Ottawa Conference: 1976
Table of Contents
Motives and Works
Address—J. Brereton
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General Meetings, Ottawa, April 1976, addressed by John Burton.
Mike, we open the meeting this afternoon by singing hymn #146.
We bless our Savior's name.
Our sins are all forgiven.
To suffer once to earth he came.
He now is crowned in heaven 146 and one would start it for us, please.
Our Savior's name.
I would like to turn dear young people this afternoon to a number of different passages that the Lord gives.
Time for it, but first of all I would like to look at First Kings chapter 12.
You know, dear young people there are.
A number of things that we find in the word of God.
Concerning motives.
And I would like to look at those things this afternoon the.
And particularly as they apply to the subject that has been before us the last couple of days.
The truth of the Church.
Of the one body, and of the privilege of being gathered on that ground.
We sometimes hear it said that motives don't count.
That's all that matters, is that you'd be right.
But dear young people, that is not true, as we will find, I believe from the word of God, it isn't enough.
Just to be right.
The motive for being right?
Is of the utmost importance.
On the other hand, we hear a great deal today.
That motive is all accounts.
As long as the motive is right, as long as it's love that's behind what you do.
It doesn't really matter too much what to do.
And that is not true either.
Because, dear young people.
While the motive behind what we do is of the utmost importance.
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So is direction, obedience to the Word of God.
In First Kings chapter 12 we'll begin reading at verse 25. Then Jeroboam built Shechem in Mount Ephriam, and dwelt therein, and went out from fence and built Penuel. And Jeroboam said in his heart. Now shall the Kingdom return to the House of David. If this people go up to do sacrifice in the House of the Lord at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their Lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah.
And they shall kill me and go again to Rehoboam, king of Judah, whereupon the king took counsel and made two calves of gold.
And said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem, Behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he and Dan. And this thing became a sin, for the people went to worship before the one even unto Dan. And he made an House of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi. And Jeroboam ordained the feast in the eighth month, on the 15th day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah. And he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made.
And he placed in Bethel the priest of the high places which he had made. So he offered upon the altar, which he had made in Bethel the 15th day of the 8th month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart, and ordained the feast unto the children of Israel. And he offered upon the altar, and burned incense. And behold, there came a man of God out of Judah, by the word of the Lord unto Bethel. And Jeroboam stood by the altar to burning sense.
And he cried against the altar in the word of the Lord, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the Lord.
Behold a child.
Shall be born unto the House of David, Josiah by name, and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places, that they burn incense upon thee, and men's bones shall be burnt upon thee.
Now we find here, dear young people, a case that I'm sure.
Is very simple for us to understand.
If you remember the history that preceded this.
Solomon's Kingdom had been divided.
Two of the houses, two of the tribes of Israel, had remained true to the House of David, and it followed Rehoboam, and 10 of the tribes had followed Jeroboam.
Now God Center was at Jerusalem.
But Jeroboam, as it tells us here, fought in his heart.
And the method.
Of his thinking was this.
If.
All the tribes of Israel continue to recognize God's center at Jerusalem.
And the 10 tribes continue to go up to Jerusalem to worship.
Then it won't be long before they're all back together again. They will kill me.
And they'll all go back to Rio Ball.
And so as a result, Jeroboam established 2 new centers, one at Bethel and one at Dan.
He also prepared 2 golden calves, and set them up one at Bethel, one at Dan. And he said, these be thy gods, O Israel, that brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
Now, dear young people, I'm sure you don't have any difficulty at all in seeing how wrong this was, the sin of it, the sin in establishing centers of his own choosing.
This is what Jeroboam did. It was a sin, and it led the many of the children of Israel into the sin of worshipping the golden cast.
You know it's most remarkable when you think about it, but terrible could even claim a precedent.
For what he did if you were to go back to Exodus Chapter 32.
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You would find there that Aaron, dear beloved Aaron, a true child of God.
But he too had prepared a golden calf.
He too had given the message These be thy gods, O Israel, that brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
And he, too, had been instrumental.
In the children of Israel sinning against the Lord in worshipping the golden calf, so Jeroboam could claim a precedent.
He makes 2 golden calves.
And the result is that Israel, the 10 tribes, are LED into the sins of worshipping golden calves at centers of Jeroboam's own choosing.
We find, though, that God goes behind the scenes for us.
And not only lets us know the iniquity of what Jeroboam did, but he also lets us know the iniquity of the motive.
That governed his actions. He did what he did because he wanted.
To divide God's earthly people, He wanted them kept apart.
And so his actions were deliberate, motivated by motives that were as great a sin as the action that he took.
And the result was as he planned.
God's earthly people were divided.
In this case even though.
Jeroboam could claim, not rightly, but could claim, that there was some precedent for what he did.
The fact remains that God condemned Aaron for what he did, and God condemns Jeroboam here for what he does.
Now it might seem strange to you, but at the beginning of the 13th chapter where we finished reading.
The prophet that comes out of Judah tells Jeroboam what is going to happen to that altar that he has established.
He comes, the Prophet comes to battle and tells him that a man was going to arise Josiah by name.
And men's bones would be burnt upon that altar.
God was going to overthrow that altar. God was going to show.
That it was an act of deliberate.
Evil motivated by an evil motive.
But strange as it may seem to you.
God did not carry out.
His judgment upon that altar until 300 years later.
God waited 300 years.
But what he said came to pass.
Here we have a case, dear young people, an important lesson for us to realize that.
Men can arrive and have arisen in Christendom.
And have divided the people of God deliberately.
Motivated by the worst of motives at deliberate attempt to divide the people of God to gather disciples around themselves.
And to make something of themselves, the action is wrong.
And the modem is wrong.
Now I'd like you to turn with me to First Chronicles.
Chapter 13.
You recall perhaps that yesterday reference was made in the Reading meeting to Psalm 132.
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We find in that Psalm how David speaks of the desire that was in his heart.
How there was such an exercise on his part?
To bring the Ark of God to Jerusalem to Zion.
The place that the Lord had chosen.
We find how he says there that he did not give sleep to his eyes nor slumber to his eyelids.
Until he had found an habitation for the holy God of Jacob.
What we find here? Something of the accounts that took place as a result of David's exercise.
First Chronicles Chapter 13 and David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds and with every leader.
And David said unto all the congregation of Israel, if it seemed good unto you, and that it be of the Lord our God, let us send abroad unto our brethren everywhere that are left in all the land of Israel, and with them also to the priests and Levites, which are in their cities and suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us. And let us bring again the ark of our God to us.
For we inquired not at it in the days of Saul, and all the congregation said that they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.
So David gathered all Israel together from seahorse of Egypt, even unto the entering of Hema.
To bring the ark of God from Kerja and David went up on all Israel to Bala, that is, to Kerja Jerome, which belonged to Judah. To bring up fence the ark of God the Lord that dwelleth between the cherry bims whose name is called on it. And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the House of Abinadab. And Aza and Ohio drove the cart. And David and all Israel played before God, with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with sultries, and with timbrels.
And with symbols and with trumpets.
And when they came unto the threshing floor of Chidin, Aza put forth his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled, and the anger of the Lord was kindled against us. And he smote him, because he put his hand to the ark. And there he died before God. And David was displeased, because the Lord had made a breach upon us. Wherefore that place is called Perez, Aza unto this day. And David was afraid of God that day saying.
How shall I bring the Ark of God home to me? So David brought not the Ark home to himself, to the city of David, but carried it aside into the House of Obed Edom, the Gittite.
Now if you go down to the 15th chapter.
And David made him houses in the city of David, and prepared a place for the ark of God.
And pitched 40 the 10th Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites, for them hath the Lord chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto him forever. And David gathered all Israel together to Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the Lord unto his place which he had prepared for it. And they will assemble the children of Aaron and the Levites.
And if you go down to the 12Th verse, and said unto them, ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites.
Sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that you may bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it. For because ye did it not, at the first the Lord our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order. So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel. And the children of the Levites bear the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves there on.
As Moses commanded, according to the word of the Lord.
And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of music.
Salt trees and harps and symbols sounding by lifting up the voice with joy.
The 25th verse. So David and the elders of Israel and the captains over thousands, went to bring up the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord out of the House of obed Edom with joy.
That came to pass when God helped the Levites that bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord, that they offered seven bullocks and seven Rams.
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Oh, here, dear young people, we find a different situation.
We find David had a real desire, an earnest desire he longed to see.
The Ark of God brought up to Jerusalem.
This was a good motive.
That was a desire that I have no doubt the Lord had put in his heart. It was a desire that it showed how he valued the ark of God, how he recognized that Zion Jerusalem was the center that God had chosen to put his name there.
But.
David did what he did in the wrong way.
I believe it's very striking to notice, first of all, before we consider what he actually did.
How that when David first had this desire?
To bring the Ark up to Jerusalem.
Everything seemed to be connected with himself.
Or with us as the term that he uses.
Let me show you what I mean. If you notice for instance in the 13th chapter.
At the end of the second verse he says, Speaking of the children of Israel, that they may gather themselves unto us. The third verse let us bring again the ark of our God to us, for we inquired not of it in the days of Saul.
Then if you go down to the 12Th verse, David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God home to me?
So David brought not the ark home to himself, to the city of David, but when you go down to the 15th chapter.
You find it tells you there in the third verse David gathered all Israel together to Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the Lord unto his place which he had prepared for it. You go down to the 12Th verse.
That he may bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared.
For it.
When David first considered his actions.
What he wants to do motivated, as I say, out of a real earnest desire, a desire, dear young people, that I have no doubt please God. Yet the fact remains that his thinking, his thinking, concern, was concerned a great deal with himself and with us, those who were identified with himself.
And you know, dear young people, we can think this way too. We had a very precious meeting this morning.
And I believe God by His grace brought some very precious truth before us. But whenever we have this line of ministry before us, as we have had these last two days.
We have to be very, very careful that we don't begin to think.
Highly of us.
That we don't begin to think highly of some select company.
That we don't even begin to think of ourselves as any kind of a company at all.
But simply to recognize, as we was mentioned this morning, that we meet together.
As members of the Body of Christ, that we all have no name, no organization, that there is nothing that you can even put us to.
But the precious truth is that there is a place. And when we come to the 15th chapter, as we've noticed, David recognizes that there is a place, that the ark is to be brought up into, the place that the children of Israel were gathered together unto Jerusalem. And he has stopped thinking, it seems, about having the Ark brought to him, of having the Ark brought to us.
Dear young people, can I put it very simply, if you and I think of ourselves.
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As a company that have met together and the Lord in his wondrous grace.
In his wondrous grace chooses then to come, as it were, and present himself where we're gathered together. Then we're making something out of us.
And it's not of God. But if we recognize the fact that God has chosen the center.
That there is a place where the Lord has placed his name. That there is a place where the ark of God using the type here is to be.
And by God's wondrous grace, we are gathered there. Then we are thinking.
According to the word of God, in a manner that makes nothing of us.
But a great deal of Christ typified in the Ark at the place.
Of his choosing.
Now we mentioned about motives.
We find that David's motive was right.
Except perhaps for that deficiency, if I can use that term in thinking more of us than he should have.
But the fact remains, he had a desire, a real desire, to see the ark at Jerusalem, a desire that was in accordance with the mind of God.
But.
David.
Failed to act according to the word of God.
His motive was right.
But his action was wrong.
Now David again, just as we noticed for Jeroboam, David again could claim a precedent. He could look back to First Samuel chapter 6 and say this is the way the Philistines did it. They brought the Ark in a new cart. They seem to get away with it.
Well, God bore with what the Philistines did, but David, a true child of God, was called upon to recognize.
The truth of the Word of God.
And the result is that the bringing up of the ark in the new in the new cart.
Leads dear young people to the death of Other to the death of Other. The Ark is brought up in a way that it was not to be. Other reaches out to steady the art.
And he is killed, slain by the Lord.
Now this leads to David.
Being afraid, he says in the 13th chapter. In the 12Th verse, David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God home to me? How was he to do it?
Well, when we come to the 15th chapter.
We find that David has the answer. Where did he find the answer? Why he found it in the word of God?
He found it in the word of God. It wasn't a new rule that he made-up as king.
It wasn't some new rule that the priests had made-up to overcome this difficulty.
The answer to what had gone wrong was going back to the word of God, because dear young people, to have the right motive wasn't enough.
He needed to have the direction of the word of God.
And sometimes beloved young people, and I say it to my own soul, we can act out of a good motive.
But contrary to the Word of God.
And have it lead.
To the spiritual death of some poor soul? Have it lead to the spiritual loss.
Of some poor soul because even though we were acting out of the, we considered the best of motives.
The fact remains that the word of God is the direction.
That we need so that the motor and the act.
Might go together. Now we notice it says in the 12Th verse of the 15th chapter. David says unto the Levites he are the chief of the fathers, the Levites. Sanctify yourselves, both you and your brethren, that you may bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it. For because you did it not at the first, the Lord our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order.
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Our beloved young people, if I could say it, and I trust I say it right, if you're going to think of us at all.
Think of us at all. Think of those with whom we're gathered at all as.
In any way a collective thing.
Let it be to recognize that we have failed, that we have failed.
But as David says here, that what God has allowed to come in has been a result of our own failure, of our own failure and our own weakness. David here acknowledges, whereas before he was angry with God, now he says it was all our own fault. It was all our own fault because we sought him not after the due order. Oh, isn't it a marvelous thing to see here?
How David doesn't cry now to plead and say our motive was right, We thought what we were doing was right.
We copied somebody else and that's what led to the problem. No, all he does is says we were wrong. We were wrong. We failed. We failed because we didn't act according to the due order what was in the word of God. Now we find that when they do, when they do, act according to the due order according to what was given them in the word of God.
When David sees the Levites.
Carrying the ark according to God's due order, all my friends, it was a time of joy. You know, it's a remarkable thing, and I don't mean to go into it now, but there's a precious to my own soul, a precious subject, just for meditation alone on that thing, to notice that when they brought the ark up the first time on the new cart, there was a great deal of noise.
A great deal of shouting, a great deal of blowing of trumpets.
But there's no mention of joy.
But when you come to the 15th chapter, you find David speaks of them and how they're going to do it, and you see all those instruments mentioned again. But this time he says with joy, with joy, all beloved young people. There is a joy in being submissive to the precious word of God, a joy that any amount of activity, any amount of noise, any amount of trumpet blowing will never replace the joy of subjection to God's precious words.
Well, we find that when we come in the 15th chapter to the 25th verse.
It says So David and the elders of Israel and the captains over thousands, went to bring up the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord out of the House of Obadiah with joy. And it came to pass when God helped the Levites that bear the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, that they offered seven bullocks and seven rounds.
When God helped the Levites all to my own soul, dear young people, this has been very precious.
You know, David.
Had tried that way, copying the system of the Levites, and he had seen finally how wrong it was. But now now he acknowledges that it was wrong, and he seeks by God's grace to act according to the word of God. And God helps God helps the Levites. Oh, how precious. Here was not only the motive, right?
Not only is the thinking corrected, so that David makes nothing of us except to acknowledge their failure, and everything of the Ark and its place. And now the Word of God says God help the Levite, And there in turn offered seven bullocks and seven rhymes. All beloved young people, may you and I, by God's grace, seek to act on this precious word.
To remember, it isn't enough just to have the motive right, but the action. The action must be according to the word of God to meet with His approval, and God helps those who seek to walk in that path. God will help you if you seek to honor His precious word, and you will find yourself too, offering your 7 bullocks and seven rounds just returning Thanksgiving and worship.
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To that one who in infinite grace helps you and I that are such failures to walk in the path of his choosing, to acknowledge that his word is the guide is the direction that we need, so that not only the motive is right, but the ACT is right. Now would you turn over with me, please, to 1St Corinthians 13?
1St Corinthians 13.
We'll just read the 1St 3 verses of this chapter.
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become a sounding brass or a tinkling symbol. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains and have not charity, I am nothing.
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned and have not charity.
It profiteth me nothing.
And then I'd like you to turn, if you would, to Revelation Chapter 2.
Revelation Chapter 2 and verse one.
Unto the Angel of the Church of Ephesus right these things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil. And thou hast tried them, which say they are apostles, and are not, and has found them liars, and has born, and has patience, and for my name's sake has labored, and has not fainted.
Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the 1St works.
We find here, dear young people, a situation in both these chapters.
Where we might put it this way that what they did was right, but the motive was wrong.
In First Corinthians 13 we are reminded of how.
Essential it is that love govern our acts in this scene, whether I give my body to be burned or as it says there, particularly in connection with the subject I have before me. It says, though I understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains and have not charity, I am nothing.
Beloved young people, and I say this to my own heart, it isn't enough just to know the truth.
You can be so crystal clear as to the truth you could say here this morning.
I agree with everything that was said.
And yet, dear young people, if the motive.
Behind what we do is not love for Christ and love for our brethren. Then it profits nothing. It profits nothing. I remember hearing someone say many years ago they made comment about a brother and his ministry and they made a comment. I don't believe the comment was very kind, but the fact remains what they said was he is clear as a crystal and just as cold.
Now, beloved young people, May God speak to your heart and mind in this when we come in First Corinthians 13, he speaks of them having all knowledge.
But love, Love was necessary to give character to what they did. And if there is a dear brother or sister here, if you may feel, you may feel that what you're doing is absolutely right.
But if love, what is, is not that which governs your actions, if it's not love for Christ and love for the people of God, then don't expect it to have the Lord's approval. Don't expect to have the Lord's approval for us.
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We find here in Revelation chapter 2 That the one who walked amongst the seven golden candlesticks.
He can speak of their work, their patience, their charity, he says. I know thy works, and labor, and patience, how thou canst not bear them which are evil. Thou hast tried them, which say they are apostles, and are not, and has found them liars, and has borne, and has patience. And for my namesake has labored, and has not fainted. Not one thing outwardly, that could be pointed to, is wrong. Everything seemed to be in order.
But the motive that was to govern it all.
Was not there. They had left their first love.
All beloved young people, may the Lord give this to your heart, and to mind, particularly to mine.
To recognize that it isn't enough to be right.
It isn't enough to be right in the action.
But the motive also must be right to meet with the Lord's approval.
You know, we had a little bit mentioned about this yesterday.
About the spirit.
In which things are done?
Sometimes things are said and what is said.
Is right.
But how it is said is all wrong.
All wrong. The motive?
That would have kept the lips so that the spirit of Christ might have been seen in what was said.
Was not manifested and the result was. While you may be able to claim that you were right.
In what you did.
Or write in what you said.
The Lord may very well have to say, but the motive was wrong.
Now I would like to just turn to three verses very quickly in closing.
The first one is in First Corinthians Chapter 11.
First Corinthians Chapter 11.
And verse 24. And when he had given thanks, he break it.
And said, Take, Eat. This is my body, which is broken or given for you. This do in remembrance of Me. After the same manner also he took the cup when he had stopped saying, This cup is the New Testament in my blood. This do ye as OFT as ye drinketh in remembrance of Me. For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death.
Till he comes.
Dear young people, these three verses that I have upon my heart to mention in closing.
At least for my own heart, and I trust for my own conscience to it brings together.
The act and the motive.
It says.
As often.
As you eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come. But, beloved young people, I don't break bread at the Lord's table and partake of the emblem to show forth the Lord's death. That is not the motive.
The act is to partake of the emblems to sit down at the Lord's table and partake of those emblems.
But I trust that the motive, the motive is not only obedience to the word of God, but the fact that the Lord Jesus.
Said to my heart, this do in remembrance of me, of me. It's because the Lord has requested that I remember him, that I do so and how I do it.
Is as the word of God outlines for me in this precious book.
The fact remains that in doing so I show forth the Lord's death till he comes.
But the motive, the motive that governs what I do, and I trust I say it for all of us.
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I trust the motive that governs my heart.
Is his request.
That I remember him this do in remembrance.
Of Maine.
Love for Christ, love for this one who has redeemed us at such a cost to himself.
Love for him gives me the desire to be subject to his word.
And to remember him, you know, I have children.
And it would be a sad day for me if my children were to do everything that I asked them to explicitly as I asked them to. But the only time they ever desired to be in my company was when I asked them to.
If I had to specifically.
Lay down a rule only to find them that they did what I asked. That isn't enough, is it? It would never satisfy my heart. Dear young people. What the Lord looks for is that the motive might be love for himself.
Our dear brother used to say years ago amongst us that we should never be occupied with our love for the Lord and how true that is. But the fact remains that love is to be the motive and occupation with his love to us will give us to love him more. We love him because he first loved us. So he has said this. Do in remembrance of me.
Obedience to His words gives us how to do it.
And love for himself.
Is. Why would you turn with me now to?
Hebrews Chapter 13 for justice A moment I'll just be a couple of moments more I trust.
Hebrews, chapter 13.
And verse 13.
Let us go forth therefore unto him. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the cap bearing his reproach. All dear young people, I find in the word of God what the camp is, I find, that God has defined for us in his word, given us instruction in his word, as to what the camp is, that system of organized religions that has for itself.
Earthly Sanctuaries.
Ordained priesthood and is connected with seeking to keep the law for righteousness or some part of those 3.
God has given us to see what the camp is, and so on, obedience to His word.
By God grace, you and I seek to go without the camp.
But all beloved young people, what is the motive? What does it draws us out of the camp? Is it simply obedience to the word of God? Well, dear young people, we can develop, we can develop a legal form of obedience that will lead to a fall. But if my heart and soul recognize that he is without the camp, that I go forth unto him without the camp, that I leave the camp behind because he is outside of it.
Now the motive spring for what I'm doing is love for the one who is outside the campus.
And he draws me out there to himself.
The last verse I would turn to is Matthew 18 and verse 20.
Matthew 18 and verse 20 for where two or three are gathered together.
In or was mentioned yesterday, the better translation is unto my name. There am I in the midst of them now beloved young people, Here is the same precious line of things, the Acts, but according to God's word, to be gathered unto him unto him, where two or three are gathered by the Spirit of God unto his name.
There am I.
In the midst of them I remember many years ago.
Talking to a dear brother many miles away from here. He's now with the Lord.
And that dear brother asked me a question.
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Let me tell you what the question was, if you'll bear with me for justice a moment. He's with the Lord now, and I'm sure no one here would even recognize the question, so I feel safe in mentioning it. He mentioned how in that little company, that little place where he was, just a few gathered to the precious name of the Lord Jesus, and he had been criticized very strongly for continuing to break bread there by others from another.
Company of Christians.
And the comment they had made to him was, they said, the Lord's table.
Must have 4 lakes and because the Lord's table must have four legs and there must be four brothers there.
Before you can have the Lord's table. And since there isn't four brothers where you are, you've no right to break bread.
Now that dear brother, he was the only brother there in this little company and he came to me when I was visiting there and he said, now is that right? Is that right? That's how simple that dear brother was. Dear young people.
And yet he told me that what had kept him all the years that he had gone on, the only brother there for years, what had kept him?
Was the realization of his soul that Jesus was there. That's all he knew. Jesus was there. And because the Lord Jesus was there, that was all the motives that his heart needed to be in subjection to the word of God, because Jesus was there.
Well, I trust God will bless these few remarks to your heart. Mind your young people to recognize that the motive and the act can both be wrong. That there is such a situation, as we've seen with David, where the motive is right but the act is wrong. And failure to act on the word of God can lead not only to loss for our souls, but danger and sorrow to others. We found the situation in Revelation and in First Corinthians 13.
Where what is done may be right, but the motive is wrong and it does not have the Lord's approval.
And we have seen, I trust where we can, in subjection to the word of God, and out of a motive, love for Christ and attraction to Him, a love that grows dear young people, as you're occupied with His love to you that will lead you in a path where not only the motive is right, but what you do also meets with His approval.
A Bunch of Hyssop
Gospel—A.C. Hayhoe
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I'd like you to turn with me, please, tonight to the book of Exodus.
12.
Verse One Exodus, Chapter 12.
Verse one.
And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, This month shall be unto you the beginning of month. It shall be the first month of the year to you.
Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel.
Before we go any farther.
Isn't this a very, very solemn picture that we have presented to us here? We find that there are those.
Whose names are Moses and Aaron, and they are entrusted with a message from God.
To be delivered to God's people, Israel. They were told to gather the company together and to present to that company that which God had entrusted to them. Now I'm sure as we read these words, we can see a very solemn, twofold responsibility. One was surely the responsibility that rested on the shoulders of Moses and Aaron.
As they heard this message and knew that they were going to have to deliver God's message to that great company, this is my solemn challenge this evening.
And I trust I feel it as a very, very solemn responsibility that rests this night upon my shoulders.
For it's not my message.
It wouldn't be worth your effort to be here if that were the case. But I do have a message tonight from the word of God. And you, on the other hand, have the solemn responsibility for which you will someday give an account to hear a message from God to your soul. So this is a very solemn occasion.
I don't know why you came here this evening. Perhaps some friend, some neighbor has again and again invited you to come to some such service. And just to satisfy them once and for all, you agreed to come here tonight not knowing what to expect.
What I want to tell you right now, friend, that I am not going to express my own opinions, but I am going to read to you from the word of God. And I trust, as that word is read, that you will remember that he who penned these words knows.
All about you and me. We're not strangers to God. He knows all about every one of us here. And I'll tell you this at the very beginning, that the God who gave us this book not only knows you personally, but loves you.
Love you with a love that called him to send his own beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to be your Savior. I stand here to say with gladness and by the grace of God that he is my Savior. It was not always so, but thank God for the day when, by matchless grace, these needs of mine were bound.
That I received the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior, and knew the wonder of sins forgiven through the precious blood of Christ, and knew and I know it this night on the authority of the Word of God.
That those sins are gone.
But I am saved. An old fashioned word. Yes, I know it is, but we find it again and again in the word of God. I'm going to repeat what I have mentioned before. The one time in speaking to a Sunday school Class A good many years ago that word saved was used quite frequently. And one of the children in the class came to me at the end of the time and said you're always talking about saved.
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We never hear that in the church that we go to.
What I said is very often found in the Bible. In fact, I would like each one of you in the class during the week to search your Bibles and see if you can find a verse or two in which that word saved is found.
And one of those girls, whose name was Jane, came to me the next week.
And said, I'm sorry I didn't have very much time, but I found some and she had 114 verses in which she had found that significant, precious, wonderful word saved.
Now we will go on.
Verse three speak he unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the 10th day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb according to the House of their fathers, a lamb for an house. If the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls, every man according to his eating.
Shall make your account for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without blemish a male of the first year. He shall take it out from the sheep or from a ghost, and he shall keep it up until the 14th day of the same month. And the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. And they shall take of the blood and strike it on the two side posts.
And on the upper doorpost of the houses, wherein they shall eat it, and they shall eat the flesh in that night roast with fire and unleavened bread, and with bitter herbs they shall eat it, eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire.
His head with his legs, and with the pertinence thereof, and ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning, and that which remaineth of it until the morning, ye shall burn with fire.
And thus shall he eat it with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand, and ye shall eat it in haste. It is the Lorde Passover.
For for I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the first born in the land of Egypt.
Both man and beast, and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment. I am the Lord, and the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where he are and when I see the blood.
I will Passover you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you when I smite the land of Egypt.
How shall we go on, please to verse 21? Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the Passover. And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lentil. And the two side posts with the blood that is in the basin. And none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.
For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians, and when he seeth the blood upon the lentil, and on the two side posts, the Lord will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.
Verse 28.
And the children of Israel went away, and did as the Lord had commanded, Moses and Aaron.
So did they. And it came to pass that at midnight the Lord smoked all the first born in the land of Egypt, from the first born of Pharaoh that sat on his throne under the first born of the captive that was in the dungeon. And all the first born of cattle. And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians. And there was a great cry in Egypt.
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For there was not a house where there was not one dead.
I don't believe this account is new to anyone here.
Nor are you perhaps surprised that we could turn away back to the Old Testament.
To find a gospel story.
For the word of God from the very beginning reveals to us two things, man's departure from God and his guilt before God, and the wondrous, yearning, loving heart of God.
That desires that man should be reconciled to God. Desires that man's guilt might be put away, That God might have that joy of man company. Now, as we turn back to this long ago story, I want to remind you, my friend, that I don't wish to have you look away back over the centuries of history and consider this something that happened long, long ago.
But not have any present immediate application to you.
For I'll tell you this very, very truthfully and solemnly, and I tell it to you on the authority of the word of God, that under the eye of God this night each and every one in this company is either sheltered by the precious blood of God's appointed lamb, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, or else. And there is no other alternative.
Those stains of sin are yet upon you, my friend, and the judgment of God hangs over your guilty head. Now that's a solemn thing to say. I wouldn't dare say that if it were not true. If I point out to this entire company, and with no exceptions whatsoever, we must bow and admit that God's word speaks the truth.
When he declares in faithfulness.
There is no difference, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
Man doesn't like to accept a statement like that. He likes to argue against it. He likes to look around and compare himself with others.
And they find that there is indeed a great difference, that I'm much more fit for heaven than he or she. But this is the word of God. Beloved friends, God has declared there is no difference, for all have sins and come short of the glory of God. That's God's standard.
Man has gone about to establish his own God has declared thou art weighed in the balances, and found wanting, God's balances, God's measure. And he has solemnly declared that you and I have been found wanting in God's balances. You and I have come short of that measure, that standard, that God has set.
And because man doesn't like the sound of this, he goes about to establish his own weights and his own measures, And the Word of God declares that to do so is an abomination to the Lord, a false weight, and a false measure is an abomination to the Lord and friend, I beg of you tonight.
To see to it that the word of God searches out your heart as it has searched out mine, to discover to us the solemn reality of our guilt in His sight.
I read some time ago.
Of a young man, an army man, who was not feeling very well. He went to the doctor to have an examination. The examination was very thorough.
In a few days, this young man went back to hear the diagnosis, and he thought the doctor seemed unusually disturbed, hesitant.
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And finally, the doctor said to him, young man.
I have some very, very serious news to tell you. You have.
Hansen's disease.
Young man and never heard that word before. He'd been accustomed to those big words that doctors use and he thought it very amusing.
So he said. All right, Doctor, what's that in my language?
The doctor said young man Hansen's disease is commonly known as leprosy and that young soldier fainted dead away in the presence of the doctor. It wasn't something that you or I would like to hear.
A beloved friend, I want to tell you this, and I tell you this because God's Word declares it. I tell you this because it's true.
And because your eternal destiny is at stake, that in the sight of God you have been pronounced guilty. Furthermore, God has declared there is.
No difference. Now, when I look back here at this story of the children of Israel in the land of Egypt, I read of that approaching moment when the judgment of God was going to be felt in awful and final severity.
Upon that land. But there were those in that land who were very, very dear to the heart of God, and who is dear to the heart of God. Tonight, isn't it a wonderful and a precious thing to be able to look out over this entire company and say, according to the language of the word of God, God?
So loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him.
Should not perish but have everlasting life. It's a joy to my heart to look out over this company tonight and to tell everyone of you in this company that the very God who has pronounced you and me alike guilty in His sight is the same God who wants you to know that in spite of that record, He loves you. He loves you dearly. In that verse has told us how deep, how wondrous is His love.
He loved you enough to give his own beloved son to come into this world, to take my place, to die for me, to shed his own precious blood that my guilt might be removed. He suffered for me. He died for me. He shed his blood to put my sins away. And I'm going to pause now to ask, is there anyone in this company tonight?
Who can truthfully hang your head and say, but not for me all friend, it's gloriously true. He loves you. He died for you. And I wonder if you have ever thanked him. Have you? Don't consider yourself a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Don't consider yourself a Christian unless you can gladly say Indeed, I have thanked him.
For coming into this world for me. For suffering and dying for me. For sharing His own Precious Blood. To put my sins away. Now I want to go right down, please, to verse 12 of our chapter.
I will pass through the land of Egypt this night.
Beloved friend, this is a very, very important night in the history of your life. You're going to meet the record of that history in a day that's coming. It's all been written down. There has been an unabridged record kept of every day of your life and mine, everything we have ever done.
Has been seen by his eye and recorded by his hands. Isn't that solemn?
Every word you and I have ever uttered has been heard by him, and his hand has recorded it, Every thought you have ever entertained. He has known it, he has recorded it. And as I utter these words, I know.
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That if you believe them, you bow your head immediately.
And own guilty. Guilty before God. And yet the very one who kept that record looks down this night at you and me. And thank God, in the case of some of us, that record has been blotted clean by the cleansing power of the precious blood of Christ. But are there others in this room tonight, before and before God, that record still?
Remain. I don't know the name of each one present in this room tonight, but God does. And as the record of your life has been penned, it brings us to this very evening, the fact is recorded that you came to attend this Gospel meeting.
And the message that you hear will be recorded, and the response of your heart will be written down. Oh, my friend, I consider it to be so vital, so solemn, that my soul trembles as that clock moves around. The moment of time are so rapidly ticking away, and as I look out over this company and realize that there could be present in this room tonight.
Those who would be left behind for eternal hell.
If the Lord Jesus closed that door of his long-suffering before this hour was ended, thank God I know that I would be up there, numbered among the redeemed, to sing songs of eternal gratitude to Him who loved us and shed His precious blood, that we might be redeemed but beloved friend in the midst of my joy at that prospect.
And I think I can truly say my eagerness to be in the presence of my Savior when I look out over a company like this. I want to ask you personally, my friend, whether you be but a boy or a girl, but perhaps a son or daughter of Christian praying parents. Are you sure, my dear friend?
Are you sure that when the door of heaven is closed forever?
And it may be this very night that you would be found on the inside of that door.
Singing with gladness, the songs of praise to him who shed his blood, that we might be redeemed.
Notice these solemn words. I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the first born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast, and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment. I am the Lord, and the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where he are. And now I want to emphasize these next.
10 words.
And I hope they will ring in your ears with a note of glad certainty when I see the blood.
I will pass over you when I see the blood.
I will pass.
Over you. Those are wondrous words to my soul. Who is this?
Whose eye sees that precious blood and knows the value of it.
The very eye of God sees that blood, and God knows the value of that blood, as none of us knows it. It does not say when I see your sincerity.
When I see your repentance or anything else that you might think to offer to God.
I am quite sure that in this city of Ottawa where I grew up as a boy, there are many people who have been baptized and they're still on the road to hell. Many people who have been confirmed, I speak plainly and they're still lost, and they take the sacrament every Lord's day and they're still guilty before God.
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Sing in the choir and they're still on the Broad Rd. that leads to destruction. You add up, if you wish, everything that the natural religious man might boast of, and present the whole thing to God, and you'll hear these solemn words. All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags again. You'll hear not by works of righteousness, which we have done.
But according to his mercy, he saved us. Sad to say again and again in the very presence of death, I will hear my neighbors say, oh, he was such a good man. She was such a fine neighbor. I'm sure that all is well.
Friend not so, not so, God, Word declares without the shedding of blood.
Is no remission. God's Word declares, whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point.
He is guilty of all These are not my words. I am quoting from James chapter two. I am going to repeat that first, whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all but beloved friend. This glorious book, the word of God, doesn't simply proclaim to us our ruined conditions.
Our guilt, our distance, it proclaims thank God for it. The wondrous glad tidings of God's loving heart, the wondrous provision that he has made, that you and I might be sheltered from the dust and righteous judgment of God. For God does not treat sin as lightly as man chooses to treat it. And when I hear a man speak lightly of meeting God, then tell me that he believes God is a very merciful and a very loving God.
I know what he means. He means that he hopes that God will look upon sin as likely as he does.
But I warn you ahead of time, my friend, that God does not look upon sin as you or I or anyone else looks upon it. One stain of sin was enough to banish our forefathers from the Garden of Eden long ago, and one stain of sin is enough to find you outside the door of heaven for eternity.
One stain of sin. True God is merciful. True God is loving.
But God is holy, God is righteous, and the judgment of God must fall upon every stain of sin that ever has fallen upon the human heart. That just judgment of God must fall upon every act of guilt.
In the life of every son of Adam, now that judgment falls either either upon God's beloved Son, upon the cross of Calvary.
Or falls upon the Sinner himself.
Forever and ever in the lake of fire. Oh, This is why the gospel is so vital, so important.
I know that these three meetings, these three days of meetings, were not gotten together.
Simply that souls might hear the gospel.
But this poor heart of mine was saved the three day conference in Ottawa years ago.
And I've always been thankful for that.
Always been thankful for every effort that ever was put forward to gather people together on an occasion like this that the gospel of the grace of God might be sounded out. Yes, it was after a gospel meeting.
In the winter time, here in the city of Portable, that this guilty heart of mine was cleansed from those stains of sin by the precious blood of Christ. And I stand here tonight once more to thank him for that day when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you when I smite the land of Egypt. Now shall we go over, please?
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Diverse.
22 And he shall take a bunch of hisses and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lentil in the two side posts with the blood that is in the basement. And none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. I don't believe it's wrong for us to picture this scene in Israel. They hear these words of God.
Passed on to them by Moses, and they believed those words.
But they don't simply fold their hands, they believe them with a belief of real faith.
And God told them that they were to take this lamb, to kill it, to catch its blood in the basin, to take a handful of hyssop and dip it in that blood, and sprinkle it upon the little and the two side posts in the houses wherein they were to spend that night.
Now, when they really believe that message, when they truly took God at His word and realized that the judgment was coming.
And that it was very, very near. They did exactly as God commanded them through the words of his servant Moses. That lamb was taken, The blood of that lamb was shed, caught in a basin. But that, my friend, was not enough. And this point I do wish to stress, as God helps me this evening, for I fear that there are many in this company tonight.
Who have come that far?
You know, you wouldn't deny for a moment the fact that center around the suffering and death of the beloved Son of God, our Lord and our Savior, Jesus Christ.
You know, somehow my heart is particularly saddened on a day like this.
Why do I say on a day like this?
Because, you know, on this very day.
The doors of learning, the doors of commerce, the doors of industry in these so-called Christian lands.
Our clothes.
Why? Because they say.
This is the day when Jesus was crucified.
And they close up shop and they close the school and everyone has the day off.
Good Friday, they call it.
That all, beloved friend, as I awaken this morning.
And I looked at my watch around 9:00 and on toward 12:00.
But I'm part of that which this world thinks of Indiana setting apart. This day, my heart was grieved within me to think of how many there are that still go on with the outward form of religious recognition of it all, but have no place in their hearts for the Savior and are not yet cleansed by His own precious blood.
Oh, I ask you, beloved friend, in this room tonight, and I ask you because it concerns your eternal destiny. Have you been cleansed by the precious blood of Christ? The lamb was slain. Its blood was caught in a basin. But there was one thing more that was most vital and most necessary. That blood had to be sprinkled on the lint and on the two side posts.
And as the Israelites looked up, there was the blood above him. There was the blood on either side of him. Thank God it was not beneath his feet. No, indeed, God would not permit that.
Sad to say, we see it all around us today.
I fear we even see it in the pulpits of the land today.
Trampled upon.
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Openly mocked and ridiculed.
But I stand here to say, and there's many another that would say it with me, Thank God for the precious cleansing power of the blood of Christ. But there was one thing here in this verse.
That really impressed me as I read it a few days ago. And that is, ye shall take a bunch of hyssop.
I hope I won't be accused of being spectacular, but I brought a bunch of hyssop with me tonight.
Some time ago, in walking through the streets of Old Jerusalem, I plucked a bunch of hyssop from between the stones of the Old Wall there.
And I'm sure, as I showed to you, you'll realize how utterly, absolutely.
Insignificant and worthless it is. That's all there is to it. That, my friend, is a bunch of hisses that once grew between the stones of the wall in the Old City of Jerusalem. It's worth persistent. If I had left it lying somewhere, I'm sure it would have been thrown away as a worthless handful of weeds, and that all it amounts to.
It speaks of something utterly insignificant in the eyes of man. But I believe that as an Israelite that night long ago reached out and took in his hand a bunch of hisses and looked at it, he must have realized the significance of what God was telling him. I believe, my friend, that God was telling them, and God is telling you.
That this is all that you and I amount to. This is all that you and I amount to.
I am absolutely nothing but a loss, guilty, worthless, hell bound, Sinner, apart from the value of the precious Blood of Christ and having been sheltered by the precious Blood of Christ. My friend, I want to tell you something. I stand here this night a child of God, by matchless grace, accepted in the beloved, destined to spend eternity not only.
In that wondrous home, but with and like the Savior who loved me and died for me.
And when I see his face in Yonder glory, I'm going to see reflected in that face forever.
The joy and delight and satisfaction of his heart that I am there, oh, that he wants you to be there too. Now let us picture, if you will, a home in Israel. The lamb is slain, the blood is shed. It has been caught in a basin, But one thing yet remains.
A humiliating experience in the eyes of the mocking neighbors.
To take that insignificance handful of hesitation, to dip it in the blood, to sprinkle it on the lentil and on the two side posts. What if some passerby might see this being done? What mockery they there might well be? What ridicule it would be termed nonsense.
Now I want to ask you, because God loves your soul, and because I also care in some little measures who is there in this company tonight.
Who would truthfully tell anyone of us? Yes, I do believe that I have been found a Sinner before God. I can't deny it. God's word says so. My own memory and conscience agree with it. I have sinned.
Furthermore, I doubt not that you would say that you know that God will never allow one stain of sin to enter heaven. Do I speak the truth? You know I do. You know that the Book of Revelation tells us solemnly that not one stain of sin, not one lie, will ever be permitted to enter through the Gate of Heaven. Who is there here that would stand up and say I qualify?
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I've never told a lie. I've never done anything wrong at a pride selfishness.
Anger never is there such in one. I'm sure there's not. Now Friend will go a step farther.
Would you also say Yes. And I also believe John 316. I believe that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. I believe it. You believe that the Lord Jesus came into this world. You believe that he died on the cross? Yes. A step further, you believe that he died for sinners.
Yes, our friend hears a bunch of hisses.
Here's a bunch of hits. Will you take it?
And apply it to the need of your own soul. There came a moment with every home in Israel when they had to take that bunch of hisses. They had to dip it in the blood, no matter who was watching, and sprinkle it on the lentil and on the two side posts, close the door and step inside. Now I quite expect that when they did this.
They may have been mocked by some of their unbelieving neighbors. What nonsense to think that a little bunch of hyssop dips in the blood of a lamb sprinkled across the top and down each side of that door would make any difference whatsoever to that home, Supposing judgment is coming. What a strange notion that the splashing of blood in those three places would make any difference whatsoever.
Why did it make this difference? Because God said so. God said, when I see the blood, I will pass over you. Now, beloved friend, I trust you will pardon me, but I do want to speak to the boys and to the girls, to the young people who, like myself, grow up in a Christian home. Grow up to believe all this, I ask you as you look at this little handful of hisses.
Has that moment come?
Dear boy, dear girl, has that moment come when you personally, in the presence of God, have owned? I am lost. I am guilty.
But I accept the Lord Jesus Christ.
As my Savior, I want this very moment to be cleansed from those sins of mine by the precious blood of Christ. Will someone mock you? Quite possible, more than likely, although I have no doubt there are those present in this room tonight who would be filled with great joy.
If they knew that you did such a thing.
But I'll tell you something else. There's joy in the presence of the angels of God all as I think of that open door of heaven, as I think of my loving Savior up there, yearning for that glorious moment when he's going to give the assembling shout and call his redeemed bride home to himself, we naturally say, why has he waited till April of 76?
Why? You know why He doesn't want you, my friend, to be left.
05 Then it's much more solemn than being left outside. To be outside the door is bad enough, but the only other alternative, beloved friend is this.
Outer darkness.
The Lake of fire for how long?
Forever and ever and ever.
Let modern preachers say what they will, the lips of the Lord Jesus uttered with solemn, yearning words of warning.
That the destiny of the lost is just as eternal as the joy of the redeemed, I know by the grace of God.
I know by the sheltering power of the blood of Christ. I know by the authority of the word of God, that the endless ages of eternity will find me in the presence of the one who shed his blood to redeem my guilty soul, That beloved friend. What about you all? I want to press it, fall upon you, and I trust those who are a bit older will forgive me for bringing this.
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Insignificant reminder of what I wish to press upon your soul.
Will you, beloved friend, take the place that God wants you to take? Will you bow your head and own your absolute worthlessness before him, and with the hand of faith received except the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior? Permit me to put it yet more simply if I can.
If it were my wondrous privilege.
To step down from this place, to sit down Yonder. And the Lord Jesus Christ, my beloved, my precious Savior, stood here.
And spoke to you of his love, showed you his pierced side, stretched out his loving hand, and then came right to you where you sit. And could he call you by name? Of course he could, I can. But he can call you by name, told you of his love, and said to you.
I love you.
I died for you. I shed my blood to put your sins away.
And now I wish to save you and promise you.
A home with me in glory forever. And he stood waiting for your answers.
Tell me.
Don't pass up this moment. Tell me, friends, what would your answer be? Now, of course, he knows everyone in this room who has already said yes to the Lord Jesus. But he also knows those who have not yet reached out and accepted him as Savior. He waits for your answer. Don't wait till that clock comes around to 8:30.
Right now, beloved friend, write down why not just receive Him as your savior? His arms are outstretched, His precious blood was shed. And as we go on with this story, we find what took place. We find beloved friend that that which he had told them of came to pass. Shall we go on with the next few verses?
The 28th verse. And the children of Israel went away, and did as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.
And it came to pass. Aren't those solemn words. This is what he had said would come to pass, and it came to pass.
You know, it is noticeable in the ways of God that every time judgment falls, there are two things precede that judgment. A warning.
And a way of escape.
In the days of the city of Jericho, there were seven days of warning that preceded the judgment of that guilty city, and there was a way of escape available to in the days of Noah there, where I believe about 120 years of warning.
And the judgment came. But there was a way of escape. Now the judgment of God has been pronounced upon this world. A way of escape has been provided. And how long has God waited? Seven days. 40 days.
120 years. Over 1900 years, God has lingered and simply because he lingers still, I wonder, is there someone here who is saying, Oh well, I've heard this so often. Why, I remember almost six months ago somebody said, you know, the door might be closed tonight. Well, you can. Well, thank God that he left you here to hear it once more. But this I know it came to pass.
00:50:17
At midnight. And this I know that the judgment of God is soon going to be poured out upon this guilty Christ rejecting world. And as I look around here this evening, I know that I am not alone in being aware of the fact that that moment is very, very near at hand. With gladness I say it, you know, quite a while ago I was in a home.
Where a Carpenter was putting kitchen cupboards in, he had his workmen's cap on, he had his hammer in his hand, and I was introduced to him and began to speak to him about the Lord Jesus.
He laid his hammer down and he listened very, very eagerly, and after a moment he took his cap off and listened yet more eagerly.
And after a little while, he did.
What really thrilled my soul?
He put out his hand and he said, I'd like you to know that here and now I accept the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior. And you know, as I held that man's hand, a strange thought came to me. It had never occurred to me before, but I held his hand and held it tight for a moment. For one thing, I just couldn't speak. I was so glad. But another thought came through my soul as I held his hand.
I thought, if this is the last soul that's going to be saved, we're going home right now. And I just held his hand waiting to hear the shout. And I didn't hear it. And I thought, well, there must be someone else somewhere that he's still waiting for. And that's why we're here tonight. He's waiting still, friend. I tell you this. He's waiting for you. He loves you. He wants you to reach out your hand and take that worthless bunch of hisses, dip it in the blood and say this.
Is for the need of my guilty soul. Are you standing beneath the shelter of that precious blood?
Who is it that placed the value upon that blood? It wasn't Moses in his day, it wasn't Paul or Peter or John in their day. But it was the very one whose eye looked down on that scene so long ago, and has told us true through the pen of another. The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from.
All sin.
Oh, if we were to turn over the pages of the New Testament, we would find John pointing and saying, behold, the Lamb of God. We would hear Peter saying, you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
Verily foreordained before the foundation of the world. And then, if we were to turn to the very last book of the Bible, what would we find?
A glad company of the redeemed up Yonder at whole, singing, singing, and what is the theme of their song? While we're given the very words of that song they're in the midst of, that great post is a lab slave.
Oh, does this story of Exodus 12 not point onward to the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ?
Where God's appointed lamb was sacrificed for us, and point yet further onward to that which lies ahead. When in the glory land we shall surround the Lamb of God, Who there who once was slain? And what will be the song? Thou art worthy? For thou art slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred.
And tongue.
And people and nations.
I love that verse.
Oh, but it's a thrill.
From time to time.
To see the gladness reflected from the countenance of.
Of those whose language you can't understand, but to know that that joy and that gladness comes from the sheltering power of the precious blood that flowed from the wounded side of our beloved Savior, our Lord, Savior, Jesus Christ.
00:55:13
Because of my guilt, he bowed his head. Because of my guilt, the strokes of God's judgment fell upon him.
And at last, when the last stroke of judgment had fallen upon God's Lamb.
My Savior, He bowed his head upon his own bosom and death, and there from his wounded side there flowed that precious blood concerning which God's Word declares the blood of Jesus Christ. His Son cleanses us.
From all sins? Us. Who does that mean?
I'm part of it, but I stand here all alone, and it's not even proper English to see us When you're all by yourself. There has to be more than one to make an us, does there not?
I remember years ago in Bermuda talking to a group of boys and girls, and we were speaking on this very verse and we read those precious words. The blood of Jesus Christ his Son, cleanseth us from all sin.
And I suddenly realized, but here I am all alone, and this first refers to us.
And I looked down at the front row, and there was an eager little boy there, looking up with such delight on his face.
I guess I was taking a chance, But I said to him, my boy, do you know the Lord Jesus as your savior? And he was on his feet in a moment with gladness. He said, yes, Sir, I do. Could you say that? Could you say that? I do. Then I said, would you please come up here with me? And he did. And we stood there side by side, and I opened the word and we read that verse.
The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us.
He looked up at me. I looked down at him as we read that wonderful word together.
And it just filled my heart with gladness to see the look on my dear little boy's face as he looked up at me and said us. Come now, let's be simple and truthful about this. The blood of Jesus Christ his Son, cleanseth us.
By God's wondrous grace, that simple necessary steps the application of the precious blood of Christ.
To meet the need of this guilty soul of mine took place after a meeting just like this, long years ago. I thank God for it with all my heart. And if there's someone here tonight who would like to be sheltered by the blood of Christ, who would like to know what it means to be on the way home to the glory.
Say glorious word then, beloved friend, don't leave tonight. There are many, many here who would just love to have you turn to them.
And speak with them about your needs. But you know the best one to speak to is not me or anyone else but you. Speak to the Lord Jesus, Tell him of your needs, And if there should be some older one here, and this burns upon my soul tonight, an older one here, who has all your years trusted in that wonderful reputation of yours.
Be warned in time that you're lost unless you're sheltered by the blood of Christ.
When I was four years old, I took a journey with my mother to the city of Toronto. Her dear old mother was dying.
A very, very, very religious old lady she was.
Absolutely everything that the church required of her, she devoutly fulfilled.
She had her daughter, my mother, baptized with water, brought all the way from the River Jordan in order that it just might do something a little extra for her.
And everything that her church required of her she fulfilled to the letter on what she considered to be the Sabbath day. You couldn't get her to set foot outside the door of the house, except to go to church and back. Baptized confirmed the sacrament. Everything that had that a pious old lady could do, Grandma Knowles did it to the letter.
01:00:23
But there came a time when the doctor told her Mrs. Knowles.
You're not going to be here much longer.
And my mother had disgraced her dear old mother by reaching out and taking a bunch of hits of and accepting the Lord Jesus as her savior. My mother had really embarrassed her dear old mother by owning that all this ritual could not fit her soul for heaven. My dear mother had in the days of her youth accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her Savior.
And had lived in the joy of it. And you know, when it came time for her mother to step out into eternity and meet God.
What do you suppose she wanted? She said. Please send for I read.
So Irene, my mother took me with her just a little fellow, 4 years of age.
Strangely enough, I could take you to that home. I could take you to the room. I could take you to the place in the room where that bed was, where my dear old grandmother lay just about to breathe her last. And she said, oh, Irene, will you please sing with me?
Just as I am without one, please.
But that thy blood was shed for me.
And the top bids we come to thee, full Lamb of God, I come. And my mother and my grandmother sang that precious hymn together. And when it was all ended with a very feeble voice, Grandma said, Irene, how often I have sung those words in church and never really meant it, never really came. But tonight, Irene, I come with no other plea than the blood of Christ.
I.
I went off up to bed up on the third floor and the next morning when I came down.
I went into that room and there was a white sheep pulled up over Grandma's face. I'd never seen that before and I didn't know what it meant. I said. Mother, Mother, what's the seat up over Grandma's face for?
I was told that during the night grandma had gone home home to be with the Lord Jesus.
Bearing no other plea and the value of the precious Blood of Christ.
To save a deep dive Sinner or a religious old lady? Either one. There's no other plea. Beloved friend, could we sing that hymn?
Just as I am without one please, but the thy blood was shed for me first and last stanzas only, plead of numbers 12 #12 first and last Santa only.
Thus as I am.
I love who I am.
The Gospel of God
Gospel—E. Wakefield
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.
Mike, we sing together #14.
Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power? Are you washed in the blood of the lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the lamb #14?
The.
Saving his praises our Father in the world. It is the bottom of the world.
Raised by.
Boy.
Alive in the world of the land.
Where you are.
Sing #37 The Gospel of Thy Grace, My Stubborn Heart.
Has 1 #37.
00:05:58
Forever.
Grace of the world.
The Lord.
Where I was in the middle of the Children's Hour.
Worldwide.
Outside.
The world.
Is taking.
And.
Might we open our Bibles?
The first chapter of the book of Romans.
Romans, chapter one.
And verse one.
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ.
To be an apostle.
Separated unto the Gospel of God, verse 3.
Concerning his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness.
By The Resurrection from the Dead, verse 16.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.
For it is the power of God unto salvation.
To everyone that believeth to the Jew 1St, and also to the Greek.
You'll notice, my friends, if you read these verses carefully, that we have mentioned here the Gospel of God. Secondly, we have his Son Jesus Christ.
Our Lord, thirdly, we have the resurrection.
Of the Lord Jesus Christ. And then we have the power of God under salvation. Or how blessed, my beloved friends, tonight is the proclamation of the gospel of God. Surely there's many of us in this room tonight that can look back with joy.
00:10:19
To that time when the Gospel of God concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Touched our poor dead hearts and we came out of the devil's darkness into the broad daylight of the grace of God.
We were brought from death to life. We were brought from the power of Satan to God. We were brought from that road to hell under that road to heaven. And I'm sure there's some in this room tonight.
That I've never yet believed the gospel of God concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord. And you were here tonight, my friend. And I ask you what you have in this life. You have absolutely nothing, I'm sorry to tell you.
For I was on that broad road to destruction, and I know something of the heartaches and the sorrows of life and all that the devil has with his plans and schemes to bring you down to hell, and he has nothing for you.
But a grave and eternity, because you have to leave the world.
You just can't stay here. No matter how rich you are or how poor you are, you cannot stay in this world. You have to go.
Into God's eternity and you have to stand before God. You may there may be in this room tonight an atheist or an infidel or somebody else who says, but I don't believe that, But that doesn't matter.
As far as God is concerned, you have to leave and go out into eternity, and you have to stand.
In the presence of a holy God. What a solemn thing, beloved, I'd like to point out too.
That the gospel of God is not concerning you.
And the gospel of God is not concerning me, and the gospel of God is not concerning any man in the world.
But the gospel of God?
Is concerning.
Jesus Christ.
Our Lord.
But I would say to any in this room who have never yet received the Lord Jesus Christ.
As personal savior that you had better be concerned.
Bar is the gospel of God. It's not concerning you.
But you should be concerned by the gospel of God. Now the next thing is this, that the gospel really means God's good news. You know, this world is full of bad news. Tonight you can read it in the press, I suppose You can hear it on the air. You can see pictures of it as you walk down the street, and all you see is ruin.
And the whole business collapsing all around us.
As man loses control of the situation.
And our governments come to the place where they probably put up their hands and say we're sorry, we can't do anything, we can't do anything.
And my friend, tonight you should be concerned about these things. You should be concerned about the mess the world's in.
You can be future become concerned about what is going to happen.
In this world.
For I assure you on the authority of God's Word.
That God is going to pour out onto this world.
His judgment? The world has hopelessly lost.
Like a sinking ship going down under the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
00:15:02
And nobody, I'm sure it takes much time to try to repair a sinking ship. You have to leave it. And, my friend, tonight there is a refuge for you outside of this world, and that is in Christ, in Christ. Now, I thought tonight that I would look at a couple of passages in the Old Testament and one in the New Testament, where we have, I believe.
The gospel of God concerning His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Let us look first back to the beginning of the Bible, the third chapter of Genesis.
Now this is a well known chapter to most of us.
But like all the Bible that never grows old, never grows old. It's the same old book that our great, great, great grandfathers read and enjoyed. And today, in 1976, we can still open the Word of God and read from His holy pages. Genesis 3, verse 15.
And here we have God himself speaking. It's the gospel of God. Here we have in this 15 verse God speaking to the serpent and he says.
I will put enmity between thee and the woman.
And between thy seed and her seed it shall bruise thy head.
And thou shalt bruise his heel.
Isn't that a wonderful verse?
Oh, thank God for Genesis 3 verse 15.
It's a hope, my friends. It's God's gospel, and we've often said that God himself.
Reserved to himself the privilege of being the first gospel preacher.
Himself God. In this verse He presents the gospel. All what wonderful blessed news we have here of the promise of a deliverer of a Savior. Let us notice now about this verse.
That God says I will. This is one of God's I wills in the Bible. I will put enmity between thee and the woman.
And between thy seed and her seed. Notice, my friends, it's her seed, nothing to do with Adam. It's her seed, the woman seed. And this brings before us in connection with the gospel of God concerning his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, that he was born of a virgin. Now there may be some in this room, because we do not know everybody here.
Maybe some who say, well, we don't believe in the virgin birth of Christ tonight. Then I say, you're not a Christian. You cannot be a Christian and deny the virgin birth of Christ now.
There are children in all that don't understand this, and we don't expect them.
Understand this, but you who are older, you who are grown up, you have reached the age of responsibility. I stand here tonight in the presence of God and say, I believe in the virgin birth of Christ.
If the Lord Jesus wasn't born of aversion, he is not the Savior that I'm going to preach tonight by the grace of God.
All my friends, He was born of a virgin sent apart the holy, spotless, eternal Son of the living God, the Creator of all things, and the One who sustains everything and holds everything in place by His mighty power.
The Christ of God.
And here God himself has given out his gospel.
And even in this 15th verse we have back in Romans 1 or.
Verses 103 the very thing we have in Genesis 315.
00:20:03
This shows how important this is to God, the gospel of God.
And the virgin birth of Jesus Christ our Lord. You see, beloved friends, when God talks about his gospel, he brings us right back to the time when sin entered into the world. And that solemn verse tells us and death by sin. And so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.
This is a very serious thing, you know, To be here tonight in this room, not to hear a sermon, God forbid.
But to be warned, my friend, that you are going out to meet God and that you are going to spend eternity with the devil and the damned unless you're saved. And that covers every man in the world that ever lived from Adam's time down.
For tonight, in this little and this room here, there are, I suppose, two kinds of sinners, and only two.
Those who are saved and those who are lost.
Those who are heaven bound and those who were hell bound. And my friend, I warned you tonight.
I solemnly warn you that hell is not a dancing hall and hell is not a place where man gather to drink beer or drink strong drink. And hell is not a place where men go to have a good time.
But our Lord Jesus Christ, the only man whoever lived, who never told a lie, said there shall be weeping.
And wailing, Can you imagine? And gnashing of teeth. For how long? Forever, you know. You can hardly imagine it forever. Never to stop. Never.
In this life, man says, Well, I'm suffering agony, but I know that death is coming very shortly to take me away.
But in that place there is no end, no end.
I want to ask you because we live in a day where men don't believe.
The Word of God.
And I've talked to men and women too, who say, but I don't believe the word of God.
But they will believe someday. They will believe someday. And I tell you, my friend, if I may use this expression as an escaped prisoner of the devil brought out of the Devil's Jail and prison and penitentiary.
The devil's penitentiary into the arms of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I solemnly warn you.
That after my conversion, I literally trembled.
As I realized how close I was to hell, friend, You can't imagine.
You can never even enter into your mind or my mind what it will be like to have the Lord Jesus say deprived from me.
Into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Can you imagine that?
That's so Psalm. Oh, I wish often wish I could live in the 19th century.
And attend a gospel meeting by some of the old servants of God, and see men and women in their chairs weeping.
Weeping. Wouldn't that be a wonderful thing? If we looked into the audience tonight and saw men and women weeping and we could get down and say, what are you weeping about? And they said, oh, I'm lost, Sir, I'm going down to the dungeons of the damned. I'm lost. I must get saved tonight or I'll never get out of this building. I refuse to leave this building until I know I'm saved for God's eternity. But, my friend, we don't live in that kind of a day.
We live in an ungodly age where everything is becoming more wicked every day of the year.
And if the Lord doesn't come soon, we're going to say it's so wicked and so terribly bad that we'll just absolutely long to leave it.
00:25:10
And the goal to be with Christ, as many of us desire, by the grace of God. Tonight, friend, I warn you, before I go on to my subject, The next point I tell you solemnly.
Young man who has a Christian mother or father, Young lady, you are playing a losing game.
And when you come to the Gospel meeting and snicker or smile and laugh, you know you're not fooling anybody but yourself.
Because I say again, you are playing a losing game. You can't play with the devil and win. Absolutely impossible. You will never win, my beloved friend. If you play with the devil, he'll rob your soul as sure as you're breathing.
But I want to look now at another verse in this chapter and that is the 20th verse of Genesis 3. Continue on with our subject.
Verse 20.
And Adam called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. Notice my friend, sin came into the world. Death passed upon all men. And here's a man who dares to call his wife the mother of all living. Why? Because he had faith. And in the next verse, notice what happens as a result unto Adam also.
And to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins.
And clothe them.
Here we go back again. Now to Romans chapter one, verses one and three, the Gospel of God.
Concerning his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. For when God spoke to our first parents, I believe, about these coats of skins, He was really saying, this is my gospel and when he produced the coats of skins.
He as much as said, and this is concerning my son, Jesus Christ our Lord. You see, my friends, the animal, and I believe there was only one the animal from which.
These skins were secured is a picture or type of the Lord Jesus Christ.
And we notice here that in our verse that these coats of skins were made.
By God himself. You see, God. Didn't I speak reverently? God didn't ask Adam to kill an animal and make coats of skins. No man could make nothing when it comes to a covering to be in the presence of God. He can't do anything. Nothing, my friend. You can't do anything to save yourself. I was surprised recently to find.
That somebody had said.
Be surprised that Christ has done 50% of the work on the cross.
And the poor dead hopeless Sinner does the other fifty. What a hopeless gospel that would be.
My friends, God made the coats of skins from an animal that I believe he himself killed.
Bringing before us very clearly.
Calvary and the cross and the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God on that cross, dying on that cross for sinners in order that God Himself.
Might clothe us with a coat of his own righteousness.
Because unless you have God's righteousness.
You will never get into heaven.
And hell is going to be filled with men and women who led good, clean, respectable lives.
Upright and moral and clean and religious, who rejected God's gospel and God's Son, You know the Lord Jesus made a marvelous statement when he was here. Among his many statements, he said these solemn words.
00:30:17
If ye believe not that I am.
Ye shall die in your sins, and where I am there.
Ye cannot come.
And of all the wealthy millionaires in North America tonight?
Pulled all their money together into millions and millions of dollars. They couldn't buy one song.
Out of that lost eternity.
My friend, tonight there's a savior for you. He's God's son, and he's a living savior, as we had in the first chapter of Romans were preaching about a living savior.
Because tonight, as you sit in those chairs and I stand on this platform, there is a man, and he's the only man in heaven. The spirits of his people have gone to begin with. The Lord, the spirits. But there's a man in heaven tonight.
His name is Jesus.
And he is seated.
On the throne of the majesty of Almighty God, He's right there in the heavens. And if those heavens open tonight, we would see the very throne of God. And on that throne is seated the Lord Jesus Christ. And my friends, nothing happens in this world unless He allows it. He is over everything.
Everything in him we live and we move on. We have our being. The very breath that man uses to curse God's name is given to him by God. You see, you are a dependent creature, and so am I. Friend, are you saved tonight?
Have you personally received the Son of God?
As your savior in all men speak as if to get saved is really doing God a great favor and a great honor. Because, you see, man likes to be somebody.
Man like to be somebody important. They like to be able to say, well, you know, I did this and I did that, and I came to the gospel and and I did this and I did that. They liked that because it gives man a place. But you see, God says no man is nothing, Man is nobody. But my beloved Son is everything. And to have my son as your Savior means you're brought into the very favor of God so that he becomes your father. That we're going to say in a few moments.
Oh, how blessed is the gospel of God.
Concerning his son.
Jesus Christ, our Lord and my friend, is the only Savior. There's no other savior. All the religions of the East, there are only false religions. Their leaders lived and died. The ones who started them, they're they're gone to the dust years ago. But our Savior burst the bonds of death and came forth. You know, somebody told me the other day, they said, you know.
That the scientists say that Jesus Christ really didn't die at all.
And you'll pardon this expression. I said, well, the scientists are liars because God says he did die. And I believe what God says, not what man thinks. But I believe what God says. And I would advise you, my friend and I, to believe what God says at all costs. Believe what God says concerning his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
You see, God has to punish sin, I would point out here, just look back now again to that third chapter of Genesis. And I want you to notice the seventh verse, right after Adam and his wife disobeyed God and sin came into the world. Now notice what happened.
And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed pig leaves together and made themselves aprons. Isn't that a strange thing? If God made the coats of skins, Adam and his wife made the fig leaf aprons, that was what man did. He did that. And tonight, my friends, this world and I refer especially to this country in which we are living tonight.
00:35:22
There are millions of people who are making their fig leaf aprons because they know they have to meet God. It's a strange thing, but man, no matter how wicked they may be as a rule when it comes to death, they call the preacher and they say to the preacher, I'm going out into eternity and I want you to pray for me. Why do they say that? Because they have.
A God-given conscience.
That tells them that after death they have to be God. They know that their conscience never turns into law. But they know. You know, my friend, tonight if you're here without Christ, you know you have to meet God. And Adam knew it. The first man that sinned in the world, he knew he had to do with God, and he tried to make himself ready for the presence of God with these.
Fig leaf aprons. But he had to confess in the presence of God. I was naked, even though I had the fig leaf apron on. He could say I have nothing on I'm Naked. And all your good works and all your religion and your baptisms, Oh man, loves that. He loves to say I was baptized, but it means nothing, my friends. Without Christ, that means nothing.
And the eyes of God is worth not even a cent. All your baptism, your confirmation vows, your your membership, your attendance, even your Bible. Reading without Christ means absolutely nothing, fig leaf aprons.
What a contrast these coats of skins that God made.
And God clothed them. Isn't that blessed? The more we read that verse, the more wonderful it becomes that God didn't even allow.
Adam and Eve to put the clothes on. He covered them, He clothed them. And my friend tonight God clothes you and I who are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. He wraps us in Christ where we stand in the presence of God accepted in the beloved. Who is the beloved? It's Christ Himself. Christ is the Beloved. Oh how blessed that we denied who know the Savior are his beloved people.
Because we're accepted in the one who is the Beloved. Now let's look at that chapter we had last night.
I like to say for one many others join We Amen. Everything our beloved brother said about the blood of Christ, friend, there's no salvation without the blood of Christ for any child of Adam's race, No salvation. It's the blood of Jesus Christ.
God's Son that cleanseth us from all sin. Exodus 12.
And verses 12 and 13, Exodus 12, verses 12 and 13, which bring us back to Romans one, verse one and three, for I will pass through the land of Egypt this night.
And will smite all the first born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast, and against all the gods of Egypt. I will execute judgment. I am the Lord. Notice.
And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you.
My beloved friends, the Gospel of God, His very word, I will Passover you. But there's the blood of the slain Lamb, which brings us back to verse 3 concerning His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. And we remember what our brother told us last night.
Maybe some weren't here, so let's speak a moment or two on this verse. The land of Egypt. The world.
00:40:06
Egypt was the world. There were those houses occupied by the children of Israel. There on the doorpost in the lentil of those doors, of God's people was the blood. Maybe people laughed. Maybe the poor Egyptians mocked at them and laughed at them, but you know, they had two grand things. I want you, my friend, tonight to have these two grand realities.
That God's people here in Egypt have that night they had the word of God and the blood of the Lamb.
Now the blood of the lamb made them safe, and the word of God made them. Sure you haven't got to leave this room tonight and say, well, I I wonder if I'm safe. You can know it on the authority of the living God.
You can know it on the word of the living God, no matter what anybody says. You may meet a man outside, He may say, I went to college for 20 years. I don't believe that. That doesn't matter. The living God has spoken, he says. When I see the blood, what is that? The death of the lamb. The lamb had died. Its blood were shed. And if one of those children of Israel had said what? But I am one of God's children of Israel.
I don't need the blood. I got my six children here and we all believe in Jehovah. We all know there's a Jehovah. We all know he's God. I don't need the blood. The Angel of death would have struck that home and the first born child would have been dead. Why?
Because God said when I see the blood, He didn't say When I see the children of Israel.
He didn't say. When I see my people, he said. When I see the blood and my friends tonight, God values the blood of Christ just as much as he did when I was shared on the cross of Calvary. The blood, I say again, there is no salvation.
Without the blood. It's the blood of Christ. My friends. Are you under tonight? The shelter of the blood of Christ. Young men, young ladies, what does it matter whether you're you have 10 initials after your name, or even 20? If you land in hell, what does it matter whether you're the best educated man in Canada or the United States? What does it matter whether you're the president of the largest corporation in the world if you go to hell?
What does it matter, my friend? You've got to leave everything behind. We just read the other day about a billionaire who died and what did he leave behind? Everything. He left everything behind and he went out into eternity to meet God without a cent, without a sin. And if he didn't have the Savior, he's lost for all eternity. And his billion dollars.
His billion dollars will not get him into heaven.
Never. It's the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, that cleanses us from all sin. You say it's the gospel of God, God's word. I will pass over you, God's Son, the Lamb.
Now you notice this chapter carefully. You will find the lamb was without blemish. Which brings us right back to the virgin birth of Christ, the sinless holy Savior, the Lamb of God himself, who shed His blood. I was speaking to a Jewish lady.
On Wednesday afternoon in Montreal. And she was telling me that around 6:00 tonight, she said that the Passover begins, Sir, about 6:00 tonight. And I said, what do you know about the Passover? Do you believe the story in the Old Testament of the the lamb dying and the blood was shed and put in a base? And she said, I sure do. I believe that. I said, you believe the blood was put on the doorpost and the lentils. Oh, yeah, she said. We read about that many times.
And the Old Testament.
Then I said, lady, listen, in the New Testament, the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Lamb of God shed his precious blood and every born again believer in that glorious Savior is under tonight, that today the shelter of the blood of God's lamb. And she said that is wonderful. That is wonderful. Well, my friends, how good to know. Tonight we're under the shelter of the blood of Christ, young lady.
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You've come tonight. Somebody may have brought you here. Are you under the shelter of the blood of the Lamb, you may say? Well, Sir, I've been here since yesterday. At at 1:30, I was here at the prayer meeting. I was here at the Bible reading.
And we're glad to hear that. But that won't save you to come into this room with a Bible reading.
Will not save your soul. You must have Christ. You must have personal contact with the Lord Jesus Christ. You must receive that Savior and your very heart. Your life is your Lord and your Savior and be able to say, I am under the shelter of the blood of God's lamb. It's the only way of salvation, the Lord Jesus said when he was here. I am the way.
The truth.
And the life No man cometh to the Father, but by me the word of God.
Distinctly says neither is there salvation in any other, but there's no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. The word of God clearly says the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord and all through.
The scriptures were pointed again and again to Christ. For there is no blessing without Christ. There's absolutely no blessing without Christ. And even in the heavenly scene above, in the 5th chapter of the Book of Revelation, we have them singing. Worthy is the lamb that was slain and his precious blood that cleanses from all sin. You see, my friends, it's not what you think.
That's what God says. You may have your ideas. You may say, well, you know, my church teaches. People have asked me what does your church teach? And I say my church teaches nothing. It's the word of God that teaches.
And everything that's taught, my friends, is false unless it's founded on the word of the living God.
Everything. A connection with God's things that cannot be backed up by God's word. They're false.
And I don't believe them. There was a lady came to the house the other day.
She tried to tell me that she could tell me how I could learn the Scriptures, and we asked her by the grace of God what she thought of the Lord Jesus, and she told me what she thought.
Man's thoughts, I said. My dear friend, you're going to land in hell. As sure as you're standing at the bottom of the stairs, you're going to land in hell. You have denied the son of God. You have made the son of God a creature created by Jehovah. You're a poor, lost, blind, dead Sinner and you're heading for hell at full speed. And the young girl, who was only 15, I guess, who stood beside her, I said. My dear young girl.
You're going to land in the dungeons of the damned if you follow this satanic religion that you're linked with.
All my friend, are you linked with any false religion tonight? Anything that tries to add to the work of Christ is not of God.
For the Lord Jesus has finished the work on the cross all by himself. He did it all the work himself and saw were brought into bless him through the matchless grace of God, who has spoken in His word of the gospel of God concerning Jesus Christ our Lord now in the New Testament.
And Luke 15, we have it again brought before us and I believe it's very precious.
We know the story of the prodigal son, so I don't want to read the whole story. You've heard of this young man in the far country and there may be right now, tonight, some young girl.
Or some young man that's in the far country and I want to tell you.
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That your pathway is going to end in sorrow, not only in eternity, but in this world.
Whatsoever a man souls, that shall he also reap. A Christian friend of mine went to a car one night to speak to a man.
And this man said, Sir, there's a verse in the Bible that I'm really afraid of. And he said, what is it? He said Whatsoever a man's souls that shall, he also reap, you can't escape that and neither can I.
You can escape my friend, the wrath of God falling on you by receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal savior and Lord. Now let's look at this 15th We'll look for a couple of minutes, notice what it says. Now the young man returns to his father and verse 20.
And he arose and came to his father. If you read about the elder son later on, you'll find that the elder son drew near to his father's house.
But the younger son realized in his miserable, wretched condition, he comes to his father. And this is exactly what God wants tonight. He wants you to come to himself. He wants you not to come to heaven. He wants you to come to himself. He wants you to come to Christ. He wants to hold you in his arms because he loves you and longs to bring happiness and joy.
Into your poor sad life tonight. Notice now what it says.
But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. Now wasn't that good news? Doesn't that remind us of the gospel of God? We see here? And I speak reverently, God running. You know, when God acts in judgment, he moves very slowly. He waits and waits. I think one of our one brother said it and one case. He waited 300 years.
Just imagine. But he doesn't wait 300 years when a poor Sinner says I'm lost.
Sinking down to hell. Then God doesn't wait 300 years or 300 seconds or one second. He runs. He runs because God is in a hurry to bless man, and he's not in a hurry to judge man. He's going to judge that, sure, but he's not in a hurry to judge man. But he's in a hurry to bless man. And so it says in the 21St verse and the sunset unto him.
Father, I have sinned against heaven and in my sight now. Is there somebody in this room tonight?
That's willing not to say this to me.
But any other Christian here, but to say it to God himself, I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight. Are you willing to say that tonight? Is there some honest man, some honest woman, some honest boy or girl who's willing to say I have sinned? Not my neighbors sinned, not my cousin or my uncle or my grandfather, but I.
Have sinned against heaven and in my sight. And the young man said, I'm not worthy to be called thy son. But notice now the Father said, The Father said, The gospel of God, the Father said.
Unto his servants. The young man wanted to be put under the staff of the servants. But this father didn't want servants, he wanted his son.
And he was welcoming home his son. And he said to his servants, if he had lots of servants bring forth the best role. What is this, the best room? It's Romans one and verse 3 concerning his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. The young man who came back home dressed in the filthy garments where he fed the swine, now finds himself wrapped in the best robe.
Provided for him.
By his father without cost. You want to buy a suit? Today I refer to the man.
You have to pay a lot of money for the suit today. But you know, there was number charge made for this best robe. It was provided by the Father. It was ready for the boy long before he came home. And God has been waiting for you, young lady, and God has been waiting for you many years. And you've heard the gospel and you've heard it again and again and again. And God is waiting. He has the best robe, which is his own righteousness.
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Christ himself to wrap around you. Isn't that wonderful? The best role. But notice what else he says here.
And put it on him and put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet. You see, the young man was going to have the ring on his hand.
To forever tell him of his Father's never changing love and how blessed as we get older as Christians, we find how more wonderful and wonderful the love of God is as he gaze upon the ring that he's placed on her hand. The ring, my friend, telling us of God's love.
I'm the Savior can say, and the Father himself loveth you. And as the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you. Continue in my love. Continue and join my love. Is the very love that the Father has for His beloved Son. All how blessed, how wonderful. Sinner friend, I feel sorry for you. You are dressed in the filthy rags.
You're a cruel, sarcastic, wicked master. Hold you in his power.
Like a child with a puppet. And he turns you here. He turns you there, and he sends you here and he sends you there. And you search like a hunter for pleasure and amusement to try to drown out the sorrows of your poor heart as you when your way to eternal damnation under the judgment of a almighty God, For rejecting the best role, for rejecting the Ring.
And for rejecting the shoes because the young man you know was not a servant, the servants walked barefooted. And I want to tell you tonight, my friends, the devil's servants.
Are walking barefoot. They're connected to the world, but the child of God has on those shoes.
That separates him from this Christ rejecting world going under judgment.
And nothing else will satisfy the heart of God that the poor Sinner who comes to Christ.
Will receive all the blessings of heaven. Isn't it wonderful? What a gospel. What a savior, my friend, the gospel of God concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. I notice the 23rd verse.
And bring Heather the fatted calf, and kill him. Oh, here was something else. There was no end to the father's resources. Why the calf was there if the robe was there?
The calf was there. He had sighted the calf up.
For the arrival of his Son and all, how blessed God is ready now.
Right, Ready is saying, like a man set out in wine, a park in California, he said. Sir, I I noticed as we were speaking on this very chapter, he was weeping.
And I said, did I see you weeping? Yes, Sir, he said. I was weeping all I long to be saved. Please, Sir, I long with all my heart to be saved. And I said, then why aren't you saved? This is what he said. He said I'm too wicked a man. I said, my friend, you were adding to your sins now because you're telling a lie.
For God has saved the sinner's chief, the apostle poem.
And taking him into the very glory of God and praise God, he can save the worst Rascal, the worst center in the United States or Canada. He can save you tonight. Whether you're a self-righteous Pharisee, a self-righteous hypocrite, a self-righteous church member, or meeting a tender. He can save you tonight. If you'll come to Christ and you'll say that God I've sinned, I've seen you know you've sinned and God knows you've sinned. And God tells you you've sinned.
All the fatted capital of it, and what else is it saying?
And let us eat and be merry. Who is this? The father and his boy. Let us eat and be merry. For this. My son was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found. Now, if you're here tonight without Christ, if I could talk to you alone and private. And I'll be glad to meet anybody at the end of this meeting and talk to you in private.
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You could say to me, Sir, I want to tell you something.
I've heard the gospel tonight, and I heard what you said. I'm going to say it right now. If you haven't got Christ, you're a spiritual corpse right now. You're dead. You're dead, you say. Well, if I'm dead, I'm not responsible. Yes, you are. You're a dead Sinner, but you're responsible to God. You've got to do with God. You've got to stand before God. You can't get away from God. You got to meet God.
Says he was lost. If you haven't got Christ tonight.
You might be a very respectable young lady, a very fine daughter.
Or a very fine son. But you haven't got Christ. You're lost right now. Not when you die. Now. Tonight you're lost.
And then it ends up in these wonderful words. And they began to be Mary, who the Father and his returned Son. They began to be married. And you know, it'll go on for all eternity. There'll be no deviled interrupt the joy of heaven. It'll go on for all eternity. They began to be Mary, the boy earlier in the story began to be in want.
But his father met every need, every desire, every want of his heart, and they began to be married. All my friends, this is the gospel of God.
Concerning His Son Jesus Christ, Our Lord, Is Jesus Christ your Lord tonight? Can you look up into the very heavens and say, the man this world hates, the man this world nailed to the cross, the man this world spit upon, the man this world nailed between 2 criminals.
He's the Christ of God, He's the Lord where God has made that same Jesus whom he crucified, Peter said to the Jews both Lord and Christ. For God has made Jesus the Lord Jesus Christ, and if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead.
Thou shalt be saved. Which brings us right back to Romans chapter one.
The Gospel of God.
Concerning Jesus Christ our Lord, who is the resurrected, 1 declared to be the Son of God.
By his resurrection, the power of God is the dynamite of God, my friends.
The Apostle Paul said I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it's the power of God. Think of that mighty power that takes a man or a woman out of the very clutches of the devil and breaks the devil's chains and brings a Sinner into the very arms of God.
I tell you, it's the power of God unto salvation. It's the gospel of Christ.
Dead in Sins
Gospel—P.B. Geveden
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'd like to begin the meeting.
And on the first page.
Number six.
God and mercy sent His Son to a world by sin undone.
Jesus Christ was crucified.
It was for sinners. Jesus died.
Sin and death no more shall rain.
Jesus died and lives again.
In the glorious highest height, same God's supreme delight.
All who in his name believe everlasting life receive.
Lord of all is Jesus now.
Every knee to him must bow.
Christ the Lord will come again.
He who suffered once will reign.
Every tongue at last will own Jesus Christ is Lord alone.
Oh, the glory of the grace shining in the Savior's face, telling sinners from above.
God is light and God is love number six.
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We'll sing another hymn and would you mind standing?
As we sing 15 oh blessed gospel sound.
Please stand.
I said Gospel.
Together.
Thank you.
We'll begin.
By reading from Genesis.
1.
Verse 26.
And God said, let us make man in our image.
After our likeness.
Chapter 2 and verse 7.
And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground.
And breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.
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And man became a living soul.
Then we read about a garden being planted.
A lovely, beautiful place where he was to have his abode.
Used to dress it and keep it.
In that garden they were all a manner of lovely trees.
Not pleased, and provided fruit for the enjoyment of this creature that God had formed in his likeness and image.
Then man was given that responsibility.
And even a companion.
So we can see that everything started out real well.
How would you like to be fresh from the hands of the maker?
We are as creatures still.
In him we live and move and of our being.
So that we can say today.
God made us.
He gave us our being.
We're his.
And we have a responsibility.
To Adam was committed responsibility.
He was advised not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
For a needing of that particular tree, he would suffer I'll consequences.
Nausea surely die.
So separation from God has taken place.
God came into the garden in the cool of the day to commune with him as before, and he could not be found, for he had gone a distance from him.
And that hidden himself among the trees.
So a question had to be raised.
Where art thou?
Now there was a question directed to Adam.
And a little later on in the account, we find another question that was directed to Eve, What has thou done?
So they spoil everything.
He had failed through disobedience.
And we are in a world of uncertainty.
And why are things so uncertain in this world?
It is because of man's sin.
Man's disobedience to God.
Man's world exercise in distrust of his maker.
We have in the Word the will of God.
And a statement about the will of the flesh.
And the will of the gentiles, which is the will of the Sinner.
Through man's will.
Uncertainty has been introduced into this world.
There was security in that lovely garden.
There was enjoyment there too, because God could come and commune with this creature in the cool of the day.
But now he found himself at a distance.
And in uncertainty.
You distrusted God.
He became a doubter.
And he also doubted his fellow creature.
Cain would not trust Abel.
And what's wrong today?
Men and people are unable to trust one another and there is suspicion.
Because of man's strong will that he seeks to exercise himself.
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And to take care of himself against all foes.
You don't know what the speaker might do.
Of course, knowing God's grace.
And the fact that the Lord is gracious.
We can have confidence in one another.
Now the world was so filled with crime.
And violence.
Of corruption and sinful lusts of every kind.
That God repented himself that he had made men on the earth.
And it was necessary to bring in the flood for the destruction of all life on the earth except those.
That moved with fear.
Those that found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
And Noah prepared that ark to the saving of his house.
They souls were saved.
New start was made.
But it's still the repetition of the same thing.
For it's indicated that it would be so again.
And there's judgment that lies ahead of this world tonight.
And were warned as to the.
Fear of him who has power to cast both soul and body into hell.
There's hell.
And you'll go there.
If you.
Neglect so great salvation that God has provided through his beloved Son.
You'll go there if you are a Christ Rejector.
Hell is a necessity.
Could it be right?
For those that know God and there is children.
The righteous in the earth.
To be brought along.
With those that have spurned God's grace and trampled under foot the precious blood of Christ.
Oh, it wouldn't do to put Tom Paine.
And the agnostics and the infidels.
In the same position as those that know the Lord Jesus Christ.
And the value of this precious death.
The preciousness of the blood that he shed for the remission of sin on the cross by the sacrifice of himself.
Man believes in the punishment of evil doing in this world. He's lessened his belief in that.
They think more of rehabilitation nowadays.
They think you know that man underneath somewhere.
Possesses.
A lovely.
Bloomer board that should be nurtured and brought into bloom and to blessing, and so that man will enjoy things here below, but it's all spoiled her sin.
That's not possible.
There must be a new beginning.
Man's state is bad.
The Son of Man, you know, came into the world to save that which was lost.
That's Matthew 18 and 11.
The Son of Man came into the world to seek and to save that which is lost.
Luke 1910.
Lost.
That tells us of our condition as alienated from God.
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And that is described and brought before us from Romans 512 to the end of chapter 8.
Man's state as a Sinner, his condition being lost and requiring the coming of the Son of Man that he might be saved.
There's a difference in those two verses.
And each one is true.
It's the word of God.
And the man doesn't like to read his record in the word of God.
There is a man traveling beside me and he said that is the most terrible book that has ever been published.
Because it brings before such weird things such terrible things, murder and wars and incest and all kinds of sin which shouldn't be brought to our attention.
But God is faithful in his description of man and his history here in this world.
And this book gives us the history of two men only.
The record of Adam.
And here we can put ourselves under his name with Ditto Marks.
We're just the same as he was. We're lost.
That's our condition.
Away from God.
The old eye was shaped in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me.
She was happy when.
Your speaker was born into this world 71 years ago.
She took a special interest in me.
She came to my bedside and stroked my brow the night that this lad confessed the Lord in 19114.
But yet.
Our shape and iniquity and incendiary, my mother conceived me. That's the state of man.
His condition is lost.
And that kind of thing, that state of thing, cannot continue forever.
Because the Lamb of God has come into this world, and we're told to behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of this world.
No, we are guilty too.
And we read about sins. They're listed in different catalogues.
And several books of the Bible.
Perhaps are all the sins that have ever been committed have been listed, and we can commit all of those sins because we have the capacity to do so.
For in my heart and your heart.
Find the seeds of every sin that is stained the pages of human history.
Man doesn't like to read his history here.
He likes to read his own history.
He would admit the record of sin.
He's glad to tell you about the struggles of the human race and the advancements that man has made in this world.
You know sin.
Is self will.
Sin is not merely the transgression of the Lord I recommend, but sin is lawlessness.
Which is simply self willed.
So as well to be informed as to the will of the flesh.
And that is to the will of the Gentiles, and as to this self will that each of us possess in full measure.
As to our state.
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We are lost.
It wasn't necessary for you to be taught how to do wrong.
You have known how?
Ever since you came into this world.
There was that capacity.
For.
The exercise of sin.
And very likely you demonstrated that right away.
Perhaps in a fit of timber?
Against your mother, who marched up to the door of death.
And brought you into this world.
And you can be thankful that you are here.
There in this world.
The Son of Man hath power to forgive sins. Or there's a scripture in Luke about chapter 4.
That the Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins.
He took that title. He became a man in order that he might be your savior.
So you've come into the world where provision has been made for the remedy of sin.
And the remedy is for you as an individual.
In the gospel we do not preach.
The idea of saving this world.
He is the savior of the world.
But the point in the gospel now is that God is taking out of this world of people for the name of Christ.
He's saving souls.
There is darkness in this world.
How did it come?
Men love darkness because their deeds were evil.
Light reveals, and our blessed Lord was the light of the world he came.
And the men loved darkness.
Because of their evil deeds.
And if you're in the darkness as to God's light of salvation, it's because the God of this world has blinded the mind of them that believe not.
Just one thin sheet of newspaper between me and that light will bring some major dimness to me.
And even if you took it outside and held it between you and the sun, it wouldn't be bright as it was.
The God of this world has blinded the minds of them that believe not.
So we find ourselves not only in the world of uncertainty, but in the World of Darkness.
But God is light.
And he sent his son the light of the world.
And we can read about the light that shines in his face, and we were thinking about it.
That light of the glorious gospel of Christ.
And all, may it shine to you tonight.
The southern man came into the world to save that which was lost.
A little child, you know, was in the context of that passage.
There are those that entertain the idea that a little child goes to heaven because of its innocency.
Thus, far from the truth is not so.
A little child goes to heaven before the years of responsibility, because the Son of Man came in the world to take care of the needs of that soul.
Through his death on Calvary's cross.
The Son of Man came into the world to save that which was lost.
And that being true of a little child.
Think again of that other verse in Luke 1910.
The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which is lost.
00:30:02
And if he's seeking for you, that means that you've gone astray.
Only like sheep have gone astray, we've turned everyone to his own way.
That's our wills at work.
The will of man.
That causes all the trouble and the uncertainty that prevails in this world.
But the will of God is that not any should perish.
That all should come to repentance.
And to the knowledge of the truth.
Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
No, precious is the thought, the force of that word grace.
For that brings God's blessing to us.
His unmerited favor.
And only ground of entrance into the presence of God is His mercy.
While we have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
And we can rejoice in the righteousness that he has provided for the Sinner on the simple principle of faith.
And it is of faith that it might be by grace.
If it were any other way, it couldn't be by grace.
God loves you.
He made you.
He gave you your being and you're responsible to him.
Men try to rid themselves of the thought of responsibility to God.
They've invented quite a theory of man's origin.
But don't you think that in South Carolina there were some scraps of metal on a shelf and the wind blew real hard and shook those scraps into a container that had a circulation of water in it or something else? And these little scraps of metal turned into different shapes and became polished?
And finally came fitted together and a face came out with numbers on it and began to tick.
While the scientists might say that's a poor illustration.
Was just as reasonable as his theory. God made us, We're responsible to him, and we're in trouble because of sin in this world.
There's uncertainty and there's darkness.
But there can be assurance.
And there is light for you.
The entrance of thy word giveth light, he says.
God has given us His precious word as a light.
And thy word is a lamp under my feet, and a light under my path.
And that light is shone in the face of our Blessed Lord. It still shines there.
And oh, what a lovely one he was down here as he went about and did good.
So man's condition is one of ruin.
And he is guilty before God because of his sins.
In Ephesians chapter 2.
We have a description.
Of the Sinner.
That is.
Different to any other.
Found elsewhere in the word.
And you?
Who were dead in trespasses and sins.
Wherein in time past, you walked according to the course of this world.
According to the Prince of the power of the air.
The Spirit that now worketh, and the children of disobedience.
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past, and the lusts of our flesh.
00:35:06
Will filling the desires of the flesh and of the mind.
And were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
There is reference here to those that were especially favorite on the Earth.
To whom the oracles of God were given.
And the service of the temple, the covenants, and too long.
But.
All those favored.
And given special opportunity for the development.
Of that which would be pleasing to God, they failed.
And they were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
By nature, we are the children of rice.
And we shall undergo God's judgment against sin if we do not take shelter.
Under the precious blood of Christ.
If we do not turn to him in simple belief.
And accept the truth of John. 524 Verily, verily, I say unto you.
He heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation.
You're a dead man.
How is this?
These are dead toward God.
That happened when sin came in.
And Adam fled.
And man has found himself at a distance, and he wills it that way.
Ever since that moment.
And you may not like the message tonight.
Because of that.
But this is the message that you need because God loves you.
Always light and that shows up what we are.
And it ought to be that way.
So that we can appreciate his love.
God loves you.
We have approve of it.
For he gave his son.
The only begotten son.
Years ago in World War 1, my brother was in the service and my mother put on the front door where people could see it. A flag, one star in it.
A little boy with his father was walking outside the city somewhere.
And he was counting the stars on such flags.
To here, one there, in that house, that door, that window.
And even 3.
But they walked away into the country from the glow of the city lights and to the little boy looked up into the sky.
And the evening star was shining ever so brightly. And he said Daddy.
Did God give his Son?
He did not for the war.
But for you as a Sinner.
That you might have certainty.
That you might be delivered from the power of darkness.
And that you might have assurance.
And enjoy the light of heaven.
Well, here's a dead man. What does he do? He does nothing.
If there were a dead man right here, what could he do?
He can do anything, Kenny. He's dead.
That's the way we are. That's the way we were did dead in trespasses and sins.
But suppose there was an extraordinary Dr. and he could.
00:40:00
Perform a little special kind of service and revive or impart life to him. What did the dead man do? He did nothing. What can you do? You can do nothing.
Just be the dead man.
The subject of works is taken up a little later in this chapter.
God, you know, the Father and the Son, communicate life.
All is necessary for you is to receive it.
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. Is that simple?
Whosoever should call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. It's so simple.
Another wayfaring man, go fool, need not err.
A young man.
Not so young in his 60s.
Along with so bad it couldn't be taken out.
But as he realized his condition and the limit of his time, about four months to go.
He turned completely to the Lord.
And engaged in those precious things that are eternal.
For the things that are seen are temporal.
He was interested in the games.
And who got the high score?
But I was all over.
What difference did it make?
Who won or who lost?
All that occupied him now was that which was eternal, he remarked one day.
It is so simple that most everyone misses the path.
Simple faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior of sinners.
So we're quickened together.
Raised up together.
Made sit together in heavenly places in Christ.
All that can be your destiny.
That can be true of you.
Sinner. Whoever you may be, I was a Sinner.
God saved me.
He'll save you.
He wants you for a purpose.
He would like to have you to be the object of his kindness.
He would like to display you in the ages to come.
Showing the exceeding riches of His grace and His kindness towards you through.
Christ Jesus.
Man lost paradise.
He can regain it. It's gone.
But man, as a Sinner, even for such we are.
Can have that, which is far better.
You can be created in righteousness and true holiness.
That's better than the innocent state that Adam was in.
All such are the blessings of the gospel.
The power of the Word of God.
That tonight.
In simple faith, committing yourself to the Lord Jesus in confession of your sin.
In acknowledgement of yourself as being dead, in trespasses and sins, you can be the recipient.
All that life everlasting.
The very life of Christ in new creation.
For by grace are you saved.
00:45:02
By grace, are you saved? That's the source.
And the foundation, the work that was done, is the precious blood of Christ that was shed.
Being justified freely by his grace, being justified by his blood.
Being justified by faith, we have peace with God.
Peace with God, all That's the assurance that you can enjoy for yourself as an individual.
By believing in the Lord Jesus, the Savior.
By grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It's the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast, or if you try, works.
You'll go back to Mount Sinai with all of its Thunder, with all of its lightnings.
And you won't be able to find peace there. You'll never be able to arrive at that point by yourself efforts.
All you need to come to Mount Zion, you need to taste that the Lord is gracious and need to yield yourself to him.
He is the savior of sinners.
The very one that you need.
There's none other.
None other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus. Unto good works they come afterwards.
You know the plowing of the wicked. You sin.
What was wrong with priling?
You might need to plow to feed the baby.
But sin.
If he's doing that without the suitable submission.
And subjection.
To garn his maker.
The ploughing of the wicked is sin, and all your righteousness is our silly rags.
So aren't we glad of the gospel of Christ, the power of God, and the salvation to everyone that believeth?
What a difference it made in the Philippian jailer.
He was a hard hearted man.
And evidently took delight.
In inflicting.
Pain.
And discomfort upon.
Two servants of the Lord Paul and Silas.
But the light shone from heaven.
He came in trembling. Sirs, What must I do to be saved?
And the answer came immediately.
They told him to do himself no harm. He was contemplating self destruction.
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.
And what next?
Oh, he was, tenderly.
Bathing and anointing the bleeding backs of those two men that he had thrust into the inner prison.
The Gospel made the difference.
The power of God and the salvation.
And the apostle went to Thessalonica.
And they received the word there with much assurance.
There's a positive message.
And they turn to God from idols to serve.
Turn to God from idols to serve the living and true God.
And to wait for his Son from heaven.
That's the power of the gospel, isn't it?
Or was that power of the gospel that saved the chief of sinners, and he was the most religious man in his day.
He was bending all of his energies against those that believed in the Lord Jesus.
00:50:04
That's the power of the gospel and if you're here tonight, depending on what you are doing.
Custard deadly doing down.
And look into the face of that blessed Savior who was lifted upon that cross to die for you. You know you are far off. We were.
But how is it?
Verse 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far over maiden eye by the blood of Christ.
Made nigh.
You heard about the blood of Christ Friday in the gospel.
Again, that message of the preciousness of the blood of Christ was repeated last evening.
And here we read again about the blood of Christ and what it does for us.
It brings us nigh.
The Precious Blood of Christ.
Will you ridicule that?
Some scoff at it.
And to want their children to hear about it.
But remember, it's the basis, the ground of salvation.
It's the work that was accomplished at the cross, the finished work of Christ that saves the soul.
There are those that believe you know in blood when it's a question of a good meal on the table.
They still believe in blood, you know, when they go to the hospital.
And.
They take blood in their veins that's provided for them. Transfusions perhaps it's called.
And they even believe in believe in blood on the battlefield when they want you to go.
For some purpose that they call worthy.
But coming to the blood of Christ? Oh no.
And tonight once you take shelter.
Under the precious blood of Christ.
And.
Find yourself admitted.
Into the household of God.
And coming to the enjoyment of all these precious blessings.
That are ours in Christ, in the heavenly.
You can be certain.
We believe and are sure.
You can be a child of the day.
Taken out of the darkness of this world.
You can be positively certain about your destiny, the future that's yours, by faith in Christ Jesus.
And you can be in the enjoyment of the light of life.
Let's sing Precious Blood.
34.
Precious pressure.
Blood of Jesus.
On Calvary.
Forever.
Me.
That's.
All right.
In Spain.
Perfect.
Garden.
Now is open.
Peace is made.
00:55:07
My friends on live and scholar go.
On strike shots, blood.
God made them.
I.
Know.
Pressure strike. Trust Lord Jesus.
The.
Ephesians 1:19-23, Ephesians 4:1-5
Reading
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 also sing #172.
More teachers, more survive, less please, Thou holy Lamb of God.
And thick and rudeness, and like Greek as those redeemed by blood, and grave this deeply on our hearts, with an eternal handy that we may in some small degree.
I love again number 172.
Could we read together?
Genesis Chapter 25.
Genesis Chapter 25.
Verse 5.
And Abraham.
Gave all that he had.
Unto Isaac.
John's Gospel chapter 3.
The three verse 2535.
Verse 35.
The Father love of the Son.
And has given all things into his hands.
Someone mentions the need before.
Called attention.
So how many young people were?
For travel and.
Trusted that the Ministry might be such that the young people would get their portion, that it wouldn't be over their heads, that it would be simple and clear enough for their blessings.
I trust this brother had the Lords mind in saying that he trusted that it might be something along the line of assembly truth. I just mentioned that not to say what subject we should take up.
With the Board of Occasions.
Perhaps that connected with that we might read from verse 19 of chapter 2 to the end and from chapter 4 verse one.
Perhaps as far as verse 13, would that be all myself?
From chapter 2, verse 19 to the end of the chapter and from chapter 4 verse one to the end of verse 13.
Ephesians chapter 2.
00:10:02
Verse 19.
Now, therefore, you are no more strangers and foreigners.
But fellow citizens were the Saints and of the household of God.
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone.
The new mall of the building reigned together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord, and whom ye also are builded together for inhabitation of God through the Spirit.
Chapter 4 and verse one.
I therefore the prisoner of the Lord beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation of wherewith ye are called, with all loneliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love, and endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit and the bond of faith.
There is one body and one spirit, even as you're told, and one hope as you're calling 1 Lord, one faith, one baptism.
One God and Father of all, who was above all and through all, and in you all.
It's under everyone of us had given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Wherefore, he says, when he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto. Ma'am.
Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Either the standard is the same also that ascended up far above all heaven, that he might fill all things.
And he gave some apostles and some prophets, and some evangelists and some pastors and teachers.
For the for the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, so we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, under the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
I think you'd better tell us, Brother Albert Hale, just find specially felt we should read those verses in the second of these seasons before we went on with the verses of the port of Ephesians.
Well, I have thought that the first verse high, therefore the prisoner of the Lord beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called, really refers back, does it not, to that which has just been brought before us in the latter verses of the second chapter?
A very, very wonderful vocation and a vocation which we're liable to be very indifferent about.
And a vocation which I believe caused the Apostle Paul to be found a prisoner. And perhaps This is why he brings in that particular point that in seeking resolve, help to be true to that very wonderful vocation mentioned in the end of chapter two, he was found in prison.
You would rather consider that the third chapter comes in as a parenthesis.
Giving Paul's.
Paul's ministry.
And bringing out this mystery that he has spoken of in the end of the second chapter.
Then he takes up the importance of walking worthy of that vocation, which I trust all understand means that calling is what we're called to.
That we should walk worthy.
Of this calling we're with you are called the way we should walk worthy of it.
When the Church is looked at in its house character, it has to do with the responsibility. But it's looked at as members of the Body of Christ. It brings before us those bonds that unite us in Christ, our responsibility to the head and to one another as members of the Body of Christ. So what is particularly before us in the 4th chapter has to do with our responsibility to one another as members of the Body of Christ.
00:15:23
And walking accordingly. But in the house character, I say it has to do with our conduct. That's why it's spoken of as an holy temple in the Lord.
So we find the same in Peters and Timothy rather, where it says that thou mayest know how the oddest of the haze thyself in the House of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. So as the house it's again.
Knowing how to behave ourselves in the House of God, and then to the responsibility to hold the whole deposit of truth that has been committed to us now, this leaves us in this world as pilgrims and strangers, because if we really are a testimony to God here in this world.
What part do we have in the vast system of things about us? We are responsible in connection with the truth that has been committed to us and as to our personal walk, now that it's according to the character of Christ. Or I might say that in First Timothy, where it speaks about behaving ourselves in the House of God, it then goes on to say, without controversy, great is a mystery or the secret of godliness, and it sets before us the pathway of the Lord Jesus.
That blessed one whose pathway was always according to the will of his Father, as we often saying, He led a life divine below. His whole pathway was of that character. Now in His absence, we are called upon to display that character here in this world.
And that.
Nine of that 20 The 20th verse, we get it growing into an only temple in the Lord. That view of the church, it's not complete until the last member is brought in. And then you have the Holy Temple complete and we have it.
In Glory, the translation takes place.
So whenever a Sinner is faithful, is saved, he's brought into that holy temple.
Become one of those living stones that Peter speaks of built up a holy temple to offer of spiritual sacrifice that's acceptable to God by Jesus Christ, but in the next verse, the 22nd verse.
No, in the 21St person whom all the buildings especially grow.
In the 22nd verse, in whom he also are building together for a conversation of God through the Spirit.
Not the view of the church. It's always complete at any one time, isn't it?
It's a habitation of God.
Swear God the Spirit dwells in this thing. Now looking at it in this temple character, there's nothing but living stones. It's only looked at as composed of true believers. But when it's the habitation of God where the Spirit dwells, there may be such material as wood, hay, and stubble. Where there's a profession for the Spirit of God dwells in the house.
Where the Lord is in the midst and where worship is offered to him now, is that correct?
I believe so, yes, indeed.
Well, to see that because there's so many have confused the thought of the church as built by Christ, and the church is built by man, we get the church built by Christ in the 16th of Matthew.
Where the Lord says upon this rock I will build my church. Well, we can be sure of this. The Lord never builds anything but good material.
3rd chapter of First Corinthians, Paul says. As a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation on another build a Pharaoh.
00:20:01
Well, the foundation that Paul laid in court was that which he says.
That there is, that there's which is Christ, and then he says there is no other foundation laid than in Jesus Christ.
That is, the only one that Paul preached in cars was Jesus Christ.
And he is. That was the foundation that he laid. Then others worked and brought in material into the assembly at Carth. And there was the danger in connection with the work of the servants, to bring in spurious material likened to wood, hay and stubble. And then we see the Church is built by man. We must never confuse these two views.
Of the Church, The church is built by Christ, and the church is built by man.
The first I rather.
In a not a very clear way quarter, but other foundations and no man leave and that is lead, which is Jesus Christ.
Here also, where it says, Now, therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the Saints and of the household of God. That goes back to what we have before. He has been speaking about how in Christianity the middle wall of partition was broken down.
There were all who are in a favored place of nearness. That was the nation of Israel. But now in Christianity, everyone who has been truly saved and indwelled by the spirit of God has been made a living stone in that building. There's no such thing, if truly saved, as being strangers and foreigners, whether Jew or Gentile. All our living stones, all our brought into this place of nearness and blessing.
Because there is only one body, there is the one assembly, and this he goes on and develops in the next chapter. But it's very lovely to see this. When Peter speaks of our place here in the world, he puts it in a little different way. He says, I beseech you as hell with strangers and pilgrims to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul. So we are strangers and pilgrims as far as this world about us is concerned.
That is, we don't belong to it. We're on our way to a better land, to heaven. But as regards the House of God, why? We're not Pilgrim. We're not strangers and foreigners there Here we're brought in and we're blessed in this place that is builded for inhabitation of God through the Spirit. We might say, in connection with what you were saying too, Brother Barry, that every believer is in the individually indwelled by the spirit of God.
That we have in First Corinthians 6. Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost. But there is also the collective thing that is brought before us here. That's why we meet as we do here this afternoon. In the Old Testament there was a special class of people marked out who carried on the service of God. But in Christianity, every believer is a priest, and so we have been brought into a place of nearness now.
And we're members of the body of Christ. And although God may have given gifts to to give out the truth, there is no special place of nearness for one member of the body, one living stone in the building above another. We have been brought into this place.
And as I say, seeking to acknowledge the presence of the Spirit of God.
We seek to give him liberty to use whomsoever he will to minister the truth to us.
Struck me that that was very precious where it says build it together for inhabitation of golf through the spirit. Rather let's remember that the course as who are being gathered to the Lords name, we're just a very feeble weak expression of the whole church if the whole Church of Ottawa were together.
Why every Christian in Otto would be in one place.
00:25:03
Yeah, they're doing one together in one way. But we can't say that we're the church. We're only a little remnant gathered on divine ground, but gathered in the way that all believers should be gathered. And brethren, let's remember this in being gathered in this way as a little expression of the truth of the one body. Maybe not forget, build it together.
They were fit to go on together and follow the things that make for peace, whereby one may edify another. Of course, never in any way encouraging what is wrong and what dishonors Christ, that's another thing altogether. But as to the normal way of going on in the Assembly of God.
Precious that he has built it together for us. Think of it. Think of it. Listen to this for an habitation of God, a place in this poor bad world where God by his spirit can dwell.
Is that the thought we get brother Barry in 133rd Tom?
133rd.
Yeah.
There we get the same word. If you leave or it translated the same.
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. It is like the precious ointment upon the head that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard that went down to the skirts of his garment, and so on. We see that together in unity, and I believe that that's the introduction of the of the 4th chapter also, isn't it?
Again, brother, Aaron called our attention to one time.
In connection with that 133rd Psalm, he said, Before you consider that unity, you must succeed what is since and the preceding Psalm? And in that Psalm we have David seeking for inhabitation for the God of Jacob, how he sought it in the field in the woods, When exactly David when he was caring for his father's sheep.
He was thinking of the Ark which had been taken captive by the Philistines and hadn't returned to its place. It was still a stranger, as it were, and he was longing, longing for the time. And the Ark could be brought to a place where Israel could meet and have a sanctuary, and the Lord presence, which of course was found in the Tabernacle.
For Jehovah's welfare between the cherry bims. So he was thinking it while he was still a shepherd boy, and he can say this in the eighth verse. Arise, oh Lord, unto thy wrist, thou and the ark of thy strength. Let thy priests be closed, and righteousness, and let thy faith shout for joy now when you see that he has marked out the place.
Or the presence of the Lord where then he can can speak of willing together in unity.
It's only as we give the Lord His place in the midst.
As the ark was the Center for God's people of old, so the Lord in the midst of the Center for God's people in these days.
Which give us the church, period. And then it's very beautiful. Having found the place where then we can see how beautifully the whole subject here is in connection with errant type of Christ and the oil, the anointing oil poured upon him, which goes down to the skirts of his garment.
It's important, as you were saying though, that we see in this end of the second chapter.
00:30:02
That is what God has done and what he is doing now. That is, the stones were cut out in the quarries and brought, and each stone was to fill a certain place. And as it was remarked by our brother Barry, God is the builder here. And So what is brought before us in the end of the second chapter is what God has done and what he is doing. And that is the work going on, whether the soul is truly gathered to Christ or not.
Really a living stone in the building. He is made to fill a certain place. He may not be exercised as to the responsibility, like we have in the 4th chapter walking worthy of the vocation, but nevertheless he is a living stone, and he is put into a certain place. Then comes the exhortations. But we need to remember that all the exhortations are founded upon what God has done.
God has formed this, God has ordered this. Then when responsibility comes in, we're exhorted to endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. But it's a very blessed thing for us to know that as God looks down, there is a work going on. Living stones are being built into this spiritual building. It is being built for the purpose of being inhabitation of God through the Spirit.
And if we are rightly gathered, we seek to give expression to the truth. But whether gathered or not, everyone is a living stone. So that the the thought of the unity comes in when we come to the 4th chapter, that is as to the responsibility.
And as it was mentioned in the 132nd Psalm, David then was exercised that the ark might be in its right place. But when God gave the instructions for the building of the Tabernacle, he said, make me a Tabernacle, that I may dwell among them. He said, See that thou make it according to the pattern that was showed to thee on the mount. So in spite of all the failure that has come in, it's blessed for the soul to be able to rejoice in what God is doing.
Then to be exercised as to our responsibility in connection with that testimony, and that there ought to be here upon earth.
I think the first train from the street can.
That brings the forests all being the master builder there.
According to the grace of God, which is evident to me as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, another build, that there are then every man take heed how he builds their arms for other foundations. And no man leads, and not his lead, which is Jesus Christ, And we get to machinery.
That's the responsibility.
Well, it's it's good for us to see this because when you go on in the 4th chapter, you find the gifts mentioned, the apostles and prophets and evangelists, pastors and teachers. And the scripture is clear in showing us what those evangelists, what those apostles and prophets did. They laid the foundation. And Paul said as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation.
Romans 16 tells us that is through the scriptures of the prophets that the truth is made known to us according to the revelation of the mystery that is the New Testament prophets. And here in this second chapter of Ephesians it tells us build upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets. I say this because as we'll see when we go on with the 4th chapter, there are not apostles and prophets today.
Because the foundation has been laid. If there were apostles and prophets today, then it would be because the foundation isn't complete, because we'd have to add something to it. But now being complete, as Paul said in Colossians chapter 2 That it was given to him to fulfill or to complete the word of God, chapter one, I should say. I believe it is so that he was given that responsibility. Now the revelation is complete.
And as we gather here, we're not seeking to add something to God's word, but we're seeking to build upon the foundation that has been laid. And if any remarks are made in this meeting that are not according to the word of God, then we better be careful, because we're getting off the foundation that has been laid. It's God's word. It's given to the apostles and prophets, and the early church continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine.
00:35:15
Fellowship.
You'll notice this that the.
The apostles are put before the prophet. Some have thought that it was the Old Testament prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah That's wrong. In New Testament prophets that Sir mentioned, you know I speak about Phyllis and Judas who went up with.
With Paul and Barnabas after they had been in the 15th chapter of Acts about the Mudder.
Of the Gentiles, and it says of Silas and Judas that they were prophets. And so a man like Phyllis had traveled extensively with Paul was one of those prophets that operated along with one of the apostles in a special way. And so these things were revealed under the apostles and prophets.
Now in the third chapter we mentioned just briefly that it comes in as a parenthesis.
Giving.
Also a revelation of the mystery that was specially given to him as an Apostle. The The revelation of the Church as the Body of Christ, composed of both you and Gentile, was committed to the Apostle Paul, but others were included in and connection with the.
Truth that we have here of the Church, so men like Stylus and others were equally used and and promoting and bringing out.
This wonderful mystery.
That Christ, the ascended, glorified one, has a body down here in this world be the head in glory, the body composed of every believer being a member of that body.
Would you say, Brother Barry, that?
In the third chapter, that verse that you referred to the third verse, how that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery.
As I wrote a four and a few words.
And then in contrast with that the fifth verse, which in other ages was not made known under the sons of man, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. Would you say that there was a little difference there, that the full revelation and that the apostle Paul received was from an ascended man in glory, and that these others might have received it more through the Holy Spirit?
I never thought of that, brother. Very. I sure you're right in that.
We're we're fully instructed that Paul did receive them as a revelation from the Lord, That is the mystery that was committed to him.
Would you not feel that they received it indirectly or directly, I should say through the Apostle Paul, but a very important thing, that truth can never be revealed to the soul by an individual. It must be revealed to the soul by the Holy Spirit, no matter what is said in these meetings this afternoon. We trusted the truth of God that is being given out, but it unless it's revealed to the soul by the Spirit.
It's not made known, and that's why the Lord said. And they shall be all taught of God.
So if it said that it was revealed to them by Paul, well then that it would be the instrument who made it known to the soul. Paul was the instrument who ministered the truth, but the Spirit is the only one who can reveal it to the soul, and soul is our brother remarked. Silas received it not only at the mouth of Paul, but I believe he received it by the Spirit. It was made good in his own soul. He that believeth on me is the scripture has sat out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
00:40:01
This fake he of the Spirit which they believe on him should receive.
For the Holy Ghost was not yet given because that Jesus was not yet glorified. I believe it's important to see this because.
There are those who speak about getting revelations by the Spirit today, but any revelations are through the Word, and Paul received it from Christ in glory.
He received it from a person, and anyone professes to have a revelation today, let him test it by the Word. But of course, as we know, the Spirit and the Word cannot be separated. I quote what Mr. Darby said. I thought it was very expressive. He said the Spirit and the Word cannot be separated without falling into fanaticism on the one hand or rationalism on the other. If we have the Word without the Spirit, we rationalize the truth of God.
And if people talk about the Spirit apart from the Word, they can fall into all kinds of extremes and call these things expressions of the Spirit. And yet they're not according to the Word of God. They must go together. The man bears the picture of water.
And beautiful to see how the spirit of this word are all close together.
Come on.
Thanks, brother Albert Hale. There's some importance and why he says I therefore the treasure of the Lord we see you.
Well, I have just thought that if Poe had limited himself to the preaching of the gospel of the grace of God, had made known to sinners that the blood of Christ could cleanse away their guilt and fit them for heaven, he could have escaped this persecution. He need not have been a prisoner for that, but to teach that which separates us from all that which is going on around us and unites us to an extended Christ in glory.
And brings up into the wonderful place described in the last verses of chapter 2 is that which the world, even the religious world, cannot tolerate. And was it not for this that the Apostle was constantly warned and finally imprisoned?
Oh, as it were, as he exhorts his fellow believers, I think he gently tells them.
This truth has been real to me, and because of it I am a prisoner, and from my confinement I right to beseech you. It would seem to have a greater effect upon it, would it not? If we realized that it did come from the heart of one who was willing to be a prisoner because of this very truth. City Ministries.
Is there any thought in the fact that in the third chapter in the first verse says there for this clause I called the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, whereas here it's I therefore the prisoner of the Lord.
I believe in George is authority doesn't.
Lord brings out his authority.
Subject.
Yeah, well I believe that in the third chapter it has particularly to do with that truth that he ministered, which he speaks of. Whereas it seems in the 4th chapter there was submission to the ways of the Lord with him. That is, Christ has never spoken of His Lord to the Church, but as individuals we should own His authority and Lordship in our lives. It's only right and proper and so call.
Submitted to the Lord's dealings with him, he had allowed him to be put in prison. But as someone elses remarked, and I have enjoyed it, he never really rolls to the height of his ministry until he was in prison. And no doubt, if we submit to the ways of God with us, the Lord can make those very things a blessing to us. And this, to me is very lovely. Paul was actually warned by the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem, but he went there, and in the ways of God he was put in prison.
But that ministry that flowed out from inside the prism was that which leads us into the full blessedness of Christianity, so that there was submission to the ways of God, a thing that's necessary for all of us, in the ways of God with us now that He does pass us through certain things.
00:45:07
Perhaps because of mistakes that we have made, he sees it necessary. If we profit by these things, they can be made a blessing to us and a blessing to others through us too.
I didn't grab minor thing. He's very precious because the apostle had been a prisoner for about four years when he wrote this epistle. And to think of being confined to the walls of where he was in prison and to not have the liberty he once had and he had traveled far and wide. He was always on the move, carrying the message and instructing and teaching and winning souls. And here cut off from all that.
Activity. And they're just hours and hours just.
Left alone. And yet it didn't depress the spirits. To me that seems the most marvelous thing, for when we make mistakes and we should own it and confess it and judge yourself. But when we submit to God's hand in connection with mistakes we have made, how the Lord can triumph over the saddest errors that we have made and make us a source of blessing in His own ways.
Of course, as you say, oh went against the Spirit of God and going to Jerusalem. But we have to remember that there was a noble purpose in it. It wasn't any cowardliness, and the Lord never forgot that. He said, I'm willing to die for Christ in Jerusalem. His love for Christ was just as firm as it was before he went, and yet he did.
Go against the Spirit and he was a prisoner as a result of God allowed him.
To go through all that trial, two years at Caesarea and then two years at Jerusalem, coming in Rome, and yet in submitting entirely to the Lords Hand, he became a source and blessing to the Church of God for his whole history.
If he had got depressed and says, well, there's no use. I made such a mistake. I miss the Lord mine so completely. I went against the Spirit. There's no use for me just trying to serve the Lord anymore. We wouldn't have this ministry, would we?
I believe there's a difference between failing in the path and getting out of it, isn't there? And he never failed in getting out of the path, that is he. He failed in the past, didn't discern the Lords mind as he should for his pathway. But there was a devotedness that far exceeded. I'm sure any of us and the Lord used his servant. It was love for his people that brought him up there.
But I think it's lovely what he goes on to say beseech you, that he walked worthy of the vocation where with the air called. And that is, it was really love for his brethren, which led him almost to offer a sacrifice which would not have been at all consistent with the ministry that he had been given. But the Lord intervened. Now he exhorts others to walk worthy of that vocation, that is, to recognize that blessed truth that was revealed to him.
Communicated to others, now that we are members of the body of Christ, Jew or Gentile. Made one body in Christ.
Do we not have ulcers here? In this thought we find the Apostle Paul uses the expressions throughout his ministry. The Lord, my Lord, and Him. And there's a definite difference in all of them. And so here the apostle we might say, not going on in the good of circumstances, but in that was that prison has been brought before us. He's restrained as far as all flesh is concerned.
But he himself is in the perfect full liberty of a child of God, and the full liberty of the enjoyment of those heavenly things, and that to which he is no longer a stranger and a Pilgrim. And so he speaks of it in this way that all of it, every believer might be brought into the joy. He doesn't speak of it as my Lord, but he speaks in the general sense of total surrender, that is the Lord.
And so it's a joy. It's a liberty that can be enjoyed by all believers, no matter what. The Lord would lead us the way in which the Lord would lead us into the things of our life. If all is taken from Him, why, we can have that same full liberty. Though the apostle was the prisoner, there was still that liberty, and he was the one who was in charge of all, because he had submitted all into the hands of the Lord.
00:50:26
I've long enjoyed the similarity between Nepal's ministry in the prison house with that of the Little Maid in Naamans Day.
Her. She was called a little maid there she was a prisoner far from her home that the apostle was, and she could have just kept quiet and said, well, the Lord has put me here, well, I'll just stay quiet. However, out of that prison house she gives a a message that had never been revealed before and that is the faith that there was a man that could cure of his leprosy, something that had never taken place before.
So out of that prison House of that far off country came that message, as the apostle brings before us.
A new message that he received from the Lord, and it had such an effect on Naaman, that when he was all through, he asked that A2 mule burdens of earth be given, in other words, bringing in the truth of of the one body in the heavenly calling. And so we can see a very nice parallel between.
That little maid brought out from her prison as the apostle brings out from his prisoner the the the epistles that were written there in the prison.
Well, there's a certain spirit in which we're different.
To walk worthy of the vocation, where with your call, with all loneliness and meekness, with long-suffering or bearing one another in love.
For we have to bear much in going on together.
Well, I used to work on a farm and sometimes I fill the wagon beds with holes that are taking for fence boats or for wood, and there were a lot of them crooked and it was very hard to get them to work together. I thought of it as God's people where just a lot of crooked sticks.
And we don't always fit together so well. So there needs to be a spirit of meekness and loneliness and preparing one another, of getting disturbed. You're offended over things that take place. It's sad. You know. Some dear Saints get offended over very minor things. I think of our dear brother at this time.
That went on so well for years.
And little things were said and someone gave him a cold handshake. And so he is. He's not remembering the Lord and long still be with his brethren. But you can't forget little things that happened. Well, let's get our eyes on Christ and forget some of these little things that happened. And let's be careful, brethren, that we're not the occasion of causing offense to one another.
You might look at 119 Psalm in that connection with Brother Berry, the verse that I never noticed before, but I believe one that is ever so fitting in the cases or similar cases that you bring up, 119th Psalm, which of course brings before us the word of the Lord.
And we might say, too, that if it is the word of the Lord that is before us, then we'll be in enjoyment of brethren dwelling together in unity. But in the 119th Psalm and verse 165 we see these lovely words and this lovely message.
Great peace have they which love by law, and nothing shall offend them. Our whole joy seems to be in the word of God. And so we're going on in the joy of the word. But this is where we receive our strength. Not the strength of our brethren, but it's the strength of the Word of God which reveals the person of Christ to it, which gives us that strength to go on to continue, because the Lord is coming soon.
00:55:16
I believe the Spirit of God well knew that the carrying out of this vocation would bring us very, very close together while we were still here. Thank God we're going to be together for eternity with all the redeemed of the Lord. But I believe this most precious vocation brings us close together if we walk according to it while we're here. The Spirit of God knew that All these things that are mentioned in verse 2.
And free would be required in order that we might go on together.
We're never told to keep the unity of the body, are we? Because we are told to keep the unity of the spirit?
For he says there is one body, that's what the Lord maintains and preserves, and the Church is one is just as true today.
Here together that there is one body, as when the Apostle Paul wrote these words when he was a prisoner in Rome. But we do need to to endeavor. It shows that there's to be exercise. There's a beef. There's a matter to be before the Lord about to keep the unity of the Spirit in the one it should read. I believe in the uniting bomb to peace.
40 cannot be broken. Thanks for everybody.
The unity of the body.
No, you can't break that. We've got some ministries. Very easy though, isn't it, Brother Bell, to break the unity of the Spirit?
I often wherewith dear Christians, as we meet in traveling from place to place, we're enjoying talking about the things of the Lord, and they're rejoicing in the salvation in Christ. And they suddenly ask you, what church do you belong to? Immediately you feel that the unity of the Spirit is broken.
Because we find that they're completely astray on the truth of the Church.
While it's scripturally gathered, each assembly as a local expression of the whole, that we should always bear this in vine, because as being a local expression of the whole, there should be that exercise individually and collectively as assemblies to endeavor to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. I believe it's very important because the enemy brought in much trial among the early Saints because he broke down that principle.
And that's what was a very sad thing in the early church. And we see how the enemy would seek to spoil us. It's so important that we bear this in mind that we are members of that one body and endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit. We recognize that bond that unites us as members of the body of Christ and as local expressions of that.
The action of the assembly have something to do with the keeping of the unity of the spirit to or not.
Yes, Beta does, because every action that is taken, if if we are before the Lord, why we be exercised? Because whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven. And when an action is taken that is binding upon all other assemblies, it should be taken as endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit, seeking to go on, so that the consciences of brethren would be happy that we could go on together in that unity of the Spirit.
In the uniting bond of peace, I believe it's a very important thing because it's if it's the unity of the Spirit, of course it must always be according to the word of God about it is also in consideration of one another in this way. So it's very important, I believe, and it does have a great deal to do with the action of the assembly, so that we could go on together as members of the body of Christ.
01:00:11
And we have a few words, perhaps what the unity of the Spirit is.
I remember old Brother Potter's definition. The unity of the Spirit is that oneness into which the Spirit of God seeks to leave the children of God according to the truth of God.
Now that perhaps needs to be a little bit.
Reduced to simplicity.
Brother Eric Potters, deputation of the unity of the Spirit, is that oneness into which the Spirit of God seeks to leave the children of God according to the truth of God.
No illustration is perfect, I'm sure, but I do remember hearing this illustration, which was a help to me, a very imaginary illustration of a father who had a family, shall we say, of ten sons.
And here's where the imaginary part comes in That all those sons always plan together, played together, work together in unbroken harmony. There was never, never any disagreement among them, The Neighbors remarks on what an unusual family they're together. Always.
Well, one day the father goes to the door and the ten sons are out in the yard together as usual. And he calls out to them and says sons, please come in here.
To father. Well, now we will say that they all heard that call. They all stopped what they were doing for a moment, and four of them started toward the door and the other six turned on them and said, what are you doing? Breaking up the unity of the family. You don't love us very much. We're your real brothers, and you're walking out on us. What are the neighbors going to say? Would you recommend that those four sons would stop and say, well, we want to keep?
The family together, We've enjoyed our times together. We don't want to break this up, so we'll stay right here with you. That would be the unity of the family, but it wouldn't be a unity that was in obedience to the Father's call and the unity of the Spirit. Would it not be a unity that would be true if every believer walked according to that which the Spirit of God gives us in His precious words?
I believe the proper answer of those four sons would be to turn and say to the others, Let's all obey, Father.
And then we'll all still be together. So the unity of the Spirit is the Spirit of God here, I believe, and it's that which we.
We believe would be demonstrated right here if every believer walked according to the light of the word of God as revealed by the Spirit of God. But in carrying it out, it's necessary to remember the rest of the verse is not in the uniting bond of peace.
I have used another little illustration which may sound very crude, but suppose I give a Bible to a man in the heart of Africa who has never seen it before. He's never seen a church. He's never heard the denominational names of which men boast around us. And I leave this man alone with his Bible. Do you suppose it would be possible for this man without any outside help?
To read that book and discover that he was a Sinner in the sight of a holy God. Indeed, he could make that discovery. Could he not also discover that God loved him in spite of his guilt, enough to send his only Son to bear that guilt and put it forever away? And he could look up from that wonderful book and say, thank God my sins are forgiven. I'm redeemed with the precious blood of Christ. But as he continues to read the word of God till he comes to the end of it.
Now this is a little hard to say without hurting someone's feeling, but do you think he would look up from the last page of the word of God and say, oh, if only there were a Lutheran Church here, I'd go and join it because that's what this book tells me to do. Now you can put any other name in there that you wish, and I hope I haven't been a little too specific.
01:05:05
But we know that with the word of God alone, he would say or think no such thing. He might well look up from his pages and say, oh, if only there were other fellow believers here, we could meet together for prayer. We could meet together for the reading of this precious book. Why, we could even meet together to remember the Lord in death. So I believe there is a unity, which is the unity of the Spirit. It's based upon the Spirit of God opening up the light and wisdom of God's Word.
To each and every believer that will submit to.
That's breaking down, brother, our definition.
So that's the difference between the unity of the body. The unity of the body has been formed and everyone who is indwelled by the Spirit of God is united to Christ that in glory and to every other member on earth. But everyone may not be giving expression to that if he meets in some other name.
Why? He's not giving expression to that fact that there is one body as we have here. And so, whether it's to our actions as to gathering or the manner in which we conduct ourselves among one another, I believe all is involved in this endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. It's really what our brother read to us from the Old Testament. Of course, that has to do with Israel, but it says how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.
In other words, the Spirit of God will not teach you one thing and me another. If there's submission to the leading of the Spirit of God, He will lead us together, just like the spokes of the wheel point toward the center of the wheel. And if we are different in our thoughts and those differences lead us to some problem, it's because we're not all lad of the Spirit. Because if we're all that of the Spirit, we would be LED together. And that's where loneliness and meekness and long-suffering and forbearance come then.
But as our brother Barry remarked, it is never at the expense of truth or holiness. It must be according to truth or holiness, because he is the Holy Spirit and it says he'll lead you into all truth. But truth and holiness can't be separated.
I was thinking of that in John's Gospel, just mentioning that in the 16th chapter of John.
And verse 13 Howbeit when he the spirit of truth is count.
Well, Spirit of Truth means he's directing us into the truth, not some error. But how be it when he the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth, or he shall not speak of himself or from himself.
But whatsoever he shall hear that shall he speak, And he will show you things to come. But then I was thinking of the 14th verse. He shall glorify me, for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. Or if it doesn't glorify Christ, if man has added anything to it, there's no glory for Christ. If another name has been added to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, then there's no glory for him in that. He doesn't share that, But it's it says he shall glorify me, for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.
Business to know that the Spirit of God would only direct our hearts and thoughts to one person, the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. And if we're if we're directed by the Spirit of God, as you were saying, Brother Gordon, the Spirit of God wouldn't direct me to a certain name in Christendom and direct you to another name in Christendom. You would direct both of us to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh, I believe this is a very, very important truth as we have.
In the word of God in in our day because we are in the very end time, aren't you?
Last days and some tend to say, well, things are in such a confused condition.
Where I don't know what to do. A lady recently mentioned that to me and I said, well, go back to the word of God. Ask God to make it good to your soul. You ask him where he wants you to be. You ask him.
Where the first thing of the Christ is, and you'll be directed to write, I said I might make a mistake.
But God never makes a mistake. The Spirit of God directs us to the person of Christ. There are many groups of Christians who would say, however, that they are gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. And that's why it's important what we have been speaking about, that we have to have His authority to use His name. The Spirit leads us into all truth and then goes on to say he shall glorify me. If I use your name without your permission, I would be using it wrongly.
01:10:32
I have no right or authority. If you give me permission by then I can use your name. So God has given certain authority in His word, but it must be according to His Holiness and His truth. And to use His name apart from that path that he has marked out is really using His name wrongly.
Saw that we see in the sad state of things in Quran that there were those who were saying I am of a policy of Paul. I have seep us. But sadly there were some saying I of Christ. They were using his name to support a divided thing. Well may the Lord give us to see that it's very blessed and important to use his name. It's the only scriptural name in which to gather. But we need to test that that those who profess that position.
Is it according to his word? For it is not according to his authority, unless it's according to his word. And then another thing too, that I think it's good for us to bear in mind is this second verse. We mustn't pass over it too hurriedly. And that is the Spirit in which things are done. How important this is because it tells us, you know, speaking the truth in love. We can speak the truth, and yet we can speak it in such a way that it's not according to the Spirit of Christ.
I believe that it's so important that if we are seeking to walk in the truth, that we do it in the right Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is Lovejoy peace. And sometimes dear Christians might recognize that what we speak of is the truth. But alas, sometimes we fail to do it in the right Spirit and they don't see in us sometimes the manifestation of the Spirit of Christ, and so it isn't the truth that has stumbled them, But alas, they've been stumbled by us.
And I believe that's why the Lord Jesus said take heed that she offend not one of these little ones that believe in me.
For I say unto you, as better than a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were cast into the depths of the sea. I shouldn't be offended, no matter what is said and done, but we as believers need to be careful that we don't create an offense by the manner and spirit in which things are done. So here we have them beautifully brought together, lawliness, fakeness, long-suffering, forbearing one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit.
In the In the blind of peace, it's also beautifully combined, as only the spirit of God could do.
There are quite a few Christians these days that are saying that the church is in such a ruin now that there really isn't any corporate testimony left and so that everyone has to just go on on our on our own. Is that correct? I remember the answer whether Potter gave the one who made just such a remark. He said it doesn't seem to trouble you very much.
If one was really exercised about it, they certainly wouldn't talk in that way with they. It would be something that would be so, such a sorrow to them that they would just be broken hearted and grieved to think that that which as the body of Christ represents the body of Christ, should be in such a sad state as we see the body in at the present time.
For his sad thing. But the church outwardly is in ruins, and we're a part of that ruin, even though we may be and should be gathered in a scriptural way.
Not say, brother Norman, that the Lord's request. And it's remarkable in First Corinthians 11 That Paul says, I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you. And then in that passage he says, as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you do show the Lord's death till he comes. The Lord had instituted the feast on the night of his betrayal, but he didn't request his disciples to do it until he came.
01:15:07
But he went up to glory, and he gave this special revelation to Paul. He knew all about the ruin the Scripture has outlined and told us all about the ruin that would come in faithfully warned us about how there would be the Great House and of the Laodicean Lukewarmness. And as our brother Barry said, we have to hang our heads and confess that we're part of it. But if it's not true that there is a collective testimony.
Then we are practically saying that the Lord asked us to remember Him in disobedience. He has provided no path in which we can do it according to his mind. If there is no collective testimony, that will remain until He comes. But if He from the glory asked us to remember him till He comes.
There must be a spiritual way in which we can do it, and let us not do any boasting. We surely ought to hang our heads in shame. But let us not forget there is a path, and we are to endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit, and we have the privilege of remembering Him until He comes. Let us be exercised to find where His word would lead us so that we can do this, and in all our actions to seek to act as those who know this truth seek to give expression to this truth.
In Christendom.
Isn't there a lovely portion in the book of Nehemiah connected with this path, this separation truth as Paul preached Separation. There didn't need to. The name of the Lord Jesus Christ alone, and there is no other name. I was thinking in the book of Nehemiah when in the return there when Nehemiah went up and viewed the wall, he was he was in distress about this.
Here was the the foundation was broken down and it tells us in one of the verses there was much rubbish there. But I was thinking of the in the second chapter of Nehemiah.
And verse 18, there's just this one little comment about this.
After he had viewed all this sad condition of things, and if we look around today we say, isn't it sad to think of a divided condition and confusion as to what to do? Well, I was thinking of this in Nehemiah.
Verse 18 After he views this, then I told them of the hand of my God upon me, which was This is chapter 2. I'm sorry. Chapter 2, verse 18. Then I told them of the good hand of my God, which was upon me, as also the King's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, let us rise up and fill. So they strengthened their hands for this good work. Well, I believe that the the.
The foundation was there but it was covered with rubbish, everything, it was all covered up, it was broken down.
Well, they didn't lay another foundation. They cleaned off the rubbish and they built upon the foundation. Other foundation Can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ? Well, there is no other foundation. God, God, that foundation has been laid. Now where are we building?
But I was thinking, how lovely to see here, he says. Then I told him of the hand of my God upon me. Well, if we can realize that in our soul too.
At the hand of our God is a monarchy desiring to see us go on in a separated path to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Or there be there be strength in that wouldn't there and power even in our late day? And because we know, we read later that this wall was finished, they finished the wall, it was God's wall, and they dedicated it to.
The remark was made earlier that there are those who say that they are gathered or that they gather together in the name of the Lord Jesus.
I don't believe and I think that the others will turn me on saying this, that that is not what that first means in Matthew 18 and 20.
For two or three are gathered together unto my name, That is the name of the Lord Jesus is a gathering center.
And what a difference it makes when there are those who are gathered or who do gather together in His name. Taking his name without authorities has already been mentioned. But the fact that the Spirit of God will gather to no other center in the name of the Lord Jesus, and where there may be three or four or more companies in one particular location which are gathered together on a different ground.
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The Spirit of God cannot gather to a different grounds, it must be to the one center.
The Lord Jesus himself.
I remember hearing a remark, one who was. I don't know what his connection was, but he made this comment in connection with a verse in Hebrews 13.
He misquoted that he said that, he said. You know, we've we've gone forth without the camp.
Oh, but this brother that I was with said, you have misquoted the verse, although I haven't. He was very indignant about it. He says we've gone forth without the camp. He said we're not in the camp. But this brother read the verse. He says, let's look at the verse. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp. Oh, he said, that makes all the difference in the verse.
To whom have we gone? If we've gone outside the camp in our own rebellion or because we didn't, they didn't agree with us. That's another matter, isn't it? But it's unto him without the camp. I think that's the important point there.
Oh.
That's 18 in the back of the book.
Eph. 4:6-13
Reading
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Mercy.
Let the sun thou pray.
And I'm praying to us.
What grace from love all of the.
12175.
Yes.
Ephesians chapter 4.
Verse 7.
But unto everyone of us.
Is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Wherefore he said, when he set it up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
He the descendant is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.
And he gave some apostles and some prophets, and some evangelists and some pastors and teachers.
For the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.
All come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, under the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men, and cunning crappiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive for speaking the truth and love may grow up into him in all things which is ahead.
Even Christ, from whom the whole body fitly joined together, and compacted by that which every joint supplier, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, make it increase of the body under the edifying of itself in love.
00:05:11
I take it that one, he says unto Everyone of us is given grace.
According to the major, the gift of Christ, that grace is really the gift, for it's all his grace, but he's looking at all the members of the body.
It's entirely different thought from the special gift that you get in the 11Th 1St.
There are 5 gifts mentioned there that are special gifts, but he's looking at the whole body.
Reminding us.
That.
Every believer is given grace.
Some special place to feel, as it were.
And that's the gift to fill a place in connection with the body and according to the nature of the gift of Christ. So that wonderful to think that Christ bestows what makes each believer.
Useful member of the assembly or the body.
I believe that verse 16 response to that doesn't mean what every member will supply in the body.
Verse 16 says that every member has a point was isn't he joined together and is certified by that which every member supplies?
And the Lord gives grace to each one to fulfill the place that He is intended to fulfill. We might ask ourselves on some occasion, am I able to undertake that work, or I unable to do that thing? The question is, has the Lord called us to do it?
And if the Lord has called us to do it, he'll give the grace to do it because he's the head of the body, the church. And so and just like the head, the supplies direction for the hand and the power is given for the hand to be used for what it's intended. So it is in the body of Christ. If Lord has called us to do something, given us some little service, greater, small, he's going to give grace to do that.
Well, to me that's very, very encouraging, because if we looked at ourselves, we might be like the disciples. When the Lord said, give ye them to eat, they looked at their little supplies, and they said, how can this ever satisfy so many? But when the Lord called them to pass it out, well, then all it was needed was provided from those little supplies for the whole multitude. So let us be willing to be before the Lord to discover what He has for us to do.
And then we may be sure He'll give us grace to do it. And we're not to try to fill the place of someone else because we see someone that is specially qualified to fill a place of importance and usefulness. Well, the Lord may not give me that place at all. So it's seeking before the Lord to know just in what way I can be useful.
In the body and fulfill that.
Service, small as it may be.
Now this is rather simple, but remember our brother I'll tell him about when he was a young man. He was very anxious to serve the Lord, and he said to an older brother Pollock, those laboring in those days going about serving the Lord. Brother Pollock, is there any services I can be engaged in? Well, they had a meeting room and the door was.
Was left open. They had chilled the room.
And the people would come in, throw it open and leave it open. So Brother Park says what can you see that door there? See you see there all the time leaving that door open. You go and watch and see that that door is closed after after different ones come in. So he said, did I ever perform that service? He said I watched that door and he said I never neglected it. Well there young man that wants to serve the Lord and.
00:10:02
An older brother told him.
Something very simple he could do. Well, the Lord didn't confine him to that little service, for as he grew older he became more useful. But I think there is this principle that if we perform some little service to the Lord, He may see that we can be trusted with something that is more important, something like Philip, known as Philip the Evangelist.
He started out serving table helping with the.
Caring for the widows in Jerusalem, but after they are driven out of the city, or he goes down to Sumerian, preaches Christ. He had served faithfully as carrying out a little humble work of seeing that the funds were properly distributed, and he did that faithfully.
And then the Lord used him as a servant to go out with the gospel.
So let's remember that, dear young people, that if we perform any little service in a humble, faithful way, not trying to imitate somebody else, but whatever little service the Lord sees we're fitted for, then He can. He can give us something that.
Will be of a little more importance or a little higher service. Do we find an example of that in with?
Pauls pistol to Timothy.
Thinking of the third first Timothy chapter 3 and verse 13. Of course here it's a diagonal service, but I was just thinking of the going on in that simple service.
I.
First Timothy 313.
For they that have used the office of a Deacon well purchased to themselves a good degree and great boldness in the faith, which is in Christ Jesus going on in that simple service, God was able to use them in a greater service.
Very important that we ask the Lord, when Saul of Tarsus was saved, he said, Lord, what will thou have me to do? And we know that in the Levitical order of things the Levites were taken, representing the redeemed of Israel, and they were presented to air. Aaron.
And Aaron appointed to everyone his service and to everyone his burden. And Paul speaks of this in Galatians chapter 6.
He says, let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. I was very much struck by a remark by another brother in connection with it, he said. It isn't to be the need merely that puts us to work. It's the Lords call.
Because there are needs everywhere. Paul saw a need in Asia, but he was forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia.
He saw a need at Jerusalem, but it wasn't the will of God that he should go there. And so I believe it's most important for us, young and old, to be before the Lord, asking him what he would have us to do. And then, as it's been remarked, if he gives us something small to do, and we do it well, he may give something more. It says he that is faithful and little is faithful also, and much. But let us remember this, brethren.
That it isn't how important the service seems to be. The slave in Colossi was told that if he served his master well, he served the Lord Christ. Then he would receive the reward of the inheritance and he might have felt, well, I'm just a poor slave. I'm not accomplishing anything for the Lord. Oh, there was a dignity to his service. He was serving the Lord. He was fulfilling the will of God in his particular life.
And I believe that so needful for us, we tend to measure the importance of a service by how much it puts us in the public eye. God never does. It's the important thing to do his will. And even in the body of Christ, as we read in First Corinthians 12, the hidden members are considered more honorable than the ones that are seen. And we may be surprised at the judgment seat of Christ.
To find some who fulfill the will of God in a hidden sphere, receiving much to more reward than the ones who have the more public service. Because they'll say this, that the more public our service is, the more danger of self coming in. But the more hidden it is, the more we have to be cast on the Lord to continue in it, because we don't get the human praise that perhaps there might be in the more public service. So let us remember it's doing the will of God.
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And he gives grace for it, no matter how difficult.
I don't think that side of it is very, very important because to undertake a menial service, having in the back of our minds perhaps the idea that eventually I'm going to get something just a little bit higher than this would really not be proper, would it? I was just looking. I won't ask you to turn to it, but I'll read from Titus 2 Concerning servants or slaves. Not for learning, but showing all good fidelity. They may adorn the doctrine of God, our Savior in all things.
Beautiful expression. Just to think that that choice expression, found nowhere else in Scripture should be addressed to those who were servants, who simply fulfilled their responsibilities to the glory of God. Adorn the doctrine of God our Saviors. Not feeling all the while. When am I going to be promoted to something a little higher than this, but simply doing what the Lord has asked him to do and doing it quietly for Him?
I have remarked that I remember a long time ago when they used to hold the meetings in Toronto in Foresters Hall on College Street, that I went back into the hall after the Gospel meeting was over for some reason. And there was a dear old brother. He seemed old to me at that time, although I was only a teenager, and he was gathering up the hymn sheets all by himself, and he saw me come in and he said Albert.
I always have a lot of willing helpers to hand out to him, but I always have to gather them up alone and to know I didn't know quite what he meant at the moment. But I thought it over and I soon realized, oh, how willing we are to do something. Sad to say that other eyes can notice, but how gladly we leave it to someone else to do when only the eye of the Lord can see it. That was intended for me when he said it, I'm very sure, but I just passed it on.
Now singing brother Gordon, when you were speaking about false seeing a need in Asia that was forbidden to go to Asia because the Lord had another field before him. But the Lord didn't neglect that field. Paul saw the need. And when God's time arrived and he did go there, you know he he taught in the school of 1 tyrannous for two years and he said.
All they which are in Asia heard the word of the Lord.
There were few places that were ever so blessed, as that place was neat when God's time arrived. But he was guided of the Lord as to when he should go and didn't thrown ahead of the Lords. Time for him to go.
Brother was sent a little statement in a letter of that quite exercised mana pass it on, he said. If we hold back from some service for the Lord because we don't feel capable of doing it, when we feel the Lord is telling us to do it, we're in danger of calling in question God's power. I don't know if I quoted it exactly, but that's the thought of it. But God's power is there.
For those who would seek to serve him.
As called by him, we can't hold back then because we feel that we're too insignificant.
The Spirit of God puts up another guard in these things, though that we're not to forget, and that is what we have in First Corinthians 14. Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge, so that while we should feel the call of God ourselves, the Lord said, Separate me, Barnabas, and Saul for the Word, for unto I have called them. They already proved themselves in the assembly where they were, and had the fellowship of their brethren.
In it. And there have been those who have thought that they were.
Called or gifted for something that perhaps others didn't feel that they were particularly called or gifted. And I believe that this is good for us to bear in mind. The call is from the Lord, but God always, shall I say, gives us both sides of the truth so that we wouldn't forget.
That we do need one another. And I believe that the Lord will help us to discern this if we're before him, and willing not only to be before him, but also willing to profit by the fact that the others judge.
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I think that we have a very wonderful illustration in the Old Testament of these things that we've been speaking in the case of the Little maid that was taken captive by the Syria.
And what a wonderful service he accomplished. A little maid that doesn't say the name, but she was taken to the land of the Syrians and she didn't complain. They say how this is Jehovah, to whom I belong. She allows me to go as a slave. Now she accomplishes her birthday. We oftentimes use that person for the gospel. But here there's a little maid say word to God that my master would be with a prophet that is in Israel. He would be cleansed from his leprosy. But a lovely service. He accomplishes the loose ladies.
The little baby, well, there was wonderful listening. There's a little service, very insignificant. She became a slave and yet she had a word for Jehovah, for this person. It's very lovely to see that.
And I just like to say, too, there's always a perfect balance in the word of God for everything. Someone has said, Providence put the put Moses in the court of Saul. That faith took him out of it. And sometimes we might think there were providentially put in such and such a place.
Now therefore it's the Lord's will we should stay there, but we have to be in constant exercise before the Lord.
And it was right in the ways of God that Moses was in the court of Pharaoh. But when the time came, God led him out of that. And faith recognized that there was the leading of God not to remain there, but to see that he was calling him to something else. That everything is so perfect in the word of God we always need to bear in mind both sides of the truth of God, which always keeps us from extremes.
I've noticed rather in connection with the comment about the Apostle Paul of how he said, Lord, what will thou have me to do? That in Mr. Garvey translation that verse is omitted from the 9th chapter of Acts.
But the one place where it does appear, and apparently where it's intended to be, is in the 22nd chapter of Acts.
Now Paul's conversion to the account of this conversion is given three times, in Acts Chapter 9 and in Acts chapter 22 and in Acts chapter 26. And I have been struck in noticing it, that in the one place where it is called to be, where Paul actually says, What shall I do? Or Lord, what would thou have me do?
It's given at a time when Paul is really trying to defend a position that is indefensible.
He tried to defend himself before the Jews and defend the position when the Lord wouldn't have their law and what it has been to my own soul, or what it meant to my own soul, rather than simply this that it seems to me there is a real danger of us Speaking of praying about things and trying to use that as a defense for a position that perhaps the word of God would otherwise condemn.
I have no doubt that Paul actually prayed on that way to the masses. Lord, what wilt thou have me do? But in the 9th chapter of Acts he didn't have to mention it in the.
26th chapter of Acts, where he is really largely restored and is speaking to a cripple. He doesn't see the need to mention it, but he does mention it when he's defending himself in the 22nd chapter of Acts. And while we should pray very earnestly about this step, we have to be very careful that we don't use that thought of praying about things as a defense and saying, well, I prayed about it as if that's what is all that's needed when the word of God would direct us into some other court.
To simply be before the Lord outwardly and be able to say, well, I have prayed about it is not enough. We have the wisdom of the Word of God to directness, and we can very easily be in a false path and try to maintain ourselves in that false path. By saying that I am afraid of us, I've asked for one of us.
Well, the next lovely thought brought before us in the eighth verse. Therefore he said, when he had set it up on high, he led captivity captive and gave his continent, so that whatever gift or thought is committed to is thrown down here. It's now coming from an ascended, glorified Christ. So.
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We need to have our eye on him to realize that all our all authority comes from that one who has been through death, has been raised again by the glory of the Father, and has now taken his seat on high, directing what is for his glory down here.
Could I just add a little remark in connection with what our brother John said? I believe it's very important that we should never say the Lord LED us to do something unless we have an actual scripture for it. There can be the conviction in our own souls. There should be. We shouldn't undertake something unless we have the sense in our souls the Lord has called us. And it says, hast thou faith have it to thyself before God?
But for any of us to say, the Lord sent me here, the Lord sent me there. The Lord told me to do this unless we have a scripture, for it is really pride. We are practically saying to our brethren, I'm so sure that I'm walking in communion with the Lord. I couldn't have missed His mind. He told me to do this. And so if we have His word, then we have something that's definite. We remember the Lord in His death. That's why he asked us to do that. Someone says that you have the Lord's mind in that we say yes. His words says this new in remembrance of me.
Someone says, Are you sure the Lord wanted you to come to the meetings in Ottawa? Well, we can say we prayed about it. We sought His mind. But it's a sense that we can have in our souls. But let us not be boasting about something when we don't have a positive scripture. This keeps us humble, keeps us in constant dependence upon the Lord. It is needful to pray about it. It's sweet to have the sense of His approval, but God would always keep us humbly.
Back to these things about discerning his will, and I just quote what the apostle said himself in First Corinthians 4. I know nothing by myself, yet am I not hereby justified, but he that judges me is the Lord.
I believe that the gifts that it's speaking about here differ somewhat from what we have in the 1St Corinthians 12. Do they not that in First Corinthians 12 They are enablements by the Spirit, but here he is Speaking of what is taken up more clearly in the 11Th verse, and that is that, our brother remarked in the seventh verse. It's rather the place of everyone in the body of Christ.
But to give gifts unto men really refers to those whom an ascended Christ has given for the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. They you notice there are no sign gifts that are mentioned here. It's all that which is for the proclamation of the gospel. It's for the encouragement and establishing of the Saints of God. And these are from the ascended Christ in glory who is seeking the good of the members of the body of Christ.
At first it was quoted from the from the 68th thumb. It's a wonderful verse in the 68 Psalmist. Well worth our turning to shows how perfect scripture is and.
The Spirit of God. For Saul all that was to take place.
You get in the.
18th verse of the 68th Psalm now has to set it up on, has to send it on high. Thou hast LED captivity captive. Thou hast received gifts. Now the better translation should read in the man, of course, with no question who that man refers to. Now go on. Yeah, for the rebellious also. Now Israel is the rebellious people.
And 1St we get gifts bestowed by the man, and thus that glorified man, and even the Old Testament the psalmist chose us, that is, the man that's ascended on high.
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And that God has bestowed gifts in this glorified, ascended man. But God doesn't forget his rebellious people Israel. So he goes on to say, And that eighteenth verse, Yay for the rebellious also that the Lord God might dwell among them and the Lord will dwell among them and.
The stove blessings to our people.
But at the present time he is bestowing gifts in the glorified man. Of course, as we know from Ephesians 3, that the truth of the mystery was hid from ages and from generations, but is now made known under the sons of men. Some have made their statement. I used to make it that he doesn't say was hid in in the scriptures, but hid in God.
Brother Aaron when objected one time in my saying that because he said that the mystery was he in the Old Testament. But it was only until the Spirit of God was sent down and and Paul was raised up and gave us the mystery that we could look back in the Old Testament and consider such portions that Abraham sending a servant across the desert to bring.
Rebecca for Isaac. While there we see very clearly the mystery of the church.
That no Old Testament St. understood that it was only after the Spirit was given. So I'd rather agree with that that it was hid in the scriptures and in that way it was hidden God. But now having the Spirit of God dwelling in US is subjects that are so wonderful and marvelous like this ascended one, and God bestowing gift in the land that glorified man.
Well, we can see it all now fulfilled in what we're considering before us, but of course it has. That first tells us that he first led captivity captive. Perhaps this refers, I believe it does to Deborah Song.
It's isn't it the 5th chapter of Judges?
Where she says arise now.
What is his name first? Derek Rise. Derek Full of Benin and League captivity. Captive. That is the Israel at the time of Deborah Song. For this was the song that celebrated the victory had been completely under the control of this.
This enemy, Cicero and Eric was raised up and.
Captive let his whole army captive and set God's people, Israel free from that that terrible slavery. They couldn't even dare to go out and drive in the highways in those days, as Deborah says in her song. But now captivity has been LED captive where we can easily understand the meaning of captivity. LED captivity in a in a spiritual sense today.
When we were under the power of Satan.
Oh, what an enemy he was. But.
When did the Lord leads victim captive so that the cross wasn't it He led all the power of Satan captives and set the set of believer free. And now having set the believer free and here we are blessed in this way now he as he offended one who has led the captivity captive is now bestowing gifts upon his people.
That have been set free through his victory over all the power of the enemy.
Very lovely in the second chapter of Hebrews, I think we have something too that helps to understand this, the second chapter of Hebrews and the 14th verse. For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil, and deliver them who through fear of death.
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Where all their lifetimes subject to ******* that is, Satan was the one who brought him death, and men were held in captivity. And the fear of death was all through the Old Testament, even with the godly ones who could overcome Satan, who could set those captives free. While the Lord Jesus went right into Satan's stronghold, he went into death, he overcame, and now the believer no longer fears death.
Death has become the believer's servant, it says in One Corinthians 3.
All things are yours, whether life or death. Death belongs to us now, and the victory has been won. And the Lord Jesus descending into the lower parts of the earth simply speaks of his going into death, his burial, and then his rising triumphant.
Just as barrack went out and took Cesare captive, and the whole army saw the Lord has done this, and now the people of God are set free. But it's lovely, brethren. Who is it that announces the victory? Well, it was Deborah, a woman. And who has the privilege of announcing the victory? Well, the Church is to be in its proper place in subjection to Christ, but it has the privilege in this world of announcing the victory that was one of Calvary.
And how lovely to think that we who were the rebellious, we who were so under the power of Satan and rejecters in ourselves. And now the Lord has won this victory has gone up on highs head over all things. What does He want us to know?
He wants us to know the full extent and result of that victory. Supposing Deborah had said, Well, I think they've been taken captive. We're not sure whether Sister is dead. Well, they wouldn't have been in the full fruit of the victory. But when the full results of the victory were announced by them, everyone could share in the spoil and the results of it. And how many there are today who don't know the fullness of the results of the work of Christ.
What are we seeking to talk about here this afternoon? All the full results of that victory and the one who's gone up on high and who delights through his servants to make known the victory and all his glory to him. She spoke about Derek and the victory that he had won. So we speak about Christ in his victory. In the first chapter of a collision, verse 14 and 15, we have something familiar about this victory of our Blessed.
Lord Jesus, aren't we verse 14, that connection with the things of the law, say, blotting out the handwriting of ordinances, that was against us, which was country to us, and took it out of the way Maryland to the cross, and having spoiled principalities and power and made a show of them, openly fry open over them in it.
Where this blessed isn't it? That's what the blessed savior is done. What a savior we have our rhetoric issue beloved brethren that's sure because of the blessed Lord that has conquered all that enemy by being rather now the 5th Is that what the song say brother he throws all his enemy on the 5th on his feet. Oh what a wonderful savior we have beloved breath.
Now I'm calling attention to the 68 S it says here, but printed up on high. But the Spirit by the apostle Paul reminds us that if he has ascended that ponchi, that necessitates that he must have descended, and so before he could ascend on high, he must defend and as it says here, as the lower parts of the earth.
Now I'm.
Ready to be corrected, but I had thought of that. Lower parts of the earth, that is the Lord went to the very lowest depth of humiliation.
It was not only a man down here, but he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, the lower parts of the earth, what was most.
To be despised and hated and.
Among men, the Lord took the lowest place. Now is that the thought?
Well, he did. Would you not feel that his victory was through his death? But he went into death. It was through death he destroyed him that had the power of death. And as we have in Philippians chapter two, he took those seven steps downward. But it says even to death and that the death of the cross.
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So I'm sure it was all so it was going down, this whole pathway was going down. But just think, the Lord of glory in death, and that was the way he won the victory, wasn't it?
One has the same thought this morning when I read that verse that I believe it, and I agree with you, dear brother, that the lowest part of the earth was that he went down to death, even to the death of the cross, the death of which we're not able to fight.
This is why the triumph of his resurrection, I think, is so very, very wonderful. I don't know whether I have really rightly understood what it says of it in Ephesians 1.
Verse 19 What is the exceeding greatness of his power to us, where he believed, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead?
And set him on his own right hand in the heavenly places. There seems to have been something about his death that was so far beyond our power to comprehend as a very power that raised him from the dead is spoken of in these superlative terms, something entirely different to the raising of Lazarus from the dead. Would you not say so? Is that why it's spoken out so marvelously here? A wonderful power that raised the Lord Jesus because of the steps downward that he had taken even unto that death?
I believe that it's something where man's power is totally ended. Death men can invent the most marvelous machines. They can discover the atomic bomb and the hydrogen bomb. They can make great displays of power in the earth. But when a person dies, that's the end of man's power. He's absolutely helpless. He can't do anything. But here, the Lord Jesus, the Lord of glory, goes into death and.
He's raised again. Indeed, as we have it in John, he raised himself.
What a mighty power that this one submitting to all the hatred and enmity of man, and the display of man's power against him.
But now he rises triumphant over the whole thing. And the marvel of it, I think, is that it was for us. Because having taken that place up there, it's to us word who believe he's gone up there associating with him, with himself, who are sinners like ourselves say through grace and brought into this place. Now we're associated with him in his victory, Christ the first fruits. Afterward they their Christ that is coming. So I believe a mighty power that raised him, seated them there at the right hand of God.
Is so that we he's there as a head, but we too are going to be with him in that place.
I used to be a young man very much interested in astronomy and red astronomy, and tried to get some of the Furious into my mind, and I was speaking to an old brother about some things I've read about and all the immense distances of some of these.
Stars, how many light years and so on? Yes, he said. So just remember that one who has been exalted far above all heaven. Well, that took all astronomy out of my thinking that get your eye on that one who is so far above all these stars of light that shine from such distant places. Think of the place that he occupies and he's going to fill the whole thing with the display of his glory.
He has now filled all creation with his creatorial glory, hasn't he? Someday he's going to fill the whole universe with the glory of redemption, and that's a far more wonderful, amazing glory than even the glory of creation. Brother, I have really enjoyed the language here, far above all heaven, thinking of it as.
Why this term is used here in connection with?
That which is the subject in first Peter, chapter two, we read that he is passed into the heaven, into the heavens. And what is the purpose of his being having passed into the heaven, having angels and authorities and powers subject unto him? Well, we might think that was just a tremendous place of exaltation and superiority, that angels and authorities and powers would all be subject unto him.
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But in order to occupy that particular office, He's passed into the heaven. But then when we turn to Hebrews 7, we read that He's passed through the heavens. Oh, this must be something much more important than the angels and authorities and powers. And so it is. It has to do with you and me and our high priest up there in the glory He's passed through the heavens to occupy that place.
Of daily concern and care for you and me as our high priest. But then we come to this verse far above all heavens. It exceeds either of the other two references, because this has to do with His church, His body. Oh, that just seems to me to put things in their proper order. This was referred to yesterday. The affairs of the world, the affairs of individual believers, and the affairs of the collective testimony. And these three verses just seem to me to be so beautiful.
Giving us to see the relative value, shall I say, in the sight of our Lord Jesus, the whole fear of this world caused him to pass into the heavens, That he might be in control. But in order that you and I might know that we have this faithful and merciful High Priest, He's passed through the heavens, but in order that we might look up to him who is in this exalted position concerning a church which is His body.
And his care, as we see here, he's far above all heaven.
And thought it was a marvelous feat of their power to send men to the moon. But here is a far, far greater display of power. There's a real man in the glory, and he's there as the head of the body of the church, He's there seeking the good of the members of the body. Down here too. And this is most precious to our hearts, isn't it? No, Brother Barry, when you do refer to the universe and the vast distances. Once in a while we hear references made, and they're kind of fascinating to some of us.
But you know, the more you hear about them and think about them, the more really it exalts the supremacy that's referred to here in this verse. And not only that, sometimes they try to tell us how old all this is, you know? And when we hear this, we say, well, it's wonderful if it is that old. Before ever the foundations of it were laid, he thought upon us, and he had these very wonderful purposes in mind. So instead of being occupied with them or instead of totally ignoring them.
We can look upon them and realize, well, he didn't just create them for nothing. I don't know really what the purpose of that vast creation is. I guess I'm a bit fascinated by it, too. I went to the headquarters of the National Geographic Society in Washington, and I went into the astronomy department, and I picked up one of those telephones where you push a button and listen to what they have to say about it. And I tell you, when I hung that thing up, I was absolutely thrilled.
Shall I say, not thrilled with the universe, but thrilled with him who made it all.
I think one verse answers what you were saying in 19 the 19th Psalm, the heavens declare the glory of God. And if God is going to give us any kind of a picture of the extent of his glory, just think of the universe and the man. As they get greater telescopes, they just find out a little more of the extent of the universe and they've never come to the end of it. And God says, well, I'm just giving you a little idea of my glory. What is it to the creator to create this?
Million. Billion. Trillions of years.
Light years away. What is that to the Creator? If he wants to display his glory? He has all power, and the one that we love fills all things. He is the one through whom all things were made, and he's the one we're talking about this afternoon.
And I'd like to thank that the president of a God is not very far from is not made by measured by geographical distance.
Is right present without. We don't see it, but it's right with us. When the Lord Jesus comes, how long will he take him to come to the earth of the year? Whoa, just a bit of a second, I suppose.
And he will be here to take us to be with himself. How marvelous that is the King, the Kingdom of God is within you.
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It is a dimension that you're not able to sense it and to realize that with the human sense. But it's not very far from us, not very far from us.
The fact here, listen to all the comments we made and how the various accomplishments and then would thrill us and exaggerate our imagination. It comes to the mind of verse in First Corinthians 2 and verse 10, verse 9.
With exceeds and the wall are.
1St Matthias 2 and verse 9 As it is written, I have not seen nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us. By his security will the Spirit search us all things.
Thank God, what man knows the things of the man?
Sort of things that God was on there, but the Spirit of God.
I think that you and I have great cause to rejoice. I'm so, so to be so thrilled.
Think that not only those things that our eyes can see in our hands can handle in this world all the privileges and blessings go out into, but to think that beyond all this is our joy to share those spiritual lessons that we have.
When we trace the Lord to his a pinnacle of glory, then we are told about the gift that he has bestowed now that he is ascended far above all heaven. For it goes on to say in the 11Th verse. And he gave some apostles and some prophets and some evangelists and some pastors and teachers for the perfect name of the states.
For the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. Now it was made clear yesterday that the apostles and prophets were the foundation. We get that at the end of the second chapter. If she spilled upon the foundation of the apostles and prophecies, well, the foundation has been laid. You don't run this foundation clear up to the ceiling. It's laid, and then the building is erected on it.
So that while we no longer have or ever can expect to have again apostles and prophets, yet we do have their ministry, their writings. We have a whole Pauls writings, we have Peters writings, we have John's writings. So we're privileged to to be blessed by those first two gifts that are mentioned as.
Has bestowed by the glorified head. Then we get the the three gifts that remain and those 3 gifts are some evangelists and some pastors and teachers.
I believe it's important to notice this, that the Evangelist is a gift to the assembly bestowed by the ascended Head on high for one to just say, well, I want to go out anywhere I can find the place to preach the dog Wolf, because I believe the Lord has enabled me to preach it.
Without any part of those that are brought under the sound of the gospel and converted through it being brought into the place where the Lord has put his name, I think you get completely away from the truth that is set before us here. That is, that the evangelist is definitely a gift to the assembly. I suppose we get an illustration of that in the certain Samaritan when he picked up the man half dead on the way.
To Jericho, Where did he take him? He took him to an end, and the end layer is the type of the assembly, the House of God where he cared for.
So I know that there have been men that started out with considerable power and usefulness. I think of one that was greatly used at one time.
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His gift led him to go and draw the various denominations.
Found his work just faded away. He thought he was doing more for the Lord by going here and there and everywhere and preaching the Gospel. Well, we should always remember that in connection with the gospel, it's in Dealer bringing those that are converted into the place where they're cared for.
We have it very nicely brought before us to hold three that you speak of in 11Th chapter of Acts. It might be helpful to notice it there.
Connection with what our brothers said in the First Corinthians chapter 2, where it says, I have not seen or ear heard and have neither hath entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for them that love him. That was the Old Testament state. That is a quotation from the prophet Isaiah. Now God has revealed him by his Spirit, and as it tells us in that same chapter which things we also speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth.
Now that is, by the Apostles and prophets, God has given the very words that the Holy Ghost teaches.
And so we have these things written down in the scriptures. That's why it's so important that in getting a good translation, it's not something that is put in other words than those which the Spirit of God used, So that a good translation will be an honest attempt to put into English or another language the very words that the Spirit of God used, not just the thoughts. So that was the work, as we learn from the passages we referred to before.
In Romans 11 it says by the scriptures of the prophets made known to all nations for the obedience of faith. So the apostles and prophets laid the foundation. Now we have in this in the 11Th chapter of Acts we have the evangelists, pastors and teachers. Let's just notice that the 19th verse of the 11Th of Acts now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen.
Traveled as far as Venus and Cyprus and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyreni, which when they were come to Antioch, stake under the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed, and turned under the Lord. There we have the work of the evangelist they were preaching, telling people how to be saved.
Now let's notice the 22nd verse.
Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem. And they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch, who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost, and of faith, and much people was added unto the Lord.
Now, these ones that were saved needed encouragement. They needed pastoral care. They needed someone who was interested and encouraged them to cleave to the Lord. We're not told that Barnabas particularly taught them much of the truth of God. But there's a very necessary work to be carried on brethren. Let's not forget it. Perhaps it's neglected today, and that is the work of the pastor. How many dear children of God need that encouragement, that loving concern, that care that would seek to?
Help them to cleave to the Lord and go on to the Lord with the Lord. We might not be able to teach them very much, perhaps, if not called to that, but a little word of encouragement can go a great long way. And many of us, as we look back over our lives, know that some little word of encouragement perhaps didn't teach us anything as to the truth of God. But it was pastoral work, a very blessed work. Now notice here we have the Teacher.
The 25th verse then departed Barnabas to Tarsus for to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians, first in Antioch. Now here Barnabas didn't feel qualified, I don't believe as a teacher.
01:00:01
But he was a pastor. And you'll notice in the passage here in Ephesians 4, the pastors and teachers are linked together. And so here we find the two working together and they taught the people and they were called Christian. Here was the beginning of a Gentile assembly.
And we see just what we have brought before us here. We have the work of the evangelists. We work the work of the pastors and teachers.
Another thing I might comment here, I think you all may have noticed it, but in the other translation there is no comma. It's just he gave some apostles, he gave some prophets, he gave some evangelists, he gave some pastors and teachers. Because the man himself is looked at as a gift. It's not a particular enablement, but that God raises up for his church and those whom he fits for the work, and the man himself is a gift to the church.
Now, isn't this very lovely? Because if it was something given to the man, it might pop him up. But the man himself being given, when you get a gift, who do you think? What do you think? The giver. And so the giver is the head. And if he's raised up someone to help his people, well, we thank the giver that he raised up someone because of the great blessing to his people to be led on as we have it here for the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.
It's nice in that in the book of Acts about the evangelist, pastor and teacher, isn't it? I I've enjoyed the fact that though Barnabas was an older brother, yet there was no pride. He he knew they needed some teaching and so he thought for Saul or Paul. That's wonderful, isn't it, to see that?
Doesn't it the Is it true that the evangelist speaks to the conscience and the pastor speaks to the heart?
And the teacher would bring the understanding into you, wouldn't he? Of course it's all together, but I was thinking of those.
Could we look a moment or could I ask a question in connection with?
March 1615 In view of what Brother brought forth us to the evangelist, I believe some of the thoughts would be to be for the help of the younger ones. And we often see or hear this verse quoted, and it's often brought up, you might say, as a little reproach to those that would desire to be going on in the truth.
Those that would just be seek to be found according to the word of God, found at the feet of Christ, being obedient to his word and remembering him in death. So there are those that would come forth and hold this verse up sort of as a challenge and as a rebuke to those that would seek to have the worship of Christ, first the worship and then serve. And so the verse in Mark 1615.
Said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. We have a word as to putting this in his proper order.
Well, of course we're not speaking particularly of worship here. Certainly, as we know the Lord Jesus is our Savior and are led by the Spirit, there will be worship in our hearts to Him, and I trust that the ministry of the truth leads the heart to worship. But here it's what the Ascended Christ has provided for the needs of His people so that they might grow in the things of God.
The only thought here in this Matthew Mark 16 and 15 was that there was a greater sphere now for the telling out of the message. Now that is when the Lord sent out the disciples, he said, go not into the way of the Gentiles and into any cities of the Samaritans. Enter he not.
Rather to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. But now he's risen, Now there's to be, shall I say, a widening circle. It goes out now to the whole world. Just as the same, when the Greeks wanted to see Jesus, he said that a corn of wheat must fall into the ground and die. But if it died, it brought forth much fruit. And then he said, I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw not just Israel, all men unto me.
So it's simply the thought of the sphere of the gospel. Of course worship has its right place and it's the response of the heart to him. But of course, when we think of many who don't know him, if they're brought to know him, they will be brought to be worshippers too. In the Gospel of John, shut the pen and verse nine. Do we have a verse that is very, very precious indeed? Just a few ways.
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But it brings to the whole truth of the Christian pathway. In this very precious verse, chapter 10 and verse nine of the Gospel of A, John says I am the door by me. If any man answer in he shall be saved. We say that the first half, but it doesn't say here and go out first. It doesn't say that he say he shall go in into the presence of a God. His worship isn't he, and then go out.
With whatever service the Lord will give us to do it, whether be the gospel or anything else.
And then say, here shall go out and in and out and find pasture. We need to pasture ourselves day by day in order to be able to bring it to us.
I was thinking, Brother Gordon, what you were saying about the pastors work and how important that service is.
Bob Peters says about the under shepherds in the in the third chapter, no, the 5th chapter of his first epistle. There he see himself in the second verse, feed the flock of God, which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but by but willingly.
Not for filthy Luther, but of a ready mind. Neither is being Lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock. Now notice this, and when the chief shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not awake. That is, the shepherd's work is a hidden work, or the work of the pastor, one that goes to the homes of the Saints and seeks to encourage them if something has gone wrong and they need to help them.
Need instruction in the quiet way of meeting the various needs of the people of God. The one who carries on a work like that gets very little importance among his brothers. One who teaches, of course, gets a certain prominence as well as the evangelist, but the pastor gets the least importance in his service. Down here, it's just as though the Lord says you go on.
Serving.
In this way. And he said, when the chief shepherd shall appear, you shall receive a crown of glory. He doesn't get the crown of glory down here, but he gets the crown of glory up there. And what a, what a important subject it is, of course. So when you think of it and the way it's spoken up here as the pastor and teacher, a pastor could be one raised up to to serve the whole.
Church of God, and thus more the thought here. But they are the under shepherds. And in every assembly there were those that were known as elders, looked after the welfare of the Saints and how needful that work is. And it's not that one has such a wonderful gift but if he loves the Saints, I was told, someone said to Mr. Darby, I think you must be have the gift of a pastor.
Because you live the deceased so much. Or he says it isn't bad, that I love the Saints and I love to visit them. Well, if it's real loving heart for the people of God. And I know there are many of their travel far more than I do and go to distant places where they're very poor and God for their courage. They may not have that courage, but, dear brethren, the Lord is going to reward that faithfulness.
I think there's a lovely example for that in First Corinthians chapter 16 and verse 15.
Was pointing out how the heart of one can begin trained the minister to the Saints and I believe it's brought out very beautifully here. 1St Corinthians 16 and verse 15.
I repeat you forever in our House of Stephanus, that it is the first person of IKEA, and that they have addicted and devoted themselves to the ministry of the Saints of leaders. Just keep volume to her.
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Yes, it's lovely to see it. It's probably striking that it says if a man desire the office of a Bishop, he desireth a good work. I wondered why it said that, because it might seem that he wanted to get a place of prominence. And then I thought what Brother Barry just said the the Lords people are so dear to him that he said anybody that cares for my people, it's a good work. They're so dear to me.
Says of the song Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me, and I've often thought of that. Visiting perhaps an older Christian and assistants, you may never see them progress in the spiritual things and the knowledge of the truth. But if we can speak to them of the Lord Jesus, and we leave them in a more more apartment to praise the Lord, we've done in service heavenly.
I remember hearing Brother Brown say in connection with this, the word pastor is such a lovely, such a precious word, and yet it is so misused it is not imprisoned them. And he said the word of God plainly teaches the happy office of a pastor in Bay Church, but not the pastor of a church. Now that doesn't sound, perhaps at first very significant, but it really is.
The Word of God plainly teaches the happy truth of a pastor in the church, but not the pastor of a church.
Well.
A principle of it, what they says in as much as you have done it under one of the least of these, my brethren, you have done it under me.
Just going to comment on.
In the 12Th verse, or the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ, isn't there two distinct ways that services brought before us we get the perfecting of the sink individually. Each St. has certain needs and needs help in various ways.
The Lord can use His servants to to guide them and help them, and to instruct them and their pathway and in their in their various affairs. And then there is definitely the.
As he tells us there in the 12 first the edifying of the body of Christ, there is certain ministry that.
Affects the whole.
Body, the whole assembly. So we need both. And that's one reason the your brother and the daughter live invited their brethren here. They not only want their brethren scattered over the various places in the States and Canada, but they want to be together so we can the the whole body can be.
Edified.
An assembly is made-up of individuals, isn't it? In the body? I was thinking of each of each member of the body, and I was thinking of the way the other translation.
Puts that verse, I think is very it seems to me to be clear.
This.
Verse 12 For the perfecting of the Saints, with a view to the work of the ministry, with a view to the edifying of the body of Christ, that each one of us individually are built up, and we're a part of an of the assembly where we are or we're in a part of the body. And if each one of us are in exercise before the Lord, sincerely before him, seeking to be guided by His word and to desire to be a help to our brethren.
What a marvelous testimony, and what a joy there is. And a building up too, isn't it?
Sure. You've given us a very helpful thought because one brother that maybe is encouraged and might be restored or and instructed and becoming helpful in his, it would be a beautiful strengthening of all the things, yes, yes.
This little remark here in the 13th verse is good to notice in its context here till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Ministry always has this in in mind if it is ministry according to God. But also I was going to comment that there are no sign gifts mentioned here in this chapter.
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And so in this place where we have those that are for the spiritual good of the Saints, the telling forth of the gospel to the unsaved, there is no mention of sign gifts. But there is a promise here of the continuance of these gifts. I say that because I believe it's very important in what we were Speaking of the other day, where it gives us the sign gifts. It speaks about God confirming the Word, shows us the purpose for which they were given.
But whenever it has to do with the edification of the body of Christ, as here, then there's a promise that these gifts will continue. And this is the object of the ministry. It's always looking on to the time when we'll all be there and with and like Christ.
Ministry has that object in view and seeks by the ministry to produce in US even now that conformity to him.
If I use my gift to build up a party or to gather people around myself, that wouldn't be the unity of the faith. So the gifts are always with this thought, the unity of the faith, a better knowledge of the Lord Jesus, full growth to him.
The purpose of ministry. And we can test our own hearts in connection with giving out ministry as to whether it has this purpose, which was God's purpose, or perhaps I should say, the purpose of the Ascendant had the Lord Jesus giving these gifts for the good of the Church. It speaks to our own hearts as we minister the truth. Do we keep this in view? Do we have this purpose before us, which is the purpose of the head who has given the gifts?
So we can be certain of this, that until the Lord comes from the air, there will be the other gifts of the evangelists, the pastor, and the teacher. But we have no place where it tells us that the gift of tongues or the gift of healing will continue. These are the contingent till we all come. I'd like to see which kidney was. I'd like to see a way to buy gift of a tongue.
When I work on the ship, I met two young couples from this system.
And I asked him whether we're going this missionary, and they told me that they were going in some place in Africa that I don't remember. Well, I say this wonderful young man, you go, there's a missionary. What about the language?
Say, do you speak the language or no? We say, well, you claim that you have the gift of tongue. Are you going to be able to pitch to those people in their own language as soon as you get there? They say, you know we have to go to school and learn the language. Well, I say it's strange. You claim you have the gift of tongue. That's the time to use it. I think that's the time to use it. But he told me that they had to go to school to learn the language.
Timothy was exhorted to stir up the gift. How do we steer up the gift?
Well, I believe it's something like what our brother Barry was speaking about in the young people's meeting. That is, I'm Speaking of the principle of it. We can get so taken up with earthly things or other interests that a gift given by the ascended head could be neglected to the loss of the individual and also to the loss of the Church of God. The same in connection with archipelas, it says and say to archipelas, take heed.
To the ministry which thou has received in the Lord, that thou fulfill it. And I do believe, brethren, that many a gift is lost to the Church of God through lack of devotedness. And I believe that even those of us who may seek in some measure to use it need to be constantly stirred up like Timothy, because it's very easy for us just to take a little time of ease, so to speak, and forget that the Lord has said Occupy till I come.
That's a very important point, brother Gordon. Thinking about little assemblies that are perhaps represented here, and probably thinking that, well, where where we are, there's no real gift. I believe if we get before the Lord, we'll find that the Lord has put someone there. He's given some little gift. Well, it's well for us to be exercised about this, isn't it?
01:20:07
God is faithful. He hasn't told us this and then left us, as it were, in the dark about it. He'd given us the light and brought us into the light.
Even the expression covered earnestly the best gift.
I hope it's not out of place to make reference to the way my father spoke of that verse I remember some years ago.
He said that and we remember it very well when we were young. My mother was very sick. She was not able to be out of bed for many weeks.
And father had to take over in the kitchen. Well, I think most of us remember that his first efforts in the kitchen were by no means equal to my mother. But as the weeks went by, his laborers in the kitchen improved, and he wanted them to improve as well as we did.
He he mentioned this after he said I wanted to do better in the kitchen, not because I wanted to outshine my wife, not because I wanted to gain the reputation of being a good cook.
Because I loved my family and I did not want to see them go to school hungry. He coveted the desire to do for his family that which would be for their good. And I think what our brother has mentioned is very, very good for us. You know, in the very last epistle, it says, building up yourselves on your most holy faith. And I I really believe that if we love the people of God as the people of God and as our beloved brethren.
Would we not long for some way in which we could be of help to them, perhaps to nourish one another in the things of the Lord? God forbid that we should ever seek for anything that would bring recognition to ourselves, but anything that would be for the glory of God and for the.
Nourishing of the flock? Surely we could long for that and pray for that.
May be seeing 174 #174.
#174.
Open Mtg.
Open—G. Hayhoe, J. Irvine
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General Meetings, Ottawa, April 1976.
Open meeting.
327.
Oh.
Oh, oh.
Just have a few thoughts on my heart rather than in connection with the in connection with the importance of the word of God. And I had three portions before me. And that was connected with the how the Lord is the one who brings His word before us, whether we're discouraged individually, or whether it has to do with His people collectively, or whether it has to do with the state of the world.
00:05:03
The Lord Jesus is the answer for every situation, and his word is that which directs US1 Has enjoyed that passage. Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. I wondered why that was. I thought of the wonders and glory of the name of the Lord Jesus.
Then why is it thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name? Well, it's His word that reveals the person to us. We hear much of people speaking about God and about Christ and about Jesus, but it's His word that reveals this person to us in the glory of who he is, in the wonders of what he has done for us. I just like to look at 3 passages, first of all in Luke chapter 24.
Luke, Chapter 24.
And verse 13.
And behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem, about 3 score furlongs. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass that while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. And but their eyes were holding that they should not know him. And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that she have one to another as she walked, and are sad?
And one of them whose name was Cleopas answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem? And hast not known the things which are come to pass there in those days? And he said unto them, what they what things? And they said unto him, concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet, mighty indeed, and word before God and all the people.
Then I'm passing on a little farther the.
25th Verse Then he said unto them, All fools, and slow of heart, to believe all that the prophets have spoken, ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded them to them in all the scriptures, the things concerning himself. And they drew nigh unto the village whether they went. And he made as though he would have gone further. But they constrained him, saying.
Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them, and it came to pass as he sat at meet with them, He took bread, and blessed it, and break, and gave to them, and their eyes were opened, and they knew him, and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, did not our heart burn within us while he talked with us, by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the 11 gathered together, and then that were with them.
Well, here we have two brought before us. Often it has been thought that this was man and wife. I believe it's very likely it was so because it tells us that the Cleophus was married and that his wife was standing by the by the cross when the Lord was crucified. And then two. In the story we see how they invited him into their home. So it suggests to us at least that perhaps this was a couple.
And it tells us they were sad. They hadn't expected that the Lord would not restore the Kingdom at that time. They had hoped that he would bring about the promised blessing. But instead of that, as we're told in Daniel Messiah, the Prince shall be cut off and shall have nothing. It seemed as if his life ended in disappointment, and they had seen him rejected by the scribes and Pharisees.
And now it seemed as if the one whom they loved had been taken away from them. And what did they have? And they were sad. Perhaps there's some individual, perhaps there's some couple here. And you have come to these meetings, and you feel thoroughly discouraged too. You would hope that the Lord would work out something, perhaps in your life, and he hasn't done so. And perhaps as you talk to others, you have the same feelings within you that these two had.
As they left Jerusalem, the place where the Lord had put His name started out to their own home. Down in Emmaus, we can picture this scene. Perhaps it has happened often in our own lives. Perhaps it's happening in the life of someone who is here this afternoon. But isn't it lovely to see that the Lord had his eye upon these two? He entered fully into their sorrow. He knew their grief. And so it tells us, Jesus himself.
00:10:30
Drew near and went with them. Doesn't that touch your heart and mind, to think that the Lord of glory, the one who had accomplished that great work for their blessing and for ours, should know about this too, and should himself condescend in grace to come down and walk with them? And let me say, if there's any here who are discouraged, the Lord hasn't forsaken you, because he has promised I will never leave.
Leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Never will forsake one of his own. I wanted the last messages he gave to his own before he went away. Was law. I am with you always. Or is another translation puts it all the days. And so he wasn't going to forsake them. He walked with them. He drew out their hearts. I have enjoyed of late that verse in the Psalms that says pour out your hearts before him. Isn't it precious? He once poured out his soul unto death.
And now he invites us to pour out our hearts before him. Perhaps there are things we cannot tell to anyone else.
Perhaps no one else would understand or enter in, but the Lord invites us to pour out our hearts before him, just to tell him everything. And so they told him. Perhaps it might have seemed rather strange that they didn't know better. Hadn't he told them that he was going to die and rise again?
But the lawyer told them they didn't seem to have laid hold of it. Perhaps we're kind of stupid in some of the things that discourage us to, but nevertheless, the Lord went along with them and tells us here that he drew out their hearts, got them to tell what it was that caused them this grief. And then what was the answer? That's what I had, particularly before me. What did he bring before them?
Why it tells us He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. He brought his precious word before them is that word that reveals Christ to the soul, and so this precious book that we have God's word.
It brings before us the Lord Jesus. We know that this book is the written word, and our precious Savior is spoken of as the living word. And so as the Lord went through the Old Testament scriptures and over and over again showed them that these types, these shadows, these stories were all things that were written to encourage their hearts, because whatsoever things were written before time were written for our learning.
That we, through patience and comfort of the Scriptures, might have hope. And so I say again, if there are any who are discouraged, where are you going to find comfort? Perhaps you say, no one understands. Perhaps you've tried to tell someone else, and they tried to enter into it, but didn't really understand how you felt. But there's one who loves us perfectly, who understands us perfectly, and his divine power has given unto us all things.
That pertain unto life and godliness, and so as they walked along.
He had to say to them all fools and slow of heart, he had to rebuke them. And sometimes we need this too. But thank God he didn't stop there. He caused their hearts to burn within them. He touched their hearts to the extent that when they came near to this place where they live, it tells us that he constrained, they constrained him to come in and abide with them. It says he made as though he would have gone further.
That is, he didn't force himself upon them, but waited not only for their invitation.
But for them, as it were to say, Lord, we really want to enjoy.
Your company. And so it was when they constrained him. Then he went in.
And he revealed himself to them. He was made known to them in the breaking of bread. I rather think that although this was not what we might speak, the regular remembrance of the Lord in his death, now that as he lifted those piercing hands and broke the bread, they saw the nail prints. They remembered the night when he had instituted the feast, and their hearts were stirred and touched. And so it tells us, they rose up.
00:15:28
And they went back to Jerusalem. What was it made them want to go back?
Did he tell them they shouldn't have left Jerusalem? Did he tell them that, that they ought to go back? No, He didn't say any such thing. But He did touch their hearts. He did warm their hearts by His precious word. He made himself known to them and saw that they themselves would say. Did not our heart burn within us while he talked to us, by the way, even though they hadn't recognized this wonderful stranger who was walking with them.
He did make himself known to their hearts in this wonderful way.
And so I just say here that if there is anyone who has come to the meeting and you were sad and discouraged, isn't it precious to know that the Lord Jesus wants to do just this for you? He wants to draw near to you. He wants to walk with you. He not only died to put away our sins, this is wonderful, but he died because he wanted to have your company and mine in the Father's house forever.
As soon as as soon as sin entered, we find God becoming a seeking God. And when he had redeemed his people and brought them out into the wilderness, he said, make me a Tabernacle, that I may dwell among them. And when he was rejected by the nation of Israel.
There was about to set aside that place, Jerusalem, where he had put his name. He was soon to have to say, Your house is left unto you desolate. What did he do in the 18th of Matthew? He just said, as it were. But there will be a place where I'll meet with you, he said. We're two or three are gathered together in my name. There am I in the midst of them. Oh, isn't it precious? And so I say again, it's his company.
And it's his word that brings the truth before our souls that sustains us.
We all know many of these precious promises in God's word, these things that so often encourage us in times of sorrow. There are so many that we can enjoy, and the Lord delights to bring them before us. And I suppose many of us have had experiences where there has been some verse of Scripture brought home to us in power. I think of the 16th Psalm where the Lord Jesus prophetically said.
The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places. Yeah, I have a goodly heritage.
I heard of a lady and she had a Bible that she liked to mark up and she just enjoyed the precious promises of God's word. And over and over again they spoke to her heart and whenever some verse became particularly precious to her, she just put beside AT&P. Someone picked up her Bible and wondered why she had marked this besides so many verses TNP.
They said, What does this mean? She said, Tried and proven, Tried and proven. And so it is the Lord himself here. He warmed the hearts of these dear ones. And what did they do? Well, they went back to Jerusalem, and they went back. And they had the joy of the Lord's presence collectively, because there he appeared in the midst of his own, and said, Peace be unto you. And it tells us that he.
It says He stood in the midst of them, and showed and said unto them, Peace be unto you. And then in that 39th verse, behold my hands and feet, that it is I myself he delighted to reveal himself to them as the one who had gone into death, and who was risen again.
How could we turn over also to the 20th chapter of Acts?
00:20:07
The 23rd verse say that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy.
And the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus to testify the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that he all among whom I have gone preaching the Kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost have made you overseers.
To feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own cells shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch and remember that by the space of three years I cease not to warn everyone, night and day with tears.
And now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of his grace.
Which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
Well, here I believe we could say the heart of the apostle was saddened as he saw what was going to come in in the Church's history. In the previous one we looked at, there were two individuals, sad and discouraged between themselves because of things that trouble their hearts.
But here it isn't so much the personal thing about the apostle Paul. I say he realized what was going to come into that which was so dear to the heart of Christ. He loved the church and gave himself for it. It tells us in the 12Th of John that he died, that he might gather together in one the children of God that are scattered abroad. In the 17th of John he prayed that his own all might be 1.
Come, it was the desire of his heart for the blessing of his people. He longed that they should share in the full blessing of what was the result of his toil and victory. But now Paul comes to this place, meets these ones from this very, very favorite assembly. For what assembly was so favored as Ephesus because the epistle to the Ephesians brings before us the very highest line of truth in the scripture.
And here we find Paul comes and meets those who were the leaders in this assembly. He speaks to them about what was his desire. Notice what he says, the two desires of his heart, that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus to testify the gospel of the grace of God. Now, that is, he sought to walk in the joy of the Lord in his soul.
And then he thought to fulfill the service that had been committed to him.
And dear brethren, what higher desire could you and I have to go on through life in the company of the Lord Jesus with his joy in our souls, So that as the end approaches there might be even more joy, because we're getting nearer to the moment when we're going to see him face to face. And so he desired that he would finish his course with joy. I must sadly say that all Christians do not finish their course with joy.
If you and I get away from the Lord, it may not be a happy ending to the pathway down here.
About the apostles, desire was that he might finish his course with joy.
And then the Lord has a little place for you and for me to fulfill in the Church of God. Are we seeking to fulfill that place? How are we seeking to go on with it? Paul said that he had not shunned to declare unto them the whole council of God. We turn back to Ezekiel. We would see that the prophet there said that unless he delivered the message that was given to him faithfully, God would require the blood of the people at his hand, because he hadn't given the message facefully.
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The Apostle Paul carries it a little further here and says not only the warnings of the gospel, but presenting and giving out the whole truth of God. He wouldn't have fulfilled his responsibility if he held back some part of the truth of God. It all must be given out and given out faithfully, and the apostle sought to do this and at the end of his life.
He could say, I have kept the faith. May the Lord keep us, not only knowing the truth, but walking in it, testifying of it.
Now he also says here a responsibility to those who take the place of leaders among the people of God. And I have been much struck with this. Feed the flock of God. Feed the flock of God. Oh, how lovely. Christ is the food for our souls.
I've often said that coming to the Bible reading ought to be like coming to a meal table that spread with delicious things. We all know what it is to sit down. There's a lovely meal prepared, we eat it, we enjoy it, and we get up feeling refreshed, feeling happy that we have enjoyed the provision that has been made and God has made a wonderful provision for his people. Oh, His word is full of all those good things that he delights to have our souls enjoy.
And those who seek to occupy the place of service to the Lord have the privilege, as it were, of seeking to bring forward these precious things, serving them as it were to the people of God that they might be fed, feed the flock of God. Isn't this nice for us? The apostle speaks in another place of those who ministered questions rather than godly edifying, and a meeting can be spoiled by this kind of thing, But God delights to.
A minister to our souls. And Paul had sought to minister to the souls of the Saints and give out the whole truth. Not without warnings, of course, but to feed their souls. Because I'll say this, brethren, now that the only thing that will really keep our motives right is our brother brought before us is to have the love of Christ constraining us. It's only as we enjoy His love that we'll have a desire to walk in His ways.
Well, then he had to warn what was going to come, he said after my departing. Shall grieve A smalls enter in among you, not sparing the flock. And hasn't the enemy been busy and trying to bring in all kinds of things to rob the Saints of God of their portion?
Or how much evil doctrine there has been that has come in, and many dear Saints, instead of enjoying the full ministry of truth that has been given to us in the word, and they have been carried away into things that occupy them with themselves. That, as the 4th of Ephesians tells us, caused them to be carried about with every wind of doctrine. Well, Paul foresaw this, and not only from without.
But then he also saw.
Of that spirit of things within. And this is very sad, those who seek to draw away disciples after them.
And brethren, all true ministry turns the heart to Christ doesn't occupy us with the one who gives out the ministry, but with the Lord Jesus himself. All true ministry, I say, occupies the heart with Christ and draws the soul after him. As one brother said some years ago, he said in one sense, the under shepherd seeks to minister the truth so they'll become independent of the under shepherd.
And depended upon the true shepherd, the great shepherd of the sheep. And Paul could say death worketh in us, but life in you now that is, as the sentence of death was on self. Why Christ was brought before the soul, and he was the one who occupied the soul. Well, this is a very sad thing when we try to get a following for ourselves, draw away disciples after them. It may not be something that's very wrong.
But brethren, let's not seek to make followers for ourselves. Seek to attract the Saints to Christ. Feed them, warning them, but always bring Christ before the soul. And so he speaks of this, and then he speaks of how he felt.
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Another sad heart. The two that went down to Emmaus were individually sad. But here's the one that's sad. As he thought of the condition that would come in in the Church of God, and he says he warned them night and day with tears. But who does he commend them to? Does he commend them to some leaders? No. Isn't this lovely? He said. And now, brethren, I come in you to God.
And to the word of his grace he brought God as the source of all. For the heart of God and the will of God is the source of all our blessing. He commanded them to God. He didn't commend them, I say to some leaders. And he instead he commanded them to God and to the word of his grace of this precious book. Now that gives us all that we need for our pathway. As I get older, I can say.
That I have found more and more the marvelous resource that we have in this precious book.
It's suited to every situation that a young person can be in. It's suited to every situation that an older person can be in. It's suited to every assembly difficulty. It's suited to every problem in the world. It's the wisdom of God-given to us for our pathway here.
Happier Saints of God and young people. Read it. Make it your own.
One person said to Mr. Darby, how do you study the scriptures? I'd like to get hold of the truth like you do. And his reply was, I'd like the truth to get hold of me. Dear friends, that's what we need for the truth to get hold of us, so that it would solely hold of us, that it would mold our thoughts, that it would mold our lives. So here again, we see.
Ruined church, we see that which came in all its freshness, and began on the day of Pentecost, where they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, where there was such power and great grace was upon them all. When difficulties arose, the Lord gave wisdom to settle them in such a wonderful way, so the Saints could go on together. But here we find the enemy at work. Need we be utterly discouraged, Null and now, brethren?
I command you to God and to the word of His grace. Let us search the Word. It has the answer to our problems if we, as our brother, brought before us and the young people try and follow our own wisdom, even if we consult with the captains of thousands and hundreds and every leader.
We won't get the wisdom of God apart from His word. This precious book is what gives us the wisdom that is needed. And I believe in my inmost soul that there is no situation that can arise in the assembly of God's people. How that we will not find an answer in this precious book.
We only come before the Lord. Humbly I command you to God. That's the person.
Who can alone preserve the flock of God and His Word, which is the guide for us. So here we have His word for, shall I say, a ruined church. Let's turn over now to First Timothy chapter 3.
Second Timothy. It is second Timothy chapter 3.
Second Timothy Chapter 3.
Verse 12 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 unto me. It is given by inspiration of God.
And is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
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Here perhaps we could say a ruined world. And Timothy saw the beginning of the breakdown of things in the world, and it tells us here evil man and seducers shall wax worse and worse.
Don't expect the world to get better. Don't expect that it's going to improve its ripening for judgment. And God has told us that things are going to get worse. And the Lord Jesus also said, because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. It's easy for our hearts to grow cold when iniquity abounds. But then I just wanted to mention here how he says.
Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and has been assured of. And then he speaks of how Timothy had known the holy Scriptures. We are living dear friends and dear young people in days of changing standards. We're living in times when we find young people say, Well, people used to think that way, but, you know, people's opinion have changed.
People have different ideas.
They once looked at things as wrong. But, you know, we're living in a different age today, and we're very prone to allow our thoughts to be molded by what's going on in this wicked world about us. And what does Paul say? Does he say Timothy? Well, you know, you have to sort of keep up with the times and go along with the descending sense of values and morals and what is right.
No, he says, Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and has been assured of. What did he give, as we see the ruin of the world? And surely, I say again, dear young people, you go to school, know more about it than I do.
You who work in offices and in shops know how everything that God has established as to the order of things in this world is gradually crumbling and going to pieces. And I plead with you to follow the light and wisdom of God's Word. Don't allow your thoughts and standards to be changed by the changing opinions of man. God's Word is thoroughly up to date.
It's more up to date than anything that man writes, because it's written by the wisdom of the eternal God, who knew all about these days in which we live, who told us about them, who warned us of them, but who has given us a resource in them. And so here was Timothy, how privileged he was. It tells us from a child, Thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation.
And the this holy scriptures are profitable for.
Doctrine for reproof, for correction, for instruction and righteousness. And so I speak especially to those who are young, but I also speak to those of us who are older, because we're prone to be affected more than we think by the spirit of the age in which we live. As men give up, we tend to be affected. And as the Lord Jesus said, we tend to grow cold.
Oh, what a resource. We have this precious book. God's standards haven't changed. His word gives us full instruction. And I plead with you as you come to decisions in your life, as young people go out together, as you establish homes, and as you seek to work among the people at the office that don't allow your thoughts and ideals to descend to the level of what's going on.
People's consciences are being seared with hot irons. They're giving up all thought of what is right before God. Oh, May God grant that we will heed this warning that was given to Timothy. Continue thou in the things which thou hast heard.
And then that he was to value these precious scriptures that had been given by inspiration of God. Now this is not the opinions of man, but this is God's word. It's His wisdom for our pathway, and it shows us not only the way of salvation, but it also shows us all that we need for our pathway. And so here we have, shall I say, a ruined world.
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But still this precious book remains. And so whether it was.
Individuals who were cast down and discouraged, the Lord walked with them.
And brought his precious word before them, warmed their hearts, and drew them back to Jerusalem.
As Paul saw the ruin of the church, he commended them to God and to the word of his grace, and sought to encourage them to go on feeding the flock of God in spite of all that would come in. And then, when we see the breakdown of the world, we still have something that doesn't change. Jesus said, heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall not pass away. Oh, may the Lord keep us in these last days.
The Lord is going to come soon. He's going to give that shout, and what else will really matter but his approval. Not he that commandeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commandeth. What really ought to count for you and for me is having the Lorde approval. And in his word, we'll learn his mind, and we'll learn how we can have His approval. And so this is what stays our hearts.
In a day like this, this is what gives courage to go on, and this is what will fill our hearts with joy in another day.
When we look into His blessed face and know that in some little measure we had His approval as we sought to walk in the company of the Lord Jesus and in the light and wisdom of His precious Word.
Do thyself still believing?
Always leaving love is joy the deep.
Surely, as we have been able privileged to be in these meetings, been many thoughts that have come before our hearts, many things to encourage us in the pathway. One was thinking of that which we find in the scriptures. Seekest thou great things? Seek them not, surely so many things that are about us in every day.
That would have us to seek those great things. It's not hard to want to be great, great in almost anything. Anything that will satisfy the longings of our own desires, surely? Isn't that the expression of this world? To set your sights on her great horizons? That is, to put your thoughts on something that's off in the distance, and to seek after it, to strive for that which will bring you up in this world.
But all beloved, if we seek those things which are of this world, it will only take us to the height of this world. But all if we as a word set our affection things above and seek those things which are of the glory, why, surely will be lifted higher than circumstances, will be lifted out of this scene, will be brought into that precious relationship of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. And so it is true.
That it is the word of God that reveals these things unto us. And so we find, Beloved, that we live as it were in those last days, in last times, but still we have that within our nature that would have us to seek great things. But all let's turn to Revelation and Chapter 3.
Revelation in chapter 3.
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And verse 8.
I know thy works. Behold, I have set before thee, and opened door, and no man can shut it, For thou hast a little strength, a little strength, and has kept my word, and has not denied my name. All beloved, the word of God, I believe, would bring before us these times. It would show us that we have little strength.
Our brother brought before us how important the Word of God is. It is the source of life, the Spirit of God taking of the things of Christ and revealing them unto us. But the world would say it's of little importance. The word of God is old fashioned, It doesn't have the meaning it once did. But all God would say, yes, it is still that precious living word that liveth and abideth forever.
But it is, as we find here, the Spirit of God showing us that we have.
Little strength, little strength. And so we're not after those great things, but we're kept by that which the world despises. And so it goes on again, bringing the importance of the word of God before the name. Thou hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Well beloved, it wouldn't be wonderful to be found in that place where this is owned. Yes, to be found, even though there might be little strength.
But I might be found where the word of God and the precious name of Christ is owned. Oh, we know that this world would have us seek something better would have us to go beyond the word. But God has told us that we only have that which is little strength. Little. Well, it may be contrary to what we desire, but always isn't it worth it? Because we find that the Lord is in that place. We are those that would be found.
Having little strength. What does that mean? It means I have no strength within myself. I believe it's been brought out. How wonderful it is to be gathered to be together in a company like this. We might say to be lost in the company and to be found in the strength of the company. But all beloved, how important it is that we realize that when we go forth from this place, will not have be able to lean on the strength of our brethren, will not be able as it were, to have the strength of the company in which we're found.
To draw sustaining strength from and to present a Christian testimony, no will be leaning only upon that which we've gleaned and made for ourselves, a little strength. We find that in the book of the Song of Solomon. We find there that says, who is this that cometh up out of the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved all one who has little strength beloved? And we surely do have that which is before us. We have the glory shining before us. But how is it?
That we attain to that why we attained by leaning hard upon our beloved.
Yes, the Lord Jesus would ever come in and provide those things which we have need of the Lord Jesus looks into our hearts this afternoon, and He knows exactly what each one needs. He knows the longings of our hearts and all. Beloved, if we can but patiently wait for that what he has for us, why we shall be sustained, We have no strength in ourselves. Thou hast. That's a positive statement by the Spirit of God. Thou hast a little strength. Thou art weak all beloved, how weak we really are.
And how the Lord will put us through certain tests and how is it that we're able to overcome in these tests?
By looking within? No. By looking around, no. But by looking beyond. Beyond. And how do we look beyond? By by obtaining our strength from this word, because this word reveals that person unto us. Thou hast kept my word, and has not denied my name. Well, we know in the book of Ezekiel it speaks there despising the day of little things.
All beloved, how wonderful to be found as those who are in those little things. Turnover, if you might, to Matthew. Gospel According to Matthew, chapter 14.
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Matthew 14.
And let's just begin, as it were at the end of verse 29.
Go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? Or we find this one of little faith? But oh, wasn't that faith sufficient?
Wasn't sufficient to say, Lord, save me. He knew, as it were, that he had not the strength within himself. But what do we find here in this 14th of Matthew? I believe, Beloved, we find, as it were, a little picture of the assembly. We find as it were those that were constrained into a place of confinement, protective confinement. And we find that they are in that company. There was one who sought to walk on the water.
And go to Jesus and all beloved. He would not have sunk had he not, had he taken his eyes off the Lord. Had he not taken his eyes off Christ, he would not have sunk. But all beloved you and I would be without that statement, that blessed statement. Lord, save me, And immediately, immediately, immediately all the Lord stretched forth his hand, and he caught him. He took hold of him, And we know then that Peter was sustained.
And is it any difference? For us there is no difference. Yes, you, oh, oh, ye, oh thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? Oh, how wonderful, how blessed it is for all that the Lord would reveal to us in His precious word all the things that He would bring before us, of His manifold glories, and of all the blessings which we've obtained through Him. And wherefore, beloved, do we doubt these things? Wherefore do we doubt these things?
Oh, because we are those who are of little faith. What was thinking this morning as some of the comments were made beloved, Why is it that we can be kept in that pathway? The word of God will direct us, and I sometimes wonder if we get the impression that we have to make a choice. We sometimes get the the feeling that we get the idea that we're going to have to sit down and take all of the scriptures.
We're going to have to examine them one by one, and we're going to have to make a choice. Well, beloved, I don't believe that that's the case. I believe the choice has already been made. All we must do is bow to the scriptures to submit ourselves to the word of God. Yes, God has laid that pathway out before us, and so that the steps of a good man are ordered of the Lord that we might walk in that pathway of obedience.
Because the Word describes it, the Lord. The Word lays it before us and all we who are of little faith and of little strength. Isn't it wonderful that the Lord SAR need and put it before us, that we might, that we but submit ourselves onto that which He has given us? Yes, the Lord tells us over and over. I believe it's four times in the book of Matthew that we find that expression of little faith, and in each case we find that there is that which deals with the troubles within.
The troubles without and everything that is involved with life. And what do we find? We find, beloved, that we fail. We find that in every case, in every circumstance that comes into our life. Why we fail in ourselves. But where is the great success? The success is when we but turn to the word of God that reveals the person of Christ, and we follow in His blessed steps. Yes, we who are of little faith, Wherefore didst thou doubt?
When we, as it were, come into that blessed scene above, and we see all that the Lord would be, would display before us, why, we'll see all of these things, and we'll wonder why we did not trust Him more, why we didn't, as it were, take more heed to those things which were spoken. All the Lord has to say here, O ye of little faith, if we were to turn back into the Book of Kings we find there.
Where there was the Shunamite woman, the one who was of great faith, and she could take, as it were, all of her troubles up, and she could lay them down, and she could go out from them and go to the man of God. We find, as it were in the case of the daughters of Zelophehad, we find that there was a circumstance that had never confronted the children of Israel before, and they just went into the presence of Moses, and God brought forth those things that they desired. Those were those, I believe, beloved, who were of faith.
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I would think of them as great faith when all the Lord would not, would not retain.
Anything from us, just because there was little faith, but all whatsoever we would ask in his name how willing he would be to give it unto us, or how short we fall, because we are those who are of little faith. What was it? Was it Abraham? He failed to ask for five souls, beloved all that we might present, all our petitions before him, that we might see in delight in the things which He would do for us. Is there anything too hard for the Lord?
Is there anything too hard for him, beloved? And each day as we go into His presence, each day as we lay all our cares and our troubles before Him, Why, What do we find? We have to answer in the same language of Jeremiah. There is nothing too hard for the Lord. There is nothing too hard for the Lord. Well, are we of those of little faith, or can we, as it were, in confidence, lay these things before the Lord in faith asking of God?
Hast thou faith have it to thyself, And that before God? Yes, that we might see the joys of the Lord here in the land of the living, that we might see the unfolding, as it were, of the blessings that God has for his people, and for those that would follow in his path.
How wonderful, beloved, just to submit to the word of God, ye of little faith. The Lord has had to lay the whole pathway out before us, and all we need to do is but walk in that path as those who are of little faith. And what do we find? We find that there's going to be great blessing. Yes, happy is that people whose God is the Lord, all beloved. How wonderful to be found in that relationship with Him who loves us.
And has given himself for us. Well, let's turn with me, please.
To the book of Hebrews.
And chapter 10.
Hebrews, chapter 10.
And verse 37.
For yet a little while. And he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Oh, yet a little while. Oh, isn't that encouraging, beloved? A little while. We who are of little faith only have to wait a little while. Yes, the Lord Jesus is coming again.
Or for yet, a little while, all beloved. How long is that? It's just a little while. And what is it going to be? Why, it's going to be as it were. Nothing. As we get into the glory and we look back at that path, we say, my, wasn't it wonderful as we waited for the Son of God to come, and he came so soon? Oh, yes, just a little while, beloved. The path may be rough, but we're not far from home.
Yes. The Lord has given us everything that we need here in the pathway. And what is it for? To encourage us for just a little while? Oh, I've often thought of how terrible it would be if I had to look forward to a life like Methuselah to be able, as it were in this world, to live beyond 900 years. And I think of those things as it were. That would trouble my heart as we as we go about, as we travel, as you see and meet the dear Saints, you see, as it were, all the troubles that are mounted up.
Upon the people of God. And But oh, how wonderful. As you see these troubles mound up you see the hand of God that would come forth and we remove them, Would take them away. All beloved, how wonderful to do to be able to cast all our care upon him. He has to take those troubles in and leave them in the presence of the Lord. But so often we pick our troubles up. Take them into the presence of the Lord, tell them all about him, tell him all about those troubles. Then pick our troubles up and carry them out with us. Well, why go in and give them under the Lord if you're going to take them back?
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The Lord has asked us to bring them into Him, to cast them on upon him, Yes, to hurl them upon the Lord. Why, He will sustain us all, beloved. It's just this little while that we have all the troubles mounted up. But all if I had to wait beyond 900 years, how the burdens would weigh me down? The Apostle Paul could say There cometh upon me daily the cares of the assembly, all beloved, how he could enter into those things.
How we can too, that we might pray for one another, but all beloved, not as it were, to take them and make them our own, not, as it were, to discourage us in the path that we might lose sight of the fact that it's only a little while. I marvel year by year that we're allowed to go on. And I remember some years ago, in a certain assembly after there was a conference, the brothers stood up and he said, Beloved.
He says there will not be another conference here next year and you could, you should have seen the expressions on the faces of the Saints, why we might say that that conference was a tradition in that area because there was a desire to be together for those people.
And he says, if the Lord.
Come if the Lord come.
There wasn't to be one. If the Lord comes, oh, how much better it was going to be beloved to be in the presence of the Lord. What a wonderful conference that's going to be, if we could use such a poor descriptive word. Oh, just a little while. And when we go into the presence of the Lord, what about all of the sufferings of this little while? Why, they won't be worthy to even be mentioned. They won't even be worth considering. Why? Because everything that takes place in this world.
Is to give us a deeper appreciation of Christ. Oh beloved, if everything was going the way that we thought that they ought to go. If we might say that everything was going my way, Would you really want the Lord to come? Would you really want the Lord to come? Or how it is, beloved that often times why we say, well when we're in trouble, when there's adversity. Yes, I wish the Lord would come. A beloved. You don't have to wish the Lord to come. Then he said just a little while.
And he that will come, will come. I remember a few weeks ago, maybe it's months now. Time goes so by so quickly. I was speaking to a.
A fiance and his and her bridegroom to be. And I said, would you want the Lord to come? I guess the wedding was a week away. And they looked at me, both of them, with as just as sincere as they could be. And they said, yes we do, yes, we do. All beloved, I believe them, I believe them. But is that the way that we wanted to the Lord to come?
Oh, how blessed it is to have that present hope before our souls, the Lord has said in His word. It's just a little while, a little while. Or if we had to the thoughts to think that we had to live a long life, or as her brother brought before us this morning, that some things would have to be accomplished in the word of God before it would be possible, why would our hearts not, as it were, be discouraged? Would we not lose sight of that precious blessed hope?
The Lord is coming, and it's only going to be just a little while. A little while? Well, beloved, as we wait for the Lord to come, what is it that we are to do? What is it, and where is it that we are to be found? What is it that we need before our souls? Would you turn with me to the Book of Ezekiel? And I believe it's the 11Th chapter.
Ezekiel, the 11Th chapter.
And let's read verse 16.
Therefore say thus saith the Lord God. Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come all beloved. How wonderful we see this word brought before us. The Lord, as it were, would provide for those who have little strength.
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Those who have little faith, those that have but a little while. Why he would provide for us? Why a little sanctuary, Oh, a little sanctuary. Just a place where we might meet with him all in this world, this world that is a wilderness wide. We might say that the Lord would bring forth a pleasant place. He would, He would bring forth a place where there could be joy.
Isaiah, I believe, might give us a little insight as to this possible place, 26th chapter.
Yes, Isaiah 26 and verse 20.
Come, my people, Enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee Hide thyself as it were, for a little moment. Yes, Come apart into a little place, as it were. close out everything that's on the outside. close away everything that deals with life.
Everything that would weigh us down and interrupt our thoughts of the glory would take away our joys as we meditate upon the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, as it were that we might be in that place for just a little moment where he is. Oh yes, the Lord would provide this little sanctuary, A place where worship, where adoration, where praise might be ushered for it, that we might render the fruit of our lips. Yet while I be to that, yet will I be to them.
As a little sanctuary, all that little place of refuge, that little place of quietness. While beloved, what do we find here in this 26th chapter? Why we find or in this 11Th chapter, Rather we find, as it were, the fact that the Saint, the believers are going to be scattered. It's a matter that there is that which has come in that requires that judgment of God. And as it were, they are going to be taken, they're going to be away.
But what does it say?
What says yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come? Oh, isn't that wonderful? Why, the Lord he saw all the need. He saw everything that was needful. He saw all the circumstances were going to bring about. And as it were, he has gone before them. And he says where they shall come. Yes, the Lord is there that his people might be about them.
He is there that his people might be about about him. Oh, isn't that wonderful? Beloved, you and I found together with those of like precious faith, those we trust that would honor the word of God and not deny His name and all. How blessed it is and how wonderful. But what is that greatest of all, why he is there? When the hour was come, he sat down with them.
Oh, he was there. He was in that place.
That sanctuary he was in that little place. Oh, little enough, beloved for those who are of little faith, but we know that it was large enough for all that would desire to be found in his company. Oh, isn't it wonderful, beloved? Do you desire to be in the company of the Lord? Do you desire to be found, as it were, in that path of littleness and that place that would put us down?
Put flesh down, put self aside.
All beloved, if we don't see the path of separation, if we don't see the truth of the word of God.
I'm afraid that the will is at work, the will is active. But all when we submit ourselves, take to ourselves the word that God has given to us by beloved will be found in that pathway. Is it a pathway of great things? Yes, beloved, it is. Oh, wait a minute now.
You think I'm contradicting myself all beloved? No, I'm not contradicting myself. The path and those that we find ourselves is little, but all the blessing that we will have, will be, be, will be beyond our greatest expectation. Oh yes, the Lord comes in and such as in such a way that He blesses us above all that we ask or think. And as I just remembered, I believe our brother quoted that verse.
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That there was great gladness upon them all. Not just gladness, but great gladness. And we find especially in the book of Nehemiah, where there was obedience. Why, it seems to be that the joys overflowed, that there was an abundance, there was an abounding. And is that not what God has for us? Each one all? Beloved, have you tried what God has said in His Word? Have you taken it to yourself?
Found on that path, that pathway of obedience. Yes, the Lord will be that little sanctuary. Little that He might know us each one. Little that it might exclude the evil that's around us But all beloved. Little because it's only just a little while before the Lord shall come. Well, I trust that I haven't painted.
A discouraging picture or a dismal picture?
Love it. So often it is impossible to think something of ourselves, to think that we are something. But all beloved, we are nothing. We are nothing. In comparison to all that we find in this world, there is only a little company that would seek to be found walking according to truth. There is only just a little company that would seek to be found believing God's word.
And all we hear the expression many times over. Oh, you don't believe that book anymore? All praise God. I do by His grace and by his anointing with I save. I do believe, all beloved, that we might be a little company, but oh, the littler we realize that we are. Why, the more dependence it ought to produce in our hearts. I believe if we were to turn back to the Book of Judges, we find there a strange expression in connection with Gideon.
What does it say concerning Gideon? Why it says that Gideon started with this great host and the Lord worked the numbers down until there was only 303 hundred in comparison to the whole total of Israel. Why just a little 300 people? Well isn't that's that's not very significant, is it Beloved 300. But all those 300 we know were able to defeat the host of the Midianites by the grace of God.
But what does it say? One expression there. It says that Gideon returned unto the host of the God of Israel. He returned unto the host. 300 people, 300 men, yes, beloved, 300 a little company. But oh, the Lord was with them, and the Lord was the one who was going to give them strength. Yes, they were going to be found as those who were the hosts.
Of the God of Israel, the God of hosts. Oh, another lovely expression which brings out littleness. I believe wherever you find that expression, the God of hosts, it has to do with a time of failure, a time of declension, a time when there's nothing outward, there's nothing you might say that you could lay your hands on and say this is it. I found it. This is what we follow. It's a time, as it were, when there is that moving by faith.
But oh, what is it? The Lord of hosts? Why, it's a matter of turning unto Him. There's nothing else. There's nothing we can lean upon in ourselves. There's nothing that we can find to strengthen us from without. We have to turn to the Lord. We have to turn to Christ and all beloved that we might be, those that could rejoice because he would take up our cause. Yes, He would give unto us all those things that we would have need of.
Yes, beloved, all that. We might enjoy his company for this little while. Oh, we are of little strength, we do have little faith, and we have a little while to wait, beloved. But he has provided a little sanctuary where he might meet with his people. All that we might come in to His blessed presence, and that we might enjoy him alone with others. Others of like precious faith being gathered to the precious name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Yes, beloved, that we might have His word before us, that His word would reveal unto us the pathway. Or do you really want to know? Do you really want to know what the Lord has for you? Do you really want to know where the Lord would gather you to himself? Take His precious word, beloved, and don't. Don't rustle it. Submit to it. Yes, the Lord has made the pathway clear. All we need to do is to obey and to be found in that company.
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Rejoicing when he does come with others of like precious faith, little in strength.
But all with a glory before us, with the joys, the eternal joys of heaven before us, Beloved, with that, with that confidence, I believe, I can say that we have sought to give expression, and have sought to keep His word and not deny His name.
173.
Genesis Dead in Sins
Address—P.B. Geveden
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'll begin.
By reading from Genesis chapter one.
Verse 26.
And God said, let us make man in our image.
After our likeness.
Chapter 2 and verse 7.
And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground.
And breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.
And man became a living soul.
Then we read about a garden being planted.
A lovely, beautiful place where he was to have his abode.
He was to dress it and keep it.
In that garden they were all a manner of lovely trees.
Not pleased and provided fruit for the enjoyment of this creature that God had formed in His likeness and image.
Then man was given that responsibility.
And even the companion.
So we can see that everything started out real well.
How would you like to be fresh from the hands of the maker?
We are as creatures still.
In him we live and move and of our being.
So that we can say today.
God made us. He gave us our being. We are His.
And we have a responsibility.
To Adam was committed responsibility.
He was advised not to eat of the Tree of the knowledge of good and Evil.
For in eating of that particular tree, he would suffer I'll consequences.
Nausea surely die.
So separation from God has taken place.
God came into the garden in the cool of the day to commune with him as before, and he could not be found, for he had gone a distance from him, and that hidden himself among the trees.
So a question had to be raised.
Where art thou?
Now there was a question directed to Adam.
And a little later on in the account, we find another question that was directed to Eve. What has thou done?
So they spoil everything.
He had failed through disobedience.
And we are in a world of uncertainty.
And why are things so uncertain in this world?
It is because of man's sin.
Man's disobedience to God.
Man's will exercise in distrust of his Maker.
We have in the Word the will of God.
And a statement about the will of the flesh.
And the will of the Gentiles, which is the will of the Sinner.
Through a man's will.
Uncertainty has been introduced into this world.
There was security in that lovely garden.
There was enjoyment there too, because God could come and commune with this creature in the cool of the day.
But now he found himself at a distance.
And in uncertainty.
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He distrusted God.
He became a doubter.
And he also doubted his fellow creature.
Cain would not trust Abel.
And what's wrong today?
Men and people are unable to trust one another and there is suspicion.
Because of man's strong will that he seeks to exercise himself.
And to take care of himself against all foes.
You don't know what the speaker might do.
Of course, knowing God's grace.
And the fact?
That the Lord is gracious.
We can have confidence in one another.
Now the world was so filled with crime.
And violence.
Of corruption and sinful lusts of every kind.
That God repented himself, that he had made men on the earth.
And it was necessary to bring in the flood for the destruction of all life on the earth except those.
That moved with fear.
Those that found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
And Noah prepared that ark to the saving of his house.
Eight souls were saved.
And a new start was made.
But it's still the repetition of the same thing.
For, it's indicated that it would be so again.
And there is judgment that lies ahead of this world tonight.
And we are warned as to the fear of Him who has power to cast both soul and body into hell.
There is hell.
And you will go there.
If you.
Neglect so great salvation that God has provided through His beloved Son.
You will go there if you are a Christ rejector.
Hell is a necessity.
Could it be right?
For those that know God and there is children.
And are the righteous in the earth.
To be brought along.
With those that have spurned God's grace and trampled under foot the precious blood of Christ.
Oh, it wouldn't do to put Tom Paine and the agnostics and the infidels.
In the same position as those that know the Lord Jesus Christ.
And the value of his precious death.
The preciousness of the blood that he shared for the remission of sin.
On the cross, by the sacrifice of himself.
Man believes in the punishment of evil doing in this world. He's lessened his belief in that.
They think more of rehabilitation nowadays.
They think you know that man underneath somewhere.
Possesses.
A lovely.
Bloom or bud that should be nurtured and brought into bloom and to blessing and so that man will enjoy things here below.
But it's all spoiled through sin.
That's not possible.
There must be a new beginning.
Man's state is bad.
The Son of Man, you know, came into the world to save that which was lost.
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That's Matthew 18 and 11.
The Son of Man came into the world to seek and to save that which is lost.
Luke, 1910.
Lost.
That tells us of our condition as alienated from God.
And that is described and brought before us from Romans 512 to the end of chapter 8.
Man's state as a Sinner, his condition being lost and requiring the coming of the Son of Man that he might be saved.
There's a difference in those two verses.
And each one is true.
It's the word of God.
And the man doesn't like to read his record in the word of God.
There is a man traveling beside me and he said that is the most terrible book that has ever been published.
Because it brings before such weird things, such terrible things.
Murder and wars and incest and all kinds of sin.
Which shouldn't be brought to our attention.
But God is faithful in His description of man, in His history here in this world.
And this book gives us the history of two men only.
The record of Adam.
And here we can put ourselves under his name with Ditto marks.
We are just the same as he was. We are lost.
That is our condition.
Away from God.
The old eye was shaped in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
She was happy when.
Speaker was born into this world 71 years ago.
She took a special interest in me.
She came to my bedside and stroked my brow the night.
That this lad confessed the Lord in 1914.
But yet.
Our shape and iniquity and incended my mother conceived me. That's the state of man.
His condition is lost.
And that kind of thing, that state of thing, cannot continue forever.
Because the Lamb of God has come into this world, and we are told to behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of this world.
Nor we are guilty too.
And we read about sins. They are listed in different catalogs.
And several books of the Bible.
Perhaps are all the sins that have ever been committed have been listed, and we can commit all of those sins because we have the capacity to do so.
For in my heart and your heart.
We find the seeds of every sin that is stained the pages of human history.
Man doesn't like to read his history here.
He likes to read his own history.
He would omit the record of sin.
He is glad to tell you about the struggles of the human race and the advancements that man has made in this world.
You know sin.
Is self will.
Sin is not merely the transgression of the Lord, I recommend, but sin is lawlessness.
Which is simply self willed.
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So as well to be informed as to the will of the flesh.
And as to the will of the Gentiles, and as to this self will that each of us possess in full measure.
As to our state.
We are lost.
It wasn't necessary for you to be taught how to do wrong.
You have known how ever since you came into this world.
There was that capacity.
For.
The exercise of sin.
And very likely you demonstrated that.
Right away.
Perhaps in a fit of timber?
Against your mother.
Who marched up to the door of death and brought you into this world?
And you can be thankful that you are here.
Here in this world.
The Son of Man hath power to forgive sins. Or there's a scripture in Luke.
About chapter 4.
That the Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins.
He took that title. He became a man in order that he might be your savior.
So you have come into the world where provision has been made for the remedy of sin.
And the remedy is for you as an individual.
In the gospel we do not preach.
With the idea of saving this world.
He is the Savior of the world, but the point in the gospel now is that God is taking out of this world of people for the name of Christ.
He is saving souls.
There is darkness in this world.
How did it come?
Men loved darkness because their deeds were evil.
Light reveals, and our blessed Lord was the light of the world. He came.
And the men loved darkness.
Because of their evil deeds.
And if you're in the darkness as to God's light of salvation, it's because the God of this world is blinded the mind of them that believe not.
Just one thin sheet of newspaper between me and that light will bring some measure of dimness to me.
And even if you took it outside and held it between you and the sun.
It wouldn't be bright as it was.
The God of this world has blinded the minds of them that believe not.
So we find ourselves not only in the world of uncertainty, but in the World of Darkness.
But God is light.
And he sent his son the light of the world.
And we can read about the light that shines in his face. And we were thinking about it.
That light of the glorious gospel of Christ.
And all may it shine to you tonight.
The Southern man came into the world to save that which was lost.
A little child, you know, was in the context of that passage.
There are those that entertain the idea that a little child goes to heaven because of its innocency.
That's far from the truth.
Not so.
A little child goes to heaven before the years of responsibility, because the Son of Man came in the world to take care of the needs of that soul.
Through his death on Calvary's cross.
The Son of Man came into the world to save that which was lost.
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And that being true of a little child.
Think again of that other verse in Luke 1910.
The Son of Man has come to sick and to save that which is lost.
And if he is seeking for you, that means that you have gone astray.
Only like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way.
That's our wills at work.
The will of man.
That causes all the trouble and the uncertainty that prevails in this world.
But the will of God is that not any should perish.
That all should come to repentance.
And to the knowledge of the truth.
Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
No precious is the thought, the force of that word grace.
For that brings God's blessing to us.
His unmerited favor.
And our only ground of entrance into the presence of God is His mercy.
While we have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
And we can rejoice in the righteousness that He has provided for the Sinner on the simple principle of faith.
And it is of faith that it might be by grace.
If it were any other way, it couldn't be by grace.
God loves you.
He made you. He gave you your being.
And you're responsible to him.
Men try to rid themselves of the thought of responsibility to God.
They've invented quite a theory of man's origin.
But don't you think that in South Carolina there were some scraps of metal on a shelf and the wind blew real hard?
And shook those scraps into a container that had a circulation of water in it, or something else. And these little scraps of metal turned into different shapes and became polished, and finally came fitted together. And a face came out with numbers on it and began to kick.
While the scientists might say that's a poor illustration.
Was just as reasonable as his theory. God made us, we are responsible to him.
And we're in trouble because of sin in this world.
There is uncertainty and there is darkness.
But there can be assurance.
And there's light for you.
The entrance of thy word giveth light, he says.
God has given us His precious Word as a light.
And thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
And that light is shone in the face of our blessed Lord. It still shines there.
And oh, what a lovely one he was down here as he went about and did good.
So man's condition is one of ruin.
And he is guilty before God because of his sins.
In Ephesians chapter 2.
We have.
A description.
Of the Sinner.
That is.
Different to any other.
Found elsewhere in the word.
And.
You who were dead in trespasses and sins.
Wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world.
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According to the Prince of the Power of the Air.
The Spirit that thou worketh in the children of disobedience.
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past, and the lusts of our flesh.
Will filling the desires of the flesh and of the mind.
And where by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
There is reference here to those that were especially favored on the earth.
To whom the oracles of God were given.
And the service of the temple, the covenants, and so on.
But.
Although favored.
And to give a special opportunity for the development.
Of that which would be pleasing to God, they failed.
And they were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
By nature we are the children of Rome.
And we shall undergo God's judgment against sin.
If we do not take shelter under the precious blood of Christ.
If we do not turn to him in simple belief.
And accept the truth of John 524 Verily, verily, I say unto you.
He heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me.
Hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation.
You are a dead man.
How is this?
These are dead toward God.
That happened when sin came in.
And Adam fled.
And man has found himself at a distance, and he wills it that way.
Ever since that moment.
And you may not like the message tonight.
Because of that.
But this is the message that you need, because God loves you.
Always light and that shows up what we are.
And it ought to be that way.
So that we can appreciate his love.
God loves you.
We have the proof of it.
For he gave his son.
The only begotten Son.
Years ago, in World War One, my brother was in the service and my mother put on the front door where people could see it.
A flag, one star in it.
A little boy with his father was walking outside the city somewhere, and he was counting the stars on such flags.
To here one there in that house, that door, that window.
And even 3.
But they walked away into the country from the glow of the city lights and to the little boy looked up into the sky.
And the evening star was shining ever so brightly. And he said, Daddy.
Did God give his son?
He did not for the war.
But for you as a Sinner.
That you might have certainty.
That you might be delivered from the power of darkness.
And that you might have assurance.
And enjoy.
The light of heaven.
Well, here is a dead man. What does he do? He does nothing.
If there were a dead man right here, what could he do?
He can't do anything, Kenny. He's dead.
00:30:01
That's the way we are. That's the way we were dead. Dead and trespasses and sins.
But suppose there was an extraordinary Dr. and he could.
Perform a little special kind of service and revive or impart life to him. What did the dead man do? He did nothing. What can you do? You can do nothing.
Just be the dead man.
The subject of works is taken up a little later in this chapter.
God, you know the Father and the Son, communicate life.
All is necessary for you is to receive it.
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. It's that simple.
Whosoever should call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Is so simple.
Let a wayfaring man go. Fool need not err.
A young man.
Not so young, in his 60s.
Along with so bad it couldn't be taken out.
But as he realized his condition and the limit of his time, about four months to go.
He turned completely to the Lord.
And engaged in those precious things that are eternal.
For the things that are seen are temporal.
He was interested in.
The Games.
And who got the high score?
But I was all over.
Whatever insurance did it make?
Who won?
Or who lost?
All that occupied him now was that which was eternal.
He remarked one day.
It is so simple.
That most everyone misses the path.
Simple faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior of sinners.
So we are quickened together.
Raised up together.
Made sit together in heavenly places in Christ.
All that can be your destiny.
That can be true of you.
Sinner, whoever you may be, I was a Sinner.
God saved me.
He will save you.
He wants you for a purpose.
He would like to have you to be the object of his kindness.
He would like to display you in the ages to come.
Showing the exceeding riches of his grace and his kindness towards you through.
Christ Jesus.
Man lost paradise.
He can regain it.
It's gone.
But man as a Sinner even for such we are.
Can have that which is far better.
You can be created in righteousness and true holiness.
That's better than the innocent state that Adam was in.
All such are the blessings of the Gospel.
The power of the Word of God.
That tonight.
In simple faith, committing yourself to the Lord Jesus in confession of your sin.
In acknowledgement of yourself as being dead in trespasses and sins.
00:35:00
You can be the recipient.
All that life everlasting.
The very life of Christ in new creation.
For by grace, are you saved?
By grace, are you saved? That's the source.
And the foundation, the work that was done, is the precious blood of Christ that was shed.
Being justified freely by his grace. Being justified by his blood.
Being justified by faith, we have peace with God.
Peace with God, all that is the assurance that you can enjoy for yourself as an individual.
By believing in the Lord Jesus the Savior.
By grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves. It's the gift of God.
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Or if you try works, you will go back to Mount Sinai.
With all of its Thunder, With all of its lightnings.
And you won't be able to find peace there. You will never be able to arrive at that point.
By yourself efforts.
All you need to come to Mount Zion, you need to taste that the Lord is gracious. You need to yield yourself to Him.
He is the Savior of sinners, the very One.
That you need.
And there's none other.
Another name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved.
We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.
They come afterwards.
You know the ploughing of the wicked is sin.
What was wrong with plowing?
He might need to plow to feed the baby.
But sin.
If he's doing that without the suitable submission.
And subjection.
To God, his Maker.
The plowing of the wicked is sin.
And all your righteousnesses are his filthy rags. So aren't we glad of the gospel of Christ, the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth?
What a difference it made in the Philippian jailer.
He was a hard hearted man.
And evidently took delight.
In inflicting pain.
And discomfort upon.
Two servants of the Lord, Paul and Silas.
But the light shone from heaven.
He came in trembling. Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
And the answer came immediately.
They told him to do himself no harm. He was contemplating self destruction.
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.
And what next?
All he was.
Tenderly.
Bathing and anointing the bleeding backs of those two men that he had thrust into the inner prison.
The Gospel made the difference.
The power of God and the salvation.
And the apostle went to.
Thessalonica.
And they received the word there with much assurance.
Or is a positive message.
And they turn to God from idols to serve.
Turn to God from idols to serve the living and true God.
And to wait for his Son from heaven.
That is the power of the gospel, isn't it?
Or it was that power of the gospel that saved the chief of sinners, and he was the most religious man in his day.
00:40:09
He was bending all of his energies against those that believed in the Lord Jesus.
That's the power of the gospel and if you are here tonight, depending on what you are doing.
Custard deadly doing down.
And look into the face of that blessed Savior who was lifted upon that cross to die for you.
You know you were four of we were.
But how is it?
Verse 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye, who sometimes were forever made nigh.
By the blood of Christ.
Made nigh.
You heard about the blood of Christ Friday in the Gospel.
Again, that message of the preciousness of the blood of Christ was repeated last evening.
And here we read again about the blood of Christ and what it does for us.
Brings us nigh.
The precious blood of Christ.
Will you ridicule that?
Some scoff at it.
And to want their children to hear about it.
But remember, it's the basis, the ground.
Of salvation.
It is the work that was accomplished at the cross, the finished work of Christ.
That saves the soul.
There are those that believe you know in blood when it's a question of a good meal on the table.
They still believe in blood, you know, when they go to the hospital.
And.
They take blood in their veins that's provided for them. Transfusions perhaps it's called.
And they even believe in blood on the battlefield when they want you to go.
For some purpose that they call worthy.
But coming to the blood of Christ? Oh no.
And tonight, once you take shelter.
Under the precious blood of Christ.
And.
Find yourself admitted.
Into the household of God.
And coming to the enjoyment of all these precious blessings.
That are ours in Christ in the heavenly.
You can be certain.
We believe and are sure.
You can be a child of the day.
Taken out of the darkness of this world.
You can be positively certain about your destiny, the future that's yours, by faith in Christ Jesus.
And you can be in the enjoyment of the light of life.
Let's sing precious blood.
Spread shots pressure blood of Jesus.
On Calvary.
And forever.
Sinners.
Get born.
Let's just love that.
Every day.
Now is open.
He says made.
00:45:02
Like Crimson?
You've been scarlet gold.
On, stripes on.
Like a made them.
Oil.
Oh, believe it.
No reason.
For the.
Now and Ever
Address—N. Berry
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.
Well, I'm sure we have all been greatly enjoying these.
Three days together the Lord has has richly blessed us.
And I just trust that each one of you young ones here, this is an address, the young one. I trust that these words that have been faithfully spoken.
Direct words from the Word of God may be used now in in blessing to our souls.
I'd like you to turn for three words that are before me right toward the end of the Bible, in the last words of the of the book of Jude.
Last three words of the Book of Jude.
Now.
And ever, now and ever.
Now I'd like to just try to bring together all, not all, but that which has been before us in these meetings.
And to to see the wonders of the word of God.
That in the Old Testament.
God, in his wisdom, has given us.
In stories that which would illustrate the truth that has been before us. How wonderful is the word of God in this in this respect.
Now there have been so far in our reading meetings, profitable meetings, that they have been.
A1 Particular verse, Ephesians four and three, that has been before us, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the uniting bond of peace. Beautiful verse, and those two verses that have gone before it.
Also there has been mentioned, I believe first Peter two and five. He also as living stones are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood.
To offer up to God to OfferUp spiritual sacrifices.
Acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. The building side of the truth has been before us, the building of God's house as we had in the second chapter of Ephesians and the last few verses, so the building side, and with it the responsibility of you and me.
As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ the building.
Of God's house here on this earth. Now, as I look into your faces, I trust and pray that each one of us has individually put our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. This of course, is necessary for each one of us to be in this building that God is building.
Now we also have in First Corinthians 1546 this remarkable verse.
How be it? This was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural, and afterward that which is spiritual. We have had the spiritual side of our life. Now it's a spiritual life that you and I have. But as I said, it's remarkable that God in His Word has given us this, the Old Testament, to give these.
Illustrations of these of this truth of the New Testament.
But He gave the physical side, the natural side 1St, and then as time went on, and through the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, the full development of the revelation of God. Why you and I find in the New Testament that wonderful truth, the teachings that have been before us.
But by God's grace and through His wonderful wisdom, now we're going to be able to look back and see, for you young ones here and all the like, these illustrations of this truth as found in the Old Testament. Now let's turn back to two books which we will be looking at for a little while.
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Haggai, which is the third to last book in the Old Testament.
And Ezra, which is the book after two Chronicles.
The Book of Haggai.
The Book of Ezra. These are the two books that bring before us the building of the house in Jerusalem.
Nehemiah and Zechariah bring before us the building of the wall, but these two books that we will look at now.
Illustrate for us the building of that remarkable edifice in the city of Jerusalem, and I might just say to give a quick review, that in the 25th chapter of Exodus and the eighth verse it tells us the words of the Lord when He said.
Let them build me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them. Or this is a wonderful revelation, dear young people of the heart of God, that he would desire to have a place.
Where he could dwell Now sin came in and in the Garden of Eden, and that walking in communion with God was interrupted. But God, as it were, would give illustrations of that which was was in the heart of God, and that is the giving of the Lord Jesus Christ. But the purpose of it all was that God would have a Tabernacle, as we read in the last chapter of Revelation.
God is going to Tabernacle. He's going to dwell with man eternally. Oh, how wonderful then to realize that God had a purpose in saying that.
In reference to the Tabernacle, so that God gave instruction for the building of that first building, It was a temporary one. It traveled through the wilderness for 40 years with the children of Israel, but when they got into that land or there was.
A building that surpassed, I believe, any other building that has ever been put up on the face of this earth. Solomon's Temple in all its glory.
Their God lived in that building, dwelt in that holiest of all.
In there, in that place, in that cube where there was that ark, the ark, that which was the highest picture.
Of the presence of the Lord here with his people. The Ark. Now it wasn't very long after that building was built that the decline set in. And down it went, as it does happen with each one.
Of us when responsibility is committed to us downhill, but we go so often. But we want to remember now that there is God's side and there is man's side. As we learned in the meetings. God is building a building of materials. You and me, as I quoted from first Peter 2:00 and 5:00.
He's building a building that never will be destroyed. It is composed of every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.
But to you and to me has been committed now the building here on this earth in another way which we will see illustrated.
Well, as I said, Solomon Temple wasn't very long in going downhill. Neglect of the priesthood. And the time came when God allowed attacks from the outside, from Nebuchadnezzar, and it was destroyed and the people were carried away. First the 10 tribes, then the two tribes who had been divided, and they were carried off to Babylon. There they were for 70 years and then.
In God's restoring grace.
He brought a little remnant. Oh, it was just a little number, I believe around.
42,000 or so people back to God's appointed place, to Israel, to the land of Israel and to Jerusalem. And here now in our story, we're going to pick up where these people that the tribe of Judah particularly has come back or has been brought back to the spot and they are.
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Building now this building which God had instructed them to do.
Sad to say, there was neglect again, just as we have sung in our hymn or how quick we are to neglect. And here they were in a state of neglect. So let's read now Haggai chapter one.
In the second year of Darius the king. Now that was the king of Persia.
Nebuchadnezzar had gone. Cyrus had gone. Artaxerxes had gone.
And Darius is now on the throne in Persian. He had given instructions that and permission and authority and money to provided to build this House of God. But as I said, it was neglected. They started but they didn't go on with it so often as you and I are or we have the best of intentions, don't we to go on but.
So often we, as we will discover, we have three enemies, the world, the flesh and the devil. We're going to see these three enemies in a moment or two. They had opponents. You and I have opponents. And here now we, we see that in the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of the Lord.
By Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel.
Of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Joseph the high priest, saying thus.
Speaketh the Lord of Hosts saying this, people say.
The time is not come, the time that the Lord's house should be built. Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying, Is it time for you, oh ye, to dwell in your sealed houses, and this house lie waste. Now therefore, thus saith the Lord of hosts.
Consider your ways, ye have sown much and bring in little.
Ye eat, but ye have not enough. Ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink. Ye clothe you, but there is none warm. And he that earneth wages, earneth wages to put into a bag with holes. Thus Seth well will stop there for a minute. Now here we see.
First of all, that God is using a very insignificant.
Man, this little book of Haggai. I'm sure not very many of us.
Read it.
To our neglect, of course. It's one of the smallest. I think there's only one other smaller book of prophets.
Of the prophets and it's just liable to be passed over but oh, I would hardly recommend you reading this now because it is full of instruction. Haggai, a prophet, he didn't have much of A of a.
Grandiose declaration like we find in the fiery speeches that we read of in Isaiah. Wonderful words we don't find that. We find just very little homey expressions.
But all that's what I want to emphasize to you now, dear the young ones, this afternoon, this is the day. This is why I say this word. Now we're living now we're living in dark days.
This was a dark day, Now is a dark day. There was decline in in those days. There is surely decline to day you and I have to admit it in our hearts. It's so easy to be occupied with other things, to be discouraged. Oh, what a day of discouragement this is. And I just trust that this message this afternoon is from the Lord to encourage.
You to go on now to get this message that this is the message for now.
For now and so here, and we'll see it later on South here, this man.
This prophet Haggai is there. He's a prophet. We also have read that there is Zerubbabel. Now if you traced Zerubbabel, you would find that he was a descendant of King Solomon. If you turn to Matthew chapter one, you would find that he is one of the ancestors of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was the king.
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The King.
Remarkable, isn't it? He was the king. And then we've also read about Joshua.
He was the high priest, so we have a prophet, a priest and a king.
Oh, isn't that beautiful? Why? This is the Lord Jesus Christ illustrated in these three persons. They had them there and you and I, beloved ones, we have that same person with us to day. There are three enemies and we have been having before us also that there are three. I don't like to use the word things. We might say 3 powers.
One that has been brought before us, the presence of the Lord. Oh, what a wonderful thing.
Secondly, the indwelling Holy Spirit in the heart of everyone of us here this afternoon. And thirdly, the Word of God, that unchanging Word of God. We have those three now. Now.
And so here we find that this man has a haggy eye. He speaks from the word of of the Lord and he says in the second verse, thus speaketh the Lord of hosts saying he was quoting just what the Lord was saying or how important this is. This is what we are enjoying in these meetings.
The word of the Lord. It's not what some brother thinks or his opinions, it's the word of the Lord.
And Haggai was speaking the pure word of the Lord and what he said. And he says the Lord said that, that the people say the time is not come, the time that the Lords house should be built. Well, isn't that like the now of today?
Let me put it this way, if we are the Lords, why we're we're saved, we're one of his individually belonged to him. But the truth as we have been having brought before us of the unity of the spirit of the oneness of the body of the House, character of the collective testimony here on this earth to the Lord's name.
Or how this is sometimes attacked and you young people, you hear these things as I do. As such as well, there's no more testimony left.
We're all just going on our own now and it's all broken up. There are 1500 groups of Christians. I don't know which way to turn. People say, Oh dear young people, this is one of the voices of the enemy that would distract you, that would turn you away, or the house character of the truth that the Lord.
Desires a corporate testimony to go on and will go on till the end. Don't forget the word now and ever.
We have this glorious truth now, and we have it forever. The blessings that you and I have, we have them now and forever. We're not going to get anymore blessings in the glory than we have now. It's now and ever.
But here we find these people neglecting this. They were listening to an enemy. As I said, there were three enemies. I'd like to explain what I mean. Back in the land of Persia, there was a king there. They were more or less under the control of of this king. They could go ahead and build or they couldn't, at the discretion of that king.
Darius.
Secondly, there were enemies surrounding them. Let's get.
That from Ezra chapter 4 Keep your finger in both these books. These will be going back and forth.
To see different verses.
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Ezra 4:00 and 4:00.
Then the people of the land here is the second enemy, the first enemy powerful king that had the predecessor had taken them captive, the enemy of their souls, the enemy of the land of Israel here is enemy #2 verse four then the people of the land weakened the hands of.
The people of Judah weaken the hands. Oh, that's what Satan, that's what the world is doing. That's what the flesh is doing to each one of us, weakening our hands. And here was a concerted and organized.
Effort to weaken the hands of these people. I'll read the rest of it. The hands of the people of Judah and troubled them in the building. Troubled them. They didn't mind their being back in the land. We'll also see that they didn't mind something else. But the building of this temple they were against. And all dear young people, let me tell you that there is.
Truth that is so attacked today than that truth that there is one gathering center on this earth, and that gathering center is Christ. And I believe that that is the truth that is being attacked everywhere these days. And you and I need to realize where those attacks are coming from. And here's what it says.
They troubled as the people of Judah and troubled them in the building.
And what more and hired counselors, wise men, smart people. Or there are hired counselors around these days too. And they may be the Lords own people. And yet they are troubling God's people. They would be well educated, well indoctrinated in what they believe. They're around us everywhere. And they are well organized as it says there and hired counselors.
Them to what? To frustrate their purpose. All we heard about the purpose and having.
Motives. What was the motive here? The motive was to build this house and there the were the enemies that were frustrating that purpose. Oh, you get the message. Dear young people, this is now that I'm Speaking of. You are being corrupted. You are being frustrated.
In the work that the Lord would call you and me to do to build this house, to go on now faithfully for the Lord in the truth that we have learned and has been bought for us and hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose for a little while. No indeed.
All the days of Cyrus, king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius, the king of Persia, didn't stop.
And we're never free from attacks.
As we get on, on older, we might say, well, I know this truth and I am well established in it. We never are free from attacks. And so those attacks went on all the time to frustrate them and they were organized, as I said, to keep them from that purpose. Or the enemy is at work today and he would discourage you. He would bring in great intelligence.
There are many, many books that are coming out. I often tell people, I suppose in Bibles and publications, we have to reject about 99% of the books that are submitted to us, Christian books.
To at least to pass out to carry in the bookstore. I would say 99% of the books Christian books have to be rejected why they are organized in many ways to.
Public at least to pass out to carry in the bookstore. I would say 99% of the books, Christian books have to be rejected. Why? They are organized in many ways to frustrate this truth to which you and I by God's grace have been gathered to that there is one center, Christ, the gathering center. The Spirit of God would gather every believer to that.
Person. So there we see the enemy now. Let's go back to Haggai to see the third enemy now.
00:25:08
Haggai, chapter one, verse 4.
Is it time for you or ye to dwell in your sealed houses?
And this house lie waste. Let's pause there now.
What does this message for? Now? I'm sure we all know it. Prosperity, Prosperity, how it is weakening the hands of the Saints. Long, long ago, in Mr. Mcintosh's days, he said, show me a prosperous assembly and I'll show you a feeble assembly that was written.
75 years ago, how true it is today. Oh beloved ones, you young ones here that are growing up.
And the tendency is to build bigger houses and nicer homes and to be occupied with all the material things of this life. Oh, don't fall into the trap of the enemy. I'm not against a nice home. And I'm not suggesting that we live in in like they're living in in Bolivia. But I am saying this, that this is one of the means that Satan is using today.
Prosperity Education.
Advancement, all these things.
God lays his finger on the point and says.
This is the enemy. Where was this enemy? Right inside them wasn't the far off king of King Darius. It wasn't all those organized enemies around them. It was right in their own hearts. Their hearts were growing cold. They were taken up with their own material things in their own advancement, their sealed houses and the neglecting to build the House of God.
What was the result God was allowing as we see here?
He was allowing things to come in to frustrate this. He was blowing on it. Oh dear young ones, we live in days of weakness. Weakness. We have to admit it's weakness.
Why?
People say, why can't there be the outflowing of the Holy Spirit in the Speaking of tongues and so on and healings and so on. Oh, dear young people, this is a day of absolute weakness when the Lord can't, can't act in the way I shouldn't say can't, but he doesn't act in the way that the Holy Spirit acted in the early days of the book of the Acts. It's a day of weakness.
But we're going to see that God has a message.
For that day too. So he said to them there in that fifth verse, consider.
Your ways that is spoken twice, the first time as a word of warning. I have to say this to my own soul and to each one of us. Consider our ways. Not the doctrine that is slipping, but all it is the carelessness that easily creeps in. And the Lord would say to each one of us here today, consider your way.
That was a warning because he was saying to them.
Oh, he was the one, the Lord was the one that was frustrating them. The Lord it said, there ye have sown much, and bring in little. Ye eat, but you have not enough. Ye drink, but are not filled with drink. Ye clothe you, but there is none warm. And then they were putting their wages into bags with holes. There is nothing in this life, dear young people, that will ever satisfy but Christ.
No.
No matter what it is profession, professions of any kind. I was just hearing the other day that there has been in the United States a great investment in a in a by one of the great foundations to explore where America is going and they divided it up into different sections of the society. They spent millions of dollars on this study as to what's wrong.
With America Today and I was told that in everyone of those five or six reports that has come out so far, every one of them says we don't have an answer.
Oh dear young ones, we are living now in such a day. Why God is blowing on our this world. He is blowing and it is too for you and for me to realize that He may be hindering. Not hindering to discourage us, but to get the message across to us. Consider our way.
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That's the first one.
Seventh verse thus saith the Lord of hosts. Consider your ways. Here's the second one now, and this time it is to encourage God would always do those two things. He speaks in warning and he then speaks in constructive way of blessing, giving you and me. The key doesn't just leave us.
Without knowing what to do, what is the next message?
Eighth verse, go up to the mountain. I think that's beautiful, the mountain.
Go up to the mountain.
And bring wood and build the house, and I will take pleasure in it and I will be glorified. Seth, the Lord. Oh, that's what we need, don't we? We need to get up on the mountain, beloved ones, away from all the things that we hear from this world. We have to pass through this world, I realize. But oh, it's to get up and to learn those heavenly, that heavenly truth, the mountain of God.
Well, that's where you and I find sweet communion with the Lord. That's where you and I get our materials from. It was up on the top of the mountain. They were to go up there and to cut down the wood and bring it back and to use that material to build the house. There's nothing like our enjoyment of Christ as He now is up in the glory in that mountain. There He is a man in glory.
The Exalted One, and it is to feed on that Blessed One.
That is where we get our material. That is where we get our encouragement. Let's read the next verse.
Or at least that verse. And I will take pleasure in it and I will be glorified, saith the Lord. Oh dear young people, do you want to be blessed in your Christian life? Get up onto the mountain.
Take the materials from there, build the house. Go on, go on. Now, don't be discouraged. That's the word for today. For now, get up to the mountain, get the materials and build. Keep on and the Lord will bless you.
Now let's go down a little bit farther.
13th verse.
Then speak Haggy I, the Lord's messenger in the Lord's message. Isn't that nice? One of the I think it's the only time in the Scriptures that we have that little word, the Lord's message from the Lord's messenger.
In the Lord's message under the people saying.
Or isn't this grant? Here's the first promise now.
I am with you.
This is what we've been learning, haven't we? In these meetings, the Lord is with us. The Lord.
That's a word that needs to burn down into our hearts. The Lord is with us. The world is crumbling. Our society is just teetering. And if the Lord doesn't come soon, oh, there are days ahead that are going to be real. Days of testing for every one of us, no matter what place you live in today.
It's crumbling. It's crumbling.
But the Lord is.
Or may we go away from these meetings with the consciousness of this fact that we have the Lord, with how much does his presence mean to us these days? May it burn into our heart. I am with you doesn't say that the man that the Haggai said the Lord is with us. But oh how beautiful it's, it's so personal.
I am with you, Seth, the Lord. That's the first one.
And then the 14th verse. And the Lord stood up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Chialta, the governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Joseph the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnants of the people. And they came and did the work in the House of the Lord of hosts.
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Their God, they did it. They did the work in spite of the king Darius, in spite of the enemies around, and they started back on the work. Now, I'd like to say this to be a Christian these days.
Doesn't carry the reproach of being gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I can remember back when, 30-40 years ago, it was quite a different story to be a Christian, a Christian. Then there was more reproach. But now with the great campaigns that have gone through our Western world, the the fact of being a Christian doesn't carry the reproach that it did in other days.
But.
To be gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, as we have been learning in these meetings.
To the truth of the separating power.
Of the Lord Jesus Christ to be walking from in separation from other Christians gathered alone to the Lorde name. Here's reproach. Well, you might say you wouldn't find that in the Old Testament.
But it is amazing to find that there too. Let's go back to Ezra now.
3rd chapter of Ezra.
And when the 7th month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man in Jerusalem. Then stood up Joshua the son of Joseph and his brethren, the priests and the rubble the son of Chiatiel and his brethren, and builded the house. No.
Builded the altar.
Of the God of Israel to burn, to offer burnt offerings thereon.
As it is written in the law of Moses, the man of God, and they set the altar upon his basis, for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries.
End of the sixth verse, but the foundation of the temple of the Lord.
Was not late. Now just let me take a moment or two to explain this that those of us who have seen models of the Tabernacle remember that there was an outside gate.
And to go through that gate, the sacrificer or the person who brought their sacrifice.
They went in and the first object they met inside there was the brazen altar.
A beautiful picture of the cross of Christ. This is where they offered their sacrifice to the priest, and the priest stood there. The man killed the sacrifice, and in some cases it was cut up and put into that fire and burned, and it went up to God as a sacrifice. Now that is a picture of our salvation.
Of the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ.
But the priests didn't stop there. Oh, the priests were the privileged ones, the two sons of Aaron who were able to go in to the Tabernacle in the worship of God. Aaron able to go right into the very presence of God to the ark once a year.
Now I'm sure we can see this picture developing, and that is that so long as those people just had that altar, there was no objection.
Nobody was objecting the the enemy back in the land and and Darius wasn't objecting to building a little altar. And the people around there, these organized ones that we have read up, they didn't mind having the altar there, but they were objecting to the building of the house. Or isn't that an amazing illustration from the Old Testament?
And so it is with you and with need. Beloved One. It is one thing to be a believer, or how glorious that is to know the Lord is our Savior.
But all the reproaches connected with going on with the truth, the building of the house, the corporate testimony to Christ.
There was the objection, and so there they didn't lay the foundation of the temple. Now we go back to Hagia.
00:40:10
2nd chapter.
Now we come to these three occasions where we have the word now.
3rd 2nd chapter.
And the second verse speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Chiatio the governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Joseph the high priest, and to the residue of the people saying, I will just pause there. Here was now a message, and it was a message that was started off by saying now.
Now, why would that be in there? Oh, because of the general condition. It was a message for that moment. And all beloved ones, we have a message from the Lord we trust for you now. Now in the day in which we live, difficult days that they may be, they are difficult days. We wouldn't minimize the power of the enemy. He's coming in like a flood.
And now we get that word now.
The Lord had a message for them now. He said it right there.
Now.
And the third verse, who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory?
And how do you see it now? Is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing that caused there? Now He says to those ones that are around there. There the Lord says this, you see the house that is built now.
And you compare it, some of you who are older, with the days of that previous house. And what is it now in in your eyes? Oh, it's as if it were nothing. But notice the word now. What do you think of it now? Oh dear young people, I say again that we are living in days when if we look.
Now and say all the testimony is getting weaker and weaker.
It is. I don't recall but I have read that in the City of London.
There was at one time 50 meetings there in the one City of London alone. Hundreds I suppose. I have a letter at home that my father received from Germany and back in 1910, where there was a little village of 1200 people and 400 of them were gathered to the Lord's name.
Now there's just in the City of London, just a little handful.
Just a little handful.
And what's in Germany? Two or three tiny little assemblies there, and there's so much trial and difficulty. Now is the day of such weakness, dear ones. But now is the day when we don't look back, we look forward. But now the Lord said to them, What is it in your eyes now?
So what's the message going to be? Let's read the next verse.
4th 1St.
Yet now be strong.
Are the circumstances deciding whether you and I are to be strong? No, dear Young, we have these three things that we're going to see in a few moments. We have the presence of the Lord. That was the first promise. The Lord said, I'm with you now. You and I have the power of the Lord. He lives in our hearts.
Now, yet now be strong ozer rubble, saith the Lord.
And be strong, O Joshua, the son of Josadech the high priest. And be strong, all ye people of the land. It was just a handful, just a handful.
And work. And here again the emphasis the second time.
For I am with you, that was the motive, For I am with you, that was the presence of the Lord, 1/2.
5th verse According to the word that I covenant with you when you came out of the land, came out of Egypt, or isn't that beautiful? It wasn't a new word. It was going taking them right back to the word that they had when they came out of the land of Egypt. How many people came out of the land in that day?
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There were 604,000 men, and if each family there were maybe five people. There were 3 million or so people, millions of people, but it was the same word that went to them that they were to use. Now let's read it again. According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of the land of Egypt, came out of Egypt. No change the unchange.
Word of God, we have it now. Dear friends, that is the second one.
And then the third.
So my spirit remaineth with you. Fear you not. There's the third. The Holy Spirit lives in our hearts. There is the power now of God to keep you and me in these dark days.
Oh, how wonderful to realize that we have those three things now. I just want to say this.
In the early days there was the ark. It was present in the days of Solomon. It was in, or at least before that, it was in the Tabernacle. Then that ark was in the holiest of all, in the glorious building that was built by Solomon.
But when the enemy attacked, we believe that that ark was lost.
And never found again. So that this building now that was being built, there wasn't any arc.
The visible appearance presence of the Lord was missing.
Did the Lord say, well, of course, the ark is lost now and the my presence will not be felt there? No, dear ones, there isn't a mention of that. And you know, we were gathered here this morning around the blessed person of the Lord Jesus. Not one of us saw him with these natural eyes. He's gone. He's gone to glory.
Gone and rejected from this world. We're following a savior that has been rejected.
That Blessed One suffered and died here on this cross, on the cross. And he has been, like Jonah, cast out of this world. He is a rejected one. We're following one that is up in the glory today. No visible evidence do we have?
But we have these great three principles. We have the presence of the Lord with us, unseen to the natural eyes, but seen to our spiritual eyes. We have the same unchanging word of God, and we have the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. Do we need any more?
That's the message for now. For now.
Now let's go on just a little bit farther. Sixth verse. Now it looks on into the future for this, For thus saith the Lord of hosts. Yet once it is a little while. We heard that yesterday too, a little while. Oh, that's what the Lord is saying to you and to me. Now a little while, He may be coming this afternoon.
It may be he's coming soon, Dear friend. Beloved ones, he wants you and me to look on to the future, not to the past. Dismal as it might be, the law, it's a little while.
And I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land, And I will shake all nations. In the desire of all nations shall come. Who is the desire of all nations? Christ. He's coming back. He's coming back.
Don't be discouraged now. Oh, we're just at the end. Beloved young people in each one of us. Don't now just say, well, it's getting so dark. Oh, it is just before the dawn. The blessed Savior, the desire of the nations of the world are going to be gathered to that blessed One. He is going to reign over this earth. He is going to set everything straight.
Hold on now, hold on.
Ninth verse.
I'll read it as I believe is the proper translation. The latter glory of this house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts. The latter glory. Why, there were three buildings so far. There are three temple buildings so far, but God always sees them as one. It's just this house, no matter what it was.
00:50:08
Or isn't that beautiful to realize that though we might be living in these dark days, boy, it's the Lord sees the house as one, as one. And So what does he say then and in the end of that ninth verse and in this.
Place will I give peace?
This place, God has a place of peace for every believer here on the face of this earth.
God is the one who is the source, the Lord Jesus Christ is the channel of all blessing, and the Holy Spirit is the power. We have them all speaking reverently. Oh how wonderful it is to know and to be encouraged. Dear young man, this is where you and I are going to find peace.
We heard that too, didn't we? Peace and joy. One of our brethren closed with the fact that there was joy. Here's closing now with peace. What more could we ask? Now and ever, Now and ever.
And in this place will I give peace, Seth, the Lord of hosts. We had that too, didn't we? The Lord of hosts that he's mighty to save. He's mighty to keep us. Oh, it's the Lord keeps us. He has saved us. Able to save us. He's able to keep us.
Now let's get back just in closing to our verse in Jude.
Let me also remind you of that verse in Matthew 16.
Upon this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. God is building His assembly here on this earth, and there is no power on earth or in heaven that can shake those foundations. It is as sure as a throne of God in heaven.
And we have that blessed one with us. And then now let us see our responsibilities in this last verse in Jude.
20th verse of Jude.
But.
Ye beloved, that's you, dear young people, beloved of the Lord, beloved of the Lord, he loves you. He wants to encourage you to go on, be loved, building up yourselves. That's our responsibility now.
The Lord is doing his work and now he says to you and to me, building up. It's the imperfect tense. It's going on now. It's not just one act and then it's finished with. We have to keep on now. Continue on, Peter Paul said to Timothy in his last words. Continue on.
And so we have this message, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost. There is that the power of the Holy Spirit, keeping yourselves and the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 25th 1St to the only wise God, our Savior.
Be glory and majesty, dominion and power.
Both now now.
Days are dark now.
And.
All beloved ones, the day is coming when we're going to see the blessed face of us saving our eyes. Has never seen Him. We wait to hear His heavenly voice. Keep on now, keep on. Don't give up now. The power of God is with you.
Dear young people, keep on now, keep on building up yourself. He is the one who gives us the power, and to Him the all the glory, lest thou in prayer.
Christ Magnified in the Word
Address—G.H. Hayhoe
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Just have a few thoughts on my heart rather than connection with the in connection with the importance of the word of God. And I had three portions before me and that was connected with the how the Lord is the one who brings his word before us. Whether we're discouraged individually or whether it has to do with his people collectively or whether it has to do with the state of the world, the Lord Jesus is the answer for every situation.
And His word is Thou which directs US1 has enjoyed that passage. Thou hast magnified thy word above all Thy name. I wondered why that was. I thought of the wonders and glory of the name of the Lord Jesus. Then why is it thou us magnify thy word above all thy name? Well, it's His Word that reveals the Person to us. We hear much of people speaking about God and about Christ and about.
Jesus, but it's His word that reveals this person to us in the glory of who He is, in the wonders of what He has done for us. I just like to look at 3 passages. First of all in Luke chapter 24, Luke chapter 24 and verse 13. And behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about.
Score furlongs and they talked together of all these things which had happened.
And it came to pass, that while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them, And but their eyes were holding, that they should not know him. And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these, that she have one to another as she walk, and are sad?
And one of them, whose name was Cleopas answering, said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which have come to pass there in those days? And he said unto them, What they What things? And they said unto him concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty indeed, and word before God and all the people.
Then passing on a little farther, the 25th verse. Then he said unto them, all fools and slow of hearts.
To believe all that the prophets have spoken, ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. And they drew nigh unto the village whither they went. And He made as though He would have gone further, but they constrained him, saying, Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far.
And he went in to tarry with them. And it came to pass, as He sat at meet with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and break and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew Him, and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another. Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the Scriptures? And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem.
And found the 11 gathered together and them that were with them. Well here we have two brought before us. Often it has been thought that this was man and wife. I believe it's very likely it was so because it tells us that Cleophus was married and that his wife was standing by the by the cross when the Lord was crucified. And then too in the story we see how they.
Him into their home. So it suggests to us at least that perhaps this was a couple. And it tells us they were sad and they hadn't expected that the Lord would not restore the Kingdom at that time. They had hoped that He would bring about the promised blessing. But instead of that, as we're told in Daniel, Messiah, the Prince shall be cut off and shall have nothing.
It seemed as if his life ended in disappointment, and they had seen him rejected by the scribes and Pharisees, and now it seemed as if the one whom they loved had been taken away from them. And what did they have? And they were sad. Perhaps there's some individual, perhaps there's some couple here, and you have come to these meetings and you feel thoroughly discouraged too. You would hope that the Lord would work out something.
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In your life and he hasn't done so. And perhaps as you talk to others, you have the same feelings within you that these two had. As they left Jerusalem, the place where the Lord had put his name started out to their own home down in Emmaus. We can picture this scene. Perhaps it has happened often in our own lives. Perhaps it's happening in the life of someone who is here this afternoon.
But isn't it lovely to see that the Lord had his eye upon these two?
He entered fully into their sorrow. He knew their grief. And so it tells us, Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. Doesn't that touch your heart and mine, to think that the Lord of glory, the one who had accomplished that great work for their blessing and for ours, should know about this too, and should Himself condescend in grace to come down and walk with them?
And let me say, if there's any here who are discouraged, the Lord hasn't forsaken you because he has promised I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. He never will forsake one of his own. I wanted the last messages he gave to his own before he went away was lo, I am with you alway, or is another translation puts it all the days.
And so he wasn't going to forsake them. He walked with them.
He drew out their hearts. I have enjoyed of late that verse in the Psalms that says.
Pour out your hearts before Him. Isn't it precious? He once poured out his soul unto death, and now He invites us to pour out our hearts before Him. Perhaps there are things we cannot tell to anyone else. Perhaps no one else would understand or enter in, But the Lord invites us to pour out our hearts before Him, just to tell Him everything.
And so they told him. Perhaps it might have seemed rather strange that they didn't know better.
Hadn't he told them that he was going to die and rise again? But a lawyer told them they didn't seem to have laid hold of it. Perhaps we're kind of stupid in some of the things that discourage us to. But nevertheless the Lord went along with them and tells us here that He drew out their hearts, got them to tell what it was that caused them this grief, and then what was the answer?
That's what I had, particularly before me. What did he bring before them?
Why, it tells us He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. He brought his precious word before them is that word that reveals Christ to the soul. And so this precious book that we have God's word.
It brings before us the Lord Jesus. We know that this book is the written word, and our precious Savior is spoken of as the living Word. And so as the Lord went through the Old Testament scriptures and over and over again showed them that these types, these shadows, these stories were all things that were written to encourage their hearts because whatsoever things were written.
Written for our learning that we, through patience and comfort of the scriptures, might have hope. And so I say again, if there are any who are discouraged, where are you going to find comfort? Perhaps you say no one understands. Perhaps you've tried to tell someone else and they tried to enter into it but didn't really understand how you felt. But there's one who loves us perfectly, who understands us perfectly.
And his divine power has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness. And so as they walked along, He had to say to them, all fools and slow of heart, He had to rebuke them. And sometimes we need this too. But thank God He didn't stop there. He caused their hearts to burn within them. He touched their hearts to the extent that when they.
Near to this place where they live. It tells us that he constrained, They constrained him to come in and abide with them. It says He made as though he would have gone further. That is, he didn't force himself upon them, but waited not only for their invitation, but for them, as it were, to say, Lord, we really want to enjoy.
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Your company. And so it was when they constrained him. Then he went in.
And he revealed himself to them. He was made known to them in the breaking of bread.
I rather think that although this was not what we might speak the regular remembrance of the Lord in his death, and that as he lifted those piercing hands and broke the bread, they saw the Nail Prince. They remembered the night when he had instituted the feast, and their hearts were stirred and touched. And so it tells us, they rose up and they went back to Jerusalem.
What was it made them want to go back?
Did He tell them they shouldn't have left Jerusalem? Did He tell them that that they ought to go back? No, He didn't say any such thing. But He did touch their hearts. He did warm their hearts by His precious word. He made himself known to them, and saw that they themselves would say, Did not our heart burn within us while He talked to us, by the way?
Even though they hadn't recognized this wonderful stranger who was walking with them.
He did make himself known to their hearts in this wonderful way. And so I just say here that if there is anyone who has come to the meeting and you were sad and discouraged, isn't it precious to know that the Lord Jesus wants to do just this for you?
He wants to draw near to you, he wants to walk with you. He not only died to put away our sins. This is wonderful, but he died because he wanted to have your company and mine in the Father's house forever. As soon as as soon as sin entered, we find God becoming a seeking God. And when he had redeemed his people and brought them out into the wilderness, he said, make me a.
That I may dwell among them. And when he was rejected by the nation of Israel, and it was about to set aside that place Jerusalem, where He had put His name, He was soon to have to say, Your house is left unto you desolate. What did He do in the 18th of Matthew?
He just said, as it were, but there will be a place where I will meet with you.
He said, where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Oh, isn't it precious? And so I say again, it's his company, and it's His word that brings the truth before our souls, that sustains us. We all know many of these precious promises in God's Word, these things that so often encourage us in times of sorrow.
There are so many that we can.
In joy, and the Lord delights to bring them before us. And I suppose many of us have had experiences.
Where there has been some verse of scripture brought home to us in power, I think of the 16th Psalm where the Lord Jesus prophetically said the lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places. Yeah, I have a goodly heritage.
I heard of a lady and she had a Bible that she liked to mark up.
And she just enjoyed the precious promises of God's Word. And over and over again they spoke to her heart. And whenever some verse became particularly precious to her, she just put beside AT&P. Someone picked up her Bible and wondered why she had marked this beside so many verses. TMP they said, what does this mean?
She said tried and proven.
Tried and proven. And so it is the Lord Himself here He warmed the hearts of these dear ones. And what did they do? Well, they went back to Jerusalem, and they went back, and they had the joy of the Lord's presence collectively, because there he appeared in the midst of his own and said, Peace be unto you. And it tells us that He.
It says he stood in the midst of them.
And showed and said unto them, Peace be unto you. And then in that 39th verse, Behold my hands and feet, that it is I myself. He delighted to reveal himself to them as the one who had gone into death, and who was risen again.
How could we turn over also to the 20th chapter of Acts, The 23rd verse say that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
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But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the Kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.
Wherefore I take you to record this day that I am pure from the blood of all men.
For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you.
Not sparing the flock also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch and remember that by the space of three years I cease not to warn everyone night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among.
Them which are sanctified. Well, here I believe we could say the heart of the apostle was saddened as he saw what was going to come in. In the church's history, in the previous one we looked at, there were two individuals sad and discouraged between themselves because of things that trouble their hearts. But here it isn't so much the personal thing.
How about the Apostle Paul? I say. He realized what was going to come.
Into that which was so dear to the heart of Christ. He loved the church, and gave himself for it. It tells us in the 12Th of John, that he died, that he might gather together in one the children of God that are scattered abroad. In the 17th of John he prayed that his own all might be one come. It was the desire of his heart for the blessing of his people.
He longed that they should share in the full blessing.
Of what was the result of his toil and victory. But now Paul comes to this place, meets these ones from this very, very favoured assembly. For what assembly was so favored as Ephesus? Because the Epistle to the Ephesians brings before us the very highest line of truth in the Scripture. And here we find Paul comes and meets those who were the leaders in this assembly he speaks to.
About what was his desire, notice what he says, the two desires of his heart, that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus to testify the gospel of the grace of God. And that is, he sought to walk in the joy of the Lord in his soul, and then he sought to fulfill the service that had been committed to him.
And dear brethren, what higher desire could you and I have to go on through life in the company of the Lord Jesus, with his joy in our souls, so that as the end approaches, there might be even more joy because we're getting nearer to the moment when we're going to see Him face to face. And so he desired that he would finish his course with joy.
I must sadly say that all Christians do not finish their course with joy.
If you and I get away from the Lord, it may not be a happy ending to the pathway down here about the apostles desire was that he might finish his course with joy. And then the Lord has a little place for you and for me to fulfill in the Church of God. Are we seeking to fulfill that place? Are we seeking to go on with it?
Paul said that he had not shunned to declare unto them the whole council of God.
If we turn back to Ezekiel, we would see that the prophet there said that unless he delivered the message that was given to him faithfully, God would require the blood of the people at his hand because he hadn't given the message faithfully. The apostle Paul carries it a little further here and says not only the warnings of the gospel, but presenting and giving out the.
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Truth of God, he wouldn't have fulfilled his responsibility if he held back some part of the truth of God. It all must be given out and given out faithfully. And the apostle sought to do this, and at the end of his life he could say, I have kept the faith. May the Lord keep us not only knowing the truth, but walking in it, testifying of it.
Now he also says here a responsibility to those.
Take the place of leaders among the people of God. And I have been much struck with this. Feed the flock of God. Feed the flock of God. Oh how lovely. Christ is the food for our souls. I've often said that coming to the Bible reading ought to be like coming to a meal table that spread with delicious things. We all know what it is to sit down. There's a lovely meal prepared. We eat it.
We enjoy it and we get up feeling refreshed, feeling happy that we have enjoyed the provision that has been made and God has made a wonderful provision for His people. All His Word is full of all those good things that He delights to have our souls enjoy.
And those who seek to occupy the place of service to the Lord have the privilege, as it were, of seeking to bring forward these precious things, serving them, as it were, to the people of God, that they might be fed. Feed the flock of God. Isn't this nice for us? The apostle speaks in another place of those who ministered questions rather than godly edifying.
And a meeting can be spoiled by this kind of thing, but God delights to minister to our souls.
And Paul had sought to minister to the souls of the Saints and give out the whole truth, not without warnings, of course, but to feed their souls. Because I'll say this, brethren, now that the only thing that will really keep our motives right is our brother brought before us, is to have the love of Christ constraining us. It's only as we enjoy his love.
That we'll have a desire to walk in his ways.
And he had to warn what was going to come. He said, after mighty parting, shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock? And hasn't the enemy been busy and trying to bring in all kinds of things to rob the Saints of God of their portion? Or how much evil doctrine there has been that has come in, and many dear Saints, instead of enjoying the full ministry of truth that has?
Given to us in the Word, they have been carried away into things that occupy them with themselves. That, as the 4th of Ephesians tells us, caused them to be carried about with every wind of doctrine. Well, Paul foresaw this, and not only from without.
But then he also saw that spirit of things within, and this is very sad.
Those who seek to draw away disciples after them. And brethren, all true ministry turns the heart to Christ doesn't occupy us with the one who gives out the ministry, but with the Lord Jesus himself. All true ministry, I say, occupies the heart with Christ and draws the soul after Him.
As one brother said some years ago, he said in one sense the under shepherd seeks to minister the truth.
So they will become independent of the under shepherd and dependent upon the true shepherd, the great shepherd of the sheep. And Paul could say, death worketh in us, but life in you. Now that is as the sentence of death was on self.
Why? Christ was brought before the soul, and he was the one who occupied the soul. Well, this is a very sad thing when we try to get a following for ourselves, draw away disciples after them. It may not be something that's very wrong. But brethren, let's not seek to make followers for ourselves. Seek to attract the Saints to Christ.
Feed them, warn them, but always bring Christ before the soul.
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And so he speaks of this and then he speaks of how he felt. Here's another sad heart. The two that went down to Emmaus were individually sad, but here's the one that's sad as he thought of the condition that would come in in the Church of God. And he says he warned them night and day with tears.
But who does he commend them to? Does he commend them to?
Some leaders know, isn't this lovely? He said. And now, brethren, I come in you to God and to the word of his grace he brought God is the source of all for the heart of God, and the will of God is the source of all our blessing. He commanded them to God. He didn't commend them, I say to some leaders and he instead he commanded them to God and to the word of his grace.
Now this precious book, how that gives us all that we need for our pathway. As I get older, I can say now that I have found more and more the marvelous resource that we have in this precious book. It's suited to every situation that a young person can be in.
Suited to every situation that an older person can be in. It's suited to every assembly difficulty. It's suited to every problem in the world. It's the wisdom of God-given to us for our pathway here. And dear Saints of God and young people, read it. Make it your own.
One person said to Mr. Darby, how do you study the Scriptures? I'd like to get hold of the truth.
Like you do. And his reply was, I'd like the truth to get hold of me, Dear friends, that's what we need for the truth to get hold of us. So that it would solely hold of us, that it would mold our thoughts, that it would mold our lives. So here again we see a ruined church. We see that which came in all its freshness and began on the day of Pentecost.
Where they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, where there was such power, and great grace was upon them all. When difficulties arose, the Lord gave wisdom to settle them in such a wonderful way, so the Saints could go on together. But here we find the enemy at work. Need we be utterly discouraged now? And now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace.
Let us search the word, it has the answer to our problems.
If we, as our brother brought before us and the young people, try and follow our own wisdom, even if we consult with the captains of thousands and hundreds and every leader, we won't get the wisdom of God apart from His Word. This precious book is what gives us the wisdom that is needed.
And I believe in my inmost soul that there is no situation that can arise in the assembly of God's people, and that we will not find an answer in this precious book if we only come before the Lord. Humbly I command you to God. That's the person who can alone preserve the flock of God and His Word, which is the guide for us.
So here we have his word for, shall I say, a ruined church.
Let's turn over now to First Timothy, chapter 3. Second Timothy. It is. Second Timothy, chapter 3. Second Timothy, chapter 3, verse 12.
Yay, 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 thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given unto me. It is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine or reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect.
Thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Here, perhaps we could say a ruined world, and Timothy saw the beginning of the breakdown of things in the world.
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And it tells us here evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse.
Don't expect the world to get better. Don't expect that it's going to improve its ripening for judgment. And God has told us that things are going to get worse. And the Lord Jesus also said, because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. It's easy for our hearts to grow cold when iniquity abounds.
But then I just wanted to mention here how he says.
Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of.
And then he speaks of how Timothy had known the Holy Scriptures. We are living, dear friends and dear young people in days of changing standards. We're living in times when we find young people say, well, people used to think that way, But, you know, people's opinion have changed. People have different ideas.
They once looked at things as wrong, but you know, we're living in a different age today.
And we're very prone to allow our thoughts to be molded by what's going on in this wicked world about us. And what does Paul say? Does he say Timothy? Well, you know, you have to sort of keep up with the times and go along with the descending sense of values and morals and what is right, No.
He says, Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned.
And has been assured of what did he give as we see the ruin of the world.
And surely, I say again, dear young people, you go to school know more about it than I do.
You who work in offices and in shops know how everything that God has established as to the order of things in this world is gradually crumbling and going to pieces. And I plead with you to follow the light and wisdom of God's Word. Don't allow your thoughts and standards to be changed by the changing opinions of man.
God's Word is thoroughly up to date.
It's more up to date than anything that man writes because it's written by the wisdom of the eternal God, who knew all about these days in which we live, who told us about them, who warned us of them, but who has given us a resource in them. And so here was Timothy. How privileged he was, it tells us, from a child.
Thou hast known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation.
And that this holy scriptures are profitable for.
Uh, doctrine for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
And so I speak especially to those who are young, but I also speak to those of us who are older because we're prone to be affected more than we think by the spirit of the age in which we live. As men give up, we tend to be affected, and as the Lord Jesus said, we tend to grow cold. Oh, what a resource We have this precious book. God's standards haven't changed His.
Gives us full instruction. And I plead with you as you come to decisions in your life, as young people go out together, as you establish homes, and as you seek to work among the people at the office that don't allow your thoughts and ideals to descend to the level of what's going on. People's consciences are being seared with hot irons.
And they're giving up all thought of what is right.
Before God, Oh, May God grant that we will heed this warning that was given to Timothy. Continue thou in the things which thou hast heard. And then that he was to value these precious scriptures that had been given by inspiration of God. Now this is not the opinions of man, but this is God's word. It's His wisdom for our pathway.
And it shows us not only the way of salvation, but it also shows us all that we need for our pathway.
And so here we have, shall I say, a ruined world. But still this precious book remains. And so, whether it was individuals who were cast down and discouraged, the Lord walked with them and brought his precious word before them, warmed their hearts, and drew them back to Jerusalem as Paul saw the ruin of the church.
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He commended them to God into the word of His grace.
And sought to encourage them to go on feeding the flock of God in spite of all that would come in. And then when we see the breakdown of the world, we still have something that doesn't change. Jesus said heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall not pass away.
May the Lord keep us in these last days. The Lord is going to come soon. He's going to give that shout, and what else will really matter but His approval? Not he that commandeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commandeth. What really ought to count for you and for me is having the Lord's approval. And in His word we'll learn his mind, and we'll learn how we can have his approval.
So this is what stays our hearts in a day like this. This is what gives courage to go on. And this is what will fill our hearts with joy in another day when we look into His blessed face and know that in some little measure we had His approval as we sought to walk in the company of the Lord Jesus and in the light and wisdom of His precious Word.
Ephesians 2:19
Reading
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Visions, chapter 4. But unto everyone of us is given grace, according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
For himself, when he set it up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might feel all things. And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers.
For the perfecting of the Saints. For the work of the ministry.
For the edifying of the body of Christ shall we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, under the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, that we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men, and cunning crappiness.
Whereby they lie in wait to deceive for speaking the truth, and love may grow up into him in all things which is ahead.
Even Christ.
From whom the whole body thinly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplier.
According to the effectual working in the measure of every part maketh increase.
Of the body until the edifying of a self in love. I take it that when he says unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure, the gift of Christ, that grace is really the gift for it's all his grace, but he's looking at all the members of the body.
It's entirely different thought from the special gifts that you get in the 11Th verse. Your 5 gifts mentioned there that are special gifts.
But he's looking at the whole body, reminding us that.
Every believer.
Given grace.
Some special place to feel as it were, and that's the gift to fill a place in connection with the body and according to the nature of the gift of Christ so that.
Wonderful to think that Christ bestows what makes each believer.
Useful member of the assembly or the body, the Lord gives grace to each one to fulfill the place that he is intended to fulfill. We might ask ourselves on some occasion, am I able to undertake that work or I am unable to do that thing?
The question is, has the Lord called us to do it? And if the Lord has called us to do it?
He will give the grace to do it because He's the head of the body, the church. And so just like the head supplies direction for the hand and the power is given for the hand to be used for what it's intended, so it is in the body of Christ. If the Lord has called us to do something, given us some little service, greater small, He's going to give grace to do that. Well, to me, that's very, very encouraging.
Because if we looked at ourselves, we might be like the disciples when the Lord said, Give ye them to eat. They looked at their little supplies and they said, how can this ever satisfy so many? But when the Lord called them to pass it out, well then all it was needed was provided from those little supplies for the whole multitude. So let us be willing to.
Be before the Lord to discover what He has for us to do.
And then we may be sure He will give us grace to do it.
We're not to try to fill the place of someone else because we see someone that is especially qualified to fill a place of importance and usefulness. Well, the Lord may not give me that place at all. So it's seeking before the Lord to know just in what way I can be useful.
In the body and fulfill that.
That service, small as it may be now, this is rather simple, but remember a brother guilt held him about when he was a young man. He was very anxious to serve the Lord and he said to an older brother, Pollock, those labouring in those days, going about serving the Lord.
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Brother Pollock, is there any services I can be engaged in?
Well, they had a meeting room and the door was was left open. They had chilled the room and the people would come in, throw it open and leave it open. So Brother Pollock says what can you see that door there still? You see there all the time leaving that door open. You go and watch and see that that door is closed after, after.
Everyone to come in, so, he said. Did I ever perform that service?
He said I watched that door and he said I never neglected it. Well, there was a young man that wanted to serve the Lord, and an older brother told him something very simple he could do. Well, the Lord didn't confine him to that little service, for as he grew older he became more useful. But I think there is this principle.
That if we perform some little service for the Lord, He may see that we can be.
Trusted with something that is more important, something like Philip. Known as Philip the Evangelist, he started out serving tables, helping with the.
Caring for the widows in Jerusalem.
But after they are driven out of the city where he goes down to Sumerian preaches Christ. He had served faithfully as carrying out a little humble work of seeing that the funds were properly distributed. And he did that faithfully and then the Lord used him as a servant to go out with the gospel. So let's remember that, dear young people, that if we perform any little.
Service in a humble, faithful way, not trying to imitate somebody else. But whatever little service the Lord sees we're fitted for, then he can, He can give us something that.
Will be of a little more importance to a little higher service. Do we find an example of that in with Paul's pistol to Timothy?
Thinking of the third.
First Timothy chapter 3 and verse 13. Of course here it's a diagonal service, but I was just thinking of the going on in that simple service.
First Timothy, 313.
For they that have used the office of a Deacon well purchased to themselves a good degree and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus going on in that simple service.
God was able to use them in a greater service. Very important that we ask the Lord, when Saul of Tarsus was saved, he said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And we know that in the Levitical order of things the Levites were taken representing the redeemed of Israel, and they were presented to air Aaron, and Aaron appointed to everyone his service and to everyone his burden.
And Paul speaks of this in Galatians chapter 6.
He says, let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone and not in another. I was very much struck by a remark by another brother in connection with it. He said it isn't to be the need merely that puts us to work. It's the Lords call because there are needs everywhere. Paul saw a need in Asia, but he was forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the Word in Asia. He saw a need.
But it wasn't the will of God that He should go there. And so I believe it's most important for us, young and old, to be before the Lord, asking Him what He would have us to do. And then, as it's been remarked, if He gives us something small to do and we do it well, He may give something more. It says He that is faithful and little is faithful also and much.
But let us remember this, brethren, that it isn't how important the service seems to be.
The slave in Colossi was told that if he served his master well, he served the Lord Christ, and he would receive the reward of the inheritance, and he might have felt, well, I'm just a poor slave, I'm not accomplishing anything for the Lord. Oh, there was a dignity to his service. He was serving the Lord. He was fulfilling the will of God in his particular life.
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And I believe that so needful for us, we tend to measure the importance of a service by how much it puts us in the public eye.
Never does. It's the important thing to do, His will.
And even in the body of Christ, as we read in First Corinthians 12, the hidden members are considered more honorable than the ones that are seen. And we may be surprised at the judgment seat of Christ to find some who fulfill the will of God in a hidden sphere, receiving much to more reward than the ones who had the more public service. Because I'll say this, that the more public our service is, the more danger of self.
But the more hidden it is, the more we have to be cast on the Lord to continue in it because we don't get the human praise that perhaps there might be in the more public service. So let us remember it's doing the will of God and He gives grace for it, no matter how difficult. I think that side of it is very, very important because to undertake a menial service.
Having in the back of our minds perhaps the idea that eventually I'm going to get something just a little bit higher than this.
Would really not be proper, would it? I was just looking. I won't ask you to turn to it, but I'll read from Titus two concerning servants or slaves, not for learning, but showing all good fidelity that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things. Isn't that a beautiful expression? Just to think that that choice expression found nowhere else in Scripture should be.
Addressed to those who were servants.
Who simply fulfilled their responsibilities to the glory of God? Adorn the doctrine of God our Savior, not feeling all the while. When am I going to be promoted to something a little higher than this, but simply doing what the Lord has asked Him to do and doing it quietly for him? I have remarked that I remember.
A long time ago when they used to hold the meetings in Toronto in Foresters Hall on College Street.
That I went back into the hall after the gospel meeting was over for some reason, and there was a dear old brother. He seemed old to me at that time, although I was only a teenager, and he was gathering up the hymn sheets all by himself.
And he saw me come in and he said, Albert, I always have a lot of willing helpers to hand out to him, she, but I always have to gather them up alone. And you know, I didn't know quite what he meant at the moment, but I thought it over. And I soon realized, oh, how willing we are to do something. Sad to say that other eyes can notice, but how gladly we leave it to someone else to do.
When only the eye of the Lord can see it.
For me, when he said it, I'm very sure, but I just pass it on. I was thinking, Brother Gordon, when you were speaking about full seeing a need in Asia, but was forbidden to go to Asia because the Lord had another field before him, but the Lord didn't neglect that field. Paul saw the need and when God's time arrived and he did go there.
You know he he taught in the school of 1 tyrannous for two years.
And it says only which are in Asia heard the word of the Lord, and there were few places that were ever so blessed as that place of need when God's time arrived. But he was guided of the Lord as to when he should go, and didn't thrown ahead of the Lords time for him to go. Brother once sent a little statement in a letter.
Of that quite exercised me and pass it on, he said. If we hold back.
From some service for the Lord. Because we don't feel capable of doing it when we feel the Lord is telling us to do it, we're in danger of calling in question God's power. I don't know if I've quoted it exactly, but that's the thought of it, that God's power is there for those who would seek to serve Him as called by Him.
We can't hold back then because we feel that we're too insignificant. The Spirit of God puts up another guard in these things, though, that we're not to forget.
And that is what we have in First Corinthians 14. Let the prophet speak two or three, and let the other judge, so that while we should feel the call of God ourselves, the Lord said, Separate me, Barnabas and Saul, for the work were unto. I have called them. They already proved themselves in the assembly where they were, and had the fellowship of their brethren in it, And there have been those who have thought that they were.
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Called or gifted for something that perhaps others didn't feel that they were particularly called or gifted. And I believe that this is good for us to bear in mind. The call is from the Lord, but God always, shall I say, gives us both sides of the truth so that we wouldn't forget.
And that we do need one another, and I believe that the Lord will.
Help us to discern this if we're before him and willing not only to be before him but also willing to prophet by the fact that the others judge, then I just like to say too, there's always a perfect balance in the word of God for everything someone has said. Providence put the put Moses in the court of Saul, but faith took him out of it and sometimes we might think that we're.
Put in such and such a place, therefore it's the Lord's will. We should stay there, but we have to be in constant exercise before the Lord. And it was right in the ways of God that Moses was in the court of Pharaoh. But when the time came, God led him out of that. And faith recognized that there was the leading of God not to remain there, but to see that he was calling him to something else.
Everything is so perfect in the Word of God. We always need to bear in mind both sides of the truth of God, which always keeps us from extremes. I've noticed, brethren, in connection with the comment about the apostle Paul of how he said, Lord, what wilt thou happy to do?
That in Mr. Garvey's translation, that verse is omitted from the 9th chapter of Acts, but the one place where it does appear, and apparently where it's intended to be, is in the 22nd chapter of Acts.
Now Paul's conversion, the account of his conversion is given three times in Acts Chapter 9 and in Acts chapter 22 and in Acts chapter 26. And I have been struck in noticing it that.
In the one place where it is called to be, where Paul actually says what shall I do or Lord, what would thou have me do? It's given at a time when Paul is really trying to defend the position that is indefensible. He's trying to defend himself before the Jews and defend the position when the Lord wouldn't happen there at all. And what an expense of my own soul or what it has meant to my own soul, rather than simply this.
That it seems to me there is a real danger of us.
Speaking of praying about things and trying to use that as a defense for a position that perhaps the Word of God would otherwise condemn, I have no doubt that Paul actually prayed on that way to Damascus. Lord, what wilt thou have me do? But in the 9th chapter of Acts, he didn't have to mention it. And in the 26th chapter of Acts, where he is really largely restored and is speaking to Agrippa, he doesn't see the need to mention it, but he does mention it when he's defending himself.
In the 22nd chapter of Acts, and while we should pray very earnestly about this step, we have to be very careful that we don't use that thought of praying about things as a defense as saying, well, I prayed about it as if that's what is all that's needed. When the Word of God would direct us into some other course. To simply be before the Lord outwardly and be able to say, well, I have prayed about it is not enough. We have the wisdom.
Word of God to direct us and we can very easily be in a false path and try to maintain ourselves in that false path by saying that I have prayed about, I've asked more about well, the next lovely thoughts brought before us in the eighth verse before he said.
He has set it up on high. He led captivity captive and gave his continent so that whatever gift or thought is committed to is thrown down here. It's now coming from an ascended, glorified Christ, so we need to have our eye on Him.
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To realize that all power, all authority comes from that.
One who has been through death, has been raised again by the glory of the Father, and has now taken his seat on high, directing what is for his glory down here. But I just had a little remark in connection with what our brother John said.
I believe it's very important that we should never say the Lord let us to do something unless we have an actual scripture for it. There can be the conviction in our own souls, there should be. We shouldn't undertake something unless we have the sense in our souls. The Lord has called us and it says, hast thou faith? Have it to thyself before God.
But for any of us to say, the Lord sent me here, the Lord sent me there, the Lord told me to do this.
Unless we have a scripture for it is really pride. We are practically saying to our brethren, I'm so sure that I'm walking in communion with the Lord. I couldn't have missed his mind. He told me to do this. And so if we have his word, then we have something that's definite. We remember the Lord in his death why he asked us to do that. Someone says, did you have the Lord's mind in that? We say yes, his words says this.
Remembrance of me but someone says, Are you sure the Lord wanted you to come to the meetings in Ottawa? Well, we can say we prayed about it and we saw his mind, but it's a sense that we can have in our souls. But let us not be boasting about something when we don't have a positive scripture. This keeps us humble, keeps us in constant dependence upon the Lord. It is needful to pray about it. It's sweet to have the sense of.
Approval. But God would always keep us humble in respect to these things about discerning His will. And I just quote what the apostle said himself in First Corinthians 4. I know nothing by myself, yet am I not hereby justified? But he, the judges me is the Lord.
I believe that the gifts that it's speaking about here differ somewhat from what we have in the 1St Corinthians 12, Do they not that in first Corinthians 12 They are enablements by the Spirit. But here he is Speaking of what is taken up more clearly in the 11Th verse, and that is.
As our brother remarked in the seventh verse, it's rather the place of everyone in the body of Christ.
But they gave gifts unto men really refers to those whom an ascended Christ has given for the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.
You notice there are no sign gifts that are mentioned here. It's all that which is for the proclamation of the gospel. It's for the encouragement and establishing of the Saints of God, and these are from the ascended Christ in glory.
Who is seeking the good of the members of the body of Christ?
At first it was quoted from the from the 68th Psalm. It's a wonderful verse in the 68 psalmist, well worth our turning to.
Shows how perfect scripture is.
Spirit of God, force all that was to take place.
You'll get in the 18th verse of the 68th Psalm. Thou has to set it up on, has to send it on high. Thou hast LED captivity captive, Thou hast received gifts. Now the better translation should read in the man, of course, with no question who that man refers to.
Now go on. Yeah, for the rebellious also. Now Israel is the rebellious people.
And 1St we get gifts bestowed by the man, and thus that glorified man. And even the Old Testament, the Son has chose us, that is the man that's ascended on high, and that God has bestowed gifts in this glorified ascended man.
But God doesn't forget his rebellious people, Israel.
So he goes on to say, and that eighteenth verse, yeah, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them, and the Lord will dwell among them, and the stole blessings to that people, but at the present time He is bestowing gifts.
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In the glorified man, of course, as we know from.
Ephesians 3 that the truth of the mystery was hid from ages and from generations, but is now made known under the sons of men. Some have made their statement. I used to make it that he doesn't say was hit in in the scriptures but hidden God the brother errors when objected one time in my saying that because he said that the mystery was he in the old.
But it was only until the Spirit of God was sent down and Paul was raised up and gave us the mystery, that we could look back in the Old Testament and consider such portions as Abraham sending a servant across the desert to bring Rebecca for Isaac. While there we see very clearly the mystery of the church.
But no Old Testament St. understood that.
It was only after the Spirit was given, so I rather agree with that, that it was hid in the scriptures and in that way it was hidden God. But now having the Spirit of God dwelling in us, these subjects that are.
So wonderful and marvelous like this ascended one and God bestowing gifts in the man that glorified man. Well, we can see it all now fulfilled in what we're considering before us. But of course, as at first tells us that he first LED captivity captive. Perhaps this refers I believe it does to.
Deborah's song.
Yes. Isn't it the 5th chapter of Judges where she says arise thou?
What is his name first?
Riot Derek O'Sullivan and League captivity captive that is the Israel at the time of Deborah song for this was a song that celebrated the victory had been completely under the control of this this enemy Cicero and.
Eric was raised up and let him captive, led his old army captain.
Accept God's people, Israel, free from that.
Terrible slavery they they couldn't eaten there to go out and drive in the highways in those days, as Deborah says in her song with now captivity has been LED captive where we can easily understand the meaning of captivity LED captivity.
In a in a spiritual sense today.
Well, we were under the power of Satan. Oh, what an enemy he was. The wind of the Lord leads to Satan captive and was at the cross, wasn't it? He let all the power of Satan captive and set the set of believer free. And now having set the believer free, and here we are blessed in this way.
Now he as the ascended one who has read the captivity.
Captive is now bestowing gifts upon his people that have been set free through his victory over all the power of the enemy. It's very lovely. In the second chapter of Hebrews, I think we have something too that helps to understand this. The 2nd chapter of Hebrews and the 14th verse.
For as much, then, as the children are partakers of flesh and blood.
He also himself likewise took part of the same that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil, and deliver them who through fear of death where all their lifetime subject to *******. That is, Satan was the one who brought him death, and men were held in captivity and the fear of death.
Was all through the Old Testament, even with the godly ones.
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Who could overcome Satan? Who could set those captives free? While the Lord Jesus went right into Satan stronghold, He went into death, He overcame and now the believer no longer fears death. Death has become the believers servant.
It says in First Corinthians 3, all things are yours, whether life or death. Death belongs to us now, and the victory has been won. And the Lord Jesus descending into the lower parts of the earth simply speaks of his going into death, his burial, and then his rising triumphant, and just as Barrick went out, took Cicero captive.
And the whole army. So the Lord has done this, and now the people of God are set free.
But it's lovely, brethren, who is it that announces the victory? Well, it was Deborah, a woman. And who has the privilege of announcing the victory? Well, the church is to be in its proper place in subjection to Christ, but it has the privilege in this world of announcing the victory. That was one of Calvary.
And how lovely to think that we who were the rebellious, we who were so under the power of Satan and rejecters in ourselves, and now the Lord has won this victory, has gone up on highs. Head over all things. What does He want us to know?
He wants us to know the full extent and result of that victory. Supposing Deborah had said, well, I think they've been taken captive. We're not sure whether sister is dead. Well, they wouldn't have been in the full fruit of the victory. But when the full results of the victory were announced by them, everyone could share in the spoil and the results of it. And how many there are today who don't know the fullness of the results of the work of Christ.
What are we seeking to talk about here this afternoon? All the full results of that victory and the one who's gone up on high and who delights through his servants to make known the victory and all his glory to Him. She spoke about Barrack and the victory that he had won. So we speak about Christ and his victory.
In the first chapter of A Colossian, verse 14 and 15, we have something familiar about this victory of our blessed.
Lord Jesus, aren't we verse 14 that connection with the things of the law, say, blouting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us and took it out of the way in Ellen to the cross and having spoiled principalities and power and made a show of them openly.
Triumphant over them in it.
Well, it's blessed, isn't he? That's what the blessed eagle has done. What a savior we have our victory issue, beloved brethren, that sure because of the blessed Lord that has conquered all that enemy by being proud and on the 5th, is that what the song say brother, He taught all his enemy on the 5th on his feet. Oh, what a wonderful Savior. We have the love of breath now in.
Falling attention to the 68th South, it says here ascended up on high.
But the Spirit by the Apostle Paul reminds us that if he has ascended that Funkhite, that necessity states that he must have descended, and so before he could ascend on high, he must descend, and, as it says here, the lower parts of the earth.
Well, I'm ready to be corrected, but I had thought of that floor. Parts of the earth, that is the Lord went to the very lowest depth.
Humiliation.
It was not only a man down here, but he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. The lower parts of the earth, what was most.
To be despised and hated, and among men the Lord took the lowest place. Now is that the thought? Well, He did, then would you not feel that His victory was through His death?
But he went into death. It was through death. He destroyed him that had the power of death. And as we have in Philippians chapter two, He took those seven steps downward. But it says even to death and that the death of the cross. So I'm sure it was all so it was going down. His whole pathway was going down. But just think the Lord of glory in death. And that was the way he won the victory, wasn't it? This is why the triumph of his resurrection, I think is so.
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Very, very wonderful. I don't know whether I have really rightly understood what it says of it in Ephesians 1.
Verse 19. What is the exceeding greatness of His power to us? Were who believe according to the working of his mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him on his own right hand in the heavenly places, there seems to have been something about his death.
That was so far beyond our power to comprehend it. The very power that raised him from the dead is spoken of in these superlative terms. Something entirely different to the raising of Lazarus from the dead. Would you not say so? Is that why it's spoken of so marvelously here? A wonderful power that raised the Lord Jesus because of the steps downward that he had taken even unto that death.
I believe that it's something where man's power is totally ended.
Death men can invent the most marvelous machines. They can discover the atomic bomb and the hydrogen bomb. They can make great displays of power in the earth. But when a person dies, that's the end of man's power. He's absolutely helpless. He can't do anything. But here the Lord Jesus, the Lord of glory, goes into death, and he's raised again. Indeed, as we have it in John, he raised himself. What a mighty power.
One submitting to all the hatred and enmity of man and the display of man's power against him.
But now he rises triumphant over the whole thing. And the marvel of it, I think, is that it was for us.
Because having taken that place up there, it's to us word who believe he's gone up there associating with him with himself, who are sinners like ourselves say through grace and brought into this place. Now we're associated with him in his victory. Christ the first fruits afterward they their Christ that is coming. So I believe the mighty power that raised him seated them there at the right hand of God.
Is so that we he's there as the head, but we too are going to be with him in that place.
I used to be a young man very much interested in astronomy and red astronomy, and tried to get some of the theories into my mind. And I was speaking to an old brother about some fun things I've read about and all the immense distances of some of these stars, how many light years and so on.
Yes, he said. But just remember that one who has been exalted far above all heaven. Well, that took all astronomy out of my thinking.
Kept your eye on that one who is so far above all these stars of light to shine from such distant places. Think of the place that he occupies and he's going to fill the whole scene, hasn't he?
Someday he's going to fill the whole universe with the glory of redemption, and that's the far more wonderful, amazing glory than even the glory of creation. Brother, I have really enjoyed the language here, far above all heavens, thinking of it as.
Why this term is used here in connection with that which is the subject. In first Peter chapter 2, we read that he has passed into the heavens.
Into the heaven. And what is the purpose of his being having passed into the heaven, having angels and authorities and powers subject unto him? Well, we might think that was just a tremendous place of exaltation and superiority, that angels, and authorities, and powers would all be subject unto him.
But in order to occupy that particular office, he's passed into the heaven. But then when we turn to Hebrews 7, we read that he's packed.
Through the heavens. Oh, this must be something much more important than the angels and authorities and powers. And so it is. It has to do with you and me and our High Priest up there in the glory he's passed through the heavens to occupy that place of daily concern and care for you and me as our High Priest. But then we come to this first.
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Far above all heaven that exceeds either of the other two references.
Because this has to do with His Church, His body. Oh, that just seems to me to put things in their proper order. This was referred to yesterday. The affairs of the world, the affairs of individual believers, and the affairs of the collective testimony. And these 3 verses just seem to me to be so beautiful in giving us to see the relative value, shall I say?
In the sight of our Lord Jesus, the whole affair of this world.
Caused him to pass into the heaven, that he might be in control. But in order that you and I might know that we have this faithful and merciful high priest. He's passed through the heaven, but in order that we might look up to him who is in this exalted position concerning a church, which is His body and His care, as we see here, he's far above all heaven.
Madden thought it was a marvelous feat of their power to send men to the moon, but.
Here is a far, far greater display of power. There's a real man in the glory, and he's there as the head of the body of the church. He's there seeking the good of the members of the body down here too. And this is most precious to our hearts, isn't it? No, Brother Barry, when you do refer to the universe in the vast distances, once in a while we hear references made, and they're kind of fascinating to some of us. But, you know, the more you hear about them and think about them, the more.
It exalts the supremacy that's referred to here in this verse. And not only that, sometimes they try to tell us how old all this is, you know. And when we hear this, we say, well, isn't it wonderful if it is that old? Before ever the foundations of it were laid, He thought upon us, and He had these very wonderful purposes in mind. So instead of being.
Occupied with them or instead of totally ignoring them.
We can look upon them and realize, well, he didn't just create them for nothing. I don't know really what the purpose of that vast creation is. I guess I'm a bit fascinated by it, too. I went to the headquarters of the National Geographic Society in Washington.
And I went into the astronomy department and I picked up one of those telephones where you push a button and listen to what they have to say about it.
And I tell you, when I hung that thing up, I was absolutely thrilled, shall I say, not thrilled with the universe, but thrilled with him who made it all. I think one verse answers what you were saying. In 19 the 19th Psalm. The heavens declare the glory of God. And if God is going to give us any kind of a picture of the extent of His glory.
Just think of the universe and the man as they get greater telescopes, they just find out a little more of the extent of the universe than they've never come to the end of it. And God says, well, I'm just giving you a little idea of my glory. What is it to the Creator to create this millions, billions, trillions of years, light years away? What is that to the Creator? If he wants to display his glory, He has all power and the one that we love.
Things, He is the one through whom all things were made and he's the one we're talking about this afternoon. And I'd like to think that the presence of a God is not very far from, is not made by measured by geographical distance, is right present with us. We don't see him, but he's right with us. When the Lord Jesus comes, how long will he take him to come to the earth, to the air? Oh, just a spit of a second. I suppose he will be here to take us to be with himself.
How marvelous it is. The Kingdom of God is within you. It is a dimension that you're not able to sense it and to realize that with the human sense. But it's not very far from us, Not very far from us.
When we trace the Lord to His ethnical of glory, then we are told about the gifts that He has bestowed now that He is ascended far above all heavens.
To say in the 11Th verse. And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the perfect meaning of the states, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. Now it was made clear yesterday that the apostles and prophets were the foundation.
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We get that at the.
End of the second chapter of Jesus built upon the foundation.
Of the apostles and travels well the foundation has been laid you don't run this foundation clear up to the ceiling it's laid and then the building is erected on it so that.
While we no longer have, or ever can expect to have again apostles and prophets, yet we do have their ministry, their writings we have, a whole false writings we have.
Peter's writings We have John's writings, so we are privileged to.
To be blessed by those first two gifts that are mentioned as has bestowed by the glorified head. Then we get the the three gifts that remain and those 3 gifts are some evangelists.
And some pastors and teachers.
I believe it's important to notice this, that the evangelist is a gift to the assembly bestowed by the ascended head on high for one to just say, well, I want to go out anywhere I can find a place to preach the golf course because I believe the Lord has enabled me to preach it.
Without any thought of those that are brought under the sound of the gospel and converted through it, being brought into the place where the Lord has put His name, I think you get completely away from the truth that is set before us here. That is, that the evangelist is definitely a gift to the assembly. I suppose we get an illustration of that.
In the certain Samaritan when he picked up the man half dead on the way.
To Jericho. Where did he take him? He took him to an end.
And the in there is the type of the assembly, the House of God, where he cared for. So I know that there have been men that started out with considerable power and usefulness. I think of one that was greatly used at one time, but his gift led him to go and to the various denominations.
And his work just faded away. He thought he was doing more for the Lord by going here and there and everywhere and preaching the gospel. Well, we should always remember that in connection with the gospel. It's in view of bringing those that are converted into the place where they're cared for. We have it very nicely brought before us. The whole 3 that you speak of in.
Chapter of Acts it might be helpful to notice it there connection with what our brothers said in the.
First Corinthians chapter 2, where it says I have not seen or ear heard, and have neither hath entered into the heart of man.
The things which God had prepared for them would love him. That was the Old Testament state. That is a quotation from the prophet Isaiah. Now God has revealed them by His Spirit. And as it tells us in that same chapter, which things we also speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth, that is.
By the apostles and prophets, God has given the very words that the Holy Ghost teaches.
And so we have these things written down in the Scriptures. That's why it's so important that in getting a good translation, it's not something that is put in other words than those which the Spirit of God used. So that a good translation will be an honest attempt to put into English or another language the very words that the Spirit of God used, not just the thoughts. So that was the work as we learn from.
Passages we referred to before.
In Romans 11 it says by the scriptures of the prophets made known to all nations for the obedience of faith.
So the apostles and prophets laid the foundation. Now we have in this in the 11Th chapter of Acts, we have the evangelists, pastors and teachers. Let's just notice that the 19th verse of the 11Th of Acts. Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen, traveled as far as Venus and Cyprus and Antioch.
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Preaching the word to none, but unto the Jews only.
And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which when they were come to Antioch, spake under the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus, and the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned under the Lord. There we have the work for the the Evangelist.
They were preaching, telling people how to be saved. Now let's notice the 22nd verse.
And tidings of these things came under the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem. And they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch, who, when he came and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all at with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord, for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith. And much people was added unto the Lord.
Now these ones that were saved needed encouragement. They needed pastoral care.
They needed someone who was interested and encouraged them to cleave to the Lord.
We are not told that Barnabas particularly taught them much of the truth of God.
But there is a very necessary work to be carried on, brethren. Let's not forget it. Perhaps it's neglected today. And that is the work of the pastor. How many dear children of God need that encouragement, that loving concern, that care that would seek to?
Help them to cleave to the Lord and go on to the Lord with the Lord. We might not be able to teach them very much, perhaps, if not called to that. But a little word of encouragement can go a great long way. And many of us, as we look back over our lives, know that some little word of encouragement perhaps didn't teach us anything as to the truth of God. But it was pastoral work, a very blessed work.
Now notice here we have the teacher, the 25th verse. Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus 4 to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians. First in Antioch, now here Barnabas.
Didn't feel qualified, I don't believe, as a teacher, but he was a pastor. And you'll notice in the passage here in Ephesians 4, the pastors and teachers are linked together. And so here we find the two working together and they taught the people and they were called Christians. Here was the beginning of a Gentile assembly and we see just what we have brought before us. Here we have the work of the evangelist.
We work the work of the pastors and teachers. Another thing I might comment here. I think all may have noticed it, but in the other translation there is no comma. It's just he gave some apostles, he gave some prophets, he gave some evangelists.
Gave some pastors and teachers because the man himself is looked at as a gift. It's not a particular enablement, but that God raises up for his church as those whom he fits for the work, and the man himself is a gift to the church. Now isn't this very loudly? Because if it was something given to the man, it might pop him up, but the man himself being given, when you get a gift, who do you think?
When you thank the giver and saw the giver as the head and if he's raised up someone to help his people, well, we thank the giver that he raised up someone because it's a great blessing to his people to be led on as we have it here for the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.
About the evangelist, pastor and teacher, isn't it I I've enjoyed the fact that no. Barnabas was an older brother, yet there was no pride he. He knew they needed some teaching and so he sought for Saul or Paul that's wonderful, isn't it, to see that, doesn't it the Is it true that the evangelist speaks to the conscience and the.
Pastor speaks to the heart and the teacher would bring the understanding into you, wouldn't he?
Of course it's all together, but I was thinking of those. Could we look a moment or could I ask a question in connection with?
00:55:08
Mark 1615. In view of what brother brought forth us to the evangelist, I believe some of the thoughts would be to be for the help of the younger ones. And we often see or hear this verse quoted, and it's often brought up, you might say, as a a little reproach.
Those that would desire to be going on in the truth, those that would just be, seek to be found according to the word of God, found at the feet of Christ, being obedient to His Word and remembering Him in death.
So there are those that would come forth and hold this verse up sort of as a challenge.
And as a rebuke to those that would seek to have the worship of Christ, first the worship and then serve. And so the verse in Mark 1615. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. We have a word as to putting this in his proper order. But of course.
We're not speaking particularly of worship here, certainly.
As we know the Lord Jesus as our Savior and are led by the Spirit, there will be worship in our hearts.
To him, and I trust that the ministry of the truth leads the heart to worship. But here it's what the ascend of Christ has provided for the needs of his people, so that they might grow in the things of God.
The only thought here in this Matthew Mark 16 and 15 was that there was a greater sphere. Now for the telling out of the message. That is when the Lord sent out the disciples, He said.
Go not into the way of the Gentiles and into any cities of the Samaritans. Enter ye not.
But going rather to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. But now he's risen, Now there's to be, shall I say, a widening circle that goes out now to the whole world. Just as the same, when the Greeks wanted to see Jesus, he said that a corn of wheat must fall into the ground and die, but if it died, it brought forth much fruit. And then he said, I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw not just Israel.
All men unto me. So it's simply the thought of the spear of the gospel. Of course, worship has its right place and it's the response of the heart to Him. But of course, when we think of many who don't know Him, if they're brought to know Him, they will be brought to be worshippers too. In the Gospel of John. Shut the pen and verse nine, do we have a verse?
That is very, very precious indeed. Just a few ways.
But it brings to the whole truth of the Christian pathway in this very precious world.
Chapter 10 and verse nine of the Gospel of a John says I am the door by me. If any man answer in, he shall be saved. We say that's the first half, but it doesn't say here and go out first. It doesn't say that he say he shall go in into the presence of a God. His worship isn't he and then go out.
With whatever service the Lord will give us to do it, whether it be the gospel or anything else.
And then says here shall go out and in and out and find pasture. We need to pasture ourselves day by day in order to be able to bring it to us. I was thinking, Brother Gordon, what you were saying about the pastor's work, how important that service is.
What Peter says about the under shepherds in the in the third chapter to the fifth chapter of his first epistle.
There you see, it says in the second verse, Feed the flock of God, which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but by, but willingly, not for filthy Luther, but of a ready mind. Neither is being Lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock. Now notice this, And when the chief shepherd shall appear, you shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not.
That is, the shepherd's work is a hidden work, or the work of the pastor, one that goes to the homes of the Saints and seeks to encourage them if something has gone wrong and they need to help, need instruction in the quiet way of meeting the various needs of the people of God. The one who carries on a work like that gets very little importance among his brothers.
01:00:16
One who teaches, of course, gives certain prominence as well as the evangelist, but the pastor gets the least of importance in his service down here. But just as though the Lord says, you go on.
Serving in this way. And he said when the chief shepherd shall appear, you shall receive a crown of glory. He doesn't get the crown of glory down here, but he gets the crown of glory up there.
And what a what a important subject it is, of course, when you think of it and the way it's spoken up here as the pastor and teacher. A pastor could be one raised up to to serve the whole Church of God. And that's more the thought here that they are the under shepherds.
And in every assembly there were those that were known as elders looked after the welfare of the Saints and how needful that work is. And it's not that one has such a wonderful gift, but he if he loves the Saints. I was told someone said to Mr. Darby, I think you must be.
Having the gift of a pastor because you visit the Saints so much. Oh, he says. It isn't bad that I love the Saints.
And I love to visit them. Well, if this real loving heart for the people of God, and I know there are many of that, travel far more than I do and go to distant places where they're very poor and God for their courage, they may not have that courage. A dear brethren, the Lord is going to reward that faithfulness. I think that's a lovely example for that in First Corinthians chapter 16.
And verse 15.
Brother Barry was pointing out how the heart of one can begin trained the minister to the Saints when I believe it's brought out very beautifully here. 1St 1960 and verse 15.
I will teach you forever in our House of Stephanie that it is the first person IKEA and that they have addicted or devoted themselves to the ministry of the Saints. I mean, it's just speak volume to her. Yes, it's lovely to see it. It's rather striking that it says if a man desire the opposite of a Bishop, he desireth a good work. I wondered why it said that, because it might seem that he wanted to get a place of prominence. And then I thought, what brother?
Barry just said the Lord's people are so dear to him that he said, anybody that cares for my people, it's a good work. They're so dear to me, says in the song, Whosoever praise glorifieth me. And I've often thought of that visiting perhaps an older Christian in the systems. You may never see them progress in the spiritual things and the knowledge of the truth.
But if we can speak to them of the Lord Jesus.
And we leave them at a more apt to praise the Lord. We've done him service heavenly. I remember hearing Brother Brown say in connection with this, the word pastor is such a lovely, such a precious word, and yet it is so misused. Is it not imprisoned them? And he said the word of God plainly teaches the happy office of a pastor in the church, but not the pastor of a church.
And that doesn't sound perhaps at first very significant, but it really is.
The Word of God plainly teaches the happy truth of hey, pastor in the church, but not the pastor of a church. Well.
A principle of it. What says in as much as you have done it under one of the least of these, my brethren, you have done it under me. I was just going to comment on.
In the 12Th 1St for the perfecting of the sinks.
For the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. Isn't there two distinct ways that services brought before us, we get the perfecting of the sink individually, St. has certain needs and.
And needs help in various ways and the Lord can use his servants to to guide them and help them and to instruct them in their pathway and in their in their various affairs. And then there is definitely the as he tells us there in the 12Th verse, the edifying of the body of Christ there is.
01:05:25
Certain ministry.
That.
Affects the whole body, the whole assembly. So we need both. And that's one reason that your brother and the daughter live invited their brethren here. They not only want their brethren scattered over the various places in the States and Canada, but they won't they to be together so we can.
The whole body can be.
Edified. An assembly is made-up of individuals, isn't it? And the body? I was thinking of each of each member of the body, and I was thinking of the way the other translation.
Puts that verse I think is very seems to me to be clear.
This verse 12 for the perfecting of the Saints with a view to the work of the ministry with a view.
Edifying of the body of Christ, that each one of us individually are built up and we're a part of it, of the assembly where we are or we're in a part of the body. And if each one of us are in exercise before the Lord, sincerely before Him, seeking to be guided by His word and to desire to be a help to our brethren.
What a marvelous testimony, and what a joy there is, and a building up too.
I'm sure you've given us a very helpful thought because one brother that maybe is encouraged and might be restored or and instructed and becoming helpful in it would be a view to the strengthening of all the things. Yes, Tesla remark here in this 13th verse is good to notice in its context here till we all come.
Of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Ministry always has this in mind, if it is ministry according to God. But also I was going to comment that there are no sign gifts mentioned here in this chapter. And so in this place where we have those that are for the spiritual good.
Of the sites, the telling forth of the Gospel to the unsaved.
There is no mention of sign gifts, but there is a promise here of the continuance of these gifts.
I say that because I believe it's very important in what we were Speaking of the other day.
Where it gives us the signed gifts, it speaks about God confirming the Word.
Shows us the purpose for which they were given. But whenever it has to do with the edification of the body of Christ, as here, then there's a promise that these gifts will continue. And this is the object of the ministry. It's always looking on to the time when.
All be there with and like Christ. Ministry has that object in view and seeks by the ministry to produce in us even now that conformity to Him. If I use my gift to build up a party or to gather people around myself, that wouldn't be the unity of the faith. So the gifts are always with this thought, the unity of the faith.
A better knowledge of the Lord Jesus.
Growth to Him. This is the purpose of ministry, and we can test our own hearts in connection with giving out ministry. As to whether it has this purpose, which was God's purpose, or perhaps I should say the purpose of the ascended Head, the Lord Jesus, giving these gifts for the good of the Church. It speaks to our own hearts as we minister the truth. Do we keep this in view? Do we have this purpose before us, which is the purpose of the Head who has given the gifts?
We can be certain of this, that until the Lord comes in the air there will be the other gifts of the evangelists, the pastor, and the teacher. But we have no place where it tells us that the gift of tongues or the gift of healing will continue. These are to continue till we all come.
01:10:06
Timothy was exhorted to steer up the kids. How do we steer? Well, I believe that something like one of our brother Barry was speaking about.
Young people's meeting, that is. I'm Speaking of the principle of it. We can get so taken up with earthly things or other interests that a gift given by the ascended head could be neglected.
To the loss of the individual, and also to the loss of the Church of God, The same in connection with archipelas, it says.
Say to Archippus, take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfill it. And I do believe, brethren, that many a gift is lost to the Church of God through lack of devotedness. And I believe that even those of us who may seek in some measure to use it need to be constantly stirred up like Timothy, because it's very easy for us just to.
Take a little time of ease, so to speak, and forget that.
The Lord has said Occupy till I come. That's a very important point, Brother Gordon. I was thinking about little assemblies that are perhaps represented here and probably thinking that, well, where, where we are, there's no real gift. I believe if we get before the Lord, we'll find that the Lord has put someone there. He's given some little gift. Well, it's well for us to be exercised about this, isn't it?
God is faithful. He hasn't told us this and then left us as it were, in the dark about it. He'd given us the light and brought us into the light, even the expression covered.
The best gift. I hope it's not out of place to make reference to the way my father spoke of that verse I remember some years ago.
He said that as we remember it very well. When we were young my mother was very sick. She was not able to be out of bed for many weeks and father had to take over in the kitchen. Well, I think most of us remember that his first efforts in the kitchen were by no means equal to my mother, but as the weeks went by his labours in the kitchen improved and he wanted them to improve as well as we did.
He he mentioned this after he said I wanted to do better in the kitchen, Not because I wanted to outshine my wife, not because I wanted to gain the reputation of being a good cook, but because I loved my family and I did not want to see them go to school.
Hungry, he coveted the desire to do for his family that which would be for their good.
And I think what our brother has mentioned is very, very good for us. You know, in the very last epistle it says building up yourselves on your most holy faith. And I, I really believe that if we love the people of God, as the people of God and as our beloved brethren, would we not long for some way in which we could be of help to them?
Perhaps to nourish one another in the things of the Lord God forfeit.
That we should ever seek for anything that would bring recognition to ourselves, but anything that would be for the glory of God and for the nourishing of the flock. Surely we could long for that and pray for that.
Ephesians 4:4
Reading
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Asians 4 first four.
Could I suggest that we read until the end of the 16th verse as it completes the sentence and gives an application of what we have before these chapter 4 and verse four. There is one body.
And one spirit, even as you are called, and one Pope, and you are calling 1 Lord, 1 faith, one baptism.
One God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in you all.
But under everyone of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Wherefore he said, When he has set it up on high, he left captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
The descendant is the same author that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.
And he gave some apostles and some prophets, some are graduates and some pastors and teachers.
For the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, so we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God.
Unto a perfect man, under the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, that we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro, carried upon with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of man, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie and wait to deceive.
Speaking the truth in love may grow up into Him in all things which is ahead. Even Christ, from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplier, according to the effect you were working in the measure of every part make an increase of the body under the edifying of itself in love. A brother Christ just requested that those who take part would speak up because having a little.
System it's not functioning exactly as it should. So as always that take part would please speak up as much as possible.
In the fourth verse, in the fifth verse, and then the sixth verse, we get three circles. Starts out with a small circle.
Goes on to a wider circle and then to the very widest circle.
The 1St circle in the fourth verse there is one body and one spirit. Even as we are called in one hope of His calling, there is what is vital.
Each in that circle is the true believer.
A member of the body of Christ, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, with one hope before them in the next circle.
5th Verse 1 Lord 1 Faith one baptism. There is a circle of profession. So as we well know, all who are baptized are not all true believers, those who are saved and baptized.
Our believers, but those who are, who have submitted to the right of baptism without conversion or in that circle.
And then there is a still wider circle.
One God and father of all their God has looked at in the sense that He is supreme over every human being.
In all the world, it takes in every individual the world over one God and Father of of all, who is above all and through all. And then he returns to the 1St circle in you all.
So we get those circles. I was looking at the circles here. Here we have a small circle and we have a much wider circle. And then if we had a still wider circle, we'd get the thought in these three buses.
00:05:03
I suppose you have the same thing in chapter 5 of Revelation, don't we?
The inner cycles, then the angels, then the people on earth, and then the whole universe.
It is very blessed to notice that while it says one God, which is true, but then in Christianity we have the Trinity revealed and that's what we have on this world. In verse six we have one God the Father.
In verse three we have the Holy Spirit and in verse five we have the Lord Jesus. Affinity is mentioned here, isn't it? There is one God, absolutely, but then in Christianity we have revealed that this in one God we have three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. What we have in Revelation though, is a little bit different. What is brought before us here is the circle in which the testimony of Christianity is rendered.
Now that is, there is that which is real.
There is Thou, which is profession, but the gospel is to all mankind, for only in the sixth verse it only refers to the human race. That is, God is not spoken of as the father of animals. He is the source of life to animals.
Man is the offspring of God. God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul. And so these three circles are mentioned here because he follows on to show that testimony which is rendered in the world. Those who are saved are to be instructed and encouraged, but the evangelist goes out. In the sphere of his work is the whole world.
Going into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
Saw that He is bringing this before us here before showing the fact that Christ gone up on high as we have in the second chapter. The middle wall of partition is broken down. The gospel goes out now to all, but the purpose of ministry is not only that soul should be saved, but as we see that they might grow up under Him in all things.
As we have also in Timothy, who will have all men to be saved.
And to come to the knowledge of the truth, I want a blessed thing. It is when those who are saved are brought on to see the full results of that victory that was won at the cross, the full blessing that is ours because of that work. For in Ephesians we are seen as blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies in Christ. Wouldn't it be good to say something as to those circles in Revelation, Brother Murphy?
Well, in the 5th chapter of Revelation we have the four and 20 elders who represent the redeemed, and that is of course all the New Testament Saints. All who share in the heavenly blessing will sing redemption song. Thou art worthy, for thou was slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood. And then we have the angels not occupying the same near place to the throne.
But they don't join in the singing, but they sing of the worthiness of his cry, of Christ, and of his power.
But the whole of creation shares in the result of what Christ has accomplished, as we have in the eighth of Romans. The whole creation now groans and travels in pain together until now. But what are they waiting for? Well, it tells us that they wait for the manifestation of the sons of God. And when?
The Lord Jesus has His rightful place. The whole of creation will benefit be brought into blessing as the result.
Now what has been accomplished at the cross, and then what is brought about through the Lord Jesus, the one who takes His rightful place as the center of it all? Or perhaps we're all acquainted with the 4th of Revelation gives us Christ rights as Creator. Thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. The 5th chapter gives us His rights as Redeemer. He has.
Bought the field, and He has redeemed the people to himself. Then the chapters that follow show us how through judgment He takes that place that is His until all is brought in. And when all is brought in subjection under him, then it tells us that He delivers up the Kingdom to the Father. The 1St man brought in all the ruin. The 2nd man sets everything right.
00:10:07
Without it, glory to God.
Associates with himself are redeemed people and that seed of blessing which is brought in will be for all eternity. I was thinking, since that especially requested, that the ministry might be at the level of the young people.
That in speaking about, there is one body and one spirit, that we should understand just what is referred to here.
One body, one spirit. Now in the end of the first chapter there's no question about the meaning of the body, for it says there and have a 22nd verse 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.
For its souls that the body.
Is the church, and in speaking about the church has the body of Christ, we get very helpful on important instruction.
In the 10th chapter of First Corinthians, No, it's it's not the the 1St chapter, but.
12Th chapter. Thank you brother. 12Th chapter of First Corinthians.
And the 12Th verse, all the 11Th verse, but all things worketh that one and self safe spirit dividing to every man severally as he will. For as the body is one and hath many members, and all the members of that one body being many are one body, so also is Christ.
Or by 1 spirit are we all baptized?
Into one body, whether we be Jew or Gentile, whether we be bond or free, and have been all made to drink into one spirit.
Seeing that the body is the church, we're clearly taught in this way how we get into the Church of golf by 1 Spirit. Are we all baptized into one body?
Now the baptism has taken place.
When the Spirit came down on the day of Pentecost, he baptized all that were present there into one body.
Now that the body is formed by the coming of the Spirit, those who are saved are admitted into that circle that's formed by the Spirit of God, so that any poor Sinner who comes to Christ lost and guilty and accepts.
The Lord Jesus as a personal Savior.
He immediately becomes a member of the body of Christ. Now as well. To see that the body is not an organization. The thought of the church as an organization.
So permeated Christendom that many can think of it in no other way than it's a church organization.
Well, an organization is something that's formed by man and in connection with human affairs is very important and necessary, for if a school is run, it must be organized or I couldn't function.
When you think of the church, beloved, such a precious subject. It's not an organization, it's an Organism that is, it's a body, and we got into that body by the Holy Spirit. As soon as we're saved, new crisis, our Savior.
And now when we consider what is so popular in Christendom, speaking about joining a church.
Well, where do we find in the Word of God anything about joining the church? You'll not find it. In fact, the word joining doesn't have a very, very happy thought. The prodigal joined himself to a citizen of the far country. There you get some joining.
So we didn't join the body of Christ, we were brought into it by the Spirit when we were saved.
00:15:05
And now being in that body, suppose they had one has accepted Christ. And he looks around and he sees a company of so-called Christians that where perhaps they have a fundamental creature and and he would like to be with those Christians. And he goes and joins that organization. What has he done?
He has joined something the Spirit of God has nothing to do with. Now isn't that solemn, brother and we are speaking about?
Ones the conduct and behavior and as associating with with that which is a contradiction of the truth of the one body. When I was a young man, I used to occasionally drop into.
Sectarian meeting until an older brother said this to me, he said. Do you realize that when you go into a hand to a church?
So-called that you're going into a place where the Holy Spirit is denied. That is, they have a man put in the place of the Holy Spirit. Well, you know, after that brother spoke to me in that way, I've never gone into a into a sectarian meeting from that day to this.
Because it struck me so forcibly to go to a place where God the Holy Spirit has denied His place was too serious a matter for me to have anything to do with. Well, I just say that as to my own experience. Doesn't the language of scripture connect connection there that the Lord added to the church, such as should be saved?
We get it in two two places in Acts chapter 2.
Acts chapter 2 and verse 41. Then they they gladly received his word, were baptized.
And the same day they were added unto them about 3000 souls, and the last sentence of that same chapter. And the Lord added to the Church daily, such as should be saved.
It's far different from joining us. The Lord who's at it.
16th verse of our chapter says from whom the whole body fitly joined together. There is a joining, but it's not by man, it's what the Holy Spirit has done. Yes, it's very important to see that the fourth verse is really the action of the Spirit of God. There is one body, and by 1 spirit we are all baptized into one body.
And unless we get clear in connection with this truth, we will not understand what is our responsibility and connection with giving expression to this. We must first of all know what God has done.
I can't act as a Christian until I see what God has done to me, a Christian that is to save me through the work of the Lord Jesus on the cross. And this is all his work. He does the work in the soul. He gives new life. The precious blood of Christ cleanses away sin. Why? I'm fitted for the presence of God, but it's all through the work of Christ.
And all responsibility flows from where God placed me in His grace.
Now this is also true as to the body of Christ. It's by the indwelling of the Spirit of God that one is united to every other believer in Christ and to Christ the head in glory. Now the responsibility comes in. How can we give expression to this in a collective way? Well, in First Corinthians 10 it says.
Are we being many are one bread, one body, for we are all partakers of that one bread.
So when one sees what it is to be a member of the body of Christ, then there is a scriptural way to give expression to it. And that is, as our brother has remarked, not to become a member of some organization that men have formed, but to meet as members of the body of Christ in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ alone. And this is the way that we give expression to it.
Saw that perhaps we could say a scripturally gathered people don't join.
They don't join the body of Christ by coming among us. We receive them because the Lord Himself is already made them members of His body by the Spirit, and we simply receive them as it says in Romans chapter 14. Receive ye one another as Christ also received us to the glory of God.
00:20:12
And we may with one mind and one mouth, glorify God, that is, we meet together in this way as members of the body of Christ. And to be God's assembly it must express this truth. And the truth of God must be the ground of its existence. And this is very important for us to realize, because when one is exercised, he first of all sees what God has done in making.
Member of the body of Christ, then he seeks through the Scripture to find what is the way that he can meet according to the word of God to give expression to this glorious truth. So I believe it's most important because there's so much in Christmas. You get saved, you join something.
Well, it's not that when you're saved, you are joined to the Lord. He that is joined to the Lord is 1 Spirit. Now, it's our privilege to seek to give expression to this, and I believe that's involved in this third verse where it says endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace.
We're not endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit. If we join some organization that in practice that divides the Church of God. We must, if we would endeavor to keep the unity of the spirit, be gathered then according to the spirits, work as members of the body of Christ.
And then isn't this lovely in the last of the verse? I think it's most touching that the Spirit of God brings this before us because he could have simply said there is one body and one spirit. But he says even as you are called in one hope of your calling, if man has failed in the expression of this and all, how much failure there has been. And as we remarked yesterday, we're part of that common failure.
Yet there is such a thing as a path that is, according to the word, amid the rule I'm. Yet we gladly look on to this blessed time.
What is the hope of Our Calling all brethren, we look forward not to just seeing a company like this gathered together, but to seeing the whole company the church presented without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. What a moment that will be when the Lord Jesus gives the shout.
And as it says, our gathering together unto him, not one member of the body will be missing there. And this is the hope that we have before us. But there is a path while we wait that time.
I'm sure others have had the same experience. Perhaps you've met a man on the train reading his Bible and you know, sit down by him and almost instantly you'll find he's a child of God.
And you begin to talk about Christ, and immediately our hearts are knit together.
And you soon find we have the same hope. There may be much darkness, there may be little apprehension of the Lord coming in the air, but still there is that hope of being in heaven with Christ and with the redeemed. I only had one occasion in my life to find a man reading his Bible that wasn't real. Some man crossed the aisle reading his Bible.
That man does not look like a Christian. So I went and talked to him and I found in a few minutes he was immortal. He wasn't a Christian at all. So whenever there's a real Christian, almost instantly his face lights up when you mention the Lord Jesus and you find you have the same hope. I was glad a moment ago you used the expression.
Secular establishment or leading to that thought.
Because.
We find today that there are many things that would meet outside the ornamentation of Christendom, and yet the thing that must be looked for is are they actually looking for the leading of the Spirit or is some other individual just taken up to that which borders on the truth and is drawing innocent souls in? I believe that this is something that's good instruction for us today. We meet many companies who are meeting in homes.
And yet by prayerful consideration of those things that go on, we find that the secular establishment has just been brought into the home and it's bringing in souls that might otherwise really seek out the truth. And so it must be that leading of the one Spirit as as you brought before us, brethren, and I speak particularly for young folks that are looking for something that's different, trying to search and to find.
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Well, just because it doesn't meet with all of the grandeur of that which we call the Established Church.
Don't be deceived by it. There must be still a seeking of the Spirit of God and A and a yielding to the Word of God in order to be directed in the right way.
In our fourth verse it says there is one body and one spirit. Why does it say 1 spirit? Why does it say one body and one savior?
You tell Brother Barry. Well, I I don't have to know. I just asked the question. The only thought I have is that.
The the work of the Spirit is what is before us now, after a person has come to know the Lord, a Savior, and it's by that Spirit's work that the body is formed. That's the only thought I have, but I would like to be cleared on that.
And others might be helped. Well, I believe that's what it is. It says by 1 Spirit we are all baptized into one body, so that it's the work of the Spirit of God in this world to gather out a bride for Christ. And when he has completed that work, and the bride will be brought home and presented like the servant who went to get a bride for Isaac. Then he returned and the bride is presented to Isaac a picture of Christ.
And saw the Spirit of God is in this world, gathering out a bride for Christ. And by 1 Spirit we are all baptized into one body. Perhaps we should say a little bit about this being baptized by the Spirit, because there's a great deal of confusion about this in Christendom.
And as our brother briefly remarked on the day of Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit was the formation of the body of Christ on earth. And if you read in the first chapter of Acts, you will see that the Lord, before he went away, told him that this would take place. He shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days hence. And so the Spirit of God came down on the day of Pentecost. And you'll.
That whenever it speaks of the baptism of the Spirit, it never speaks of it in an individual way, but always in the collective sense. It was by the baptism of the Holy Spirit that the Church of God was formed. Also. Another thing that is very perplexing in these days is the question of tongues about if we see what was taking place. I believe we can see how very significant this was too.
If you read in First Corinthians 14 it says.
Wherefore tongues are for a sign not to them that believe, but to them that believe not. We know that many who are taken up with the tongues are looking for it as a sign to themselves that they have the Holy Spirit. But the scripture makes it clear that it was not assigned to those that believe, but to those that believe not. That is when the Lord Jesus.
Preached, he said, I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.
He told the disciples going out into the way of the Gentiles and into any cities of the Samaritans, and are not, but going rather to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. But something wonderful happened on the day of Pentecost. The middle wall of partition was about to be broken down.
And God was going to show and did show that now there would be a reaching out beyond that nation. That sign was given as a particular thing to that people. You read there in First Corinthians 14, he mentions the Old Testament prophecy with men of other tongues and other lips. Will I speak to this people? And yet for all that, they will not hear. So he showed that He was going to reach out beyond Israel.
And bring him from the nations. And the blessing of the Gentile is clearly seen when the gift of tongues was given. And we see this brought before us in the Acts, when we see the beginning on earth of the blessed and wonderful fact that.
The body of Christ was not to be of that nation, only about Jew and Gentile were to be brought into one body. Babel was reversed.
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Gift of tongues was given. Well, some say, why doesn't the Scripture particularly tell us that it would not continue? Well, brother, and I think there's a very simple answer to that. The Lord never put the hope of His return beyond the lifetime of any believers.
And they were to look for the Lord's coming in their lifetime. And if the Spirit of God had told them that the gift of tongues was not going to carry into the next generation, why, how could they have looked for the hope of the Lords return in their generation?
But if we see the significance of it and the purpose for which it is given, and we can easily see the reason for the introduction that the the message was accompanied by signs to show what God was going to do and those who profess to have the gift of tongues today, I think two things are significant. First of all, it's not in connection with the.
What we have in scripture.
For the languages that were spoken were languages that were known and spoken in the world.
The people of Jerusalem were people from every nation under heaven, and they heard in their own tongue wherein they were born.
The wonderful works of God, that's not the way the gift of tongues is used today. There is no group that is able to gather a company together and speak to them in their own language without learning that language. And the second thing is that.
Those companies that profess to have the gift of tongues are all associated with false doctrine, and you find that if you must get this gift as they speak of it, you have to forsake the path of the truth and how important it is that we should walk in the truth. In Deuteronomy 13, the people were told that if a prophet showed a sign or wonder and even if the.
Came to pass. The important thing for them was, was the person who was showing this sign trying to lead them away from the Lord, away from the path of obedience. If they recognize this, then they wouldn't accept the prophet, even the Lord assigner wonder came to pass. So for us brethren, the important thing is not to be occupied with that side of things.
Rather for us to be concerned as to walking in the path of obedience to the Word. And if we find that these things are going on, we don't have to investigate them. We just walk in the path of obedience to the Word of God and we'll find it's a safe and happy path where the truth of God can be maintained, where the Lord Jesus can have his glory.
Well, let me just mention this because there's a great deal of confusion about this and Christendom and many dear children of God who are looking for some display of power.
When they're, when they depart from the path of obedience to find it, there's no telling how far they can go down that road. Satan has power, and if we depart from the path of obedience, how are we going to know whether it's the power of God or the power of Satan?
By the word of thy lips have I kept me from the paths of the Destroyer.
And we get the next circle 1 Lord, 1 faith, one baptism.
But perhaps before we consider that circle, we should have word as a brother requested before the meeting.
That something might be said that would be practical, he said. For the young people. But sometimes the the old people need exhortation and.
To be warned as much as the young believers need to be warned past a walking consistently according to the truth that we're considering.
It was mentioned yesterday that we have the church looked at as a body, for everything is vital and Christ is the builder. And then we have the church looked at as the house and looked at as a house. Timothy has told that thou mightest know how thou ordest to be behave thyself.
In the House of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and grounder support of the truth. Well, it's in the house that we get disciplined. We don't discipline the members of our body. I don't punish my hand for something.
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My hand has done that shouldn't have done. But we do discipline the numbers of our family, of the household. So looked at us, the house. There is discipline in the House of God, and there is behavior in the House of God. Think of a man who had walked so well as Timothy had walked.
In fellowship with the Apostle Paul being his.
Companion and service. And yet Paul was leaving him for a while and he doesn't say, well, Timothy will go on. I don't have to be concerned about him. He has been so faithful all these years. No, we can never trust ourselves, Beloved, let's remember that we've got the old nature, and if the old nature is allowed to have its way.
It's going to lead us in a sad into a sad course.
So Timothy needed this exhortation. He wasn't one of the teenagers. He was a man of maturity. They're not as old, of course, as Paul and Barnabas or or Silas, but he was a faithful man. But he needed this education so he might us know how thou orders to behave thyself.
Well, well then. We've had some wonderful truths now to the church and are being united together by the Spirit of God.
And then our brother here was brought before us. How we express that truth in the breaking of bread. We gather around one loop which presses the whole body of Christ, and we gather on the ground of the.
Of the of the truth of Christ, the Center gathered in his name.
When our brethren and young people and old people as well as young people, and it makes no difference if you are the oldest in this company, there is still a danger for us. As Brother Eric Smith tells about an old brother that prayed every day that he might not die a wicked old man, so he felt that he was just as liable to have a dismal fall at the end of the pathway.
As it was at the beginning of the pathway. Well, let's think of that how we ought to behave ourselves. Now that one thing very important to remember and that is that one gathered to the Lords name is gathered in a very special way and to go out.
Without any consideration of all the seriousness of one's act. And break bread somewhere else.
And say of some sectarian place virtually that one has put himself out of fellowship in the meeting because he's identified himself with a sectarian table. Really, let's all be warned of the danger of going out and disregarding.
Our privilege has been gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus alone. That's just of course, one warning as to our behavior and then of course, if we're going on in worldly ways, see one is out in worldly company and.
Hasn't judged himself for it or he's going to worldly amusements.
We can't now all have a slip and a fall, but when we have thoroughly judged and humbled ourselves for our failure, then there is happy restoration. But to go on and disregard the seriousness of taking a worldly course and then sitting down in the Lord's presence, they bring upon us the the.
The government of God as you get in the 1St 11Th chapter, First Corinthians.
Also, before we go on, I think it may be well to speak of the oneness and speaks. There are the one body I believe that's very important as it's been brought out. Sometimes we say, well, how can it be just one? Well, God, the one I believe represents.
Supremacy, exclusiveness. There is one body. And so sometimes we hear the question, well, how do I know?
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That I'm in the place where that expression to the one body is given.
Well, God in his grace has brought us, we believe, to that place. It may be that I've been raised, born into and raised in a Christian family that are associated in seeking to give expression to that one body of Christ. Well, that's the wonderful grace of God.
Some of us have not had that privilege and the Lord, you might say, has had to drag us along the path and bring us to Himself. But how glorious and how faithful he is. But there is one body. And I remember a conversation of some years ago and I overheard our brother AC Brown speaking, and there was a young man, he was speaking along the same line. Well, how, how is do I know that this is one body? How do you know?
And Brother Brown very patiently sought to bring it before him. He says, no. He said, I can't believe it. He says, you people say that you're the one body of Christ. Oh, Brother Brown says, wait a minute now, just a minute. He says, who says that we're one, bud? He says, you say that there's only one body, and you give expression to it. He says now he says, let's take it, Let's take it rightly. You say that we say there is one body. He says, yes. He says, well, we don't say that.
He says God says it and so he turned to Ephesians 4 and showed him that God says there is one body Now he says, beloved brother, he says we just seek to give expression to it to be found on that ground of that one body and the brother as being led by that one spirit. We're thankful to say today is not only gathered to the Lord's name, but his family and he's leading others to the true center also, but all how important.
To realize it's not words of our own, but it's the words of the Lord that says there is one body. And how important for us then is responsible to this blessed truth to be giving expression to it not only in the breaking of bread, but as our brother has brought before us and a faithful pathway avoiding those things which would mar not our testimony, but would bring dishonor. That's really the thought.
Bring dishonor to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and to that expression.
Of the one body and it is not a sin, not a sect, is it? No one time person said there's enough confusion here without you starting up something new. Well, we're not starting up something new. We're getting back to the old, aren't we? Getting back to what was in the beginning and what God has always honored. So it's not a sect constructive to look up in a good dictionary the meaning of that word sect and you'll see that.
Gathered to the Lord's name does not fit into that definition of sex. In Genesis chapter 49, we have a verse that perhaps will help us to realize that the Spirit of God only leads to one person and to Him alone.
In Genesis chapter 49 verse 10, it says the chapter shall not depart from Judah, not a lawgiver from between his feet, until sorrow shall come.
Then unto him shall be the obedience. I understand that's a proper translation of the people. And then in Psalm 25 and verse 12. But for those that are exercised, how shall I know the place? Well, I believe that we have a very precious verse in Psalm 25 and verse 12.
It says that what man is he, that spirit of the Lord?
Him shall he teach.
In the way that He should go, He's a positive promise. Well, we have an illustration of how the Lord corrects to the place where he meets with his own and those two disciples that the Lord told to go and carry the Passover.
They were not content with just being told to go. They said, Lord, where will thou that we prepare?
Then the Lord gave full instruction. They were to go into the city, and they would meet a man bearing a pitcher of water, to follow him into the house where he entered in. And so where there is an honest inquiry like from those two disciples.
If there is indifference, if it's there's no exercise about it, if one hasn't the glory of the Lord and has no desire to to really honor him in connection with that which he loved and gave himself forth. Remember the Lord loved the church and gave himself for it.
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Well, if there's no desire to honor him in connection with that which is his body.
Well, then there's the disciples could have gone on, selected a place they felt was the place, but no, that wasn't in their hearts. So they said werewolf thou, and then they get instruction. And I suppose you'd say that the picture is a poor human vessel. It isn't important to us, to the picture.
So the Lord may use any of his own.
To guide but the importance of the areas that it's a pitcher of water. Water is a type of the Holy Spirit so one letter of the Spirit guides and directs to the place where the Lord meets with his own so we can't just.
Put it down and in a formal way and say, well, no, you just go by this and you.
You will find that you are with those that are really meeting on the right ground, but where there is real exercise and a true desire to honor and please Christ. You know He will not disappoint you. He'll not tell you there is a place, and then when you look for the place, there isn't that place. The Lord will never deceive and disappoint His own.
In any way like that there is a place.
And if there is the devotion to Christ and the desire to honor and to please him, we can be sure the Lord will lead and guide by the Spirit. I like the.
The further expression that the Spirit of God brings out in connection with that brother very it says, And they went and found as he had said unto them.
Very lovely, isn't it? It was what he had said and they went and they found it. They weren't deceived. God's word is true, isn't it? As it's been said, if there is such a place, God has told us there is such a place. There is a place where he has chosen to place His name. God is faithful.
I think that we have the same thing in the first chapter of John John the Baptist. He makes these two disciples.
Throwing away his eyes for him from himself to the Lord Jesus, when he says, Behold the Lamb of God and the next verse that says that. And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
And Jesus turned and said unto them, Why seek ye? And they say, Master.
Where dwellers thou? And he said unto them, Come and seek.
Come and see. Very blessed listening. Oh what a precious savior we have. We have the spirit of a God. The divine person can never make any mistake. Never.
But the only thing we need to fulfill Psalm 25 verse 12. What man is he that feared the Lord him? Shall he guide in the way that he should go? What about the one is simple? I believe that the one that is simple, they're the one that they are left much easier than the one that they have knowledge. Would you say so, brother, you'd say that's true that the Spirit of God always.
Guides by the Word of God. If it's according to the Word, then it's according to the Spirit of God.
Or you never would teach us what is contrary to the word of God. I know they have a cousin that's in a group that went off in divisions, he says. I think all these groups that are breaking bread, one is gathered as much to the Lords name as another.
I said to him, I said, suppose that here are two meetings. You go to Oak Park, you'll find there are two halls very much alike, and well, I suppose there's only a block between them. Then I asked him. I said, Dad, you tell me that the Spirit of God leads some of the children of God to this meeting, and some of the children of God to this other meeting.
I said if he does then he is contradicting his own word.
For one, the subject of division arose for the for the apostle says is Christ divided. Think the word awesome thing that is to consider dividing Christ. So it shows that there must be a divine center.
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And there is not a center of division. Now we have the instruction in the Word, and then there needs to be the state of soul to discover it. Then there is something else that seems to speak to our conscience in First Corinthians 14, First Corinthians 14, and verse 24.
But if all prophecy and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all, and thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest, and so falling down on his face, he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth. I think this is a lovely side of it too. That is, we have the word of God to direct us, and if.
Willing He will direct us, but doesn't this exercise us to brethren? If a stranger comes in, do they feel the Lords presence? And if we are really going on with the Lord as we should, acknowledging Christ as the center and in submission to the leading of the Spirit of God?
And walking in ways that are pleasing to him, one who comes in will not only know by the testimony of the Word, but he will actually have a sense that he is in the Lord's presence. And it seems to me this speaks to our hearts for how often it may be true that we have the truth and seek to walk in a tube. But unless there is that going on together.
In the love of Christ and seeking His glory.
Why, a stranger coming in may have to say, Well, the truth is there, but I don't see the practical display of it. And this is very searching. This ought to speak to each of our hearts that we might be going on in such a way.
Not a stranger coming in would feel the Lord's presence. Isn't it true also that as we enjoy, at least I hope we do, the truth of the one Body, and speak as we have spoken? That it should make us very, very, very thankful for the very wonderful grace and faithfulness of the Lord that has preserved the wonderful privilege of being thus gathered where He is in the midst?
By supposed to, we can, and maybe we should guard against a narrowness that might touch our poor hearts and forget that the scripture says we, being many, are one loaf.
So that as we find ourselves privileged to sit down on a Lord's Day.
Enjoying the fact that by His grace we are gathered around the person and under the precious name of our Lord Divas, we see those emblems on the table which speak to us of Himself, and yet we see in that lobe also that which reminds us of the fact that we are members of His body, together with every other member of that body.
And I think this should be very, very precious to us, and should enlarge our affection, should it not, to realize that there is that which is so very, very dear to the heart of the Lord Jesus. He gave Himself for it. We bought a grace of God, our members of His body as such. We meet together in this way.
But we remember that there are other members also of that body, and our love and our affection should.
Embrace them. I remember hearing of an incident that took place some years ago at Rideau Ferry.
There's been a testimony there for many years and also not far off are a couple of churches, as folks call them, and on this particular occasion there was a very.
Dear believer in the Lord Jesus, who was the minister of one of these churches?
And on Monday morning one of the dear brothers from the Assembly at Rio Ferry was walking along the Country Rd. and he met this minister whose name was Mr. Meek and he addressed to me said Brother Meek, how are you this morning? I was so happy to see you at the meeting yesterday morning.
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And Brother Meek said, But I was in my pulpit preaching my Sunday sermon. And he simply smiled and repeated the statement. Brother Meek, I was so happy to see you at the meeting yesterday morning.
Well, he said, I tell you I was in my hope and preaching my sermon. And he smiled again and said, Brother, I was so glad to see you at the meeting yesterday morning. He said, you'll have to explain yourself. I don't know what you're talking about. Well, he said, brother, me.
On the table yesterday morning there was a loaf. It represented to us not only the body of our Lord Jesus Christ given in death, but it represented also the happy reality that every believer is a member of the body of Christ, and that first we being many, are one loaf made me think of you, brother Meek and as I looked at the loaf.
Saw you there and was happy to see you there. Well, the dear man just hung his head had no answer. I hope he felt the edge of it. And, old brethren, how thankful we should be for the very wonderful privilege of being gathered to a.
Person to a person. I think of the scripture that says Judas also knew the place and his rather church seemed to read those words. Is it not? We cannot be where the Lord is in the midst unless we respond to the guidance of the Spirit of God through His Word. And this does direct us to a place where we can enjoy this reality.
But I'm sure there are.
Safeguards in the word that would cause our poor hearts to realize that we need to be taken up with the wonder of his person. I just like to ask you the question brother Albertson. Suppose that man you speak up presented himself as completing next Thursday morning and said I'd like to remember the Lord with you. How would that be took that and how would they act on that? Well, I believe that in as much as he.
A member of the body of Christ. His place is there. The privilege is open to him. But if he has, shall I say, defiled himself by association with that which is unscriptural.
The Word of God would have to give us faithfulness in reminding Him of this. I believe that as a member of the body of Christ, he is entitled to be gathered in the name of the Lord Jesus. He is entitled and privileged to remember the Lord Jesus in debt. But if he is defiled and this would mean a number of other scripture references.
Perhaps just one that we might turn to in Haggai chapter 2.
Agai chapter verse 11.
Said the Lord of hosts, asked now the priests concerning the law, saying, If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy?
And the priests answered and said no. Then said Haggai, Now notice this, If scrum that is unclean by a dead body, touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priest answered and said, It shall be unclean. Now there was such a thing in Israel as a true Israelite.
Unable to partake of the Passover because of personal defilement or because of contact with defile. He wasn't refused because he was not in Israelite.
But he was refused because of defilement or contact with it. And I believe we do have to be very careful that the liberty or the refusal of it in remembering the Lord is not based upon the fact that this individual is not, I'm almost afraid to say it, not a member of this group.
The only reason why we could refuse is because this member of the body of Christ.
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As constituted himself unclean by reason of defilement is that yes, there was a case in Des Moines I was told of.
There's a minister of a church in Boston. I think it was a fundamental church. so-called, began to visit his sister.
The dear man will go off, and dear Christian, and he asked to remember the Lord.
Well, the brethren tell here is a simple Christian. He wanted to he wanted to remember the Lord in his death, so he broke bread with him when he left. They said no, there's a little meeting in fellowship with this meeting in Boston. You go and look them up so that he went on return later he came back to Des Moines he never.
Shown any fellowship with the poor little meeting at Boston.
But he came with a full, fully expecting that he could break bread in the morning. They said no, brother, we told you there was a little meeting. You could have fellowship. That's in fellowship with this meeting. You disregarded that little meeting and went to a sect of men, and we can't let you break bread now.
Well, I think there is that about. It is fun, comes in simplicity.
Desire to remember the Lord. He puts himself under the discipline of the assembly, and the assembly exercise its discipline in refusing him fellowship because he had disregarded the truth of the one body. Well, that's just one example. We can't say that we never received from those.
Who are not formally gathered with us, who have been received and are regularly breaking bread. But we do have to be careful as to what they continue with. And I suppose in these days where there's so much modernism that if one came in from a thorough modernist church, we'd have to consider almost I would feel that they were defiled by being connected with.
Modernist system. Would you feel that, Brother Gordon? Isn't there also such a thing as laying hands suddenly on no man? You may not know if the person is defiled. Would you say a word on that?
Well, I suppose that what we see around us in Christendom today is so contaminated with false teaching and the denial of the full inspiration of the Word of God and questions raised as to the virgin birth of Christ.
Then it becomes us to be that much more careful, always remembering At the same time that we do meet, Dear brethren, we do meet to remember the Lord as members of His body. And if a member of that body presents himself or herself to remember the Lord, we must always remember that they are a member of the body of Christ, and thereby entitled.
To that privilege unless such defilement prohibited. But with the conditions that exist around us today, I'm sure that scripture is very needful brother and the more even fundamental system so-called are filled with that which is false and questionable that much more it becomes us to be very very careful. Furthermore, I think it might be well.
I do hope I will be corrected and warned if what I'm saying leave any wrong impression or is in itself wrong. I believe that we should be very, very careful in this regard, that we should be honest with such and let them know that by breaking bread they are taking a position that is outside of and thereby condemning.
The very thing that they may until then have seen no wrong in, and if they realize that this is a place gathered around the person of the Lord Jesus outside the camp of man's arrangements.
It's a very serious thing for them to break bread in such a situation.
I hope others will caution and correct if these leave wrong impressions.
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Treasurer correctly too was that supporting which one time happens in Hamilton A couple came in after the meeting was started and sat down at the front. The one part of the told the brother across the aisle passed the bread round the other way, which way would have gone around everybody anyway, but it would miss them without giving them offense by passing passing to this order than that she couldn't very well tell him to get up and get out of the meeting is on.
That right or wrong?
We're getting back now to our fifth verse of the chapter. One Lord, 1 faith, one baptism.
Now.
In the profession of Christianity, of course, there's only the Lord. Jesus is recognized as the one that we have to do. If we're Christians, we own.
That name, that he is Lord.
But it doesn't can fly necessarily that that one is born again. For many shall say, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And he'll say, I never knew you. So one can outwardly make a profession.
And yet if not be hailed and then faith used as it is in this place isn't the saving faith that one has that believes to the saving of the soul, but it's it's faith as a doctrine. There's only one doctrine in Christianity that.
That there has been a man that's been in this world and he's lived and died that on the cross. Well, that's that's believed and.
All Christian profession and then one baptism. Of course, that shows how wide the profession is because multitudes are baptized that are not born again. And it's a sad thing, especially in the north, northern states in Canada, that you ask a person if you save, why he doesn't know what you mean.
Why? He says. I've always been a Christian. I was baptized for a Christian and I was confirmed. He doesn't know what it means at all to be really safe.
In the South, where more gospel has been preached, you'll usually find.
Something of an understanding that you're either saved or lost again, because I can say this for the Southern Baptist, although they're slipping at one time, they did preach their the necessity of salvation through the work of Christ and there were either those that were saved or were those that were lost.
Because when it says one face here it's just simply the Christian faith in contrast with, say, the Muhammadan faith. So what is introduced into that sphere by baptism, As it says in Galatians 3, As many of you as have been baptized under Christ have put on Christ.
It doesn't mean that one actually puts on Christ in baptism. If that were so, salvation would be by baptism, but the name of Christ is placed upon them. But is often said when one is baptized. If we just printed Christ on a card and hammered around their neck, it would help to understand what baptism really is. It brings them into the sphere on earth where they bear the name of Christ. This is a great responsibility and that is what.
Before us, and the message that was preached here from the platform last night, perhaps preached to those who were in that sphere of profession, but reminding them that that wasn't enough. They needed to personally have Christ as their savior. And so it's very important that we see that there is such a thing and God owns that on earth as a sphere.
Who are in a special place of privilege You turn over to Romans. You'll see this.
Romans Chapter 11, Romans 11, and verse 17. And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou being a wild olive tree, were graft in among them, and with them. For take us to the root and hotness of the olive tree. Boast not against the branches, but if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
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Thou will say them the branches were broken off that I might be grabbed in.
Well, because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not high minded, but fear. For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest He also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God on them, which fell severity but toward the goodness, if thou continue in His goodness otherwise.
Thou also shall be cut off.
And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graft in, or God is able to graft them in.
Israel occupied a special place of privilege and favor, but when they rejected their Messiah nationally, they lost that place. The Gentile has been brought into this place of privilege and favor, and now if he doesn't continue in the goodness of God, he's going to lose that place that he occupies now in the favor of God.
And when it speaks of faith, it speaks of it in the broad sense here as we have it in our chapter.
And you say, well, if a person has faith, isn't he saved? Well, it must be living faith. It tells us in the end of the second of John. Many believed in His name when they saw the miracles which he did, but Jesus did not commit Himself unto them. He knew all men, and needed not that any should testify of man, for He knew what was in man. We find also in the 8th chapter of Acts a man who believed and was.
But he only had it in his head, and Peter had to say to him, Thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Well, I mentioned this to show that the Scripture gives us to see that there is such a thing as being in a position of privilege and favor without light.
And so Israel had that place. The Christian world that occupies that place, now about many are only in the place by profession, and unless they have personally received the Lord Jesus as their Savior, they're still lost souls.
We cannot deny that they're in a place of privilege and that the name of Christ has been called upon them.