The notices for the coming week
are God willing as follows. The pastor will preach here next
Lord's Day at 10.30 and two o'clock, also on Thursday evening at seven
o'clock. And there will be a prayer meeting
here on Tuesday evening at seven o'clock. Let us commence our services
today by singing together hymn number 35. The tune is Moscow.
526. Come thou almighty King, help
us thy name to sing, help us to praise, Father all-glorious,
all-victorious, come and reign over us, ancient of days. Hymn number 35 to Moscow, 526. Come Thou Almighty King, help
us Thy Name to sing, help us to praise. Father all-glorious, All, all-victorious,
Come and reign over us Ancient of days. Jesus, our Lord, our Light, Setter
our enemies, and make them whole. Class of 1998, as your defense
we lay, as souls on thee we slay, Lord, we reckon. ? Come thou in pouring rain ? ?
Let all thy mighty swords ? ? At rest attend thee ? ? Come where
my people rest ? ? Where gives my gladness success ? ? Spirit
of holiness ? ? On us descend ? Come, holy Comforter, Thy sacred
witness bear, In this banner ? Ever-almighty God ? ? Now room
in every heart ? ? Heaven and earth ? ? Close before ? ? Spirit
of God ? To the great dreaming tree Eternal praises be Answer
the call This our great baptism, may we
in glory sing, and to eternity Let us read together from the
Holy Word of God in the Book of Psalms, reading Psalms 110
through to 113. Psalms 110 through to 113. The Lord said unto my Lord, sit
thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion. Rule
thou in the midst of thine enemies. Thy people shall be willing in
the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness, from the
womb of the morning thou hast the due of thy youth. The Lord hath sworn and will
not repent. Thou art a priest for ever after
the order of Melchizedek. The Lord at thy right hand shall
stroke through kings in the day of his wrath. He shall judge
among the heathen. He shall fill the places with
the dead bodies. He shall wound the heads over
many countries. He shall drink of the brook in
the way, therefore shall he lift up the head. Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my
whole heart in the assembly of the upright, in the congregation. The works of the Lord are great,
sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. His work is
honourable and glorious. and his righteousness endureth
forever. He hath made his wonderful works
to be remembered. The Lord is gracious and full
of compassion. He hath given meat unto them
that fear him. He will ever be mindful of his
covenant. He hath showed his people the
power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the
heathen. The works of his hands are verity
and judgment, and all his commandments are sure. They stand fast forever
and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness. He sent redemption
unto his people. He hath commanded his covenant
forever. Holy and reverend is his name.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. A good understanding
have all they that do his commandments. His praise endureth forever. Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is
the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his
commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon
earth. The generation of the upright
shall be blessed. Wealth and riches shall be in
his house, and his righteousness endureth forever. Unto the upright
there arises light in the darkness. He is gracious and full of compassion
and righteous. A good man showeth favour and
lendeth. He will guide his affairs with
discretion. Surely he shall not be moved
forever. The righteous shall be in everlasting
remembrance. He shall not be afraid of evil
tidings. His heart is fixed, trusting
in the Lord. His heart is established. He
shall not be afraid until he see his desire upon his enemies. he hath dispersed, he hath given
to the poor, his righteousness endureth forever, his horn shall
be exalted with honour. The wicked shall see it and be
grieved, he shall gnash with his teeth and melt away, the
desire of the wicked shall perish. Praise ye the Lord, Praise, O
ye servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. Blessed
be the name of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. From the rising of the sun unto
the going down of the same, the Lord's name is to be praised.
The Lord is high above all nations and his glory above the heavens.
who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high, who
humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven and
in the earth. He raiseth up the poor out of
the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill, that he
may set him with princes, even the princes of his people. He
maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother
of children. Praise ye the Lord. May the Lord bless the reading
of his own precious word and grant unto us a spirit of real
prayer. Holy, holy, holy Lord, we bow
before thy glorious majesty, Thou art in heaven and we upon
earth, and thy word advises us, therefore, let thy words be few,
for in the multitude of words are wanted not iniquity. And
as we seek to bow before thy holy majesty, as we've read in
thy word, holy and reverend is his name, we do pray that thou
would give us that due solemnity on our spirits. And Lord, a spirit
of reverence that the holiness of God and that we meet in his
house and around his word to worship thee. We pray that we
may worship thee in spirit and in truth. We pray for the quickening
power the divine operation of the Spirit of God, hear the prayers
in our opening hymn. We do humbly pray thee that the
Spirit of power may descend upon us, that the Lord Jesus may stand
in our midst, that we may feel the divine drawings of our Heavenly
Father, drawing us unto his best beloved Son, even our Lord Jesus
Christ. My God, my Father, blissful name,
O may I call thee mine. We pray, Lord, that we might
know experimentally in our hearts this day as we gather together,
for God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts,
crying, Abba, Father. Lord, what a wonderful, sacred
privilege beyond O Lord, our comprehension that we have a
heavenly Father, that we have brothers and sisters in Christ,
and that we love each other. And Lord, we pray that we may
show that love one to another and that we may walk in love. We pray to be delivered from
the works of the flesh, from the corruptions of our nature, which, Lord, are often very evident,
they are to us, when we feel the deep inward corruption of
our hearts, and when we would do good, then evil is present
with us. And that which I would, I do not. Gracious God, we do
pray to be delivered from sin and from its power. We pray,
most blessed Spirit of truth, that thou wouldst work precious
faith in each one of our hearts. Faith to lay hold of Jesus Christ,
faith to look to him alone, faith to touch the hem of his garment,
faith to draw near. O Lord, grant us these things
and especially be with us today on this thy holy day. We thank
thee for thy day, this day set apart for divine worship. thank thee for thy loving kindness.
We thank thee for thy word. This is the word by which the
gospel is preached unto us. And Lord, what a glory we see
in thy word, and what a glory we see in thy creation. Oh, that
we may behold thy glory in the face of Jesus Christ. We do humbly
beseech thee. For God, who commanded the light
to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts with the
light of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. And
we do thank thee that for the glorious person of our Lord Jesus
Christ, we thank thee for that profound mystery of God manifest
in the flesh. We thank thee that he was made
of a woman made under the law that he might redeem them that
are under the law We thank Thee that He, in His glorious person
of God manifest in the flesh, has fulfilled and honoured and
magnified that holy righteous law which was against us. O most gracious Lord, for we
all have sinned and come short of Thy glory. We've all broken
Thy holy law and Thy righteous commandment. Our Lord Jesus Christ
has fulfilled them and honoured them. When we think of those
wonderful words of grace, I come not to destroy the law, but to
fulfil it. And we thank thee, Lord Jesus,
that thou hast done that. And in fulfilling that holy righteous
law, as a man here upon earth, thou hast brought in everlasting
righteousness. And we desire to render praise
and thanksgiving and adoration unto thee for the glorious everlasting
robe of thy righteousness. We thank thee for Calvary, where
the Lamb was slain, where sin was put away, where divine justice
was satisfied, where God and sinners are reconciled, where
peace is made betwixt God and man. O gracious God, we would
enter thy gates with praise and with the voice of thanksgiving
for the glories of our Lord Jesus Christ, our great Redeemer, our
almighty Saviour, who is able to save to the uttermost all
that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth. We thank thee
that he died for our sins and rose again for our justification. and is now bodily ascended into
heaven and made a new and living way into the holy place. Lord,
we bless Thee that Thou didst so love the world. Our Heavenly
Father so loved the world. He gave His only begotten Son
that whosoever believeth in Him shall be saved. O most gracious
God, may our hearts be warmed and softened are under the thought
of thy wonderful and the greatness of thy mercy. Great is the Lord
and greatly to be praised and his greatness is unsearchable. We thank thee that we have a
great high priest sitting at thy right hand. Tis he instead
of me is seen when I approach to God. And oh Lord, we do pray
that thou would remember us here as a church and as a congregation,
that thou would richly bless us. Remember our brethren, the
deacons, and graciously give them wisdom and understanding,
guidance and direction. And be with them, Lord, we humbly
pray thee, and all their responsibilities, not only here but elsewhere.
Be with our brother at Tunbridge Wells this morning, and grant
thy blessing there to rest upon them. And, O Lord, we do pray
that thou wouldst graciously remember our brethren and sisters
in church fellowship, and that we may love each other, serve
each other, bear each other's burdens, thereby fulfilling the
law of Christ. We do pray, most gracious Lord,
that thou wouldst be with each one here in our congregation
There may be those listening online, and we pray that thou
wouldst graciously bless them. Bless them with that rich grace
of faith, faith in the bleeding Lamb, faith in His precious blood,
faith in His glorious righteousness, faith in His almighty power.
He's omnipotent to save and to deliver. He's able to save to
the uttermost all that come unto God by Him. Oh, we thank thee. Most gracious God, for the wonderful
works of grace and the wonderful power of thine everlasting love,
may we, O Lord, experimentally feel in our hearts this morning
hour, yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love. Therefore,
with loving kindness have I drawn thee. Oh, that sinners may be
drawn unto Christ and see a beauty in Christ. and see a loveliness
in Christ and run in the way of his commandments and follow
him in the way that he leads and guides. Lord, we pray that
thou wilt make the crooked things straight and the rough places
plain. Remember the little ones and
the children. Bless them indeed. Bless them
with that rich grace that is in Christ Jesus. Bless them with
the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom. And
graciously bless, Lord, parents as they seek to bring up their
children, that they may bring them up in the nurture and admonition
of the Lord. And it may be to the glory of
thy great name that they may be called by divine grace. Remember our young friends and
richly bless them and grant them living faith in Jesus Christ
and to be followers of thee and of those who, through faith and
patience, inherit the promises, remembering all the paths of
providence, and graciously unfold thy will and thy purposes. Grant
them a partner in life's journey. Lord, do hear us, we humbly pray. They remember all in the midst
of the journey of life, in all their concerns, in all their
burdens. Graciously bless them. graciously guide them. Remember
the prodigals that have wandered from us, and graciously put forth
thy almighty arm, and gather them unto Christ, cause them
to return. The appointed time rolls on apace,
O Lord, not to propose but call by grace, O that we might see
the mighty works of thy grace among us. we do humbly beseech
thee. Remember this village and grant
that the glory, light, and power of the gospel may shine into
this village and the surrounding villages and hamlets and bring
our sons from far and our daughters from the ends of the earth. O
Lord, we do beseech of thee for thy great namesake. And O Lord, we do pray that thou
wouldst be with those of us that are in the evening time of life's
journey, and graciously guide us safely unto thy heavenly kingdom. And may we be kept by the power
of God through faith unto salvation. Deliver us from temptation. Deliver
us from the power and dominion of sin. O Lord, we do humbly
beseech thee. And O Lord, we do pray for all
in affliction. and trouble and trial and perplexity,
and pray that thou wouldst undertake for them, for thy great name's
sake. And, O Lord, we do pray that
thou, in thy great mercy, wouldst remember all thy servants as
they labour in word and doctrine upon the walls of Zion today.
Set them free, set them at liberty, grant the fresh anointing of
thy Spirit, grant signs to follow the preaching of the word. And
we pray thee, the great Lord of the harvest, that thou would
send true labourers into the harvest and grant the settlement
of pastors and the building of the walls of Jerusalem. Lord,
we're exhorted in thy word to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
And oh Lord, we do pray that thou would remember our nation,
the iniquity that abounds on every hand, legislated for in
our Parliament, and they'll know it's those things that are being
laid before Parliament at this time to legalise murder. Oh gracious God, we do pray that
thou wouldst open the eyes of our leaders to see and to realise
what an awfully solemn step it is to do these things. Oh gracious God. do incline thine
ear, we do humbly beseech thee, and hear the cries of thy little
remnant, and turn back the tides of iniquity and the spirit of
Antichrist that is so prevalent in our societies today. O Lord,
we do pray that thou wouldst hear us, that thou wouldst send
a reviving, a renewing, a replenishing. Remember our royal household,
Bless them with that rich grace that is in Christ Jesus, our
King and the Royal Family. Remember them with the favour
that thou bearest unto thy people. Thou hast wonderfully appeared
in days gone by, and we do pray that thou wouldst appear again
and may bear thine holy arm again. Lord, we pray for those places
that are torn apart with war, thousands being launched from
time into eternity. Lord, bring an end to war, we
do humbly pray thee. Grant us just peace, we do beseech
thee for thy great namesake. We think of thy chosen people,
thy chosen nation of Israel, surrounded with enemies, and
we pray that thou would hear prayer for them, but above all
that they may be brought to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. They may be brought to see him
as the true Messiah. We do humbly pray thee. Lord,
remember those that labor among the nations of the earth. We
think of Ian Sadler and the great work that he does in so many
countries in the distribution of scripture and the exposition
of it. Lord, graciously help him and supply his needs Bless
thee, Mombasa, Michigan, and grant thy servant thy blessing
there, and thy favour and signs to follow the preaching of the
word. And bless that great work that is being done in Ghana by
the Savannah Education Trust, and grant that it may be down
to the glory of thy name and the good of that nation. O Lord,
we do humbly beseech of thee. Be with us now, Lord, as we turn
to thy holy word. Come and touch one's lips with
a live coal from off the heavenly altar, for without thee we can
do nothing. Without thy heavenly power, O
Lord, no sweets the gospel can afford, no drops of heavenly
dew will fall. Hear us, Lord. Make up in giving
where we do so fail in asking, as we ask for Jesus Christ's
sake. Amen. Let us now sing together hymn
number 720. The tune is Festus 464. Endless blessings on the Lamb,
broken hearts repeat the same. His dear heart was broken too
when he bore the curse for you. Hymn 720, tune Festus ? From the mountain in the sea
? ? It's in our hearts open to you ? ? Any moment now ? ? When Christ was with us all ?
? Strengthened so he made us all one ? ? A prince in a throne
above the sea ? ? How great a job we've done ?
? Precious blessings of confession ? ? God's in three dimensions ? ?
Heaven, earth, and angels sing ? ? He abhors every creature
? ? In his love, faith, and faith
? ? Send peace, send peace ? ? On rain and hate ? ? And in peace,
send joy and grace ? ? He hath changed their minds today
? ? God's kindling brings them safe to stay ? ? We confess the death of the King
? ? Give him strength and victory ? ? Blessed is the man ? ? And the home of the brave ? ? And the home of the
brave ? ? Heaven's heaven ? ? Let it be
? ? He who shall turn from the sins ? ? Of his people ? Greatly feeling to need the Lord's
gracious help, I would direct your attention to Psalm 111. We will look at the whole Psalm,
Psalm 111. This Psalm is believed to be
part of what is called the Great Hallel, You notice the first four words,
you find the same in 112 and the same in 113. Praise ye the
Lord. In the original language that
is Hallelujah. Hallelujah. I will praise the
Lord with my whole heart. The great Hallel was, or parts
of it, were usually sung at the Passover feast. which was of
course kept by the Jews. And it is almost universally
believed that where it says that at the institution of the Lord's
Supper, our Lord Jesus Christ, it says they sang an hymn and
went out. And it is believed that they
would have sung because they kept the Passover. It would have
been part of this great Hallel, great Hallel goes from here,
111, some say 113, through to Psalm 118. It covers all those
psalms. It's a psalm of hallelujah, a
psalm of praise, a psalm of thanksgiving. Praise ye the Lord. Oh, praise the Lord with my whole
heart in the assembly of the upright, in the congregation. I will praise the Lord with my
whole heart. The Apostle Paul, when he writes
his epistle to the Romans, he says, it is with the heart that
man believeth unto righteousness. And there is a very important
emphasis that has been made there, my beloved friends. It's not
the head. It's true. We need to worship
the Lord with the heart and with the understanding also. But that divine work of grace
in the heart, that divine power of the Holy
Ghost in the soul, the precious gift of faith, and when faith is given there's
given a revelation of Christ I will praise the Lord with my
whole heart. It says, I think you'll find
in the prophecy of Jeremiah that the Lord, He said to them that
they must seek Him with their whole heart, not half-hearted. One of the great things that
the Lord had against the church at Laodicea is they were neither
hot nor cold. They were lukewarm. They were
neither one thing or the other. And he said, I would that they
were hot or cold. Therefore, I will spew thee out
of my mouth. I will praise the Lord with my
whole heart. Oh, what a great mercy when the
Lord takes possession of our heart. when the precious gift
of faith is given and we behold the Lord Jesus Christ as the
way, the truth and the life and we desire with our whole heart
to follow him and to serve him and to do that which is right
in his sight. I will praise the Lord with my
whole heart in the assembly of the upright and in the congregation. Just as it was in the Levitical
days, the days of the Jewish church, the Old Testament, so
it is in the New Testament church. We praise the Lord, not in the
way that was done with rites and sacrifices, etc. and all divers washings, all
manner of things had to be done. And as Isaac Watts says in one
of his hymns, we have no such lengths to go, nor wander far
abroad. The Lord, he influences the heart
of his people to unite with the Lord's people. You listen to the language of
the spouse. Tell me, O thou whom my soul
lovest, where thou feedest, where thou causest thy flock to rest
at noon. In other words, the inquiry was
of the soul to be with and among the Lord's people. Tell me. There was that desire to know
where the Lord would feed them. Doesn't so much mean Christ feeding
them, it means where he feeds his people, where he pours his
spirit forth, where thou feedest. because there is a desire in
every living soul for living bread. You can't be satisfied
with that which is not living bread. You desire the divine
power of the Spirit to attend the Word in the assembly of the
upright and in the congregation. You know the works of the Lord
and It's quite pointed here in this Psalm 111. It says in verse
2, the works of the Lord are great. In verse 3, the work of
the Lord is honorable and glorious. In verse 4, he hath made his
wonderful works to be remembered. And then in verse 7, or rather
verse 6, he has showed his people the power of his works. He hath
given them the heritage of the heathen. The works of his hands
in verse 7 are verity and judgment and all his commandments sure,
they stand fast forever and ever and are done in truth and uprightness. You see the works of the Lord,
the works of the Lord are great and sought out. In our last hymn that we shall
sing this morning, It speaks beautifully of the works of creation.
And then it says, but one strange work exceeds them all. And you know, it's right that
we should praise the Lord in his creation. In my mind, it
just goes to that very well-known Psalm, Psalm 19. The heavens
declare the glory of God and the firmament showeth his handiwork.
Day unto day utter his speech. The Apostle Paul when he writes
in the Epistle to the Romans, in the first chapter in particular,
he speaks there of the wonderful works of creation. Day unto day
utter his speech and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language
where their voice is not heard. These are the works of creation,
the wonders of creation. It is God that has made us and
not we ourselves. Their line has gone out through
all the earth. Now the apostle says in the Romans,
but man is willfully ignorant of these things. Notice what
he says, he's willfully ignorant. He does not desire the knowledge
of God nor of his ways. He is willfully ignorant of these
things and we see in the teachings of evolution, the spirit that
works in the world, they are willfully ignorant. They do not desire the knowledge
of God and they will promote these theories which are totally
contrary to Holy Scripture. They will promote these theories
of evolution. which when you really analyse
them are downright ridiculous as to what they think has been
accomplished by evolution. You see, the heavens declare
the glory of God and the firmament showeth his handiwork day on
today. This time of the year when you
see the beautiful colours on the trees speaks of the glory
of God, the wonders of creation. when we come to the springtime
and we see trees and bushes that appear to be lifeless and then
buds spring forth and everything comes alive. It's the wonderful glory of God's
creation. The Lord Jesus he constantly
used in his parables illustrations from creation to illustrate wonderful
spiritual things that are set before us in God's holy word. You know, we read in Psalm 19,
his going forth is from the end of the heaven and his circuit
unto the ends of it, there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
The law of the Lord is perfect. If you have a marginal reference
it says there, the word of the Lord is perfect. Converting the soul. The testimony
of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. These are the works
of God. The apostle says, doesn't he,
in the Acts of the Apostles, that in Him we live and move
and have our being. In God. Again, it is He that hath made
us. and not we ourselves. The works
of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure
therein. His work is honorable and glorious,
and his righteousness endureth forever. We read of this creation, read of it here in the book of
Psalms, concerning man, that he's fallen. We read it in the
beginning of the word of God in Genesis chapter three, that
man is fallen, no longer in communion with God, spiritually dead. The apostle says in Ephesians
chapter two, you hath he quickened who were dead, dead know not
anything and the great thing my beloved friends this wonderful
work of the lord in the conversion of a sinner the works of the
lord are great we have some wonderful instances in the word of god
of conversions of sinners converted from that sinful wretched state
and condition that they're found in by nature and this is a sovereign
act of the Holy Ghost. Nobody can quicken a soul, the
preacher can't, nobody can. It's only God that can quicken
souls and make them cry, give me Christ or else I die. You hath he quickened. The Lord
Jesus emphasises this work himself when he speaks in John chapter
3 to Nicodemus, you must be born again, except a man be born of
water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. This is the work of divine grace
in the heart of a sinner. To be quickened is to be given
life, to be given life. The works of the Lord are great,
sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. This strange
work, one strange work exceeds them all. One strange work. You know we can travel around
and many of us have. I love to ride around Scotland.
You see the beauties of creation, the mountains, the rivers, the
locks and the wonderful beauty and glory there is. in those
rivers and locks and mountains, pleasant to the eye, the glories
of creation, the wonders of nature. It speaks of the glory of God.
The works of the Lord are great, sought out for all them that
have pleasure therein. His work is honourable, But this work of grace, God's
grace, grace means a free unmerited favor of God. It's free, it's
unmerited. We can't work for it. We can't
buy it. It's without price. It is. It's given. It's called in scripture
an inheritance. It speaks here in our psalm of
His covenant. Verse 5, He hath given meat unto
them that fear Him. He will ever be mindful of His
covenant. He has showed His people the
power of His works. He will show them His covenant.
He'll be mindful of His covenant. You know, it's very clear from
Holy Scripture that God has a covenant. Sometimes we hear people who
don't have a correct understanding of it and they speak of God's
covenant between him and man. Well that was so with the Jewish
people but we know where that ended. They were incapable of
fulfilling his holy law. It was a failure. It was because
of man's sin. But there's this eternal covenant.
And there were those under the Jewish dispensation that were
in that eternal covenant. They were called by divine grace.
The Holy Spirit entered their heart, quickened their soul.
This work, this wonderful work of God. bringing men and women, boys
and girls, out of nature's darkness into the glorious light of the
gospel of Jesus Christ. This wonderful work of the Holy
Ghost in bringing poor sinners to Christ. The Lord Jesus, he
describes this wonderful work of the Holy Ghost. When the Comforter is calm, he
says, he will convince the world of sin or reprove the world of
sin, of righteousness and of judgment. When the Holy Spirit
comes to a sinner's heart, convinces them of sin, convinces them that
they're not right with God. One hymn writer says, and I feel
it describes very beautifully, they have an aching void that
the world can never fill. Do you have an aching void that
the world can never fill? There's an emptiness in your
heart. There's a longing in your soul. You may not know exactly
what that is. Especially those that are under
the law, under a deep sense of their wretchedness their sinfulness
they know they need something but they don't know what that
something is and this is the work of the spirit in the heart
he will reprove the world of sin and of righteousness he will
not only convince the sinner that they're a sinner but he
will convince them that God is righteous God is holy God hates
sin. He does. God curses. Cursed is every man that doeth
not all things that is written in the book of the law to do
them. When we break God's holy commandments we break his holy
law. We've often explained to you
the word transgression. The idea behind the word transgression,
it's a boundary. Like you keep animals in a field
and you put a boundary, you put a fence around or a good stout
hedge around to keep the animals in, that's the boundary. And this is the idea behind the
word transgression. Now if those animals break through
the fence or the hedge, they transgress. And God has put a boundary on
man. And that boundary is his holy
righteous law. It is. And it's what you call
divinely absolute. The soul that sinneth, the soul
that breaketh God's holy law. The soul that transgresses God's
holy law. Cursed is every man that doeth
not all things that is written in the book of the law to do
them. That solemn, holy, righteous
law of the God of heaven. If we break that law, if we transgress
the boundary that God has put around us, We should be held
to account. We must all give account before
the judgment seat of Jesus Christ. These are all the works of the
Lord. And they're sought out. It says here in verse two, the
works of the Lord are great sought out of all them that have pleasure
therein. His work. He says His work is honourable
and glorious. God's work is honourable and
glorious. God's law is honourable and glorious. It's righteous altogether. If we break it, we come under
God's curse. We do. His work is honorable and glorious.
And His righteousness, notice what it says, and His righteousness
endureth forever. And this speaks of the righteousness
of Christ. Because when the Bible speaks
of man, fallen man, the sons and daughters of Adam, it says
we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. But His
righteousness, the righteousness of the holy God man, the man
Christ Jesus, his righteousness, endures forever. It does. There's something very
beautiful, very sacred in the perfect obedience of Christ. It's called, we've read it this
morning in Psalm 110, the beauties of holiness. In verse 3 in Psalm
110, the beauties of holiness, that's the holiness of Christ.
Not one of Adam's sons or daughters is holy. We're born in sin, we're
shaped in iniquity. That's what we are by nature.
We go forth from the womb speaking lies and hypocrisy. We're quoting
Holy Scripture here friends. That's our condition by nature. But when we look at Jesus Christ, who was born of a virgin, he
wasn't born by natural generation. The Holy Spirit overshadowed
the womb of the Virgin Mary. He says, and that holy thing
which shall be born of thee, that holy thing. That human nature of Christ never
had any existence separate to Christ. When the Holy Ghost overshadowed
the womb of the Virgin, the Son of God immediately assumed her
seed. It was holy. It wasn't born by natural generation. If he had been, this is how vital
the Virgin birth is, If he had been, he'd have had a sinful,
corrupt nature, but he didn't. He had a holy, pure nature. And as the word of God says,
he did no sin. His work is honorable and glorious,
and his righteousness endureth forever. Forever. It says in
Psalm 119, thy righteousness is an everlasting Twice it says in Psalm 119, thy
righteousness is an everlasting righteousness. That glorious
everlasting righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ. His work
is honorable and glorious. We read in Isaiah chapter 42,
and it says there, he, and it's speaking of the person of Christ,
the Son of God manifest in the flesh. He will magnify the law
and make it honourable. Now that perfect obedience of
Christ, He lived for 33 years upon earth. He was made of a
woman, made under the law that He might redeem them that are
under the law. He lived as a man under that
law for 33 years. He did no sin. He never transgressed
the law of God and you know friends that is a fundamental doctrine
of our most holy faith that Jesus was pure and holy and righteous
and that his work here on earth was to fulfill the holy law of
God on the behalf of his church whom He covenanted with his father
to redeem and to save. So when he was made of a woman
made under the law is when he became a man. His work is honourable,
this glorious work, and his righteousness endures forever. It is called
a robe in Isaiah 61, the robe of his righteousness. The hymn
writer says, a royal robe to cover thee, that glorious everlasting
robe of the righteousness of Jesus Christ. And this is what
the spouse sees, a beauty in him. Not only did he live a perfect
life, he offered a perfect sacrifice. Now divine justice demanded perfection. So when Christ came here upon
earth, he came in the room and place instead of his people and
he fulfilled the law for his people and he brought in everlasting
righteousness for his people to cover them, to cover their
nakedness. That's what he does. He shed
his precious blood on the cross of Calvary to wash away the sin
of his people. That precious blood has satisfied
all the demands of divine justice that was against the church.
The soul that sinneth it shall die. What did Christ do? He did no
sin. Neither was Gael found in his
mouth. He lived a perfect, honourable life. Thereby bringing in everlasting... I love that in Daniel. When Daniel prophesies, he says,
to the bringing in of everlasting righteousness. That's the coming
of Christ. The bringing in of everlasting
righteousness. His work is honorable and glorious,
and His righteousness endureth forever. A royal robe to cover thee, He
hath made His wonderful works to be remembered. The Lord is
gracious and full of compassion. What did the Lord Jesus Christ
say? I come not to call the righteous, You know, the Pharisees believed
that they were righteous. They believed that they were
righteous in the sight of God. They were deceived in that. They
were deceived in that. They were self-righteousness. Christ says, accept your righteousness,
exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. There's only one righteousness
exceeds that, that's the righteousness of Christ, which a poor sinner
receives when they come by faith unto Jesus Christ. My beloved is white and ruddy,
white. It's his holiness, his righteousness,
he's white. And this is what to the spouse
was so attractive, that perfect obedience of Christ. that law
fulfilled and honoured and magnified. The bringing in of everlasting
righteousness. He hath made his wonderful works
to be remembered. The Lord is gracious and full
of compassion. His wonderful works to be remembered. This do in remembrance of me.
For as often as ye drink this cup, and eat this bread, ye do
show the Lord's death, till he come, this do in remembrance
of me. He hath made his wonderful works
to be remembered. And the Lord's Supper is instituted
of our Lord Jesus Christ for his church to keep as a reminder,
as a reminder of the cost the tremendous cost of our salvation,
and it honours Him. It glorifies His name. When a
poor sinner, by divine grace, is brought to follow the Lord
Jesus Christ, a poor sinner is brought to faith in Jesus Christ,
to believe in Jesus Christ, to receive Jesus Christ. As many as received Him to them
gave he power to become the sons of God. He hath made his wonderful
works to be remembered. And the other thing, of course,
in Deuteronomy, thou shalt remember all the way the Lord thy God
hath led thee, to humble thee and to prove thee and to see
what was in thine heart. Thou shalt remember. In Isaiah it says, remember the
hold of the pit from whence you were digged. Thou shalt remember.
You was a poor fallen sinner. You fell in Adam. You were born
in sin, shaped in iniquity. Remember the hold of the pit
from whence you were digged. The children of Israel had that
constant remember. Thou shalt remember that thou
wast a bondman in the house of Egypt. Egypt in a spiritual sense
means the world. Remember where the Lord found
you in the world, lost and ruined and wretched and undone. Thou
shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the house of Egypt. And now when saved by grace,
when brought to love the Lord Jesus Christ, He hath made His wonderful works
to be remembered. The Lord is gracious and full
of compassion. His wonderful works. He hath
given meat, that by that is meant food. It doesn't literally mean
meat. It means food, nourishment. He hath given meat unto them
that fear Him. He will be ever mindful of His
covenant. Of course, we thank the Lord
for his daily mercies. Jeremiah says, does in new every
morning are thy mercies greatest thy faith for us. Even in natural
things, the Lord supplies our needs so that we're able to live,
we're able to purchase food, even natural food. And we should
be thankful for it. He had given meat unto them that
fear him. But there's something that we
should even be more mindful of and that is spiritual food. Christ
said he was the water of life. Christ said he was the bread
of life. He's the wine of the kingdom.
Spiritual food. Spiritual food. You know, it's a wonderful thing
what the Lord gives his children. Christ is the bread of heaven.
Bread is the mainstay of life. The food that we eat, Christ
is the bread of life. He that eateth this bread shall
live forever. Believing in Jesus Christ and
following Jesus Christ It is the spirit that quickly, the
flesh profited nothing, feeding on Jesus Christ. Do you have
an appetite for Jesus Christ? Do you have an appetite that
you might know him in the power of his resurrection, in the fellowship
of his sufferings? Mercy if we have a spiritual
appetite. that Christ has been made precious
to us, and you desire to know him and to drink of that river
of the water of life. He hath given meat unto them
that fear him. He will be ever mindful of his
covenant, his covenant love, his covenant grace. David says, doesn't he, yet hath
he made with me an everlasting covenant ordered in all things,
and sure, that covenant is made in Christ. And when that's revealed
to a poor sinner, that glorious everlasting covenant, I always feel that one of the
most beautiful, instructive places in the Word of God is the prayer
of Christ in John. chapter 17 these words spake
Jesus and lifted up his eyes to heaven and said father the
hour has come glorify thy son that thy son also may glorify
thee as thou has given him power over all flesh that he should
give eternal life to as many as thou has given him look at
the precious doctrine to as many as thou has given him And this
is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God,
and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. You see, this covenant,
ordered in all things and sure. It says in verse nine of that
prayer, I pray for them, that's those in the covenant. I pray
not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me, for
they are thine, and all mine are thine, and thine are mine.
and I am glorified in them. It's wonderful, this eternal
covenant, this eternal life that is given to poor sinners. And
he says in verse 21, that they all may be one, as thou, Father,
art in me and I in thee, that they also may be one in us, that
the world may believe that thou hast sent me, and the glory which
thou gavest me, I've given them, that they may be one, even as
we are one. I in them and thou in me and
they may be made perfect in one and the world may know that thou
hast sent me and hast loved them as thou hast loved me. You see my beloved friends these
things are written for our instruction and then the eternal safety of
these precious souls in the covenant verse 24 father I will that they
also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they
may behold my glory which thou hast given me, for thou lovest
me before the foundation of the world. You see, he hath given
meat unto them that fear him, he will ever be mindful his covenant
He has showed his people the power of his works, the wonderful
power of Christ. You know that when the Blessed
Spirit reveals by faith to you the glorious person of Christ,
the Lord God, the omnipotent reigneth, hallelujah, for the
Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Christ speaks of that to his
disciples to comfort them and to help them. He says all power,
given unto me in heaven and in earth all power not some power
all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth with heaven
and earth at his command he waits to answer prayer he has showed
his people the power of his works that he may give them the heritage
of the heathen he will give it to them The works of his hands
are verity and judgment. All his commandments are sure.
They stand fast forever and ever. You know, there are some people
that teach, I believe erroneously, wrongly, that when Christ came,
the law is finished and completely abrogated and it's no longer
with us. That is contrary to sound doctrine. That holy law of God that was
given on Mount Sinai, it will stand forever. It will stand
forever. Just as it says here, they stand
fast forever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.
The law of God. What did Christ himself say?
I come not to destroy the law, but to fulfill it. That's what
Christ has done. He hasn't abrogated it. He hasn't
abolished it. Now to the true believer in Christ,
they're no longer under the law, they're under grace. By grace I mean that not of yourselves,
it is the gift of God. And then there of course is all
his commandments are sure that they're those holy commandments
in the gospel. If you love me, keep my commandments. They stand fast forever and ever
and are done in truth and uprightness. He sent redemption unto His people. He commanded His covenant forever.
Holy and reverent in His name. Just a point here friends. The
only time we read the word reverent is here in Holy Scripture. Holy
and reverent is His name. And that is one of the reasons
why we do not feel it's right to call a man reverent. It's
one of the reasons why our ministers are not known as reverent. It's
because the only time we read that word in Holy Scripture,
it applies to the Eternal and the Almighty God. He sent redemption unto his people. Oh, think of the glorious everlasting
righteousness of our Lord Jesus and the precious blood of our
Lord Jesus that cleanses from all sin. He sent redemption unto
His people. The Redeemer liveth forever.
He sent redemption unto His people. He has commanded His covenant.
That covenant has been sealed with the blood of Jesus Christ
in Hebrews chapter 13. We read of the blood of the everlasting
covenant. That's the blood of Christ. He
sent redemption unto his people. He has commanded his covenant
forever. Holy and reverent is his name. The fear of the Lord is the beginning
of wisdom. Do you and I have the fear of
the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom? You might say, what
do you mean? Do you have spiritual life? The fear of the Lord is
the beginning of wisdom. Spiritual life, given by the
Holy Ghost, a good understanding of all they that do His commands,
His praise, endure forever. May the Lord have His blessings. Let us now sing together hymn
number 88, the tune is Osset 386. I'll read the first two
verses and we'll commence reading at verse, the singing at verse
three. How wondrous are the works of
God, displayed through all the world abroad, immensely great,
immensely small, yet one strange work exceed them all. He formed
the sun fair-founded like the moon and stars to rule the night,
but night and stars and moon and sun are little words compared
with one. Hymn number 88, commencing in
at verse three, tune Osset 386. ? O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave ? O'er the ramparts we watched,
were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, ? America, free ? ? The dark night
is near ? ? And God's love ? ? See it all ? ? Shine it all ? O'er the ramparts we watched
were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket's red glare, the
bombs bursting in air, ? God's strength shall fill ? ?
All angels' heads ? ? Angels that hear ? ? The praise I heard
? O'er the ramparts we watched,
were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket's red glare, the
bombs bursting in air, Jesus, Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus
Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus O'er the ramparts we watched,
were so gallantly streaming? ? The home of the brave ? ? H-T-E-R-I-O-U-S-A-N-D
? ? How it was done ? ? We call it Christmas ? ? God bless thee ? ? Now you've
come to us ? ? Mercy, please take them away ? O'er the ramparts we watched,
were so gallantly streaming? ? With the perilous fight ? ? O'er
the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming? ? May faith be strong, faith must
be strong. ? With love in me ? ? The church
of you ? ? And praise its glory ? ? For all time ? 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.