The notices for the coming week
are God willing 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. And there will be a prayer meeting
here on Tuesday evening at 7 o'clock. Let us commence our services
today by singing together hymn number 411. The tune is Synod.
245. Come, saints, and sing in sweet
accord With solemn pleasure tell The covenant made with David's
Lord In all things ordered well. Hymn 411. Tune Synod. 245. Come saints and saints In sweeter court with solemn
pleasure tell. The God-made faith in David's
love, In all things ordered well through. His covenant stood, and time
began, that God heaven should burn. Eternal rest to the family in
all things good and well. which the heart of truth and
life possess. I'm rising into the Silver shining in the night, In music so divine. ? The slave man chases ? ? For
his pride ? ? Before the sinner fled ? ? Close to my bed ? God Bless. When lowly worlds depart on far,
And thousands sing to her, ? Is come a Christian, a saint
at birth ? ? In old age, so dead well ? In glory serve with Christ the
King, His saints have surely done. And in his breast, love hath
never slain Him who on faith's golden crown Let us read together from the
Holy Word of God in the Gospel according to Matthew and chapter
8. Matthew chapter 8. When he was come down from the
mountain, great multitudes followed him. And behold, there came a
leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst
make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand
and touched him, saying, I will, be thou clean. And immediately
his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus saith unto him, see
thou tell no man, but go thy way, show thyself to the priest,
and offer the gift that Moses commanded for a testimony unto
them. And when Jesus was entered into
Capernaum, they came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,
and saying, Lord, My servant lieth at home sick of the palsy,
grievously tormented, and Jesus saith unto him, I will come and
heal him. The centurion answered and said,
Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof,
but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed For
I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say
to this man, go, and he goeth. And to another, come, and he
cometh. And to my servant, do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus
heard it, he marveled and said to them that followed, verily
I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you that many
shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with
Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the
children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing
of teeth. And Jesus said unto the centurion,
Go thy way, and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto
thee.' And his servant was healed in the south same hour. And when
Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid
and sick of a fever, and he touched her hand, and the fever left
her, and she arose and ministered unto them. When the evening was
come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils,
and he cast out the spirits with his word and healed all that
were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the
prophet, saying, himself took our infirmities and there our
sicknesses. Now when Jesus saw great multitudes
about him He gave commandment to depart unto the other side.
And a certain scribe came and said unto him, Master, I will
follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus saith unto him,
The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests,
but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head. And another
of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and
bury my father. But Jesus said unto him, Follow
me, and let the dead bury their dead. And when he was entered
into a ship, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose
a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with
the waves, but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him
and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us, we perish. And he saith
unto them, why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he
arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great
calm. But the men marveled, saying,
What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey
him? And when he was come to the other
side, into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two
possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce,
so that no man might pass by that way. And behold, They cried
out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son
of God? Art thou come hither to torment
us before the time? And there was a good way off
from them, and heard of many swine feeding. So the devils
besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go
away into the herd of swine. And he said unto them, go and
when they were come out they went into the herd of swine and
behold the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place
into the sea and perished in the waters and they that kept
them fled and went their ways into the city and told everything
and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils And behold,
the whole city came out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him,
they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts. May the Lord bless the reading
of his own precious word and grant a spirit of real prayer. Almighty, most merciful and eternal
God of heaven, We do desire to bow before thy glorious majesty. We do desire a spirit of real
prayer and the grace of supplications with thanksgiving. We desire
most blessed spirit that thou wilt grant unto us then that
prayer indicted from within and those prayers that thou wilt
certainly answer. Lord, we come as poor sinners
before thy great majesty. Each one of us are the fallen
sons and daughters of Adam, born in sin and shaper in iniquity. And we need thy rich blessing.
We need thee to enlighten us. We need thee to uphold us. We
need thee to strengthen us. We need thee to guide us. We
need thee to teach us. O most gracious Lord, we read
in thy word, and he led them forth by the right way unto a
city of habitation. And we pray, most gracious Lord,
that thou would lead us in that right way. Lead us unto Jesus
Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life. Guide us, O thou
great Jehovah, we're pilgrims in a barren land. We are weak,
but thou, almighty, hold us with thy powerful hand. and grant
that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God our
Father and the sacred fellowship of the Holy Spirit may rest and
abide upon us. O most gracious Lord, do hear
us, we humbly beseech thee. Do guide us by thy counsel and
afterward receive us unto glory. Do grant that thy word may be
a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. Oh, do hear us. We read, O Lord, in thy word
that as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons
of God. So we pray to be led by the Spirit
of God this day. We pray that thou wouldst come
and open the word of truth to our heart and to our understanding. We pray that thou wouldst open
our eyes, our hearts, our ears, that thou wouldst cause the dumb
to speak, the deaf to hear, the blind to see. O gracious God,
do incline our ear, we do humbly beseech thee. We come, O Lord,
in confession of our sins. We leave undone, and we solemnly
have to confess it. We leave undone things that we
ought to do, and we do things that we ought not to do. And
we find a law within our members that when I would do good, then
evil is present with me. We find, O Lord, in our hearts
the seeds of iniquity and unrighteousness. And we come and bow before Thee
and pray that we may be washed in the precious blood of Jesus
Christ, Thine only begotten Son, and that Thou wouldst cleanse
us from all our sin and guilt, and that Thou wouldst clothe
us in that glorious everlasting robe of the righteousness of
Jesus Christ, that we may be complete in him, that we may
be accepted in the beloved, that we may be enabled to say, my
beloved is mine and I am his. Oh, do graciously then bless
us even this day and do guide us by thy counsel. We pray most
gracious Lord that thou would remember us as a church, as a
congregation. Remember our brethren, the deacons,
and bless and undertake for them. Remember those, O Lord, that
are away at this time, seeking rest and change, and be with
them where they worship this day. Bring them home in peace
and safety at the appointed time. O Lord, we do pray that thou
wouldst remember each one of our brethren and sisters in Christ,
and we pray that thou wouldst be with those that are at home,
because of affliction or whatever the reason may be, we commend
them to thee and to the word of thy grace, which is able to
build them up and to grant them an inheritance among them that
are sanctified. Lord, where there is sickness,
may there be healing. Where there is weakness, may
there be strength. Where there is darkness, may
there be light. Where there is bondage, may there
be liberty. O do hear us in heaven, thy holy
dwelling place. And when thou hearest, O Lord,
forgive. And O Lord, we do pray that thou
wouldst bless the little ones and the children. We're always
thankful to see them in the sanctuary and pray that thou wouldst bless
them. And that thou wouldst put the
fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom, into their
hearts in their young and tender years. Pray that they always
remember the young friends and graciously guide them, guide
them unto thyself. Draw them unto thyself. Quicken
them, O Lord, according to thy word. Bring them to living faith
in Jesus Christ. Make them true followers of thee
and of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Be with them in all the paths
of providence, in their education, and any future employment, grant
thy divine guidance, O Lord, we pray thee. A partner in life's
journey, Lord, we lovingly commend them to thee in these things.
Thou art that great God that is able to do abundantly more
than we can even ask or think. Lord, we do pray. that thou would
remember parents who give wisdom and grace to bring up their children
in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and that thou wouldst
graciously bless the families as they gather for divine worship
in the home. And, O Lord, we do pray that
thou in thy precious mercy would send out the glory, light, and
power of the gospel into this village and the surrounding villages
and hamlets, Bring our sons from far, and our daughters from the
ends of the earth. We pray for the prodigals that
have wandered away, that they will stretch out thy almighty
arm and cause them to return. Lord, they are able to do these
things, and we beseech you that it was here our entreaties, that
thou wouldst return to Jerusalem with mercies, that thou wouldst
make bare thy holy arm in the gospel, that thou wast pulled
down the strongholds of Satan, that thou wast set up the kingdom
of the Lord Jesus in the hearts of sinners. O Lord of hosts,
O God of Israel, O thou that dwellest between the cherubim,
shine forth. We do humbly beseech thee, and
have mercy upon us as a church and congregation. And Lord, we
do pray that thou wast grant that spirit of real travail among
us, For as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children,
and we long to see the bringing forth of spiritual children.
We long to see the building of the walls of Jerusalem. Remember
all in the midst of the journey of life and have mercy upon them,
O Lord, we pray thee, and graciously undertake for each one. Deliver
us from the temptations of Satan, whether he comes as an angel
of light to deceive us, or whether he comes as a roaring lion to
devour us, we pray to be delivered from his power and from his influence. We do humbly beseech thee. Remember those of us, O Lord,
that are now in the evening time of life's journey, and graciously
have mercy upon us and guide us safely unto thy heavenly kingdom. We do humbly beseech of thee
for thy great name's sake. Remember all thy servants as
they labour in word and doctrine today upon the walls of Zion,
and graciously have mercy upon each one of thy servants.
Fill them with thy spirit. Grant the renewing of thy grace.
Grant the door of utterance and the spirit of power. We do humbly
pray thee, and we pray thee, the great Lord of the harvest
to send true labourers into the harvest and to rebuild and renew
and replenish thy Zion for thy great namesake. And, O Lord,
we do pray that thou would remember our nation. Remember, Lord, the
little houses of prayer up and down the nation and grant a reviving
May our leaders give wisdom, guidance and direction in all
matters. And guide and direct them in
the legislation that they pass. And hear the prayers of thy little
remnant as they sigh and cry for the abominations done in
the land. Even in this past week in Parliament,
those things that have taken place and we pray that they will
bring to naught the counsels of the ungodly. and overturn
their wicked desires, O Lord, we do humbly beseech them. Do
then give wisdom to our leaders, guidance and direction. Do bless
our king and all the royal household. Bless them with that rich grace
that is in Christ Jesus. Lord, remember those that labour
in word and doctrine among the nations of the earth that go
forth from among us. Remember the Mombasa mission
and that great work that is being done there in Kenya and help
thy servant there. Strengthen him and grant Lord
that he may see the sovereign work of thy spirit there. Remember
the Savannah Education Trust and the great work that they
are doing in Ghana and grant good success. Grant that it may
be down to the great glory of thy name and to the good of thy
church. And, O Lord, we do pray that
thou would remember Ian Sadler and that great work that he does
among the nations of the earth in the distribution of thy word
and in the translation of it and the exposition of it. Help
him, Lord, and supply all his many returning needs. We do humbly
beseech thee. We do thank thee, O Lord, for
our little house of prayer We thank Thee for the gathering
together of the people. We thank Thee for Thy holy day. We thank Thee for every mercy
of Thy kind providence. We thank Thee, O Lord, for the
wonderful glory of the incarnation of the Son of God and the eternal
word that was made flesh and dwelt among us. We thank Thee
that in Him, our Lord Jesus Christ, the law has been fulfilled and
honoured and magnified, and everlasting righteousness has been brought
in. We thank Thee for that holy sacrifice of Calvary. We thank
Thee that He was made sin for us, that He offered that glorious,
sin-atoning sacrifice on Calvary. Sin has been put away. Divine
justice has been satisfied, God and sinners are reconciled, peace
is made betwixt God and man. And he died for our sins and
rose again for our justification and has bodily ascended into
heaven and sitted at thy right hand. Oh, the wonderful glory
of the person, power and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, in
him we know. the love of our eternal Father,
and through him we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Gracious 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 continue our worship by
singing together hymn number 232. The tune is Zor Chapel,
816. Begone, unbelief, my Saviour
is near, and for my relief will surely appear. By prayer let
me wrestle, and He will perform. With Christ in the vessel, I
smile at the storm. ? Hail, Alma Mater! Hail, Alma
Mater! Hail, Alma Mater! ? Hail, Alma
Mater! Hail, Alma Mater! ? Holy Trinity risen ? ? And King
over all ? ? With Christ, King and Master ? ? And Son, ever
strong ? Shelter me, my friend, shield
me, my guide. Be kind to the plague, it is
to provide. Our citizens remember ? And bring you to a place ? ?
Where the hungry and stony ? ? Can surely be found. ? Wisdom in thy thoughts, hope
in thee to think, heal the weary and lost, bring trouble to sleep. Between heaven and earth Thy
power we will know. ? Of teacher-pleasure ? ? To every writer ? ? It's a win to see ? Behold, O
my God, when Savior my Slave, my soul's ev'ry flesh, And yet he can not be entrusted
his way. ? And the tops of the rose-pinked
? ? Ripples beneath the stream ? ? Why should I complain? ? ? Of bonds of distress ? ?
Temptation of pain ? ? It doth be the rest ? ? The end of salvation
? I come from this earth, birth
of day, pure nation, as the glory of the Lord. Thou nature that art, ever and
all seen, rich in grace, ? This day was but another ? ?
That the world had brought me ? ? If I shall go somewhere that shall be mine
? ? That I may show the world my
love ? ? That I may show the world my love ? ? That I may
show the world my love ? ? Through the pain of confession
? ? Blessed is the one ? ? That hath painfully confessed it ? Greatly feeling to need the Lord's
gracious help, I direct your attention to the Gospel according
of Matthew and chapter eight, and we'll read verse 27 for our
text. Matthew chapter eight, verse
27. But the men marveled, saying,
what manner of man is this? that even the winds and the sea
obey Him. This chapter is remarkable in
the recording of several wonderful miracles by Jesus the Son of
God. It follows three chapters of
the most beautiful sermon has ever been preached, the Sermon
on the Mount by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. So it's quite significant that
we have displayed the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and
the opening of the Word by our Lord Jesus Christ and then it's
followed by those divine acts of mercy and love displaying
the power the wonderful power in the gospel of our Lord and
Savior, Jesus Christ, what he is able to do. And as we know
that specifically that the word in our text refers to the Lord
Jesus still in the waves and the sea, and we want to look
at that, but you know, the whole of the chapter, that we can apply
the same word to everything that was done. But the men marveled,
saying, what manner of man is this, that even the wind and
the sea obey him? We think of our Lord Jesus Christ,
what manner of man is this? We think of the words that he
speaks at the end of the Matthew's Gospel, when he commissions his
disciples to go to preach the everlasting gospel unto every
creature. But what did he say just as he's
about to tell them that? All power is given unto me in
heaven and in earth. And we see that power displayed
in this chapter, in the subsequent chapters, in the wonderful acts,
in the wonderful display of the glory of the eternal Son of God
that was manifest in the flesh. The Apostle, when he speaks of
his own call by grace when he writes to his son Timothy and he says to Timothy how that
he was stopped when he was persecuting the Church of God. He said, I'm
not worthy to be called an Apostle because I actually persecuted
the Church of God. It was he that was standing by
when they stoned the first martyr Stephen and they laid their clothes
at the feet of one Saul of Tarsus. But as he speaks of that wonderful
act of grace of the eternal God speaking from heaven on the road
to Damascus, then he breaks out in that beautiful word. It's almost like a doxology and
it's because he's referring to his own call by grace. He's referring
to the wonderful act of grace that brought him from persecuting
the Church of God to become a preacher of the everlasting gospel of
Jesus Christ, an apostle of the Lamb. And he says, now unto the
King eternal, immortal and invisible, the only true God, be honor and
glory everlasting. Amen. See, he had such a view
there through his own personal recollections and remembrances
of the Lord's mercy to him. And it so enlarged his heart
and his thoughts concerning the glorious person of Jesus Christ,
what manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey
Him. The Lord Jesus, we read of Him
in the Word, by Him were all things made, without Him was
not anything made that is made. The Apostle says in Him we live
and move and have our being, He is God over all and blessed
for evermore. He created all things. He created
all things. And they were created for His
glory. This great King, this omnipotent
Savior. The King, the actual meaning
of the word is one of supreme power. And this glorious person,
As we look at this world, what manner of man is this? This glorious
person is the king of kings. He speaks in Proverbs chapter
8, by me kings reign and princes decree justice. My mind it just
goes to that beautiful chapter in the epistle to the Colossians
where in the first chapter that the Apostle speaks so beautifully
of the glorious person of our Lord Jesus Christ, verse 12,
giving thanks unto the Father which hath made us meet to be
partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light, who hath
delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated
us into the kingdom of his dear Son, in whom we have redemption
through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. What manner of man is
this, in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness
of sins. Who is the image of the invisible
God, the firstborn of every creature, For by him were all things created
that are in heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible,
whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers,
all things were created by him and for him, and he is before
all things, and by him all things consist. The apostle says in
the epistle to the Romans, and he's saying the equivalent thing
there in verse 16, He says, the powers that be are ordained of
God. They are. And in the day that
the Apostle was speaking, the powers that be were pagan powers,
but they were ordained of God, for by him all things were created
that are in heaven, that are in earth, visible and invisible,
whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.
all things were created by him and for him and for him. You know the there's a verse
just comes to my mind in the book of the revelation and chapter
four and the it speaks there in the last two verses the four
and twenty elders that is the representatives of the old testament
and the new testament the 12 apostles of the lamb and the
12 tribes of the children of israel the 4 and 20 elders fall
down before him that sat on the throne and worship him that liveth
forever and ever and cast their crowns before the throne saying
thou art worthy oh lord to receive glory and honour and power for
thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are
and were created. He created all things. He is before all things and by
him all things consist. And so as we look at this word
but the men marveled saying what manner of man is this, that even
the winds and the sea obey him. With heaven and earth at his
command he waits to answer prayer. You know, friends, a lot of our
troubles arise, spiritual troubles, temptations, arise from the fact
that we do not have a clear view of the glorious person of Jesus
Christ, who he is, who he is. He's the eternal son of the eternal father. God so
loved the world he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth
in him shall be saved. We read those words again in
Timothy There is one God and one mediated between God and
man, the man, Christ Jesus, who gave his life a ransom for all
to be testified in due time. Jesus said, I am the way, the
truth and the life. No man cometh unto the father,
but by me, but by me. What manner, of man is this. Why, my beloved friends, it's
beyond our comprehension. Again, in Timothy, the apostle
is speaking of this glorious man, the man Christ Jesus. He
says, great is the mystery of God's in this. It's a mystery.
God was manifest in the flesh. God was manifest in the flesh.
What a mystery. The infinite and the eternal
assumed a finite human nature. It's a profound mystery. He lived
here upon earth. He had a virgin birth. Who has heard such a thing? Who
has seen such a thing? The wonderful glory of who this
great man is. What manner of man is this that
even the winds and sea Obey Him. This One God. You know these scriptures maintain
very clearly that there is One God. We read in Deuteronomy,
the Lord our Lord is One Lord. And we read in the New Testament
that there is the Father, the Word and the Spirit. It's in
the first epistle of John, chapter 5, verse 7. The Father, the Word,
which is the Son of God, and the Holy Ghost, these three are
one. And when we read the doxology
in Holy Scripture, and it says, in the name of the Father, notice
the name, singular in the name you might say that proper English
would say that you should put the names because there's three
names but it doesn't it says in the name why because these
three are one in the name of the father and of the son and
of the holy ghost these three are one one blessed almighty
and eternal Lord God, the Lord, our Lord is one Lord, is one
Lord. Now, in this context here, we read
how in verse 23, and when he was entered into a ship, his
disciples followed him and behold, there arose a great tempest in
the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves, but
he was asleep, who the Son of God. You might immediately say
to me, but it says in scripture that God neither slumbers nor
sleeps. And that is true. God does not
have need of sleep or slumber. But we read of the Lord Jesus
here asleep. And what it reveals to us is
the reality of his human nature. He knew all the sinless infirmities
of our nature. He knew what it was to hunger.
He knew what it was to thirst. He knew what it was to be weary.
It says in the John's gospel doesn't he when he was weary
and he sat by the well and he knew what it was to be tired
he used to spend whole nights in prayer and he knew what it
was to be tired and here in this ship but he was asleep so We read in the Word of God, it
says here in the context, himself took our infirmities and bear
our sicknesses in verse 17. But he also knew all those sinless
infirmities, mark what I say, the sinless infirmities of our
nature. One hymn writer takes it up and
he says, doesn't he touch with the sympathy within? He knows
our feeble frame, He knows what sore temptations mean, for He
has felt the same. Jesus knows and understands. He knows it by experience. He lived as a man here for 33
years. He knows it by experience. The other thing we should notice
is that the Son of God in His divine nature cannot die. God cannot die. And the Son of
God in his divine nature cannot die. God cannot be tempted of evil.
He cannot be tempted of evil. But in that profound mystery
of godliness, of God manifest in the flesh, he was tempted in all points
like as we are. I often feel that that verse
in Hebrews chapter 4 is one of the most profound verses in Holy
Scripture. He was tempted in all points,
like as we are, yet without sin. He understands. He's touched
with the sympathy within. He knows our feeble frame. He
does. And it's in that context that
the apostle writes to the Hebrews when he's speaking of our great
high priest, our Lord Jesus Christ. And that sense of sympathy and
empathy that he has with his people in all their troubles
and in all their trials. And it's in that context, he
says there in Hebrews 4, for such a high priest have we who
is passed into the heavens. Jesus. the Son of God. And then he speaks of him being
tempted in all points like as we are, as a man, not as God. Now of course we cannot separate
between the God and the man, they are one person. But in that sacred, holy, human
nature, the Son of God experienced the temptations and the attacks
of Satan, he did. You think of the various experiences
of the Lord's living family and he knows, he feels, he feels
his tempted members pain, for he has felt the same. He was asleep. He knew tiredness,
he knew weariness. Then his disciples came to him
and awoke him saying, Lord, save us, we perish. The waves were
coming over the ship, into the ship, and the disciples thought
they were ready to perish. And he said unto them, Why are
ye fearful, O ye of little faith? It's a great lack of faith. We
just sung that lovely hymn, with Christ in the vessel, we smile
at the storm. But the poor disciples, they
were so overcome with that great storm and that great tempest.
Lord, save us, we perish. They thought they were going
to perish. He saith unto them, Why are ye
fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose and rebuked the
winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marvelled, saying,
What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the Obey Him. You see, He's the King of Kings. He's the Lord of Lords. He is. He holds all things in His hand.
He does. All events at His command. It's
a lovely hymn, isn't it? Hymn 64. Sovereign Ruler of the
skies. Ever gracious, ever wise. All
my time. are in thy hand, all events at
thy command, all of them. He doesn't make any mistakes.
When we come into tribulation, troubles and trials and perplexities,
sometimes like these dear disciples, we become overcome with unbelief. We fear that we're going to sink
and be utterly destroyed and there'll be the finish of us. these things are recorded in
the Holy Word of God for our instruction and often we come into these
deep dark places we can't seem to get a view of Christ well
sometimes we lack that view of Christ and you know where that
lack of knowledge comes from it can come from a and inadequate
ministry. It can come from a lack of study
of the Word of God and prayerfully reading and meditating in the
Word of God so that we do not have clear views of the glorious
person of Jesus Christ. We do not have clear views of
who he is, clear views of what he can do and what he can accomplish. And unbelief hardens. hardens us. It says so in the
third and fourth chapters of the epistle to the Hebrews, lest
you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. It does harden. And it blinds us too. It does. But the men marveled saying,
what manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea Obey
Him. You know, we need these things
revealed unto us by the Holy Ghost. Been several times in my life
in different experiences that I've had and sometimes in great
affliction and great darkness and great bondage and ready to
sink and then the Lord has given a clear view who He is, of His
power, of His wisdom, of His grace, of His ability to save. Wherefore, He is able to save
to the uttermost all that come unto God by Him. And that is
what you need. You need the Holy Spirit to give
you a clear view by faith. You need the Holy Spirit to bring
in exercise the wonderful graces of the Spirit in the heart of
the believer. Faith and hope and love and every
grace in exercising the soul. But the men marveled, saying
what manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey
him. They do. Even the winds and the
sea obey him. I know I've told you before,
I never forget reading it, it made such an impression on me,
George Muller, He was a man of great faith. And he was renowned for that
faith. And on his way to America, to
New York, where he got a big meeting from people to deal with
his charity, etc. And he got to be at this meeting.
And the fog came down as they were coming into New York. And
the captain of the ship, he said, he cast anchor. He said, I can't
travel in this thick, thick fog. You can't see. He said, you couldn't
see more than 10 feet? And George Muller said to him,
but I've got to be at a meeting at such and such a time. He said,
well, I'm sorry, but I can't. Unless this fog lifts, we can't
go in. And apparently, George Muller
went on his knees in front of the captain. he prayed to the
God of heaven and as he was on his knees and as he was praying
the fog lifted. What a wonderful witness that
was, both of the faith of George Muller and the wonderful power
of God, the wonderful power of God to do and to accomplish these
things. He's able to do abundantly more
than we can even ask or think. I can never quote it properly
but there is some verses that you often see on a little plaque
in people's home. Omnipotence hath servants everywhere. He never is before his time and
he never is too late. Servants everywhere. His timing is perfect. God's
timing. You think of the wonderful providence
that we read of in the book of Esther and everything hung in that narrative
on this one thing and it was something that we would probably
think was totally insignificant. That night could not the king
sleep. You might say what is the significance
of that? that night could not the king
sleep. Why? Because the Lord took away his
sleep. Then he called for the chronicles of the books of what
had been done and in that it was found that Mordecai, Esther's
uncle who brought her up as his father, as her father, he'd informed against two men
that were seeking to take the king's life. And the king immediately said,
what has been done for this man? They said nothing. And therefore, right at that
moment, Haman, wicked Haman, who wanted to destroy all the
Jews, came into the king. and presumptuously
he had built a gallows to hang Mordecai the Jew on those gallows. And the king, before he could
actually ask for the life of Mordecai, the king said to him,
what should be done unto the man whom the king delighted to
honour? Mordecai, or rather Haman, in
his pride He said, surely the king would not delight to honor
anyone more than me. So he said, let him be arrayed
in the royal apparel and taken on the royal horse with a procession
through the streets of the city. Thus shall it be done unto the
man whom the king delighted to honor. And the king said to Haman,
go and fetch Mordecai the Jew. array him in royal apparel and
put him on the king's horse and walk before him through the city
thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth
to honour. Omnipotence hath servants everywhere
he never is before his time and he never is too late. What manner of man is this that
even the wind and the sea obey him. Now in this chapter there
are some wonderful displays of the power and grace of the Lord
Jesus Christ. We read in the first instance
when he was come down from the mount, that is of course from
the preaching of the sermon on the mount, great multitudes followed
him and behold there came a leper, a leper Leprosy was an incurable
disease in the day of Christ. In fact, until antibiotics came,
it remained an incurable disease. Behold, there came a leper and
worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou will, thou canst make
me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand
and touched him, saying I will, be thou clean and immediately
the leprosy left him. He was cleansed immediately,
he put forth his hand, I will, where the word of a king is there
is power, but he put forth his hand and he was cleansed. We see the love The kindness,
the willingness of Jesus to save and to receive poor sinners. Then we read, and when Jesus
was entered in the Capernaum, there came unto him a certain
centurion. Here we have a Gentile, a Roman
centurion, beseeching him and saying, Lord, my servant lieth
at home sick of the palsy. The palsy is like a paralysis
caused by a stroke. Grievously tormented. Just look
at the love and kindness of Jesus. It didn't matter whether the
person was great or small, rich or poor. Jesus said unto him, I will come
and heal him. Notice the willingness. And these things are written
for our instruction the willingness of Jesus to receive a poor sinner. It's written for our instruction.
How willing he was, how loving he was, how kind he was. This glorious man, what manner
of man is this? Then the centurion answered and
said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou should come under my roof.
What humility we see in this Man in authority. I'm not worthy
that thou shouldest come under my roof, but speak the word only. What faith the centurion had,
but speak the word only. And my servant shall be healed.
Wonderful faith. I am a man under authority, having
soldiers under me, and I say unto this man go and he goeth
and to another come and he cometh and to my servant do this and
he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marveled
and said to them that followed, verily I say unto you, I have
not found so great faith. No, not in all Israel. Not in all Israel. wonderful faith wrought in his
heart by the Holy Ghost. Faith is the gift of God and
this precious faith was given to the centurion and with it
came that spirit of humility. He humbled himself before the
Lord Jesus Christ. We also have a solemn warning
here In verse 11, I say unto you that many shall come from
the east and west and shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob as the fathers of the Jews, the patriarchs of the Jewish
nation, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But
the children of the kingdom, that's the Jews, shall be cast
out into outer darkness there shall be weeping and gnashing
of teeth." They rejected Christ. The majority of the Jews rejected
Christ. Rejected His message, rejected
one of the great condemning things that they brought when Christ
was crucified, He made Himself the Son of God. You see, they
rejected Him as the Son of God. They rejected Him as the Messiah. But the children of the kingdom
shall be cast out into outer darkness. Unbelief, my beloved
friends, is a terrible thing. It would pull God from His throne.
It would deny His power, His divine prerogatives. But the children of the kingdom
shall be cast out into outer darkness. there shall be weeping
and gnashing of teeth. It's significant in that he was
speaking to a Gentile, the centurion. And Jesus said unto the centurion,
go thy way, and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto
thee. And his servant was healed in
the selfsame hour. See the wonderful love compassion
and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Then immediately when Jesus was
coming to Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid and sick
of a fever and he touched her hand and the fever left her and
she arose and ministered unto them. Again, act of love, act
of kindness, act of compassion. I think it's Joseph Hart in one
of his hymns, isn't he? Full of love to man's lost race. Christ is full of love. Infinite
love. Eternal love. Almighty love. The love of Christ. Have you
ever had the love of Christ shed abroad in your heart by the Holy
Ghost? so that you have such a sense
of His love in your heart, in your soul. He'll humble you in
the dust of self-abasement. Never shall I forget when the
Lord breathed those words into my heart, when I was brought
into gospel liberty. Rise up, my love, my fair one,
and come away, for lo, the winter is over and gone, the time and
the singing of the birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is
heard in our land. you get a touch of that love
in your heart. And this is what is displayed
here, this wonderful love, kindness and compassion of our Lord Jesus
Christ. Speaks here that when the evil
was come, verse 16, that they brought unto him many that were
possessed with devils and he cast out the spirits with his
word and healed all that were sick. He healed all that were
sick. We do not read of Him turning
away. We read of Him receiving poor
sinners. We read of sinners rejecting
Him. You see, now when Jesus saw the
great multitude about Him, He gave commandment to depart unto
the other side. And one came to him and said,
a certain scribe came and said unto him, Master, I will follow
thee with us wherever thou goest. Now look at the answer of Jesus. He was reminding him that it
will cost him something to follow him. Jesus saith unto him, the foxes
are holes, The birds of the air have nests, but the son of man
has not where to lay his head. It will cost you something to
follow Jesus Christ. And then in this last part of
the chapter, probably one of the most remarkable, when he
was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes,
they met him too possessed with devils. What is often called
the mad Gadarene, exceeding fierce, it says here. And they cried
out saying, what have we to do with thee? This is the devil
speaking through these men. What have we to do with thee,
Jesus, thou son of God? We read in James, the devils
believe and tremble. What have we to do with thee,
Jesus, thou son of God? Art thou come hither to torment
us before the time? There was a good way off from
them and heard of many swine feeding. So the devils besought
him. We have a dialogue between the
devils and Christ. What do we see? The sovereign
power of Jesus Christ. These devils, they could not
do anything to this man. They in actual fact could not
do anything except what Jesus permitted them to do. So the
devils besought him saying, if they'll cast us out, suffer us
to go away into the herd of swine. And he said unto them, go. They
couldn't go until he said so. And they couldn't go where they
wanted to go. They had to go where he permitted
them to go. He's the almighty King of Kings
and the Lord of Lords. What manner of man is this? And when they were come out,
they went into the herd of swine and behold the whole herd of
swine ran violently down into a steep place into the sea. In
Mark's gospel it says there were 2,000 swine. Now what those devils
were trying to do was destroy that man. Cutting himself, running
among the tombs, like a madman he was. But they couldn't. Why couldn't
they? Because he was loved with an everlasting love. And the
time had come when he was to be delivered from those devils
that were within him. And we read in Mark's Gospel
that when they came out from the city, they found the man
sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right Oh,
the wonderful power. The devil's cast out. The powers
of Satan brought to nothing. A poor sinner saved by the eternal
grace of God in Jesus Christ. What manner of man is this that
even the winds and the sea obey him? Oh, remember, poor sinner,
the words of Jesus. Maybe we have some poor, helpless
sinners here this morning. Come unto me, all ye that labour
and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon
you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and
ye shall find rest for your souls. May the Lord add his blessing. Let us now sing together hymn
number 770, the tune is Augustine number 3. The God that rules on high and
thunders when he please, that rides upon the stormy sky and
manages the seas, hymn 770, tune Augustine number three. O come, Thou King of glory, O
come, Thou King of glory, O come, Thou King of glory, O come, Thou King of glory,
O come, Thou King of glory, O come, Thou King of glory, O come, Thou King of
glory, O come, Thou King of glory, O come, Thou King of glory, O come, Thou King of
glory, O come, Thou King of glory, O come, Thou King of glory, O come, Thou King
of glory, O come, Thou King of glory, O come, Thou King of glory, O
come, Thou King of glory, O come, Thou King of glory, O come, Thou King of glory, O come, Thou
King of glory, O come, Thou King of glory, O come, Thou King of glory, O
come, Thou King of glory, O come, Thou King of glory, O come, Thou King of glory, O come, Thou
King of This all for God is ours, Our
Father and His Son. He shall send for you, sending
us to carry us above. There shall we see His face,
And hear from Him the sin, And from the rivers of His race 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. Amen.