May it please God to bless us
together this evening as we consider his word. Let's turn to the book
of Psalms, Psalm 118 and we'll read verse 17. Psalm 118 and
reading verse 17. I shall not die but live and
declare the works of the Lord. I suppose many people in the
world today would like to have a statement made to them which
was true, that they would not die but they would live. Because
their life is in this world and they are content with the things
of this world and they don't want to leave this world. This
world is their habitat, it's their home, and they have no
thoughts of an eternal home. But, on the other hand, this
word doesn't speak to such people. It speaks to those who are the
children of God. And should it be the case of
any of us that such a word like this might be appropriate, I
shall not die, but live, then you see there is an outcome,
there is a reason for that. And the reason is, and declare
the works of the Lord. We could therefore say that if
that last clause was not in operation, then there would be no purpose
in our life on this earth. It is a blessed but also a solemn
consideration to realize the truth of such a statement. I shall not die but live and
declare the works of the Lord. The works of the Lord are many. They are to be observed. They are to be recorded. They
are to be spoken of. They are not to lie, forgotten
in unthankfulness, and without praises die. If we read through
the Word of God, and perhaps especially the lives of Israel
when they came into Egypt, and when they were delivered out
of Egypt, and when they were in the wilderness for all those
years, and brought safely across Jordan into Canaan, and then
were the conquerors of so many of those towns and areas on the
other side of Jordan, we observe the works of the Lord. references
made to those works on many, many occasions in the Word of
God. It's not just an historical account
which is recorded in Exodus, but it is mentioned again and
again throughout the Word of God. What is it? It is the works
of the Lord. And it is good to be reminded
of the works of the Lord, And it is good also to seek that
God may be glorified through his works. Now, we really have
this in two senses, I suppose. We have it in a providential
sense, and we have it in a spiritual sense. And very often, in the
Church of God, those two combine together. Providence and grace,
they combine together. and they are the works of the
Lord. And so the psalmist speaks here
and says, and declare the works of the Lord. This word declare
really has a meaning of enumerating, numbering the many works of the
Lord. It's good you know sometimes
for us to try and remember and think of the works of God, the
works of God which we observe in an outward way, but perhaps
more particular, the work of God in our own soul, that there
is something to enumerate, something to declare, the works of the
Lord. One thing is most certain, that
all of us here tonight will need to have been able to declare
God's work in our souls before we pass out of time into eternity. I don't believe that people die
without giving evidence of the life of God in their soul. And
you may say, well, why is that? Because there is not the honour
and glory to God. And it is a very solemn and important
consideration that that is so, that our lives are for that great
blessed purpose, for God's honour and glory, and therefore to be
able to declare His works, the work of God, in our soul. Now, it's important that we are
concerned about such a statement as this. Many people today pass
it off as irrelevant. They think they can somehow get
to glory without honouring and glorifying their God. Well let
us remember our lives are for that purpose. And what an amazing
blessing if God has done a work, his work, his grace in our hearts. Does he not, should he not receive
all the honour and glory because of it? because it's something
which we are not able to produce ourselves, we have no ability. But if God has done it, if God
has come to us, and I believe when God comes and touches our
hearts we realise how unworthy we are, that almighty God should
have come to us. And perhaps we think of the lines
of the hymn, What was there in me? that could merit esteem or
give my Creator delight. As we look at ourselves, there's
nothing worthy of any notice from Almighty God. And so we
have received his work in our hearts. It is all of his grace,
all of his free unmerited favour. And what a wonderful blessing
it is tonight to be able to trace back and to thank God for his
mercy. He's not cast us off. He's not
cast us out as we deserve. But he looked upon us in love
to our souls. And therefore this word is true.
I shall not die but live and declare the works of the Lord. That's the reason why the Lord
spares us, so that we might be able to declare His works, His
great work. Now my friends, it's good to
remember and to be edified and to be instructed as we trace
out the works of God in the Word of God, because that is soul
strengthening. There's nothing more strengthening
to our souls than to read accounts of prophecy and accounts of encouraging
statements and then to read these words, and it came to pass. God's
work is fulfilled. God's promises come to pass. Bless God, there are many times
in the Word of God which states that and records it for our encouragement. and it came to pass. You read
the Word of God, you study the Word of God, you'll find these
amazing truths contained in it. How the Lord appeared, the Lord
heard prayers, the Lord answered them. People in great distress,
in great straits, not knowing what to do, they prayed under
God and they saw His work. And they rejoiced in it. Well,
we may have been in great straits, and that can be of course in
a natural way. We may have had great difficulties
perhaps in our lives, perhaps in our business, perhaps in our
school life, perhaps in our college life, perhaps in our homes. Great difficulties, great problems. And God has given us grace to
commit our way unto the Lord. And then we've been able to observe
his work, his work. We may not have need to put our
hand to it, because God has appeared. The enemies have fled away, as
it was in the glorious occasion of Jehoshaphat, when he was told
there was no need to fight in that battle. And the Lord appeared
and slew the enemy. He didn't have to fight. He thought
it was going to be a great battle which they were likely to lose.
But Jehoshaphat committed his way unto the Lord. Beautiful
words. Neither know we what to do, but
our eyes are upon thee. What a blessing to be able to
look up to our God. and to seek for his guidance,
and to watch his deliverances. When those things come to pass,
there will be great cause whether or not to declare the works of
the Lord. And in that occasion, isn't it
significant that those people, as they went to battle, before
any battle was commenced, they praised the Lord, in gracious
anticipation for the victory. Now I believe that when the Lord
gives us true prevailing prayer, and by that I mean access unto
the throne of grace, when the Lord blesses us with a spirit
of prayer, and my friends, when that is so, I believe we do have
and are blessed with a holy anticipation that those prayers will be answered.
They've entered into the holy place, they've been indicted
by the Spirit of God. In one sense we've just been
the instrument that God is using to show forth his glory, to show
forth his praise. to show to us His work. I shall not die but live and
declare the works of the Lord. Well, I'm sure it is encouraging
as we read the Word of God, to read of His works, the many deliverances
in battle which Israel were blessed with, The many deliverances in
the spiritual sense which the psalmists were blessed with as
you read the psalms. Psalm 116, just two psalms previously,
we read, I love the Lord. Why does the psalmist love the
Lord? Because he has heard my voice
and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his
ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live."
The psalmist was able to observe the work of the Lord in answering
his prayers, in answering his petitions, and I believe that
is a wonderful reason why we indeed love the Lord, just like
the psalmist. When the Lord hears our prayers,
The Lord answers our prayers. Do we not love the Lord for His
goodness toward us? For His mercy? For His favour? He hasn't ignored us. The Lord
tells us He will be inquired of by the house of Israel to
do these things. We are to seek and we are to
find. And when the Lord gives us grace so to do, and we receive
the answers, isn't that cause to thank God? praise his name
and declare the works of the Lord. I believe God is really honoured
and glorified especially with regards to that spiritual work
in the souls of his people. When there are those able to
come and testify of his work in their souls, Our church meetings
are happy times, they're blessed times, when one another comes
and testifies, declares the work of the Lord in their soul, for
the glory of God. They don't come in any bombastic
way, they don't come in any proud way. They come humbly desiring
to honour and glorify their God. what is done for their souls,
and declare the works of the Lord. It is something which is
very wonderful, and something which is very blessed, and something
which unites God's people together, and something which brings the
glory to God. Yes, we all come, as we are blessed
by this, to desire that God shall have all the honour and all the
glory. He is worthy, and especially
when we are then able to consider him, to consider what he's done,
the cost of our salvation, the cost of that newness of life,
the cost of that regeneration in our souls. is do we not have
reason to come and to bless God and to declare the works of the
Lord? You know, the psalmist tells
us in the next verse, the Lord has chastened me sore, but he
has not given me over unto death. And sometimes the Lord does chasten
us if we do not testify or declare of what the Lord has done, of
his works. There is a chastening, bless
God, when the Lord comes and gives us that grace, to hear
his gracious word to our soul and declare the works of the
Lord. They're not our works, nothing
to do with ourselves. It's God's work and the soul
would desire that God shall have all the honour and glory. We
would desire to lift up his name, to praise him for all his favour
and for all his blessing toward us. Now, Asaph tells us in the
77th Psalm, he says, I will remember the works of the Lord, surely
I will remember thy wonders of old, I will meditate also of
all thy work and talk of thy doings." There is that remembrance
and it's good to remember God's works and to meditate on his
work, his work in ourselves and to talk of his doings. There is a unity in these things. There is a joining together in
these things. And if we realize the Lord has told us, I shall
not die but live. That was the case in the life
of Hezekiah, wasn't it? Hezekiah was ill. He thought he was going to die.
He prayed unto God. And God came and told him to
add unto his life 15 years. He praised and thanked God for
the deliverance. the mercy. Sometimes perhaps
we may think that we have an illness or an ailment which is
bringing us down and dragging us down. Then perhaps the Lord
comes and recovers us. It's his mercy, it's his blessing
which has recovered us. And we know these words are true
in our case. We're not dying but living And
the purpose for that recovery is that we may declare the works
of the Lord. We are not, therefore, to ignore
God's work. You might say, well, I don't.
Of course, I'm very much aware of it. Well, that may be so,
and that's good, but we need to declare it amongst the people. I will meditate also of all thy
work and talk of thy doings." You see Asaph's desire was to
honour and glorify his God. And what a blessing if the Lord
moves our heart. to honour and glorify his great
and holy name. Well that was Asaph and then
David in the, well we think it's David anyway, in the 107th psalm,
there are many occasions in that psalm when he refers to the works
of almighty God. And we read, he sent his word,
his word, and healed them. Well that's a word isn't it to
our souls. Perhaps if we're sick and we
need healing and the Lord sent his word, a word which has come
so suitable, just what we needed. It's like pouring in oil and
wine, it's a word of the Lord which has come to us and healed
us and delivered us from our distractions. And what does the
psalmist say? Oh, that men would praise the
Lord for His goodness and for His wonderful works to the children
of men. Well, tonight have we reasoned,
have we had words spoken to our hearts, to our soul which has
come and healed us? Yes, given us a good hope in
His mercy. that we are amongst those who
are redeemed, those for whom he has laid down his life. So to be able to join with the
psalms, it's good you know, when our hearts go along with the
Word of God, the words recorded in the Word of God. Just a few
verses on, they that go down to the sea and ships, that do
business in great waters, these see the works of the Lord and
his wonders in the deep. Sometimes it is in deep situations,
deep spiritual situations, when we are at wit's end, perhaps
we're ready to give up and the storms seem to be enclosing us. We understand a bit like Jonah
was, when he was thrown out of that ship and he went down to
the depth and there he was in the whale's belly until he prayed
unto his God, salvation is of the Lord. Well Jonah saw the
wonders of the Lord in the deep and my friends what a blessing
if you and I are blessed with that to see God's works, the
works of the Lord and his wonders in the deep. And to see how those
rough places become plain, they're calm before Almighty God. And He says, He maketh the storm
a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad,
because they be quiet. So He bringeth them unto their
desired haven. Oh, that men would praise the
Lord for His goodness and for His wonderful works. the children
of men. Let them exhort him also in the
congregation of the people and praise him in the assembly of
the elders." Well, that's very clear, isn't it? And there's
no real room for any movement there, is there? When God appears,
when God blesses, when God's work appears, then the psalmist
says, oh that men would praise the Lord, his goodness and for
his wonderful works to the children of men. And if we analyse that
with regard to our spiritual life, to think of the work of
God in our soul. And it is a peculiar work, and
it's a sovereign work, it's a special work, it's a glorious work, it's
a great work, and it's a work which turns our heart away from
the things of time to look to the Lord Jesus Christ. And perhaps in that situation,
we understand what Isaiah said when he said, look unto me, and
be ye saved of the ends of the earth, for I am God and there's
none else. You know, in the time of our
great distress, the time of our spiritual need, there's only
one place to go, and that's to our God. that's to plead for
his mercy, plead for forgiveness, plead for his blessing. Prayer
then becomes a reality, not a formality. It's a wonderful thing if you
and I know the blessing of God delivering us from a mere formality
to a reality with regards to the blessing of God in our souls. Now then, The psalmist tells
us, the works of the Lord are great. Can you confirm that? My friends, if God has touched
our soul, the work is great. It's great. The works of the
Lord are great. Sought out of all them that have
pleasure therein. His work is honourable and glorious. and his righteousness endureth
forever." Oh, God's work is honourable and it is a glorious work. When
souls are saved, it's a glorious work. He has made his wonderful
works to be remembered. The Lord is gracious and full
of compassion. How humbling that will be when
the Spirit of God shows to us what He is doing, what He has
done for our eternal soul. He's given us a good hope, a
good hope of eternal life. And therefore these words are
true, I shall not die but live and declare the works of the
Lord. The works of the Lord to our
very soul. There are of course those works
also, which Israel enjoyed so many times in their natural life
of wonderful deliverances. And I believe when God delivers
us naturally, providentially, when the Lord appears, when the
Lord hears our prayers, and I believe to God's people there are many
occasions in our lives when we have to commit our way unto God. We have to pray unto Him. that
he will appear, that he will help us, that he will deliver
us. He won't leave us, he won't forsake
us. And then when God appears, sometimes
we don't have to do anything. We've prayed, we've committed
our way unto the Lord, the Lord's heard, the Lord appears. What thankfulness surely there
is in our heart. Do we not go on our way rejoicing?
Do we not praise God for the help he's given us? Does it not come like this, and
declare the works of the Lord? God will be honoured, God will
be glorified in the lives of his people, that we may indeed
be amongst those who show forth his praise. What a privilege. What a privilege that unworthy
sinners are able to come and to show forth his praise. And so Jeremiah, that man of
God, and you remember Jeremiah had a very difficult life, much
opposition, many people against him, and he was faithful. And so we read these words. in the 51st chapter, 10th verse,
the Lord hath brought forth our righteousness. Come and let us
declare in Zion the work of the Lord our God. You see, here was a statement
to declare in Zion the work of God. Because the true Zion true
Church of God, rejoice to hear of the work of the Lord." And
indeed, Jeremiah needed on many occasions to observe the work
of the Lord. And so he was able to come and
say, the Lord hath brought forth our righteousness. Yes, his righteousness
as he gave to Israel of old, as he gives to the Church of
God today. Come, he says, come, let's join
in together. You know, it's good if we hear
some of the comes in the Word of God. And here is one, when
the Lord's work has been done, and the Lord has graciously blessed,
and so the prophet says, come, let us join in together. unity come let us declare in
zion the work of the lord the work of the lord it is a great
and glorious work as we trace out god's work the work that
the savior did when he came upon the earth isn't it a wonderful
work that he did is there not much reason to praise him for
that work The work that he finished, it wasn't left undone. The cost
was so great. The Saviour set his face like
a flint towards Jerusalem. The Father had given him that
work to do. It was a great and blessed work. He didn't turn back. He didn't
turn back. He did his Father's will. The
cost was so great. The cost was so high. It could
not have been greater or higher. the Saviour was so willing to
do his Father's will, not my will but thine be done. What a work it was. Do we rejoice
today because of the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, that finished
work, and declare the works of the Lord, We are able then to
declare God's work on our behalf, and to declare His work in our
souls. And as we are able then to declare
His work, it's as the Lord has revealed it unto us. We can read
it, can't we, in an historical way. Many people will know in
an historical way the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. But they
won't understand really the cost of our salvation. They won't
really appreciate what the Lord Jesus endured. They won't really
understand what Isaiah wrote when he penned that 53rd chapter
in Isaiah. But when the Spirit of God comes
and shows us that our life is dependent upon his life, and
what he has done, then what reason to declare the works of the Lord? I shall not die but live and
declare the works of the Lord. What a work it was. What a work
it is to glory in. What a work to be able to declare
that it was done for us, that our hope Our whole hope is built
on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. Friends, tonight, can you declare
that? The works of the Lord, that that's
what you're depending on for your salvation, not your work,
but his work. What a blessed work it was. and
to realise that the Saviour endured so much. He endured so much. Remember, he cried out, if it
be possible, let this cut pass from me, nevertheless not my
will but thine be done. And then on that cross, my God,
my God, why hast thou forsaken me? The works of the Lord. to be able to declare these great
truths, to enumerate them. They are so many, aren't they?
As we trace out what the Lord Jesus Christ did so that we might
be the recipients of life and that eternal life. To think the
Lord passed by and saw us in our blood and said, live, live. And we have received the gift
of eternal life. It's the work of the Lord. What
a blessing it is. And therefore, we haven't been
cast off as we deserve, cut down as a cumbra of the ground, just
a waste of time. No, the Lord has said, live, And as that word has entered
into our hearts, we receive that life, which will never be taken
away. It is that gift of eternal life. And so then to be able to come
and declare the works of the Lord. Oh, I was a lost sinner. I was on the way to hell. The
Lord stopped me in my mad career. I'm a monument of grace, a monument
of his mercy, a monument of his great love to unworthy sinners. Yes, and by his grace, I'm alive
and alive forevermore and declare the works of the Lord. You know, the Apostle Paul, when
he wrote that epistle to the Corinthians, when he came towards
the end of that first letter, and he wrote to them and he spoke
about the resurrection and the life hereafter of that incorruptible
condition, And he says, he came to the end, but, thanks be to
God, which giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ. He didn't claim it himself, did
he? Thanks be to God, that giveth us, which giveth us the victory,
through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren,
Be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the
Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in
the Lord. Well, what a gracious exhortation
it is to us tonight, as it was to the Corinthians, that they
might be abounding in the work of the Lord. and declare the
works of the Lord, to abound in it, in what God has done,
to live in it, to rejoice in it, because surely it is our
life, God's work in our soul, God's work in our life. How important it is to have the
evidence of it, the mercy that Lord has not passed us by, We
may have been fearful that the Lord would pass us by. But as he passed by, he didn't. He stopped and he said, live. I shall not die, but live and
declare the works of the Lord. Well, may we remember the joining
together these statements. They're not separate. And they
join together and declare the works of the Lord. Well tonight
may we look into our own hearts and may we be able to observe
the work of God in our heart and therefore be given that grace
and that strength to declare his works. Remember the Lord
tells us They that honour me I will honour, and those that
despise me shall be lightly esteemed. Amen.