The notices for the coming week
are God willing as follows. Mr Graham Cottingham will preach
here next Lord's Day at 10.30 and 2 o'clock. There will be
no service here on Thursday as it is our Thanksgiving service
on Friday when Mr Timothy Parrish is expected to preach at 3.30
and 6.30 There will be a church meeting
here on Tuesday evening at 7 o'clock. The collection at our Thanksgiving
services is for the Christian Institute. The collections and
online donations during August amounted to £2,778.65. Donations
to the book fund were £110. We sincerely thank you for your
continued support for this cause of truth. Let us commence our services
today by singing together hymn number 20. The tune is Montgomery
375. Ere the blue heavens were stretched
abroad, from everlasting was the word, With God he was, the
Word was God, and must divinely be adored. Hymn number 20, tune
Montgomery, 375. ♪ Yet heaven and earth ♪ ♪ Ever
cease to move ♪ ♪ For evermore ♪ ♪ Sing all the world ♪ ♪ With
God in host ♪ O let us love, O let us be guided
in the angel I did it on my own accord in
faith, I did it in self-righteousness, He is the hope in ev'ry circumstance,
And the angels cry out, He is the hope. Yes, in this most hallowed Satan's
lair, He hath the power to stop the rolling stars, O'er the land of the free and
the home of the brave? O come, O come, all ye faithful
joyful and triumphant, and dwells in heaven that we
may love one another. ♪ The saints are keeping watch
and safe ♪ ♪ But Joseph's wife is now on his way ♪ ♪ Eternal
Father, Lord, we serve thee ♪ ♪ Heaven's full of grace ♪ ♪ Heaven's full
of grace ♪ ♪ And truth is the light that I
am shown ♪ ♪ If there's faith in God's people that I know ♪ For the news, strange, clear,
and tender, Ever after, eternally pure, Let us read together from the
holy word of God in the gospel according to Luke and chapter
2. The second chapter in the Gospel
according to Luke. We'll commence reading at verse
25. And behold, there was a man in
Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. And the same man was just and
devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Ghost
was upon him. And it was revealed unto him
by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death before he had seen
the Lord's Christ. And he came by the Spirit into
the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to
do for him after the custom of the law, then took him up in
his arms and blessed God and said, Lord, now let us now thy
servant depart in peace, according to thy word. For mine eyes have
seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face
of all people, a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of
thy people Israel. And Joseph and his mother marveled
at those things which were spoken of him. And Simeon blessed them,
and said unto Mary his mother, that, behold, this child is set
for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a
sign which shall be spoken against. Yea, a sword shall pierce through
thine own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be
revealed. And there was one Anna, a prophetess,
the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asser. She was of a
great age, and had lived with her husband seven years from
her virginity. And she was a widow of about
four score and four years, which departed not from the temple,
but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And
she coming in that instant, gave thanks likewise unto the Lord
and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in
Jerusalem. And when they had performed all
things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into
Galilee to their own city, Nazareth. And the child grew and waxed
strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God
was upon him. Now his parents went to Jerusalem
every year at the feast of the Passover. And when he was 12
years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.
And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child
Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and his mother knew
not of him. But they, supposing him to have
been in the company, went a day's journey, and they sought him
among the kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not,
they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass
that after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting in
the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them
questions. And all that heard him were astonished
at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were
amazed. And his mother said unto him,
Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? Behold, thy father and
I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is
it that ye sought me? Wished ye not that I must be
about my father's business? And they understood not the saying
which he spake unto them. And he went down with them, and
came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them. But his mother kept
all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom
and stature, and in favour with God, and man. May the Lord bless
the reading of his own precious word and grant unto us a spirit
of real prayer. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty,
which is and art and art to come, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, we
bow before thy glorious majesty. Thou art the only True God, for
there is one God and one mediator between God and man, the man
Christ Jesus, who gave his life of ransom for all to be testified
in due time. We thank thee, O Lord, for the
clarity of thy word concerning the glorious person of thine
only begotten Son, manifest in the flesh. We come to Thee in
His name. We come to Thee as poor sinners.
We come to Thee as the fallen sons and daughters of Adam, born
in sin, shapen in iniquity. And we desire, O Lord, to confess
our sins and our wanderings. We confess that we leave undone
things that we ought to do And we do things that we ought not
to do. And we find a law within our
members that when I would do good, then evil is present with
me. And Lord, we find it a constant
and a continual battle between the flesh and the spirit. Thy word declares unto us, the
flesh lusteth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh.
and the one is the contrary to the other. And at thy word, O
Lord, it says to us, behold the Shulamite, in whom there is,
as it were, a company of two armies. And Lord, we prove it
to be so. And the prophet of old declares,
and we prove that to be true, from the crown of the head to
the sole of the foot, Wounds and bruises and putrefying sores,
There is no soundness in my flesh, And, Lord, we prove it day by
day. We come to Thee this day, Pleading
the precious blood and merits of Jesus Christ, For this, O
Lord, is our only hope, No help in self I find, Yet oft has sought
it well, The native treasure of my mind, is sin and death
and hell and Lord we prove it day by day and oh Lord God we
do pray that thou would come this day in the sovereign power
of thy spirit into each one of our hearts that we might know
the quickening power of the Holy Ghost in our souls today quicken
me according to thy word that thy word may become a living
word, that thy word by thy spirit may quicken us, and that we might
feel that regenerating power of the Spirit of God in our hearts,
we do humbly beseech thee, what the dear Apostle calls the washing
of regeneration. O most blessed, holy, divine
Spirit, we pray for thy heavenly power, for thy divine unction
to be known and felt and experienced in our hearts today. We pray
that thou would lead us and guide us and direct us. For as many
as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. And
may we have that witness of thy Spirit with our spirit that we
are indeed the sons and daughters of the Lord God Almighty. May
there be a confirming word May there be a renewing word. May
there be a word that causes us to come nearer to thee, closer
to thee, nearer, nearer to him, clinging. Oh, that we may be
found like that over a closer walk with thee, a calmer heavenly
frame, a light to shine upon the road that leads me to the
Lamb. Lord, we seek thy richest blessing
upon our brethren, the deacons, grace, wisdom, and help may be
given them in all their responsibilities, especially, Lord, in these coming
weeks, that thou wouldst draw near, and help, and bless, and
undertake for them, and be with our beloved brother, Lord, as
he takes the prayer meetings, and grant that he may indeed
dip his foot in oil, and be made acceptable unto the brethren,
and that there may be signs to follow, we do humbly beseech
thee. We pray, most gracious Lord,
that thou wouldst be with thy servants as they come among us
and grant that they too may know that fresh anointing, that divine
power, that heavenly unction of the Holy Ghost. And O Lord
God, we do pray that thou in thy precious mercy wouldst remember
us as a church and as a congregation and richly bless us. for thy
great namesake, that we may see thy work and thy power and thy
glory as thou usest to be in the sanctuary. Lord, we pray
for the little babes, the children. Bless them indeed. Bless them
with the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom, we
pray. O Lord, that thou wouldst raise
up a generation to call thee the Redeemer blessed, that we
may see the fulfilling of that wonderful promise, instead of
thy father shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes
in all the earth. And O Lord God, we pray for the
young friends, bless them indeed, guide them, O thou great Jehovah,
make them pilgrims in this barren land, Hear us, Lord, and go before
them in each untrodden step. Bring them to living faith in
Jesus Christ and to follow thee and serve thee. All that it may
be with them, his track I see, and I'll pursue the narrow way
to him I view. May that be the exercise of the
hearts of our young friends, we do humbly pray thee. We pray. for the prodigals that they may
return, and that thy wonderful grace may be seen in this, and
that we may be given a day of rejoicing. For there is joy in
heaven over one sinner that repented, and may we know that joy here
among us as a church and as a congregation. O Lord, we do pray that thou,
in thy precious mercy, would remember the young friends and
each one regarding a partner in life journey, we lovingly
commend them to thee. Pray that thou would graciously
grant them this gift. And O Lord God, we do pray that
thou would graciously send the glory and light and power of
the gospel into this village and the surrounding villages
and hamlets. Many Many, many precious souls
may be gathered in. We think of thy promise. Lengthen
thy cords, strengthen thy stakes, for thou shalt break out on the
right hand and on the left. Oh, do hear us, Lord. Bring our
sons from far and our daughters from the ends of the earth. Oh,
Lord, we do beseech thee for thy great namesake. And oh, Lord,
we do pray. that thou in thy precious mercy
would make us more spiritually minded and set our affections
on things above, give grace and wisdom to parents to bring up
their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord for
thy great name's sake. And oh Lord God, we do pray that
thou in thy precious mercy would remember all in the midst of
the journey of life and undertake for each one. Deliver us from
temptation. Deliver us from the power and
dominion of sin. Deliver us from the allurements
of this vain world that has to death ten thousands hurled. Deliver
us from the temptations of the enemy that has promised in thy
word that when the enemy comes in like a flood, the spirit of
the Lord will lift up a standard against him. or that we might
see thy work in our hearts, in our lives, in our circumstances. And O Lord, we do pray, remember
that those of us that are in the evening time of life's journey,
prepare for that great change which must come. And Lord, it
can't be long. Prepare me, gracious God, to
stand before thy face Thy spirit must the work perform, for it
is all of grace. Lord, we do pray that we remember
all thy servants as they labour in word and doctrine upon the
walls of Zion today, that thou wouldst grant them the fresh
anointing of thy spirit and grant signs to follow the preaching
of the word. Hear us, O Lord, we humbly beseech
thee. Bless thy Zion. Renew and replenish
thy Zion. Build thou the walls of Jerusalem. Blow with the sovereign wind
of the Spirit among the churches, that there might be a reviving,
a renewing, an ingathering. Instead of a pulling down, may
we see a building up. O Lord, we do beseech thee for
thy great namesake. Remember, Lord, we do pray thee,
thy Zion and send forth yet servants of the Lord to preach the everlasting
gospel of Jesus Christ with feet to run where thou descend. Lord,
we do pray that thou would remember and have mercy upon the churches
up and down the land. Wherever thy people gather, wherever
thy servants stand, grant thy blessing. grant a wonderful renewing,
a reviving, a replenishing. We do humbly beseech them. We
truly live in very dark and solemn days, when iniquity abounds on
every hand. And that, Lord, we pray for those
places that are torn with war. We think of Ukraine and Israel
and the surrounding area, many thousands being taken from time
into eternity. Oh, gracious God. Do incline
thine ear, we do humbly beseech thee, for thy great namesake,
and put a stop to war, and bring to naught the counsels of the
ungodly. We do humbly beseech thee, for
thy great namesake. Give wisdom unto our leaders,
and guidance and direction in all matters, O Lord. Let the
restraining hand of thy grace be upon them, and hear the cries
of thy little remnant. we do humbly pray thee. Bless
our king and the royal household. Bless them with that rich grace
that is in Christ Jesus. Lord, we thank thee. Thank thee
for all thy tender mercies. We thank thee for thy loving
kindness that has passed before us in the way. We thank thee,
O Lord, that thy mercies to us are new every morning. And we
thank thee for bringing our beloved brother and sister from Holland
to be with us. And we pray that thou would bless
them as they visit us here. We do humbly pray thee. We thank
thee above all for Jesus Christ, for the glory of his name, for
the fullness of his grace, for the completeness of his salvation,
made perfect through sufferings. We thank thee for the incarnation
of the Son of God, for the holy life he lived as a man here upon
earth, for the bringing in of everlasting righteousness through
his glorious person, the holy God-man, the fulfilling of the
law, Jehovah Sidkenu. We thank thee for Calvary, where
the Lamb was slain, where sin was put away. Oh, we thank thee
for the precious blood of the Lamb, that cleanses from all
sin, we thank thee did he rose again for our justification.
And as thou bodily entered into heaven and sitteth at thy right
hand, gracious God, fill our hearts with gratitude, with thanksgiving
for all thy tender mercies, for all thy loving kindnesses that
have passed before us in the way. Come and touch one's lips
with a live coal, From off the heavenly altar, we ask with the
forgiveness of all sin, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. Let us now sing together hymn
number 41. The tune is Seek Him, 838. My God, my Creator, the heavens
did bow, to ransom offenders and stoop very low. The body
prepared by the Father assumes, and on the kind Aaron most joyfully
comes. Hymn 41, Tune, Seek Him, 838. O come, O come, all ye faithful
joyful and triumphant O come, O come, all ye faithful joyful
and triumphant O come, O come, all ye faithful joyful and triumphant ♪ And I'll be graven by the Lord
as you do ♪ ♪ And I'll be graven by the Lord as you do ♪ ♪ To honor your love ♪ ♪ Let us
know how dear thy name is ♪ ♪ To sing in her name ♪ ♪ Let the angels of heaven sing ♪ O say does that star-spangled
banner yet wave O'er the land of the free ♪ As men who already stand ♪ ♪
Through thousands of sin and error have died ♪ I say with joys that the world
is my home, my soul is redeemed, salvation My Jesus, my Saviour, Thine to
the world I embrace, Thine is my salvation, ♪ And change the world ♪ ♪ Let
all things as I would ♪ ♪ And glory in the mountains above
♪ ♪ Give thanks and praise to God
the King above ♪ ♪ Give thanks and praise to God the King above
♪ ♪ Come all ye faithful, come all
ye faithful ♪ ♪ Come all ye faithful, come all ye faithful ♪ Greatly feeling to need the Lord's
gracious help, I would direct your attention to the second
chapter in the Gospel according to Luke, and we'll read verse
52 for our text. Luke's Gospel, chapter 2, verse
52. And Jesus, increased in wisdom
and stature, and in favour with God, and man. This is the only place in scripture
where it speaks of the childhood of Jesus Christ and no doubt wisely the rest
is hid. We know of his birth and how
he moved as a little babe but then we know nothing of him until
he's 12 years old. And what a wonderful record it is. We must remember who Jesus is.
He's the Son of God, manifest in the flesh. He's the Eternal
Son of the Eternal Father. As it says in Proverbs 8, I was
set up from everlasting. It's Christ that is speaking
there. I was set up from everlasting. Whoever the earth was, the glorious
divine person of Jesus, the Son of God, often referred to, especially
by the Apostle John, as being the Word. And the Word was made
flesh and dwelt among us. And the Apostle Paul says, great
is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest. in the flesh. It's a profound
mystery and it's a wonderful mystery and
here in this chapter we have the revelation of the Lord Jesus
Christ unto various of them and we read here of Simeon where
we commenced our reading. Behold, there was a, verse 25,
a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon. And the same man
was just and devout, waiting. What a mercy if in Lambethurst
Chapel, there are some waiting souls, waiting for the consolation
of Israel, waiting for the revelation of Jesus Christ. And it says here, and the Holy
Ghost was upon him. That is why he was a waiting
soul, because the Holy Ghost was upon him, because the Lord
had given him faith. It says here in verse 26, and
it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost that he should not
see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. What a revelation. You know, it's a wonderful thing,
but if the Lord has given you an expectation, a hope, it will
be fulfilled. We don't know how long Simeon
was waiting. Some have suggested he was an
old man, but there's nothing in actual scripture that says
he was. But what it does say, he was
waiting for the consolation of Israel. He was waiting for the
coming of Christ. And it was revealed unto him
by the Holy Ghost that he would not see death before he had seen
the Lord's Christ. Now, Joseph and Mary bringing
that holy child Jesus to do with him according to the
law and so the Spirit of God brought
Simeon in. He came by the Spirit into the
temple and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for
him after the custom of the law then took him up in his What a, well friends we can't
really express, you'll know if you've taken Christ in the arms
of faith you will know a little of what Simeon felt when he took
that little holy babe into his arms. There's no nothing different
in that holy babe than in any other child. He didn't look any
different. then took him up in his arms
and blessed God and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant
depart in peace according to thy word. This is what the Lord
had showed him. It was revealed unto him by the
Holy Ghost that he should not see death before he had seen
the Lord's Christ. Lettest thou thy servant depart
in peace according to thy word, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
which thou hast prepared before the face of all people, a light
to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. A wonderful testimony. But you
know, friends, that we need Christ to be revealed. Thousands and thousands of people
saw Christ when he was here upon earth. But to him, to them, there
was neither form nor comeliness that they should desire. It wasn't different. You know, we
see, sometimes we don't agree with pictures of Jesus Christ,
but if you do, you see there's a halo around his head and an
aura around his person. Of course, it wasn't like that.
It was on the Mount of Transfiguration, but it wasn't ordinarily like
that. He looked no different to any
other man. But this man, as it said, behold,
this child is set for the fall and rise again of many in Israel
and a sign which shall be spoken again. in this holy child Jesus. And we read, and Joseph and his
mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. There
was another here. There was one Anna, a prophetess,
the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asa. She was of a great
age and lived with A husband seven years from her virginity,
she was a widow of four score and four years, 84 years she'd
been a widow. So she must have been of a very
good age. In her 90s, which departed not from the temple, but served
God with fasting and prayers night and day. And she coming in that instant,
gave thanks likewise unto the Lord and spake of him to all
them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. What a mercy when the Lord reveals
himself to his people, his waiting people, his longing people. He
satisfied the hungry soul. He filleth them with goodness. Are there those of you here that
are indeed waiting? You know, the very nature of
faith. Faith is the substance of things
hoped for, yet not seen. Things hoped for. What are you
looking for? What are you waiting for? What
are you seeking? What is your heart set upon?
These two dear characters, Anna and Simeon, they were waiting
for Christ. How many of you here are waiting
for Christ? How many of you hear that Christ
has become so precious, so needful? How many of you here can say
with the hymn writer, give me Christ or else I die? How many of you can say with
the apostle that I might know him in the power of His resurrection,
in the fellowship of His suffering. What a mercy, if there are those
of you here that are hungering and thirsting after righteousness,
after righteousness. How many of us here have found,
like the Apostle says in the Hebrews, looking unto Jesus? the author and finisher of our
faith, looking unto Jesus. What a mercy if there are indeed
those of you here that have come to chapel today and you are looking
unto Jesus and you desire to know him and you desire to follow
him and you desire to serve him in your day and in your generation. Now we read here that when they
performed all things according to the law, they returned into
Galilee to their own city, Nazareth. And in verse 40 and in our text,
both speaks of the person of Jesus, the Son of God, manifest
in the flesh. and the child grew and waxed strong in spirit filled
with wisdom and the grace of God was upon him. You know those
of you children we have that word in the Hebrews he was tempted
in all points like as we are yet without sin. He experienced personally the truth. He knew what it was to be a little
toddler. He knew what it was to be a little boy and all the
things that accompany little boys. He knew what it was to be a young
man. They're hidden from us, but He experienced all those
things. And there may be those of you
here, you younger ones, and you may think to yourself, well,
the Lord Jesus, He won't understand my situation. Let me tell you,
He exactly understands your situation. He was tempted in all points
like as we are, yet, without sin, even as a little boy, even
as a young man. He was tempted in all points
like as we are, yet without sin. So don't run away with the idea
that the Lord Jesus does not understand. He does. He fully, completely understands
and the child grew and waxed strong in spirit. filled with
wisdom and the grace of God was upon him. You know, we are instructed
in the Word of God in the third chapter in the Gospel according
to John. It speaks there of our Lord Jesus
Christ and it tells us very clearly that
In verse 34, For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words
of God, for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. The Father loveth the Son, and
hath given all things into his hand. He that believeth on the
Son hath everlasting life. He that believeth not the Son
shall not see life. but the wrath of God abideth
in him. For God giveth not the Spirit
by measure unto him. Each one of the Lord's children
receive the Spirit of God. That is what makes them a child
of God. They receive the Spirit of God.
If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
That spirit of Christ, of course, is the Holy Ghost. He's none
of this. So every true child of God, the
spirit dwells in their heart. The spirit brings them from a state of death into a state of
life. Blessed and holy is he that hath
part in the first resurrection, on such the second death had
no power. But what is the first resurrection? It's the new birth. It's when
the Holy Ghost enters the soul, quickens the soul. That word
quicken means to give life. And you and I, we have no spiritual
life without the quickening power of the Holy Ghost. Ephesians
chapter 2 verse 1. you hath he quickened who were
dead in trespasses and in sins. Indeed we read of our Lord Jesus
Christ and this this sacred anointing of the Spirit of God when the
Lord Jesus entered into the synagogue in Nazareth and he read the first
three verses of Isaiah chapter 61 And it speaks there of the divine
spirit anointing the glorious person of our Lord Jesus Christ. And we read in Isaiah 61, the
spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord hath anointed
me to preach. You know, as we look at these
three verses, we see those three sacred offices that Jesus, the
Son of God, assumed when he became a man. The prophet, the priest,
and the king. The prophet, priest, and king
of his people. And under the Levitical dispensation,
those three offices required anointing with oil. So in the
Old Testament, a king had to be anointed with oil to make
him king. A priest had to be anointed with
oil to the office of the priesthood. And a prophet had to be anointed
with oil. Now, why is that so under the
Levitical dispensation? Why does the prophet, the priest
and the king require anointing? Because they are what are called
typical offices. They typify the glorious person
of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now, under the Levitical dispensation,
there were some that were anointed a prophet, a priest, or a king. There were some that were anointed
prophet and king. David was a prophet and a king.
There were many that were anointed a priest and a prophet, but not
one instance is there a prophet, a priest, and a king all in one
person, because that is the glorious person of Jesus, the Son of God. He was anointed with the Spirit
without measure. And when he read in the synagogue
at Nazareth, the Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because
the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto me. He has sent me to bind up the
brokenhearted. That's the office of a priest.
and to proclaim liberty to the captives, the opening of the
prison to them that are bound, that's the office of the King.
So the Lord Jesus Christ is the prophet, priest and King of His
people. He's been anointed by the Eternal
Father who poured the Spirit upon Him without measure to proclaim
the acceptable year of the Lord and the day of vengeance of our
God, to comfort all that mourn, to appoint unto them that mourn
in Zion to give unto them beautiful ashes, the oil of joy for mourning,
the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they
might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that
he might be glorified. You see, the Lord Jesus, he speaks
of this anointing. And he said, if I, by the finger
of God, cast out devils, Now when he refers to the finger
of God, he's actually referring to the Holy Ghost. If I by the
finger of God, the Lord Jesus wrought miracles by the Holy
Ghost. He cast out devils by the Holy
Ghost. He preached under the power of
the Holy Ghost. We see here, my beloved friends,
how essential the work of the Holy Ghost is, the Spirit of
God is, in the economy of grace. So we find that Joseph and Mary
were very faithful. It says here in verse 41, now
his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the
Passover. They were very faithful in going
up. And you know the journey from
Nazareth down to Jerusalem was a long, hot, arduous journey. And yet they faithfully went
every year. And when he was 12 years old,
they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast and when
they had fulfilled the days as they returned the child Jesus
tarried behind in Jerusalem and Joseph and his mother knew not
of him but they supposing him to have been in the company. Have you ever thought of that?
What a solemn thing if we suppose that we're one of the Lord's
people. If we suppose that because of
this, because of our chapel going, because of our moral character,
that makes us a child of God. Because of our studying and reading
the scriptures, that makes us a child of God. What a solemn thing to come up
to the house of God and suppose that you have the presence of
the Lord but they supposing him to have been in the company went
a day's journey and they sought him among their king's folk and
acquaintance and when they found him not they turned back again
to Jerusalem seeking him And it came to pass that after
three days, you know friends, they must have been frantic.
You imagine if you lose your child. They must have been very frantic.
It came to pass after three days, they found him in the temple. Now this is the wonderful thing,
12 years old, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing
them and asking them questions. And all they that heard him were
astonished at his understanding and answers. The understanding of Jesus, even
at 12 years old, he understood. He could speak on doctrine. When they saw him, they were
amazed. And his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus
dealt with us? Behold, thy father and I have
sought thee sorrowing. Now these are the first recorded
words of Jesus Christ on earth. And he said unto them, How is
it that ye sought me? Wished ye not that I must be
about my father's business. I come to do the will of him
that sent me. That's what we read of our Lord
Jesus Christ. And here, even when he was 12
years old, wished he know that I must be about my father's business. And they understood not the same,
which he spake unto them. They understood it not. and he
went down with them. You know, my father's business,
as a toddler, as a little boy, as a young man, he was doing
his father's business. What was his father's business?
Well, the Lord Jesus tells us quite plainly, I come not to
destroy the law, but to fulfil it. And when it says here he
went down with them, and came to Nazareth and was subject unto
them, you think of what the Apostle calls the first commandment of
the promise, honour thy father and thy mother. It's one of the
sacred commandments of the holy law of God, the Lord Jesus. He fulfilled the law in every
jot, in every tittle, in spirit, word and deed. He was perfect. He was perfect. He was sinless. We know from the character of
him in his earthly ministry, he was loving, he was kind and
I'm quite sure he was when he was a little boy and a young
man. Loving and kind. And his mother kept all these
sayings in her heart. and Jesus increased in wisdom,
now friends and stature. Now what we have here is Jesus
the Son of God. Now as the Son of God, he's Jesus
Christ the same yesterday and today and forever. There can
never be any change in the divine nature of Jesus the Son of God. None whatsoever. But the reality
of his human nature is that he was conceived in the womb of
the Virgin. A holy conception. If you just
turn to chapter 1 and we have it so beautifully laid out. And in verse 31 it says, and
behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son
and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great and shall be
called the Son of the Highest. And the Lord God shall give unto
him the throne of his father David, see the king. And he shall
reign over the house of Jacob forever. This kingdom is an eternal
kingdom. And of this kingdom there shall
be no end. It's an eternal kingdom. And
then Mary, quite understandably, then said Mary unto the angel,
how shall this be? See, and I know not a man. And
that question gives us the clear instruction of how this happened.
And the angel answered and said unto her, the Holy Ghost shall
come upon thee, and the power of the higher shall overshadow
thee. Therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of
thee shall be called the Son of God. And then she gave, the
angel gave her sign unto Mary and behold thy cousin Elizabeth,
that's of course the mother of John the Baptist, she hath also
conceived a son in her old age and this is the sixth month with
her who was called barren for with God nothing shall be impossible. Now it's very obvious that Mary
was a very young woman And it's also very obvious that Elizabeth
was a very old woman. And yet, you see, for with God
nothing shall be impossible. And we notice in verse 39, and
Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with
haste into the city of Judah. Now my beloved friends, why did
she do that? Because the Lord had given her
a sign. And she immediately went to go and find out if that was
the correct and true thing that the Lord had said to her. And
entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elizabeth. Now how wonderful must that have
been when it came to pass that when Elizabeth heard the salutation
of Mary, the babe, that is John the Baptist, leaped in her womb
and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost. And she spake
with a loud voice and said, blessed art thou among women, and blessed
is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, see
what was revealed unto Elizabeth, and whence is this to me, that
the mother of my Lord should come to me. For lo, as soon as
the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ear, the babe lit leapt
in my womb and blessed is she that believed for there shall
be a performance of those things which were told her by the Lord
and then we have what is called Mary's Magnificat, my soul doth
magnify the Lord and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour
for he hath regarded the lowest day of his handmaid Just notice
that, friends, because the Roman Catholic Church teaches that
Mary is without sin, that she was holy, and yet the true Mary
that we find in Holy Scripture, my spirit rejoiceth in God my
Saviour. She was a sinner like any other
woman, and she needed that salvation, that precious blood of this holy
child to cleanse away all has said. You see my beloved friends,
these things are written for our instruction and Jesus' increasing
wisdom. So he learnt. Just as boys and
girls have to learn today. As a man, as a boy, as a young
man he learnt by the things that he did, the things that he observed.
No doubt he did lessons etc. just like you teach your children
So Jesus knew what it was. And Jesus increased in wisdom
and stature. He grew from a little babe into
a little boy and into a young man and through his teenage years. But these are all wisely hidden
from us. If you look, the next chapter,
it immediately goes to the Christ when he was going into the ministry.
That's when he's 30 years old. The rest is covered over. But
we know that he was holy, that he was pure, that he was righteous. And Jesus increased in wisdom
and stature. You know, the seat of our intellect is in our soul. And that is what
makes us differ from the beasts of the field and the birds of
the air and the fish of the sea. God made man in his own image. And God breathed into man the
breath of life. And man became a living soul.
That was God's work in creation. And these things are recorded
to show us that Jesus took a nature exactly the same as ours. Exactly the same as ours. Now
the Apostle Paul, when he writes his epistle to the Hebrews, he
very beautifully there in the second chapter speaks of the
human nature and the divine nature of Jesus, the Son of God. And
we read there in Hebrews chapter 2, concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, He quotes to us in verse 6 from
Psalm 8, but one in a certain place testifies saying, what
is man? That thou art mindful of him.
All the Son of Man, that thou visitest him. He's speaking now
of the creation of Adam. That thou madest him, that is
man, a little lower than the angels. Thou crownest him with
glory and honor, which we read in the book of Genesis. and did
set him over the works of thy hands thou hast put all things
in subjection under his feet for in that he put all in subjection
under him he left nothing that is not put under him but now
we see not yet all things put under him but we see Jesus who
was made a little lower than the angels and he tells us why
for the suffering of death That's why the Son of God became a man
for the suffering of death. The Son of God in his divine
nature could not die. The Son of God in his divine
nature could not be tempted of evil. He knew no weakness, not
as the Son of God. But as the Son of God manifest
in the flesh, often called the Son of Man, He himself often
refers to himself as the son of man. But we see Jesus, who was made
little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death, crowned
with glory and honor, that he, by the grace of God, should taste
death for every man, by the grace, by the favor of the eternal God. He suffered, he bled, he died,
Now where it says for every man, it's referring, not that every
man has been redeemed, but it's referring to the uniqueness of
this way of salvation. That if ever any of us are to
be saved, it's only through Jesus Christ. Only through Jesus Christ. For it became him, though it
speaks of his divine nature, for whom are all things and by
whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make
the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings."
Perfect through suffering. He perfectly suffered. When you
look at this where it says, perfect through sufferings, it used to
puzzle me. years ago, I used to look at
it and think, what does that really mean? What can be perfect
in sufferings? To me, into my mind, it seems
just the opposite. When Christ was on Calvary, in
John 19, it says, Jesus, knowing in himself that all things were
now accomplished, perfect, through suffering. He knew that he had
suffered what the church should have suffered forever in eternal
petition. And that is what Jesus suffered
in the garden and on the cross. For both he that sanctifies and
they who are sanctified are all of one. for which cause he is
not ashamed to call them brethren. And he quotes here from Psalm
22, which is a beautiful messianic psalm, saying, I will declare
thy name unto my brethren. In the midst of the church will
I sing praise unto thee. And again, when he says and again,
he's quoting from Holy Scripture. I will put my trust in him. And
again, behold I and the children which God has given me. all that
the father giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh unto
me I will in no wise cast out for as much then as the children
that's the children of god that were given to him by the father
before the foundation of the world for as much then as the
children are partakers of flesh and blood he also himself that
is the son of god likewise took part of the same that through
death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that
is the devil, and deliver them who through fear of death were
all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily, he took
not on him the nature of angels, but he took on him the seed of
Abraham. There have been those who down
through the ages have denied the divinity of Christ and they
say well he was he was an angel well it's true that he was an
angel but he's an angel with a capital a the angel of the
everlasting covenant the eternal son of the eternal father he
became bone of our bone flesh of our flesh wherefore in all
things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren that he
might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining
to God, to make reconciliation. How it points us to Calvary,
where the Lamb was slain, where the pure, the holy, the spotless
Son of the Father shed his precious blood. In Acts chapter 20, It says of the Lord's redeemed
people whom he hath saved with his own blood, with his own blood. He's Jesus, the Son of God. You
know, the law demanded a perfect sacrifice. The law expresses
what the holiness of God and There could have been ten thousands
of the most finest of the specimens of the sons of man upon earth
that sacrificed, but not one would atone for sin. Why? Because
they're sinful. Therefore, they're not acceptable
to God. In the Levitical dispensation,
when they brought a sacrifice to the altar, the emphasis was
it had to be without blemish. Why? Because it typified Christ.
without blemish, pure, holy, spotless, undefiled, separate
from sinners. That's what our Lord Jesus is.
And that sacrifice that he offered on the cross of Calvary was pure,
holy, righteous, acceptable to God. There's that book of John
Bunyan's, it's called The Acceptable Sacrifice. Why? Because it's
holy. Because of the infinite worth
of that sacrifice is Jesus the son of God. He offered his own
perfect humanity on the altar of his divinity. He shed his
precious blood and the blood of Jesus Christ, God's son, cleansed
us from all sin. And Jesus increased in wisdom
and stature and in favor with God and man. We have the witness
of the Father. When the Lord Jesus, when he
was 30 years old, he was baptized by John the Baptist in the river
Jordan. And what witness does John give
us of that baptism in Jordan? The voice of the Father speaking
from heaven, this is my beloved son. in whom I am well pleased. He was well pleased with that
obedience of his son, Jesus Christ. And again, when he was transfigured
before the disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration, again, we
hear that voice from heaven, the voice of the Father. This
is my beloved son in whom I and well pleased. The Lord is well
pleased for his righteousness sake. He is. And he's well pleased
with the church in the glorious person of his son because his
precious blood, his sin atoning sacrifice, his glorious righteousness
has redeemed them, has delivered them from the curse of the law
and the condemning sentence of the law. And when the Lord's
people die, that they shall go to eternal glory, to everlasting
happiness. Why? Because of this perfect
Saviour and Jesus' increasing wisdom and satire and in favour
with God and man. May the Lord add His blessings. Let us now sing together hymn
number 38. The tune is Diademata, 77. I will read the first verse and
we'll commence singing at the second verse. Behold, the grace appears, the
promise is fulfilled, Mary the wondrous virgin bears, and Jesus
is the child. Hymn number 38, Tune Diademata,
77. ♪ Let not our sin be satisfied
♪ ♪ In this day, for ever and evermore ♪ ♪ Amen ♪ O'er the ramparts we watched,
were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket's red glare, the
bombs bursting in air, His kingdom, let it reign. To bring the glorious news, The
heav'nly hope of peace, ♪ Of their joys and malicious their pleas ♪ ♪ Her
wonders strange did be ♪ ♪ To David's city pine ♪ And come ye to England o'er to
me, That ye can think of me. With hopes and hopes in me, Go,
visit Christ for me, And spread the flaming true policy, Which
your elders heard them say. ♪ Glory to God on high ♪ ♪ And
every peace on earth ♪ ♪ The will to men of anger strive ♪
♪ And the weak to power strive ♪ In worship shall we all, Let
saints employ their song. ♪ With the celestial host we join
♪ ♪ And proudly beat the stars ♪ ♪ Glory to God on high ♪ and
heav'nly peace on earth. The pilgrim and the waitress
join, and the greedy Now may the grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, the sacred fellowship
of the Holy Spirit, rest and abide with us each, both now
and forevermore. Amen.