for the coming week are God willing
as follows. Pastor will preach here next
Lord's Day at 10 30 and two o'clock also on Thursday evening at seven
o'clock. There'll be a prayer meeting
here on Tuesday evening at seven o'clock. Let us commence our services
today by singing together hymn 952 The tune is Arizona 284. Beloved Saviour, faithful Friend,
The joy of all Thy blood-bought train, In mercy to our aid descend,
Or else we worship Thee in vain. Hymn 952. Tune Arizona 284. God is great, the faith, the
prayer, The joy of all, the crown of grace, Give mercy to her,
make peace with her, nor else we were to be in vain. In vain we meet to sing and pray,
? If I sit in the bench with thou
? ? Thou hast remained as low as the sea ? Tell me, then, Lord, thy place
below. Give her defense, thyself in
peace, Thy tender mercies give, Maker, Her praise on us a scale
of praise. ? And set the dream ? ? Reflects
in time ? ? We have become ? ? Like one, we pray ? Sing in tune how they cast their
harp. We bow as sinners at thy feet. and bid thee welcome to our church. We'll light a heart to thee in
the Come, Savior, joy us all in love. To love and praise thy gracious
name, Until we meet again, my throne. Let us read together from the
Holy Word of God in the first epistle of John and chapter 3. The First Epistle of John, Chapter
3 Behold, what manner of love the
Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the
sons of God, therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew
him not. Beloved, now are we the sons
of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know
that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall
see him as he is. And every man that hath this
hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. Whosoever
commiteth sin transgresseth also the law, For sin is the transgression
of the law, and ye know that he was manifested to take away
our sins, and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth
not. Whosoever sinneth hath not seen
him, neither known him. Little children, that no man
deceive you, He that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of
the devil, for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this
purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works
of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth
not commit sin, for his seed remaineth in him. and he cannot
sin because he is born of God. In this the children of God are
manifest, and the children of the devil. Whosoever doeth not
righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his
brother. For this is the message that
ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another,
not as Cain, who was of that wicked one and slew his brother,
and wherefore slew he him because his own works were evil and his
brother's righteous. Marvel not, my brethren, if the
world hates you. We know that we have passed from
death unto life because we love the brethren. He that loveth
not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother
is a murderer, and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life
abiding in him. Hereby perceive we the love of
God, that because he laid down his life for us, and we ought
to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this
world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his
bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God
in him. My little children, let us not love in word, neither
in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that
we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
for if our heart condemn us God is greater than our heart and
knoweth all things. Beloved if our heart condemn
us not then have we confidence toward God and whatsoever we
ask we receive of him because we keep his commandments and
do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his
commandment, that we should believe on the name of his son, Jesus
Christ, and love one another as he gave us commandment. And
he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth
in us by the spirit which he hath given us. May the Lord bless
the reading of his own precious word of truth and grant to us
a spirit of real prayer. Almighty, most merciful and eternal
God of heaven, we do desire to bow before thy glorious majesty. And we do desire, O Lord, a spirit
of true worship. We solemnly realize, O Lord,
our sinfulness and the corruption of our heart and the uncleanness
of our nature. And Thou art holy and righteous
altogether. We read of Thee in Thy word,
thus saith the High and Lofty One, that inhabiteth eternity,
whose name is holy. So we desire, O Lord, to come
to thee in that wonderful name of Jesus Christ. For there is
one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus. We come, O Lord, pleading his
precious blood and his merits, his righteousness. For, Lord,
we have no righteousness of our own. And the blood of Jesus Christ,
God's Son, cleanseth us from all sin. This, O Lord, is our
only hope in the finished work of Jesus Christ. And we pray
that he may be set forth in all his glory and suitability as
a prince and as a saviour for to give repentance and remission
of sins. Lord, we pray that it may be
with us today as it was with the dear apostle at Thessalonica,
when he could say, for our gospel came unto you, not in word only,
but in power, in the Holy Ghost, and with much assurance. And
we pray, Lord, that that may be the case today, that the word
of truth may have free course, and that thy name may be honoured
and glorified. We pray to be led of the Spirit
of God, for as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are
the sons of God. So we pray, most gracious God,
that we may truly worship thee, and that we may draw near to
thee in that glorious person of our Lord Jesus Christ. Nothing
in my hand I bring. Simply to thy cross I cling.
Foul I to the fountain fly. Wash me, Saviour, or I die. We pray that thou wouldst look
upon us as a church and as a congregation. that thou would work mightily,
powerfully and effectually among us, that we may see thy work
and thy power and thy glory in the gospel among us, that we
may be favoured with signs to follow the preaching of the word. O gracious God, do incline thine
ear, we pray thee, and work mightily, powerfully and effectually Lord,
we pray that thou wouldst bless our brethren, the deacons, that
thou wouldst give needed grace, wisdom and help in all their
responsibilities and that thou wouldst help us to continue and
to press on and to press forward. Enable us, O Lord, to lay aside
every weight and the sin that doth so easily beset us and that
we might run with patience the race that is set before us, looking
unto Jesus. Lord, we do pray to be made more
spiritually minded and our heart and our affections may be set
upon things above. We pray, most gracious God, that
Thou in Thy precious mercy would raise my soul above the ground
and draw my thoughts to Thee Oh, do grant that that may be
so today, that we may set our affections on things of art and
not on things of the earth. Lord, we pray for each one of
our brethren and sisters in church fellowship, that thou would graciously
bless us together as a church and as a congregation. May we
love each other, serve each other, and bear each other's burdens,
thereby fulfilling the law of Christ. Lord, we do pray that
we may know that sacred witness within our hearts, what we've
read together in thy word, we know that we are passed from
death unto life because we love the brethren. Lord, we do pray
that thou wouldst bless the word that has been preached among
us here in these past two weeks. And we pray, O Lord, that there
may be signs to follow the preaching of thy servants, that it might
find an abiding place in the hearts of thy people. We seek
thy blessing, O Lord, upon the little ones and the children,
that thou wouldst bless them indeed. that thou hast put the
fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom, into their
hearts in their young and in their tender years. We do pray
that thou wouldst bless the young, friends, that thou wouldst bring
them to living faith in Jesus Christ and make them true followers
of thee and of those who through faith and patience inherit the
promises. Do grant, Lord, that it may be
so. Let Thy work appear unto Thy servants and Thy glory unto
their children, O Lord, we do beseech Thee. And Lord, it's
Thy work that we long to see, that strange and that peculiar
work, the work of the Blessed Spirit. Put forth Thy Spirit
with the word and cause the dead to hear, O Lord, we do beseech
Thee. Lord, we pray for parents, that
they may be given grace and wisdom and help to bring up their children
in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. We pray for all
in the midst of the journey of life, that thou wouldst graciously
undertake for them, that where there is death, give life, where
there is darkness, give light, where there is bondage, give
liberty. Lord, thou alone are able to do these things. We think
also of those that are away seeking rest and change at this time
and we commend them to thee and pray that they may find rest
and change and that they may be favoured in their souls. Pray
for our Dutch friends here with us today and seek that they may
feel at home and that thy blessing may rest upon them and that thy
blessing may rest upon the churches in Holland. Thy work may be made
manifest. O Lord, we do beseech of Thee.
We pray that Thou would remember any and any trouble or trial
or perplexity, sorrow, sadness or bereavement that Thou would
undertake for each one. We pray for those of us, O Lord,
that are now in the evening time of life journey. that thou wouldst
be gracious unto us and that thou wouldst prepare us for that
great change which must come. We pray that as the outward man
perishes the inward man may be renewed day by day. We pray for prodigals that have
wandered from the ways of truth and righteousness that thou wouldst
lay hold of them that thou wouldst cause them to be in want and
cause them to return. Lord, what rejoicing there would
be to see those prodigals returning. And O Lord, we do pray that thou
wouldst send out the glory, light and power of gospel truth into
this village and the surrounding villages and hamlets that we
may yet see many precious souls gathered in and coming under
the sound of the gospel and being brought into subjection to thee.
Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, and ride prosperously. May we see the pulling down of
the strongholds of Satan and the setting up of the kingdom
of the Lord Jesus in the hearts of sinners. And O gracious God,
we do pray for all thy servants as they labor in word and doctrine
upon the walls of Zion, that thou would set them free and
at liberty today, that thou would grant journey in mercies, that
thou would grant signs to follow the preaching of the Word, that
thou would return to Jerusalem with mercies. O, do hear us,
O Lord, we pray thee, and send a day of prosperity. And instead
of a declension, may we see a building up. Instead of a falling away,
may we see an ingathering. O hearken and hear, O Lord, we
do beseech thee for thy great name's sake. And O Lord, we pray
that thou wouldst remember the little causes of truth up and
down the land, and remember thy servants everywhere. And we pray
that thou in thy precious mercy wouldst graciously hear prayer
for thy Zion, for thy church in the day in which we live,
a dark day, a solemn day. Gracious God, we do pray that
thou would remember our government, that thou would give wisdom,
guidance and direction unto those that rule over us. We pray, most
gracious God, that Thou in Thy great mercy wouldst give them
wisdom and guidance and bless Hakeem and the royal household
with that rich grace that is in Christ Jesus. We do humbly
beseech Thee. Lord, we do pray that Thou wouldst
graciously remember those that labour in word and doctrine among
the nations of the earth. Especially we would remember
Ian Sadler and that great work in the distribution of Holy Scripture
in the various nations of the earth and as he goes forth and
labours among those different places, Lord bless his ministry
with great success. We do humbly pray then that it
may be down to thy honour, glory and praise. Remember the Savannah
Education Trust and that great work that they are doing in Ghana
O Lord, do bless them, we do humbly beseech them, and grant
that thy mighty work may be seen there in giving so many hundreds
a Christian education. Lord, we do pray that thou would
remember the Mombasa mission and thy servant that labours
there, and that thou would bless them with light and understanding
in thy word, and bless Him, Lord, with signs to follow the preaching
of the Word. O Lord, we do thank Thee for
this Thy holy day. We thank Thee, O Lord, for Thy
mercies to us anew every morning, and great is Thy faithfulness. We thank Thee, most gracious
God, for the open Bible, for the gospel of Thy grace, We thank
Thee for the glories of Christ, the incarnation of the Son of
God, the holy life He lived as a man here upon earth, bringing
in everlasting righteousness for Thy people. We thank Thee
for that holy sacrifice of Calvary, when the Lamb was slain, where
sin was put away, where God and sinners are reconciled, where
peace is made. between its God and man. We thank
Thee, most gracious Lord, that He died for our sins and rose
again for our justification and now has bodily ascended into
heaven and made a new and living way into the holy place. We thank
Thee that through Him we know the love of our eternal Father
and we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Praise, waiteth for
Thee, O God, in Zion. and unto thee shall the vow be
performed. We pray that thou would come
and touch one's lips with a live coal from off the heavenly altar. We ask for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. Let us now sing together hymn
number 490. The tune is Monkland, 482. Jesus, our triumphant head, risen
victorious from the dead, to the realms of glory gone, to
ascend his rightful throne. Hymn 490. tune Monkland 482. Till the realms of glory are
gone, Till earth and space are one and all, ? Let all the world praise thee
? ? Let all the world praise thee ? ? Let all the world praise
thee ? ? Let all the world praise thee ? ? God to us all ? ? Sing a hymn for eternity ? ?
Sing a hymn for eternity ? And it shall be over him, And
it shall be over him, ? In all majesty raised ? ? Heaven's
high good Lord engaged ? ? Angels' songs of victory sing ? ? Let joy fill every heart ? ?
Glory in excelsis Deo ? ? Heaven and earth are full of the Savior's praise ? ? Love me, love me, love me, love
me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love
me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love
me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love
me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love me,
love me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love me,
love me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love me,
love me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love me,
love me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love me,
love me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love me,
love me Greatly feeling to need the Lord's
gracious help, direct your attention to the first epistle of John
in chapter 3 and we will read verse 2 for our text. First epistle of John, chapter
3, verse 2. Beloved, now are we the sons
of God. and it does not yet appear what
we shall be but we know that when he shall appear we shall
be like him for we shall see him as he is. Beloved, we notice in this epistle
how the Apostle John He often uses this beautiful term when
he's addressing believers, beloved. And what a sacred term it is. Beloved now are we the sons of
God. You know you think of that word
beloved and then we think of that beautiful word in Jeremiah
chapter 31 and verse 3. Yea, I have loved thee with an
everlasting love, therefore with loving kindness have I drawn
thee. And you know that is such a beautiful
word, everlasting love. love without beginning and without
ending, in that beautiful description of Christ in Solomon's Song and
Chapter 5, when the spouse speaks of her beloved, she says, his
hands are as gold rings. His hands, the hands of Christ
are as gold rings. Gold, in that metaphorical sense,
in that sacred Hebrew poetry, sets forth divinity, the deity,
the deity of Christ. He's not just a man, he's not
just a good man, he's not just a righteous man, he's the holy
god man, he's the eternal son of the eternal father. And a ring has no beginning and
it has no ending. And that sets before us the eternal
love of God to his people. Yea, I have loved thee with an
everlasting love. It's an everlasting love. It's
a love that has no beginning. It's a love that has no ending.
It's a love that is from all eternity and it's a love that
is to all eternity. The everlasting love of God.
in Jesus Christ. But the beautiful comforting
thought of that word in Jeremiah, it is this everlasting love. When it's shed abroad in the
heart of a poor sinner, it draws. It draws. We read in Holy Scripture,
I will draw thee with the cords of a man, the man is Christ. But Christ is the God-man. And
when this love of God is shed abroad in the heart, it draws. Now, how many of you here in
this chapel this morning, you feel drawn towards Christ? You feel an affection towards
Christ? Maybe if I was to ask you very
pointedly whether you love the Lord or whether you're a believer
in Christ, you may not be able to answer me affirmatively. But if I was to say, are you
drawn to Christ, you could say yes. I am drawn to Christ. I see a beauty in Christ. I see
a loveliness in Christ. You know, we read our Lord Jesus
Christ in John's Gospel, he says, none come except the Father drawn. None come except the Father drawn. So, if we're drawn to Christ,
we see a beauty in Christ, a loveliness in Christ, you have desires after
Christ, you're drawn to him. Maybe it's with you as it was
with the dear apostle in Philippians chapter 3. That I may know him
in the power. Now that's the thing, isn't it?
It's one thing, my beloved friends, to say we know about Jesus Christ. We read about him in the word,
we hear about him in the gospel, in the preaching. But is there
that personal desire towards him that you might know him,
not just to know about him, but to know him in the power of his
resurrection? To feel that living power of
the living Christ in your heart, in your soul? How many of us
can come in there that I may know him, that desire? I remember a long time ago now
reading the life of J. H. Gosden and he said in there
that the religion of the living family of God is found more in
desire than in possession. There's a desire, there's a longing
and we find throughout the word of God those words that speak
comfort, blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness,
for they shall be filled. Blessed are the poor in spirit. Mercy, you know, it's not comforting,
but what a mercy if we know our poverty, our sinfulness, the
corruption of our heart, the uncleanness of our nature, It's a solemn thing, but it's
a mercy if you feel it. Joseph Hart, in one of his hymns,
he says, to see sin smarts but slightly. To own with lit confession
is easier still, but oh to feel, oh to feel cuts deep beyond expression. To feel. We want a feeling religion. I only ever heard Mr. Shaw of
Chippenham on one occasion preach at Pickhill Chapel. He made a
statement that I've never forgotten. If all the religion you have
is above your collar, you'll go to hell. So what does he mean? If all the religion you have
is in your head, We need a religion in the heart.
As the word of God declares, it is with the heart that man
believeth unto righteousness. Do you have a heart religion?
The heart represents the innermost part of our being. The head represents
our intellect. We want more than an intellectual
religion. We need something living and
powerful in our hearts. We need to be drawn to Christ. Beloved, now are we the sons
of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know
that when he shall appear, that is Christ, we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is. And in this first verse, again,
speaking of the love of God, behold what manner of love the
Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the
sons of God. Therefore the world knoweth us
not, because it knew him not. We should be called the sons
of God, the sons and daughters of the Lord God Almighty. I think
of that word in the Corinthians, come out from among them, that
is come out from the world, is a divine call, come out from
among them and be ye separate, touch not the unclean thing and
I will be a father unto you and ye shall be my sons and daughters. saith the Lord God Almighty. You see there is a divine call. Abraham had that divine call
when he was in Ur of the Chaldees and we read that the Lord called
him out of Ur of the Chaldees and he went out not knowing whether
he went to the land of promise. He went out by faith And that's
what the Lord's people walk by faith and not by sight. And this faith of the Lord's
people, again it's not some intellectual thing. As we read in, I think
it's in the Colossians, faith which worketh by love. Some people have a faith which
is just intellectual. just what they've been brought
up to understand concerning the truth. Their faith is in their
head, not in their heart. And not only that, it's love. Faith which worketh by love.
There's an affection, there's a desire to Christ. Faith looks
to Christ. Faith looks to what Christ has
done. Now he says here, now are we
the sons of God. What a mercy to be a son of God. A son or a daughter of the Lord
God Almighty. And this is something that was
done in eternity past when our eternal father gave to his only
begotten son the church. He chose a people from the ruins
of the Adam fall. He chose them from every nation,
kindred, tongue and tribe and people. And he gave those people
to his son, Jesus Christ. He gave them to him to redeem
the church. My mind was much drawn in meditation
to the epistle to the Galatians and chapter 4 and there in Galatians
chapter 4 he says here now I say that the heir as long as he is
a child differs nothing from a servant though he be lord of
all but is under tutors and governors until the time appointed by the
father even so we when we were children were in bondage under
the elements of the world But when the fullness of time
was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under
the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might
receive the adoption of sons. And just look at the way this
is worded, and because ye are sons, God has sent forth the
Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Because you are sons, therefore
He's given you the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit proceeded forth
from the Father and the Son. And He proceeds forth into the
hearts of the Lord's chosen people. He does. Man hates the doctrine
of election. It's clearly set out in God's
Word. There would be no believers if it were not for the doctrine
of election. There would be no salvation if
it was not for the doctrine of election. The electing love of
the Father, the redeeming love of the Son and the sanctifying
love of the Holy Ghost and because you are sons. If
the Spirit of God has entered into your heart because you are
a son or a daughter. Some sons, especially Armenians
would put it the other way around that because you believe then
the Lord loves you. But the Bible
puts it the other way. Because you were chosen, because
you were redeemed in Christ, therefore the Spirit of God has
entered your heart, quickened your soul, and brought you and drawn you
to Jesus Christ. You see, and because you are
sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son, into your
hearts. Notice this word, into your hearts,
crying Abba, Father. The New Testament was written
in Greek. Abba is the Greek for father. Abba, Father. Wherefore thou
art no more a servant but a son. And if a son, then an heir of
God through Christ. You see, my beloved friends,
it's as the Spirit enters the heart, how vital, how necessary
is the work of the Holy Ghost. The Lord Jesus, He said to Nicodemus,
didn't He? He must be born again. Except
a man be born of water and of the Spirit, He cannot enter the
kingdom of heaven. How vital is that divine work
of the Spirit of God in the heart to quicken our souls into life.
You hath he quickened who were dead. Ephesians chapter 2 verse
1. You hath he quickened who were
dead in trespasses and in sins. The word quickened is an old
English word which means to give life. You hath he given life
who were dead. That was your state and condition
by nature. We were born in sin, we're shapen
in iniquity, we're unrighteous altogether. That's our condition
by nature. And unless the Holy Ghost enters
your heart and quickens your soul, you remain in that solemn
condition of spiritual death. You hath he quickened. How many
of us here in this chapel have been quickened, have been given
spiritual life and light so that you're now seeking for something,
you're now looking for something, you're now praying for something.
There was a time when you didn't pray, but now you do pray. There
was a time when you had no spiritual desires, but now you do have
spiritual desires and spiritual longings. These are evidences of spiritual
life, spiritual desires and spiritual longings. Beloved, now are we
the sons of God. These evidences that we are the
children of God by faith in Jesus Christ. Beloved, now are we the
sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be,
but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is. when He shall appear. There's
a time coming, my beloved friends, when the Lord will appear. When
the archangels trump shall sound. And the end of the world will
come. When He shall appear. He shall
appear to His people. When Christ comes, He will appear
to His people. It's a very solemn thought, but
you know our Lord Jesus Christ in his parables, in his teachings,
he speaks of ten virgins. And those virgins represent the
professing Christian church. But then he tells us this, five
were wise and five were foolish. They all thought they were wise.
They all thought they were believers and followers of Jesus Christ. But the Lord Jesus who seeth
into the heart, he said there were five of them that had no
grace. Oil represents grace. They had
no oil in their lamps. They had no grace in their hearts. So My beloved friends, do you
and I have grace in our hearts? Do you and I seek after the Lord
Jesus Christ? There are those, my beloved friends,
that make a big profession of religion, but they know nothing of the
power of God's Spirit in their hearts. It's a very solemn thing,
isn't it? They're no better than the wicked.
They make a profession of the name of Christ. Christ himself
said, many shall say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord, and
I will say unto them, depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting
fire, reserved for the devil and his angels. What a terrible,
awful thing he warns us about. You see, we read of those ten
virgins and the five wise, the five foolish, and the wise were made ready for
the appearing of Jesus Christ. And in that context, the Lord
Jesus says, Be ye also ready, for at such a time as ye think
not the Son of Man cometh. Be ye also ready. Those wise virgins were ready. When the bridegroom came, their
lamps were burning. And they went into heaven, into
eternal glory. They were made ready. Are you? Am I? Made ready. Prepared. Heaven is a prepared place for
a prepared people. Hell is a prepared place for
an unprepared people. We read that those five wise
virgins went in, into glory, and the door was
shut. And when the other five came,
and they said, Lord open to us. And they said to him, We have
brought miracles in thy name. We have done wonderful things
in thy name. We preach in thy name. And he shall say, depart
from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil
and his angels. Oh, we sing that lovely little
hymn, don't we? Prepare me, gracious God, to
stand before thy face. Thy spirit must the work perform,
for it is all of grace. In Christ's obedience, clothe
and wash me in his blood. So shall I lift my head with
joy among the sons of God. Prepare me." Mr Wood, he used
to quote a similar verse from the hymns of ancient and modern concerning Now, my God, prepare
my soul for that great day and wash me in thy precious blood.
Take all my sins away. How vital is that precious blood
of Jesus Christ to take away our sins. Beloved, now are we
the sons of God. and it doth not yet appear what
we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear, we shall
be like him, for we shall see him as he is. You know, friends, we need more
than just attending the house of God, than just being among
the Lord's people. We need that vital personal work
of the Holy Ghost in the heart. Bringing us to realise our need
as a poor sinner. Christ said when he the spirit
of truth is come, he will reprove the world of sin, of righteousness
and of judgement. When he comes to the heart, he
reproves of sin. I couldn't give anything for
your religion if it doesn't have sin in it. You might say what
a strange thing to say. My beloved friends, if the Holy
Ghost is working in your heart, you will know that you are a
sinner. You will feel that you are a sinner. How vital, my beloved friends,
is this work of the Divine Spirit in the heart to prepare us. and to bring us, in our need,
in our helplessness, in our hopelessness, in our insufficiency, to bring
us to Jesus Christ, the only Saviour of sinners. Beloved, now are we the sons
of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know
that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him. for we shall
see him as he is when he shall appear. My mind was much drawn
in meditation to the to the book of Psalms and in the book of
Psalms as we would expect the sweet Psalmist of Israel he speaks
of glory he often speaks of Christ So we read in Psalm 16, it's
a prophecy concerning Christ, but it also is the true believer
in Christ. It says in Psalm 16 and from
verse 8, I have set the Lord always before me, because he
is at my right hand I will not be moved, Therefore my heart
is glad, and my glory rejoiceth, and my flesh also shall rest
in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul
in hell, and that hell there means death, neither wilt thou
suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Of course this is
spoken of concerning Christ. The apostles quote it in the
New Testament Neither wilt thou suffer thine holy one to see
corruption. It means when the Lord Jesus
Christ died and rose again, his body never saw corruption. It
was pure and holy. Thou wilt show me the path of
life. In thy presence is fullness of
joy. At thy right hand there are pleasures
for evermore. at thy right hand, setting before
us eternal glory. Then in Psalm 17 and the last
verse we read, As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness. I shall be satisfied when I awake
in thy likeness. As for me. Mercy, my beloved friends, if
you and I can say that, as for me, I shall behold thy face in
righteousness. It's an unspeakable blessing,
my beloved friends, to have such a hope in the finished work of
Jesus Christ. It's the hope of eternal glory.
It is the hope of everlasting happiness. We read in the Isaiah
chapter 33, it says in verse 17, Thine eyes shall see the
King, that's Christ, Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty
and they shall behold the land that is very far off. There is a land of pure delight
That's eternal glory that Christ has purchased for his people,
for his children. Our Lord Jesus Christ, he says
in John chapter 14, let not your heart be troubled. You believe
in God, believe also in me. In my father's house are many
mansions. If it were not so, I would have
told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place
for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that
where I am, there ye may be also." That was one of the favourite
texts of our late dear sister Ena Field. How often she would
speak to me of that text. Let not your heart be troubled.
And she would say that text is mine. What did she mean when
she said that text is mine? The Lord has spoken it to her.
The Lord had breathed it into her heart. And it was a living
witness in her soul. Let not your heart be troubled.
The Lord's people are often troubled. The Lord's people are often trying.
The Lord's people are often perplexed. But there are times when The
Lord reveals himself unto them and shows himself through the
lattice of his Word. Christ is revealed and hope is
revived and renewed and replenished. It is. In my Father's house are
many mansions. If it were not so, I would have
told you. The Lord's servant Job in Job
chapter 19. Job had a wonderful sight by
faith of Christ. Job chapter 19 and verse 25,
For I know. What do you know? What do I know?
For I know that my Redeemer liveth. That's what Job knew. Job in
the midst of all his troubles, in the midst of all his trials,
in the midst of all the opposition and the loss of everything, he
could break out in these beautiful words, the words of faith, for
I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the
latter day upon the earth, and though after my skin worms destroy
this body, You're in my flesh and I see God. I always feel there's a double
meaning there. Job believed in the resurrection of the dead.
So he says you're in my flesh and I see God. And yet there's
another meaning there. It's the coming of Christ. Job
was looking forward. to the coming of Christ, to the
incarnation of the Son of God. Yet in my flesh shall I see God,
whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and
not another, though my reins be consumed within me. We see,
my beloved friends, why Job persevered. Because he was a man of faith,
that's why. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I know that my Redeemer liveth. Do you know that? Do I know that?
It's something, my beloved friends, to be known. It's something to
be experienced. Beloved, now are we the sons
of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know
that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him. You know the
Apostle Paul in the second epistle to the Corinthians and in the
15th chapter, he speaks so beautifully there of the resurrection of
the dead. And if we look from verse 45
in 1 Corinthians 15, and so it is written, the first man, Adam,
was made a living soul. The last Adam, that's Christ,
was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first, which
is spiritual, but that which is natural, and afterward that
which is spiritual. The first man, that's Adam, is
of the earth earthy. The second man is the Lord from
heaven, that's our Lord Jesus Christ. As is the earthy, such
are they also that are earthy, and as is the heavenly, such
are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image
of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
This I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the
kingdom of God. Neither doth corruption inherit
incorruption. Behold, I show you a mystery. You know, if you look a little
bit earlier, in that 15th chapter of the Corinthians, He says in
verse 42, so also is the resurrection of the dead, it is sown in corruption,
that is when a believer is buried, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is
raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is
raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it
is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body and there
is a spiritual body. You see, we shall be changed. And it goes on in verse 51, Behold
I show you a mystery, we shall not all sleep but we shall all
be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling
of an eye, at the last trump, that's the great trumpet at the
end of the world. at the last trump, for the trumpets
shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible as the
dead in Christ, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible
must put on incorruption. My beloved friends, this is the
hope of the Christian believer. This corruptible shall put on
incorruption. This mortal shall put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall
have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on
immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written,
death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin. The
strength of sin is the law. but thanks be to God which giveth
us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. That is eternal
victory. Eternal victory. In the first
epistle to the Thessalonians in chapter 4, again, we have
a beautiful passage there. From verse 13, but I would not
have you to be ignorant brethren concerning them which are asleep.
He's speaking of believers here. According to New Testament doctrine,
the believer is not spoken of as dying, he's sleeping. Why? Because they're going to wake
again in the resurrection of eternal life. I would not have
you to be ignorant concerning them which are asleep. that ye
sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe
that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep
in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you
by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain
unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with
the voice of the archangel, with the trump of God, and the dead
in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain
shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the
Lord in the air. So shall we ever be with the
Lord. Wherefore, comfort one another,
with these words. That there's a hope, my beloved
friends, a hope of eternal life. Remember my late pastor buried
a man who actually didn't make an open profession of religion
but he was a godly man, gracious man. And he said when he buried
him, he thought of that lovely hymn, The Grave, is but a downy
bed that's lined with love and blood. Sleep, dear saint, sleep in Jesus. That's where the Lord's people,
they die in Christ and they are eternally in Christ. And they
go to that place of eternal happiness, eternal glory. Our Lord Jesus
Christ, He speaks of it in much of his teaching concerning the
last days and concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
My mind it just goes to Luke chapter 21 and in Luke chapter
21 from verse 34, and drunkenness and cares of
this life, shall that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare
shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole
earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted
worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and
to stand before the Son of Man. And in the daytime he was teaching
them in the temple. And at night he went out and
abode in the mount which he called the Mount of Olives. And all
the people came early in the morning to him in the temple
for to hear him. You see my beloved friends, they
were earnest to hear him. Are you earnest? Earnest concerning the things
of eternal life? Are you seeking eternal life? You know, when we're young, and
I remember when I was young, foolishly, I thought, I'll think
about these things when I get a bit older. But you know, we were recently
reminded of that young man, George Jemson, 19 years old, and he
died. He died. The young maiden, The
old will die, but the young may die. You know, and we often hear
about a deathbed repentance. You may not have a deathbed.
You may not have a deathbed. You may be suddenly taken from
time into eternity. What a solemn thing if you're
not prepared. You're not prepared to die. You're
not prepared for eternal glory. You're not being brought to living
faith in Jesus Christ. You're not following Jesus Christ. Then, my beloved friends, you
cannot expect eternal glory. No. We can only expect eternal
glory if we've been brought to living faith in our Lord Jesus
Christ and become a follower of Him and of those who through
faith and patience inherit the promises. But if you've been
raised up to a hope in Jesus Christ, there's a glorious prospect
of eternal glory. To be with Christ, which is far
better. It's far better to be with Him,
which is far better. There's this wonderful door that
is opened up in the glorious person of our Lord Jesus Christ
who said, I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh unto
the Father but by me. But this hope of eternal life
in the book of the Revelation and we read there in chapter
21, And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, For the first heaven
and the first earth were passed away, and there was no more city. And I, John, saw the holy city,
New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven prepared as
a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out
of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men,
and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people.
and God himself shall be with them and shall be their God,
and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall
be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there
be any more pain, for the former things are passed away. Beloved, now are we the sons
of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, But we know
that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall
see him as he is. May the Lord add his blessing. Let us now sing together hymn
number 483 to the tune Rutherford, 583. To this tune we sing two
verses together. Yes, I shall soon be landed on
yonder shores of bliss and there with my powers expanded shall
dwell where Jesus is. Yes, I shall soon be seated with
Jesus on his throne my foes be all defeated and sacred peace
made known. Hymn 483 to the tune Rutherford
583. Children, where trees and streams Yes, I shall soon be seated With
Jesus on His throne My foes shall all be defeated ? And sacred trees may grow ? ? With Father, Son, and Spirit
? ? Thy shall forever reign ? Sweet joy, our peace inherit,
And every burden take. I soon shall reach that harbor
to which I see thy way. Shall cease from earth my neighbor, and have no fear
or strife. Each spirit guide we over this
life's tempestuous sea. Give me, O Holy One, the hope
I confide in Thee, For that in Jordan's valley I lay me enters deep, and thought
so irritating, 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.