St. Thomas Conference: 2014
Table of Contents
Ephesians 4:1-3
Hymnsing
Tuning
Ephesians 4:4-7
Double You
Address—Michel Payette
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.
Let's start our meeting by singing together #212.
212 calls from above.
And heavenly men by birth.
Who once were but the citizens of earth? As pilgrims here we seek a heavenly home, our portion in the ages yet to come #212.
00:05:07
I go away.
I.
Everything and.
Fro.
Everything in the heart, pray.
Let's pray together.
Our God and our Father, we lift up our voices to do this afternoon, and we would thank Thee for the liberty. Let us give us to be thus gathered to have Thy word open before us and to have Thy Spirit dwelling in us too. And we would count on denial to help us that that would dispose our thoughts and our words, that we would be helped each one and encouraged in the we know Thy councils of love to us, Father, and the Lord Jesus and the gift.
Of Thy Son on the cross, and of ascending him from heaven to fetch those that He redeemed. Such a costume. And we count on my love this afternoon too, to come in for our needs. Let us know them. And we pray that Thou would help us this afternoon. Father the speaker and hears. We ask it with confidence. Father, in the name of the Lord Jesus we ask, Amen.
Any of you folks ever play Scrabble?
Nice game, Scrabble.
But, you know, if you play Scrabble in French.
The letter said is different.
In the print set of Scrabble, there's only one West.
I don't believe there's one word in the French dictionary starting with W that is French.
You know that the word W it actually comes from the French when they invaded England. Please don't get upset.
The Normans who ran up with that sound of W, they didn't have it in their alphabets where they added a letter after EU and the V and they called it W and Francis Dublin V because you run across it so often.
So this afternoon I'd like to talk about the letter W that we find in so many scriptures.
And I will talk about for a little while.
Let's look first of all at Ephesians chapter 6.
We run into a few WS here.
Verse 11.
Put on the whole armor of God, that we may be able to stand against the Wiles of the devil.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Already we've run into quite a few, but like to draw our attention on on wild that's suggest compare all there.
And wickedness? That's bad. Something we need to lookout for.
And so we find as we read in the book of Ephesians, we started Chapter 4 in our reading and Heavenly men by birth, that was our hymn. And this is something to suggest to us that there's going to be conflict and being in that privileged position, and there will be opposition to those who claim.
To thee a heavenly people, and there are two.
And so we're warned against the wealth of the devil and that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but spiritual wickedness in high places. And you know, I've often thought perhaps as I considered this passage, that what the apostle was referring to, since it was the high places and heavenly places, that all this conflict was about spiritual matters, doctrine. And, and perhaps it is, but.
00:10:19
I suggest to you and I that the devil will come in where he can.
And you'll take any opportunity.
To come and harm you, and harm us, and harm the testimony of the Lord.
And he's pretty wise, let me tell you.
More intelligent than you and I. He has tricks and he has ways of coming in that we haven't figured out yet.
So I'd like to talk first of all about Second Corinthians 2.
And verse 11.
I'm using it out of context, but I trust you'll allow me to do that a little bit.
2nd Corinthians 2 verse 11 Satan should get an advantage of us.
To take that in a general way.
For we are not ignorant, ignorant of his devices.
You know one of his device I believe I know is to use devices.
His device is to use devices.
You know, if you're taking the plane and please going to take off, they say please turn off all the electronic devices.
Do you want to have a clear takeoff turn on all electronic devices?
What if I said turn off all satanic devices?
What would you take of turning off?
Well, actually I have a mobile phones really handy and I just got an intelligent one. I think it's smarter than I am, I mean.
But you have iPads and you have computers and you have all sorts of devices that are really, really.
Useful and handy and I appreciate them.
But I do believe that one of Satan's devices is to come through those devices.
Wouldn't you agree?
Well, we're going to talk about the letter W.
How about W?
Which is.
The World Wide Web Boy, that would make a lot of points in.
French Scrabble.
Ten points to West, the worldwide web. You have the world, and it's wide.
In fact, you can access the world through the Internet.
But it's a web.
What's the word web referred to? Wait, I know spiders?
They web webs, right? All these little, teeny weeny little things that you walk in the woods sometimes and you feel it on your cheek, you know?
You know, Spider just works at it works at it and then this, this flying creature.
Gets caught up in the web.
Heavenly creature fly or something that's caught up in the web. The key is trying to get out. As soon as you know it, the spider comes along and you starts wrapping it.
And then he becomes all wrapped up, can't move anymore, and that's it.
Remember Lazarus? He came out of the grave. He was all wrapped up.
Lose him and let him go.
You shouldn't be wrapped up again, should he? Right?
But I think it's possible for believers.
We're unwise on how to use the devices.
To get caught up on the web.
And maybe get wrapped up on your way and become victims.
Of that wicked one. We're not ignorant of his devices, you know. What he wants is to destroy you and destroy your testimony. Destroy your family and destroy your assembly. That's what he wants to do.
So we need to be wise starts with W be wise.
And how we handle devices.
00:15:03
It's called the Internet.
What about the net? We use net support. You use net to cash fish. You use net to cash birds.
I use, I remember hearing a commentator, sports commentator, who's referring to what he'd done in the morning. He said he was surfing on the net.
It's good, got also some information.
I'm not a very good swimmer, so if I fall off my board when I'm surfing, I'm gonna drown.
You know, some people search on the net and they drop.
I want to talk about social networking.
This isn't for me.
Because I don't have a social network. Not that I don't have any friends, but.
When you entertain social networking.
You should remember.
That the net is working.
I don't know who you have on your friend list. People come in and suggest they'd like to be your friend. Who's that that wants to be your friend? You know, a lot of abductions and criminal things that have been performed through the net have been done through what looked like innocent means people coming in and introducing themselves and then doing harm to others. So.
I'd just like to warn you, perhaps you've been warned on reality. I'm sure it's been, I'm sure brought up on many occasions.
About the devices that we use.
I was in a meeting recently and I was after the meeting and then I heard this.
Maybe you have one of those, I don't know.
My son had one, I was in his garage one late and he was working late and every 4 minutes.
Somebody wanted his attention, you got an e-mail or something or text and so.
I have the Internet at home and sometimes I'm praying or reading my Bible and I hear.
I just got an e-mail.
As you confess, sometimes I give up what I'm doing. I'm praying, disturbed me, I want to accept.
I'm reading my Bible being I got two. I wonder where that is go over and I look there's steers they're offering mattresses and.
Just a waste of time.
Just a way of disturbing, distracting.
There's a time to turn these things off.
I'm not saying this in any legal way, I just have this thought myself because I've had people in our home who had their Bible on their electronic device. I don't have a problem with that, but if I have my Bible on my lap, it never goes big.
And never disturbs me. It never distracts me. But if I had my iPhone or any other device on my lap and I was reading through that, there are many other little things all around. And even if the thing itself did not distract me, my feeble mind.
My human weakness, my distracted spirit might just.
Go to something.
Some of you young people, sometimes you send each other text during meetings.
Used to send notes, they write those notes you pass notes around. I'd rather see you at meeting than not and if it's the only way going to be in meeting but I I just want to warn you that the devices that the enemy is to deprive us of something that belongs to us.
That is ours.
Let's look at Iliverse here in.
Proverbs, chapter one.
Verse 17.
Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird, if you look in the margin there in the eyes of everything that had a wing or wings.
Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.
There's one up there.
And he wants to catch you, want to get you caught up in his web. He wants to get you confined to his net. He's out there to get you.
00:20:01
So I have a question for you.
You have wings.
You have wings.
That's what faith does. Faith gives us wings.
The one who you've trusted as your Savior, he's going to come from heaven and you're going to rise up from the earth and you're going to go and meet the Lord in the air. That's going to happen momentarily, maybe today.
And before that happened, you and I, we have the wings of faith, we have the liberty, the privilege, as we have this morning, of coming into the Lord's presence in prayer to find help in time of need.
Let's see the verse in Isaiah chapter 40.
Isaiah 40, verse 31.
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, and they shall walk and not think. There's waiting and wings and weary and walking. All these beautiful WS in there for us.
They shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as Eagles, you know, if you try and catch a bird.
To the net.
He's going to fly off. We're going to fly up. That's what he's going to do. He's going to fly up beyond your reach. You can't reach him. He's too high up there. And those birds that fly at the top of the flying height are the Eagles, because they fly above their prey. So the other birds are lower and they can see from a higher point of view. They shall run up with wings as Eagles.
So if we're just careful ourselves with the devices that we use.
And we're wise for the Wiles of the devil.
We will know when to turn them off. We will know when to ignore.
Pages and suggestions. We will know when to not go.
To certain places with them we will know who to not allow to be.
In our social network.
We will be wise.
If somebody was preaching.
But not touching devices will free to preach that if you'd like. I think they're very useful tools. They can be used for the Lord and for fellowship. And I get pictures of my grandchildren that are far away and the beautiful things that can be done. It's a way of communicating.
Lots of pluses.
And the Newman. The Newman, he can use tools.
Because it's a tool. Nothing wrong with a screwdriver. You can fix something with a screwdriver.
You can stab some women at school ever too. Problem with the tool, it's who's using it.
And the ones using the devices.
We're W's.
Yeah, you're in West. We're W's too. There's an old U.
And there's a new unit that's AW, right?
But I suggest a new letter.
Because you know the French back in England, they suggested a new letter W.
It's in the alphabet now. There's 26 letters.
And we've got one.
So I'm gonna give you a 27th letter. It just lasts this meeting triple you. How's that?
How about a triple use?
27th letter of the alphabet we all knew.
God has done away with him forever, crucified with Christ 2000 years ago. He looks at you, He can't see anything left of that old you.
He has put you before himself.
As he knew you.
And that new you is perfectly identical to His Son. He has brought you to perfection forever by 1 Sacrifice, the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus.
There's the old you and the new you. Wonderful.
And then there's a you, You.
00:25:02
The UU is what you are practically now in this life.
Hold you done away with new you. That's what you are before God and you're you. You Excuse me personally on words, but you're you you.
It can be by the resources of God exactly like they knew you.
It doesn't depend on God. He's given you His Word, His Spirit, the life of Christ. He can make you perfectly like your new you.
And that's what we need Exhortation. We need correction. We need encouragement. We need admonishment.
We need meetings. So are you. You. It's like I know you.
Let's look at a little verse in Psalm 124.
Yeah.
Psalm 124.
Verse 7.
Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the Fowlers.
The snare is broken.
And we are escaped.
Thank you.
You know.
I have an opportunity every week with different men and women.
Wonderful opportunity to tell them about the Lord, and I thank the Lord for this open door.
And most of these women and men are have a problem called addiction, addiction to alcohol or drugs or gambling.
And it just seems that they haven't been able to handle that themselves and they need help and so.
And sometimes they're they have enough courage or resolution to.
Take that way of therapy themselves, and sometimes they're forced by the courts to be in therapy rather than be in jail. But you know, there are other addictions that you don't go to jail for.
Or you can go into a therapy house for but therapies that are destructive to our spiritual life.
And I mentioned this because we can outline a problem and we can suggest what the snares are and what the problems could be and talk about these things.
But what we'd like to find, too, is a solution for one who has become a prisoner, who's been entangled in that web, or caught in that net and struggling with how to get out of it.
But one thing I'd like to say to everyone here, to myself.
There is not one human deprivation on the on the face of the earth which I couldn't be involved in and which you couldn't be involved in. Because the ones caught up in that are humans like you and I, and they have histories and weaknesses and traits of characters which make them more liable to this or that or living experiences in life of discouragement or disappointment or whatever.
That has LED them to do this or doing that. But the people doing this or doing that are just like me and you. And so I often say for the men in therapy, the only difference between you and me is the chair was sitting in. Because if I had been you brought up in your environment, being a human being like I am, I'd be doing or having I would have done the things that you've done. So it's important for us to realize that that we don't have judgment, judgmental spirit of persons.
But one of the things.
And I mentioned this because in this verse, this soul here is escaped out of the snare of the fallers. And I'd like to speak to anyone here who's still entangled or has difficulties he's having a hard time with.
First of all, I would like to say this and as I speak in it, the Lord touched me with that just before the meeting and.
You know, if you see somebody working on this papers there, he's got math problems and he's working there and he's carrying these sheets apart and he's really working hard on a problem and he doesn't seem to be able to.
Overcome the difficulty in his math problem and here's the math teacher.
00:30:04
Maybe he's a mean math teacher, you know? We're talking to the real hard one, you know?
But maybe it's a sympathetic math teacher, Is it? Let me help you with that.
And sure enough, in a moment of time things occurred. Let me help you with that.
And the Lord is saying unto us this afternoon.
To anyone here.
That is heavy laden with things like that.
Of another nature. Also, he's better than any math teacher, any psychiatrist, any doctor, anybody else.
Any brother or sister? Anything to you this afternoon?
Let me help you with that.
Revelation chapter 4.
At the little gospel meeting a few weeks ago and I enjoyed very much a picture.
From the Old Testament.
And from the Book of Numbers, where there were two silver trumpets.
That land people of Israel had for the congregation and.
And I've enjoyed the thought of silver in connection with redemption. We had a lot of redemption in our hymns this morning.
To silver trumpets 2 trumpets connected with redemption and.
The first trumpet I see as the Lord saying, Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy. There's my message of call from the Lord to come to him to be saved.
Then there's the redemption of our body and I've used this verse in chapter 4 of Revelation chapter one, and there was a door open in heaven. And the first voice relation, chapter 4, verse one, which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me coming, saying come up, hit her and I was told you things which must be hereafter.
And I've enjoyed the thought of the 2nd trumpet, the Lord calling us to go and to meet the Lord in the air with the voice of the Archangel, the trumpet of God. We're going to be called to find the redemption of our body, rather all of a sudden, redemption of our soul, redemption of our body.
One is past, one is future. What about today?
The redemption of my life.
Lord says, let me help you with that.
What does he say? Come up, Hit her.
Come back, Hitler.
Are you using your wings?
Sometimes we might be too ashamed to come to the principle. Come. That's what you need. You need to come in the presence of the Lord. He's not going to turn you aside. You came as a Sinner, He received you. You come as a failing St. He's going to receive you.
Find Mercy not going to be pointing fingers hitting you on their knuckles. He's not going to do that. Let me help you with that.
Will you let him help you?
Hilbert in Galatians.
Chapter 6.
Galatians chapter 6, verse one.
Brethren.
If he managed to be overtaken in the fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself less thought also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burden and soul fulfill the law of Christ.
Roy says let me help you with that.
Come up, hit her.
I wonder, brethren, if we ask ourselves a question each one.
Those that are beside us, those that we are in communion with, fellowship with it.
Are around us.
Would they feel from you? Would they feel from me?
That's King, spirit of meekness. Can I help you with that?
You know we need each other.
When Lord got up from the table in John 13, he went around and he washed the disciples feet.
12 disciples. He washed all their feet.
We need to wash one another's feet.
I've mentioned this before, but I've often just. That's the way it came into my mind.
Washing other brothers feet, you know, watching washing the others feet and be careful you wash them, don't use too much hot water and don't burn their feet. Make sure they're comfortable. And it's always me washing the other guys teeth about my teeth. You always think of doing that to the others, but it's to wash one anothers feet. It's it's mutual as reciprocal, not in a judgmental spirit. We need to help each other, not judge each other. Point the finger at each other.
00:35:28
I've had occasions where some have mentioned to me.
Similar problems. You'll never know who they are.
That's something that needs to be in our minds if we find out.
Somebody doesn't come here, but you find out.
Keep it to yourself or go see the person, help them.
This is the spirit of meekness we have here.
Being careful, considering myself, lest thou also be tempted. Remember, young man, he told me. I said, you be careful. That's quite a few years ago. On the Internet. There's all these pop-ups, you know, get involved.
Never had a problem with that.
Well, I'm older, I have a family, I have children. I talk about the Lord.
I might have a problem with that myself if I looked. What about you brothers? Would you have a public eye if you look?
Maybe you would because we have a fallen nature and the Lord has allowed us to carry it with us.
To keep us humble. So let's myself also be tempted.
Now let's go to.
Ephesians chapter 4.
I hope you're a brother or sister one could come to and find help.
And I hope that if your brother or sister have difficulties of that or similar nature, you would have brothers around, sisters around you could go to to find help. But there's one you can always go to to find help. He's willing to help. He's saying to you today, let me help you with that. Ephesians chapter 4.
Verse 21.
If so, be that you've heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus, that you put off concerning the farmer conversation the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lust, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
There's my two use the old you, the new you.
Created.
And righteousness. And true holiness. Wow.
That's Christ, that's him that's living in you and that's the life that you have a collect that I have and we want to be concerned exercise that our.
New you is manifest in our daily life.
So that's what you are before God. You're a Newman. I'm a Newman.
But then when we.
We have a new menu. Look in the mirror and say, oh, what am I going to wear today? We're going to dress up. Let's go to Colossians Chapter 3.
Verse 8 speaks before of mortifying the members which are the on the earth.
Verse five, I believe it refers to the actions of the old man in your body. And so there's things that can happen in your body.
To the effect of the old man and a believer could be caught doing these things. But verse 8 says now ye also put off all these two paths are closed.
Anger. I'm not going to wear that rap. Not going to wear that either. Malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of our mouth. No lies. I put out the old man in his feet.
Parable tools? Not going to wear those anymore.
What am I going to wear?
Verse 12 put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on that's that's what you put on bowels of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering, forbearing one another and forgiving one another. If any man have a call against any, even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is a bond of perfect perfectness or perfection.
00:40:08
There's a Newman.
You should not be wearing a scarf of anger.
Or a jacket of rats doesn't go along with what you are, but he should be wearing is meekness, kindness, bowels of mercy, humbleness of mind, long-suffering.
That's how we recognize the new youth.
Before God, everything is perfect when the Lord Jesus comes.
You're going to be perfectly like him.
All the processes that are working now and you're engaged in and being transformed and that twinkling of an eye, you're going to be perfectly like the Lord Jesus. There's nothing to prevent you if you belong to Him, to be perfectly like him.
And when you stand there before God in the perfection of Christ.
You'll be so thankful. We should be thankful right now, but you're going to be thankful then for sure.
So we have year ones.
We don't have so many W's in French. We couldn't preach this message in French, it wouldn't work.
But you haven't. You have wonderful double use and a lot of double S.
You know, I was thinking at what we have on the Internet.
Internet uses links. What it does is it. It can be looking at something and then it suggests something else. You can be looking at something and it can suggest something about the something and then you can just start going from one thing to another and pretty soon.
If not right away, you will run into something uncommon.
That shouldn't be there. As for the links work, they use it in publicity all the time. They carry you from one thought to another and then you're only going to be happy if you drive this kind of car.
And I'd be happy if you drink beer. All the people drinking beer, having a good time, they're just, wow, that's funny because in the therapy houses, they don't look like that. They look pretty messed up. You ask me, you know, But in the advertising looks so much fun.
Well, what I want to suggest with links is that saving works on our minds too, and he just delights to.
Have a slip slip into the thoughts that he's left out there in the world.
Happens all the time, every day.
In my mind, anyway. Maybe in yours too.
If I said to you, I'm going to show you.
My fingers 1 by 1.
Maybe you'd have a problem?
Why would you have a problem? I'll tell you why we have a problem.
Because there's leaks from Satan in the minds of men.
That fingers mean something. Isn't that true? Why would that be? That's the way it is.
I say 4 letter word voices, full four letter words in here. Why did the wicked thought connected with four letter words? That's the world of the devil. That's what he does. He works with links and suggestions. And then there's words you can't use and because they've got double meanings and fingers you can't use anymore.
Well, let's start something new. We're going to use three fingers. We're going to say W.
The Word of God W The Word of God.
The work of Christ. I'm going to wait for him. I'm going to walk for him.
I'm going to warn others because he loves them.
I'm going to watch out for my new you. That my you. You is like my new you.
Would you like to do that? Show me your W.
Can you show me? AW, show me, AW, let's show Miss World a W. We belong to somebody else, to the Lord Jesus. We know his word. We're going to tell him about the Lord in his word.
Forget about the three years the triple U doesn't exist. That old view is gone.
All that left is the new you and the you. You. And let's make our you You just like the new you. Let's pray.
00:45:06
My father.
We come before the.
And we owned before the.
How weak we are. How fragile.
With only 42 The devices of the enemy, how he is so subtle?
And we pray for any in this room. Father, please anyone defiled that he would come to the Lord Jesus to find help. You will help him with that. I'm sure that we will help each other with that to be transparent, be concerned for one another.
We thank you that we are heavenly men by birth. We were once the citizens of earth. Not anymore, we sang. We're strangers here. And though we don't always behave as strangers and sometimes get caught up in the web and in the tanglings of those things and the net and everything that I would give deliverance.
And give us to have our eyes fixed upon Thee, Lord Jesus, as we wait for thee from heaven to make us those that are watching and waiting and walking for thy glory and warning others to that. We thank you for the simplicity which which thy Spirit brings things before us, helps us to understand them, to recognize them too. And we pray that we would be real. We know in our prayers this morning we we spoke of that's great weakness which is ours.
But we count on ice strength, we track, deploy faithfulness. We thank you for Thy word in my spirit, and above all for the Lord Jesus, for the hope of life of Our Calling, which is himself coming from heaven to see that One who loved us so much and died for us and lives for us and is coming for us and help us Father to live for Him. We ask it with Thanksgiving in the name of the Lord Jesus, Amen.
Ephesians 4:7-13
Gospel 1
Gospel—Bob Thonney
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.
Good evening to everybody.
Like to start the meeting by reading a couple verses?
Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.
And that he was buried and he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.
Let's pray. Gracious God our Father, we're so thankful for the gospel message that there is been someone here in this world that has died and was buried.
And that rose again, and that in that life and in that death, in that resurrection, is the message of hope for a dying world that we live in today. We pray for blessing on the message as it's spoken tonight, that it might be with clarity. In the name of the Lord Jesus, we pray, Amen.
Like to sing #23 on this hem sheet that you have?
Behold, behold the Lamb of God on the cross.
For us he shutteth precious blood on the cross #23.
00:05:10
Like to turn tonight to chapter 23 of Luke's Gospel and read the story of the crucifixion, the death of our Lord Jesus on the cross.
Chapter 23 of Luke's Gospel and I'm going to start.
With.
Verse.
22 And he that is Pilate saith unto them the third time.
Why, what evil have he done? Reference to the Lord Jesus. I have found no cause of death in him. I will therefore chastise him, and let him go. And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that He might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed, and Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.
And they released him to him in that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired. But he delivered Jesus to their will. And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a sirenian coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.
Now go down to verse 32. And there were also two other.
Malefactors LED with him to be put to death, and when they were, come to the plate, which is called Calvary.
There they crucified him and the malefactors, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do, and they parted his garment, his raiment and calf lots.
And the people stood by beholding, and the rulers also with them derided hymns, saying, He saved others, let him save himself, if he be Christ the chosen of God. And the soldiers often mocked him, coming to him and offering him vinegar.
And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek and Latin and Hebrew.
This is the king of the Jews, one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him.
Saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and on. But the other answering rebuked him, saying.
Dost not thou fear God, seen thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds. But this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, Remember Me when thou comest into thy Kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, verily.
I stand to thee today. Shalt thou be with me in paradise.
And it was about the 6th hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the 9th hour, and the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried, with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. And having said thus, he gave up the ghost. Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying.
Certainly this was a righteous man.
What a tremendous story we've read.
About the death of the Son of God, you know we live in a world.
That is going fast towards judgment. God takes sin seriously.
00:10:03
Because thin wrecks people.
It wrecks families. It wrecks nations.
And we have in our world today so much testimony to that fact.
Remember when Adam was created and put in this world he lived up to 930 years old?
Whatever happened to us? Just a few get up to 100 years old today.
It's a testimony to the fact that sin ruined people.
It degrades and we all have that problem, a sin problem.
We're born with it. It's not something that I can point to you and say you've got it and I'm I'm all right. No, it's a common problem of all we're born in sin and shaping and iniquity.
It's our nature to want to thin, and we sin because we are sinners by nature and by practice. And God has taken that question seriously. God has addressed the thin question.
Sin brings death. Why do we die? Because we are sinners.
You sin, you die.
Nobody escapes that. Everybody has to face that. Sometimes people like to try to put it out of their minds, but it's best to face the reality of the fact that we live in a world that is a dying world.
But God has addressed that question, and this is the message of the gospel. Good news, God sent his own Son into this world.
For God's full love, the world that he gave, his only begotten Son.
That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
The Lord Jesus Christ came into this world since he was God's eternal Son. But to be able to die, since God cannot die, he had to take a human form in this world. And so through the Virgin Mary he became a man was born into this world.
With one difference with us, he did not have a stem nature when the Angel announced to the Virgin Mary that she was going to be the mother.
Of the Lord Jesus.
The Angel said, That holy thing shall that shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of God.
Tremendous fact that God has visited this planet.
In the history of this world, in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Lord Jesus lived amongst men, most of the people did not recognize who He was. Even His disciples who believed in Him did not grasp very well who was this person.
When they were asked if they could say he's the Carpenter or he's the carpenter's son, we know him. We know his mother's, his brothers and his sisters. They're amongst this today.
And so the Lord Jesus lived his life down here in this world. He never sinned. Since he never sinned, the wages of sin did not apply to him. He did not have to die.
But you know what? He came to die. Why? Because He came to pay the price of our redemption. That was why He came. God so loved us that He came to pay the price of our redemption. And so after his life in this world of 33 1/2 years approximately, what happened we read about here in this chapter.
He was taken to pilot the governor, the Roman governor in those days, and he was unjustly condemned to the worst possible death, the death of crucifixion. If you read in history, there is throughout the ages of history, many different forms of capital punishment, but I don't think there is a form of capital punishment that was so terribly excruciating.
As was crucifixion. And so on this day that we read about.
00:15:05
Out of the city of Jerusalem come three men to die. Two were malefactors.
Who were thieves, and they deserved to die. The Roman governor had decided that there was no reason to leave them any longer with their lives, to continue their lives as thin, And so he had decreed that they would be crucified. But there was a third one there, Jesus, his head crowned with thorns, his face beaten by the Roman soldiers, because they were.
Practiced in cruelty.
And they stretched out his hands when they got to that place and nailed through his hands, and his feet are crossed. And there they lifted up that cross. They put Jesus in the middle, and on either side was one of the malefactors.
Three were condemned to die that day.
And who was the first of the three to die?
We're going to get to that, but it's interesting, the conversation that took place.
Before the Lord Jesus.
I should say, when the Lord Jesus was crucified, he prayed a prayer.
Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.
God has forgiveness in his heart to the guilty Sinner. I am a guilty Sinner. I spend so much against God. Who knows how many times I've sinned in my life, sometimes calculated just to get an idea. You send 10 times in a day and I don't know how many times a day. When I was a youngster, I was pretty willful and.
I would guess at least 10 times a day, but you know, one year that's 3650 sins.
In 10 years that's 36,500 sins and keep on multiplying it for the decades that I've lived.
It gets up to the quietest son. You know, people think that by living and doing good things that God will pass over the bad things they did. I want to say to you that that is not the case.
Even human judgment, Human justice.
Does not think that way, supposing that I lived here in Saint Thomas.
And was known to be a person that did a lot of good things for the people of Saint Thomas.
But one day in an unguarded moment, I get really angry if somebody and I take my fist and I hit him hard.
And he dies. Here comes the police.
They're coming to arrest me, I said. Just a minute, Mr. Policeman, I just want to say something here.
That, you know, I'm a person here in Saint Thomas that people know has done a lot of good. I'm really sorry about this and I think maybe you can just let me go. You think they'll let me go? You know, that's not going to happen because doing good things and we all ought to do good things. I'm not speaking against that, but doing good things does not wipe out the bad that we've done in life. Every single.
Sin that I have committed has to receive. It's just punishment from the hand of God. God is just and He will punish sin. There is no escape to that. And so the Lord Jesus here on the cross.
On either side there were two malefactors. The first one started out by mocking him.
And it says in verse 39 he said, if thou be Christ saved thyself in us. This man wanted to get off of that cross so he could continue his life as he had lived it down here. But notice the other one has something different to say to Jesus.
In another gospel it says that he neither one was saying the same things as this first thief had said. But then there's a change with this man.
And he says he rebuked his companion, his fellow thief. And he says you not fear God's teen. You are in the same condemnation when you live here in this world and face death every day. Don't you fear God? Don't you realize that there's going to come a time when you're going to have to face the issues of your sin with a holy God?
00:20:27
And so he turns to Jesus after he had rebuked his fellow.
Thief and he says verse 41, we indeed, justly, we receive the due reward of our deeds. But this man has done nothing amiss. There was a change in thinking in this man. You know what that's called and the Scriptures? It's called repentance. And repentance is extremely important. People think they're all right.
I remember thinking that way myself.
I was raised in a Christian home. I was taught the Bible. I thought I was all right. I had to repent. I had to realize that I'm as guilty as the worst Sinner in the presence of Canada or the United States. I'm guilty and the sentence for sin is death.
But then this man doesn't end there. He turns to Jesus.
And he says, Lord, Remember Me when thou comest into thy Kingdom.
Interesting, how did he know that that man did dying beside him had a Kingdom?
I supposed in the trial perhaps he might have heard something that gave him to realize that this man had a Kingdom, but he was on the cross dying.
This man might have heard that the Jewish people believed in resurrection.
And there is such a thing as resurrection. Death does not end at all.
For anybody on the face of this earth.
Anyhow, he says, Remember Me.
When you come in your Kingdom, you know what? Jesus hasn't come in his Kingdom yet. And if he would have gotten what he asked for, he would still be waiting. But notice what Jesus responds to him. To me, this is the most wonderful, he says.
Today thou shalt be with me in paradise. Isn't that wonderful today?
Thou shalt be with me in paradise. Wonderful, wonderful.
Wait a minute.
Does God allow thieves in heaven?
How can that be?
Here's a man that's lived all his life doing bad stuff. God let's people like that into heaven.
Isn't God just?
Yes, God is just. Then how does this figure?
Notice what it says in the next verse, verse 44, and it was about the 6th hour and there was a darkness over all the earth until the 9th hour.
And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
You know Jesus was crucified according to the way we calculate time about 9:00 in the morning.
And he died at 3:00 in the afternoon, the first three hours from 9:00 to 12:00.
People were passing in front of him, mocking him, spitting on him.
And at 12 noon, when the sun is high in the sky.
Everything got dark and for three hours there was darkness.
And nobody could see what was taking place on Calvary during those three hours.
But it was in those three hours that God had to be satisfied in His justice about the question of sin. And in the prophet Isaiah it says he was wounded. Speaking of Jesus, he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with His stripes we are healed.
All we, like sheep, have gone astray. We have turned everyone to his own way. The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
00:25:04
It was in those three hours that God to be able to give that thief an entrance into heaven, to be able to give this guilty Sinner that stands here tonight an entrance into heaven.
Had to be satisfied about the sins that we had committed. It was in those three hours that our sins were laid on Jesus.
God does not forget. And God remembered every single sin and laid it on the head of his own beloved Son. And God picked up the rod of his judgment, and let the judgment of of his judgment fall in all its fury on the head of his own beloved Son for three hours.
The waves and billows of God's judgment roll over Jesus there.
Those three hours, there's no complaint from that center class. He suffered it all in love.
For you and me, and at the end of those three hours, we don't have it in this gospel, but in John's Gospel he says it is finished. All the judgment that was against you and me as guilty sinners, Jesus paid the price in full. God has been vindicated about the question of sin. His righteous character has been vindicated so that God is not compromised in his character when he comes out to offer you and me.
Full and free salvation and forgiveness. Forgiveness of sins.
Sometimes I say, what kind of a judge would it be?
You had a judge here in Canada that every criminal that was brought before him, he says. We're we're just going to forget you. Here comes another criminal. What were his crimes? We're going to forgive you. I don't think that would be a very good judge. Why not?
Because he does not make the law of Canada valid, He does not make it sick. There is punishment for sin. But think of it, my friend Jesus on the cross paid the price of redemption in full, so much so that he could say before he died, it is finished.
And he bowed his head and died. Another detail that we have in John's gospel is that after he had died.
There was a soldier who came and with his spear pierced his side.
Rammed it into his side and outflowed blood and water. The testimony that there was no life in that body any longer. Jesus died and he paid the price with his precious blood for our redemption.
And then they took him off that cross.
And they buried him. But the story doesn't end there.
Go to chapter 24 of Luke and I want to read the first verses of that chapter.
Upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, that is the women.
Came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them, And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre, and they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed.
There about, behold, two men stood by them in shining raiment garments, and as they were afraid and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen. Behold, remember how He speak unto you when He was yet with you.
So the Lord Jesus, the third day rose from the dead.
Was interesting to me the other day to read a statement that one of the.
Most established facts of human history.
00:30:02
Is the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. People used to laugh at you if you said you believe that. Those that really study those matters do not laugh anymore. They realize it is a well attested fact. Jesus died. He was buried. He rose again from the dead. Death has been conquered. There is no longer need to fear death.
Because Jesus died to pay the price of our redemption, and the fact that God raised him from the dead means that God was satisfied with the payment that Jesus made. If there was one sin left to pay for that he had left out, he would not have raised Jesus from the dead. But the price is paid in full. Full and free redemption is now available.
And a bond that basis of that redemption God offers to every person in this world, Full and free salvation, forgiveness of sins, a home in heaven. Yes, this world is going fast to judgment. People don't stop to think what's going on. But this world is a tinderbox. I'm amazed that we still have as much order as we still have in this world and that we can travel around and visit.
I'm amazed, but there are parts of the world today where I cannot go like I used to go.
They're getting too dangerous and even the native people in those areas tell me don't go there now. That's the world we live in and it's bound to get worse. God has an account to settle with this world. Jesus is coming again. Before he left the disciples, he told them if I go, I will come again. And he went and he hasn't fulfilled that second part.
Jesus is coming back to this world and I would like to read before we get to the end of this meeting a verse in Acts chapter 17.
That says it clearly as to our responsibility in view of what God has done.
Acts chapter 17 and verse 30.
The times of this ignorance God winked at, but now?
Commandeth all men everywhere to repent, because he has the point of the day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained.
Whereof He has given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. Interesting verse that speaks again of the resurrection of the dead. But this is something future. God has appointed a day in which he will judge this world. The day is appointed. We don't know when it is. People make calculations and say one thing and another.
But it's God who knows what that day. The point is, the day is appointed.
And the judge is appointed, and the judge is going to be the same person that hung on that cross to pay the price of redemption so that all might have an opportunity to accept God's free salvation. Oh, my friend, I ask you tonight, do you know what it means to be saved? Do you have assurance like that fee on the cross?
That Jesus told today.
Thou shalt be with me in paradise. You know, On that cross, Jesus died. On that hilltop outside Jerusalem, Jesus died first.
Then it tells us in John's Gospel that the soldiers came to one of the other thieves and broke his legs, and once their legs were broken, they had nothing to sustain themselves to be able to breathe. And he dies.
And since there was number faith in Jesus, he went to a lost eternity.
00:35:01
The thief and the soldiers come to the other thief and break his legs too, and that thief dies. And the difference is that that thief goes to paradise.
How in the world can he go there? Because Jesus paid the price in full. And the greatest thing you can do tonight, my friend, is accept the message of the gospel. We're not talking about religion here.
It's not about religious experience. It's about historical facts. Jesus died for our sins. Christ died for our sins. He was buried. He rose again the third day according to the scriptures and just as we were mentioning that the resurrection is one of the best established human facts.
Apart from scripture, we have it very clearly there. But even apart from Scripture?
It's one of the most well established facts in human history. Jesus rose from the dead.
So is it's certain that there will be a day of judgment like it says here. Let me repeat it again, verse 31. He has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained, whereof he hath given assurance unto all men.
In that he hath raised him from the dead. And so Jesus was raised from the dead. So certain did he rise from the dead. So certain is the coming Judgment Day. My friend, every human being that has ever lived on planet earth will must meet Jesus someday. You can accept Him tonight as your Savior to meet Him by faith.
Accept the offer of salvation that He is offering you tonight.
If you don't, the alternative is to face him on that judgment day when there will be no more salvation.
We're thankful for our brethren here in Saint Thomas that have extended this invitation to our friends and neighbors as well. But I want to say to the young people, to the children here.
Who are here at the conference, this applies to you as well. And I'm afraid for some of the children. Sometimes when I was growing up, in the meeting where I grew up, there were those who were in the Sunday school, and some of them, their lives have shown that there was no faith in the Lord Jesus at all, even though they knew the way. Where do you stand? Have you ever repented of your sins, children?
And young people.
This is a moment when you can accept the Lord Jesus as your Savior to and so we end this meeting with a desire that you that there would be no one that would go out of these doors tonight without having accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their savior. That way you can be certain of your destiny, just like that thief was when the Lord Jesus said to him.
Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. Let's pray attend our meeting.
Father, thanks for thy precious word. Thanks so much for our Lord Jesus.
That one who paid the price in full on the cross. Oh Father, we pray for blessing on all those who have heard the word.
May thy word be as.
Seed in their hearts to bear fruit to eternal life. We ask and give thanks, Father, in that most wonderful name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
Do You Have a Home? If Jesus Is Your Savior, You Do
Children—Don Mackewich
DISCLAIMER: The following has been auto-transcribed. We hope it will help you to find the section of this audio file you are looking for.
We're going to start with #40.
Jesus loves me, this I know.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah, yeah.
And we wait to make me.
Hold me in 10 times. Give me take from every heart.
Yes, it was last week. Yeah, it's not me.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Good morning.
OK, if you have a favorite that you'd like to suggest that we sing, just quietly raise your hand so I can see you. I look for quiet hands. I don't look for people who are blurting out. So yes.
37.
#37 the gospel of thy grace.
00:05:11
I.
Love you.
Like reaching out.
Thank you. That's a nice song. It connects really, really well with our Sunday School verse, doesn't it? Yes.
39.
What a friend we haven't seen.
Our great things in God in prayer.
Oh, give me a day for that.
Everything.
'S never been heard.
To.
The Lord in prayer.
We'll find your soul in there.
This singing is sounding really really good. Thank you for doing such a good job. Who else has a favor? And if you have a favorite that's not in here, we can still try and sing it.
#30 What can wash away my?
God makes me. I can't grow.
This is all my.
Nothing on my right services, nothing. Up with love, Jesus.
Love Christmas and thousand and make me wine and smoke.
We have time for about 3 more songs. Anyone else have a favorite?
Yes.
Jesus loves me. OK, let's bring the first verse of Jesus loves me.
That's number 40, just the first verse. Jesus loves me then.
Something.
I'm kidding, I'm not plastic without my.
Anyone down here have a favorite? Anyone else? Yeah #21.
And we'll sing one more after this one.
#21.
Decide for Christ.
00:15:24
Would you like to give out the last one? Which number? She says #27.
For this last one, let's all stand up.
We've got something to think about, don't we?
My God, I have.
Thank you very much. You can just put your song sheets maybe underneath your chairs or in a space spot.
Before we get started, is it OK if I just asked a few questions? Just a chance for me to kind of get to know you guys better. Raise your hand if you had a chance to go swimming last night.
Oh wow, raise your hand if you had a chance to go swimming Friday night so you got a chance to do it twice. Good keep. Anyone have a favorite part of the pool that they like the most? Anything that you liked? What was your favorite part of the swimming school? The deep end. What was your favorite part?
What's that?
The first time that we went in good. Anybody have anything really good for breakfast that they want to share with us that you really liked? What did you have for breakfast this morning?
00:20:03
She had pancakes. Anyone else have something really good that they want to share? What did you have this morning?
You egg and sausage sandwich.
And what? How about you? You had hash Browns. Did you go to McDonald's? You. Did anybody else go to McDonald's this morning? Whoa.
And since I'm in Canada, I have to ask this question. Anybody have the importance this morning?
That's called connecting with the adults and the older ones too. OK, let me ask another question. Did anyone learn the memory verse for this week? Well, look at all those hands go up. We have a few volunteers who would like to say the memory verse. I just use this mic.
OK.
For God to love the world that he gave us, only to gotten some, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 316 Outstanding. Who else would you like to direct so on? 2016 For God's love the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 2016 Well done. OK, I see your hands. Would you like to do it?
I got so aware of that. He gave his only reality that whosoever believes in him should not perish, whatever have ever left him. Like John 316. That was marvelous. Would you like to do it?
Forgot to love the world that He gave is only begotten Son, that whosoever believes is in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. John 316. Well done. OK, I see some more hands.
2016 For God so loves the world that he gives his only visa on Sunday. Whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting mess for standing system. Very good, very good.
For God to love the world that He gave His only begotten Son, whosoever pleases in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 316.
Nice job. Thank you.
For God so loved the world he gave his only son.
That whosoever believeth sin in him should not perish, but have an everlasting life. John 316.
Very good. Did you want to hit using that microphone?
Oh, OK.
Forgot to love the world that he gave him, that he gave his only begotten son. The sister ever believed within him. She repairs whatever lasting life, 2016.
Maybe one more would you like to do it?
The gods who loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that he so ever believeth in him, should not perish that have everlasting life. John 316 Very, very good. Your dads and mom supposed to work really, really hard to help you learn that first.
OK, before we go any further, we're going to pray and ask the Lord itself. So what I need everybody to do is to close their eyes and close their mouths and we're going to pray, okay?
Our blessed God and Father, we just ask for Thy help this morning. We thank You for all the children and all the adults who are here this morning. And as we open up the Holy Bible, we pray that we have listening ears and open hearts. And we pray this morning that there would be precious souls who would be saved. And we pray that the ones who are saved would have a desire to live wholeheartedly for Thee. We ask this in Thy worthy and precious name.
Amen.
So good to see everybody here. Thank you for coming. I like Sunday school, Sunday schools, not just for children, it's for adults too, because we are all still learning and still growing. And we had about 7 to 10 people just quote a very important verse in the Bible.
They weren't just quoting 25 words that they had learned. They were quoting verses from the Bible telling us about someone very, very important and someone very, very special who came into this world and died on the cross for us. And who is that person?
That's the Lord Jesus, and He is right.
Does anyone know what today is?
And so not just called Sunday or Lord's Day, today's a special day. What is it? Yes.
Today is Easter and this morning I want to talk about a very, very important event that happened years ago. Does anyone think they might know what that event is?
00:25:02
It's a life changing event. Yes Sir.
Jesus rose from the dead. How many of you believe that's true?
Good. Look at all the hands up. Very good. It is true. And as Bob Tony was telling us last night, that it is a historical fact, not only from the Bible, but educated people who have lots of knowledge will tell you, yes, it's true.
If you have a Bible, let's open it up to the book in the New Testament. It's called the Book of Luke.
And if you don't have a Bible, you can listen really carefully, can you?
As we're turning to the Book of Luke, has anyone ever had a pet? Does anyone have a pet at home right now?
What kind of pet do you have a dog What do you have A fish What do you have a dog? What's your dogs name? What is it? Diego? Does your dog bark a lot?
Is a nice dog, yeah.
Is chicken, 17 cats and one dog?
Who cleans up after all the chickens?
Yes.
Do you have a cat? What's your cat's name? Kit Kat. OK, and what's your other cat's name? Bells. How about you?
Dog. Yes, a dog. Anyone else have a pet?
Do you have a fish? 2 fish? What are your fish called?
One for you and one for Daddy. It's nice to share.
We had we had some pets when we were growing up, we had primarily cat and a few other things. And sometimes they would die. And when they were dead, that was the end. But today we're going to talk about not an animal, but a person who lived and who died and who rose.
From the dead, We're going to be talking about my best friend.
Who do you think that might be?
Yes, Jesus, do you think she's right? She's right. So in the Bible, and that's how we know it's true, we learn about.
A man and his name was Jesus. But just backing up a little bit, Jesus was born many, many years ago, and did you know that he was the same age as you were one time?
He was he was the same age as these boys here.
Same age as the ones down here. And he grew up and he did everything perfectly. He was kind, he was loving, he was obedient and he never sinned and he couldn't sin. But there came a point in time when he was about 33 years old. What happened then?
After doing many wonderful miracles, after helping people, after telling people very important truths from the Bible and helping set them up to live a successful life, what happened?
They took that.
They took that precious one, the Lord Jesus, and they nailed him to a cross.
And they crucified him.
Why did they do that?
Why would they take an innocent man and nail them to a cross and crucify him? Yes.
They didn't like him being so good. They didn't like him. They sure didn't like him. What else?
They hated him. And why did they hate him? He had helped people get better. He had helped people who couldn't see see. He helped people who couldn't walk, walk. Yes, Cameron.
What's that?
They didn't like Christians, yes.
They were jealous. Thank you guys for such good participation. Yes.
And because of sin and so that one, the Lord Jesus, they took him, and they nailed him to a cross.
They wanted to get rid of him. They did not want him. In fact, they would rather have a man named Barabbas who was guilty of murder go free then the Lord Jesus.
00:30:03
And so, wicked men, they took them, and they nailed them to a cross. They had spit in his face. They had laughed at him. They had mocked him.
There were even two other people on crosses, one on his right side, one on his left side, and they were egging him on too, saying stuff that they will regret.
But while he was on the cross, there was three hours of darkness and what happened?
Yes.
What's that?
The veil in the temple rents in half. Good.
We suffered for our sins, yes. Wow, your parents are doing such an amazing job of teaching you good.
Can you hold on to that? You're right. And so there he was on the cross. And while he was on the cross, God punished him for sin that you and I had committed, if we would believe on him. And that's what happened. And eventually, after finishing the work, Jesus died.
Jesus died. Did you know that there was a man who was watching all that took place? He wasn't the only man. He was what was known as a centurion, and he was a man who had responsibility and authority over other people. And I believe that he had watched other people die.
Had seen this before and as he was watching the events that day.
Knowing that this man who.
Hanging on the middle cross.
Had not done anything wrong, was not guilty of a single crime. And seeing the way that he was treated, seeing the way that they spit at him, seeing the way that they mocked him, seeing how they laughed at him, seeing how the two thieves on the other two crosses were making fun of him, and seeing how Jesus.
Handled the chest.
Perfectly.
Came to the realization that after the earthquake, after the hours of darkness, after hearing him say it is finished, you know what he came to the conclusion he could say surely or truly this was the son of God believe he had seen something he'd never ever seen before and so did the others as if he were saying we can make no doubt about it. No mistake that what just happened that was.
The Son of God.
But the story doesn't end there.
Or does it? And this is where when we want to focus on this morning.
A very nice man named Joseph went to pilots and begged and asked if the body could be taken down.
The body was carefully taken down and it was put in a sepulchre.
And Jesus is dead.
He had said that he was going to die, but now he's dead.
Jesus is going to be our Savior.
But he's dead.
What's going to happen?
Could we be thinking about Jesus this morning if he's dead?
No, we're not following the teachings of a dead man.
He was put into that sepulchre.
And what happened?
Would he rise from the dead? He had told people that he would.
You see, if he didn't rise from the dead, he wouldn't be telling the truth, would he?
Is it good to believe someone who doesn't tell the truth?
No.
They put him in the tomb and you know what they also they did. There was people who thought we had better make sure that the disciples don't come and take them away, because then they'll say he rose from the dead. So you know what they did? They went and got men who were guarded guards and armed men, and they had them stationed around the sepulchre.
Isn't that something to have armed men guarding?
A dead man's tomb.
That would make it really, really hard for someone to steal the body, wouldn't it?
00:35:05
Do you think those soldiers are going to do a good job keeping that body there?
Do you think there's any?
Any person who could keep that body there?
No.
No. Well, here's the Here's what happened. Listen very carefully.
That night, the sun went down.
The stars came up.
Boys and girls had gone to bed.
Dads and moms had gone to bed.
Many people were asleep.
And very early.
That first day of the week.
There was a great big earthquake.
And the Angel of the Lord came down and rolled back the stone that was covering the grave.
And you know what?
Up from the grave, heroes.
Our Savior, the Lord Jesus rose from the grave. The Angel didn't move the stone till he could get out. He rose from the dead. Triumph a victor. Death no more has dominion over us. And the very one who was nailed to a cross, and the very one who died for you and me.
Rose from the dead, and he is alive today. And Luke chapter 24, it tells us about a lady named Mary. And it says now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the supplier, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre, and they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed or kind of wondering what's going on.
Behold, 2 men stood by them in shining garments, and as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth. Here's what the Angel said. Why seek ye, the living among the dead? He is not here.
He is risen.
And tonight, I'm sorry, this morning we can share the good news that Jesus is not dead. Jesus is risen and he was here on earth for 40 days and then where he went back to heaven. Luke 24, it lets us know at the end that he was taken up into heaven. And the good news is Jesus is alive. And in Revelation it says, behold, I was he that liveth and was dead. Behold, I am alive for evermore.
That is good news. That is exciting, isn't it, that our Savior lives and our Savior is alive and in heaven this morning and when we're here at Sunday school.
And when we're here reading about him, we're not reading about a dead man, are we? We are reading about a man who is alive and has everything under perfect control and about a man, the Lord Jesus, who is soon coming back to take us to be with him forever. Are you excited about that? I'm excited about that. Now our memory verse said God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever.
Believeth in him? We only have about 5 minutes left. I've got to ask a couple good questions here. Do you believe in him?
Whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
You have everlasting life, Did you know that if you know Jesus as your Savior, even if you die, that is not the end, that you will live with Him in heaven?
Now I need to ask a couple questions. Can Jesus let everybody into heaven?
No, he's not going to let everybody into heaven. If I wanted to go to heaven in my sins, could I get there?
No. Is there anyone in this room who has not sinned?
Everybody has sinned. What is sin like?
Yeah, sin is really, really bad, isn't it? Yeah.
Sin is really, really, really bad. Really bad. I want everybody to say really bad. Try that again. Really bad skin is really bad. It's so bad that God cannot have it into heaven. Okay, just kind of giving you a word picture. Sin is like a dirty, dirty diaper.
00:40:05
That's gross. It's like the kind of dirty diaper that's got the brown stuff kind of coming down. It is that it is bad stuff.
Pretty soon I have to learn how to change one of those.
God cannot allow sin into heaven. Sometimes the boys and girls we pick up for Sunday school, they have their shoes outside the door because their parents don't want them to come inside the house with dirty shoes. But God cannot allow us to come into His home with a dirty heart.
And so he said I'd love you, and I'm going to do something about that. I can't allow this sin into my home. But because I love you, I will go and die on the cross, and I will be punished for the sins that you have done. And if you will believe on me, those sins will be all forgiven.
And you can come and live with me when you die.
Did you know I'm going to have this thing? I'm going to live with your dad sometime in heaven.
Yeah. In fact, I only have the same address as a lot of people in this room because when I die, I'm going to heaven. And so are many, many, many people in this room. We're all going to have the same address. We're going to be able to talk and visit, and it's going to be wonderful. But the question is.
Are you going to be there? Do you have everlasting life? If you don't, you can accept the Lord Jesus as your Savior today. And if you do, and you do, listen carefully. You know the Lord Jesus as your Savior, and you have a responsibility now to live for Him.
OK, when you go back to school tomorrow and you learn, help me with this task or Lord, help me to do a good job today. You're not praying to a dead man. You're praying to a God who is in heaven and who can hear and who can work miracles and do amazingly, abundantly above all that you could ask or think.
And you have friends at school that you can tell about the Lord Jesus, the older ones, you have friends that you work with, or you have neighbors in your community that you can speak to and you can tell them Jesus lives that. I went to a conference this weekend and I learned that Jesus lives. Jesus is my Savior. I love him and I'm not ashamed. And I want you to know him too. OK, so before we pray, I want you to think about this.
Is Jesus my Savior?
If He's not, would you talk to your parents today or come see me? And if he is your Savior, I want you to live wholeheartedly for him. I want you to read your Bible. I want you to pray. And I want you to learn more about the One who lives. OK, we're going to pray. And after we pray, we have Sunday school papers that we'd like to give to you.
You can come see me.
Or if I have some of the older ones who would like to be responsible helpers, I can give you some and you could help me pass these out. So if you think that you'd like to help me out, please see me. Thank you for listening and let's pray. Lord Jesus, we just thank you for the wonderful truth that thou art risen. The Lord is risen, and we thank you for the wonderful truth that soon thou are coming back to take us to be with thee. We do pray for the dear boys and girls in this room who are not saved, that they would accept the as their own personal Savior.
And everyone else who is there, we pray that they would have a desire to live wholeheartedly for thee until thy soon return. We just give you thanks and Thy worthy and precious name. Amen.
Strengthen What Remains
Two Things
Ephesians 4:12-16
Gospel 2
Gospel—Richard Mackewich
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.
As has been said many times, can you hear me? I asked him brother if he had any advice and he said yeah, talk a little louder. So if you can't hear me, raise your left hand. If you can hear me, raise your right hand.
All right, let's open tonight by singing #10 want to welcome everybody. That's been typical of each needing to welcome you. A lot of people in this world feel unwelcome.
They feel no one cares, no one's interested, but the brethren here in Saint Thomas are interested in you. They have an invitation that was sent out. Some came yesterday evening. There's an invitation at the front of the school here, and it's an invitation to come, come. Have you ever heard that word before?
You realize that word, Tom? COME.
Is mentioned in the Bible 1972. Does anybody born in 1972 here?
Come as two definitions to the same word. One is an invitation, one is the arrival of an event or at an event. Jesus said I am calm that you might have life. The invitation tonight, hymn #10 come now, that's an invitation. Come now to Jesus. And again, if it gets to the point you can't hear me, raise your hand.
I don't want you to miss anything.
It's important. Maybe the last message.
You'll ever hear. And I want to present it to you tonight in such a way that I present to you the heart of God. God is light and God is love. We're going to sing #10 just the first and third verse if someone would start it, please.
I.
Pray.
I save your heart in December all and thank you laughing.
Let's just ask the Lord's help.
His word, it will not return unto him void, but as the seed is found tonight, we pray that it will fall on good ground, good ground. So the desire of the brethren here for you. Oh, come now to Jesus, said dear loving Savior.
Our Father, our God, we just pray tonight and by the Spirit that will take the word of God, we thank you that is living, it's quick, it's powerful. We pray tonight that they're one who would see their need come to the Savior. They would have peace. They asked for thy help. We thank thee that we have this privilege of showing forth.
00:05:18
Thy heart of love, so give grace to help and time of need. Father in Jesus name, Amen.
One of the songs we sang Friday night, You're Here, was number 100. How many of you remember what 100 is if you were here for Friday night?
You remember what it is.
Low in the grave he lay.
But the next three words are so important.
Jesus, my Savior.
Waiting the coming day. That's what we're waiting for, our brethren. The coming day.
Jesus is coming.
Jesus my Lord, vainly they watched his bed. Jesus my Savior, vainly they steal the dead. Jesus, my Lord, death cannot keep his prey. Jesus my Savior, he tore the bars away. Jesus my Lord. I wonder if many of you here know the chorus.
If we could sing the chorus and realize the truth of it, and that, we would be really thrilled in our souls to know that he's alive, he's alive, he's risen, he's risen, he's alive. My sins are gone.
The thrill of it all. So let's see if we can sing it together. This is the chorus. Up from the grave he arose with a mighty triumph. Or suppose he arose at Victor from the dark domain He lives forever with his thanks To reign he arose.
He arose, Hallelujah, Christ arose. Let's try to sing that together up from the grave.
And he lives forever, every day to rest.
Some of you perhaps have a copy or seen it. It's the come and dine invite and there's a verse on it, Isaiah 55 one it says who everyone that thirsteth.
Come ye to the water, he that hath no money. Come ye buy, eat. Ye come by wine and milk, without money, without price.
How many times was the word come mentioned in that verse?
You remember 3 and I believe you can find in this verse.
That the entire Godhead is for you.
Want you to come, God?
Supplies the water, the Lord Jesus.
No money come by and eat.
And then buy wine and milk and it's the Spirit of God. Tonight we're going to look a few minutes and realization.
But first of all, there is a living God.
Then we're going to see that because he is risen from the dead, there is a living Savior. Let's turn to Genesis chapter one.
Genesis 1 and verse one. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Verse 3.
God said, let there be light, there was light.
00:10:04
God saw the light that it was good.
Think of it. The very first thing that's brought before you and me is the fact that here is a God who can speak and a God who can see.
I like the gods of Egypt.
But here is a living God, right at the very beginning of the scriptures. A God who can speak.
And a God who can see, and he can see right down into your heart.
He looks down into this room and he knows his sheep by name, and he speaks. Sometimes he takes the earth, but he speaks in love.
God who is a living God. There are countless number of dear people in this world.
Who bow down to a God that can't see, can't hear?
And talk and feel. But tonight you stand in the presence or sit in the presence of a living God.
In the beginning God John's Gospel chapter one.
Verse one In the beginning was the Word. The word was with God. The word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.
Hebrews chapter one.
God.
Who at sundry times and the divers manner spake in time passed under the Fathers by the prophets, after these last days spoken unto us by his Son?
And I trust I have the liberty and the gospel to kind of rearrange the first verse and ask this question. God, who at sundry times and in divers manner.
Spake unto you, how many times has God spoken to you?
And you didn't listen. Perhaps you weren't aware that he was speaking to you.
That God speaks, man doesn't listen. He speaks once, twice, but he spoke in time past and you can be thankful tonight that He is speaking now through His son, through his son.
That was brought out this morning, this afternoon, Jesus Christ is God's Son. Call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. But you know his people in Wantham, they cast it out of the vineyard, nail them to a cross.
Paul tells us because the Jews didn't want them, God has leveled the playing field and commendeth now all men.
So the gospel message goes to all whosoever will may come.
First it was quoted this afternoon.
That you might know how to behave yourself.
In the Church of God, Church of the living God, that's what I'm trying to emphasize the 1St 5 minutes. It is a living God that you have to do with tonight. He's alive.
The verse I really want to talk about.
John or is Matthew 11 verse 28?
This first was mentioned during the meeting.
Thanks.
That I would like to look at in the Gospel context, if I might, the invitation from the brethren in Saint Thomas's to Caval.
Come, come to the meetings, get a free dinner. Last night we were in Montreal and all they gave you is free coffee. But here you come to Saint Thomas, you get a free Turkey dinner. What a deal.
How many came? I understand thousands of those things went out, but we can be thankful some did come. And tonight the Gospel message goes out. Tonight you can receive the message. Matthew 1128.
00:15:07
Here is one of the invite words. Come unto me.
All you that labor.
And our heavy laden.
I will give you rest.
These dear souls were under the ******* the yoke of the Romans. They were under the ******* and yoke of the law. They were frustrated. They were at within, They had the Pharisees and Sadducees, and that yoke that was upon them was unbearable.
And Jesus is telling them in love, come unto me, come unto me, all you that labor, and they're heavy laden. How about to me it's a person, Jesus.
The Lord Jesus is standing right here, and he says, Come unto me.
So if we get out of our chairs and run and grab them.
Hard Savior who loves us, gave his life that we might live, and he stands with open arms the gospel of the grace of God. And he says, come unto me, the precious thing about the verse.
Says, Take my yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I make lowly in heart you should find rest unto your souls. There are many in this world who feel that God is against them.
That God is a hard God, that God has a non merciful God and the Lord Jesus I believe is trying to teach and reach their heart. Come unto me, I love you. I'm meek and lowly. I'm not going to run you down. I'm not going to put more stuff on you you can't handle. I know you've gone through nothing in your life already, but you left me out of your life. So he says come unto me.
I meet and lowly.
You ever meet somebody first time perhaps, or they stick out your hand and shake your hand and you kind of hesitant. You don't know that person. There's a little feeling there.
Called body space too. I think we have a good sport here. You look like you're a good sport. Stand up.
Yeah, very good. You're wearing blue heavenly color right now. We're perfect, aren't we? There's no problem, no difficulties. I step closer.
Same thing but closer. I get there's an invisible wall here and he starts to get uncomfortable.
Why is that? He doesn't know me. And I believe that you can sit down. Thank you. But I believe that's how people view God. They're afraid of them.
They're afraid of them. And that's what he's telling in this verse. I'm making lowly You don't have to be afraid of me. You don't have to be afraid of me. I love you. I came just for you. You're my people.
Remember Moses, when he's out there in the desert, he sees this burning Bush.
And gods in the Bush. God doesn't say anything until he sees Moses.
Stopping and looked.
Have you ever turned and stopped in your path and looked to God?
And Moses comes into the presence of God, and God says.
I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
And Moses perhaps said in his mind, You're real.
You're real. We've heard this for 400 years, and you actually are real.
How many of you like that in this room, Young people, You've heard it from your youth now your mid teens and early 20s. It's real. He's real. Jesus lives. He lives.
Invention that God raised him from the dead. What a marvelous salvation. We have a living God, a living Savior, and the Spirit of God to take the Word of God.
And apply it to our lives. He loves you, He wants you. He died to redeem you. Only believe His word. I will give you rest.
00:20:00
Of any people in this world working, trying to get to heaven.
Some people have to do 5 things in order to get into what they feel is heaven.
You and my friend don't have to do anything but simply come as a lost Sinner. Jesus did all the work.
How many of you like weekends?
You know, weekends are cool.
You worked all week. You're tired. You come home Friday nights, you pack.
Go up the Hammer Bay and you enjoy the cottage and you're there all day Saturday, enjoying yourself, doing whatever you do up there. Sunday comes around afternoon. Oh, bummer. I got to go to work tomorrow. There's no rest. You have a little bit of a reprieve, just for a couple of hours perhaps. We're going to go back.
In our mind, in the scriptures to a weekend.
That was bad, this individual I want to speak reverently the yet so we can understand.
How many have ever had a bad weekend? No matter what you did, things just fell apart.
You're getting already thirsty.
Car breaks down flat tires, whatever it might be.
You are ready to go Friday. Things go wrong. Kids are late getting ready.
Got a big train to come in front of you or the ferry's already gone and you missed it? The whole weekend just seems to be bad.
That you know, my friend, your weekend means absolutely nothing to the people in China.
Your weekend, no matter how good or how bad, means nothing to those people in Hong Kong.
Your weekend revolves around you, but we're going to go back in time through the scriptures to a weekend.
That has affected every person in the face of this earth.
At some weekend, but it was a sad weekend.
Things went bad on Thursday. Things went terrible on Friday.
Was so terrible, from man's perspective at least.
The poor man died.
He died.
You know what I'm referring to.
The Lord Jesus Christ. His weekend was horrible.
And yet, on large day morning, marvelous thing.
Rose from the grave, Marvelous. He's alive. He's alive. You get thrilled about that. What thrills him? Maybe nothing thrills you. I don't know, maybe a Dairy Queen or something. But you get thrilled to realize that he lives. He lives.
Let's look at.
Matthew.
What we're going to do is we're going to go back to that day.
Many, many years ago.
And we're going to seek to learn from it.
Matthew 28.
The end of the Sabbath of the Saturday.
And they were supposed to rest all day Saturday.
Saturday was coming to a close.
And these dear people were.
Spirit they were down past. We know that by Luke 24, the two on the way to Emmaus, the lurks of Why are you sad?
You ever asked that question? Sometimes you get sad. Your husband is sad. Your wife is sad.
Why are you sad?
He would switch our hearts, but here in Matthew.
First day of the week began to dawn. Toward the first day of the week came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary the see the sepulchre. Behold, there was a great earthquake, for the Angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning in his reign and whitest snow. For fear of him the keepers did shake, and became his dead men. The Angel answered, and said unto the women.
Hear not I know that you think Jesus which is crucified.
He is not here, for he is risen, as he said.
00:25:01
Come.
There is our invite.
Come Tom, see the place.
For the Lord lay scripture shows in this chapter, they never actually went in.
They were so excited, they believed the message of the Angel, and they ran back to the disciples. But the message was come, come, see the place where the Lord lay.
It's gone.
It's gone. Why didn't they go in?
Why didn't they go in? And Matthew?
I believe because as a principle in the Old Testament carried forward, Matthew presents the Lord Jesus as a king.
King. You remember the kings of the Old Testament? You couldn't go into their presence unless the king.
Invited you.
And here they look inside.
What does it take for you, my friend?
Is it simply just to look at the cross, see the Lord Jesus there for you? And so they were on.
Go quickly and tell those disciples that He has risen from the dead.
They departed quickly. That's another good reason young girls to learn how to run is sometimes the Lord will give you a message and you have to run to your brethren. Turn over to marks gospel, marks the servant. Let's see what happens there.
Mark.
Mark 16 and they were questioning.
Who's going to roll away the stone? We've got a problem here.
That's a big stone. So he says early in the morning, the first day of the week. They came in verse 3.
They said among themselves, Who shall roll us away, The stone from the sepulchre, And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away, for it was very great.
Have you ever been in fear, my friend, where there was actually No Fear? We worry about things. We get so upset with it, we get so anxious. And when the event comes?
There's No Fear at all. It was all in your head. It's all in your head.
What are you afraid of tonight?
You have fear the world calls it phobia is now.
What's your phobia? Oh, they'll never be afraid of coming to Jesus. He's meek and lowly.
He wants you to understand that right at the very start of this meeting, He's for you. He's for you to that extent that Father sent the Son, the Savior of the world, and He wants you to put us at your faith and trust in Him. The resurrection is vital. It was quoted today. If thou shalt confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, believe in your heart that God raised him.
From the dead, thou shalt be saved. Are you safe tonight?
How many here last night heard the Gospel message?
What did you do about it?
What did you do with it?
Did you receive it by faith? It's talking to me.
Well, this is what happened in Mark verse 5. Entering into this Trump ****** they saw a young man sitting on the right side clothes and long white garments, and they were frightened. And he said unto them, Be not frightened.
Matthews, be not afraid.
There it's be not a frightened the Lord Jesus was born, the angels told the shepherds.
Fair enough.
The biggest enemy or biggest tool that Satan has.
As a destructive tool, my friends, fear. And you can get just one little ounce of fear started in you. A lot of fearful people, a lot of fearful people, and God is saying fear not, fear not.
You know, I think in honestly we got to be realistic too if we were there.
And our loved one was in a tomb and we looked in and it was gone. That would shake us to the core. But let's not be too critical on these individuals.
00:30:05
But they loved this man Jesus. Do you love Jesus tonight?
You love him, he loves you, he loves you.
Her specs again.
Which was crucified. He is risen, He is not here the old Laplace, for they laid him.
Again they look in. Behold the place.
But they haven't actually gone in yet.
And you may know the place. Judas knew the place.
There was a place for either young people brought up in the Christian home.
Are you really the Lord? Do you really know the Lord Jesus as your Savior?
These are vital questions, The real.
The Lord knoweth them that are His. Let's see what Luke has to say.
Luke 24.
Verse 2.
They found the stone rolled away from the supple cur and they entered it. Wow. They entered in. And tonight, my friend, we want you to enter into the truth, the fact, the reality of the heart of God, that he's for you. He's not against you. He loves you, he cares for you. He wants you to find rest. There's no rest in this world. There's no rest outside of the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior. I am Tom that you might have life.
But it's a life based on rest and peace. You have peace in your soul tonight. Here are they actually go in, they enter in and found not the body. Oh it's changed the Lord Jesus.
Brother Frost is bringing before us.
The Lord Jesus thou shalt confess with thy mouth, the Lord Jesus.
Have you ever done that?
Years ago and brother Barry was in the Maritimes, We were there visiting.
And he just simply said, Who in this room would like to stand up and confess Jesus as Lord?
Who in this room would like to confess with their mouth Jesus?
As Lord.
And to my amazement, there was about five or six boys.
Stood up.
Jesus is Lord, just confess with your mouth. Jesus is Lord, believe in your heart. God raised him from the dead. Thou shalt be saved.
But there again they look, and it gets a little more perplexed. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed about.
Behold, 2 men stood by them in shining garments, and they were afraid. You know, sometimes we get so stressed out, so perplexed, so distressed. The Lord has to send to two angels, two brethren, two sisters, two to kind of stable us, to kind of get us to cool it. You know, the world says chill. You ever hear that word chill?
They were perplexed. I saw two angels. Wow. How many in this room? Ever seen an Angel besides your wife? Anybody see an Angel?
Think of it, They saw this mighty creation of God there perhaps.
And verse five, as they were afraid, bow down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, I seek you, the living among the dead.
Driving into Saint Thomas, unless Saint Thomas is really cool place. I love truffles to come up through that road there this massive trestle in the river and yet as you come into the town to the left.
There's a cemetery. You go a little further and there's another little tiny cemetery.
And then there's another one on the right.
Death marks this town.
And here was a man who was buried. He died, and he's risen. And the angels say fear not.
00:35:05
Fear not.
Verse six. He is not here, but is risen. Remember how we speak unto you, and so forth.
Verse 9 Then he returned to the sepulchre. Turn over to John.
John 20.
Verse 4.
So they ran both together The other disciples did outrun Peter and came first to the Supple care, and he stooping down, looked in.
Saw the linen clothes lying yet when he nod in then come of Simon Peter following him. They went into the sepulchre and see if the linen clothes lie here. They actually went right into it. They looked and they saw.
How many times have you looked into the Word of God?
And you don't see anything there.
They didn't see anything in Mark.
Here they see the body.
Where it should have been.
And they leave.
Yeah, it's gone.
What kind of attitude do you have with regards to the large things?
Is it a? Yep. Oh well, that's it.
Theodore and John, they left, they went back, but there was a dear soul that long.
For her savior.
And so he appears to her, and the message is clear.
Four times this evening we've read he is risen.
He is not here.
Come, behold the place for the Lord laid him, and so the Lord Jesus says, Come unto me, all he that labor nor heavy laden I will give you rest. Last chapter of Revelation The Spirit of God comes on the steam, and it says the Spirit and the brides that come.
Friend time is running out.
This is the last meeting of the conference.
May be the last one. We hear about all kinds of things that happened in the world, Mud slides, ferries tipping over, people losing their lives. But here was the man who came just for you, just for you, and he died. You were the only one in this world. He died. But on that cross, for three hours the judgment of God fell upon him.
Very solemn verse in Genesis one that says, let all the waters of the earth be gathered together unto one place. Isaiah 40 tells us what that is. Who can measure the water in the hollow of his hand?
It's a precious thing, and yet it's a humbling thing to realize.
Son of God.
Died for me. I can be ever so thankful that I am. Are you thankful that he died for you and he lives now? God was so vindicated, has been brought out before us at the conference. God raised him from the dead.
Sat him in his own right hand. I like the verse in Hebrews. I mean it has such a regal sound. Sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high.
That is the most awesome sight. He sat down the right hand of the majesty on high. And yet it's the very God who sent him that you would have rest, peace. Just take my yoke and learn of me. Why? Because the previous verses he's talking about, no man knows the sun but the Father, and no man knows the Father save the Son. And he to whom he to whom? The Son.
Will reveal Him. God wants to reveal to you the Son. The Son wants to reveal to you. The Father is for you. The Godhead is for you. The only thing that's against you tonight, my friend, is a clock. Is this only 45 minutes? And yet have you embraced the Savior?
Let me go out on a limb here.
00:40:00
How many in this room have never ever heard the gospel?
Don't be embarrassed to raise your hand if you've never ever heard the gospel.
That's something.
In the sub.
How many in this room know the Lord Jesus Christ?
As your savior.
Was marvelous.
But you know, there are a lot of empty chairs here.
I remember when I was a young person.
You look at pictures, they're gone, They're gone, they're gone. Where'd they go?
Some are taking home. Some died in Vietnam.
But they heard.
You're responsible for what you hear.
And here is the Lord Jesus, now ascended on high, and he simply tells us again.
Come on to me.
Come on to me.
All in the labor.
Labor.
Stop laboring, stop working. It's all finished. Jesus died. Christ died first Sins. According to the scriptures encoded today, the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanseth us from all sins.
But you know the heart of God also. God is light, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
And as the heart of the dear brethren here in Saint Thomas.
And it's the heart of God.
Nobody in this room will walk through those doors.
Still in your sense?
There is no need to everything has been accomplished for your blessing. All you need to do is come, come tis Jesus gently calling, want him right or put it Oh that my Savior, where your savior too.
But you know, before the Lord Jesus quoted that verse, he pronounced judgment on a few cities.
Judgment is coming, my friend, but he wants you to be saved. He wants you to have rest, want you to have peace.
Do you have that today?
We do trust you do. We were singing up from the grave, hero.
So here's the verse that was on our brethren. Oh, everyone that thirsteth.
Are you thirsty? Your need you need.
Tommy to the waters.
The Lord Jesus water life.
By heat, yeah, Come by lime, milk. Without money, without price. Often wondered about that because if they didn't have any money, how could I actually buy anything? But that's what he's saying.
It's free. It's free. Everything in the heart of God that He has for you is free.
Free versus mentioned in Ephesians one, it's free.
All you have to do is receive it. All you have to do is receive it before we close in prayer. Just a little interesting illustration. We're in Bermuda.
And taking the Sunday school there. And I asked the children how many in this room collect pictures of dead presidents.
And nobody raised their hands.
How many of you collect pictures of dead presidents? Nobody raised their hand.
So then I brought out Lincoln Jackson. Everybody's hand went up.
Everybody's hand went up. They wanted the picture of the dead president.
Do you want not just the picture, but do you want the living president, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, He wants you to come. And as we pray after someone in this room come, what does come mean? Man was taking the Sunday school class. I heard and daughter was there and says what does it mean to come?
Come.
Comma and.
He was getting flustered because you know, you're standing in front of lots of people and daughters just sits there.
00:45:02
Come. Couldn't explain what the word was. You know what you did?
Got out of the chair.
Walk through his father, Tom, just simply come. Come as you are. Let's just pray, Father, if there's one in this room tonight still lost in their sins, may they come just as they are, without one plea. But that thy blood was shed for them. We just earnestly pray. No one, our father or God would leave this room still lost in their sins, but they would embrace the invitation. Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden. And I will, I will give them rest.
Left thy precious word and as thy people journey home, may there be blessing and encouragement and may we not be sad as we journey. May the love of Christ truly constrain us and may it be shed abroad in our hearts. We thank Thee, our Father for this time in Jesus name, Amen.
Open Mtg. 7
Open—B. Roossinck, R. Thonney
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For thou whose mercy far exceed, all we can do or say is in Thy people, Thou indeed just daily more display. But for our happiness, O God, on us while here below, by virtue of Christ, death and blood, Thy richest blessings flow. 288.
I.
Read my heart.
Sleep.
I know, grateful.
Bob and our lovely father, we forgive me our thanks once again this afternoon. We thank thee that we can sing with him. This touch we can ask preserve thy cloth most graciously within thy sheltering fold. We know that thou are the only one that can preserve us. So we now we now look to the age. We think of many here this afternoon. We thou knowest we have various needs. So we look today knowing that our the one that can fill our needs.
I don't know what to that. Perhaps some dear.
These special health, some here perhaps are discouraged, some here perhaps distracted. But we looked at it, knowing that thou art able. So we commit the following meeting into thy hand.
Pray that through Thy Spirit guide me that we may learn more of our blessed Lord Jesus Christ and that we are reminded once more that with heavenly citizens by birth, so we look to Thee, and we'll commit this meeting in Thy hand, giving Thee our thanks once more in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
00:05:20
I hope it's OK if we have a few comments from somebody on the younger side.
It's open to.
Revelations chapter 2 to begin, please.
Revelations chapter 2 and verse.
Revelation 3. Sorry, verse 2.
Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain.
I this was brought to my mind yesterday.
By a number of different things that were said.
Strengthen the things which remained.
Give me to set up what I have on my heart. I'll tell you a little story.
Couple of years ago.
My wife and I decided that we needed to replace the roof on our house because we live in an old farmhouse and it had about 100 year old metal roof on it that had a lot of pin holes in it. So I contacted an army sky that I know he came out and looked at it.
And he did a very nice job putting a new roof on our house. But in part of that process, he said to me, says, you know.
Some of the boards under there are kind of weak and even though the upside looks good.
You really ought to put some more strength in the Raptors.
And I thought about that and didn't do anything about it.
Unfortunately, everything turned out fine. But as many of you know, we had a winter this year. They had a lot of snow and it was cold.
And roofs begin to collapse.
And thankfully ours didn't, but it reminded me of what he said, Strengthen the things which remain. And my roof is remaining. But I want to talk about that on a spiritual level if I can. And I'd like, I hope it's okay to talk to the families and to your young people. It'd be alright if I talk to you for a few minutes. I don't intend to talk a long time. Strengthening the things which are which remain.
You know, it really is a real blessing to look here and see all of you young people and those of you with young families. I know a lot of young families have left at noon today, but.
It pleases the Lord's heart to see you here seeking to learn more about him. And we're living in a, in a world today that there are a lot of challenges for your young people. There are there's a lot of pressure to conform to this world. There's a lot of pressure to give in to the philosophies of men. And sometimes it's easier not to say anything.
And we can find ourselves. Our silence can almost be a lie sometimes.
And there's a attack against something that we hold dear. Well, I'm just not going to say anything. That's almost a lie.
There's a lot of weight, if you will, that once the enemy wants to crush your roof, so I would like to help you strengthen the things which are remaining.
With a few thoughts that I've enjoyed.
So firstly, let's turn over to.
First Chronicles, 12.
First Chronicles, chapter 12.
Here we have the time when David was going to be made king.
And I just want to point out one.
Group of people that went to make David King. First Chronicles 12, verse 32.
And the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times.
To know what Israel ought to do.
And then verse 38.
All these men of war that could keep rank came with a perfect heart to make David king over Israel.
And all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king.
00:10:07
As I mentioned a minute ago.
We're living in a time where the enemy has more and more focused and bringing down everything that is.
Dear to the heart of God, the family, the Assembly.
Individual lives, and I don't think any of us have to think very hard to think of loved ones, people that we care about a lot that are under attack.
And so we need in our homes and in our assemblies to have an understanding of the times.
I was I was very much enjoyed Michelle, your message yesterday. It's it very much is an understanding of the times.
And we've spent a a good deal of time at this conference discussing some very beautiful doctrines and some very beautiful thoughts that the Lord has for us in His Word.
I've got a another W for you Michelle and and I often talk about this in our home is to understand.
The why behind the what?
And it's important to spend time carefully.
Delineating what God's thoughts are and the ways of God with us so that that only can we know what to do, but why the Lord wants us to do something so young people and and I guess everybody, let's be mindful of the why behind the what you know, it's it's one thing for me to say to my kids. This is what I want and they say, well, why dad and when they're four or five, I can say because I slept.
Right. And they're. Oh, OK.
Right. Yes, your kids are young people. Remember your parents answered that way because I said.
But you know what? Now my children are teenagers and say.
I want you to do this or that and say, well, why, dad? Because I stand there like, well, why, right? It doesn't work anymore. So it's important to know the why behind the what. So that's my contribution, the shelter W.
Anyway, first of all, I want to talk to young families for a minute. Turn to Mark 10, please.
Here we have the Lord Jesus, and this is a beautiful passage.
Very much enjoy this passage. Mark chapter 10, verse 13.
And they brought little children to him, that he should touch them.
And as disciples rebuked those that brought them.
But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, Forbid them that. For if such is the Kingdom of God, Well, I read this because.
I also have a young family and I remember it's not an easy thing to bring four small kids to a conference like this.
And I want to encourage you, moms and dads.
It's a real joy to see those little faces and when Danny stood up here this morning and talked to the kids, what a joy to see those little people and.
You may sit there and the kids are whining for another coloring book or more crackers or whatever. You know what? And here it says they brought little children unto him. Why? So that they could understand deep doctrine.
Not yet that he might touch them and that's what we want for the little kids that he might touch them. You think of the imagine the Lord Jesus just.
Placing his hand on your head like that, what a blessing. And I know I've mentioned this before, but it's worth saying again.
Many years ago I was staged at a conference like this one.
And I think my mom at the time probably thought, boy, I just wish that we could go home now. But you know what, The Lord Jesus touched my life and heart that day. And so I want to encourage you that the Lord has the good and the blessing of the children in mind. So don't be afraid if your kids are crying and meeting. It's a good noise. And I'll tell you if I love to watch.
00:15:14
Little kids and the Lord is wanting to just touch them and and he will. So I just want to encourage you young moms and dads.
Bring your children to the Lord and He'll touch them. Bless them.
The other thoughts I had before me, I'm not going to speak a long time.
Umm, I've spoken on this before, but it's very helpful to me and I want to just review it with the young people. Turn over to Deuteronomy with me.
Chapter 22.
Deuteronomy 22.
Verse 8.
Look around, I see some.
A lot of young people here, I see some couples here, I know at least one that purpose to be married soon.
Here's here's some encouragement for you I hope this helps strengthen the things which remain verse 8 when thou build us in the house then thou shall make a battlement for thy roots that they'll bring that blood upon thy house. If any man fall from fence while the literal meaning of this is.
If you go up on the roof, put a fence around it so nobody falls off.
Let's talk about it in a spiritual sense. Young people, the Lord is interested in your home.
And the home that you will establish in the future if he leaves us here.
And you may say, oh, that's a long way to offer me. Maybe it is. But I can tell you from experience that time goes by really quickly.
The Lord is interested in the type of home that you establish.
And by the way, it says in Proverbs, except the Lord build the house.
They linger in vain and build it.
And so as you are advancing into having your own family, or if you are a young family right now, put the Lord at the center of your home.
Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain. That build it in my own strength or your own strength. We may lay ever spell carefully our plans, but the Lord needs to be building the house, or we laboring vain.
But now here the thought I have in verse eight is safety.
Spiritual safety. Our homes should be a place of spiritual safety. When people come into our homes, when our children especially come home from school or you young people, they come home from work, home from university, that home should be a place of safety. There's a there's boundaries, there's.
Guidelines set in the home and.
It's an exercise to us. It reminds me of.
When Hezekiah had the visitors from Nebuchadnezzar and it says he showed them everything in his house.
And the prophet Isaiah said, what have they seen in thine house? It's a good question for us, whatever, what are what are our young people seeing in our homes?
It's a 13th question, isn't it? And I hope that they stay a home that is filled with love and that is has the desire to honor Christ and has a heart for service and worship. So the Lord is interested in it will now build us in houses now still make a battlement for thy roof. And I just want to encourage all of us that our homes be places.
Of refuge away from the Wiles of the double. It's easy for our homes to become a collection of things that don't honor the Lord, that are maybe not necessarily bad in themselves. But let's just be careful. The question is, what have they seen in thine house?
And I encourage each one of us that what they see in our homes.
Would be for value and benefit and encouragement.
Let's go on verse 9.
Thou shalt not sell thy vineyard with diverse seeds.
Lest the fruit of thy seed which thou is sown.
And the fruit of thy vineyard be defiled.
00:20:02
Well, we can't help but think of the.
Law of the harvest that we're given in Galatians Sift. I better read it to get it right.
Those of you that know me well know that I work in agriculture and I enjoy very much sewing and harvesting.
Galatians 6.
Be not deceived.
God is not mocked, For whatsoever a man soweth, SLE also reap. He that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption. But he does throw it to the Spirit. So let the Spirit reap everlasting life. Well, this is a very practical thing, young people.
You reap what you sow.
It's true in nature and it's true in spiritual things also. We never find.
Blessing and good.
As a crop of selling to the flesh.
There's a cost to sowing to the flesh.
Umm, being not deceived. Michelle mentioned this yesterday. We look at the ads that were bombarded with and we're told that you could not possibly be happy unless you're drinking this kind of beverage, eating this kind of food, driving in this kind of a vehicle.
Vacationing in this place, right? And we're taught to be discontent and everybody is doing it.
And the enemy wants you to sow seeds in the flesh.
To make decisions, make choices that have a cost and their real costs.
Michelle mentioned seeing what those costs are in lives at recovery houses.
Like we all know people that are reaping serious consequences from reap from sowing to the flesh.
So I'm not here to beat you up, but in faithfulness to the Word of God, the practical reminder that we never, ever find.
Benefit and gain the crop of selling to the flesh.
And the enemy would like to say, do this and nobody will find out. Nobody will know. You'll be able to keep it under control. It never works that way. It doesn't. And I can tell you in my own life instances where I thought I could walk both sides of the fence, if you will, it doesn't work. So like I say, I'm not here to beat you up, but it is a warning. We reap what we sow. If I plant corn seeds.
I get corn plants, we plant soybean seeds. I'm not going to get raspberries.
When I get what I plant, that's the way it is. Now let's go to the encouraging side.
He that soweth to the Spirit, to love the Spirit reap.
Life everlasting.
Somebody had mentioned yesterday about Andrew and Peter.
You know, Andrew was a person that he wasn't flamboyant.
He wasn't at the front.
But he was good at bringing people to Jesus, and one of the people he brought was his own brother Peter.
And what was the result of stowing that seed? What happened on the day of Pentecost?
Peter, who was brought to meet the Lord Jesus by Andrew. A small seed, right? Hey, Peter, I'd met the Messiah. Come with me. And now we have Peter. And I identify with Peter very well. Peter was.
A quite the what the right word is, but I think you know what I mean. Peter was he was all in on stuff, whether it was right or wrong. You know when he stopped, when he when it says he cut off the high priest here, you think he was just trying to trim his whiskers.
No, I think he had to start out and he was going for the whole head and the guy probably ducked him. Got the year right. Peter was all in anyway. Here Andrew brings Peter to the Lord. What happens on the day of Pentecost? Peter is filled with the Spirit says that 3000 people were saved that day.
Where did it start? Andrew sold a little small seed and bringing his brother to the Lord.
00:25:05
So that's the positive side of it and the encouraging side is the Lord can use you young people to do things for him. That may seem very small, but.
Are have eternal consequences.
I grew up in Newfoundland, as most of you know.
My folks had the gospel tent for 40 years and there were times where I remember my dad saying, you know, I don't think we got through to anybody.
And we took, you know, this, you drive the bus down and there'd be two or three dozen eggs hitting the side of the bus.
And it's disruptive and unruly and laughing and cat calling. You know what, 20 years later, people will come to my folks and say, hey, Remember Me? No, well, I got saved and I wanted to tell you about it. So be encouraged young people to still to the Spirit and the Lord will bless that.
OK, let's move on.
Verse 10. Back in Deuteronomy again, now Deuteronomy 22.
Understand, thou shalt not plow with an ox and an S together.
What do we have in this for us?
Some of you will recall the.
Parameters, if you will.
Of the clean and the unclean animals.
The clean animals had the cloven hooked and they chewed the cud, right? It's a spiritual lesson for us of the cloven hoof. Is is separation from the world and separate to Christ?
Chewing the cud is probably a number of applications to this, but to my own heart, suing the cut is meditating and ingesting the Word of God and then bringing it back up and ruminating on it, if you will, meditating on it and being in the Word of God. And I'll leave it to other people to give other applications about the clean and the unclean, but the unclean didn't have those things.
No cloven hoof that's chewing the cud right here. We have don't plow with an oxygen and ask together.
So here we have the ox and the donkey.
Umm, different sides.
Different gate, one's clean, one's unclean.
They don't work together. One is very loyal and steady, the other one is stubborn.
This is.
Guidance young people in your lives while you're making decisions in your life about.
Relationships about business partnerships on any number of levels.
Thou shalt not plow with an oxen and S together the word of God is giving us.
Umm, there's a sign here that says warning, don't do this.
And again, I'm not up here to beat you up, but I am up here to encourage you to thrust to what the Word of God has in protection for your life.
You may think I can, I can handle dating an unsafe person. And I remember when I was in school, it's not that long ago, you know, you see somebody that they're fun to be around and why don't we go have coke together?
Or whatever. And it's not that serious and things develop and suddenly emotions are involved and the word of God is telling us here, don't do that because you're mixing clean and unclean. That tells us in Corinthians. Turn to that Second Corinthians 6/14.
Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers.
For what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness, and what communion hath light with darkness?
Well, you may think and I may think.
That maybe we can bring the other person up to our level. It doesn't work that way.
A saved person and an unsaved person.
Generally, the safe person is brought down to the level of the unsaved person. Be careful young people. Like I said, I don't want to beat you up, but I we have to be faithful in the guidance that God gives us in His Word. It's here for our good and blessing.
00:30:16
Now sometimes you might say, well, I know of cases where two people got married and and the Lord saved the other person and the Lord is gracious, but we dare not.
Demand that God make an exception based on a willful act of disobedience.
Sometimes I know of couples that were married in ignorance, not understanding what the Scripture teaches. And the Lord is gracious and loves to bless, but we cannot expect God to.
Bring us into a place of blessing when we have deliberately chosen pathways that the Lord has said this is not for you and it's true in business too. May.
Think, well, I'm going to go into partnership with this person or that person. Be careful about it. The Word of God has your blessing in mind.
I'm reminded of some of you know, brother Sterling Cannon from Newfoundland and Sterling is a is a piece of a brother. He's just a sweet. You can't help but be at Burlington does have a smile on your face, right, Brian?
Anyway, Sterling was fishing together in partnership with his brother-in-law.
And he was exercised about this. The guy's name was Oz, and Oz was not a Christian. And in obedience to the word of God, Brother Sterling told us, I can't be in partnership with you anymore. I'm going to buy you out, but I'm still going to pay you as a shared partner. You know what the Lord blessed A minute again, and the Lord will bless you to walk in obedience to what He's asking you to do.
All right, let's go to verse 11.
Thou shalt not wear a garment of diverse sorts.
As of woolen and linen together.
Well.
Clothing.
To me often speaks of testimony.
We've recently had the Olympics, right? And every country is wearing their own.
Colors, if you will, and when they win, they have their flags over their shoulders.
Because they are.
Proclaiming who they belong to.
And young people, I just want to encourage you in your walk on a day-to-day basis.
Fly the flag of Christianity and the Lord Jesus.
High and early.
And it's not an easy thing to do all the time.
You know.
I think it was Mr. Rule that mentioned this morning.
The man that said, men, I live in the presence of God. That comment, if I am writing this, I think I am, was made by a godly brother, an older brother who was exposed to jokes and other things in his workplace and he made that comment, Man, I live in the presence of God. You know what happened to those, the environment.
They didn't try to bring him into that anymore because of his testimony. He flew the flag. He had his colors up.
And I want to encourage you to do that early. You know, you may be 10 and think, well, you know, that's all fine for you old people. But, you know, I'm just, all I want to do is just go to school and come back, you know, put the name of Christ on your life.
Sometimes I think of the verse that says, If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thine hearts that God hath raised in from the dead, thou shalt be saved. And I think that applies to the gospel very well, but it also applies to your life. You confess the name of Christ to somebody in your class or in your office.
You'll be staying from a lot of problems, I can tell you that from experience.
Especially you young men, as you're getting jobs, your boss will send you someplace.
00:35:00
On a trip or you're on some project, you're flowing off to some other city to meet with people and.
All right, we're all going to go out to dinner and then we're going here and we're going there. And it's very difficult, if you haven't confessed the name of Christ, to get out of some of that. I remember flying to Denver one time and I knew in my heart of hearts this is the way it was going to go. And it did. And I thank the Lord that He gave me the strength to say I cannot go with you guys. I won't go, and here's why. And you know what? They never asked me again.
So fly.
Your flag early and put it up pie. But now there's something else in this garment. Turn over for a thought in Ezekiel 44.
And I have to confess, I never dreamed that I could minister out of Ezekiel to anybody.
But the 3rd Ezekiel 44.
Verse 18.
They shall have linen bonnets upon their heads, and shall have linen breeches upon their loins.
Hey, so Matt Gerd themselves with anything that caused us swept.
Well, here the instruction was.
Have linen.
And not wool, so not wear a garment of diverse sources, will and linen together. Linen speaks of heavenly things.
Wool speaks of.
Human effort, if you will.
Swept. So if we were to go outside right now and we all had wool sweaters on, maybe we wouldn't sweat. But I think I would, right? And to me, it speaks of human effort.
In striving to achieve what I want to achieve.
They were not to do that. You know, it's tempting for us to, you know, we had the gospel supper last night, right? And we might say, how could we get more people here? Well, let's bring in a nice band and let's do.
A bunch of things like that. I'm not speaking against people that play music well, don't get me wrong, but.
God's work is His Spirit's work, and we're to rely on the Spirit to work in our lives and not insert our own human effort, if you will.
So Steve and I might say, well, we're going to do this project in our own strength. And what happened, Steve?
It doesn't work right when we're doing things in the strength of the Lord.
And the Lord gives the liberty, and the Lord gives the gift and the guidance. Suddenly, though, if the Lords work, it has nothing to do with us. And that's how the Lord wants us to surrender our lives. Say, Lord, it's none of me and it's all of you.
And then the Lord blesses that. So that's all I'll say about that. But remember the testimony and flying the flag early in your garments and also letting the Lord be in control and not me.
Now the last one that we'll talk about, verse 12.
How shall make the fringes upon the four corners of divestiture wherewithal cover us thyself?
Well, here's some instruction about putting a border around their clothing.
I'd like to connect that with numbers 15 for a minute please.
And verse 38.
Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes.
In the borders of their garments throughout their generations.
That they put upon the fringe of the border a ribbon, the blue.
Well, if we were to go outside right now and look up, what would we see?
Blue, maybe. I think blue. If there was number clouds, we certainly would see blue. And it's a reminder to us young people to keep our view on heavenly things. It's easy to get our eyes on earthly problems.
00:40:01
You know, the car broke down or this or that or the other thing. I think everyone of us can think of different earthly things.
That we can get occupied with, probably necessary for our lives, but it's not to be the center focused. So here we have these ribbons of blue on these four corners of the garment.
Reminding us to keep our view.
Heavenward. We're heavenly people. This earth is not our home. We're going up.
We're going out, and it's been helpful for me to think about these four ribbons of blue as our personal lives, keeping the heavenly view, our family lives, our assembly lives, and our work lives.
Four things that we can do and to keep our view and our focus and to gain our strength from drawing from the heavenly.
We're heavenly people.
So I hope that this will help strengthen the things which remain.
I very much.
Want to be speaking in an encouraging way to you young people and to young families?
The Lord values you, the Lord has worked for you to do, The Lord has a plan for your life. And the happy path is to follow the Lorde direction and to follow the Lorde leading, and to take seriously the warnings that Scripture gives us, and also to be encouraged by the encouragements that the Lord gives. They brought little children to him that He might bless them.
And he did. He does. He will So.
Be encouraged. We're almost at the end. We're almost at the end.
The way this world is going right now, as Bob mentioned this last night, we're in a fast downward spiral. See if we throw in the towel and give up. No, let's keep our eyes.
Heavenly things and the Lord will bless.
Like to speak on two things.
That run through scripture side by side.
Bernie's book of one of them in Galatians chapter six, that is.
Very interesting that maybe we could go to just mention these two things. Just the first Peter chapter 5 to begin with.
And then another in chapter 4.
Like to think of these two things.
Like 2 rails of the train that runs side by side.
You look at a straight stretch in the train track. It looks way up there. Maybe they touch, but they really never do. They run side by side. First one, let's look at first Peter chapter 5 and verse 10. The God of all grace, who has called us into unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus. After that you have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, staddle you.
God is a God of grace, of all grace.
Brethren, we could not stand if it were not so. That God is the God of grace, and grace is God's.
Unmerited favor.
There is no other grounds upon which we can stand before God, but on the grounds of His grace.
But look back at Chapter 4 and here we have the other thing I would like to talk about.
Inverse.
17 For the time is come that judgment must begin.
At the House of God.
00:45:01
And if it first begins at us.
What shall the envy of them that obey not the gospel of God?
Here we have the principle of government.
And Bernie mentioned those verses in Galatians chapter 6.
May not deceive, God is not mocked whatsoever. A man slows that shall he also reap. And Bernie mentioned how do you still corn? You're going to get corn. You never get potatoes. And there's another thing you have to recognize. The harvest is always greater than what you saw. At least that's the way it's meant to be, and most of the time it is.
So it's something to think about.
These are principles of government. God has us and his family.
But you know what? The fact that God is the God of government gives me confidence.
Because I know I have a God who loves me, so that if I step out of the line, he's going to say something about it. God is gracious, very definitely so. But God is also a God of government. And those two things run through Scripture as the two rails of the train side by side. And it really is a help to see that as you look into Scripture. David.
Is an example. You remember David Sin? He sinned Seriously.
He took the wife of one of his best lawyers.
And then he had that best lawyer killed by the sword of the enemy so he could have her.
And it seems like David was out of fellowship with the Lord.
For maybe the better part of the year.
And.
He had to be reproved by the Prophet.
When Nathan the prophet said, you're the man David had the courage to say and recognize I have sinned. And immediately the prophet said God also has remitted thy sin. He forgave him on what grounds? He should have been executed on two grounds. Adultery was a sin to be punished by death and murder was another sin to be punished by death.
But God forgave him, but at the same time, he said.
Because thus made the enemies of the Lord to blasphemy.
The sword will never depart from my house. So the rest of his life, David had to walk.
In fear before the Lord, and he lost four of his sons.
Oh, dear David, what a man of God he was. But those two things run through our lives, brethren, and I find it is so beautiful to see if we could understand better the grace of God. I have to confess that in my own soul I find myself reverting again and again to the principle of law.
And grace is completely different.
Completely different. I don't know that I understand it that well. The grace of God.
And I'd like to speak briefly about a man in the Old Testament that experienced these two things in the book of Genesis, talking about Jacob. Jacob.
Was a twin.
And.
When his mother, Rebecca was.
Pregnant with the twins, they were struggling in the sight of her and she went to the Lord. Why am I this way?
And the Lord said to her, Two peoples are in thy womb.
And the elder shall serve the younger.
That's not generally the way it was. It was the first one born that had the birthright, had the privileges. But in this case God said the elder shall serve the younger.
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And so.
Esau and Jacob were born. Just an interesting nut. The struggle that started in Rebecca's womb continues to this day.
Over in Israel and the surrounding countries, Esau.
Is to the South.
East of.
Israel.
In that land, the Edomites, some think they the present day are some of the Palestinians. I'm not just sure if that's the case. I've heard that suggested.
But the struggle continues.
That started in Rebecca's womb.
Esha was the Hansen guy of the two. Jacob was a plain man.
Who dwelt in tents? Esau was out there. He was a hunter. Pretty admirable guy.
I suppose handsome.
And too bad. But as happens sometimes in families.
Isaac favored Esau and Rebecca favored Jacob.
And so there was rivalry. It's too bad when it's that way in a home circle.
The Lord grant that those have families, that the parents stand together instead of having favorites in the family.
But there was one thing about Jacob.
He appreciated the things of God even though he was the schemer.
And that made a lot of trouble for him, but.
Didn't value the things of God. One day he comes in from honey terribly hungry.
And faint with hunger.
And there is Jacob fixing a pot of food.
Simple brotherly love.
Offering a plate of food. But Jacob says so many of Earth, right?
And what does Esau say? What good is my birthright to me? I'm just about to die and it's not going to do me any good. Take it. Give me that plate of food. That's why he's called in Hebrews chapter 12A, profane man. Profanity is treating that which is sacred as if it were common.
Dear young people, it's wonderful to have the things of God open to us.
But sometimes, as we're brought up in Christian homes, we just kind of don't take it that seriously.
Be careful about treating as common those things that are sacred.
That's the kind of man you saw was.
And I'd like to go to chapter 28 to begin with because I want to speak.
First of all, about Jacob, when the Lord appeared to him, when he was.
Going towards Peter Neuram.
For his uncles house where he is escaping. You remember what happened? I just briefly mention it.
That the time came when Jay, when Isaac was getting all that he wanted to bless, and I think he must have known that Jacob was the one that God meant to bless.
But Isaac had his favorite and it was Esau. And so he says to Esau, go out and gets them game and fix me that's favoring me that I love and I'll bless you.
But Rebecca heard about it, and she sets Jacob up to doing something.
Go get me one of the kids, one of the young kids of the goats, and I'll fix favorite meat like your father loves and you can take it in.
To give the blessing. And Jacob is kind of fearful and he says.
Maybe my father will feel me, since he wasn't a hairy man like Esau was, and it'll be a curse to me and not a blessing. And so she puts the skins of the goats on his arms, and he goes in, and he deceives his father, and he gets the blessing. And he's just barely gone out when here comes Esau and he fixes the savory meat, and he goes into his father.
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And his father, of course, is disturbed, says who was it that came and took the blessing?
You know, it's interesting.
He then says yay and he shall be blessed.
You know it says in Hebrews Chapter 11 by faith.
Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. I really think that's where faith triumphed it when he said yay and he shall be blessed. He did give some kind of a blessing to Esther, but Esau wept.
Because he saw that he had lost the blessing, he despised the birthright and he lost the blessing.
Well.
You saw his angry at Jacob and he says time for my father's death is close at hand. Then I'll kill my brother Jacob. And so Rebecca has to get busy since she suggested something.
That was really sowing to the flesh. You know, you always have to patch up what the flesh does. And so ** *** suggests that he escape to her brother Labans in Python, Aram. And that's where we find chapter 28. Jacob is leading his home and he's going towards Peyton, Aram and the Lord appears to him and I, I love this. What happens here? Notice verse 10. We'll read a few verses here.
And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Heron, and delighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set. And he took of the stones of that place and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.
You ever tried sleeping on a stone for a pillow?
Pretty tough, Pretty hard.
You know what when we saw to the flesh it can get.
Pretty hard.
And poor Jacob, that's what he had for a pillow, and he dreamed. And behold, the ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac. The land wherein thou liest to thee will I give it, and to thy seed, and thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth.
Thou shalt spread abroad to the West, and to the east, and to the north and to the South, and indeed, and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. And behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all the places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land. For I will not leave thee until I have done that which I have spoken to thee. Isn't that beautiful?
What grounds does God have to bless this man who has just deceived his father?
This is pure, unmerited favor, the grace of God.
Oh brethren, we could understand. We were talking these days of the blessings of Ephesians chapter one. It is rich territory.
To meditate on beautiful, beautiful. How much do we enjoy those realities?
Whether you understand them or not, whether you enjoy them or not, they are realities.
And they're meant for us to enjoy.
Here you read this.
Promised the Lord to Jacob. It's totally unconditional blessing.
Promises that he will be with him.
Did Jacob understand it?
You know when we have a bad conscience.
We don't really appreciate the things of God like we need to a bad conscience.
Is a torture and it's so important.
To live.
And keep, be exercised to keep always a conscience void of offense toward God and toward man. I don't think Jacob had that. So notice what he says in reply to the Lord. He wakes up and then he says verse 17, verse 16, at the end he says surely the Lord is in this place. And I knew it not. And he was afraid and said, how dreadful is this place? Why did he say it was a dreadful place?
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Because he had bad conscience.
This is none other but the House of God, and this is the gate of heaven.
Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone which he had put for a pillow, set it up for a pillar, and poured oil on the top of it. And he called the name of that place Bethel. The name of that city was called Luz at the 1St. And Jacob bowed about. Now listen to what he says, Mr. Mia's instructed.
If God will be with me, God has said, I will be with thee. He puts an F in there. He puts it, He makes it conditional. If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and raiment to put on, so that I come again to my Father's house in peace, then shall the Lord be my God. And this stone which I have set up for a pillar shall be God's house. And of all that out shall give me, I will surely give the 10th. And today. In other words, He makes the contract with God.
He does not understand God's grace.
Brethren, I have to confess for myself how little I understand the wonders of His grace. And it's because we don't understand it, and it's because we make our contracts with God. If I do things right, surely God's going to bless me.
Brethren, God's blessing comes not because we do things right.
It's because of His sovereign grace.
So Jacob makes his contract.
And off he goes. I'd like to go over then to the 32nd chapter. In between these two chapters, he is over with his Uncle Levin. He goes over there and one of the first persons he meets is Rachel.
His uncle's daughter and its love at first sight.
With Rach, he really loved her and.
You remember how it went, he said to his uncle, Give me thy daughter Rachel as wife. I will serve thee 7 years for her. And it says such was his love that seven years seemed like a little time because he loved her so much. I wonder how many young men would be interested if their respective father-in-law said well.
We'll talk about it after seven years.
That might be a little different, since for Jacob it was all right. He loved her so much. That's the proof of real love, isn't it?
And so the time came when he says to Laban, give me my wife where I fulfilled the seven years. And so they make a big feast and.
At the end of the feast, Jacob goes to his tent with his new wife.
Whom we supposed to be Rachel spends the night and in the morning.
What has happened? You gave me Leah.
I work for Rachel.
Jacob, remember?
You sowed deceit with your father.
Now's the harvest time.
Oh well.
The tremendous lesson that had to be learned.
Poor Jacob. I don't know, it must have been terribly delusion thing to wake up and find out that the one that he spent the night with wasn't Rach.
Well, he comes back to his father-in-law and says, what have you done to me?
And so he makes the contract to work another seven years.
And he gets Rachel, too. But brethren, that wasn't the end of the story. There was still some reaping to be done later on when he has his sons who are now adults.
They again deceived poor Jacob. Jacob finally had one son with Rachel Joseph, his favorite son, and he went to see his brothers when he was 17 years old.
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And instead of coming back, the brothers sent back a garment. Was Jacob Joseph's garment stained with blood?
We found this. Is this your son Joseph?
And poor Jacob.
Nobody could console him the sorrow of losing Joseph.
He thought was dead.
Brethren, can you see that when we don't base our lives?
On the grace of God, God.
Works in his government to reduce this to the recognition of the fact that we cannot stand before God on the grounds of our own responsibility. It has to be on the grounds of His sovereign grace. Nothing less, nothing less.
Here in chapter 32, Jacob is on his way back now.
To the promised land, and he sends.
Boost.
To his brother that is coming back and he gets the news.
That here comes Esau with 400 men, and you can imagine what his thoughts were 400 men.
It's going to be.
Heavy businesses, Larissa. He hasn't seen him since he had deceived him and he thought he was coming here just to destroy him completely. Poor Jacob. Well, he has his own ways of putting gifts ahead of him and.
You can seriously wear the juice. Get it ready.
A scheme and they know how to do it pretty successfully.
But I want to just talk a little bit about from verse 24 on the.
The night before.
Jacob meets. He saw his brother, it says. Jacob was left alone.
And they're wrestled a man with him until the breaking of day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh, and the hollow of chickens thigh was out of joint as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go for the day, break it. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. Here's Jacob wrestling with a man says.
In Hosea, it was the Angel. It really was the Lord he was wrestling with.
It's tremendously interesting to think about this, the Lord wrestling with Jacob.
All night.
Night wrestling, wrestling, wrestling. No rest that night.
Wrestling, wrestling, wrestling. And if we're going to live our lives making contracts with God, we're going to be wrestling all our lives long. There will be no rest in it.
Poor Jason. Everything dark.
Wrestling, wrestling, wrestling. But when you think about it, it's the Lord that was wrestling with Jacob.
Couldn't the Lord just?
Finish off the wrestling match.
Why didn't he just finish off the wrestling match?
He could easily.
Take on Jacob and finish him. Why didn't he?
You know why he didn't, brother? Because he wanted Jacob to be the vents of the victor in the wrestling match. And he ended up being that way. He wrestled with God and with man, and he prevailed. And God wants us to be prevailers too. But you can't be prevailers on the grounds that you set up with God. It has to be on the grounds of His grace. And so when he saw, he couldn't.
Get the advantage with Jacob. What does he do? He touches him.
In the.
Hollow of his thigh, I guess it would be the hip and his hip goes on a joint and he couldn't wrestle any longer.
And when he couldn't wrestle any longer, the Angel said to him, let me go for the day breaks.
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Coming to the end of the night.
And Jacob, what does he say to me? This is where Jacob prevailed. I will not let thee go except thou bless me. On what grounds am I going to bless you, Jacob, you schemer, there was only one grounds upon which he could bless him, the grounds of his sovereign graces.
And I love this because Jacob prevailed in that he laid hold on that Angel instead.
I will not let you go until you bless me. And So what does the Angel say? He says, what is thy name?
You know when he went in for the blessing to his father Isaac.
I think you said what is your name?
And he lied.
He said Isha.
But Jacob seems to have come to the end of doing that.
The Lord said, what is your name too? And he says Jacob Schemer.
Supplanter.
And notice what the Lord says in verse 28. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel. For as a Princess, thou power with God and with man, and hath prevailed. And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee thy name.
And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. I love this.
Jacob is given a new name.
Israel, wherever you have that word E name that has El in it.
That's the name of God.
A Prince with God, that schemer.
Of Prince with God, yes, he prevailed.
With God and with man and got the blessing.
Not because of any contract he made with God, but because of God's sovereign graces.
Maybe you feel that you've been in a struggle in your life. It's been all night long. Struggle, wrestle, wrestle, wrestle with one thing and another and you don't seem to get through it.
Why does God allow that?
For us to come to the end of our own resources and being prevailers.
This is the victory that overcomes the world.
Even our faith. And Jacob laid hold of the Angel and said, I will not let you go till you bless me. And he got the blessing. He prevailed.
And oh brethren, I love to think about it. The end of Jacob.
Is bright, you know Isaac. His father never got that far out of the way in the ways.
Of God or the ways of God with him. He never went down into Egypt, He stayed there in the land of Kingdom where he was supposed to stay.
But Isaac died a man that had lost his eyesight, and it's not real bright at the end of his life. But Jacob, where is Jacob at the end of his life?
He's down there in Egypt. What you doing down there in Egypt?
Joseph took him into Pharaoh. What did he do with Pharaoh?
He blessed Pharaoh.
Scripture tells us without contradiction the.
Lesser is blessed by the greater.
Morally speaking, in that moment when he was blessing Pharaoh, he was greater than Pharaoh.
Oh, what a tremendous way that God made him come to grips with the blessing. He was a prevailer there. He was in the Egypt. He ended his days in Egypt and those last chapters of the book of Genesis where he blesses his sons with such foresight shows the tremendous.
Way that Jacob had learned to prevail.
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That's what God is doing in our lives now, brethren. Again, I say, I marvel.
At the ways of God with this. But how much do we understand His graces? That's what's got to prevail in our lives.
His grace and God is going to bless you. He has blessed you with all spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ. How much have you laid hold of that? How much are you living in the enjoyment of those blessings? They're realities and yet we go through life.
Cast down, bent over with cares.
May the Lord help us, brethren, to learn to know what it means to be a prevailer like Jacob, that poor scheming man that was brought to the end of his own struggles. One thing perhaps that Jacob had for the rest of his life is he had a bad limp.
He halted on his on his hip that was out of joint and it says.
He leaned on the top of his staff. He had learned not to trust in his own resources. He had learned to trust in something else outside of himself. He learned to trust in his God. Oh, what a lesson it is, brethren. God in his grace is going to bless us. But if we don't believe it, if we go to our own ideas, God has another principle that He employs for our own blessing. It's His government.
And it's not meant to be something that we are scared of, but it's something that should cause confidence in this, that we have a God that loves us and will set the parameters in our lives.
Just sing that little hymn. May the grace of Christ our Savior. I think it's #17.
And the Father's boundless love with the Holy Spirit's favor rest upon us from about #17.
We commend ourselves.
Freezes God Our Father, we look up to heaven at the close of this little meeting we've had together. And we thank thee for the ministry from Thy precious word, our God. And we ask thee that Thou would make it a blessing to each of our souls. We commend those that are traveling to thee and those that perhaps are going now. And we pray about the balance of our time together. And we ask thee for the following reading meeting. And ask thee, Father, for thy own glory, that Thou hast use it in blessing. We give thanks in thy name, Amen.
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