As follows, pastor will preach here next Lord's Day at 10.30 and 2 o'clock. Also on Thursday evening at 7 o'clock. There'll be a prayer meeting here on Tuesday evening at 7 o'clock.

The collections and online donations during October amounted to £2,985. and donations to the Book Fund, £45. We sincerely thank you for your continued support of this cause of truth.

Let us commence our services today by singing together hymn 1156. The tune is Orlington 203.

What sacred fountain yonder springs,
up from the throne of God,
and all new covenant blessings brings,
tis Jesus' precious blood.

Hymn 1156, tune Orlington 203.

O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave ♪
That from eternal life ♪
♪ Evermore rekindle ♪
♪ In me your sacred flame ♪
♪ And all who have the blessing gift ♪
♪ Is Jesus' precious blood. ♪

Almighty, some may call my name, ♪
Strong and sure ♪
♪ And as my soul ♪ ♪
Can freely ascend ♪
♪ And as my soul ♪ ♪
The freedom set ♪
♪ Destination precious found ♪

What stream is that which sweeps away
My sheep just like the flock.
Lord, as I kneel to Thee,
Lord, let one guilty man make the same,
Deceased, his precious crown.

God's voice is that which we need today
In hands I pour out
And from the past has set me free.
this finitude's precious light.

What thee my soul shall best employ, ♪
Thy power before thy God. ♪
♪ And they proclaim to me with joy,
♪ and wait on her to bring great joy.
This she needs to do.

Let us read together from the Holy Word of God in the Book of the Revelation and Chapter 12.

The Revelation, Chapter 12.

And there appeared a great wonder in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars. And she, being with child, cried, travailing in birth and pain to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven, and behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his head. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them down to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered for to devour her child as soon as it was born.

And she brought forth a man-child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her child was caught up unto God and to his throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared of God that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and three score days.

And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and the dragon fought and his angels and prevailed not. Neither was their place found anymore in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent called the devil and Satan, which deceived the whole world. He was cast out into the earth and his angels were cast out with him.

And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, now is come salvation and strength and the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ. For the accuser of our brethren is cast down which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto death. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea, for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man-child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times and half a time from the face of the serpent. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped the woman. And the earth opened his mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. and the dragon was wroth with the woman and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

May the Lord bless the reading of his own precious word and grant to us a spirit of real prayer.

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which is an art, an art to come, we desire to bow before thy glorious majesty, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, the one and only true God, the one in three, the three in one. Oh, we thank thee for that glorious mystery that is revealed to us in thy holy word, and we read of our Lord Jesus Christ for through him we have access by one spirit unto the Father and we pray that thou wouldst give us that access here today as we gather round thy precious word that we may lay hold of that hope that is set before us in the gospel that we may hear the word of the Lord and that the word may enter into our hearts. We pray that it may be with us as it was with the friends at Thessalonica when the Apostle could testify, for our gospel came unto you not in word only, but in power, in the Holy Ghost, and with much assurance. We pray, most gracious Lord, that we may know thy gracious power and love and mercy here today. We do humbly beseech thee that thou wouldst come and open thy word unto us, that we may be led and taught and guided and directed by thee. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. And may we have that witness that we are indeed being led of the Spirit of God.

Holy, blessed, divine Spirit, may we feel thy quickening power in our souls today. Where there is death, give life. Where there is blindness, open the eyes. Oh, do hear us, Lord, we humbly pray thee. Where there is bondage, bring liberty. Where there is torment, give peace. Oh, Lord, do hear us, we humbly beseech thee. And do bless us as we gather around thy word. We thank thee for thy word. This is the word by which the gospel is preached unto you. And we pray that this may be a living word in our hearts and in our souls this day.

Lord, we pray that thou wouldst help us as poor sinners to approach thy great majesty, for we all have sinned and come short of thy glory. We pray, most gracious Lord, to be washed in the precious blood of the Lamb. and that we today may behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. May we feel the cleansing power of that precious blood of Jesus Christ. May we be clothed upon with that glorious everlasting robe of the righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ. That we may be presented holy without blame before him in love. O do grant that that may be so, Lord, that the gospel may be a blessed reality in our hearts even today.

We pray that those remember us as a church and as a congregation and that those work mightily, powerfully and effectually among us and that there may be the pulling down of the strongholds of Satan and the setting up of the kingdom of the Lord Jesus in the hearts of sinners. Convince us of our sin and lead to Jesus' blood and to our wandering eyes reveal the secret love of God.

Lord, we do pray that thou in thy great mercy would send out thy light and thy truth and return in thy power and in thy glory as thou usest to be in the sanctuary, that we may see signs to follow the preaching of the word, that we may see precious souls brought into subjection unto Jesus Christ. Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, and ride prosperously. Let thy narrows be sharp in the heart of the king's enemies. Oh, do hear us, Lord, we humbly beseech thee.

that we may be enabled by thy grace to bow in humble submission to thy heavenly mind and will, that we may be made willing in the day of thy power to follow thee, to deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow thee. Oh, do grant us that grace, O Lord, we beseech thee, that the Lord Jesus may be made exceedingly precious unto us, Lord we do pray that thou wouldst come and shed abroad his love in our hearts and that that love may constrain us to follow thee and to serve thee in our day and in our generation.

Remember our brethren the deacons and richly bless them. Remember each one of our brethren and sisters in church fellowship and graciously bless us together. continue to unite us together in the sacred bonds of Christian love, union, and communion. And oh Lord, we do pray that thou wouldst graciously bless the little ones and the children. We thank thee for them. We love to see them in the sanctuary. Lord, do bless them, we humbly pray. And we pray that in their young and tender years, Word of the Lord may enter their hearts, that the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom, may be given unto them.

Bless our young friends and graciously guide and direct them in all matters. Bless them with living faith in Jesus Christ, that they may become true followers of thee and of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises Oh, to hear us, O Lord, we humbly beseech Thee for Thy great namesake and guide them in all the paths of providence and enable them to commit their way unto the Lord and trust also in Him.

Those among us, O Lord, that would seek a partner in life journey, we pray for them that Thou would graciously grant them their requests. for thou art that great God that did bring Ruth unto Boaz and Rebekah unto Isaac. And thou art able to do those same things for our friends here. We pray most gracious Lord that thou would remember parents and give wisdom and grace and help to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, that there may be a generation that shall be raised up, that shall call thee the Redeemer blessed, and that we may see the fulfilling of that wonderful promise, instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth. May we see such a thing among us here in this little cause of truth. We pray, Lord, that thou wouldst remember all in the midst of the journey of life, and be gracious unto them. And that thou wouldst hear prayer, Lord, we do beseech thee for those of us that are now in the evening time of life's journey. And we need thy gracious preparation for that time which must soon come, when we shall bid adieu to all things here below, when we shall soar through tracks unknown and see thee on thy judgment throne. Oh, we do pray, most gracious Lord.

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 do pray that thou would remember all in affliction and trouble and trial and perplexity and undertake for each one. And Lord, Pray that thou wouldst remember this village, and that the wonderful light and power and glory of the gospel may shine forth. Precious souls may be gathered in, that there might be a rebuilding, a renewing, a replenishing, that we may yet be filled with hungry, longing souls pressing into the kingdom of heaven. Lord, we do pray.

that thou wouldst remember all thy servants as they labour in word and doctrine upon the walls of Zion today, that thou wouldst gird them with all sufficient grace, that thou wouldst grant the fresh anointing of thy spirit, that thou wouldst grant a spirit of power. And oh, we pray thee, the great Lord of the harvest, that thou wouldst send true labourers into the harvest.

Gracious God, Do incline thine ear, we do humbly beseech thee, for thy great name's sake. And remember the little hills of Zion, up and down the land, wherever thy servants stand and thy people gather, and revive, and renew, and replenish, and build up, we do humbly pray thee, most gracious God, thou hast said, that I would yet be inquired of the house of Israel to do this thing for them, I will increase them with men like a flock. So, Lord, may we see thy wonderful power and glory in the gospel in the day in which we live. Bring our sons from far and our daughters from the ends of the earth, and that thou hast said they shall come from the north and from the south and from the east and from the west.

Lord, let thy work appear. Let thy power be known. and let thy grace be manifested in the day in which we live.

Look upon, Lord, our nation. We live in deeply solemn days, when iniquity abounds on every hand, when our own king consorts with the man of sin. Lord, we do pray that thou wouldst hear the cries of thy little remnant and that thou wouldst send out thy light and thy truth, that thou wouldst bless our king and the royal household with that rich grace that is in Christ Jesus with the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom. Remember our government and give wisdom and understanding, guidance and direction. Lord, we see the iniquity that abounds even in those that rule over us. and yet thou art God over all. Thou art the Lord God, the omnipotent reigneth, and we bow in before thy great majesty, and we would humble ourselves before thee and beseech thee that thou wouldst hear our prayer and forgive our sins, and arise in this dark and solemn day.

Remember those that labour in word and doctrine among the nations of the earth, We think of Ian Sadler and the great work that he does in so many countries and the distribution of thy holy word, supply all his many returning needs. Remember the Mombasa mission and thy servants there and grant good success to their labors. Remember the Savannah Education Trust and the great work that they're doing in Ghana. Remember thy people in those dark places of the earth where the name of Christ is hated and thy people are persecuted even unto death. Oh, do hear us, Lord, we humbly beseech thee.

We thank thee for every mercy and every favour, every blessing. We thank thee for our little house of prayer. We thank thee for the word of God, And we thank Thee above all for Jesus Christ, for the glory of His name and the wonder of His grace and the fullness of His salvation. We thank Thee for the profound mystery of God manifest in the flesh. We thank Thee for the holy life He lived, the holy law He fulfilled, and the bringing in of everlasting righteousness for Thy people. We thank Thee for the wonderful and sacred sacrifice of Calvary that has satisfied all the demands of divine justice and that precious blood that was shed. Oh, we do thank Thee that He died for our sins and rose again for our justification and has bodily ascended into heaven and that we have a great high priest.

Oh, most gracious Lord, Do hear us now, we humbly pray thee. We would remember those injured on the past day in that terrible incident in Huntingdon, and that we pray that thou would remember them and the families that have been so affected at this time. Do hear us, Lord, we pray.

Be with us now as we turn to thy word. Come and touch one's lips with a live coal from off the heavenly altar. Make up in giving where we do so fail in asking, as we ask for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. Let us now sing together hymn number 703, The tune is Yorkshire. We sing six lines to each verse. Ye souls redeemed with Yorkshire 780, I should have said. Ye souls redeemed with Jesus' precious blood. Proclaim the grace of your incarnate God. Sing that amazing boundless matchless love. which brought the Lord of glory from above, the Eternal Word who built the earth and skies, takes on Him flesh, and in a manger lies.

Hymn 703, tune Yorkshire 780.

♪ This holy day ♪
♪ When Jesus Christ was born ♪
♪ God of great magnitude ♪
♪ Holy, holy God ♪
♪ Shepherds on wings ♪
♪ Heavenly angels adore ♪
♪ With hope and hope of glory ♪
♪ God and love ♪
♪ Eternal rapture ♪
♪ In the earth and skies ♪
♪ Fill your hearts ♪
♪ In that clear day ♪
♪ All that he had I see ♪
♪ Thine own comfort is, just and holy ♪
♪ Faith is as holy as faith alone ♪
♪ It's the Lord our King ♪
♪ And God's eternal Son ♪
♪ And when the angels ♪
♪ Swing their way to God ♪
♪ You bring to all the earth ♪
♪ Sorrow ♪
♪ Patient we will ♪
♪ Step by step, marching on ♪

O say can you see, by the dawn's early light,
♪ The people shall be rich ♪
♪ Shall be the same ♪
♪ In God and all his days ♪
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

And I won't wait no more. Yes, on my knees shall be your praise. Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all, Greatly feeling to need the Lord's gracious help, direct your attention to the chapter that we read Revelation chapter 12 and we'll read verse 11 for our text.

The book of the Revelation chapter 12 verse 11. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony and they loved not their lives unto death. This word is speaking of the Church of God and of every true believer, born again of the Spirit, chosen by the Father, redeemed by the Son, sanctified by the Holy Ghost.

Some of them are very weak believers. Others are very strong, assured believers. But the word that we have before us today, and they overcame him. Who is the him? Satan. And as it says here in this chapter, that old serpent the devil. We read right at the beginning of the book of the revelation in the first clause the revelation of Jesus Christ and if we lose sight of that when we're studying or reading or meditating in the book of the revelation then we lose sight of the central message of the book of the Revelation.

How many there are that come, and I've been guilty of myself in the past, come to the book of the Revelation in what we might say is a speculative way and we say, well, has this happened, has that happened, is this going to happen? The primary, the principal meaning central to the whole understanding of the book of the revelation is it's the revelation of Jesus Christ and here we have a clear example of it that is set before us the chapter begins and there appeared a great wonder in heaven a woman clothed with the sun we notice the language the moon under her feet it's highly symbolic language. Not to be literally taken, but there's a deep spiritual truth in the meaning that is there.

There appeared a great wonder in heaven, a woman. Who is this woman? It's the church of God. It's the Lord's chosen people. A woman clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet and upon her head a crown of 12 stars. Those 12 stars they represent because it's the whole of the church as we look through it you'll see it's the whole of the church of God that is meant here not just the Old Testament church the 12 tribes it does mean them but it also means the 12 apostles of the Lamb. So you have the 12 tribes of the children of Israel and the 12 apostles of the Lamb. The same meaning, right through the revelation it speaks of the 4 and 20 elders that are before the throne. What do those 4 and 20 elders represent? The 12 tribes of the children of Israel and the 12 apostles of the Lamb. What do they represent? The Old Testament Church and the New Testament Church. They are one. And they are one in Christ Jesus.

And now it says here, we think of the Old Testament church in particular here, and she being with child cried, travailing in birth and pained to be delivered. Right from the time of Adam in the Old Testament, there was a promise given of the coming of the Messiah, of the seed of the woman, the promise of the coming of Christ upon this earth. And so the godly in their day, right down through the ages of time, were wrestling with the Lord for the coming of Christ. And this is really the meaning. The Old Testament church were looking, watching, waiting, praying, prevailing for the coming.

And she, being with child, cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And then we read, and there appeared another wanderer in heaven, and behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns upon his heads, and his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and it cast them down to the earth.

The stars of heaven here I believe are represented in the angels that God has created. And it gives us an idea that the third of the angels fell when Satan fell. Satan was an archangel. His name was Lucifer. We are clearly told that in the 14th chapter of the prophet Isaiah. and he was cast out of heaven. Says so here in the chapter that we've read together. And it tells us here very clearly who he was, that old serpent, the devil. Look at verse nine, and the great dragon was cast out, that is out of heaven, that old serpent called the devil and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world. He was cast out into the earth and his angels were cast out with him.

And I feel we have an intimation there in that word, this great red dragon and his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven and it cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman. And now we have the birth of Jesus Christ, the incarnation of the son of God. We read in the old Testament that a woman shall encompass a man. who has heard such a thing, who has seen such a thing. A virgin shall be with child. You see, and he stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered for to devour her child as soon as it was born.

Now we know that Herod sought after the child's life. No sooner had Christ been born that Herod thought he would have, if he could have found that child, he would have destroyed him and she brought forth a man-child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron and her child was caught up unto God and to his throat. This is the holy child Jesus that was born of the Virgin Mary. Now his work, his divine work was to redeem his people. He shall save his people from their sins. When they were instructed of the angel, the angel said to Joseph and Mary, thou shalt call his name Jesus. For he shall save his people from their sins. That's the meaning of the word Jesus, the Savior. There is none other name that is given unto heaven whereby you must be saved.

and he fulfilled his work, his mission here below. It's strange, isn't it, how the Lord fulfills his wonderful decrees of salvation. God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believe it in him should be saved. His only begotten son. His only begotten Son was made of a woman made under the law. We've just sung of it together. And He came to fulfill that holy law that you and I have broken. We are lawbreakers. And when we break God's holy law, we sin. Sin is any transgression of the law of God. We all have sin. and come short of His glory.

So the Son of God, having been given the Church of God by deed of gift from His Eternal Father, He came to this earth to redeem those people that were given to Him. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me, and him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out. So he was made under the law to fulfill it, to honor it, to magnify it. And that perfect obedience of Christ is called the righteousness of Christ. That is the righteousness of his people. We are made righteous in that perfect obedience of Jesus Christ. and we're made righteous by faith, therefore being justified by faith. Every true living child of God has faith, and that faith unites them to Jesus Christ, unites them to his precious blood and righteousness, and they lay hold of it by faith.

And when they're brought to see that they cannot fulfill God's holy law, They cannot do it. As much as they try, you may try, but you find you can't do it. Why? Because you're a sinner. We're born in sin, we're shaped in iniquity. It was Jesus that fulfilled the law, that magnified and honoured the holy law of God that we broke. And he shed his precious blood. in that wonderful Sinatonian sacrifice, that holy sacrifice of Calvary.

In the previous text, verse 10, I heard a voice saying, in heaven now is come salvation and strength and the kingdom of our God. You see the revelation of Christ and the power of his Christ for the accuser of our brethren is cast down which accused them before our God day and night. And they, that is the church, they overcame him by the blood of the lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto death. They overcame him, that is Satan. There's only one way of overcoming Satan, my beloved friends, and that is by faith in Jesus Christ. By faith in his precious blood that cleanses us from all sin. By faith in that glorious everlasting robe of the righteousness of Christ. Therefore being justified, that is to be declared to be without sin. Therefore being justified by faith. We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony. And they loved not their lives unto death. They loved not their lives unto death.

See, Satan was cast out of heaven. There was war in heaven. verse 7 Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and the dragon fought his angels and the wonderful thing is and prevailed not neither was their place found any more in heaven and the great dragon that cast was cast out the old serpent called the devil and satan which deceived the whole world he was cast out into the earth and his angels were cast out with him.

In the 14th chapter of the prophet Isaiah we have the name, Satan was obviously the archangel and it says Lucifer son of the morning. Lucifer son of the morning. He sought to sit on the throne of God. Now in scripture, a throne represents the seat of power and authority. So what that means is he sought to sit where he ought not to sit. It means he sought to take the power and usurp the power and authority of God. He rebelled against God, against God's government and sought to usurp that power. But it says here in verse 8, and prevailed not. He prevailed not.

And he likes us to think, this is the devil, he likes us to think that he's in power. And when we look around the world and the terrible things that happen around the world and the wars and the bloodshed and the Terrible things happen in this world the devil likes you to think that he's in power that he's controlling everything And when we come into personal religion when the enemy Comes in like a flood we read of it in in Isaiah chapter 59 when the enemy comes in like a flood We read of it the same here about the the It says in the verse 5 and she brought forth a man child who was from all nations with a rod of iron and her child was caught up into God and to his throne and the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared of God that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and three score days the church here upon earth and You know friends, we have a solemn warning given to each one of us here in this chapter, in verse 12. Therefore rejoice ye heavens and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea, for the devil is come down unto you having great wrath because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. He hath but a short time.

see and when the dragon saw that he was cast onto the earth he persecuted the woman that's the church which brought forth the man child and then in verse 15 and the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood and the earth helped the woman. You see my beloved friends these things are written for our instruction in the way of righteousness.

Jesus Christ in his teachings, I think it's in Luke's gospel, I beheld Satan falling from heaven. I beheld, he said falling from heaven like lightning and down into this earth. We have, if we are the true children of God, we have a great enemy. And that great enemy is Satan. and we're given instruction in the world of God on this on this very issue in the sixth chapter of the epistle to the Ephesians and how beautifully does the world of God open to us the whole armor of God And in Ephesians 6 verse 10 we have these exhortations, finally my brethren be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Not in their own mind. We spoke on Tuesday evening at the prayer meeting from Zechariah 4, not by might nor by power but by my spirit saith the Lord of hosts. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood. It's not an equal war. It's a spiritual war. We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world. against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Then we have this word of direction, wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand.

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, what the truth as it is in Jesus, the truth of the gospel, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness.

You see, Jesus said, I am the way, the truth. The glorious person of our Lord Jesus Christ is the truth, the truth of the gospel, the truth of salvation, the truth of redemption, the truth of being the way to God. I am the truth, having therefore your loins girt about with truth. and having on the breastplate of righteousness. The hymn writer says, and he puts it beautifully, righteousness within thee rooted may appear to take thy part, but let righteousness imputed be the breastplate of thy heart.

Having on the breastplate of righteousness, that's the righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ. The child of God is made perfect in Christ. They are. They are declared to be without sin. As we read in twice, we have it in the Ephesians, we have it in the Colossians.

He will present you holy, blameless, unreprovable in his sight. Now, that's an amazing thing. What amazing grace, isn't it? He will present you holy. And you will say, but I'm a poor sinner. Ah, but in Christ, washed in that precious sin atoning blood, clothed in that glorious everlasting robe of the righteousness of Christ.

You are complete. I've often explained to you that word complete there, here in the epistles, it actually means perfect. Sometimes, the original Greek, it's translated perfect and sometimes complete. It's the same meaning. You are complete in him. You are accepted in the beloved.

You see, this is what this whole armour is.

And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. What do we do with our feet? We walk with our feet. Now he says your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, peace by his cross.

Has Jesus made the church his ever-living head? Oh, my beloved friends, this is the peace, my peace, I give unto you. Not as the world giveth, give unto you. You see, the apostle says, the peace of God that passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds Through Jesus Christ our Lord, your feet shod, walking in the commandments of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Jesus said, if ye love me, keep my commandments. And it's actually in our text, you see. and what he says here and they overcame him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony and they love not their lives unto death. They testify.

No help in self I find. That's what they testify. Yet oft have sought it well. The native treasure of my mind is sin and death and hell. But they testify my all is bound up in the lamb Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. That's where my salvation is. This is their testimony. If ever my poor soul be saved is Christ. Must be the word. This is the word of their testimony.

And your feet. Are we walking in the gospel ordinances? Are we following the Lord Jesus Christ? If any man will follow me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me. Are we doing that, my beloved friends? If we're not, and we are indeed, and the love of Christ has been known in our hearts, then we're being disobedient.

There is the testimony which we make before men, above all taking the shield of faith, whereby you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked."

You see, when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him. That standard is Christ. And the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.

I had a very remarkable deliverance from a very severe temptation when I was a young man. And I actually walked in that temptation. It was an awful temptation while I was still under the law. It was a vicious, awful temptation. And it was so great that I really thought I was losing my mind. I nearly went to a psychiatrist. These terrible thoughts that entered my mind. And then Christ was revealed to me. And that was such a wonderful time of deliverance that after that the enemy returned again with that same temptation. It was a really severe temptation.

And I went to collect my sister from London on a Christmas Eve. She worked in Knightsbridge. And that temptation I had to sit and wait for her, and that temptation came with such power. And I was sitting in an armchair. I had to get hold of the arms of the chair to stop me getting up, to do that terrible temptation. And I so cried unto the Lord, Lord deliver me, Lord help me. the Lord Jesus was revealed. And it was like a ray of light shone straight down into my soul. And it was so vivid. It was almost as if I saw the devil skulk out of the room. And up until that time, I never realized it was a temptation. But it was such a clear deliverance. And even since then, sometimes when laboring under temptation and trial, And then all of a sudden that same old temptation comes back. And then immediately I think, ah, I know exactly where all this is coming from.

You see, that's what the apostle means when he says we are not ignorant of his cunning devices. And there's only one person that can deliver you, my beloved friends. That's our Lord Jesus Christ.

when he shines into your heart it will bring deliverance into your soul it will deliver you from the temptations of satan above all taking the shield of faith wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked and take the helmet of salvation helmet of salvation it covers and that hymn isn't it cover my defenseless head helmet of salvation.

This is the whole and it's Christ. The scroll is named Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins. This is the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit which is the word of God. This blessed book that the Lord has blessed us with the the word of God in our own language. The sword of the spirit which is the word of God.

All my beloved friends We should be continually searching the Word of God. We should be continually, prayerfully studying the Word of God. And the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

It's very striking, isn't it, in the temptations of our Lord Jesus Christ. When he was led of the Spirit into the wilderness, enemy tempted him for 40 days and 40 nights. And when the enemy came to Christ with those temptations, how did Christ answer him? It is written. That's how the Lord Jesus answered Satan. What does he mean? It's the word of God. It is written.

You see, taking the sword of the spirit, There's the wonderful example of our Lord Jesus Christ. He appealed to Holy Scripture. It is written, praying always with all prayer. Praying always with all prayer. Men are always to pray. These are the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ. Men are always to pray and not to faint.

The trouble is friends, we come into these temptations, we come into these trials, we come into these perplexities, we come into these great battles, and instead of looking up, we look down. It was the late dear Mr Wood, he called it the up look. We tend to look down. It's exactly what Joseph Hart says in his hymn, Pour not on thyself too long. oust to a sinkly lower, look to Jesus, firm and strong, mercy joined with power. There's deliverance in Jesus Christ. There is.

Praying always with all prayer and supplications in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. Oh that the Lord will enable us to take this weapon of all prayer, and take heed of the words of our Lord Jesus Christ. Men are always to pray, not to faint, and not to faint. And they overcame it.

Who do we pray to? Jesus Christ, the King of glory, the Lord God, the omnipotent reigning, who said, all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. All power, not some power. He's the omnipotent Saviour. He's the omnipotent Redeemer. He's the one, my beloved friends, that is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever living. He ever living.

And they overcame Him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. And they loved not their lives unto death. They were willing to die for Jesus Christ's sake. They loved not their lives unto death. They wouldn't deny their Lord and their Saviour.

You see, woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea, for the devil has come down unto you having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. And we read of this, the dragon saw that he was cast onto the earth and he persecuted the woman, brought forth the man-child. This is the church of God. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle. Doesn't the hymn write to say, give me the wings of faith to rise within the violent sea? The wings of faith.

What do we read in Isaiah chapter 40? Even the youth shall faint in the weary, and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall. But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up on wings as eagles, they shall run and not be faint. That's the wings of faith. They shall mount up on wings as eagles. You see, that's the wonderful truth of God's holy word.

And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time and time to the half a time from the face of the serpent. And then you see the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.

One of the great mysteries, my beloved friends, Satan knows your weak points. He does. He knows what temptations to bring, because he knows your weak points. And therefore, he'll be constantly attacking you on that weak point. I'm sure that in one sense of the meaning of the word in the Hebrews, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that does so easily beset us. Let us run with patience the race that is set before us. How? 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. he's now set down at the right hand of the majesty on high

and they overcame him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony and they loved not their lives unto death. You know we read here in the word of God and what my mind it just goes to that that beautiful word that there is in the first epistle of john the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanseth us from all sin. From all sin. I love that word all. From all sin. It cleanses from all sin. An hymn writer, isn't it? The blood of Christ, a precious blood, cleanses from all sin. Doubt it not.

And then we we read in the first epistle of Peter and chapter 1 verse 18 for as much as ye know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers but with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you. Redeemed by Jesus' precious blood. Redeemed.

We just sung that lovely hymn, our opening hymn. What is that name that speaks for me? In heaven's high courts above, and from the curse that set me free, tis Jesus. Precious blood, it is. It is Jesus' precious blood. All the preciousness of that blood of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and they overcame him, that is Satan, by the blood of the Lamb.

I've often spoken to you about Martin Luther when he was in a time of great temptation from Satan. and he said that satan brought these temptations to mind about all his sins and he said it was a great scroll he said it was so big it reached around the world and back and satan said to him these are all your sins martin luther and and luther said to satan are you sure they're All my sins, yes, all my sins. He said, then sign the bottom of it. The blood of Jesus Christ, God's son, cleanses us from all sin, from all sin. And he said, the devil was gone. The devil was gone.

You see, my beloved friends, they overcame him by the blood of the lamb. And those lovely words of John the Baptist, behold the lamb of God. which taketh away the sin of the world. He does. In that holy sacrifice of the cross of Calvary, the Lord Jesus Christ put away sin. It's lovely in the Hebrews, isn't it? For by one offering, he hath perfected forever all them that are sanctified.

What does it mean all them that are sanctified? All them that were chosen by the Father, chosen by the Father, redeemed by the Son, sanctified by the Holy Ghost. When the Father chose the people, He sanctified them, He separated them. All them that are sanctified, they overcame Him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.

Have you given that word of your testimony? Is your life a testimony of the everlasting love of God to your soul? Is the way you walk, the things you do, the company you keep, is it a testimony to the everlasting love of God in Christ? Is the spirit that we Breathe and we live. Is it a spirit of love? Is it a spirit of kindness? Is it a spirit of compassion? Because that's the spirit of Christ. That's the spirit of Christ.

You see, my beloved friends, the word of their testimony. And not only that, have you given your testimony? I'm not ashamed to own my Lord. Are you ashamed to own your Lord, to follow your Lord, by the word of their testimony? And even if it costs you a lot, you're willing, the word of your testimony.

Some of you may have read it, there's a beautiful book by a minister in China, Wing Mang Dao and he so loved the Lord he was baptized in Peking now called Beijing in the middle of winter and he said when he came up out of the water baptized in the open air and when he came up out of the water it was so cold his His clothes literally were solid ice when he came up at the water but he said my heart was so hot and warm in love to Jesus Christ. I never realised it was so cold. I so loved the Lord Jesus Christ and by the word of their testimony and they loved not their lives unto death.

May the Lord add his blessings. Let us now sing together hymn 1102. The tune is Requiem 685.

Why those fears, behold, is Jesus, holds a helm and guides a ship, spread the sails and catch the breezes, sent to waft us through the deep, to the regions where the mourners cease to weep.

Hymn 1102, tune Requiem 685.

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars ♪ To the rejoice ♪ ♪ When the morning seems to be ♪ Where the story of truth and law, Of the idea of eternal law, Let me bring it to an end, And I'll come to the other end.

And with Jesus, and with Jesus, through the tempest he flew on. We climb the ocean, face the waters so near and far. ♪ God have mercy ♪ ♪ On this poor child ♪ ♪ Love him not ♪ ♪ For no one is kind ♪ ♪ Let it go by him ♪ Praise to thee, King, and the true people in thine.

Let us take, by His protection, Freedom's gospel to teach, Asking to reach for inspiration, We shall be able to close the gate, And with wonder 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.