Vestal Conference: 1987
Table of Contents
James 3
Reading
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Really.
I don't have a scripture, but I'd like to read one version.
Turned in the book of James.
OK.
Capricornia.
March 1.
My brethren.
Be not many masters knowing that we shall receive the greater condominium. Now if I understand it correctly, this should be not many features.
Knowing that, we shall be seen to greater combination.
00:05:53
I said I did not have the scripture before me and I didn't.
Yeah, but I made this first. I was just wondering if this chapter is going to be exhausted.
I did not have a scripture ready.
It was just that first.
I remember some time ago, Brother ******** Conference years ago, I said, you know, we were so very old men on the practical Book of games.
Well, I I'm in favor of getting some practical medicine from James Chapter 3.
Pretty good. OK, after three of our squats, my brethren, he has many masses known that we shall receive the great condemnation for many things. We offend all. If any man offend not in words. That thing is perfect for me, a perfect man, and it will also drive the whole body. Behold, if you put this in the voice of narrow that they may obey us and adjourn about their whole body.
Behold also the ship is so made me so great and I really can't win yet but they turned about their small helm with us. However, the government is Even so the communism member and both did great things. Behold how great matter a little fire England.
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity, so that the sun among our members, that it defies the whole body, and set upon fire the force of nature. And they set on fire of hell for every kind of being inferred and serpent.
And The thing is, the seed is tanks and has been changed in mankind.
But the tongue had no maintain. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
There with next we God even the father and there with cursing men which I made after the military thought as the thing matters with his blessing cursing my brethren. These things fought in October Eve that's a fountain pen fought the same place 3/4 and dinner and the six three my brother Allah Terry either of the vine thick.
So it knows happening Turkey or so forth and fresh.
Who is the wise man and then docked among you that he shall have a good conversation his words with him, but if he has a bit of MDA in striking my heart. Lorry not lying up against the truth. This missile descended nothing about but his birthday eventual beverage. So we're ending and drive Is there a confusion and every evil word, but the wisdom that is from above is true and pure of.
That's feasible, gentle and easy to be treated full of Arsene and good fruits and with that cash outing and last hypocrisy and the fruit of righteousness is so repeat of them that make Jesus.
Teachers knowing that we shall exceed the greater condemnation for judgment. And so as far as background is concerned, James.
Uh, it was one of the fossils as well, no doubt that had remembrance of a lot of the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. In Matthew 23 and verse 8, the Lord said in verse 7, the pharmacy is described.
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They love the uppermost cruel and the thief, and the chief seats in the synagogue, and greens in the market, and they call them men, Rabbi, rabbi, or nature beyond equal Rabbi. For one is your Master, King of Christ, and your all brethren. And so there was a tendency on this part, and the Lord solemnly refused these that were in the place of teaching and leadership in Israel. And the condemnation was not that they were teaching the word of God.
That was all well and good, but they were, they were teaching me what they weren't doing at all. Their lives were not banging up at all what they were teaching. And what a solemn thing then for even those of us who are believers and who do have opportunity from time to time and teaching at the Word. And that's why I think my brother mentioned this at the beginning. What a solemn responsibility that there is for those of us now who may take part this afternoon.
An acknowledge or exhort, uh, those are the last bus assembled here after a walk before the Lord, a walk in separation to guard her own tongue and to deliver his honor and glory. Our own lives are pulled into consistency. All our strong things that taking such a position, what's going to happen in the day of the judgment seat of Christ that we can receive a greater as of our condemnation, not condemnation actually, but judgment, a loss of reward.
Things will be burned up and won't be profitable at all for reboot.
And it and it occurs to me that it would be nice to turn the Romans 12 over.
Or two.
Be sure to speak out for everybody. All right, I'll do that. I understand.
Let us turn to Romans chapter 12, uh for two verses.
Or beginning at verse 2.
DNA conform to this world as Romans 12/2 well be transformed.
By the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Well, I say through the grace given unto me, that every man that is among you not to think of himself more highly than the author.
But the thing soberly, according to God had dealt every man the measure of faith. Now I call this attention to this that before the third verse, we read it in the second, be not conformed to this world. And you can think of many things in which you could be informed of this world. That's, that's quite an exercise and a good one of yours. And, uh, everything around would tend to make us conform. But the word here is be not conformed, be transformed.
We're a new, uh, new, uh, we have new life. I mean, it has been transformed, but isn't it striking that the first one, uh, along that line that you mentioned is, is this? I say through the grace given unto me to every man that is pneumonia, not to think of himself more highly than they ought to think. Now that's striking. In fact, other things aren't pointed out. This is certainly the characteristic of the world alumni, to want oneself to put oneself forward.
To be important, in fact, I'll give you courses in it.
And you can have special colleges for that. I think there are places where they specialize on it. That's the order of the day. Men shall be lovers of their own selves. But we're to be transformed. Now I, I, I want to say this, that as we read this third chapter of James, I was struck with how much it said about the time. I'm sure you were all. Now this is the inspired word of God. Men doubt it. At one time they had trouble thinking about practical things. I think, uh, and putting them on, putting some of these things alongside of the grace that we.
That we received. But isn't it striking? There's so much is said about the tongue.
But we have gone through beloved days in which the tongue has been very badly used and it's caused anguish amongst us and still many.
So it isn't a a vain thing to be exercised about, is it? How we speak? What the Spirit is?
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We're thinking in that thinking of teachers.
When Nicodemus came to the Lord Jesus.
And now how the Lord told him that he must be born again? Nicodemus said. How can these things be?
He said, Art thou a teacher in Israel? Knoweth not these things. Now I I think a demon says that no one is Ezekiel 3625.
He would have known that.
There's this aspect about teaching.
In the First Epistle to the Corinthians, chapter 14, we are told to let the prophets speak at 2 by threes, and let the others gut. Part of the thought of judgment in our chapter is that one speaking may be judged by his brethren, as the rest is true of what he brings in.
So there is the responsibility of the individual who speaks to open up the word of God to the Saint speaks the mind of God, and he speak Peter double that he should speak of the Oracle of God. But it is not just the seed leading the blind. The seed must be the seeding and the things of God. And those who hear the word of God ministered must be discerned as the truth of what they're being taught.
Paul the apostle says in the Bereans, they are more noble than the fence of the knightings, in that they search the Scriptures daily to see whether or not these things are so. Let us not put the test, but the apostle was teaching, but so that their faith might rest upon the word of God, and not on the word of some learned brother or some peace. So when one seeks to take the place of instructing, there is a responsibility to be instructed to search the Scriptures so that their faith might rest upon the word of God and have.
A connection with God through faith.
Rather than rest simply on the word man. So that aspect of of receiving greater judgment is if I do not speak the truth, I may very well be thought the task by my dear reverend who has judged what I said did not commend itself of their hearts and consciousness here at all.
Doesn't it go beyond that Brother Gul too, that not only is it a question of whether what I teach is true or not, but I believe here that I I think it also includes the thought that if I set forth God's truth, I'm expected first of all to walk in that truth and that I bring judgment on myself.
Perhaps I mistake this first verse that I would I would think that it also brings before us the responsibility that if I am one, who?
Knows God's truth. God is going to hold me especially responsible for how I live that truth. And I believe there's where we fall down. Not so much in the accuracy of what we say, although I feel very strongly with you, brother, that that's very, very important. But Mr. Begg used to warn us about being as clear as ice and just as cold.
In our teaching and in order to warm our hearts and make us walk in there, the truth is just ministered as in.
You might minister and as you might lecture in a college classroom, uh, is not what God intends for us. And uh, there's, there's to be the, the life. But I think we had a verse brought before us in Woodbridge in the last fellowship meeting that was very instructive. Umm, I'll know as my teaching and manner of life. And I believe those two things go together. And if they don't go together, we invite judgment upon ourselves. Would you think it also includes that rather you don't aspirin. That's very true.
Doctrine, however pure, will not keep the seats going on with the crate. It is affection for Christ, and occupation with this person, and the translating of the life of Christ into the life, that enables 1 to go on with God, and failure to produce those certainly encourage the government of God against any who take the position of teaching these things, and not walking past that which you seek that forth.
Yes, I think that's right.
James is writing this thing to the 12 tribes. So his specific ministry then is for the 12 tribes and the Jewish believers. But that's why every once in a while too, in the fiscal game, you'll find some hard things because it wants to strike at the conscience because his, his, the scope is why it goes beyond just believers. And I anticipate some of those who are just taking a mere profession at the time, but uh, with chapter, uh, or verse one.
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Just let me read a few verses for background enrollment chapter 2 The apostle Paul when he says in Romans chapter 2 and verse seven, Please and behold, thou art called a Jew, and rested in the law, and maketh by boast of God, and knoweth his will, and approve us. The things that are more excellent being instructed out of the law, and are confident that thou myself are a guy of a blind, a light of them which are in darkness.
And the structure of the foolish, a teacher of these which has to form the knowledge and have the truth in the law. Now therefore, which teaches another teacheth hell not myself thou that preaches the man should not steal the fast steal. If I want to tell you and admire you, according to Ephesians, as a Christian you have no business to steal whatsoever. And then I steal by working 8 hours a day.
And uh, stealing time from my employer and not giving him a full 8 hours. There's a way of stealing, you know, that uh, isn't just necessarily filtering something we can steal another way. It says here that thou, that saith the man, you're not commit adultery, but thou commit adultery. Thou of course idol, thou, thou commit standulation. How many idols do we have? We know that idolatry is wrong, but as uh, as parents.
Sometimes do we put our children?
And they're interested and what they wanna do before obedience to the Lord of God. Can we set up our children in pilots sometimes or, uh, or as many work, has our job become an idol to us? That it, it controls everything of where we're gonna move. What we're gonna do it. It just has sway over us. Well, as I say, there's, there's a position of those at that time. And as I say, it can apply to us even now that we can say these things are wrong, but we're gonna teach them. Let's allow that the brethren as they look it up, by the grace of God, I'm just gonna be filled. We all the same in many ways, that's great.
But let's find a brief of God and give her that if we're gonna send forth these things that ask the Lord to give us praise to be consistent for the Lord.
You see beautiful consistency in the life of Christ, don't we? I was thinking again in this second verse. It says in many things we offend all we all offend which we have to say. We put our we can see, I can see myself in this verse, in this part of the verse. But then he goes on, if any man offend not in Word the same as a perfect man, he will also survive on the whole body. Well, I think of the Lord Jesus.
As the perfect man.
And I think 2 of that is the opening of the book of Acts is in right there in the first chapter of Acts. How, uh, the Lord Jesus.
Uh, just verse one, the former treatise have I made oath Theophilus of all that Jesus began both to do and to teach. We go in reverse here. We like to teach, but we're not always willing to do and have the mind of God. And I believe that there's a very lovely thought in connection with the, the, uh, the, my, the tongue is brought into subjection.
The time of the index of the heart, isn't it what is in this heart of mine comes out and it may be that which would be displeasing to the Lord. It says that the same is the perfect match and Abel also to rital the whole body. So I believe we see I see in this day the direction the Spirit of God directing our thoughts to the person of Christ who is the perfect one. If we want to see perfection, we should be living right now and.
But I thought of the the verse that says he won't begin to do and to teach.
Dear brother Charlie, that makes me think of John chapter 8 and verse 25. I just like to turn to that and that connection. I believe that this verse shows beautifully what you're what you're referring to in John 825. We need then said that unto him, who art thou?
And Jesus said unto them even the same.
That I said unto you from the beginning, and the new translation puts it even better. Does someone have it to have anything to read it in the new translation? And because it's a beautiful thought, Who art thou? And Jesus said to them all together that which I also saith. Now I say, this is beautiful, and I don't think any of us attained to this.
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I would like to and the and the more we know him.
And the closer we are to him, the more will attain to him. But he was all together that what she said, we are not. We say something, but our lives don't back it up. Isn't it beautiful to think of one who was all together what he said beautiful. I think too, just going over to the 17th of Matthew, uh, there's a verse there that so my soul has always been exceedingly collected and precious to see if you were already seeing John, the perfections of the, of the Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of, of this company.
Most people who he could have said, well, you're all there. There's all, there's something wrong with all of it. But he didn't do that. Uh, just notice, uh, Matthew 17, umm, well, verse 26, Peter says unto him of strangers and they were asked, you know, who should be, should we take, could use the custom and so on. And, uh, but then I, he said that here's, that's the most streaming Jesus said to him, then the children are free. Ah, but did he say, because I'm free, I, I just, I'll ride over this.
Oh, no Notice 1St 27 notwithstanding less we should offend them. Them. Who are they?
Bunch of spinners, who all of them were, uh, who, unless we should offend them, rolled out to the sea and cast in a hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up. And when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money, and take and give unto him for me and thee he would not offend even this motley that might take through our crowd here.
Well, I I think this is a sole blessing and precious to see that the Lord Jesus bearing the gains and says about not off spending our Lord Jesus Christ did not offend. He spoke the truth reached the conscience.
But he did not offend.
I'd like to suggest that a very pressured burger that I mentioned two weeks ago in the special meeting in Woodbridge. And I think that it's very appropriate again to read a few this afternoon at the gospel of my look at chapter 10. Something very, very precious we find there to clear up ourselves of all the evil that is mentioned in this chapter 3 of James. Listen to this version we hear.
Very precious indeed.
Press 39 investigate behind that Jesus finds a place of refugees on my sea of rest in the House of Bethany of these two systems and abroad. She said that she had a sister Mary, which also seated Jesus tree and hear his word. You know this is a wonderful thing with all the people of God.
See the genius of feet and dearly hurt. Now Martha, she was compelled because of that in verse 41.
Uh #40 and so the Lord has automatically and Jesus said and said and said unto God, Martha, Martha, thou art careful in trouble about many things, but one thing is gentle. And Mary had chosen that good part which shall not be taken away from her as to be at the feet of the save into life again. And that's what will clear up on this evil that we have in this chapter 3 has to be at the fruit of the Lord Jesus and lying for him.
What I want, the whole thing I can do in that every time, three times, these little merry three times with the people of Jesus and she has very little to say, but she was there to listen to the weight of God. And then when she was on trouble, she went to say, no, the flower would have been here, my brother would have been alive and the road then. So we've got to do that. And then you'll find in chapter 12 for the gospel of a John that she's at the feet of Jesus to worship him. And you hear very, very little things of this woman saying what a lesson we can run for them.
Might point out to this and verse 2 umm about how to change I wish does not mean.
Talking about another line of food when we're talking about the Lord himself being faithful and speaking the truth of God and the Pharisees were upset with what you said or something like that. Well is the Lord going to keep on offending them by not getting the truth to God. No brother, we are responsible for God. Suppose I have some friends I look at them too and I'm telling look at word of God said that you are a Sinner. You have your religion but it won't sing you. You need to democracy. You need to bloodshed on the cross. Kelly and then his offended.
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They must be offended. We are responsible for the faithful for the proof of God just as the Lord of Jesus and then we'll breathe offense. But what we're dealing with in our text here is this fact that.
I can cut people's fingers on it too. I can wield it in such a way that in my manner, in my spirit and my abuse of the Christian living that I can do a lot of harm and damage. And that's clearly what the all are guilty in some sway, even some kind of independence recently. And I just struck my heart to know that sometimes when we we speak about the open brethren, they say, oh, he's an open breath.
You know, there's, there's nothing in the heart behind that. Oh, he's a chaos thing. He's in the KLC. And so there's a tall on the earth, you know, and uh, we may have to be be careful. Now, the reason why I said it is, uh, Brian's fiance, uh, she's just been recently gathered in another city, but I get you, particularly here. But anyway, someone came to her and said to her and offended her that all that group of people that you just come from, they're evil. That's Reformed Church. So I know that's an evil much. It's good to get delighted.
Well, almost double the girl right away.
And so as I say this type of thing, we must be careful of the truth of God. We stand for, we give out. And if people are offended, they're offended. What our manner is and our harshness, our criticism, our talk, finding of our tongue, the other person.
That's why this official is practical, isn't it? It's practical because it implies to my, myself as to my umm, you might say my attitude and my what I say what comes out of me, it might offend not what comes on the Word of God. I think that's a very important point, Mr. Greenhouse, but we have to be careful, Brother Charles, I'm sure you agree with this to, umm, distinguish between what's our opinion and what is the word of God.
Uh, we can weaken a point and we often do by mingling our opinion with the word of God. Uh, just talking with his brother last evening on the phone and he mentioned a very good word of ministry that had been given in his local assembly. But he said, you know, the brother weakened it because he added his opinion and with it, and he said it just took the edge right off it. And I think we have to be very careful about that.
We can be dogmatic when it comes to God's fundamental truths. We ought to insist upon them. There's no leeway in those things. But when we, uh, are expressing a spiritual judgment, it ought to be presented that way in humility to our brethren. And let the Spirit of God, uh, uh, either give approval or disapproval in the hearts of our brethren. But we ought to be very careful not to pronounce as if we're pronouncing the word of God when it's just our opinion.
And I think we, we, uh, need to remember that this second verse, I enjoy the way it is in the new translation. It says we all.
Often offend. And I think if we just let that verse stand and speak to our hearts, it'll have its effect in our souls. We all think how often often?
We all often offend if there's anybody who does it well, that man is a perfect man. He's able to control the whole body.
But, uh, I think none of us would take that position with me.
There's a positive truth in first Peter 411 and I think, uh, we might look at, uh, what we've been thinking about is mostly negative, uh, but uh, we need some positive truth too.
There we read first Peter 4, verse 11. If any man speak, let him speak as the articles of God.
Uh, if any man minister, let him do so as of the ability which God give it. Uh, this is very important. What comes next that God.
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And all things may be glorified.
Now why are we saying something?
It'd be good to ask ourselves to set somebody straight merely.
It would be a good thing to be exercised to speak for as As for God. That's what that means. I mean, is God's mouthpiece now? That's a responsibility. It's a heavy responsibility. You have to know something about what God has said in his Word, don't you?
Now permit me just refer to one other positive statement that's I think 1St Corinthians 14 May occur several times there, but it it it still fits in with what we have that I think it would would not be.
I missed a turn to it.
You know, I don't know just what version I want, but it's not, it's where we find that when we speak, we should speak to Ediform. Somebody could help me on that?
Well, verse 12, for instance, Even so, E or as much as your zealous spiritual gifts seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church and we all know that it means building up.
You know, if we can take a little time before we make a, a, a remark that ask ourselves, is this really building up?
That would have a good positive effect on the. Is this really building up or is it showing that I have quite a bit of knowledge?
I'm making a display of it is that would search us a little and I think it would.
Wonderfully help to obey what we had here today is to be in the good of what's happening and praying.
I'm glad that you brought up a positive aspect of how we speak. Our Slector speech always even briefed, seized with salt that you may know how you'll have to answer every man if one is exercised before God. It is wholly conversation that that particular point is matter of life. I know, but if his speech is such that it was with grease, and it is seasoned with that holy separateness to God.
That was guard against some of these negative things that we have had before us, then we have discernment as to how to answer those with whom we come in contact. Glad you're speaking always the great and respect of what brother little pointed up as to the Lord Jesus. Neither was God found in his mouth. Pharisees and Spanish invaded the Lord, seeking to trap him in his speech. That's why I said man. Never a man's faith like this man.
They sent to inquire him, and while they came back with nothing, because he did not give them an occasion, because his speech was not his style, he never baited his enemies, though they sought us to ensnare enemies. Speech and him was no dial. So we had that exercise out that would be staying weighed in the presence of gone and holy separately, said god.com. Then we know how we ought to answer every man, and then again we get they might minister grace to its theory. What does it sound like?
When you say this or that, the administrative race edifying that my brother pointed out that your speech is always great.
It's interesting here throughout these persons, 345 and six Hou a a practical. This really is, isn't it? And I, I noticed in the language here, it says, uh, we, we put bits in horses and mouse. Who does and does that? They obey us and they do. I mean, we see these huge creatures that weigh tongues and, and they're controlled by man and.
Umm, and then it says in that they may invest and return about their whole body and pull on the left and they go left, pull right, they go right and so on. And he goes on with this, uh, there's a ship, this tremendous car, uh, uh, huge ships are controlled by some man. They have a rudder, they have a, a steerage and they, they go and they, they're controlled. But what is interesting here for me is as we go down through these verses.
Man then takes over and he assumes the fact that because he can control the creatures.
00:40:01
So now he's superior even to God. And so he, he excels or seeks to excel in him with his own views and his own company allows his tongues to take him away. And I pray that, that it says in verse not to skip verses, but umm, uh, verse seven. For every kind of beast, birds, serpent, things in the sea is chained and have been gained of mankind, that is man, but the tongue.
Can know.
Man paints. Now you come to the other side of it. Who can contain the tongue? Only God can, only God can. But man we, I, I say, man I, I have to confess many times, I say things that are not very pleasant perhaps. And perhaps we have many things. We all have in many ways. And so how neat one is to be in the presence of God about this and see.
The lessons that we find in the person's Christ and I believe that is very important to me at least a tongues and no man's mansion. And I can't I can't do it either. Only in the measured width. Price is my object. And before my soul, as I've been occupied with the the graces and the the gentleness and the meekness and the loveliness of Christ, then it will fall out because the tongue is the index of the heart, my heart.
Is filled with Christ. Christ is going to come out.
In so many different ways. Why is it, brethren, that we can?
Put on a fair show in the meetings, uh, public meetings and get in a care meeting and we forget all about some of these things.
Uh, I don't know about some of the other brother. Maybe we shouldn't even mention it to the sisters that happens. But I'm sure they know it that we get in a care meeting sometimes with one another. And we, we have a couple of young brothers in our meeting that stopped coming because they were so stumbled over how brother spoke with one another. Shame on us.
Shame on it.
I was thinking before when we were talking about the, umm, the reason that we open our mouth.
Of a remark I read is the ministry. I forget who it was. It says the very worst thing that I can do is to speak well of Christ so that others might speak, think well of me.
Speak well of Christ so that others might think well of me. That's a very serious thing, and I've been impressed with that as I thought about it. How subtle our hearts are, and we ought to examine ourselves. Why am I saying this? Is it gratifying the people of God?
Is it for glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ, or as has been pointed out, is it so that we might, uh, so the perhaps the same point. He knows a little bit about the word, uh, or he can put it nicely or whatever. Our hearts are very, very, very subtle. And may the Lord put a, a, a, a.
A check mark on us not only in our public meetings. Sometimes we can be able quite nicely that way, speak very civilly to one another in public meetings. But what about when the sisters aren't there and we're together in the care meeting? These things apply there too. Don't think. Checks and balances. There are many checks in the scriptures, but we don't like the balance. We don't like to go on to a It was a dear brother among us many years ago we were speaking to some of the young people about.
About, you know, does your brother know you're a Christian? You know, uh, very Simply put, uh, we go to meeting and they say, well, here they are. They're faithful at meeting and they talk so well, the Lord, but he said, does your wife know you're a Christian? What is your attitude toward her when you're not with your brother in the home, at the school, wherever you are? Does your, does your teacher know you're a Christian? Does your boss know you're a Christian?
Finally, he said, there's your dogs know you're a Christian and I believe that was a, to me that searched something, uh, because there are those that they, they owe tree an animal who I don't believe that's crazy to the Lord either. And so, uh, the testimony of Christianity. Umm, I'm, I'm, I'm not Italian, but I know that in Italianities they Louis Hodge two faces. This is something like that. Do a hunch, do a fudge. Yeah. Face. In other words, I face one way and then I turn around, I face the other way, which is not.
00:45:05
The thing that the Christian should be doing, and I mean James brings that thought output.
The Lord wants more, is our perfect essential, and He always spoke because to live in the presence of God. And if we cultivate that we don't have too much problem as to how to speak, cultivate the habit of living in the present God.
I know the evil that I find. I'm going to go to the president.
It's big fighting.
That's one of the most worst people that believer can do go around speaking against another members of the Bible Christ from the back. That's evil. That's evil brethren put it down another brothers tell her to go and speak to the brother and bring testimony as to what you want to give the accusation. They go around big Biden and that's one of the greatest evil that we have among the assembly that our people have gone. That's one of the greatest evil that we have and that is some of the other people that they do that too. We can refer me first.
That's wrong.
Meg, Mike.
Jesus said every idle word that man shall speak, He shall give account thereof on the day of judgment, and we will read James. We find so much, don't we, that is parallel to the book of Proverbs. It's sort of like the Proverbs of the New Testament. And in the book of Proverbs we get so much about the tongue says there that there is life and death in the power of the tongue. It says that he the cheapest his mouth and his tongue cheapest his soul from trouble.
And it says it's probably 25 and 15. I think this verse applied particularly to what we're talking about. It says that a soft tongue break at the bone. My father had told me some time ago, I was kind of surprised he's not saved. And the background that I come from, they're not Christians in the country that he came from happens to be the most purely atheistic country in the world. But from his descendants, he could say that one of their proverbs that was circulated among them was that the tongue has no bones in it.
But it breaks bones. And uh, I find just in my own experience, I'm sure we can all testify to this, but one of the most simplistic ways of satisfying our flesh is to speak evil of somebody or something. Put somebody down, we'll find it out. There will be satisfying to us. If we have a grudge against somebody, it's very common for us to just follow off at them, to shout at them, to get angry with them. And what we're doing, ironically, is we are satisfying our own life.
In a very deceptive thing.
And we have to really be on God that we not do that. Now in the first chapter says that the wrath of man work is not the righteousness of God. And it said right after the verse it says let everything in be swifty here, slow to speak and float around. And as it tells us in this chapter that the tongue you have no man came. And I have said that the Scripture says that no man can tame the tongue, but it doesn't say that we can't tie our tongue. And I think if we put that into practice by tying our tongue.
We would find that we would keep our soul from troubles. And, uh, you know, we read of a, there was a man in early Christianity named John Chrysostom and he had a nickname known as golden mouth or golden tongue. And as a brother used as bringing out about, uh, uh, creation speech and about words and what comes from our lips. And then with the man that, uh, so exalted Christ, I don't know much about him, but he's especially known for his sermons and how he.
Uh, extol the person of Christ and delivered Christian doctrine and so on. But how nice it would be if we could turn that title, so to speak, without tongues that they're golden in the sense that it brings good news that it's, uh, used properly. And of course it may be offense at the time, the system in Luke 4 when Jesus opened up the book of Isaiah, and he refers to that portion and says, this day is description fulfilling your ears. And and it says here they wanted at the gracious word that proceeded out of his mouth.
And right after that it says they thought to push multiple brow of the hill. They wanted to kill him. And there he goes on to talk about, uh, there were many widows in the days of Elijah, but to nothing did, uh, Elijah go but to uh, the woman of erectile, which was a non Israeliteish woman and so on. But in all his speech, he was always gracious. And if we're gracious in our speech, then we've got nothing to be ashamed of. We have nothing to regret. And if we're, so to speak, try to push us over the browsing hill, if, if our speech is gracious, then we can be thankful that we have not spoken in a fleshly way.
00:50:11
In 1911.
Or actually, they just turned it off.
So at the end of the chapter.
MMM the 29 first Matthew 1129. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me from making low end hearts. I need to find rest unto your souls. I've heard, I believe it could be translated. Learn from me and I like that. Now forever in the light of what the area has been telling us, isn't this lovely to think of it?
It isn't so much, I just wanted to say this, it's not on my heart. Uh, at some time. Here's the remark that the answer to this is not to shut up and say nothing.
He did half my word. Let him speak my word faithfully is scripture, isn't it? There's a balance of these things and a word that he's spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. The same book that this is the reason why he showed us that thing is going to be beautiful. And here we find how you can learn.
Take my yoga pile and learn from me. It won't learn in the universities.
God, they providentially put you in touch with a very fine Christian. Happy, lovely.
But, uh, here's where you learn. Learn from me.
I mean, that's important then too, is that for the Gary that you're saying that verse in the first chapter, James and verse, umm, verse 20. Umm, well, verse 19, really. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear. And as our brother John is saying, that doesn't mean that, uh, swift to hear that I just listen and I say nothing and I share nothing with my brother. Uh, that isn't what it means. He's swift to hear.
Uh, uh, uh, let every man be swift to hear, slow to see and slower. That doesn't mean he doesn't say anything, but to share that which God has given and that which would be for edification. Uh, I know some, uh, go, we can go to the balance. We have a in balance. So we either, we do a lot of talking and we say nothing. And I believe that the Spirit of God would direct us to he occupy Christ to be swift to hear.
Glad to hear what my brother had to say, but also slow to speak, uh, not to take all the meeting and started a lot of other failures to tell us or don't take all the meeting or and slow particularly slowly rat. So I think there's a balance there that we need and the Spirit of God through the word of God, bring that down to us.
He's gonna sell them bread and that's the remedy.
Uh, what we have on this third chapter of the game is occupation with a person of the Lord Jesus Christ, because there may say, I know that is not a man to directly stand. We need the help of the Lord Jesus. Without me you can't do nothing.
And when we speak the well of the Lord Jesus, we need to be very, very careful to think that the man has an evil heart. What is speaking well only he feels that the person of the Lord Jesus is precious to him, and he wants to say something about him. Brethren, we need to be very, very careful not to judge that that man is speaking in the French. You need to be very comfortable over breakfast.
How do I know then what I have? I don't think they are thousands of the heart. The mouth speaketh when I'm speaking. When you're speaking well of the Lord Jesus, I can tell. When you are so the person of the Lord Jesus, I can tell below the people. God, if you're in the flesh, I'm afraid that you're not able to do that the way you're supposed to do.
We just learned, uh, we're reminded that in Nazareth in the fourth of loop. And even that company that showed its spirit later had to recognize the gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth. I think the danger is more on the part of the speaker than it is on the part of the hearer. And that's the exact. I just couldn't help it. It was wonder, it was wonderful.
00:55:17
They wondered at the gracious words they proceeded out of his mouth.
We have six of these tennis jacket versus 1:00 to 12:00. I know we're not in my classroom, but just up alert here versus 1 to 12 is the tongue. I'll break that down in a minute. But any verses 13 and 18, we have a contrast between earthquake and heavenly wings out of the city. When one is characterized by a wisdom that comes from selfishness and wisdom that comes from what we're going to burst it again, Don.
1:00 to 12:00 is the tongue, and 13 to 18 is a contrast between earthly and heavenly wisdom.
Now going back to verses 1 to 12, now we see in verses one and two in the courses of a controlled tongue the importance of it that we take the place now do it in our lives and there's a greater condemnation or judgment and that is a multitude of words that one of my sins until we get an offense and we have to be curled. So the importance of a controlled comes in verses 345 and six. We have the need for the control of the comp. There are two illustrations given up here.
And that is, I'm a horse with a big foot in his mouth and a horse, a big, strong animal, but with a little thick, it can't be controlled. And also with this great big ship, there's a little helm and one of those little things in comparison to the size of the other. But what does it come in comparison with the Y? Just a little member. But look what Patrick Henry did with his tongue. He can start off a whole revolution. So mistake. I know. What a fire, what a forest fire from it.
OK, so much acres and acres can be burned and how old is that increase is a starter and a hearty from a word that's spoken improperly to to run down nobody's character. And so in verses 7 and eight, the difficulty in controlling the tongue the difficulty it can't be done humanly speaking by talking here God can hear. And then finally the verses 9:10 and 11:00.
The incontestency of an undeniable company. This talks that on Lord's Day morning. I praise and my God the Father and the Lord Jesus and then I turn it on around and I call that man a black man a dirty name or that video slurred against that Puerto Rican because he just was sick. You know I'll be smiled. They're perceived as blessing and cursing. Why don't not make sure nothing you can have inconsistency like that. The human son is capable of it.
Well, dear brother, I thank God that the God has given us the Holy Spirit.
The way you're gone, thank God, the buddy should get that. God has given us the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. That's the one that he's going to straight us up. We're not going to be able to do it ourselves. That's the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. So whom? And Nicole is like Mary, to be at the feet of Jesus and to lie for him.
Does this help us to understand the 1St Corinthians 10 verse 29? He has eaten and drank it, and I'm looking man, and eat it and drink his judgment for himself, not for bringing the Lord's body.
The same principle, isn't it?
Apostle Paul warns him in the epistle proved relations in the fight and devour one another takes heed lest he not consumed one of another.
The proverb teaches us that where there is no fuel, the fire goes out. So therefore where there's no tail, there Sprite seated. It's an angry man that stirred up strength. Well, anger, we thought, in fifth population.
It's one of those works of the flesh that are manifested so very much instruction for us. He very practical verses that we had before us.
But Don's pointed out the.
Something in the last few verses. Maybe we should spend some time then on Speaking of the wisdom that comes from above. And that's what She's not so attractive. It comes from ourselves.
01:00:16
I think it's important to see that when we have wisdom used here.
And knowledge.
It's in the sense that we have it in Proverbs, isn't it? That is, it's not human wisdom that we're talking about. That's brought out very clearly in these verses. It's not knowledge of facts, it's knowledge of God, isn't it? And so those two things.
Then have to be manifested who is a wise man and a dude with knowledge among you.
11 shove. I like that about James.
It's true, somebody mentioned earlier that, uh, uh, dear Martin Luther was so taken with the wonderful truth of justification by faith that when he came to the book of James, he says it's an epistle of straw. And we can understand that, brethren, because, uh, that dear man took hold of justification by faith after centuries of darkness on it. And he, he just didn't see what James was saying.
James is saying let me see it, let me see it and God, that's the Spirit of God saying that to it. Do you have wisdom, you have knowledge, Let him show out of a good conversation. His works with meekness of wisdom. I just believe we should never take the edge off of what the ministry of James.
Let it have its effect. It's a unique abysmal brother Don mentioned earlier. And I think it's important to remember because.
Helps to put it in perspective that it's the only New Testament, uh, epistle written to, umm, to the nation at large, the nation of Israel. It's not written to a Christian assembly, is it? And, uh, yet it has so much for us. And we can perhaps get a little worried that maybe if we follow what James has to say and, and, uh, let it have its effect and maybe we'll weaken something. The apostle Paul in no way.
No way they stand together, they even the Spirit of God. If you notice they use some of the same illustrations to prove different aspects of the truth of God. Rahat.
Uh, Paul uses that in the fourth of Romans, uh, and in the, uh, or in the, uh, 11Th and vapors, uh, I believe it's the apostle Paul. And here, uh, James uses the same thing, Abraham in the fourth of Romans. And in, uh, Hebrews 11, the apostle Paul uses, James uses it too, but there's a different ministry there. And the Spirit of God gives us this book.
And when you're in James, let James have something to say is the, uh, the thought of **** out of a well, here's why. A wise man and dude with knowledge among you, let him show out of a good conversation. His works with meekness and wisdom. It's a quick conversation. Is that the matter of life? Perfect. The more than just talking, it's the it's our whole manner of language brought in view there, isn't it?
And it's interesting, as you pointed out, to show out of a good conversation that is not so much what we say, but what we show, that is what our what our whole matter of life is.
I believe, as you say, that's a very, very important verse. In James chapter 4. You have a very important verse. Even from James and James chapter four, we have a very precious verse to encourage our hearts.
They say there in verse six would be given more grace wherefore he say God resisted the proud and give a gaze to the humble. This is a wonderful verse in this context. It means that if finally lies that the things that they are in the third chapter I'm failing and death and I humble myself maybe with the guy he said then to do that, which I suppose to do. Isn't it so brilliant. That's what I'm saying today it's James.
We give it long age and then you repeat it again long age. So that means that the client reached that third chapter. And I know by consciously touched by the grace of God, I can humble myself. And he gave it more grace. That's the only way that we can get deliverance.
01:05:04
If the answer is Christ the Brother.
Interesting too that it that brings out here in as far as you know, we're not going to finish the old chapters, but it says, uh, it speaks in verse, umm, 14. If you have bitter envy and strife.
In your heart, where does this begin? Right down here. Right here is where it begins. I may not even say it, but if it's there and it's coddled or it isn't judged and it's going to come out, I believe that's really James probing the heart down deep and so forth to see because what is the purpose? Why has the Lord saved us? Why has He delivered us? He wants us to bear fruit for His glory doesn't bear fruit for Him in this world that we're in.
At the very moment that we're saved, I'm sure.
Yeah, there's one here that it's just got saved. You're all ready for glory right now. That you're a youngest one here if you own the dog, that you're a Sinner. You've accepted the Lord Jesus as your Savior. You're already you're fit for glory right now. But why has the Lord left told us here for many years, some here perhaps over 80 and all these years, many years, why, that we might have testimony to the person of Christ.
That God may have the glory that belongs to him and I believe that it searches it reaches down and the the word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than I need to write story dividing of Thunder, even souls dirty so on. It's a search engine that I think it's really more than just the searching of outwardly, but searching up inwardly as if you have better enemy and strike in your heart glory not in why not against the truth. And then he says that that kind of wisdom he told us where it comes from.
If wisdom descends not from above.
It's not it's not goggling at all. It says it's earthly sensual evolution. What I'd like to make one comment 01 Comment on verse 17. I suppose I saw this no longer a little bit. It's it's that's a lovely verse, isn't it? Wisdom that is from his first.
Pure non visible.
Gentle and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. What's on my heart is this is that we can, we can become a specialist in one of these things.
Uh, and at least we're in this one aspect of this and, and emphasize and forget the rest. I'm thinking particularly that we've had.
A great deal from people, uh, from some that have lived enough to get no further than fewer.
Now, I don't, uh, think we better forget about periods first in this reckoning here, right here, isn't it? And let me, let me be clear as to my thoughts. We don't want to slide on and think about peaceable. We can become specialists on any part of this person. We like to be. But one of the things that I think that we need to learn is that we have to have the whole line of God full. We spoke to the Ephesians elders. I have not.
Shown to declare unto you the whole castle of God.
He didn't have to have one side of the truth, did he?
And so I believe it's very important that we see that indeed it has all these boxes.
And if and if it's just a case of emphasizing one side of things, whether it be the extremist right here, we're concerned with truth and holiness and we don't care about anything else much. I mean, I say that, but, but that's the effect of it that could produce, uh, and that, uh, such a thing as, as it's monstrous in our behavior. On the other hand, if all we think about is peace.
We can do this honor to the name of our Lord. I'm just saying that, beloved, we need to, and I mean all of this Scripture and have it all there about us.
Earthly wisdom is not subject to the Word of God. Earthly wisdom is a person.
1St man in the flash earthly wisdom is characterized and that as a food office and the exhibition are bad. They caused heavily and umm, it involves in in uh, division, contention, friction and uh, it's very practical word. I think our hearts and Deuteronomy 4 verses 5 and six. It says I'll just speaking to the children of Israel. Of course, the word of God, Behold, I have talked to you statically judgment even as the Lord my God commanded me that he should do so in the lands of the existence.
01:10:31
Keep therefore and do that for this is your wisdom and your understanding and the sight of the nation which shall hear all these statues and say surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. Now I I think the practical application of this thing. What is our business. Oh, to hear the word of God, to read it and to make it good in our own souls to pray that by the Spirit of God He will apply to the heart that can always remember. In fact, on the way up by Harry Haymo again and he emphasizing the importance of you can know a lot of truth.
But until you practice the truth, it's not yours. Until you put it into practice and live it. And then in John 14, the Lord says, if you love me, keep my word. And what is the what is the reward for that? Oh, what?
What more could we want in this thing? What are we going to have? Eternity. We're going to have the Lord Jesus Christ before us, the full revelation of all that God is and that fullness of joy. Well, what can we have now in the sea before we get there? This is your wisdom of keeping His work and having the pleasantness of that community with the Father and with the Son. What can be compared with?
Perhaps as we read this chapter.
Get into the presence of the word and we say, oh I lack wisdom. What do I do about it? Well the 1St chapter James tells us it says.
In verse five, if any of you lack with this, let him ask of God who giveth freely.
Give it to all men liberally and upgrade it. Not OK.
It shall be given it. So it's a very practical thing. And if I feel the lack of wisdom in my soul, yes, I'm going to get it out of the Word of God. That's where it comes from. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and uh, wisdom is the principal thing.
With all I get and get wisdom with knowledge and knowledge and knowledge of God. But how do I get it? Just come to him and ask. God gives it liberally.
Freely.
His heart desires to give us with second of Proverbs says he layeth up sound wisdom. He layeth it up. He's put it away long ago for us thousands of years ago, God laid aside wisdom using one servant and another or and it's all there. And we come to him and we ask. He'll give it to us and he won't say to you, and I'm tired of your asking. Don't come and ask anymore.
The upright it's not. He'll never say to you. I'm tired of talking to you about it. I'm tired of giving you wisdom.
Come to them every day and seek wisdom for the past. I'm sure that's what our blessed Lord Jesus did when he was here as a dependent man because their little glimpses of it and of course you see it in his life, but we see that a long while before it was day he was out praying and before he chose the apostles, we find that he spent the whole night in prayer. And uh, God gives.
Liberally do I see how the Lord Jesus was Wisdom himself, but even He as a dependent man came and sought monk daily guidance as a dependent man for his past. We can't do any better than that, brother. That's another lovely thought and the thought of him being a true man in this world.
But a dependent man, he truly he was truly God. We know that.
But in many, many cases, we read where as man, as a true man, he was in prayer before God, He was a dependent man. And as I read this 17th verse, can't you see if you read it? Let's read it and think about the Lord Jesus Christ.
01:15:03
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure. Was there any man in this world more pure than that blessed man? Not one. That's the wisdom from above. He came in this world displaying the wisdom that was from above. Peaceable, gentle.
Easy to be in, treated or ready to yield.
Full of mercy and good fruit, without partiality, without hypocrisy.
When I read this verse, I think that one person, one man, the Lord Jesus Christ, who stop it. Is there any greater standard than that has got anything greater than nothing? Nothing.
We are so much in contrast with that when we measure ourselves for the for the person of the Lord Jesus and all the quality, beauty, perfection.
Dear brother, what should I say about myself?
Oh wretched man, very much who shall deliver me from this body of sins? Well then concludes, thanks be unto God, which did giveth of the victory to our Lord Jesus Christ, and as the secret.
That's the bomb, that's the Lord Jesus dear people are young. I think about myself, my I've been more occupied with investor remedy less than bond. We can't do it ourselves. Impossible. It is Christ that has got to do he's going his beauty, his voice is doing for us and to even know caring for us for that very quickness for this course. I sanctify myself that they might be sanctified by thy voice.
And I went through so this is wonderful as occupation with a person of the Lord Jesus that is going to bring about the deliverance from what we have on this chapter that sometimes we are guilty of.
Could we have a word on the last verse before we close the meeting? It's a little perhaps, uh, obscure, uh, when we first read it. And I think it would be nice not to leave it obscure. Perhaps some brother has light from the Lord that might want to share that with us.
Let's start again, football. Practical righteousness bears fruit of peace for those who make peace. I think that clears up the thought, but Amen.
You're just enjoying that note.
Me again, practical righteousness.
There's the fruit of peace for those who make peace.
We are enjoying and the division of the Romans and these followers of that which makes E brother Richardson take my brother hail up hurting, say many times to not introduce anything into the assembly of the family either. For that matter, if he serves the peace except for the glory of Christ and practical righteousness bears fruit.
These were those invasions.
I was enjoying an easel 7 this week and it never struck me this worse, and I think it well applied to what we're reading here. I don't want to have the last word on the chapter, but it certainly seems to fit in likely UH-71 of Hebrew says for this. Now kids of that Kingdom of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham, returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him, whom also Abraham gave a 10th pot of all. Notice this first being by interpretation, king of righteousness.
And after that also king of Salem, which is king of peace. There you got them two to get the two together, the king of righteousness, which first of all is being interpreted, the king of righteousness, just what we got in our chapter. But what does real righteousness produce? It will produce peacefulness. And someone who really has righteousness won't allow the wrath of man to work it out. He'll throw it in a peaceful way, and the fruit of it will be that, a peaceful way.
So there ought not to be any strength when it comes to it. The truth will defend itself. If the Lord gives me a measure of it and it's righteous, I can be thankful for it, and I can sow it in peace, and then God will do the rest. It will bring forth the peace, the fruit of righteousness.
Actually, that's a good last word.
01:20:05
Thank God What's going on?
Shall be saying you're #38 in the appendix.
#38 in the offensive one and the Lord's Day and the favour. But here we have tonight. I believe that it's very applicable that we think of it. Let's just say, listen, 38 in the end, at the end of the day, in the back of the book.
Nsnoise.
The 2nd and 5th verses of 200 and 6.
Oh, then teach by gathered Saints, O Lord, to worship in my fear.
Thinking particularly of these last designs, and let Thy grace mold every word that meets.
Thy holy here verses 2:00 and 5:00.
26 Thy God, let's let me go out of the door.
And have to make any sense.
Lord, and I pray in the world.
Oh.
Philippians 3
Reading
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Uh, maybe for the agency?
Run and she goes to the club.
Pretty hard to go away all over the world and everything flying there and praying together.
We're in the Allahabad where we're not going to come home.
When all this may have never rained.
On the Windsor.
And glowing.
All right.
The world.
Rose Little.
Fast, right?
Now right around the tree in the hole.
I appreciate it.
I am when I'm alone in shine.
Wake up to the crosswalk of the nature of the.
Nsnoise.
I wonder whether if we might consider the third chapter of Philippians beginning with verses 7.
That's agreeable.
Olympians Chapter 3.
Philippine St.
Verse 7.
For what things were gain to me those thy common loss for Christ a doubtless, and I call all things of blossom for the Excellency of knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, For whom I have suffered the lost all things the accountants have done, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having my own right, which is of the law, but that which is stupid faith of Christ righteousness, which is, oh God by him.
That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, gave me full owners of His death, if by any means I might attain them, to the resurrection of the dead, not as though I had already attained.
00:05:12
But I follow after. Yep, But I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended with the Christ Jesus. Brethren, I come not myself for the apprehension, but this one thing I do for getting those things which are behind and reaching forth, and the oldest things which are before I press for the Marks and pride, the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded.
And if anything would be otherwise, my God should reveal even this if you nevertheless where do we have already a thing? Let us walk by the same rule that's mine, the same thing, brethren, be followers together of me and mark them which walked so as you have us, for example.
For many walks, of whom I have told you often, and I'll tell you even we can, that they are the enemies of the cross of crisis and then destruction, whose God is their belly and whose glory is in their shame.
For our conversation in heaven, when also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our wild body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working, whereby He is able even to do all things Himself.
This is very interesting Brother Richard. I was thinking of the end of this chapter myself.
Not that we know that's the mind of the Lord, but it's just interesting to think that he turned into the third chapter of politics.
I thought. I thought you looked a little startled when I said that.
The, uh, of course, uh, I'm sure both of us perhaps, uh, that him suggested some of it to us. But I was thinking of the earlier verses too, as regards the apostles desire and his estimation of things and perhaps a little bit in connection with what we talked about Moses yesterday, the apostle made some reckonings and some calculations and.
And uh, uh.
He says, what things were gained to me, those I counted lost for Christ and he had just listed all the, you might say the credentials that were uh, uh, might qualify him in the Jewish community, uh.
The uh circumcised the 8th day of the stock of Israel, the tribe of Benjamin and Hebrew of the Hebrews, touching wall embarrassing and zeal, persecuting the church, blameless, and so forth. But he counted them lost for Christ.
He sounds all things but lost for the Excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. Everything pales in comparison to Him, doesn't it?
There's some things different there that he mentioned in five and six. They tell them they say glory in according to the flesh. He was circumcised the 8th day of the stock of Israel, of a tribe of Benjamin and Hebrew of the Hebrews as touching the law of Pharisees as five concerning dealing with persecuting the church, touching the righteousness which is in the law blameless. So there are seven things mentioned there. Well, as you go back to Acts Chapter 9 and we see them.
Strong taxes on the way to Damascus, empowered with, uh, those letters from the priest and all and take Christians and that is almost the Jews who professed now Christianity and to, to be them, to make them repent and, uh, hatred in his heart and all the roads in Damascus. We might say this, that Solar Tarsus is a confused man, one he had witnessed.
Steven being stoned and he possibly had written another, yes, but this was a triumphant thing. He saw a man with all the glory of the word upon his face and saying Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And I think there was a bar in his conscience. He was a confused man on the way to Damascus. And then he was confronted. He was confronted by the risen Christ and he didn't take him any time at all to know who it was that was speaking, as I say already at the barbs of his conscience. And Christ risen appears to him. He's confronted by the risen Christ and then he's changed.
Oh what a roof revolutionary chain this band and there was a very height of the expression of hatred against God's beloved son now is sitting down and his whole life is transformed. Well, as you can say here what things were gaining for me. I counted lost for the Excellency of the knowledge of Christ. Would you say Paul, why are you going about You have been meeting on several occasions. You go back into this town where before they threatened here they feature.
00:10:29
Oh, he says. Christ is alive. He's risen. He's appearing. I know it's real.
And my whole life has been revolutionized and changed. And so I live in the expectation of going to be with that blessed one, because what a change in this man that person can have. You got revolutionary in our lives, but still it should mean much different.
Every, every one of us have an object, don't we? There's a, there's an object before us that we're going after. We, we see something, there's an object there that attracts us. Well, Paul, his object was persecution to the name of Christ, wasn't it? He was, he was a religious man and he had an object too, but his object was to stamp out the name of the Lord Jesus. But God changes that his perspective.
He turns him about and is interesting in this chapter that in this this this chapter brings before us that object and as a person of Christ so that he he says he has to be what things were gained to me. Those I counted lost for Christ and then just going down to verse eight that he counted them lost to Christ. Those things that were gained in not not the loss of those were the gain the things that he would he felt he had gained.
Great knowledge in this this desire to stamp out the name of the Lord Jesus, but then he goes on. He says he goes a little deeper by in verse eight. He countless doubtless, and I count all things but lost for the Excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them. But umm that I may win Christ. Oh that's he he he the things that were gained to him. He kind of lost for Christ, but his desire now is to win Christ. That is he wanted to have Christ as his whole object and I I read that's a very blessed truth.
He says, so we see there a little picture of past and present, don't we? And these two little verses here. And I think again, I'm going over to the end of the chapter which came before me in connection with him. And I'm sure Brother **** too. That's not only so we have an object now as we look off and, uh, what, what, what is that? What, what are we going to be? Where are we going to be? What are we going to be like? All we're going to be like Christ. Oh, what a, what a change.
Our, uh, the the heart changed now the body changed at a future date not too far off.
We're just forgetting those things which are behind. Is Paul referring to those credentials that are listed in the earlier part of the chapter prior to his conversion? Or is it something else that he is advocating to forget? Would it be in the way of achievement? I'm not quite clear myself on this, just want to make some comment. I have heard that.
Others say that that when we at least this part.
Rather than I count myself as apprehended with this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth on those things which are before. He's referring now to his Christian life. And if he had made any progress in this life, forgetting all about that to press on if I'm not correct and not correct me. I enjoyed the little illustration that Brother Gordon gave me that maybe where you heard it too, I don't know. Or maybe his father, but he mentioned that, uh, we might perhaps, uh.
Uh, uh, stand on the street corner and be pelted with tomatoes, Rotten Tomatoes for the sake of the gospel. And uh, uh, he said, uh, those things are not things that we dwell on and as achievements or things that we suffered for the Lord, but we forget those things and press on because it's an ongoing life. Isn't it an ongoing pathway? It's a pathway that leads on the glory and we're not resting on either the refuse that we.
00:15:04
We're not occupied with the refuse that we uh, uh, seem to be, umm, uh, just the dung as far as the, the knowledge of Christ is concerned. But also we're not uh, occupied with our achievements or what we've done for the Lord either.
I like to brother Eric Smith's illustration. Uh, I don't think I can tell us the way he did that this, uh.
Young man had a an empire as a greater empire had had taken taken over and taken this young general.
Captive and he was in prison and.
So anyway, naturally he was very desirous to be set free and the one who had to put him in prison.
Said that if you could take a glass of milk and carry it from where he was through the city.
And then bring it to him and not fill a drop that he would set him free.
So that the young general, he, he took him up on, he took a glass of milk, he walked straight with head wrecked, carrying a glass of milk, took it right into the other man and handed it to him. And he said, how could she do it?
How did you do it? While I said that the anime was behind me. There they were with with the spear ready if you felt one glass.
And Josh, the Spear and whom? And he said that they were both behind me and beside me. But he said the goal, the goal was performed and that it's a Costco here and said let us press on.
I was thinking too, as we were our brother was reading the passage that.
The apostles Paul.
Had a single mindedness that we needed to keep before us.
Christ, His glory, the end of the path was before him. He might wonder if you read the 2nd Corinthians and you read the list of things in the dear apostle suffered, you might wonder how can you do that? And then you might think to have his prominence in the Jewish community. How can you label that aside? Well, if you bring Christ into it and see that Christ was the object of his heart.
Christ was the goal before him it makes and the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord was so wonderful to him that it made it an easy thing comparatively for him by his own testimony. Umm, So what about ourselves then? What can enable us to go on and delay aside all the things that hinder us into why they don't mean anything to us if we have Christ before us? That's what's a very important. I believe what's lacking in our hearts today, in our souls, is a single mindedness.
Other things distracted. I don't think the apostle was at all distracted by uh, uh, a desire for place in this world. I don't think he was at all distracted by what the world had to offer. He had Christ before his soul.
Mr.
Titles a little louder. Done.
Has an article and umm, this one is writing and I think the title of it is what is Christianity? And, uh, I recommend it to be read and it's on this third chapter of Philippians. And he as he had the ability, uh, in many other portions of the word of God, he, he takes prepaid.
Uh, we're in the catheter and revolves the truth around them. Notice in verse nine we have the expression in him.
Verse 10 know him and verse 21 when he comes Lord Jesus Christ, he shall change our wild body. We can put their life in in him know him and like him in him would be Christian physician everyone.
00:20:10
Once it had a position on it, but as we have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and trusted Him as our Savior, we are no longer seen as an atom. But our Christian position is that we are in Christ. We are seen in Christ, and that righteousness that is mine is yours and there are no degrees in it. There is not one Christian that has a higher standing before God than another. Our statement fluctuates, but as in Christ, we are all made the righteousness of God in Him. God looks down and He sees every one of us as Christians.
And all of us perfection of the work of His beloved Son on the cross of Galilee.
And then of course, not going into the ocean, but that I may know him, there's a Christian object. I remember I was telling some here the fact in Bible school days, we had a teacher there, a doctor white Pentecost, and he was teaching us the, the doctrine of future things in the classes. And they had him scheduled for the Chapel meeting one time. And some of us were talking to one of us. Oh boy, here we get now out opening up, you know, all these prophetic things of Israel and the church or something like that.
And when he stood up to speak, he said I have my text that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and so on. And he gave a lovely message from his Philippians 310 well that I may know him. There is a Christian object. Every one of us should have one object. And then finally, of course, like him at the end of the chapter, well, there's so little scene there has some crisis. Now all the questions himself that at that day.
There's going to be the physical likeness. Our bodies are going to be fashion. What's on his body of glory. And of course, I think what first John chapter 3 would tell us that there's going to be that moral likeness too of the Lord Jesus Christ. See that each one of us.
I think there's a danger of trying to renounce the things of this world without the first part that you have here, and that is knowing him. You can't do it.
You can't have a proper estimate in this world without laying hold of the glories of the Lord Jesus and what you've done.
I gave many questions of trying to live uh, a life apartment anywhere else, but the power isn't there because they're not. I haven't seen the positive which makes it really look like dumb.
It doesn't look like knowing if you don't know him, that is, if you really haven't laid all of the boys or his. I don't know what he's done.
We go up to someone.
We might say to them, Do you know the Lord?
When we talk about someone who said we think he knows the lawyer.
We're not talking about that here, are we?
Uh, I'm sure it's included in that, but that's just the beginning, isn't it? That's becoming acquainted with that wonderful way to know Him as our Lord and Savior. But I believe the apostle Paul is talking much more here when he talks about knowing him.
No, I can't.
Oh, didn't know that lovely man is to be acquainted with him, to have him be the.
Friend that I communed with day by day, God's beloved Son, whom he finds his delight, and to find my delight in him. Now I'm sure if you met.
Peter along the way and he said to Peter, do you know the Lord? Of course.
I remember when he when I was fishing and.
The Lord, uh, told me to catch my net on the other side, and I said depart from me Lord, for I'm a simple man. I've been walking with him since, yes, I know him.
Then he went to uh, uh, John, and he said, John, do you know him?
You say, oh, he's the one. I'm here to glucose.
Now I think we see that knowing the Lord.
00:25:04
Is something that's very, very precious and intimate, isn't it something that we.
We can enjoy every day more to know more of him, more of God's beloved Son, more about Jesus, the little hymn says. Would I know? And is that our desire to know him?
You know, we get to, uh, sometimes and, and this is perhaps a little practical word that sometimes, uh, young lady and young man meet and I go out together somewhere and they perhaps they needed a hem singer or somebody's house or a meeting and they think, oh, that's a nice person. I'd like to get to know them a little better. And they do begin to see more of each other. And there comes a point when.
Decided perhaps they, they could, uh, live together, but I think, uh, uh, when they, and then they enter into marriage, of course, which is God's way. And, uh, they perhaps, uh, think they know each other quite well on the wedding day. But I think, uh, we all have to admit there are a lot of little corners of our lives that we don't bring out into the open, But, you know, the Lord invites us.
To know everything about him. He knows everything about us. He'll never, there'll never be a surprise that he'll discover about us. But you know, I think it's wonderful that every day we find out something new about the Lord, don't we? We get to know him better. And as much as we know him, I believe if you talk to one of our older brother here and I will embarrass him by asking him. But as brother Kraus, your brother Dodds or my dad or someone like that, you say, well.
Have you learned anything new about the Lord? Have you gotten to know better in the last year? They say yes indeed, wouldn't they? Yes indeed. And so I believe the apostle 4 had that as a deep desire of his heart, and no more of that blessed one more of his ways. Don't teach us more of thy blessed ways, Thou Holy Land of God, from fixed and rooted in thy graces, that is redeemed by love.
Lovely for things too here that in the apostles Speaking of this.
You know, there's opposition to following Christ and, uh, Paul's opposition was his religiousness, wasn't it? And some of us, uh, we've been brought from different areas of opposition and we, some of us weren't very religious and some of them overly jealous about religion and, uh, yet didn't know Christ. And so I think of Paul, but I believe it requires energy, doesn't it? So not only is, is Christ all bringing out Christ as an oxy, but he says you've got to have some energy to overcome this.
And I think of the expression used here about him Speaking of.
Resurrection. Resurrection What? What does this bring before us of Christ in glory? He's not. He's not that we don't. We know no man now after the flesh. Yeah. Even though we've known Christ, we don't know him in that way. We know him now as a man in the glory. And this is what Paul had before him, because John tells us that there's a man now at God's right hand who is my righteousness.
Paul said that's the man. That's what I want.
I want to be occupied with him. I want his righteousness, not mine. He wants to dispense with his He wants his righteousness, which is Christ and where is he? Ah, he said God's right hand. I think that's very blessed there in those verses that I may umm, verse 16 says for by him, umm, verse 10 that I may know him.
I'm sorry, I should have read first nine and be found in Him not having my own righteousness.
Which is of the law, but that which is to the faith of Christ, the righteousness, which is by his God, by faith that I may know him. The power of his resurrection. Ah, that's God's power, isn't it? The power of his resurrection, the fellowship of his suffering, the fellowship. Paul was still here. There was still sufferings. He had caused the church much suffering. Now fall down. Now the Lord says, I'm going to, I'm going to show him how great things he must suffer for my sake, for my name.
00:30:02
And so the, it just seems that the resurrection, uh, and the fellowship of the suffering be made conformable into his death, if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead or from among the dead. So Paul brings that thought out, doesn't he, that there is that man in God's right hand who is my righteousness, his righteousness which is God, and it belongs to false. So I, I, I think of that, that there is that.
Is is working off? Isn't he the I think?
Because, uh, in Hebrews they're looking off unto Jesus, the author and finisher of faith. He put a joy that was set before and endured across, despising the shame and is set down at the right hand majesty on the hot market. Marvelous that God would give him that object. But to have that object to us, to have a desire to follow that, there's always opposition. And you find that I believe that's why it requires energy, doesn't it?
The energy of faith, not the energy of the temporal sword.
Like I said, we're a resurrection in general, and that is no customer safety leak in resurrection. Did they even Joseph would say you take my bones back up because the land is going to be ours and I want to be raised, you know, for that land blessing and that Abraham believed in resurrection a county that God is able, uh, to raise him from the dead from when it's also a secret he receives him.
April 11Th And Joe on your earliest motion of contemporary adapters, Abraham and so on, uh, he believed in resurrection. So, uh, right on into the New Testament, the disciples, they believed that there was a beer resurrection of a dead. Uh, Martha expressed that too. And she said, I know that in the last day that my brother shall ride. Well, uh, if, if you want to during the March Chapter 9 a moment, uh, you might have a question.
In the good of that same thing that there would be a resurrection. Why should they be umm marbling when a war chief of citizens and March Chapter 9 and verse nine. And as they came down from the mountains, he the Lord Jesus charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen till the Son of man were risen from the dead. Well, if you read that from among the dead, you realize he's telling them something now he intimates into them something.
Beyond the hope of the Old Testament. And uh, they kept that thing with themselves, questioning one with another. What arising from among the dead without resurrection, which we have mentioned in our 40th grade. So there are then the two resurrections, aren't you in Scripture? And the first resurrection is Christ, the first fruit. They have our Christ at his coming. So when the Lord Jesus comes and you should come today.
All those Old Testament things that die in faith.
Those believers of this present dispensation will be caught up. Well, how about in the Tribulation period? Aren't there some Jewish martyrs that are put to death? Well, they will be raised up. So we might say something like this. All who at any time are raised to blessedness are part of the first resurrection. The rest of the day are raised at the end of 1000 years.
The very fact that they're raised at that time.
Means that they are the wicked, they will be judged out of the books and eventually be dead with electric fire. In the meantime, of course, the South resurrection is to have its power exercise in our own lives and like the longer deployment.
Isn't that where the the power is? It's in the resurrection. Uh, I think of, uh, going back to Jonah.
And and someone said that he he wasn't vomited up and in the mud, he was vomited up and dried around and resurrection ground and then.
The message it was to take them three days to get this message to an invite, and he had such power that he only had to go one day.
Uh, our brother Hal used to say that the same power is raised up. Christ from the dead dwells in every belief.
A little worried about his sufferings, the fellowship of his sufferings, I'm sure, but I think it would be well that we make it very clear that his sufferings in the hours of darkness for atonement, in those hours of blackness when God dealt with him for our sins, there's no fellowship for that whatsoever. And we know that of course, from various scriptures. The one that you might think of is there shall no man be with him when he goes into making atonement.
00:35:30
The Lord, as we sing together alone He beared, the cross, alone His grief sustained, His was a shame and loss. Uh, neither victory came so that we cannot have fellowship with that. And then what do we mean by the fellowship of His sufferings then? Well, there are many aspects of the sufferings of Christ that had nothing to do with making atonement, some of them even upon the cross of Calvary. And uh, there is, uh.
We are called upon. In fact, the 1St chapter says unto you is be given on behalf of the Christ, not only the believing on him, but also the suffering where he saved. And so when uh, uh, when we're uh, suffering for righteousness sake, we can enter into what it was for the Lord Jesus to suffer for righteousness sake. When uh, someone despises us because we're a Christian, we can understand that that is.
Suffering for His name. So I hope everyone is clear on that. We want especially our young brothers and sisters to understand that, that we can have no fellowship with that which passed between God and His Christ there on the cross of Calvary in those hours of darkness from noon until 3:00 PM, when He suffered for our sins, adjusted the unjust to bring us to God. But we are called upon.
To have fellowship with those other sufferings of the Lord. And if you'd like to read something on that, that might be helpful, I would recommend Mr. Darby's The Sufferings of Christ. Lovely little book. I was going to say, uh, to perhaps that might be helpful if we looked at the first Peter in connection with what you're saying. Uh, I think we see the two sides of that in first Peter chapter 2, uh, which is been of, uh, help to me.
Uh, perhaps it may be to you, umm, uh, first, uh, first Peter chapter 2 verse uh, beginning at verse 20. For what glory is it if when you be buffeted for your faults, you shall take it patient, but if and when you do well and suffer for it, you take it patiently. This is acceptable with God. Verse 21 For even hereunto were ye called because, uh, because Christ also suffered for us.
Leaving us an example that you should follow his steps. What suffering was this? His suffering for righteousness, but then just go down. Who did no sin, Neither was guile found in his mouth. Who when he was reviled, reviled not again when he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself to him. The judges righteously. Then notice verse 24. Who? His own self.
There our sins in his own body on a tree that we being get to sin should live under righteousness by whose stripes you were healed and so on. We don't see him saying in verse 24, follow me. We could not follow him in that suffering that was alone He bare the cross aloneness re sustained his was the shame and loss and due to victory game, but we can follow him in his sufferings.
As man here, as a martyr, you might say, and I believe this is a it does those two verses of helping clear up that point.
Mentioned Doctor Pentecost before, and I remember reading about Doctor Pentecost preaching somewhere and a young man came to him and complained that he preached too much about Christ as his Savior. He said you don't preach enough about him as an example. Remember that story, Brother Don Remember that.
They complained to determine. Doctor Penny has wisely said to the young man. He said, no, that's fine. He said, you want to follow him as an example. He said, let's turn to first Peter Chapter 2, who did no sin. Neither was guile found in his mouth. He said, now how are you doing on that? Not very well. The young man said, oh, he says, then first you need a savior, then you need an example.
00:40:24
Perhaps we should go down to those verses that you had on your heart, Brother Charles, at the end and the time that's left and the end of the September.
It introduced us to.
Well, I think universe that they in our hymn goes by the file and it's going to be changed. Vile body, I don't believe is the rather right rendering there. I believe it's it's a Bouchard who's 21 who shall change our body of humiliation that it may be fashioned like under his glorious body. What a glorious thought. This isn't we're still here. We're still in this body of humiliation.
But, and with that object before us and very soon, perhaps even today, that change might take place. We have, we have the three different areas on that we First Corinthians 15 and 1St Thessalonians 4 and 1St Corinthians 15 and Philippians four. I think also John, first John three could be brought in there. All those areas bring us all together, doesn't it, that this body of ours is going to be changed like his body, of course.
And what a what an object that is for us?
I would think that we might go into verse 15 before we go further because it doesn't work for us here, isn't it? I'd like to hear someone tell us a little bit and let us ask for it as many. It'd be perfect. I guess that means mature, doesn't it? Yes, full grown. Be thus minded. That's referring back, isn't it?
And this is a word that send your mind on.
Being such a mind.
I would think it refers to verses 13 and 14.
If anyone knows any which are behind reaching forth on those things which are before I press towards the mark for the prize of the high flowing of God and Christ Jesus. This was really Orient our lives. He was a fancy term or pointing our lives or whatever he was saying. Let us check with maybe perfectly tough minded this is you can't get much further if you don't get hold of this can you?
And this goes on to speak of how we can get along together.
Even though we might differ a little, and this has been encouraging thing to me because Scripture recognizes the realities of life too, doesn't it? We're not going to be perfect until we get to glory, but to say that we can't go on together, that is wrong.
Am I right that you can?
We can wait all gone and and go and count upon gone to reveal what is where there are differences a men in grace and give us grace to go on so and then we find that we have many things in common.
Where to verse 16 we have already attained as I think of the sweetness of fellowship that I have. I can do one of two things I can be occupied with force here and there and say here I don't agree with my fault. Well, and and of course I really honestly surveyed. I have to say we betrayed wonderfully.
As we've proved over the last couple of days.
And I think this is very encouraging, isn't it? A lot of God has revealed a great deal to us that we can enjoy together.
And we'd better address ourselves for that and fine, and and be glad of that and count on him on the other things.
Well, but in connection with Hebrews nine, I think it is that we can have our conscience perfect because of the mighty sacrifice of Christ. In contrast to Old Testament snakes, we might say those believers there who had the imperfection of animal sacrifices. But now we can have our consciences perfected because of that mighty sacrifice, Lord Jesus Christ. Then the second Timothy chapter 3, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished under very good words. There isn't a a servant of God.
00:45:03
That could want more than what he has. The word of God is perfection itself. He's fully equipped with the Word to give out the mind of God. And then our verse here.
And it's humbling, isn't it, that as many as we heard, Why division, Why all of us wrangling and inviting devour of one another? So, dear ones, if you had Christ before you.
Holy Christ has been all absorbing objects of your soul like the Apostle Paul had sent in our language. Every one of us has been divisions of the state. If we could honestly say from the depths of our hearts, Oh Christ is the fountain, the deep sweet, well above. If He was everything we wanted to do, just nothing but the glory of the Lord that would be used in it.
Or if we couldn't absolutely be eye to eye, that wouldn't even breaking up. And the crash side and the contention factor.
If we have a perfect object before.
Can't walk in another state. It kind of I impressed the reading an individual past Paul has this persuasion and it was he had said in verse seven I counted lost her plan. Verse eight. I thought things were lost for the Excellency of the knowledge and then that first fourteen I press or the mark pride high calling thought in Christ Jesus. We can't walk in the face of our young Christian friend or.
Our mates or our older brother we need to have that persuasion that Paul had in the individual way that verse 18 and 19 there when the trials come and our friend or our brother turns away and some walking says so they're not Christians at all. Will I follow it? Will I have that persuasion to keep me in the past need to have an individual face just as he comes to the Lord of the in the beginning now individually and be saved. You need to have an individual face.
Mm-hmm. And yet Paul does, uh, cover work that says me in verse 17 that we might have that ourselves. He Bowers of me not leaning on his face, not doing it in his face, but doing I'd like to see you do that on your own too. And really what he's saying, you followers of me. And I believe that, uh, the Lord would have us encourage one another in that way. Uh, we don't prod our brethren into things. We don't whip them into things.
But we can certainly encourage them to follow the Lord. I think of, umm, the Lord turning and saying, Peter, uh, follows out, me turns around, well, what will this man do? That's just like us, isn't it? Worry about somebody else. The Lord says, that's not your business. You follow me. Now we know that John following on that we must have been a blessed thing for them to have company together in that pathway. But it is an individual path.
But it's nice if we can be so walking that we can say to our president, come along with me. It's a it's a wonderful path. I wish you were in it with me or come along in it with me. And I believe that's the spirit in which it does it not as you say, saying rest on my face, but do what I do have to save object I have.
It's been said that this, uh, this verse UH-14I pressed, uh, no, no, I'm sorry. Verse 15. Let us therefore, as many as the person be thus minded, thus minded about what just what he had told us before, what was his object, what was his mind, Christ and glory. For I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ or the calling of God on high.
In price and then just let us therefore, as many as the perfect be thus minor. Well, I understand that this means heart power. Heart power. In other words, Paul's heart was taken with Christ because my heart occupied with Christ. And if it is.
That's that's that can flow out to others that others may have as as it says, let us fall says let us therefore as many as be perfect.
Or have that same heart power, that same occupation before us. Then let's, let's be uh, let's be thus minded. Let's be the same, have the same mind pressing towards the mark for the prize of a calling on high guard healing Christ Jesus. I enjoyed the little thought on that day. It brings me forth heart power, not, not word power, not to sword power, but heart power. What is the heart, the affections and the tenderness and the, the, the love and the occupation of the person, right?
00:50:29
The ones that bring us Brother Charles, end to verse 21, that our citizenship or our conversation, our associations will be in heaven.
If our object is there, then our, our, uh, conversation will be in heaven. You know, that word conversation is a little confusing sometimes, but it includes our conversation. We can't leave that out. But it's much more than that. It's our whole association of life. I think Mr. Darby has a little foot on it that says, like, I'm an Englishman.
And my interests are English. Everything about I'm an American or whatever. Umm, but we're heavenly minded people. We're heavenly citizens.
Because we're looking for someone who's coming from heaven as the Savior of our body, as the Savior of our body. We've already met him as the Savior of our souls, and we rejoice in that. We've received the end of our faith, the salvation of our souls, but we have the salvation of our bodies ahead. And I feel sorry for our charismatic brethren who are robbed of that. They're looking for that down here.
We know that, that we, we're content to lead the salvation of our bodies to the coming day when the Lord is going to come from heaven. He'll take care of our glasses and our hearing aids and all those things that, uh, perhaps make us feel that it is a body of humiliation. The Lord will take care of that in that coming day. And meanwhile, we can go on with our affections, our heart engaged with him, looking for him to come from heaven with that new aspect of things when our bodies will be brought into conformity to the new creation.
Paul had to umm counteract the teachers keeping in mind in the beginning of the chapter verse two, beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of competitions because being infiltrating teachers were trying to gear the minds of the Philippians to think firstly why? But Paul sets himself now as the example we had a lot of glory in in his pre conversion days. As far as earthly things, he had great qualifications.
But now when Christ intervenes and saves them, he indicates that he counted that all but dumb. He had now a hope that superseded anything that the world could offer him. And he doesn't say you here will be a follower of me. Then he says that there are some many walking whom I have told you off, and I'll tell you even we think that they are enemies of the cross of Christ and his destruction, whose God is the belly, whose glory is in their shame. Notice who mind earthly things, but our minds is on heavenly things. And that's where we're looking for our hope, Jesus Christ to come.
And this pervades all the New Testament epistles I find frequently.
Paul, you mentioned many verses about, uh, trans, the transformation of our body, one that you omitted, I'm sure it wasn't intentional, and one that we're not putting commonly associated with the other list in second countries. 418 and then five and one, it says we look not at the things which are seen, but as the things which are not seen. But the things which are seen are temporal. But the things which are not seen are eternal anything. For we know that if our earthly House of this Tabernacle were destroyed, we have a building of God in house not made with him.
Internal in the heavenly goes on to say this is the purpose like God has called us for heaven, for heavenly things for eternity. Paul has to tell Timothy 6 and 12 lay hold on eternal life where unto thou also called and further down the chapter verse 19 he says laying up for themselves a good foundation against the time to come notices that they may lay hold. It should be translated this way that they may lay hold of what is really like.
But what is so deceptive of our natural being? And it's it's foolish, it's natural. And it's it's akin to Julius. And that our lives are geared to think of earthly things, of temporal things, things that transmit and short lived. It says in Proverbs 11 and seven, it says when a wicked man dies, his expectation shall perish. Well, his expectation is in this life and that's as far as his scope can reach.
00:55:00
But the Christian has a has a vision that goes beyond what is temporal, what is short lived. It goes on off into eternity. And that's a wonderful thing about Christianity. There is nothing that is comparable to it because it takes us away from earthly discouragement, difficulty things that might would destroy a nationally and ruin his expectations. But for the Christians because it's the future. Paul says to the relations about our Colossians for the hope which is laid up for you in heaven.
Umm. He also says umm.
Well, it's a Hebrew, right? It says for here we have no continuing city, but we look for one to come and so on. There's just only versus time when permit to put them all. But there's so many verses and it's constantly as a reminder to us as we read the New Testament epistles, how we really need the faith of the future glory, and we're going to be with Christ, be like him. And in that sense we be willing therefore to deny ourselves and take up the cross, knowing that at the end of the road there's a crown awaiting those that are faithful to him.
And that will make it work at all. Yeah, three states here I see kind of gone. But there are three states of Seoul here too, isn't there? There's the perfect. Those are the ones that have Christ as the object. Uh, their, their object is Christ. They have those that are otherwise minded. He says if they're, if they're inverse UH-15 and if you'd be otherwise minded, God's only feeling of this unto you. There are, there may be some of us who, umm, don't lay hold of this as much as we should, but where?
What? How are we going to get this? By the word of God? He, he says he, he, he, His desire is to reveal it to him. Then he says we find those that mind earthly things whose God is their belly and their ends is destruction. So you'll find the one who seeks to make this object. He's, he has that perfection before him. We have one who may be otherwise minded. God is desirous that he might be brought to that beautiful condition of that perfection. And then we have those that are just earthly minded. They have no desire to follow the Lord. So I think we have those three states.
Period.
Stop.
Have I an object, Lord below, which would divide my heart with thee?
I believe it's 46 on the appendix.
Stop the object bright and fair, to fill and satisfy the heart. My hope to meet thee in the air, and nevermore from thee depart.
That I may undistracted me to follow, Sir, and to wait for this evening 46 in the Assembly.
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01:00:39
90238 oh oh oh umm well, umm.
Uh.
My name is crying, give it to me.
We'll fall, Sir. We're not going to be a lot of heart disease.
Oh my God, I'm.
Now Is the Time - Titanic
Gospel—Gary George
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And they're great. They Scroll down together.
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Social thing number 56.
Oh, blessed gospel sound, yet there is room and so on 56.
00:05:05
OK, I'm sorry, umm.
Thank God I didn't. Come on. Yeah.
I guess you're going to go to the grandparents make you haven't gone.
Umm, can we turn to Eclectic, the Old Testament, a book after the Book of Proverbs?
A book that begins by saying the words of the preacher, the son of David, King, Jerusalem. Vanity of vanity. Let's turn to Ecclesiastes phrase.
Beginning at verse one, to everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heavens. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to break down and a time to build up. A time to weep and a time to laugh. A time come on and a time to dance.
Trying to calculate stones and a time to gather stones together. A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing. A time to get and a time to lose. A time to keep and a time to castaway. A time to rend and a time to throw. A time to keep silence and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate. A time of war and a time of peace.
We can stop right there.
No doubt you noticed the frequent repetition of the word time. A time for this and a time for that. We read in the 9th chapter. It says in verse 11 at the end, but a time. And she is happiness to them all for me. And also know it's not his time. As the fishes that are taking an evil nest and as the birds that are caught in the sneer, so are the sons of men sneered in an evil time when it falls suddenly upon them.
A time.
To everything there is a season and time, to every purpose under the heavens. And there we have described what some of the things that are commonplace in everyday life, laughing, dancing, weeping, mourning, planting, plucking up, gathering stones, casting them away. Everything practically that could be named is given here as a sample set by the preacher Solomon.
It says you're trying to laugh and I think laughter is a good medicine. Doesn't it say it may be in this book, I'm not sure. There's nothing wrong with laughter. It's a part of, uh, you might say our makeup. Not that we should be characterized by it necessarily, but I think we all may enjoy it a a time or two, a good land. There's a time for laughters, but it seems to be the standard of the day or it's the attitude of the majority that everything in life is a joke.
Everything in life is just you just see light above. There's nothing. There's no need to be serious about anything. Everything is laughter, frivolity and levity. But here we read that there's a time to laugh. There's a time to weep.
00:10:05
You know we read the Lord Jesus death and and Luke 17 verse 26 to 30. He says this as it was in the days of Noah's sociality in the days of the Son of man. He said that they did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage until the day that Noah went into the act and the flood came and destroyed them all. And if it was in the days of lot they did eat, they drank.
They bought, they sold, they planted, but the same day that lot went out of sun.
It rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. So shall it be in the day when the Son of Man shall be revealed.
Everything here is the season and a time to every purpose under the heavens we beat up James, he said known unto God are all his work from eternity. Acts 15 and verse 18. There are things that are scheduled in the measure of time that God has arranged according to his purposes. But I would like you to think about your own life in your in your own schedule of life. Has there ever been a time in your life when you have wept before God?
Above your sins.
It's part of both a heavy burden that you have before God with your guilt and sin. Have you ever sent sin? There's such an emphasis on laughter and joy and happiness and hiding and celebrating in good time. Since the times of weeping in mourning before God are totally foreign to the minds of many and even in Christian circles, I'm afraid we have lost a sobriety that especially is connected with the gospel of the grace of God.
Because of the consequences of rejecting it. Paul. It says that he reasoned with feelings of righteousness and tempering and judgment to come.
When Felix heard these words, it says he trembled. He trembled.
Only wish that he had trembled to the repentance.
Toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. But we don't know of that. We don't have it recorded in the scripture. But notice the subject matter. That call shows when he has this opportunity to preach before the governor feel it. Christ had told him what he thought saved him on the Damascus Rd. that he would preach before dignitary. And now he has a grand opportunity to speak to Felix the governor. And he could not ignore the fact that there was a judgment to come.
And so we don't want to ignore such a subject.
If we did, we wouldn't be faithful to the whole gospel of God. We wouldn't be presenting the whole council of God in connection with salvation.
A time collapse and a time to leap. We begin games four. Verse 9 and 10 is to be afflicted and mourn and reach. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves therefore in the fight, Lord and he.
Gonna lift you up. Notice that that is before the law, that one must be humbled in order for God to lift you up to Him. I said He is. I spent in vanity and pride, knowing not my Lord was crucified, knowing not it was for me. He died on Calvary. Yes, those days of pride kept that songwriter and kept many of us in this room.
From coming to Calvary and guilty sinners, and they are unbirding our standing on the one who bore the wrath of God once for all at the cross.
Just the past week I was filling up at a gas station and I noticed a, a thicker, a bump of sticker in the car and it said something about the, uh, the, the Titanic, the thinking of the Titanic. It was a society and I, I walked up a little closer to it and I stared at it and I read it and see if there was any more information. I got in my van. I started driving off. Finally I stopped my vehicle and I got it. I just had to go and find out what this tickle was all about. Was thinking of the Titanic.
And with some societies and this girl was in the car about a 28 year old woman, I say. And I asked her if she could give me some information as to what that particular was all about. I said I find that quite intriguing that you would there would be such a society about the Titanic. Well, she said the purpose of this society is to keep in the memories of people as to the calamity of the thinking of the Titanic, she informed me.
00:15:18
That, uh, there are 9 survivors still, uh, in existence today who were on board that ship called the Titanic. And I had known a little bit about the Titanic and I wanted to have a little more conversation with her so I can pick up some more information because it's quite, quite a, an event. I believe in the history of, uh, man, in, in some ways I, I'm, I'm very, uh, intrigued. You might say you're interested in.
Things of that nature that happened because we believe in the sovereignty of God. How God can allow some of those things.
Well, anyway, what struck me the most was this. Umm. She had told me that those on board knew exactly what was happening. They were informed that there was a large hole in the bottom of the ship, they had struck the tip of an iceberg, and it was only a matter of time before the ship was going to sink in the cold, deep sea. They did have, of course, those light bulbs on board for such an occasion like this, but unfortunately there weren't enough.
Feet aboard on the, uh, little light bulbs that they had to fit everybody on the light bulb. They were, I believe, around 2000 occupants of the Titanic. And they were, I'm just guessing, maybe about 12 or 1400 places on the lifeboat for people to occupy, to be able to go off to land in safety. And there was a band on board. I don't know the name of the band.
She told me that a bandleader's name was Thomas Hopley, who had commanded the band to gather together, get their instruments, go on deck and begin to play some music. The purpose of the playing of the music was to calm the emotions of the people. Let there be a pandemonium condition that would only cause more perish at sea. And I thought that was quite a courageous act on the part of these dance people that they would be willing to.
What the people get on board these lifeboats and see them go walking in the in the distance safely on which the shore, while there they were going to be victimized by those waters of death. And there were many others too, who stayed back, assisted, assisted mothers with young children and younger people to get on board the ship. And here these older ones and the banned people, they stayed on board and there they saw others.
Getting on to other ships faithfully go off in the distance and I read an account of a woman. She happens to be just about 30 miles from my city. Who can recall? She apparently from her description was the last one to leave the Titanic. And she said she can remember seeing the band in neat deep water singing the song nearer to the Oh God, or how that goes, dear my God, near my God to thee.
Was the song that she heard the band playing as she went off safely and the band went down in the water, she saw the knee deep. The last place she saw her. She looked back. Well, this reminds me of a far greater substitute. It's a model that man would do such for other men. We think that, don't we, in Romans five? Well, six days. Therefore, when we would get without strength and due time. Christ died for the ungodly. But notice this so carefully, for a righteous man will one die.
Yet for adventure, for a good man, some were even dare to die, and this is what they did. They would dear to die on the behalf of others, to see them go off. They treated you along, while they would be the ones that would have those ocean water come over them and bring them down to the bottom of their death.
Carefully for a righteous man would one die, yet prevention for a good man, somewhat even dear to die. But God commended his love toward us.
He didn't while we were at dinner, Christ died for us. Oh what a substitution, What a mercy seat we have to think that he would die for me, my Lord and King. Oh what a savior, that he would die in the place, in the room of the ungodly. Have you ever seen Christ's death on your behalf? Have you ever realized that you deserve eternal judgment for your sins? And Jesus was lifted up high on Calvary that he might be the substitute for theory. And can you sing? There is your substitute.
00:20:09
Giant, you're even dead. And I'm sure this lady, her name was Mrs. Brown. And she looked back. There must have been a bunch of gratitude that there were some that were willing to forfeit their lives in the place of her life. And as others look back upon upon the board of the Titanic and probably saw many of them frantic crying tears, maybe on their knees, praying and desperation, hoping that somehow a miracle.
Would save them or if you could tonight just look back with us as we preach the gospel of the one who died in the place of the ungodly that you might see that he died for you. We get as we trace through the book of the Bible. We see very early in the book of Genesis when Cain and Abel had to come with their offerings to God. We see the earth Abel bringing a substitute for himself.
Then we go on in the throughout the Bible and when we get to the Passover, God's direction.
Was through Moses that they were first to take a lamb and then it's called the lamb and then last of all, in the most important of all for any that are on stage tonight. The scripture says it takes your lamb. You can believe that he is a Lamb of God. It may be more so that he is the Lamb of God, but it's only grace in the soul by the spirit of mine working in the heart, they can say my lamb.
We lead John 315 and God so loved the world. What a wonderful birth, but if you just leave it tight, died in the behalf of the world, that's no benefit to you. Individually, we may need Ephesians 5 and 26, how the Christ loves the church and gave himself for it or for her. You can know that truth and still not be saved, but we recall in Galatians 2 and 20 the Son of God.
Who loved me and gave himself for me.
So he might have said, Was it for me? For me alone the Savior left his glorious throne. The dazzling splendors of the sky, was it for me she came to die, Was it for me? He bowed his head upon the cross and finished. Yes, His precious blood, the Christmas Day, was it for me?
The stage of change.
And he says it was for me, yes, all for me, the love of God. No great, no great. Can you say it in my place? Condemned, he stood.
Seal my patterns with his blood. Hallelujah. What a pleasure.
Yes, Hallelujah, pray deep to the Lord that he would ever send his son. And when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth, sent forth his son, made of a woman, laying in the law to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of some.
Oh, can you see it tonight, that He died in the place of you, the sinners? If you have not ever yet come to that realization, you are wrong. Regardless of what you may have in the way of profession, if you don't have the reality of knowing Jesus's death on your behalf personally, you're without God, you're without Christ, and you're without hope in this world and in the world to come.
And in the world to come.
There must have been quite a shock to those in the days of Noah and in the days of Lot. When the day came, it says when Noah entered into the eye and when luck when I was a city. The very same time that that those two individuals went in and went out of the city is when the judgment came. It says it's destroyed them all. But what about the times of the laughter?
Maybe they were all in laughter. You know when I think those persons in loop free note about they were they, they were given in marriage, they married wise, they planted, they bought, they sold. Those are not abnormal things. Those are just everyday business transactions, everyday normal activities of life and that's what you and I are engaged in the normality of life. We we paid hours a day, we work 8 hours a day, we eat 3 meals a day.
00:25:11
We may have, uh, someone who's been a recreational, whatever it may be. Regardless, the point is you've got to meet God. You've got to own up to God in the same kind of boat this president world is that it'll rob you. It'll steal all your mind time. I think it was Henry David Thoreau who was just the worldly philosopher. He says when a man thinks, when a man begins to think, he says whoa unto the world.
You know why? Because when a man begins to think, it's gonna cause him to realize the vanity of vanities of life that this man Solomon came to realize.
But one of the greatest objectives of the action enemy, the devil, is to try to insert in your mind and in your life a schedule that will fill up your whole being so that you won't have any time, as we were seeing, room for pleasure, room for business, but for Christ to crucify, not a place that He can enter in the heart for which He died.
You know, just some people just thinking about the Lord Jesus Christ is the subject that turns them off, if I can put it that way. It's just not a contemporary type of subject that you bring up in everyday life. And if you go out in the world and you go through the market and you go through the streets of your city or wherever you go, you're going to hear the calm and everyday language, the normal transactions of life, but nothing about God, nothing about eternity, nothing about standing, nothing about judgment.
But what are we hearing tonight? We're hearing about these things. Could tonight be the time for you, a time for you to be exposed just as you are before God? It comes tonight before the Lord. If he looks down the eyes of the Lord, the scripture says they're in every place beholding the evil and the good. All of you could see the holy eye of God down upon you tonight and see yourself as one upon me. God dies is on.
In Are you in Christ, or are you in your sin?
I'm sure if you're not saying, and I hope this is true, that you are uncomfortable with the message of the gospel. The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness. If you're not saved, if you don't know Jesus Christ, the message of the gospel, regardless of how conditions you might be to sit through an hour of a gospel address.
I hope that you're disturbed and that you realize that Jesus is not, to you altogether lovely.
So here's my upset about that lovely enough Calvary. He demands my heart, my life, my awe to the believers that says ye are bought with a price, therefore glorify God if your body and in your spirit.
Which are God? We love to tell the story of Jesus and his love to those who know it best. To those in a stage, it's a cheer to hear about Jesus Christ because he's going to be the theme, He's going to be the song, he's going to be the central focus of of the intention of all the regimes for all eternity. There won't be any boring moments at all for the elect of God, 'cause when Mia, when we're there, we're going to leave that back behind. His word of Tabernacle that seems to interfere.
Without communion and fellowship with the Lamb of God. But when we're there, the Lamb will be in the midst, and we'll all know him as our Lamb. My Lamb, your Lamb. He'll sing unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood.
Can tonight you see they die for you? Is there anything to you that passed by beholden? See if there would be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, where with the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of His fierce name? My friend, can you stop a moment and hear these words, that the wrath of God, His holy anger against sin, was put up without measure on the Lamb of God, His only begotten Son?
It was for me the Sager died. Does that mean anything to you? Can you stay honestly that he died for me?
00:30:02
I say honestly because the heart is deceitful above all things. He's definitely wicked. And I think the company that I'm speaking to tonight is the same company that was spoken to by three brothers this afternoon on this platform who was who were delivering Christian truth.
For Christian, I'm preaching the gospel for sinners that are not saved.
I don't know what you're saying, but the Lord done but all that your heart might be searched out.
To discover what your true condition is before God and if you're not saved. The scripture said For what is the hope of the hypocrite though he is gay when God taketh away his soul? Joe 27 in verse eight. What is the hope of the hypocrisy of game when God taketh away his soul? It's a sad thing to go through this life.
Thinking that you're a part of the pills field of God.
That you're part of God's heritage, That you're one of God's people.
And then to find out if you're not when that day comes, when the flood came, when the fire came, or when no, when, when lock went out, the very same day was the day.
When the profane were separated from the radial, are you going to touch the jewel? Are you one of the ones for whom he died on the cross? That he's coming together home with him and the diner for he's just going to be left behind.
The chaff must be left behind.
This picture says who will render to every man according to his work, to them who fight by patient, continuous and well doing, speak for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life.
But to them who are contentious, and do not obey this truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation, wrath, and tribulation, and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil for the Jew 1St, and also to the Gentiles.
God will recompense, dear friend, and to Him that much is given, much is required. And if you've heard the pleasant gospel sound and you've turned to deaf ear, and if you've been able to adjust your temperament so that when the gospel is preached, you can kind of fly by the 45 minutes of preaching and go out the door and put on another artificial smile and go out with another crack of a mile out of the door and pass by another night.
As a Christian, but it's with God.
That you'll have to do you know if I could be used of God tonight as the as the right of Ecclesiastes says, who shall bring a man to see what shall be after him? Who I'm not confident, but I know the Spirit of God is. He can bring you to see what shall be after you. He can open and pull the curtain back and make sure to see what awaits you if you die in your city, since he was a real life really eternity of judgment.
So the way the price rejected Jesus said here's weeping, she's wailing, he's gnashing of teeth. And I'm sure those in the days of Noah if they could but be resurrected. They speak to you and that's your righteousness. Warn them of judgment to come and his loss had told his sons in law about the fire that was going to be rained down from heaven when they marketed him false. They could only tell you.
Since you're neglecting so great.
Solomon is here. The greatest one is calm and the greatest message that should ever fall and more to live has been preached and it's the greatest message because it concerns his son.
And Paul love that gospel so much he was willing to hesitate to his life for the knave of the Lord Jesus Christ.
And friends, we have no other argument. We have no other plea. It is enough that Jesus died and that he died for me. Can you say it was for me? That's all it takes faith. One look at Christ, it's firing on the trees. What happened even planted him consent to thinner free you'll never you would never have known what your true condition was before God.
Until the day, until the night, until the minute you believe that Jesus died for you on the cross. You know the day I just stayed. It was like day 53 and five.
00:35:07
I would find a Providence of God brought to a brother's poem who's now with the Lord just a few months back, died in 86 when we went into his home, a few of us, I brought my girlfriend who's now my wife and some friends to his brother's house. He sat us down, gave us Bible. He started reading in Romans 3. There is none righteous, no, not one, for they have all gone straight. They have turned everyone to his own way and so on right down the list. And he went through it and he said this is a photograph of God.
Of man. I was convicted, convicted by the Spirit of God through the word of God, that I was a Sinner. For several years I was troubled, I thought to justify myself before God, trying to roll myself in my own righteousness, trying to keep the word of God, trying to do good deeds, go to church, and so on and so forth. But dear, the Word of God was two plains. I could not be with God. I had gone astray, I was lost, I was guilty, and I really didn't teach Him.
The brother says let's turn Isaiah 53.
It will be her class. I knew where it was. We I turned to it quickly and he was assisting the others in the room to try to find a passage. And if he was helping the others, I turned to it and I read. The pastor said. He said let us read. But he was wounded for our transgression. He was bruised for our iniquity. The chastising of our peace was upon him, and with his pride, with his pride.
We are healed, so God open the eyes and my understanding to see that Jesus died for me. The burden of my heart rolled away. It was near my face. I received my son and now I'm happy all the day. God saved me. He stole me from His precious word. No man put his hand to the ark. There I was with the word of God. No comment were made there. It was black and white, rumored for our transgression. Who was it that was wounded?
I knew this chapter was about Jesus the Messiah, but I didn't know that the hour was me. The hour transgression was my transgression. I always said that in indifference to my own soul condition. But that day the Spirit was moving and working and convicting and revealing to me as Peter says. Which is now reported unto you by them that have preached the God belongs to you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven.
Yeah, who else believe that report? They can only be believed when the third of God takes it. It penetrates it into the dark hearts of man's soul. It reveals that Jesus died for them. Well, the brother turned to his left, the first one in line. His name was a friend of mine, Paul, he said. Paul, will you read that passage for us?
Paul read it, he was wounded for actually impressions and so on. Well, the brother said now Paul.
When you read the word hour, wherever you read the word hour, could you, Paul, put your name in there in the place of the word our?
How sort of nodded to that. It might. And Paul started reading again, publicly, out loud, but he was wounded. He stopped, couldn't understand. All of a sudden he gets to my feet. Jesus died for me. I saw it. I knew that the Son of God loves me and gave himself for me. I'm thinking, Oh, Paul, can't you see it? I hadn't seen it. It was so clear for years. I I was wrestling with the Scriptures, reading it.
Try it again, Paul. And Paul began to read, but he was wounded and he stopped. He couldn't put Paul's name, he couldn't read it. But he was wounded for Paul's transgression. He was brewed for Paul's iniquities. And a shaft item of Paul's peace was upon him. And with his stripes Paul is healed. He couldn't, but Jerry George could. Jerry George could say he was wounded for Gary charges.
What is your name? Can you say he was groomed in for Thompson or for Rebecca Finn or whatever your name is? Can you say he was wounded for your sins, That he was bruised for your iniquity and the chastising of your teeth was upon him and with his plants? You're healed at the God. That's the heart of God. That his son would die in my room instead.
00:40:21
So he might have said, I have been to the altar, can witness the Lamb first holy to ashes for me. And what did we save her? Ascending on high, Accepted, oh Father, by thee.
You know Isaac was there on the altar, bound.
His father Abraham had a knife in his hand.
It'll be into God's word. The hand was ready to fall, the blade was about to be plunged when an Angel said Abraham, Abraham, hold thy feet. And Abraham turned his off hurry and caught by his bones in the thicket. And I wonder, can I believe that Isaac turned and he saw the lamb, and he thought, Abraham, go and grab the the ring by the horn.
And take the rims and take those ropes, break the cords that found his son, remove his son from the altar, take the ram, and put the ram there. And then the blade that was about to come on him went on the ram. And there Isaac stands, not as far off, but he stands nearby.
Can he see a substitute?
For Him I have been to the altar, and witnessed the Lamb burnt holy to ashes for me. And watch this week save her ascending on high. Accepted, old Father, by thee behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world. For this cause was the Son of God manifest, that He might destroy the work of the devil, and then He might take away sins.
OK, you see it tonight that he took away your thin, that was your thinning for which he did die on Calvary. If you don't believe that you're lost, you'll be in hell forever. The scripture said he that covered his sin shall not cross him, but who still confessed it? And forsake of them shall have mercy. Promise 2813 will you be one tonight that won't hide your sins? Jesus is coming. He has declared the whole counsel of God.
There's no clumps that man can roll himself with. Jesus came and died. There's no other argument, there's no other plea. There's no other gospel. There's no other cup that could have been drunk than by the one that says not Michael but I'm done in half to calorie goals up to Gold Office Hill. He drank it to the village red and paid it off and said he didn't finish Jesus.
Take it all. I'll say him. I'll hold. Sin has left his craziest days. He washed them white snow. Can you believe it? Can you see your substitute there on the front? Can you see him bleeding and dying in your room instead?
Can you all I think what must have been so grateful, so grateful to see their a substitute in his place, dying for him.
Oh, what a far greater stuff that you we've got to look at when you think of who it was. The one upon whom God said, this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, God said, in whom I am well pleased. That's the same one that the Bible says of God in connection with the Son, that it cleaves the Lord to brood him. The one whom God said to this is my Son, whom I am Wellesley.
Is the one who can please God to bruise on the cross.
Marvels Marvel Mystery of Mysteries that Jesus would be the substitute.
That he might have said, Oh the love, the truth, salvation plan. Hold the mighty grace that brought it down to man, hold the mighty gulf that God did ban at Calvary. At Calvary.
00:45:03
The day.
Through NEO, when the Passover must be flamed, and on that time it was a custom that one of the prisoners would be released. They had two in custody at the time, Jesus and Barabbas.
We know the story that Barabbas went free. Jesus came here, the one that had the power to call down the League of Angels, to wipe out all man's time. But no, He chose to be the Lamb. Legend of slaughter and the sheep before us. Yours is done. So He opened not his mouth when he was reviled, and reviled not again. When they threat, when they when he suffered, He threatened not. They committed himself to Him to judge it righteously.
Barabbas blocked off.
She goes away. A man that was a murderer, an insurrectionist, a robber, a guilty criminal goes free. Someone who did no sin, who knew no sin, and then he was no sin, was going to be nailed to a tree.
I would like to think of Verizon. I would like you to think of yourself as Barack.
Shortly thereafter, they let them out to a place called Calvary.
There they crucified him, and with two other malefactors, one on the right hand and one on the left. But there was another malefast of Barabbas. I wonder if he followed the crowd. I wonder if he stood and with the bulls of vision and it encompassed round about the cross of Calvary. I wonder if he was perched up there on the hill and watched the thoughtless victim die.
I wonder if he watched the Son of God bleeding in time the earth. Calgary. I wonder if he realized that I should have been there. I should be nailed to the tree. I should be punished for the crime that I have done.
Was it for crimes that I have done? He groaned upon the tree. Amazing Kitty, grace unknown, and love beyond degree.
Forever.
Whole Barabbas is wherever you are, you are a Sinner, you are lost, you are guilty. But the Son of God said here am I sends me, send me for me, my God, my God, why a thou forsaken me, Jesus says, was it for me?
For me alone.
Oh, was it for you? That's the question I want to leave with you tonight. Was it for you? Root for pleasure, root for business. But for Christ, the truth defined not a place that He can enter in the heart for which he died. Is there any room for him? Oh my friend, don't make the mistake and shut him out. You may be going on contently in life. I'm sure Satan is paving your Catholics very smoothly.
On the broad and crowded Rd. that leads to destruction.
Maybe the Lord, I should say, maybe take this providing a boyfriend, a new job, uh, a promotion in your company or something else in life to give you a false ecstasy that would rob you of taking about the most valuable thing you put that your your soul and where you stand with God and whether you're really his or not and whether Jesus did die for you.
So simple, the sun God who loves me.
And gave himself.
For me, can any of the littlest children here, the five and sixes and sevens and 10s and twelves, can you say that that Jesus died for me? My little boy is 7 and he says he's saved and I'd like to remind him about the Lord Jesus Christ and want him to be really sure.
So he knows Jesus as his savior. He might go through life and say, well, my daddy and mommy think I'm staying and if it's good enough for them to believe that I'm saved, it's good enough for me to believe I'm saved. I hope that's not your thinking little children. I hope that you have a personal re relationship and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ that you can save. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine.
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Holy Forte of glory, divine, can you say it? Jesus is mine.
She is a Lamb. She is the Lamb. What is he, your Lamb? Can you see him who has taken that strong one by the horn laid on the altar, dying in the place of young?
Lord bless the gospel in the stadium. Someone stole that, they might realize. Yes, there are times to laugh. There are times to plan it. There are times of other activities of life.
That God allows and permits to go on under the sun. But remember, there's a time to weep, there's a time to warn. And I can't think of a time come on. And a time when someone hears about Jesus is love. A time when you were here of that blessed One that died in the thinner stead we had lifted up on Calvary, kneeled to a tree with a crown of swords upon his bride.
Since they're not anything they are in the hot for.
What she got, shall we pray?
Our Heavenly Calling
Receiving Grace
Job and the End of the First Man
1 Thessalonians 4
Thoughts on John's Gospel
Receiving Grace, Job and the end of the first man
Our Heavenly Calling
Address—G. George
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This is a desert, drear, heaven is our home, and so on 180.
We are a stranger here.
Is from desert river and his powerful.
Dial zero 231 lower than seven. Whoa a year, 4 wherever.
Yeah.
We have a murderer home.
1.
10-4, 10-4, 10-4, 6, 10-4.
Umm, so I looked at one first.
Hebrews 11.
I wonder if anyone would like to take a guess on?
Who in the Bible other than the Lord Jesus? Or I should say, who in the New Testament?
Whose name would be mentioned the most? And he's been young guys want to take the guess of who Who's name? It's a character from the Old Testament. Whose name do you think would be mentioned in the most in the New Testament?
Do you have a gift?
Thank you. Oh, really?
Well, we can't know what you're thinking of unless you tell.
How about your boost? Do you have any idea?
And who do you think would be second?
See. What's that, David? He's up there.
There's two persons that I want to speak on tonight, and incidentally, I didn't think of this till after I was going to speak on them. These two characters names appear the most in the New Testament. And did you say Moses? Yeah, Moses is right. His name appears 75 times the New Testament, and the one whose second is Abraham, 11 Time, 74 times.
Almost the same 75 and 74 times these names appear in New Testament. Now in the book of Hebrews, we find that, uh, uh, Moses name appears 11 Times in Abraham's name appears 11 Times in the book of Hebrews. So, uh, there's no doubt that the Spirit of God has these two characters before us for lessons and for, uh, profits for our souls. So I would just like to speak on, uh, make some comments tonight on Abraham and Moses from, uh, the book of Hebrews Chapter 11. So could we read it the eighth verse?
00:05:26
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should have to receive for inheritance, obey, and he went out not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise as an estranged country, and dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the ears of him of the same promise. For he looked for city which have foundations whose builder and maker is God.
Through faith also Sarah herself received strength and conceived. Thea was delivered of child, and she was past age, because she judged in faithful who had promised. Therefore sprang there even of one in him as good as he had as many as the stars of the sky and multitude.
And as the sandwiches by the seashore innumerable. 1St 17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isis. And he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten Son, of whom it was said, that in Isaac shall thy seed be called accounting, that God was able to raise him up even from the dead, from whence also he received him in figure. Now down to Moses in the 23rd verse by Saint Moses, when he was born was his three months of.
His parents, because they thought he was a proper child, or beautiful child, calmly, that is, and they were not afraid of the King's commandments. By faith Moses, when he was coming, he has refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin. Proceeds assuming the reproach of Christ's greater riches than the treasures in Egypt. For he had respect unto the recompense of the reward by taking forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king.
For He endured as seeing Him who was invisible. Through faith He kept the Passover and the sprinkling of Buffalo, lest he that destroyed the first born should touch them.
Well, when we read the book of Hebrews.
And in the earlier parts of it, we have great elaboration on the preeminence of Jesus Christ when he exceeds the angels, he's greater, he's mightier than those angels. He has by inheritance, uh, a better name than they do. And therefore, because of the preeminence, as the first chapter brings out of Christ over all other created beings, the 2nd chapter begins by saying therefore.
We ought to give the more earnest team to the things which we have heard less. At any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels and angels of the Jewish economy were highly esteemed, and if the word spoken by angels receives just recompense of reward, and every disobedience received a punishment, medicals want to say, How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation which has to 1St begin?
To be focused by the Lord, by the Lord. And so right away the writer of Hebrews wants to draw attention to the, the preeminence of Christ. And because of his preeminence, his word must be heeded. Because God has in these last days spoken to us in Son, not through prophets, not through the patriarch. But it is not in the last days, the last days of God's economies. God has spoken to his Son. So there's, there's far more responsibility.
In our economies and there were in the economy's past. So right away the the readers are are on their attention is drawn to the person of Christ. And then the third chapter says holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling. It's a heavenly calling. And then when we get to the 11Th chapter, we see holy brethren acting.
They have spaced out. We see the action of faith in the 11Th chapter and in this honor roll of men and women, these men of faith. The 12 Chapter says, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, what witnesses we have laid out for us in the 11Th chapter, just reading the 11Th chapter ought to make a stop and pause and consider our own pathway. But he doesn't stop with the Abraham's and The Isaacs and the Moses's and the David's.
00:10:10
He says, but looking unto Jesus, the Author and the finisher of the faithful, for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and his bed down at the right hand of the majesty and hind, so on. So He brings us right to the zenith of all characters that live the life as a true pilgrimage stranger. Yes, there was a joy that was before Him.
That could enable him to walk and even entice these men of the 11Th chapter walked. And this is my subject tonight. It's it's pilgrimage, it's Ranger ship that ought to characterize the people of God. A holy for every we are with a heavenly calling.
We sometimes don't emphasize enough the sovereignty of God. I think that's the reason why there's much carnality and there's a lot of indifference to the things of God because we have a latent idea in our minds and hearts that we have something to do with salvation. That is wrong, absolutely wrong. Jesus says you have not chosen me.
But I have chosen you. I'm not trying to undermine the responsibility of man. And I realize that that is a valid doctrine, man's responsibility. And I heard it illustrated nicely this way. That means responsibility and God's sovereignty are not so much like too attractive. Maybe we have heard that things are unparalleled that our parallel and seem to meet somewhere, but we can't really detect it. I like the way this was illustrated when he said it's like 2 ropes.
They're dropped side by side down through its ceiling, but that are tied on the other side so that we really cannot fathom it. We can't fully comprehend how human responsibility and God's sovereignty are really reconciled in the Bible. And they're both set forth. But I want to emphasize tonight that God's sovereignty and particularly God's sovereignty in calling you and me, we have no doubt entertained the thought at times. Why did God ever choose me?
And we look at us maybe, umm, uh, someone we grew up with or a relative, and we model that God shows us more than, rather than choosing them. And we might compare ourselves with them and think, well, it seems to be more in my, my, uh, relative or my friend, uh, neighbor. Why did he choose me? I'm not very good stock. Well, that's right. We're not very good stock. We're bad stock, as a matter of fact, but the truth of it is that he chose them.
And this.
Is very much emphasized in the word of God, but not enough emphasized by us in God called Abraham out of the ear of the Chaldeans. We don't read anything about Abraham thinking for the Lord or searching for him. You know some have bumper stickers on their car to say I found it or I found him. I, I I that's wrong. He found out when we were Wanderers far from God.
Our ears were deaf to His voice, His counsels were setteth not, our death was to His light, and our faith was to the pit. And hell would have been a place of more comfort to us if we die in our sins, than heaven would have been without a doubt.
But he called her sovereignly.
But there are some implications of God's calling us in these I want to draw our attention to tonight. We read about the children of Israel and Deuteronomy seven and six, and says the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all the people that are upon the faith of the earth, a special people. Psalm 43 it says the Lord have better time him that is godly.
For.
Himself we'd be the first 50 of 619 and 20. We are not your own. Ye are bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God. Then when we turn to the second chapter, it talks about though we are servants, that is, that we may have earthly masters that we are under the authority with still nevertheless the Lord.
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Freeman, the Lord's freeman, that's what we all are. Though we are free, yet we love to be in obedience to him. As Paul could write to Romans and say I call an apostle of Jesus Christ, of rather a bond slave of Jesus Christ. He brings right out in the book of Romans how he was a bond slave to him. It was not by any means a a task. It wasn't a burden.
To be a bond servant to the Lord. It was a great joy to him. He's going. The Lord calls Abraham. He calls them out of the error of the Chaldeans. Come out of thy country and thy kindred and thy people.
When God called us, he called us from something we had in our reading. How did Thessalonians? They turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.
Turn. So when the Lord called us, there was a desire that we be separated from what he takes us out of. Jesus says in the book of Luke. He says, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Jesus says, Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all in half, he cannot be my disciple. Luke 14 and 33 Whosoever he be of you, that forsaketh not all that he has.
See, you said, if any man come to me and hate not his father and mother and wife and children and his brethren and sisters, yeah, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. Look, 14 and 26.
Now those are very sobering declarations by Christ, and discipleship is strongly emphasized by Christ. There was one that wanted to follow the Lord.
In Jesus test these ones that want to follow him. Luke 958 Fox as it holds. If you want to follow me. Foxes have holes, birds of the year have men, but the Son of man.
Path not clear. Do you really wanna follow me?
No me and draweth a war that doesn't first count the 'cause there is a cost of discipleship. And maybe we're reminded of something that we heard at the outset of God's sovereign call when he saved us, that we have been full of death to ever since. But might we be reminded tonight by these two characters who were disciples for the Lord?
Call and they go to speak. Walked worthy of that calling. We're told to walk worthy of the Lord. This calling that has called us on a nation's darkness, that has dynamited us out of nature's quarry and has make up to be costly precious stones. A part of the temple in which God by his Spirit dwells is that God that would desire his people to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.
We think the world is so bad that a child of God can't live godly in it. The world could not get bad enough for God's standard to ever be lowered, if not lowered. Regardless of how low the morality of society might get, regardless of how corrupt the system of the world may become, the Spirit of God still teaches us to live righteously and godly in the present world, denying ungodliness and worldly luck. That's what the Spirit of God is.
Trying to teach us.
So Abraham, he comes out of the ur of the calories and I can't in the time that we have and I'm not prepared anyway to go through the history of Abraham, but just make a few points.
Sometimes we are bent on expecting earthly privileges and earthly benefits from this world, and we have that. There are some legitimate desires that we would have a home and shelter, clothing and so on. This is all contemplated in description, but I'm afraid that we are trying to dig our pegs too deep in this world.
And rather than like in Abraham, and it talks about Isaac and Jacob here, who wanted to dwell in the land of promise, though they didn't inherit it, they were going to dwell in it in their tent. When you turn to 18th of Genesis, Abraham is in his tent with his wife, the 19th lot, which is contrasted with the heavenly man, Abraham dwells in a house.
00:20:06
You can see the permanent residency was making of this world.
So much so that when the call of the Angel came to lock to leave, Lot was reluctant to leave. The Angel had to take his hand to drag him out. What is it going to take for the Lord to speak to you, to take you out of those things that are bogging you down, Those things that are nothing but weight, that are hindering you from running the race for the Lord Jesus Christ?
While Abraham's wealth in the pen, he didn't reckon, uh, the, the earthly things so valuable that he made it his heaven on the earth. And uh, Paul asked to criticize the Corinthians, He said he's praying as king. Shame on the Corinthians raining when it was a time for suffering.
Then we must do much tribulation enter into the Kingdom. Paul tells those in uh dirty is it in Acts 14 verse 22 and then is appointed unto us to suffer all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persistence. Second Timothy 3 and 12. This is the part of the calling of God. God saved us not just to uh take uh to have Christ die for us to be a fire state from him.
Definitely not. He has something far better than just, uh, delivering us from that horrible pit. He has the desire that while we're in this wilderness to conform us to his sons, to teach us lessons. Lessons as we were hearing of the lessons that God wanted to bring in Job's life. That as the trial you're facing much more precious than a goal that perishes. So if you try to fire might be found under praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.
Yes, there's going to be the heaviness time, there's going to be the sorrows, but all these God used the precious like the colors in the diamonds in the in the jewels that that man digs in the minds from Europe are all caused because of the pressure under the earth that forms these colors in these stones. And so why don't we rather allow the circumstances that may not be favorable from our standpoint to be.
Permitted and to receive so that we might realize that the Lord is using these.
So that they're might form a color enough that might have eternal glitter that will be like a crown on the on the head of Christ that will all be to his glory in the coming days. Abraham went out and he dwelt that way. He dwelt in a tent. You know why? Because God gave him a promise of something better. He looks for a city which has foundation whose builder and maker is God.
When Peter writes in Second Peter Three, he talks about things that all these things shall be dissolved.
Thinking of him, they have even for spawned that that these things are going to dissolve the way there's gotta be something more stable than earthly pain. There's a heavenly side of things that God wants us to lay hold of and Abraham lay hold on. And so when the Melchizedek could come along, it makes the offers and give all the gold he could refuse them and not even take a shoe ashes from them.
It's not no physical.
When it wasn't fatigue had come to, uh, Abraham. Forgive him that. No, you know why? Because he was enjoying the bread and wine of Melchizedek so that he was feasting on something that was of a suitable character for a new nature that he had that he was feeding on and stolen earthly prospects come our way. When the world says, follow me. When the devil puts his traps on our pathways, can't we say we're feeding on the bread and wine of our Melchizedek?
That we have come in contact with and he's given us that wine to cheer up. Isn't these heavenly things that really are the thrill of our souls? David wanted to be the tree planted by the rivers of water.
Because he wanted to bring forth fruit to God. He wanted to be a godly man that would not walk in the council of the ungodly. They're standing in the way of sinners who sit in the feet of scornful. But his delight was in the law of the Lord. No wonder he could say, the Lord is my shepherd, and I shall not want.
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He could have had much, but he refused that. He wanted to maintain a heavenly character to Abraham. The city was more valuable to him than all of the well wet, watered plains of joy. So he embraced the promise of God, and he could confess that he was a Pilgrim and a stranger on earth.
Heaven is our home.
We read Peter says that God has begun us against relying living a lively hope.
To an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, that faith is not away reserved in heaven for you.
Are we savoring the things that are of God or of the things that are of men?
We have a reservation in heaven. We should have been in the hell fire for eternity, but we've got a reservation in heaven because God has begotten us again by a lively, living hope. And what kind of interest are we going to have into that eternal Kingdom? Are we going to go with our failed blistered and beacon and bruised? Are we going to go with the field clean and white, blowing by the breeze?
And discharging our cargo along the shores and the harbors and in the ports that we shop along.
As we go through life, can we have the heavenly deposit within our souls? Are we wherever we go? Are we bringing a scent of the heavenly things that we have as God born again children of God?
Are we discharging this valuable cargo when we get reeled in by the world? Do we have the silver coin in our mouth, the gospel, to give them for the redemption price of the penalty of their sins?
Sensify the Lord Jesus Christ in your heart, Peter says, and that will enable you to be ready to give an answer to every man that ask if you a reason of the hope that is in you.
Abraham looked for that city. What are we looking for really? It really causes me and it should cause us all to really search ourselves. What is our hope? What is our glory? What are we boasting? Paul said, God forbid that I should glory things in the cross of Christ. He saw the bitter, watered me sweet and he drank of them all of his life time so that at the end he could say, I thought by the grace of God.
A good fight, and I finished my course with joy. And now, now He came to the time when He could be further. Now there is later for me a crown of right, for I know whom I have believed, and I have persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him again before that day We are our restoring.
Our treasures are they on the earth and often roughed up, corrupt? Or are they in the heavens, where neither Moss nor roughed up, corrupt and thieves cannot breakthrough nor seal? For we are, your treasure is.
There will your heart be also. Do you know why your heart is not right with the Lord child of God? It's because of where your treasure is.
Where is your treasure? That's where your heart is for what a man thinketh.
That is what he is.
You are what you think, and what you think is where your treasure is. But are our treasures similar to the treasures of the Abraham and these honorable men that God put in the New Testament for us to be instructed by?
He can fatter that he's a Pilgrim and a stranger on Earth, Peter says.
As pilgrims and strangers abstain from fleshly life which wore.
Again, a soul first. Peter 2 and 11, a war against the soul. Are you concerned? Am I concerned of what I confront every day? The one that dwells on a high we get Isaiah 3350 and 16 is the one that sausage is from hearing of evil and stopping the deals from hearing of blood and shutting his eyes from seeing of evil.
He shall dwell behind.
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That's the one that will be dwelling on high. Avoid it, count, not buy it, turn from it and pass away. Proverbs 4 and 15 abstained from fleshly luck, which war again of soul. It is important to keep our soul in the right condition before God because your soul is the regulator, so to speak, of your character. The way you're going to live is the way your soul.
Is enjoying the things of Christ.
The Lord had rained down for the children to be able to man up for them to feed on and he said, I noticed this in our family reading at home for the first time. It struck me, the Lord is going to give them this man and suggest them to see that they would be obedient.
And they were instructed to go daily, and that laid on the dew of the ground, and they had to stoop down to get it. It was small and it was round.
And you know, the Lord wants us to feed on this book. We are what we read, if I can put it that way. We are what we read. And are we reading with a listening ear to the voice of the shepherd that is in this book. It's really in this book. This book is life giving and powerful. We can pick up literature and even good ministry and be really blessed by it, but it falls far short. It takes a long back second seat.
To this book because this book is salted with heavenly flavor unlike any other literature ever produced in the history of mankind. And the ones who know it are those that are safe and only those that are saved. The natural man does not receive the things that serve God. But Abraham abandoned it all. There was total concentration to the one that called them out of the earth. Chelsea grantee had trouble. His father Tyra went along with him, and it wasn't until Tyra died in Haran said Abraham really fulfilled God's purposes of calling him.
Is there something that we have to allow to die in our life that we might go all the way to the promised land, so to speak? Are there those things on the pathways that were still allowed to live when God would have us to reckon them dead?
But to recommend this, you know, Gideon put out a fleet at night and the fleet was wet.
And the ground was dry. And the other order is reversed, that the fleet was dry and the ground was wet. Well, you know, what we are is in contrast to what the world is.
Had all these earthly benefits and all these, uh, temporal things. But oh, I wonder if Abraham said, I look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. Second Corinthians 4 and verse 18. Our light affliction is but for a moment, but it worked for us, a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
Is that where our hope is? If our hope is here, our walk will be heavenly. It will be heavenly. We'll be willing to take off the, the lightest of weight so that we can more, uh, uh, with more facility fall across.
And I don't want to pose in images if I don't have any weight. I want this word to reach me as much as hopefully will reach you. We really do need to recognize the high and the holy calling that God has called us with. We are pilgrims and strangers. Paul says that Timothy, when Timothy was under much pressure, there was a Hymenius in the Pleadiuses. There was the Alexander, the coppersmith that were greatly withstanding the words of the Lord, so to speak.
But Paul stirs up Timothy. Timothy, what is that to these, so to speak, follow Christ and regardless of what may be happening around you?
Don't let it get you away from your holy heavenly calling. God has called you individually. That's very precious to lay hold on that you are individually valuable to Christ and he would go to speak loose you and he he says that the as it were, the Lord passed me up thee and so whatever it is that you're hitched to whatever brain you're whatever post your reins are being wrapped around.
00:35:14
Might say, get them loose to realize that the Lord hath lead of me, and he might say, well, I don't really have a gift and I'm not much of A reader. The Lord hath need of thee. The Lord hath need of thee. If he didn't, he wouldn't have died for you. That weak brother for whom Christ died, the Son of God dying for a weak brother. He's a precious brother. He's a valuable vessel because the blood of Jesus was spilled.
To buy his party and to make him a child of God. And that's what you are if you consider yourself weak. You're one for whom Christ died. You're valuable to him, and he has much need of thee.
Now moving on to Moses. Moses, I think if I'm right in my understanding of history, that Moses would have been next in line to Pharaoh, brought up in Pharaoh's court in all the learning of Egypt, and he had quite a career ahead of him. But he esteemed the reproach of Christ, greater riches and the treasures in Egypt. Christ, he has seen that reproach for him.
Do we have seen it, You know, when the apostles were being in Act 5 verse 41, it says they rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. It's not a humbling verse. We do all that we can to avoid persecution. We do all that we can to avoid saying I know the man, but here at that time, and Peter is in that was in the voice instead that he rejoiced that he was kind of worthy of shock suffer for his name.
Just weeks before.
He, he wasn't willing to suffer for his name, but now that name is valuable to him and at whatever cost would be paid to suffer for that means and to glorify that name, it was worth it to the apostles and it should be worth it for you and me to suffer shame for his name. Well, if we can only get back to Calvary. I think it's the key. And I have to tell myself time and time again.
When I survey the wondrous cross upon which the Lord of glory dies my richest gains, I comfort lost, and poor contempt on all my promise. We need to get back to our first love, to the cross. And Steve, what Christ bore on the tree in the awful darkness, the thick darkness that came on Him, the darkness due to me, so that we might want to yield ourselves.
And give ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is our reasonable or intelligent service. It's only reasonable that if Jesus, the Son of God, who when Spirit became flesh and in that body would be nailed to the tree, and have my sins upon him and bear the wrath of God, how can I want to serve anyone other than Him?
He deserves my heart, my life, my all. Can we all not confess that tonight He deserves everything and he should be like it says in Colossians that Christ is all and in all. Mr. Dolly, I think, says Christ is everything. And so we need to consecrate Christ to our souls and get back to him and look away from whatever it is that is discouraging us and that is getting us away from the sovereign call of God.
When he chose to hit his son before the foundation of the world and by grace called us in time and made us his own. And now he says follow thou me. Now he says what before me and be perfect. That's what he wants for us. And he's equipped us with the capacity to be able to do it. And maybe you just haven't been walking worthy of the heavenly calling. And you say I'm not capable of doing it. I get a call from a brother in my city.
He's in marvelously saved, stays in a Patty wagon. After being arrested about 11 Times, he finally cried out in desperation. Lord Jesus, praise me. And the next morning he woke up and the word of God was on his heart and he wanted to read it. But the poor brother has fallen several times, but he gets back up because God began to work and he's not going to let it go unfinished. And he called me every so often just to get encouragement. It says how can we live in this world around us?
00:40:09
Well, I'm glad to hear and ask questions like that because I'm a man of light passion, and I need to hear about these things that God's Word encourages us about so that we can live in a way that is more in character with the holiness and the heavenliness of our college.
But the reproach of Christ to him was greater riches than the treasury. Oh, what can we get out of this world? Is it worth it? Is it really worth it?
But Jesus said, what shall prompt a man if he gave the whole world and loses his soul? Can we apply that to a Christian?
Tinley Appliance for a Christian. It's not that we would lose our salvation, I'm not implying that. But would we be losing rewards that we could have had?
And only then, if we go in for the things of this life, won't we be giving up the joy of salvation and the things that really ought to invigorate us, things that really ought to excite us and stir us up. Why, Christianity is the most exciting thing in the world, for the one that saved the word of God is the most valuable tool in the whole of the universe, and we've got it, and it means something to us.
Because we got a nature within us that when we read the book, it, it rebounds right into our souls and we stay in our hearts deep down. Amen, Amen, Amen. Because it's real. It's real and we should know the effect. All right. To the Thessalonians, when you receive the word of God, you heard of us. You receive it not as the word of men, but as it is the truth, the word of God. Notice this which effectually.
Worketh also in you that believe.
God's Word works for the believer, but if we're not reading it, how can we expect it to be working? By where did I get in my heart that I might not sin against Thee? Are we putting it there so that the Spirit can bring to our remembrance those things that are in the Holy Scripture, so that when we do come up against the challenges of our employment in a school, we can rise to the occasion because His Word is working effectually in Him, and then we can confess that we are pilgrims.
And strangers Jesus confessed before Pontius Pilate, Paul said he had a good confession. Timothy, thy professor, good profession before many, many witnesses because he was told to flee youthful life, the fleet to fight and to press on for the things of the Lord. But then it goes on to say by safety forsook Egypt. Yeah, he went all the way, all the way with the Lord. And there were times that he was meeting a lot of opposition. Every time we go to Farrell, Farrell seats and put in the cog in the wheel. I think Moses had the impression that he was going to go to go to the Pharaoh and Pharaoh was going to say, OK, Moses, that's enough, you go.
Moses came back. He came back. We're not going to worship here. We can't stay here. No books going to be laid behind. The children aren't going to stay. We're taking our families with us. Brother and sister, you've taken your families out of Egypt, or are you bringing Egypt into your home?
Are we bringing Egypt into our homes? The Lord wants us to be separated from it all. He wants us to forsake Egypt.
And here we're letting Egypt come right into our lives. We're inviting Egypt into our home. Literature, other instruments of the home.
Inviting invitations to the world to come into our lives.
Is Christ not enough?
He's feeding on the heavenly manner. Not enough do we have to resort to the hust that the swine, uh, beats. Uh, we wanted to fill our bellies with these things. You know, when Paul talks about, uh, there are many that want of whom, uh, uh, how's that verse go of whom I told you often and outside even we think that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end of destruction.
Whose glory is in their shame, and whose God is their belly?
What I think that means is God being their belly is simply allowing temporal things to have a monopoly or control of my being.
Is it that the things of this world are so enticing that it has a monopoly on my person so that I'm in ******* to it? Look, I don't want to be misunderstood. Paul says all things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient. All things are lawful unto me. But this is the key. I will not be brought under the power of any.
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A hobby can have a dominion over you.
Scripture says I will not be brought under the power of any. So if you have a strong hobby, read that verse first. Christians don't send Christians 6:00 and 12:00. I think it is tells us to not be brought under the power of enemy. And so these things might seem insignificant, but brothers and sisters, I cannot from the word of God minimize the heavenly calling that you and I have been called to by the sovereignty of God.
Not just to save them from hell, but he leaves us in the wilderness to walk in a world that hates Jesus Christ, but that we still have the potential to walk heavenly in the world. So Moses for for some Egypt, even though he may have been the next in line to the king. You know, I understand that that Pharaoh historically had no son but daughter.
Moses was adopted.
So to speak, and he likely would have inherited all that the Pharaoh had. What an opportunity always is. How can you pass that up? Moses choosing rallies to suffer affliction with the people of God there to enjoy the places of sin for a season. He waited before God. This is a season, God. God, give me an eternity to spend with him.
Yeah, we have a time here below we've got a pilgrimage pathway, but it's so small. But for a moment, Moses says.
Sin for season, just a season. It's going to be spring before we know for season isn't willing. Is it worth it to to go into the things that are only seasonal? Why don't we go into the things that are eternal that'll make us more heavenly?
To value those things that are eternal and those are the things that are valuable to God.
When I can't, I have to repeat the verse, when the Lord says to Peter, Thou favorites the things that they have men, and not the things that they have of God. Excuse me, In Psalm 49 and 18 it says, When they'll do us well to thyself, thou shall have praise of men.
And when we turn to Loop 12, that man says sold out, has laid up many goods for many years, and now he makes a resolution. I will eat and drink in the merry I.
I think that's what is meant when it says while he lives, he blessed his soul and men will praise thee when thou doest well tonight time. Do you ever meet an unsafe relative or a friend in the shopping Plaza? And they say the questions are something like this. So how you doing, how you feeling good. How's the family? How's your job? Where you living? Oh, you've got a, you just bought a new home. Oh, you're, you're, you, uh, were, uh, elevated to the vice president of your company and on and on and on.
While he lived, he's left the full mineral praise when I'll do as well as I but you know we read in contrast in Jesus puts his stand for this proof, so to speak, on those who love the praise of men more than the praise of God and don't misunderstanding. I'm not saying that we shouldn't provide for our family in all these necessities. These are known of God. I'm talking about laying up for ourselves praise on earth.
Are we favoring the things that we have men? Are we, uh, living on the approvals and the applauses of men, Or do we value the things that are valuable to God?
Jesus, he deserves it all, my heart, my life, my love. Might we be encouraged tonight by these two men who confess that they will tell these and strangers on earth and movers, as you know, didn't even get into the promised land. And when he knew that he wasn't going to go in, yes, it's just hot in him, we must admit. But he still pressed on. He still saw something beyond the milk and honey of Canaan.
He saw places like the Mount of Transfiguration where he could speak to Jesus about his deceased. He esteemed the reproach of Christ. Christ wasn't even born there, but he esteemed it. He had the faith like Abraham. I I'm a little perplexed to tell you the truth about the heaven, heavenly desires of Abraham, an Old Testament patriarch. I could see it of a New Testament. Think when there is.
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Far more revelation. Abraham didn't have near the revelation that you and I have, but yet he confessed his pilgrimage and strangership on earth and he saw something that was eternal. He saw something was heavenly, and he was mindful of that and he did not want, he had no desire to return. When the children were in the land of Egypt, in the land of Israel, they were told not the king, especially to multiply horses. Why? Because they would be going back to Egypt.
The horse could gallop them down to Egypt in no time, and then they would resort back to the things of their past. Brothers and sisters, let's be careful about our stalls. What do we put in the stalls? Are they horses to get us back to Egypt? It doesn't take much temptation. There's a lot of temptation there. And just get on the back, put the saddle on it. Off you go down to Egypt because you made the mistake of putting your horses in the stars.
We might have to have salt, but we don't have to have bosses.
So that we won't allow ourselves to be tempted to stay from fleshly lumps which war against the soul. But Jesus, he is the supreme example. The joy that was set before him. What was it? Oh, Jesus, before the cross. Yes, the cross was there, but he saw what was next. It was the throne. It was the throne, brother. You and I better cross the beer. But look what's on the other side of the frost.
What's at the end of it all when we drop our crosses behind it? Isn't that what the hemorrhagic says and exchange it someday for a crown?
Exchange. Yeah, brother, uh, heavenly quality. Jesus, look for the right hand of God, the cross. He defies the shame of it. Yes, we might be spies. The shame of what we have to go through It's it's rough, it's tough, it's difficult. But look what's on the other side, brothers and sisters that ought to motivate us. Like brother Dobby says that rewards.
I'm not a uh, is not the umm, what's the word used? The rewards are not the uh, motivation. I think of the word he used for us and our pathway, but they are an encouragement to us of what we will receive at the end. And can we see the end? We need to look to the end of all these things. Look to the end of all flesh. Think that all these things shall be dissolved. O brothers and sisters, what are we going to have if the judgment seat of Christ?
When we have to be looking back badly anymore.
Didn't pay that. Those rules, in all of its places enticed my soul. It snatched me away from service to Christ.
Overly pomp and glory. Your charms are spread in vain. I found a clear story. I found a truer game. Yet, brother, we can forsake it all, Paul says. I endure all things for the elect.
He was willing to endure all things Oh might we be willing to endure it all, might we from the word of God tonight the examining our souls as to whether we're really living heavenly or not. Are we allowing Egypt in our home or have we forsaken it all because of Christ because of Christ. Jesus says that we get in first. John 14. These things are written in your joy may be full. What's gonna really satisfy us.
Feeding on.
The roasted lamb.
And I suggest for the sake of so briefly, it says that Moses verse 29 and says that he kept the Passover.
And the sprinkling of blood, you know, that's interesting that he kept the Passover, doesn't say Israel kept the Passover. You know why? I think because he's a type of Christ and Christ kept the Passover or sacrifice Christ our path over in sacrifice, you know, it says.
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That they killed the Passover, not the Passover or the Passover land, plural. There was only one Passover lamb, and it was kept by Moses. And it says lest he that destroyed the first one should destroy them, not not the first born of the Israelites. You can check me on that, but I don't think that there was any threat to the first born of the children of Israel. The threat was.
To the children of Egypt, they are first born were in danger of being destroyed by the Angel because I think it's uh, Exodus 423, the Lord says is real. My first born, that nation was God's first born. And so when Christ died, when the Passover lamb was killed.
And those that kept it, they are households.
That's why it's called by some the gospel that we preach as a Passover gospel, a lamb for a house.
Fathers and mothers, are we providing a gospel atmosphere in our home with our children? A land for the house? Do we have the lamb in the house? Do we telling of the roasted lamb that went in the fire and that had blood shed on the cross of Calvary?
And the sprinkling of blood, children, if you don't have to blood your life.
I read something and I just want to share with you it was most enjoyable to my medication.
The bloodiest war that was fought in all of the First World War were fought in a city called Verdun. A city in in uh, France was a a fortress city and the mightiest battle of all the battles of the First World War was fought and were done.
There the French put up a battle and destroyed the incoming foes.
And a in a tremendous way, it was a fee above all other fees that were ever accomplished as far as war warfare is concerned. And in celebration.
In in Paris, France, of the honesty that is of the cessation of the First World War.
There is the act of triumph.
That is, I think it is in Paris, if I'm not mistaken. And what they do on this day of celebration, they erect the platform on the top of the arc of triumph.
And they have a flyer up on the platform.
In 20,000 Frenchmen on foot approached the act of triumph.
And the choir things out. What right have you to come here to the act of triumph? And they repeat it. What right have you to come here to the act of triumph? In 20,000 voices united together in ecstasy.
Faith, we come by the blood red banner of Verdun.
Think of that of the battle that Jesus fought on the cross when his blood was shed. And we are going to go into the arc of triumph, so to speak. And it's only going to be, we're only going to be able to March in, so to speak, because of the battle of the victory that Jesus fought on Calvary's Christ.