Address—A. Hayhoe
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You have your Bible handy. I'd like you to turn, please, to a verse in John's Gospel.
Chapter 12.
John's Gospel chapter 12 and verse 20.
And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship.
At the feast the same came therefore to Philip, which was of best said of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus, Philip cometh, and telleth Andrew, And again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus, and Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of Man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, except the corn of wheat.
Fall into the ground and die it abideth alone, but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
A long time ago.
I saw one of our daughters busy at her homework desk.
And I walked over to see what she was doing and she quickly bent over her work and covered it and said, Daddy, no, not now. I'll show it to you in a little while. So I went back to my own room and presently she came in. She said I have something for you, Daddy. And she had been riding in the best form of old English script. She knew how these words, Sir.
We would see Jesus.
That's something for a father to receive from his own daughter.
I still have that text.
The lettering isn't perfect, but the verse is Sir.
We would see Jesus.
Oh, there's nothing else in the glory that will satisfy your heart or mine, then the company of the Lord Jesus. Do you agree with that? I know you do. I know that you don't think for one moment of all the beauty and the music and all the rest that perhaps folks talk about in heaven, but you think about the person of the Lord Jesus. I'm going to see him. He's going to welcome me.
And the joy of his presence is going to gladden your heart and mind forever and ever. Oh dear young brother, dear young sister, may this be a voice to me, as though you looked up here at me tonight and said to me Sir, we would see.
Jesus, that's a challenge to me. That's a responsibility that rests on my shoulders as I look around and see the lost on the road to hell I may preach to them.
But can they see Jesus? And dear fellow believer, I hope that you will take this to heart too. I hope that as you look around this company, to those whom you know, that you will remember that you have a responsibility that they might see the Lord Jesus through you. Why did they come to Philip? There were others around. I can't answer that.
But I expect there was just something about Philip that made them feel when they saw the crowd. I'll go and ask this one. Please Sir. We would see Jesus. And I wonder in the neighborhood where you live, in the school that you attend.
In the shop or whatever where you work, if anyone there we're concerned about his soul or her soul, miserable and dissatisfied with what they see around them.
To whom would they come with that question, Sir? What is it that you have?
What is it that you have that we don't possess? Would you would I be able to turn them to the Lord Jesus now? I can't put this desire in your heart. We speak first of those who are on say, those who are lost, seeking for the Lord Jesus.
But I wonder if among fellow believers there was a desire for more of the company of the Lord Jesus.
Would you or I be a help to them in this? My dear brother, my dear sister, These three days together here at these meetings may have a lasting effect, an eternal effect, on those whom you meet. Are they seeing Jesus in you and in me as we meet together here? What is the topic of your conversation when you're free from those brethren that perhaps might be?
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Listening.
Oh, I trust, dear brothers and sisters, that you and I may feel this as a very, very special challenge here at these meetings.
Souls have come here that they might learn more about the Lord Jesus, and I hope that you and I may each one feel the challenge of these words. Sir, We would see Jesus now when this message is brought to the Lord Jesus, he knew what it would cost him to have the companionship of these dear Greeks up there in the glory. He knew what it would cost him, Dear brother, dear sister, to have you with him up there in the glory. He loved you so much.
That he came into this world to die. He knew when he left that home what it would cost him not simply to rescue you from hell, but to have your company up there in the glory. And he's looking forward to it. Just imagine he is looking forward to having you there.
More than all of us combined are looking forward to being with him up there, and he went into death in order to have your company. You don't mind if I ask you, how much of your company do you grant to him? And I take it to myself from day-to-day. When the day has ended and you and I put our head down on a pillow to sleep, perhaps we can look back over the day and say how much of the company of the Lord Jesus did I have throughout the day?
How much of my company did he enjoy throughout the day? Oh, just a look up throughout the day and think of the joy of being with him.
We went into a little soda fountain. Do you still use that term to get 5 cold drinks with the children? And of course you never get 5. People all order the same thing. And I remember we ordered, we'll say it was 2 Cokes, 2 ginger ale and 1 grape or whatever. So the girl walked away. Presently she came back, said what was that order. So we repeated it. Thank you. And she went away, came back again. Excuse me, could you tell me that over again?
Difficult. She walked away and another clerk stepped up and she said you'll have to forgive her. She's getting married tomorrow and she can't think about anything else.
And I understood, I guess. Smiled. I think even if she got it mixed up, we would have accepted it. But I just thought that there's something there. She's getting married tomorrow and she can't think about anything else. Oh dear brother and sister, we are going to see the face of our Lord Jesus Christ, perhaps before tomorrow's sunrise.
That's something to think about, Sir. We would see Jesus. Suppose we turn to John One.
And look at just a little verse there, John one verse 29.
The next day John, see if Jesus coming unto him and said, Behold the Lamb of God, oh, isn't this wonderful if there are those around us, and I believe there are who are so dissatisfied, so frustrated, so discontented with what they are trying.
That they want something better, can't you? And I point them to the Lord Jesus, can't you? And I say, as John said long ago, behold the Lamb of God, oh, what a wonderful statement that is. May that be the testimony of your life and mine.
You don't have to be an evangelist to say that, do you? That's not a very long sermon, but I hope it's the visible and spoken testimony of your life and of mine. Behold the Lamb of God. Oh, has the Lord Jesus so captivated your heart and mine that by his very wonderful grace, this may be the day by day testimony of our life, wherever we may be? Turn with me over, please, to the Song of Solomon.
Chapter 5.
Verse 9.
What is thy beloved? More than another beloved, Although fairest among women, What is thy beloved more than another beloved Without us? So charge us. My beloved is white and Ruddy, the cheapest among 10,000. Verse 16. His mouth is most sweet. Now here are the words that I have been enjoying. Yeah, he is all together lovely.
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This is my beloved, and this is my friend though daughters of Jerusalem.
Beloved, gone, all our fairest among women, where there is thy beloved turned aside, that we may seek him with thee.
Isn't that searching? And isn't it beautiful? They ask her What is my beloved more than another beloved here again? I believe they had seen in her an occupation with her beloved that produced this question. Does anyone ask me? Does anyone ask you what it is that has brought you satisfaction, joy, happiness, high hope? I hope you say yes from time to time. I am inquired up in this matter.
I hope, dear young people, that there is a joy in your life and testimony that others take notice of. And I believe you know that there is a special challenge in that direction today. When there is so much frustration, so much turning to that which can only cause misery, the very contentment and joy of the believer should stand out that much the more. But notice that wonderful statement of the of hers in verse 16.
Yeah, he is altogether lovely. Even the comparison with the 10,000 is forgotten now.
She's just so solely occupied with him that she comes forth with that delightful expression. Yeah, he is all together, lovely, all that. My own soul knew more of it. But I believe it's only right that I should tell you this. Over 50 years ago, I bowed my knees and owed my guilt and accepted the Lord Jesus as my Savior. And I knew that day that my sins were gone. I knew that day that heaven was my destiny.
But I didn't realize what happiness he could bring. And I look back and it's only right, I should confess it, before you look back on those 50 years and more to tell you this. He's more than a savior. He can bring you happiness and joy, and it makes your heartache to look around and see those who are so dissatisfied. While ago, I was in Hamilton and I looked up in the Yellow Pages to see if there was anyone there with whom I had graduated.
I saw the name of one young lady. Her name was Stella Kroll, I remember.
So I thought, I'm going to go and visit her.
So I went around to her home in the evening and to my great surprise, she recognized me. Come on in, Al. So I went in and sat down. What brings you here? When you were at college, you were so shy. You never even said good morning to anybody. What brought you here? Now, that's what she said. I didn't know I was that bad, but I must have been, I said. Well, still, I was just visiting in Hamilton and I thought I'd look up in the Yellow Pages and I saw your name. How's it been going with you? Oh, wonderfully. Well, I've been very successful in my practice. I'm going to find home.
Wonderful husband, two fine sons. I've got everything I expected and more.
Except I've never found satisfaction, and I know you have.
I said yes, Stella, I have. And it hasn't come from a successful practice or a Good Wife and a happy family, although the Lord has granted these, but it comes from the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior. Stella, I wish you knew him as your savior too. Sorry to say there was no acceptance of the Lord Jesus. I wish I could say there had been, But what else can we present to those who apparently have everything?
And should be satisfied and plainly tell you that they're not. Yeah, He is all together lovely. And he is. And what's the result? Where there is thy beloved gone, that we may seek him with thee? I really believe it, dear young people, if your testimony and mine were as it ought to be.
There would be those who would look on and say, where is the one who has brought you this happiness? I want him to.
One more verse, no two more, but the next one is John chapter 20.
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Verse 24.
Bob Thomas, one of the 12 called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples, therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord.
Verse 26 And after eight days his disciples were within, and Thomas with them.
I think this is good for us to remember, don't you, Thomas? Called Dinamis.
What does Datamus mean?
Right, a twin. I wonder why we're suddenly told here in this first that Thomas was a twin.
I hope he doesn't have any twin brothers here that missed the meetings like Thomas did. I don't know. But I wondered, you know where it says Thomas called. Inamus was not there. Whether it just might be a little reminder to me, don't be a twin brother to Thomas. For some reason not recorded, Thomas missed this meeting, but just let me present to you what's on my heart. They met Thomas during the week. Thomas, where were you?
Now what did they say? We have seen the Lord and I expect there was reflected in their faces that which went to the heart of Thomas. Oh, I don't want to miss next Lords day. I want to be there. They have seen the Lord and I missed it. Oh dear brother, dear sister, Perhaps where you come from there might only be a few. You may look forward to an experience like this and enjoy it so much. But when you go back to your home assembly.
There might only be a few, but I tell you, with the presence of the Lord in the midst, what joy can flood your soul? Their words to Thomas were these we have seen the Lord are. If this is true, you will enjoy it, and he will enjoy it too. And you'll want others to share in that joy. Is there someone here who, when Lord's Day morning comes round.
Doesn't feel that claim, that stirring in your heart I want to be.
Where the Lord is, and perhaps even a step beyond that, I want to show him that I remember tomorrow morning. If the Lord leaves us here, we will be gathered out there in the presence of the Lord Jesus to remember him in death.
Whose arrangement was this? Whose desire was this the Lord's own desire? He made that provision. He extended that invitation.
I hope when that invitation came to your heart, you responded and you'll share it with us tomorrow. Just one more, and that's in Revelation 22. And then perhaps we'll just try to connect these verses. Revelation Chapter 22.
Verse four. And they shall see his face, and his name shall be in their forehead. Oh, what a wonderful conclusion. They shall see his face. Yes, indeed we shall. It may be before tomorrow's sunrise. Just imagine that we'll see his face.
What does that do to your heart? Isn't that something? I traveled alone for 14 years, said goodbye to my wife and children. I'd go off on long trips for weeks and weeks and weeks at a time, and finally I'd send letters. I hope to be home on the 14th or whatever. And I want to tell you a secret, and I don't think you'll be surprised to hear it. I very, very, very rarely rang that front doorbell or got to the door by the time my little Volkswagen or whatever pulled up.
I didn't get as far as the front door. They were out the door, summer or winter, to meet me with a big hug and a welcome. You think I was sorry to see that? No. Somebody had been looking out the window and somebody hollered. Here he is or here's Daddy. And they were out the door. And I want to tell you, it made me rejoice. I look forward to it all the way. Years ago, Norman Wood was out here to the conference and he was flying back.
I was driving a little black folks leg. I said, Norman, have you looked down and see a little black Volkswagen trying to keep up to you? You'll know who it is. When I headed for home from California, it didn't take me long to get there. My loved ones were back there in Spitfalls and beloved young people were going to see his face. Now look, it begins with.
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Sir, we would see Jesus.
Then the next verse, Behold the Lamb of God. And then the next one.
Yeah, he is altogether lovely. Do you agree with that? So far I know you do. And then the next one to perhaps warm the heart of a disappointed Christian. Strange, strange term, isn't it? Disappointed Christian. We have seen the Lord and then the last.
They shall see his face. I just like to put those five together, and perhaps you might wish to meditate upon them a little more besides that, to help you remember them. You may remember that Paul says in First Corinthians 14. I'd rather speak 5 words.
But with my understanding, I might teach others also. Then 10,000 words in an unknown song, and each of those little texts has five words in it.
Sir, we would see Jesus. Behold the Lamb of God.
Yeah, he is altogether lovely.
We have seen the Lord. They shall see his face. It doesn't take a big long sermon to reach the heart. There are 5 little sermons of five words each, and I think anyone of them is intended to really speak to our conscience in our heart about that person of our Lord Jesus Christ. Shall we just look to the Lord in prayer?
It's no part of the world.
I'm trading my sailor.
Day long, Every Saturday. Star allies are grounds. All in my sleigh.
Let me give her a long.
Let me listen.
Baby, never mind.
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What does it say?
I'm part of my heart. A blessing, love, holy regret.
My friend.
I wanna hold.
It won't let me read.
All the way.