Seeking the Lord's help and your very prayerful attention for a little while this morning, turn with me to the chapter we read, the Epistle of Paul, the Apostle to the Philippians, chapter 1, and we'll read verse 12. Philippians chapter 1 and verse 12.

But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel. But I would, ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel.

It is doubtful that God ever used anyone greatly without first hurting them deeply. And there is that little poem, I walked a mile with sorrow, and she chatted all the way. but left me none the wiser for all she had to say. I walked a mile with sorrow, and never a word said she, but oh the things I learned from her when sorrow walked with me.

And dear Paul, he wrote this, his letter to the church at Philippi being the second of his four letters that he wrote from prison, the first being to the church at Ephesus, and the third to the church at Colossae, and the fourth Philemon.

and friends this letter written from his prison cell that that wasn't a comfortable place that he has the guards around him the whole time probably often shackled to them and yet this letter is often referred to as the letter of joy as the letter of joy And he can say to his beloved church at Philippi, oh, how they loved him, didn't they? And what a favored church they were, and they were so concerned about him being in prison and the fact that he couldn't preach the gospel to them.

But he says to them, I but I would that ye should understand brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel. When he comes to the end of his letter, he says in the 22nd verse of chapter 4, All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household.

And friends, and by that we understand that Caesar's household would have included those that were watching over him, guarding him, ensuring he didn't escape, sometimes treating him roughly, no doubt. But there were from among them that they heard Paul, as he may have been found dictating these letters, but he heard them, that they heard him, they saw him, and the Lord used him, even in that prison cell, for the furtherance of the gospel, for the good of never-dying souls.

And so it is as Samuel Rutherford, as he wrote from his prison cell, grace grows best in winter. Grace grows best in winter. Or as you think of John Bunyan, there he is incarcerated in that desperate prison. And yet, it was for the furtherance of the Gospel that the Pilgrim's Progress was written, as so much was revealed to him, and in turn, that much of the world has been blessed through that reading of Pilgrim's Progress.

And we have been singing, haven't we, of his goodness. I will make all my goodness pass before thee. That precious word that followed that which the Lord gave to Moses, my presence shall go with thee and I will give thee rest. And I will make all my goodness pass before thee. And what a pathway that he had to lead. And yet it was all, wasn't it, it was all for the furtherance of the gospel.

And to encourage you and I, you and I, the Israel of God, the spiritual Israel, as our way, as our way mirrors that way of the people being led those 40 years in the wilderness. And today, as some of you have come up to the house of God with many burdens, many concerns, many hurts and aches and pains, And yet, it's all in the Lord's hand, isn't it? And what do you prove? You prove, don't you, as you reflect, as we reflect on all the way which the Lord our God has led us, that it's all been for the furtherance of the gospel, for the good of our never-dying souls.

And so as we seek to, as we seek to consider, consider these glorious truths and we think of, we think of dear Joseph, we think of dear Joseph when he came to the, we come to the end of Genesis and his brethren, Jacob has died their father and his brethren believe that Joseph now will turn against them. But he says, as they fall down before his feet, they said, Behold, we be thy servants. And Joseph said unto them, Fear not, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save, to save much people alive. Now therefore fear ye not, I will nourish you and your little ones.' And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them."

Oh, things, friends, they're not, often it is, isn't it, they're not always as they appear to be. that underneath it all there's the sovereign hand of God that he is leading on. He's going before under the deep waters. His footsteps are not seen, but he's there in all of the waves and the billows that roar and rage against us. But he's going before. He rides upon the sea. Dear Joseph, he was to say in that as he couldn't refrain himself before his brethren, and he was to say to them in chapter 45 of Genesis and verse 8, So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God. and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

And so, dear friends, in your life, you in your small corner, and I in mine, the Lord has ordained a pathway for us each, and He will see to it that He will go before us, that He will make His goodness pass before us in the way, and though all seem so strange and mysterious, and we fear, don't we sometimes? We fear where the scene will end.

But to be blessed with the Spirit of Christ, to be blessed with this of Joseph, as he makes known to his brethren who had so cruelly treated him. But no, no, don't chide yourself. It was God. It was all ordained by God. He is in control. He has brought this to pass. I had to go through these deep trials, these deep waters. I had to suffer imprisonment to equip me for the wire hedge. as he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and Lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

And so, dear friends, God does move, doesn't he? He does move in a mysterious way his wonders to perform. he plants his footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm. Oh, but I would, I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel. Oh, rather than stunt, rather than stunt the advancement of the gospel, no, they've fallen out. They've fallen out for the furtherance, for the furtherance of the gospel.

This is our God, isn't he? We see things, don't we, very, very differently. The enemy would see to it that we are blinded, that we don't see the hand of God going before us and leading us, and there is a purpose in the way in which he is leading, and eventually, in his own good time and way, he makes it plain. He makes it plain.

Oh, as we began, it's doubtful whether He'll ever use any of you, any of us, any of us greatly until He has hurt us deeply. And so we have that pathway to walk, don't we? And it's ordained. It's singular, isn't it, dear friends? It's what the Lord has ordained for you. what he has ordained for me.

And so Paul, as he is brought to this situation that the Lord uses him to stir his people up, to look away from their sorrow, Over there, we could call him a pastor really to them, couldn't we? Wonderful, isn't it? That he had this message, didn't he? To come over to Macedonia and help those godly women. And from that this church of Philippi arose.

we bless God don't we that he's still the same God today and though we're living in desperately desperately solemn solemn times and the world looks on and and they see all they see is disarray and the the comment that I heard of one saying well that's typical of religion isn't it when it is said that for 500 years the Church of Rome and the Church of England have been as they said at loggerheads that's just how it is with Christians and you and I the people of God we are in that world we're in this hostile world, and the world is looking at us, and how good it is if they can see that there's something in us that is different, that we seek by His grace, that He will grant that appropriate word in season, and that we will be kept, that we will be kept before the world, unspotted. unspotted, and they might see Christ in us.

Oh, as there was, wasn't there, with those, what do these feeble Jews, as they were seeking, weren't they, to build the house of God again? Oh, and that, oh, even a fox, if a fox goes up, he'll knock down the walls and he'll be gone. It's hopeless. And so, dear friends, you'll know what it is in your life. The Lord is, perhaps He's testing you. Oh, you feel so helpless and hopeless in it all.

But you know, the hymn writer, he speaks about trials, doesn't he? And he says about them being a welcome cross. You and I, if we're the people of God, we have a cross. We have a cross to take up daily. And dear Kelper, oh, and he knew what it was, wouldn't it, to have trouble and sorrow and sadness. I think we could legitimately say the poor man was a manic depressive, but greatly used of God. And it was through these deep waters that they proved to be for the furtherance of the gospel, and him being dead yet speaketh.

It is my happiness below, not to live without the cross, but the Saviour's power to know, sanctifying every loss. That's it, dear friends. That's what the Lord is doing. That's what the Lord is doing in your life and mine. That those things which are happening to you now, those things of which may happen in the future, designed under the hand of God, as He has ordained it, that they will be sanctified, that they will be set apart for His glory and for the good of your never-dying soul, and the Lord blessing you and helping you for the good of others. Trials must and they will befall, but with humble faith to see love inscribed upon them all. This is happiness to me. Trials make the promise sweet. Trials give new life to prayer. Oh, haven't you found that, friend, that when the going is a bit easier, prayer becomes a burden, doesn't it? And it becomes sort of like automatic and Oh, but he sends something, doesn't he? Sends something to drive us to our knees. Trials give new life to prayer. Trials bring me to his feet. Lay me low and keep me there. Oh, it is, he chastises, doesn't he, them whom he loves.

And so Kelpa says, did I meet no trials here? no chastisement by the way, might I not with reason fear, I should be a castaway. And so as we gather together on the Lord's Dime we come under the sound of the Gospel How precious that is, isn't it? That we come as you children have been learning of this morning. Of those crumbs, that dear woman. Oh, she was in such desperate need, wasn't she? For her child that was so possessed. And in answer to Jesus, she says, truth Lord, I am not worthy. Yet even the dogs eat of the crumbs that fall from the master's table. And friends, it is those crumbs, isn't it, that the Lord sends our way when we come into the house of God in great trouble, in great need, wondering where the scene will end. And we come in sometimes, don't we, with regrets. But oh, the Lord will prove it to you, friend, that they're vain regrets, as He'll show you all the way that He's led you, and it'll be like a jigsaw puzzle all coming together. And it was all of His design.

Oh, dear Job, dear Job, you think of dear Job in his great and sore affliction. What an afflicted path he led. Why, there are none other besides, apart from Jesus, recorded in the Word of God, who suffered, suffered so much, as everything was touched, apart from his life. the loss of everything, and then to be stricken down with those sore boils from the crown of his head to the sole of his feet. I often think of a time, of one of my visits to our pastor and Elsie and the family in Kenya, and it was when Florence was, I think she was probably about two, might not have even been two, but she came up in this boil, this boil on her head. It was truly, truly, truly big and normally such a happy girl and she cried and she cried and she cried. You think of Job, he has these boils from the soul of his head to the crown of his feet, and that's on top of losing everything, the many bereavements that he suffered. And when, and dear Florence, she had that, she had it, I suppose it was lance, you'd call it lance, but you know the moment that that was done and all, everything came away from it, her crying turned to smiles and laughter.

But Job, he's in the midst of all of this. He's in the midst of all of this. And he says in chapter 19, in answer to his supposed friends who are causing him so much grief, and yet we see in all of that, the furtherance of the gospel, many of the things that his friends said that were truth. But he says he's led to the gospel, isn't he? In all of it, he's led to view Christ. For I know, for I know that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God, whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another, though my reins be consumed within me. Oh, he was to say, doesn't he, he knoweth the way that I take, and when he has tried me, I shall. There was no ifs, no buts about it. He was blessed with that living faith to believe I shall come forth as gold.

Oh, as you think of, you think of Tyndale. How he suffered, didn't he? I think it was 16 years that he was imprisoned. He was imprisoned and then he's martyred. He's martyred. He's had that exercise and that exercise has been blessed for the Scriptures to be translated. And for his faith to thwart the Gospel. that he's martyred. And as he's dying, he cries, Lord God, open the King of England's eyes. And I think it was within three years, the King, the King decreed that every church in the land should have the Word of God, the Bible. And that of what Tyndale did laid the foundation for the Reformation, when the Word of God spread and multiplied. But the dear man had to die for it.

But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel. a man, John Mollet, that he was pastor for 30 years at Ingleton in North Yorkshire. He and his wife, they had, I think it was two of their own children, but they became foster carers. And one day they were asked if they would take in this little baby that had been battered by his father. and had been battered to such an extent that he would never ever again in his life be able to do a thing for himself. His father was, did I say he'd been battered by his father who was a drug addict? and on sentencing him to six years imprisonment, the judge said, you have not destroyed your son, but you have destroyed any possibility of him ever having a normal life. And the little lad, he lived to be 28 before the Lord took him. And in all of that time, he wasn't able to do a thing for himself. And for the first two months he cried. I forget the name and it's called now cerebral cry as a result of his sufferings that he'd endured it wasn't a normal cry he wouldn't cry over anything particular it was just this sad sad piercing cry and he could do nothing for himself

well But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel.

" and John Mollet and his wife they were very favoured as this example of this lad as he grew up not able to do a thing for himself as a result of his father being a drug addict there were many that were many that were open to hear the word of God through John Mollet, as he would use as an example his son. And John would say that Aaron his son, that was his name, was a daily reminder of our dependence upon the Lord. In Him we live and move and have our being.

Now, as I say, they were foster parents. but they were most exercised about this lad and in due time they adopted him what love isn't it what love and i do just want to read to you for for our encouragement and for the good for the good of our never dying souls that john he says Aaron's adoption provided us with another gospel theme. Fostering is an excellent thing, but there is nothing permanent about it. In theory, Aaron could have been taken from us at any time. This all changed at adoption, when that which was a temporary arrangement became permanent. Aaron now has our name, our address, and for what it is worth, our wealth. How much more wonderful to be adopted into the family of God. No solicitor or social worker is necessary, as it is all through God's grace. The transaction is done when we are favoured to come to faith in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. We receive His name. We are called Christians. Heaven, his home, becomes our home, and we become heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ. How amazing to be the adopted sons and daughters of Almighty God.

People are often saddened when they see the extent of Aaron's disabilities, but we are able to set before them the Christian hope The Lord Jesus Christ, He will transform our vile bodies, our lowly body, that it may be conformed to His glorious body. This is a precious promise. and one we believe will be fulfilled in Aaron. Our bodies are going to be redeemed and in the new heaven and the new earth Aaron will be able to do all those things which on earth he cannot do. We have a God who is able to bring good out of evil. This was supremely demonstrated at the cross. Evil men did their worst, but through the death of Christ, multitudes have been redeemed and brought into the family of God. It is not easy to understand the sufferings of any child, but we can testify that in Aaron, God has brought good out of evil. We have been encouraged and challenged by him, and as we have told his story, we trust many others have and will be as well.

and so dear friends as we are brought as we are brought through these various trials and in his good time and way and you that are seeking this morning you that may not have any interest in these things plead with the lord that he will bless you with faith in jesus oh he will bring you Into trouble, into trial, as he shows you a little of the evilness of your heart, but in his own good time and way that he had blessed you with living faith in a precious Jesus.

And as Peter was to preach, wasn't he, on that day of Pentecost? And he says in chapter 2 and verse 22, Ye men of Israel, hear these words. Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know him. being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain.

And, dear seeking soul, the Lord, as he brings you a little to understand that, that it was your sins that nailed him to the cross, But there'll be that sanctification. And you'll see in that, you'll see in that redeeming love and blood that He wasn't left there, was He? whom God hath raised up, having loose the pains of death, because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

For David speaketh concerning him I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved. He says in verse 29, Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ, to sit on the throne.

He, seeing this before, spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we are all witnesses, therefore being by the right hand of God exalted. And having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear.

And dear Paul, as he wrote to the church at Galatia, in Galatians chapter 4 and verse 3, he says, Even so, when we were children, were in bondage, under the element of the world. But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Or make it your prayer, seeking soul, that that which you're going through, that it will prove to be that though you come to that, perhaps you say, oh, I just don't understand it, Lord. Perhaps you're on your knees day after day, night after night. I just don't understand what's going on. That's so, isn't it, sometimes with us that have been in the way a long, long time. I don't understand it, but oh might it prove to be, oh might it be true, of that which I have heard at this morning, that the things which are happening to me, and the things which have happened to me, which make no sense whatsoever, But they all prove to be that thy goodness is going and has been going before me in the way, and that they have and will fall out. rather unto the furtherance of the gospel, and that I will be blessed with this, at walking a mile with sorrow, and she never saying a word all the while we walked together, but to prove this, and to say this, but O the things I learned from her, when sorrow walked with me.

God guideth all his children home, by paths we know not here, but once with him his ways will be to every loved one clear. Amen.

May the Lord help us as we close this service by singing hymn number 124 from Hymns of Worship.

It is not enough to say we're sorry and repent, yet still go on from day to day just as we always went. Lord make us thus sincere to watch as well as pray, however sweet, however dear, take all our sins away.

Hymn number 124 to the tune number three.

Not enough to say we're sorry and repent Yet still go on from day to day just as we always went Independence is to live the sins we loved before and show that we in earnest grieve by doing so. However sweet, however dear, take all our sins away.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, the fellowship and the sweet communion of the Holy Spirit rest and abide with us all. Amen.