Address—W. Blennerhassett
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General Meetings, Toledo, November 1969, Addressed by Walter Blenner, Hassett.
Shall we open our meeting by singing Hymn 193?
Jesus, my Savior.
Thou art mine, the Father's gift of love divine.
All thou hast done, and all thou art.
Are now the portion of mine heart, O Savior, teach me to abide close, sheltered at thy wounded side, each hour, receiving grace on grace, until I see thee face to face 193.
As one listened to the faithful.
Telling out of the glad tidings the last few evenings.
Oh, how our hearts were solemnized.
To think that.
There might be.
Some boy or girl, Some young man or woman who would leave.
After hearing that matchless story of love and grace.
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And go out of the door.
Still in their sins.
One is reminded of that incident in the life of Mark Twain.
During his triumphal tour of Europe.
And on this particular occasion he was accorded a great banquet, And at this banquet were the mighty, and the noble and the great.
Many honors were heaped upon him.
Also at that banquet was.
His little daughter.
And after the banquet was over.
She said to her father, she said Daddy.
You know everybody, don't you? Except God.
Oh, I wonder if that is true of a boy or girl here.
That you do not yet know the one who loves you and gave his son to die for you.
You know we read of Samuel when the Lord called him Samuel. Samuel. Or what does it say about Samuel? It said that he did not yet know the Lord. Oh, is that true of anyone here that you do not yet know the Lord, after the faithful warnings of coming judgment approaching so rapidly?
And yet you're still in your sins, still on your way to a lost eternity. Oh, how sullen one of the last nights in the gospel tent in Sackville, NB. There was a young man who would come quite a few times, and several remarked how intently he listened as the gospel of the grace of God was proclaimed.
And as he went out the door, 1 spoke to him.
And we could see that there was a definite exercise there.
And he was asked whether he would like to sit down and read God's word together. Well, he says, you know what? I'd really like to. But he said, I have some friends.
Right in town. And I promised them I'd be there. The meeting was from 8:00 to 9:00, and it was 915 by the time all was over. He said. I promise them I wouldn't keep them waiting. I'd be there at 9:30.
Well, we looked at him and we quoted him that verse in Revelation, the third chapter.
And the 20th verse, behold.
I stand at the door.
And knock oh, is there one here?
Who is keeping that precious savior waiting?
Who has been knocking at your heart's door?
You might willingly keep an appointment with some friends, but all that friend that loved you unto death.
Boys and girls and grown-ups.
Are you keeping him waiting?
Oh, we trust if you have been doing so, that you will not do so any longer.
But right now, as you sit in that chair.
That you will realize.
That that blessed Savior is still saying behold.
I stand at the door and knock.
All we trust that you open your heart's door. Why to that blessed one, and not keep him waiting?
Because there's a day coming when you may knock and the door will be forever closed.
As we sat under the sound of God's precious word, oh, how our hearts leap for joy as we heard the wondrous truths unfolded.
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That are our portion in Christ.
And the light that has been given to us to walk in this dark scene.
And one thought of that verse in Job the 22nd chapter.
The light.
Shall shine upon thy ways.
Oh, how blessed it is that in a dark scene, a scene that is darkening.
You and I have light for our pathway.
And it reminds. It reminds one of the little boy.
Who was walking on this very dark evening?
With his father.
And the little boy was holding a Lantern.
And the black darkness around. Oh, he said. Daddy.
It gives so little light.
And I'm afraid.
All his father said to him, son, just keep on walking in the light and you'll find that that light will guide you.
Right to the end of the path.
And so it is with you and I, dear child of God.
There are times when we feel that we only have light for one step.
But oh, if we take that one step in the light that he has provided, we'll have light for every step of our homework journey.
Well last night as our brother spoke of that wonderful grand word whosoever.
And as one thought of what it means.
What it meant to you and me to know that we were included in that whosoever the blessing that that precious word encompasses.
One thought that today.
There's another word.
That brings much meaning, much blessing, and much encouragement to our hearts. And one felt led to speak on the little word whatsoever. We know that word whosoever takes in everyone in this room and everyone of Adam's race.
And that word whatsoever.
Takes in everything in our pathway. There isn't one thing that we can think of.
One problem, one trial. No everything is included. So let us look first in the Gospel of Matthew, Matthew the 21St chapter.
And the.
22nd verse.
And all things.
Whatsoever he shall ask in prayer believing.
Ye shall receive.
Oh, our brother Barry was mentioning about the promises of God during the reading meetings that the Lord has never failed of one of his promises. And today we're going to look at some of these promises.
And all things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer.
Believing ye shall perceive.
Oh, what a promise for these dark days.
How? At times, we feel concerned, Perplexed.
Some might even say frustrated and disturbed, but how blessed it is.
When we turn to the promises of God.
However.
We need to be taught by the word of God as to these promises.
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And we enjoyed so much in that first epistle of Peter.
As to that precious word, faith, faith, faith that lays hold of the promises of God, faith that brings them into every step of our pathway and applies them to our walking ways, and so we find with prayer.
That the word of God promises us the answer, But let us look in the first epistle of John.
The third chapter and we see something there that should characterize.
The Prayer of Faith, The First Epistle of John, the Third chapter.
And verse.
22.
And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him.
Because.
Oh, never overlook the because of scripture, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
So here we find that.
One of the blessings.
That we learn in prayer.
Is obedience.
Obedience to the Word of God.
Because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
Oh, isn't this a lovely state of soul to find a Christian? A Christian with an exercise heart?
And conscience to do the things to keep the commandments of the word of God, not the 10 commandments, but those things that we know that He has asked us to do.
And.
Do those things that are pleasing in his sight, so if you and I would desire to be.
In the blessing of answered prayer.
Oh, oh, the path of obedience.
The path of obedience is the path to answer prayer.
Well, now let us look also in the 5th chapter of this epistle, the 5th chapter of this epistle and the.
14th verse.
And this is the confidence that we have in him.
That if we ask anything according to his will he hear thus?
It always rejoices my heart.
When either joining another brother in prayer or at the prayer meeting.
We hear this expression according to his will.
I can remember a prayer meeting many years ago.
It was in the dear brother's house. It concerned one of his family.
And he had asked some to join with them at that prayer meeting.
They all prayed.
They prayed for that the Lord would give an answer to the prayer according to His will and in His perfect wisdom and love.
This dear brother prayed last.
There was number mention of according to his will.
But there was.
We say a demanding.
Of the Lord that he answered the prayer. The Lord did answer the prayer.
But all how much better it would have been if he prayed according to his will. Oh, dear child of God, dear young person, may we each learn this lesson to pray.
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According to his will.
All sometimes our own wills.
Are so manifest in our prayers. Is there that submission?
Is there that obedience to His word?
And are we praying?
Do we mention in our prayers according to his will? Oh, here we have it. How blessed is this?
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us. Oh, he knows what is best.
And sometimes the answer is.
No. Oh, may we seek grace to pray according to His will. Now let us turn to John's Gospel, the 15th chapter.
And the seventh verse.
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you.
Ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Oh, here we find that abiding in him brings us into the current of his thoughts.
And we will be praying not only in the spirit of obedience.
Not only in submission, not only seeking to abide in him.
But we will be praying in the Spirit, praying in the Spirit.
Oh, how important it is in these dark days.
But what we have before us.
In this whatsoever connected with our prayer life.
That what we have brought before us would characterize us as his children.
Or how the enemy seeks to come in and hinder us.
And so occupy our time and so fill our days.
That there isn't a time.
For individual prayer, there isn't a time for family prayer.
Well, let me ask any young couples here, do you have family prayer?
Has this been a matter of exercise that you and your dear ones would start the day?
Giving the Lord the first place.
Oh, I mentioned this to a dear young couple.
And the wife spoke up immediately and said, well, you know, my husband has to be at work at 8:00 and we live, She mentioned it was nearly an hour's drive and the school bus comes for the children at about.
The same time at a quarter rate, and is such a rush that we've never seemed to have found time for the reading of the word of God and prayer in the in the morning. Oh, I handed my wristwatch to her and I opened the.
To the second chapter of Ephesians and read 8 verses. Read the almost half the chapter.
And I said, would you just see how long this takes?
And I read it. Not quickly, not slowly. It wasn't quite 2 minutes.
And I said, Oh, dear ones.
Can we not? Only he alone could save us.
And now we're his, That he alone can keep us.
And it doesn't need to be a long prayer. One has often mentioned that the longest prayer in the Bible.
Is Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the temple? That's a long prayer, and if you'll see how long that takes, it's approximately 5 minutes. Oh, can we not spend a few minutes to start the day with the one who loved us and gave himself for us now? Should we look at the 14th verse?
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Of this chapter.
And here we find another whatsoever.
He are my friends John's Gospel of 15th chapter.
And the 14th verse, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Oh, how lovely it is when we see.
In the heart and the desires of a child of God.
That same desire that was in the apostles Paul, the apostle Paul's heart. Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?
Oh, how many sad, bitter lessons we would be saved from if there was that?
Earnest Desire.
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever.
I command you, and the Lord has taken us into his counsels.
He has told us all his mind.
And oh, how he cares for us. No, friend like Jesus.
But how often in our willfulness we turn away from His love, and there isn't the exercise.
If ye do, whatsoever I command you, I'd like to turn now to a verse in Isaiah, the 48th chapter.
Isaiah 48.
And the 18 verse.
And here we have God's earthly people.
And oh how he sought to bring them into blessing.
But they like you and I.
Displayed willfulness.
There wasn't a submission to his word, and so he writes he speaks to them in the 18th verse.
All that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments.
Then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea.
Oh, what a wonderful expression of blessing.
Thy peace had been as a river, oh as we see.
The mighty river flowing on in all its depth and blessings.
Wherever its waters flow.
And thy righteousness as the waves of the sea.
All the power in those waves, and how you and I, if there is this desire to walk in obedience to his will, we'll have that peace and that righteousness.
That will preserve us from the paths of the Destroyer.
Oh, how sad it is today.
When we see dear young Christians and some that are not so young.
Walking in the paths of the Destroyer.
Walking in the paths of the Destroyer.
Oh, how subtle is the foe? How clever is his attack?
In school and in college.
And in every aspect of our life, how everything that we see and hear.
Would teach us concrete what the Word of God would teach us.
Would take us from the path of dependence and obedience.
But oh, how blessed it is.
To seek to be exercised as to His commandment, commandments in His word.
Is my heart exercise? Is your heart exercise to learn His mind and His word?
And then seek grace to walk in it. Or am I just drifting along?
Drifting. No exercise. Oh, yes, I may be at the meetings.
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But there's no exercise to do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
One was talking to a dear Christian not long ago who was in great danger in the paths of the Destroyer, and one brought before them that verse in James the 4th chapter. Let's turn to it, please.
James 4th chapter.
And the fourth verse.
He adulterers and adulteresses.
Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Oh, what very, very strong language. Could that be true of a child of God here? Yes.
That according to scripture, you're seen as an adulterer or adulterous. Yes, if you are going on in friendship with those.
That are in the world.
And.
Those that have carried on friendships with those that they know they knew before they were saved, who are still unsaved, those that have kept up a very close and.
Intimate association with their relatives who are still unsaved.
Oh, how often we've seen that this has been a terrible hindrance even to turning them aside.
Oh, if you and I.
Are seeking to do those things that are pleasing in His sight. Our friends won't want our company if there's even a little outshining of Christ in our walking ways. Our relatives won't want our company.
Oh dear child of God.
One is not speaking now that you wouldn't be courteous to your friends.
That you wouldn't.
On occasion, show love.
And the natural relationships in the.
Family circle, But oh if you can enjoy a whole evening or a whole day.
In company with these ones whose interests are all down here.
And yours are all up there, and you can go on in company with them. Oh, you're in grave danger.
And if you're seeking to let your light shine before men.
Oh, you won't have to.
As there might be a danger of not showing wisdom and speaking to our friends and relatives, but seeking wisdom from the Lord, if you seek to be faithful all you'll find that they won't want your company.
No, they'll soon leave you.
Adulterers and adulteresses Know ye not that the friendship of the world?
Is enmity with God. Oh, if there are those here.
That have friendships.
With their unsafe friends and relatives that are a hindrance to them.
May they remember this solemn word of warning from the word of God. Now shall we turn to Philippians, the 4th chapter?
So often, you know, when we think of these things, we own.
How much we fail Philippians? The 4th chapter and.
We long to do better what we find. We just don't have the strength we just don't have.
In ourselves, what is needed to stand up to the attacks of the enemy?
Well, in the 13th verse of this chapter.
The Apostle Paul gives the secret of it all.
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Oh, may we learn.
To be in the enjoyment and the practical power of the 13th verse.
I can do all things through Christ.
Which strengtheneth me. Oh, how blessed is this promise? I can do all things through Christ, which strengthened me.
Oh, do you need more grace? He has stores of grace, but you're going to find it on your knees. You're going to find it in His presence. And oh, I was struck with the remark as to self judgment in our reading meetings, that self judgment is so important.
In the pathway of a Christian that each day that we would seek by his grace to exercise.
Self judgment. And it was mentioned that self judgment is not merely.
My shaking my head and saying, well, I shouldn't have acted that way, no.
I must seek grace to do better. Oh, it's going back to the point of departure and in the presence of the Lord owning.
Our failure and owning the point of departure.
Had we been neglecting?
The reading of his word. Had there been that lack of obedience?
Had that desire to do those things that are pleasing in his sight been set aside, and other things that have taken that place, that alone is his the preeminent part.
Oh, how wonderful is this statement. And you and I, without boasting and by grace, can echo these faithful words in our hearts and on our knees, seek grace to carry them out. I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me.
Now let us turn to Romans 14th chapter.
The latter part of the 23rd verse.
For whatsoever is not of faith.
Is.
I'm going to read that verse again, for whatsoever is not of faith.
Is sin.
Oh, the enjoyment of this verse and The Walking in this verse.
In the power of this verse, we will preserve you.
From the Destroyer.
How often things that are not of faith come into our pathway.
But here again, we have that little word whatsoever.
Is not a faith.
Oh, what about our conversation as young people?
What about our department?
What about our walk?
Is it characterized as a walk of faith?
Is there an earnest desire that there would be that walk of faith?
Oh, he'll give us the strength that it may be so.
And.
He has.
Won my heart.
Has he won yours?
Oh, how blessed it is when we remember that we no longer belong to ourselves, but we belong to one who, as we were praising and adoring Him this morning, has redeemed us to God by His precious Blood and how it delights His heart. When we gather, as we did this morning, when there's that portion for himself, that alabaster box appointment that we can pour out.
In worship and praise as our hearts, well up in Thanksgiving to that one that called a sort of darkness into his marvelous light.
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I often think of that little verse Sunday morning in Isaiah 43 chapter.
Isaiah 43.
And verse.
24.
Isaiah 43, verse 24.
Thou hast bought me.
No sweet king.
With money.
Now we know if we read in Jeremiah, I think it's the 70th chapter, that the sweet cane came from a far country. It cost something.
And oh, there is no commandment in God's Word that they would bring to the Lord.
This sweet cane.
This.
That you and I Sometimes when we've been away, we might delight to bring to our dear ones.
Something special that would remind us, remind them.
Of our hearts, affection for them, and always you and I come together on Lords Day morning. We have that privilege to bring this sweet cane.
This that has cost us something and so often the reason why there isn't the sweet cane on Sunday morning.
On Lord's Day morning, as we gather around himself, is that we haven't been willing.
To pay the cost.
To be before him, to be in the enjoyment of that one who is filled our hearts and thoughts, and around whom we gathered this morning.
Thou hast brought me no sweet cane with money.
Oh, are we willing to make the sacrifices in our lives that are needed and necessary to his honor and glory?
That in our lives there would be that sweet praise.
That ointment poured forth.
Oh, what a blessing it would be in each of our assemblies.
If there was the exercise.
As through the week, we seek to walk in company with that one and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
That there would be the exercise that there would be that sweet gain.
To offer to him in.
Praise and worship and Thanksgiving.
But you know, sometimes.
I have felt this way.
And I've heard others express themselves, you know, I feel the need of diversion at times. Diversion.
Oh, I well remember when Doctor Dashwood was in Montreal. Doctor Dashwood from Atlanta, and he was telling us of a little incident in his own meeting.
Of this dear Christian, this brother who came so faithfully to the meetings, and this night he called him up, He used to pick him up in his car.
Because he had no car of his own, he used to pick him up in his car and bring him to meeting. And Doctor Dashwood phoned him this night and said, brother, I'll be over in 10 minutes and he said, Doctor Dashboard, not tonight, not tonight, he said I I've been feeling the need of a little diversion and he said there's been a very, very beautiful and fine opera come to town and I'm going to hear that operation night. I just like to have a little diversion.
Well, those of us that knew Doctor Dashwood.
Can almost hear his words as he spoken to that telephone.
Diversion from Christ.
And he hung up the receiver.
He started towards the door.
And he hadn't quite got out the door when the phone rang and the dear brother said, oh, Doctor Dash would come for me. No, no, I don't want that. I don't want that. I don't want any diversion from my precious Savior who loved me and gave himself for me. Oh dear child of God.
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You might not put it in those words, but I have. I'm sure each one of us would own how often we have allowed these diversions.
That which would remove our eye from that blessed one and fill our hearts and thoughts.
With that which the world enjoys. Not necessarily that which is gross or evil, but oh, just that that robs him of the portion that is his.
For whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Well, how nice it is in our daily pathway for us to.
Heed the word of God to listen to its admonitions. And when these things come into our thoughts and minds, the suggestions, the planning, whatever it may be to say, is this a faith? Is this a faith?
Oh, you might say, well, you know, young people are only young once, and that's true. And there are many happy ways in which we can enjoy ourselves together in Christian fellowship. But oh, if we find ourselves, as they say down in Laurenville, they have an expression down there, world, bordering world bordering just that, which is on the edge of the world, enjoying what they enjoy. Oh, how quickly.
Our natural appetites lay hold of those things.
And the love that should be for him alone.
Wax is dim and cold. Well now, shall we turn to 1 Corinthians, the 10th chapter?
First Corinthians, the 10th chapter.
And verse.
The latter part of verse 31.
Whatsoever here again we have that little word whatsoever, whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
Oh, how many are the safeguards that are put in our pathway? How faithful is the word of God?
And how good it is to apply these tests. The Word of God says, prove all things hold fast that which is good. So often we find our life filled with rubbish.
With things that are time consuming.
And things which rob our souls of the enjoyment of the Lord's person.
Sometimes at the end of the day, that verse comes before me.
For our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
And one has to bow his head in shape and oh.
That at times there's been very little enjoyment of that fellowship.
Oh, it's going to cost us something to buy that sweet cane. It says with money, with money. It's got a price. And if you and I are going to give the Lord the 1St place he's called us to share his eternal glory. Oh what a future lies before.
Are we willing to pay the price now?
For a path of blessing, a path of happiness, a path of joy.
And a path of peace. I'd like to turn now to Isaiah rather Second Chronicle.
The 29th chapter.
And the 16th verse.
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And the priest went into the inner part of the House of the Lord, to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the Lord into the court of the House of the Lord. And the Levites took him to carry it out abroad into the book, into the book Kedron. Now they began began on the first day of the first month to sanctify, and on the eighth day of the month they came they saw.
To the porch of the Lord. So they sanctified the House of the Lord in eight days, and in the 16th day of the first month they made an end. Then they went to Hezekiah the king, and said, we have cleansed all the House of the Lord and the altar of the burnt offering and all the vessels they're off and the showbread, all the vessels there off.
Oh, here we find that in the temple of the Lord, because there had not been a daily cleansing, it took them 16 days.
To carry out.
All the rubbish, all it defiled.
And oh, how often sometimes we find that there hasn't been the daily cleansing in our lives.
The cleansing that we receive from the water of His word, and through the exercise of unsparing self judgment.
16 days to carry out the rubbish.
Oh, how much rubbish and defilement is there in our temples? Let us look in Second Corinthians, the 7th chapter.
Two Corinthians, the 7th chapter.
And the first verse.
Having therefore these promises.
If we read in the previous chapter, we see the wonderful promises in the 18th verse.
And I will be a father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perpetuating holiness in the sight of God.
So how often we forget this perfecting holiness in the sight of God? Because if you and I will read in First Corinthians the 6th chapter.
And verse.
19 I think it is.
Yes. What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you?
Which you have of God, and ye are not your own.
For ye are bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are gods. Oh, here this body that you and I have are now.
The Temple of the Holy Ghost.
Know how needful it is that we would remember that we are back with a price.
Dear young Christian, From the youngest boy and girl to young man and woman, do you realize, oh, how we need to remind ourselves day by day?
That you're not your own.
You're bought with a price, I heard a young person say a year or two ago as they stood outside the hall. I was just inside the door and this particular assembly, and evidently that one had been spoken to faithfully and graciously. I know the one that spoke to them, and I heard him say to another.
Nobody's going to tell me what to do. That dear young person was one of the Lord's Table, was a Sunday school teacher.
But the things of the world were coming in.
All we need to remind ourselves that our bodies are the Temple of the Holy Ghost. And you're not your own. You're bought with a price. Oh, how blessed it is when we remember as we did this morning. But we are not our own.
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That we've been bought with a price.
As by faith, we gazed back to that scene of Calvary and those three hours of darkness.
When the Lord poured out his soul unto death.
He was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Oh, you're not your own. The world would tell us to live our own lives, our lives. We see the throwing off of self restraint.
You and I, We need the Word of God and the Spirit of God within us to guide us and lead us.
And oh, it tells us we haven't got time to turn to it in Isaiah, the 30th chapter in the 21St verse.
It tells us, when thou turnest to the right hand or to the left, thou shalt hear a voice behind thee, saying, This is the path walk in it. Oh, what wondrous provisions have been made for our pathway here? May we seek grace not, as we see around the spirit of disobedience, unrest.
And everything that is causing the terrible condition. But may we seek by His grace to bow to His word.
And do those things that are pleasing in his sight. I'd just like to repeat the story that I've often told about Captain Dunlop.
He used to stay in my father's home and when I was just a little chap, about 6 or 7.
He started out. He would tell us in the morning.
To preach the gospel and to visit the Lord's people. He started out with his horse and buggy and he said, you know.
The further I got away from home.
Why, I'd have to take out the whip and give that horse a little flick to keep him going on.
Said the moment I turned that horse's head towards home. I never, never, never had to take out the whip again. And he said, what does that horse have at the end of the journey?
A bag of oats.
A bag of oats. And he said, What have you and I got at the end of the journey? The unsearchable riches of Christ, His love, his smile.
His likeness through all eternity. And he said how sad it is that even we who are on our homework journey.
He has to take his rod and touch us so that we walk in the path of faith and obedience all. May we seek grace as a result of these meetings to bow to His word, because the telling forth of the truth in these meetings is going to have its rich and eternal blessing in your heart and mind, or it's going to have the effect, dear child of God.
Of hardening your heart to the truth.
And the enemy, as we are hearing in the Reading meetings, those that gave up faith in a good conscience, they made shipwreck. Oh, may we seek by His grace to bow to His word.
And to give him the first place in our lives shall we sing that hymn. Praise the Savior, he who know him.
156 Praise the Savior he who know him.
Oh, excuse me, 256.