commence our service this afternoon
by singing together hymn number 364. The tune is Rockingham,
398. Happy the church, thou sacred
place, the seat of thy creator's grace, thy holy courts are his
abode, thou earthly palace of our God. Hymn 364. tune rockingham 398. ? Within the church, Thou sacred
place ? ? The seat of Thy creation's grace ? ? My Holy Ghost ? ? God is the Word ? ? Now earthly man is born ? My vocals are steady, and let
my praise The God of heav'n give a glorious praise. O come, Thou Light, King of Angels,
O come, Thou Light, King of Angels, ? Is our campaign ? ? Is our campaign
? ? Our faith is stronger ? ? Than any weight ? ? Like rising waves
? With angry look that at Zendaya
all the show. O say does that star-spangled
banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and
the home of the brave? Let earth be proud Thy great
and glorious hymn sound He is our King and Lord our Son,
Shepherds on His head moments round, God of nations, with hymns
of praise, can we neglect his righteousness? Let us read together from the
Holy Word of God in Paul's epistle to the Romans and chapter 16. Romans chapter 16. I commend unto you Phoebe, our
sister. which is a servant of the Church,
which is a centurion, that ye receive her in the Lord, as become
his saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she
hath need of you. For she hath been a succorer
of many, and of myself also. Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my
helpers in Christ Jesus. who have for my life laid down
their own necks, unto whom not only I give thanks, but also
all the churches of the Gentiles. Likewise, greet the church that
is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Eponitis,
who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ. Greet Mary, who
bestowed much labour on us, Salute Andronikos and Junia, my kinsmen
and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles,
who also were in Christ before me. Greet Amplius, my beloved
in the Lord. Salute Urbain, our helper in
Christ, and Stachys, my beloved. Salute Apelles, approved in Christ,
Salute them that are of Aristobulus' household. Salute Herodian, my
kinsman. Greet them that be of the household
of Narcissus, which are in the Lord. Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa,
who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which
labour much in the Lord. Salute Rufus, chosen in the Lord,
and his mother and mine. Salute Asimcritus, Philegon,
Hermas, Petrobus, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them.
Salute Philogos, Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister,
and Olympus, and all the saints which are with them. Salute one
another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute
you. Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions
and offences, contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned,
and avoid them. For they that are such serve
not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by good
works and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. For
your obedience has come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore
on your behalf, but yet I would have you wise unto that which
is good and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace shall
bruise Satan under your feet shortly. the grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. Timotheus, my work fellow,
and Lucius and Jason and Socipiter, my kinsmen, salute you. I, Tertius,
who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord. Gaius, mine
host, and of the whole church, saluted you. Erestes, the Chamberlain
of the city, saluteth you and courteth a brother. The grace
of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Now to him that
is of power to establish you according to my gospel and the
preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery
which was kept secret since the world began. but now is made
manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to
the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations
for the obedience of faith. To God, only wise, be glory through
Jesus Christ forever. Amen. May the Lord bless the
reading of his own precious word and grant to us A spirit of real
prayer. Almighty, most merciful and eternal
God, we bow before thy glorious majesty, Father, Son and Holy
Ghost. We desire to worship thee in
spirit and in truth. Holy and divine Spirit of truth,
we pray for thy heavenly power, for thy divine unction, as we
gather together around thy word here this afternoon. We pray
that the word of the Lord may have free course, and that thy
name may be honoured and glorified, O Lord. We pray, most blessed
Spirit, that thou wouldst quicken souls and make them cry, give
me Christ or else I die. For without thy heavenly power,
O Lord, no sweeps the gospel can afford, no drops of heavenly
love will fall. We pray that we might have indeed
the love of Christ shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost. We pray that we may be given
that spirit of faith even as the dear apostle had and that
we've read on And we pray that there may be that love and affection
between us as a church and as a congregation, and that thou
wouldst work mightily, powerful and effectually among us to the
great glory of thy name and to the good of our immortal souls.
We pray that thou wouldst give us that gracious determination
to know nothing among men, save Jesus Christ and him crucified. We pray that the Lord Jesus may
come this afternoon and stand in our midst, and that we may
behold his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,
full of grace and truth. We pray, most gracious God, that
thou wouldst grant that we might know, feel, experience that sacred
spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father, My God, my
Father, blissful name, O may I call thee mine. Lord, we pray
that we may be enabled to say, my beloved is mine and I am his,
that we might know that sweet assurance of faith. We pray to
be led and taught and guided and directed by thee, and that
the truth of God may be open to our heart and to our understanding.
that we may be confirmed in the faith, and that we may let most
gracious Lord have breathe into our hearts that spirit of faith
that worketh by love, that we may love each other, that we
may serve each other, that we may bear each other's burdens,
thereby fulfilling the law of Christ. Lord we are instructed in thy
word we know that we are passed from death unto life because
we love the brethren and we pray that that love may yet increase
more and more our love to thee and our love to the brethren
that we may truly worship thee that we may live unto thee that
we may be enabled to present our bodies a living sacrifice,
holy and acceptable unto thee, which is our reasonable service,
and that we be not conformed to this world, but may we be
transformed by the renewing of our mind, that we might know
what that good and perfect and acceptable will of the Lord is.
Lord, we pray that thou, in thy great mercy, would go before
us as a church and as a congregation, that there was work mightily,
powerfully, and effectually among us that we may grow in grace
and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We
pray that there was graciously work, that we may see precious
converts gathered in, from among us as a congregation,
but from this village and the surrounding villages and hamlets.
We pray that thou wouldst bring our sons from far and our daughters
from the ends of the earth. And thou hast said, they shall
come. They shall come from the north and from the south and
from the east and from the west. Lord do hear us we pray and fulfill
thy word and fulfill thy precious promises that we may see a godly
increase that we may see a building up and establishing of the work
not only personally in our own souls but collectively among
us as a church and as a congregation. Remember our beloved brethren
the deacons and give needed grace wisdom and help to them in all
their responsibilities and in all their concerns. Lord, do
be gracious, we pray. We pray that thou wouldst remember
each one of our brethren and sisters in church fellowship
and remember us with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people
and visit us with thy great salvation. We pray, O Lord, that thou wouldst
revive us within Wilt thou not revive us again, O Lord? Oh,
for that sacred wind of the Spirit to blow, and the graces of the
Spirit to be brought in exercise in our hearts, we do humbly beseech
of thee. Faith and hope and love and humility
and patience, may these precious graces be in exercise in our pray that we might live to Thee. While our days on earth are lengthened,
may we give them, Lord, to Thee. Remember the little ones and
the babes and the dear children. Remember them, O Lord, and bless
them in their very young and tender years. Put the fear of
the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom, into their hearts.
Remember each one of our young friends. Remember them, O Lord,
with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people, and visit them
with thy great salvation. Bring them to living, vital,
saving faith in Jesus Christ, that they may become followers
of thee, and of those who through faith and patience inherit the
promises. Lord, we pray that there may
be a seed that shall be raised up, that shall follow on to know
the Lord, Do hear us, O Lord, we humbly beseech thee. Do remember
our dear young friends as regarding a partner in life's journey.
We lovingly commend them to thee. O gracious God, do hear us in
heaven, thy holy and thy blessed dwelling place. And when thou
hearest, O Lord, forgive. Remember the prodigals that have
wandered away. Stretch out thy almighty arm
cause them to return, O Lord, we do beseech thee. And remember
any, Lord, that are halt between two opinions, and graciously
influence them by thy Spirit, to choose that good and that
right way, we do humbly beseech thee. Help us to lay aside every
weight and the sin that doth so easily beset us, and that
we may run with patience the race that is set before us. looking
unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy
that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame
thereof, and is now set down at the right hand of the Majesty
on high. Deliver us from temptation. Deliver
us from the power and dominion of sin. And O gracious God, we
pray to be made more spiritually minded, Our heart and our affection
set upon things above and not on things of the earth. Remember
parents and give wisdom and grace to bring up their children in
the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Lord, we do pray for
all in the midst of the journey of life. We pray that those graciously
undertake for each one. Pray for those that walk the
path of belief and sorrow and sadness. We pray that Thou wouldst
draw near, comfort, console, sustain and strengthen. May the
death of one be the life of another. O Lord, we do beseech of Thee.
Pray that Thou wouldst be with those of us that are in the evening
time of life's journey. And that Thou wouldst graciously
prepare us for that great change which must soon come. we do humbly
beseech thee. Even as thou, Lord Jesus, has
exalted us, be ye therefore ready. For at such a time as ye think
not, the Son of Man cometh. And now, my God, prepare my soul
for that great day, and wash me in thy precious blood. Take
all my sins away. Lord, we pray that thou wouldst
be with all thy sent servants today, gird them with all sufficient
grace, grant them, and thus saith the Lord, anoint them with thy
blessed spirit, that they may open their mouth wide and proclaim
the wonderful glories and mysteries of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ. We pray thee, the great Lord
of the harvester, raise up and send forth yet more of thy servants
Send labourers, O Lord, into the harvest, we do humbly beseech
thee. And we do pray, most gracious
Lord, that thou wouldst revive thy Zion and renew thy Zion. We live in a day, O Lord, when
iniquity abounds on every hand, and the forces of Antichrist
are so prevalent, and the powers of evil. Lord, we do pray that
thou wouldst arise and send out thy light and thy truth, we do
humbly beseech thee, and revive thy church and thy people. Help
us to stand in an evil day, help us to hold fast to that which
is good, we do humbly beseech of thee. Lord, we do pray that
thou in thy precious mercy wouldst incline thine ear, and hear and
forgive, We pray, O Lord, that thou wouldst fill our hearts
with gratitude, with thanksgiving, for all thy tender mercies, thy
loving kindnesses, thy great goodness that has passed before
us in the way. Truly, God is good to Israel.
We thank thee, O Lord, for every mercy of thy kind providence,
thy mercies to us are new every morning and great is thy faithfulness. We thank Thee for Jesus Christ,
the Eternal Son of the Eternal Father, manifest in the flesh. We thank Thee for the glory of
His name, the wonder of His grace, the fullness of His salvation. We thank Thee that He is full
of grace and truth, and in Him dwelleth all the fullness of
the Godhead bodily. Therefore He is able to save
unto the uttermost all that come unto God by Him. seeing it ever
living. We thank thee for his holy life
and the bringing in of everlasting righteousness. We thank thee
for his holy sacrifice on Calvary and the putting away of sin and
the satisfying of divine justice. We thank thee for his precious
blood that he poured out at Calvary and that that blood cleanses
from all sins. We thank thee, most gracious
Lord, that he died for our sins and rose again for our justification
and has bodily ascended into heaven and sitteth at thy right
hand. Tis he instead of me is seen
when I approach to God. Come and touch one's lips with
a live coal from off the heavenly altar. We ask for Jesus Christ's
sake. Amen. Let us now sing together hymn
number 1095. The tune is Saint Marguerite, 225. Dearest of all
the names above, my Jesus and my God, who can
resist thy heavenly love or trifle with thy blood. Hymn 1095, tune
Saint Marguerite, 225. Oh, say does that star-spangled
banner yet wave ? O'er the ramparts we watched
were so gallantly streaming? ? ? And the rocket's red glare,
the bombs bursting in air, ? ? Where the lights are dimming
? ? It's time for you to see me now ? ? You're still there watching me now ? you. ? The Holy Ghost will take away
? ? Your care until I die ? ? Until Emmanuel takes away ? ? Father is my witness ? ? Eternal
rest my saviour ? ? Eternal rest my saviour ? O'er the ramparts we watched,
were so gallantly streaming? Greatly feeling to need the Lord's
gracious help, I would direct your attention to the chapter
that we read, Paul's Epistles of the Romans, chapter 16, and
we'll read verses 25 to 27. The last three verses of Romans,
chapter 16. Now to him that is of power,
to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of
Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery which
was kept secret since the world began but now is made manifest
and by the scriptures of the prophets according to the commandment
of the everlasting God made known to all nations for the obedience
of faith, to God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen. This is what we might call a
prologue of this epistle to the Romans, a very instructive epistle. concerning the gospel of Jesus
Christ. And written, of course, to the
Romans, the Gentiles, and the ruling nation at that time upon
earth. It was near the height of the
Roman Empire when these things were written and the gospel was
spread throughout the earth. We can see the wonderful providence
of God in that the Romans built roads
and so that they were able to travel through they had actually
paved roads so that they were able to travel through from one
nation to another and we can see the wonderful
grace of God in that in that enabled the spread of the gospel
of Jesus Christ and that was the purpose of it so that the
gospel might spread through all nations. Now notice how our text begins, now
to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel. What a mercy it is if we are
established We are well grounded. The Apostle says in the Corinthians,
other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which
is Christ Jesus. Christ Jesus is the eternal rock
of ages. And not only as ministers do
we need to lay that foundation continually, as being the the place of safety,
the place of salvation, the place of redemption, the place of reconciliation
unto God. But it's where we're established. I heard a man say once, and I
have to say I disagreed with him, he said we need more of
a foundation in the law And that will establish us. You know,
friends, it wouldn't. Not at all. I have to disagree
with that statement completely. The foundation of all truth is
in Jesus Christ. And the other foundation can
no man lay. And the point he was trying to
make was that if only the people were established in the law,
then they would be established in the truth and they'd be much
more grounded but you know friends that's a complete fallacy. The Pharisees were well established
in the law but they weren't in the truth. This is the foundation where
we establish my beloved friends. It's like the words of Christ
to Peter Speaking of himself, he said, upon this rock I build
my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Now to him that is of power to
establish you according to my gospel, according to the gospel
of Jesus Christ. This is where establishment is
and the preaching of Jesus Christ. The Apostle, when he writes to
the Corinthians, he says, for I determined to know nothing
among men, save Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Oh, that we
each may have that same determination, not just the preacher in the
pulpit, but the hearers in the pew. That determination to know
nothing among men, to hear nothing among men, save Jesus Christ
and him crucified and in that epistle to the Corinthians you
know it follows on of course from here where our text is and
the apostle says about the preaching of the cross is to them that
perish foolishness to them that perish foolishness
Verse 18 of 1 Corinthians 1, for the preaching of the cross
is to them that perish foolishness. Unto us which are saved, it is
the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy
the wisdom of the wise and will bring to nothing the understanding
of the prudent. You see, he goes on in verse
23, But we preach Christ crucified. Unto the Jews, a stumbling block. Unto the Greeks, that's the Gentiles,
foolishness. Foolishness. But unto them which
are called both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the
wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God
is wiser than men. And the weakness of God is stronger
than men. You know, these following verses
were made exceedingly precious to me on one occasion, on one
Monday, feeling so cast down and feeling so helpless, feeling
that I couldn't continue in the ministry. I felt to be such a
poor, useless, helpless thing. But notice what he says here,
for you see your calling brethren, How that not many wise men after
the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called, but God
hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the
wise. And God has chosen the weak things
of the world to confound the things which are mighty. And
the base things of the world and things which are despised
hath God chosen. The things which are not to bring
to naught the things that are, that no flesh should glory in
his presence. You see, my beloved friends,
there's only one foundation. There's only one door of hope
that is open wide in Jesus' bleeding hands and side. This is the foundation. This is the door of hope. now
to him that is of power and this is the thing friends it's like
we often quote to you that verse for our gospel came unto you
not in word only but in power in the holy ghost and with much
assurance not in word only believing in the lord is not just a question
of giving ascent to holy scripture it is true when we do believe
in him we do give a cent unto holy scripture unto the truth
of holy scripture but but there's more to just to real religion
than just giving a cent to what the scripture says down through the ages there have
been different times in the church when there has been a slipping
into this of just accepting and what is called a catechismal
baptism they used to call it so that if you were brought up
under the sound of the truth and you were catechised nothing
wrong with catechising I'm not speaking against it and providing you reach a certain
level of understanding and then you could be baptised and then
you became a member of the church You know, friends, we need more
than just giving an assent to the letter of God's truth. Again,
in writing to the Corinthians, the Apostle says, the letter
killeth. The Spirit maketh alive. And we need the Spirit to make
us alive. And we need to know the truth
of God in His living power in our hearts, experienced in our
souls. Now, unto Him that is of power,
establish him according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus
Christ. And you know in our text this
morning it spoke of a secret and we have the same here according
to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret since the
world began. And that revelation of that mystery
is the mystery of God manifest in the flesh When Paul writes
to his son Timothy in the faith, he says, great is the mystery
of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh.
It's a great mystery. It has to be revealed. The eyes
of our understanding have to be opened. We read that, of course,
in 1 Timothy 3, verse 16, without controversy, great is the mystery
of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh,
justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the
Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. It's a mystery. And there's not
only, there are a number of mysteries and things that, unless the Lord
opens to us, they remain secret. Unless the Lord reveals it to
you, unless the Holy Spirit gives you faith to believe and to lay
hold of these wonderful mysteries. There's the mystery of the Trinity. The Father, the Word and the
Holy Ghost, these three are one. Three and yet one. One and yet
three. we would naturally say, how can
one be three and how can three be one? And yet it's the profound
mystery of the Godhead. God the Father, God the Son,
and God the Holy Ghost, these three are one. One blessed, infinite, glorious
and eternal Lord Jehovah. Co-equal and co-eternal together. They always have been and they
always will be. From everlasting to everlasting,
Thou art God. So subsisting in the Godhead,
there's a mystery. There's a mystery. Isn't it in
Paul's epistle to the Colossians? He speaks there of that mystery.
And it says in Colossians chapter two, verses two and three, that
their hearts might be comforted being knit together in love and
to all riches of the full assurance of understanding to the acknowledgement
of the mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ. God
there refers to the Holy Ghost, God and of the Father and of
Christ in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. And these things my beloved remain
a mystery to us unless the Holy Spirit reveals unto us. Never should I forget when I
was brought into Gospel Liberty, bowing before the Lord, kneeling
down before the Lord, under such sacred power of the Spirit of
God and the revelation of Jesus Christ in that full assurance
of understanding that was given to me at that time. And kneeling
before the Lord, under that sacred sense, I felt the love of my
Eternal Father, that He had chosen me before the world began, that
He'd given me to His Son in eternity past, and that He made a covenant
with His Son to redeem me in eternity past. And then, having
felt that sweet love and power of the Father, and that Blessed
Spirit adoption in my heart, Then I had such a view of Jesus
Christ, of the wonderful glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, who
came to this sin-cursed world, who was made of a woman, made
under the law, that he might redeem us from under the law. Who lived for me, who suffered
for me, who died for me, who rose again for my justification. What a love I felt. to that Saviour
who now ascended into heaven and was sitting at the right
hand of the Father, that holy God-man, the man Christ Jesus. And then, friends, I felt such
a love to the Holy Ghost who proceeded forth from the Father
and the Son, a love to Him because He entered into my heart, He
quickened my soul into life, He brought me to feel my wretched,
sinful state and condition and to cry for mercy. He then revealed
unto me the wonderful, glorious person of our Lord Jesus Christ. But the overwhelming sense I
had at that time, these three are one. One blessed, infinite,
almighty and eternal God. Now to him that is of power,
to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of
Jesus Christ. You see, this is central to the
whole of the gospel, the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to
the revelation of the mystery, that mystery of the Trinity,
that mystery of God manifest in the flesh. These profound
mysteries that are revealed in the Word of God, which was kept secret since the
world began. There, of course, was a measure
of the revelation of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament, far less
than we have in the day in which we live. But there was a, right
from the Book of Genesis right down to Malachi, there was a
point in to the Lord Jesus Christ, but it was something that was
in the distance. We have the wonderful privilege
of living in the days of the Gospel, when Christ has come,
when the Son of God has been manifest in the flesh, lived
here upon earth, and when there is a far greater light in the
New Testament of these wonderful mysteries. which was kept secret
since the world began, but now is made manifest. What a wonderful
thing, my beloved friends, that we live in these gospel days,
but now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets.
Now, we have here the emphasis on the holy scriptures of truth. This is where God reveals himself.
This is how it's through the Holy Scriptures of truth that
we understand the doctrine of the Trinity, as it's revealed
to us in the Holy Scriptures, as the Holy Spirit lightens our
understanding. The apostle says, doesn't he,
in one place, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened. And he says here in the Romans,
in the previous chapter 15 and verse four, whatsoever things
were written aforetime were written for our learning that we through
patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. What a great
blessing it is to have the holy scriptures and to have these
things revealed to us in the holy scriptures but now is made
manifest and by the scriptures of the prophets according to
the commandments of the everlasting God made known to all nations
for the obedience of faith. You think of that divine commission
that was given to the disciples that they should go into all
the world, into all the world preaching the gospel unto every
creature unto every creature. We read in Mark's Gospel, chapter
16, verse 14, Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at
meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of
heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after
he was risen. And he said unto them, Go ye
into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature,
He that believeth and is baptised shall be saved, but he that believeth
not shall be damned. You see, my beloved friends,
it is a divine commission to the Lord's servants. Go ye into
all the world, preaching the gospel unto every creature. But now it is made manifest,
and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment
of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the
obedience of faith. For the obedience of faith. What
a wonderful thing that those things are connected, aren't
they? When we are brought to faith
in Jesus Christ, there is then the obedience of faith. There
is then a following of Christ. The Apostle says, doesn't he,
in the Corinthians, be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. Is to follow the glorious person
of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And we read, of course,
in John chapter 10, and how the Lord Jesus He speaks of what
it is to be a follower of him. Verily, verily, I say unto you,
he that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth
up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he
that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
To him the porter openeth, and the sheep hear his voice, and
he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. There is
a divine call that reaches the heart. Sometimes it's a little
child, sometimes it's a boy or a girl, sometimes it's a young
teenager. Sometimes it's people of a much
older age, but that divine call reaches their hearts. It does. And when he putteth forth his
own sheep, he goeth before them. and the sheep follow him, for
they know his voice. Do you know the voice of Jesus?
And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him,
for they know not the voice of strangers. Oh, my beloved friends,
what a mercy if you and I know the voice of the Good Shepherd.
I am the door, verse nine, by me if any man enter in, He shall
be saved and shall go in and out and find pasture. I am the door. I am the way. I am the truth. I am the light. That's what Christ is. Jesus
is the way to God. Jesus is the way to bliss. In
this way the church of Sod trod down from Adam's day to this
and now is made manifest. and by the scriptures of the
prophets according to the commandment of the everlasting God made known
to all nations for the obedience of faith. Humble yourselves therefore
under the mighty hand of God and he will exalt you in due
season to be humbled under his hand and to follow him and to
follow Him, to follow the Lord Jesus Christ with us whoever
He leads and guides you. But He will lead in the right
way. And He led them forth by the right way unto a city of
habitation. He led them forth. And there
in Psalm 107, how the Holy Spirit opens to us there that the pathway
of the living child of God, the way that they walk in, it's a
pathway sometimes of great trial and great perplexity. And he
says he gathered them, you see he gathers them by sending forth
his servants to preach the gospel. And there in 107 he says, and
gather them out of the lands, from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south. They wandered in the wilderness,
that's the wilderness of this world, in a solitary way. Are you wandering in a solitary
way? Are you walking a path that you can't talk to anyone else
about? It's a solitary way. They found no city to dwell in.
Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. they cried unto
the Lord in their trouble and he delivered them out of their
distresses and he led them forth by the right way that they might
go to a city of habitation. He led them forth by the right
way. Sometimes we feel it's the wrong
way. He speaks here such as sit in
darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction
and iron, because they rebelled. They rebelled. The rebellious
shall dwell in dry land, the scriptures tell us. We can't
get into that place where we rebel against the Lord and against
his dealings with us, because they rebelled against the words
of God and contend the counsels of the Most High Therefore he
brought down their heart with labor. They fell down and there
was none to help. Then they cried unto the Lord
in their trouble. And he goes on in verse 16, for
he had broken the gates of brass and cut the bars of iron in sunder.
Fools because of their transgressions and because of their iniquities
are afflicted. You see, this is the path. then
they cry unto the Lord in their trouble and he saveth them out
of their distresses. And then in verse 23 he says
they that go down to the sea in ships and do business in great
waters, these see the works of the Lord and his wonders in the
deep, he commandeth and raiseth the stormy wind which lifteth
up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heavens,
they go down again to the depths. Their soul is melted because
of trouble. They reel to and fro and stagger
like a drunken man and are at their wits end. Then they cry
unto the Lord in their trouble. And it's in these troubles, my
beloved friends, that the Lord establishes his people. They're
established in the truth as it is in Jesus. He says here, when they cry unto
Lord, he maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves are of us,
dear. Then are they glad, because they be quiet, so he bringeth
them unto their desired haven. It says in the last verse, who
so is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall
understand the loving kindness of the Lord. Now to him that
is of power to establish you. My mind was very much drawn,
there's a prologue in the Epistle of Jude and in that prologue
in the Epistle of Jude it so beautifully speaks to us in the
last two verses Now unto him that is able to keep you from
falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory,
with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory
and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Him that is able to keep you
from falling. He's able to keep you from falling.
You may greatly feel that you may fall away at last, never
to recover. He's able to keep you from falling. You may have a particular temptation. He's able to keep you from falling. This great God. All power is
given unto me, the Lord Jesus said, in heaven and in earth. And you think of this establishing
in the truth in the last two verses of Philippians chapter
3. We read there, for our conversation,
if you have a marginal reference, it says our citizenship, which
I think is probably preferable, for our citizenship is in heaven. For whence also we look for the
Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body,
that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according
to the work in whereby he is able, what a wonderful word,
he is able, even to subdue all things, even to subdue your wicked
heart, your sinful nature, He's able to subdue the temptations
of Satan, the allurements of the world. He's able to subdue
all things unto himself. You think of how in the history
of the church, we have it in scripture, we have it in the
history of the church, some of the most notorious, wicked and
sinful people, how the Lord subdued them unto himself. Doesn't David
pray for that in Psalm 45? Gird thy sword. He's speaking
to Christ. Gird thy sword upon thy thigh,
O most mighty, and rise prosperously. Let thy narrows be sharp in the
heart of the king's enemies, whereby the people fall under
thee. He's able to subdue. He's able to subdue your wicked
heart, your corrupt desires. He's able to subdue the temptations
of Satan and make a way of escape. He's able to subdue these things. Hence these words that, now to
him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel and
the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of
the mystery which was kept secret since the world began and now
is made manifest. and by the scriptures of the
prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, have
made known to all nations for the obedience of faith. To God only wise, be glory through
Jesus Christ forever. Amen. To God only wise, be glory
forever. He's able to subdue all things
unto himself. He's able, you may think to yourself
sometimes, I'm such a poor, wretched, filthy sinner. A poor, worthless
sinner. He is able to subdue all things
unto himself. It's a wonderful word, he is
able. He's able to do abundantly more than we can even ask or
think. He's the only true God and He
is able to do these things. You may look within and you look
perhaps at your circumstances, you look at your trials, you
look at yourself and you're ready to say it's impossible. It's
impossible. I can't possibly get through
this. I've got such a wicked heart. I've got such a corrupt
nature. He is able to subdue all things
unto himself. He is able. You know friends,
it doesn't matter what you may be passing through at this time. You must remember this. He is
able to subdue all things. He's able to subdue all your
enemies. including Satan. He says you know in the 11th chapter of the Romans
and the last verse is there from verse 33, O the depth of the
riches both of the wisdom of God and knowledge of God, how
unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out.
for who hath known the mind of the Lord, who hath been his counsellor,
who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto
him again. For of him, and through him,
and by him are all things, to whom be glory for ever. Amen. Everything with heaven
and earth at his command, He waits to answer prayer. Blessed
is the man that waiteth upon the Lord. Blessed characters. You may have not got what you're
seeking for, but you know, those that wait upon the Lord, they
shall renew their strength. They shall mount up on wings
as eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint. We read in Proverbs chapter eight. Hear instruction, verse 33. Hear instruction and be wise,
and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth
me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
For whoso findeth me, findeth life, and shall obtain favour
of the Lord. He that sinneth against me wrongeth
his own soul. All they that hate me love death. Blessed is the man that heareth
me, watching daily at my gates. Watching. There may be some poor
soul here and you say, I've been watching and I've been waiting
for weeks, maybe months. You keep watching. Keep watching,
keep waiting. The Lord will appear. The Lord
will reveal himself to you. The Lord will come and shed abroad
his love in your heart. He will. I will not leave you
comfortless. I will come to you. Those are
the words of Jesus. He will come. Oh, blessed is
the man that watches, waiting daily at my doors. to him that is of power to establish
you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ
according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret
since the world began but now is made manifest and by the scriptures
of the prophets according the commandment of the everlasting
God made known to all nations for the obedience of faith To
God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen. May the Lord add his blessing. Let us now sing together hymn
number 1052 to the tune Euphony 786. Redeemer, whither shall I flee? Or how escape the wrath to come?
The weary sinner flies to Thee, For shelter from impending doom.
Smile on me, gracious Lord, and show Thyself the friend of sinners
now. Hymn 1052. Tune Euphony 786. Oh. O say can you see by the dawn's
early light What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last
gleaming Smile on me, gracious Lord, and
show I deserve the strength of spirit, ? Love each other ? ? And God's
with us now ? ? He has chosen us ? ? Of heavy gain ? ? And so I trace
? ? I look to see ? ? The world across ? ? To our holy, holy fortress ?
? God shape thy good with joy in him ? Be thou but mine, and mine to
me. Be thou but mine, and mine to
me. ? Jesus, Lord, the humble son of
the King ? ? His choice I've made, so that I may live ? Praise to thee, praise to thee,
Lord Jesus Christ! Praise to thee, praise to thee,
Lord Jesus Christ! Give him the power, give to him
the power ? In the center of the river ?
? My glory thou art, great nation of God ? And I see right in front of my
eyes The Virgin born of the Father. I know I shall get thee, and
you know I know nothing. Now may the grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, the sacred fellowship
of the Holy Spirit, rest and abide with us each both now and
forevermore. Amen.