Pella Conference: 1992
Table of Contents
24 Hrs. in the Life of the Lord
Address—T. Roach
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52.
Oh my God.
Take the throne.
Near my constant.
And I can be later.
Want to go and went to third nursing home to visit a man whom we knew to be a Christian, right? Happy Christian. He had suffered a stroke at the age of 39 and he didn't capacitated. He'd been a preacher and he said.
It had a verse on it that John 316 on it and he said I don't understand it.
I don't know how you would react. It really stunned me. Didn't understand John 316.
Said Jordan. I don't understand what do you mean you don't understand John 316, he's.
For God so loved the world to understand.
But I wonder if any of us really understand that. I know I asked some children one time in the little world. That's nice. They understand a little bit about the love of the Lord Jesus. But.
You know we'll be all eternity examining those riches of His grace and wondering about his love. Why did he love us? But I like to look tonight, this afternoon and a little bit of a little portion of the Lords life 44 hours approximately before he gave up his life on the cross. And if we don't understand his love, we can enjoy His love and let it fulfill our hearts and and attract our hearts to himself.
00:05:21
Let's start in Luke 22 and we'll look at those last, I believe about a 24 hour period just before the Lord gave up his life on the cross and then leave him.
On the cross, you'll just go a little beyond that. See it's resurrection and ascension too. But.
We'll start with what may have been just about 24 hours before he gave up his life, Luke 22 and verse one.
Now the feast of unleavened Bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover, and the chief priests and scribes saw how they might kill him, but they feared the people. Then I heard Satan into Judas surname, Hesperia, being of the number of 12, he went his way and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them. And they were glad the covenant had been given money, and he promised them sought opportunity to betray him unto them.
In the absence of the multitude, then came the day of unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. And he sent Peter and John saying, Go and prepare us the Passover, that we may eat. And they said away him, Where wilt thou that we prepare? And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you bearing a pitcher of water. Follow him into the house where he entereth in.
And ye shall say unto the good men of the house, the master said unto thee, Where is the guest chamber, where I shall eat the Passover with my disciples? And he shall show you a large carpet room furnished there made ready they went and found, as he had set up for them, and they made ready to pass over. And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the 12 apostles with him. And he said unto them with desire, a desire to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.
Before I say unto you, I will not anymore eat thereof until it be fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.
And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this and divide it among yourselves. They're saying to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the Kingdom of God shall come. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and break it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body, which is given for you, this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also a cup after supper, saying, This cup is the New Testament in my blood.
Which is shed for you. But behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me, is with me on the table. Truly the sort of man goeth as it was determined with wool of that man by whom he is betrayed. They began to inquire among themselves which of them it was, and should do this thing, and it was also a strike among them Which of them should be accounted to grace. Hopefully we can stop there.
First of all.
You might wonder if the Lord Jesus is going to be the Passover himself and we find out in First Corinthians he is it's Christ, our past sacrifice for us. How can the Lord then eat the Passover and 24 hours later feed the Passover and all be in the right time? Well, I believe if we search out those verses in Exodus 12 and also again in numbers if you look at it in the in the Dhabi translation.
It gives the time as between the two evenings, between the two evenings, so had sun down something that it was Friday night at the Lord Jesus night on sundown on Thursday night, our Thursday night, they could kill the Passover and eat it. And the following day, in our way of reckoning before sundown, there was another property. It was all within that boundary, A proper time to kill the castle between the two eatons.
So this is going to be the early part and it's going to die at the latter part. And I believe it's all right in the right the proper timing of killing the Passover.
How to avoid flipping back and forth? I'm going to just refer to some other verses in. I believe it's Matthew the chief priests when they're trying to.
Plot to do away with the Lord Jesus, it said Among themselves, not on the peace trade as could be an uproar among the people.
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And it says in verse 7 here, Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread when the Passover must be killed.
That's what God says. Passover must be filled. And they said not on the feast day. Well, it wasn't hard to decide which one is going to win out, is it? We know that God's purposes will take place in due time, and nothing can frustrate that. This man might plot and plan, but God's purpose is going to be fulfilled as a property kind. And so it was. And then the Passover.
Had to be eaten at a certain place, we know. In Deuteronomy it says that.
You shall not eat the Passover any place that you see, but it must be in the place which the Lord Diljal choose there after that Passover. So when the Lord says to Peter and John going for Paris to Passover, that we may eat, they say unto him, Where wilt thou we?
Is too bad for Christians don't ask a question like that because God is specific directions. He gives them specific direction to find a place that the Lord chose. And it must have been that this good man in the house knew the Lord.
Matthew, you would find that the message is the master set. My time is coming. Where is the guest? My time is coming. So that man must have had some acquaintance with the Lord and that he was going to die.
Well, they follow the directions.
Very specific directions and a very instructive chapter. But we don't want to get sidetracked into the details of the chapter because we'd like to follow through this whole period of time in the Lords life. But I do like the 13th verse, and I can never pass over without commenting on it, because the specific directions were given and you might think of all kinds of excuses why it might not work. Maybe the.
Chambers already been used. It's already worked. It can't be. The Lord sends them there and they went and found as he was set up to them and they ready to pass it so many times. The excuses are made and reasons were given.
That following the Scripture might not work, but what about so and so? Well, if we just try it, we go, we'll find just as you said unto us.
When the hour was come, he sat down and 12 apostles went.
I believe he sat down first.
First one there, and it's nice to see folks try to do it myself. Sit down beforehand before the appointed time and sometimes we get a topic and.
We forget that and the last minute.
Well, it's nice as we can if we have the time that we're able. I know that at home there's some folks, even on the midweek meeting particularly, they barely have time to get home and need a quick supper, turn around and come over to the meeting. And we're happy to see them, even if they do arrive at the last minute or two minutes later.
The Lord knows.
The Lord sat down the troll of councils with him and he said with desire. I have desire to eat this castle with you before I stop. Now I know it's talking about the Passover, but it shows the Lorde own desire.
And I like to think of that particularly when someone just nearly has taken the place at the Lords table, especially a young person. You know, you see them, they're happy in the Lord and when they take that step, they really seem to be extra happy. And then like to tell them, you know, the Lord is happy too. If you're happy, he's happy. He says with desire, I'm desire, deepest Passover. If the Lord desire to have his own around himself.
Well, he does then go down in verse 19 to institute the.
Also the the Lord suffered his suffer from the breaking of bread and drinking of the cup.
And.
A lot of things that we talked about that the Lord is going to do in this 24 hour period is astonishing in one way.
That when we face real trouble and danger or pain in our lives, we generally narrow our thinking right down to ourselves.
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We're not so concerned about others.
Subtract from time to other an accident where this man was pinned under a truck. There was no talk about his soul, but it kept us off and kept this off of me until he finally passed away.
Well, it was only the only think of himself. One little narrow thing there, but we'll find that the Lord Jesus will be face the cross. And he knew it. She had it on.
That he was going to suffer and that he was going to lay down his life and be fully treated. He knew He knew all that, but we'll find numerous times. His concern is for others. His concern was for His disciples here, and to give them that peace of remembrance is a.
It's nothing new that they didn't understand because back in Jeremiah 16, it speaks there with time in Israel when things will be so upset, disturbed, that that even if a near relative died, they would not break bread for them or give the cup of consolation.
It was something they apparently did at a funeral or some kind of love, that period of time. And it was, it was something known to do for one who would die. And so the Lord says to do this is passed on to us in Corinthians that we're to do this, not just the Jewish disciples, but we as Christians in this age, we're to show forth His death in the red drinking of the cup.
And it was something that was done, for the death of the Lord is living.
Put that together well, I can use the illustration. I remember hearing my father use that. When men want to remember somebody, Some great hero that has passed on, passed on. They make a statue of that person as he was in life. He or she wasn't like they want to remember them as they were. But the Lord is living. He's living, so we remember him as he was.
That he wants to ask.
That that's to me significant. That we show forth his death and the breaking of dread, and that the slot he given for us is blood separate.
Well, it's just a little by the way.
But again, we have the Lord here, facing these dreadful things, is going to be made sin for us. You'll see that when we come to the garden. But it was a terrible thing to be made thin, and we don't have to appreciate that. But we're not mad.
The Lord was facing these things. You would hope that he would have some comfort from his own.
But he has to speak of what was going to betray them.
When he mentioned it in John's Gospel, it says that.
Looked one upon another.
I believe that was the first reaction. They looked one upon another. If someone could accurately tell us that someone in this room right now is going to do a dreadful thing. I don't think any of those are good things, Will or I'm probably the one who that could be. Well, that was the first reaction that you're a bit. They must have really gotten down to it. Well, maybe they looked around and similarly beyond.
Here and and they finally said.
Lord, is it I, Lord, is it I? I think that's a healthy exercise for us, Lord of the Eye. And so the Lord had to had the problem of that.
No doubt grieve his heart. And then in verse 24 it says there was a strike among them. Which of them should be accounted the greatest? That wasn't the first time they did that. But that was a terrible thing for the Lord to have to deal with when he had such great problems he might say himself to have to deal with.
This argument among his own and yet.
Talking about that, well, there's so many things that you have to deal with among them.
In.
Well, I guess we'll go on to verse 31, although it doesn't come here in Time Warner, but the Lord had to say to Peter, says Simon, Simon, Behold, Satan has desired to have you that he may sift you as weak. So I have prayed for you. If I pray fail not and when thou art converted.
Strengthened by forever. And he said to him, Lord, I'm ready to go with thee both in the prison with death, he said. I tell thee, Peter talks will not curl this day before the thou shall Christ deny and Allison.
00:20:06
Well, that was something that the Lord Jesus had to deal with too, and he never omitted one thing that he had to do. And yet it must have been a wait in his mind, because as a man he he really went through these things. We can't think that because Jesus is God that.
Doing these things as man was easy for him. It was just as much of a trial as it would be an endless he would feel the pain, he would feel the thirst, he would feel the forsaken. He did understand that, just like we do here, appreciate that deal.
You would feel that. And so he deals with Peter here that Peter was going to deny. And Peter doesn't believe it. He had to find out the hard way. Much like ourselves, we have to find out by failure what he really was.
You can hold your place here because we come back and let's go over to John 13.
Doesn't believe this took place. It's often referred to as the upper rural ministry took place.
While they were in that house after the Passover.
Well, it starts out speaking about before the feast of the Passover.
I don't know if I really understand that, except that it may be that the Lord was.
Thinking of this before they actually sat down, because verse two says something being ended is read from verse one now before the feast of the Passover when Jesus knew that his hour was coming that he could be part out of this world unto the problem. Having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them.
Onto the end.
Suffer being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, signing Son to betray Jesus, known that the Father had given all things into his hands, that he was come from God and went to God. He rises from supper and laid aside his garments and took a towel and girded himself. After that he poured water into a basin and began to watch the disciples feet wipe them with a towel, they would be his burden.
I don't want to just go on and read that whole thing that's familiar to us and we don't have time to go into the details of all of these things, but.
The Lord Jesus would take the time to wash his disciples feet. Please think of what was before Bronx was before him the dreadfulness of being made sin.
Here he is watching his disciples feet.
Maybe 3 Verse seven. And Jesus answered and said of me, and what I do thou knowest not now that thou shalt know Hereafter I believe he was just teaching us.
A lesson. If we were to literally wash one another's feet, he wouldn't need to say that we would know. They would have known. But he said we'll know hereafter there was something.
That did suit for, and we believe now that it has to do with dealing with each other, with the water of the water, the word of God encouraging one another, and so on. We do get our 55. The Lord would take care of that and humble himself and take off his garments and do himself with a towel.
Servant the ability of the Lord Jesus and bear in mind that this is just before he was going to be apprehended or taken to the cross.
And while we're looking at these things, recognize that time is passing. They had killed and took a Passover lab and they had eaten it and they had these discussions. And time is passing and it's getting later and later, and we'll see that when we get to the garden.
Cycles fell asleep, and no doubt was in the small hours of the morning at that time. But here we have the Lord speaking to them in in chapter 14.
Let not your heart be troubled.
Trouble.
In legal funding in 11/12/13 John, his heart was struggled, he was troubled in spirit, but he said let not your father be trouble.
Who's going to pass through some dreadful things, but what he wants for his own?
Comfort his own. Let not your heart be troubled, but just think of him now living for us. He's passed through the cross and he's now reaching for us. If he said it, then so much more now he said. Let not your heart be troubled. Why should we be troubled? He's living for us. These are all powerful. He's out of life, he will say to us trouble.
00:25:19
And many things I said in these chapters. But I'd like to just skim over to the 15th chapter and verse 9. As the Father have loved me, so have I loved you, continued me in my love. If you keep My commandments, you shall abide in My love. Even as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His life, these things have I spoken unto you that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be true.
Expect how loving the Lord wants to be, concerned that the joy of his own will be full. Not half full, but full. And if you see, it's connected here with obedience.
And in the 16th chapter we have the same expression in verse 24.
Either two have you asked nothing in my name. Ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. Now the joy is full, It connects with dependence. Obedience and dependence can bring that full joy. And the 17th chapter in his prayer.
He speaks of in verse 11.
And now I'm no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee, Holy Father, keep through thy own name those whom thou hast given me, but they may be one as we are speaking.
Joy down in verse 13, they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves and communion.
So those three things.
Together would give us full joy, the obedience and dependence and communion.
When another with the Lord.
You know, we go back to John again, but we'll now go back to Luke for a moment and and the 13th, 39th verse of that 22nd chapter.
Mentioned before that it was a little out of time, order, and Speaking of the Lord spoke to Peter.
Both Matthew and Mark, that was after they went out to the Mount of Olives that he spoke to Peter.
After the great deal of difference, so the Lord has spoken these things, and they were about to be. He was about to be apprehended by the soldiers that came with Judas, and he spoke that.
So in verse 39 of Luke 22 he came out and went to see those custom.
To the mount of Olives. And his disciples also followed him. And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that the ender not into temptation, And he was withdrawn from then about a stones cast, kneeled down, and prayed, saying, Father, if thou be willing remove this cup from me, nevertheless not my will but thine be done. And there appeared an Angel unto him from heaven.
Strengthening him and being in an agony, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was as it were, great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
And when he rose up from prayer, come to his disciples, He found them sleeping with sorrow.
And just imagine the time has passed and disciples had been busy to move out the day before the Ghana prepared the Passover, deep the Passover. And they're talking and that upper room. And now they've gone out to the front of olives and it's late at night. And the Lord prayed three times. You know how long the mother prayed?
There, but the disciples fell asleep. You know an amount of transfiguration. You fall asleep too. It's hard to understand how how they would fall asleep there. Because the Lord was transfigured before them and his face was shining like the sun and He had. They seek to fall asleep there too. And it says when they were fully awake then they beheld His glory. But here they they don't. They don't really enter into it. They don't understand.
That the Lord is about to suffer, but he certainly.
Fully understand, it goes over in prayer with the Father. And so when the time comes and he's about to be offered up, he's come. He's at peace because he's already settled it between himself and the Father. This was the Father's. Will he please if it's possible, at this tough pass from me. Nevertheless, not my will but mine began.
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It's something I marvel at here. In verse 44 it says that being in an agony, he prayed more permanently.
Says more. I don't understand that. I don't understand how he could pray more honestly because he would be talking about 100% to start with. I believe what it does is gives us some magnitude of what we expect, that it was a dreadful thing for the holy one of God to be made sin and a very feeble illustration of this. I'm sure we all can relate to it, especially with with children.
Maybe there's a crash in the other room and parents come running in to find out what happened. No one wants to get blamed, so the ones who weren't to blame say I didn't do it, I didn't do it. Nor if you were to say did you do that.
We don't want to be blamed for something that didn't do. Understand that. You don't want to be blamed for something we didn't do. And here we and yet we might have done the same thing on another occasion, but this time we're clean. The Lord Jesus universe.
And never had anything on anything. And he was going to be made sin and have the sins of all redeemed put upon him. Because don't be sins it would be so defy it was something he shrunk from it, but he was willing to do the Father's will.
Even though it meant being made sin for us and all, thankfully we can be no wonder Gordon Chapel couldn't understand the love of God because it was beyond it. And can we say that we really understand that it's it's before that we can take in fully one of time he made sin.
Terrible thing, sin upon him.
Well, I'm stressed. Go over to John's Gospel again through 18 chapter because we're still seeing him in the garden there.
Again, the Lord could have avoided this confrontation because beginning at verse one is when Jesus had spoken these words He went forth with disciples over the brook Sedrons.
Where it was a garden into the into the which he entered, and his disciples and Judas also would betray him in the place where Jesus often is resorted to their with his disciples.
So we could easily see if you don't want to be apprehended by Judas, you just don't go there. The Lord went there because he'd come to die. He'd come into this world on purpose. You remember the story of this America called the Samaritan?
He came to the place where that wounded man was and he found out his wounds poured in oil and wine. Someone said to me how? How come he had the oil and the wine and the bandage?
Became on purpose. It was his intention to come, and the Lord Jesus came on purpose to wear ourselves.
Came as he became a man, for the suffering of death made a little lower than the Angel. He came on purpose, and so that purpose was to lay down his life in the tent of John, he says He laid it down of himself. No one would take it from him. And the power to lay it down, and he had the power to take it again. And so he came there. I'd like to just look at verse 11.
In the middle of the verse was again in connection with Peter drawn and sword. In the middle of the verse the Lord says the cup which my Father hath given me, Shall I not drink it?
The acceptability of arms will keep.
Completely accepted. The ruling Father shall not drink, so he goes to the cross.
That's AI believe a mark remarkable statement.
He We think of how much men did to the Lord Jesus, but he said the cup.
My father.
Has never forget that. But Father laid this on him. Everything was in control. It wasn't out of control. Looks like it when you see Judas and that band and the thing that the soldiers did, the chief priests did.
00:35:14
Dreadful things, but everything is in control.
I'd like to go back to Matthew now.
26.
Because the Lord was apprehended there in that garden and.
Taken through to the High Priest Palace.
Passover. One little touch, even the 50th verse when Judas came out there to to betray the Lord.
Jesus said unto him, Friend.
What do you think that was melting down? Didn't you think that would touch Judas heart with all the intention that he had the the greed for that money. And it may be that he thought the Lord was somebody miraculously as he done before and Judas would be 30 pieces of silver to the earth, but here the Lord is apprehended and.
By Judas. The Lord called him friend. Friend. Well, Satan had taken possession of him and wasn't going to let this depend on Judas.
But I do like that little touch, Lord calling through this friend at that point.
Well, to go down in this chapter.
There's 57. He's LED away to the high Priest, and even that is a remarkable thing. Here is the greater and upholder of the universe being LED away by a matter of ruffians.
He had healed the ear of that servant. His ear had been cut off, and it says they bound him and.
The hardness of a human heart can we salivate? How to avoid our hearts? To take that hand that has touched and healed that man and by his hands, and then lead him alone? He goes willingly, because it was the cup that his father had given him to drink.
Well, they pressed the Lord to to confess who he was. Jesus was speaking to them when they made the false accusations. But in verse 63, the high priest.
Answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that that tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. But that was the truth, and he acknowledged it. You know, the Lord Jesus was not put to death.
Or falsehood.
Both witnesses did not put him to death.
There were two reasons they had for putting him to death, and both were true. This is one of them. He's the Son of God. He is the king of the Jews.
It's interesting his answer, verse 64, Jesus says unto them.
Said that is he acknowledged being the Son of God. And he said, Nevertheless, I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man.
Sitting on the right hand of the path of power and coming from the clouds of heaven.
It was a remarkable answer in a covered 4 Old Testament scriptures right there, which tells Jewish people those streets knew.
The Son of God Psalm two, Son of Man Psalm 8, sitting on the right hand of power. Psalm 110 and coming in the clouds of heaven, Daniel 7/24.
4th expression of the Lord Jesus. How could they doubt who he was he really was?
And then the high priest rent his clothes.
Who's trying to do everything in the huge Jesus of falsehood? If you read Leviticus 21, you applying that, among other things, the High Priest Who God's chosen High priest who is to be holy? One of the things you would never to do is surrenders clothes to do.
And here he goes. He goes his clothes.
And yet they wouldn't come into the judgment hall of McCann and John. He doesn't come into. They won't come into the judgment hall because they don't want to defile themselves at the holy day. They want to keep capacity.
00:40:03
Which speaks of the death of the Lord Jesus. So inconsistent man is, and yet the Lord will just bring these things before them.
Verse 67 Then did they spit in his face?
In the next chapter we have the Roman soldiers sitting on him, but of those Jewish people, they spit into space.
That was more than just a disgusting thing that none of us would want to have happened to us, but it was a special insult to a Jewish person to have someone spit in the face. Remember the time that Miriam complained about Moses? And she was she became a leper and Aaron said pray for her that should be recovered and she was but positive. Her father that could spit in her face, would she not be unclean? So they had to shut her out of the camp for seven days.
So it was a it was a special insult that they were doing to the Lord here and buffeted him and others smoking with the palms of their hands saying prophecy to us about Christ. Who is he that Smokey. Then we have about Peters denial.
And it's back in Luke where the Lord turned and looked on him. Now we're really getting into something where none of us, I don't think, would be able to keep ourselves under control. And if they're beating us, they're insulting us. And then Peter denies the Lord. The cup grows and the Lord turns.
Time now and all they're doing.
They might be smacking about the very time he's doing this, but he turns into looking.
No wonder people will not work there.
Peter down to think of what the Lord was enduring and he wasn't willing to stand by. You know what was restored. And I think it's Walston that mentions that in theaters 2 Epistles. You see how often the result of Peter's failure and how he has learned from it. And one thing that I find sometimes, I always find those things that people mention in their comments like that. But I I can see one verse.
And it's the first Peter 3.
15 I think it is Sanctify the Lord God in your heart, and be ready always to give an answer to them that asked a reasonable hope within you to make us in fear.
Sanctify the Lord in your heart, Peter, is as much as saying, I didn't do that. I stayed at a distance, I kept away, and I didn't have the Lord separated in my heart, and I failed when I denied it. So he's saying He's pleading with us, the Lord keep the Lord there and don't deny him.
49 Be ready to give an answer. Someone asked. It might take your life. He doesn't mention that, but he said.
And how many times we look back at our own lives, have we?
To speak a word in his favor, you know, it doesn't have to be much. Let's think of a side here, but in the 7th of John where Nicodemus is present among the other Pharisees, when the officers come back and they said, why did she bring Jesus? Why didn't you bring him? They said man, man spake like this. And then Nicodemus says, does our law judge any man before it hear him?
But they detected something in the favor of the Lord. There Nicodemus is taught, and I said, are you?
So they sometimes we we may be afraid to come out clearly and confess in the Lord, but they already know there's some connection there.
They know there's something that makes us strange, makes us different, and we might as well let them know what it is.
And that so many times. But we need to sanctify the Lord in our heart. If we have the Lord right before us in our heart, then when the opportunity comes, we'll be able to answer for Him.
Like the zigzag around too much. If you want to hold your place in Matthew here, we'll go over to John 19 again just.
So the glory of God is to conceal a matter and the.
Glory of kings matter. So God has concealed these things in various places and we have to search them out.
The 19th of John.
I don't know how it is with you, but oftentimes I can read this chapter and I'm way down a few verses from.
00:45:07
Look at the first verse for example. We can pass over about thinking. Then Pilot therefore took Jesus and scourged him.
Spurgeon pull the whip.
I don't think anybody here, including myself, they would want to be whipped even with a nice smooth leather belt, let alone with enrollments and without speculating on what it was like, we have the scripture that says in Isaiah, I gave my back to the smugglers and in the song I had the 129, it says they plowed upon their back and they long their curls. So this was no little beating. This was.
A pilot spurs Jesus.
Doesn't take many words to say it was a awful thing he endured. And then when you think that he was nailed to the cross, I hear this rock tree behind it and he's nailed there. And for every breath he has to move up and sag down in a shrapnel back. That must have been fairly painful.
And then in verse two it says the soldiers cited a crown of thorns and put it on his head.
I suppose at some time or other, everyone of us has stepped on a phone or stepped on my finger, but the big roses and what happens? You get thorns, don't you? And so we understand a little bit about function.
Woven out of these thorns and put on the head, and then it says that they took the rod and they smoked them with it on the head. And so the Lord Jesus had to endure those insults. And again, I believe the thorns crowning him with thorns was another special insult to the Lord.
Because what the forms come from.
And sin. And when sin came into the world, the first sin brought form. And it's just as if it turned around and say there we got the wrench. And it's a terrible thing because they crowned him with thorns. Not only the pain, but they.
The insult behind it, Well, these things are dreadful. What the Lord Jesus endured and at the same time we find him in. This wasn't the first thing that he said from the cross, but in verse 25, the same chapter, next three verses.
He speaks to his mother and says.
And the apostle John he says, Woman, Behold thy son, son, Behold thy mother.
Under that terrible format of the cross, he's able to manner manage this matter of his mother, the care of his mother, commit her into the hands of.
The care that certainly has.
Yes, we go back to Luke before we go back to Matthew.
But the 23rd of Luke will find the first, what I believe was the first statement of the Lord from the cross.
In verse 34 through 23 then said Jesus.
Father and forgive them, for they know not what they do.
Models were given again. He's thinking of others. He's thinking of those actually. He put them on the fence, those who cried out away with them, crucifying him and those who.
Nailed him to that cross, guarded him there.
Speaking of forgiveness.
Forgiven.
Someone has said that the blood of Christ is so powerful that it could wash away the sins of women.
Trust in the Lord Jesus to take away our sins too, and I hope that everybody here this afternoon has your sins for.
Which we trust in the Lord Jesus. And then there's this thief crucified with the Lord. And he says, Lord in verse 22, Remember Me. And I cometh into thy Kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Barely I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
So again, the Lord is able to think of others.
00:50:00
You know.
Hope we can understand that that we are in pain or we are in deep distress. We seem to narrow right into ourselves. Is that true? You're about that to be true. And yet the Lord Jesus, his heart is going out to others and he would deal with that, that man.
That thief beside him on the cross, Perhaps the man had heard the Lord. No doubt he could have he heard these things.
Because it was said loud enough for others to hear Father forgive them, He knew that there was a message. And then he heard the Lord talk about his mother and commit her into the care of the Apostle. He knew he cared. He knew Jesus cared, and so he would speak to him to the Lord. And you know the Lord Jesus was dying beside him on the cross.
Acknowledges him as Lord and he asks the Lord Jesus to remember things.
That comes in this Kingdom.
Well, what about that? The king is dying. Does he have a Kingdom?
Somehow he must have sensed that the Lord will rise again, that this wasn't the end because he's acknowledging what we have enrolled in line and almost 10 Nine will be written yet, but almost 10/9.
That's before our mouth, The Lord Jesus shall believe in my heart, God of faith.
But it's often on the walls. We know that first, and this man seemed to believe that even before it was written, and he was with the Lord Jesus that very day.
Now we're going forward to Matthew 27 again because of the worst things that ever took place that this next one we're going to read about the.
We didn't touch every detail of what took place when the Lord was on the cross.
Apprehended in the garden early in the morning and taken to the High Priest Palace, and then at the break of day taken over to pilot and condemned there.
And now he's on the cross.
For three hours.
There's 45 and Matthew 27. Now from the 6th hour there was darkness over all the land. Into the ninth hour, and about the 9th hour Jesus cried with a loud voice saying Eli, Eli, Landon Sebastian, as you say, my God, my God, blind thou forsaken me.
That was an awful pride to come from the lips of the Lord Jesus. It shows how much he felt that the awfulness of what took place in those three dark hours, which I believe was someone who was bearing their sins, and the judgment of God was against him there. And he says in Psalm, thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
He doesn't speak, a man doing it and speaking to God and says Styles brought me into the dust of death and he recognized that this was.
John who did this in Isaiah 53 is very plain that.
The Lord hath laid up him the iniquity of us all. It was God who brought those, put those sins, laid those sins upon us. If we had to remember all our sins, and compress them all individually, and never could do it.
Have you forgotten many of them and many things that we did We didn't know they were sins. We thought it was quite all right, but God who knows and we've been on and.
Before the the judgment of God against those sins. And he cried out this font of crying without being forsaken by God. No, you and I as believers will never be forsaken.
The wicked in hell will be forsaken, but you and I, who know the Lord as our Savior, will never have to be for so.
Never forsaken and you wonder why is it that it gives that those strange sounding words that we don't even.
Pronouncing correctly. But there they are, and I think maybe it sequences such an the Spirit of God preserves the very words that the Lord Jesus spoke and the language that is spoken and then translated, so you'll understand it. We want us to get a feeling if you want us to know how awful it was, and he wants us to know what it was said. And he was forsaken by God because he was bearing our sins in his own body on a tree, holding all that after this.
He tried with a loud voice.
It is finished. He bowed his head and dismissed his spirit, and he he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. Even that is quoted from Psalm 31 as in the committed spirit of the hand of God.
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Well, that is the end of the 24 hour period, but it's not the end of the story because you know.
There were two men that God had in reserve, and one of them was a counselor. That part of that council had condemned the Lord to death. But it says specifically that Joseph was not. He did not condemn, he was not part of that decision, and he came along with Nicodemus and to defend the body of the Lord. Jesus and his story waited on a new tomb, Joseph's own new tomb.
You know the Lord is temple, three enemies. We must have a preeminence. He was the first one will be broken up to him. But I think there's something else about that you might remember. Way back in the Old Testament, there's a little story. It only takes a couple of verses to tell, but there was some.
Men carrying a dead body or what A bury this person.
And they saw abandoned Moabites that had come in to rape Israel. And they were spirit, you know, And they said, what are we going to do? And they said, let's put this body in this grave here. And they just put that body in the grave with the tool of the Elisha. And when the man's bones, when his back body hugs the bones of Elijah, he revives and came to life. And others want anybody to think that the Lord was buried in a tomb where there was a prophet or a king or some great man.
And that falls in 25. He was in his own in that new tomb where never man before replayed. And when he was raised from the dead to his God's power, it is God and grace, that greatest power there is raising the Lord from the dead. Well, I didn't still look at the end of the story. He was buried, and we know the third day he rose again. And that isn't the end of the story, because after 40 days.
And he was seen only of believers after that before, many of them 500 at once.
And then they went out to amount of hours to happening with the Lord and while he was speaking to them and blessing them is carried up into heaven.
Remember what the angels said. Why are you standing here looking up into heaven at the same Jesus which you've seen going to heaven shall come in like manner.
He's coming back, coming back. And even that's not the other story that you're going to be with control and it will take endless ages and everything. Quoted right Ephesians 27.
And in the ages to come.
He might show the exceeding riches of his grace and his kindness towards Jesus. They spent about an hour talking about a 24 hour period in the life of the world. Jesus. Imagine what the ages.
And I'm sure that many thoughts came to your mind while I was speaking. And you could say, well, what about this one? And what about that? What about the other? And I'm sure that if we had another hour of discussion, you could all bring forth things that we had to pass.
And we would have a wonderful time discussing further. But imagine Holly Kennedy and he will reveal it himself, things that we could possibly think of, the riches of his grace and finance stories.
Jesus.
188.
It was on that night of deepest darkness, grounded, thickened through deep waters. That is still, for our sins are swimming, thou, Lord, to seek that we should be with grateful hearts, remembering thee.
You know, a part decent one here that isn't safe. And what we've been speaking about is the Savior, the Lord Jesus and what he endured. Put away your sins.
This should be a good time to try. It would be a good time to take them as their savior. Then there's something else I can remember A sister back home years ago. She came faithfully to the meetings and she sung the hymns. She would sing a hymn like this and she went to the horse table. She would sing about her with grateful hearts, remanding the well. I'm happy to say that she did, eventually.
Into place the table of the Lord, show forth his death, and maybe that would exercise someone here too, 188.
01:00:05
From that night.
I gave the glory and darkness promises.
Big water.
'S love and soul and for our sins.
Luke 18:35-10:10
Gospel—T. Roach
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.
Oh, happy to be together again. And the golf school is a wonderful story of God's love, isn't it? Wonderful story of of love. And I like to start with number 96. I like this, the gospel Him. If I gain the world but lost the Savior. Where my life worth living for a day with my yearning heart find rest and comfort in the things that soon must pass away if I gave the world that lost the Savior.
Would my game be worth the toil and strike?
Are all earthly treasures.
The Gift of God Eternal Life number 96 was.
So much.
My sore throat. So like this year?
In the world that wants to save you.
Fingers that cross the night for me.
Without the Savior.
Man sorrow here below, and she turns everything out dark without him.
From the Brightness Years and Endless World.
War.
Wednesday.
00:05:03
Before we sing another film prayer.
I like to sing a little bit of #139.
Let's see. But if your children here and they will remember this and will sing the 1St 2 verses in the chorus of 139.
I can wash away my sins laughing my blood on you.
What can make me fall again?
Oh.
God makes me like that.
No, no, I can't find. I know nothing much to say.
Makes me white as Lord.
Nothing but the blood. Give your eyes.
Lovely. Wonderful him. We were singing.
If I gained the world and lost the Savior, my game be worth the toil and strike. There are two men in the knot and those Gospel of Luke that I want to look at that didn't miss the opportunity to meet the Savior. The end of the 18th and the beginning of the 19th of Luke and we'll disagree these.
Of these incidents took place near the city of Jericho.
And you remember what happened in the Old Testament days of Jericho.
How? There was one person that was spared in that city, in fact, more than one. Because all the family of Rahab were spared. They were in her house and they were spared because of the scarlet line. Scarlet line? A rope of red color.
Remember talking to some children at Sunday school one time?
And remarking to them that.
The the strength of the rope didn't depend on its color. Is there any importance to the color? Because some of them didn't know for sure, but remarked that there's nothing in Scripture that's that's not useful. There's some meaning, there's some reason for telling us the color. And one little girl put up her hand and she said, would it be the blood of Christ? And that's exactly what I think of when I think of that red line in the window of Greyhounds House.
Whenever we saw that girl again, because they moved away, and I trust, I thought that she really was trusting in the Lord Jesus, that she put her trust in that precious blood of the Lord Jesus. And I hope that every one of us here tonight is trusting a real trust in the names of the Lord Jesus rest in his finished work.
So we'll read now from Luke 18 and verse 35.
And it came to pass. Let us be Jesus.
Come nigh to Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the wayside back, and hearing the multitude passed by, he asked what it meant.
And they told him that Jesus of Nazareth passes by, and he cried, saying, Jesus our Son of David, have mercy on me.
And they which went before rebuked him that he should hold his peace. But he cried so much, the more, thou, son of David, have mercy on me.
Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him. And when he was come to come near, he asked him, saying, What will thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
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And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight, Thy faith hath saved thee. And immediately he received the sight, and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw, gave praise unto God. And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans. And he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus, who he was and could not for the press.
Because he was little of stature. And he ran before and climbed up into a Sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, Make haste, and come down, for today I must abide at my house. He made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying that he was gone to be a guest.
With a man that is a Sinner.
Zacchaeus stood and said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor.
And if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, for so much as he also is a son of Abraham, for the son of man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.
One of the men is named in Luke, the other is not. But from the other gospels we believe that the blind man was Spartanius Spartanius.
Start up Timius.
The name Timius means highly prized, highly prized in if any of us were to walk down the street somewhere and see a blind beggar at the side of the road.
And watch the reaction of people as they passed by. You would not think he was considered to be pilot prized. In fact we have seen some blind beggars.
When we're going to the airport in Manila in the Philippines, at a stoplight, they were surrounding the cars and and they each had a a child with them that led them up to the bars when they would stand there with a little plastic cup.
And pulled it out looking for some money. Begging, begging. Well, they weren't highly prized and even the comments of the taxi driver and so on, they weren't highly prized at all. But here was one who was sitting by the highway side, begging. See, I have seen a blind I'm not blind, but beggars that had dirty old clothes and they're sitting on the ground and people were walking by and and they had money. People were giving them some money.
And.
They were just certainly not the kind of people you'd want to sit down with and be close to. They they weren't highly prized by anybody.
They were tolerated, but we'll see what happened to this blind beggar. It came to pass that Jesus came near to Jericho and Jericho. The name of it is Place of Fragrance. Place of Fragrance.
You know when you go to some of those nice warm climates like Jericho, there's a presence in the air. There are so many things in blossom and sweet fragrances of blossoms that permeates the air. And if you're in California, when the orange trees are blossoming, everywhere you go you smell the orange blossoms. Beautiful to notice, and that was Jericho place of fragrance. But we know something else.
About Jericho, if we read in the book of Joshua, when John when the children of Israel destroyed Jericho, they defeated Jericho. Joshua pronounced a curse against that city and he said curse be the man that builds up Jericho again, he'll lay the foundation in his first form.
And you'll set the gates and his youngest son.
That meant, you know, that when he started to build, his oldest son would die, and when he finished, his youngest son would die. And so in the days of Ahab you can see the condition of Israel, the days of Ahab, there was a man named Kyle and he started to rebuild Jericho. And what happened? His first child, his first born, died.
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He stopped. Right on. He probably figured, well, it's a coincidence.
Or if he even knew the scripture, but he went on until he finished in his youngest son, God.
It was a city of a curse. You know what makes me think of this pleasant world? There are some nice things in this world. There are some nice fragrances in this world with some kindnesses shown, and there's some beautiful scenery and nice sunsets and some real nice things in this world. And when you're young, maybe there are lots of things you're looking forward to.
Everybody counts the years until we're 16, so 5:00, and the parents aren't so anxious, but the children are. And it's just a something to look forward to and to feel that power, you know, and you're in control. And there's lots of things that are so nice in this world, but don't forget, the world is condemned.
First, because of sin, it's going to be destroyed. And the same word that promised the flood, which did come, promised that the world will be destroyed again by fire. And yet God, in that same chapter of Peter says he's wrong, suffering, not willing, that he should perish. It's amazing that he is waiting this long. You know what? Israel has been a country over there now since 1948.
And some of us were kind of looking at 1988 as a 40 year period, wondering what would have happened in 1988, whether the Lord would come by then or maybe even before that, seven years before that. And you know it didn't happen. He hasn't come yet 1992, we're still here.
Are those long-suffering these patients? He's waiting. He's waiting. He's waiting. How much longer will he wait?
Knows how much longer he will wait, he says. Surely I come quickly. But he says he's not. He's long-suffering, not willing that any should perish. So when you put those two things together, you really don't know when he's going to come. He's waiting. There's someone yet to be saved somewhere.
Order. Somebody in Palo would be wanting to be saved tonight. Maybe somebody in this room. Wouldn't that be wonderful if that be the last person to come in? A person would get saved tonight and we'd all go up to meet the Lord in the air. What's rejoicing that would be, oh, but it might be somebody over in Africa or India. We don't care where it is. Long as somebody gets saved and and God's house is filled and he's going to come take us home. Well, here was a man that lived in that city of fragrance, the city of the curse. And he was really.
Probably a despised person that people you know usually.
Don't give those people a lot of money, in fact, in those foreign countries.
It's common to to find that the lowest denomination bill is so dirty you can't read it. It's just black, you know. Those are the ones you give to the beggars. Those are the ones you pass on to the beggars, so they're not very highly found. And this blind man who sat by the wayside begging.
But one day he's sitting there and an unusual thing happens. He hears the sound of many feet. He hears crowds of people walking by.
And he asked somebody what? What's going on here? What does it mean? What's happening? And they told him that Jesus of Nazareth masses by Jesus of Nazareth. I want you to notice what the beggar called him. He didn't say Jesus of Nazareth verse 38. He cried, saying, Jesus the Son of David, have mercy on me. That's a difference, isn't it?
I like that Here is the crowd talking about Jesus of Nazareth. Well, Nazareth wasn't a place that was looked up to at all. I suppose they thought more of Jericho than they did of Nazareth and Jesus of Nazareth. Remember when Nathaniel was called, he said can any good thing cannot imagine. And I don't know the the the feelings around here. There might be some town around around Pella here.
People say, oh that place, you know, and and I know that where we live, there are certain places that people kind of look down. If somebody would come from there, even the bank is suspicious about lending the money because they just come from a certain neighborhood, certain place. And so Jesus of Nazareth is not a complimentary name and yet it's in the name of that very one. Salvation is found in in the 4th of acts. It's interesting that.
00:20:20
Those who are opposed to what took place when that lame man was healed, they they asked in what name did you do this? I think that's interesting. They didn't ask what power it was or why did you do it, but they said in whose name did you do it? And that just left it open for Peter and John to say in the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
This despised one Jesus of Nazareth. This commandment is walking now and then, it goes on to say, and neither is there salvation in any other. There's no other name under heaven.
Given among men, whereby we must be saved. But I like the fact that this man appealed to Jesus rather than from Nazareth, but rather son of David, son of David. You wouldn't get the idea of that from the city of Nazareth. If they had said Jesus of Bethlehem, they might think of David, but not as.
That man was divinely taught. That man had some instruction that the people did not, and so he refers to Jesus as the Son of David, son of David. Have mercy on me. And you know, in the prophets it tells us that when Jesus came, when the Messiah came, he would open the eyes of the blind. He would open the eyes of the blind. And this man had reason then to cry out to Jesus and say have mercy on me.
He was not in a position even to offer the Lord money. He was not in a position to talk about his good works. He was not in a position to talk about doing anything. He was just a blonde beggar.
We ask for mercy.
You know what mercy is. You know what it means. If you have to ask for mercy, you've got nothing to go on. You've got no credit. A person that nobody likes to be down and out into the bottom so that they have to ask for mercy. Everybody wants to be able to take care of themselves, but when you come and ask for mercy, you are indicating that you have nothing to give. This man has nothing to offer the Lord only his sins and his blindness. And he asked for mercy.
Well, what do the people do? What do they think of that?
They told them required.
They rebuked him that he should hold his peace, but he cried so much the more. Thou son of David, have mercy on me.
Going to miss his opportunity here was an opportunity to have his sight. He trusted and he was calling out the right person, and he was not willing to miss the opportunity. He wouldn't let it slip by, even though the people were against him. And you know, there's all kinds of pressure against trusting the Lord.
Sometimes. Sometimes it's family, sometimes it's friends. Very often it's other people. If you trust the Lord, somebody is going to make fun of you if you come to the Lord Jesus, especially older people. That's why it's important to be saved when you're young. But older people, they're afraid to lose all their friends. They confess the Lord Jesus, but they forget that they're they're going to have a whole new circle of friends, lots of brothers and sisters in the Lord.
And they let what they think their friends will do pull them back.
This man was not like that. He wouldn't let anything hold him back. The crowd was telling him to be quiet, and he wouldn't be quiet, he called out. So much the more, thou, son of David, have mercy on me.
I like that 40 At first Jesus stood.
Gospels that add the word still Jesus stood still. Here's the Son of God in this world standing still for a poor blind beggar. Someone has said it's a more amazing miracle than the time that the sun stood still when Joshua commanded his son to stand still, his son up there in the heavens. That that would be an amazing thing for to understand. Still the sun on the moon stand still for almost a whole day.
And here's the Son of God. This is the Son, the living Son of God. He's standing still at the crying of a blind beggar.
I think he'd stand still for you. If a Sinner would call on the Lord Jesus, would he stand still for you and believe you work? I believe you work. He came to seek him to save that which was lost. We have that next chapter. And so here is Jesus standing still and commands him to be brought unto him.
00:25:17
When he was a company, come here? He asked him. Jesus asked the blind man Spartanius. He says, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?
The Lord recognizes this man. He was highly prized. He wouldn't be highly prized by the people. He told him to be quiet, but he was highly prized by the Lord, and he would stand still and call the man and then give him a blank check. He says. What will you that I should do for you?
I'm reminded of a story, kind of a sad story, although it may make you smile. I heard this story told in a gospel meeting that there was a blind girl one time and she was asked if Jesus could would stand here and ask you what you wanted. He would give you anything you wanted. What would you ask him for?
And she said I'd ask him for a seeing eye dog.
Well, it's not going high enough, is it? Pretty sad to think that if she could ask Jesus for anything she wanted, that she wouldn't ask for her sight? This man knew what he needed. He knew what he needed.
Verse 41 He said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. I may receive my sight. Do you know what you need? Do you know what you need?
Lost Sinner What does a lost Sinner need to have a sins forgiven and he's the blood of the Lord Jesus to wash those sins away.
What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Receive on sight thy faith, and save what a marvelous thing that is. Sometimes we talk about miracles, and here's a a real miracle. I asked a man one time who was 43 years old and got saved, how'd that happen? And he started to tell his story. It was at his daughter's wedding. And and no, no, it was a miracle.
But then it always is, and I've never forgot that because salvation of a soul is a miracle, no matter what the circumstances are, that that leads to a the Lord walking by this man and just at the right time. He happened to be there that day and and everything worked out.
And God controls those circumstances.
I remember even the fact, well, even the fact that you're here tonight is something that's controlled by God, you might say. Well, my father and mother came and they brought me. I had no choice. Well, that's controlled by God too. That's a wonderful thing. That's a miracle. And to be present when the gospel is preached. Someone walking down the street and hearing the gospel freaks on the street or a track that's passed out.
Might be just the thing that person needs. And so God works these things out. And remember whether very often saying that God brings the people into the meeting and you know, having tent meetings is.
That brings them in, but we were going out and working hard to invite them to join from door to door.
Even risking a dawn like one fell bitten by a dog going to invite people, but unless the Lord brings them in, they don't. You could go around and and invite hundreds of people and maybe none of them will come in. So thankfully if we hear the gospel God brought it to pass and even that is worked out, we we might think it's circumstances.
And so on. But God has brought to pass, He brought this man in contact with himself.
So he received a sight. Immediately. He received his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people they saw gave praise unto God. And that's a beautiful thing. When it works out to the praise and glory of God. Not everybody admits it. You know, you don't hear people saying unsaved people saying praise the Lord when somebody got saved. But they noticed it. They noticed it when it's a testimony to them.
And I remember a man was privileged to meet over a Newfoundland. Further, Eric Pilkington had been there the night, sick of the night in which he accepted the Lord. He heard the gospel many times. His name was Hedley Boyd, and for several years he's been exercised about salvation. But he had some habits he was concerned about, didn't think he could give them up. He was. This was a hindrance to him. The crowd was a hindrance to this man, but these habits were.
00:30:11
A hindrance to Mr. Boyd Headley Boyd.
But this one night after he heard the gospel again, couldn't sleep, and he knew he was concerned. He needed to be saved and this was going to be the night. So he got down on his knees and he admitted to God that he was a Sinner when he asked the Lord Jesus to save him, take away his sins, and to take away his habits.
As the habit disappeared, he said he never had a desire after that.
And his other concern was just like this man, the people. Well, what will the people in the village think? You know, the people have The people in the village are happy. Many of them probably were Christians and they were happy to hear that Mister Boycott saved 60 years old. He wants me to get saved. Won't wait till you're 60 years old. You're not saved. Come to the Lord Jesus while you're young. When Mr. Boyd had a very happy life. And I. This is way off in the north and and we're just enjoying a little time together.
And he was telling us about the old days and how deep the snow would get. And it was just buried everything. His father had a potato seller, and he was digging in the snow, trying to find the door. And he was digging all morning. And finally a lady who lived across the street said, are you looking for your taste? So he said yes. Well, she said, if you just move over a little bit. So he lost his landmark where she was sitting in her living room. She did this where the opening was.
Oh, he told stories like this about how hard times were in the old days, and his wife said I'd leave, told them about the hard times. Why don't you tell them about some of the good times we used to have? I didn't know what she meant by that, being partying or something. But he slipped his wife and he said, well, to tell you the truth.
I've only had a good time since Jesus took my sins away.
And that spoke to me. I thought, that is amazing. What do you consider a good time? Is it when you look back and find the time that Jesus took your sins away? The fact that your sins are gone? What do I think is a good time? Wonderful time, Mr. Boyd appreciated that. I think you only lived about three years as a Christian, but they were happy years for him. And our memories of her passion too. Well, don't let anything stand in your way of coming to the Lord Jesus.
He wants to save you.
Now we go into the 19th chapter and there's a man that all of you know, children know about, this man who sing songs about him, Zacchaeus.
And his name means fewer.
You know the Apostle Paul. He could tell all the wonderful things that he had to his credit as touching the law. Blameless.
Nobody could say are you stole something, you know, just touching your blades. There was nothing. Outwardly Paul admits to something in the 7th of Romans that it was covetousness that got it. The law put the Bender on it, but outwardly he was an upright man. I believe Zacchaeus was like that, too pure. They needed salvation and he got it that day. He needed salvation. It says he was. He was chief among the publicans.
And he was rich. Here's another man that would have been despised by the people they looked down on on Republicans because they're they were tax collectors, and they had a different system than they have here.
And supposedly our system is fair, but it isn't exactly. But in those days the the tax collector would decide how much money a person was worth and charge them accordingly.
And if they weren't upright men, many of them were not. They would overcharge. They figure it was so much easier to pay the government so much, and then he would pass on the correct amount of the rest of his own topic. And so they were hated. And that's how they many of them got rich. But I don't think Zacchaeus was that kind of a man. As we read on, we'll find that out. But here is another person that did not let the opportunity.
Slip by, he did not waste his opportunity.
He wanted to see Jesus verse three, who he was and he was just a curiosity. He wanted to find Jesus and could not for the press because he was little with stature.
00:35:07
I suppose there's sometimes you must have a parade here in colony. How many parades here? And sometimes you have a parade. And if you're you're young and you're small and you want to see the parade and there's people pressed up together and there are three deep quarters and here in the back all you can see is the back of a people you can't see what's going on. And that's what's this problem was he was so small he couldn't see Jesus because of the crowd.
And remember, he was a rich man. This tells us how earnest he was, how important he considered this. Seeing Jesus, he ran. He ran. You don't expect to see rich man running. Do you see rich man running? They driving in cars, but they don't run down the street. This man was running and climbed up into a Sycamore tree. He climbed up in a tree. Now those of you who are young, you like to climb trees you don't often see.
Older people, fundamentally especially were dressed like this.
Shoes aren't the right kind of slip. You don't climb trees. But this man was so interested in seeing Jesus, he didn't collect that pass by. It didn't matter if the people laughed and said look at that rich man, look at he's all dressed up and he's climbing a tree. He doesn't care.
He wanted to see Jesus. He didn't let the opportunity pass. And so he went and he climbed up into the tree. He knew which way Jesus would pass, And now again we find Jesus looking up.
There were crowds of people, but they weren't that interested in the person of the Lord Jesus. They were interested in maybe seeing a miracle, they were interested in getting fed or something like that, but they weren't so interested in that person. But Jesus came along when he was. He knew. He knows what we want. He knows what we're thinking about. He knows how concerned we are about our own souls and how much we really want to know him. And he knew about Jesus. He knew about Zacchaeus, that he was up in that tree.
But there was a really interesting person up there, so he came along and came to the place and he looked up.
And saw him respond, and he said to Zacchaeus, make haste, hurry up, hurry, and come down for today, and must abide at thy house, and he.
Hurry, that's what these things hurried. He he he wasn't wasting anytime. He hurried and came down and received him joyfully.
Must have made the crowd wonder as they saw Jesus stop and talk to this man, rather out than he was dealing with any of them, apparently, But this man was so interested.
When they saw it see the crowd had a the crowd. The people had an objection. It's the people that hold people back. People hold people back from becoming Christians.
It says when they saw it they all murmured, saying that he was gone to be against with a man that is a Sinner.
Well, we know that Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. It was his purpose to come to be with Sinner and to save sinners. And that's why we have a gospel meeting tonight, because there might be a Sinner present. When Jesus wants to meet that Sinner, he wants you to meet him. He wants you to be concerned.
And want to meet him. And so the people were holding him back, were complaining. Here he must have been embarrassing, because in verse 8 Zacchaeus stood. And he said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I've taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him forefold. I notice he doesn't say he will do it as though he has as the result of salvation. I believe he was an upright man.
There are upright centers too. There are people who.
Go to church and maybe give money to charity and maybe they're kind to their neighbors and they they don't cheat on their income tax and all that. And yet there's.
And they need the Savior. And I believe Zacchaeus was one like that. He he did marvelous things.
And yet my Lord Jesus says this day his salvation come to this house. It wasn't because of all those things that he did that didn't make him a Christian, but this day his salvation come to this house.
For for so much as he also was the son of Abraham, he was one who was earnestly seeking the Lord Jesus. He wanted to see the Lord Jesus and someone who said, if a person is earnestly seeking the Lord Jesus and the Savior seeking person won't belong to get together.
00:40:06
So the Lord Jesus came along the way and looked up on the tree. And there is a case Zacchaeus was seeking him. He was seeking.
And the world will seek examples. Zacchaeus stood and said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor, have taken anything from any man but false accusation, and restore him fourfold. Well, that was quite a quite a thing for Zakias to say. He received salvation that day. Sometimes those are the people that are so difficult to reach. They count on their good works. They count on the fact that.
They come to Sunday school every week and say they're worse and they're never given detention at school and they get good marks.
And their mommy and daddy are going to heaven.
Boys and girls, they're lost. You need safer. You need to trust them for yourself.
The Lord Jesus said This day is salvation come to this house.
This day, what a wonderful statement that would be if that would happen tonight, someone would come to the Lord Jesus. There would be salvation in that house.
And then in verse 10 it says for the Son of man has come to seek and to save that which was lost, seeking to save that which was lost. Lord Jesus is still seeking the lost. The same man that I mentioned that was 43 years old when he got saved, he sent me a letter one time.
I believe it was around the end of the year and Christmas time and he wrote on the outside of the envelope. Wise men still see Christ.
Wiseman still seek quest?
Who's wise enough to seek the Lord, Zacchaeus the blind man was, and it's a Sinner here tonight. I hope you're wise enough to seek the Lord, because the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.
That's another indication that Zacchaeus was a lost man. Even though he may have done some good things, he was a philanthropist.
He did some good things, but he was lost, and this day he received salvation. Well, these are marvelous things that took place there at the at the city of Jericho. And these are things that will take place in this world. Is a seeking Sinner and a seeking savior. You'll meet.
The meat and the Lord Jesus has come to seek you, and are you seeking him Well, thankful we are that.
For many of us here, we know the Lord Jesus as our savior. And I suppose if we went around the room and tried to find out now, how old were you when you were saved, we would find out that most everybody in this room. I don't know when anybody was saved from his room except himself.
And my wife, maybe we don't even know for sure. But in early years, and I dare say that everyone else in this room might be an exception or two. It's saved in childhood, might be an exception or two. I did ask some brothers one time at a conference. Some of the brothers that take part in the meetings, you know, how old were you when you were saved? Oh, I'm not so sure. But about 7:00. Well, I'm not. I don't really know for sure. But about 10.
And all of them but one, one brother said. I was 3232 and was.
Well, the Lord can save people of any age. I know a man who was in his 90s when he was saved. We know of a man who knew his groceries, now 94, but he was 51 when he was saved, and he still wants to tell people about the Lord Jesus. She's eager to tell them about the Lord Jesus. And I think it seems like the Lord has given him almost an equal time as a Christian, as he had before he was saved to get it right on in years. But he, he's a soul winner.
And so most of us were saved when we were children. And that's why I think for you children tonight, it's very important that you think about these things with your trust in the Lord Jesus. And thankfully, maybe many of you have. I don't know who what your situation is, but if you're still lost, the Lord Jesus wants to save you. He wants to save you tonight while you're young. Then you can live to please. Sometimes we hear a statement made that a person has a safe soul and a lost life.
It could be, even as a Christian, that wasted their lives. But if you wait until you're way up in years to get saved, well, you haven't given the Lord much.
Wonderful thing to be saved young and to be able to live to the Lord Jesus and to learn and came and.
00:45:05
Mr. Wine Office, an elderly man that was saved when he was 51. He he's using the time he's using these latter years since then to win souls to Christ.
Well, let's trust him. Trust him. He's worthy. He's seeking to save you tonight.
I.
Scene #20.
Blind man What means this? Eager and anxious Strong which moves with busy haste along these wondrous gatherings day by day. What means a strange mulching prey in accents hushed a strong reply. Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.
20.
Start an unfamiliar.
What means this?
The wrong.
Have to get a fire. What means the speaker ain't just with me.
One real Scouting day Friday on May, the strange promotion pray.
In half that time.
So.
On Thursday.
And.
To Be With Christ - The Lord Understands But You Don't
Address—A. Mauer
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The most precious, meaningful.
Read around with taking the Lord.
Ask him as the object of our worship.
He died.
The one who has the slain Lamb, you know, one who is the.
And who now exceeded the majority? They offered to borrow worship.
And I believe they're ones that if you look at Revelation 5, you see, look at the order there, you'll see that it's the appearance of the slain Lamb of God.
That Usher sport, that song were all. If you look back in Zechariah, you'll find it would be essentially the same thing with the Jews, the Israelites.
It's the appearance of the Lord Jesus and when they see the marks of the wounds in His hand and His feet.
Going to draw them into the fence and I believe and rejoicing and worship forever.
I wonder what it will be like I.
Wonderful to actually get a glimpse of the face.
I don't think that we have any concept.
No, because we're more.
I think we have no concept of what it will be like.
I want to see that.
Touching, you know, when Thomas took his.
Cried out, my Lord, my God.
When we see the fails.
When we see the face of our Lord Jesus.
It appears in that glorious scene.
And it's only that.
Holy presence of God.
And we see it. That's song of Joy, first four.
Will be there.
All lovely talk.
And finally, the one who will slay them strong.
They're trying to have his right?
You know, you and I.
You know, we can look at each other and you can look at the words and the simple. I don't know how why the Lord says that.
But that really doesn't make you.
We know what.
I will say yes because he wanted to fulfill.
I want to resign that song that we started with this morning.
#279.
And I want to notice especially the last standard.
Then endless praise our lips kill Malika and joy our spirits still.
The objects of his love design.
Oh, who? That joint?
Here we grow cold in our hearts.
We will be in this professional PLC but it's so easy to grow cold in our hearts.
And we get choked with the cares of this world. You know, that's really what happened to the good seed in the Parable of the Souls. Is that children? That's easy, is it not?
It's easy for the cares of this world and the responsibilities of the day.
To have so much influence on our hearts and on our minds and on our time.
That in the Word of God and the enjoyment of our Lord Jesus gets displaced.
Here.
It's to our loss is that.
I think the Lord understands we have responsibilities, but the.
That's not what I'm thinking. I'm thinking of the pure joy of gaining service.
00:05:00
We used to take care of a very dear sister.
I'll tell you who it was because I think that you would appreciate more the one who said it.
Grace Brown, who lay dying in the nursing.
And I went to see her in the nursing home that Sunday morning.
Interested. I'm not going to make this.
And I said to her, I said, I think the Lord understands.
She looked at me and she said you don't.
I want.
I want to be.
That made an impression.
Yes, it's true that the Lord understood that she wasn't going to be there.
But that did not displace her desire to be worthy of.
Do we have that burning time?
Want to be who are located do we have that burning desire to want to have him for our.
Do we have that burning desire to have that joy that fulfill our spirits?
And that in the coming days going to bring forth that end.
You don't understand. I want to be here.
What a lovely thing that was.
Thing #279.
Don't think you're crazy.
Well, on the lamps of changing love and praising.
You everywhere.
That really wasn't what I wanted to talk about.
I wanted to talk about the other side of the story.
00:10:01
Because when we talk about the other side of the story for those I was talking about how how lovely and how much I enjoyed the meeting this morning and the fact that our teacher was drawn drawn price brick to the slain landing glory and to sing his glories really more. And what a privilege that was. But I really wanted to talk about the other side of it. Because when we talk about the other side of it, not only do we bow because of what he is to us, but we see what he is, what he is in himself.
And what makes it simply?
Fall and wonder. It's about.
What God is for? I'd like to turn to the very first book in the Bible.
Very first book in the Bible, the very first chapter.
And guess which first?
The very first verse.
The very first Genesis 11.
And I want to focus.
That first verse in the beginning.
God created the heaven.
I love this first.
If you look up in the meaning of the word of the Greek word or which is fake, I guess it's Hebrew.
For God, you'll find it, you know.
I'm not a Hebrew scholar, I don't pretend to be, but they tell me that this word is below him.
And Elohim has the sense of being thorough.
And wherever we find Elohim.
We can almost always assume that it is Speaking of God in his triune character, God the Father, God the Son and Brother Holy Spirit.
4 words into the Bible God brings before us to this Holy Spirit.
Not that he is a single dog L.
L is a singer.
What he brings to.
And I think that tells me something. It tells me that there were three persons of the God.
And this verse tells me that they had a purpose. What was the purpose? To create the heaven?
Now why didn't it say here?
Why didn't it say that he.
Creative universe. I didn't say that it doesn't. Why doesn't it?
Do you have a purpose in acting?
Because I believe he's saying that the Triune God is saying that.
We're going to create.
A universe, but there's going to be two parts to it. There's going to be the stars, there's going to be the galaxies, there's going to be the sun, there's going to be the planet.
But we're going to create, we're going to have our special occupation.
Because Earth is going to be a place.
So we're going to create men.
We have a purpose and our purpose is to create man.
That my son.
I have children. Behold, I and the children which are.
That lovely in the very first verse of the Bible, I believe we find very clearly stating that each one of the triune guardians, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit are of one mile. One mile.
But there should be a people for himself.
Can that welcome?
And it's easy to say, well, that's a great way to start the scripture.
To start that very idea and that very idea what the idea that God wants with people person.
But you know what this is not.
This is not the beginning at all.
Turn with me to a deep.
The book of Ephesians.
Chapter 3. Chapter 3.
Beginning at.
Well, I'm going to read the 11Th verse.
00:15:05
According to the earthly purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus.
Does it touch our hearts?
It touched our hearts that we read from the beginning.
That this earth is made especially for people, for God to love, for the Lord Jesus to say, for the Holy Spirit to bring in the wind will blow.
Very first verse in the violence case from the very beginnings of the earth. But you go to Ephesians 3 and you find.
And we understand how that in God's mind.
He could look down to 19.
They can say well.
It isn't that I want some, but.
But he could look down and say.
Does it mean anything to us that I am an individual? That you?
Are a person that God has had his eye on ever since an eternity past, and that that is going to be part and our being there is going to be part of the eternal purpose.
His will, his mind, God's whole energy when you say that, Reverend.
Was bent on, if I could say that was the fact that you as an individual should be brought in to.
God.
Notice here there's two things.
He Let's go.
Purpose and press.
And you will find I believe.
But as alluded to in the first verse that we read that this fulfillment of his purpose.
Carried out in a oneness of mind regarding.
Now it's true that you don't always have the Holy Spirit mentioned with the with the Father and the time, but there are many places where the Triune is mentioned. For instance, we read in Hebrews 9 where it says.
You don't have to turn to it, I'll just read it to you.
How much more shall we shall the blood of Christ, who's through the eternal Spirit, offered himself up without spot to God? Purge your conscience, universe.
If you look in John 14, you find God mentioned in the first verse, you find the Son mentioned in the sixth verse, and you find the Spirit mentioned in the end of the chapter.
The Father and the Son look for the Holy Spirit. You will oftentimes either find Him mentioned or you will find Him with Him because that triune God has one purpose.
And that's fulfilled the purpose and you.
Look back in Genesis chapter 22.
Genesis.
Chapter 22.
We know the verse so well.
Verse 8 The last part of it. So they went, both of them again, who went both of them together, The Father and the Son.
Of one purpose, one mind, one mind. Turn over to Genesis chapter 45.
Genesis chapter 45.
This is when the children of Israel were restored to Joseph.
Joseph now being the second in the Kingdom, and he had authority over the whole Kingdom. The type of the Lord Jesus isn't it when he will have his rightful place.
Notice the touching words.
In verse one.
Joseph could not restrain retrain himself.
00:20:00
Before all men are.
Because he loved his friend.
His brethren love him today.
Think of that.
They were terrified.
You're absolutely crazy.
But what does Joseph say to his friend?
Go to the 4th place.
Come back.
Is that what the Word wants us to do? He wants us.
Come here.
You think it was real? It was real enough that he wanted them to be all by themselves. He couldn't refrain.
His emotions, his real reality, his feelings were so strong for his brother and his love that he wanted to have them exclusive of all.
He could not refrain his faith.
The Lord Jesus wants us that name too. He wants us.
And it is only that he wants us, that he wants you, each one of you. He wants you that thing. He wants me.
He didn't love the most saintly of all people in the whole world that live now or come in a coming day or in a past day anymore.
Thank you.
Because it's instant flow and it requires infinite light to bring us into that position.
Now you say, well that was nice of Joseph. He was the second woman. He was the 2nd in command, if you will. He had authority over the whole land.
And you say, yeah, that was nice. Those have had a pretty good office.
And the Lord Jesus, you know, can say now to us, come unto me.
He served in the remembrance of the Lord. Come show that he wanted a short place where he could be with His disciples.
But you know, there's something in this chapter that's deep detention.
There's something that had to go before, something that had to go before has invited them to come under him and look at what it says.
The 7th person.
God sent me before you to preserve your posterity in the earth.
And to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not used as simply delivered at all. What had to happen before Joseph offered that invitation to come to his dream? He had to be so, and he had to.
That's how he got into a position of being able to invite his brethren to come from himself.
That's the way. That's the position.
As the Lord Jesus is in today, he invites us to come, but it's not.
He could never, he could never have brought us into a position that he had like this.
If he had not been so.
So now when he offers us to come.
It's because he is being depressed. Awful, awful price.
But notice what it says. It was God that sent me.
They went, both of them together.
Remember the first verse of our body?
It was below him. Remember in Ephesians three it was.
The Lord Jesus Christ, I define both of you again.
They were one, absolutely one, God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit.
Of one mind.
Is that correct? Yes, that's correct. But I think we need to put another, another word in there. They were of 140 miles.
And so it was God's eternal purpose to purpose in Christ that we should be of being.
But keep in mind that it was up with your mind.
Does it chill?
She put us on our knees.
Let God breathe.
Now let's go to John's Gospel.
00:25:06
Gospel.
Chapter 17.
John Gospel, chapter 17.
We've heard said that this is the Lord's Prayer and.
There is another prayer, but that was a prayer that the Lord taught the disciples.
Is their prayer? Was it the Lord's Prayer? I'm sure it was because He gave it to the decisive to pray.
But in a sense, this is the word.
How many times have we enjoyed reading this check?
Lovely, isn't it? It's lovely. Is there any of us that can read this chapter without bowing our office?
But I want to look at it in a little different way.
Want to look at it in a little different way. We think of this prayer and rightly so, rightly so that it is a communion communication, you know.
Difference between communion and communication.
I can be in communion with my wife and not singing.
Two men can have communication in an argument and not being communicated.
But this is communion with communication.
Not only that, I believe that it is oneness.
Of course, that's what communion means anyway, doesn't it? Calm means with and human means one with one. And if you go, as you go through here and you find the desire of being one.
Communion.
I want you to notice with me the last part of the 33rd.
The last part of the 16th chapter, the 33rd verse. These things have I spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace in the world ye shall have tribulation. But be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.
That's a nice purse, isn't it? I have overcome the world.
Now what I want you to do with me this afternoon for right temporarily is to extract out 17th check.
I want you, with all respect to the Word of God, to extract the 17th chapter and put it to the side a little bit, because what I want you to do with me is to go from the 16th chapter to the 18th chapter.
I have overcome the world.
When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth.
With his disciples under the brook center, where there was a garden into which he entered in his desire. Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place.
For Jesus OFT times resorted thither with his disciples.
Jesus then having Judas then having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, come a thither with lanterns and torches, and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth and said unto him, Them whom seek ye, They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus said unto them, I am people, and Judas also, which betrayed you stupid.
Look what happens when you take that 17th chapter.
You go from the end of the 16th chapter where it says he has overcome the world.
And in the 18th chapter, he and his meekness allows himself to be taken. Is that a paradox? Is that a paradox? Here you find one who says I've overcome the world. And in the next verse he's taken as a prison.
Does that sound consistent?
Well, the human mind would say nothing. The human mind would say no. That just doesn't make any sense.
Doesn't make any sense. How can he proclaim? How can he claim to have overcome the world?
And then be taken as a prisoner.
Well, we don't understand fully these things, but we know by faith in the Lord Jesus and by reading other scriptures we know that He was allowed. He allowed himself to be.
Had he overcome the world? Oh yes he had. There was no question that the one that they took and that whom Judas betrayed and the one they took and supposedly had his prisoner.
00:30:02
Was only allowing himself to be taken.
Allowing himself to be put on the cross.
But when he says these words, he knows full welcome.
He knows full well that the time is coming in the next few short hours.
In the next few short hours.
That he's going to be he's going to be persecuted at the hands of men and he's.
Going to have you there. The stroke of God's life for us.
Just as a little digression.
This is a little digression. You think about this, these circumstances.
If I am correct? If I am correct?
The Lord's Supper occurred on Thursday night.
I suppose that the Lord Jesus had been upholding.
He had the Lord's Supper.
And after that he was taken.
And he was under the judgment of man.
All night.
He was taken the next morning.
And then He was crucified. And from noon on Friday until 3:00 in the afternoon, across and before the judge artist.
Almost 36 hours.
At least.
I wonder how many of us fear could function?
And carry a right way before our God.
After going 36 hours.
And what does that mean? It meant that he must endure the punishment of man.
Dinosaurs smite City when he was physically tired.
They physically died. It also meant that after he had been tired and had endured all that man could put upon.
It was.
This it was then that he must endure the wrath of God.
Let's touch you.
It wasn't that the Lord Jesus got out of bed and had been on vacation for two weeks.
It wasn't that he got up fresh in the morning and said OK, now it's time to go to the cross. I say that with most Reverend because I want to make a point. It was the Lord Jesus who first had sought to be with his disciple, to be around 2% of disciples around him, and then to suffer at the hands.
Simple man.
And then, after all that, after all that, he was willing to be taken, tired, beaten.
Put in exile, scorn be righted, all of those things. It was.
That he subjected himself.
Your hands off.
Because of your sin and because your mind.
There could, humanly speaking, not have been a worse time for him to have taken on himself the wrath of God.
Pretty sick. Probably not magic if I.
Well, so we found that this paradox is really not a paradox. So when we take the 17th chapter out, we really see that he did. He had to overcome the world because he could. Look at the cross that hasn't been completed already. It was just as sure as the case.
So even though he was taken.
He knew that the work would be.
Let's put ourselves back in that fight.
If we could, we can.
Let's put ourselves supposing that we knew.
That we had something like that before.
Some of the apostles did. Peter did, called in. They all did. Both did. They knew they were going to die. They knew they were going to.
I wonder what I thought.
00:35:00
Would our first thought be.
People of God or would we be concerned about the pain that would be offered?
The dear ones.
Notice where the Lords Prayer comes. It comes.
Before. Just before.
After the.
When he when he had spoken, these were apparently it was within a short period of time, perhaps even a few minutes.
The time had come for him to begin.
And so that's the light in which I want to look at John 17.
Remember we said that it Father the Son went together. Remember the Tri Union City. Read about in Johnson, and remember about the eternal purpose in Ephesians 3, The oneness of mind, the oneness of purpose, the oneness of traveling, the oneness of going together, the oneness of of desire.
I think there's something tremendously precious about John. We read it and we enjoy it, and we say mine wasn't a communion between the father and the son of pressure.
We enjoy that because it's as if we could kind of open the door and we could hear the Father of the Sun talking together.
It's a little crack in the board fence, if you will, being able to look in here what the Lord Jesus is saying to his Father.
But I want to ask you something.
Have you read the nine of the 17th chapter of John's Gospel?
Thought about with your father.
About 50 times. About 50 times.
In John 17.
There is a pronoun which refers to.
Look at it's them.
There, go there.
Exactly then.
Look at any of many of the verses with particular that manifested Thy name unto the men which Thou gave us Me out of the world dying they are, and they'll gave us them me, and they have kept I will.
You know what's one of the main subjects is John 17.
The father and son communion of our.
It seems as if even though the Lord Jesus so much wanted to do his Father's way.
And in the face of the crowd, his father.
That's something so much to think. I want to talk to you.
Banks of people, its own people. I love those people. I've asked my people.
Here we are, Father. We've come to the point. We've come to the point where I can join the process. I can join the fact that now I'm going to have those people as money.
And this is Father.
And the father and the son are of one mile in John.
About them?
If I were in no circumstances and I could never stay.
I am sure that my thoughts would never be about a people who hated me.
I'm sure that my thoughts probably wouldn't be about a person who.
But here was the working.
And the Fathers and the Son.
Once again, this is the time, the center of your eternity.
When God is going to fulfill, when to complete the way by which His eternal purpose could be carried out in this through eternity past?
Yeah, but so that there can be.
This is the thing.
00:40:02
This is the theme, this is what was on the Lord Jesus heart as he went to come.
I'm sure it was on the father's side.
Read a little bit John 17. These words say Jesus and lifted up his eyes to heaven.
And said, Father, the hour is come. Glorify thy Son, that thy Son may glorify me. What does it mean to glorify?
I have a hard time with that. I have a hard time really understanding what it means to grow up. Leo. You probably could understand it or not. Perhaps you should be OK talking rather than.
I have a hard time looking for Mr. Glorify, but I lifted up my dictionary and has a meaning something like that.
To manifest ones love.
Make the glory.
No, to make the glory so we could read it. Something like this. The hour has come.
Father, the hour has come. Make my glory known.
That I may make God.
You see what it is The Lord Jesus wanted the Father to use Him to manifest His glory.
Why? Because the sun wanted to play? No, it's because he wanted God the Father's glory to be manifested, the Bavar.
Draw the side his clothes desire.
Why has always given power all questions that He should be that He should give eternal life to as many of those kids. Why did the Lord Jesus want His glory to be manifested so that the Father's glory could be manifested? And what was that glory? What was that purpose that He could give eternal life to life?
Touch, touch.
And this is life eternal, that I may be with thee in heaven. No, that's not what it says.
That day might know the.
Had they known him in a world path? Not enough. The world by wisdom knew not from.
But this is the time when the Lord Jesus is going to have his glory manifested.
That He may manifest the Father's book.
So that we.
I have glorified her. I have manifested thy glory.
On the earth I have finished the work which Sal gave us me to reach.
Now, I believe that it's well accepted that the work here is probably a wider scope, a much wider scope than simply the work of Redemption.
I believe that it's possible that the work here refers to the total purpose of the Lord Jesus in doing the whole will of God.
But you see, that includes us too.
That includes them.
I have finished the work which I gave it to me to do and now old father manifest.
My glory, along with Dino himself, with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
And then he goes on to mention they them their though almost 50 seconds.
Touch it that in the last minute, the last second.
Before the Lord was taken happy.
Willingly, Captain. His concern was if he might glorify the Father, and that he might have a people.
Did you deserve it? Surprise me, Hoover enemy.
You know what we would have done if we've been back there?
We were here crucified, crucified, crucified just like the other.
And I'm not sure I'm holding the song. I can't force converse right off hand, but it seems as my voice is there to crucify.
00:45:03
I hear my voice.
Does the world by wisdom knew not God in the world by its by its own, then sin would not have gone.
Now let's turn to Ephesians 3.
Agency.
Same chapter we read before, but let's look at the verses ahead of it.
Verse 8 Unto me that is Paul.
To him less than the least of all things. Verse 8.
Now notice here that this is the lowest I believe that Paul ever puts himself.
He puts himself the very lowest tier of any expression. As in the applied system, I am less than the least of all.
It's as if Paul was saying I'm going to take the very lowest place in the whole body of Christ that I can possibly take because I've got something to tell you. Got something to tell you.
And what is he going to tell me?
He's saying that I should preach among the Gentiles in searchable riches of Christ. Oh, you say that's wonderful. Isn't it wonderful that the Lord was the perfect man? Isn't it wonderful that he was the perfect sacrifice? Isn't it wonderful that he was the the perfect man that we get in Leviticus 2 broke up the meal and so forth the meal.
Isn't that love? What are the unsearchable riches of Christ? Is it that is it?
Included, but what is it?
To make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery which from the beginning of the world has been.
About that, didn't we?
Who created all things by Jesus Christ? Do you find God the Father and God the Son coming back? He certainly did. They went both of them again.
Do the intent. What is the intent? Here we have what are the unsearchable riches of Christ? Do the intent that now under the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, might be known by the Church, the many colored wisdom and God. Mr. Smith used to use that as many colored women come.
According to the eternal purpose, which person himself?
What are the unsearchable issues of track?
Visit bow our hearts to realize that in the coming days those of us who would have cried crucified Him crucified, and those of us who would have helped to put the nails in His hands and in His feet.
How can it possibly be?
How can it possibly be?
That you and I are going to manage.
Man, God's working in it.
The manifold wisdom.
What?
Do we fast? Do we take in and all in the least?
The least amount the fact that you and I as members of the body of Christ, as members of the Church of God.
Are going to be that which?
The wisdom of God.
We are going to manage that we are going to make known.
To the Prince of Paris and Powers.
Can have an advice, you know, we if we were just naturally think safe, we would say, hey, that's what the Angel didn't do. But that's not right.
If you would stick you and I up and go, and you and I, members of the body of friends, is members of the church.
I was going to fulfill the intent of God the Father and God the Son.
That the wisdom of God should be made known.
00:50:02
And it will be.
Sometimes I liken it you.
You've seen you've seen diamond. Well cut as the diamond moves, it shines in different colors Come and you know too that if you take a diamond, I don't understand this, but I'm not a jeweler, but if you take a dime under a stone.
Each one has its own view, and each fasted on the diamond has its own little view, its own little color. And I believe that that's the way that we're going to be in glory, each of us, you know, in, in.
In a sense, we are indeed precious stones.
And I believe that in glory there's going to be a beautiful Church of God, and each of us are going to have our own.
Reflection.
Oh my God, Jesus is done.
Now we're going to manifest. If you have a light, you've seen the light winds that have all kinds of mirrors around them and so forth. And what do they do? They're beautiful. And as they as they swing around, you can see the manifestation of colors that are in those mirrors.
But you know it takes a like those to do it.
If you turn out the lights and put it in a dark room, you don't see it.
You don't think, but turn on the light.
And that and you see each mirror perhaps?
And I believe that in a sense, that's what we're going to be, an eternal.
There's going to be the church.
And in a spiritual sense, there will be the little different reflection from me, from you, everything else.
God didn't make any clothes.
He wants each of these individuals. He created you just like you are because that's the way He wants you for himself. That's the way that He wants to manifest.
The wisdom of God, and your little stones and your little son.
We want you just like we are. The work of Christ applied, the blood of Christ applied to sin. That's true.
He wants you just like you. That's the way he makes it. If he did not want you like you are, he would not have made you that way.
He wants you just like you are, because he wants you.
To have a little bit different hue.
Little bit different color than everyone else.
But it's on a display. The manifold was.
And I believe we should add here in Christ.
This is Valerie.
The valve of our heart doesn't to think of what he's done for us. Oh God, how, why? How high thy grow is right, How wide thy voice, oh.
A wide bed glory shine how high thy wind is going to rise. Known through the earth by 1000 signs by thousands to the side, but when we viewed like rain.
Say 2000 the love of truth. It's a lovely truth.
And we enjoyed that. But there's another truth to add to that.
And that is?
That.
It's more than salvation. It's more than just saving.
He wants us to do that and He wants us to reflect His glory.
Is that and that from an eternity past this has been his whole intent, that you and I as members of the Church of God.
That which reflects management makes clear His glory, his wisdom.
That's the position.
That's the position that you and I have been running.
And all eternities must be behold us and the children, of course.
Where do we say where do we stand when Joseph's brother stood before Joseph? Could they claim anything?
Nothing. When we get to glory, you know, even now, we say, well, nothing that we have is ours. It's kind of a trite expression, true, but we kind of use it so many times that it loses it.
But I believe that when we get to glory, the reality, the reality of what Christ has done for us and in US, and that we should be to the praise of His glory, and that we are going to manage them.
00:55:04
The burn should be flat.
Physical and manifest the wisdom of God.
Did anyone the glimpse of the Lamb of God was going through?
Immediately bring forth that shot of the song that will say that will grow my ball.
Oh, the Lord Jesus is the Sinner that.
The Father looking down upon the Lord Jesus.
With infinite delight. Perfect delight.
To thank the Lord Jesus, I suddenly say this forever. If you think he's going to be proud, of course he is.
As he sits there in the center of that door.
All of his affection are going to be.
Does it bring us to our need of leadership? And I believe it doesn't bring us lower than that. I believe it should.
Prostration before the sun before when we realized and we realized that only so when we realized that this.
It's my job.
Perfect, perfect. So much more.
So we look forward to the time in the middle of Jesus will have a grateful place both in heaven.
Oh, we're going to, I believe we're going to bridle, say, well, Jesus, have you given anything in the reward? As a reward, you take it back. It's all I want nothing to be.
I want nothing to eat because that's the heat. I'm not.
But it was.
Father and Son, when both of us again, you see it from the very first verse all the way to the Scriptures.
How the below God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit wanted you specifically you manifested manifest.
So.
Come
Gospel—D. Hayhoe
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.
No secrets. I'm going to start by singing hymn #1 #1.
Come to Jesus gently calling ye with care and toil, oppressed with your gills, however appalling pump, and I will give you rest for your sin. He once has suffered on the cross. The work was done, and the Word by God now uttered to each weary soul is come, come. The Father's house stands open with its love and light.
And song, and returning to that father, all to you may now belong. From sins distant land of famine, toiling near the midday sun, To a father's House of plenty and a father's welcome. Come, come, for night is gathering quickly, Or the world's fast fleeting day. If you linger till the darkness, you will surely miss your way. And still waiting, sadly waiting.
Till the day its course has run, With his patience on abating, Jesus lingers for you come.
Come, for Angel hosts are musing, or this sight so strangely sad, God beseeching man, refusing to be made more ever glad from the world and its delusion. Now our voices rise as one while we shout God's invitation. Heaven itself, reactos come.
Before we sing this, there are some boys here that like stories, and probably some girls too and I remember I was here two years ago and we talked about some stories, didn't we? And in.
In the car on the way over here tonight.
I reminded two of those boys that they owed me a story from two years ago. So the deal was that they told me a story and then I would tell them a story and we'd be even and we got even up. But as I read these 4 verses, you know something, a story, a little something came to mind to me about each verse. So I'm going to tell you something about every verse of this hymn before we sing it. And I'll just make it real simple. But some interesting things for the children and the adults can listen to it if they want to. The first verse says what's the first word of the first verse?
Trust pump, it says. Come.
See what I wrote beside that word? Come. What's that say?
Germany, Bob, right do this.
I do that and say, Bob, that's how that's how a Ghanaian says come in the GAL language. Mrs. Reed sitting back there, she probably knows something about that. Maybe not the God language, but some of the African languages and African customs. When an African waves, he doesn't do this. The first time I ever stood up to speak in an African school, there were probably 800 students there. And I stood up and they looked a little frightened of me. And so I waved at him and he looked even more frightened.
And so I did this again and they all stood up and started to come because in Africa, when you, when you call someone, you don't do this. If you do this in Africa, they don't know what that means. You know when your dad catches your eye across the meeting room and he does this, you know what it means. But in Africa, they don't know what that means. This means come. If you want to wave at somebody, you do this.
Say that's how you say hello. This is how you say come. And in the God language that they speak in Ghana, in the little assembly there, they say bop, bop. All right, I don't want to hear any buzz during meeting, but when you get home tonight, when you call your brother or sister, you could say Bob.
Bottom OK that's come look at your hymn book again first word first line number one you see that word come if you were in Ghana tonight in a craw in the little meeting room in chalkboard where the coconut tree fell through the roof a while ago and there's no roof and only one wall left they would be singing this bop bop. Now the second verse I'm going to tell you something about the second verse it says the father's house stands open and yesterday we were talking to some of the.
Married couples in a little school off the road here. And we were talking about principles of the family and we were talking about an African home. And there are three things that you have to have to have a home in Africa. And every African, at least in Nigeria and Ghana would tell you that you must have these three things to have a home. And tonight God is saying I want you in my house. I want you in my home. The father's house stands open.
00:05:17
And he wants us to be part of his family. That's going to be the gospel message tonight. But there are three things that an African must have in his home. He must have, maybe it would be very small, but he must have at least one room.
Where everyone can come together and they can sleep at night. So it's a place of safety, it's a place of rest. Maybe they just all line up side by side on grass mats on the floor, 10 or 12 or 14 of them. But it's a place of safety and rest and sleep. That's the first thing an African home must have.
On the side of the house, there's something out here like a lean to and the walls are open and in that little part of the house, that's where they build little fire in there. I'll put that in there to show you the fire. And that's where they do the cooking. So it's a place for feeding. The children come there and they are fed there. The third thing that the African home must have, and it might be separate, but it will have a roof and poles like this down to the ground, but it's part of the compound.
And it's recognized as being part of the home. This is the palaver house. You know what palaver is in Africa? Palaver is where there's lots of talking and discussion. And in this part of the home, the family comes together to talk and communicate freely without fear, under the leadership of the head of the house.
Now, maybe some of the older ones are thinking about applications to the family. I hope you are, because there are three things that should characterize a family. A place of security where the children can be safe and without fear can rest, where there can be spiritual food for the family provided by the family, and whether it can be a place of communication without fear under the leadership of the head of the home.
Some of you may be thinking about the assembly.
And I believe those same three things apply to the assembly. A place of rest and safety, a place of spiritual food, and a place to communicate without fear under the leadership of our Head, Christ.
We've gotten off the topic of the gospel a little bit, but that's the story about verse 2, the Father's house. And when we get home to heaven, will we be at rest in heaven? Yes, we will. There remain up there for a rest of the people of God. It tells us in Hebrews 4, and that's in heaven. And will we be able to to be fed? Will we be happy in our in our Yes, we will, Jeremy, That's right, we will. And will it be a place where we can sit down and relax and talk to each other and talk to the Lord? Yes, it will. That's what the Father's house is all about. And I can hardly wait to get there.
I'm excited about the fact that the Lord Jesus might come tonight and before tomorrow morning I might be there. That's verse 2. Verse three says come for night is gathering quickly. If you linger till the darkness, you will surely miss your way. And I'll tell you a little story about that. There were some people driving to meeting one night in a car and they were telling stories. And the man who was driving the car went right by the meeting room and he went right out of town and he drove right out the other side of town. And pretty soon the little boy in the back seat, and I'm not sure whether it was Ben or Jason said.
Where are you going?
And Mr. Aho, who was driving the car about 20 minutes ago, said, I don't know, because I, I was telling a story and I, I drove right through Pella and I was heading for the school up there where we had some meetings yesterday. I forgot I missed my way. That's the story about verse three. And there are a lot of people in this world who have missed their way because they're sinners. All of us are sinners. The Bible says Romans 323. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
So we have all missed our way and there's not one of us who is going to find our way to heaven unless we listen to that verse. John 14, six and children said that this morning.
You can say it now, John 14, six German.
Thank you John 14 six I am B way. So if you've missed your way, if your life is full of sin and hopelessness and you know that you're not going to get to heaven by your own power and it's true you will not you need to come to Christ tonight.
Verse four says come for Angel hosts are music or their sights. So strangely said God beseeching. And the little thing that came into my mind when I read that was I wonder if the children know what beseeching is.
00:10:04
None of them know what beseeching is. Isn't that interesting? We sing this him a lot, don't, don't we? And nobody up here in the front known row knows what beseeching is. I'll tell you what it means. It means begging, begging. And in Africa, sometimes I have seen a man directing traffic in the middle of one of the big intersections in Lagos, big city there, it's bigger than Pella, that's about 4 million people in it. And in the middle of that intersection, there's a man directing traffic. But he directs traffic with a snake whip. And I've seen him take a taxi driver out of his car and rip his shirt off and that taxi driver kneels down and he begs.
He knows he's going to get a beating, a flogging right in front of crowds gathered, a cheer to watch as flogging goes on and oh, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. That's how they beg. Whoa, whoa. It means I beg you, please don't whoa, whoa. And sometimes it's much sadder than that because.
That someone who's dying, who's begging for mercy and begging for help and God is begging you tonight. I think if Jesus was here, I think he might come right down and sit with you. Do you think he would? I think he would. I think he would come right down and he might even squeeze into that chair right there. And he said, let me sit here for a while because I want to talk to you and I want to beg you to accept me. Jesus would say he's begging. Let's sing to him now. Let's stand up now. Let a local brother start it, please.
Number one.
My God, no other.
Graceful and strong.
Where there's one November.
Welcome.
For you.
Come.
00:15:03
Here.
So strangely.
God.
KGJ, Max Radio.
I'd like you to turn with me, please, to the prophet Isaiah and the first chapter.
Isaiah, chapter one.
Just going to concentrate on some of the 1St 18 verses of Isaiah 1. We're not going to read all of that. We'll read perhaps only four or five verses in Isaiah 1 tonight. But I want to speak a little bit about the first part of this chapter. You know, Isaiah means his name means salvation is of the Lord. And that interesting the name of the man who wrote this book is salvation.
Is of the Lord. That's what Isaiah means and a while ago I had been preaching salvation for years. I suppose the first time I preached was a few years ago now and I've been preaching salvation and a couple of years ago I thought I'm going to look that up in Webster dictionary and see what this world.
Salvation is the Webster Dictionary isn't a religious book. It's a book that you have in schools and so on that you probably have in your house. Some of you are a similar dictionary and I looked up in Webster's dictionary thinking I would find something like under salvation to save someone from drowning or to prevent someone from disaster. And here's the definition I found in Webster's dictionary for salvation, the rescue of men from the power and effects.
Of sin. I like that. I like that they haven't gotten to Webster's dictionary yet to take that out. And I hope they don't because that's that's good. That's a solid definition of what salvation is. The rescue, the saving of men from the power and the effects of sin. And hear the very name of the prophet who wrote this book is salvation is of the Lord. We know now what salvation is. Salvation is to save or rescue someone from sin. And now we know the source.
Of that salvation, it's the Lord, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
The one about whom it is written by the Apostle Paul and Romans chapter 10 and verse nine, that a 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.
It's important to confess him as Lord.
I was here two years ago this month and two years ago this month, I remember very distinctly saying that I wanted everyone to grow up in the back door and we were not allowed to use that door. And we might do the same thing again tonight. And that was so that I could shake hands with you at the door and give you the opportunity to confess Jesus Christ to me or to someone else. That's very, very important. Salvation is of the Lord. He is the source of salvation.
He is the one who has brought about the means whereby we can have that salvation. You know how long ago this book was written. This book of Isaiah that you have open right in front of you, right there was written 2700 years ago. It was written 700 years before the Lord Jesus Christ was born. Is it still relevant? Is it still applicable today? Does it still have meaning in your life and in mind? Yes, it does. Yes, it does. It's just as relevant. It's just as applicable today as it was 2700 years ago. The message is good.
00:20:15
It's valid and it's going to speak to our consciences. I believe tonight Isaiah is sometimes called the prophet of redemption.
Tells us in first Peter chapter one that we are not redeemed with corruptible things like silver and gold. We have silver and gold sometimes in our pockets. And I have an African piece of money in here tonight that I promised to one of the boys if he could do a quiz. It's still there, but we're not saved by silver and gold.
But we're saved, but we're not redeemed by those things, but we're redeemed. It tells us in first Peter one verse 18 with the precious blood of Christ. Isaiah is the prophet of redemption and that redemption is based on the blood of Christ. We had some children coming to Sunday school in Cambridge, you know, in Canada where we live, and they came for about a year. And finally the father came around to the Sunday school and said I don't think I can allow my children to come to Sunday school anymore.
You people talk too much about the blood here.
And you know, if you don't understand the importance of it, it might sound rather strange when we talk about the blood because sometimes you hear the gospel preached and it's turn your life over to Jesus and he'll make something beautiful of your life. That's true, He will. 2nd Corinthians 517 says if any man be in Christ, he's a new creation. All things are passed away, all things are become new. That's true, He will do that. But the gospel message goes deeper than that.
Gospel message says the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanses you. It cleans you from all sin. That's the gospel. That's the gospel. The cleansing by the power of the blood of Christ comes first and then we have new life in Christ. And we can indeed change some of those habits. We can indeed get rid of some of those sins and iniquities which have dragged us down and kept us *******. But salvation?
Is the cleansing of my sins by the power of the blood of Christ. And that comes that salvation, that redemption comes when we accept Christ as our Savior. We could take this whole book of Isaiah and we could write across the whole book. We could write the word grace. Grace.
We were in the detention center in Toronto a couple of years ago. Now we go there every Lord's Day. But a couple of years ago one of the boys said, Sir, I know what grace is.
And I've never seen the boy before. And I said, yes, could you tell me what grace is? And he said grace means that when I go before the judge tomorrow morning at 311 Jarvis St. Family Court Division, to stand trial for my crimes, he was 14 years old. He said grace means that if the judge says to me.
That's OK. We're going to forgive you those crimes. And not only does he do that, but he says, son, I'm going to take you into my home. I'm going to make you my son and one of my children, one of my family. He said that would be not only mercy, that would be grace. I said, where did you hear that?
He said I heard that at the Pine Grove Sunday School.
Where my wife went to Sunday school and where I've gone to Sunday school many times.
But it's interesting, he was in jail. He, he knew about grace. He knew how God could not only save a soul, but bring that person into his family and bless him with all blessings in Christ Jesus in the heavenlies. That's great. He knew that, but he never accepted Jesus. He'd never taken that step in coming to Christ. And that's why we're having this gospel meeting tonight, not just to explain concepts to you. We've talked about salvation, we've talked about redemption. We've talked about who the Lord is. We've talked about the blood of Christ. We talked about grace.
But knowing those things will never save your soul only.
An absolutely personal acceptance of Christ as Savior will save your soul. Let's look at the first verse of Isaiah, chapter one.
Says the vision of Isaiah the son of Amos, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Isaiah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah.
Kings of Judah.
I'm going to speak a little bit about those 4 kings, and it may seem a little bit unusual to talk about this in a gospel message, but you know what I've been guilty of a lot of times in my life. I open up the Bible to a book like Isaiah chapter one, and I'm so eager to get to verse 18 and so eager even to get into the chapter that I forget to. And I look at the first person I say, well, that's another one of those lists of names. And I know what's coming in verse 18, so I could get to verse 18. And I enjoy it.
00:25:13
But a few weeks ago I sat down and I started to look at verse one and I looked at it and I looked at it and I thought, I'm going to go back and I'm going to go back to Second Chronicles and I'm going to trace through the history of those kings and see why Isaiah was prophesying during that particular time span that covered those 4 kings. Are there lessons for us? Is there something about the history of those 4 kings that is connected to salvation and redemption and grace?
What do you think I found, I found, of course there was, there always is in the word of God. The problem is with we just don't look, we say it's a bunch of names, but we we say, well, who's Isaiah and Jotham? And he has and Hezekiah going to talk about them for just a few minutes and then we'll go further down in the chapter and I'm going to draw a little graph here.
Suspect some of you that are a bit older will do graphs in school in math or physics or some of those other subjects. Yeah, some of you will do that, I'm sure.
Do some grass and stool and I'm going to put this on here just for maybe some of the teenagers and you'll remember that one of these is ordinance and one is the obsessive. You remember your, your calculus. We're going to graph, let's call this part spirituality. Spirituality.
Going up that way.
And across this way, we're going to put time that means that as we look at these 4 kings and as time goes on, what happens to spirituality, What happens to their spiritual life? Don't forget that as we look at these kings, it's God's chosen people we're looking at. It's the children of Israel. It's it's God's people on earth. And what we will find is something that looks like this going to go down. Then there'll be a little up here for Hezekiah, and then it will go down again.
The pattern, the pattern is very definitely downward. I'm going to ask a question. Do you think that's what's happening in the world today? I do.
I do. The children are all agreeing with me out here and they haven't seen 10% of what you've seen. The older ones have Fewer, more uninhibited like the children would be also not in your heads because I know you agree that things in this world are going down whether you're a Christian or not a Christian. One of the interesting things in the last year is that there have been many open doors to talk to people about Christ because I can always find the common ground of discussion. And that common ground of discussion is things are getting worse.
And when someone agrees, we talk about the economy and we can talk about the Gulf War a year ago, we can talk about race relations and, and, and all of those things. And it's all getting worse. And then we can talk about the solution to the problem. So whether you're a Christian or not, I think we're going to agree that this pattern that we're going to look at back in Second Chronicles is true of United States and Canada today. Things are getting worse. Drugs, immorality, violence, murder.
All of those things, even in Toronto, and I live very close to Toronto with my wife and family. It's gotten much worse in the last year. The murder rate in Toronto is higher than it's ever been before.
Related to drugs and all kinds of other terrible problems, Things are getting worse. We're going to spend not too long on that, and then we're going to find out God's solution not just to the problems of this world, but to the whole problem of sin, because the real reason that things are getting worse is because of sin. Let's go back then to Second Chronicles chapter 26, and we'll just look a little bit at those 4 kings.
Isaiah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. Second Chronicles 26.
We'll see. It started off very well. It started off at a high level of spiritual growth and all the people of Judah in verse one took Isaiah, who was 16 years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah.
He built Eli and so on, verse 316 years old, when it was Isaiah, when he began to reign and he reigned 52 years in Jerusalem, verse four, he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord.
Now are the children of young people listening?
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He was 16 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for 52 years. How old was he when he stopped reading?
Started when he was 16 and he reigned for 52 years. How old was he when he stopped?
Now he raided for 52 years. He started when he was 16.
Not quite. Let's have one of the older young people here help us out with that.
What's 16 + 5268? Thank you. One of the older young people told us it was 68.
Now, what I would like to say is that during this man's race, his wife, then as we look at his life, it's going to take us from the teenage years to the senior citizens. I would like everyone here who is either a teenager or a senior citizen or in between to put up your hand.
Look at that OK put your hands down this message, this part of the message then is for you because Aziah began as a teenager and he finished up as a senior citizen 68 as a senior citizen in Canada anyway starts at 65 I think officially and now this message is for you. Let's see what happened then in Asias life from teenager to senior citizen He began will he did that which was.
Right in the sight of the Lord, we won't take time to turn to it. But if we went back to 2nd king, the chapter 15 verse four, we find there that Isaiah made one mistake at the beginning of his life. It says the people still sacrificed in the high places. In other words, in his heart he may have been serving God, but he allowed the people to continue serving those sacrifices to idols.
First five says.
He sought God, the end of the verse says, as long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper for sex. He went forth in war against the Philistines and break down the wall of GAT. He took a strong stand against the enemy.
Verse 9.
Isaiah built towers in Jerusalem. Jerusalem was God centered. Isaiah, at the beginning of his life recognized God's center on earth, and he fortified it, and he stood for that truth.
Verse 10 he built towers in the desert and digged many wells. He was concerned with the refreshment of God's people. The end of verse 10 He had husbandmen in the mountains in Carmel, which means fruitfulness. Let's summarize again the beginning of Isaiah's life. He pleased God. He took a public stand against the enemy of God's people. He recognized God's earthly center and defended it. He.
Was.
Refreshment of God's people and he was fruitful. Does that sound like a good start to you? That sounds like a good start to me.
Now let's look down to verse 16, when he was strong.
His heart was lifted up to his destruction. You know what happened to Isaiah.
Something happened to Isaiah called.
He got thinking about himself. What's that center letter in crime? What's the middle letter of pride?
Middle letter Parents.
OK, Becky, before you can. Becky. I'm sorry, Becky. I'm sorry. Becky. You're right. It's I try. I is the middle letter he got. He got a whole thinking about himself. And you know what happened when he got thinking about himself, He let his mind.
Start to say to him, well, I know that. I know a way of worshipping God that's better than the way God told us. I'm going to take this incense myself and I'm going to go in and worship God myself. And God had told them, don't do that, don't do that. That is for the priest alone. And you know what happened? Look at verse 19. The leprosy even rose up in his forehead. Verse 20, they thrust him out from fence.
Ye himself haste, and also to go out, because the Lord.
Had smitten him. Verse 21 Says Isaiah the king was a leopard unto the day of his death and dwelt in a separate house being a loafer for he was cut off from the House of the Lord isn't that terrible. Think of that teenagers to senior citizens. He started so well. He did love the Lord. He didn't want to serve the Lord and he recognized God's center and maybe some of the older ones can make your own applications as we go through here. We'll try and keep it simple to the for the young people.
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I want you to think with me as we go along. He took a stand against the enemy. He refreshed thoughts, people, and then he started to go down and go lie because of pride and because he said my mind can figure out how to worship God. My mind can can instruct me on how to come into God's presence and what's right and proper for God. And the leprosy came up in his forehead. Don't take time to turn to it. But in Leviticus chapter 13, you will read there about leprosy and it's a picture of sin.
Always sin in the Bible and in Leviticus chapter 13, it talks about the man who was bald and it talks about the man who was forehead bald. You want forehead bald is that's what I am. That's forehead bald. Someone who is bald is someone who doesn't have any hair on the top of their head.
Like Kojak, no hair at all on top and someone whose forehead bald. He's like me. He's he's bold here. My kids call them bumps because they go like this. And when I get my haircut, they say, and I need one. I know. But when I get my haircut, the kids say don't let them take the hair off your off your bumps. They want they want this covered. But that's forehead ball. That's what it means to be forehead bald and in the Bible to be forehead bowls. That that wasn't leprosy in itself.
But it was a place where leprosy might come up.
And so it had to be watched very carefully. And you know, my mind is in behind here. My brain is in behind my forehead. And what that means to those of us who are a little bit older is that those of us who love the Lord and those of us who want to please him, and those of us who want to be gathered to His name and recognize where He is in the midst, we need to watch our minds because it may happen like Isaiah, whose mind led him to go into God's presence, but in a way which was not according to God's plan.
And that was sin, because leprosy came up in his forehead and he ended his life down here because of sin, which was the result of pride. Let's go on now to the second one, Jotham, in chapter 27. Jotham was 25 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned 16 years in Jerusalem. How old was he when he stopped raining? 25 + 16.
41.
Started when he was 25 and he finished when sorry, when he was 16 and finished when he was 41. This is, it's narrowing down now, isn't it? Getting a little more personal? It's getting a little closer. It's it's getting narrower. And I'm not going to keep narrowing it down by age, but I think if you went through and trace these, you'd find it would pretty well cover everybody in this room.
Now it's getting a little closer to home. What are we going to find out about Jotham now?
It says in the end of verse 2 The people did yet correctly. You see what's happening and it says to me now it's getting lower and lower. The sin is increasing and that's always what will happen. What our minds become involved and we act in a way that's not for God's glory. It doesn't just include the leaders, but it spreads to the people and pretty soon the people do corruptly. Now a has in chapter 28 was 20 years old when he began to reign and he reigned 16 years so he would finish when he was 36.
Now let's read what happens now, and those of you who want to just relax for a moment at this graph, we're going to get very, very low here and it's not going to be very nice to hear what I'm going to say next. Because this is what happens when we start to leave God's plan, when we start to get away from the Word of God and introduce our thinking into the way we should approach God, this is what will happen.
Verse two. He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and made also molten images for Balaam. Moreover, he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom and burnt his children.
In the fire.
Balan is the plural of bail. Bala wasn't the name of the God. Bale is singular bail in his Pearl, like cherub and cherubim.
Cherubim means two or more cherubim and balaam just means more than one Bale. And there were many different bail gods and those different bail gods were were were God were images to the gods, the song God. And that reminds us of Romans chapter one, verse 25, where it says they worshipped the creature more than the creator.
And so men are taken to worshipping the sun and the moon and the stars and the earth. The woman who lives next door to us at home worships the earth. She worships the earth. She worships the ground. She's been at the gospel meeting. And the last time she was at gospel meeting, she shook my hand at the door and she said, Dad, I just want to tell you that I accept the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior. But you know something that's terribly sad about that. She said those words. She said those words. But I know that if you spoke to her today, she would say, I'm a Pagan.
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And I'm proud of it today. There are people who can actually say those words. But in her heart, she worships Buddha. She's a Muslim, she's everything. She's completely new age in her thinking. She's still agent to the earth. When there was an eclipse of the moon, they were out there with long roads, forming a circle on the ground and dancing around worshipping the moon. And yet she said she accepts Christ as her savior. You can't fool God. You might fool me at the door tonight, but you say that to me tonight.
I will pray that it's real in your soul. But the Bible says by their fruits he shall know them. And you can't grow and worship the sun and the moon, and you can't go home and worship yourself.
You've accepted Christ as your Savior because he wants you to worship him, worship him. So he made sacrifices, molten images for bailing the bail gods. He burnt incense in the valley of the summer Hindemith. You know what that is? You know what the valley of Hinnom is? It's on the South side of Jerusalem. If you went even today to the and looked over the wall of Jerusalem, down to a steep, steep valley and down in that valley, there was always burning rubbish burning because it was dumped over the walls.
Burning, burning, burning all the time. And that's where the word Gehenna comes from, a place of eternal burning, a place of eternal torment for the lost soul. The lake of fire. Get in. It is a word which is comes from the valley of Hinnom. I want you to turn over with me, please, to the 30th chapter of Isaiah.
And verse.
14 The sinners in Zion are afraid. Fearfulness have surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devour devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting Bernie? I challenge you tonight with this question. As we think of that Bernie, as we think of that continual fire that will never be put out, that flame that will never be quenched.
I challenge you tonight with this person, Isaiah chapter 30, verse 14. Who among us who in this room from the back row all the way around right up to these children on the front row, Listen to me. Who in this room is going to dwell in the devouring fire? Is it going to be you? Is it going to be you who goes to the lake of fire for all eternity? There was a man who went to the lake of fire 2000 years ago and 2000 years ago he begged and he said, oh, just give me a drop of water, one drop.
One drop. Look, one drop.
All you want one drop. He's been crying and screaming for that drop of water for 2000 years and he doesn't have it yet. And you know when he'll get next.
Never, never. Who among us will dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us will dwell in everlasting burnings up the tongue? Tonight someone in this room who does not accept Christ will be there.
You will be there if you refuse to accept Christ tonight. Let's come back to Second Chronicles 28.
In the middle of verse three it says he burnt his children in the fire after the abominations of the heathen.
There was a God in those days called the God Moloch Moloch and the the image, the altar to Moloch was a a brass statue of a man standing with his armies out in front of him like this. And he was hollow inside. And they would build a fire underneath inside in the hollow park. And that big brass statue standing with his arms out hollow could get hotter and hotter and hotter and hotter. So finally that brass was just.
White hot, almost ready to melt.
And then they would take their little children and they would place them into the God freezing arms of that grass mold, and the children will be burned alive as they have been laid in and the arms of that gun.
These are God's kids.
Isaiah Joseph A has not We're down here. These are these are God's people doing these things. Where are we today in the United States and Canada? We're down here. We're down here and we're going to come very soon to the solution to that that problem. Let's just comment on Hezekiah without reading about it. He was a good kid. He pleased the Lord. But then at the end of his life, he got upset with God. He turned over on his bed and he turned his face to the wall and he pouted and God said, OK.
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Hezekiah, I'm going to give you a few extra years in your life, but during that time spent, a very wicked king was born. And so down goes the grass again. Down, down, down. Let's go back to Isaiah chapter one.
Verse 4.
All sinful nation. Sinful nation.
A people laden or burdened down with iniquity. Here's two things. And and Lyle Lubacek this morning in the Sunday school asked you what iniquity was and what sin was. This verse uses the word sinful, or full of sin and laid and loaded down with iniquity. That word sinful comes from a Hebrew word, a root Hebrew word that's translated sinful. And you know what it means. It means to miss the mark.
To miss the mark.
We have four boys at home. We have a girl and four boys and the three middle boys are 11/9 and seven. We decided we'd put a dart board up on the wall of their bedroom, flash dart board and around and behind that dark board we got those pieces of cork. You peel the back off like this and stick them in the room and you get those in the States here. And we made a nice state where my wife did about this big all the way around that Dark World. And I learned the next day.
And there were holes at the way and there were holes there and there were holes there.
They missed the mark. We gave them about a six foot square with a dart board in the middle and those darts went off. They missed the month. That's what sin is. Sin is when we missed the mark. And what's the mark? The mark is God's holy standard. The mark is that God says I am of two pure eyes to behold sin. I cannot look on sin. I cannot look on iniquity. And when we miss that mark, we have sinned.
We have sinned and the Bible tells us in Romans 3 chapter verse 22 all have sinned. There is no difference. All have sinned and come short. We have missed the mark of God's glory. We have been way wide of the mark. We cannot hit the mark.
Apart from the power of Christ, that's sin. If you thought that sin was only.
Drugs and only murdered and only getting kicked out of school. Then you're wrong. Those things are sin, but sin is when we miss God's standard of holiness and perfection. And everyone in this room has said everyone without exception. What is iniquity? What is iniquity? Lyle, lubricate this morning iniquity. I'm going to demonstrate what inequity was this morning. I looked across here after meeting and I was thinking about what we're going to talk about tonight and I noticed you had a lot of nice new plastic hangers, but in the back you've got some metal hangers. I would like someone to go and get me a metal hanger, please.
Troy, could you go get me one, just a metal coat hanger and bring it in here and I will show you what iniquity is. And I don't think you're going to forget what iniquity is after I'm finishing you.
Because iniquity comes from.
A thank you iniquity comes from a Hebrew word.
And I'll tell you in a minute what that Hebrew word is.
This coat hanger is a very useful thing. I could probably hang my coat on that.
Useful thing. Created for a purpose. Created for a reason. Created to be useful. Created to be functional, Created to be whole.
Is to be used by the one who created it.
But iniquity comes from a Hebrew word which means to bend OR to twist.
And what inequity is, is when we take what God has given us, our body, our soul, our mind, our intelligence, our will, and we bend it and we question. We take what God has created to be used for his glory and in his service and to be conformed to the image of his Son. And we bend it and we twist it to the point where.
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You really can't do anything with it. If I'm not careful, I'll tear a hole in my coat with this.
That is iniquity. Iniquity literally comes from a word that means to bend OR twist.
Is this useful?
No, not anymore. That's what iniquity is. It's to take your body and your mom and your will and allow them to be twisted and bent.
By things which you allow in your life that are not according to the Word of God and not according to God's will and mind for you.
He told everything that's iniquity, and we're all guilty of that. We all have done that. Every man and woman that's ever walked the face of this earth has been guilty of sin, missing the mark and iniquity, allowing ourselves to become bent and twisted from gods.
Purpose. Let's go down to.
Verse five and six. Why should you be stricken anymore? You will revolt more and more of the whole head is sick, the whole heart faint from the soul of foot. Even under the head. There is no soundness in it but wounds and bruises and putrefying sores. They have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.
This takes us right through the whole being, the head, the place of intelligence, the place of leadership. Then it says the whole heart. That's the that's the center of my affections, the center of my love. And then it talks about the soul of the foot. That's my walk. That's the way I go through this life. That's the things that I do. So my mind, my affections, and my actions are all totally corrupted by sin and by iniquity. This is strong language.
And I'm speaking to people who perhaps say he forgets where he is. He's been preaching in prisons too long. He's been talking to people behind bars too long. He forgets these Impella in Iowa where we're free, not free. We're not free. You're in ******* to Satan and sin if you haven't accepted Christ. It's all this in Proverbs. I believe it's chapter 22, verse six that you are holding. You're bound with the cords of your sins.
You can't get free. It's almost in Timothy. When Paul wrote to Timothy, he said you have to be careful. You have to be aware that there are people who are led captive by Satan at his will. And so Satan and sin have us captive, have have us in *******. You may live in a free country. You may be free to vote. You may be free to walk over here and drive home in total freedom.
For your sins, the mind, the heart, and the actions are all carried away by Satan.
It had not been mollified with ointment. I believe that ointment is a picture of the Holy Spirit of God. What happens when you accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior? It tells us in Ephesians chapter one verse 13 that what we believe we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of God.
Told the same thing in Ephesians chapter 4 verse 30 that we are sealed up to the day of redemption if we accept Christ as our Savior. There is no letting go. There's no question of the Holy Spirit in dwelling and then leaving again. We are sealed by that spirit up to the time when we're called home to be with Christ to prove.
In Ephesians one and again in Ephesians four of the eternal security of the believers. You can have that security in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit spoken of by this pointer here. Let's come down to verse.
13 and 14 and 15 bring no more vain oblations, incenses, an abomination unto me. The new moons and Sabbath, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with or I cannot bear. It is iniquity. Even the solemn meeting. I'll let that speak to our consciences. It is iniquity. What did we say? Iniquity, world. Here's the religious observances. Let's listen well to this. The religious observances given by God.
According to the parable, God himself have been twisted till God has to say they're being It's an abomination, I can't bear it. He says all of those things in the same verse. It's vain, useless abomination and God can't bear it. That means that you can attend church 6 * a week for the next 40 years and if you don't accept Christ, it's of no God to your soul's eternal salvation.
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Those empty religious observances, no matter how scriptural they may be in their original intent or of no use to the salvation of your soul, if you don't accept Christ as your Savior, He's the answer, He's the key. He's the only one that can give new life. Let's look at verse 16.
Wash you, make you clean, Put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes. Cease to do evil, learn to do well. This is repentance now. This is repentance. If our friends from France were here tonight, they will tell you that Jose is the French verb to think and in Spanish, which you may have studied in school expenses.
To think and to repent means to rethink. Literally means to rethink. And what is it that we have to rethink?
We have to rethink our thoughts about ourselves because those thoughts are usually wrong. And we have to think or rethink our thoughts about God because those thoughts are usually wrong. Many people think that they are very good and they can get to heaven, and that's wrong. And many people think that God is very bad because he sends people to hell and that's all. So we have to repent. We have to rethink those thoughts and realize that God is a God of love and mercy and grace, but he is also a God of justice, and he must punish sin.
Tells us in Hebrew that every sin, every transgression must receive a just do recompensing work. God will punish sin, He must. But he's also a God of love, and he's given his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who bore our sins in his own body on the tree. Repentance. That means turning my thoughts away from myself, turning my thoughts to God, recognizing that what he has done through Christ, his Son is sufficient for my salvation.
Look at verse 18. Now come now and let us reason together. Set the Lord. Though your sins be a scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they be red like Crimson, they shall be as wool. What was the African word for Come again?
Bob, God says to you tonight, come, let's think about this together, Let's talk about it, Let's let's leave this thing over. Even though your sins are black and they're completely polluting your heart and polluting your mind and destroying your life and taking you to hell, I can deal with those sins. I have the solution. It says going back to verse 16 again, wash you, make you clean. We sing a little song with our hubby class that goes like this. What can wash away my sins?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus. And that's what can wash you tonight. It's not by application to yourself of some new religious principle. It's the application by God himself of Christ blood to you and what he's saying. Does that sound too simple to believe? Does that sound almost impossible and simplicity? That's the gospel message that all you have to do to repent and be saved is to say in your heart.
Yes, Lord Jesus, I believe I'm on this downward slide. Yes, I believe my life is characterized by sin and by iniquity. Yes, I believe I'm one of those in Romans 323 when it says all have sinned, I know that I believe it. But I also believe that God, you are a God of love. You gave your Son Jesus to die for me, and I know his precious blood can wash my sins even. That's a lot to remember. Let me make it really simple. What you need to say in your heart is, Lord, I'm a Sinner.
Gave me by the power of your blood. And if you mean it, he will do it. We're going to pray now. And while I'm praying, I'm going to give a little pause in the middle of the prayer. And during that pause, that's your chance to accept press.
That's that will be your chance. That will be your time.
Because I won't be talking, I'm going to stop talking even to God for a minute and I'm going to give you a chance to talk to God in your heart and to accept Christ as your Savior. And all the Christians in this room will be praying for you during that cause that you will come to Christ.
Four Arks
Address—D. Hayhoe
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168 The night is far spent, and the day is at hand. No a sign to be looked for. The stars in the sky rejoice, and you Saints, as your Lords own command, rejoice. For the coming of Jesus draws Nile, O kindle within us a holy desire, like that which was found in thy people of old, who tasted thy love, and whose hearts were on fire while they waited in patience.
Thy face to behold. Let someone local start that too.
No time to be born.
The father must go.
Rejoice, the nation.
Your Lord so common.
And.
The World Run and Babyville Lasagna is coming.
As before, missing.
The Lord of my Lord.
For our son and our shield.
Are called as my fellows.
Where Grief Foundation.
So much.
Belongs.
Older, long.
Talking no within half of our I'm already gone.
Which was?
Like people of all the hearts, world and articles all my way. So different.
Thy face to behold.
I'd like to turn over to the Book of Exodus now for the for the 2nd art.
But the first one up there for the children to remember. The second one, of course, is Moses Art.
For the arc of bulrushes, let's look at Exodus chapter 2 verses 2.
And three.
This is speaking about Moses mother. When she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hit him three months and when she could no longer hide him, she took for him an arc of bull rushes and dubbed it with slime with pitch. And she put the child there in and she laid it in the flag by the river. I just want to make a comment before we speak about the ark itself with respect to the faith of Moses mother.
00:05:15
We read about this in Hebrews Chapter 11, when it says by faith Moses was hid three months of his parents. And then it says by faith Moses when he came of years refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer reflection with the people of God, than to serve, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. That second faith was Moses faith. The first faith was the faith of Moses turns. Face of Moses turns. So when it says in Hebrews 11, by faith Moses was hidden.
Three months of his parents. It's really the faith of Moses parents. And here in Exodus 2 we have it narrowed down a little bit further and we find out I I believe from the word that the faith was really the face of Moses mother.
Look at verse two and three again. When she saw him that he was a good result, she hit him three months when she could no longer hide him, she took for him and our good borrashes. She dubbed it with slime with her. She put the children. She laid it in the flakes by the riverfront. Where was that? I don't know where he was. Hebrews 11 tells us that it was his parents, plural, who had the faith. But I just like all of us, dads and moms included, to just think about this. Who was it that recognized that in Moses?
Which was dear to God. If we went over to Acts Chapter 7, it tells us, let's just look at it for justice a moment.
Acts Chapter 7 and verse 20, in which time Moses was born and was exceeding fair. You notice what it says in the margin, Fair to God, fair to God. In other words, I believe, I really believe what? What Moses mother? What was her name by the way?
Her name was Jacob. Jacob. A good name to remember. I believe she saw in Moses.
That he was fair to God. It says here in Exodus that she saw that he was.
A goodly soiled Now every mother here sees in their baby. A goodly child, every mother here and every grandmother too sees. And I've watched it over the last few days, particularly the grandmothers more than the mothers. Boy, I'll tell you those Joshua and those Jonathans and all, and those bends and all of them.
They say you look at the grandmas and you ask them is that a goodly child and you, Well, they go on longer than I am tonight. They see a goodliness in that trial. But it wasn't just an external duty. It wasn't just a handsomeness in Moses. I believe Jacobed Moses mother saw in him something which was going to be used of God. Acts tells us that we have to go to Acts 7 to find out he was fair to God and parents. I asked you and I asked my own soul as the parent of young children.
Do we see that in our children, which we recognize as being valuable to God? That's the part we want to nurture. That's the part we want to cherish.
That's the part we want to train up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, because that's the part that's going to be used for God. The body only contains that which is going to be useful for God. The body, yes, but that's secondary compared to the soul and the Spirit. And that's what Jacobed saw. She was the woman of faith. She was the one who put that faith into action.
She was the one who took the steps necessary to save Moses life. We don't read a thing, not a word about Amram here. He was included according to Hebrews 11, but we don't read of him.
Now we see that we I just want to comment on this arc now for a moment. We mentioned that Noah's ark was a picture to us of Christ as King, as Messiah, carrying the godly remnants with the tribulation. I'd like to just draw some comparisons to the four gospels here. Which gospel is it that gives us Christ in his character as Messiah or king, in particular reference to his people, Israel? Well, it's Matthew's gospel.
So Noah's ark corresponds to Matthews gospel where we have Christ in his character as king. Moses ark is an ark of bulrushes placed among the bulrushes, wood, trees and scriptures speak of man, speak of humanity. So this ark of bulrushes is Christ as a man walking among men.
A perfect man, but men nevertheless. That's Luke's gospel, where he is presented as the Son of Man, as a man among men. So it's an arc of bulrushes laid in the bull. Russia.
00:10:14
Let's just look.
At verse five the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself of the reverend. Her maidens walked along by the Riverside. When she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her made to fetch it. The world I believe will see Christ. Apparels daughter here came and saw Christ. They may see no beauty in him as it tells us in Isaiah 53 the first section, but they will see Christ then in verse 9. Take this child away and nurse it for me.
And I will give thee thy way view. Well, I want to move on now to the next part. Moses arc being a picture of Christ in his humanity. Now the third arc I believe will go to Exodus chapter 25, the Ark of the Covenant.
The arc of the cover. Let's read Exodus chapter 25, beginning at verse 10. They shall make an arc of Shittim Wood or a Casey Wood. 2 cubits and a half shall be the life thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half their height. The height thereof now shall overlay it with pure gold. Within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make it upon it a crown of gold. Roundabout. Thou shalt cast four rings of gold for it and put them in the four corners of the Robin. Two rings shall be in the one side of it.
And two rings in the other side of it, and thou shalt make saves of shed and wood and overlay them.
With gold.
Verse 17 Thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold. 2 cubits and a half shall be the length of and a cubit and a half the breadth around. Now it'll make 2 Cherubim of gold of beaten work. Shall thou make them and the two ends of the mercy seat, and make one cherub on the one end and the other cherub on the other end, even of the mercy feet shall ye make the cherubim on the two ends thereof. So here we have, and this is well known to all of us here. I promise you will only spend a few minutes.
Just touching very briefly on it, here we have this arc of wood, but overlaid externally and internally with that tells us in verse 10, verse 11, pure gold. Gold in Scripture speaks of the divine righteousness of Christ. This pure gold within and without speaks of not only His divine righteousness, but His deity, His deity. So this is the Lord Jesus Christ as God.
In the mid of Israel, that ark was to be placed in the midst of the congregation of Israel as they went through the wilderness.
So it's a picture to us of Christ as God in the midst of his earthly people. I believe that would correspond. I think we would all agree with John's gospel where he is the Son of God, Matthew, He is the Messiah. Luke, he is the Son of man. John, he is the Son of God. He's God manifest in the flesh. In John's gospel, John chapter one, the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. We behold his glory, the glorious of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. So this ark of the covenant is Christ as God.
Corresponding to John's Gospel if we look at verse 10 again.
It says.
Two cubits and a house will be the length thereof, a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof. Well, I think it's beautiful to see and I'm not going to go in that furniture, the Tabernacle that would that would take all night. But if we think of the height of this Tabernacle, the height of the ark, it's exactly the same height as the great in the brazen altar on the one side. That's exactly the same height as the table of showbread on the other side. The ark is Christ. The brazen altar speaks of the offering up of Christ without spot to God.
As an atoning sacrifice for our sins, the great of that brazen altar was the place.
Where the sacrifice was laid and the ashes came down through the grate. And then on the other side is the table of showbread, which speaks of the fruitfulness, the results of that sacrifice. And so here we have Christ, and on the same level we have his sacrificial death, His blessed person, and the fruit that results from it. And so we see that continuum all the way through, from the courtyard all the way through. We see Christ right into the Holy of holies. Let's look now at verse 12. Two rings shall be.
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And the side of it, two rings on each side, four rings. I believe it. Those rings speak of the love of Christ, the love of Christ, the love of Christ that constrains us, the love of Christ that's universal, going out, if you will, to the four corners of the earth N SE and West, Every aspect of God's love fully revealed in Christ. The four rings of the ark. Now let's look down to verse 18. Thou shalt make 2 Cherubim of gold of beaten work shall shall make them in the two.
Ends of the mercy sea to make one cherub on the one end and the other cherub on the other end. I believe those two cherubims speak of justice and judgment. We read in Psalm, I believe that Psalm 81 That justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne, and the Lord Jesus Christ dwells between the cherubim. That's where God dwells between the cherubim. Justice and judgment being the habitation of His throat. What about the mercy seat now?
What about the mercy seat? That's the same word that's used in Romans when it speaks about the propitiation for our sins, the propitiation for our sins, God perfect sacrifice to us. It speaks of atonement towards God. It speaks of propitiation. God's holy and righteous character has been satisfied by the death of Christ. That's the aspect God, word of the atoning death of Christ to us, atonement to God, propitiation. And so God looks down at the mercy seat and he sees the blood sprinkled there by the great high priest or by the high priest once a year.
And we sing together. God is satisfied with Jesus. We are satisfied as well. His precious blood has spoken there before and on the throne, and his own wounds in heaven declare the atoning work is done. So that mercy seat on the top of the ark speaks of the propitiatory word, the atoning deck of Christ. And as God looks down, he sees that death of Christ perfectly satisfying his righteous claims against sin. We see justice and judgment framing that mercy seat.
Blood on the mercy seat, the blood of Christ by which alone we can be saved. And what do we see when we look inside? What do we see when we look inside? On the four corners we have love. We have those stage, I believe, perhaps Speaking of the two aspects of the work of Christ, his advocacy and his high priestly character bound by his love to his holy person carrying through the wilderness. What do we see when we look inside the ark? We see the tables of stone, we see the golden pots of had mana, and we see Aaron's rod, that body, the golden pots that met that had manna. Speaking of Christ in his humanity.
As the food for the pathway, an Aaron rod that budded, we see not a rod of government. That was Moses rod. Moses rod was a rod of government. Aaron's rod was a rod of grace. That was the rod which has a dead stick budded and blossomed and brought forth almonds all in one night. And what is it that can bring life and fruitfulness out of a dead thing like ourselves? Nothing but the grace of God. For by grace are ye saved through faith, not, not of yourselves. It is the gift of God.
So we're in that arc, we see the rod, the grace of God, golden pot that had manna, the all sufficiency of Christ for us to feed on for the wilderness pathway, and the 10 words of God being God's word for the sufficiency of the pathway when they got into the promised land now. And that art finds a permanent resting place. What do we see in it then? We see only the.
The 10 commandments on the table of the golden pot of manna is gone. Aaron Fraud that's but it is gone. Why is that?
When we get home to be with Christ, will there be a need for the rod and the staff no longer. Will there be the opportunity to feed on Christ for the wilderness pathway? No longer. But what about the Word of God? Forever, O Lord, thy Word is settled in heaven. Heaven and earth may pass away, but my Word shall not pass away. So in the promised Land, the Word continues. The pot disappears and the rod disappears. That's the ark that we have here, corresponding to John's Gospel. Now for the 4th Art.
I'm not sure who I have decided on to call upon for this 4th part. Noah's ark? Moses ark, the ark of the covenant. Noah corresponds to Matthew, Messiah carrying Israel through the tribulation. Moses is Luke, a man among men. The ark of bulrushes among the bull rushes. The ark of the covenant is John, God himself as Christ with all his glory and beauty. What about the 4th Arthur? The 4th arc we go to Genesis chapter.
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50 and verse 26.
They found this the other day. We were quizzing his son here and Dave pulled this one out for us and he thought it was a little bit unfair. And I must have met. You would never find it from reading the English translation. So Joseph died in the last verse of Genesis 50, being in 110 years old, and they embalmed him and he was put in a coffin in Egypt. I'm going to read that to you.
From Mr. Darby's translation.
It says Joseph died 110 years old and they embalmed him and he was put in a coffin in Egypt. And the footnote says literally arc, the same word as used for the Ark of the covenant in Exodus 25 verse 10 and elsewhere. Joseph was placed in an scripture says he was placed in an ark. No question about it. The same word for Joseph's ark is the Ark of the Covenant. So the 4th arc is Joseph's Arkansas.
Read in Hebrews Chapter 11 That.
Joseph by faith gave commandment concerning his bones. His bones were placed into this arkin for 40 years. His bones were carried through the wilderness in an ark. That's Christ in his all sufficiency for the wilderness pathway. That's Christ as perfect servant. That's Mark's gospel. Christ in his service character to us now, because he will remain a servant for all eternity. It tells us that He will gird himself and He will come forth in service even in the future day. So he retains his servant character now. He is a servant.
For us in the glory as our great High Priest and as our intercessor.
He carries us through the wilderness halfway. Our great high priest is sitting at God's right hand above as our advocate. He intercedes for us. And so Joseph coffin, Joseph Ark is a picture of Christ as servant marks gospel. All sufficient to see us all the way home to the Promised Land. Let's pray.
Ephesians 4:1-6
Address—R. Reeves
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.
Just the first two standards.
225.
Stands as number one and two.
That seems to have confusion and greater confidence.
I'll speak in the coldness. Come here again when it's saying you've been fighting God, I grew up. Mercy there. Grow everything in the man's mind.
So it's fun that you're running off of your grandma's face and right that they never use blood. Cannot be.
The heart 100 and cry those and take her away from.
When I hear my heart.
With vinegar.
We're united.
And tasting.
Our father.
I'd like to ask you to turn with me this afternoon to.
The Epistle to the Ephesians, Chapter 4.
Ephesians Chapter 4, verse one.
I therefore the prisoner of the Lord.
Besides you, that you walk worthy of the vocation.
Wherewith you are called.
With all lowliness.
And the meekness?
With long-suffering.
Forbearing one another in love.
Endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit.
In the bond of peace.
There is one body.
And one spirit.
Even as he recalled in one hope of your calling.
One Lord.
One thing, one baptism.
One God and Father of all.
Who is above all and through all?
And.
In you all.
We will.
Consider these.
Six precious verses together.
Because I believe this presents to us a very important.
Ministry for our hearts right now.
We're going to talk about the unity.
Of the spirit.
Now I believe the unity of the spirit.
Is that oneness?
And to which the Spirit of God has brought us.
Wherein we have things in common.
With all believers.
And in our song that we sang #225, it's.
Bonds that unite us.
And it said that with thine were united.
And hasting towards home.
Beloved brethren, there is a power.
That has brought you and me together.
And united US1 to another.
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And that power is the power of the Holy Spirit of God.
We are united.
And the unity of the spirit.
Is that uniting power?
That has brought us together.
So that we have.
Things in common with each other.
Now, how many things do we have in common with each other?
In this portion of the whole word.
We're going to see that we have seven things in common.
And they're all wonderful.
But they're not the same.
Seven things in common.
Things that I have and that you have and things that we all have together.
And that is what I believe to be the unity of the Spirit.
Now to get the proper focus on considering this blessed unity.
We should notice.
Verses one and two.
Written by a great servant of the Lord who said he was a prisoner of the Lord.
I love those words because.
They show us that the Apostle Paul accepted his circumstances from the Lord.
And we do thank God that he was a prisoner.
Who had time to write this wonderful letter?
Do you like to write letters?
Some folks like to write letters.
But frankly, I do.
I like to write note.
And my problem is not that I don't like to write letters that.
But the problem for me is to find time to write them.
But once I get started, I like to read that.
I believe that God allowed his great servant Paul to be put in prison so that he would have time.
To write letters.
And this letter that we're reading today, at least a part of it was written from prison.
He said. I beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation or of the calling.
Wherewith your call and we're going to see what that calling is.
In the few verses that we've read.
We're going to see what that calling is.
And we are going to understand that.
We united brethren.
Did you ever think of yourselves as one of the United Revans?
Yes, you're you're a part of the United trailers.
Well, united in the sense that God gives it to us in His holy word.
And nothing you can do about it.
Because you're being united.
To me, and I've been united to you.
Has been done by God. And so, yes, we are united today. We've been united by the spirit of God to each other.
In this blessed unity.
And we want to find out how to behave ourselves and how to enjoy this unity.
And how to be a contributor to the piece of this unity?
We would like our presence to be felt for good.
Wouldn't they?
It says with all lowliness.
And make this.
Well, if we're going to.
Walk worthy of this calling.
And this calling is that of being united with every believer.
On the face of the earth.
It will have to be in lowliness.
We'll have to realize that we are not.
Any more important?
Than anyone else we'll have to enjoy.
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The low place.
Rather than seeking a great place of promise.
And meekness.
Loneliness has to do with position.
Meekness has to do with the spirit.
And in our Lord Jesus we saw both lowliness and meekness combined.
And it would be God's will that these two qualities might be combined in ourselves too.
The joy of.
Of being content to be in a low position.
And have a spirit that is in keeping with that.
It says with long-suffering.
Now that word is often translated Patience.
And if we're going to enjoy the unity that we are a part of.
We're going to have to be patient with each other.
Long-suffering.
Patient and forbearing one another in love.
I think a lot about that word forbearing.
What does it mean?
Well, it has to do with these.
Ability to take it.
To encounter.
A storm.
Or an adverse input of some kind and take it.
That's the thought of forbearing.
And I've often explained it this way.
That if I were to take.
A tennis ball.
And to throw it very, very hard against the wall here under the cloth.
The wall here would not be forbearing.
That wall would send that ball back to me just as hard as I threw it against the wall.
You see, the wall is not for very.
It sent it right back to me, and the harder I throw it, the harder it'll come back. That wall is not for bear.
But if I were take a nice soft pillow and put it against the wall and throw that tennis ball against that pillow with all my might.
They would just ****.
Into the pillow and stick.
A pillow is for bearing. It doesn't fire back.
It doesn't fire. It's now. That's one of the qualities that is required.
By those who are a part of this wonderful unity.
And that is the quality of being forbarian.
The ability to not fire back in the flesh. And you, dear married people here, realize that you have had to exercise that quality in your home.
That quality of being forbearing.
That you have.
Known of your brother that if you said something harsh to your wife you may get back a very harsh reply.
And the harder your comment, the harder the reply, and the wife may find the same with her husband.
Unless there's forbearance.
If somebody says to me, Ron Reeve, you're ugly.
And I say.
I know it.
That's been forbearance.
Just take it. It's true. Might as well take it.
And forbearing is that quality of taking it.
And not firing back. The normal response would be just for me to say you are too.
That's not forbarance.
But forbearing is the quality of taking and in order to make this unity work well and gone in peace, we'll have to have all of these wonderful qualities that we.
See so well demonstrated in our Lord Jesus.
Lowliness.
Meekness.
00:15:01
Patience.
And forbearance, well, how wonderful they were demonstrated in him and by him.
And throughout his life.
Now let's go to verse three, it says, endeavoring to keep.
The unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Now to endeavor.
Here's the work at it.
It's an enterprise.
It's a job.
In order to maintain this unity that we are a part of.
In a peaceful condition.
We're going to have to work at this.
Marriage is like that too. Aren't we gotta work at it to make it proceed well and.
We're going to have to endeavor.
Now this unity of the spirit.
And the desire to keep it in a peaceful condition is what God asks us to do.
And if we do that, we'll be walking worthy of the calling by which we have been called.
Well, now tell me what the what is in this unity that we've been talking about?
Well, beloved brethren.
I see in the next 4 verses something very wonderful.
And about this unity I see it to be.
A unity in seven parts.
How can you have a unity in seven parts? It's easy.
You got a hand, haven't you? It's in five parts.
Isn't it? That's a hand.
That's five parts in that end, but it's just one hand, isn't it?
So my hand is a unity in five parts.
So you can have a unity that's in more than one part.
And the unity we're considering this afternoon is a unity not in five parts, but in seven parts.
And the best picture that we have of it in the Word of God is that.
Candlestick.
That lamp stand that was constructed for use in the Tabernacle.
And it was a golden Candlestick. Golden.
Candle stand and it had seven lamps. Remember that?
Do they call it a Candelabra?
Well.
It was fed by oil.
And every morning the high priest, the priest went in there and put more oil in the lamp sack.
But remember.
He put oil in all the lamps.
Not just one of them.
His job was to go in there and take his special kind of scissors.
And cut those Wicks. Cut off the carbon that had.
Developed on the Wick.
Saw that the lamps would not smoke.
And the light would be brighter. That was the job of one of the priests.
And he did that while the incense was ascending to God. He trimmed the lamps and he burnt the insane all at the same time, every day.
And if he wanted to keep all seven of those lights burning?
Because if one of them went out, you wouldn't have as much light, and so you needed all seven turn.
And to use the same oil.
In all of them.
And you know, the Spirit of God is typified often in the scriptures as the oil.
It was the same oil.
But in seven lamps.
And you had really then a unity in seven parts.
And every one of those should be kept burning and cared for each day. And if you were to talk to one of those priests that went in there and said, Zachariah, what were you doing when you went in there?
While he would say, I was endeavouring to keep all the lights burning bright.
00:20:00
He was endeavored.
And he was working at it. And if you say Zechariah, what would happen if you didn't go in there today?
Oh, you say you did a cloud of smoke something awful.
You've got to keep it trimmed. Everyone else, and I've got to work at it every day, every day. I got to endeavor to keep the unity of this lampstand burning brightly in all of its seven parts.
And beloved brethren, that's what we've got in these precious verses. Unity in seven parts.
And we're going to consider them one by one.
And we're going to consider that God asks us to keep all of these lamps burning, because they are all.
The part of the unity of the spirit, Remember, it's the same oil.
But in seven different lights.
And we need to keep them all burning. Now what is the first one? There is one body.
Oh look, all that lamp #1.
Lamp number one is the one body.
Now that's a part of the unity.
And every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is a member of the one body suppressed.
Oh, that's wonderful.
And beloved brethren, the word of God says there is one body.
Doesn't say there was one body or there will be one body.
But no, there is one body, so a part of that blessed unity.
Formed by the Spirit of God.
Is the blessed truth that we're all a member of the same body.
Now, if you look around here today.
You wouldn't get that idea.
And if you took the telephone book and looked in the Yellow Pages under church?
You'd see a lot of different churches.
I haven't used it. I don't know. There's there's the you start with a it says the Adventist Church.
A Baptist Church. You go down the alphabet and the Catholic Church exposures one under D and go to E Evangelical, free and after the Federated and.
Go to G It's grace, brethren, and.
That would be the friend and down the alphabet to go and you're seeing all these different churches. You say this doesn't look like one body to me. This looks like a whole lot of different bodies.
I know. And that's to our shame.
Because what has happened is this.
That instead of God's beloved people being content to go on together and demonstrate that there's just one body.
All kinds of things that come in to separate God's beloved people into many different bodies.
And they all go their own ways here in Pella this morning they got cars going this way and cars going the other way and cars going a lot of the other direction and all going to church.
But they're going different directions.
And you say this doesn't look like the body to me.
Oh, I know it. And this is really audible.
No, it's it's something that the man had brought in and it's caused confusion.
But beloved brethren, in spite of that God pronounces, in spite of all the confusion that has come in.
That there's still just one body.
And every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Is a part of that one body, and maybe that particular person goes to a denomination and goes this way and everything goes to another denomination over here, maybe another one drives you to say, well, there's.
We don't have our church. Our church doesn't. We don't have one of our churches, Impella. I got to drive them on road to go to ours or I got to drive from Newton.
People are even going out of the city.
Well be that as it may, and it is.
00:25:01
Let us remember with joy every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is a member of the one body of Christ.
Even though they might be going on with something that really is not according to the word of God, that doesn't take them out of the body of Christ.
But it's the mind of God and the will of God.
That his people should meet on the basis of there just being one body.
That would be the way to drive, because you see, that's part of the unity of the spirit.
The view said that the unity of the Spirit is composed of taking all the denominations of Catholics and the Baptists in the Federateds and the Friends and the Presbyterians and the Episcopalians and mix them all together and say this is the unity of the Spirit.
No, no, no, no.
God is not the author of confusion.
But beloved brethren, the body of Christ remains intact.
In spite of the failure of man.
And it is the will of God that his people meet on that basis as members of the body of Christ.
And I believe with all my heart.
And I have given my life.
To the belief and the teaching.
And the practice of this fact, I believe that you here in color.
On Branson Street are meeting on the basis of the one body of Christ, I believe with all my heart.
Paul Brethren, thank God for this testimony now.
You are not your brethren who meet in fellows. You're not the body of Christ at fellow.
No, you're just a little bit little stinky part of it because every believer in Keller belongs to the body of Christ. But the sad fact is that they don't all assemble on those terms.
But you do, by the grace of God, and that's precious. And I hope you'll all continue.
Going on to God to demonstrate there's just one body, just one body, and you're in fellowship with every member of the body of Christ all over the world.
You are gathered to the Lord Jesus and you will meet in His name, and you give demonstration that there is just one body. And when you come together to break bread, you'll just see one loaf on the table, don't you? None of them. Several stacks of crackers. Just one loaf. And that shows that you believe there is one body and beloved rather than this is so wonderful.
And may the Lord help us to be to endeavor to keep our testimony as to the one body.
In the bond of peace.
And let's associate with each other in such a way.
With all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering and forbearance.
In order that we may keep this lamp burning, and we've called it lamp number one, haven't we?
Let's keep that testimony burning that we're part of the one body.
That's very precious to the Lord. Well, no, but that's just that's not the whole unity of the spirit. We've only talked about one of the lamps. We got to move on to the second one. What's the second one?
One strip. Ah, that's lamp #2.
Now that's a whole different concept. You see, we talked first about the body concept that were members of the body.
And you're not the same kind of a member as I am. You don't have the same job in the body that I do.
We have different functions in the body such as my thumb does a lot different for my body than my nose.
And my feet do a lot different than my ears. Every member in the body is different, but performs its function for the benefit of the whole body.
But when we come to lamp #2, it says 1 spirit. It's a whole different thought.
But don't forget it's still connected with the unity of the spirit. And what is this thought then about lamp #2?
Oh, it's the same power.
00:30:00
That dwells in me. That dwells in you.
And we've got this in common. Oh brethren, think of the divine guest that dwells within your body. Your body is a temple of the Holy Ghost.
Which dwells within you, Which I have of God now, brother and sister. The Spirit of God that dwells in you is the same Spirit that dwells in me. You see, we have the Holy Spirit in common.
And the same power who directs me is the power that helps you.
Now, would the Spirit of God that dwells in you direct you in one way and direct me in another? No, because he's the same spirit.
And what makes you and me a part of the body of Christ? Is it the same spirit as welcome?
We united.
By the Spirit of God, and that same spirit unites.
Of one to another, but it's the same spirit.
And how wonderful it is to come to a meeting where the body aspect is demonstrated and find that the Spirit of God is leading the members of the body to do the things that flee and.
The Spirit of God is what binds us together below the bread. Now you cannot see the Spirit of God.
But he is now dwelling in this world, and that's what characterizes the present administration of God on the earth.
Which means.
That this is the dispensation of the Holy Ghost. You see, the Lord Jesus went back to heaven.
But not long after he was there, He sent the Holy Spirit to live here.
And the Spirit of God dwells in US individually, and it dwells in US collectively, and we've got this in common. The Spirit of God who dwells within me and makes Christ precious to me, is the same Spirit that dwells in you and makes Christ precious to you.
For all brethren, brethren, that's Lance #2, and let's not do anything that would grieve the Spirit of God.
Now to grieve the Spirit of God is to let the smoke.
Can I come from that week you see from that lamp, and needs to be chopped off. May we not grieve the Spirit of God in our personal lives.
By allowing serum.
And may we not grieve the Spirit of God in our assemblies either.
Which would cause a poor testimony and we need to endeavor.
Begin to endeavour.
To keep that lamp #2 burning brightly.
That the flesh may not hinder the flame that comes from the fact that we have the Spirit of God in common. Oh, that's wonderful to me.
Now let's come to land #3.
On this beautiful golden panda stick.
Which figures to us the unity of the spirit lamp #3.
You're called in one hope of your call. Ah, brethren, you and I have got something in common. We're going home to heaven someday.
We're going home to heaven someday.
What is your hope?
What is your hope?
What have you got in front of you? What do you see in the future for you?
Call yesaria what I see in front of Maine. My future is to be with Jesus.
I'm just looking for him to come. I don't know why he has been so long.
I don't know why he didn't come last week, but what I really am looking forward to what I hope.
For is to be with my savior.
That's my hope. And I go to my dear mother and I say, Mom, what do you want? Oh, she says, I want to be with Jesus in the tears from down the road. I want to be with Jesus.
That's our hope, rather, and we've got it in common.
In the scriptures, hope is not uncertain.
Hope is delayed, certainty, delayed certainty and.
00:35:01
You're called in one hope of your falling and beloved brethren, we've got that in common, and let's keep that land burning brightly. Let's remind each other.
Often that Jesus is coming.
And let's not let anything get in the way of this lamp. Let's keep it burning brightly. Let's endeavor that the light that comes from this lamp shall be bright.
And will be recognized as people that are waiting for the war.
Oh, that's a precious part of this unity that you and I have in common. We're looking for the Lord to come.
Well, now let's go to lamp #4.
One Lord.
You know, beloved brethren, we're working for the same boss.
I don't know if any of you beloved brethren here who have farms. I have a.
More than one hired hand, but we're going to assume that there's a farmer that has three hired hands.
And they come there in the morning and.
The brother says.
To his pre hired hand when our Jack I want you to today I'd like to have you allow.
The N 40 Do as much as you can today.
Factors ready and you can plow the N 40.
And he says fine.
And it gets warm.
And George said, well, what do you want me to do? He said.
I tell you, we've had, we've been looking at that shed down there in the goalie for too long and George, I'd like to have you just tear that thing down.
George, you tear down the shed.
Yes, Sir, we can never do it. Off it goes.
And Bill said, well, look for me.
Well, I'd like to have you go to Newton and get some parts for me now for the combine, we're getting ready to get it ready. And Bill, I want you to, I want you to to go to Newton and get some parts. And there are several places for you to go and you'll have to make several stops.
And you can take the truck before we've got one man plowing, and we've got another one tearing down the building, another off on his journey to get parts.
They work for the same Lord, the same boss.
And maybe Bill gets home early from his trip to Newton and he goes down and he says, hey George, they don't like the way you're stacking that wood from the from the building. It's a mess. It's a mess.
George would say I'm doing good with pedestrian today.
This is my job. I'm doing it the way he told me. You see, I don't work for you.
I work for the other house.
Now you see, beloved brethren, if we realize we say that the same Lord, then they're going to keep each other out of the other guy's business.
And it's going to keep me from telling you what to do and how you should do it if you're doing the Lord's work.
Let me keep out of it.
And may I encourage you and I could even say, hey, let me let me help you curious, I'm still for you can help you but.
The Lord brings before us the fact that we just got one master below the breading. He's the boy.
Visible.
And we must submit to him. And if anyone of those 3 hired hands used his own will, he could fired. He doesn't have a will. He's paid by the job or the day, and he is to do what he's told.
And beloved brother, let us realize that this is one of the lamps we need to keep burning brightly.
The Lordship of the of Jesus is everywhere.
We must do what he says and not what other people say.
Now we're being tested on this right now among the gathering. Are we going to do what somebody else says? Are we going to do what the Lord Jesus said?
And beloved brethren, I want to say this as clearly as I can.
But when an assembly of God's people.
Make a decision in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. We have to accept purposes.
00:40:01
They got no right to refuse.
No light at all.
And if we get a letter from an assembly in another place that has acted in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ?
He's the Lord, he's the boss.
Who are you and who am I to say, oh, I don't do that, We're not going to submit to that decision assembly. You got no right, brother, to refuse.
The assembly decision done in the name of origin.
May we? Really.
Seriously, endeavour to keep this part of the unity burning brightly.
And that causes.
That causes a lot of trouble, and you and I are connected with the testimony of those called bread. Thank God for it.
But you know what has caused most of our trouble through the years?
Failure to receive and assembly decision done in the name of the Lord Jesus. That's close to almost all our trouble.
So this lamp, the Lordship, the headship of Christ, keep it turning right?
How do you do that? By submission to the authority of the kids. And don't forget it. We must.
To acknowledge the lordship of Christ, we must submit to assembly the sea.
Connected in his precious life, we must we have nothing much to do.
Keep that lamp burning. Bravely catch the purple.
Now the system one's faith. Ah.
A whole new lamp.
A whole new concept.
One faith all brethren.
What is the faith once delivered to the Saints, the holy Word of God?
And you possess it. You've got several copies of it. And this Bible is not changing. It's not changing.
There may be translations that are that are helping people who don't speak one language to understand their own language. Thank God for them.
You know, you'd have a terrible time this afternoon.
If I were reading to you from the Spanish language.
We say don't do that, we don't understand that language. Also, I've decided today to read to you from the English language and some of you brethren could could read to me from the Dutch language. And I said, oh don't do that, I don't understand that language. Read to me in the language in which I were born and then I'll get it. Thank God, beloved, rather than that God has his servants giving people this holy word in the language in which they were born and that they can understand.
There's just one thing.
And God's not changing his mind about the truth. We have it. And it's the faith once delivered to the Saints. Now we've got that in common.
It's part of the unity that we enjoy together, and your faith is my faith.
This holy Word of God-given to us by the Spirit of God through his servants.
This is the faith. Oh, thank God for every word of this precious book.
And rather, may we not give up one of God's precious word.
Not one Let us not think that certain passages in the Bible are not important.
Oh, they are all important.
If properly applied.
And.
We leave them all so you and I have in common.
1St.
The revelation of God.
Oh, thank God. I've often sat down in my chair that I use in the morning to read the word. I've often taken my Bible like this and looked at it and I thought.
Can it be?
That I have in my hand that the revelation of God.
In this little book.
Royal Brevin what a treasure. Sometimes I just want to hold it close to my heart. I want to hold it close to my heart that God has given me His revelation. Industry.
00:45:02
Where may I spend time with it? May I sit and ponder it? May I pray it into my soul, The faith. Now I've got this in common with you.
And it's part of the unity of the spirit.
At 5 Now we come to another one in verse 51 Baptism.
I would like to call Kenneth McDaniels at this point.
He said. Ron. He said if you want to give the Brethren to wake up, talk about that, too.
Well, you can always.
It stirred up about a subject that we don't have total agreement on. But I'm not going to go into that side of it. I'd just like to say that one baptism is part of the energy of the Spirit. Why? Because, beloved brethren, there's something that you and I have in common.
And that is, we've all died with Christ.
We got that in common and you can go out here to the palace cemetery and I guarantee you.
That you'll see no sign posted in the Tele cemetery that says there will be no fighting in this place.
Dead people don't fight.
Residents of the graveyard are not to smoke.
Those in their graves shall not drink alcoholic beverages.
Oh, you're saying, Ron, we don't need signs like that in a graveyard. They're all dead. And those, they don't give the city any trouble at all. They're all dead.
Well, brethren, if we realize that one of the unity parts of the unity.
We all get together and you can't fight with me because I'm dead. I died with Jesus.
And if we recognize our position as being dead with him, we ain't going to get along a lot better.
And not fight with each other. We died with Jesus and we don't have any will of our own anymore.
But then you say, don't forget there's another side of that coin, and that is I'm alive with Jesus too, and I got the same life he's got.
Ah, brethren, that's a precious unity. That's the lamp number six.
And God would tell us to keep that lamp learning bright and every day realize that.
We don't really amount to anything too much, after all, if we're dead with Christ.
If you say you know, the brethren just don't recognize my importance.
And really, no, I am. I should have more respect than they give me.
Well, it starts out the bake realizing that you were dead. You wouldn't talk like that.
See, I don't have any place at all among my brethren because I'm dead with Jesus.
Well, rather than to recognize this number six lamp as are being dead together and having a new life together that isn't related to the flesh at all, you say, hey, let's keep that lamp burning brighter.
And that part of our oneness room. Now we come to the 7th one, which is in verse 6.
One God and Father of all.
Who is above all and through all and in you all?
Well, brethren lamp #7.
Which is part of this wonderful unity.
Is that we've all got the same fog.
We've all got the same father and we've all got the same name. You see, it's a family name. What is that for? Children of God?
Were Children of God. We've got the same father.
And this is a precious unity. That means that the one who cares for me is the one that cares for you.
And the one that kind of orders things for me is the one that orders things for you.
And plans for us?
We have the same father.
All brethren. That's a very wonderful lamp.
And now suppose.
Suppose that there's a Christian here.
On Broadway St.
That doesn't come to the meeting.
But you know that that person is a real Christian.
But that person doesn't come to me.
He does that and you say well.
00:50:04
This brother, he doesn't come to our meeting, and he doesn't demonstrate by coming to our meeting that he's part of the body of Christ.
Well, that's true.
And so that particular lamp is not burning very bright.
But old rather than keep the other six lamps clean.
That have to do with that, brother.
If he doesn't come to the meeting because he doesn't understand the things you stand that you stand for.
Can you not demonstrate to him that you have the same faith, that you have the same father, that you're both dead with Christ?
That you have the same spirit, in other words, if we can't enjoy everyone of these lamps.
Of this unity with God's people, shall we throw all the lamps out, shall we say? Well, lamp #1 is not burning very bright with his brother on Broadway St. Therefore I'll blow all the others out.
Oh, that wouldn't be very smart. If you can't enjoy all the lamps, enjoy the ones that you can't.
Enjoy the ones that you can, because, brethren, this unity is in seven parts.
And let me say again that which is most precious to my soul, that it is God's will, that we keep all these lights burning.
All of them, all of them burning bright and if you see one that's the Wick is not burning very well and maybe get a little tweezers and full of work, wake up a little bit and sniff off some of the carbon and and say lamp #1 is not burning very bright and well then then put some extra attention on that number one so you can get it burning brightly again.
The squeaking wheel gets the grease, they say, and the smoking lamp hits the attention and hits the endeavor. So in order to make this this lamp stand, give all seven lights with full brilliance, you've got to endeavor.
To keep the unity of the Spirit in the uniting bond of peace.
Now the unity has been formed by God and you can't. You can't break it or change it if God has done it, but you can keep it in a peaceful condition. And you didn't make this lamp stand, but you can keep the light burning.
And that's your endeavor. And it's mine, too.
And I just want to give you that definition that I believe is right.
The unity of the spirit.
Is that oneness?
In the which the Spirit of God has brought us.
Wherein we have things in common with every belief.
Footprint. My father.
Jesus Saves-Daniel 5
Gospel—R. Reeves
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.
Thing #132.
132.
We have heard.
His wife was found.
We have heard that.
Matter. No matter. No matter. Freelance. All right, let's say I cross the West.
When the heart water turns, they spread.
Rain and cry for the truth.
Drink. What's there to drink? What's there?
You're going to might be parting the Rainforest Day.
Like to have you think of that?
Expression Jesus saves like a great big sign.
And if you can imagine it on one of the streets here in Pella.
You can imagine that on the wall above the clock.
But it's true.
Jesus there.
He does, and I heard yesterday about.
A man for that stage.
And then I heard that tonight.
About a man that got saved and so this sign is true. Jesus.
Say, and that sign is still.
Remember when my wife Rachel had a garage sale?
Last year.
And.
It was my job each day at the garage sale to.
Put the sign up.
Out in front of our house.
It said garage sale.
And then on the last day in the afternoon, I put up the time.
At prices slash.
00:05:01
So that sail was on till 5:00.
Garage sale.
Prices slash things were marked down from $0.10 to five and that sign did a good job.
And I was so glad when the time came when I said honey.
I'm going to take the sign down.
I'm just tired of this.
And I went out the front of the house.
And I took the sign down.
Day was over.
I took the sign down.
Let me tell you this.
The sign is up tonight.
Jesus said the sign is up.
I can just see it in my mind. Great big letters. Jesus, Savior and he died. But someday.
God is going to take the time.
And they want a trove and lost.
So I hope nobody misses.
Being saved while the silent Jesus stayed.
Our father, would you please turn with me in your Bible to the book of Daniel?
I'm going to read to you tonight.
But I consider very very interesting story.
Daniel, Chapter 5.
So please turn to Daniel Chapter 5.
Daniel chapter 5 verse one Belshazzar the king made a great priest to 1000 of his Lords, then drank wine before the thousands.
Belshazzar Wild contasted the lion.
Commanded to bring the gold and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem.
That the king and his Princess, his wives, and his concubines might drink therein.
And they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the House of God.
Which was at Jerusalem.
And the king and his Princess, his wives, and his concubines ran to Grim.
They drank wine.
And they praise the gods of gold and silver.
And a brass and iron, and a wood and a stone.
Well, that's interesting, isn't it? Just seeing the guy with all his.
His important people together for a thief and.
As a part of the feast, they would.
They would drink a lot of wine.
And so they decided that they would make use.
Of some of the vessels.
That have been taken away from.
The House of God in Jerusalem.
They would make use of those vessels.
For their own fun.
That we're going to use the vessels of God.
If you have a good time for themselves.
Now the question is this.
Can they get by with that?
Can people get by with making use of something God has made?
For his honor.
Can they get by with taking those things and using them for their own funds?
Are people going to be able to get by with that?
Is God going to let people get fired?
You see, they didn't, they didn't realize the seriousness.
Of taking something that belonged.
To God.
And using it for yourself.
Now what's going to happen?
00:10:01
All I can just see this bunch of people.
And here's a nice golden cup that have been used in the service of God and the one of the person says, hey fill it up again for me, set it up again and.
Crank it full of wine, drank it down, making use of something that God has created for himself.
For their own son. Now, can you get by with that?
Let's see.
Verse 5.
In the same hour came forth the fingers of a man's hand.
And wrote over against the Candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the King's palace.
And the king saw the part of the hand that looked.
Well, that was scary, wouldn't it?
How experience is?
Suppose you, as you look towards me tonight, close you saw over here under this picture.
Fingers of us, somebody, hands riding on the wall. Wouldn't like to have anything like that happen to have anybody right on the wall.
Wondering how to get rid of it.
But it would scare us all. Please.
Offenders were the first in hand, right?
The king saw the part of the hand that wrote.
Verse six in the King's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him so that his joints of his loins volution.
And his knees smoked against another.
King Body was having a good time. Oh, they were laughing, I suppose, telling jokes and.
Then what do you think of this? Here I just drank a lot of wine out of a vessel that used to be in the House of God and now look at look where it is. Ha ha ha ha ha. And I love that.
And all of a sudden.
Looked on the wall.
Suddenly, mysteriously, is a hand, not an arm.
But a hand is writing something otherwise.
And the king escaped. He's so scared that his knees.
Start to pound again.
They share me too.
Verse 7 The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers. Those are the people that looked at the stars.
The Chaldeans and the soothsayers. Those are the smooth talkers.
Those were the smooth talkers, the ones that can make a chicken. Lay an egg with it. Once to enough the soup sailor.
Telling everybody that everything is all right, let's keep on going as soon as they.
When the king spake and said to the wise men of Babylon.
Whosoever shall read this writing and show me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck.
Shall be the third ruler in the Kingdom.
And came in all the King's wise men, but they could not read the writing.
I'll make known to the king the interpretation thereof.
Then with King Belshazzar greatly troubled.
And his countenance was changed in him, and his Lords were astonished.
Now the Queen.
By reason of the words of the king and his Lords came into the banquet house, and the queen spake and said, O king, live forever.
That's interesting expression, and the Spanish language is just done in one word, vivo.
We were, we were, you know, we were old king. Live forever.
Let not thy thoughts trouble thee.
Let not that countenance be changed. There is a man and thy Kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods.
Of thy father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him.
On the king Nebuchadnezzar, thy father the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers.
For as much as an excellent spirit and knowledge, understanding, interpreting of dreams and showing of hard sentences and dissolving of doubts were found in that same Daniel.
Whom the king named Belt Belt to Shazzer. Now let Daniel be called and he will show the interpretation.
00:15:08
Then was Daniel brought in before the king? And the king spake, and said them to Daniel, Art thou Daniel?
Which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the King my father brought out of Jewish?
I've heard even of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom of thee. And now the wise men the astrologers, have brought in before me, and that they should read this writing and make known them to me the interpretation thereof. But they could not show interpretation of the things.
And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations and dissolve doubt.
Now if thou cant read the writing and make known them to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet.
Have a chain of world about thy neck.
And shall be the third ruler in the Kingdom.
Well, it's not hard for me to understand how this king was all upset. Here he was.
Doing those things that God was not pleased with.
And folks, let me tell you this.
I can't do it.
He knew that he was doing wrong.
Anyway.
He was smart enough to know that the way he was living was not.
Right. His way of life was the wrong way of life. He knew that.
All of a sudden it sees this hand right in the wall.
And writing words that he never thought before and he couldn't figure them out.
And where did this hand come from?
Where did these words come from?
What do they mean?
And he was scared.
And he called together all his wise men and inquired of them, but they couldn't help him at all. So we don't know. We never saw anything like this happen before.
Francie King, We just don't know.
And then the King's wife said, well, you know there isn't a man here called Daniel, and he sure helped your father a lot. When your father got into some jams, Daniel was a big help to him because Daniel has contact with God.
And it's a good idea to call, so they call Dan.
And the Daniel said. Oh, Daniel, if you can tell me what this is all about, I'll give you some really rewards and I'll give you a good job.
Verse 17 And Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself.
And give thy rewards to another.
Yet I will read the writings unto the King.
And make known to him interpretation.
Now I would like to ask you all to very carefully.
Listen and read with me.
The next rehearsal.
Because in these next three verses, next few verses we are going to see.
But Daniel knew.
The type of man.
That he was dealing with.
And he knew the kind of a heart that this man had. Let's read it. Verse 18. Old Thou King, the Most High God, gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father, a Kingdom and majesty of glory and honor. And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages assembled and appeared before him. Tell me what absolutely Whom he would he slew. At home he would he kept alive. At whom he would he set up, whom he would he put down.
And when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened and cried, he was deposed from his Kingdom thrown, Kingdom thrown, and they took the glory on her.
Now, Daniel says to Belshazzar, you know what happened to your father?
You know that he got proud and God had to put his hand on it. You know that.
They took your glory from it.
And he was driven from the sons of men, verse 21. And his heart was made like the beast.
And his dwelling was with the wild answers. And they fed him with grass like oxen. And his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till he knew that the Most High God ruled in the Kingdom of men.
00:20:02
That he appointed over it, whomsoever he will now become through the punch line.
Verse 22.
And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled.
Thine heart go down to us all this.
That's pretty heavy word, Daniel said to this king. He said, you know what God did to your dad? You know what God did to your father?
And even though you know all of this.
You're still just as proud as you always were.
And you have not humbled your heart.
Before the Lord.
Daniel points to this man and he says to him in his plain language that you can imagine you are a Sinner.
That's what he said.
Verse 23 But thou hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven.
And they brought the vessels of his house before thee. And thou and thy Lord, thy wives, thy concubines have drunk wine in them. And thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, and brass, iron, wood, and stone, which seen off no hear, no, no, and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose ways.
And whose are all thy ways which thou not glorified?
So, Daniel.
They laid it on this, Mouth said. You know you are a Sinner.
And you have tried to get by.
In your life, you have tried to get by in your life by having your own way.
And doing the things that you want to do and you don't care about God at all.
And you've been trying to get by that way.
Now let me ask all of you here.
Can you get by that code?
Can a person get by?
And come out well.
Who forgets the God of heaven and using what God has given him just to please himself or herself?
Can we get by having our own way? Well, that's a good question, isn't it? The answer to it is no. Can't get by with it.
Verse 24 Then was the part of the hand sent from him, and this writing was written.
And this is the writing that was written Mimi.
Many people.
Your partial.
Well, just imagine you see that, right, Vernon? I'm not going to do that with an ink marker tonight, but just imagine that Ron Reeves came here and rode with the big black ink marker. Meanie meanie tico, You Farsan.
I wouldn't dare to. It wouldn't let me come back. But just in your mind. You see it right here, don't you? Me neither. Sequel you parsing.
Came scratching his head, he said. What's that all about?
26 This is the interpretation of the thing meaning.
May God has numbered your Kingdom.
And finished it. In other words, king, you're through.
You're through. You thought you were quite important.
But.
Your truth, your Kingdom is over.
T Cole, we're 27.
While it weighed in the balance and found wanting.
What's that all about?
Remember that word I wrote there? Says Tikal. I mean, God has been looking at what you've been doing and he's decided that you have come short. You have come short.
Verse 28 Ferris.
Will you partion? Thy Kingdom is divided and given to the Muslim Persians. In other words, you're going to lose your Kingdom and God's going to give it to somebody else.
What do you have your message for this proud king, Mother?
Well, there was a little bit of honor in this king.
00:25:00
Because he.
He did do what he said he would do it, and he did. He did reward Daniel for Daniel's matrices in this way. He did do that. I was thankful, he says then Commander Belshazzar Belshazzar. And they flowed Daniel with scarlet and put a chain of gold upon his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him that he should be the third ruler in the Kingdom.
Well, we are real glad that Daniel got paid for his services.
But not the 1St 30.
In that night.
Was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldean slain?
Meaning, meaning people you've Arsenal.
God has numbered your Kingdom.
Of his before Nanjo.
And you have been weighed in the balances, and you have come short.
And God is going to give everything you've got to somebody else.
In that night with Belshazzar, the king of the Caribbean.
And verse 31 Says in Daniel then derives the medians of the Kingdom.
Being about 3 score and two years old, so this handwriting on the wall came true.
What are we going to learn from this?
I tell you what we should learn.
We should learn that God is watching everything that we did.
And we should learn that we cannot get by.
With using what God has given to us.
Just to please ourselves, hoping that God-given to us what He's given us, our bodies, He's given us our life, He's given us our stuff.
He gave it to us.
Now, have we used it to please ourselves, or have we used it to dwell by God?
Well, you know, people who don't know the Lord are just like this Belshazzar. They use everything that God gave them. They use it as to please themselves.
And you can't get by with us.
And they come short.
Now, folks, I don't think anybody in this room.
As any difficulty understanding this story.
What's clear as it can be?
So here's a man that was a Sinner. Here's a man that came short of God's glory.
And here's a man that was going to lose his whole.
It's as clear as you can as you can get it.
It's clear it was considered.
But here's what I would like to say.
This man did not have to die under the judgment of God.
If we had.
Turn to the Lord. The Lord would have forgiven him. It did not have to happen. And let me tell you this. It is not necessary. It is not necessary for sinful, sinful people to die in their sins and go to hell. It is not necessary. It does not have to happen.
And that's why I stand here tonight.
With the gospel message in my heart and in my lips.
Turn to Luke's Gospel, chapter 18 and I'll show you something great.
And it will confirm.
What I believe, and that is this man Belshazzar, did not have to die under the judgment of God.
He didn't have to.
But.
Luke 18.
1St 13.
And the public and standing afar off.
Would not lift up.
So much as his eyes but smoke upon his breast.
Saying God be merciful to mote upon his breast, Saying God be merciful to me a Sinner.
And I tell you, this man went down to his house justified. Oh, I like it. I like it.
00:30:03
There is a man who acknowledged that he had sinned against God and he points to his chest like this and he says I'm the problem, I'm the problem, the problem is in my heart.
I'm the one who caused it points to 1000, he said. God's been merciful for years and Sinner and it says he went down to the house justified.
And I tell you dear friends tonight, that if belt Charger, Bill Charger has called upon God for mercy, he would have got it. He would have got it. But the sad part about his story is that.
Didn't do it. It didn't do it. And the saddest thing that can happen in the life of a Sinner is that that Sinner does not call upon God for mercy and half to die under the judgment of God.
It does not have to happen. It does not have to happen.
Learn to the Book of Revelation.
Chapter.
Excuse me, Revelation chapter.
7th of June I think it is.
And maybe it's Chapter 21. Yeah, it's Chapter 21.
Before we read chapter 21, I want to read a verse in chapter 20.
Revelation Chapter 20.
This talks about a coming day. It says I saw the dead small and great stand before God, and the books were opened and another book was written was opened which was the book of life, and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the book.
According to their work.
Well, we talked together about the words that were written meaning, meaning People departed when God wrote on the wall of the power.
Well, God is not writing on the wall of the palace tonight.
God is not writing on the wall of the meeting room tonight. But let me tell you this, He's writing down work of chimney. He's writing down the thoughts of unbelievers and if anyone's here tonight without Christ while he's writing down in that book.
This person sat and heard the gospel and tell us and rejected Jesus again and he wrote it back and someday that book will be open.
And there it will be, all dated and everything.
April 5th.
1992 she sat in the meeting room and tell her he sat in the meeting room and tell her and was not interested in hearing about the dog.
I don't want anything like that about anybody who.
It's a serious thing when God writes something down.
Because nobody can arrange for.
But I want you to turn to Chapter 21.
It talks about a coming day of.
Blessing for those who believe.
In the heavenly city it says in verse 27 there shall know him no wise enter into it. Anything that be Pilate. Revelation 2127.
They're showing wise enter into it Anything that defileth either whatsoever worketh abomination or maketh a lie, but they that are written in the Lamb's book of life.
They that are written in the Lamb's Book of life.
Would you like to have your name written in the Lamb's book of life?
Let me tell you this.
If you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ tonight, you can be sure that your name is written in the man's book of life, and that the writing men in those other books will never be used against you. Because the word of God says the blood of Jesus Christ his Son, cleanses us from all sins, and the Lord Jesus Christ came into this world and died on Calvary's cross and shed His precious blood.
00:35:13
Towards your sins and mine away. And the moment we believe on him, all our sins are taken away and they're erased from the books, and you'll never be able to find them.
And we who believe in the Lord Jesus know that our name.
Written in the Lamb's Book of Life, and if Belshazzar.
Had have called upon God for mercy.
He could have known the joy instead of dying in his fins and going into the judgment of God, he could have known the joy of having his name written in Lamb's foot of life. Well, I hope everybody here in this room.
Know that your name was written in the land of book of life, and you can know it if you put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Now we're going to sing another song, which is #28.
#28
oh, what a savior is Jesus the Lord?
Well may his name by the Saints be adored.
He has redeemed them from hell by his blood, saved them forever, and brought them to God #28.
Ever.
Stayed on straight day in my heart. Now I just love.
Praying and forever and from him to come.
Jesus Christ, my deepest pain.
Is not my son of God. That's the kind of grace.
On important.
39.
I'm still not saying you're coming now while you're praying.
Look down your feet making her lovely girl.
I love your hands. Me just bear where it's good.
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Someday I'm going to heaven.
And I can just see it all now.
The Church Pt.3
Address—J. Hyland
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Since Christ and we are one, what room for doubt or fear? He sits upon the Father's throne, and we are in Him there. 253 Will someone please start her?
Sully and those who were not there will forgive me. We're going to. I'll just go back just for a moment. We've been Speaking of the subject of the church. We made some general comments concerning this first chart. I have two circles here, a lower circle and an upper circle, the Jew and the Gentile. And as I said the other night, if we could separate these circles, we would have those two distinctions. And that's what you had in the Old Testament.
And the Jew was inside the circle of blessing, had the promises and the oracles, and the gentile without sight.
But now we have this new unit in Christianity, the Church which was formed on the day of Pentecost.
We know that it's all based on the finished work of Calvary, and that's why I have a cross on the other side of the church, because, as I said the other night, it's the foundation of every blessing that we possess. And when we get home to glory and the churches assembled around the Lord Jesus and all in perfect harmony will have nothing else to sing about but the precious blood of Christ and will be occupied with the lamb as it had been slain. Well, we're going to go on.
We've been looking at these various aspects of the church.
Taken up in a little different light so that we can enter in and understand these truths. We spoke with the building, and when it was a question of the building, it was a habitation of God. Through the Spirit, we looked at the building and its two aspects, one as the temple, and when it was the temple was in connection with worship and when it's the house.
It's in connection with our responsibility. And then last night we spoke of the body. We made some comments concerning the fact that we're all members of the body of Christ, and that we have been linked by the Spirit of God not only one to another, but to our risen head in glory, which is Christ. And in First Corinthians 12, God views the body in its completion, the head in glory, Christ, you and I, the members on earth. And so close is the relationship that we've been brought into.
That he views the complete complete body and he says it's Christ. That's the relationship we have been brought into. We made some comments concerning the headship of Christ. I read that verse in Colossians one that in all things he might his head over all things to the church, which is his body. That in all things you might have the preeminence. I would like to just pick up for a moment and speak for just another few moments about this subject of headship, because I believe when you have the body.
The Church in its aspect of the body, it brings before us this truth, and as I said the other evening.
We understand this in a natural body, that all the members of our body take their direction from the head or from the brain. And we spoke of how we need to take our direction from the head, which is Christ and how in the assembly it is so important to recognize the headship of Christ. But let's turn over to Ephesians one just for a couple of further thoughts in connection with headship.
Now in verse 20 and 21 he speaks of Christ and how he's been exalted and given a name and and so on. And he says in verse 21 far above all principalities and powers and might and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this world, but also in that which is to come and have put all things under his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the church.
Which is his body? The fullness of him that filleth All in all. Well, there is a day coming when Christ's headship is going to be owned not only in heaven, but in this world. That's God's purpose. It's the fruition of all God's thoughts and purposes that everything would be gathered around his Son, and that his Son would be given his rightful place. You have that thought in Philippians 2 where he's given him a name above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth.
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And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. And in the first chapter here he takes that up in verse 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of time he might gather together in one all things, even in Christ. I say that's the fruition of all those thoughts and purposes.
And not only will the heavenly company worship and and but now before him, but everything will be brought into order. Everything will be centered around him. Now, brethren, I trust there's no thought even in corners of our hearts that the Lord is reigning in this world. Now there are some believers who will actually tell you that this is the reigning time. And I don't know that how they can look around at the condition of things in this world as it gets worse and worse and right for the judgment of God.
And believe that the Lord is reigning. Now there is a day when he will reign. It says a king shall reign in righteousness and Princess shall rule in judgment. And we're going to be associated with him in that day. And we'll speak of that a little later. But, well, this is not the reigning time as far as this earth is concerned, brethren, He wants that place in our hearts. Now He wants, as I said the other night, not only does he want first place in our lives, but he wants the only place. And brethren.
This is a day when rebellion against authority is not only practiced, it's always been practiced from the Garden of Eden, because Adam failed to recognize his responsibility to God in the Garden of Eden when he reached out and took that of which he was forbidden.
But not only is a rebellion against authority practice today, but it's preached and glorified.
And you know, they teach us at school today. Well, nobody is to tell us what to do. You don't have to bow to authority, whether it's parental authority, authority, governmental authority, authority in the job place. And as I said the other evening, really the only happy path is the path of obedience. You find that in scripture, all through scripture, with the Lord's people. When they obeyed, there was happiness. When they disobeyed, they only caused themselves a lot of grief that they could could have saved.
Now in the 6th chapter, I believe it is of Ephesians, he takes up this subject and shows that submission, whether it's in the home, whether it's to government, government, whether it's in the workplace, submission and obedience are the key to blessing. But you know, we're always victims of the age in which we live and whatever effects the world in any given age eventually affects the Lord's people. And I say today, we need to be careful as we're taught in school, that authority, there's no authority and you don't have anyone to tell you what to do. We need to be careful.
That we close our ears to that type of thing and that we realize that authority is ordained of God and we're always under authority. There's always someone over used to think when I was a child that oh, if I could just grow up and I wouldn't be under the authority of my parents. But then you find you go to work and there's authority in the workplace and all these things. And so in the assembly that God has given the assembly authority and he's head over all things to the church, which is his body. And so we need to recognize his authority.
I believe that things are leading up to a day when unbridled self will will be the final climax to man's history of sin. Because it tells us in that day, Speaking of the man of sin, that the king shall do according to his own will. Men will just do whatever they like, whatever they please, and they'll they'll have no one to tell them what to do. Well, we know what chaos it will lead to. And I say these things are becoming more full blown because you find that when the world chose Barabbas over the Prince of Peace.
Barabbas was characterized by three things. You never have all three things in anyone gospel, But if you compare the account of Barabbas, he was not only a murderer and a thief, that is what we might say, violence and corruption. But he was on trial for an insurrection or sedition, which is rebellion against authority and those three things, violence and corruption and rebellion against authority. As I say, they've been practiced since the Garden of Eden, but it seems to me that when they chose Barabbas and when he cared, what characterized Barabbas over the Lord Jesus.
Those three things have just become more full blown over the last 2000 years. Will I just say that? Because we need to be careful. As I say, there's a day coming when he will have his rightful place and it's wonderful to think of it. I know that his appearing is not the proper hope of the believer. And yet it does say in Titus looking for that glorious hope, that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And you know what thrills my heart? To think that there is a day coming.
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When the Lord Jesus is going to have his rightful place in this world, when every knee is going to bow and everything is going to be brought into order. But I say again, He wants that place in our hearts now, and particularly brethren in the assembly, where we profess to be gathered on the ground of the one body. And as I said the other night, we have to remember that in the assembly it's His table, and His authority must be owned and maintained. It must be recognized. Now just one further thought in connection with the body before we pass on.
I mentioned the other night that my artwork broke down on this one, but I tried to illustrate it with a loaf of bread on the chart. We're going to see why by turning the First Corinthians chapter 10.
One Corinthians chapter 10 and verse 16. I'm just going to read the last half of the verse.
The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the Body of Christ? For we, being many, are one bread and one body, for we are all partakers of that one bread. Though I believe when it's the thought of the body here in connection with the bread, it's the thought of unity. Now on Lord's day morning, when we come together to remember the Lord in his death, there's a loaf on the table, and I trust that we recognize in that loaf every member of the body of Christ. Now I say that because.
I find in my own heart sometimes I become narrow or sectarian in my view.
And I think of that loaf as only those who are there on that occasion, or perhaps only those who are gathered to the Lord's name throughout the world, and express this truth in a practical way. But I trust we recognize in that loaf every member of the body of Christ alive on the face of the earth.
I'll just repeat a statement I made the other the other night. Sometimes when the church is taken up, it's in the context of every believer from the day of Pentecost until the Rapture when the church.
It will be safe home and glory. Sometimes it's in the context of the local expression of these things, the local church or the local assembly. The terms are interchangeable, as we said in the Word of God. And sometimes it's in the context of every believer that's alive on the face of the earth that anyone given time. And I believe that that's the context in which we find it here. And we, being many, are one bought bread and one body. And we need to recognize this brethren, if we don't become narrow in our thinking, but that we recognize.
Whether they express it or not, every member of the body of Christ, every member of the church, every blood bought St. alive on the face of the earth. Remember one time I say, I remember, I remember my mother telling one time of an incident that took place in her home assembly of Rita Ferry when she was just a young person. There was a brother visiting there and he was walking home after the breaking of bread on Lord's Day morning, walking back to the home where he was staying.
And he met another Christian from the community, and it was a Christian that he knew quite well.
But this other Christian had been at another place of worship that morning. And so he said to the Christian, he said, it was so wonderful to see you.
At the meeting this morning, all the Christians said I wasn't there. Oh, he said it was lovely to see you this morning. And after he said it two or three times, the brother said to him, what do you mean I wasn't there? Well, he explained that there had been a loaf on the table, and in that loaf he had recognized that brother as part of the Church of God, though that brother hadn't expressed it himself. Now I know that when we take that loaf and we give thanks and we break it, it is to be a fresh reminder, and I trust it is.
A fresh reminder of what the Lord Jesus has done for us and his body given in death.
But I trust you that as we see that loaf and it's unbroken state, we keep this in view that there is one body, you know, I think that is so precious because the outward testimony as to this truth has become fragmented and you find Christians in different pockets of Christendom and different fellowships. But you know, the Lord Jesus looks down and God looks down this evening and he views every believer on the face of the earth and he says there is.
One body, you see, brethren, the unity of the body was never committed to man. God tested man in the Old Testament for 4000 years.
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To prove to man didn't need to prove to God God knew man's heart. But to prove to man that any responsibility he ever was given, he fails. In it he breaks down. And so when he when the Church was formed, he did not commit the unity of the body To you and I. If I can speak reverently, he knew better than to trust a man with such an important and precious and vital truth. Now we are given a responsibility, we won't take time to turn to it, but in Ephesians we're told to endeavour to keep the unity not of the body.
But of the Spirit in the bond of peace. And we know that man has failed in this. In fact, in the early days of the Church, even before the word of God was completed, the seeds of disunity and partyism and all these things had already sprouted and were taking place.
That's why in First Corinthians Paul writes the way he does, and he writes concerning those that were saying they were of one and of another, and some even saying that they were of Christ. Because these seeds of disunity had already come in. And we know the sad history of the church and how these things came about. Even in the Dark Ages, the corporate testimony was completely lost, though God had his own in various places. Well, thank God, the testament, the truth as to the one body, the heavenly calling of the church, the testimony being gathered to the Lord's name.
It was restored to us by grace in the last century. And I trust we value these truths. And so we're to endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Because brethren, that's his desire. As I said, think the other night that God's desire is for unity. It will take place in the coming day. He brings out in Ephesians 1 here when he's get everything's gathered in one. But he desires to see his own go on in that way, not to compromise the truth.
Because we can never have love and peace at the expense of righteousness and truth. Because that's compromise.
But all his desire is that we would go on in happy fellowship and we would express in a practical way.
These truths. Now I want to go on to the subject of the bride. And to introduce this subject, let's turn over to Ephesians Chapter 5.
Ephesians chapter 5 and verse 25.
Well, let's read verse 24 therefore as the church is subject unto Christ.
So let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish. Well, I read these verses first of all, because I believe that.
When it's the subject of the bride, the church, in this aspect, it brings before us that place of affection that you and I have been brought into, that place of dearness to his heart. That's why I've illustrated it with a higher fear. And we find here that again there's submission in connection with the bride. He uses it in connection with that which we can understand how the wife is to be subject to her husband. Adam was first formed and and then Eve, And it says first that which is natural, then then that which is spiritual. And if these things are proper and true and of God in a natural sense, how much more in the spiritual sense.
That the Church is the Bride of Christ is to be subject to Christ as we've been speaking.
And then he tells his husband's Love your wives, even as Christ ought to love the church.
And gave himself for it. I remember dear brother Urban Clawson some years ago was in Smith's Falls and we were Speaking of these things. And he quoted the verse in Colossians that says husbands love your wives and be not bitter against them. And he said, you know, he said I've seen a lot of Colossians husbands, but I've seen no, I haven't seen any Ephesian husbands. Because when we think of here it says love Christ, husband, love your wives as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it. And you know, some of us remember the day when we took a bribe and perhaps we thought we went through a great deal.
To have our bride. But, brethren, it was nothing compared to what the Lord Jesus had to go through to have his bride. You know, I think of the Lord Jesus when he prayed in the garden, and he said, Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me. Was it possible? Could he have had his bride? Could God have children? Could you and I be blessed if he had not gone to Calvary? There was no answer to that prayer because it was not possible. And so he rises from the garden and he goes.
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Forward to pilots judgment Hall. He goes from pilots judgment hall to Calvary. Why? Because he thought about you. He thought about me. He knew there was no other way that we could be brought into this place of relationship where he would be able to lavish his love on us for all eternity. The Lord Jesus set himself except a corn of wheat, fall into the ground and die. It abideth alone, but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. And so he he bears that judgment on Calvary.
He finishes the work, and now because of that finished work, we have been brought into this relationship. That's the love that he had for us. So I think I said the other night he sold all that he had. He gave up everything. He went down into those depths so that he could have his bride with him for all eternity. And so he he, he gave himself that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word. Well, we've been set apart. Set apart for blessing. We spoke the first night where a heavenly people.
We're not of this world any longer. We have a heavenly calling. He's brought us into that circle of blessing. But then there's the practical side of it. There's the washing of water by the word, and that's what we need, brethren, We spoke the other night of how important the word of God is. We spoke of ministry in the assembly, and we need that washing of water by the word, that there might be that practical walk in our lives, that we walked as those that are heavenly people and that are on our way to glory, and that we there is a recognition.
With those around us, as it says of the early disciples, they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus. I think of the truth of foot washing. You know, the Lord Jesus introduced that truth. He washed the disciples feet. And then he said wash one another's feet. What we need to let him wash our feet. We need that practical cleansing. David said, thy word, Have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee? And then as we let him wash our feet, then we can wash one another's feet.
And encourage one another and refresh one another in the pathway. And then it states about future day when he's going to present it to himself a glorious church not having spot her wrinkle or any such thing. Now I marvel at this because you know, it says in Isaiah 53 he's going to see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied. And brethren, when we get home to glory and there we are all the redeemed together, we're not only with Christ but we're like Christ.
Is he going to be disappointed in anyone of us? Never. He's never going to be disappointed that he chose you or that he chose me. He's going to see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied. I never was very good with my hands, but when I was younger and at home, I used to undertake a little woodworking project in my parents basement from time to time. And my parents always had a large wood stove in the basement that was going during the winter and before anybody could see the finished product I would open that stove and it would be gone quiet.
Because I was dissatisfied with the finished product. But you know, I think of the Lord Jesus, who loved us enough to give himself for us. He picks us up all the work of the Spirit of God. He opens our eyes to see beauty in himself. He draws us, He saves us. Then He carries us safely home to glory.
And he views. Can I put it this way? I speak reverently. He views the finished product in that day. Is he disappointed? Oh no. And brethren, who's going to leave the singing in that day? We think of what it will be to be there. We sing, but what must it be to be there? But he's going to joy over us with singing. I marvel at that as he sees his bride all fair and glorious and complete, All his delight. To have us there far outweighs any response or joy that's in our hearts by grace.
I was visiting in a home some time ago, and there was a young man there who was anticipating marriage. And every morning he came down to breakfast and he would announce how many days it was until the wedding. And so I asked him if he had numbered the day backwards on the calendar and he said yes, he had. And it was reminiscent of the day in which the days in which I had done the very thing myself. But you know, I thought as each morning he came down with a big smile on his face and there was no shame, he was glad to tell us that it was only 47 days.
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46 days, 45 days. And I thought, if an earthly bridegroom looks forward to that time when he will have his bride in that way.
How much more? The one who loved us and gave up everything to redeem us. The one whose love is unchanging, who loves us with that everlasting love. And as the man of patience, he's waiting. What is he waiting for, brethren? He's just waiting for that word from the Father. And then it says he that will come, shall come and will not tarry. He won't delay when the father, as it were, says go fetch thy bride. Well, you know we need to be occupied with this and his love for us. Because, you know, sometimes I find I feel perhaps that I don't have that response in my own heart.
But what is it that will create that response in our hearts as the bride of Christ? It's to be occupied with His love. And in Ephesians you have what Christ, what the church is to Christ now. In Colossians, it's what Christ is to the Church. And that's wonderful. He's the head and so on. But here it brings out what we are to his heart and brethren. As we enter into that, then our response increases. You know when you have the Bride and Song of Solomon, you find there that the more she's occupied with the bridegroom, the less she's occupied with herself.
And the less she's occupied with her response for him and the more she's occupied with his love for her. Now, I'm sure that at the end of Song of Solomon, and I have no doubt that her response has grown as she's been occupied with all his beauties, with his love and what she means to his heart. Her. I'm sure her heart is bursting as she says, yeah, he is altogether lovely, but what was it that caused that love to well up and to increase? It was being occupied with him.
And his love? Well, let's turn over now to Revelation Chapter 19.
Revelation 19 And verse seven. Let us be glad, and rejoice, and give honor to him, For the marriage of the Lamb has come, And his wife hath made herself ready, and to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white, or the fine linen is the righteousness of Saints. And he says unto me, Right, blessed are they which are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said unto me, These are the true sayings.
Of God? Well, here we have the moment for which all other moments were made. That time, brethren, when you and I.
As the Church of God, as the bride of Christ are going to be married to the Lord, the marriage supper the Lamb. Now it's interesting in Revelation here that the marriage supper of the Lamb does not take place until the false church is completely judged. Now if I can put it this way, at the marriage supper of the Lamb, I believe we have the manifestation of the of the rewards that are given and what is brought out and manifest that the judgment seat of Christ. Now I believe the judgment seat of Christ takes place very quickly.
After the Rapture, I say that on a couple of accounts because in Revelation 2 and three you have a little summary of church history. I know those those letters were written to seven specific churches that were in Asia at the time of John, but we have we have no doubt that as we read those, it gives us a little.
A picture of church history, and I never really knew how aptly it fit until I read a good church history. And then at the end of Revelation 3, you have the end of that period, and Revelation Four starts with a John hearing a voice come up, hit her, and so on. And you find that immediately you're in the heavenly scene. The redeemed are there, and they already have their rewards, because those rewards are those crowns that they take and cast at his feet. And not only that, but you know, I believe that he's not going to delay to reward us for faithfulness.
So much does he delight in any little faithfulness on your part and mine that he's not going to delay it says, and behold, his reward is with him. Perhaps we've experienced this if you're away from home. Sometimes when I'm away, I can't wait to get home and open my bag and give a little gift to my wife or to one of my children, something I have for them. And I say, the Lord cannot wait to reward us for any little faithfulness done for Him. And so he tells us here to let us be glad and give honor to him, rejoice, and give honor to him.
For the marriage of the lamb has come and notice what it says. His wife hath made herself ready. Now when you have the bride, you have it taken up in 2 aspects. You have the bride and the wife. And I believe when it's the wife, it's in connection with relationship. When it's the bride, it's what he we mean to his heart, that freshness and that beauty. But when it's the wife, it's relationship. Now you know that when the President of the United States is elected, he moves into the White House.
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And you would be thinking to that place as the First Lady because of the position her husband takes. Now there's a day coming when you and I are going to be associated with the Lord Jesus in a similar way. He's going to take the throne of his glory, He's going to reign in righteousness, every eye is going to see him and so on. And you and I are going to be with him in that day because as I said, not only will a king reign in righteousness, but Princess will rule in judgment.
The Saints are encouraged if you suffer with him.
Shall also reign with him. And at the end of First Thessalonians 4, where he speaks of the Rapture and tell us how it's going to take place. Then he says wherever with the Lord. So when he's in glory, we're with him. When he comes back to reign over the earth, we're with him. Wherever with the Lord, we never leave his presence again. And so you know if he to go on with the illustration if the President of the United States moved into the White House.
And then he goes about, he visits other countries. You see his picture in the newspaper from time to time. You'd be surprised if you didn't see his wife with him, associated with him on those occasions. And so I say we're going it. It's just a little illustration of that position that we're going to enjoy in a coming day. But though his wife has made herself ready, because, brethren, as I say, what's going to be manifest at the marriage supper of the lamb are those who rewards.
That were given at the judgment seat of Christ. And are we living in view of that day?
When we were engaged, there were some months between our engagement and our wedding.
And there was a lot of preparation took place in those months, particularly with the one I was going to marry. And we lived a great distance away. And so I would call her from time to time and she would tell me of that the progress of the plans that were being made. And the closer we got to the wedding day, the more the the, the the acceleration of these plans. And there was a a hostel in Boston to prepare. Everything was in view of that day. Will the Lord Jesus is living in view of that day. He's waiting for that moment when he will have his bride. But are you and I living in, in view of that time just as a girl when she's going to get married, all her her aspirations, all her preparations look forward.
To that wedding day. Because, you know, I think of the little poem that says only one life will soon be passed. Only what's done for Christ will last. It will be too late to prepare when we get home to glory, just like in a in a natural wedding, If a bride leaves everything to the last day, well, it's too late to prepare. Those preparations have to be made beforehand. I say, are we living in view of the judgment seat of Christ? Because of the judgment seat of Christ, everything is going to be brought out.
And those things that were done for him in the body are going to be rewarded.
It's some people, you know, they don't look forward to the judgment seat of Christ. But I'm glad for the judgment seat of Christ because I believe it's just going to magnify the grace of God as we see that which was not for his glory and honor burned up. And I think we're going to be surprised at how big that bundle of wood, hay and stubble really is. But to see it burned up and to see that there's some gold and precious stone and silver left something because it says every man shall have praise of God. And to see that he's going to have something to pray us and reward us for, it's only going to magnify the grace of God, you know, if if we do anything for him.
It's he that worked in us both to Will and to do of his good pleasure. For instance, if we give a cup of cold water in his name.
Well, he puts the desire in our hearts, Then he provides the cup of cold water, and then he turns around and says, I'm going to reward you for your faithfulness. No wonder, brethren, we're just going to cast those crowns back at his feet in that day because we're going to realize that we're not worthy of those, that all the praise and all the glory will go to him. Well, his wife has made herself ready. And you know, in that coming day when we're married to the Lord, we are going to as the church, as the bride, we are going to enjoy that inner circle of relationship. Now this will be a place of relationship.
That not knowing any other dispensation will enjoy. Now I know, David said in my presence is fullness of joy. I will be satisfied when I awaken thy likeness and so on. But the bride is going to be ushered into that inner circle. The angels are going to stand aside. The friends of the bridegroom, even John the Baptist, of whom it was said, there have not risen a greater he's going to stand aside. And he said in John that he was going to rejoice at the voice of the bridegroom, And as of the marriage suffered a lamb took place, but he recognized.
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That he was not going to be part of this inner circle. Now when we attend a wedding, from time to time we understand this. You have the guests there and there's an aisle up the middle and that bride is ushered up into the presence of her waiting bridegroom and we all rejoice. On an occasion like that, we rejoice with the bride and groom. But who shares the special joy on that occasion? It's those that are married. It's that groom as he takes his pride. It's that bride as she is there by her bridegroom side. That's what we're going to enjoy.
In that coming day, this inner circle, this place of dearness and relationship to his hire, and so at the marriage supper of the Lamb, its manifestation, to his own heart. Now let's go on to Revelation 21.
And verse two. And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, behold, the Tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them and be their God. Well, this is very touching because here we have the bride viewed again, and she's viewed 1000 years later.
And she's still a bride. My wife is not here tonight, and I'm not sure if she always appreciates my illustrations. But we've been married for seven years and sometimes we pull out our wedding pictures and we look at them. And if we're honest with ourselves, we have to admit that even in seven years there, there is a change. We get a little older and sometimes we pull out our parents wedding pictures and then we have to. Then we have no trouble in admitting that time brings a change. But I think of the bride here.
1000 years.
After she's with Christ and she still viewed in all her freshness, in all her glory, in all her loveliness, has she lost anything?
To the heart of the Lord Jesus. Does she mean any less after 1000 years? Do you know the marriage tie is being given up today? And men look at marriage very lightly in the world in which we live in earthly relationships sometimes break down, But oh, here's a relationship that will be as fresh for all eternity as when it begins. And so she's a bride adorned for her husband. And then I was thinking in verse three of how in that day we're going to enjoy his presence collectively.
Without any hindrance. Now we've been Speaking of the collective aspect of things and you know, this is the day when collectively we will we will enjoy his presence and not one thing will marry that enjoyment. Now, you know, on March day morning or on other assembly meetings, we come here and we enjoy his presence collectively for one hour. But you know, because of physical limitations and time, we have to leave his presence now. I trust that there is an individual enjoyment with us as we go about from day-to-day, because he says.
I will never leave thee, nor for safety, but remember we are talking about the collective aspect of things when it is the subject of the Church.
And we enjoy His presence, and then we have to leave it. But you know, there's a day coming when we won't have to leave. And not only that, but, you know, sometimes I have to admit, on Lord's Day morning, well, I really didn't have the sense in my soul of His presence that I ought to have had. And I really didn't enjoy the time, perhaps because of a headache or some other physical problem or something that I allowed to come between my thoughts and thinking of Christ and and other things. But in that day there'll be nothing.
To come between us, nothing to mire that enjoyment. And you know again, when we come together collectively around the Lord, it takes energy. Now I know brethren were gathered to the Lord's name, and it's a work of the Spirit of God, but it takes exercise. And those of us who have families have to get up and get our families ready. Some of us perhaps have a great distance to come, some of us not so far. But in that day there won't be anything like that. We won't have to go to be in his presence. We'll just be there.
Because his presence will fill that land. And so it ought to encourage our heart as we think of that day when all the redeemed in perfect harmony are going to enjoy his presence for all eternity. Well, I want to go on now and talk about the city and just drop down here in this chapter to verse 10.
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And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city.
The holy Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, And her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a Jasper stone, clear as crystal.
Well, I find it a little difficult to divorce the two thoughts of the bride and the city in the coming day. But if I could just make this distinction because they are brought together in verse 2. When it's the thought of the bride in a future day, it's manifestation to his own heart.
When it's the character of the city, it's manifest its public display and manifestation.
Now I say that because the Lord Jesus said himself, a city set on a hill cannot be hid. And you know, if you're driving toward a city or to a home and it's set up on a hill, you know that you can see it a great way off. Now, the Lord used this to encourage the Saints in the first part of revelation, those who were suffering persecution, I believe it was to the address to the church at Philadelphia. He encouraged them as to that day when they would be the city of God and there would be that public display.
Of manifestation. Because we're not only going to be manifest to his own heart and brought into that nearness of relationship, I should say the enjoyment of it, but he's going to declare I and the children whom God has given me. Well, I wish we had time to look at these characteristics of the cities, but in just a couple of things we find, if we were to read down farther in this chapter, that there's the street of gold that is divine righteousness is the basis we find that there's the 12 gates of Pearl that which would remind us for all eternity of what we mean to his heart.
Because it we were the church just spoken of is that Pearl of great price. But you know it's amazing how little we're told about heaven and the scriptures and about that future day and about the city. Because what is going to make glory in that coming day? All the fine things that we will no doubt be aware of the street of gold and the gates of Pearl and the hearts of music and all those things is that what's going to really make heaven. You know they say 4 walls and fine furniture don't make a home if the people that dwell there. And I believe there's two reasons why we're told so little about heaven.
First of all, it's indescribable. Paul was caught up there and he heard unspeakable words.
That it was not lawful for a man's letter. He couldn't describe what he saw and what he heard in the 3rd heaven in the presence of arisen and glorified Christ. But not only that, but I believe that it's his presence that's going to make that place in a coming day. But then I was thinking particularly of this expression, and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a Jasper stone, clear as crystal. And I was thinking of this expression clear as crystal.
It's used only twice in the word of God. It's used once to describe that sea that is in front of the throne of God.
And it's used to describe the heavenly city itself, clear as crystal and brethren. There's a day coming when everything is going to be clear as crystal. It says now we see through a glass darkly or dimly, but there's a day coming when every there'd be no shadows. We're going to see everything in the light of his presence. There are many things we don't understand. Perhaps now and we say, I don't understand this or that, and I don't think this is ever going to be straightened out. There's a day when there's going to be no shadows.
Nothing that we cannot see, but it's all going to be manifest there, and it says in First Corinthians 4.
Nothing before the time until the Lord come, who will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and make manifest the secrets of the heart. And then shall every man have praise of God. Now there are some things I believe we're just going to have to leave until that day when everything will be clear as crystal. Now, I don't mean that we compromise, and sometimes in the assembly there are things that need to be dealt with, But it's interesting that in the 5th chapter of First Corinthians he takes up that subject of something that needed to be dealt with in the assembly.
And they were too. They were to carry that that action out. But in the very chapter before he says, judge nothing before the time until the Lord come. Now I know that strictly speaking, in the 5th chapter you have actions, in the 4th chapter you have motive. But, brethren, I do believe that there are some things that are never going to be straightened out this side of glory. You know, Solomon looked at things from a natural standpoint, and he said that which is crooked cannot be made straight and that which is rough cannot be made plain. Why did he say that?
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Things under the sun, just from a natural in a natural way said that's never going to be straightened out. But in Isaiah 40, where you have a future day of glory, it says the crooked shall be made straight and the rough places, plains, and all flesh shall see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken it, and so it takes space to count on that day when everything is going to be manifest in the light of His presence. I believe that that's why at the end of Revelation 5.
Where you have the redeemed praising, you have all creation giving glory. Then it says, and the four beasts said Amen. Those four beasts that represent God's governmental ways in the earth. They come in and they say Amen. We see it all now. Everything was working out for a purpose because we'll never question his ways there, and everything is working out for a purpose. We quote sometimes that verse. All things work together for good to them that love God to those that are the calls according to His purpose. But do we really believe that, that not only are things working out for a purpose, but working out for a purpose?
A blessing. That's his whole desire, that's what he wants. Just as when a bridegroom takes the bride, what what is his motives? What what is are those plans that take place before the wedding. Everything is so that when he takes his bride, they can enjoy their their happiness and their love together. His purpose is for happiness and for blessing and.
How much more? The Lord Jesus who loved us and is going to bring us in in that way Again, My wife is not with me this evening, but you know, sometimes as she travels with me, she keeps a little handy work to do while we're traveling and visiting. And I've noticed that some types of that handiwork, if you turn them over to the back of the canvas, it just seems like a tangle of threads. And perhaps you can't even tell what the picture is going to be from the back of the canvas.
But then when the pictures completed, you turn it over to the proper side and you see that everyone of those threads had a purpose in making up that picture. And, you know, brethren, sometimes we view the backside of the canvas now and we say, what? What can all those tangled circumstances mean? Oh, there's a day coming when we're going to view it from the other side and we're going to see that plan that he had that purpose and we're just going to praise him for all eternity. Well, I want to finish up this chart this evening. And so we're going to have to move along.
To the Candlestick, Go back to Revelation 1.
And.
And verse 20.
The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks.
The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven candlesticks, which thou sawest are the seven churches. Now just hold your finger here and go over to Ephesians chapter 3.
Ephesians 3 and verse 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities.
And powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church, the manifold wisdom of God. Well, I believe when it's the aspect of the Candlestick it brings before us, light or testimony. Now, you remember what I said the other night? I said that when you have a truth concerning the collection, the individual aspect of things, there's always a comparable truth concerning the collective aspect of things. Now it's true that we are, as individuals to be lights in this world.
When the Lord Jesus was here, he said he was the light. I am the light of the world. But he's no longer physically here in this world. And before he went away, he said to his own Ye are the light of the world. And it tells us in Philippians chapter 2, it says that G may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke.
In the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world. Now that's the individual aspect of things, but when we take up the candlesticks in connection with the church, it's the collective aspect of things. Now it's taken up, I believe, in the context of the local expression of these things, the local assembly and the apostle John was writing to, as I say, 7 assemblies that that existed in Asia at that time.
Now, Revelation is a book of judgment, and it's interesting that before he takes up the judgments of this world, you find the Lord walking in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, the seven assemblies that existed in Asia at that time. And he's walking there in the character as judge because it says judgment must be begin at the House of God. And we don't have time, but we find there, if we go back that he is there in that character. He has those robes, his pants are dirt about with a golden girdle. That which would speak of.
00:50:06
Divine love governed by righteousness.
And then you find that his eyes are as a flame of fire now, brethren, as he His eyes are a flame of fire. It would bring before us that discernment as he walks in the midst of the assembly. And he's looking for those things that are for his glory and honor. And he's he's trying those things that are not according to his mind. And if this was true of these seven assemblies at this time, is it not true today? Is he not looking for those things?
We gather to are gathered to the Lord's name. Is he not looking for those things that are according to His mind, and seeking to speak to us as to those things that perhaps we allow, that are not according to His word and to His will? And he leaves us in no doubt here as to what these candlesticks represent. We know a Candlestick gives light and he speaks here of the the seven Candlestick are the seven churches. Now when it's the thought of testimony.
The assembly is to be a light in this world.
It is to be a light as to all the truth that we have spoken of concerning the Church.
And the assembly here in Pella is a light in this community. And, you know, it's interesting that many around us know, sometimes, perhaps even are aware of it more than we are ourselves, of what is expected and what is to characterize those who profess to be gathered to the Lord's name. I was struck one time. I was visiting an assembly many miles from here, and we were sitting around in the hall after the gospel on Lord the evening, singing some hymns and having a time of fellowship.
And there was a man wandered in off the street. He was a man in the community of some reputation. But he sat and he listened as we sang some of the old gospel hymns and we spoke to him and together of the precious things of Christ. The one thing he said, I never forgot, he said, you know, he said to the local brotherhood. Some of them lived close to the meeting room. He said as you walk down the street to meeting from week to week I watch you.
You know, we don't realize sometimes that the world is looking on. They know what we profess and they watch us. And we need to be careful that there is that which would be an expression of these truths in a practical way. We've talked about many things concerning the doctrine of the Church, but there's always the practical expression of these things, the outward manifestation. In fact, I believe that that's what it means when it says you do show the Lord's death till he come. When we gather on Lord's Day morning with a loaf and a cup, and we remember the Lord in his death, it's the practical expression that we recognize that one.
Who was cast out of this world but and but and yet we recognized him as Lord and the one that we reverent in the in a scene that cast him out and still still hates him. But you know not only is the world around looking on and that's why I read this verse in Ephesians because here's something a little different. There are those of the heavenly company and they are looking on and there is to be in the church a manifestation of these things and the purposes of God.
And you know, brethren, I just want to say a practical comment or two on this.
Because it exercises my heart. You know the angels look down tonight and there was number redemption for fallen angels. When the angels left their first estate, Hell was prepared for the devil and his angels. There was no second chance for them. They never entered into this. That's why angels don't sing, because it's only the redeemed in scripture that sings. And you find that angels praise and they give glory. But it's always in connection with saying they never sing but you are not as they look on if you and I.
The church, those who have been brought into this closest relationship, they see what we were.
Rebellious sons of Adam's fallen race. They see what we have been brought into and blessed with. And then they see.
Brandon What do they say as they look at the Church? And there is to be the exhibition of with the Church to them of the manifold wisdom of God.
As they looked at, particularly at those gathered to the Lord's name, do they see that which is in an unfolding of these purposes? Do they see, as it says here in Ephesians 310, do they see the manifold wisdom of God? That's what's to be displayed in the church. Well, I stayed exercise of my own heart, and I just leave it for our exercise. What didn't heavenly company see as they look on?
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Well, I just want to make one more comment concerning the Candlestick before we close, because, you know, it burdens my heart today to hear folks often refer to the Lord removing the Candlestick.
Now, brethren, that expression only occurs once in the word of God.
And you know, sometimes perhaps an individual is not happy with the way something is carried out in the assembly.
And so they say, well, the Lord, you're moving the Candlestick, and they justify that to take themselves off.
Rather, you never find in Scripture that the Lord removes the Candlestick because the assembly makes one mistake.
Now the assembly has been given authority, and whatsoever is bound on earth shall be bound in heaven. But it is never assumed that authority is infallibility. It's never assumed that the assembly is going to be right all of the time. It's never assumed that even if they are right, that it's going to be carried out in the proper spirit and in the right way. And when he talks in Ephesus about removing the Candlestick, it's in the second chapter and the Epistle to Ephesus.
It's not because the assembly makes one mistake. He warns them as to a course that they are on. And he says that if they continue on this course, having been warned and given light as to that course, that ultimately down the road he may have to step in and remove the Candlestick. It's the end of a of a course. It's the ultimate result. But brethren, he knows our frame. He remembers that we're but dust now. It is true that if the assembly makes a mistake.
Shows us from Scripture that a mistake has been made. We're responsible to act on the light that we have been given. But the assemblies never responsible for light they haven't been given. We are responsible to take action in the assembly on the light that we have been given, and then if the Lord Lord gives further light then we are responsible to act. And it may even mean rescinding a a an assembly decision. But oh brethren, let us never think that if the assembly carries something out in the wrong way.
By the wrong spirit, and I don't mean that we shouldn't be exercised about that. I don't mean that. But I just fear that people use this expression, removing the Candlestick to justify a position that they take of not being happy with what was done. And so they they leave the assembly. He's a man of patience. He's patient with us and, you know, in the epistle to these seven churches.
There were horrendous things going on in some of these churches and some of these assemblies. There were things that he had to rebuke them for. They were there were things that were not according to his mind.
And even in Laodicea that was completely different to the claims of Christ. Did that mean they weren't assemblies? No, they're all addressed in that way. He still recognized them as assemblies, even though there were things in the assembly that were not. According to his mind, they were responsible to act on the on the warnings that he gave them. And as these difficulties were brought to light, but they were still assembly gathered to his name. And you know when the Kingdom in in the Old Testament rant under Jeroboam and Rehoboam.
It's remarkable to read there that Rhea Bone didn't do that which he should have done. He forsook the counsel of the old man. The spirit of the thing was bad. And yet who did God honor Rehoboam and those that remained at Jerusalem? God Center and Jeroboam, who took the 10 tribes away and set up two other centers at Dan and Bethel. It was he that bore that stigma. All the rest of his mention in the word of God, Jeroboam, the son of Nevada that made Israel to sin. I say Jeroboam Rehoboam didn't do that which was right, and God held him responsible for that.
But he honored the fact that Jeroboam and those two tribes remained faithful.
At Jerusalem. Well, I'd like to go on, on Sunday afternoon if we're still left here. And I'd like to speak of the practical, practical carrying out of these things and to bring it right down to to you and I and to our situation and to the local assembly. Because as I said, we take up a subject like the church and we have covered a vast amount of of things. We've covered a broad spectrum in the last three nights. But I want to bring this down to right where we are and see how this applies to our lives, because as I said several times during these talks.
God brings me into a position of blessing and gives me light as to that position. There's always responsibility connected with it, and the joy comes in my Christian life when I carry out that responsibility. And he provides everything that's needed to carry it out as well. Well shall we pray?
The Church Pt.4
Address—J. Hyland
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We bless our Savior's name. Our sins are all forgiven to suffer once to earth He came. He now is crowned in heaven. Unless thy love constrained our souls to cleave to Thee, never in our hearts remain that word. Remember Me 146 Will someone please study?
Love her want.
Her again.
I.
And.
Water in the middle of the laughing out loud there or yet.
I.
Read I am proud.
Comes along.
Our king of your.
Land.
Yes, the Lord, You turn with me first of all to the Book of Second Timothy.
The second Timothy chapter 3.
And verse 14.
But continues thou in the things which thou hast learned.
And has been assured of knowing of whom thou hast learned them. And then just go back to chapter 2.
And verse 22.
Plea also youthful lusts, but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Well, in these talks we have shared together, we have spoken of the church. We have looked at its character as being heavenly. We've looked at who comprises the church. We've looked at its birth on the day of Pentecost. We looked at it in its various aspects as presented in the New Testament.
We saw it in its aspect as a building. We saw it as the body of Christ, as the bride. We saw it as the city, and as the Candlestick. But I'd like to, this afternoon, speak of some very, very practical things concerning how we can express these truths in a practical way. Because as I said several times during these talks, when God brings me into a place of blessing and gives me light as to that place that He's brought me into.
There's always responsibility connected with it and the joy and happiness and the fruit in my Christian life comes when I bow to the word of God and I seek to walk in the good of those things that he has for me, the Lord Jesus said in the upper room. As he presented many things to the disciples, He said, if he know these things.
Happy are ye, if you do them in James were exhorted be doers of the Word and not hearers only. And so there's the practical side of things. Now God always likes the practical manifestation of truth, or the outward testimony of truth. It's true that we have to hold proof in the inward parts and that it begins with the heart. Because, as I've said several times, the mind is not the dwelling place of the truth. The heart must be the dwelling place if it's going to have a practical effect on my life. And that's the beginning.
00:05:01
He had to rebuke the Pharisees when he was here because they had the outward form of things they were concerned with the washing of pots, the washing of hands, all the outward form of things. And that's what you had in the Old Testament. There was an outward ceremony of things. There were the rituals and the sacrifices. They were all good and ordained of God and proper in their place. But the Lord Jesus showed when he was here that what he was looking for in Christianity was not just the outward form of things but a response from the heart. But brother and I fear that sometimes we say, well, the Lord knows what's in my heart.
And we use that to set aside the outward confirmation of the truth. Because what I believe in my heart, what I hold in my heart, will be confirmed by what I do in my life. Now let me just give two quick examples. For instance, I might say, after I'm saved. Well, the Lord knows my heart, and I want to please the Lord. And He knows that I want him to be Lord of my life. Well, that may be true, and that's good. But God likes the outward confirmation of that, and that's what baptism is.
It's the outward testimony that I own the lordship of Christ in my life. I might say, well, I can't, can't I remember the Lord in my heart, and I trust we do, brethren, from day-to-day, have a sense of what he's done for us and have some sense of what he went, the cost of our redemption and what he went through. But then this morning there was the outward confirmation of that. There was the testimony of that truth and that of that of what we held in our hearts. And I trust there was that remembrance in our heart. The outward ceremony again, is not just enough because the Lord said this generation prays with me with their lips.
Far from me, but nevertheless let's not set aside the practical manifestation of the truth in our lives. And Paul said to Timothy, thou hast fully known my doctrine and manner of life, and so the two things go hand in hand. But I began with this, these verses here, because it is true, brethren, that the last days are always characterized by individual faithfulness. And I don't want to take away from that you find that whether it was in the Old Testament or in the New Testament, when it was days of weakness and ruin, there were individuals. And Timothy was told here first of all.
Continue thou in the things that thou hast heard and been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them. He was told to go on as an individual. Now if you read the 2nd Epistle of Timothy, you find the breakdown of everything, the breakdown in government and the world, in the home, even in the assembly. And yet Timothy was told to continue. Thou, you see, I can never look around at the circumstances, whether it's in the world, whether it's in the home, whether it's in the assembly, and I can never give God a good excuse.
For giving up, I can never give God a good excuse for for failure because there's provision made for us even in days of ruin and no matter how dark or how difficult things may seem, there's always provision to the very end. And that's what he's telling Timothy. You can go on, don't look at your brother, don't look at your sister and see their failure and and give up because of it, he said. You continue, But you know, it's interesting that in this epistle where Timothy is told to continue as an individual.
In the second chapter, he's told to go on with those that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. I think this is so important, brethren, because there's always the collective aspect of things as well. And that's why I've drawn a large circle on the chart here, and I put the church, the body of Christ, in that circle, and that's what we've been Speaking of during these talks. But now I put an inner circle because I believe there is a practical way in which we can manifest these truths.
That we have been Speaking of concerning the Church, and I believe that even in these last days of ruin, when everything seems to be broken up and fragmented, I believe that he not only has a path of faith for us as individuals, but collectively as gathered to the Lords name.
Now, I mentioned the other night that there's always a special blessing connected.
With the collective aspect of things. And Timothy here was told to go on with those that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Now God still had a testimony here in Timothy Day. Otherwise why would Timothy be told to continue with those? You know, we might say, when difficulties arise, we might say, well, I wouldn't give up the Lord, but I'm not going to go on with those people. Well, you know, I think of Moses the people of the children of Israel rebelled against Moses and against the Lord.
They spoke of stoning Moses, and Moses cried unto the Lord. And what did the Lord tell Moses to do now? I've been much impressed with this verse lately. He says, go on before the people and take with thee the elders of Israel. In other words, he says, Moses, you go on with those rebellious people. I love them. They're my people, and I'm going to bless them. And we know he did. And he said, you even take with you those that were speaking against you and Speaking of stoning you, you go on with them.
00:10:28
And Moses did that. It must have been a difficult thing, after all they had said and done against Moses.
And yet he goes on with the people of God. And the Lord blessed him for it, and the Lord blessed his people. And brethren, we need to go on before the people. God wants us to go on. That's his, that's his. As I said the other night, his whole desire is that we would go on not compromise the truth, but go on in faithfulness. I think of Daniel too, You know, Daniel came to.
Babylon. He was brought to the palace and he might have said, well, it's a different day here in Babylon than when we lived in Judea and our fathers and our grandfathers, they used to do those things.
They used to believe those things. But, you know, it's a different day now, and we've got to compromise a little, go along with the crowd. Is that what he did? Oh, no. At the very beginning, again, as an individual, he purposed in his heart that he would not eat of the King's meat. There was that purpose of heart, and it does take purpose of heart to go on in days like these.
This went down and exhorted the early brethren, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. And it takes more than just desire to go on for the Lord and stand for the truth. In days like these, desire is good, but it's not enough, because the slugger desire it and have nothing. We need purpose of heart. But then, as Daniel stood for the truth, he found that he wasn't alone. There were those other three, and there they were, and they were faithful as well. And so he could go on with them. And I say, God always has a corporate testimony, even in a day of weakness.
And ruin. Well, I'd like to look at some scriptures this afternoon that would encourage our hearts as to these things. We're not going to look at them in any particular order. I'm not going to try to bring anything out that's new or a new slant or anything particularly different or profound. But I just want to encourage our hearts, brethren, because that's what we need in days like these. And the things that were written before time were written for our learning that we, through comfort and patience, patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. And if you ever get discouraged, just turn to the word of God. Read the word of God.
It's a tremendous comfort and a tremendous blessing. And to see these things in the light of God's word, I say it brings real confidence to our hearts. There's so much to day that would be would discourage. There's every wind of doctrine afoot. But you know, I think of the noble Bereans. Why were they more noble than those of Thessalonica?
Because they search the scriptures daily to see if these things were sold. And you know, the things that we have spoken out together over these talks. I trust that you'll look them up, that you'll meditate on them because you know, it's not enough just to hear these things, but we need to go back. We need to meditate on them. We need to confirm them from the word of God. There are so many that hear truth put forward and perhaps they hear part of the truth, but they don't confirm it for themselves. I remember talking to a young man one time. We were talking about some line of truth and finally said, well, he said I don't know my Bible well enough to.
Argue with what you say. But he said this is what I've been taught by those who who teach me spiritual things. Well, I thought, how sad. You know, the Bereans, they heard the truth from the Apostle Paul and you'd say it might say, well, if anybody's word for it, couldn't they have taken the Apostle Paul? Oh no. They searched the scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Well, let's turn over to Luke 22.
Luke 22 and verse seven. Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed.
And he sent Peter and John saying, Go and prepare us the Passover that we may eat.
And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare? And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you bearing a pitcher of water. Follow him into the house where he entereth in, and ye shall say unto the Goodman of the house.
The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guest chamber, That I shall eat the Passover? Where I shall eat the Passover with my disciples? And he shall show you a large upper room furnace. There make ready. And they went and found as he had said unto them, and they made ready the Passover. And when the hour was come, he sat down on the 12 apostles with him. And he said unto them, with desire, I have desired Eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I say unto you, I will not anymore eat thereof until it be fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.
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And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the Kingdom of God shall come. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and break it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body, which is given for you, This do in remembrance of me.
Likewise also the cup after supper. Saying This cup is the New Testament in my blood, which is shed for you. Well, it's always good to go back to the beginning of something, as we've been saying. And here we have the institution of the Lord's Supper. Here we have the Lord Jesus as he anticipates Calvary it says. Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. Little did his own realize that the true Passover was there, and that it was time for that one of whom all the other Passover spoke of to give himself and to die on Calvary's cross, but with all that before him.
Where are his thoughts?
His thoughts are on his own, they're good and they're blessing. And so he gathers them into the upper room. But, you know, I've just enjoyed here in Luke 22 The response on the part of the disciples, because he sends Peter and John saying go and prepares the Passover that we may eat, but he doesn't tell them immediately where to go. He stops and he waits for a response on the part of Peter and John. And you know, it must have brought great delight to his heart as he heard them say.
Where wilt thou that we prepare now, Brethren? There is no doubt if we belong to the Lord Jesus that he wants us to remember him in his death. You know, the path of faith is just that. It's a path of faith. And there are some things that take exercise. And we search the word of God. And as I was pointing out to the young people in Des Moines last night, there are things that he has for you that he doesn't have for me. It's an individual path. But you know, there are some things that were not left in any doubt about.
He has told us occupied till I come. But there are some things that he has specifically asked us to be occupied with, and one of them is that we remember him in his death. He made this request here. Well, Peter and John say, where wilt thou that we prepare? And when they respond in that way, then they're given very, very specific instructions. They had to only follow the instructions. And he leads their lead to this spot where he could sit down later with them.
He in the midst, and I know it was the Passover that was particularly in view here, but this was to be the very spot where he instituted this feast of remembrance. And can't you just picture as his owner gathered around him, they've gone not only into the city, which would speak of the world, Not only have they gone into a certain house, because, you know, I think of that house concerning what you have in Second Timothy, that great house where there is a mixture of profession and reality. But not only were they to go into the city.
And into a into a certain house. But there was a certain room in that house where they were to make ready. When they had followed the man bearing the pitcher of water, the word of God applied in the power of the Spirit. Then they came to a specific room, and they weren't to go into that house and choose a room where they thought would be more suitable. It didn't have to be very large. On that occasion there were only 12 or 13 present, and they might have said, well, what about one of these other rooms that's not so large or where we don't need so much furnishing or something like that? No, if they were, they weren't left in any doubt as to where they were to prepare and, you know, if they had chosen any other room in the house that night.
They wouldn't have been able to sit down with the Lord Jesus in their midst and you know.
There were many, I'm sure, in this area, even perhaps this morning that sat down to remember the Lord in his death to break bread. But brethren.
There may have been those in this House in other rooms, and I don't like to suppose into Scripture, but I've sometimes wondered if there weren't others in this House on that occasion.
To perhaps godly Jews who kept the Passover, but there was only one room.
Where the Lord sat down with his own, and there was only one room where this feast was instituted. And he takes a loaf, and he takes a cup, and he passes it to his own. And he makes that request, and whose desire is particularly expressed on this occasion.
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It's true there had been a response on the part of the disciples, but it was his desire that was particularly expressed on this occasion. His desire, He could say with desire I have desired what was his desire? To have His own around himself. Now He wants our company collectively. Again, there's the individual aspect of things, and I trust that as we go about from day-to-day, we have a sense of the Lord's company with us.
He says. I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. But again, there is the corporate side of things.
And he doesn't want to have to wait till that day when we're home in the glory to enjoy our company collectively.
He's made provision so he can enjoy it now, I think of the Lord Jesus, you know, or Jehovah, I should say as he looked down on a redeemed people.
On the banks of the Red Sea and the wildernesses before them. And you know, he knew that when they got into the promised land, the temple would be built, the permanent dwelling place and he would dwell collectively with his people there. And yet, you know, he looks down in the 25th of Exodus and he says let them build me a sanctuary, that I may dwell amongst them. And I've just thought of it this way. It's as if he says, I don't want to wait till they're in the land to enjoy the company of my people. I want to enjoy their company every step of the wilderness journey.
And who was it again that that's whose desire was particularly expressed on that occasion? It wasn't Israel looking up and requesting Jehovah's presence. It was Jehovah looking down and requesting that he dwell amongst his people. And did he know what kind of a people they were going to be? Did they he know that they were going to murmur and complain and find fault? Did he know they were going to turn to idols and all that kind of thing? Of course he did. He knows the end from the beginning. And yet he loved those people. He had redeemed them, and his desire was.
That he would dwell with them as they pass through the wilderness. Well, let's go on and we're going to move along quickly.
Let's go on to Acts Chapter 20.
Acts, Chapter 20.
And verse 6.
And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread.
And came unto them to throw as in five days there we abode 7 days.
And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the moral, and continued his speech until midnight. And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.
And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eunice, being fallen into a deep sleep. And as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep. He fell down from the third loft and was taken up dead. And Paul went down and fell on him, and embracing him, said trouble not yourselves, for his life is in him. When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while even till break of day, so he departed, and they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.
Now, these next three scriptures that we're going to look at, I believe would encourage our hearts, brethren, that there will be a testimony until the end. Now, I want this particularly notice this as we go through these scriptures because I hear folks say today, well, you know, it's such a day of ruin and there's such a a confusion that it's impossible to know where the Lord would have us. It's impossible that there be a corporate testimony. But you'll find brethren, always in scripture that God has a testimony to the end in any dispensation you find within the book of Malachi.
Where Israel was at their lowest point spiritually in the Old Testament, there were still those who spake often one to another, and the Lord hearkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written. We're not told how many there were, but there were still those who were seeking to be faithful to the Lord and to encourage one another in the Lord. After the 400 silent years, you find that the Lord Jesus comes, as I say, the 400 silent years, that gap between Malachi and Matthew.
Where you don't have any writings by divine inspiration and the Lord Jesus comes. And you know I just finished a little book by Brother Ironside on the 400 silent years and I was appalled at how the condition of things even from Malachi. You think things were bad in Malachi. Just read a secular history of the 400 silent years and see the corruption in not only amongst the people but in the priesthood and the Princess and the leaders. Appalling things were being allowed and God tolerated that.
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And then the Lord Jesus comes, and you know, to me it's so touching because he still has a corporate testimony when he comes. There were still those that were going on faithful. There were still those only six mentioned by name, Anna and Simeon, Joseph and Mary, Zachariah and Elizabeth. I know there were others because it says and all they that waited for consolation in Israel. And so there were others, But just those six mentioned by name wasn't very many. And yet there they were, I think of dear old Anna, I think of Simeon, and there they were in the Temple, and all the corruption in the temple was terrible at this time. And yet there they were, and they were waiting for the Messiah.
And what a blessing they got. Were they sorry that they were waiting there? Oh, no, they got a tremendous blessing.
Being able, and I think of Simeon as he took the dear Lord Jesus up in his arms, What a thrill to his soul. He had waited there so many years.
And I think of the Lord Jesus too, as he spoke of that temple. How did he speak of it as my father's house? I marvel at that. And yet he spoke of it in that way. He still recognized it. I know that Jerusalem was going to be set aside now, and there wasn't going to be an earthly center. He was going to be the gathering center. And we'll see this in a little while.
But there he still honors that it was it was his father's house. Just as he honored Reebok for remaining at Jerusalem so many, many years before will, I believe here in Acts 20 we have what I might call a little summary of church history. Now, I never realized how aptly it fit until I read a good church history, and I know there's many practical lessons here, but I believe there is a little history here because we find that there are those intro ads.
That we're meeting in that third loss and three speaks of death and resurrection or separation.
And there they were in that third loss. You know, it's interesting that we're only we only have this when we find a description of the place where believers met to remember the Lord. You only find it on 2 occasions, one when the feast was instituted in Luke 22 it was a large upper room furnished, and here it was a third law.
Not something that would appeal to the flesh. Not something that would be eloquent, eloquent in the eyes of man. But here, these believers, they climb these stairs to the third loft. Why? Because they had come together to break bread. Now that was the purpose for which they had come together. There were other things took place here, but that was their primary objective in coming to that third law on that occasion. But, you know, I think there's something touching here too about Paul and these ones that were here at Crow as on this occasion.
Visitors here and it's that's why I read the sixth verse, because they come to Troas in five days and there they abode 7. Now if you follow it through after the Lords day they departed on the moral and I believe that they arrived in Troas on a Monday and they stayed till the following Monday. And why? Well, there may have been other reasons but I've just thought of it this way. They wanted to have the privilege of breaking bread with their fellow believers in Troas. That's what the privilege meant to them, that they would remain there a whole week.
So that they could sit down on the first day of the week and they could break bread with those dear Saints in Troas. Do we value that privilege? Is that our desire from week to week to be in his presence, To remember him in his death? It's something he's asked us to do.
You know, it's interesting that the Lord's Table, the Lord's Supper, and the Lord's Day are only mentioned once in the word of God. I used to wonder about that because in the Old Testament, the Sabbath was mentioned over and over again, and that which they were to do on the Sabbath and not to do on the Sabbath. I've never counted, but a good many times He.
Goes over those things concerning the Sabbath day. And it's important. It's important. And yet in the New Testament the Lord suffered. The Lord's table in the Lord's day are only mentioned once, twice. Well, I believe it's just this. It's that verse we had in Sunday school this morning. If ye love me, ye will keep my commandment. And you know if someone whom you love very much.
Ask Ask makes a request. Do they have to repeat it? Do they have to ask it over and over again?
No love has the power, has the love responds and that a request has the power of a command when there's a the motive of love. And so he makes that request once he says it were he says I know that you I want to be clear that this is something that I appreciate and that will please me very much. But he only says it once and he waits for the response of love. Well they come together to break bread and I believe it's a little picture of the early church when they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine fellowship.
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Breaking of bread and in prayers, because Paul preaches unto them to them till midnight. And that doctrine of the apostle Paul concerning the Church, its heavenly calling, Pauls teaching Pauls gospel, It was valued by the early Saints, and there they were sitting under the sound of it. Sad to say, if you read church history, you'll find that as soon as the apostles, and particularly Paul had passed off the scene, these things were given up. And what did it do? It ushered in the dark ages when the corporate testimony was lost.
And so he's ready to depart on the moral Paul's ministry always brought that before the Saints, the nearness of the Lord's return.
But he continues his speech until midnight. Now I believe this brings before us that time when these crews were lost during the Dark Ages. But it's encouraging here. And there were many lights in the upper chamber. Now the corporate testimony was lost in the Dark ages. The truth of the one body, of being able to remember the Lord in his death, being gathered to the Lord's name. The truth even of the Lord's coming it was lost. But there were still many lights in the upper chamber.
That is, there were still individuals in the Dark Ages who were in the enjoyment of these things. In fact, some of our nicest hymns were written during the Dark Ages by a monk in a monastery, by a cardinal in a monastery. There were those individuals who were in the enjoyment of these truths. But corporately the testimony was lost. And you see this with Eudicus. He falls down out of the window. He didn't value the place that he had been brought into. He had his eye on the world.
One year tuned to the street below and we find that he falls down to the level of the street. You might say, well, wasn't there a 5050 chance that he fall in or out? It never works that way. If we want to have the world and Christ to the world is going to drag us down, well, they go down and Paul goes down. He says his life is in him. And then we have judicious restored little picture of the restoration of the truth that took place in the 1800s when God revealed these truths to men who were searching the scriptures and these things were, were brought out.
And then I was thinking in verse 11, where the encouragement of our hearts when he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten and talked a long while even till break of day, So he departed. Now, brethren, I believe this is an encouragement to your heart and mine, that we will have the privilege of remembering the Lord in his death, that we will have the privilege of being gathered to the Lord's name until the break of day. Now I have no doubt that here at the end of this portion they probably partook of some food, rather than to repeat the remembrance of the Lord as such, but I believe the Spirit of God has been pleased to use this terminology.
To complete the picture that we've hit, we've been trying to draw church history and to show us that until the break of day there is a path of faith for us collectively as gathered to the Lords name and a place where we can remember the Lord in his death.
Let's go on to Acts 20, Acts 27.
Acts 27.
And verse 35. And when he had thus spoken, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all. And when he had broken it, he began to eat. Now just go back to verse 33.
And while the day was coming on, Paul besought the mall to take me. Well, as the day is coming on here, as there's the dawn of another day, here they are in the ship, there's the storm. And yet Paul takes bread in the presence of them and he begins to eat. And again, I believe it's just an encouragement because I'm saddened to find that some brethren will take these, this 27th and 28th chapter and tell us, well, there's no corporate testimony. It's impossible to know.
The ship is broken up. The ship is in ruin, and it's true, brethren, that the outward testimony has become fragmented.
That's why you have Christians in different fellowships and different pockets of Christendom. But as I said the other night, God looks down, He sees the body, He says there is one body. And I believe he still has a place where we can express in a practical way this truth. And so as the day is coming on, he encourages those that are with him to take some meat, and he takes bread, and he breaks it in the midst of them. Now let's go on to 1St Corinthians Chapter 11.
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First Corinthians Chapter 11 and verse 23 For I have received of the Lord.
That which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take ye, this is my body, which is broken 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 drink it in remembrance of me, for as often as ye eat this bread.
And drink this cup. You do show the Lord's death till he come. Well, here Paul receives this revelation. I believe that probably it's part of that revelation he received when he was caught up to the 3rd heaven in the presence of a risen, glorified, and ascended Christ, and where he heard unspeakable words that was not lawful for a man to utter. Because you remember that I said the other night that much of the truth concerning the heavenly calling of the Church wasn't given to the Apostle in this world.
Because the Spirit of God is very careful to detach us in every way from this world, because the Church is heavenly in its calling and in its character. And I think this is so precious because we looked at the incident in Luke 22 where the Lord instituted this beast himself. And you might say, well, wasn't that enough? He expressed his desire on that occasion. He showed them how this was to be carried out. But, you know, so vital and so precious and so necessary. A truth is this truth.
Of the remembrance of the Lord in his death, but he doesn't just institute it himself when he's here.
But he again gives it to the apostle Paul, and leaves nothing unexplained as to how he desires that his own would carry out this truth. And so he receives this as a direct revelation from the Lord I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you. And he speaks of how it was again the same night in which he was betrayed. With all the awful reality of Calvary before him, and all that it meant to his holy soul, he institutes this feast.
This remembrance for his own, And he takes a loaf and a cup. Now this morning, brethren, we had a loaf and a cup on the table. We spoke of the loaf the other evening, and how that that loaf unbroken, represents to us every member of the body of Christ, every true St. of God, alive on the face of the earth. But then as we take that bread and we break it, it is to be a fresh reminder of his body given in death for him. And as we take that cup and we drink of it together, it is to be a fresh reminder of that precious blood that flowed from his side.
I think of John. You know, dear beloved John, He bore witness, and he knew that his record was true, and he knew that he stepped true as he saw that one and testified of that one who took that spear, and with it with it pierced the blessed Saviour side, and forthwith came throughout blood and water. I like that word forthwith. If it said there came out blood and water, I would rejoice, and that would be enough to cleanse my sins away. But I like that word forthwith. God was in a hurry to bless the crowning act of man's hatred and forthwith God wouldn't delay.
To bless you and I and forthwith flow throughout that blood. And when we see that loaf, when we see that cup, when we eat and drink of it together, I trust that it's a fresh reminder. I often think you know our Lord's day morning of that verse in lamentations. Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? Or is it nothing to me? Is it nothing to you? As we pass by Calvary again and we see the blessed Savior suffer, we see that precious blood, the cost of our redemption.
And where is the heart so hardened? And who is so vile is he that seeth the savior suffered and said? It is nothing to me. And can anything be more simple and yet more profound than a loaf and a cup? Why did he choose a loaf and a cup? Because he wanted it to be something that would be accessible to his own in any place at any given time. And you can go anywhere in the world today? Almost.
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But you can go almost anywhere in the world today, and you will be able to obtain a loaf of bread. Perhaps not in the same sense as we think of a loaf of bread, but in some form. His own can obtain a loaf of bread and fruit of the vine, because it was something that he wanted his own to be able to carry out at any time, in any place. He wanted it to be accessible, because this is his desire that we would remember him. And it says as often I like that.
You know, to me this is one of the most precious things about being gathered to the Lord's name is that we have the privilege of remembering the Lord often not just once a month, not just twice a year on a special occasion, but often every resurrection morning, every Lord's day. We have that privilege. Is that our desire from week to week? I know that sometimes it's impossible, perhaps through circumstances, to get to the remembrance.
And maybe you've experienced where you couldn't be there, and didn't you feel that the week was all went wrong, You just missed something.
That week and in Troas we noticed with the early believers that it was already their exercise in the early days of the church to come together on the first day of the week to remember the Lord in his death. And so it's as often as she eats this bread and drink this cup you do show the Lord death. This is the practical outward testimony of the truth of the one body and the truth of the church which we have spoken of. And brethren, how long?
Till.
He come. I don't want to belabor this brethren, but it just speaks to my own heart. And if there is going to be a testimony gathered to the Lord's name until he comes, the challenge that comes home to my own soul is this afternoon is this.
Will I be there when he comes to call us away? And I don't believe it's going to be very long. I believe the moment is just a hand when we're going to no longer need a loaf and a cup as a reminder. But we're going to see that face that was so mired more than any man. We're going to see those hands that were pierced through those feet that were nailed to the cross that side from which the blood of Christ and the blood of Jesus flows.
But until that day, until that day, is it the exercise of your heart and mind to be found, going on simply as gathered to his name. If there is that provision made to the very end, oh, it ought to exercise and challenge our hearts. Now, brethren, it's only the grace of God that keeps us, if we find ourselves at the Lord's table to partake of His supper.
We have nothing to boast him. It's only His preserving grace that has brought us that keeps us there, only His grace that brought us there to begin with. But I believe that if we have a sense of that grace in our souls, and we seek to go on as before him, that preserving grace is limitless. He wants us there, and if we are willing to submit and have that exercise and to see him, then we will be preserved. Now what I would like to do for another few moments is go back to Matthew 18.
Matthew chapter 18 and verse 24. Where to or three are gathered together in my name, There are my in the midst of them. Now I know, brethren, that to day people, our folks will tell you well, Matthew 18 and 20 has been made too much of. And I will grant you that if this was all we had to go on, we couldn't have spoken the way we have concerning these precious truths.
But rather, if we take this verse out, if we sweep it away as not being applicable, we have swept away the foundation. The Lord sold the seed here of this precious truth. It's true. It's later developed in the epistles, and we have to go over there to have the full development of these truths. But brethren, if we take away the foundation, what are we going to do And all? I think we need to be careful that we don't sweep this first away, that we don't clip it out of our bibles as not being as applicable as was once considered.
And I like what it says here. It says for where to or three.
Now this is touching because here the Lord is anticipating the Church.
The church hadn't been established yet. He's speaking in the future context, and yet he says two or three. He goes beyond the beginnings of the church. He goes beyond the revival of the truth. He goes right on to the very end, and he makes provision for the very end. I'm glad he didn't say two or three hundred or two or three dozen, but that he said two or three. You can't have a corporate testimony smaller than that. But he anticipates the end when the testimony would be small, when these truths would be given up because the truth is never popular.
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And we find that these truths are being set aside today. But nevertheless he makes provision for the very end, so that even when it comes down to literal twos and threes, there can be the the as are gathered.
Brother, I trust we never lose sight of this.
I know there's a great movement today to set this truth aside, but when I get home to glory, am I going to boast that I was at the Lord's table? Am I going to be able to boast that I was preserved there, that I did something to gather myself? And I know a Greek scholar will come along and tell you well, it's not quite clear in the original whether it's come together in our gathered or gathered together. I don't think that's the point, brethren.
People say, well, I don't see the Spirit of God in this verse at all. But I cannot divorce this scripture from other scriptures that bring before us the work of the Spirit of God in any aspect of our Christian lives. Now, whether it was my salvation, my coming to Christ, whether it was any desire to follow the Lord in any aspect of my Christian life, or whether it was the fact that I'm gathered to the Lord's name at this table, I cannot take any credit to myself.
I quoted this verse several times, but I'm going to quote it again. It's God that worked within you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. It's the Spirit of God, and there is ample testimony in the word of God to show that in any aspect of my Christian life, if there's one response towards the Lord, it's a work of the Spirit of God. And brethren, if we find ourselves at the Lord's table to partake of the Lord's suffer, we are gathered. I'm not going to be able to look at somebody else in glory and say, well, I was at the Lord's table and I did something to to be there. I had that exercise.
I don't want to take away from exercise. We need spiritual energy and exercise. But we need to recognize too that even that is a work of the spirit of God. I'm going to use a very simple illustration. Birds gather together and especially up where I come from. When the IT gets cold in the fall, you'll find that birds will gather together in great numbers to migrate S But eggs are gathered, and if you find 12 eggs in a basket, you know they have no power to put themselves in that basket.
Some outward force had to take those eggs.
And gather them together. Rather, we have no power to gather ourselves, and it's not where two or three come together.
It's where two or three are gathered. You know, you have this illustrated in the Old Testament with Israel because 21 Times in the Book of Deuteronomy, God told Israel that there was a place that he was going to set his name when they got into the land, and there they were to bring their sacrifices. There they were to come up and worship year by year, and it was not left to them to decide where that place would be. In fact, one of the grievous things to the heart of God was that Jeroboam set up two other centers.
At them. And Bethel, it was a grievous thing to his heart. He had placed his name at Jerusalem. I suppose that every tribe would wanted to have that place within the boundaries of their tribe. But when they got into the land he chose, he chose Jerusalem within the boundaries of the tribe of Judah. I suppose that the disciples in Luke 22 recognized that in the Old Testament It was never left up to them as to where they were to offer their sacrifice, and that's why they said.
Where wilt thou that we prepare, and so our gathered together? Well, I've been mentioning that that's God's delight together. That's His word. Unity. One is God's number. And there's a day coming when all the redeemed will be together in perfect harmony, and then in my name.
Now I believe His name brings before us everything that he is in himself we find in Isaiah 9. And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, the Prince of Peace, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father. It's those attributes. Everything that He is in His person is, is brought before us in that in that name.
And, you know, I've enjoyed the simplicity of this. There was a dear old sister. She's with the Lord now. But, you know, someone asked her one time. They said, well, you don't even take a name up where you go up at that hall. Oh, she said, we do take the name. And she said, what greater name could we have than the name of the Lord? Jesus Christ, Brethren, are we content with that precious name? You know, sometimes things are the accusation is given of things being presented in a way that's far too hard to understand.
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But is there anything hard to understand about this? To be simply gathered to his name, not taking any other name? I think of those on the mount of Transfiguration. Peter said, let us build 3 tabernacles, one for thee, one for Moses and one for Elias. He gave the Lord first place, but then he brought in two other names, honored names. They were Moses and Elias the lawgiver and the greatest of the prophets. But they immediately vanished from view, and when they lift up their eyes they see no man.
So Jesus only that's what we need to see, brother. We need to see no man. You know, scripture is tremendously accurate and it says and they saw no man comma.
Do we see no man?
Save Jesus only.
Because he says, there there am I in the midst of them. Now, brethren, I believe that there is a place where we can not only remember the Lord in his death. As I said earlier, perhaps there were many even in the town of Pella who remembered the Lord in his death this morning.
But a place where we can sit down in his presence, where we can sit down with the assurance there am I in the midst of them. I trust we never lose sight of this. We're gathered to a person, the person and name of the Lord Jesus Christ. And if I lose sight of this brethren, I'm not going to remain at the Lord's table. You know, I have seen those who have come, and they have been happily gathered to the Lord's name. They have seen the Lord in the midst, and they take their place, and they remember the Lord in his death.
Time goes on, and perhaps they wander away. They leave. And do they say they left the Lord? No, they say, well, we left the meeting or that group of brethren. Why? Because they've lost sight of the Lord in the midst. Oh, we need to see no man save Jesus. Only we need to look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our tough faith. And if I look around at my dear brethren and thank God for my dear brethren, but if I look at them, I'm not going to be preserved. David said I've seen an end of all perfection. We say, well, that brother disappointed me, but that brother or sister, they'll never disappoint me. I'll be careful.
Are we gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ? Do we see him in the midst? I say thank God for our dear brethren, and we ought to encourage one another that says whose faith follow. But we need to see him in the midst and him alone. Now I know our time is almost gone, but I would like to flip this chart and take that one more little truth before we we close. And that is a truth that is has been misconstrued over the ages and misapplied, and that is the truth of the camp. Now let's turn over to Hebrews 13 to introduce this subject.
Hebrews chapter 13 and verse 12.
Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood.
Suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp bearing his reproach. Now you'll notice I have two circles here. I have the camp and the testimony. I've placed the one outside the other. And here we have an exhortation to go forth unto him without the camp. Now we're going to go back in a moment to the Old Testament to see what the camp is. But I would just say this, that I believe the camp would bring before us a system of things that is either an imitation.
Or a mixture of Judaism and Christianity. Now we're going to see this in the Old Testament. You have to remember here in Hebrews that the apostle is writing to Jewish believers. And it was very hard for a Jewish believer to give up all the system of things, the outward form of things that he had been steeped in for generations. But we find here that Jesus suffered without the gate. Well, this takes us back to John 19, where you have Jerusalem, which we might say was the religious center. And the Lord came unto his own.
And his own received him not. And it was the religious leaders at Jerusalem that cried away with him, crucify him that said, we will not have this man to reign over us. I know that behold world was held guilty, but it was the religious leaders who were particularly instrumental in the rejection of Christ and his final crucifixion. And so he looks out from judgment of pilots judgment hall. He looks out to Calvary, and he goes forth and it says he bearing his cross went forth. Because remember, as I said this morning in John, he's the true burnt offering. He's the willing one. And so he goes forth.
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In love to you and I. And he goes outside Jerusalem, outside that religious system of things. They had rejected him. They had cried away with him. And now he goes outside, and he suffers without the gate of Jerusalem. And now there's a little challenge to your heart and mind. Let us go forth unto him. Now there's two things there's going for. And unto him, when God gives us something negative, there's also something positive. I say that because, you know, there was a group of Christians one time, and I knew some of them.
And they separated from what we might call the camp. They saw that it was a system of things that was not according to the mind of God in the New Testament. And so they separated. They went forth, but they never went unto him, and they never remembered the Lord. They never identified with those who practically expressed this truth of these truths of which we have been speaking. And for years and years they did that thank God that some 40 years later, two dear brothers on in their 80s.
Finally gathered to the Lord's name and the brother that had exercised them to leave the camp, he didn't exercise them to go unto him. And these brethren don't know to this day why they weren't given the positive side of the truth. And so there's the two things we go forth, and it's unto him, Well, I want to see what the camp really is by turning back to the Old Testament. Turn back to Exodus chapter 33.
Exodus, chapter 33 and verse 7. And Moses took the Tabernacle and pitched it without the camp afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass that everyone which sought the Lord went out under the Tabernacle of a congregation which was without the camp, and then just dropped down.
Verse 11.
Well, I guess we will read verse 8. And it came to pass when Moses went out under the Tabernacle that all the people rose up and stood every man that is tent door.
And looked after Moses until he was gone into the Tabernacle, verse 11 And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend, And he turned again into the camp. But his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man departed not out of the Tabernacle. Well, here we find that because of the failure of the people of Israel, because of their sin Moses take toll to take the Tabernacle outside the camp and to pitch it there. Now I want to make this very clear, because when the Tabernacle was taken out and pitched there, it says, every man stood up.
And worshipped in his tent door. Now it didn't mean that these were no longer the people of God. And it didn't mean that there wasn't worship. They stood up and worshipped in their in their tent door. But there was a special blessing for those who went out of the camp to the Tabernacle of the congregation. They had a special scent. Everyone that sought the Lord went out to the Tabernacle of the congregation. There was a sense of his presence and his approval. And Joshua young man departed not out of the Tabernacle of the congregation.
Again, those who remained in their tent doors, they were the people of God, and there are many true children of God today.
Who worship, They come together and they worship the Lord. But I say again, for there are those that separated, those that went outside the camp, that which would speak of that religious system of things that has an outward form. And you know what I'm talking about. There is a religious system in this world that has an outward form. And I don't say there aren't true children of God connected with them, but there was a special blessing for those that went outside the camp. And Joshua valued this.
He had been in the presence of Moses, He had been Moses Minister, and he had those truths given to him that they had at that time.
It seemed Moses faithfulness, and now because of it he stands and he stayed remains outside the camp at the Tabernacle of the congregation. Now turn over to Numbers 33.
I'm sorry, it's numbers 11.
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Numbers 11 and verse 26. But there remain two of the men in the camp, the name of the one with Eldad, and the name of the other me, Dad. And the spirit rested upon them, and they were of them that were written, but went not out under the Tabernacle, and they prophesied in the camp.
And there ran a young man and told Moses and said Eldad and me dad do prophecy in the camp.
And Joshua the son of nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My Lord, Moses, forbid them. And Moses said unto him, Envious thou for my sake?
We find that these others, they receive part of the spirit that was on Moses, and immediately you have these two, that prophecy in the camp. Now Joshua wanted to forbid them, but Moses said no, that he wished all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would place his spirit upon them. And I don't want to give any indication that there's no blessing in the camp. There is, and the Gospel's going forth in a wonderful way. Paul said, whether in truth or pretense, Christ is preached, and I there in due rejoice.
Yeah, and will rejoice. That is, Paul was happy for any way that the gospel went forth in the name of Christ was proclaimed. There were some there in Philippi that were even preaching out of contention, hoping to add to his bonds. But Paul said that's all right as long as Christ is being preached. And you find here that Moses. He doesn't forbid them, but he doesn't tell Joshua to go and join them. Joshua again, he remains in the Tabernacle. Now, brethren, we need two things.
We need largeness of heart to embrace all the people of God and we need to walk in the narrow path. Now you see this illustrated so beautifully with Hezekiah. Hezekiah came to the throne at a time when Israel was divided. 2 tribes were meeting at Dan and 10 tribes were meeting at Dan and Bethel. 2 tribes were meeting at God's center at Jerusalem. And Hezekiah has a large heart and he embraces in his heart all the people of God. And he writes those letters come up and worship with us.
At the House of the Lord at Jerusalem. Well, when they received those letters they laughed them and mocked them to scorn. But there were some who humbled themselves and came up to the House of the Lord at Jerusalem. I used to wonder why they had to humble themselves because it was to be the exercise and privilege of every godly Jew to come up to the House of the Lord. Well really in humbling them, in coming up they were really saying we were in the wrong place. They had to humble themselves. They were saying we ought not to have been at Dan and Bethel. Well, they came up but you know, many refused to come up and you know, some would consider it broad minded. If Hezekiah had gone one Sabbath day to Dan and one debacle and then say, well surely some of those Jews would have come up the third Sabbath to the House of the Lord of Jerusalem. Did Hezekiah do that?
Oh, no. He had that love for the whole people, the whole nation of Israel, for all the people of God. He desired that they would come up and worship together at God's center. But he was thankful to be at Jerusalem. He was thankful to be where Jehovah had placed his name. And he had that that path before him. He he walked in the truth. That narrow path. Is it a narrow path? Yes, it is. But it's a path of blessing marked out in the word of God. And again, I want to be careful because there are many true children of God in the in the camp.
There is much blessing in the Word of God is going forth, and they ought to exercise us. It's interesting that you find that these two prophecy in the camp because of Moses not taking his proper responsibility, and there'll be nobody in hell. Because of our unfaithfulness, God will use whomsoever he will and whatever means.
But Oh well, we we pray for the gospel as it goes forth in any way, and I trust we do. Oh brethren, we need to, as we had that verse the other day, we need to magnify His word above His name. We need to, in everything we do, have the sanction of the word of God, whether it's gathered, being gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus, whether it's some gospel work, something that we have laid on our hearts. We're never justified in making known the name.
Without the authority of the word of God, it must be in a way that conforms to His word, even to make known that name. People say, well, the only thing that matters is that souls be saved. Well, brethren, it's a wonderful thing to see souls saved. May we be more exercised about the gospel in our testimony. But, you know, there is something that's more important, and that is his honor and glory. That is to walk in the path that he has for us.
Brethren, we've spoken of these things in a feeble way, but I just trust that you'll go over these scriptures, that you'll meditate on them, that we'll enjoy. We will enter in, in some fuller way to the position we've been brought into, that we will enjoy these truths, and that we might seek to go on as simply gather to His name with the privilege of remembering Him in death. It's his desire, He desired to have His own so long ago, and may the desire of our souls be to His name and to the remembrance of Him Shall we pray.
Psalm 46
Gospel—J. Hyland
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Grace has hit us safe with him where the water and the blood run by ribbon side which flow are of thin the double cure cleansing from its guilt and power 259 Will someone start at place?
All over the world and I don't know.
What to do and?
Good morning. Or else I can't.
The Lord cares.
I follow.
With me please, to Psalm 46.
The 46th Psalm. I'm going to read the title of this Psalm as well.
To the chief musician for the sons of Korah, a song upon Alamoth, God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we see her though the earth be moved, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea, though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Sila, there is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God.
The holy place of the Tabernacles of the Most High God is in the midst of her. She shall not be moved.
God shall help her. And that right Early the heathen raged. The kingdoms were moved. He uttered his voice. The earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge. Sila, come, behold the works of the Lord. What desolations he hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease under the end of the earth. He breaketh the bow, and cuteth the spear, and sunder he burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the heathen.
I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of refuge.
The God of Jacob is our refuge, Selah. Well, I'd like to just speak on this Psalm with the Lord's help this evening because I enjoy some of these little songs in this way. They're little summaries of our life, our Christian life, that time when we come to the Lord Jesus and we find that there's refuge and salvation in him and cleansing in the precious blood of Christ. But then it doesn't end there. It takes us right through, as it were, our Christian lives until we're home in the glory.
Now the beginning is that time, as I say, when we come as sinners, and we find that there's refuge in Christ.
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And that's the beginning of our lives, so to speak, As he said to the children of Israel when he outlined the Passover, he said, this is unto you the beginning of months. It was a new beginning. And many of us looked back to that time when we had that new beginning in our lives when we came. And we, we realized all the provision that God had made in Christ. But, you know, as I stand in a position like this, I find it a tremendous challenge to speak to a group like this, because sometimes I have the privilege and responsibility.
Of speaking to a group where I feel perhaps most are not saved, and I feel too perhaps that many have not heard a clear gospel. And that is a tremendous responsibility to present the gospel clearly and simply to those who are not saved or perhaps are hearing it for the first time. But, you know, I sometimes feel, as I look into it, of the faces of those who have heard it over and over again. I feel it almost a greater challenge because I wonder sometimes if there are those who have heard it over and over again.
And yet are indifferent to God's God speaking, are indifferent to the claims of Christ, are indifferent to their eternity. How sad that the heart becomes hardened as individuals hear it over and over and over again. Many years ago an evangelist was visiting in Sheffield, England, And Sheffield is noted, of course, for its steel mining. And he could hear these hammers going in the mines all day and all night. And so he said to the folks with whom he was staying. He said, how do you sleep with those that machinery going all the time?
All they said, if you stay here long enough, you'll get used to it. And I wonder sometimes if there are those who get used to hearing the gospel get used to hearing the warnings. And they it becomes they become dull appearing and they don't take it in, they don't heed it. How sad you think of Pharaoh. He had warning after warning from the servants of God, Moses and Aaron, and every time he refused to listen and heed the warning, his heart became a little harder. But you know, there was a sequel to that story that took place in Sheffield, England, because one time the equipment failed.
And the hammer stopped, and the whole town woke up. And, you know, I fear that there are those who hear the gospel. They hear that it's pounding into their souls, as it were. And yet there will be a time when they will hear it no longer and perhaps wake up to the awful reality of rejecting Christ. But it will be too late, too late, too late. You know, there are those who will raise their eyes in a lost eternity, and they will say, I lost my soul, You know, it says, how shall we escape?
If we neglect so great salvation and the boys and girls here know what it is to neglect something. When you come home from school and mother says, do you have any homework? And you say, well, it's just a little bit, I'll do it later. My friend is at the door. You put it off, you neglect. And then you go out to play. And mother calls you for supper a little later. And she says, did you get out that homework? And you say, no, I'll get on it after supper. And then after supper, something else comes up that you want to do and you put it off a little longer. And pretty soon mother calls you and says it's time to go to bed.
And you say, oh, I didn't do my homework. And how often I was told when I was a child, it's too late, it's time to go to bed. Well, the next day there was a little difficulty at school, perhaps, especially if the teacher checked the homework or asked for it to be passed in. And I would always hope that she didn't do that. But, you know, sometimes I'd have to stay in at recess or noon hour, get that homework caught up. There might have been a little penalty for neglecting it, but, you know, it was soon forgotten. But all to lift up your eyes and a lost eternity and to say I've lost my soul will be complete despair. In fact, I believe that that's one of the most awful things about hell is that there's no hope.
There is no hope. And you know that man who lifted up his eyes and requested a drop of water? He didn't ask to leave that place because he knew he could never leave that place. All he wanted was a little relief, which, of course, we never he never got and he never will get. You know, if you're sick or you're in a bad situation, well, you can always get through today because there's always hope that things will be better tomorrow. If you have pain, will you endure it for the moment because you look forward to that time when the pain will be relieved?
But there won't be anything like that in a lost eternity. Well, I want to look at this little Psalm because as I say, salvation is only the beginning, and I trust everyone here has come to that point where they know the Lord Jesus as their savior. Now, I read the title of this Psalm because I sometimes wish the titles of these Psalms were printed just a little bigger because I believe they're part of the original. They're part of the word of God. And if they're part of the word of God, it says every word of God is pure.
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And it must have a message for us. And I've enjoyed some of these titles. Some of these Psalms are the Psalms of David. I like that because it's the personal experience of David as he experienced the Lord's care and provision for him. Religion isn't just a theology or some philosophy or something abstract. Just talk to those who have come to know the Savior and those who are a little older and have gone on in the path of faith. They know it's a reality. It's a personal experience. It's a personal, personal relationship.
With the Lord Jesus Christ. But this this title is very interesting. It says to the chief musician for the sons of Korah. Now if we were to go back to Numbers 26, we would find who Cora was. Cora was one of those who led a rebellion against God and against God's servant Moses. And we find that because of his rebellious heart the earth opened up and Cora and many of his family were were swallowed up in judgment. And it's just a little picture of what our hearts are by nature.
Where the rebellious sons of Adam, we are part of that fallen race, Adam reached out in rebellion against God.
He failed to recognize his responsibility to his creator, and that he was enjoying that garden at God's disposal. That's what man has done ever since. He doesn't want to recognize his responsibility to God. If he can tell himself he dies like a dog, then he has no responsibility to his creator. But God breathed into man's nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul. And Daniel stood before Belshazzar, the greatest king of his day, and he said, the God in his hand by breath is And whose are all thy ways hast thou not glorified?
It tells us he gives to all life and breath and all things in Timothy. He's the preserver of all men.
And yet man goes on, taking breath after breath, going on in his rebellious way, seeking his own lust and his happiness, and he leaves God out of his life. The fool hath said in his heart no God. It says that it's a day when there's No Fear of God before their eyes. I don't have to tell you that that's the condition of things around. Just go out and try to preach the gospel to those around. You'll find that they have no time for these things. They don't want to hear about God. Man has shut the pages of God's word. They don't even read it in the schools anymore. Why?
Because they don't want its light. God's word is faithful. God's Word gives warnings. God's Word tells us what our hearts are like, what we are by nature. It's true that God's Word also brings in the remedy, as we were speaking this morning with the boys and girls. And how it's the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, that cleanseth us from all sin. And he's made provision in that way. And his heart is brought out, particularly in the New Testament, where you have his son sent by the Father and he goes all the way to Calvary's cross because in this was manifest the love of God toward us.
In that he laid down his life for us. The Lord Jesus came, he died, that God showed his love. The Lord Jesus has displayed his love in making provision. But I say God's word is faithful. You know Queen Elizabeth the First, who reigned in England many, many years ago, she was reported to be a very vain person. In fact, as she got older, she didn't have the heart hardly to look at herself in a mirror. And you know, the master of the Royal Mint incurred disgrace because he cast an all too faithful likeness of her.
On the English shilling. And he was thrown into prison because of it. And the Queen Elizabeth ladies in waiting took the hint and they were very careful that Amir was not brought into her presence. In fact, they say that for the last 20 years of her life, she didn't have the heart to look at herself in the mirror. Why? Because the mirror exposed what she really was. You look in a mirror. If your mother sends you to wash your face, you might say, well, my face is not dirty, and what will she tell you? Go and look in the mirror.
And you can't argue with the mirror. The mirror shows exactly what the condition of our dirty face is.
Well, that's what the Word of God does. It speaks to our consciences. That's why they rejected the Lord Jesus When he was here. He was the light of the world. The light shone in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it. Not. They didn't like what he said as he exposed their sinful ways. Well, we need to come to this point where we realize that we are sinners, that we are the rebellious sons of Adam, that like Cora, who led that rebellion against God's servants in numbers.
About our hearts are no different. Man doesn't like to own that he's a Sinner. He doesn't like to come down.
He doesn't like to rid himself of those thoughts that he has and that high esteem that he has, and they teach us in school. Well, there's a little spark there, and if that spark is banned and propagated in the proper way, there's a little bit of good in everybody. That's not what the word of God teaches. When the when Nick the Lord Jesus spoke to Nicodemus, Nicodemus said to the Lord, we know that thou art a teacher come from God. For no man can do these miracles except God be with Him. But the Lord had to answer Nicodemus to show him that what man needed was not good teaching. He needed a new life.
00:15:32
Because that which is born of the flesh is flesh. If I have a pile of old rotten lumber and I leave it sitting, what happens? Does it get any better? No. I might throw a tarp over and it might look OK, but what's underneath still that old rotten lumber. It only gets worse as time goes on. It doesn't get better. That's what the flesh is. And so he said to Nicodemus, you don't need good teaching, you need a new life and you must be born again. Well, this Psalm was written for the sons of Korah. And we might say, well, how come? I thought you said Korah was judged and the earth play of asunder, and he was swallowed.
Well, if we were to go back to numbers, we would find it says this notwithstanding, the children of Korah died not. And I think it's so precious because here we have some of their descendants, and they're given this beautiful song, some of the of the descendants of Korra, whose heart was like that. And yet now they've been brought into blessing and given this Psalm, and it's a song upon Alamo. I like that because Alamak means soprano voices and you and I who know the Lord as our savior.
We've been given soprano voices. I don't know anything about music because I can neither start or carry a tune.
But I do know this, that the soprano notes are the highest notes in the scale. Oh brethren, we've been given the highest notes of praise possible. We who were once sinners lost. We were without God and without hope in this world. And yet we've been given the highest notes of praise. In fact, in in Scripture it's only the Redeem that ever truly sang. And it's interesting that you can search the book of Genesis and you'll never find singing mentioned. You never have singing mentioned in the word of God until you come to a redeemed people.
On the banks of the Red Sea. And that's the first time they're redeemed by the blood of the Passover lamb. They're brought out of Egypt. They see their enemies dead. There's complete deliverance as they stand on the banks of the Red Sea. And then and only then you have singing. I think I mentioned the other night that that's why you never have angels singing. They praise and they give glory and they say, but they never sing because there was no redemption for fallen angels. Angels have never experienced redemption because those who left their first estate, that hell was prepared.
For the devil and his angels and the world can sing when things go well. And when things are, you get along and things go well at school and you get that promotion that you were hoping for. But when something adverse is introduced, that happiness is gone because the Christian has a joy. It says your joy. No man, take it from you. I wouldn't trade places with anybody that wasn't a Christian. I sometimes wonder what those who don't know the Lord do when they get into a bad situation. When they lose a family member, a loved one, they lose their health. They lose perhaps their wealth. What do they do? You and I always have the Lord to turn to those of us who know Him as our savior.
David said in the 27th Psalm when my mother and father forsake me, then the Lord will take me up. In other words, he said, even when earthly relationships break down, I still have the Lord. No wonder people try to end their lives and they get depressed and all this kind of thing. Oh, I say, I wouldn't trade places with anyone who didn't know the Lord Jesus as their savior. What we have in Christ is so much better. We learn as we go on in our Christian lives that it's more than just the forgiveness of sins.
It's more than just to be delivered from hell, wonderful as that is. Do you know, when we were saved, it wasn't a thrill to know that as we sometimes sing, death and judgment are behind us. Grace and glory are before. Do you often think of that verse I have not seen nor ear heard, neither hath entered into the heart of man, the things that God hath prepared for them, that love Him. And so, as we went on in our Christian lives, we realized that there was far more than we ever anticipated. What He had for us was so much greater.
Than that which we left behind in the world. That's why Paul could count things that he wants.
Hell, dear, he could count them as nothing, because what he had in Christ was so much better.
And you know, if men could just realize that what Christ is offering, what God is offering through Christ, is so much better. If they could only realize that his heart is a heart of love and that he desires to bless. They wouldn't stay away. If man could just realize the blessing and love that's in the heart of God halls like this when a gospel isn't what are announced.
00:20:05
Wouldn't contain the people that would want to hear. But sad to say, man has a misconception of God. He has this conception that God is an austere God, that God delights in judgment. Now it is truly the God of light. And he hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained. But judgment is his strange work. You know, it's interesting in Revelation that before the most awful judgments fall, there's silence in the in heaven for the space of half an hour wide. Well, there may be other thoughts, but I've just thought of it this way. God would withhold those judgments.
As long as possible. And then, you know, when the judgments do begin to fall, they're swift and direct, as if God would first of all withhold it as long as possible, and then when he must judge because of his righteous character and man's sin, it's just as if he wants to get it behind him as quickly as possible. Because even in revelation, as those judgments fall, he's looking beyond to that time when he will be able to bless. That's God's whole desire. That's his ultimate purpose, is to bless man.
Well, it's a song upon Alamar. Now I want to look at this little Psalm in three ways.
We have what We have the little word, see Law three times. And so we have the chapter Psalm divided into 3 sections, what we might call 3 Selas. And I'd like to look at it in this way because I believe generally speaking, in the first Sila we might say we have the power of God, in the second Sila we have the presence of God, and in the third Selah, we have the peace of God. And we need to get a hold of these three things. This is what brings real joy in our Christian life, the power of God.
The presence of God and the peace of God. Now when you have the little word Selah, David often uses it in the Psalms. I believe it simply means a pause. And I'd like to pause tonight and consider these things. The world doesn't have time. They don't pause and consider their eternal destiny, in fact.
It's remarkable to see that the word muse is the Latin word to think, and the word amuse means not to think. And when was there ever a day when amusement is as prevalent as the day in which we live? And what is Satan doing? He's keeping men from thinking about God, keeping men insensitive to his eternal destiny and to his ruin if he can keep him occupied with all the pleasures and joys of this life.
Seemingly. Well then he's not thinking about God and eternity. I believe too. He's busy to keep the Christian from enjoying their portion of in Christ. It's all the amusement that's prevalent now. I want to be careful because I know there are those of us here tonight who have family and our families need a diversity and so on. But oh, how sad that Satan is so busy today to keep men rushing on to eternity following the course of this world and keep him amused so he's not thinking.
About God, well, he says here in the first verse, God is our refuge.
This is the beginning. When we came to that point where we found refuge, we were singing of that rock of age as cleft was for sin and how grace has hit us safe within. And if there's someone here tonight and you haven't taken refuge in the Lord Jesus, all that refuge is still available. You see, God never judges without doing two things. He always gives a warning and he always makes a way of escape. You find when God looked down in Genesis, he looked down into a world of sin, and not only into the world, but in demands hearts, because he knows the thoughts and intents of our hearts. And he looked down and he saw that the thoughts of man's heart was only evil continually.
And he said that it repented him that he had made man, and that because of man's sin that he was going to have to judge with a flood. And he did that. But what did he do? First he provided refuge in the art. It was the way of escape for any that would enter in. And he provided a warning too, because Noah preached righteousness for about 120 years. Sad to say, there were only eight that availed themselves of the refuge that he had provided. But nevertheless, that refuge and that warning were given when the judgment was going to fall on Nineveh because of their open sin and wickedness.
He again sent his prophet Jonah to give a warning, and Jonah preached. Yet 40 days and Nineveh shall be overthrown. And because of their repentance and turning toward God, the judgment didn't fall at that time. But you know, the judgment did fall eventually because over in name, which is about 120 or 30 years later, we find that the judgment did eventually fall on Nineveh. God spared that generation because they repented. But then he brought in judgment, and when God says he's going to bring in judgment.
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We can be assured that his word stands. There are many who say, well, people have been talking about judgment. They've been talking about hell, they've been talking about the Lord's coming since the days of the Apostle Paul. And it hasn't happened. Well, you know, it says in the last days shall come scoffers who are walk after their own lusts and say, where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they are even until now. And when I hear people talk like that to me, it's just a proof that we're in the last days.
Because we know that in the last days, just before the judgment falls, people will talk like that. Well, God is our refuge. And you know Augustus, top lady who wrote that beautiful hymn we were singing, he knew what it was to experience refuge from a storm in this world. We know that he was out walking near his home in England along the coast, and a storm came up quickly, as can sometimes happen, along the coast. And he found refuge and shelter in the cleft of Iraq, along the rocky coastline of England. And as he stood there being.
Christian And his thoughts turned to the Lord Jesus and the refuge that he had in Christ from a far greater storm than any storm in this world, a refuge from the storm of judgment that is going to come. And so he wrote that beautiful hymn Rock of Ages. Well, God is our refuge, but it doesn't stop there. It says and strength, because, as I say, we find out when we come to the Lord Jesus that there's not only refuge from our sins, not only forgiveness and the cleansing of the blood of Christ, but now.
Their strength because as someone said one time, well, they'd like to be a Christian, but they didn't think they could live the Christian life well. God doesn't ask us to live the Christian life on our own strength. He's given us all things that pertain unto life and godliness. We have everything that we need, the Spirit of God indwelling us. The word of God is light and instruction. We have the Lord Jesus himself as the one who goes with us through the through the pathway and holds our hand and so on. All these things are His provision.
And when Israel looked back after traversing the wilderness for 40 years, they had to own that he had provided everything that was needed as they passed through that wilderness. And it says they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as Eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint. I like that because you know the ego. It just flies up if there's a difficulty, and it's above the difficulty and it soars up there, well, the Lord can help us to do that. He can give us.
Kind speech so that we can leap over the problem says, by my God, have I run through a truth. By my God, have I leaped over a wall. But you say I can't get above the situation.
Well, it says. It says they shall run and not be weary. And so he said, I can't get above it. But the running person, he runs, and he finds daily strength as thy strength so shall thy days be. But you say, sometimes I'm not even running, they shall walk and not. And so whatever the situation he passes us through, he provides everything. For as I say, the people of the world don't experience this. You know, just because we're saved doesn't mean that we're immune to all the things.
That people in the world pass through because we're in a world of sin and sorrow. We have bodies of humiliation. And there are some who try to tell you if you reach a certain level of spirituality or whatever, that you won't be. You won't. You'll be immune to sickness and all these things. But we never find that in Scripture. In fact, it tells us in First Corinthians 10.
There are no temptation taken you, but such is his common demand. That is, we pass through all these things because we're here in this world. But then it says, But God is faithful, who will not tempt, suffer you to be tempted above that you're able to bear, but will with the temptation also make a way of escape that you may be able to bear it. And so as we pass through these things, then He proves His faithfulness, proves that he's able to bring us through, to give us the faith, to give us the grace, the strength, whatever is needed, and of all we received of His fullness and grace.
Upon grace, do we need more grace? He give us more grace. There's no limit to the supply. And so he's our strength. And then it says a very present health in trouble. I like that because, you know, I might offer to help you if you're ever in trouble. I might say, well, if you have a situation, just give me a call. Well, the situation might arise and you might call and I might have to shake my head and say or or I might not be available. I might you might try to call And how often have you tried to call the doctor and you get a machine that says, well, the doctor won't be in until Monday but you tried to call the accountant or the lawyer, someone that could help you in a bad situation and a machine said, well, he's not in call back. That's so frustrating. Say, I know they could help me, but they're not a present help.
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And so I might be Observation arose. There's one who's always there. I speak reverently, who doesn't keep office hours like other folks, you can turn to him in any situation. And it says, thou, Wen thou prayest, enter into thy closet. And when thou shut thy door, pray to thy father, which is in secret, and thy father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. But, you know, sometimes we don't even have time to go into our closet. I often think of Nehemiah. You know, in the second chapter. There he was in a bad situation.
Asked a question by the king, he was sad in the presence of the king and the king. Kings in those days had the power of life and death. And here was the cup there said in the presence of the king. The king notices this, and he asks Nehemiah question. And Nehemiah knew that he had to answer wisely, that he might even lose his life if he didn't say the right thing. And I like what it says. So I pray to the God of heaven. And I said, under the king, he didn't have time to go into his closet. He didn't have time like Daniel to gather his four friends together and have a prayer meeting about it. He had to give an immediate answer. But between the time the king asked the question and he had to give an immediate answer, there was a swift little prayer went up.
We know from the story that God answered that prayer in a wonderful way. He granted him his request, and even more than he asked. It was a tremendous thing. He'd say, never would the king agree to something like that. And yet when there was that spirit of dependence, and when he turned to the Lord in his difficulty, he found that there was a very present health and trouble, and one who was able for the situation. Because perhaps you might get a hold of me and I might listen to the difficulty and I might have to shake my head and say, well, I can't help you on this one, it's too great for me.
But not only is the Lord available, but when we tell him the story, and he knows it already, but he likes to have us come independent. But when we tell him all the difficulty and trouble, then he's able for the situation. There's nothing too great. You know, I think of those women that were on their way to the Sepulchre early in the morning and they were talking about who was going to roll away the stone. There was a great obstacle, a great difficulty. But when they got there, they found that the stone had already been rolled away. Why? So the Lord Jesus could come out? No, He could he remember. Later on he came when they had the door shut for fear of the Jews. He came right through the wall.
He could have risen from the grave without the stone being rolled away, but there was that obstacle that hindered them from coming, and seeing that empty tomb, and it was already rolled away, he'd taken care of it so that they could look in and hear those glorious words. He is not here. He is risen, so he's able, for those obstacles that sometimes seem insurmountable. Well, as I say in this first Cela, if I can put it that way, we have the power of God, his power and salvation.
His power in our Christian lives we find that he's a present help in trouble. And then he says in verse two, Therefore will not we fear though the earth be removed and though the mountains be carried into the mids of the sea? You know, I've been struck recently to notice how many times we're told in the scripture not to fear. You know we haven't. It tells us in Timothy that those of us who know the Lord is our Savior. We haven't been given the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
And if you're afraid you didn't get that from the Lord, you've got it somewhere else. And yet, I have to say to my own heart how often I come to the circumstances of life. And there's fear. Why? Because I forget His power. I don't realize. Sometimes I forget His power in saving me. I forget His power in Prep.
Past circumstances, when I when he brought me through in so many wonderful ways. Well, we need to have a sense of his power. And there's one tonight who's on the throne. He's over everything. This is a day when the world seems out of control. And if he says, here though the earth be removed and the mountains carried in the midst of the sea, though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Sila. This is a day when everything seems, as I say, out of control, and men's hearts are failing them for fear.
And looking for those things that are coming on the earth, men realize that they're dealing with an interplay of economic and political forces that are out of their control. They know that something has to give, that things can't go on. And yet, sad to say, they won't turn to the Lord because that means they have to put themselves down and exalt Christ. And the flesh doesn't like to do that. The natural man doesn't like to own God in his life. But Jeff, you and I can sit here this evening who know the Lord as our Savior.
And we can have the peace of God that passes all understanding. How can we sit here quietly this evening and have this peace as the waters roar around us and there's chaos in political circles, there's chaos in in in the family and all these things. Oh, it's to know that we have been delivered from this world. It's to know that there's one who's over everything. I think of Esther, You know, you find that God is never mentioned by name in the book of Esther, the only book in the Bible that it's not mentioned.
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And yet, you know, as you read the book of Esther, those things seemed out of control, and it seemed like the people of God were even going to be annihilated. When you come to the end, you have no doubt that though God isn't mentioned by name, God was working everything. He had everything in control. It says the King's heart is in the hand of the Lord as the rivers of water he turneth it wither, so ever he will. Well then he says, Sila and all, we need to stop and consider these things.
Sometimes life is so pressured. Life is so busy that we forget to meditate on the word of God. David said, oh how I love thy law. It is my meditation all the day. One of the characteristics of a clean animal was that he chewed the cud, which I believe brings before us that thought of meditation, of taking it and making it our own. Not just to read it quickly and then forget about it, Not just to experience the hand of God in our lives once, and then to forget about it, but to consider these things.
That he has done for us. Well then in the next Sela we have the peace of God, the presence of God. And he says here there is a river, The streams were of shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the Tabernacle of the Most High. Now I know that many of these Psalms are millennial in their character, and they look forward to that day when Israel will be brought into a wonderful position of blessing. They rejected their Messiah. When he came as the lowly days in Bethlehem's Manger, there was no room for him. In the end they tried to get rid of him as he began his public ministry, and finally they did cry away with him, crucify him.
But there is a day when he will not come in lowliness, but he will come in power and glory, and Israel will be drawn around himself once again. They will recognize their Messiah, They will, they will mourn, they will repent, and they will be brought into blessing. But you know, well these songs are prophetic in their character. Yet scripture always has a present application. And we've talked about the power of God. That's wonderful. But you know, I know a lot of people and they have a lot of power.
But I don't enjoy their company and they wouldn't be interested in meeting me. But not only do we have one that's above the situation.
One that's all powerful, but we have one who wants your company and mine. Now, God's desire was always for the company of his people. That's why Adam was created in the garden, and God enjoyed that communion with Adam. And as they walked and communed in the garden in the cool of the day, sad to say, sin came in and spoiled that communion, and Adam and Eve hid themselves because they knew that they had sinned and their conscience was at work.
But I just think of the Lord of the of God as he walked in the garden and he said, Where art thou, Adam? He wanted Adams Company. He wanted to bless Adam. It's true that he made them coats of skin, but he had to drive them out of that beautiful paradise. That communion was spoiled in that way. And yet now you and I can be brought back into this place, a blessing and communion. And that's what he wants. He's going to enjoy our company in the coming day.
He's looking forward to that time when he will have all the redeemed around himself and oh, what a day it's going to be, but he wants your company and mine now. He never leaves us nor forsakes us, but the question is, do we enjoy in our souls a sense of his presence with us? I think of the two on the way to Emmaus, it says Jesus himself drew near and went with them. Now they weren't conscious initially of whose presence it was that was with them. They didn't. They didn't know who it was.
But you know, he didn't leave them. He was there. They were acting in disobedience, and yet he draws near and goes with them. It says in Hebrews, I will never leave they, nor forsake thee. And so we need to be conscious of his presence. David said, Thou hast holding me by my right hand. That is, he had a conscious sense that the Lord was right there beside him. If somebody holds your hand, they have to be close beside you. What we need to have a sense in our souls.
Of his company. And this is what brings real joy and real happiness. This is what helps to smooth the difficulties. Isn't it nice to have somebody when you come to a difficult spot in life, somebody that goes through the trial with you? But you know we have someone who not only goes through the trial, but he fully understands. I remember one time a brother was going through a real trial and I went down to be with him for a few days. And I said to him, I'm glad to be with you in this trial, but I said I have to own that. I don't understand what you're going through because I've never been through a similar circumstance. But I said the Lord, no.
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He knows he's fully aware, and so it's nice not only to have somebody that goes through a trial with you, but somebody that's been through a similar trial. In fact, I believe that That's why in Corinthians he speaks of how he passes us through things so that we experience the comfort of God, so that we can comfort others with the same comfort wherewith we have been comforted ourselves of God. And so the Lord Jesus, as he walked through this world, he knew what it was to be hungry.
He knew what it was to be thirsty. He knew what it was to be weary with his journey. He knew what it was to suffer reproach. He could say reproach, have broken my heart. He was the man of sorrows, and appointed with grief when Lazarus was sick, it said, they said, he whom thou lovest is sick. And then he comes to the grave when Lazarus dies, and he weeps at the grave of Lazarus. With Mary and Martha, He entered into what they were going through. He felt these things as a man, and there's a man in the glory this evening.
Remain a man for all eternity. But you know, much of what the Lord suffered as he went through this world, was so that he might be a faithful and merciful high Priest. Now what he suffered at Calvary was to put away your sins and mine. But what he suffered as a man in this world was so that he we we could have one a great High Priest who is touched with the feeling of our infirmity. Well, it said, we find here in verse five, God is in the midst of her. She shall not be moved.
And doesn't it give us real confidence? You know, sometimes when I'm traveling, it's nice to have someone along because I'll get into a strange city and I get lost. And, you know, I had a brother with me this winter. We did some visiting together. And I said to him, you know, I said when you get into a city and you get lost, it's nice to have company. Because I said there isn't the same sense of panic. I said, you're just as lost. We're both just as lost. But at least we have company. It's nice to have somebody with us. When the difficulty arises, we get lost or something. And there just doesn't seem to be that same sense.
Of panic. Well, I say to realize that God is with us to see him right there. Oh, what confidence she shall not be. God is in the midst of her. She shall not be moved. Well, God shall help her and that right early. Well, I believe Mr. Darby translates this at the dawn of the morning.
And you know the coming of the Lord draws nigh. The morning is about to dawn. How sad for those who are left behind, those who don't know the Lord as their savior, because the Lord's coming will mean different things for different people. To you and I, who know the Lord as our Savior, it will mean that we're caught up and to meet the Lord in the air and ever with the Lord. But all for those that are left, it will mean that they are forever left behind. Going to tell a little story for those of us who are younger, but I remember one time I was returning from Newfoundland to Ottawa.
And I had a flight to catch. And so a brother very kindly offered to drive me to the airport. And it's about an hour from Corner Brook to Stephenville, New Car to Deer Lake, NL. And so I said when we have a distance to drive, I always like to be a little early. And so we left plenty of time. Another brother came along where the three of us and we were driving down the highway with little concern and all of a sudden he heard a bang from under the car and we realized that we had a flat tire. Well, we thought no difficulty because there's three of us and we can change a flat tire, no problem.
Well, we got out, we jacked up the car, we took the tire off, we put the spare tire on, we let down the Jack and to our horror the the spare was as flat as the one that we'd taken off. It had a slow leak and in the brothers car all winter and he didn't realize that the air had gone out of it. Well again, we thought there would be no difficulty because we said, well, it's probably just a slow leap and usually a lot of people in Newfoundland will carry a tire pump because some of the roads are not what they perhaps.
Could or should be. And so we thought, well, if we can hail some cars, we'll find a tire pump in short order.
Well, we began to hail one car after another and they would stop and we would ask if there was a tire pump. No one had a tire pump. And finally after a long while and I was watching my watch, we finally found a tire pump and we took turns and we pumped that tire as fast as we could. We got it up to a level we thought was safe to drive. We jumped in the car. I held on to the dashboard and that brother drove down that highway. I kept watching my watch. We pulled up to the traffic light just outside the airport.
We were 15 minutes late, but the brother said there's the tale of your plane over the fence. Your lake is just a small airport. And so we we waited for the red light, and as the light turned green, I saw the tail of that plane begin to turn the taxi out to the runway. I walked in that airport. It was empty.
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I said to the man behind the counter. I said I guess I've missed my flight. He said yes, you have. My hands were blocked from changing a tire. I said we had a flat tire.
And I came out on the sidewalk, and I watched that plane as it taxied out for the runway, paused a few moments, revved its engines and began to thrust. As it rolled down the runway, I saw it take off so gracefully into the air and turn and head for Ottawa. And I'm telling you, if you've never had an experience like that, you don't know what an awful sinking feeling it is to have a plain leave on which you hope to be on. Well, I went back into the man behind the counter. I took out my ticket and I said, can I get a flight for tomorrow?
And he said to me, your ticket's no good for tomorrow.
And I looked at that man, and I stood there, and I looked at that ticket, and I thought of those who are not ready when the Lord comes. I had a seat on that claim, but I missed it. But all I wonder if there are those. And you don't have that passport that you want. You need that the blood of Christ. You haven't accepted God's offer of salvation. And when the Lord comes to be left behind in all the awful finality of those who come, and they knock on that door, and they say, Lord, Lord, open unto us.
And that voice comes back depart from me. I never knew you. That door is never opened again. Once it's closed. Well, you know, I looked at that man and he said to me, he said, you know, I had a similar experience about two or three weeks ago. So he said I'll change your ticket and I won't charge you anything. And I was able to get a flight for the next day and I was thankful. But I thought again, a 24 hour delay, a little inconvenience.
But nothing compared to those who are not ready when the Lord comes. I eventually, the next day did get home and I was glad to get home. But all I say, if there's someone here and you've heard the gospel over and over again and you're just putting it off, I believe there are probably more in hell tonight to put it off than those that we've actually rejected. You know, there are three ways we can accept that we can receive the gospel message when it goes forth. We can be like the Philippian jailer who accepted what he heard believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
And thou shalt be saved wasn't a very long message, and yet he received that message.
He took, he accepted it, he believed, and he rejoiced with all his house. But then you know, there was another man that Paul preached to. His name was King Agriculture, and he said, Almost thou persuadeth me to be a Christian. In other words, he said almost, but I don't want it. And you know, the Lord Jesus said, he that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my word, Hath one that judgeth him the word which I have spoken the same shall judge him in the last day, And how solemn in a lost eternity, for those who remember the word of God, remember a verse like John 316 or first John 1:00 and 7:00.
And yet it's no longer applicable to them as to a point of refuge. It rises in judgment of them. How sad for those that reject. But then there's those that neglect, because there was a man named Felix, and Paul also spoke to Felix, and he was faithful with Felix. And Felix trembled. But what did he say? When I have a more convenient season, I will call for thee. In other words, he put it off. He said. Not, not, not right now, He said another day. We never read the feelings at a more convenient season, because God's time is now.
God says, behold, now is the accepted time. Behold, now is the day of salvation. And you know not only that, but the older we are, the harder it is to become, to come to the Lord Jesus. Because it says in Proverbs we're holding with the cords of our sin. And as we get older, it's just like Satan is binding us with those cords of sin. And I think of boys and girls and young people who sit under the sound of the gospel. And they, they harden their hearts, they turn away, they get a little older, there's more of those cords of sin because it says remember now, thy creator.
In the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not nor the years draw nigh when thou shalt say I have no pleasure in them. You know, I've seen children at home at Sunday school and that we have a bus. That we pick up children for Sunday school on Lords the afternoon. And I've seen little kids come when they were three and four years of age. And you know they were always eager to come and sing Jesus Loves me and say their memory verse and answer a question. And then they got a little older and maybe they came, but they weren't so eager to participate.
And then they got a little older and they didn't come to the Lord Jesus. And maybe they only came once in a while, came on a special occasion when there was a treat or something like that. And then they got maybe up into their early teens. And when we went to pick them up, they said, no, we're not interested in hearing about the Lord. The evil days came when they said we have no pleasure in these things. I remember a man coming to our Sunday school years ago when I was very young, but I never forgot what he told us because he said when he was a boy he liked to fly a kite.
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And I'm sure the boys and girls here like to fly a kite on a windy day. Well, he got a new kite off her birthday, perhaps, and he was waiting for just the right kind of day to fly that kite. Well, one morning he got up and there was no school. And he looked out and the trees were blowing in the breeze and he thought, this is just the right kind of day to fly my kite. So he got up quickly. I don't know if he took time for breakfast, but he dressed and he was just about to go out the door and his mother called him and said, Donnie.
I'd like you to stay in this morning and listen for a very, very important phone call, she said. I've got to go out, but I can't miss this phone call. And oh, he was so disappointed. He didn't want to miss flying his kite, but he said he would stay in. And so his mother went off to honor Aaron and he was there and he was kind of feeling sorry for himself and didn't know what to do. He got looking at that kite and that ball of string and he got looking at that telephone that was sitting on the table, one of those kind with the receiver on top, that sit on a desk.
And he thought, I wonder how many times I can wrap that kite string around the telephone before it rings. And so he took that. The more he thought about, the more he wondered. And so he took that phone, and he undid the string from his kite and he started to wrap it around that phone and around the base and the receiver of that phone. And he wrapped, and he wrapped and he wrapped. And that ball of string got smaller and smaller and smaller, and there were more cords the more he wrapped, the longer he wrapped. And all of a sudden.
The phone rang. Oh, he thought, How am I going to answer it? He hadn't considered what would happen if the call came through. And so he started to unravel that string, and it began to fall in the heap on the floor, and he was unraveling, and the phone was ringing and ringing and ringing, and the person was very patient. They waited and they waited, and they let it ring a number of times. And finally he got that string off and he picked up the phone, and all he heard was a dial tone on the other end. The person was patient, but they thought no one was going to answer.
And as he undid those chords, it took too long and all I think of that boys and girls, as you get older and Satan binds that heart with those cords of sin, because as we get older there's more and more to attract our hearts. Satan has so much, and you just talk to people as to when they became Christians, you'll find that most were saved when they were young because we come as children, even those who are older, we have to come in that way because except we become as little children.
We cannot see the Kingdom of God well at the dawn of the morning. Well, the wealthy unsaved. It's going to mean eternal judgment in the door of grace closed. How glad for you and I who know Christ as our Savior, because it will mean to hear that shout and be called away to be with our blessed Savior. Well, he speaks here in verse 6. The heathen raged. The kingdoms were moved. He uttered his voice. The earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us.
The God of Jacob is our refuge, Sila, You know you have that little expression, the Lord of hosts over and over again in the Old Testament, because we have one who is, who is the Lord of Hosts. In 24 times in the little book of Malachi you have that expression, the Lord of Hosts. His people were going on in weakness. They felt that weakness, and yet they had one who was all powerful. The Lord Jesus said in the world, ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer.
I have overcome the world, he said. Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. And just as Israel, when they went in to take the promised land, there was that man going before them with the drawn sword. The captain of the Lord told So you and I have won. Who's the captain of the Lorde host? Well then he says, the God of Jacob. I like that you often find again this expression because if it said the God of Israel, well, you say, of course, because that means the Prince of God with God. And it is true that we've been brought as beggars from the Dunghill. He set us among Princess, set our feet on a rock and established our going.
But when it's the God of Jacob, it's what we are by nature. Jacob was a schemer, one who tried to do things by his own devices and his own strength. And to me, it's so precious here because it's just as if he says, I know you're acting like men in the flesh, but I'm still your God. He's still the God of Jacob. And so he's the God of Jacob is our refuge. He always brings us back to that point. You know, I believe that's why it's good when we're we're as Christians that we hear the gospel message because we need to be reminded. David said he never wanted to forget, forget the pit from whence he was dead. And it's good to go back and refresh our hearts.
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It's true. As we go on in our Christian lives, we need to take in that meat. And Paul had to rebuke the Corinthian Saints because he should have been feeding them with me when he was feeding them with milk because of their state.
But, you know, as we grow older and natural things, we have a baby. Well, it drinks milk. But as we grow older, we take in other things. But we never give up milk entirely. We always need milk. Perhaps we have it in a little different form. And so we need the sincere milk of the word. It's the refreshment that comes in going back and realizing what God has done for us. And, you know, Paul said that he was ready to preach the gospel to those who were at Rome. And who was he writing to? He was writing to the Saints. I know his heart went beyond the Saints, but he was writing there instead.
He was going to declare unto them the gospel. Well, we need to sit under the gospel. We need to be refreshed. We need to be reminded.
And then he says, in the next Selah, Here we have the peace of God, He says, Come, behold the works of the Lord verse eight. What desolation He hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease under the end of the earth. He breaketh the bow and cutteth the spirits. Under he burneth the chariot and fire in the fire. Well, I know again this speaks of a future day. And we little realize what a day is coming for this world when everything will be brought into order and blessing. A king shall reign in righteousness. It will be a wonderful reign of peace.
There's no peace in this world today because they cast out the Prince of Peace and they chose Barabbas and that which characterized Barabbas.
And they'll never be peace in this world again until the Prince of peace has his rightful place. But, you know, he wants us to have that in the enjoyment of that peace in our hearts. Now it's true, there's no peace in this world. But you can. You and I can have this peace. It's that peace that he's left with his disciples in John 14. Again, it's that peace of God that passeth all understanding. And then in verse 10, he says these still and know that I am God. Well, you know, we don't like to be still. I think of Israel as they came to the banks of the Red Sea. They had the sea in front of them, They had a mountain on each side of them, and the enemy was coming behind them.
And he says, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. And so as they stood still, he did come in in a very wonderful way. But, you know, this is the day when we don't like to stand still. We like to do things in our own strength. We like to straighten things out. Well, I think of Ruth, you know, she was told by Naomi. Sit still, my daughter, and see how the matter will fall. For the man will surely accomplish the thing this day. And there's one whose head over all things to the Church, which is his body. He's, he's on the throne. He's over everything. Sometimes things seem out of hand.
But they're never out of the Lord's hand. Whether we have that peace as we recognize the power of God in the presence, and we enjoy His presence because there's a progression here, as we have that sense of that power, as we enjoy that His presence, then we can have this peace in our hearts and we can be still Well, He says I will be exalted in the earth, and there is a day when He will be exalted, and it ought to encourage our hearts in following a rejected Christ to know there's a day when He will have his rightful place and we will be associated with him.
And then he says again, the Lord of hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge. See life. So he comes back again to that refuge. And brethren, may we never tire of hearing the simple gospel story. It's the ground of every blessing that you and I possess. And if we ever get tired of going back in our thoughts and our hearts to Calvary, if we ever get tired of speaking and singing of the precious blood of Christ, we ought to get down on our on our knees and examine our souls, because it's going to be our eternal theme in that coming day.
Well, I just trust this will encourage our hearts. And I say again, if there's someone here and you don't know the Lord is your savior, all this is available for you. This is the positive side of Christianity. People think of what they'll have to give up if they come to the Lord. But what we gain in Christianity is so, so much greater. Well, let's press on rather than the little time that remains. We're almost to that point when we're going to see Him, be with him and be like Him and praise Him in that eternal song.
Shall we pray?
Lost in Wonder, Love & Praise
Address—R. Klassen
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.
On our hearts and meekness strain, But there thy yoke, And learn of thee, that we may rest. Obtain 174.
Open Transformers 1.
Of our hearts and prayers.
And their heart grow.
I'm dreaming.
Play the hearts for our.
Love.
And water. And now.
Want to read from the 37th chapter of Genesis to begin with?
Genesis chapter 37 and again at verse one.
And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan.
These are the generations of Jacob, Joseph being 17 years old.
Was feeding the flock with his brethren, and the lad was with the sons of Villa, and with the sons of Zilpha, his father's wives. And Joseph brought unto his father their evil report. Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age, and he made him a coat of many colors. And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him and could not speak peaceably unto him.
And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brethren, and they hated him. Yet the moored he said unto them, Here, I pray you this dream which I have dreamed. For behold, we were binding sheaves in the field.
And lo, my sheep arose, and also stood upright. And behold, here she stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheep. And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? Shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams and for his words.
And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it to his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more, and the oldest sun and the moon and the 11 stars made obeisance to me. And he told it to his father and to his brethren.
And his father he veered him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and my mother and I brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth? And his brethren envied him, But his father observed the same. And his brethren went to feed their father's flock, and Shechem. And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock and Shechem?
Come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said, Here am I.
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And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, and see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks, and bring thee word again. So he sent him out of the veil of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.
And a certain man found him, and behold, he was wandering in the field. And the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou? And he said, I seek my brethren, tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks. And the man said, They already farted hands, for I heard them say, Let us go to Dolphin. And Joseph went after his brethren and found them and open, and when they saw him a far off.
Even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.
Let us turn now to the New Testament.
To let three very precious verses shine on this portion of the Old Testament first in John chapter 15.
John, Chapter 15.
And verse 9.
As the father.
As hath loved me, so have I loved you.
Continued Ye in My Love one of the 16th chapter.
Verse 27.
For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me and have believed that I came out from God.
And one more verse in chapter 17.
Chapter 17 and verse 23.
I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them as thou hast loved me.
Now they turn back to Genesis 37 to meditate just a little bit.
If I could put a caption on the meditations that are on my heart tonight.
It would simply be.
Lost and wonder, love and praise.
That's just wonderful how God has given us pictures in the Old Testament.
To help us to enter into the blessing of the new, because we all begin as children to learn and we need these simple forms to have something that we understand to lead us in the spiritual blessing.
Now one of the terms that is so beautiful in this chapter is the term brethren.
Sometimes children like to check things out.
And I don't know if there's any here tonight to check it out, but this term comes eighteen times in this chapter.
And it's a. It's a touching expression because.
It brings us into relationship in the family of God as having a care for one another.
And when we think of brethren.
There are several ways that we can view our brethren.
One way in healing our brethren is like they can be the object of strife.
We think of Abraham and Lot how that when Abraham returned and it says that the Perazite was in the land.
The parasite was a divider. And Abraham turned to his nephew Lot, and he said to Lot, I pray you.
That well, perhaps we could just read it what he says there in the 14th chapter.
Or the 13th chapter.
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In verse 8.
And Abraham said unto Lot, Let thee, let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and they, and between my herdmen, and thy herdmen, for we thee. Brethren. What a thing that he had that term, that he could plead that they were brethren. And I believe that this is the third time that we have brethren mentioned in the word of God. It comes the third time.
And so we know that we are all of different temperaments and make up.
And that Satan can use that to cause strife and not being able to get along together. But his plea is that we be brethren.
And now, in the 38th chapter that we read of, we find another.
Way that we may treat our brethren in verse one, it says in a king to pass at that time.
That Judah went down from his brethren. Now we know that this is a very dark chapter in the book of Genesis.
A very dark chapter, and sometimes you may want to get away from our brethren. We don't want them seeing what we're doing.
And we can carry out our will a little bit easier and not restrained. There's just something about the eye of our brethren looking upon us that if our heart you're not right before the Lord, we feel uncomfortable and we may take the course that Judah took.
And I just want to read before I leave this chapter.
To notice something, to see how serious things become when we leave our brethren in verse 6. And Judah took a wife for his first born.
And The thing is where?
Whose name was DeMar. And Erdogan's first born was wicked in the sight of the Lord, And the Lord slew him and Judas. And to Onan, Go into thy brothers white, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother. And Onan knew that the seed should not be his. And it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother. And the thing which he did displeased the Lord.
Wherefore he slew him also.
Now this is a very grim picture, but the point I want to make is this, that when we elect to go out from our brethren, here comes his sons. And when the thought of the royal line came before these boys, they did not want to have one thing to do with it. They did not want to be.
In the in the lineage of the Messiah of Israel.
And that's what made this thing so extremely serious in the eyes of the Lord, that he would slay both of those sons.
Well, we have these different aspects that are that serve as a warning to us that one of the wonderful things that the Spirit of God teaches us, I believe is to love our brethren and to find that they can do us nothing but good and they can enlarge our thoughts and the wonderful fellowship exchange of fellowship.
Is a most precious thing that God has given to us here in this world.
And so we have David's wonderful words breaking forth when he says how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.
And it's just like he's saying, by the Spirit of God.
Dwelling in unity, that's what we're going to do for all eternity in heaven.
And he lays it, as it were, to our conscience, and says, well, how is it going to be in time?
Should it be any different than what is going to be there in Yonder glory? And I think as we wait this in the presence of the Lord, we say, well really there should be no difference.
Yeah, but when we see the brethren here in this chapter, we have to say that the picture is dark. And we wonder and have wondered how could the Lord love us is our history has opened up before his holy eye See what we are after the flesh to see how easily we're turned, how easily we're discouraged, how easily we can enter into strife.
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How easily we can depart from our brethren.
Accepted as grace, preserve us together in unity. And so I just want to have this as a little backdrop.
The wonder of His love to us.
It's it just humbles US1 Could cry out as a poet and he could say, oh mystery of love, who can compare to thee?
Now we want to focus now on the Father and the Son here.
And to draw some very precious things out of this chapter.
Now we find that Joseph here is 17 years of age.
And that's a that's a very tender age, because at this age a boy cannot no longer be a tattletale to his parents.
Who can talk to his parents? But to be a tattletale is out and to speak with the authority of a man hasn't come yet. And so he's in this transitional period. It's very difficult. And this is where Joseph is. And when we read verse three, that Israel loved Joseph more than all his children because he was the son of his old age and he made him a coat of many colors, our first reaction might be well.
This is really.
Not a very good thing for a father to do to his son when there's other sons in the family.
This is what we call prejudice, and we know that prejudice doesn't work.
And so we see that we haven't entered in now to God's thoughts as to what this really is about. But here we can visualize Joseph as a tender plant and being out with his brothers, half brothers, and to see their wicked ways, to see their filthy conversation, their filthy conversation, and so on, that it just rent that tender heart. And he came to his father.
And he told his father what was happening.
And what really was in Joseph's heart was one thing, and that was that he wanted to bring joy to his father. He wanted to please his father and not to bring added grief to him that he already had.
And thus now the coat of many colors comes up before us, and we can say that Joseph had proved himself. Joseph was worthy to have this put upon him.
Now, on the portion that we have read together, I would like to draw from the four Gospels.
That give us a glimpse of the Lord Jesus in different aspects. Now this coat of many colors, I believe, would remind us of John's gospel.
And there he is as the Son of God, and the writer of that gospel could save.
We beheld His glory, the glory of the only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. And So what a precious reflection this dear Joseph is upon the true Joseph whom John looked upon in his stage, and he could see the glories of that person, and his heart was deeply moved. There was an only Son.
And so it can be said of Joseph.
That he really was the fairest flower of the Hebrew race. He is such a striking picture of the true Joseph that came into this world to see his brethren. And so to think that as John writes in his gospel, he acquaints us with the glory of the Son of God.
Well, when his brethren saw that their Father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.
Well, you know.
There is no one so malicious as man after the flesh was fallen into sin.
00:20:07
Anything of a righteous character, anything of holiness, anything of purity strikes his conscience. His reaction is hatred against such an one.
Now we need not be surprised that having been called of God out of this world.
And to be identified with this blessed man that there would be reproach upon our lives, we need not be surprised because it's this kind of life that worries the world and they would like to put that light out and drag us down to their level.
But all once we have seen the glories of the Son of God who can't turn family, we may start to turn, we may stumble, but then we get a glimpse of Him and our footsteps are stabilized.
Well.
Now we come down to the dreams that Joseph AB. And in verse seven, for behold, we were binding sheaves in the field. And lo, my sheep arose and also stood upright. And behold, your sheep stood round about and made obeisance to my sheep. Well, I think of that as a Gospel of Matthew. We're in the Gospel of Matthew. There we have the Lord Jesus as the Messiah.
And he's coming unto his own. And when he was born into this world, you remember that he was born a king. Nobody else has ever been born a king in this world.
In Isaiah chapter 23.
It depicts the Lord Jesus there as a sheep before her shears is done. Here the shear is taking and stripping the sheep of all its wool, and the Lord Jesus is prefigured that way. And so when it came to the cross.
We can say that the Lord Jesus came there and he was stripped of everything except one thing. One thing.
And that was that title upon the cross. This is Jesus.
The King of the Jews and there was one thing that God was going to see was not going to be removed from him.
He is the king of the Jews. But as to everything else?
He was a worm and no man. And when they wanted that title taken down from the cross.
They wanted Pilate to take it down, He said. What I have written, I have written, and he didn't write it from the standpoint of conscience, but God was there to see that the glory of his Son would be upheld in that way.
And so when we think of the Gospel of Matthew, we think of a book that has such wonderful insight into prophetic things, not only when the Lord was here and not only after he left, but also it anticipates the terrible time of great tribulation which is coming on this world. And then it even anticipates the glorious Millennium when all sheaves will bow down to him and that he will have full sway.
In heaven and in earth.
Now we might think in our thoughts about Joseph personally, you know, really kind of foolish in a way for Joseph to have even come out with these dreams.
But there is a thought to consider, and that is that I believe that when God.
Takes up a young man or a young woman that he makes impressions upon them.
That they don't understand.
And rather than just to keep them hid in wonderment, to kind of come out and see if somebody can give a little help as to the development of what the Spirit of God is going to work out in their lives. Very often misunderstanding is what they meet with and and so there's distance comes in.
And we might say that as Joseph made these dreams known to his brethren, that it sent the wheels of Providence into motion, and his brethren hated him yet the more. And no doubt he gave these dreams of maybe to draw them in, and they seem like dreams of blessing and and.
00:25:22
Directing directly upon them. And so he and his tenderness would seek to draw them in, knowing what they were, that they might come into the blessing very obvious in these dreams.
And so you may have experienced this, their older brethren here, and know the impressions of the Spirit of God made upon them.
Probably know something very similar to what Joseph experienced here. It looked like you were trying to set yourself forward and it was totally misunderstood.
And so the consequences have to be born.
And so his father even rebuked Joseph. He didn't even understand.
But he kept the thing, he observed the same. And so we're thankful for those fathers that that have the care of the flock and are able to realize that the Spirit of God is working in this individual or in that individual. And maybe they give a rebuke and yet they observe the same to see just exactly what is going to happen.
Well, now the moment has come.
When Jacob is going to send out Joseph to seek his brethren, oh, I say, what a momentous moment that was.
If we had visited Jacob.
We just automatically know what subject would come up. We just automatically know that we would hear the virtues of Joseph and what a son he was to his old age, how he delighted in him and and just as it were, couldn't say enough about his Joseph. And now the moment has come when Jacob is going to send Joseph out to seek his brethren.
You know, the father was not innocent. He was not ignorant. He knew the issues. He knew him well. So did Joseph. Joseph knew there was consequences.
But in verse 13.
And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock, and Shechem come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I.
Here am I oh, I think we see the beauty of Mark's gospel shining out here. Here's the servant character, the Lord Jesus as that perfect servant.
Believe that you count it up in the Gospel of Mark alone, that you find the Word immediately, 42 Times. Think of it immediately. There was just that, obedience.
And such love to the Father that rather than to stand around and see if you can get out of it, it was immediate action 42 Times. Oh, that was a thrill to me as a ponder, that perfect servant, to see that there was that word straightway accompanying it. That action of love couldn't win, as it were. And so we hear. See the Gospel of Mark in verse 13.
And then we know how he went out to the veil of Hebron. You know, it was a dangerous trip. He had to pass among the wild animals to be out in the Wilds to seek his brethren. It was a dangerous trip.
And so to think of him coming to the to the veil of Hebron.
And arise at Dolphin, and he's out in the field in verse 15. And a certain man found him, and behold, he was wandering in the field. And the man asked him, saying, what seekest thou?
All I believe there we find the beautiful gospel of Luke shining out. Boom, what seekest thou do? We read in the 19th chapter of Luke those wonderful words that the Son of Man is come to seek and to say that which was lost. And there we find find the lost sheep found. We find the lost piece of silver.
00:30:22
Found you find the prodigal that went out into the far country. Found and brought back.
Oh, what diligence we find in the Son of Man.
And I would like to say, as we meditate upon him as the Son of Man, have you ever thought that God never wanted us to to thank one iota less of Him as the Son of Man, being the Son of Man and Son of God? I said that a little awkwardly. I'll say it this way, He as the Son of God.
Being revealed to us in the Son of Man, that we would in no way think less of him. And you know, because of fallen man taking up the person of Christ.
That all false doctrine has sprung from the fact that they want to think less of Him as a man than the Son of God. Who would dare to say in this light that the Lord Jesus could have sinned if He wanted to? Would we say that as the Son of God? That He could have sinned if He wanted to? I say, what folly. We know it would be impossible. And so it is. Is the Son of man.
Oh, how wonderful to see the glories of this blessed man as he's revealed to us in Hebrews chapter one. As the eternal One, God carefully introduces His Son to us as a man. So carefully I say that we wouldn't think of thinking less of him as a man walking here below than the one who inhabitants eternity.
And all how good to have us have our hearts stabilized?
As to the person of Christ, and as to all the truth that accompanies him.
And so we think of that one that sought his brethren. Oh, what a seeker he was. And all through the Gospel, Luke, as well as the other gospels, as he rose in the morning, he took counsel from his father for the day. And to think that he was to give a word to him that was weary. And how many were benefactors?
How many were named by the Father to the Son to be visited that very day with a word of encouragement, with a manifestation of God's wonderful love and grace?
What a seeker he was.
And now he comes to Dothan, and his brethren are not there.
I say as we think about it, what a, what a point, what a point this man had found in the new where his brethren went. They went to Shechem, they went to the old family estate. You remember when Jacob came back and paid normally bought a piece of real estate there and that's where they went to feed their flocks. But Joseph might have turned to this man and he might have said to him, well, how did, how did the brethren seem to you, though?
Right. Everything looks good. And the man might have might have said to him, well, everything should look good to me. I didn't see anything out of order. And, and I don't think that you really have anything to worry about. And at that point, Joseph could have gone back to his father and he could have given him this report that he had got from another man.
Why did he go on?
Why did he go knowing that his brethren hated him?
The answer is.
But as the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you not Wonderful. That verse in John 15 comes home with such force. Why did the Lord Jesus come into this world to seek man who had sinned against the majesty of God?
00:35:00
As the Father have loved me, so have I loved you.
And to think of that love that carried Joseph onward to his brethren.
Until we saw them and the immediate reaction.
Like inspired against him to slay him.
All we might say, Joseph, you can see trouble on the horizon. Just kind of take a distant look and go back as quickly as you can to your father.
No, love would not turn back.
He was going to seek the welfare of his brethren at whatever cost it took.
And so we know the rest of the story of how they took him and they stripped him of that coat of many colors.
And now they.
They Joseph Reuben interceded for him, but his life should not be taken.
But to put him in a pit where there was no water?
And all to think of Joseph.
You know, he was down there in that pit. I can see those brethren ringing that pit, eating their lunch and looking down, one cruel remark after another. And to see that tender plant falling under it. And then to hear their conniving together that if they weren't going to kill him, they were going to sell him and to sell him for 20 pieces of silver to the Ishmaelites.
OK.
That's kind of an amateur screen figure is in our ten brethren.
20 pieces of silver that can divide that all up equally without any difficulty.
And then to take that coat of many colors, we read in verse 31, and they took Joseph go and kill the kid of the goats and lift the goat in the blood. And they sent the coat of many colors, and they brought it to their father and said, this have we found no. Now whether it be thy son's coat or no, and so on.
Well, we think.
Of Revelation 19.
Of the one who was wearing a vesture dipped in blood.
Coming forth with vengeance.
That one who was crucified by this world.
Again, his gesture was dipped in blood and now it's all out in the open. What has happened, isn't it?
Yes. That said, they appeared to get flying with appeared to be able to deceive their father.
Now the day comes when things are out in the open as to what really happened.
And there he takes that comes forth with that vesture dipped in blood.
As the proof that this world is guilty of the death of Christ.
And this world's judgment stands recorded tonight. And that's the reason that the gospel is preached. And we can see that there is dire need to take refuge in the true Joseph, to take refuge in him as the one who is our only salvation, the only one that can take away our guilt and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
And to make us fit for God's holy presence. And I think of the Lord's coming.
It's such a sharp line of divide.
When that shout is given, those that have felt their guilt and that guilt is gone forever, rise to meet him with joy.
But to think of the company that is left behind.
To face the guilt of their sins, to have everything exposed, the hatred of their hearts, the wickedness of their ways.
And they have, as it tells us, that sword that cometh out of his mouth.
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Death. Oh, how wonderful it is to know the Father and the Son, to know the love that has gotten found us. I like to just return to those verses that we read in John, to look at the very language of them a little bit.
John, Chapter 15.
Does the Father verse 9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you.
Continued Ye personally in my love well when we.
Realize that the Father sent the Son to be the savior of the world.
It originated in the heart of our Father to seek our welfare and to bring salvation at such an infinite cost to Himself.
That as we.
Conman played out loud.
There is these words continue ye in my love, and you know to continue in this love as its reflective character, one toward another.
There was a certain brother that came up to a young man and we didn't know very well, but he knew he was a brother in Christ and he put his arms around him and he just gave him a hug. And the young brother said to him, he said that's just what I needed.
There's the reflective character of continuing in his love and that is what is it the foundation of the testimony that we have been called to and reflecting love one to another. Now in John 16 to notice there the language closely verse 27 for the father himself loveth you.
Because we have loved me.
Oh, what a motive, what a what an announcement in the heart of the Lord Jesus to make clear to our hearts that the Father Himself loveth us because we love the Lord Jesus who is only begotten Son.
And we can say what love can compare with this. And then he adds, and have believed that I came out from God.
I believe that the enemy of our souls is attacking this truth.
With such force that it is scary. We may think these are antiquated words. These are something was said long ago that still are true today. That I say they are more valuable today to our hearts than when they were spoken To realize that the enemy of our souls is calling every truth of God into question. You can go down the list.
And if we have not put our faith and trust in Him.
There's only one thing to happen to us, and that is to fall into apathy. That is just to say So what? And nothing has any character, nothing has any dimension, nothing has any sense. We stumbled through from day-to-day, just drifting with the crowd and drifting down a broad Rd. that leads to destruction. And to think of this spirit moving in among God's people that that which has been taught to us.
With such love and with such clarity, and at such a cost to God's servants, to think that this matter, that of having believed that I came out from God.
That we called into question.
And if we call this into question, nothing will stand. Nothing has a foundation.
Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world and of my precious soul and yours. And so how important it is to believe God's Word and let nothing from my side come in to shake us, or from the front to shake us, or from behind, but to revel in this love that has been revealed to us.
00:45:07
And now it just seems in John 17 that this love comes to what I might say a mighty crescendo in the Lord's Prayer.
I in them.
And thou in me.
Is it possible?
To make anything more oneness than that.
And to think of this oneness including us as brethren, including our history as brethren, the Father in the Son, and we in Him.
Identified together in one.
We wonder how? How could this be oneness? Shouldn't there be a distance? Should there be a yawn elevation?
From the heart is gone, not from the person of our Lord Jesus Christ, He goes on, that they may be made perfect in one.
And that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them as thou hast loved me.
I wonder, if we are honest, how many days we have spent in our lives down here.
Questioning God's love.
When does that arise to question his love? It arises when there's trials in our life and we have.
A father's hand come in and maybe bring something into our lives that we just recoil at. And our reaction is, what did I do to deserve this? How come this happened to me? Oh, it's been that love is questioned and our only resource to get right values is to come back to verse 23.
As thou hast and hast loved them. As thou hast loved me.
Shouldn't there be a difference? Shouldn't there be a talk of degrees here? Yes, there should be, but there is none. There is none oneness.
Oneness with Christ, one with him as his bride. Oh, we just get into another glorious subject and we think of the bride, the thing it is the union of affection to be enjoyed for all eternity. And to think that God in his grace ends Wisdom would be willing to make this revelation known to us tonight.
Known to his people as they have come down through this dispensation.
And to think, as we're here tonight, that we're just about to enter into that full manifestation of this love.
Do you ever try to close your eyes and visualize it? I'm sure you have.
Have we not thought of our brethren like we read about Judah away from his brethren? We thought of our brethren in strength.
We've thought of those that have fallen under the power of Satan.
And children that we feel should be here and are not.
Think of that oneness and eternal glory. There we are together.
No degrees, no difference.
Everyone fully restored, giving good glory to them. Who is worthy? That's the way it's going to be. And our hearts often cry out and say, why can't it be now? Why can't the revelation of these things penetrate?
Well, there's many things that we have to leave with the Lord, but I believe that this.
This portion of God's Word is certainly given to us as a very real encouragement just to continue in his love, and that will affect more than anything else. And I'm not ruling out the thought of discipline. For whom the Lord loveth, he chasing us, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. And so the working of love.
Is what is going to win the day and the proof of it is certainly going to be manifested in the glory above. And everyone who has put their faith and trust in Him, they will be there supremely happy.
00:50:15
And if losses felt, which it probably will be.
It will not be. It will not be a loss that will hinder the soul, but will just cause everyone to draw very near to this blessed man.
And dwell with him through all eternity. And so just to have this example of Joseph going out to seek his brethren and not turning back and seeing what it cost him. It was because he was demonstrating the love of the of his own Father that was being showered upon him. And he wanted his brothers to come and to enjoy the love of the Father as he did.
But at that time it was forfeited. But there is a day coming when Israel is going to be restored to the Messiah and we're going to have the heavenly visits of you all this as that nation is restored to their Messiah. And you know when the Lord is finished in humiliating his people and when they have mourned the part feelings.
The terrible guilt of what they had done.
To the true Joseph.
That they are going to be the most lovable people in all the world today. Repugnant. Disgusting.
Make you shake to hear their talk, if you see them drop and restore the end. Oh, to men heaven and earth united in one to give glory to the one that suddenly found US1 In this wilderness life. Shall we close with part of that lovely hymn?
Dear, Mr. Darby wrote.
I believe that he was in his 50s when he wrote this hymn.
#64.
And as a man who went through many a testing and trial, he did not lose confidence.
In the love of the Father and it seems that he writes with such depth in 64. Like to just sing the last four verses of #64.
Oh, really? So great. That's right to all.
More friends shall feel that love to share.
And go that long. Beautiful.
Larry King was in that place.
Oh my God.
And love to pray.
One hand of sorrows, full of grace.
And.
Land, and then let's bring.
Light now.
Oh great, so great.
White hair before thy face.
Lighted. You know that glory.
I am your face, still face.
Oh.
Go crazy and.
Rock'n'roll.
It was hard.
Let it get fast now as friendly Lord was done, shall be powerful.