the notices for the week. If the Lord will, next Lord's
Day there will be a prayer meeting in the morning at 10.30 and a
reading service at 2 o'clock. Mr Marcus Funnell will preach
on Thursday evening at 7 o'clock and there will be a prayer meeting
on Tuesday evening at 7 o'clock. The amount collected for the
Christian Institute on Friday was £815. When I spoke to Pastor last evening
he was a little better but he is still having much trouble
with his balance. He has cancelled his visit to
America due to go on Thursday. May the Lord now help us to commence
our service today with hymn 1054, tune Melodious Sonnet 647. Come, thou long-expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free. From our fears and sins release
us. Let us find our rest in thee,
Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the saints thou art,
dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart. Hymn 1054, tune Melodious Sonnet
647. On the long-expected Christmas,
something said, set thy people free. From darkness and sins
release us, let us find our resting place. This shall spread and consolation, help of all
our sins to pass. Dear desire of every nation, Lord of every loving heart. Born by children to deliver,
Born a child and yet again. Born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom reign. Thine I come, eternal Spirit,
Holy Hope of God's own. Thine I go, selfish and perish'd,
Praised to thy glorious throne. reading this morning. Firstly
you'll find in the book of psalms we'll read psalms 16 and 17 and
then we'll read a few verses from Romans chapter 8. Firstly this morning let us turn
to the book of psalms and psalms 16 and 17. Psalm 16, Mictam of David. Preserve me, O God, for in thee
do I put my trust. O my soul, thou hast said unto
the Lord, thou art my Lord. My goodness extendeth not to
thee, but to the saints that are in the earth, and to the
excellent, in whom is all my delight. Their sorrows shall
be multiplied, that hasten after another God. Their drink-offerings
of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips. The Lord is the portion of mine
inheritance and of my cup. Thou maintainest my lot. The lines are fallen unto me
in pleasant places, yea, I have a goodly heritage. I will bless
the Lord who hath given me counsel. My reigns also instruct me in
the night seasons. I have set the Lord always before
me. Because he is at my right hand,
I shall not be moved. Therefore, my heart is glad and
my glory rejoicing. My flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul
in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine holy one to see corruption. Thou wilt show me the path of
life. In thy presence is fullness of joy. At thy right hand there
are pleasures for evermore. Psalm 17, a prayer of David. Hear the right, O Lord. Attend unto my cry. Give ear
unto my prayer that goeth not out of feigned lips. Let my sentence
come forth from thy presence. Let thine eyes behold the things
that are equal. Thou hast proved mine heart.
Thou hast visited me in the night. Thou hast tried me and shalt
find nothing. I am purposed that my mouth shall
not transgress. Concerning the works of men,
by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the
destroyer. Hold up my goings in thy paths,
that my footsteps slip not. I have called upon thee, for
thou wilt hear me, O God. Incline thine ear unto me and
hear my speech. Show thy marvellous lovingkindness
O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust
in thee from those that rise up against them. Keep me as the
apple of the eye. Hide me under the shadow of thy
wings from the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies who
compass me about. They are enclosed in their own
fan. With their mouth they speak proudly. They have now compassed us in
our steps. They have set their eyes bowing
down to the earth, like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and
as it were a young lion lurking in secret places. Arise, O Lord,
disappoint him, cast him down, deliver my soul from the wicked,
which is thy sword. From men which are thy hand,
O Lord, from men of the world, which have their portion in this
life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure. They are
full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their
babes. As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness. I
shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness. And now we'll
turn to the book of Romans, Romans chapter eight, and we'll read
the first 17 verses. There is therefore now no condemnation
to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh,
but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of
life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and
death. For what the law could not do,
in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son
the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in
the flesh that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled
in us who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit for
they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh
but they that are after the spirit the things of the spirit For
to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded
is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity
against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed
can be. So then they that are in the
flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh,
but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now, if any man have not the
Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you,
the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because
of righteousness. But if the spirit of him that
raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised
up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies
by his spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we
are debtors not to the flesh to live after the flesh. For
if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die. But if ye through
the spirit do mortify or destroy the deeds of the body, ye shall
live. For as many as are led by the
Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received
the spirit of bondage again to fear, but ye have received the
spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness
with our spirit that we are the children of God. And if children,
then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. If so
be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. Let us leave the reading of God's
word there this morning and may we have been instructed through
the reading of it together and each one of us now be granted
that true living prayer. Most holy, almighty, and loving
Heavenly Father, we come now once more before Thee in prayer. We come once more on this Thy
day, and we thank Thee for this day. That one day in seven that thou
hast set apart for our good, that one day in seven that breaks
the routine of our daily lives, which is indeed good for all
men and women. But for thy people, it is that
one day that is set apart to specifically come and worship
thee, to assemble ourselves together for that public worship. And Lord, as we gather together
to worship today on this day of rest. May our eyes be drawn
to that eternal rest for thy people. And when we are in trouble and
trial, when we are pursued and perplexed, when we are sinful
and suffering, O Lord, may we, for a season, look by faith to
that which is to come, where there will be that perfect peace. And so we thank you for this
day. But Lord, what will this day
be unless through the power of thy spirit, through thine special
help to each one of us, what will this day be? If we are not
blessed, if we are not led to do what we are commanded to do,
to worship Thee, to bring honour and glory to Thy name. So if there have been those that
have come up indifferently this morning, those that have come
up consumed with other thoughts, those which have come up indifferent
and out of habit and custom and routine, Lord, do break through
and give them even now that fervent prayer that today may be a good
day. for them and for us collectively. Those that have come up with
that prayer and desire in their hearts, Lord, may they not be
disappointed. May they be able to see no man
save Jesus only. May they have their eyes opened
to what thy word says unto them. And may it indeed be a living
word, a word in season, a word that leaves us, going on our
way. rejoicing. For thy people, dear
Lord, this world must be a wilderness, for it is not their home. And so as we journey on through
this wilderness, may we be given that manna from heaven. May we
have that which sustains us to carry on. And through our gatherings
together, May we know those word of guidance too, so that we know
to be, thy word to be, that pillar of cloud by day and that pillar
of fire by night, Lord, leading us on in that narrow way that
leads to life eternal. And yet, Lord, as we go through
our daily lives, we so frequently get consumed with everything,
both lawful and unlawful, in our lives and for a season may
we look to the one thing needful may we truly know thee the only
true god and jesus christ whom thou hast sent for this is life
eternal for lord we adore thee that that way has been made that
there is that perfect sin atoning sacrifice that thy finished work
Thy cleansing blood, dear Lord Jesus, has made that way of access
and that now we have seated at the Father's right hand, that
mediator. And so enable all this morning
to come boldly to the throne of grace, to seek thy face and
to find that access there. May prayer be heard and prayer
be answered. according to thy holy will. Lord, we gather together this
morning and we would pray especially for their pastor at this time. In thy wisdom, thou hast seen
fit to lay thy hand upon him once more and to remove that
strength from him. Lord, give him that which is
so hard for us by nature, that submission to thy will. Give
him that precious faith to trust that this will indeed be working
together for good. And Lord, how easy it is to pray
thy will be done when thy will marries ours. But do help him
at this time. Give him that increase in strength
further, we pray. and may he yet prove that it
has been good for him to have been afflicted. But we pray,
Lord, for those that he was due to visit in Shoto, Lord, do draw
near to them at this time of disappointment, where once more
they will not have anybody to stand and preach to them. Lord,
do be with them, and may they see a purpose in this too. Lord,
we pray that thy healing hand may be upon the pastor here,
and he may yet be raised up again to preach the precious gospel
to them, and that he may have those signs of encouragement,
that there may be that fruit seen, that there may be a growing
in numbers and a growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord
and Saviour, Jesus Christ. So help him in his pathway, Lord,
that thou hast that caused him to walk in and raise him up again
for thy work. Lord, we pray for the deacons
here as well in their concern for him and in their many burdens
and labours for this cause of truth. Lord, we pray that they
may be given much wisdom and strength in all their many duties,
that they may know, Lord, what it is to be led by thee And we
pray for the wider church too, to be with all the members that
are part of it, in all their varying roles and responsibilities. Lord, we pray that they may each
be made useful in thy house, that they may each be united
together by thy love, and that many more may yet be added to
the church. Lord, do place and cause that
burden to grow upon one another that are not members of this
church. Lord, may they ponder where they are, whether they
are sinners saved by grace, whether they should profess what they
must done for their souls. And Lord, may we see many more
join them in the church. We pray for the congregation
that many more by yet be added to them. Lord, we pray that in
this village, there may be those brought upon to come and join
with them and their surrounding areas to, and we pray that those
that attend here may be given those opportunities in their
daily lives to speak well of thee, to be that right witness,
to be that light in a dark place, and that we may yet see a true
building up. And Lord, as we may pray for
a revival in our churches, Lord, may we be given grace to, as
we pray for a revival, to manage that which will necessarily accompany
a revival. Those that will come in of all
sorts and types and backgrounds. Lord, what a sorry world we live
in, how far we have departed from thy word. But Lord, as and
when, many will be drawn to worship truly once more. Oh Lord, may
there be much grace given to those that turn in. Lord, may
we not be filled with unbelief that these things cannot take
place. Lord, we know that thy hand is
all-powerful and can work in the hearts of many. Lord, may
thy will be done. In wrath, remember mercy, and
on this nation, Lord, turn us again to thee. Pray, Lord, for
the children and young people that gather here regularly. Lord,
may they be able to understand what is being preached. May they
be taught well in their homes and in other ways what thy word
says to them. Lord, may they remember their
creator in the days of their youth and have that fear placed
within their hearts. May they be able to pray those
simple prayers. May they truly be wrought upon
in the days of their youth. May they begin to understand
right and wrong in the eyes of thee rather than in the eyes
of the world. And may they be led to confess those sins and
to seek forgiveness for them. So be with those that in their
varying forms of education, whether it be at home, whether it be
in the school setting, Lord, do help them and all those that
teach them. And we pray, Lord, that they
may be indeed those that are favoured to above all be taught
in the means of grace. So help them as they go through
varying stages, whether it be in different classes or different
spheres of their education, different stages, going from education
to further education to employment, where one and another seek to
know the way made clear in varying ways. Lord, may they seek thy
guidance and wisdom and turn to thy word for that direction
in their lives. Pray for your parents here with
those many responsibilities, Lord, may they be given much
grace in all they do. Lord, may they be those right
examples to their children, set that right time aside for family
worship and private worship, so that we may not be those that
just only worship when we come here, but may be found living
and breathing in thee. Lord, we pray for those older
in years here. Lord, those that have those varying
afflictions upon them and know that they are drawing near the
end of their life. We pray for grace to uphold those
in their needs and those loved ones as they may support them.
And Lord, we pray that we may be those that are unable to support
one another and bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law
of Christ. We pray for all those that preach
the word today Lord, those brethren that we know and love for the
truth's sake, Lord, do be with them as they labour in varying
places. Lord, do truly work, we pray, wherever thy word is
faithfully preached. Lord, we pray that today there
may be that liberty in preaching, that power from on high, and
thy goodness truly seen. We pray that more pastors will
be raised up over the churches according to thy word, Lord,
give those varying churches that are past to less those eyes to
see their need. And do raise up many more, we
pray. Lord, our churches are in a sad
and low state. We pray, Lord, that much wisdom
may be given in the coming years as times, naturally speaking,
will become harder and harder as those that preach the word
get older and weaker. Lord, do we pray, grant much
wisdom. But Lord, how we need many more
to come into our churches, to strengthen the churches. Lord,
we pray that we may yet see you. Lord, we pray for the persecuted
church. We pray for thy people throughout this world today that
will be living in great fear. Yet Lord, may they not be living
in fear. May they be saying, we will not fear what man can
do unto us. Lord, may there be strong faith
given to thy people in great peril. Lord, may those wicked
men and women that seek to do them harm be overthrown. But
Lord, if they are brought to peril and terror, may they be
given the faith of Stephen to cast their eyes heavenward. We
pray for those organisations that seek to do such good to
thy persecuted people and those in great need throughout the
nations of the earth. And yet, Lord, we thank thee
that has there ever been a time where so many people are turning
to thy word in this earth? Maybe not in our country and
in the developed countries of the West, but what powerful work
is going on in many other nations. Lord, thy power and work is not
limited to the boundaries of our country, the boundaries of
our churches. May thy word have free course
and be glorified today. But Lord, we come together, unitedly,
with one thing in common this morning, that we have sinned
and come short of thy glory already today and much in the past week
and indeed through our lives. Lord, what a great mountain of
sin we have collectively. Help us, Lord, to confess our
sin. Help us, Lord, by the convicting power of thy spirit to know that
we are sinners and yet to know that the blood of Jesus Christ
cleanseth us from all sin and that if we confess our sin, Thou
art faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness. May these precious gospel verses
of freedom, Lord, be sealed home to the hearts of one and another.
And may thy word ever be a living word in this place. So may we be those that pray
one for another this morning. May there be that great liberty
known and felt. And so now, as we turn to thy
word, and in all forms of our worship today, may we know that
great help. Be with the people, Lord, give
them those ears to hear, Lord, both naturally, for how quickly
our minds can wander and be distracted. May they be able to hear, but
may what they hear do them good. May it go beyond the natural
ear, Lord, may it be applied with power by thy spirit to their
prepared hearts. so that the word spoken today
may bring forth fruit for thine honour and glory. We pray for
that help to speak, Lord, that which thou wilt have us to speak.
Thou knowest our need, and we know that without thee we can
do nothing. Yet may we collectively prove today that we can do all
things through Christ, which strengtheneth me. So may we know
the power of thy spirit, almighty God, in our midst. May we worship
a triune God together today. And may we truly feel, as we
leave thy house today, it has been good to gather together,
that this is thine appointment for the good of our never-dying
souls. Lord, it's in thy hand. Lord, I confess personally my
many shortcomings. I do not deserve thy goodness.
I do not deserve to have that to speak today, to lay before
the people. But Lord, cover and forgive our
weakness and the sins of us all. so that today, together, we may
know the one true and living God. So forgive all that we have
asked wrongly, that which we have forgotten to pray for may
have been prayed for by those before us, and our cry be a united
cry unto thee. For we ask all in and through
thy precious name, dear Lord Jesus. Amen. Let us now sing together hymn
number 11, tune St Luke 834. Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song, the joy of my heart and the boast of my tongue. Thy
free grace alone, from the first to the last, has won my affections. and bound my soul fast. Hymn 11, tune St. Luke, 834. In mercy thy blood fills the
fever of my soul. Hallelujah! I long ever to stroke
thy hand. Thine we praise, O God, forever
true. Thou art the sunshine of Jesus, and the light of God. I will sing in Jesus' presence
here Shouting brackets from your fountain.
Oh Jesus, I pray when we are on the tree, to open the channel of mercifulness. Now I see, I see, I would not
be here Induce me to the touch of His
hand. Approve thy free goodness, my spirit revived. The deep and the sacred chill
between her thighs. I can see it's over, come back
to my heart. Wait for me soon, it's good not to see us. Goodness, I fall to the ground,
And weep to the grace of the mercy I found. ♪ The Lord of Thy mercies ♪ ♪ Can
turn the world away ♪ ♪ Till you and me be one again ♪ No sinner shall know that he
hath deceived them. Who comes seeking mercy? Lord
Jesus, this day. Before the Lord passes by, who
wills my love? Where, O God, am I? Who's in my soul? Holy, holy, holy is the Lord
God of hosts. May the Lord help us each as
we turn to his word this morning. I'll ask you to turn to the book
of Psalms, Psalm 17. Psalm 17 and particularly verses
four and five. Psalm 17 and verses four and
five. Concerning the works of men,
By the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the
destroyer. Hold up my goings in thy paths,
that my footsteps slip not. Concerning the works of men,
by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the
destroyer. Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps
slip not. we see from this psalm it is
a prayer of David. The prayer of David that we can
gather from the content of this psalm was a time when he was
in trouble. We read in verses 9 and 10 about
the wicked that oppressed him, his deadly enemies who compassed
him about. They are enclosed in their own
fat with their mouth they speak proudly. They have compassed
us in our steps. They have set their eyes bowing
down to the earth and so he goes on. So it is clear that this was
a cry for help from the Lord, naturally for those deliverances
from those natural enemies. But David as well knew what it
was to need that deliverances from that which was inward and
within himself. David we know and read was a
man after God's own heart, but we know from the accounts we
have that like every one of us here, David was a sinner and
he knew what it was and had to pray continually to be kept. Is that a prayer of ours, Lord
keep me? Do we know what it is to pray,
hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not. So as the Lord may help us together
to look at these thoughts of the Psalmist David, may we examine
whether they are our thoughts, whether we act according to them,
and whether we know what it is to be delivered by our God from
our enemies. For as it says in one of our
hymns, we have those mighty enemies without, but we have those that
are much mightier within. So David starts this psalm, doesn't
he? Hear the right, O Lord. Attend
unto my cry. Give ear unto my prayer that
goeth not out of feigned lips. There will be no true cry to
the Lord until we really know what it
is to have those enemies. We may pray our prayers We may have been brought up to
pray, but it is only when we truly
are brought to a point of need that real living prayer, the
living prayer of faith comes out from our lips. David knew what it was to truly
pray. He said, give ear unto my prayer
that goeth not out of feigned lips. This wasn't just a going
through the motions prayer. This was a prayer of need. And it's not nice to be brought
into those times of need. And you children and young people,
You know, I'm sure in your young lives to have been brought to
those places where something goes against you and you are
sad and everything seems impossible and you feel overwhelmed by what
you're in. And it may be the Lord beginning
to teach you maybe not to put so much value on earthly things
and to understand that everything that is good in your eyes can
be taken from you. and your thoughts and affections
are turning to greater things. The Lord will often use the works
of men, the works, the things, the actions of others round about
us to show us our need of Christ. And dear friends, this morning,
whether young or old, Can we not come in with David here concerning
the works of men that we are surrounded by them? The wicked works of men are all
about us. We look at our nation, our political
situation. We see the pursuit of evil, whether
it be with gender ideologies and various sexual relationships,
whether it be the promotion of abortion or euthanasia, whether
it be the desecration of the Lord's day, whether it be in
any multitude of things that we could name this morning. Can
we not see that we are surrounded by wickedness? Yet it was the same in David's
day. It was the same throughout the word of God. It has been
the same throughout history. The heart of man is deceitful
above all things and desperately wicked. And that includes your
heart and mine. Concerning the works of men,
that word men, the word Adam, from the Adam fool, we have been
surrounded. by evil. The serpent came, that subtle
beast of the field which the Lord God had made, and tempted
Eve. And Eve fell, and Adam fell,
and they were cast out from paradise. And we only have to turn a few
pages in our Bible until we get to the account of Noah. And what
do we read there? God saw that the wickedness of
man was great in the earth and that every imagination of the
thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The earth also was corrupt before
God and the earth was filled with violence. And it's the same
today. The same today, the earth is
corrupt and it is filled with violence. But in the middle of
that account that we have of the wickedness of those that
are in the earth, we have that verse, don't we? But Noah found
grace in the eyes of the Lord. Noah, was one like David, who could see the works of men,
could see the wickedness of his heart. And by God's grace, Noah
found grace in the eyes of the Lord. And praise the Lord, so
it is today. Yes, there is the works of men,
great wickedness about us all, but a remnant remains. But Noah
found grace in the eyes of the Lord. And so it will be till
the end of time, those that will find grace, those that will be
led to plead for mercy and to value mercy as we have just been
singing about together. There'll be that day. There'll
be two men in one bed, the one shall be taken, the other shall
be left. Two women shall be grinding together, the one shall be taken
and the other left. The Lord will choose those. The
Lord will work in those and cause them to see the works of men
and to do what? To plead to be kept from them. And this is a desire of the Psalmist,
isn't it? In these verses four and five,
to be kept. Is it your desire to be kept
this morning? Or do you feel no need to be
kept? Are you in fact, one of the Pharisees
who really says, well, I'm not as bad as other people, look
at me. Or look at them, they do this and they do that and
they do the other. I don't do those things. On a scale of one to 10, I'm
pretty good really. Dear friends, I can't open your
eyes to see that you need to be kept. Kept from the paths
of the destroyer. What I wanted to focus on this
morning particularly was this. David had this prayer to be kept
from the paths of the destroyer, but what was it that would keep
him and what was it that will keep you? By the word of thy
lips, I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer. Never
get away from that, dear friends. This is what will keep you. the
word of God, the word of his lips. It won't be your actions
on their own. It won't be your attempts to
do this and to do that on their own. It will be the word of God
as applied with power by the spirit of God to your hearts. And this is a comfort to me as
I preach the word, or try to preach the word. Because when
you know and hear of one another that has been blessed and set
at liberty and has had the word applied with power by the spirit,
it's not the words of men that they remember. It's a verse of
the Bible. It's a sentence. It's not a story. It's not an anecdote. That's
not what does them good. It's the Word. The Word of God. In that great Psalm, Psalm 119,
it continually comes back to the Word of God, doesn't it?
Time and time again. Wherewithal shall a young man
cleanse his way? How? By taking heed thereto. according to thy word. Thy word
have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against me. Later
on we read, thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto
my path. This, dear friends, is what will
do you good. This is what will keep you from
the paths of the destroyer. The word of God. That's what David looked to.
That's what David valued. Have you got those words that
you have had to prove and try that have kept you from the paths
of the destroyer? Those promises in the word of
God, those what I refer to, those grubby pages in your Bible that
you have to keep on turning back to, to see if they're still there
that were came with such power and sweetness that you knew they
had only come from the Lord God almighty. His word applied to
you for your good to keep you. That is why, isn't it? The apostle
Paul in Ephesians chapter six, when he speaks about the whole
armor of God, what does he say there? Take the helmet of salvation
and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. We need to be kept from the destroyer. We have an enemy that is against
us. What is a sword? The sword is not a defensive
weapon. It's an offensive weapon. It
is a weapon of offense. And it is that alone that we
can use to fight the good fight of faith. the Word of God. And why must we trust the Word
of God? Because it is unchanging. And
this is why we need to be very careful when we are left and
tempted by the devil to trust what we feel above what the Word
of God says. Because the Word of God changes
not and we are fickle changing creatures who are caught on cold
in half an hour. We are like those churches listed
in the book of Revelation. We are like all those people
of the word of God that have failed because they have found
themselves not looking to the word of God, leaning onto their
own understanding and thinking that because of this and because
of that, and because of the other, the word of God will have changed.
Dear friends, This is what we need. This is the anchor. This is that solid ground to
build upon. This is the solid rock of salvation. The word of the lips of the one
true and living God. That alone is what will keep
you in the hours of darkness. That alone is that which will
hold up your goings, that will stop your feet from sliding.
His word. by the word of thy lips. But it's the word of his lips. It's not just letters on a page. It is a word spoken by the one
true and living God with power to your heart that will keep
you. It is as that word is goes from the natural mind into your
heart that it will keep you. The word spoken, spoken to you. Has the Lord spoken to you? Have
you ever had a word from the lips of the one true and living
God? Has Christ ever been made precious
to your soul? And what words we have, dear
sinner, this morning, if you are one of those that are in
the clutches of the destroyer at this time, if you are one
of those that has been brought into bondage and trial and difficulty
at this time, confusion, whatever you may be in, what promises
we have in the word of God. Because the destroyer will say
to you, look at you, You've out sinned the love of
God. If you were truly one of his people, you wouldn't have done that.
Whatever that that may be. Or there's a word from the lips
of the Lord for you. The blood of Jesus Christ, his
son. What does it say? Cleanseth us
from Some sin? No. Cleanseth us from all sin. But you say, when the destroyer
comes and says, but forever, what about if I then sin again? The word of the Lord is clear.
Come again and confess that sin. For if we confess our sin, he
is faithful and just to forgive us our sin. and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness. But the destroyer will say to
you, well, how can you? How can you know that he will
cleanse your sin? Well, what does the word say
of Jesus say to you? Come unto me all ye that labor
and are heavy laden. Those of you that feel that weight
and burden and the destruction of sin and the threat from it,
come unto me. I will give you rest concerning
the works of men by the word of thy lips I have kept me from
the paths of the destroyer but dear friends may we never
be got may we never be left to that point where when we have
slipped do slip we blame the Lord for our backsliding because
please take note in this verse it says concerning the works
of men by the word of thy lips I have kept me we cannot blame
God when and where we come sure that's why I felt led to read
those verses in Romans chapter 8 this morning What do we read
in there, that verse 13? If ye live after the flesh, ye
shall die. But if ye do something, if ye,
enabled by what? The spirit. Do mortify the deeds
of the body, ye shall live. We can never excuse us because
of where we come short. That's why when we read the epistles,
that's why in the first part, generally speaking of the epistles,
you will have laid before you, laid before the audiences of
the authors of those epistles, what God has done. And then in
the latter part of those epistles, because of what God has done,
what God's people must do. Take note of that, dear friends. Take note. Concerning the works
of men, by the word of thy lips, I have kept me. Solemn, isn't it? The Lord has given means for
the keeping of his people. He has given those means for
the edification and benefit of sinners. He has given the means
of grace. He has given the throne of grace.
He has given his word. He has given the church. He has
given collective worship. He has given the preached word.
He has given the discipline of the church. All of these are
means of grace that he has given. at the psalmist, that you and
that I may be kept and may keep ourselves from the paths of the
destroyer. For those of you that have known
what it is to have had the word of God set you free, to know what it is to have trusted
in the Lord Jesus Christ savingly. That destroyer comes, doesn't
he? And what does he try and do? He tries to steal away the
peace of your salvation. That is what he tries to do.
He knows that he cannot take away your salvation, but he knows
he can sow those seeds of doubt. He can try and twist the word
of God and cause you to doubt the love of Christ. But turn to the word of God. Turn to the word of God, and
we didn't read this part of Romans chapter eight because we didn't
have time. But what do we read in those
latter verses? Verse 33, who shall lay anything to the charge
of God's elect? Not what? Who? Who is he that
condemneth? The destroyer. That one who tries
to shatter our peace. This is the who. But it is Christ
that died. Christ has broken the power of
the destroyer. It is Christ that died, yea,
rather that he's risen again. who is now even at the right
hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. But the
destroyer will say to you, but surely if he had set you free,
you'd have that freedom at the throne of grace, wouldn't you?
Surely you would know what it was to draw near unto him and
to have that fellowship with him. But dear friends, what does
the word of God say? When you feel you have no words
to pray, Jesus Christ, the righteous, is seated at the right hand of
God, the Father. He is there, and he ever liveth
to intercede for you. His work is carrying on. His
work is not finished. And just because you feel that
you cannot pray, and just because you feel that you are blocked
out now because of this, that, and the other, do not forget
the dear Holy Spirit who intercedes for us. Do not forget that. We have hope. And we have that
golden chain that whom he did predestinate, he called. Whom
he called, he justified. Whom he justified, he glorified.
This is the word of God. The destroyer will try and destroy
your peace, but who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can
tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or any
more of those things listed? The apostle Paul was persuaded
that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor anything could
separate him from the love of God. Why? Because it was in Christ
Jesus, our Lord. He wept, and he bled, and he
died for you. What more, my soul, could Jesus
do? This is the word of God. Nothing
can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus
our Lord. It is this word, this word, which
will keep us from the paths of the destroyer. But it is this continual flowing
backwards and forwards, isn't it, between what God does and
what we do. you know I have said I have kept
me from the path of the destroyer but there's no pride in that
because because if we have the word of his lips it is that which
enables us to keep us from the path of the destroyer but when
then what does David go back to now hold up my goings in thy
paths he knows that without the continuing grace of God on which
he is dependent he can do nothing. It is only through his free and
sovereign grace that he was a saved man and it is only through his
free and sovereign grace that he will continue in that way
that his footsteps will be upheld that he will be able to carry
on in the path that leads to life eternal. So never be tempted
that because we are exhorted to do this and that it is dependent
It's dependent upon ourselves. It is as he gives us grace. But we have a promise again for
his people. I will never leave thee, nor
forsake thee. That Jesus Christ is the same
yesterday and today and forever. It is these things that enable
us to be held Hold up my goings. Oh, is that your prayer? As you've
gathered this morning, hold up my goings. We need that holding
up, don't we? We need that to keep us upright
so that we don't slip and slide and fall away. And that is the
importance of the word of God. That's the importance of the
preached word of God. that it does us good and holds
us up. Again, I turn to Psalm 119 verse
116. Uphold me. How? According unto thy word that
I may live and let me not be ashamed of my hope. Oh, what
a problem that is. And how quickly that can be a
problem of us sliding away, being ashamed of our hope. Ashamed
of Jesus that dear friend on whom our hopes of heaven depend
Hold down me up. He says and carries on in verse
1 1 7 and I shall be safe and I will have respect until I statutes
continually. We need that holding up We need
it I need it We need his word That's why I find that Psalm
of Asaph so sweet in Psalm 72. Psalm 73, sorry, isn't it? Because I often feel like Asaph. As for me, my feet were almost
gone, my steps said well and I slipped. And why had Asaph's
feet almost gone and his steps almost slipped? because of what
he was looking at. He wasn't looking at the word
of God and the promises of God. He was envious of the foolish.
He was looking at the prosperity of the wicked. He was seeing
that there were no bands in death. He was seeing that they were
strong. He was saying, they're not in trouble as other men.
They're not plagued. They're getting on pretty well.
And look at me, they're corrupt these people. And yet everything's
going for them. And what was it? that held Asaph
up, and what is it that will hold you up this morning? Asaph
struggled and struggled and struggled in that psalm, until what? Until he went into the house
of God. Until I went into the sanctuary
of God, then understood I their end. until he had that fellowship
with his God, until he had that word from the lips of almighty
God. Then he understood their end.
And not till then, he was refreshed and restrengthened because his
eyes were open to see that yes, everything seemed to be going
against him on this earth. Their feet were in slippery places.
They were being cast down into destruction. And he had to say,
as his eyes were open once again, from the word of God through
his lips, so foolish was I and ignorant. Nevertheless, I am
continually with me. Thou hast holden me by my right
hand. And he had that sweet promise
in those verses in that psalm. Thou hast holden me by my right
hand. Thou shalt guide me. with thy
counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. You know, he was
resting, wasn't he, in the unchanging nature of God, whether in times
past, whether in the present, or in the future, his God would
be with him. Hold up my goings in thy paths,
that my footsteps slip not. Dear friends, we are in great
danger of our footsteps sliding when we turn away from the Word
of God, from the words of His lips. It is that, and it is that
alone, which will hold us up. And I often quote the Words of
Martin Luther, and I don't know if I've ever quoted them here
before, but you know, he said those words and how true it is.
Feelings come, feelings go, feelings are deceiving. My warrant is
the word of God, nor else is worth believing. Though all my
heart should feel condemned for want of some sweet token, there
is one greater than my heart, whose word cannot be broken.
I'll trust in God's unchanging word, till soul and body sever,
for though all things shall pass away, his word shall stand forever. His word shall stand forever. And dear friends, that ties in
with that hymn that we have just sung and the verse we read in
Psalm 94. What held up the Psalmist's feet
in that Psalm? Psalm 94 verse 18, when I said,
my foot slippeth, thy mercy, O Lord, held me up. And that is why we can sing,
isn't it, in the beautiful lines of that hymn, thy mercy, my God,
is the theme of my song, the joy of my heart, and the boast
of my tongue. Why? Because thy mercy, O Lord,
held me up. And without that sweet mercy,
Without that mercy that holds us up, we could not live here.
We could not face the destroyer. We would have no power against
him. Without that mercy, sin soon would reduce us to utter
despair. But through his free goodness,
our spirits revive. Through his word, our spirits
revive again. And he that first made me still
keeps me alive. hold up my goings in thy paths,
that my footsteps slip not. But as David carries on, we'll
just touch briefly on that sixth verse. He called upon the Lord,
but he called upon the Lord with that certain knowledge in his
heart and acceptance that thou wilt hear me, O God. Incline
thine ear unto me, and hear my speech, show thy marvellous lovingkindness. Yes, he trusted the Lord. Yes,
he knew the Lord would hold up his goings. He knew that he would
never leave him nor forsake him. But he wanted a fresh visit again,
didn't he? He wanted a fresh taste of that
lovingkindness. O thou that And may we get those fresh visits.
May we be given those continual drawings from the Word of God. So concerning the works of men,
we know the only way we can be held up is by the Word of His
lips. That will keep us from the paths
of the destroyer. And may it be our daily prayer,
hold up my goings in thy paths. that my footsteps slip not. Amen. We'll close with hymn 767, Shun
Mariah, Gracious Spirit of Divine, let
Thy light within me shine. All my guilty fears remove with
atoning blood and love. Hymn 767, Thunmariah, 495. It's the spirit of divine Lord, I walked with
Him this night, All my guilty fears were gone. With the turning flood in hand,
With the turning flood in hand, ♪ In thy loving grace to me ♪ ♪
Sacrifice ♪ ♪ Sin and pain ♪ We give thee to the Lamb of God. Wash me in His precious blood
Wash me in His precious blood ♪ And nature with us ♪ ♪ Sing the
salvation of your God ♪ Help me to my quest. God has
taught me not to rest. ♪ In hope of rest ♪ ♪ God be with you ♪ ♪ Remember
every time ♪ Let righteous pride live with
Jesus Christ, their Son. God be with us today. God be
with us tomorrow. ♪ When I close and take a seat
♪ ♪ In the Hebrew kingdom come ♪ Go and pray within my breast.
Go and pray within my breast. Mighty and holy Lord God, we
thank thee for thy word. And may it be the word of thy
lips that keeps us. And may it be the word of thy
lips which is used for our good today. So we pray do use thy
word and seal it with power by thy spirit and remove all that
has been wrong in our worship this morning. Be with us between
the services and help each one again as we return this afternoon
if it be thy will. Now may the grace of the Lord
Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, the fellowship of
the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.