It's our service this afternoon
by singing a part of hymn number 254. The tune is Laudati Dominum,
number 910. I'll read the first two verses
and we'll commence singing at verse three. The fear of the Lord our days
will prolong. In trouble afford a confident
strong. Will keep us from sinning. will
prosper our ways and is the beginning of wisdom and grace. The fear
of the Lord preserves us from death, enforces his word, enlivens
our faith, it regulates passion and helps us to quell the dread
of damnation and terrors of hell. From verse 3, hymn number 254,
tune Ludate Dominum, Number 910. O'er all the world his standards
enter, How treacherous, how reckless! The first of His people, by which
we resist, How they shunned the Lord, our Devotee Christ. ? Good King of the Lord ? ? This
we ever do ? ? Blessed among all ? ? That is
as He was ? ? And on those happy hills ? ? His trumpets they stride
? ? The God of Israel ? ? The God of Israel mine ? ? The Lord is goodly and meek ?
? The lowly will move ? ? The good Lord will see ? ? The lowly
will fear ? the truth of this earth. All hail, hail to thee, heaven's
dearest saviour. O hear our prayer, O hear our
prayer, O hear our prayer, Jesus Christ, the Lord, is my assistance. When I distress Thee, Lord, hear
my prayer. ? In nobler solstice ? ? Than death
itself should be ? ? The fear of my home ? ? Hath thus now
become ? Thy praise, Lord, be exalted to Thee, and be glorified
in the world to Christ. ? It gives hope to the aching ?
? And comfort to the sleep ? ? The fear of the Lord ? ? Now is that
she hears ? ? Fish are good to school ? ? And
shepherds their sheep ? ? And by a little help ? ? They run
and they're caught ? Let us read together from the
Holy Word of God in the Gospel of John, reading chapter 15.
The Gospel of John, reading chapter 15. John chapter 15. I am the true vine, and my father
is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth
not fruit, he taketh away. And every branch that beareth
fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now
ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit
of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye except
ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches,
he that abideth in me and I in him, the same bringeth forth
much fruit, for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide
not in me, he is cast forth as a branch and is withered, and
men gather them and cast them into the fire and they are burned.
If ye abide in me and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what
ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father
glorified, that ye bear much fruit. So shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me,
so have I loved you. Continue ye in my love. If ye
keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love, even as I have
kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These
things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you,
and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, that
ye love one another as I have loved you. Greater love hath
no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call
you not servants, for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth.
But I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard
of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen
me, but I have chosen you and ordained you, that ye should
go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain,
that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he
may give it you. These things I command you, that
ye love one another, If the world hate you, you know that it hated
me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the
world would love his own. But because you are not of the
world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the
world hateth you. Remember the word that I said
unto you, the servant is not greater than his Lord. If they
have persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they have
kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things
will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know
not him that sent thee. If I had not come and spoken
unto them, they had not had sin, but now they have no cloak for
their sin. He that hateth me, hateth my father also. If I had
not done among them the works which none other man did, they
had not had sin, but now have they both seen and hated both
me. and my Father. But this cometh
to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written
in their law. They hated me without a cause.
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from
the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from
the Father, he shall testify of me. And ye also shall bear
witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. May
the Lord bless his holy word unto us and help us to approach
unto him in prayer. O Lord, as we have entered once
more into thy house this afternoon, Lord, we plead that we might
have come with one desire, one concern, to worship thee. Lord, may Jesus Christ be first,
may he be last, may he be all in all, or that we might have
a sight of thee Hezekiah had, when he went into thy house,
in the year that King Uzziah died, and saw thee high and lifted
up, thy glory filled the house, thy train filled the temple.
And, Lord, he put thy servant in his right place, a man of
unclean lips, and dwelling among a people of unclean lips. And,
Lord, he put thee right in his esteem. And, Lord, thou wast
pleased to have mercy upon him, and to send thy life coal from
off the heavenly altar, And Lord, as we are found in thy house
this afternoon, what need we have of being put in our right
place? Lord, what need we have of that
recalibration, that reminder? There is but one thing needful.
Why should it profit a man if he should gain the whole world
and lose his soul? Lord, we plead, oh, that we might
lose sight this afternoon of the things this earth. Oh, that
we might, oh Lord, be given a glimpse of thee. that we might know what
one has said, had I a glimpse of thee, my God. Kingdoms and
men would vanish soon, vanish as though I saw them not, as
a dim candle dies at noon. O Lord, that we might behold
thee in the sanctuary to inquire of thy beauty in the holy place. O Lord, we plead that we might
see thy glory. We might see thee more full of
love and grace than we are of sin. Lord, that we might see
thee in thy eternity and in thee infinity which is God. Our Lord,
that we might see in Thee a sufficiency, and find once more the eternal
God, our refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. Lord,
we plead that Thou wouldst empty us of self. O Lord, that we would
bring into Thy house the cares, the concerns of this life, the
things that are passing away. Lord, the pride of life, the
lust of the flesh, all our unbelieving fears, Lord, Oh, we plead that
thou would wash us truly from our iniquities. Bring us, Lord,
once more a mourner over our sin and a mourner after Jesus
Christ. Oh, that we might be seeking
once more that fountain open for sin and for uncleanness and
that precious righteousness, which is the righteousness of
the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Lord, we ask that thou would
bless that which was spoken here this morning, Lord, may thy word
be followed with thy blessing, may it not return unto thee void.
Lord, we come once more and seek this afternoon help in every
part of worship. Lord, teach us now, even now,
how to pray. Lord, we plead, Lord, thou wouldst
give our spirit of prayer in the pew. Lord, that thou wouldst
hear in heaven thy dwelling place and send those answers of peace. Lord, help us to sing thy praise.
May praise truly wait for thee in Zion this afternoon. Ah, Lord,
thou art worthy to be praised, the creator of the heavens and
the earth, the God who sleepeth not nor slumbereth, but is always
the same, faithful to save. Ah, Lord, thou art able to do
exceeding abundantly above what we ask or think. And Lord, thy
love, thy mercy, and thy grace is sparing not thine only begotten
Son, but sending him into this world to suffer and to bleed
and to die on behalf of sinners. Ah, Lord, truly, Oh, we plead
that thou wouldst melt our hearts, break stony hearts this afternoon,
that we might truly glorify thy great and thy most holy name. Lord, that even as we may feel
to sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, Lord, as we
may feel to be inhabitants of the dust, oh, thou wouldst speak
unto us and say, awake and sing. Lord, take off the garments of
mourning and give us that oil, that sweet oil of joy. Oh, we
plead, Lord, that thou wouldst help us to put the crown upon
thy head and the praise that might be unto thee. Be with us,
Lord, as we turn to thy word. Oh, that thou wouldst help us
to rightly divide the word of truth and, Lord, to speak plainly.
Oh, may the natural ear be opened, but, Lord, may the heart be prepared
to receive the word. The power of the application
is thine and thine alone. But, oh, Lord, that the word
this afternoon might be heard with power in the Holy Ghost
and with much assurance, and Lord, that it might produce joy
and peace in believing in the souls of thy people. Lord, we
plead that thou wouldst keep the door of our lips in preaching
the gospel. May we not be left, Lord, to
utter anything which shall cast dishonour on the name of Jesus,
anything, Lord, which shall stumble thy people. But, Lord, we plead
that thou wouldst help us to speak singly to the honour and
the glory of God. Lord, we plead that Thou wouldst
remember each one in the pew this afternoon. Thou knowest,
Lord, how each one's come. We plead that Thou wouldst raise
the downcast, confirm the feeble knees, lift up the arms that
hang down. Lord, Lord, appoint to those
a morning's eye, that joyful tidings of the gospel might be
heard. Lord, we plead that Thou wouldst
instruct us and teach us, give us that desire to grow in grace
and in the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Lord,
we'd ask that thou wouldst correct any of us that may be out of
the way this afternoon, any that may be hurting. Deal gently,
Lord, with thy servants. Oh, we plead, Lord, that thou
wouldst sweetly draw us back, constrain us by thy love. Teach
us, Lord, thy way more perfectly. We'd ask that thou wouldst remember,
Lord, any that are seeking a token from thee, any, Lord, that feel
to be at the ends of the earth, any that have come into thy house
this afternoon, sinners, feeling unworthy to enter it. Oh, but
may that sweet tiding go forth, this man receive his sinners
and eateth with them. Lord, we'd ask that thou wouldst
bless the lifting up of Jesus upon the gospel pole. Oh, to
dying sinners, Lord, any that are found before this afternoon
dead, entrusted in their sins, without knowledge, Lord, of their
need, without knowledge of thee. Oh, we'd ask, Lord, thou wouldst
work salvation here of this afternoon, that the dead might be raised
to life, and, Lord, that the poor might have the gospel preached
unto them. Bless, Lord, the deacons. Uphold
them. Lord, we plead, thou hast given them all needed wisdom
and grace and strength. Lord, we plead thy blessing upon the
dear pastor of this place where he labors, at Heathfield. Lord,
grant him, and thus saith the Lord, may the word be attended
with power. May, Lord, the friends there
know the blessing of the Lord this day. And Lord, he'd ask
that thou wouldst be with him in all his labours, among the
churches, but Lord, especially in his flock here. Oh, that thou
wouldst bless his going out and his coming in among them. And
Lord, that thou wouldst be feeding the flock here with living bread.
And that they might be, Lord, a people well taught of thee.
A people, Lord, whom he can give thanks for, and who he can remember
at the throne of grace. And knowing that they are the
election of God, Lord, we'd ask that thou wouldst bless the Church,
grant them the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. May love
flow from heart to heart. Help them, Lord, to pray for
one another, to bear one another's burdens, to walk together in
love, to exhort, Lord, and instruct one another. Oh, Lord, that thou
wouldst keep them united and be a wall of fire round about
them. And may, Lord, there be that desire yet among the hearts
of the congregation, O Lord, that the voice might be heard,
come near. O ye that fear God, O Lord, tell what he hath done
for my soul. Lord, that the church might be
built up in number, and O Lord, thou wilt build them up in their
most holy faith. Lord, may this church yet be thine, honouring
thy glory in this village. Remember, Lord, those who live
around this place. We plead, O God, it be thy good
pleasure. Lord, thy word might yet go forth
with power. nor the sinners might be converted unto thee. Lord,
we ask that thou wouldst remember thy one true church throughout
the earth, bless thy word to the ends of the earth this day,
wherever thy servants labour, Lord, bless the ministry of the
word. Send forth all more labourers into thy vineyard, raise up pastors
according to thine own heart. Lord, we ask that thou wouldst
be building thy kingdom even this day, gathering sinners unto
thee. Lord, we plead that thou wouldst
have mercy upon thy persecuted people and any found in prison
this day for the sake of the gospel. Oh, visit them, Lord,
with thy salvation. Uphold thy people in the midst
of tribulation. Lord, we'd ask that thou wouldst
prepare us for our end. Oh, be constantly, Lord, reminding
us this is not our home. Here we have no continuity. Oh, may we live, Lord, as strangers
and pilgrims. But may we live, Lord, without
joyful hope, ever looking for the appearing of the Lord the
second time without sin unto salvation. Lord, we'd ask that
Thou wouldst have mercy upon our land. The confusion, Lord,
that abounds, the darkness, gross darkness that covers the people. Our Lord, they have forgotten
Thee. They fail to give Thee thanks. Thou hast given them
over, Lord, to the darkness and deception of their wicked hearts. And Lord, such we would be but
for grace. Oh, we plead, Lord, that that grace, which saves
sinners such as we are, might yet be seen, Lord, in all its
glory in our London nation. Lord, that thou wouldst bless
thy word wherever it's been read this day, though in corrupted
translations, Lord, though by the lips of wicked men and women.
Nevertheless, Lord, thy word, thou hast said, will not return
unto thee void. And Lord, while thy word is yet read in churches
in our land, O Lord, there is hope, and we plead, Lord, all
that thou would yet bless, the power of thy word, to the salvation
of never-dying souls, to the turning of us as a nation again
unto thee. Lord, have mercy especially upon
our king and our royal household, upon our prime minister and his
government. Lord, all that is before them
at this time. Lord, the works of darkness.
but Thou art above men, devils, and sin. Thou holdest the hearts
of all men in Thy hands, and Lord, we plead, all that was
work can overturn, overturn the designs of wicked men. Lord,
that Thou wouldst yet arise for Thy glory's sake, and Lord, that
Thy name might be magnified in our land. Lord, we plead that
Thou wouldst be with us throughout this, Thy day. Help us, Lord,
to truly keep the days unto Thee. Be with us as we seek now, Lord,
to turn to thy word. Bless thy word unto us. Lord,
may we go on our way of rejoicing. Oh, the fullness of mercy there
is in Jesus Christ. Lord, be with us this evening,
those of us who may gather in thy house. Lord, we plead thou
as we help in preaching, help in healing, help in worshiping
thee, Lord at home. Oh, may we not be left, Lord,
to forget that it is thy day. And oh, that thou wouldst help
us, Lord, to truly rest on thy day, and to give thee the honour
and the glory that is due unto thy most holy name. Lord, we
ask that thou wouldst be with us now as we seek to sing thy
praise. Lord, Lord, help us to rejoice in worship, Lord. Lord, that thou hast given us
the liberty to worship, the place to worship. Lord, thy word translate
into our language. Favours, Lord, which so many
in this world do not enjoy. Oh, may we not take them for
granted, but Lord, touch with a sense of our utter unworthiness,
our sin. And yet, Lord, do thy goodness
to us, and gather us together this afternoon in thy hands.
Oh, thou wilt teach us that melodious song. Now, Lord, touch our hearts,
loose our tongues, to sing thy praise. And above all else, Lord,
for Jesus, the first and the last, the Alpha and the Omega,
he who was once dead, but now is alive and is alive forevermore.
Our Lord and our Saviour, our Prophet, our Priest and our King,
the fullness of the Godhead bodily, the revelation of the glory of
Thee, the Eternal Father in the glorious and beautiful face of
Jesus Christ, the Blessed Spirit, the Comforter. O Lord, that we
might truly rejoice in Thee, our Great God, our One God, our
Eternal God, our Hope and our All. We'd ask it with the forgiveness
of our every sin, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. Continue our service by singing
hymn number 1090, the tune is Spencer's number 416. Prisoners
of hope, to Jesus' turn, he's a stronghold
ordained for you. Gird up your loins and cease
to mourn, and to the Lamb your way pursue. Though fast in Sinai's
fetters bound, held in the deepest bondage there, yet tis the gospel's
joyful sound, sinners to this stronghold repair. In 1090, June
Spencer's number Jesus Christ, in Jesus' blood,
leads us to hope, and faith, for you. ? When my father turns his head
around ? ? Oh, do you remember the way he promised you? ? ? Let us rejoice in heaven's love
? ? And in the gift that you've given us ? ? Let it ever ? See us, see us on the river ?
? Tell me, tell me, tell us, tell us, tell us, tell us ? With my worries I've come to
rise My caretakers are so gracious ? Behold the Son of God ? ? Son
of God ? ? Stand in the evening of the night ? ? By thy salvation
to obtain ? ? Sing o'er the land of joy and delight ? I'll be a child of Cambridge
safe. This may not all go the same
way round. Just in this week of New Year's
Eve, We praise your heavenly saints above, The Lord would help me this afternoon
and grant you prayer for attention. I'll direct you to a text you'll
find in the portion of God's Word read, the Gospel of John
chapter 15. I'm reading again from the ninth
verse. The Gospel of John, chapter 15,
and reading again from the ninth verse. As the Father hath loved
me, so have I loved you. Continue ye in my love. If ye
keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love, even as I have
kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These
things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you,
and that your joy might be full. The gospel of John chapter 15,
reading from the ninth verse, as a father has loved me, so
have I loved you, continue ye in my love. If you keep my commandments,
you shall abide in my love. Even as I have kept my father's
commandments and abide in his love, these things have I spoken
unto you, that my joy might remain in you and that your joy might
be full. Our text this afternoon is taken
from the discourse, the sermon of the Lord Jesus Christ in the
upper room to his disciples as he is about to go to the cross
at Calvary. And it has often been called
the inner sanctuary. As the Lord Jesus Christ teaches
his disciples firstly of what is going to happen, that he is
going to go to the cross, that he is going to be betrayed. And
he gives them that glorious message in the face of that those solemn
tidings, that it shall be well with them, that though he goes
from them, yet he is sent in another comforter, and that the
end, the end of salvation is still in sight, that he goes
to repair a place for them, and to bring them at last unto himself
the way he is, there they may also be in glory. But ultimately,
in the 17th chapter of John, in the prayer of the Lord Jesus
Christ, that sacred prayer, the Lord's prayer, which we are given
an opening into and has been recorded for us. Jesus brings his disciples to
the very heart of salvation. In the third verse, he says,
this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true
God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. Friends, if you want to know
in a simple sentence what it is to be saved, it is to be brought
to know God. And by nature, we are sinners. And by nature we are false, by
nature we are ignorant. The carnal mind receiveth not
the things of God. We can't even begin to understand
God and we have no desire to know God. And no desire to be
led into that glorious mystery, the mystery of godliness, the
mystery of God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. But this is salvation,
that He has sent His only begotten Son, the Lord and Savior, Jesus
Christ, into this world to die for sinners. But our friends,
ultimately, that death is the greatest revelation of who God
is, of who God is, that we might know God and Jesus Christ to
be a saint. This is life eternal, you see.
Oh, to have our hearts open to this truth, to have our eyes
opened, to behold in the face of Jesus Christ the glory of
God. Lord, you know God this afternoon.
Ah friends, have you ever had a revelation of God in the face
of Jesus Christ? Can you say, I know in whom I
have believed? And I'm persuaded that he is
able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that
day. Well friends, that is the glory of the upper room. Jesus
in his sermon to his disciples, he brings us into the mystery
of who God is. He reveals God in his preaching
to his disciples that they might know him. and that knowing him
they might have eternal life. And that is where we must come
first in our text this afternoon. What our text tells us about
God. As the father hath loved me,
so have I loved you. The apostle John in writing his
epistles tells us God is love. God is love. And yet friends,
what does that mean? How can we ever understand the
love that is in God? How can we ever understand what
it means that God is love, well, Jesus tells us here. Oh, we are
led a little into that mystery by his love to us. As the Father
hath loved me, that is, as the Father hath loved the Son, that's
God. God, the triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Our friends,
an undivided Godhead. One essence, one substance, not
divided. the whole of God the Father,
the whole of God the Son, and the whole of God the Holy Spirit. One God, three glorious persons
forevermore. And the mystery of the relationship
between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, that's what we have in
our text here, as the Father hath loved me. Friends, this
is to us by nature an abstract concept. We cannot begin to understand
the love that is in God. But God has been pleased to bring
his people to taste of love, to taste of saving love, to taste
of divine love in the person and work of the Lord and Saviour,
Jesus Christ. As the Father hath loved me,
so have I loved you. Oh, friends, do you know anything
of this love this afternoon, the love of Jesus Christ as sinners? the love of the eternal God to
sinners. He who is the only begotten of
the Father, full of grace and truth. Oh, the Word made flesh,
the Word which was in the beginning, was with God and was God, and
was made flesh and dwelt among us. And we beheld his glory,
the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace
and truth. Now you see, friends, the one that speaks in our text,
he's a real man, a real man. Ah, friends, he loved his people
while he was here upon this earth. But he is almighty God. He is
the eternal Son of God, the co-equal, co-eternal with the Father. And
as the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you. Oh, friends,
what can we say of this love this afternoon? Well, the Word
of God tells us that the love of Jesus is to his people. Ah, friends, it is love without
measure. Love without measure. The apostle says in writing to
the Corinthians, for you know the grace, and we could put in
there love. Our friends, love is bound up
in grace, mercy bound up in grace, the goodness of God bound up
in that grace. The measure of it is this, that
though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye
through his poverty might be made rich. Our friends, he was
the eternal son of God, He was there with the Father, in the
bosom of the Father, before the foundation of the world, the
creator of the heavens and the earth, the sustainer of the universe. But as the apostle Paul so beautifully
speaks of him in Philippians chapter two, let this mind be
in you, which is also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form
of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made
himself of no reputation. Now, friends, do not think that
The apostle is saying that the eternal son is any less than
the eternal father. Noah being equal or being one
with God, but he did not see that as a reason why he should
make himself of no reputation. He did not see that as a reason
why he should leave his glory or leave his radiant throne on
high to come into this world to save sinners. He made himself
of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant and
was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as
a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even
the death of the cross. For your sakes, he became poor."
Oh, friends, what poverty, what poverty. He was born of the Virgin
Mary, made of a woman, made under the law. Oh, friends, what a
stoop that was. that the eternal God who fills
the heavens, our friends, he who is the eternal God, infinite,
the unknown, all that he should come, that eternity should come
into time, our friends, that infinity should appear finite,
that strength, eternal strength should appear weak. He should
be found in fashion as a man. Our friends, even the incarnation,
In its very essence, what humility, what depth of condescension.
Ah, friends, this is love. This is love. All for love's
sake, became He man. He humbled Himself. But then,
friends, He became our sin bearer. Oh, He who is holy, harmless,
undefiled, separate from sinners, made higher than the heavens,
He who knew no sin, made sin for us. Oh, tempted in all points
like as we are, yet without sin. Our friends see him there in
the wilderness, tempted 40 days. Our friends, what a place he
had to come to. God, tempted by the devil who he had created. Tempted 40 days. Our friends,
he goes to the cross as our sin bearer there in the garden of
Gethsemane, sweating as it were, great drops of blood. We read
that God, Almighty God, sent an angel to strengthen him. Our
friends, he who had created the angels, strengthened by an angel
in his weakness. Our friends, in his sufferings,
in his sin bearing. And there upon the cross at Calvary,
our friends, the light of the world in darkness. Oh, he who
has ever enjoyed the communion of his father, one with his father,
But that great mystery, my God, my God, of why a self-forsaken
me. He who is the water of life,
who had stood only a few days earlier in that high point of
the temple and cried, if any man thirsts, let him come unto
me and drink. And yet we read there, that upon
the cross of Calvary he cries, I thirst. Our friends are just
for the unjust. And he who has come, it pleased
the Father that he should have life. He who was life, in him
was life. And that life was the light of
the world, we read. Ah, friends, the eternal life,
the life, the only self-existent life, the only self-existent
being. And yet there upon the cross
at Calvary, oh, eternal life swallows up death. The Lord of
glory dies. Ah, friends, What a depth, what
a depth. Why? Why? Because I have loved
you. Or because I have loved you.
Jesus, knowing that that time was shortly to come, we read,
the feast of the passer, when Jesus knew that his hour was
come, that he should depart out of this world unto the Father,
having loved his own, which were in the world, he loved them unto
the end. Our friends, why? Why was he
found dying upon the cross at Calvary? Why was he found stooping
down in such wretchedness to dust? Why was he so willing? Why was
he so ready that he sets his face aflint to go unto Jerusalem?
He gives his aback to the smiters and his cheeks to them that pluck
off his hair, as a lamb before his shearers is dumb, so he opened
not his mouth. No, no resistance, willingly.
willingness, a willing servant, his ear bored through because
he loved his master and because he loved the wife that the master
had given him. Oh, how willing was Jesus to die that we fellow
sinners might live. And our friends, what was the
center of that willingness? What was the ground of that willingness?
What was the reason for that willingness? It was this. Oh,
I've loved my father and I've loved you, my people. Our friends, there's a willingness,
you see. Loved his master. I came not to do my own will,
but the will of him that sent thee. And our friends, he loved
the father. The father loved him, as the
father hath loved me. And he loved his people. He loved
the wife, the bride, that his father had given unto him, that
his master had given unto him. As we find it in the law, in
Exodus chapter 21, the law of the willing servant. And because
of love, He goes to the cross because he loved. He suffers,
bleeds, and dies for his people. Our friends, this is love. As
the hymn writer asked that question, what is love? My soul would ponder.
Our friends, naught deserves the endearing name, but the love
of Christ the Savior. Oh, whose dear love's a constant
flame. Now, friends, do you know anything
of this love this afternoon? Has the love of Christ ever filled
your heart? Now, friends, the love of Christ,
His love to you, that's where we must begin. Oh, the Apostle
John is quite clear in writing to his epistle, in his epistles,
we only love Christ because He first loved us. Now, friends,
what do you know of the love of Christ? Not love to Him. for a moment,
but love that comes from him. Ah, friends, that love that brought
him from the skies for you, that love that took him to the cross
for you. Oh, friends, that love to you that he bears with you
patiently, despite all your wonderings. Ah, perverse and foolish oft
you stray, yet in love he seeks you, and on his shoulders gently
lays, and home rejoicing brings you. Ah, friends, do you ever
found your heart melted at a sense of the love of God in Jesus Christ
to you, the love of Christ to you, a poor sinner. I have loved
you. I have loved you. Ah, friends, that love, yes,
that love will have a certain effect. It will kindle love in
your heart to him. It will kindle love in your heart
to his people. Now, friends, you see at the
center of our text this afternoon is union and communion. The union
and communion there is in God between Father, Son, and Holy
Ghost. As a father, I'd love me. And
the union and communion between Christ and his church, between
the head and the body, and therefore between the head and the members,
between the members and the head, and between each member with
one another. John says, we know that we pass
from death unto life because we Love the brethren. Now, friends,
if it's a question with you this afternoon is Jesus loved you? Now, have you ever known anything
about love upon the cross at Calvary? Have you ever known
anything about love that brought him from the skies? Now, friends,
it kindled. Is that a sacred fire of love
kindled in your heart? Love to the Lord Jesus. Love
to his ways. Now, friends, it kindled a love
towards his people. Can you say Yes, I know that
I pass from death unto life because I love the brethren. Now, friends,
once you saw no beauty in the Lord's people, you could not
understand them. They were a strange crew to you. You'd rather have
had the friendship and the ways of the world. But now, oh, you
love to meet among them now, though vilest of them all. Can
you bear the piercing thought, what if your name should be left
out when thou for thine shall call? Now, friends, that love,
that love, wherewith he has loved us, that kindles love in our
hearts towards him. Oh, do you know something of
that love this afternoon? Our friends, what can you say
of it? What does the word of God say of it? He says this,
firstly, it is eternal love. Our friends, we have to trace
this love back into eternity past, when Jesus stood surety
for his people, when he stood as their covenant head, now we
were chosen in Christ, Ah, Jesus loved us. Ah, friends, it was
that love that brought him from the skies. He has always loved
his people. His love is without beginning.
Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love. Therefore,
in loving kindness have I drawn thee. Oh, friends, this love,
as we've already read together, John chapter 13, having loved
his own, which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. Ah,
friends, eternal love. Eternal love, this love has no
beginning, it has no ending. No beginning, no ending. Our
friends, this love is infinite. We cannot begin to measure it,
can we? Or the apostle says in writing to the Ephesians, he
bows his knee at the throne of grace. He bows his knee for this
reason, for the Ephesian church that they might know of the, that they might be able to comprehend
with all saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height,
and to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that
ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Ah, friends,
can you say this afternoon, yes, this love, ah, it is without
measure. Oh, it is infinite. Ah, friends, you keep thinking
you're going to get to the end of this love. You're backsliding
to your sins, you think that you must soon fall out of this
love, must get to the end of it. But our friends, you have
to prove he still loves, he still loves. Oh, he does not repent
of his love, he never turns back on his love. Our friends, this
is love that you cannot begin to get to the end of, it is immeasurable,
immeasurable. Oh, the apostle gives those four
dimensions, length, height, depth, breadth. The apostle does not tell us
what they mean, And I've read several who have taken them in
this sense. Ah, friends, that love which
is from everlasting to everlasting, there's one dimension. Ah, friends,
that love which is pleased, oh, to stoop down. The grace of the
Lord Jesus Christ of those rich, yet for our sakes he became poor.
Ah, friends, what depth he stooped to. What depth. Ah, you know,
one has said he must come beneath us. that underneath are the everlasting
arms. Our friends, he must go beyond
us. As we read in Gethsemane, he leaves his disciples and goes
a little further. Our friends, he must redeem us
from all sin, all sin. He went to the end of the law
for the sake of righteousness. Our friends, what depth he stood
to. Oh, he's even found in the grave, the place of corruption. Thou
wilt not leave my soul in hell, nor suffer thine Holy One to
see corruption. There's another dimension. He
is coming from the skies. And our friends, what a dimension
it is to consider where he takes us from and where he takes us
to, that we through his poverty might be made rich. He takes
us as beggars from the dunghill and sets us among princes. He's
raised us up together. to sit together in heavenly places
in the ages to come, though He might reveal unto us the exceeding
glory of His goodness and His grace towards us. Oh, our friends,
what another dimension that is. Father, I will these also whom
Thou hast given me be with me where I am, that He takes us
worms of the earth and gives us a kingdom, a crown, and a
throne. And oh, our friends, the breadth
this love in terms of a number which no man can number, saved
out of every nation, kindred, tribe, and tongue. Now, friends,
you sometimes have to wonder at the fullness of this love
to you, the poor unworthy sinner, but you're only one. You're only
one. But the church of Christ from
Adam's day down to this. Now, friends, yes, as the church
is seen in any one place at any one time, we read of it as being
a very small remnant, except the Lord had left us a very small
remnant would have been a Sodom and Gomorrah. That is how, our friends, unbelief
often dwells upon the church, a very small remnant. But the
Word of God has quite a different view. The number which no man
can number, saved out of every nation, kindred, tribe, and tongue. Our friends, the body of Christ
is a glorious body. It's a large body. The church
is a glorious church, a mighty building. are built into the
honor and the glory of His love. Our friends, what breadth, a
number which no man can number, a definite number. Oh, the Word
of God is quite clear, a definite number. He laid down His life
for His sheep, for those that the Father had given Him, a definite
number. But our friends, don't let unbelief
take away this afternoon from that dimension, a number which
no man can number. are the very worst of sinners,
publicans and sinners. Such is the kingdom of heaven,
sinners saved by grace. Ah, friends, what love, what
love. I have loved you. Oh, you have to marvel at that
love, infinite, infinite love, infinite love. Oh, friends, eternal
love, infinite love. As the Father hath loved me,
so have I loved you. Oh, friends, love which is incomparable. No love like this. No love like
this. Not even the love between parents
and children, not even the love between husband and wife. This
is incomparable love. Oh, the word of God runs out
of words to try and give pictures of this love, illustrations of
this love. Oh, friends, there's no love
like this. Thy love, oh, says the church to Jesus, better than
wine. Ah, friends, it cannot be described. It cannot be fully
entered into. It is incomparable and oh, it
is incomprehensible. Ah, friends, the mystery of this
love. Oh, do you have to still wonder at it? Do you have to
wonder at it? Why me? Why me, oh blessed God? Why such a rich as me? Who must
forever lie in hell and not salvation free? Ah, friends, because he
loved you. Not because of anything he knew,
but because he would love freely. Sovereign love. Our friends,
do you often think of this love? Or do we forget it? Solemnly,
how quickly we turn away from this love and think of many other
things. But oh, that we might say once more this afternoon,
we did tend on such love. My soul still pondered, love
so great, so rich, so free. Say what's lost in holy wonder,
why? Oh Lord, such love to me, hallelujah. Grace shall reign eternally. I have loved you. Well, friends,
do you know something of this love? Do you have to wonder at
it? Do you have to glory in it? Or
do you love to be reminded of it? Do you have to mourn over
how forgetful you are of this love? How little you think of
this love, lift yourself. Ah, friends, are you thankful
to be reminded of it once more this afternoon, though poorly,
but to be reminded of it, the love of Christ to sinners. I have loved you. I have loved
you. Oh, friends, you see, this is
something that's known and felt by the Lord's people in measure. Here we're poor finite creatures.
Our friends, here we still have an old nature. We still carry
about that encumbrance. We cannot fully enter into the
fullness of these things. Our mortal tongues must die,
as the hymn writer puts it, to truly speak. It's only as we come to glory
that we'll fully enter into the mystery of this part of our text
this afternoon, I have loved you. But, O friends, a little
that we know, Which children like we boast. O, can we not
say, Such the sweetness of the streams? What must the fountains
be, Where saints and angels draw their bliss Immediately from
thee? Thy love better than wine, Thou
hast, he has loved us, Even as I, even as I have loved you,
So have I loved you. Oh, do you know something of
this mystery? Well, friends, Jesus says, as the Father hath
loved me, so have I loved you. Oh, you see, friends, this love
is a revelation to us of the love that is in God, the mystery
of God, the love that there is between Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit. Ah, friends, it's not that that
love is undeserved love as it is in our case. There is a difference. But our friends is essentially
the same love, the same love. That is, it is eternal love.
Our friends are Father and the Son ever together. The eternal,
eternally begotten Son of God. Without beginning and without
end. Our friends, what a mystery. But if His love to us was eternal,
the love between Father and Son must be eternal. Our friends,
as soon as we deny the doctrine of the eternal begetting of the
Son of God, as soon as we say the Son has a beginning, then
His love towards us has a beginning. And our friends, if it has a
beginning, oh, what prospect there is that there must also
be an ending. But our friends, He is love to us, you see, without
beginning and without ending. And when we've tasted and loved
it, our friends, it leads us into this mystery. So is the
love between the Father and the Son. Ah, friends, yes, we can't
understand. Ah, we have to gaze and admire
and wonder. The eternal begetting of the
Son of God, but we know that it must be so because that love
that he has towards us is eternal. And as the Father has loved me,
so have I loved you. Ah, friends, infinite love. Oh,
love that cannot be measured, love that we cannot begin to
understand. And ah, friends, what a blessing
that is this afternoon because that's the fountain out of which
we draw. That's the fountain out of which
that love to us proceeds. The love that is in God. Our
friend's perfect love. Love that is infinite, that cannot
be measured. Perhaps I should just try and
emphasize that this afternoon. You know, children, when they
go to school, they very quickly pick up the word infinity. They
very quickly realize that infinity is a number that trumps everything
else. And they very quickly talk about everything being infinity.
Or they boast of their little knowledge, you see. But when
you really speak to your children about what they think infinity
is, they'll tell you that it cannot be measured. And the inference
is that it cannot be measured because you have not got a ruler
long enough or a measuring jug big enough. But our friends,
infinity is not just something that cannot be measured because
there is no way of measuring it. Infinity has no boundaries.
Ah, friends, it has no limits. It has no beginning and no ending. That's the true mystery of the
infinite. Ah, friends, this is boundless
love. This is love that has no limits. Ah, friends, this is
love that has no beginning and no ending. Never think of the
love that Jesus has towards you as having boundaries. Ah, friends,
if it does, it's not a suitable salvation, is it? It leaves you
with a, crack that breaks down your very hope. But our friends,
infinite love, love without boundaries, love that knows no beginning
and no end, love that is utterly immeasurable, not just because
we have no scale to measure it, but because it cannot be measured,
an impossibility to measure it. Our friends, this is God, you
see, this is God. The only true infinite is God.
our infinite God, as the Father hath loved me, so have I loved
you. Oh, friends, another measure
that we perhaps should have spoken of regarding the love of Jesus
Christ to us, but as it just comes to us, we'll bring it in
here, immutable love, unchangeable love. Now, friends, God cannot
change. Is He ever-present now? Change,
which is a factor of time, He knows nothing of. He is the great,
Eternal, the high and lofty one who inhabits eternity, whose
name is holy. Our lives through various scenes
are drawn and vexed with trifling cares, but his eternal thought
moves on, his undisturbed affairs. Our friends, this love knows
no change, no variation, no shadow of turning, always the same. God is, God is love. Not that he was love, not that
he will be love, but he is. Ever constant, ever constant
love. As the Father hath loved me,
so have I loved you. Oh, friends, is this the God
you adore? Is this the God you worship? Is this the God you
want to know more of? Oh, friends, is this the God of whom you can
say, God is my salvation? God is my refuge and strength,
the very present help in time of trouble? God is love. Oh, friends, have you tasted
a little of that love? Experience a little of that love. In the
love of Jesus Christ are you. Ah, friends, what a revelation.
What a revelation of God. Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
and this is life eternal. They should know thee, the only
true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. Ah, friends,
this is where all true religion will bring you, you know. This
is where Holy Ghost religion will bring you. This is where
the teaching of the Holy Spirit will bring you. Now friends,
it will bring you to God, to God. Jesus didn't come into this world
for you to stop at Jesus. Now friends, he came to do his
father's will. He came to glorify his father.
He came to teach us of the father. He came the way unto the father. I am the way, the truth, and
the life. No man cometh unto the father but by me. Now friends,
is this where the Holy Spirit's teaching has brought you this
afternoon to God? and to adore him. Our friends,
he's God, everything. The eternal God by refuge and
underneath the everlasting arms. That's where Jesus, you see,
would bring his disciples in the upper room because he was
going away from them. Our friends, he was gonna go
up into heaven, but you see, he's bringing them to that foundation
which will not be moved. Upon the cross of Calvary, they
behold him die. Our friends, they see him laid
in the grave. Oh, they go away to keep the Sabbath day without
their Lord and Master. He's dead. And their hopes appear
to be dead. Oh, they walked on the road to
Emmaus and were troubled, very cast down. But there was no cause
to be. No cause to be. Our friends in
the upper room, Jesus had laid the foundation for their hope.
He laid the foundation for their comfort. And what was it? Exactly
the same place as David found it. The same place where Luther
found it. As he, I had to return so many
times that glorious song. God, a very present help. The Lord of hosts is with us,
the God of Jacob is our refuge. See you all. Now friends, is
God this afternoon the foundation of your religion? Is he the three-one
God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost? And the love that is in God between
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost? Now friends, that love which
manifests itself in the salvation of sinners, and is made known
unto us in the death of Jesus Christ upon the cross at Calvary,
that love which is imparted to us through the cross, and by
the Holy Spirit into our souls, that as he has loved us, we might
love him. Now, friends, is this your foundation?
Is this all your desire? Is it all your praise this afternoon? As the Father hath loved me,
so have I loved you. Continue ye in my love. Well,
friends, Jesus goes on, you see, to tell them, oh, the need of
continuing in this love, knowing this love is not sufficient,
it is to continue in this love. Oh, friends, what does this mean,
to continue in the love, to dwell upon it, to think upon it, to
go forth in the strength of it, to keep drawing from it? And
that's what the Lord's poor people need to do, isn't it? Oh, as often as we're overtaken
by sin, as often as we find nothing in us, Ah, poor sinners, but
His love, infinite, eternal, unchanging. Now, friends, not
to be compared with the love of man. So, oh, if He loved as
men loved, we'd have no hope. But this is the love of God,
rich and free, fixed on His own eternally. Continue ye in my
love. Now, friends, are you continuing
in the love of God? Are you continuing in the love
of Jesus Christ? How often do you have to plead
this love at the throne of grace? How often do you have to make
this love your only plea? How often do you have to rest
upon this love? To consider this love and to
dwell on this love? Here is something you see that
cannot change. Here is something that cannot
give way. No, everything else may be turned
upside down. may be turned upside down, your
circumstance in providence. Ah, friends, you may be left
without nothing, but if you can say, He's loved me, given himself
for me, then, friends, you've got something which does not
change. And what a sweetness it is to the Lord's people that
they have to continue in this life, go forth in the face of
the unknown, face trouble. Ah, friends, face death in this
life. that cannot let us go, love that
will not let us down, love that has died for us, that has paid
the price due unto us, love that has gone to repair a place for
us and will bring us again to himself, the way he is, there
we may also be. But the continuing in this love,
lest there should be any doubt, Jesus tells us what it is to
continue in this love. If ye keep my commandments, ye
shall abide in my love. The Apostle Paul opens up the
secret here. He says, the love of Christ constraineth
us. The love of Christ constraineth
us. Ah, friends, you see, it's the love of Christ that brings
us to love these commandments. It's the love of Christ that
brings us to want to walk in these commandments, and it's
the love of Christ. Oh, which gives us that sweet willingness,
that gives us that sweet desire, that gives us energy to run in
the way of his commandments. Ah friends, this you see is the
abiding in His love. Oh, you'll find, you know, cut
adrift from this love, forgetful of this love. Ah friends, how
quickly His commandments will become irksome. How quickly they'll
become new law. And you'll prove the letter killeth.
Ah friends, your spiritual life will fall. The things of God,
the things of Godliness will appear to be drudgery to you. Abide in my love. Well, our friends,
you see, the only secret is to be found close to Him, to be
found abiding in this love. That's what Cooper wanted when
he said, over a closer walk with God, a calm, a heavenly frame,
a light to shine upon the road that leads me to the Lamb. Well,
our friends, you have to prove that when the love of Christ
is shed abroad within your soul, then you're willing, then you're
willing. Ah friends, when the love of Christ is shed abroad
in your soul, then your enlarged heart, you know what the Psalmist
said when he said, I will run in the way of thy commandments
when thou dost enlarge my heart. And ah friends, what is it that
enlarges the hearts of the Lord's people? Like a little glimpse,
a little touch, a little drop of the love of Christ to sinners. Oh friends, do you abide in his
love. You found this afternoon keeping
his commandments. This is the manifestation of
the abiding in his love. He doesn't love us because we
keep his commandments. He doesn't love us because of
how well we keep his commandments, how constantly we keep his commandments. Oh blessed be God. If he did
that, we'd never be loved. We'd never be loved. no he loves
us because he would love us but of all friends that love that
love shed abroad in your soul it will bring you into the keeping
of his commandments it will make you go his way and that is the
evidence that you know that love that is the evidence that you're
abiding in that love of all friends to make your call and election
sure that's what the apostle says make your call and election
sure Can I ask you, where are you looking to make your call
to election sure? We were trying this morning at
home to open the first chapter of the first epistle to the Thessalonians.
And the apostle Paul there makes the astounding comment that he
knows that they are the election of God. Knowing brethren, beloved,
your election of God. You know, friends, the Lord's
people can be certain of their election. The Bible does teach
the doctrine of assurance. And the Apostle Paul tells us
quite clearly as to how he knew that the Thessalonians were the
elect of God. He tells us quite clearly how
they were manifest to be the sons of God, how they were manifest
to know something of this love that is in our text this afternoon.
Our friends, what was it in? It wasn't because they came to
him and said they'd had a word from the Lord. Our friends, it
wasn't because of anything they told him. It was because of what
he saw in their life. He says, remembering without
ceasing your work of faith, your labor of love and patience of
hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of God and of our
Father. There you read the fruit of the
Spirit, love, faith, hope. By their fruit she shall know
them. Friends, there he goes on in
the rest of the chapter to open. What is the work of faith? What
is the work of faith? Receiving and living upon the
preach word of God, for our gospel came not unto you in word only,
but also in power, in the Holy Ghost, in much assurance. And
what was the effect? Our friends, they received the
word in much affliction. Oh, they were willing to die
for that which they believed, that which they'd heard preached,
this news of Jesus. Our friends, they went to the
gladiators, they went to the wild beasts in the arena because
the word of God had entered with power into their souls. They
believed it. They were willing to go to death
for it. And I brought joy with joy of the Holy Ghost. Our friends,
the apostle had seen this joy as the people heard the word
gladly, as they received it. It hadn't affected their life.
Our friends, they were a changed people. They turned from God,
from idols to serve the living God. This news had gone out from
Thessalonica, the capital city of Macedonia. It had gone throughout
the whole of the region of Macedonia, the whole of modern northern
Greece and Macedonia. And it had gone through the whole
of Achaia, the south of Greece. The news had spread. People had
said, have you heard of the Thessalonians? They're a changed people. They've
given up their idol worship. They've turned the various Greek
gods and their idols out of their houses. The temples are no longer
visited. They're no longer offering to
them. The offerings, they were known for their love, their care
of one another. They put others first rather
than themselves. They were keeping the Lord's
day. They could not be kept quiet. Our friends, it was noised abroad
throughout the whole region. It came to the ears of the apostle
Paul. He'd seen it with his own eyes
while he was amongst them, but now he heard of it. And our friends,
he'd heard of their patient hope and patience of hope in the Lord
Jesus Christ, waiting for his son from heaven, whom he raised
from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to
come. Now you see friends, the apostle says, I know brethren,
I know that you are the elect. Oh, Paul, how do you know? I
know that you are the elect because I've seen in my own eyes, I've
heard it in my ears, your faith, your love, your hope. Oh, friends,
if you abide in my commandments. Oh, this afternoon, is there
any faith, hope, love in your life? Oh, friends, have you received
the word gladly? Has there been that change in
your life? Have you turned from idols to serve the living God?
Now, friends, has the fear of death been taken away? Have you
got a glorious hope beyond the grave? Now, friends, it's an
evidence, you see, the love of God should have brought in your
soul by the Holy Ghost, that you know the love of Christ,
that He died for you. Now, friends, that the Father
loved you in eternity past and elected you and put you in Christ. You see friends, that's how we're
to make our call and election sure. The Apostle John says the
same if you read his epistles. He speaks of love to the brethren,
he speaks of separation from the world and he says by these
things we assure ourselves. Friends, the ground for assurance
you see. The evidence of the love of Christ, the evidence
of abiding in that love of Christ is the keeping of his commandments. Continue ye in my love, if ye
keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love, even as I have
kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. Our friends,
Jesus said he loved the Father, but it wasn't just empty words,
was it? All through the ministry of Jesus, he testified he came
not to do his own will, but the will of him that sent him. He
came forth from the Father. Our friends, he testified that
he loved his Father. And the father testified that
he loved the son. This is my beloved son, in whom
I'm well pleased, he said at his baptism. This is my beloved
son, hear ye him, upon the Mount of Transfiguration. Now you see,
friends, Jesus evidenced who he was. Jesus evidenced who he'd
come from. Jesus evidenced that he loved
his father by the commandments that he did, the work that he
did. The cross at Calvary is the greatest evidence of who
Jesus Christ is, that He is the Son of God, that He came to do
the will of the Father, to lay down His life for His sheep,
and that He did it willingly. He did it obediently, and He
did it firstly in love to His Father. Now, friends, where is
the evidence in our lives that we know something of the love
that is in our text, I have loved you? We love Him because He first
loved us. Or is there any evidence that
we abide in that love, as we keep his commandments? Are we
known as being disciples of Jesus Christ? Are we known as being
those for whom Jesus laid down his life? Because it is seen
in our life, ah, this man has been with Jesus. This woman has
been with Jesus. This child has been with Jesus.
Their world, their life is changed. After this, their worldview is
different. They're no longer followers of men. but they are
followers of the despised Nazarene, followers of Jesus of Nazareth,
one of his disciples. If you keep my commandments,
you shall abide in my love. Now, our friends, when we fail
to keep his commandments, we do not lose his love. Now, his
love is, as we've said, infinite. His love, as we've said, is immutable,
unchangeable. But our friends, we cannot expect
to be tasted of his love. We cannot expect to know the
comfort of his love this afternoon. We cannot expect our friends
to find that love shed abroad within our soul, fearingly, in
our experience, when we found being disobedient to his commandments.
I would just speak gently for a moment, but our friends, I
feel it's a big misconception in our churches. Is there one
here this afternoon that views the command of baptism but says,
I need the love of Christ we should have brought in my soul
in some particular measure. You want some token of his love
before you go forward. Friends, you see, he says, if
you keep my commandments, you should abide in my love. Well, friends, you know, sometimes
we have to prove it's in the keeping of his commandments.
He's pleased to reveal his love to us. And if we're being disobedient
this afternoon to his command, Our friends, if we're putting
his command off and restraining, because we demanded something
from him, where is the love of Christ within us? Oh, if ye keep
my commandments, ye shall abide in my love. Our friends, keep
his commandments. Keep his commandments. Oh, you
see, it's in John elsewhere too. A very similar line of thought
I don't know whether I can just turn to it, I think you'll find
it in the eighth chapter, if I remember rightly, where Jesus
speaks concerning the light and walking in the light. Verse 12 of chapter eight, then
speak Jesus again unto them saying, I am the light of the world.
He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have
the light of life. Are you saying you'll only follow
him when he shows you the light? He says, if you follow me, you
will not walk in darkness. Venture on him. That's where
the poor soul has to be brought to, to venture on him. Venture
wholly. Let no other trust intrude. We
walk by faith and not by sight. He has said, if you follow me,
you will not be in darkness. If you follow me, you will not
be in darkness. He that keepeth my commandments
shall abide in my love, shall know my love, shall have my love
shed abroad within your heart in the keeping of the commandments.
Friends, don't put demands that we are not given grounds for
in the word of God. Friends, venture alone upon the
word. He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness. If ye keep
my commandments, ye shall abide in my love. even as I've kept
my father's commandments and abide in his love. These things
I've spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you and that
your joy might be full." Now, friends, Jesus speaks in love,
doesn't he? Jesus wants one thing, he says.
All that he's spoken in these verses is to one end, that you
might have joy, that you might have joy. Now something else
that I find that's come into our church is very false teaching. Our friends, as though joy is
something that is alien to the Christian life, that we need
to almost stamp out any joy within the Christian life. We should
always have our heads hung low. Our friends, we should always
have sorrow imprinted upon our face. But Jesus expresses here
his disciples, his desire for his disciples is that they might
have joy. They might have joy. And not only that they might
have joy, but that your joy might be full. Your joy might be full. Now you see friends, if the problem
is that you're looking for the joy of this world and you're
looking for the fulfilling of that joy, then that is not the
joy that God speaks, that Jesus speaks of here. Now friends,
this joy is the joy that springs from the knowledge of God. This
joy is the joy that springs from knowledge. the love of Christ
shed abroad within your soul. But ah, friends, if the love
of Christ is shed abroad in your soul, ah, if you're given a sweet
entrance into that love, that great love wherewith he has loved
you, then your joy will be full. And oh, friends, what joy it
is. What joy it is, joy and peace in believing, as the apostle
speaks. And again, we had it in those
verses that we just read to you from one Thessalonians. When
the word of God came in power, And in the Holy Ghost, in much
assurance, with joy, verse six of 1 Thessalonians, with that
word, having received the word in much affliction, with joy
of the Holy Ghost. Our friends, there they joyed,
you see. Their joy was full. In the midst of the fire, their
joy was full. As they faced the gladiators, as they faced the
wild beasts, as they faced crucifixion and whatever other terrible deaths
awaited them, but their joy was full. or because the love of
God was shed abroad in their soul by the Holy Ghost. Now that's
what the Apostle speaks of again, doesn't he, in the fifth chapter
of the Romans. Again, that's one of Paul's glorious
chains of reasoning, not only so, but we glory in tribulations
also. Knowing the tribulation work
is patience and patience experience, and experience hope and hope
make it not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad
in your hearts by the Holy Ghost. which is given unto us, that's
joy. Our friends, that's full joy. That's joy unmixed, that's
joy that flows over, joy that cannot be measured. Our friends,
do you know anything about joy this afternoon? Have you ever
joyed in Jesus Christ? Have you ever rejoiced in him?
Have you ever known what it was with John Warburton to go behind
the hedge and dance? Or with Rabbi Duncan to dance
for joy on the brigadier? Ah, friends, has your heart ever
been filled with joy and peace in believing? Ah, that's the
love of Christ shed abroad in the soul. Ah, friends, these
things are rare. Why are they rare? Because we
do not abide in his commandments. Is that the reason? Oh, friends,
search yourself this afternoon. Are we abiding in his commandments?
How little we, I feel I know of this love. Ah, friends, how
little I feel I know of this joy. But Jesus tells us that
he has loved us. As the Father has loved me, so
have I loved you. Continue ye in my love. Oh, he's
told us this, that we might have joy, that our joy might be full. As the Father has loved me, so
have I loved you. Continue ye in my love. If ye
keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love, even as I have
kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These
things have I spoken unto you that my joy might remain in you,
that your joy might be full. Oh, friends, that the Holy Spirit
might be pleased to touch one another's hearts here this afternoon
with the love of Christ, that we might be led into that mystery
of God, that we might know the constrained influence of that
love, that our walk might be close with God, that our frame
might be calm and serene, filled with this joy and peace, and
oh, that we may be enabled to rest in this love, to rest in
this loving life, to rest in this loving death, and to prove
hereafter the fullness of this love in eternal mystery and the
source of full joy in heaven above forever and forever, amen. I conclude our service this afternoon
by singing hymn number 346. The tune is Auburn, number 734. A sovereign protector I have, unseen
yet forever at hand. Unchangeably faithful to save,
almighty to rule and to command. He smiles and my comforts abound. His grace as the dew shall descend,
And walls of salvation surround the soul He delights to defend. Hymn number 346, tune Auburn,
number 734. Just like we waited for our love
Until it would ever come O change your gloomy mood to
say Almighty King, you have come His Son, the Lord, the Most High,
His Presence that you should discern, ? Thou port of salvation
o'er earth ? ? Where souls may be light-filled in heav'n ? ?
Glory of the Lord ? O my God, O my God, O my God, My God, again is all set up,
and all the world has helped me to love. O'er the years of the years of
the past, when in my defense thou hast stood, Lord, forgive all that's been
amiss in the worship of thy house here this afternoon. Bless, Lord,
thy word O, we plead that we might know that love shed abroad
within our souls by the Holy Ghost. Lord, help us to abide
in thy commandments, and all that our joy might be full. Part
us, Lord, with thy blessing, grant journey and mercies. Be
with us, Lord, throughout the remainder of this thy day. O,
may it be, Lord, thy day, the best day of the week, and a foretaste
of that rest that remaineth for the people of God. Be with us,
Lord, to the end. Be with us in death. O, may we
prove death's followed up in victory. And Lord, may we be
found patient in hope for that glorious resurrection. Forgive
us our every sin, we'd ask it all for Jesus Christ's sake.
Now may the grace of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the
love of God the Father, the fellowship and the communion of the Holy
Spirit, rest and abide with us each, both now and for evermore. Amen.