.
1 Thessalonians 5:12-24
Reading
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217.
For those that may not have been here this morning, we were taking up First Thessalonians Chapter 5.
Would it be all right to start with verse 12, or did we not get quite that far?
What do you think, Rob?
Well, I didn't think about right that car, but we might just start at verse 12.
All right. But I remember your comment from this morning that this is the last reading meeting, so.
A bit of ground recovery.
Well, with that loading, GAAP versus 12?
And we BC two brethren, to know them, which they were among you, and are over you and the Lord, and admonish you, and to have seen them very highly in love for their work sake, and be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brother, and warn them that are unruly. Comfort the devil minded, support the weak, be patient with all, see that none render evil for evil unto any, but ever follow that which is good both among yourself and to all.
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Rejoice evermore.
Pray without ceasing, and everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. When should not fear it, despite not prophesying. Prove all things and hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil, and the very God of peace sanctify you fully. And I pray God, your whole spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless under the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
Brethren, pray for us. Read all the brethren with the holy kiss. I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
One of the things that I think is beautiful in this chapter is what we have in the end of verse 10 that we should live together with Him in.
And that's really, I think, uh, the essence of, uh, Christianity, of knowing the Lord Jesus Christ as your savior, all the truths that we're discussing, it really is essential to hold them into relationship of who Christ is and living together with him. One of the things that's personally hard for me is easy for me to think about things in a very rational way, logic them through, but it's a much harder thing for me to actually enjoy them and enjoy them with the Lord.
And really, that's what, uh, is really essential. The Lord Jesus is looking for a relationship with me and with you and all the truth that we've been talking about today.
If referring to also a future day, we will be physically living with him.
Over the question.
I didn't hear that question yourself. Could you repeat it? I was asking the end of verse 10. We might also live with him with that referring to a future. They also will be physically living with him.
Both are asleep and fright.
Therapist, the Lord in heaven.
When he comes grocery living together with him.
Their diversity 527136 weeks.
Drop 27, verse 13. I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
I know that many of us like to refer to that as the real land of the living is where we're going to be with Christ and glory. So the context is certainly also here on earth as the land of the living. It's mentioned in many other places in God's Word, and I think that in this case also, it can apply to both.
Yes, I would agree with that. I believe the primary thought is here that.
But in the previous chapter.
Whether we are alive or whether we are asleep in the sense of having gone to be with Christ and our bodies are in a grave, we will all live together with him. And the Lord died for us. And that ties in with Rob's thought. He wants us to remember that there was a price paid in order that we might have all these things and on that basis.
There is the exhortation to live in view of all that we have in him and the judgment that is coming on this world. But as we read in another place, like commandment is exceeding broad. And in that sense I believe we who are alive, we do live together with him down here, don't we and those that have.
Gone to sleep, as scripture uses the term. They are in that sense living with them too, aren't they? And so it's nice to apply it that way.
00:10:17
In verse 10.
For the word wake.
Yes, the word watching.
Yeah, well, there will be, whether we may be watching or sleep.
And they live together with him. What? What is the thought of watching?
Does that refer back to verse 6 where it speaks about let us watch and be sober?
Or would it also have been viewed watching for his return, for his coming?
Well, once again, wouldn't you think?
I would think so. Watch as the idea of being on the alert, doesn't it? It has the idea of being.
Aware of what's going on around us.
End.
It's a state of being.
Totally aware on the one hand of what's going on around me, but then on the other hand to be watching for that which we know with assurance is going to happen. And so we're told to watch when it comes to the Lord's coming too, aren't we?
And so in verse 11, there's we have two things that are necessary in ministry, don't we comfort and.
Edification.
I remember well our late brother Armstead Barry, whom some of us can remember.
And he had a memory that went a long way back.
And he told us a story that I've never read anywhere, but he told it to us how that two brothers back in the 1800s were walking to a reading meeting.
One of them was John Darby and one of them was John Bellitt.
And in the course of that walk, John Darby turned to John Bellett and said, Brother John, I want you to remember tonight that the Saints have consciences as well as hearts.
Well, Mr. Ballard was a good friend and he could, uh, return the compliment. And he immediately said, and you, Brother John, you remember that the Saints have hearts as well as consciences.
Each one had a line of ministry for the heart and Darby's more for the conscience, but each recognized the gift the other had and recognized that perhaps there was a need for balance.
And so these are both needed, aren't they? It's good to exercise the conscience, to build up, to teach. It's good to give good, solid truth. But there's also a need sometimes for the comfort that the Word of God gives us, and only the Spirit of God can give us the right time and the right place for it. And sometimes, of course, different gifts lend themselves to.
Different lines of things.
Sometimes one has more a gift to comfort the comforting than another. Some has more the gift of edifying than another. But both are very much needed, aren't they?
Since they were doing it and that were encouraged.
Things to be compressed to us, to have progress that in place, to be faithful along with those things. That's what I brought before us. But they were continued company edifying each other that they also were doing.
That would include everyone of the believers and successful and unusual.
And it was, by implication, mean it's something that each one of us should be exercising to build each other up.
Correct each other, I suppose the office is regarding hands is not tearing down by the ritual or by mockery or whatever in the world.
00:15:03
For as well single level among them specific ones not referring to verse 11. That's so those there were neighboring among them on the official way to be recognized by the exercise of the gift their careers for the brethren, but eventually before they were no pointed out they were also.
We're lacking in brethren who've had an interest in the state and cares for them. He didn't want it.
Well, it is true that God has raised up leaders and guides in the Church of God. I believe, as you say, Michelle, that these were probably local ones. Who?
Those like Paul had ordained his elders, and in that sense they had the oversight of the assembly there. It's very interesting to see how that it was not necessary for that assembly to have existed for a long time.
For God to have raised up those who could act in that capacity, and whom the apostles could place in that position, and they were to be recognized. But there was never the thought that there should be an exclusive ministry of that kind, was there? As Rob was mentioning, all should be exercised as to the need of edifying and comforting.
And doing what they could to fill those.
Those needs and so it's very, very important to see that on the one hand, we know that the Church of God, as has often been pointed out, is not a democracy where one man's word is just the same as another's. But on the other hand, neither is it a place where.
There is an exclusive ministry to the exclusion of others. No, God intends that each one should feel his or her responsibility and each one seek to help out.
Our brother Steve in the address was springing before us that we meet as members of the body of Christ. And as someone has pointed out, the body of Christ is a unity of individuals, not a unity of assemblies. Yes, there are assemblies because we don't all live in one place, but it's a unity of individuals and what is exhorted here.
Is individual responsibility not so much collective? Would you agree with that, Steve? Yeah, I think we get individual characters of things until perhaps we get down to verse 19 and then it's a little more collective. But I think in the past few verses it's really more individual responsibility.
I believe verse 11 and 12 refer back to chapter one of this epistle where.
Paul, Sylvanus and Timothy came to that. That's, uh, Thessalonica and that's an example could be following as far as ministry is concerned in, in chapter one, it refers to leadership and shepherding. What we were talking about brothers earlier was mentioning about, umm, ministry from the height of ministry to the conscience. And there was in verse 27 tonight of chapter one, there was more of.
A mother, a mothering type of ministry where there was an expression of of the heart of love to encourage the Christians there. And then verses 8 and 10 is more of a fathering type of shepherding where now you're ministering to the consciousness that you would walk further. And so this is the balance that those brothers wanted to leave with the Assembly of Thessalonica. And it's just reinforcing enemies to reverse.
And then also from verse 14 that we have the responsibility towards our brothers, sisters and she completed.
To be a help to them, to be 100 of them patients not thirsty, written to us, an elite in the assembly, but all the things you care for one another.
00:20:12
For many of these, exhortations are very straightforward and don't need a lot of elaboration or explanation.
The great thing, of course here is to see.
That each has his place and each should seek to fulfill what the Lord has given him or her to do. And we notice an expression here in verse 13.
It's rather unusual in the way that it's worded. It's Speaking of those who were locally there in Thessalonica and who were taking the lead in the assembly and labored among them. It says to esteem them very highly in love for their works saved.
There has always been the tendency and.
I suppose if each one of us is honest with him or herself, we would have to admit that when someone takes any kind of a position of leadership or responsibility immediately, their life comes under a closer scrutiny.
And even in the world, this is so, isn't it? When a candidate runs for political office, especially for high political office, immediately his or sometimes in her life?
Their background.
Their lifestyle, everything that they have done, comes under a very close scrutiny and of course in the world it is with the view from their opponent.
What can we dig up, What kind of dirt can we find that might be able to discredit them?
Am I going too far to say that?
Sometimes that happens among the people of God.
I'm afraid it does.
Not that our lives should not be.
And are an open book to our brethren. And if there is that which needs correction, then that should be something that we are open to very definitely. But on the other hand, there is sometimes.
The tendency to pick on little inconsistencies or character traits, or whatever else might come in among those whom the Lord might use, whether locally or in another sense, in a general way, and I believe these verses would guard against that, wouldn't they? They would say, esteem them highly for their work's sake. If I look at my brethren, I will see Christ in every one of them.
If I look for failure, I can find failure in everyone of them. But let me remember that I can find the most failure right here.
And that's why Paul says in Philippians.
Look, not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. I can always see in someone else.
Something of Christ that I don't have. Let me focus on that and say I value that character in that brother or that sister. Well, I believe Paul could see that there would be the tendency in that way. And in the second epistle he does have to warn those who were unruly, and he tells them here to do that. But he gives an even more specific exhortation in the second epistle.
But nevertheless, if there are those who are seeking to be a help, Paul says, look at what they're doing for the Lord.
Don't spend so much time picking at them and things in their lives. Look at what they're doing for the Lord. No, of course, if there's some glaring fault, that's another matter. If there's something that is hindering their work, that's another matter. But I believe here it's rather the thought that let us be occupied with what is positive rather than always talking about what is negative.
Especially when it comes to being admonished. I think I can speak for everyone here. When you're admonished, the first thing that comes up is your own will just right up hard against it, you know, and you have to ask the Lord for help to, to judge that. But when the Will's active, then the soul gets stirred up. And, you know, when we want our own will, we have no ability to satisfy it. And so we just continue agitated, agitated, agitated, and there's no peace.
00:25:30
And that spreads out into the assembly, doesn't it? But when we resign our own wills and we want his will, and we just have the Lord before us, then there's peace because we have an object before us that forms our soul, that forms what we want, and then he satisfies it. He alone has the power to satisfy a will that's subject and in tune and in concert with his own. And so I think this, those admonishments can really, you know.
Kind of get our hackles up and, uh, but we need to just submit our wills to his and then we can be at peace among ourselves. But I think that esteem being very highly in love to look on that one, uh, that's seeking to serve the Lord and love and value the work of the Lord in their lives is kind of the key thing.
And when you say Steve, you referenced the word peace.
Is that the way to have the piece that's at the end of the verse then? I believe so. There's an order, isn't there?
I've looked at this and thought that the, uh, piece that's mentioned, if we want that piece, uh, between ourselves and our brethren, then read the next bunch of verses because they all lead that direction and apply them to myself.
The one phrase there in verse 15 I would suggest.
Is very important.
Ever follow that which is good.
As you say, brother Steve, when my will is involved.
I am very apartment to, very apartment to.
Want to pay back a wrong word or an insult or something that.
Has been said. And if I am admonished and I don't take it in the right way.
I will look for an opportunity.
To admonish someone else.
Not in the right way, but just to give, as the world says, *** for tat. You found some wrong in me and you pulled me up short. Now it's my turn.
Well, that kind of thing will never really accomplish God's purpose, will it?
Not that I shouldn't if the occasion calls for it.
Be ready to admonish someone else, but the thought here is ever follow that which is good. The thought of rendering evil for evil should never be in my book. It should never be that I hold a grudge.
If I hold a grudge, then we have that scripture in Ephesians. Let not the sun go down upon your wrath. Yes, we may resent something because sometimes things are said that are downright unkind. Sometimes things are said to us that are not true. Sometimes we are falsely accused. It happens.
Sometimes with malice, sometimes ignorantly.
But sometimes things are said that are not according to the mind of God.
Again, I can still remember a remark that some of us heard more than once many years ago.
A brother said I will never know how closely you walk with the Lord until someone crosses you and I see how you react.
That is true, isn't it? We can all be nice, we can all treat people kindly as long as things are going well, as long as everyone treats us well. But let someone treat me unkindly, let someone cross my path in a wrong way. And I have to admit, in my own life there have been too many times when I have been crossed and I have reacted in the wrong way. But it shows that I wasn't walking with the Lord.
00:30:14
And then the 10 she is to want to render evil for evil. And then that defiles many because that root of bitterness springs up that we get reference.
In Hebrews, and eventually many are defiled, I talk about it to someone else. You know what she said to me, or you know what he did well, and so on.
You know I can take it to the Lord.
As Steve was saying, there may be something I need to learn from it, even if it's unkind. I have to ask the Lord why He allowed it. And if I take it to the Lord and it's untrue, then I can get on my knees and pray for the individual and leave it there. And what a blessed thing it is. When that can happen, then my heart is occupied not with the evil, but with the good. And instead of turning the evil over and over and over in my mind and.
Relishing it and getting all worked up about it and getting more and more bad feelings poisoning my soul. I'm free to be occupied with good. And what a mercy that is to our souls, isn't it?
And I say that not because I've always done it, but because I've seen the bad consequences of not doing it.
I was on a car ride, went with, uh, an unbeliever and he asked the question. He said he thought it said.
No scripture said, uh, that mentioned in my said the Lord, I will repay. It's important to remember that's a promise. And so if we take vengeance into our own hands, we're doing one of two things. That individual is not a believer. We know that what they're doing that is wrong. They will pay a lost eternity and help for it. I cannot add to a lost eternity in hell.
#2 if that individual is a believer, Jesus came and died for that individual. I cannot improve on the cross. And so we're going to leave that vengeance to God. He is. He took care of the vengeance with his sacrifice on the cross so that we don't have to but live in the life of that.
Change chapter UH-3 double starts with a little thing called the tongue.
And I'd just like to read that verse.
And verse five, if we could read the first, uh, 6 verses. I'm more interested in verse 5. And so the tongue is a little member that boasts of great things. Behold, how great a matter is little for fire, Kindred, Kindred. In other words, it starts with our little member.
We have two years. It's better to listen than the tongue, which is very dangerous.
That we are seeking to be a vengeance towards others you mentioned previously.
And, uh, as we were discussing, it's, it's better to think positive about the world's people than negative.
We're exhorted to keep the unity of the spirits in the bonds of peace, and that's repeated in so many different ways throughout all the epistles.
Umm 14B is is maybe expressed in more detail in Colossians chapter 3.
Chapter 3 verses starting at verse 12.
Put on, therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, thousands of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering for bury one another, and forgiving one another. If any man have a quarrel against any, even if Christ forgave, you shall also do ye. And above all these things, put on talent, which is the bond of perfectness.
And let the peace of God root in your hearts to the which also ye are called in one body, and be respectful.
In order to.
Bring glory to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in that expression of this one body here on earth. His hands, His feet, His aroma. This is what depends on us. This is what He defeated us to do.
For the sake of the testimony individual, excellent.
00:35:06
I was thinking how it was mentioned about our own will.
And recently in Kuro, we've talked a little bit about.
Those that built the Tabernacle in Exodus.
And it says that those with a willing heart were to come and do the work. In Exodus chapter 35, Moses gathered them together in verse one.
And in verse 4, Moses fake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the Lord commanded.
And in verse 21 And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him up, and everyone whom his Spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord's offering to the work. Verse 22 And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted.
So we see the men, and the women, and the children. Verse 29. And the children of Israel brought a willing offering under the Lord, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work. Verse 35 Then hath he filled with wisdom of heart to work all manner of work.
Chapter 36 and verse five says the people bring much more than enough for the service of the work and it continues all the way through.
And at the end of chapter 39 it says, according to all, that the Lord commanded Moses. So the children of Israel made all the work, and Moses did look upon all the work, and behold, they had done it as the Lord had commanded.
I consider what a work that must have been.
And how many must have been involved to do it?
And we don't read of it there, but surely there must have been at times difficulties and hardships between certain ones.
But I believe that they must have found a way to encourage one another and to lift one another up.
We read in Hebrews and and I.
Quoted often that we should provoke one another to love and the good works. I like to say that we should poke one another, the love and the good works. We should remind each other we should keep each other and help each other along the way. And that it should be with a willing heart, one that's full of the love of Christ, the example that He left for us to follow Him. And so the work that we have to do today for one another in this world surely can't be that difficult that by the strength of Him we can't have willing hearts.
To go along like they did back in that day. And so if we need a little admonishment or a little correction here or there.
Can't be that hard to take, can it?
So the leader has the attitude of any other look up in him.
Their matter of life and if you see their life right now, but the thought of one having rules towards the other.
Authority is not the wrong place. The authority of the Lord and the authority of His word. We can help each other, none of us in ourselves or in a position of official authority. So just like that French translation, translation is not that we're old regions of the Lord.
Once they believe and they have commanded respect to myself because they have a metal.
Peter, uh, first Peter chapter 5 is a little bit more detailed on oversight. You might like to look at a few verses there.
First Peter, chapter 5.
Here mentioned that he was an Albert in verse one.
And uh.
You mentioned the verse 2 about feeding the flock of God, which is a by you taking the oversight there off not by constraint but willingly, not for filthy looper, but of a ready mind.
To be Lords over God's energy, but heritage being a samples of the flock.
Then in verse five he says likewise, you're younger sub submit yourself on to the elder. Yes, all of you be subject 1 to another and be close with humility. I think that's the secret of getting along, isn't it, that we.
00:40:13
All are to be subject 1 to another.
Humility to read this. It may look very easy to read it, but it has been mentioned our wills get in the way often and only by pride. It says come with contention and we know these things can come in among us.
Of the times were not that quick to own a fault or own that we've, uh, wronged somebody and so on. But, uh, the Lord would have us to be, uh, this way among ourselves would be subject going to another vote of humility.
Why is it during the Millennium that there will be peace? Why is it that the reign of Christ is characterized by peace? It's because first of all, it's a reign of righteousness. It tells us that in Isaiah.
The effect of righteousness is peace.
Client assurance forever.
And that's really what ought to characterize and assembly.
Righteousness. I was thinking of what James said on the subject too. James three and verse 17.
James 317 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, and then peaceable, gentle and easy to be entreated, and so on in verse 18, And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace.
Of them that make peace. So wherever sin is tolerated, there's going to be problems.
And there's going to be discontentment, unrest and conflict.
It's the result of sin.
And so that's worked my own heart that we be willing to submit it.
Somebody points out that.
One is going on with something that's not according to God's word. I need to submit. It's the happy path. And rather than rise up and become resentful.
The Lord can enable a person to, uh, accept that admonish.
And of course the word in Romans 13 is to overcome evil with good.
Good principle to keep in mind.
So the three verses I would suggest are tied together in a nice way versus 1617 and 18.
Rejoicing evermore is the result of carrying out what we have in verse 15.
But I can't do it in my own strength, can I?
I will soon find if I try to do it in my own strength, that I will fall behind.
I will soon find that those things that are not the way they should be will get the best of me. I need to pray without ceasing. What does that mean? Does it mean that I neglect my normal daily responsibilities in order to pray? No, it doesn't. But it means that my soul is always in an attitude of dependence and prayer and reliance on the Lord every moment of the day.
It means that I keep the channel between me and the Lord open at all times so that I can look up.
And seek for help, seek for guidance, seek for strength, whatever may come across my path.
And then what will be the result?
Sometimes a very difficult verse in everything. Give thanks.
In everything, give thanks.
Why Brother Steve has been mentioning how that our own wills couldn't get in the way so often.
And again, I think we all have to say, if we're honest with ourselves, how often that is the case. But whatever comes across my path is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning me. Now, of course, that doesn't take away from the fact that I can bring into my life because of my waywardness, because of my unfaithfulness, because of my getting away from the Lord.
00:45:21
I can bring into my path that which is very very difficult.
But yet in the midst of all of that.
If I turn to the Lord, I will find that His heart is still the same toward Him. His ways may change with me, I may fall under His discipline, but His love never changes. And in that sense, everything allowed in your life and mine is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
He has an individual schooling for each one of us, and He allows that in my life and in yours, which will best conform us as we get in another scripture to the image of His Son. That's in Romans 8. And so I would suggest that these verses are tied together in a beautiful way. And as I say again, they don't need much comment.
Except.
Perhaps to look at them carefully and to seek grace from the Lord, To take whatever the Lord allows in my life and say no matter what the cause, don't look at the second 'cause it is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning.
Reverses have no acceptance goods ever met.
Right, without ceasing strong in everything. Thank.
I think there were excellent comforters for seven days and they were quiet and they kind of entered into when he was going through.
But when he started to respond and advised him and ignored him for both more of his coordinates and difficult. So I believe that he's ready to comfort our brother and our sister. We have some feelings about heart of the Lord or this we might come along with them and try and pray for them. And I remember it was a situation when the funeral parlor was a young sister passed away.
And, uh, several were freezing to fight themselves and not at those that have no hope. And she would come around and say that it believes, Oh no, it's, it's not supposed to be supposed to rejoice the remorse. Clap our hands in Africa. And the master ceremony has three class in hand because the time who's joined in the sorrow? And so you need to take your purses for ourselves. But I just rejoined the remorse. I just pray myself.
Because it's easy and I take my thermostat to come forward. And thanks for that. Thanks for this.
As we go through like, we often wonder what is the will of God for me?
Here's the answer. Here's certainly a very good answer. It may not be specific to my past, but this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. That is, to rejoice over war and to pray without ceasing. And in everything he sang. We read in in Hebrews about the sacrifice of praise to God continually. That is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. There's a certain amount of this that becomes a sacrifice.
It's a living sacrifice. It's not gonna crawl off the altar because it's not on the altar in that sense, but it's a living, giving sacrifices as I'm going to take into my circumstances that this is the will of God and it's the goodwill of God. And I can rejoice in that. The beauty of his presence, the character of who he is, the reality of the power and of the love and the the affection that we have together.
In in my life, His will is for me to rejoice in what he has brought me into the circumstances. And then we don't want to leave out the next verse because it's a quench, not the Spirit. We often speak of this out of context, but the reality is if we're not rejoicing, if we're not happy in what God has brought to us, if we're not praying like we can through each circumstance, through each moment of the day, we don't have that prayerfulness.
00:50:19
We are quenching the Spirit.
I think it's confirmed also in the 4th is the first the first part of verse three of our of our epistle, chapter 4, verse 3. Just the first part for this is the will of God, even your sanctification.
This desire is to set us apart for him.
To be fully His, as he is wholly ours and gave himself completely to us and his purpose in all of this.
For Him, what's important is not what happens to us, but what happens in us. It's already been mentioned earlier how we react to situations. How we react to crises will confirm the level of our walk with the Lord and how much He could be glorified in and through circumstances. That's why He allows them.
He wants to be glorified with them. He wants us to have victory over and through everything He allows in our life. And that's why He allows those things to strengthen us, to build up our faith, to teach dependence and trust in Him, to learn to walk with Him, walking with Him.
We'll never learn that on the picnic. We'll learn that in the hard reality of one thing that's lost into this world, and we are in this world even though we are not of this world and we are showing the world.
How we have grace.
Almighty power to go through circumstances and to accept everything that happens peacefully, confidently, because we have what in whom we have put our trust forever.
The Lord Jesus suffered on the cross, and how could Paul be accomplishing the sufferings of Christ after that? The reality is that this life that we go through, we are going to suffer. Yes, we will. And the response to that suffering is what brings glory to God.
It's specified in that 18 verse.
So with finding the Lord Jesus one, one who enjoys ever more faith of Jesus.
What's the difference between what we have here, praying without ceasing, and what we have in Romans 12 and uh.
Chap Romans 12 and chapter 12 or verse 12 Says they're rejoicing at home, patient and tribulation, continuing instant prayer. It's a difference being the incident prayer and being and you can say the attitude of prayer.
Well, I would suggest Enos. There really isn't much difference. It's the same thought really. I ought to be at any time ready and able and wanting to go to the Lord in prayer whatever difficulty I face, and not necessarily only in difficulty, but to praise Him. I ought to be able to thank Him for what He has done. I ought to be ready to thank Him even for little things, and to thank Him right away from my heart for.
Perhaps something he has done for me, something he's given me, something he has preserved me from.
And so these are all very, very practical things, and I heartily agree that we can quench the Spirit individually in our lives by being occupied with evil, rather than letting the Spirit minister Christ and present and present joy to my soul. But as Steve was pointing out, it can be done collectively to candid. I can quench the Spirit by failing to follow his leading when perhaps he is.
Leading me and that I speak to the brothers now and leading me to take part in a public way in an assembly meeting, and I don't do it. I can quench the Spirit individually when He is leading me to speak to someone about the Lord or to give them a gospel tract, and I hang back and don't do it. Quenching the Spirit can take many forms, can't it? And in the individual sense, I suffer, I lose the opportunity.
00:55:11
And shall we say the Lord in that sense is not honored and glorified as he should be in the assembly? Not only I suffer, but others suffer too if I fail to respond to the spirits leading. And so it's something that we all need to be exercised about, especially those of us that are brothers. But we don't leave out the sisters because although they don't take audible part, you can be just as much in the current of the spirits leading as a brother.
And I know of at least one case that was told to me personally many years ago.
Where a sister made a remark after the remembrance of the Lord, to the effect that she felt some brother had quenched the spirit that morning, because a certain hymn that was sung after the breaking of bread, she felt very strongly ought to have been sung before the breaking of bread.
The young brother responsible told me that himself. Of course, he was much older when he told me that, but he told me that himself and how much he hung his head afterward, hearing that comment outside the meeting room and realizing that he was the culprit.
Well, the Lord allowed him to hear that so that he would be exercised not to hold back the next time. And so quenching the Spirit can take more than one form, can't it? And we need to remember that He's here to lead and to guide, whether in our individual lives or collectively as we come together in assembly.
Sometimes we can doctors who have questions and cost and their souls older ones too and ask their questions. Our sisters hearts only not but the Lord would have them be asked and communicated and shyness to keep us from putting out there the one we use it for education. I'm not speaking out. You know the Spirit of God makes something in our hearts and then speaking up when you have to say something specifically on our hearts because we have knowledge and we know we can take the same truth.
Because that's also clinching the Spirit when the next verse says.
By my Father time the spirit is free and expect the mind of the Lord to be communicated to us and we can have an attitude of the being non receptive to what you said.
So you know the real life said or will not appreciating the brother who's saying it. So despite not prophesying to receive it from the Lord rule things disconnect with the word of God. You feel like it will be reinstated talked about before. Make sure you understand your connection. What about all that it says in the meeting We say well, we would receive it without approving its own approval.
And two or three seats and the other judge, we might not be, whatever you have to say.
And if we do that, when we profit in our souls and being together, crafting our things, we did not be seen without, not ready for them when they lost or no, if we follow these instructions, it is not when you consider nothing, prophecy, ruling out things and we hold fast, that's true.
Should we say that quenching the Spirit is?
Doing anything against which would work against the leading of the Spirit. The we've been we've mentioned holding back from giving out to him or taking some part when the Spirit was actually leading.
But I believe we can also be quenching the Spirit by speaking when the Spirit is not like this. And I think in both cases we are working against the leading of the Spirit and quench therefore quenching Him.
MMM Two other slides that I don't recall the verses off hand, but one is that the sister has a question she used to ask her own husband at home. To me, that's a challenge. My wife would bring a question to me. What does this verse mean? And so there should be an exercise of us husbands to be in the word of God so that we could answer the questions that our wives ask us.
The other one is, well, I'm not married, I'm just a single girl. Well, if you remember the story of Ruth, Ruth was encouraged to go to the well where the young men draw from the wealth with the water. So as young as the sisters, you have a privilege of joy to go to some of the young brothers and ask them. Of course, that puts the responsibility on young people too.
01:00:28
To study the word of God and present it to the Word of God, to their sisters. And so far, while you say, well, I don't have a husband, I'm an older sister, but you can also mention it to someone in the assembly. So there's ways that we can present the truth of God to our lives and to our children and to our sisters without publicly quenching the Spirit of God.
Good question.
So I would just say this, that there is no human parameter by which we can judge the leading of the Spirit.
But I believe if we are before the Lord, we will have no doubt in our souls when the Spirit is leading. And if we are led by the Spirit, it will commend itself to others too, and to those to whom we speak as being of the Lord, because the same Spirit in them will respond to what is said by the Spirit in you and me.
That kind of question has often been asked out in Christendom. It was asked right at the beginning of the history, if I could say it this way, of brethren, when the leading of the Spirit and the presence of the Spirit on earth, indwelling every true believer and dwelling collectively among believers as the House of God. When that truth was first brought out in the days of the early brethren, those from the established churches.
Raised questions and they said, well, that'll never work because somebody's going to say something and.
He will claim his lead of the spirit and somebody else will listen and say, no, you're not. And who's going to be the judge and the advocate of whether or not this one is right or that one is right and they Pooh poohed the whole thing.
I remember once talking to a woman who was a true believer and a nice believer too, who couldn't see that. And I responded to her. I don't know if it was the right way, but I said, tell me, do you think that God made a mistake in sending down the Spirit of God on the day of Pentecost to indwell every true believer? And did God make a mistake in sending the Spirit of God to indwell the House of God?
To lead and guide.
Well, no, no. Well, I said. Do you mean to tell me that God did something that in practice is unworkable? Did God really do that?
No.
Well, I said then I believe if you and I are before the Lord, we will have no question. When the Spirit is leading, the sense of it will be strong. And if we are walking with the Lord, there will not be a question as to whether the Spirit is leading either in US or in those who hear us. Now, sad to say, we're living in days of weakness and sometimes that doesn't happen. And even in Paul's day he could say to the Corinthians.
Let the prophet speak two or three, and let the other judge. Others were to judge, and they had the capacity to judge. And here also the individual listening to the prophecy has the capacity to prove what is said. How? Because he or she has the Spirit of God as well. And so I don't believe God made any mistake, but what He gives us is not something that can be explained.
And quantified in human language.
It's something that the Lord has to make clear to us by His Spirit.
Principal probably found, I think, in One Corinthians chapter 2.
01:05:01
First Corinthians, chapter 2.
1St 13 is the one I was thinking of there which things also we speak not in the words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost, The Holy Ghost teaches, comparing spiritually into spiritual. That is, what we speak should be backed up by the word of God, should be proven by the Word of God that is true.
Before we speak and if we follow the instructions given here.
I I believe that we.
Would know that we're being led by the Spirit of God if the grades before us, the Word of God in such a way that we're able to present it, knowing that that is true because not what I say, but it's because of what the Word of God says and the Holy Spirit always directs us.
To what God's Word says. Not my natural thinking. I have the old nature. I may mix up spiritual things with natural things. Not to be aware of that when you're speaking, but it should be spiritual things compared with spiritual truth.
How we feel.
So I know it after that's confirmed by somebody who comes to you to have the same version, the same camera, we have confirmation from that. Something that we kind of are taught by the Spirit of God through time, isn't it? It's necessary to have the proper state of souls and fellowship with the Lord. The Spirit is free not to occupy me with my failure.
Please be free to bring thoughts to my work and you might have thoughts brought to my heart for me to enjoy, for me to share.
And then I would go ahead and share them if I felt that was burning in my heart and I wanted others to enter into that joy. But you know, one of the secrets is dependence. We're quiet before the Lord. We're allowing the opportunity of the Spirit of God to move in our hearts and to meet someone to offer a prayer or a phrase or a hymn. And I was thinking if someone was really ignorant of the hymn book and the brethren got together and they didn't know any of that hymns.
The Spirit of God knows all the hymns. You could put a number in your mind and say I've got the number 32 in my mind. You go to 32, you sing it and somebody say, well, that's wonderful, that's what I had in my heart, that's the Lord. I've been taking through us and our weakness and ignorance to bless us and the end result is we're in a fight together and challenge to enjoy the presence of the Lord and the leading of the Spirit. We might get into a pattern of meeting with the knowledge of the principles and just going ahead.
And not being dependent and sure they're going to hear good things because we all read ministry and we have all the experience. We can hear one another. But what does the Lord have us enjoy this morning today together? He knows the hearts of everyone in the room. He knows the need, He needs the comfort that's required, the education, the education, the correction. And so the more we are dependent, the more we are going to experience after we've been together to administer many needs, the different ones unaware to the ones that we're speaking. Yet there was brought by him.
Because he was the one doing the leading.
So in fact, I couldn't tell you like no, that I'm being led by the Holy Spirit. I I'd like to refer back to the verse of Brother Steve from Isaiah chapter 32. I just want to read that verse for a second.
Isaiah chapter 32.
17.
And the work of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever. Now, looking forward, that's also referring to the practical aspect of my walk in the world today. And I believe that when we remove all blockage in our relationship with the Lord Jesus.
What I mean is that if I confess to the Lord anything that I know, I should have thought I did not do, or did do and should not have done.
Then I have fellowship with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, with all members of the Godhead. I have that peace and assurance. I just if I'm asked a question, I say Lord, please help me.
Pray instant in prayer and go ahead trusting the Lord. I believe that He will help you and bless your answer. It will be an appropriate answer. It may not be a complete answer, but you will know that the Spirit is guided.
01:10:15
OK, No, I don't care to close the credit at of that, uh Alaska, it should call uh two circuit. Yet the new desktop exhausted to see the importance of all these things have been presented to us.
The benefit umm oh legit said we may put some issues and Tirama.
In regards He sanctified you fully and your Holy Spirit and soul and body to preserve blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Wait, nobody else after a suburb C sub FC. She had a sweet the book of the show Sunday Monday down and they're $50. You know this is first comes after all these things have been mentioned to us in the proceedings in the preceding verses.
No, no, my own that that's different. It's not losing money. They should work on the women.
So we've had these exhortations in the preceding version and we have, we have here the very dollar piece, the gotta be himself. Sacrifice your holy.
Screen we have the whole human being, spirit, soul and body.
You will not move who lose somewhere else in your mouth. Ulnus sequel to someone.
Do you remember the office At the moment? We listen to the Lord and we open our hearts to the Lord. He is Himself active for us.
Men.
Make their women.
It's not just the peace of God, the peace of God that accompany us. What we have here is a very God of Jesus himself who accompanies us.
My Disability and chapter 4.
We find a similar expression.
And here.
Seasonal result of assistance number 7 and.
The seven reasons the peace of God which passed at all understanding, so keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Then we have something to encourage us to put our games and cast our grandfather in his feet. I've heard of him.
Ru Guo I call that shows to tell us seniors do the man after the first aid. We also find other things that George requires of us and if that's in the new.
Service.
Is a free industry in our country. Everyone fixed the show in the duty festival. So this might be those things that we have both learned and received and heard and seen and meet. Do shall be with you. No, do well, I'm talking to you. I'm talking to each other.
But they'll do that whole of truth. They can do that. Hometown, too. They can do that.
He is not OK for the other fair and everything must affect.
The show message we have here, it's not just the peace of God, it's those things that we've been read about and seen and exhorted about, and we put those things in practice and the result is that the God of peace himself will be with us. If I don't know about everything.
It says rapidly, unless you another verse of the Lord Jesus called the disciples that night when she got down before them to wash their feet.
John, Chapter 13.
Verse 17 rupees tenure. That's 10 years.
01:15:04
Do what they want to happen.
Which is the Lord of Lords, the King of things I've done before, his disciples that they're being to Russia.
Every year.
The disciples could have been dishonest and justice stop there, but the Lord reminds them of something in the 17th verse.
If you know these things, happy or ye? If we do, that statement shows the correct potential.
One thing to know these things.
To do with the year new some of the things, but they really would have been. So we're only happy if we do them because here's the model that's going to think he wants us to do.
And if you think 176.
Lord, we shall see thee as thou art.
Yonder mansion spare, we shall behold thee face to face thy glorious image. Bear Sauce Society, size 176.
Lord, we shall see.
See.
You.
All right, now we're going to get into the messages that I'm going to play.
Before we pray, may I make one final remark with those last two verses.
The order of spirit and soul and body is important. Why? Because it has to be the Lord's work in US. Faithful is he that calleth you who also will do it. It has to start with Him and the Word, then work down to the soul and then to the body. Let's pray.
The Hand of God
Gospel—Mark Allan
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Thank you. Welcome everyone to the gospel tonight. Maybe we could just get the meeting started by singing #12.
Just as I.
Saw.
Everything.
Let me go.
So there's no difference on your.
Yeah.
Maybe you could just ask for the Lord's help with the time you have.
Before we get started, I'd just like to.
Share with you how I got to the point of what I would like to talk about tonight on Wednesday.
Umm, I came home from work.
About 6:00, I was feeling tired as this is the busiest time of the year for me. In Q4, we're trying to get everything finished by the end of the year and the workload has been extremely heavy, almost to the point of.
Physical and mental breaking. But you know, I have been very thankful for the Lord's health and I, I arrived home and I was feeling very weary and glad to be home with the family and children. And I got a call from Dwight and he asked me if I would be willing to seek this evening.
And you know what? It's it's one of those awkward moments where you're not quite sure.
How to respond? I had been feeling pretty worn out and didn't have anything particularly that I had been enjoying or recently that I felt that I could share. But, you know, I consider the message that we have tonight the most important message that could ever be delivered.
00:05:05
And a while ago, I made the decision that unless I had a very good reason, I would try and give the gospel. But, you know, I was feeling weary. And I said to him, I said, listen. And perhaps this is the cliche answer a little bit. I said I I'd like a little bit of time to pray about it all. Is it OK if I call you back tomorrow?
Umm, so I.
Uh, spend some time, eat supper with the kids, spend some time with the family on Wednesday and.
I still had no idea what I would share tonight. And, uh, you know, sometimes when that happens, there's a brother here who says that, you know, when you go just our daily reading, sometimes the Lord gives us something. I said, oh, I'll go and I'll take a look at my chapter that I, I had read it that morning and to be honest, it didn't, not a whole lot went especially through my mind, But I, I opened up the chapters Isaiah 9 and 10 and I noticed underline in my chapter.
The hand of God is mentioned. I had it underlined a couple times and I said, Lord, is this what you want me to talk about? And then I noticed that it's three more times in, in, uh, between those chapters five times and.
Started thinking about it and I thought oh.
I don't know. Is that what the Lord wants me to talk about? And, uh.
It talks in those chapters about his hand being outstretched still five times. And I thought, well, maybe that's a nice loving story. But then I realized that it was God's hand outstretched in judgment. And, uh, you know, I, I struggled with it. I, you know, I've heard people speak on the finger of God. I've heard people speak on the arm of the Lord and speak, people speak in the hand of the Lord. And I said, oh, I'll just get them mixed up.
And, uh, you know, I.
Got to thinking, well, what about the hand of the Lord? And my mind immediately went to my son Zach. He loves soccer and.
Back in 1986 at the World Cup.
Argentina was playing and the world's best player at that time accidentally hit the ball with his hand and it went in the net. It's one of two goals and it was dubbed the Hand of God and it's been watched millions of times. I just thought.
Maybe that's what the world considers to be the hand of God.
And you know, I thought too 16 or Leonardo da Vinci, that picture, that handout stretch. Is that the hand of God? I you know, I went to bed that night and.
Opened up my Bible and considering a little bit and uh, I thought how, how does the hand of God apply to the gospel?
And I'm gonna start with this and I'm gonna end with this. I thought of that story and it isn't the direct gospel, but I just, you know, the gospel is whosoever shall call upon the name of Lord shall be saved. Any person in this room can call out to God because of what Jesus did, and their eternal destiny can be changed in just a few words. And the portion that's always impressed me is when.
Peter.
Was thinking he was. They were.
Rowing and there was a storm, and he sees the Lord on the water, and the Lord says to him.
Come, and Peter gets out and he sees the waves around him. He starts to think and he says, Lord, save me.
And the Lord grabs Peter and rescues him.
And I'd like that because that's just like the gospel. All you need to say tonight is 3 words.
And mean it, Lord save me, and it will change your eternal destiny. But you know what I was thinking about.
I wondered, is the hand of God mentioned? And it is.
I'll read it at the end, but that I got that, that really got me thinking about the hand of God and what I'd like to do tonight. And time is gonna be very tight, so I'll have to move quickly. As I lay in bed. I, I just started thinking about the hand of God and there's 1010 points I'd like to make about the hand of God that I've enjoyed. I'm gonna do gold, one through each finger. You know, that was Wednesday night.
Thursday I sat down and typed in hand in the Bible.
1500 times and I'm just gonna go back to these 10 things that really impressed me. I laid awake until probably 2:00 in the morning.
Or it was between 1:00 and 2:00, just thinking about the hands of God. And so Thursday I told Dwight to call him back. I called him back and said that I thought the Lord wanted me to take the gospel. So I'm going to go through these ten points on the hand of God and.
00:10:00
We'll try and go through them quickly, but there is a tremendous amount there. And my prayer is that if there's anyone in this room who has never done what Peter did and said, Lord save me, that they do it tonight. So the first one I'd like to look at is the hand of God.
In Creation and I'd like to turn to Hebrews chapter one.
And verse 10 says there.
Thou, Lord, in the beginning has laid the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the works of thy hands.
You know, popular culture would tell you that this is dead wrong. This week, on Wednesday, and I'm not saying this critically, the Governor General of Canada said it is hard to believe that any educated person or a person in a public office would believe that there is.
Basically intelligent design or divine intervention in the creation of this world.
And the Prime Minister backed her up on that and a number of other things. I didn't even notice this until yesterday. Umm. And again, I don't say critically, but is there evidence of the hand of God in creation?
I'm gonna move quickly. A couple of weeks ago I was watching. I enjoy watching.
Apologetics and, and, and just listening to people's comments on these things, there was a scientist that was he, he was.
Umm, he was talking to a, a, a man who's a Christian and he was saying, well, how on earth can you accept what the Bible says about creation when there's this interrelated thing between time, space, matter, energy, they're all interrelated. How can that the simplicity of what the Bible says be true? And you know what that man said, and I really appreciate it. It's in this verse two, he said, he said, you know.
God is outside.
Of time.
And it says in Genesis 11 you only have to look at the first verse of the Bible. In the beginning time God created the heavens face and earth matter.
Time, past, present, future, space, length, width, height, matter, liquid, solid, gas. You know, it's a Trinity of Trinity there, there you have God.
Outside of all that heat.
Speaks it into being, you know, I don't understand it, but the Word of God is perfect in the way that it presents things. You know, I was watching another, umm, it was a panel. Richard Dawkins was on it. This was just a couple weeks ago. There was a priest there with him. There was a pastor of some sort. There's a number of people on the panel, and they're talking about the problem there is with what happened at the very beginning.
If they're referring to The Big Bang, which is sort of the accepted umm theory and and academic circles, What what what was there before?
And Richard Dawkins had made the comment. And again, I don't say this critically. He he, he said, he said, you know, it's an interesting thing to consider that what came out of it was essentially nothing. And the one of the other people there who who I believe is a Christian said, well, it seems a little bit funny to be trying to explain nothing. If you look at this verse and we have to move quickly, it says here.
Thou, Lord, in the beginning has laid the foundation.
Of the earth and the heavens are the works of thy hands. Time, space, matter. It's very simply here. The Bible is not a scientific book, but it's just remarkable, you know?
The order that God has created is phenomenal. In my work, we build electronic parts and we, umm, built some parts for a spaceship that's going to take a soil sample off an asteroid was launched last year. Sirius racks. It's called the perfect laws of gravitation that have come. And you know, it's interesting.
The, uh, the Governor General who had made the comment about it being hard for an intelligent person to believe that she was an astronaut, She is an Astro or, or was an astronaut, I guess, and an engineer and pilot. And you know what I was into, It's interesting to me, Isaac Newton, and I'm just going to read a quote of Isaac Newton, he says.
Atheism is so senseless. When I look at the solar system, I see the earth at the right distance from the sun to receive the proper amounts of heat and light. This did not happen by chance. He's the one who actually laid out a lot of the formulas that we used to do any of our space travel now.
00:15:17
That was his response to that and, you know, to me.
You don't even A and the word of God is a tremendous thing, but just look at the expanse of the universe and it's perfect order. And one little planet in one little solar system in a massive universe is the only one that they can seem to find that has any ability for life. You know, they're trying definitely the one of the most powerful men in the world right now, Elon Musk is trying to speed up the process.
Of getting life to Mark, getting people to Mars. And he's been very successful thus far. But you know, there's massive problems still that they have to figure out. With no atmosphere, there's no way to land a spaceship that's heavy in the chemical problems that they have with it just keep getting more and more complicated. You know, I'm not here to say that they can't do it, but just consider the hand of God in creation.
The second one that I'd like to look at is the hand of God in life, so Job chapter 12.
And verse 10.
Says In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?
Says in Genesis that.
God breathed in demands, nostrils, the breath of life, and he became a living soul. You know, breath is an interesting thing and it's it's difficult to define.
Easily exactly what life is. But you know, I've been touched recently.
Three people who I knew very well and who have been here on many occasions have passed out of this world into heaven to be with the Lord recently. And that's always a very searching thing, you know, umm, one of them was fairly young, not less than 10 years older than I am, and.
My wife was back and forth with Kathy. This is and uh, just as the breath was leaving.
Going back and forth. Last week it was at a funeral.
Comments on the breast leaving.
Until.
Person is gone. You know, there's solemn things. It's something that's very unique, the breadth of life.
My life few about a month ago she pointed out to me, there's a commentator in the US, Kathie Lee Gifford. Her she and her husband are Christians and her husband passed away. She just came downstairs one day and her husband was dead on the floor and she wrote a song and the song said he saw Jesus and he took his breath away.
Lindsay played it for me and I thought it was very interesting.
The breadth of life. The breadth of life.
In whose hand is the soul of every living thing and the breath of all mankind? In God's hand. Our breath is in His hand.
The solemn thing to consider and an amazing thing at the same time. The third one I'd like to look at is. So this is the third one, The hand of the hands of design. Psalm 119.
And verse 73.
So I was lying in bed. I.
I was just thinking about versus and I opened this verse and it was very impressive to me. It says Thy hands have made me and fashioned me. Give me understanding that I may learn Thy commandments.
You know, one of the things that's amazing is what has been discovered about the human body recently, particularly with DNA. It's something that they're trying to.
My vote is it's incredibly complicated. Someone's made the comments. I haven't verified it, but that if you were to take some of the DNA and spread it all out, it would go all the way to the sun and back. I, I can't validate that, but it contains all of the information about life, the color of our hair, that all the things about us genetically. It's absolutely incredible and it's in just in every cell of our body. You know, I don't begin to understand it. I was.
00:20:15
Read a little bit about it, but it's amazing, you know, and.
The whole theory of evolution had came out. They didn't know anything about it. Bill Gates made the comments that DNA is more complicated. Our genetic code is more complicated in incredibly more complicated than the most complex computer program ever written. And I'd just like to read to you the comment of a genetic biologist. I'll read it with a molecular biologist. He was interviewed by a man named George Taylor.
Very. This is in the year 2000.
I was absolutely. It was just very interesting to see what he said about it. He said a bit like an editor trying to find a spelling mistake inside a document larger than four complete sets of Encyclopedia Britannica. Do you believe, and this is, this is the interviewer, do you believe that the information evolved? The biologist says, George, nobody in my profession believes that evolve evolved. It was engineered by genius. Beyond genius. Such information could not have been written any other way.
The paper and ink did not write the book. Knowing what we know, it is ridiculous to think otherwise, the interviewer said. Have you ever stated that in a public lecture or in any public writings?
And he said no, I just say it evolved to be a molecular biologist requires 1 to hold on to two insanities at all times.
One would be one, it would be insane to believe that evolution when you can see the truth for yourself. Two, it would be insane to say you did not believe in evolution. All government work, research grants, papers, big college lectures, everything would stop. I'd be out of a job or regulated to the outer fringes where I couldn't earn a decent living.
And, uh, the interviewer said. I hate to say it, but that sounds intellectually dishonest.
And uh, the biologist said the work that I do in genetic research is honorable. We will find the cures to many of man's mankind's worst diseases, but in the meantime, we will have to live with the elephant in the living room.
The interviewer said. What elephant creation design? It's like the elephant in the living room. It moves around, takes up an enormous amount of space, loudly trumpets, bumps into us, knocks things over, eats tons of hay and smells like an elephant. And yet we have to swear it isn't there. You know, it's interesting.
To consider the design.
Of God in our bodies, that in one little cell.
We have the whole code, just very quickly.
And I just want to say this.
I started a project this time last year. They switched their company around and they wanted to move some work out from the US and they want us to build something we had built five years ago. And we had the drawings, we had the parts list, we had the instructions on how to build it. We had moved to a new building, so they asked us to build a new room and we hired 20 employees and assigned a project manager and manufacturing support, test support.
And we've been building it.
It's just, it's 2000 cables, nothing terribly complicated and you know, even though everything was there.
It took us 50% more time than we thought it was going to take. We thought that would go away from the last time and it did improve over time last time. But we started back very close to where we started before and it caused me a lot of Gray hair. The last table of that project shipped this Thursday.
And, you know, I was thinking, how does that compare to God's design of our body? You know, when conception happens, 21 days later, there's a heartbeat. Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump nine months later.
Very close to the day you have a perfect child and nobody did anything other than what God had done in the background. God rested the 7th day.
Yes, there is the effect of sin in this world. The design that God has is amazing. Just think of the hand of God in the design of our life.
Thy hands have made me in fashion me, give me understanding that I may learn thy commandments.
I had to laugh. Uh, or not laugh. I like to compare recent articles with with.
00:25:00
Sort of a biblical worldview to popular culture, yes. Yesterday there was an article in the Guardian about, umm, aliens and the need for evolution. And I'm just gonna read you a couple of comments here.
About it it says there's been many attempts to find life over the years, and all of them run into trouble at some point. Take, for example, the idea that life's defining characteristic is that it must be able to reproduce.
While a flame reproduces but can hardly be said to be alive, then there are the mules, creatures that are usually sterile but clearly alive. Chemical definitions such as life must be based on carbon and contained DNA are no better.
This is the most interesting part of the paper, the call to jettison our attempts at defining life and just recognize it by something that is uniquely that it uniquely does, which is evolved. It reminds me of Isaac Newton's response to queries about the meaning of the his mathematical law of gravity in 1687. When asked how gravity gets from 1 celestial object to another, he said it didn't matter how it happened, all that matter is that it did, and that his equation gave the right answer.
They refer to Newton in this question saying that.
That, uh, evolution, it was something that just just happened, you know?
After looking at this I thought, man, to quote a believer in something like this is hard to believe and I looked up a comment and it this is another quote of Isaac Newton. He said in the absence of any other proof, the thumb alone would convince me of God's existence.
Isaac Newton.
A hands in design. So there's three. We have to move quickly. For the remaining ones, the hands of evaluation, I'd like to turn to Daniel Chapter 5.
One of the most powerful empires in the entire world.
Phil Schizer.
Grandson of Nebuchadnezzar is having a party and a hand comes and writes on the wall.
Mini mini pico Ufarsen. He's terrified.
And he goes and gets Daniel.
Uh, some to interpret it and what does it say or what does it mean? It means numbered, numbered, weighed, divided or they were gonna be defeated.
I'll just read the verse actually, we'll start. This is umm, Daniel 5, verse 23 God, in whose hand thy breath is, and who are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified? Then was part of the hand sent from him, and this writing was written and this is the writing that was written many, many tequila Parson. This is the interpretation of the thing meaning God's number, thy Kingdom and finished it Tico, thou art weighed in the balances and found wanting. Perry's thy Kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.
Why am I reading this? It's talking about the hand of God written on the wall of the greatest one of the greatest empires that ever existed. Why God?
Evaluated he, he numbered and he weighed and he saw that they were wanting. You know, sometimes I wonder what God sees when he looks at North America.
Built on biblical principles, the 10 commandments.
And yet they've turned their back on God.
It's a very solemn thing by the hand of God in evaluation.
The hand of God in evaluation. What do you think God sees when he looks at this nation? Hardly anybody looking at at this world from an objective standpoint can't say that there's a day of reckoning coming.
Very interesting to consider that and that leads to the hand of.
Judgment, it's not something that any of us like to talk about is judgment. It's not a very popular thing to talk about in a meeting like this, a gospel meeting. You know, those verses in Isaiah impressed me. Isaiah 9, Isaiah 5, the the five verses, Isaiah 525, nine, twelve, nine, 17921, 10-4.
Each one of them says, For all this is anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out. Still there is a consequence for sin. It says in the New Testament, the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.
So we look at these things, these five things, creation, life, design, evaluation, and judgment. It doesn't look very good, does it?
00:30:02
The God is a God of love.
He has hands of love before.
The world was created. He had a plan to send his son.
Prophetically, in the Old Testament we read.
That they would look on him whom they had pierced.
Zechariah says actually this is the hands of love. I'd like to look at Zechariah 13, six.
And when you're saying to him, What are these wounds in thy hands? And he shall answer those with which I was wounded in the House of my friend. This was written before.
God became a man. There's another verse in Psalms that says prophetically, they pierced my hands and my feet. God was going to become a man and come into this world.
Because God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Probably the most well known verse in the whole Bible that you'll often see it sports games and such.
God had a plan of love to reach his hand down to this world.
And make a way possible that we could be saved.
You know, he came into this world as a baby born to a poor couple.
And you know what those hands did?
Mark 732 He healed the death.
Mark 823. He gave sight to the blind with his hands.
People with different loop 440 he he healed all kinds of different people.
There's even a verse that says, well he in Luke 854 he raised the dead. It says there he put them all out and took her by the hand and called saying made arise.
He cleansed the leopard despised by society back then as as unclean. What does it say about the leper? He put forth his hand and touched him, saying, I will be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy was departed from him.
There's another verse that he it says he cleansed all of their diseases.
Incredible to consider the hands of God in healing love to this world.
You know what they did to those hands?
Those hands in death and resurrection, he knew it was gonna happen. It's written in the Old Testament in those verses we already mentioned.
He was nailed to that cross.
He hung there between heaven and earth, and took the punishment for the sins of each one in this room who puts their trust in Him.
Oh.
You know, when he he didn't just die, he rose from the dead.
You know, it's, it's remarkable to me.
Umm.
I'd just like to turn to John 20.
Verse 27 The Lord has been killed by the very creatures he's created, and with those hands He's healed so many people.
And he has one of his disciples who's doubting. And what does he say to him in John 2027 in resurrection? He says. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach thither thy hit her thy finger, and behold my hands.
Reach, hit her thy hand and thrust it into my side. Be not faithless, but believing. Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God, the hands of God in death and resurrection.
And now we get to what I had mentioned at the beginning of this meeting.
His hands in salvation.
His hands in salvation. You know, I just would like to turn to that that in Matthew chapter 14 to read it.
And I know this is Peter. He's thinking he cries out to the Lord. But to me it's just beautiful, a beautiful picture of what the Lord will do. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, that is the whole gospel. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord. Matthew chapter 14.
00:35:00
We'll start at verse 28. Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come to thee on the water. And he said, come.
When Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water to go to Jesus, but when he saw the wind was boisterous, he was afraid and beginning to sink. He cried, saying those 3 words that will change your eternity, eternal destiny, Lord save me. And what happened? Immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand and caught him.
Every person in this room.
Has been evaluated and found wanting, and yet Jesus died on that cross to make a way possible that that verse could be written. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
That's all Peter had to say as Lord saved me and it happened immediately. The hand of God reached down and pulled him up.
You know, that hand is so powerful in John 10 we read and this is the final one, the hand of protection. I'd just like to read it. John 10.
Verse 28 Well known verse, you know I.
Wondered about starting the meeting by saying you've got the whole world in his hands. I believe it's a nega ***** spiritual. I don't. I'm not sure if it's origin origins. It's very repetitive, but.
You know, if we put our trust in the Lord Jesus.
He's got us in his hands.
John 1027 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish.
Neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
It's in the Lord's hands. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hands.
Incredible protection by God if we are in His hands. If you have cried out those 3 words, Lord save me, you are in his hands and nothing can take you out of those hands.
There's a a song I enjoy that umm.
Has it? It's a fairly recent song. I'd just like to read the verses of it. In Christ alone. Just the first and last verse. It says in Christ alone my hope is found. He's my light, my strength, my song. This cornerstone, this solid ground, firm through the fiercest grout and storm. With what heights of love, what depths of peace, What when fears are still, When striving cease. My comforter, my All in all here in the love of Christ. I stand at the end of the second verse or this last verse that I'd like to mention. No guilt in life.
No Fear in death. This is the power of Christ in me. From life's first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny. No power of hell, no scheme of man can ever pluck me from his hand till he returns or calls me home. Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.
How does the hand of God compare with the soccer game?
You know.
I.
I can't.
Explain it any better than the word of God does, and my hope tonight is that if there is someone here.
Who has not yet said those 3 words? Lord save me that you would do it tonight.
And we close in prayer.
A Change of Perspective
Children—Kevin House
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.
Number one, if somebody else might raise a tune for us, we'll start with singing #1 together.
Jesus Christ and clothing and Angelina Jolie's on my hands with a lot of my eyes and I don't know what we've been here now. I'll follow up on the.
Idea.
Oh, I'm good.
Anybody tell me who?
The story is about from the Bible.
Anybody know who it was that said this? You know Savannah?
It was a king.
First part is right and then we know who the king is.
Yep.
Starts with an F.
Yes, Zach. Well, I think it's either Felix or Festus, but I actually don't know the answer. Maybe somebody could help me.
But Paul was talking to him.
And he was telling him about the Lord Jesus, and this is what he said. This king said when Paul was done, he said almost. I'm persuaded to be a Christian. You think almost is good enough?
What do you think guys? Is almost good enough to almost make it to heaven? What happens if you only almost make it to heaven? What do you think, Quincy? You don't go to heaven at all. That's right. Almost means lost. OK. And that means, I'm sure you all know that means going to hell. And is hell a nice BBQ like a man I talked to where you just have a party with your friends?
Is that what hell is? No, no, it's darkness.
Blackness hits fire.
And I would not like for any of you precious children to be almost in heaven but not there. That would be very, very sad. OK, So what we'd like to talk about today is perspective. That means how you look at something. And sometimes when we look at something, we have a different way of looking at something than somebody else. OK, so.
I think we've talked about this at home a little bit, but I have.
A little girl here actually don't know where she is. She was sitting with her grandpa.
But she told me that she was big. Are you big, Levi? You're not big, but you're bigger than she is. OK, But perspective is kind of how you look at something. OK, so you might be little or you might be big, but everybody looks at something a little bit differently.
So whose perspective is the most important? What do you think, Max? Do you think your perspective is more important or my perspective is more important?
Neither, you're right. Neither one is more important because God's perspective is important and that's what we want to talk about. And if God says you're almost there.
And that's the perspective that matters. That's the view that matters, not just what I think, what you think. You guys all look very nice this morning. Maybe you have a smile, maybe you don't. But I don't know what's in your heart. But God knows exactly what's in your heart. Right, Chip? Yeah, right. All right.
So let's sing another one together, OK? Yes, Thomas.
39 All right, everybody find 39.
00:05:03
OK, and we'll sing it together.
This is a is a perspective too because there's a verse that I think my the Lord used to save my father-in-law. The verse I just read it says he that is not with me is against me. OK so this song here talks about what a friend we have in Jesus.
But if you're not safe.
You don't have a friend in Jesus because you are the enemy of God. You're against him. If you're not for him. You ever think about that? You are against God. That's kind of a sorry spot to be in. You know, maybe if we're playing a sport, we like to be on a team, right? We like to be on the team that win.
Right in the Lord Jesus, in the war against good and evil, he is going to win. I would like everyone to be on the winning side. So let's sing this together. So what a friend we have in Jesus. Perhaps someone could raise this hearing please.
We will come down for everything.
It's 2100.
And I believe I have one question so.
I'm so sorry, I don't really need anything about that.
He had 2150.
Uh-huh.
We don't take them to everything.
I'd like to ask a question I think I already know the answer to, but who here in this room likes to be happy?
Put up your hand. Anybody like to be happy? Yeah.
You know, it's a great thing to be happy, OK? Sometimes there's things that make us unhappy, right? Aaron, can you think of something what would make you unhappy?
Not listening to your father and mother, yes, generally gets you in trouble, doesn't it? And often they tell you something because they don't want you to get hurt, right? They love you. Yeah. And you know what? It's pretty hard sometimes for your dad and mom if they tell you something, trying to help you and you don't listen.
That's hard. You know, I unlike you kids, I'm a dad, you know that. Yeah. And so I have kids that I love, and I want to keep those kids safe. So sometimes I say don't touch that. And you know what? Sometimes they touch it and it was a hot pan. And what happens, Ma, you touch your hot pan.
00:10:08
You get burned. That's right. If you don't listen, then whatever it was that you were trying to be kept safe from.
It happened.
Sometimes, yeah, sometimes. One time when my little girl Abby was young, she thought she would sneak behind the fireplace, but there's only a little space. And you know what? It was hot. And she tried to get behind, but her nose touched the fireplace and she burned her nose because she was playing near something that was hot. And I tried to warn her. But sometimes, kids just.
Do something without listening to their parents, right. So that would be something that's right, Aaron, that makes you unhappy when you don't listen. That's right. But I would like to talk about something that.
Makes you happy.
And can make you happy all of the time. OK. Who likes to be left out? Does anybody like to be left out? There's a group of boys or girls, maybe you would like to play with them. And they say, no, we're not gonna let you play with us. Does anybody really like to be that person that gets left out? No, no. We all like to be included.
But sometimes people are mean.
Has that ever happened to you, Thomas? People are mean to you. Sometimes people are mean.
But in this song, we're just singing, there's a friend that we can have that is always with us. And if everyone is being mean to you, this friend, the Lord Jesus, he will never, never be mean to you. He's always going to be there if you want to talk about something, if you have a problem. And you know what?
You exist for His pleasure.
Did you know that the reason you are here?
Is because God wanted to have relationship with you? Did you know that? That he cares about you, Sandy? The God who created the whole world cares about you. Do you think Mr. Trudeau cares about you, Tegan? Mr. Trudeau is the Prime Minister. Do you think he cares about you yourself or do you think he just kind of cares about everyone kind of?
Yeah, so he's an important man, but he's ruling over, you know, more than.
35 million people, He can't know everyone, He can't care about you. But the Lord Jesus, he cares about each one of us. And you know what the happiest times in my life are when I'm enjoying his friendship, when I'm in communion with him. That is when I am the happiness. And it might be at a time when the things that are happening to me are really sad.
Sometimes I get hurt and you know what? I can go to the Lord and because He's my friend, I can tell Him about it and how it's hurting me, how I'm struggling and He cares and He comforts me in a way that nobody else can.
Do you know this friend or are you his enemy? Are you against him or do you know him?
So important to know the Lord.
OK, children.
And it's not just for people who are older like me.
When I was your age.
One day I knelt down beside my bed and I asked the Lord Jesus to wash my sins away because I knew that I had done things that were wrong in His sights. Anybody here feel guilty about your sins inside? When you go to bed at night, you lie down. Maybe you feel scared when the lights turn out because you know you have sinned. You don't have to be like that. You don't have to be scared.
You can know the Lord, that's why he came, so that we would know that God loves us.
That's why Jesus gave his life.
And also to take care of our sins, because those sins are what are going to take us to hell, right? Things that we have done that are wrong.
So perhaps we should pray at this point because I don't want to talk too much before I ask Lord to help me. OK, so let's close our eyes and be quiet and just ask the Lord to help us. For God and our Father, just thank you so much for sending and only begotten Son into this world. Thank you for how he lived perfectly.
Thank you for how He gave his life, the sinners like all of us in the room, everyone in the whole world.
00:15:05
Could have salvation through his precious blood. Father just need thy help this morning to be able to connect with each of these precious children and none of them have to go to eternal separation from myself. Just ask it now in Jesus precious name, Amen.
Alright, I would like to tell a story here.
I told this story at home, but since I told this story the story has changed a little bit. Anybody know what these are?
What do you think, girls?
You know what this is?
It's paper and there's some numbers on it.
In designing a house. Very good. MRSA. OK, so you can look at that house picture, OK, And you look at the garage, because I was building this garage on my house, OK, You look at that and you try and see if this little triangle is in the center of the roof or the center of the building. OK, You can look at it and then pass it on. OK, We'll give one to this side, OK. Because I was building this subject of perspective that I'd like to talk about how we think about something.
OK, this this subject came before me because.
I was working on my house and something happened while I was working on my house that brought this to my attention. OK, we'll look at it and pass it on, OK? See if that little peak is in the center of the roof or not, OK?
All right, So I had my roof built. OK. When you look at the picture, you'd be able to see, OK, And I decided on the front of my house to build this little peak to match the other part of the house on the garage. OK. So I went up there and I very, very carefully measured how long the roof was.
Very, very carefully. I made a mark right in the middle.
I got a chalk line out. I made a very straight line relative to the edge of the roof.
And then I built this little peak on the roof, OK? And I got it right in the middle. And, you know, I was very pleased with this roof. I thought, you know what? This is solid. It's level. It's Plumb. Everything about it is just great. OK. But you know what? Somebody came to visit me, a brother in my local assembly who has helped with my garage.
And he dropped off some materials, says Uncle Ken. Some of you know him.
And you know what? He was standing there looking up at the garage. You kind of had this look on his face.
You know what I thought? Uh oh.
Uncle Ken knows a lot about building, and he's looking at it like there's something wrong. Now this is bad. I thought, what could I do wrong? I measured it. I was very careful. I got it right in the middle. OK, But you know what? If you look at that plan, who can tell me what's the peak right in the middle?
No, it was a little bit off to the side, wasn't it?
Yeah, you already saw it. That's right.
OK, that peak was not right in the middle, but I thought and I was sure that what I was doing was right. I was sure. I measured, I looked at it. I used my level.
But you know what? I was wrong.
OK, in our lives, we can be so sure, so sure that we're OK. But you know what? I didn't follow the plan. Who has the plan there?
You see it, Phil has it here. OK, so in that plan, the peak is just a little bit off centered. It's centered on the garage doors, on the space in between. And I was off by 9 inches. And you know what? It looked wrong. So you know what I had to do.
Brought something along here because.
Who knows what this tool is right here You can tell me what do you think this is a saw? Yeah. OK now.
What do you think, Wesley? Do you think this is a saw that's really precise or kind of more for rough stuff? What do you think it is for rough stuff? You watch that blade go out OK, and it's cutting OK. And this saw I had to take and cut all those nails that I had pounded in so carefully, and I had to move.
I had to move that peak.
Over 9 inches.
OK.
Now my perspective, the way I was looking at it up on the roof was wrong.
00:20:04
And it made me think about how you look at life because I had to make a change and I had to get my saw out and I had to cut along all of those nails, cut it all out.
And if you haven't accepted the Lord Jesus as your Savior yet, you're in the same situation as me. I thought I was doing it right. I was so careful, but I was wrong.
I was wrong.
You know, that reminded me of the story in the Word of God.
There was a man that was hanging on a cross beside the Lord Jesus.
And he had a change of perspective because he was wrong too. He was a thief.
And he was being put to death because of what he had done. OK, now where did I set my Bible? Down here. There we go.
OK, so let's read some verses about this man, because this man had the change that I would like to talk about this morning, Luke chapter 23. OK, and we'll read a few verses here about this man who had a change of very important change of perspective, OK. And and one of the other Gospels, it says about this thief.
That he cast the same in his teeth. So he was insulting the Lord Jesus even though they were all hanging on the cross. He was saying, oh, you uh, I don't know what he was saying, but something negative vote the Lord Jesus even though they were both hanging on the cross. OK, but this man, the Lord worked in his heart. He had a change of perspective. We'll read it together. The loop 23 verse 39 and one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him saying.
If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuke him, saying, that's not thou, fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation. We indeed justly, for we received the due reward of our deeds. But this man has done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus.
Lord, Remember Me when thou cometh into thy Kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee.
Today shall tell be with me in Paradise. And it was about the 6th hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the 9th hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried, with a loud voice he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. And having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
What I wanted to talk about was this.
Thief. Anybody here ever stole anything?
Maybe there was a candy and you weren't really sure if you should have it. Instead of asking your parents, you just looked around, see if anybody was looking and then you took it and you ate it. That stealing isn't it should ask and make sure it's OK first.
So what if you or I were hanging on that cross because we were a thief?
And the Lord Jesus is hanging right beside us. Imagine.
This man was so close to the Lord Jesus himself.
And you know what? He was insulting him. They were both dying at the same time, and he was insulting the Lord Jesus. Incredible to think what our hearts are capable of.
But you know what? He had a change in his heart. He had a change in perspective. He went from.
Excuse me? He went from insulting the Lord to asking him to remember him.
And you know, those words there are so precious to me.
The Lord's answer to him. Let's see if he didn't know a lot about the word of God.
But he asked the Lord to remember him.
Did the Lord Jesus say, well, you're going to have to get down and do a lot of things first?
No, no, he accepted him just like he was.
You have to grow up before the Lord will accept you. What do you think, Simon? No, we accept you as a child. He accepted me when I was a child. What the Lord Jesus said today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Now, we talked before about being left out, right? Nobody likes to be left out. What do you think, Victor? Do you like to be left out or you like to be with your friends? Like to be with your friends? And we don't like to be left out. That's right.
00:25:09
And the Lord Jesus told this thief that he was going to get to be with him. Now, I'd like you just to stop for a second and think about that. If you were on that cross like that thief, you're going to die. Which thief are you? Are you the thief that's going to be with the Lord Jesus?
Or you're gonna be the thief that was against him.
What about you?
I know for myself if I was, if I was dying there.
If I was dying there.
I would be pretty happy that I was gonna be with the Lord Jesus because.
Otherwise I'd be going to hell.
And I've had the privilege of getting to know the Lord Jesus, of learning to trust him a little bit. I still have a lot to learn, but I've got to know that he is a very, very special friend to be with, the best person that I've ever interacted with, the Lord Jesus.
And the joy that I have with him is wonderful.
How about you?
Is it just things that your parents talk about that they know the Lord? What about you kids? Do you know what God has said to you? That He loves you yourself?
And he wants to interact with you every day.
We had in our reading meeting about being in prayer all the time is to be able to talk to him whenever all the time. He always has ears to hear.
Hi, it's so special.
But do you know him yourself? You know this man has such an important change of perspective. OK, so important.
I'd like to talk about another man here if we have time. Yes, we do. Another one who had a change of perspective. OK. And that's I just read there this morning in my own reading. I wasn't sure exactly what I would talk about, kind of like Mark.
But let's turn to where I was reading this morning, Matthew chapter 17.
Because there's another man here who had a change of perspective.
OK, because some things are more important to us than others.
Hey, and this man with Peter we're going to read in Matthew 17. After six days, Jesus taketh Peter, James and John his brother bringeth him up into a high mountain apart. So how many people were there there?
Who can help us?
What do you think? 84 That's right. OK, Peter, James and John and Jesus.
And he was transfigured before them, and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. So how many do we have now?
We had four.
We have 6. Thank you Dakota, we have 6 now. OK so Moses and Elias appeared there too #4 Then answered Peter and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here. If thou wilt let us make here 3 tabernacles, one for thee, one for Moses, one for Elias. So he thought, hey, you know we can help here. This is something that we the disciples can do. We'll make 3 special buildings.
There are three special men here. They're important. So we'll make one for Moses, one for Jesus, and one for Elias, it seems. Seems like a nice idea Peter had, right? He was trying to honor these important men.
While he yet spake, behold a bright cloud overshadowed them. Behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.
Hear Yem.
Was it right to make 3 tabernacles? Was there any man that could be placed on the same plane as the Lord Jesus? What do you think Toby?
Was there any man that could be placed on the same level as the Lord Jesus?
No, not even close. There's no other savior. There's no other friend. There's no other guide. There's nobody like the Lord Jesus.
When the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore of great or very afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, be not afraid. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man save Jesus only.
00:30:21
You know, Peter, he had to have a change in his perspective about what was important.
And all of you kids, all of the adults here, we have things that we think are important, OK? Moses was an important man. He wrote some of the word of God.
And maybe there's somebody who you think that is very important, Maybe you look up to them, you respect them. It's good to respect people. But no one, no one can have this place that belongs only to the Lord Jesus.
And the disciples, perhaps they were so used to Him they didn't realize he was the Son of God. He is the Son of God, and they needed to give him that place that was his. How about us?
What determines our values?
What determines what's right and wrong?
What determines what's important to us?
So what the Lord Jesus has said.
Or is someone else, whoever they might be, it doesn't matter. Somebody else's word have a higher ranking than his. You know, if I had a mirror here, OK, and I carried around a mirror, would you see Zach?
Would you see Isaac if this is the mirror? Who would you see if this is a mirror?
You would see yourself OK. What about you, Francis? Is this Amir? Who would you see?
You see yourself OK, perhaps we looked in the mirror this morning.
When you look in the mirror, you see the person.
That is gonna cause you the most trouble in your life.
You know that.
I am the person that has defiled myself the most in my life.
I can point at somebody else and I could say, well, it was their fault. That's what Adam did right in the garden. He said it was Eve's fault. She gave it to me. And ultimately he blamed God because he said you gave me the woman.
And we can point at other people, but we have to be responsible for ourselves.
And the flesh that's in US is gonna give us ideas about what's important.
But that flesh has to give way so that the Lord Jesus can be the one who decides what's important. And the sooner you guys learn that, the sooner you do, the less trouble you're gonna have in your life.
If you let the Lord Jesus be the one that guides you, if you've had that change of perspective to have him as your own Savior.
You need to have him as your Lord too, the one who decides what you do, how you live, why you do what you do. Not just because other people do it, but because the Lord Jesus has said it.
And you know who's gonna be a happy person?
The happy person is gonna be the one who listens to the word of God.
And enjoys knowing allergies.
Maybe they're not gonna have as exciting of a time.
As far as some of the things other people might do that are exciting.
And if you walk in the Spirit, you're going to have an exciting life too, because the things the Lord does and accomplishes are far greater than what you can do in your own flesh.
You wanna have exciting?
Walk with the Lord and you will have truly exciting.
Because his thoughts are higher than our thoughts, and his ways are higher than our ways.
And if you guys?
Could realize the lesson of changing that perspective OK.
Let your own thoughts go. Let the Lord Jesus have control in your life.
Let him be in charge, OK? I had to get up on that roof and I had to cut those nails.
I had to let the plan that I had direct me, not just my own idea.
00:35:00
Each of you kids, every day.
Has that decision, if you've accepted the Lord, to let Him be Lord. If you haven't, you need to start right at the very beginning. Accept Him as your own Savior and just let Him lead. You're gonna have a happy life. You're gonna be challenges. Your faith will be tried, but you'll have the joy of His presence. He had to be with Him. You won't be left out.
That's a wonderful thing and I'll be left out to be with him.
Well, that's what I had to speak about this morning. Maybe we have time to sing another one.
Before we close up.
Dakota. Which one?
You say it louder.
#37.
Perhaps another would raise a tune #37.
So it's hard to expect you to get your information together and I don't know how to continue.
Oh my God, Oh my God. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Radiation.
I thought of one more story I'd like to tell.
Now it's about a little creature with a mouse.
And this little mouse made the wrong decision and I'll tell you about it.
Maybe 10 years ago I was having a bonfire, a big bonfire.
And sometimes when the fire burns down a little bit, you have to pull some branches out around the edges and throw them in.
So I was doing this, doing my work, throwing the wood in the fire, and I pulled one branch out that was on the edge.
And there was a mouse on the branch.
I don't know how he had survived being close to the fire, but somehow he must have had a home in the brush pile. He didn't want to leave his home, that's where he felt safe. And so I pulled that stick out and the mouse ran towards me a little bit.
And I thought, oh, I probably shouldn't throw it in the fire with a mouse on it. That wouldn't be very kind to him. But you know what that mouse said? He looked at me.
00:40:10
And then he ran up that branch and he jumped right into the fire.
You know what?
I could have saved him.
He could have just run down. I would have let him go. I don't really like mice, but I would think it would be kind of mean to throw him in the fire. He could have come to me and been saved. But you know what? He decided? He decided. I'm not going to trust that man. I'm going to take my chances to jump.
And when he took his chances.
We landed right in the fire and he died almost right away. He had a chance to be saved. And you guys.
This morning have a chance to be saved too. But you know what you have to trust in the Lord Jesus as your Savior. You have to trust him. That mouse, he thought, you know what, I'm not going to trust him. And so he went in the fire and that was quite a lesson for me and you kids are the same as that mess either you can trust in the Savior of the Lord Jesus.
Where you're gonna land up in the fire, that would be terrible.
Here we're saying in this song, the Gospel of Thy Grace, my stubborn heart has won any of you guys here ever be stubborn. Somebody tries to help you learn something, and you're not gonna change your mind. You're gonna stick with what I'm doing. Maybe you arch your back.
You know, this week I was trying to get my little boy Ezra to do something.
And even though he's not even one year old, he arched his back and he fought me for probably half an hour. He was stubborn. Even though he's so small, he didn't want to give in. He wanted his own way and he was going to fight me.
Sometimes we can be that stubborn God is trying to get you to accept the Savior, but you could be like little Edgar and just no, don't want anyone to be like that. You want to be soft towards God, to listen to him. Don't fight him except the Lord Jesus.
He wants you to and he loves you well.
I hope our little thoughts on perspective can help. If you don't yet know the Lord, you need to know Him in your life if there's something else that has a higher level than Him.
That's governing how you do things, why you do things you need to, like Moses and Elias.
Did it disappear? Let's look at the allergies. Let him be the one that leads you and guides you. Not just for adults. It's not just for young people. It's just for children. You can let him lead you, You know that.
A great privilege.
What do you think about telling the other kids at school? Go to Lord how you know him.
I got to do that when I was in kindergarten. I got to talk to the other kids and tell them how I knew the Lord.
What about you?
We could serve the Lord when we're children. Do you know Him?
A great privilege. Well, let's pray and if any of you have any questions, you talk to your daddy or your mommy. Not accepting the Lord, somebody else, don't neglect it. Don't be like the little mouse that didn't trust and ran away, OK? And trust the Lord. Let's pray.
Man's Wisdom Intruding
YP Talk—Joe Countouris
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.
Next chapter. First Corinthians, chapter 2.
Verse four and five.
And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Next chapter, First Corinthians 3, verse 18 through 20.
Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seems to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, he taketh the wise and their own craftiness.
And again, the Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
Next chapter, First Corinthians 4, verse six. I'm going to read this in the new translation that brings out the sockets a little bit better.
Now these things, brethren, and I have transferred in their application to myself and Apollos, for your sake.
Part one can focus on that you may learn and us the lesson of not letting your thought go above what is written.
That you may not be puffed up one for such a one against another.
We talked a ball with a great man.
And for the policy, the Apostle Paul was used to write the word of God.
By the Spirit of God.
Could the Apostle Paul use human wisdom? Could he go above what the Word of God states? He could not, That you might learn the lesson of not letting your thoughts go above what is written. That's what they would see demonstrated in the Apostle Paul. That's what they would see demonstrated in Apollo.
You say, what are the dangers of human wisdom?
Or the dangers.
If you read through the Epistle to 1St Corinthians, you'll find that it presents to us order in the local assembly.
But the instruction that's given to us is not given because of things that were happening that were good.
But because of this order that had come in and the Spirit of God by the apostle Paul has to outline over and over again.
1011 problems that the Corinthians had so that you and I today and the Corinthians back then would know what the order should be like in the local assembly.
What was the first disorder that the Spirit of God had to take up?
Human wisdom.
Why is it that he had to take up human wisdom first? Because every other disorder had its roots in this one.
And if human wisdom is not addressed?
In our lives, individually or in an assembly collectively?
You might have the picking of a bad fruit off of a tray, but it won't be long before that fruit comes back.
Because the difficulty has not been removed and we're still using human wisdom.
When it comes to divine things, when it comes to questions.
When it comes to circumstances of moral and spiritual matters.
I'd like to talk to you tonight about two.
Inroads that human wisdom.
There's more than this, but I'd just like to talk to you about too.
How human wisdom finds an inroad into our life? The first one is very simple. It's because we simply don't know.
We don't know something. Does anybody in this room, does anyone in this whole conference that's been here, does anyone know everything?
No.
1St Corinthians 13 says that at best we know in part. At best we know in part.
So what happens when we're facing a circumstance in our life or a question or a decision and we don't know? Well, what often happens, at least in my life, is I rely on my own intellect and I say this is what I think I should do.
And that doesn't get me very far.
What is the better thing to do?
The better thing to do is to ask the one who gives wisdom.
00:05:05
James chapter one, verse 5.
Says but any of But if any of you lack wisdom, let them ask of God.
They give it to all men liberally and upgraded not it's not going to be over the head not knowing.
And it shall be given him. We just have to ask.
Now usually I do that at the end of the difficulty.
But we need to do that at the beginning, at the very front of the question, the circumstance, the decision that is before us. Don't rely on your own intellect. It only runs you down a course that takes you away from the Word of God.
How is the Father going to give wisdom? Is he going to send it to you in some mystical way?
It's going to tell you through the word of God, so.
Word of God which is complete.
And full.
Need to answer to you from the word of God.
That's where wisdom lies, the wisdom of the Word of God.
The 2nd way that human wisdom often finds an inroad in merlife is the more difficult, and it is when our will is at work. Now none of us here would say that I don't think that my word and my opinion and my thought is on par with the word of God and what I say.
Should be held to the same way the word of God is held to.
We wouldn't say that and we definitely wouldn't say. I don't think that it.
Above it, but oftentimes our actions.
Say exactly that.
And I'd like to talk to you guys about a few situations.
That I have seen, that I have witnessed.
Where human wisdom has come in and it has trumpeted the word of God in the life of a believer, and it has been to.
Sorry.
And the first one is in regards to marriage.
And the unequal yield.
2nd Corinthians, chapter 6.
Read the whole section and I'm just going to read.
The first verse.
First Second Corinthians 6, verse 14.
The first person the section be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers.
For what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?
You may be sitting here tonight and maybe you are contemplating a relationship with somebody who is not safe.
What does the word of God say?
It plainly says don't enter into that relationship.
You may leave here in a month from now.
A boy might walk by, a girl might walk by, and then turn your head and you might start to consider.
Entering into a relationship.
With somebody who is a non believer.
What does the word of God say?
I need to make you unbelievable.
But how does the mind work? The mind works by coming up with all kinds of excuses.
Yeah, but he might get saved. Yeah, but she might get saved.
This doesn't seem so bad.
It's not like this. This boy is vile. This man is violent. He loves me and I love him. Love wins, right?
Luck wins.
But not in that situation. Love doesn't win love.
Love will keep you from entering that relationship. It would.
Love to the God who wrote these words.
Not unequally yoked unbelievers. I'm gonna give you one example from the Old Testament. We all know it. Second Chronicles, chapter 8, verse 11.
It says that Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of David into the house that he had built for her.
For he said, My wife shall not dwell in the House of David, king of Israel, because the places are holy.
00:10:01
Where unto the ark of the Lord have come?
What's the purpose of a marriage?
What is the purpose of it is to have a good time?
You can have a good time.
The Purpose of marriage you'll read in First Corinthians Chapter 7.
Is the ability to serve the Lord.
The ability to turn below.
Solomon was an extraordinarily wise man.
And you have to let all that wisdom he has intruded into divine things. I believe it has divine wisdom as well.
And he took the daughter of Pharaoh, and what does it say here? He had to build her a house separate.
From those places that we're holding.
How's that? You want to enter into that relationship with that boy or that girl?
That unequal yoga You might get married.
And your husband or your wife. That unbelieving husband or wife, you might never cheat on you.
They might love you.
Not the divine law. They might bring you roses. They might pamper you.
They might do everything for you that this world would say. That's great.
But they will never. They will never.
Bring you closer to the Lord, Ever.
They can the one thing, the most important thing.
Is something that they cannot do.
And Solomon had to build Pharaoh's daughter a house apart from the holy thing.
Don't walk down that path. I have witnessed wherever these.
Ones who have been sitting and young people just like this.
Don't go down.
The verse in Proverbs, it says keep your heart more than anything that is guarded. Keep your heart more than anything that is guarded, for out of it are the issues of life. The electric car.
You do right?
You guard your heart.
Keep it according to the word of God. Keep your heart going to enter into the relationship.
Another intrusion.
Into human wisdom that I've seen, and this doesn't really relate to the first one, it's just things that I've seen.
My wife and I have recently been reading for Ezra and Nehemiah.
And.
Those supposed to deal with Remnant testimony.
And that's applicable for us today because we're living in Remnant testimony days. And you might say, well, what's Remnant testimony days? What does that mean?
Well, you, we all know that you can go to the, uh, the carpet store and you can find a cheap piece of carpet that's a remnant, right? Because it's leftover from a job and somebody doesn't need the whole thing. So it's just a part. So run the testimony just talking about a part, a part of life. Well, and as we're in Nehemiah, you had Israel who were taken away because of their sins.
And the Jews were in Babylon, and.
And there's a calling the return, they're allowed to go back. They didn't all go back, just someone just to run that sit the small part.
Similar to the days that we live in today.
And you can read about this remnant testimony in Revelation 2 and three, how that God looks down and he sees the ruin that has come into the Christian testimony, and he says it's no longer recoverable. I can't recover the whole thing. It's gone too far. I'm going to pick up with a remnant.
Known as Black 4 Churches, you get around the tension.
A remnant. So we live in remnant, testimony states.
So what's a danger for us? We had it today. We had it before us. Steve Stewart brought it out and it's the danger of giving up and giving up. Specifically, I'd like to talk to you about giving up in regards to separation, separation.
What is separation? Separation is simply separating from what is evil.
And you might look around and you say.
How am I going to separate?
Why am I going to separate? What am I going to separate to?
It's too small, the day is too late, things are too much of A ruin. What is the point? I'm just going to go and find what is best for me.
00:15:05
What can give me what I want, what I can give me what I need, and that's what I'm going to worry about.
There's just too much.
Let's look it back into the verse in the MI. There's a man in the EMI who expressed very similar thoughts.
Nehemiah chapter 4, verse 10, it says, and Judah said, the strength of the bears of burdens is decayed. Was that true? That was true.
They were lacking strength.
And they were lacking people. There wasn't very many of them. They had a huge job and there was only a few of them.
And there is much rubbish.
He looked around and he saw the city they had just rebuilt, the temple, and he sees this city that had just been wasted in these once great walls with these great gates had just been knocked over. Imagine walking through there and saying we got to pick these things up and put them one on top of the other and built this wall again to separate ourselves.
From this world that's trying to come in.
So much rubbish. Was that true? That is true. There was a lot of rubbish. A lot. Oftentimes human wisdom works the best when it has just a little bit of truth.
Just a little bit. It's called a perversion. The way a lie works, the best one has a little bit of truth, and judiciary speaks with just a little bit of truth so that we are not able to build the wall. Is that true?
Not true. They were able to build a wall and they did end up building the wall and you tonight and I can build that wall through that wall of separation.
Why would we build a wall?
Why would we build a wall?
Somebody might say, well, you're going to make me separate from other true believers. We heard today that we are one body.
Isn't that going to be a practical denial of the truth that we are one body by separating from other true Christians?
They could they? You have to tell me the circumstances. And the circumstances that we're talking about tonight is that of evil.
Can true believers go on with evil?
I think we all know that. Again, we all know our heart to some extent. We know what's in our hearts.
You know, if we take up the word of God and we look at the truth of the one body.
And we say that we are one body. That is a tremendous truth.
Unbelievable truth, amazing truth. It's something that we need to hold near and dear. But if we take up that truth to the exclusion of the House of God.
You know, we will find ourselves in, we will find ourselves amalgamated with every single evil in the body, sorry, every single evil in the church.
The professional church if, on the other hand, we take up the House of God and all of its order and all of its testimony to the exclusion of the one body.
To the exclusion of the body. Where will we find ourselves? We will find ourselves alone, sitting at home.
Eye. Only eye.
We need both.
We need both of them, and so we are one body and we need to act according to the truth of that one body, but we also need to do it to the exclusion or separation from evil, which is what Steve brought out, and he's going to repeat it. Second Timothy, chapter 2.
Nevertheless, verse 19 the foundation of God stand us sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his, and let everyone that name it the name of Christ, depart from iniquity.
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold in the silver, but also of wood and earth, and some to honor and some to dishonor.
If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel, and to honor sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepare unto every good work. Imagine this great, this man who has this great house, and he has this big sink, and he has this big party. And there's all these people here, and then they get done their party, and they throw all their dishes into this thing.
And this is a very rich man and he's got plates that are lined with gold and he's got gold and silver silverware. And he's also in that sink. There's all kinds of mess. It's like rolls and food and it's disgusting and it's gross. And you say, well, we need to, we need to a nice spread the butter on our bread. And you look into that thinking and say.
00:20:21
I'm not grabbing a knife out of there.
No way. So what do we have to do? We need to take that gold.
Ourselves.
If that ourselves were real and we need to separate ourselves from the mass.
What if somebody in that sense doesn't really care? I don't mind being in that sink. How do I find a little mess? That they're a real believer.
We have to separate from the mass. We can't force somebody else to separate from it.
But we have to a lot of rubbish. Great burden have to do it.
That's the word of God says separate it. When you separate yourself, you'll not just be a vessel.
Fit for every work or for for good work. But for every good work, every good work, the Lord can use you in any way he sees fit. It's not just some ways. Not just OK, I'm gonna use this fork to go outside and weed. I'm gonna use this on my my bread.
Every good work. The man therefore purged himself from these he shall be a Bethlehem to honor.
Verse 22 we also use a lot, but fall after righteousness, faith, charity, peace with them, with them again, we are one body, there are them.
With them calling the Lord out of pure heart, Where is that? I'm not going to tell you.
I can say for my soul where I believe with them are, but I can't tell you. What each one of us has to do is open up the Word of God and allow the Word of God alone to penetrate our conscience to the exclusion of every other thought that we might have here.
Our God and our living Father, we just, we confess. We so often lean on our own wisdom. We just pray that.
It would not be that we would, that we would rely on Your word and Your word alone, that each one of us would be so diligent and digging into it to see what You have for us and what is in Your word and that we.
Would not rely on human wisdom, on tradition, on what any man says, what your word alone.
Just ask for help for that. Thanking you for this time. Your name and prayer, Lord Jesus, Amen.
Just the tip people.
If you're separated to Christ, you will have very little.
Difficulty understanding what to separate from.
Separate yourself to Christ.
Living the Gospel
Open—Alan Weeks
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.
11 The appendix.
Umm.
It's almost like, you know, I'm afraid.
Of my own friends. You know what you're going to tell us about yourself.
And then stop a lot of water for all of them. Oh, oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh boy. Can you hear me?
Ready together.
I technically live in Montreal as of last week, so umm.
But I used to live in Ottawa, so I feel like I can share a little bit. I really enjoyed the remembrance of the Lord this morning. Wasn't that wonderful?
It was really wonderful to be here at this presence.
Umm, I also enjoyed the reading yesterday and how we were brought into looking at that Day of Atonement but responding in such a way that I was shaping as Richard read that passage and and what that Day of Atonement will be like.
And sometimes, to be transparent, I look at.
The present tense, a little drearily so growing up, I, I think I considered the gospel as a past action. There was a point when I received Christ as my Savior. My dad might remember maybe around six, six years old. My mother wrote it down. I, I was saved because the Gospels in the past. And then we talked about the future, the gospel in the future, that Day of Atonement.
There's also the present. Let's turn to Galatians to.
And look at verse 20.
I am crucified with Christ.
Nevertheless, I live not I, but Christ liveth in me. Uh, what's interesting here, and what was shared with me a while back, is that the verb tense in this is actually perfect. There's a past action. Paul's referring to his salvation.
But he says I am crucified. So the past action is salvation, but the effect is continuing.
00:05:05
The action has happened, but the effect is now, and the effect continues also into the future.
We see this in other places where the the life that I live in the flesh.
But then it refers to the life that we now live in the spirit. It refers to being dead and sins were alive to Christ. And you see this, this contrast in this, this pull between the two of those things.
What, what about the gospel and the present? For me, for us, umm, I moved last week to Montreal as I was mentioning umm and I, uh, just before leaving, we were in a big rush. We had people in and out. We were hosting almost every day of the week before moving. It was a terrible idea, but we had a great time. Umm, and I was in a rush to move out of the house, but before I did, I actually had to, there's a picture on the wall. I had to remove the picture and I had to drywall a hole in the wall.
Because.
Follow me here. I had lost, felt a sense of loss of control, and punched a hole through the wall. Now I covered it up with a beautiful family picture.
So what does the Gospel say? What does the message of Jesus say to me when I have lost control? I think it is very, very practical. Listen to this.
Jesus came down.
Of his Father. He dies on the cross for us. He's risen again in that same spirit lives in US.
When I punch a hole in the wall because I feel a loss of control.
I'm actually there's an area in my life of unbelief and who Jesus is and what he's done for me.
What would that be? What does the story of Jesus tell about my area of unbelief when that happens?
Jesus says I'm in control.
But you can also trust me. How does he say that to the story of Jesus?
We see him in the garden. He says, Father, if it be possible, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless not my will, but thine be done. You see him in perfect subjection to the Father, but yet Jesus is trustable.
And he is in control. He says he he lays himself down, yet raises himself up. He has power over life and death. He is trustable.
Ibu I My area of unbelief is I could not trust him and I came to the end of my own control and punched a hole through the wall.
But we can trust them because Jesus came and he's trustable and good because he sacrificed himself for my own sin. And so my response to Jesus has to be of repentance in that present moment. The gospel has to live through me where I say Jesus.
I lost control. I didn't believe that you had control, but you do. You are ultimately good in the way that you sacrificed your son. Then I have to go to my wife, who is part of me and say I've sinned. I didn't put.
I didn't put God first in that. I put myself first. I tried to maintain my own control.
Isn't that incredible how the gospel can work through just a very practical situation and our own life?
And breathe life into it, where we're dead to sins, but we're alive to Christ.
The life in the flesh, yet the life in the Spirit.
There is a umm.
It's hard to do that.
It's hard to live in in.
Transparency about our weakness or our fault. It's much easier to put the family picture on the wall of the hole, isn't it Jesus? Jesus looks at the picture on the wall and he says, you know, it's more or less that's a whitewashed tomb and there's bones behind it.
And the world looks at us when we pretend we are of no sin. And they say that's hypocrisy.
What if we were open? What if we were vulnerable about our faults and weaknesses in such a way?
That rather than covering up.
The Hole in the wall We would be honest about the story of Jesus and how it came in and filled the hole. And through the power of his death, blood, and resurrection, the story of brokenness now becomes the story of the gospel.
How we are now seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus. We are clothed in righteousness. He sees us as his bride. He sees us as pure. It's incredible, It's transformational. It's life giving.
00:10:09
The umm, good.
Uh, there's a lady and I'll, I'll leave her name out. I've, I've had dinner with her before. Umm.
Let's call her Mona.
She's part of a a northern Indigenous community. I just want to share another example of how the gospel can speak to us in the present.
And umm, her grandfather was actually part of the translation of the Bible into the native tongue in the area of Canada that she was grew up in. UMM, She's very respected, influential lady who helped children, umm, through situations of abuse, children who are suicidal.
It came out that this individual.
Umm. Her grandfather umm had supposedly inappropriately umm.
Been with some younger members, her cousins in this case. Umm this is way in the past and it came out through the attempted suicide of some of her cousins.
And as she battled with this, she is a Christian, and as she battled with this, trying to ask God what was in this, umm, she found herself going to a faith healing center. And we're not talking about the faith that you and I know, umm, this is something that they have in northern communities quite recently that they've brought back.
And she went there seeking answers.
And she sat in that room and we talked about principalities.
And powers in high places. This is real.
This is very real. There's a battle going on and she's that and that faith healing center.
And what was revealed to her were things that she had grown up with. She had always had this dream that there was arms trying to wrap around her big hairy arms in the night. And in that faith and that faith healing center, what was brought back to her, not by the power of life, but what was brought back to her and exposed was her grandfather.
Coming and throwing her across the room and abusing her.
She screamed, she cried, she vomited in that room. Her daughter was outside and could not hear her. This was this year. We're not talking about another country.
And she left that room because the power of darkness exposes our sin and leaves us feeling empty.
It leaves us empty. In this case, it was sin against her, wasn't even her sin. And so she went.
She didn't feel like she had anyone to turn into. She ended up on the street here in Montreal, drunk, trying to dull the pain like we were talking about earlier.
I think it was February. She wound up at the table of someone I've known a decent part of my life, a brother and sister in Christ, and she sat there and she said I'm such shame.
This is my grandfather, the one we respected. I have such shame.
And as she wept, the brother in there sat.
And open to her. And started to speak the gospel into her.
I'm gonna flip this around. Just pause for a second if that was you.
At that dinner table.
How would the Gospel speak to that Lady? How would the story of Jesus and what he'd done for us speak into the life and speak life that Lady?
So the Brother and the sister UMM began to open up, because we know through the power of the gospel that He sees us spotless.
That her identity and her recognition in the community was built.
Around who? Her grandfather Jesus gives us an identity that's alive in Christ. It's built in Christ. Not in ourselves, not in the people around us. It's built in Christ.
And so as they spoke through her, they said.
Jesus wants to remove that shame from you. He died that guilt that that that exposure that the evil one gave you the feeling of.
Being just completely exposed and vulnerable, He wants to cover you with his love and his sacrifice. That's the gospel.
00:15:10
And the brother continued.
And he said, I feel the Lord is telling me something and I don't know what it is.
And I don't know what language it is.
And it was never scuba lover. I don't, I don't remember what it was. It was one word, he says. Does that mean anything to you?
The mean blanket.
Jesus wants to cover what Satan exposed with his love and to give us a new identity in Him.
Of perfection.
Of daughter, daughter, sons, joint heirs with him and his family.
So powerful.
Jesus today as we look forward to the glory.
So how? How do we as Christians? For me, the Gospel voices 7:00 or 7:30 on Sunday.
Or or through the Sunday School, which are wonderful, wonderful times and we need the gospel.
What are additional ways that we can reach the people who we love around us?
And I've been, I've been thinking about this a lot, and I've been encouraged by other people's input.
There is.
Not so much a financial poverty in Canada and the US and North America around us as there is a spiritual and emotional poverty, I would say very broadly.
And things like the Sunday school, which are fantastic for teaching and for admonishing for the gospel, filled a very important need when they were first developed. If we look back to the early church, there's actually no formal education available. And the church was able to step in the body of Christ and to give an education and use the gospel through it, something very practical.
And so if we look at today and how we can communicate the gospel to other individuals, what's helpful to look is those reoccurring things in their life where we can step along beside them and split, speak the gospel into their life so that Christ becomes evident. What are some examples of those? I think 1.
Is to listen to people.
To be open, to sit down, to ask questions to non believers. I was in, uh, San Francisco earlier this year and I, I had a meeting with a venture capitalist firm and I ended up visiting a friend, Brendan Reeves. The honeymoon is at my wedding. He's one of my groomsmen. He works at Dropbox and we went out to eat and came back to visit some friends of his or living in some multi $1,000,000 place. And there's a whole group of them, a whole gathering.
If you want to put it that way, umm, in his living room, in their living room and the conversation is going in the eye. The conversation comes up about identity and sexuality and.
Everything that you would hear in in common conversation today.
And.
Something in me, maybe it was the boldness that EQ has been praised for us. Umm. Something clicked and I, I almost interrupted this individual who is talking about an identity and he said what if our identity wasn't based on what we consume sexually?
How reductionistic is that?
What if our identity was based on the fact that were made in the image of God and that we are a valuable merely because we exist?
The entire room in.
And everyone was looking my way and one guy just had his mouth open. He goes. That's the most incredible thing I've ever heard.
Is isn't it?
Isn't the gospel the most incredible thing you've ever heard? In a culture that is drawing farther and farther away from what we know, Jesus, life, death and resurrection, and the truth of what we read in his Word to be, Isn't the gospel incredible?
Isn't it life breathing? Isn't it transformational? So as we sit down and we listen to people and seek to speak into their lives, let's look for ways to put the gospel into that.
00:20:08
Another way we can do that is that I think it's an area of poverty as well, socially or emotionally.
Is to eat with people.
And.
Imagine this.
That you have a group of friends who are Christians and and wherever you live in your assembly and you decide that you're going to invite over your neighbors Chris and I have my wife Krista, I've.
Started to try and do this in, in, in some feeble way in our, in our own community and it's been really stretching. Uh, the lady behind us identifies as a modern day witch. Just crystals on the wall. They had crystals on the wall. The opposite. Julia, we've now moved not because of that, but we had her over and she kept bringing things in a certain direction and we kept having the opportunity to bring Christ into the conversation, to bring the Holy Spirit and what Jesus has done for us, his life, death.
Direction, we had a neighbor down the street who ended up selling us a car. And he says, oh, well, we go canoeing. Well, let's go canoeing and have a picnic together. And this time I'm gonna invite my cousin who's also a believer. And you can surround them and listen to them. And there is always ways in the world where the gospel speaks perfectly and clearly into an individual's life and Christ is exalted.
So much so that the individual says the life that I'm now living is actually in death, I mean.
******* to sin.
Let's start trying to do that.
Let's live in boldness in what Jesus Christ has done for us.
Not in fear. He has not given us the fear of fear.
Paul says.
To preach Christ and his life, death and resurrection.
Let's do that.
Let's actually let's do that.
I'm gonna, I'm gonna pray. And as I do like, let let's think of people in our communities. Let's think of people in our workplace who need the Lord, who we can come alongside.
And so as I pray, ask, ask him to move, ask the Spirit that raised Christ from the dead to start working in you, to start working in them, to bring them alongside. Great things will happen. He will work. He has promised to He will do that.
For Jesus.
Thank you for.
Your son who died for us.
Thank you for the incredible message of the Gospel.
It lives right now.
It lives right now. It's a present day reality. We can't wait to glory Lord Jesus.
For us to live as you and to die is gain. So as we're in this struggle between the two, don't let us drift, Lord Jesus.
But focus us on you, your life, death, and resurrection. Let it be such a reality to us that it's lived out in our interactions with others. And so we pray, Lord, as we meet here as an assembly, that each of the individual locations that these dear brothers and sisters come from, that you would work in them and in their communities and in their workplaces.
Give each and every one of them boldness to speak openly and clearly about how Jesus Christ has worked in their own life.
Let them feel the opportunity to be transparent about their own faults and failures, to relate the story of how you worked, have worked, and continue to work through their areas of unbelief and failure.
And convict us, Lord Jesus, of our own, our own areas of unbelief.
And so as we come together for the rest of these meetings, Lord Jesus as the body of Christ represented a year in, in some small fashion, we thank you that you see us spotless, that you see our bride spotless because and only because of the redemptive work that you've done on the cross. So commend the day to you.
Judge Not
Open—Allan McCavour
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.
Our brother Umm yesterday in the address of the young people mentioned Umm, the phrase that we all know. Judge not.
I think it's one, I think it's said to be one of the most quoted verses in the Bible and I think it can safely be said to be one of the most misquoted verses in the Bible. And maybe this afternoon we can just take a look at that Matthew Chapter 7.
Verse 1. Judge not.
That you did not be judged.
For with what judgment ye judge ye shall be judged, with what measure ye meet ye shall be measured to you again.
There's a couple of different ways that this versus misapplied or misused or misinterpreted. The first one is, umm, more often used by the world.
And it simply goes along the lines of.
We cannot say what's right or wrong. What's right for you and I and not be right for me. What's wrong for you might not be wrong for that guy over there, Judge. Not now. Without even going back to the Bible, this is absurd on its face. It's a contradiction in and of itself. It's saying it's wrong to say something's wrong. That doesn't even make sense.
And usually what people mean when they say that is don't tell me what's wrong. I will be the judge of what's right or wrong, and you be the judge for what's right or wrong. But even then they say that, but they don't act that out.
Usually what they mean is I'll be the judge of what it's right, right or wrong, and you can be the judge of what is right or wrong as long as you agree with me.
Umm.
And I mean this, the Bible.
From the beginning to the end is full.
Of instruction of examples of teachings, whether it's in UMM.
Straight didactic turns, whether it's just clear instructions do this, don't do that, whether it's through examples, Look at these, the, uh, the faithful in the Old Testament, what did they do? What did they do right? What did they do wrong? What are the clues to the Lord's, to God's nature found throughout here through the prophets, through the example in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ, We have in the Holy Bible the most clear teaching, the divine revelation of God, of what is.
Wrong. And it is part of our job as followers of Christ to teach that to not just to each other, but to the world.
And we can't simply say well.
They're not a believer. We can't expect them to follow right and wrong. And that's true in one sense. But how can we call anyone to repentance if we can't bring them to conscience of sin?
If there's no sin, there's no repentance.
And in part, we see enrollments. That's what the law is for. We need to teach right and wrong. We need to be the light on the hill that says.
Repent because I'm a Sinner too, but repent because the Lord is that perfect light.
So that's one of the ways that people misuse these bursts. They say there's no absolute right and wrong.
As we read here, though, the second thing is, what is this really speaking to? This is speaking to hypocrisy. It's a saying well.
I'm engaged in moral evil, but don't you be engaged in moral evil And so one of the ways that people misapply this is this is more more often found among believers, but not exclusively is well, I'm a Sinner and you're a Sinner. So who are we to really judge each other And if the versus software. I stopped reading. You could maybe forgive someone for believing that. Let's keep reading here verse 3.
And why beholdest thou the Moat that is in my brother's eye? But consider us not the beam that is in 909.
Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye, and behold, the beam is in thine eye own eye. Thy hypocrite first cast out the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the Moat out of thy brothers eye. So do we just throw up our hands and say, well, we're all sinners? Who are we to say right and wrong? No, we're to judge ourselves, we're to condemn our own hypocrisy. We're to leave that sin, we're to repent.
And before we do anything else.
And we're get, we're kind of we're given a bit of instruction on this. It says first get rid of the beam. Now beam could be translated as log something really big versus the spec in someone elses eye, right?
00:05:07
And why are we to get rid of this? It's that in verse five that thou shalt see clearly.
I see a lot of people with glasses on here. I've had glasses most of my life. I'm going to have to start wearing them again soon.
And we all know, and if you don't have glasses, maybe you can kind of see this in the windshield of a car, but you kind of slowly get a build up of grime and dirt on there. You don't really notice it, right? You're just looking through. Everything looks normal until one day you pull your glasses off and you wipe them out. Oh, right. Wow.
Didn't everything look normal until you cleaned them and all of a sudden you're like wow, everything I looked at was filthy dirty but I didn't notice it. In the same way. When we look at others, we might see the back in their eye, but maybe we're seeing that through the lens of our own filthy glasses.
And it could be seeing judging actions throughout our own, umm, sin. So if we struggle with pride, we somewhat see someone walking with their head up. We say, oh, what a proud man. He thinks he's better than me. Is he? Does he really? Or is it my own interpretation through my own sin, the the log that's in my eyes?
Umm, we're supposed to see clearly. We need to judge in godly wisdom. We need to see.
What that other person is doing is it is it, are we interpreting it through our own or is it something that we can objectively see? They are they do have a speck in their eye.
OK, so we've gotten rid of the log out of our own eye. We've gotten rid of our hypoxia. We've repented of our own sin. We see clearly, We see this back in our eye. Are we now free to just get in there and start judging? Well, no.
Look at verse.
Five. At the end it says, Then thou shalt see clearly to what? To cast out the motive, Thy brother's eye? What is your motivation?
In in looking and seeing the spec of your eye in someone else's eye, what's your motivation there? Is it self righteousness? Is it righteousness on behalf of someone else maybe or the Lord or in our own minds there's lots of reasons. Or is it in love and sorrow to help that person?
That's caught in that snare of sin.
Is it to make yourself better or to heal them?
And that could be a hard thing to judge because sometimes those things are really mixed up together, especially when our emotions get involved in family and friends and all that sort of thing. But we really need to be before the Lord.
In what is our motivation if we say, oh, that's wrong, It's not that it's not wrong. It's not that we should wink at evil and anything like that, but we need to be before the Lord when we judge to say, am I doing it for me or for them?
And finally on the last thing I'd like to say about this is.
Three verse that we all know in the same chapter, verse 12. Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye Even so to them, for this is the law and the prophets, when we look on the behavior of others.
We should be.
Doing this in love, there's there's always different ways to interpret it. On the Carry Blvd. here in Montreal, there's an exit on the left hand side which is unusual and causes a lot of traffic accidents. And that lane that exits always backs up.
And back when I lived here, there would be lots of times when I'm driving and in a big hurry and I get on the highway and I get up to this exit and I see those cars are all lined up, and I really need to get where I'm going. I accelerate along the line of cars waiting. Oh, there's a gap. Let me zoom in there. Get in there. The guy behind me.
What a jerk. You know, listen, what's really gonna make a difference? Three, You know, three more seconds. He's gonna have to wait because I pulled in there. I'm gonna hurry. Let's go. And then another day. I'm coming along.
And I'm not in such a big hurry. And I just pull in. I'm waiting. And this guy comes zooming along and pulls it in front of me. He'd be, what a jerk, right? And I was like, well, you know, I had, I was waiting. Why couldn't you wait too? We judge ourselves by our our intentions, but our others by their actions. And this is something we should have a conscience about if someone in the assembly does something that offends you.
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We need to look at is there more than one? We know our own intentions, but we don't know there. The Lord knows the heart. We judge others by their actions. Is there more than one way to interpret that? If someone makes a joke, is it because they wanted to offend us or because they were trying to make a joke? And maybe they're not very good at making jokes. If someone sits in your seat or wears a hat you don't like or I don't mean to make fun of these kind of smaller things, but often these are the things that drive.
Problems that become much bigger things. We need to be generous in our.
Attribution of motives to each other. If there's two ways to look at it, and one of them is offensive and one of them is not, let's pick the one that's not.
You know, we can get to the point where we have a trouble with the brother and we know what to do. We need to go speak to them and that stuff, but.
How much more loving is it to not even get to the point where we're offended? And again, I'm not talking about winking at evil or anything like that, but there are these all these interactions that are not objectively sinful if someone doesn't say hi to you or someone.
Was mean to your kid or you know, there's all these things that just through the day-to-day life that we rub up against each other. We need to have grace and love and what drives us to have this grace and love? What motivates us.
Well, we think of that example of the.
The Lord gave of the of the steward who has forgiven his $1,000,000 debt and goes to the ones that owe him money and says pay me back or I'll throw you in jail.
We we had the remembrance of the Lord. How much were we forgiven? How much grace was He given? And He knew our hearts. How much more should we be for giving to those when we don't even know their hearts?
So let me just encourage us all to be gentle and loving.
When it comes to these smaller things, and yet when it comes to the truth of what's right and wrong that so clearly LED out in this Bible to the world and to each other, let us be those lights on a hill that speak clearly.
Nothing but Christ
Continue Thou 2 Timothy 3
Address—Bill Prost
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Could we sing together #312?
312.
Nice short hymn, but one that is very appropriate.
Lead on Almighty Lord, lead on the victory.
Encouraged by thy blessed word, with joy we follow thee, 312.
All night.
And great heavens, all right.
Let's look to the Lord in prayer.
I would like you to turn with me, please, to Second Timothy chapter 3.
We may refer to other verses, but we will stay mainly in the book of Second Timothy.
Now I would like to read the latter part of the chapter.
Beginning with verse.
9.
Before we start off.
Let us note that the epistle the Second Timothy was the last epistle written by our beloved Apostle Paul.
And at that time he was in rather a difficult position.
He knew that his time in this world was coming to an end. The Lord has showed him that.
He was in prison, not under house arrest, as he no doubt had been for two whole years previous to this.
He was in a real prison.
And more than that, he had to say in the first chapter of this epistle.
All they which are in Asia be turned away from me.
That is the places where some of his most productive laborers had taken place.
The believers in those places were turning away from not Christianity, but from the precious truth that he had labored so strenuously to bring before them.
But God allowed all that because.
God through Paul.
Gave us ministry for the last days in which you and I find ourselves.
And that's why, and we aren't going to read it, but at the beginning of the chapter, chapter three of Second Timothy, it says verse one.
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This no also.
That in the last days perilous times shall come.
Even the world is beginning to recognize that.
Perilous times.
A year or two ago, a secular commentator made the remark that economically and politically, this world is ripe for what the commentator called the perfect storm.
Not a storm.
On the sea or something like that.
But a political and economic storm?
Perilous times.
Men's hearts are already beginning to fail them for fear.
As we read in Luke's Gospel chapter 21.
Men are perplexed at the sea, the sea of nations and the rolling waves.
But what is worse than all of that is the description in the 1St 8 verses of this chapter, which is a description not of the heathen world, not of that which does not know the light of Christianity.
But rather it is a description of what has become of those lands that once.
Valued this precious book and at least in an outward way, sought to walk in the light of it.
This is where you and I find ourselves.
And may I say that I don't envy you young people in the world in which you are growing up and having to live and move. But at the same time, I want to encourage you because, as I have often said before, and I repeat it again, there is not one word of discouragement in the whole book of Second Timothy.
Let's read what Paul has to say.
Beginning with verse 9.
He has been recounting.
The sad things that are going on.
And even goes back to talking about those who, way back in Moses time, resisted.
The truth of God and the power of God, verse nine, Second Timothy 3:00 But they shall proceed no further.
For their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
But thou hast fully known my.
Doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, charity, patience.
Persecutions, afflictions which came unto me. Antioch at Iconium at Lystra.
What persecutions I endured, but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
Yeah, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of.
Knowing of whom thou hast learned them.
And that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures.
Which are able to make the wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction and righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, or perhaps mature, full grown.
Thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
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What I had before me this afternoon mainly, is those two words in verse 14.
Continue thou. Continue thou.
Men have recognized for a long time.
The value of perseverance and continuing.
And sometimes you will even see it on a billboard, perhaps with an individual.
Who has exemplified that particular trait?
Perseverance.
Many here who have studied British history will remember the name of Sir Francis Drake.
A British sea captain back in the latter half of the 16th century under Queen Elizabeth the 1St.
Yes, he was a bit of a Rascal.
He took great delight in attacking and plundering Spanish merchant vessels.
And when the King of Spain would complain to Queen Elizabeth about all of that, she would give him a slap on the wrist and say, you naughty boy, but stretch out her other hand to receive all the gold that he had managed to relieve those Spanish vessels of in the process.
But there may have been some spiritual life in him because he used to pray a prayer like this.
Oh Lord God.
When thou give us to thy servants to endeavor any great matter.
Give us also to know.
That it is not the beginning, but the continuing of the same until it be thoroughly finished, which yieldeth the true glory.
He had a good principle in hand there, whether or not he was a true believer.
And God places a high premium on continuing.
Because the Christian pathway is not like a 100 meter dash that is over if you're a good runner in less than 10 seconds.
No, it's a marathon that requires perseverance, requires facing hardships, requires dealing with difficulties. And rest assured, Paul was no stranger to any of those things.
And Paul does not hesitate to paint a rather difficult picture here.
He does not pretend that everything is going to be, as we sometimes say, a bed of roses. He does not pretend that it's going to be an easy pathway. Excuse me?
He does not tell Timothy. Don't worry, everything is going to be all right. The Lord is going to smooth it all out for you. No, he does not.
He tells Timothy very clearly that first of all, all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution, and he tells Timothy that rather than things improving.
Medieval men and seducers are going to wax worse and worse.
You and I are seeing that happen today.
And as I said earlier, what is worse than anything, worse than the political and economic storms that are rocking this world, what is worse than all of the things that are going on around us, is the corruption of that which once was so real.
After the work of the Reformation, which was a work of God.
Very quickly everything degenerated into terrible world worldliness.
And even bad doctrine coming in so that even Protestantism, which was not a work of God, became a collection of a mixture of believers and unbelievers.
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And in the latter part of the 17th century and the early part of the 18th century.
There were those that raised their voices against all of that, raise their voices against the ungodliness, the worldliness, the mixture of believers and unbelievers who were partaking of the Lord's Supper together.
They raised their voices against it.
And thousands and thousands came together to hear those preachers.
Who sought to recall them for the kind of things that were initially preached by men like Martin Luther and William Farrell and John Calvin and many others?
Did they have everything right, those men? No, they did not.
But they lived, I believe, up to the light that God had given them, and God blessed their laborers, and far be it from us to be critical of them.
But sad to say, those who lifted up their voices against all of that.
While they made an impact, yet sad to say, they were unable to turn the tide of Protestantism all the way around.
And it was left later on for the Lord to raise up men in the first part of the 18th or the 19th century router to bring you and me back to the precious Truth.
Of the Church of God.
And allow me to say.
Perhaps I can get away with this as an older man. Allow me to say that I believe I'm looking into the faces of many young people who have been brought up under the sound of that precious truth.
There may be those here this afternoon to whom some of that precious truth has only recently become real. Thank God for that. And I have had the experience, not only here in North America, but also in foreign lands, of seeing those who for the first time realized what it was to be gathered simply to the precious name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
To gather simply on the ground.
The broadest ground possible that there is.
One body.
To be gathered.
Not looking to men to look after everything, not looking to leaders and so-called ministers and clergymen and a hierarchy, but rather depending simply on the gifts that God has given and on the Spirit of God who is well able to raise up those to feed his people, to teach them, to pastor them and to spread the gospel as well.
I have seen those in other lands who grabbed on, as it were, to that precious truth and said this is wonderful.
We have never seen this before.
What about you and me who have been brought up under the sound of it? What are we doing with it?
Paul was passing off the scene.
A little before this meeting.
I was talking to an older brother.
Who happens to have a year or two on me. But we were commenting to one another that if the Lord doesn't come. And don't get me wrong, I thoroughly and completely expect him to come at any moment, But if the Lord doesn't come.
We're on the downward slope physically and in every other way, and it is to you young people, that the Lord looks to step forward.
And allow me to say that I appreciated that there were young brothers who felt led and free to step up to the podium this afternoon and have a word to say to us. And I appreciated what they brought before us.
The Apostle Paul was looking at Timothy as a younger man.
Now again, we need balance in the things of God, and I mentioned this as something that we need.
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The Apostle Paul placed a high premium on godliness.
And we're going to talk about that in a moment. But he placed a high premium on it.
Very necessary. And I wanna say at the outset, and we're going to emphasize this again, I say to you beloved young people.
Your best testimony is not in what you say or what you do as much as the way that you live.
Someone made a remark many years ago and I never forgot it.
It's very true.
Ungodliness is bad. Ungodliness is bad.
But there is one thing that is worse, and that is a caricature of godliness.
Do I need to explain that?
What is a caricature? It's a cartoon. It's a distortion of something that may be good in itself, but has been distorted by having something mixed with with it that doesn't keep it in the proper balance.
Maybe something of that old sinful self that has been added to it.
To see that, turn back to Ecclesiastes for a verse that many will recognize. Ecclesiastes chapter 10.
Ecclesiastes, chapter 10.
Verse one.
Very important verse, one that I memorized many years ago.
Why did I memorize it? Because I needed it a lot.
Dead flies caused the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savior.
So doth a little folly.
Him that is had for him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor.
Ungodliness is bad, but it is usually consistent.
A caricature of godliness brings those dead flies into the picture, and it's worse because it spoils the godliness that's connected with it.
I say to my own heart, there have been too many times in my life when my godliness such as it might be.
Has been spoiled by those dead flies.
And I suggest to our hearts that we need to examine them, not just young people, but all of us, and say.
Have we allowed too many dead flies that have caused that which is of God in our lives to be spoiled? And that which is of Christ sends forth, rather than a fragrance, what Scripture calls a stinking savor?
Let's go back now to Second Timothy 2.
Or rather 3.
The good news is that with all that is going on in the world and everything that is negative.
What does Paul say in verse 9?
They shall proceed no further.
Oh, you and I say. But in the next breath he tells us that evil men and seducers are going to wax worse and worse. What do you mean they're not going to proceed any further? It didn't stop at that point.
No, that's not the meaning of the verse.
The meaning of that verse is that God has put a definite timeline on how far man is going to be allowed to go.
How far is he going to be allowed to go?
Until two things happen.
Until the iniquity of this world is fully ripe. Until the House of God is filled.
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And that's why we were able to have a gospel meeting last night, because God's house is not filled.
And that's why the exhortation that was given to us in the open meeting to preach the gospel is so needed.
God's house is not filled.
But also God always gives space for repentance and what we are seeing in the world today in the way of earthquakes and floods and hurricanes and brush fires, to say nothing of.
Men picking up guns and shooting people all over the place. It seems every week or two there's a new attack of some kind and all the rest of it. God is warning men that worse things are coming and waiting for people to pay attention. You and I have the responsibility to point out to people that God is speaking.
We have that responsibility.
But rest assured, God has his timeline firmly established. He says, man, you will go this far and no further. And we can rest in that. We don't have to know where God's timeline is. We don't have to try and make all kinds of predictions. We can rest in the fact that God is going to deal with these things and manifest the folly of man.
But what about you?
And me.
Verse N. Verse 10.
Paul proceeds to detail nine things.
Nine things that characterized his own life.
And you and I might take an initial look at all this and say, Paul, that's kind of a boastful thing for you to say, trying to tell everybody what you did and how well you did. And, uh, as if here I am. Follow me.
That isn't the thought.
Because all this comes from a man who had landed in prison, at least initially, because of failure.
But at the same time, Paul was given a special place of being, as we might call it, the standard bearer for the Christian life in this dispensation.
He showed the path of a heavenly man.
A heavenly man.
Who walked with a heavenly calling?
And yet who was in the world? And I believe our brother this afternoon had that in mind when he said reach out to this world. We're in the world, but not of the world.
A difficult balance sometime to keep because sometimes we stray over to the fact that we're.
Not only in the world, but maybe if we're not careful, we're practically of the world, or we stray over the line this way. And yes, we're not of the world, but for all practical purposes we're not even in it.
Both are raw.
But Paul.
Is speaking to a young man seeking to give him, to keep those things in balance. And he was the standard bearers, I say, for this dispensation. And that's why he describes himself. And let's look briefly at these nine things about which he spake.
Doctrine.
Doctrine.
Why is doctrine at the beginning?
Oh, because you and I cannot possibly make progress in the Christian life.
If doctrine is not right.
And if you hear the doctrine in the Holy Scriptures being carefully delineated, don't, don't get upset about it.
Don't squirm as if you wanted something more practical.
We need the practical side, absolutely, but unless it is based on sound doctrine, it is like.
Putting a house on a wrong foundation.
00:30:03
Someone whom I know some time ago went to an interesting exhibit.
In which there was a house that had been built totally topsy turvy. It was all on one side and everything in that house was totally off the level and it looked absolutely crazy to anyone, let alone someone that had a builder's eye.
This man looked at it.
And after a while, he remarked to his friend.
He said. I wonder if they made the foundation the same way.
The answer was obvious, wasn't it?
No, they could not possibly have made the foundation the same way. The reason that crazy looking house would stand where it did, just as a caricature to show everyone something funny, was because it did have a solid foundation.
Otherwise it would never have stood up.
We need a solid foundation, and that's why we need good doctrine. That's why we need to go over the Scriptures carefully and to have especially the person and the work of Christ clearly before us.
But then notice the very next thing that is mentioned here is manner of life.
And I might say this because the phrase manner of life doesn't need a lot of elaboration.
Manner of life is not simply the way you appear in public.
It also includes what goes on behind the scenes.
Some time ago I was reading and I can't even remember where it was in our written ministry.
But the brother remarked on how he sometimes sat down with brothers in Christ who spoke so nicely about the Lord and who could minister the word so effectively. I say effectively meaning that they could speak very nicely.
But then he said.
Before I make a judgment about that brother, he said, I like to go and spend a few days in his home.
He said. That's where I find out what he is really like.
Several years ago I was talking to a good friend of mine, not gathered to the Lord's name, but I know him well. He's a godly man. He seeks to honor the Lord, although I am afraid that he knows better than where he is and what he is doing. But I respect him for what he does.
And he said to me, he said, Bill, do you realize? And it was a shock to me, he said, in my experience, 80% of the Christian men with whom I have to do are hooked on *********** on the Internet.
80%, he said. Bill, I'm not exaggerating.
We could go on and on. We live in a difficult world and our manner of life is not merely what I do in public, although that is important.
It is important the way I react to situations. It is the way I react in my home.
Punching the hole in the sheetrock or the drywall as we call it in Canada here, and so on, or whatever it might be. It is important my manner of life because my manner of life tells everyone, and me especially, how closely I'm walking with the Lord.
Purpose.
Purpose.
It concerns me sometimes and I hope I'm not stepping on any toes when I say this.
To see beloved young people, and I mean that word beloved in the strongest possible terms.
00:35:06
To see beloved young people who seem to have no idea.
Where they're going or what the Lord has for them in their lives?
No, I don't mean that you and I should see all the way to the end of the pathway. That isn't the thought.
We can see where the end is in glory. Yes, we can.
But Psalm 119 tells us, thy word is a lamp unto my feet, the light under my path.
And I believe through the Spirit of God and using the Word of God, you can, you and I can have light for our pathway and we can have a sense of the Lorde direction in our lives so that we don't bounce here and there aimlessly trying this. No, I don't like that. Well, I think I'll go over here. No, I don't like that job or I don't like this.
Now, I'm not saying we should never make a change if we'd gone on a wrong course. Sometimes we do need to do as we say in modern language.
A180.
Turning around 180°.
But at the same time, I believe we can have a sense of God's purpose for our lives.
I want to say this kindly.
But I say from experience, so I point the finger back here.
Very often when I have found that I did not have a sense of purpose in my life, it was because the purpose was more about me.
Instead of being about the Lord.
Is that possible? Yes, it is.
And if the purpose that I want concerns me.
And what I want to do, my gratification, what will make me happy, what will gratify me, and all the thoughts that I have about my life. I suggest that my focus is wrong.
No, I don't have that right anymore.
I belong to someone else.
And there is another Who is there to tell me what to do? The Lord Jesus Christ.
And he has a claim over you and me that we can't deny.
And I venture to say that the Lord Jesus came to each one of us this afternoon, those of us that belong to him, and held out his pierced hands and said, I have something for you to do.
I have a course that I want you to pursue and it's not going to be easy and there are going to be some tough times.
But I'll be with you.
And on the basis of what I have suffered for you, I want you to follow that path.
Is there any one of us here that would say no, Lord, that's too much, Lord, I don't think I can do that. I don't think that's possible. Would you and I say that?
I don't think so. Would we?
The Lord Jesus has a purpose for us, and He will show us.
Now, sometimes this crosses up with things that we would like to do. Sometimes we would like to have certain things. The only thing I would say is this. We won't bother to turn to the verse, but I believe it's in the 27th Psalm.
Delight. Well, let's turn to it. It wouldn't hurt. We can only take a minute. Psalm 27, I believe it is.
Psalm 27.
37 Ah, thank you. Somebody is a good mind reader and it helps. Thank you very much, Psalm 37.
Verse 4.
Delight thyself also in the Lord, and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Does that mean I'll get everything I want? No, it means that if I delight myself in the Lord, my desires will coincide with His. They will.
And my heart will beat, as it were, In Sync with his.
00:40:05
Second Timothy 3. The fourth thing is faith.
Faith.
You know, it has been said that it takes only a little faith to bring the soul to heaven, but much faith will bring heaven to the soul.
Faith to believe need only be a small amount, as long as it's in the right person.
And that's why, incidentally, that when the Scripture talks about faith and belief.
Only a few times does it connect faith and belief with the work of Christ.
Is that a shock?
Think of all the good gospel verses that you may have memorized.
Largely over 100 times, they connect faith and belief with the person of Christ. Why? Oh, because even if we have an imperfect understanding of the work of Christ, God values faith in His beloved Son.
But you know, much faith in our Christian pathway gives us to be able to go through those tough circumstances.
And trust the Lord.
Faith.
It's not always easy.
I said in the reading meeting yesterday, and I commented on that verse that we had in First Thessalonians 5.
And everything gives thanks for this. Is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Maybe I can share with you that I got tested on that this morning first thing in the morning.
I don't like cell phones and I don't carry 1 so I tell people I'll keep in touch, just send me an e-mail.
So in my room about 7:30 this morning, I turned on my laptop.
Went into my e-mail and they are staring me in the face. Was a legitimate message from my bank.
Saying that someone just this morning has changed the password on your Internet banking.
If you didn't do this, you need to call us right away.
I hadn't done it.
Ouch.
To make matters worse, the phone in our room wouldn't work. Every time I tried to make a long distance call it got blocked. Phone was monkey wrenching. Somebody turned something off.
And so I had to miss some of the Sunday school standing down in the lobby of the hotel using their telephone.
Calling my bank.
To see whatever could have happened and having visions of my bank account being emptied and my identity stolen and I don't know what all. And I kept thinking to myself, Oh yes, and everything gives. Thanks. You said that yesterday now.
Yes, you get the point.
The end of the story was all right.
I had had occasion to send a quantity of money to India and the bank being on guard about things like that, had suddenly blocked my account and changed the password, thinking that some ******* had stolen my password and was now sending money to some scam in India or something like that. And I was able to clear it up in 5 minutes and everything was OK.
Faith.
We need faith that the Lord is going to look after us, to take us through the difficulties, whatever they might be. But remember.
Faith is in the pathway of faith, not in the pathway of waywardness away from the Lord now. Yes, no matter where I am, if I come back to the Lord in repentance, He wants to restore.
But faith is not going to take me down a wrong Rd. nor will the Lord in that same sense give me a sense of His presence.
00:45:02
Long-suffering.
Now we're gonna talk about going to talk about patients and long-suffering and we might ask what the difference is. Why does Paul mentioned patience and long-suffering?
I'm going to make a suggestion.
The long-suffering.
Is bearing with that which is very difficult for me and which doesn't change as quickly as I would like it.
Patience is rather waiting for something that I would like to happen, something good.
And it isn't happening as fast as I would like it.
Long-suffering is having to bear with something that I wish someone would do something about, and it's not getting changed very quickly.
Patients perhaps more the thought of wanting something good to happen and likewise it isn't happening as fast as I would like it.
We can only have long-suffering in patients when we get into the Lord's presence.
And don't think that I'm talking down to you in those things.
About 50 years ago.
Just as I was about to graduate from medical school.
I'm afraid I tried a rather silly pun on my late father.
By saying to him something that someone else had said to me, that to be a good doctor, to be a good doctor, you must have patience.
And you can all understand the pun.
My father missed the pun completely, but he got through to me, He said. Yeah, and you haven't got much.
Ouch.
He didn't miss the pun, but he knew me pretty well.
And I still struggle with that.
Long-suffering and patience.
We can only exercise those things by getting into the Lord's presence.
And let me talk for a few minutes about long-suffering and I'm going to be practical and I hope it doesn't step on any toes.
But maybe it will echo accord in some of you young people as well as some of us that are not so young.
The Lord has seen fit sometimes in these last days.
To allow many difficulties not only out in the world and not only in our lives personally, but also among those collectively as gathered to the Lord's name.
And sometimes we get upset when they drag on and on and on.
And nobody seems to be doing anything about it and nothing seems to be happening.
And we get agitated and wring our hands.
And I tend to do the same.
And we want something to happen, somebody to straighten things out. Remember a young sister coming to me and we talked about a problem. This is quite a few years ago now, and I can still hear her voice almost.
If I can say it is a whale, but Bill, it's just so wrong.
It's so wrong.
Can you relate to that?
It was wrong.
And it didn't get straightened out as fast as she wanted it.
Or as fast as I wanted it either.
Does that mean we don't have responsibility? No, it doesn't.
But it means.
To go back to what our brother said in the open meeting, that maybe the Lord is wanting me to get the log the beam out of my own eye before I start trying to take the Moat out of my brother's eye.
And if God has allowed a problem to affect all of us, it's because he has a voice for all of us.
00:50:04
But at the same time, let's remember.
That it is because.
And I say this I trust with all humility. It is because we seek to give expression to the whole truth of God that Satan attacks so vigorously.
If we have to contend with spiritual wickedness in heavenly places, in high places.
It is because we are, along with every other believer, we are risen and seated in heavenly places in Christ. And if we seek to take that place, we will come under that attack. But also there is power when we take the place where Christ has put us. And I say, beloved young people, never take a lower place.
Because sometimes the tendency is when the troubles start mounting up to say.
And pardon me for using a common cliche, I'm out of here. Have you heard that one?
I'm out of here.
I can't handle this anymore. I want some peace and quiet.
The devil says yes, I'll give that to you. We can give you some peace and quiet.
Oh, there will be a bit of compromise involved. There will be a few things you'll have to give up. There'll be a few precious truths that you'll have to let go. But I can give you a little more peace and quiet. Not, I hasten to add, that Satan is leaving anything alone that seeks to honor Christ. He's attacking everything that in any way honors the Lord Jesus, but he makes a special attack on the truth of the one body.
He makes a special attack on that which.
Bears the name, and that name alone of the Lord Jesus Christ.
He says I will smash that before anything else if I can.
Long-suffering.
And sometimes we have to bear with things that are not right.
I don't mean that we should tolerate bad doctrine as to the person and work of Christ. I don't mean that we should tolerate that which undermines the precious truth on which we gather. But I do say, let's remember that there is one in our midst who values all these things more than we do. And who is there?
And let him just quietly lay his hand on your shoulder and say, I see it all, stick with me.
And I will show you how to walk through it all and keep a clean path and be a help to others.
Between those two of long-suffering and patients, there is that wonderful word, charity or love.
And how easy it is in my heart to get upset and not to show divine love when I see that which is wrong, when I see that which hits me, especially if it, shall I say, it, hits home to a good friend of mine, or a member of my family or someone who's dear to me. Yes, it can happen. Love, let us always remember.
To exercise that divine love even if things are not going right. And that applies not only within the House of God within.
The circle, and I don't like that word circle because Scripture doesn't talk about a circle of fellowship, but within the circle of those that we live and move. I don't mean just that, but let us show that love. And again, referring to what our brother brought out in the open meeting, that divine love ought to be shown out to those with whom we work, to our friends and our neighbors.
It ought to be evident that our love reaches out to them in every possible way.
And finally, in verse 11, as we get to the end, persecutions and afflictions.
There is a difference. Persecution comes from without. Affliction comes from within. Persecution can even come from a fellow believer who isn't walking with the Lord. It can come from within the House of God, and that makes it far more difficult than when it comes from the world.
But afflictions are those things that the Lord allows in my life.
Knew about that he had a thorn in the flesh, and he recognized that the source of it was the devil.
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But he recognized that the one who allowed it was the Lord.
And as a result, he took it to the Lord. And when the Lord said Paul.
I'm not taking it away. I'm going to leave it with you, but I'm going to give you everything you need in order to be an overcomer.
And Paul was, he was an overcomer. Why? Because he could say after that that he gloried in those things that the Lord allowed in his life. Why? Because he says, when I am weak, then am I strong? Oh, how blessed.
To get back to what we said at the beginning, just as we come to close, let us remember, and again, this is a young people's meeting.
That there's not one word in any of this that talks about preaching. There's not one word in any of this that talks about work for the Lord, although that's needed.
All of that will come if all of these other things are right.
But what is needed?
Going on to verse 14, about which we started with, about which we or what we started with in verse 14.
Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of.
Learning it is like coming to a conference, or reading your Bible, or going to your local assembly, or reading our good written ministry. Being assured of it is walking in the good of it.
There is a path that you and I can walk in these last days.
And you can walk it with a spring in your step. You don't have to plod. You don't have to have your head down. Yes, I don't mean that we shouldn't be burdened. Yes, we should. I don't mean that we shouldn't shed tears. We should. We should feel the state of things. But at the same time, God has given us everything to go on to the end. And as Paul could say.
To finish the race.
To finish the race.
Let's close in prayer.
Gospel 2
Gospel—Jonathan Grinton
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.
Nice to see so many little faces or young faces in the front row for help.
I'm thankful that you're here tonight.
It means there's another opportunity.
For the gospel to go forth.
For you to hear the good news of salvation.
Thing #21 together.
Decide for Christ today In God's salvation see yields, soul and body, heart and will to him who died for thee. Decide for Christ today thyself. Thou canst not save. Helpless and guilty, dead and blind, no longer judgment brave.
Decide for Christ today.
Confess him as thy Lord proclaimed all the Savior's work. How faithful.
Is his word Christ alone can save, break the power of sin. Christ doth fully satisfy the heart that cleaves to Him. You sing #21.
He saw it for.
Pray without power of sin.
Praise God so many times.
Blah blah blah.
It's gone, it's gone, and it's a good day.
All the time. You don't need to have the money.
Of the river flash and pray.
It was not my Lord.
Break the father of sinning.
Roughly.
Time.
Ah, please do give him.
Fast alert for help.
Pray.
While I look around and I know we had these invitations that were printed.
And that were passed out.
I think that many of the young people went and passed them out as well, with a desire that there would be ones that would come in.
And be saved.
But you know, I look around tonight and I'm not certain.
That I see anybody that I'm not used to seeing.
And that tells me that there is a possibility.
That there is someone that I know.
Here tonight, who is still in their sins?
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And that breaks my heart and that worries me.
You know, lately I felt an urgency.
It was only a month ago.
That the Lord allowed me the privilege to speak the gospel at the conference in Hammer Bay.
The verses that were before me.
Are the verses in Matthew chapter 25 and 24.
You know, not the day or the hour. Acts chapter one.
The time of the season.
And I wanted to impress upon those ones that night.
That the time is short.
That was a month ago.
And what I want to impress upon you tonight?
That the time is much shorter.
I want to bring you and your life to seconds.
I want you to understand.
That in the twinkling of an eye, in a moment.
You can be ushered into eternity.
Your time here is short, dear ones.
It could end like that.
And it is not my intention to.
Bring sorrow to anyone tonight.
But to wake you up.
You know.
I spoke to.
Amend on Friday night here in this room.
And he told me of the verse.
It says, boast not thyself of tomorrow.
Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knowest not, but a day may bring forth.
Proverbs 27 and one, and it reminded me of the verses in James chapter 4 which I cannot quote quite as well.
James Chapter 4.
Similar verse.
14.
Whereas you know not.
What shall be on tomorrow? For what is your life?
What is your life?
It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.
Intro on Lord's Day.
Brother Dale Stewart got up for Sunday school to speak to the children.
And he took a string and he ran it. He got the kids with the help, and he ran it all the way around the room.
And it was to represent your life.
And eternity. And it just kept going and going.
What he pointed out. How much of that string was your life?
It wasn't very much. It wasn't very much.
I stood up in that room at Hammer Bay.
Somebody told me that weekend that I had to break my teeth to speak the gospel and that it was a good place to do it because it was a small room.
But there was a man in that room that night.
Who I loved and he was sitting right about where my wife is sitting tonight.
And you know he's not here tonight.
It was only a month ago.
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He is not here tonight.
Your life is but a vapor.
Here one second, gone the next. Why do you wait? What are you waiting for?
The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. What are you waiting for?
The Lord Jesus loves you.
Can you imagine?
Anyone else going?
Willingly.
And being nailed up to a cross of wood for you.
Can you imagine anyone?
Willingly.
Allowing ones to put a crown of thorns in their head to spit in their face.
For you.
The Lord Jesus did it.
Consider the things that you have done in your life. Remember you were born in sin.
For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Romans 3 and 23.
He took everyone of your sins.
Upon himself while he was nailed to that cross of wood for you.
And for me.
The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
And our brother read the verses this morning, that that soldier pierced his side and shed his precious blood.
The blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanses us from all sin.
But you have to believe it. You have to take it.
You know, I read a story the other day.
Our brother, Tim Roach.
Wrote a update on Malawi.
There was a wedding.
Brother Austin and Grace Sister Grace were getting married.
And it should be a joyous thing.
Have our family together.
God's Word.
He joined in marriage.
And as the day was approaching.
They were gathering together.
They were gonna be together for a special time.
The grandmother.
She was on a.
A3 wheeled cart I believe.
And a speeding motorcycle came down the road.
And hit it with Grace's grandmother on it.
She's dead. She is gone.
She is gone.
That quick second, dear ones, 2nd.
You think you have time, you don't have time.
You know, there's a little boy in that story. His name is Gabriel.
Gabriel had malaria.
He had malaria and he was sick.
And the doctors, they let him out of the hospital and he came home.
But he wasn't better.
And they took him back many times.
For more treatment.
And they kept sending Gabriel home.
And you know, finally they rushed Gabriel in because he needed oxygen.
The power went out.
The electricity went out.
He couldn't get oxygen.
Gabriel died 13 years old, Young ones 13.
We think we live in a society.
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Where they can flip on generators, where they can give us power, where we can get more time, maybe we can buy more time, maybe we can last a little bit longer.
Now you don't know.
Your life is about a vapor.
Here for a second, then gone.
I like the snowmobile.
I knew a fella.
That had a wife and two children.
And she was pregnant.
And he went to a place in Nova Scotia, we call it the Cape Breton Highlands.
And he unloaded his snowmobile.
And he said, I'm going to go ahead and I'll see you at the top.
This is a pretty straightforward trail. It had one corner and then it was straight to the top.
He took off and when he got to the corner, somebody's snowmobile was parked.
Where it shouldn't have. And he went to go around it. And as he went to go around it, a snowmobile was coming the other way and they were going too quick and they hit.
My friend was ushered into eternity like that.
He did not see.
His wife, his children.
Or the child that she carried, he was gone.
All of those people had one thing in common.
They were all sinners.
All of those people.
All four of those people mentioned.
Would have had the opportunity to make a choice.
You have an opportunity right now to make a choice. Decide for Christ today I cannot tell you.
If they're in heaven or if they're in hell.
I never spoke to my friend about the Lord Jesus. I'm ashamed to tell you tonight.
I didn't tell him.
And so I suspect.
Is in a lost eternity.
Forever.
Where do you wanna spend your eternity?
Yes.
Heaven. Good answer. Good answer. My friend that was at Hammer Bay, that is not here tonight. I believe he's in heaven.
100%.
So I ask you.
You have a choice.
Like I said, before we go further, sing another hymn if we could.
#25 Life at best is very brief, like the falling of a leaf, like the binding of a sheath. Be in time. Fleeting days are telling fast that the dye will soon be cast and the fatal line be passed. Be in time.
Be in time. Be in time while the voice of Jesus calls you. Be in time. If in sin you longer wait, you may find no open gate and your cry be just too late. Be in time.
Life at best is very brief.
Ly.
And your Christ, let's all be long again time.
And you were crying me just today.
We can come.
And we're going to change the cupboard. Everything, logic and water, your heart is going to grow.
From dark distance to light, From the way of being with rise.
Run and start our heavens do not hide in time.
Lay him, thigh fling and thigh, the full heart of the voice that is the crowns you've been on.
And your way, you may cry and go over to get it. And you're crying because you're letting me come.
Aside for Christ today.
Be in time.
Second, dear ones, just seconds.
Well.
We consider.
The Flippian jailer.
And how he was in that prison.
Watching over Paul and Silas and.
And it was a dark place.
It reminds me of how you and I in our sins are in the dark place this hymn says come from darkness into light.
And I told my son I was going to mention this tonight, but we are in his room a week or so ago.
He was going to say his prayers with me.
And he looked up on the ceiling. There was a family.
The rest of the house was dark, but there was a light on in his room and the fly was on the ceiling.
Why do you think it's here?
Well, I think it's attracted to the light.
I think it's attracted to the light. It's dark everywhere else. It didn't wanna be where the darkness was. It wanted to come into the light. And that Philippian jailer.
You know, we prayed earlier and in the prayer it was that those of you that were that were saved already might be bright lights that Flippy in. Jailer saw something in those two men that night and he wanted it.
00:25:09
And he cried out to them. He said, what must I do to be saved?
The answer was believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
And thou shalt be saved.
And thy house.
Leave on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.
You know, I had a lot of verses that came to mind as I was driving here.
People often say that's such a long trip.
But it's pretty nice because it gives a lot of time to consider things as you drive.
And I thought of.
Paul in Acts chapter 26.
And how he turned from darkness to light.
And I thought of the Lord Jesus.
And how he in John One was the Light of the world and John Eight. I better turn to that and John 8.
In verse 12 he said, Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world. He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
That little fly was attracted to light.
What are you attracted to tonight?
Do you love darkness rather than light? Is that why you haven't decided for Christ yet?
Do you prefer the things of this world?
Instead of the things of the Lord.
I want to tell you.
About when I was a little boy.
Because I want you to know.
What I think it would feel like.
To be like those ones in Matthew chapter 24.
There were two in the field and then there were one. There were two grinding and then there were one.
I was saved when I was just a little boy.
I love the Lord Jesus. I love seeing Jesus loves me.
And I don't recall if it was coming home from school one day.
We're waking up from a nap.
But I came out into the house.
And it was empty.
Was empty. My mother was always home.
So I called Mom.
Where are you?
Mom.
No reply.
And I remember being taught.
That if I didn't ask the Lord Jesus to wash my sins away.
And I remember being taught that if I didn't ask the Lord Jesus to come into my heart.
And I remember being taught.
That it became to take all those that believe in Him to heaven.
Then I would be all alone.
And I thought, well, I'm sure I asked the Lord Jesus to save me.
Maybe I made a mistake?
I thought I was all alone. I thought the Lord came and left me.
I thought I had made a mistake and didn't do it right.
And so I cried, and I cried for my mom.
You know, my mother was just.
At my aunt's next door, she wasn't very far away.
But that's what it felt like.
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Are you going to be left behind?
Are you going to remember these things that were spoken to you? Maybe you've gone to meeting your whole life and heard these things over and over and over again. Maybe you thought you were tired of hearing them. But I want to wake you up tonight.
I want you to listen.
Taxis can hit you too.
You can take heart attacks.
It can be over for you that quick.
Why are you waiting?
What does Satan have?
In this world that is so valuable to you.
That you would not accept the gift of God eternal life? What does he have that is so powerful?
That you can't give it up.
So that you could receive everlasting life in heaven. Why would you choose hell?
Why would you choose eternal darkness?
Over a place that shines so bright and there is no need of the sun there, why would you choose the other?
Dear ones, decide for Christ today.
Can I tell you a story about Bert? My kids have heard this story before, so.
Burt grew up just like I did, Just like most of you did, I believe.
Going to Sunday school every week.
Hearing about the Lord Jesus.
And you know, Bert got a little bit older, like some of the guys back here.
And he decided he was too old for Sunday school.
So we stopped going.
Bert started to enjoy the things of the world, the things that Satan had to offer.
He started drinking.
And gambling.
Hanging out in places that the Lord would not have us to be.
And he became quite popular with that crowd.
And he liked it.
As Burt got a little bit older one night, he was heading out to the regular club to meet the guys.
And he was going by the place where he had grown up, going to Sunday school.
And there is a sign out front.
Special gospel meeting.
Bert couldn't help himself.
He went to the door and he peeked in. It looked just like it always did.
Imagine.
Man was getting up to head to the front and Burt snuck in the back, sat in the back row.
Sarah, what can it hurt?
For old times sake, I'll sit for a minute and listen.
The Lord loves you.
The Lord loved Bert.
Burt sat down and this preacher gave out of him.
And Burt recognized that him.
And at first he was a little bit self-conscious, but before he knew it he was singing just like everybody else.
That man got up and spoke.
And Burt listened.
And he spoke.
To the thinners in the room.
And, you know, Bert felt like he was the only one.
That was lost.
He felt that that man was talking directly to him.
Dear ones, if you are in your sins tonight, I am talking directly to you.
And I hope you're listening.
Because you're on your way to help.
Bert, listen to that message.
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And, you know, he repented. He realized his whole life had been a waste. It had been for nothing.
And he asked right there the Lord Jesus to wash his sins away. He owned that he was a Sinner. He asked them to come into his heart, and he was saved right then. Decide for Christ today being time.
You've got a second maybe?
Might be all you have.
You know Bert.
Save And he left the room and walked out into the street. And he remembered. He remembered where he had been heading that night.
And so he took a walk down by the club.
And he opened the door and he walked in.
And all of his friends. Come on, Bert, come on over. Have a drink. Let's have a game of cards.
Bert said No more friends. No more, he said. I've come to tell you.
That these hands won't touch those cards ever again.
These hands won't pick up the drink ever again because the Lord saved me and I belong to Him.
And I've LED you all down the wrong Rd. all these years because I knew better.
And I want you.
To have what I have and to be saved tonight.
Well, I don't know if any or how many might have got saved, but Burt got saved. And if there's only one of you in here tonight, that is still in your sins.
I pray you will be saved right now.
I pray that you will repent of your sins, that you will change your mind, have a new way of thinking, that you will want to live your life for Christ.
Because your life here is but a vapor. It is so short.
Here for a second and then gone.
Decide for Christ today.
Can we sing? What can wash away my sins?
#32.
#32.
What can wash away?
Overtime thyroid, and that's probably contained not because of God's name.
Over like, that's nice. Let's not agree. Nothing like the lovely.
Is not the bone.
God makes me like a snow.
00:40:57
I was thinking of that him because we used to sing it so much that the gospel tent when I was a boy.
And I won't go on much further, but.
You know it says.
Nothing good that I have done and I was thinking this week.
How we read in Isaiah.
That my righteousnesses are as filthy rags.
Nothing good that I have done.
We read in Titus chapter 3 verse 5, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy. He saved us by the washing of.
Regeneration and so on, not by works of righteousness, which we have done, but according to His mercy. He saved us nothing but the blood of Jesus. And you know, there's a verse that I like. I just thought of. We turn to it in Revelation.
I think it's Chapter 7.
And verse Revelation 7 and verse 13, part way through it says, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? And whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, nothing but the blood of Jesus.
He can take all your filthy.
Stains all your sins away and wash them in his precious blood, and make you white as snow.
Decide for Christ today. That is our hope, He says. I've gone to prepare a place for you. I will come again and receive you unto myself to where I am. There you may be also.
He longs for you, dear ones, if you are still in your sins.
He has waited this long.
You may only have a second. Let's pray.